FEWS NET 8 Data Learning and Communications Hub Draft RFI.pdf

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

Sources Sought Number: 19AQMM26-RFI-0001 Date of Issue: June 12, 2026 Issued By: U.S. Department of State Issued Through: U.S. Department of State Office of Grants Administration Closing Date and Time for Submissions: June 23, 2026, 2:00 PM EST

Subject: FEWS NET 8 Data, Learning, and Communications Hub – Sources Sought Notice/Request for Information

PURPOSE

This is a Sources Sought Notice (SSN) / Request for Information (RFI) issued by the U.S.

Department of State (“the Department”). This is not a solicitation for work or a request for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations, and shall not be construed as an obligation on the part of the Department. Interested organizations may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirements described below by responding to the questions outlined below. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this SSN/RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Department to form a binding contract. Responses to this SSN/RFI are strictly voluntary and the Department will not pay respondents for information provided in response to this SSN/RFI. The purpose of this notice is to conduct market research to gauge the interest and capabilities of industry.

Background:

The U.S. Department of State’s Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) program comprises a globally recognized set of integrated activities that produce credible, evidence-driven, and timely analysis of current and forecast food insecurity around the world.

Created by the U.S. Government immediately following famine that claimed over a million lives in East Africa from 1983 to 1985, FEWS NET’s primary objective has remained constant over the years: to ensure that the United States has the requisite food security-related decision support to ensure timely, efficient, and appropriate humanitarian assistance. FEWS NET forecasts are essential inputs into the U.S. Government’s budgetary, policy, and programmatic processes, and as food insecurity increases globally with increasing conflict, extreme weather events, and emergence of novel diseases, demand for FEWS NET's data, analysis, and services has correspondingly increased.

The U.S. Government has consistently encouraged FEWS NET to seek out, develop, and incorporate emerging and existing state-of-the-art technical capabilities in its early warning, data collection and management, analysis, monitoring, and assessment activities. The spirit of innovation that has characterized the program from the outset will continue through the design and implementation of FEWS NET 8, including the FEWS NET Data, Learning, and Communications Hub.

FEWS NET 8:

FEWS NET’s work is organized under four workstreams:

Emergency Food Security Analysis

• FEWS NET’s Decision Support contract delivers timely, accurate, and transparent assessments of current and projected acute food insecurity. This team maintains a strong field presence in regions vulnerable to acute food insecurity and has the flexibility to respond to emerging crises. By leveraging advanced forecasting methods and scenario development, the team provides decision-makers with actionable insights to anticipate and mitigate food security shocks. A key priority is strengthening local and regional capacity to produce and use high-quality evidence for decision-making.

Knowledge Base

• The FEWS NET Knowledge Base contract collects and maintains the foundational evidence that underpins FEWS NET’s analysis. This includes livelihood baselines and market fundamentals studies, which provide critical insights into household economies and market systems. They form the basis for FEWS NET’s regular monitoring and scenario planning, ensuring that analysis is grounded in robust, context-specific data.

Scientific and Technical Partnerships

• FEWS NET collaborates with NOAA, NASA, USGS, and USDA to integrate cutting-edge agroclimatology, remote sensing, and other scientific innovations into its work.

These partnerships enhance FEWS NET’s ability to monitor and forecast food security outcomes in an increasingly complex and volatile global environment. By leveraging advanced science and technology, FEWS NET remains at the forefront of global food security analysis.

Data, Learning, and Communications Hub

• The Hub serves as the central platform for organizing, curating, and disseminating FEWS NET data, knowledge products, and analytical outputs. It manages core systems such as the FEWS NET website (www.fews.net), the FEWS NET Data Warehouse, and other platforms that enable collaboration and information sharing across teams and partners. The Hub ensures that FEWS NET information is widely accessible, understandable, and actionable—both for internal use and for external stakeholders, including governments, humanitarian agencies, and the research community.

