SBES Sources Sought Notice 6.24.24.pdf

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT, NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS,

QUOTATIONS, OR BIDS. This Sources Sought notice is to survey the market of potential sources pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10, Market Research.

Information obtained by the Government is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs incurred for their participation in this Sources Sought. Large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this request for capabilities. The Government may base decisions about a future procurement on the responses to this request for capabilities.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) is contemplating for procurement a

General Services Administration (GSA) Task Order. The ordering period for this contract will be two years.

The anticipated scope for this future procurement can be found in the attachment section below.

Interested sources should submit a Statement of Capability (SOC) demonstrating their ability to provide to Contract Specialist Angela Smith at angela.n.smith@noaa.gov, no later than July 8, 2024 at 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST). The SOC shall conform to the following:

1. On the first page of the SOC, Company name, address, point of contact, phone number, email address of the point of contact, CAGE code, and UEI number. If submission is from a small business, in consideration of NAICS code 541611, administrative management and general management consulting services, with a small business size standard of $24.5 million indicate which of the following small business categories your business is classified under for this NAICS code: Small Business, Veteran-Owned Small

Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Small-Disadvantaged

Business, Woman- Owned Small Business, HUBZone Small Business, or 8(a) Business.

2. Indicate if your firm believes a better NAICS code is suited for this requirement and the justification for selecting a different NAICS code.

3. Indicate if your company is currently registered with the Systems for Award Management

(SAM) database. If not, indicate if it has been registered or does it plan to register.

4. Indicate if your company currently has a contract under GSA Professional Services

Schedule (PSS) (00CORP). Yes/No.

5. Indicate if your company is currently prohibited from doing business with the

Federal Government. Yes/No. (If yes, please explain).

6. Indicate if your company has experience working with the retail, insurance/reinsurance, and architecture/engineering industry sections. Yes/No. (If yes, please explain)

7. Indicate if your company has experience teaming up with other developers for agile sprints of case studies that have multiple disciplines. Yes/No. (If yes, please explain)

8. Indicate if your company has experience transforming datasets, products, and services into multiple resolutions (spatial/temporal), file structure/formats, meeting accessibility standards. Yes/No. (If yes, please explain) about:blank

9. Indicate if your company has experience developing GIS and/or web-page visualizations of NOAA data, products, and services. Yes/No. (If yes, please explain)

10. Indicate if your company has experience bringing together interdisciplinary teams of social scientists, data scientists, and developers to conduct case studies as well as primary and secondary data collection and analysis. Yes/No. (If yes, please explain)

The SOC shall not exceed 10 pages (11-point font minimum) in one (1) .pdf file. Tables, charts, graphs, covers, etc., will not count toward the 15-page count total (smaller font is allowed for these items, but the text must be legible).

All responses should be emailed to the Point of Contact at the email addresses listed above. No phone inquiries will be accepted, either as a response to this action or for information requests.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Weather Service

Office of Science and Technology Integration

Statement of Work for

Social, Behavioral, and Economic Science Research

OVERVIEW

The National Weather Service (NWS), Office of Science and Technology Integration (OSTI), Social, Behavioral, and Economic Science (SBES) Program requires social, behavioral, and economic science research to advance the Industry Proving Grounds (IPG) subproject, specifically to conduct research on the following issues: (1) to prototype a capability and methodology to conduct post-event analyses of high impact weather and flooding events that explicitly accounts for the impacts on the Retail industry. Co-development and evaluation of the capability with and by industry would be based upon the NOAA service delivery feedback loop and grounded in Social, Behavioral, and Economic sciences; and (2) to establish an enterprise capability to post process/reprocess all NWS operational forecasts placing them in historical and climatological context, and provide then in a format accessible to industry sectors. This effort will deepen engagement with stakeholders to improve the uptake of information in decision-making and operations primarily in the Finance and Reinsurance, Retail, and Architecture and Engineering sectors through (a) continuous engagement; (b) the delivery of needs assessments, requirements, and use cases; (c) improving the delivery of

NOAA data and information to key sectors; and (d) improving industry access to federal data.

The project will develop targeted web tools and interfaces as well as existing NWS dissemination methodologies to leverage NOAA’s archival climate data.

BACKGROUND

The mission of the NWS is to provide weather, water, and climate data to inform forecasts, warnings, and decisions that support services intended to save lives, protect property, and enhance the national economy. The NWS envisions a “Weather-Ready Nation,” where the

American public is prepared for, responds to, and recovers from weather-dependent events.

This proposed research project contributes to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA) FY22-26 Strategic Plan:

● Strategic Objective 1.1: Enhance Service Delivery to Partners

1.1.1: Improve Continuous Engagement with Partners, and

1.1.3: Provide Science-Based Use-Inspired Decision Support Tools

● Strategic Objective 2.2: Support Underserved and Vulnerable Communities

2.2.3: Design Easy-to-Use Tools and Services, and

2.2.5: Strengthen Social Science and Evaluation Capacity.

