Sources Sought Notice Starbase Final 08282024.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

FOR

Training, Assistance, and Assessment Support for the National Guard Youth

Challenge Program and Department of Defense STARBASE Program

I. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: Washington Headquarters Services / Acquisition

Directorate (WHS/AD) is issuing this Sources Sought Notice (SSN) on behalf of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (Reserve

Integration) (OASD/R&RA(RI)). This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. This SSN is for market research purposes ONLY and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal (RFP)/Request for Quote (RFQ) or as an obligation on the part of the requestor to acquire any products or services. WHS/AD is performing market research to determine the availability, interest, and capability of potential firms to provide services as outlined in the attached Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS).

The Government encourages responses from all interested sources, including small business and socioeconomic concerns. Small businesses are defined based on the size standard associated with the NAICS code. For more information, visit:

https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards, and check size status using the SBA Size Standards Tool: https://www.sba.gov/size-standards/index.html.

The Contracting Officer (CO) must determine if there is a reasonable expectation of obtaining offers from two or more responsible small business concerns that are competitive in terms of market prices, quality, and delivery in accordance with FAR 19.502-2(b) and

FAR 19.203. When responding as a small business, please also include any capabilities that would be performed through teaming arrangements (i.e., subcontracting and/or joint ventures). The CO will use the responses received from this notice to determine the appropriate acquisition strategy.

If an RFP/RFQ is issued, it will be issued by the appropriate Government Contracting

Office and posted to the appropriate Government Point of Entry (GPE). The Government will not pay for any information provided nor will it reimburse any costs associated with preparation and submission of responses. All information provided is for Government planning purposes only. If proprietary information is provided, please mark as such.

A. Procurement History for Similar Services:

This acquisition is a follow-on effort under Contract No. HQ0034-19-C-0178 that was awarded to Spectrum Group Members, LLC.

B. Anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code*:

The Government is considering the following NAICS Code for this requirement:

541611 – Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services.

*Additional information on NAICS Codes can be found at www.sba.gov.

Visitwww.sba.gov to learn more about small business size standards and Federal

Contracting programs. Check your size using the SBA Size Standards Tool:

https://www.sba.gov/size-standards/index.html.

C. Anticipated Product Service Code (PSC): The Government is considering the following PSC Codes for this requirement R499 Support – Professional: Other.

D. Anticipated Place of Performance: Work will be performed at the Pentagon, Arlington, VA or other Government sites within the National Capital Region.

E. Anticipated Contract Award Date: March 2025

F. Anticipated Contract Start Date: March 2025

G. Targeted Period of Performance (POP): The estimated POP includes a 12-month base period and four 12-month option periods.

II. INSTRUCTIONS

A. Security Requirements:

All submissions must include verifiable information about its firm’s ability to comply with the security requirements for this effort. Firms, must have a Secret

Facility Clearance at the time of proposal submission. All potential key and proposed personnel will also be required to have a Secret clearance to perform the tasks. WHS/AD does not sponsor any clearance. Please refer to the Draft

PWS for further information on the security requirements.

B. Submission Requirements:

Interested firms should submit a Capabilities Statement addressing all of the requested information in Section II, below. Capabilities Statements should be sent via email to the following email address:

whs.ncr.ad.mbx.eosd-tab-branch@mail.mil, with the Subject Line: “SSN:

STARBASE Program, [Company Name]”

Responses must be submitted no later than September 30, 2024, 11:00AM

(Eastern). Capabilities Statements will not be returned. No phone calls related to this SSN will be accepted. All correspondence shall be via email.

Respondents are limited to ten (10) pages. Text should be 12 pt. font size, left justified and one-inch margins all around. Respondents must submit documents in either MS Word or PDF format. Zipped files will not be accepted. Telephone calls and requests for meetings will not be accepted.

https://www.sba.gov/size-standards/index.html

C. Capabilities Statement Requirements:

Please answer the following questions in your capability statement:

1. A brief three to-five-page synopsis of similar work performed and addressing the ability to provide qualified staff capable of fulfill the areas of subject matter expertise.