Summary Statement of Work:

The FEWS NET Knowledge, Learning and Data Hub: 1) gathers, prepares for analysis, visualizes, and distributes data and information to efficiently and effectively inform FEWS

NET analysis, which in turn informs U.S. Government (USG) policy and program decision-making to address current and emerging threats of hunger; and 2) collaborates with other national, regional and international organizations, agencies, and the research community to better understand the nature of threats to global food security and stability, and possible responses to them.

Through this SSN/RFI, the Department seeks to refine the scope of work planned for the next phase of the FEWS NET Data, Learning, and Communications Hub (“the Hub”), 2026-2031, ensuring that the project adapts and evolves to meet the changing face of food insecurity in an increasingly volatile world. These activities include:

1. Serving as the Central Repository and Distribution Point: The Hub will remain the authoritative source for FEWS NET data, knowledge products, and analytical outputs. It will manage the FEWS NET website (www.fews.net), the FEWS NET Data Warehouse, and related platforms to ensure timely, secure, and user-friendly access for decision-makers worldwide.

2. Strengthening Program Integration and Knowledge Management: The Hub will enable seamless collaboration across FEWS NET teams and partners by implementing advanced knowledge management systems. These systems will organize, link, and standardize data, communications, and analytical outputs, ensuring that insights flow efficiently between field teams, technical specialists, and external stakeholders.

3. Strategic Communications to Support Decision-Making: The Hub will develop and execute a comprehensive communications strategy to translate complex food security analysis into actionable insights for policymakers, humanitarian actors, and development partners, and to cultivate an appropriately broad audience for the multi-sectoral array of data and analysis produced by FEWS NET. This includes producing clear, timely, and targeted information products that inform critical decisions during emerging crises.

4. Promoting Transparency and Open Access: The Hub will prioritize open data principles in line with OPEN Government Data legislation, ensuring that national and regional institutions and users can access and use FEWS NET data and tools. By fostering broad accessibility, the Hub supports food security monitoring and response systems through shared, evidence-based understanding of food assistance needs in countries around the world.

5. Managing and Optimizing a Large-Scale Data Infrastructure: The Hub will maintain and enhance FEWS NET’s Data Warehouse, which currently houses more than 22 million data points spanning decades of food security indicators. This includes implementing rigorous data governance of qualitative and quantitative data, improving query performance, and ensuring interoperability with external systems to support advanced analytics and forecasting.

6. Developing a Functional Knowledge Graph: The Hub will convert 40 years of FEWS NET reports, assessments, and datasets into a structured, queryable knowledge graph. This graph will represent entities such as countries, livelihood zones, hazards, and outcomes, and their relationships over time. By applying graph-based data modeling and linked data principles, the Hub will enable complex semantic queries and deeper insights across historical and current information.

Sources Sought Notice/Request For Information Submission:

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. Interested parties are invited to submit a response to the requested information below in English using the following link: FEWS NET 8 Data, Learning and Communications Contract - Sources Sought Google Form. All submissions must be submitted by the closing date and time noted on page 1 of this notice.

Note, the questionnaire below is for reference purposes only. Please respond directly to the questions in the Google Form.

NOTE: respondents are required to sign in to Google to participate. If you are signed in to Google and have issues accessing the Google Form please email coffeyk1@state.gov for assistance. The RFI number must be included in the subject line of your email. Responses to the RFI will not be accepted at this email address. Responses submitted outside of the Google Form will not be accepted.

Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to submit a response to this RFI. Any information submitted in response to this notice is done so voluntarily. Not responding to this request does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if any is issued, and responding will not be counted toward a future proposal. This is an opportunity to influence future State Department investments, and contributions are seen as a critical part of the design process. The Department is grateful for contributions and appreciates the value of collective effort in this important endeavor. Thank you for your interest in State Department programs.

Questionnaire:

1. Organization/firm name and address

2. Point of Contact(s): Name and title

3. Primary field(s) of work, e.g., food security, communications, journalism, data and information management, research, GIS, AI/ML, adult education, etc.

