MTO_SourcesSought_14JAN15.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS

The US Department of the Interior, Interior Business Center (DOI/IBC) Acquisition Services Directorate, Division III is issuing a sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support a requirement for Scientific, Engineering, Technical Assistance, and Administrative support to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Microsystems Technology Office (MTO). The intent is to award a five year multiple award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this procurement is 541690.

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION; PROPOSALS SUBMITTED TO THIS NOTICE WILL NOT BE

CONSIDERED. This Sources Sought Announcement is for capability information only, and does not constitute a request for proposals. Submission of any information in response to this Sources Sought Announcement is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.

If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide all of the following information:

1) Organization name, address, CAGE code or TIN, and DUNS number, Web site address, point of contact, email address, and telephone number.

2) Tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting the claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver the required technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements.

a. In accordance with FAR 52.219-14(c), Limitations on Subcontracting, at least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern

b. Please refrain from the use of phrases such as “standard procedures will be employed” or “well-known techniques will be used.”

3) Proof of an adequate accounting system.

4) Business Status consistent with the above NAICS Code: Please indicate the business status of your company (Socio-Economic Factors: 8(a), HUBzone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Small Disadvantaged, etc.)

5) Facilities/Security Clearance: Please detail how your company meets the facility, conference, and personnel security requirements as stated below in the purpose and objectives.

The government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to include all of the following:

1) Provide services consistent in scope and scale with those described in this notice.

2) Secure and apply the full range of corporate financial, human capital, and technical resources required to successfully perform scope and scale with those described in this notice.

3) Implement a successful project management plan that includes: compliance with tight program schedules, cost containment, meeting and tracking performance, hiring and retention of key personnel, and risk mitigation.

4) Provide services under a performance based service acquisition contract.

BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/MARKET

RESEARCH, THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES OR

PROCURED THROUGH FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. Multiple awards will be made.

If you have any questions concerning this opportunity please contact Chiketta R. Wilson via email.

Submission Instructions: Interested parties who considered qualified to perform the listed services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by 5 PM EST, February, 6, 2015. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed in Word or PDF Format, whichever is smaller, to Chiketta_Wilson@ibc.doi.gov, and shall not exceed 5MB data limits.

DISCLAIMER AND NOTES: Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure its response is complete, and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s potential capability and capacity to perform the work. Respondents are advised the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.

APPENDIX 1: Purpose and Objectives

The objective is to provide support for DARPA/MTO for existing and planned programs, as well as broad agency announcements, internal and external websites, graphics, strategic planning, executive briefings, subject matter experts/consultants, travel planning, and administrative management support to the MTO front office. Interested parties should have experience in providing technical, programmatic/financial, and administrative support. This experience must include Scientific, Engineering, Technical Assistance, and administrative support in the areas of Electromagnetic Spectrum, Decentralization, Information Microsystems, and Globalization. The list of tasks include but are not limited to:

Assist in developing strategic and technical plans, and conduct technical analyses and assessments based upon Program Manager's requirements and within the timeframes requested.

Analyze MTO technologies and research ideas for the formulation of new programs;

support the assessment of proposals, identify and translate user requirements, conduct benefit analyses of DARPA/MTO technologies, and identify the commercial utility of new products within the timeframes requested.

Provide research expertise and program support of Government activities with regard to procurements, schedules, and technology transfer efforts, program documentation reviews, and technical progress and milestone tracking within the timeframes requested

Assist in preparing, updating, and tracking program plans consistent with DARPA/MTO Program Manager's guidance and DARPA/MTO procedures.

Prepare and track technical, schedule, financial and budgetary data to ensure MTO Program Managers can effectively plan and administer programs and meet both office and agency execution benchmarks.

Gather information and assist in preparing program approval documents (PADs) and specific financial execution documentation such as Procurement Requests (PRs), Military Interdepartmental Purchase Requests (MIPRs), and other appropriate justifications in accordance with DARPA/MTO guidelines.

Assist the Program Managers in strategic planning of budgetary and schedule trade-offs/variance analysis during the source selection process as well as the life cycle of programs as outlined by the Program Manager and within the requested timelines

Assist in preparing program briefs and other program documentation according to DARPA/MTO and within the timeframes requested.

Provide facilities for meetings, conferences and workshops, facilitate and attend technical meetings and provide feedback to the Program Managers within the timeframes requested. The facilities shall be within 15 minutes walking distance of the DARPA Headquarters. Currently the address for these headquarters is at 675 N.

Randolph Street, Arlington, VA. The conference room shall be approved for classified discussion at the SECRET level or higher as needed.

Develop virtual and printable media including, but not limited to, logos, themes, animated video, posters, brochures, abstract notebooks, etc. to support workshops, meetings, conferences, and other requirements.

Provide administrative support for the source selection evaluation process to include obtaining required financial documents for submission to General Counsel, recording minutes, securing the meeting location, and coordinating visit requests to ensure a timely selection process.

Maintain the DARPA/MTO program Websites to facilitate technical, programmatic, and financial support to the DARPA/MTO Program Managers and front office and ensure external viewers have accurate, up to date information on MTO.

Provide administrative support on-site at DARPA/MTO offices to include, but not limited to, screening phone calls, preparing correspondence, maintaining calendars, coordinating meetings, preparing travel orders and vouchers, and organizing various types of data to ensure effective and seamless continuing operations.

