NESA Iraq Capstone INTERPRETATION Sources Sought.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES

1155 DEFENSE PENTAGON

WASHINGTON, DC 20301-1155

Sources Sought Announcement Notice

Near East South Asia Center (NESA) for Strategic Studies

Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) Interpretation Support Services Iraq Iraq Capstone m (RCPAMS) Request for Information

Introduction: The Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) Acquisition Directorate (AD) is conducting market research to locate qualified, experienced, and interested vendors to provide Interpretation Support Services to the DSCA’s Near East South Asia Center (NESA) for Strategic Studies.

This Sources Sought Notice is for informational purposes only. This is not a request for proposal.

It does not constitute a solicitation and shall not be construed as a commitment by the government. This notice neither constitutes a Request for Quote (RFQ), nor does it restrict Washington Headquarters Services, Acquisition Directorate (WHS/AD) to the ultimate acquisition approach. No contract will be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any cost associated with providing information in response to this announcement. Currently no solicitation exists. Therefore, please do not request a copy of the solicitation or Performance Work Statement (PWS). Responses in any form are not offers.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be issued. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

The Government will NOT accept requests for meetings or briefings. No phone solicitations or email with regards to the status of the Request for Quote (RFQ) will be accepted prior to its release. Information and materials submitted in response to this notice WILL NOT be returned.

The Government does not intend to award a contract based on responses received nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted.

As a result of this notice, the Government MAY issue a Request for Quote (RFQ). There is no solicitation available at this time. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice, or the Government’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process, or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement.

CONFIDENTIALITY: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).

Background: The Near East South Asia Center (NESA) for Strategic Studies, supporting the Department of Defense (DoD) and other United States Federal agencies, focuses on countering ideological support for terrorism, fostering regional cooperation on security issues, promoting democracy, and aiding Near East South Asia nations in enhancing their security and defense establishments. NESA's mission is achieved through high-quality academic programs, promoting open and informed dialogue among decision-makers and influential individuals and sustaining institutional partnerships.

Objective: The objective of this requirement is to provide interpretation, on-site support, and offsite support in accordance with PWS at Fort McNair, NESA Center, and D.C. area. The Contractor shall provide support according to the below setup configurations.

An on-site technician required from 19 Jul – 2 Aug 2024 to operate, trouble-shoot, set-up, and repair any problems with the equipment.

• Set up and dismantle equipment

• Operate, troubleshoot and/or repair as needed.

At the discretion of the Technical Point of Contact (TPC), simultaneous interpretation testing may be required on all interpreters prior to contract performance for any interpreter performing interpretation services. NESA staff interpreters will conduct testing/rehearsals to determine if an interpreter cannot perform their duties due to lack of proficiency, experience, and or incompetence. The testing can be conducted after award prior to seminar start date either on the phone or at the venue location.

Substitutions: In the event an interpreter must be replaced after award of the contract, the Contractor must abide by the same requirements as those listed in the PWS. Credentials and resume must accompany the interpreter on the first workday when last minute substitutions are made and must be approved by TPC.

Scope: The Contractor shall provide a 11-day Simultaneous Interpretation Services for Iraq Capstone 01-24 Seminar hosted in the D.C. Metropolitan area. The NESA Center requires expert language interpretation, interpretation equipment, on-site support, off-site support, and translation services into and from English/Kurdish and Kurdish/English, English/Arabic and Arabic/English.

Period of Performance – The period of performance shall be from 19 Jul – 2 Aug 2024.

Security Requirements: The specified activities under this requirement will be conducted in an UNCLASSIFIED setting.

Anticipated Period of Performance: 19 Jul 2024 – 2 Aug 2024.

Place of Performance: Washington, D.C.

Anticipated Contract Type(s): Firm Fixed Price (FFP).

NAICS: The anticipated North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) for this requirement is 541930 – “Translation and Interpretation Services”, Size Standard:

$22,500,000.00.

Estimated Dollar Value: Not applicable.

Submission Details: All interested and qualified business concerns with the capability to deliver the requirements may submit capability statements electronically no later than Friday, May 31, 2024 at 12:00 PM (Eastern) to the following WHS NCR AD Mailbox DSCA Group:

whs.ncr.ad.mbx.dsca-group@mail.mil.

The subject of the email must be titled Subject line: “Sources Sought Notice: Iraq Capstone Interpretation Support Services | <Name of Your Firm>”.

Capabilities statement should address the scope identified above to demonstrate how the firm’s experience relates to the specific areas.

To facilitate a timely and comprehensive review of all submitted responses, firms should respond using the format requested to this Notice. Any deviation from this format may lead to having insufficient information. The Contracting Officer may deem incomplete/insufficient responses received from an interested company as a not capable company. At a minimum, the interested company should provide complete/sufficient responses to the information requested below:

1) Company name, address point of contact name, telephone, email address and web address.

2) Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code and SAM.gov Unique Entity

Identifier (UEI).

Please note to do business with the U.S. Government as a prime contractor your firm must be registered in SAM.gov by the time of award of any resultant contract.

3) Business size and socioeconomic categories as defined in FAR Part 19 (e.g., 8(a), SDB, HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, etc.) for NAICS 611699 – All other Miscellaneous Schools and Instruction

4) Provide a brief description of your firm’s ability to meet scope of the RFI and draft

PWS.

5) A description of Past Performance Information for similar contracts and/or projects accomplished within the last 3 years. The description must include where, when, and for whom each similar contract and/or project was performed and a brief description mailto:whs.ncr.ad.mbx.dsca-group@mail.mil of each contract and/or project, including the size, scope, dollar value, and period of performance.

6) Recommended NAICS codes for this effort with justification. Responses may be used to develop and/or determine which NAICS.

7) Please highlight any information missing from the PWS that would provide a better understanding of the effort desired.

Submission Instructions: The response to this notice is limited to seven (7) single sided pages including all attachments, charts, etc. (single spaced, 10-point font minimum excluding charts and graphics) and should also include current business size status, and any applicable Federal Supply Schedule(s). This indication should be clearly marked on the first page of the response, as well as the eligible business concern’s name, point of contact, address, and cage code.

Proprietary information and trade secrets shall NOT be submitted as part of a response.

Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

The Government shall not be held liable for any damages incurred if proprietary information is submitted, as it is clearly stated this type of information shall NOT be submitted.