4. Is the organization/firm registered in the System for Award Management (SAM)?

5. List Federal Supply Schedules (GSA, etc.) or Government-wide Acquisition Contracts your organizations holds, if applicable:

a. 541618

b. 541620

c. 541690

d. 541611

e. 541330

f. 541990

6. Select all NAICS that apply to your organization/firm https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZT4MYXJnzDs4XpZ8UOH9t0L_T1hiS_AXdS42R6wmiw0sejg/viewform?usp=header https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZT4MYXJnzDs4XpZ8UOH9t0L_T1hiS_AXdS42R6wmiw0sejg/viewform?usp=header https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1E0Rn-OPkyW2OLP-FDmiZwvkaZMGfQNfR2yW77W67lKs/edit mailto:coffeyk1@state.gov https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1E0Rn-OPkyW2OLP-FDmiZwvkaZMGfQNfR2yW77W67lKs/edit

7. Provide a list of up to 5 customers and contracts covering the past three years for work considered most relevant to the description of need.

8. Business Designation (Check all that apply)

a. U.S. Small Business

b. U.S. Large Business

c. Non-U.S Organization

d. Non-Governmental Organization

e. Educational Institution

f. Minority Serving Institution

g. Women-Owned Small Business

h. Small Disadvantaged Business

i. 8(a) Small Business

j. Veteran-Owned Small Business

k. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business

l. HUBZone Small Business

m. Other:

9. Where is your organization based

a. United States

b. Other

Businesses should provide clear and unambiguous evidence in response to any or all of the following questions to substantiate their capability to fulfill any or all of the areas of work sought. Please describe the firm’s in-house experience addressing the activities described in this RFI. “In-house” means direct experience, not experience obtained through subcontracting the implementation of the referenced work or requirement (other than the field work) to other firms. Each question allows a maximum response length of approximately one-half page.

10. Data Architecture and Multi-User Integration: What experience does your organization have in designing, maintaining, and scaling large, integrated data systems that support multiple user groups and diverse technical domains? What principles and methodologies guided your approach to ensuring interoperability, data integrity, and usability across these systems?

11. Defining and Managing Global Scope: FEWS NET’s mandate for “global” coverage will require iterative refinements to definitions, scope, and priorities as budgets and client needs evolve. Does your organization have experience implementing global-scale activities under similar conditions? How have you managed mid-course adjustments to scope or parameters, and what lessons have you learned about negotiating and operationalizing such changes effectively?

12. Strategic Communications for Decision Support: What communications strategies and capabilities are most effective for a program like FEWS NET, which must translate complex, technical analysis into actionable insights for humanitarian decision-making?

How would you ensure clarity, timeliness, and relevance for diverse audiences during emerging crises? What is your organization’s experience with developing communications strategies? What is your organization’s experience with engaging with journalists and communicators from both mainstream and social media? What are the most effective approaches for engaging and communicating with both technical and generalist users of complex and technical information?

13. Learning Strategy for Diverse Stakeholders: FEWS NET engages stakeholders ranging from local communities to global policymakers, all requiring access to learning resources to effectively use FEWS NET’s data and analysis. What implications does this diversity have for designing and implementing an inclusive learning strategy, platform, and content? What approaches have you found effective for balancing technical rigor with accessibility across multiple sectors and audiences?

14. Building a Knowledge Graph from Historical Data: FEWS NET plans to transform 40 years of reports, assessments, and datasets into a structured, queryable knowledge graph that captures entities (e.g., countries, livelihood zones, hazards, outcomes) and their relationships over time. What experience does your organization have with graph-based data modeling and linked data principles? What approaches would you recommend for ontology design, entity resolution, and maintaining semantic consistency across heterogeneous historical datasets?

15. Feedback and comments on the attached draft Scope of Work (SOW): Constructive feedback of all sorts is welcomed and will not prejudice the organization in any way for any future award.