Track all MTO Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) and white papers, abstracts, and full proposals submitted to any MTO BAAs. Update the BAA and source selection templates with DARPA-mandated and MTO-specific language/attachments, as required.

Assign reviewers accounts and distribute solicitation responses. Maintain appropriate storage of source selection information hardcopies, as required by the Government.

Work with DARPA's contracts management office to coordinate final release of BAAs.

Track the routing for BAAs, source selection documentation, and special notices. This tool and all intellectual rights thereto shall remain the property of the Government. See Section 7.0 below as it pertains to sensitive and classified information protection.

Maintain currency with DoD guidance/directives and provide appropriate participation (taking notes only, no voting or representing DARPA) on working groups in behalf of

DARPA.

Provide Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)/Small business Technology Transfer (STTR) coordination with the DARPA SBIR/STTR program.

Support the planning and execution of any MTO and/or DARPA event/activity within the timeframes required by the requestor.

Support provided through this list of tasks will be used to assist in the following areas:

Strategic Planning, Program Formulation, and Technical Analysis Program Planning and Financial Processing Conference/Meeting Planning Program Documentation Documentation Management Control Procurement/Solicitation Support World Wide Web Support Office-wide Administrative Program Support Strategic Planning Support Executive Briefing Support Facilities/Security Continuity of Operations alternative Facility

Personnel Requirements: (Representative sampling only)

Program Manager

Education: Requires a Master's degree in a directly related technical or business field. At the discretion of the Government, specialized experience may be substituted in lieu of specific educational requirements.

Experience: This senior level manager will be in charge of the overall planning and directing of activities associated with the contract. This person will allocate resources and set schedules to accomplish program objectives, participate in program reviews, and adjust resources and schedules to accomplish program requirements, plan and adjust work operations to meet changing and/or emerging program requirements using available resources with minimal impact on work quality or quantity. Experience working in DoD is desirable, within a DoD research and development program office is more desirable, and within DARPA is most desirable. A minimum of ten years of experience as a manager providing support to cutting edge research and development programs is required. The ten years’ experience must include managing personnel with similar personnel qualifications to those listed in this SOW. At least five years of this experience must be in managing similar Government contracts with comparable projects or activities in size and complexity to this MTO SETA support contract effort (in the capacity of industry or Government program managers). The PM must be capable of planning, directing, and coordinating the work activity of all personnel involved in all aspects of the contract and to integrate problem resolution into ongoing work without loss of work force efficiency. Demonstrated work experience in collateral, special access and intelligence programs is required for any support provided to MTO classified programs.

Experience with security procedures, rules, and regulations are required.

Senior Scientist/Engineer

Education: Masters of Science or Art degree in Physics, Chemistry. Math or Engineering. (Published article in Field of Expertise are highly desirable.)

Experience: At least seven years at p progressively more difficult levels in planning and developing technical projects of a Research and Development (R&D) nature concerned with unique or controversial problems which have an important effect on major Department of Defense programs. Demonstrated skill in conceiving, planning and conducting research in problem areas of considerable scope and complexity requiring unconventional or novel approaches and sophisticated research techniques. Demonstrated ability to make decisions independently on research and development (R&D) engineering problems and methods, and to resolve important questions and to plan and coordinate work. Demonstrated experience in the use of advanced techniques, theories, precepts, and practices in one or more DARPA programs, preferably one that has transitioned to operational use, or programs related to thrust areas delineated in paragraph 2.0 of the Statement of Work. At least five years extensive experience, background and knowledge of program transition efforts are highly desirable. At least three years’ experience working with DARPA Technical Office Program Managers is highly desirable.

Senior Program Analyst

Education: Bachelor of Science or Art degree or five years of experience in DoD.

Experience: At least five years of experience in DoD, preferably R&D. Demonstrated creativity, foresight, and mature judgment in anticipating and solving problems in financial, administrative, and program management. Demonstrated experience in organizing and facilitating small meetings. Experience in tracking technical and financial milestones. Experience in creating and coordinating budget and acquisition funding documents. Requires knowledge/competence in analysis using modern PC computer techniques, systems, and tools. At least two years’ experience working with a DARPA Technical Office is highly desirable.

Junior Program Analyst

Education: At least a Bachelor of Science or Art degree or three years of experience.

Experience: At least three years of experience in DoD, preferably R&D. Demonstrated creativity, foresight, and mature judgment in anticipating and solving problems in financial, administrative, and program management. Demonstrated experience in organizing and facilitating small meetings.

Experience in tracking technical and financial milestones. Experience in creating and coordinating budget and acquisition funding documents. Requires knowledge/competence in analysis using modem PC computer techniques, systems, and tools.

Jr. Program Analyst II (Mid-Level Analyst)

Education: At least a Bachelor of Science or Art degree or 4 years of experience.

Experience: At least four years of experience in DoD, preferably in an R&D environment. Demonstrated creativity, foresight, and mature judgment in anticipating and solving problems in financial, administrative and program management. Demonstrated experience in organizing small meetings. Experience in tracking technical and financial milestones. Requires knowledge/competence in web-based research as well as analysis using modern PC computer techniques, systems, and tools. At least one year of experience working with a DARPA Technical Office is highly desirable.

Graphics Specialist

Education: At least a High School Diploma or GED. An Associate of Arts degree or higher is preferred.

Experience: At least one year preparing visual arts, including text, illustrations, animation, and video.

Must be adept in computer generated graphics including Macintosh based software packages and Power Point as well as multimedia production packages. At least one year experience working with DARPA Program Managers is highly desirable.