REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) UNITE BPA - 49100424K0015.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

This is not a request for proposal (RFP) or request for quotation (RFQ) and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Market Research is being conducted at this time for the sole purpose of determining interest and capability of potential sources currently available to mee the needs of National Science Foundation.

BACKGROUND / PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Introduction: The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to enhance its operational efficiency and innovation capabilities through the establishment of a new Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) titled Unified Network for Innovative Technology and Engineering (UNITE). This initiative is designed to streamline procurement processes, leverage advanced technologies, and foster strategic partnerships. By introducing UNITE, the NSF aims to significantly improve the way it acquires administrative, technical, and professional services. This BPA will be a utilitarian means for supporting the NSF’s diverse and resilient federal marketplace, drive procurement cost savings, and creating a broad-spectrum contract vehicle that leverages the broad talents of Small disadvantaged vehicles.

Background: The NSF currently faces challenges in swiftly adapting to technological advancements and efficiently managing its procurement processes. Existing processes face challenges due that can affect efficiency and effectiveness of overall performance such as duplication of effort, complex and lengthy procurement processes, limited flexibility, contract management and oversight challenges, budget constraints etc. which can hinder the NSF's ability to support cutting-edge innovation effectively. The idea for UNITE emerged from an extensive review of these challenges, coupled with the recognition of an opportunity to consolidate services under a single BPA framework. UNITE was conceptualized through a collaborative initiative between the Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) and the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) divisions partnering on the SEATS Contract. The collaboration aimed to significantly enhance research and educational efforts within computer and information science and engineering fields, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, supporting investigator-led projects, and cultivating a technologically proficient workforce advancing national cyberinfrastructure, and facilitating research and educational activities. The establishment of the UNITE BPA is a proactive step towards modernizing procurement and addressing the NSF’s small business goals.

Objectives: The National Science Foundation (NSF) enterprise-wide UNITE BPA enables NSF to efficiently access pre-qualified teams of Small Business Contractor Teaming Arrangements (CTA) contractors (partnered with small and large business subcontractors) to provide best-value solutions to meet technical, engineering, and programmatic type services.

The BPA is comprised of the following four BPA Task Areas:

1. Professional Services - Business Administrative Services

· NAICS 541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

2. Professional Services - Technical and Engineering Services (non-IT)

3. Professional Services – Training

· NAICS 611430 - Professional and Management Development Training

4. Professional Services - Marketing and Public Relations

· 561920 - Convention and Trade Show Organizers

CAPABILITY STATEMENT FORMAT

Interested parties that have the capability of providing administrative and subject matter experts in support of NSF Program Offices are requested to submit a capability statement and the following company information:

a. Number of years’ experience and description of experience providing administrative and subject matter support to a government agency program Office, and third-party advisory professional type services.

b. Business size under NAICS 541611, 541330, 541990, 611430, and 561920.

c. Responses to “relevant” question areas of the attached RFI Response sheet. Respondents do not need to provide answers for all sections, only sections relevant to respondent’s capabilities.

d. Current Federal Government contracts (if any)

e. Name, address and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) of respondent.

f. Point of contact email address and phone number.

Capability statements shall be no more than 15 pages in length. All costs associated with the preparation of the capability statement are the sole responsibility of the respondents.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Interested vendors shall submit capability statements to Devin Faggs dfaggs@nsf.gov and Jonathan Schmeelk jschmeel@nsf.gov by March 22, 2024, at 9:00AM EST.

Questions and comments on any Statement of work (SOW) may be submitted in a separate document, limited to two pages in length alongside the capability statements.

Please note: Any SOW provided as an attachment are potential perspective orders against a potential NSF wide UNITE BPA and are provided to give potential contractors of potential work on the prospective UNITE BPA. The SOWs provided are only a very limited representation of NSF exigent needs and do not represent future needs.

All submissions shall use 12-point (or larger) Times New Roman font and be single-spaced (at least equivalent to Microsoft® Word’s “Single” line-spacing option). All pages shall be 8.5” x 11” and have, at a minimum, one-inch margins on all sides.

Responses to these notices are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.

Attached Documents:

Fill Out:

· Unite BPA - Market Intelligence RFI Response Sheet

Documents To Provide Understanding of Objectives

· SYNOPSIS - (UNITE) BPA

· NSF SEATS I BPA Ordering Guide

· Workshop logistics - SOW - IDIQ

· SEATS _BPA_ TIP SOW

· SEATS Statement of Work_CISE

· SOW for Innovation and Technology Ecosystems Workshops._