DRAFT FOR COMMENT

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1. CONTEXT FOR THE NEW FEWS NET DATA, LEARNING AND

COMMUNICATIONS HUB SCOPE OF WORK

The general function of FEWS NET’s Data, Learning, and Communications Hub (the Hub) under previous phases of the activity has been to manage, derive added value from, share, and facilitate the application of data, information, and knowledge to food security early warning, monitoring, analysis, communication, and response.

Under this next phase, the general focus and the principal activities of the current Hub are generally intended to continue without disruption while creating space and opportunity for continued evolution. Below is a current problem statement and theory of change that drive the Department’s vision of the Scope of Work for the FEWS NET Data, Learning, and Communications Hub.

C.1.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Providing accurate and timely analysis of food insecurity, especially predictive analysis that informs effective responses, depends on integrating three core data and information processes:

a. Understanding household access and coping strategies: How people typically and currently access food, earn income, acquire assets, and meet other essential needs,

b. Monitoring systemic drivers and shocks: Broad observation of environmental, economic, social, and infrastructural factors to identify current or emerging disruptions that affect a population’s ability to secure food and income;

c. Communicating actionable insights: Delivering clear, evidence-based information on the nature, extent, duration, and severity of acute food insecurity—and its underlying drivers—to decision-makers at all levels, including governments, humanitarian actors, and affected communities themselves.

Over decades, FEWS NET has built a robust foundation of data, knowledge, and analytic methods for monitoring and understanding household food insecurity in approximately 40 countries. These contexts are often characterized by limited food access, driven by poverty, low local production, weak entitlements, and few options for protecting food access beyond household resources. Developing reliable approaches to monitor and measure these dynamics in vulnerable, often remote populations has been a major achievement for FEWS NET and the broader food security community.

However, the scope and complexity of food security challenges have evolved significantly since the mid-2000s. Globalization of food and fuel markets, first highlighted during the 2008 price crisis, has introduced new vulnerabilities. National and local markets, once relatively insulated, are now deeply interconnected within global supply chains. This interdependence can provide resilience when local production fails, but it also exposes communities to external shocks, including price volatility and supply disruptions originating far beyond their borders.

Recent events underscore this reality. The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine disrupted global grain exports, triggering acute food insecurity risks in countries already strained by high prices since 2020. These crises reveal critical trends:

a. Market-based food supply matters as much as household access. Monitoring global production, consumption, trade flows, and transaction-level movements of staple foods is now essential for early warning.

b. Vulnerability extends beyond traditionally food-insecure countries. Nations considered middle-income can face severe food crises with profound political and economic consequences.

c. Impacts are multidimensional. Food supply shocks may manifest less in malnutrition and mortality, and more in instability, migration, weakened institutions, and economic disruption issues central to U.S. foreign policy priorities.

d. Data exists but requires integration and application. Much of the information needed to monitor global supply chains is available through commercial sources, open datasets, and specialized providers. The challenge is identifying, accessing, and leveraging these data for early warning and food security analysis.

The goal remains clear:

Deliver timely, relevant, and evidence-based analysis on the causes, levels, and consequences of food insecurity to decision-makers at international, national, and local levels.

While not all needs can be fully addressed within the Hub’s scope of work, this phase represents a critical opportunity to begin adapting FEWS NET’s systems, partnerships, and analytical capabilities to meet these evolving challenges.

C.2. FEWS NET DATA, LEARNING, and COMMUNICATIONS HUB FEATURES

The Data, Learning, and Communications Hub is responsible for managing and improving FEWS NET’s core data and knowledge infrastructure, ensuring that information is accessible, reliable, and actionable for decision-makers. The Hub’s activities include:

C.2.1 FEWS NET Data Warehouse (FDW)

The FDW is the central repository for FEWS NET’s data assets. The contractor will maintain and enhance FDW operations, including data ingestion, cleaning, documentation, storage, extraction, updating, and distribution to users. The Hub will continue technical collaboration with FEWS NET’s Decision Support team, Knowledge Base team, and interagency agroclimatology partners to ensure data integrity and usability.

