RFI .docx

U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE)

Title of Project: Web Data Collection

General Information:

This REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) is for market research and planning purposes only and shall not be considered an obligation by the Government to acquire any products or services.

The market research RFI pertains to a procurement called “Web Data Collection,” also referred to by its internal U.S. Department of Education tracking number 2335. Any response(s) to this RFI will help the Department determine whether this procurement should be a small business set aside.

Pursuant to 48 C.F.R. Part 10, the Government is conducting market research to:

· Determine what sources exist that are capable of satisfying the Government’s requirements listed below,

· Determine the capabilities of potential contractors,

· Determine the size and status of potential sources, and

· Determine the level of competition.

The market research RFI is the first step in satisfying these requirements. Capability Statements from interested small-business vendors are requested; however, all businesses are welcome to submit a response. (See instructions below).

While the precise acquisition strategy is to be determined, the Department is contemplating a firm-fixed-price task order award and intends to issue a solicitation this winter with an anticipated award date in the 2nd quarter of the fiscal year.

This is a re-compete of a prior contract.

The anticipated NAICS codes are 541511, Custom Computer Programming Services; 541512, Computer Systems Design Services; and 541519 Other Computer Related Services.

NOTE: These NAICS Codes will be reviewed and may change before releasing the solicitation.

Structure of Capability Statement Responses:

Interested offerors are asked to respond briefly to this Request for Capability Statements, which are no longer than ten (10) pages (excluding cover page, double-spaced, no smaller than 12-point font, a minimum of one-inch margins) with the information detailed below. No additional appendices or separate documents (except comments on the PWS) will be accepted.

1. Company name, Unique Entity ID (UEI) number, company mailing address, company website (if applicable), and point of contact information (one person's name, telephone number, and e-mail address).

2. The company's applicable socioeconomic status and available contract ordering vehicles (including contract numbers), if available.

3. Capabilities Statement that aligns the company's capabilities to the requirements contained in the draft PWS. Please include evidence of relevant experience and expertise.

4. Comments regarding the draft PWS. Please refer to a section or page number with your questions/comments as much as possible. If submitting PWS Comments as a separate document, please note in this section that “comments were submitted separately from the capability statement.”

5. Are there any barriers to making this contracting firm-fixed-price (FFP), as opposed to time and materials? Any feedback should identify which tasks would be challenging to FFP and why.

6. Any additional information the company deems necessary and relevant to this Notice, including but not limited to any perceived barriers to competition, discussion of any proposed teaming arrangements with partners/subcontractors/consultants, or any proposed solutions that the Department may not have considered.

7. Please comment on the appropriateness of the NAICS and PSC codes. Also, please indicate your interest in responding to a solicitation when it is released.

8. Please comment on whether this can be set aside for small businesses.

Offerors should submit Capability Statements and PWS Comments by e-mail to the Contract Specialist, copying the Contracting Officer, by 2:00 PM EST on October 31, 2024. The Contract Specialist is Michael Rivera: michael.rivera@ed.gov, and the Contracting Officer is Katie Opper: katie.opper@ed.gov.

Background of Requirement:

The U.S. Department of Education’s (The Department) Office of Planning, Policy and Innovation (PPI) in the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) requires support for postsecondary data collection and data analysis. The contractor shall support maintenance and updates of the College Affordability and Transparency Center (CATC) list website and the Net Price Calculator (NPS) Center and Information Center websites (including state spending charts and 90/10). The contractor shall also support data collection for the College Affordability and Transparency Explanation Form (CATEF), the Campus Safety and Security (CSS) Survey, the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) Survey, the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), and the Accreditation e-Recognition database.

C. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

The vendor shall meet the following objectives:

· Develop, update, maintain, document, and support IT systems;

· Data Quality Control, Conversion, and Migration;

· Customer Support Services (help desk and user guides/documentation);

· Letters to Survey Respondents (CSS, EADA, CATEF);

· OMB Information Collection Clearance; and

· Data Analysis and Reports.

Draft Performance Work Statement (DPWS): The draft Performance Work Statement (DPWS), which includes the background, the purpose of the task order, legislative authority, scope of work, and tasks and deliverables, is attached for your review.

Disclaimer:

PARTICIPATION IN THE MARKET RESEARCH IN NO WAY INFLUENCES THE SOURCE SELECTION FOR THESE SERVICES.

This is not an invitation for bid, request for proposal, or other solicitation. The sole purpose of this Notice is to inform the industry of this procurement and to begin conducting market research for procurement planning purposes. This Notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to award a task order, nor does the Government intend to pay directly for any information or responses submitted as a result of this Notice. Any task order awarded based on information received or derived from this Notice will be the outcome of the competitive process.