This proposed research effort described herein also contributes to the NWS Strategic Plan Goal

DRAFT

3.9: “Expand public-private industry partnerships that fast-track weather Enterprise innovations and technology, strengthen relationships, promote equitable service, leverage outreach to vulnerable communities, and share best practices to focus on continuous improvements.”

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The NWS is seeking a multidisciplinary team of experts in the areas of SBES, geographic information systems (GIS), graphic design, web development, and data transformation and visualization in support of the below projects.

Project 1: Prototype of an Enhanced Post-Event Analysis Methodology for the Retail Industry will include a data gathering portion in conjunction with a case study approach. The first effort will be data collection from NOAA, NWS, and other government agencies as well as coordinated data collection among various Retail stakeholders. The focus will initially be on a specific geographic location selected in collaboration with the NWS, the contracted entity, and the Retail industry. The second effort will focus on the scope and development of the prototype case study methodology. The project will conclude with an objective evaluation and demonstration of the methodology with stakeholders.

The successful completion of this project will lead to three primary outcomes/benefits:

● A prototype methodology to analyze post-storm events as they relate to impacts on a variety of retail infrastructure systems;

● A prototype methodology offering the capability to utilize analogs of past events while applying current industry and social data to better understand an emerging event; and,

● A rigorous understanding of if and how this methodology could potentially be used within a variety of retail sectors at other geographies, regions, and/or spatial scales.

Project 2: The Weather in Climatic Context for Industry project will establish an enterprise capability to post-process all NWS operational forecasts and provide them with a rigorous historical climate context. The post-processing would be grounded in Social, Behavioral, and

Economic Sciences (SBES), and co-developed with partners in the three industry sectors

(Finance and Reinsurance, Retail, and Architecture and Engineering). The project leverages

NOAA’s archived climatic data and will be manifested through the development of targeted web tools and interfaces as well as existing NWS dissemination methodologies. Through this project, key industry sectors will be equipped with improved data, products, and services to mitigate the impacts of weather, water, and climate.

The successful completion of this project will lead to 5 primary outcomes/benefits:

● Documented data, product, and service requirements from the Finance and Reinsurance, Retail, and Architecture and Engineering industries;

● A database of transformed datasets to meet the above-stated requirements;

● Prototypes of Weather in Climatic Context for Industry products and services to meet the above-stated requirements;

● Finalized Weather in Climatic Context for Industry products, services, and data to meet the above-stated requirements; and,

● Integrated Weather in Climatic Context for Industry products, services, and data within the

National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) IPG web presence.

TASKS

The proposed projects include, but are not limited to, the following tasks:

1. Facilitate Kick-off Meeting

2. Schedule and Lead Progress Meetings

3. Draft Project Plan

4. Collect Data

5. Conduct Analyses

6. Engage Industry Sectors

7. Document Requirements

8. Transform Data

9. Develop and Refine Prototype Products, Services, and Data

10. Complete Weather in Climatic Context for Industry Capability Products, Services, and Data

Packages

11. Integrate Final Products, Services, and Data into NCEI’s IPG Web Presence

12. Draft Presentation and Final Report

The awarded contractor will be asked to provide notes, protocols, and all data collected and analyses conducted during the project in a format approved by the government. Additionally, in coordination with the government, the contractor shall organize and facilitate a meeting to present the final report.

DELIVERABLES PROJECT 1:

Deliverables are as specified below:

Activities Deliverables Deliverable Due

Project

Kick-Off

Meeting

Kick-off meeting to discuss roles, monthly meeting days and times, and address any concerns/questions about the project

Not more than

14 days after award

Regularly scheduled project meetings

Monthly meetings via web-based format that will comport with federal government guidelines. An agenda will be provided no less than 24 hours prior to the monthly meeting, minutes/notes from the prior month’s meeting, and a summary progress report

Not more than

45 days post award, and occurring monthly until the end of the period of performance

Draft project plan

Draft project plan to include the following shall be delivered to the NWS project leads:

● An outline of how, when, and where data will be gathered from a variety of sources to include the identification of the consumers of weather information in the various retail sectors.

● A section describing how the connections, dependencies, feedback loops and communication barriers within the retail sector will be analyzed.

● A section outlining the analysis approach to understand how the decisions and behaviors of the various actors within the retail industry in the pre-event, during the event, and post-hazard event were made.

150 days after the award

Final Project

Plan

A final project plan approved by the NWS project leads.

180 days after the award

Collect Data, Conduct

Analyses, and Test

Methodology

Conduct meetings with a variety of retail sector representatives to determine their specific data needs and case study approaches.

240 days after the award

Determine the availability of post-event severe weather data that include (1) place-based information incorporating impacts, social factors, and environmental data; (2) deterministic short- and long-term forecasts, outlooks, and projections; and

(3) integration of data concerning the Retail sectors and infrastructure needs.

