RFI - BLS-OSMR SFC Cog Lab_12.10.24.docx

Department of Labor - OSPE Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought Notice

DESIGN/INSTALLATION COGNITIVE LABORATROY

SPECIAL NOTICE: SOURCES SOUGHT & REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This notice does not represent a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract. The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for information received as a result of this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement and any follow-up information requests to include an invite to further explain/demonstrate aspects of their proposed approach. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. Information provided in response to this RFI is submitted voluntarily and is not being requested as part of a solicitation for actual pricing.

PURPOSE OF RFI:

The purpose of this RFI is to gather information about potential solutions to achieve the following high level objectives:

· Design, provide, install, and maintain hardware and software to support cognitive, behavioral, observational, and interactive research with human subjects in the new Bureau of Labor Statistics Office of Survey Methods Research (OSMR) laboratory facility at the Suitland Federal Center.

· Provide and maintain portable hardware and software to support cognitive, behavioral, observational, and interactive research with human subjects in other locations.

· Provide training to BLS staff.

Responses to this RFI will be reviewed by DOL for their applicability to the Government’s need and determined to be “Relevant” or “Irrelevant” to the above problem. Offerors of “Relevant” responses may be requested to demonstrate their approach and/or product to a Government panel of Subject Matter Experts to help DOL determine the best approach.

BACKGROUND:

OSMR researchers conduct small-scale qualitative and quantitative research with human subjects to support BLS program offices. These research activities involve several methodologies, including (but not limited to) the following:

· User experience testing

· Cognitive interviews

· Respondent debriefings

· Focus groups

The SFC Cognitive Laboratory suite has 4 rooms:

· Observation room, with space for up to 2 individuals and necessary equipment

· Focus group room, with space for up to 13 individuals, including a moderator

· Interview room, with space for up to 2 individuals

· Usability room, with space for up to 3 individuals and necessary equipment

On occasion, OSMR staff will conduct in-person research activities at other locations. In these circumstances, portable lab equipment is required.

OSMR is interested in recording audio and video from the focus group room, interview room, and usability room, and audio from the observation room. OSMR anticipates conducting behavior coding using those recordings. Recordings (in whole or in part) may also be shared with other BLS staff with a need to know.

The Cognitive Laboratory will have its own network within the BLS IT environment. Cloud-based systems are not allowed.

SCOPE

The primary goal of this acquisition is to design, provide, install, and maintain the hardware and software for a (human) behavioral science research laboratory in the Suitland Federal Center.

Services include:

· Review existing/installed power outlets, network and telephone jacks, conduits, and provide input on required adjustments in order to facilitate installation of a fully functional lab.

· Provide equipment (hardware and software) to support a fully functional cognitive and usability laboratory.

· Develop a plan to install the hardware, software, firmware upgrades, configuration, testing, and final commissioning. This includes the schematic drawings and plans for cabling.

· Install the hardware and work with BLS IT to install the software as agreed to in the installation plan.

· Test and configure all equipment. Perform commissioning with the option for BLS personnel to observe. Commissioning must confirm that all equipment and functional requirements are satisfied per BLS requirements. Provide written test results to BLS.

· Provide final as-built drawings of the final installation including plans, schematics, configuration information, and all programming source code used.

· Conduct on-site training on new hardware and software for up to 10 employees on how to use new hardware and software (up to 1 day).

· Maintenance of the hardware and software.

RFI QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Company description, discussion of company capabilities, and general summary of approach to accomplishing the requirements listed in the Purpose and Scope sections of this Request for Information.

1. Historical information (description and length of time providing this service, as well as under what North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) XXXXXXXXX) to the public and other federal agencies.

1. Describe the type of business, including whether it is certified as a small business, a small disadvantaged business, woman-owned business, HUB Zone-certified, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, etc. under NAICS XXXXXXXXX, which contains a size standard of XXXXXXXXXXX.

1. Does your company possess the capabilities to provide the entire range and scope of these requirements? If not, please list which requirements your company can provide.

1. Do any of the listed tasks or requirements unnecessarily drive up potential costs of the work? If so, which ones specifically?

1. Suggested roles and responsibilities of the Company and the Government for each requirement.

1. Suggestions/recommendations to improve scope of services to provide an improved value to the Government.

1. Potential risks that could impact the requirement, whether it is performance risk, technical risk or cost. Please be specific.

1. Issues with scope (either expressed or implied) that may limit a Company’s ability to perform services and ultimately increase the cost to the Government.

RESPONSES TO RFI

RFI responses shall conform to the format below and provide the following information:

1. Cover Letter – The cover letter must include the following information:

· Company name

· Company point of contact, telephone number and email address

· Date submitted

2. Offerors shall respond to each of the general questions.

3. If the offeror chooses not to respond to a question, indicate “no response.”

4. Submit a capabilities package that include the above considerations that demonstrate capabilities and expertise related to the information outlined. As part of the market research associated with this RFI, we are also seeking pricing information. Any pricing information received is to be Rough Order of Magnitude, and is solely for information-gathering and planning purposes.

5. Marketing and/or reference materials, if included, shall be placed at the end of the response, in an appendix.

6. Responses shall not exceed 10 pages, and should be submitted in Microsoft Word .doc or .docx formats, Times New Roman 11-point or 12-point font, with 1-inch margins minimum all around.

RFI SCHEDULE

Responses to the RFI shall be submitted via email to Daniel Garza by 12:00PM EST on Friday, December 20, 2024 at Garza.daniel@dol.gov.

Contracting Officer – Rachael Vargas Email: Vargas.Rachael.N@dol.gov

Questions regarding this RFI shall be e-mailed to the above point of contact by 12:00PM EST on Tuesday, December, 17, 2024. Questions and answers shall be posted as an amendment to this RFI. The Government reserves the right to edit any questions as needed to protect the identity of the source, but absent this consideration, the Government intends to quote each submitted question verbatim in its response.

DISCLAIMER

This RFI is issued for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for information received in response to this RFI. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Information provided in response to this RFI will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for determining how to proceed in the acquisition process for an agency-wide asset management system and may lead to the development of a Performance Work Statement for the system. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.

BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/MARKET RESEARCH, THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES OR PROCURED THROUGH FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION, and multiple awards MAY be made.