S-14-0069_Q A_1.docx

AG-6395-S-14-0069 NOP Sound and Sensible Question and Answer 1

1) It appears that any company/nonprofit with a DUNS number may apply.

Any company (non-profit, University, Government, large business, small business) may apply. You must be registered in SAM (www.sam.gov) in order to receive an award.

2) Is this solicitation open only for US citizens / companies? Can an individual or company from another country participate directly and submit a proposal? If not, can an individual or company from another country participate as partner of an US citizen/company that submits the proposal?

Any company (non-profit, University, Government, large business, small business) may apply. You must be registered in SAM (www.sam.gov) in order to receive an award.

Sometime Foreign Owned companies have difficulty in obtaining a DUNS number and/or registering in SAM. Do not let that stop you from submitting a proposal as most of those items can be overcome.

3) Can the proposal be addressed to non-US target audiences?

Yes

4) 2.3 states that “All materials developed to support this contract will be delivered to the NOP, and may be posted as public information on a government website at the discretion of the NOP. Deliverables prepared for this contract are not proprietary to the contractor (although they may be used by the contractor as a public work); all draft and final deliverables become government property upon delivery.”

4a) Can you please confirm that the contractor will retain the right to print, post, and otherwise distribute materials which are provided as deliverables under the contract?

Yes

4b) Additionally, if deliverables are distributed by the NOP or posted on a government website, will the contractor be credited as the author of the materials?

Yes

5) When will awards be made?

It is anticipated that evaluations will be completed in July and awards will be made in August and September. Regardless all awards will be completed by 30 September 2014

6) The synopsis contains the statement, "Some candidate farmers and businesses have not taken advantage of organic market opportunities because organic certification is perceived as too burdensome." Do you have a copy of the research on which this statement is based? If it did not come from a research source, could you provide the source of this statement?

Stakeholder feedback based on responses during standard outreach activities.