Key responsibilities include:

• Facilitating a monthly data sprint process inclusive of all relevant FEWS NET teams and partners

• Managing FDW data domains (Crop, Price, Trade, Response, Nutrition, Population, Spatial, and historical food insecurity classifications) and maintaining global sub-national coverage

• Maintaining automated analyses of high-frequency global food-related commodity market and trade data to monitor trends in:

▫ National food-related commodity production and consumption in import-dependent countries

▫ National food balances and projected exportable stocks

▫ Patterns of food-related commodity trade among nations

• Supporting other FEWS NET teams in data curation, automation, and visualization to ensure consistency and efficiency across all analytic products

• Managing interoperability with external systems and linking FDW to agroclimatology datasets from partners such as USGS, NASA, and NOAA

• Maintaining the underlying technical architecture, including Django-based web applications, REST APIs, PostgreSQL/PostGIS databases, and AWS hosting infrastructure

• Obtaining and integrating additional data based on the evolving needs of the FEWS NET program

C 2.2 FEWS NET Website

The Hub manages the FEWS NET website (www.fews.net), which serves as the primary platform for delivering food security information, analysis, and data. Responsibilities include:

• Maintaining and improving website functionality and content management systems to ensure timely posting of reports, maps, and graphics

• Facilitating a monthly web sprint process inclusive of all relevant FEWS NET teams and partners

• Providing user-friendly access to content in multiple languages (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese)

• Ensuring the website reflects the full range of FEWS NET activities and products, including Hub outputs and agroclimatology resources.

• Maintaining high availability and secure operations during transitions and updates.

https://www.fews.net/

• Supporting a unified “One FEWS NET” look and feel across all communications and digital products.

C.2.3. Knowledge, Learning, and Communications

The Hub will develop and implement strategies to improve internal collaboration and external awareness of FEWS NET data and knowledge products. Activities include:

• Developing a robust communications strategy and implementing a strategic communications function to ensure FEWS NET information reaches the right audiences at the right time through effective channels and formats

• Developing and maintaining a centralized Client Relationship Management system

• Ensuring FEWS NET’s data and resources are shared professionally and consistently with its large and diverse global user base

• Developing interactive tools and visualizations for self-directed data exploration

• Linking data and information resources across the FEWS NET website, FDW, and partner platforms

• Extending learning platform content and documentation to meet diverse user needs.

C.2.4 Knowledge Graph Development

The Hub will transform FEWS NET’s historical archive of reports, assessments, and datasets into a structured, queryable knowledge graph. This graph will represent entities such as countries, livelihood zones, hazards, and outcomes, and their relationships over space and time.

The contractor will apply graph-based data modeling, ontology design, and entity resolution techniques to ensure semantic consistency across heterogeneous datasets. The knowledge graph will enable advanced querying, pattern detection, and integration with external data sources, creating a dynamic knowledge base that supports deeper insights and more sophisticated early warning capabilities.

C.2.5 Data Delivery for Humanitarian Response Planning

The Hub will operate an FDW-based data delivery system to provide the Department with timely data and analysis for humanitarian assistance planning. This includes agricultural production data, price and trade flow insights, and assistance commitments from other donors.

The Hub will also maintain the “Response” data domain to track inputs into food access and supply for vulnerable countries.

C.2.6 Maintain the Compliance of FEWS NET Learning, Knowledge and Data Products with Department and USG Standards

The contractor shall ensure FEWS NET FDW and Website systems, data and products remain consistent, in their management, delivery, and use, with:

• USG Open Data legislation;

• All Department and US Government security, IT, data, and related requirements, guidelines, policies, and procedures; and

• Requirements related to privacy and data protection guidelines.

C.3. TRANSITION PLANNING

The contractor will develop a transition plan for the start and end of FEWS NET 8, to ensure there are no gaps in the delivery of critical information to the Department and broader USG.

-END OF SECTION C-