FDPIR RFI.pdf

Request for Information

Title: Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) Participant Characteristics and Program Operations (PCPO) Study

Issue Date: June 20, 2023

Response Due Date: June 26, 2023 @ 5:00 P M, Eastern Time E-mail:

Correspond directly with the Contract Specialist Shawnita Hamm, at Shawnita.Hamm@usda.gov.

Responses submitted by any other method will not be accepted or answered. Please ensure that your e-mail response has “(FDPIR) Participant Characteristics and Program Operations (PCPO) Study” in the subject line.

Issued by:

This Request for Information (RFI) is being issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Office of Policy Support (OPS)

RFI Purpose:

The purpose of this RFI is to seek information from potential vendors with demonstrated expertise and experience to design and implement a study to understand participant characteristics and program operations of the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).

Anticipated Period of Performance The anticipated period of performance will be five years (60 months) from the date of contract award.

Anticipated Contract Type Firm Fixed Price

Additional Information:

This RFI is to determine the interest and capabilities of businesses to perform the work described in the Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS).

Response to this RFI is strictly voluntary and will not affect any firm’s ability to submit a Request for Proposal (RFP)/Request for Quote (RFQ) if, or when, a solicitation is released.

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation or obligation on the part of the Government. Neither unsolicited proposals nor any other kinds of offers will be considered in response to this RFI. The Government will NOT accept requests for meetings or briefings. No phone solicitations or email with regards to the status of an RFP will be accepted prior to its release. Information and materials submitted in response to this notice WILL NOT be returned. No entitlement to payment by the Government of direct or indirect costs or charges will arise as a result of the submission

United States Department of Agriculture

Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services

Office of Management, Technology, and Finance

Contracts Management Division

Braddock Place

Alexandria, VA 22314 mailto:Shawnita.Hamm@usda.gov of information in response to this RFI.

The Government will not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any improperly identified proprietary information. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations. If you submit proprietary information, you must clearly mark “PROPRIETARY” on every sheet containing such information and segregate the proprietary information to the maximum extent practical from other portions of your response (e.g., use an attachment or exhibit). Respondents are responsible for adequately marking proprietary information in their response. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked “Proprietary” will be handled accordingly. Do not include promotional materials. An electronic acknowledgement of the vendor’s RFI response submission will be provided. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within one business day, please notify the Contracts Specialist to ensure successful delivery.

Submission Information:

This RFI is issued under General Services Administration’s (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) 541720 Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities and 541611 Management and Financial Consulting, Acquisition and Grants Management Support, and Business Program and Project Management Services, to design and implement a study to understand participant characteristics and program operations of the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).

This study will replicate and expand upon the 2016 FDPIR study conducted by FNS and include an evaluation of the self-determination demonstration projects, which allow Tribes administering FDPIR to directly purchase food for the FDPIR food packages distributed to their Tribe. Based on a representative sample of Tribes and participants, the study will leverage administrative data, case studies, and other mixed method data collection approaches to understand who is participating in the program, how the program is operated, and successes and challenges in implementing the self-determination demonstration projects

(SDDP).

All potential sources with the capability to provide the requirements referenced in this RFI and in the draft PWS are invited to submit, in writing, sufficient information within the page limitation (listed in this section).

Questions from Industry:

Please ask clarifying questions or concerns, if any, regarding this study. The vendor’s questions will be considered when drafting the solicitation.

Responses Due:

All responses will be submitted electronically and emailed to the Contracts Specialist;

Shawnita.Hamm@usda.gov All responses must be received no later than June 26, 2023 @ 5:00PM, Eastern Time.

Submission Format:

Submissions must be in Microsoft Word. The typed font and point for your response to this RFI must be no smaller than Times New Roman 11 point.

Submission Contents:

Your submission, at a page limit of no more than 10 pages

Please see the Attached DRAFT PWS for all proposed technical requirements.

mailto:Shawnita.Hamm@usda.gov

Your capabilities statement/response should include the following;

Company Name, Address, Point of Contact, Email Address:

Unique Entity ID (UEI):

CAGE Code:

GSA contract number:

Company information. NAICS, size standard, small business socio-economic category (8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, EDWOSB, WOSB, etc.):

A brief company overview:

Answers to the following questions:

1) Which GSA Schedules does your organization hold that may accommodate the work

2) described in the draft Performance Work Statement (PWS)? Please provide the schedule number(s).

3) Are the requirements in the draft PWS clear enough to allow you to submit a complete and responsive proposal? If not, please identify the areas that are unclear or contradictory, in your opinion.

4) Are the schedule of deliverables and timelines outlined in the PWS feasible? If not, why?

5) Do you have any other comments or questions that would help you more clearly understand the intent and content of the acquisition artifacts?

6) Will there be significant subcontracting or teaming anticipated in order to deliver technical capability? If so, please address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements.

7) Does your firm have knowledge of the operational aspects of FDPIR?

8) Tribal engagement is an important part of the research process when conducting a study that involves ITOs and Tribal communities, does your firm have experience in successful engagement to these communities? If yes, please expound with an example.

9) Does your firm have experience 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?

The government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to 1) provide services consistent in scope and scale with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated; 2) secure and apply the full range of corporate financial, human capital, and technical resources required to successfully perform similar requirements; 3) implement a successful project management plan that includes: compliance with program schedules; cost containment; meeting and tracking performance; hiring and retention of key personnel and risk mitigation.

We are open to receiving responses from all vendors who believe they possess the requisite expertise and capabilities to undertake this study. We look forward to receiving comprehensive responses that will aid in shaping the future course of completing this study successfully. Please ensure to submit your response within the specified time frame stated in the RFI.

The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).

We are looking to industry experts to help make this Government requirement better for the end user and ultimately reduce the cost to the taxpayer. Thank you for your support.