2. CAGE Code Number and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

3. Company name and address.

4. Company Point of Contact, phone number and email.

5. NAICS codes associated with the company.

6. The company must identify if they are a small business under NAICS code identified in this notice, and small business concerns must identify their small business category (Example: 8(a) Veteran-Owned Service-Disabled Veteran-

Owned (SDVOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUB Zone)

Certified, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), or Women-Owned Small

Business (WOSB). Identify business size for the NAICS Codes identified in this notice.

7. Identify contracts your company has been awarded under the NAICS Code associated with this action. NAICS – 541611 Administrative Management and

General Management Consulting Services.

8. Specific examples of prior efforts same and/or similar to the STARBASE

Program Support Services, as outlined in the attached Draft PWS.

9. Draft PWS Section 5.2.1 Please provide your experience and examples of a current or recent contract regarding evaluation and assessment of the effectiveness of a residential youth program in terms of recruitment, retention, achievement of academic goals, graduation rates, and long-term placement. Please provide examples of analysis and other statistical functions identified and what recommendations were initiated.

9.1. Draft PWS Section 5.2.2.1 Please provide your experience in a current or recent contract addressing the assessment and evaluation of performance in areas of recruitment, applicant selection, cadet retention, staff retention, staff training, infrastructure, academic achievement of cadets, discipline trends, and other key factors that may become evident. Please provide examples of how such assessment and evaluation was communicated.

9.2 Draft PWS Section 5.3.1 Please provide your experience and examples of a current or recent contract regarding gauging changes in attitudes and behaviors of young people as measured by their interest in STEAM activities in the contexts of education, the military, and future potential careers; increased community awareness, demonstrating good citizenship, and displaying positive social behavior. Please provide examples of how this enhanced the quality of the program.

9.3. Draft PWS Section 5.3.11 Please provide your experience and examples of a current or recent contract regarding technical assistance and support to review, evaluate, and publish up STEM lesson plans to refresh and update establish

STEM curriculum. Please provide examples of how this enhanced the quality of the program.

10. Identify if your company has any available Government-Wide Acquisition

Contract (GWAC) vehicles related to the scope of this requirement as identified in the draft PWS, and provide the contract number for same/similar services.

Responses may be used to determine whether a GWAC can be used (Examples

GSA MAS; OASIS; etc.).

11. Please provide the details (including approximate total contract value) of at least two (2) contracts where your company has performed requirements same or similar to the requirements in the Draft PWS. It is highly preferred that examples be from within the past three to five years.

12. For any Draft PWS task areas where your firm does NOT have experience to demonstrate capabilities, explain how your company would attain those abilities.

(Example: If your company anticipates utilizing subcontractors, please highlight which specific Draft PWS task area and the percentage of subcontracting contemplated to fulfill the requirement.)

13. Subcontracting: Identify the areas in the Draft PWS that your company will perform as a prime contractor, and the areas that your company will collaborate with a subcontractor (if applicable). Explain the reason for performing those areas identified in the Draft PWS as a prime and/or collaborating with a subcontractor, i.e. teaming arrangements and or joint ventures.

14. Subcontracting: For the Draft PWS task areas identified above (#13) that will be subcontracted, identify the percentages that would be allocated to small business(es).

15. Security Clearance: Respondents must provide evidence of an active Secret

Facility Clearance. If the firm does not hold the required facility clearance, the firm should indicate that no facility clearance is currently held, and include a statement for how your firm will meet the clearance requirement within the timeframes of this notice.

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

17. Supplement information (Excluded from Page Count)

a. Please provide track change edits/highlights for any information missing from the PWS that would provide a better understanding of the effort desired.

b. Please highlight any information that is unduly restrictive to small business as listed in the draft PWS.

c. Please indicate how much time your firm would need to prepare a response to an RFP.

d. Would your firm need a transition period? If yes, how long? e.g.: 15 days /

30 days.

e. Are there any task areas you see as moderate to high risks in providing the support services requested, and why?

f. Recommended/suggested NAICS Codes and/or PSC codes for this effort with justification.

g. Recommended/suggested contract type (i.e. FFP, Cost, T&M, LOE, etc.), based on the draft PWS.

h. Please state whether these services are commercially available, yes or no, and state why.

i. Please provide feedback or questions regarding the requirements of the

Draft PWS.