SFSP_PARTICIPANT_CHARACTERISTICS_AND_MEAL_ANALYSIS_OF_QUALITY_SOURCES_SOUGHT_(2).pdf

AG-3198-S-16-0032 Page 1

Solicitation Number: AG-3198-S-16-0032

Notice Type: Sources Sought

SFSP PARTICIPANT CHARACTERISTICS AND MEAL ANALYSIS OF QUALITY

This SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE is to determine the interest and capabilities of businesses to perform the work described herein. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government, nor will the U.S. Government pay for information solicited. The information from this notice will help the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) develop their acquisition strategy.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) intends to issue a procurement for the subject research study in Fiscal Year 2016 and is seeking statements of capability from potential offerors.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, NO SOLICITATION

EXISTS AT THIS TIME.

CAPABILITY STATEMENT

The Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support (OPS) & Contracts Management Division (CMD), is conducting a market survey to determine the availability and technical capability of qualified businesses capable of conducting a nationally representative study of Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) participant characteristics and meal quality.

This includes other than small business, small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses (SDB), 8(a) small businesses, woman-owned small businesses (WOSB), veteran owned small businesses (VOSB), service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB), and Historically Under-utilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small businesses. All responding small business firms are requested to identify their firm's size and type of business to the anticipated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code.

For this acquisition, the NAICS code is 541720 and the Small Business Standard is $20.5 Million.

The USDA is conducting a nationally representative study of Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) participant characteristics and meal quality. The study also will include a subsample of children who are eligible for, yet do not participate in, the program. The study will provide key information on why children and their caregivers participate in SFSP, the successes and challenges with increasing participation in SFSP, and serving nutritious meals that are well-liked and consumed by SFSP participants.

The Food and Nutrition Service under the Office of Policy Support is conducting market research to identify sources that can demonstrate their experience, skills, and qualifications with projects of similar scope and size completed within the last three (3) years, and explain in

AG-3198-S-16-0032 Page 2 appropriate detail how they intend to demonstrate competency in each of the following points

(A) through (J). Expound, utilizing specific examples, on how the firm has undertaken and/or demonstrated the prerequisites listed below:

A. A dedicated project director who can deliver high quality work, adhere to project schedules, keep costs within budget, manage the work of many professionals on many tasks simultaneously, and contribute knowledge and understanding of FNS programs. In addition, the project director shall possess expertise with conducting nationally-representative studies along with experience with analyzing food service menus. The project director also shall possess skilled expertise in research focused on the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The proposed project director’s experience in these areas shall be evidenced by at least three publications in peer-reviewed journals and/or government reports/publications (please cite in your response).

B. Key personnel experienced in highly technical sampling techniques to obtain representative samples of all participants in the SFSP as well as subgroups of: 1) eligible, yet non-participating children, and 2) SFSP sponsors and sites. Key personnel must also be highly experienced in the development of the corresponding sample weights for complex sample designs. Please provide at least three citations documenting experience.

C. Key personnel experienced in recruiting difficult-to-reach study populations for large, nationally representative studies (e.g., SFSP participants and eligible, non-participants and their families). Key personnel must also be highly experienced in working with State agencies, SFSP sponsors, SFSP sites, and SFSP participants in order to sample and recruit a sufficient sample during a condensed period of time (e.g., the summer months).

D. Key personnel experienced with developing comprehensive national study designs to address numerous complex interrelated research questions, questionnaires for computer assisted data collection or hard-copy completion and OMB Information Collection Packages (cite at least three OMB clearance numbers).

E. Experienced survey managers who can recruit a sufficient number of capable data collectors to collect information nationwide and over a short period of time (i.e., the summer months); can train and monitor data collectors’ performance to collect high quality data, and minimize non-response. Please provide at least three citations documenting experience.

F. Experienced data collectors and interviewers who are proficient at collecting information from a wide variety of sources (e.g., State agencies, SFSP sponsors, SFSP sites, SFSP participants) using a variety of data collection techniques (e.g., CATI/CAPI data collection, on-site observation, record abstraction, focus groups, dietary intake and plate waste, etc.). Please provide at least three citations documenting experience.

