Sources_Sought_Notice.doc

U.S. Department of Education Office of Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE)

Office of Safe and Healthy Schools (OSHS)

Title of Project: Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center General Information:

This SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE and REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) is for market research and planning purposes only and shall not be considered to be an obligation by the Government to acquire any products or services. Responses to this RFI will be accepted via e-mail to the address listed below. This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and no contract will be awarded from this Notice. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this evaluation. Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date.

This Notice is to determine the availability of potential small businesses listed under General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule 874-1. The Department anticipates using NAICS Code 541611, Administrative Management and General Management Consulting.

Pursuant to 48 C.F.R. Part 10, the Government is conducting market research to:

· Determine what sources exist that are capable of satisfying the Government’s requirements listed below,

· Determine the capabilities of potential contractors,

· Determine the size and status of potential sources, and

· Determine the level of competition The Department is contemplating awarding both a single award Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) and Task Order 0001. All task orders issued under this BPA will be firm fixed-price orders. The Department intends to issue the solicitation in the third or fourth week of June 2015. The anticipated award date is no later than 9/30/2015.

Draft Performance Work Statement (DPWS): Attached for your review is a Draft Performance Work Statement for the Master BPA and Task Order 0001.

Request for Comments:

Interested parties are requested to submit comments to both DPWSs and identify competition barriers.

Request for Capabilities:

Interested parties are invited to submit a capability statement. You will need to demonstrate the ability to provide the services as stated in both BPA DPWS and the Task Order 0001 DPWS.

In order to successfully perform the work, a contractor must have ALL of the following competencies or the ability to provide all of these competencies: (Contractor must respond to all the following points by indicating your experience or the ability to provide the experience.)

· Operate and maintain a national technical assistance center

· Project Management and Developing a Project Management Plan

· Developing, updating, maintaining, and disseminating a wide range of interactive and non-interactive safety, security, emergency management, and preparedness materials and resources for institutions of higher education (IHEs) and school in a wide range of modalities (e.g., virtual, electronic, hard copy).

· Maintaining and updating a user-friendly, dynamic, and interactive Web site supported by multiple databases that is also designed to support and be optimized for mobile platforms, and to serve as a high-capacity hub of IHE and school safety, security, emergency management, and preparedness resources with numerous technology features and functions.

· Providing technical assistance and training in IHE and school safety, security, emergency management, and preparedness to IHEs, SEAs, LEAs, and schools, including the Department’s grantees and non-grantees, using a variety of means (e.g., virtually, in-person).

· Developing Social Media Profiles

· Announcing and Disseminating Center Services and Products

· Identifying, Collecting, and Maintaining Resources and Active Referral Links supporting IHE and school safety security, emergency management, and preparedness

· Conducting needs assessments related to schools and Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)

· Developing and Updating Online, Interactive Tools and Downloadable Software

· Analyzing the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) data and reports submitted by grantees

· Collecting, Publishing, and Disseminating Information supporting IHE and school safety security, emergency management, and preparedness

· Conference and Workshop Presentations, and On-site Training and Professional Development

· Providing logistical, administrative and technical support for monitoring and technical assistance activities

PAGE LIMIT FOR CAPABILITY STATEMENTS IS 10 PAGES. THE CAPABILITY STATEMENTS MUST DEMONSTRATE THE REQUIREMENTS OR THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED ABOVE.

Business Information: Please provide the following Business Information (if applicable):

1. Company Name

2. Company Address

3. Company Point of Contact, phone number and email address

4. Duns Number

5. Type of company under NAICS, as validated via the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). Additional information on NAICS codes can be found at www.sba.gov. Any potential government contracter must be registered on www.sam.gov.

6. Identify all applicable classifications for your organization, such as:

a. Small Business

b. Woman-owned business

c. 8(a) business

d. Large business

e. Small disadvantaged business

f. HUBZone business

g. SDVOB business

h. Non-profit

7. Current GSA Schedules, if any, appropriate to this Sources Sought

8. Point of Contact, phone number and email address of individuals who can verify the demonstrated capabilities identified in the responses.

9. Responders should also include a statement about whether or not they have an approved Federal audited accounting system. If the responder has an approved accounting system, please provide the certification in which the accounting system was deemed adequate (e.g. the name of the audit agency and audit number). You may submit as an attachment, which will not count towards the overall page limit.

Teaming Arrangements: All teaming arrangements or Joint Ventures shall include the above-cited information and for each entity on the proposed team. Teaming arrangements are encouraged.

Due Date for Capability Submission: Interested parties having the capabilities necessary to perform the stated requirements may submit capability statements via email to Heather.Watroba @ed.gov and carbon copy Gabriella.McDonald@ed.gov. Responses must be submitted no later than 12 PM, Eastern Time Monday June 8, 2015. Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date.

Due Date for Capability Questions: Interested may submit questions regarding this sources sought via email to Heather.Watroba@ed.gov and carbon copy Gabriella.McDonald@ed.gov. Questions must be submitted no later than 3 PM, Eastern Time Friday May 29, 2015. Questions received after this time may not be answered.

DISCLAIMER:

PARTICIPATION IN THE MARKET RESEARCH IN NO WAY INFLUENCES THE SOURCE SELECTION FOR THESE SERVICES. This is not an invitation for bid, request for proposal or other solicitation. The sole purpose of this Notice is to obtain capabilities for procurement planning purposes.

This Notice is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract nor does the Government intend to directly pay for any information or responses submitted as the result of this Notice. Any contract that might be awarded based on information received or derived from this Notice will be the outcome of the competitive process.