240 days after the award

Begin developing the prototype methodology based on the data available and on the use-cases developed in collaboration with Retail sector stakeholders.

365 days after the award

Meet with representatives from the Retail sector(s) to conduct an evaluation of the methodology as well as conduct an exercise utilizing the methodology.

545 days after the award

Gather feedback, suggestions, and revise the methodology as needed.

620 days after the award

Draft

Presentation

A draft presentation in PowerPoint or similar format outlining the project. The presentation shall be delivered to the Retail sector representatives and

NWS project leads.

650 days after the award

Draft Final

Report

A draft of the final report shall be delivered to the

NWS project leads.

670 days after award

Final

Report

A final written report, including all documents, databases, and materials, shall be delivered to NWS project leads.

730 days after award

DELIVERABLES PROJECT 2:

Deliverables are as specified below:

Activities Deliverables

Deliverable

Due

Project Kick-

Off Meeting

Kick-off meeting to discuss roles, monthly meeting days and times, and address any concerns/questions about the project

Not more than 14 days after award

Regularly scheduled project meetings

Monthly meetings via web-based format that will conform with federal government guidelines. An agenda will be provided no less than 24 hours prior to the monthly meeting, minutes/notes from the prior month’s meeting, and a summary progress report

Not more than 45 days post award, and occurring monthly until the end of the period of performanc e

Draft project plan

Draft project plan to include the following shall be delivered to the NWS project leads:

● An outline describing how the contractor will capture specific data, products, and service requirements of the Finance and Reinsurance, Retail, and Architecture and Engineering industries

● A section describing how the contractor will identify and transform the required data in their respective formats and resolutions

● A section describing how the contractor will develop, test, evaluate, and modify the Weather in

Climatic Context for Industry prototypes of products and services based upon engagement with the

Finance and Reinsurance, Retail, and Architecture and Engineering industries

150 days after the

● A section describing how the contractor will finalize the Weather in Climatic Context for Industry capability for the Finance and Reinsurance, Retail, and Architecture and Engineering industries and integrate into into NCEI’s IPG web presence

Final Project

Plan

A final project plan approved by the NWS project leads.

180 days after the award

Engage industry sectors, collect requirements

Engage in NOAA focus groups with Finance and

Reinsurance, Retail, and Architecture and

Engineering industries to capture their specific data, formatting, accessibility, and products/services/visualization needs and requirements that are in line with the objectives of the three workstreams (website development, data transformation, product development)

180 days after the

Participate in regular engagement sessions with

Finance and Reinsurance, Retail, and Architecture and Engineering industries in line with the objectives of the three workstreams (website development, data transformation, product development)

Not more than 45 days post award, and occurring regularly until the end of the period of performanc e

Produce report detailing Finance and Reinsurance, Retail, and Architecture and Engineering industries data and visualization requirements

240 days after the award

Transform data, develop and refine prototype products, services, and data

Data Transformation: (a) Identify and create an inventory of required NOAA data and (b) transform data into the necessary resolutions (spatial/temporal), file structure/format, and accessibility based upon

Finance and Reinsurance, Retail, and Architecture and Engineering industry requirements

330 days

Develop 3-5 prototype products and services (e.g.

cloud-ready web and/or GIS-based visualizations) per industry, for the Finance and Reinsurance, Retail, and

Architecture and Engineering industries

420 days after the

Engage with Finance and Reinsurance, Retail, and

Architecture and Engineering industries to obtain formal feedback on prototype products and services

510 days

Iteratively develop, test, and evaluate Weather in

Climatic Context for Industry prototype(s) based upon feedback received from the Finance and

Reinsurance, Retail, and Architecture and

Engineering industries

600 days after the award

Finalize industry products and services, integrate final version(s) into official dissemination mechanisms

Finalize Weather in Climatic Context for Industry capability for the Finance and Reinsurance, Retail, and Architecture and Engineering industries

690 days

Integrate Weather in Climatic Context for Industry capabilities into NCEI’s IPG web presence to satisfy cloud-based delivery

690 days after the award

Draft

Presentation

A draft presentation in PowerPoint or similar format outlining the project. The presentation shall be delivered to the sector representatives and NWS project leads.

650 days after the award

Draft Final

Report

A draft of the final report shall be delivered to the

NWS project leads.

670 days after award

Final Report

A final written report, including all documents, databases, and materials, shall be delivered to NWS project leads.

730 days after award

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

The contractor shall possess the following qualifications, equipment, and skills: experience conducting social, behavioral, and economic sciences research utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methodologies; familiarity and knowledge of the NWS, emergency management, federal, state, tribal and local governments, and community engagement practices within the

United States preferred.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance will consist of one twelve-month base period and one twelve-month option period.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The contractor shall perform the work at their offices. Travel may be occasionally directed.

TRAVEL

The contractor shall make independent travel arrangements and pay for any travel costs associated with the contract in accordance with federal travel regulations.