G. Key personnel experienced with and demonstrating proficiency in using analytic methods, including mathematical modeling, multivariate regression analysis; and descriptive and inferential statistics. Key personnel with proficiency in manipulating large, complex databases, using mainstream software packages, synthesizing results from

AG-3198-S-16-0032 Page 3 multiple research sources, performing literature searches and reviews, conducting nutrient, food group and other complex analyses; statistical adjustment for complex sample design; imputation; non-response bias analysis and correction; and creating complex, large scale databases accessible to any proficient database programmer. Please provide at least three citations documenting experience.

H. Key personnel who have the necessary skills and experience writing technical, high-quality, well-edited reports, which may be targeted to technical readers or to policy officials. Key personnel who can produce briefing materials (including PowerPoint presentations) and present study findings for technical and/or policy staff. Please provide at least three citations documenting experience.

I. Key personnel who have knowledge of the operational aspects of SFSP, including the different types of operable sites and their length of operation, program integrity issues, nutritional standards of meals offered, food procurement and preparation, and issues related to SFSP participation. Please include at least three previous publications in peer-reviewed and/or government journals/reports on the aforementioned areas.

J. Key personnel with experience collecting and analyzing data based on food service records (e.g., menus, production records, recipes, etc.), and dietary recalls and plate waste observations with children. Please provide at least three citations documenting experience.

Please submit the following information in response to the 10 capabilities (A – J) and pre-requisites listed above:

Submission requirements:

1. Interested firms responding to this market survey must provide a capability statement demonstrating their experience, skills and capability to fulfill the Governments requirements for the above in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.502-2(b). The capability statement shall be in sufficient enough detail, so that the Government can determine the experience and capability of your firm to provide the objectives above. The citations and references submitted shall be based on work completed by the proposed key personnel. The Government technical team will then assess the experience & capabilities based on: 1) technical expertise relevant to the objectives; 2) corporate/organizational experience relevant to the objectives, and 3) relevant past performance.

2. Capability responses should be based upon the 10 capabilities (A – J) pre-requisites listed above.

3. Please specify one primary and one alternate Point of Contact (POC) within your firm, including telephone numbers and email addresses.

4. Identify if you have a GSA Schedule contract and if applicable, the contract number.

5. Identify your business size and for the referenced NAICS code.

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6. Relevant past performance shall include the following information:

• Contract name

• Contracting Agency or Department

• Total contract value (in $$)

• Period of performance

• Description of work and how it relates to the requirements

7. The statement shall be 20 pages or less and formatted with 1 inch margins (top, bottom and sides) and Times New Roman font - 12 point.

8. Your capability statement needs to include a list of at least three customers (Government/non-Government) within the past 3-years highlighting similar work in nature, scope, complexity, and difficulty and a brief description of the scope of work.

9. Do not include promotional materials.

Only electronic copies of capability statements will be accepted and should be emailed to: Ms.

Thu Vo at: Thu.Vo@fns.usda.gov and Ms. Gloria Brown at: Gloria.Brown@fns.usda.gov by April 4, 2016 by 3:00 PM EST. The e-mail shall contain the following subject line: Response to Sources Sought Notice – AG-3198-S-16-0032 - SFSP PARTICIPANT CHARACTERISTICS AND

MEAL ANALYSIS OF QUALITY.

A determination by the Government to proceed with the acquisition as a set-aside is within the discretion of the Government. If capability statements are not received from at least two responsible small businesses or if the Government determines that no two small businesses are capable of performing this requirement based upon an assessment of the capability statements submitted, the Government may proceed with a full and open competition.

It is imperative that all questions be sent via Email to Ms. Thu Vo at: thu.vo@fns.usda.gov and Ms. Gloria Brown at: Gloria.Brown@fns.usda.gov by March 21, 2016 by 3:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time.

NO TELEPHONE REQUESTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

mailto:Thu.Vo@fns.usda.gov mailto:Gloria.Brown@fns.usda.gov mailto:thu.vo@fns.usda.gov mailto:Gloria.Brown@fns.usda.gov