SOURCES_SOUGHT_for_State_and_Local_Grant_Support_NTIA.doc

SOURCES SOUGHT

The following proposed contract action is for a stand-alone services contract award with the Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for our customer, The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Solicitation # SB1341-13-RP-0028 Solicitation Title: Program Management and Administrative Support Services for NTIA NAICS Code: 541611: Administrative Management & General Mgmt. Consulting Services SIM CODE: 874-1: Consulting Services

Project Magnitude: $1.5M and $3M The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a requirement for a service contract for our customer, The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).This announcement is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. No solicitation is available at this time. An award will not be made on offers received in response to this notice. This notice is a market research tool being utilized to determine the availability of sources prior to issuing the RFP. In accordance with (IAW) FAR 15.201 (e) responses to this source sought are not offers and cannot be accepted by the government for forming a binding contract. No funds are available to pay for preparation of responses to this announcement. Any information submitted by respondents to this technical description is strictly voluntary.

Proprietary information and trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials. All information received that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. All government and contractor personal reviewing source sought responses will have signed non-disclosure agreements and understand their responsibility for proper use and protection from unauthorized disclosure of proprietary information as described 41 USC 423. The Government shall not be held liable for any damages incurred if proprietary information is not properly identified. Responses will not be returned. No entitlements to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges to the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses, or the Government's use of such information. The information obtained from industries responses to this notice may be used in the development of an acquisition strategy and future RFP.

If issued, the solicitation will utilize source selection procedures, which require offerors to submit technical experience, past performance, safety and price for evaluation by the Government. Estimated award date for this potential contract is SPRING 2013.

The purpose of this sources sought is to identify organizations with the requisite qualifications to provide the services stated herein. Based on capability statements received in response to this Sources Sought Announcement this acquisition may be solicited as a 100% small business set aside. All small business organizations (SB SDB, WOSB, HUBZone, and VOSB and SDVOSB) are encouraged to respond to this notice.

The specific purpose of this sources sought announcement is to determine if there are any small businesses, within the parameters identified above, that are able to provide the services identified below. In order to make a determination for a small business set-aside, two or more qualified and capable small businesses must submit responses that demonstrate their qualifications. Responses must demonstrate the company's ability to perform in accordance with the Limitations on subcontracting clause (FAR 52.219-14). The information obtained from industries responses to this notice may be used in the development of an acquisition strategy and future RFP.

1.

Synopsis:

This request is for a new requirement.

This is a Sources Sought being conducted pursuant to FAR Part 10, Market Research. This is an initial step in the planning process to acquire support for the following requirement: Program Management and Administrative Services. This sources sought announcement is used to determine the availability and technical capability of small businesses (including the following small business subsets, HUBZone Firms; Certified 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Woman Owned Small Business) to provide the required services. The proposed procurement is being considered as a set-aside under small business, section 8(a), HUBZone, Service Veteran Owned Small Business Program or Women-Owned small business concerns.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is seeking information for potential sources to be provided by the Contractor for Program Management and Administrative Support Services for grants administration, outreach, and technical assistance associated with the formation of the State and Local Grant Implementation Program (SLIGP). NTIA plans to design SLIGP as a formula-based, matching grant program to assist states, in collaboration with regional, tribal, and local jurisdictions, with activities related to identifying, planning, and implementing the most effective and efficient means to use and integrate infrastructure, equipment, and architecture associated with the establishment of a nationwide public safety broadband network in that jurisdiction. It is anticipated that a total of 56 grant applications will be received for the SLIGP comprised of applicants from each of the States and territories of the United States.

2.

Contract/Program Background:

On February 22, 2012, President Obama signed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (“Act”). The Act meets a long-standing priority of the Obama Administration to create a single, nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network that will, for the first time, allow police officers, fire fighters, emergency medical service professionals, and other public safety officials to communicate with each other across agencies and jurisdictions. Public safety workers have long been hindered by incompatible, and often outdated, communications equipment and this Act will help them to do their jobs more safely and effectively.

The Act establishes the First Responder Network Authority (“FirstNet”) as an independent authority within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and authorizes it to take all actions necessary to ensure the design, construction, and operation of a nationwide public safety broadband network (“PSBN”), based on a single, national network architecture. FirstNet is responsible for, at a minimum, ensuring nationwide standards for use and access of the network; issuing open, transparent, and competitive requests for proposals (RFPs) to build, operate and maintain the network; leveraging, to the maximum extent economically desirable, existing commercial wireless infrastructure to speed deployment of the network; and overseeing contracts with non-federal entities to build, operate, and maintain the network.

Additionally, the Act charges NTIA with establishing a grant program to assist State, regional, tribal, and local jurisdictions to identify, plan, and implement the most efficient and effective means to use and integrate the infrastructure, equipment, and other architecture associated with the nationwide PSBN to satisfy the wireless and data services needs of their jurisdiction. Up to $135 million will be available to NTIA for the State and Local Implementation grant program (SLIGP). NTIA established initial requirements for this program on (i.e., August 20, 2012).

Information about the program can be obtained from NTIA’s PSBN website, http://www.ntia.doc.gov/category/public-safety Therefore, NTIA is seeking program management and administrative services to support their duties with the formation and implementation of SLIGP.

3.

Required Capabilities:

NTIA requires the following:

The Base Period of Performance will be 12 months from March 1, 2013 through February 28, 2014. There will be two (2) additional Option Years of 12 months each. Option period #1 is from March 1, 2014 through February 28, 2015 and Option Period #2 is from March 1, 2015 through February 29, 2016.

The Government requires contractor staff to assist with the program management and administrative support of 56 public safety grants. The contractor staff will have demonstrated skills in project management and successful implementation of federal matching grant programs. Additionally, the government requires contractor staff with experience in public relations; communications and outreach; and meeting planning.

The contractor shall provide the following functionality:

Grants Administration: Subject to activities of FirstNet, NTIA expects to issue a Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) and open the grant application window during the first quarter of calendar year 2013. This FFO notice will provide information on topics including: the amount of funding available for award and how NTIA will allocate funds to applicants, instructions on the application process, and the evaluation criteria for application review. It is anticipated that a total of 56 grant applications will be received for the SLIGP, comprised of applicants from each of the States and territories of the United States. It is anticipated all applications will be received no later than March 1, 2013, the review period will commence in early March, and the grants will be awarded by June 1, 2013. It is likely that each grant will have a three year period of performance.

Pre-Award : Provide administrative support for the peer reviewer process and post-review summaries of comments.

Post Award: Support the entire grant process, including award documentation, records management, grant monitoring, and close-out procedures. Support to the Federal Program Officer (FPO) in the operations and administration of the grants.

Outreach and Technical Assistance: Support effective and efficient outreach and technical assistance to the program’s stakeholders. Support in conducting outreach and technical assistance activities with grantees, such as workshop support, developing tools and mechanisms for ongoing recipient education, such as webinars, fact sheets, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and e-newsletters.

4.

Submission Details:

Responses should include:

1) Business name, address and phone;

2) Name of company representative and their business title;

3) Type of Small Business;

4) Cage Code;

5) Website, if applicable

6) A description of relevant service equivalency, corporate experience and past performance

7) Contract vehicles that would be available to the Government for the procurement of the services include only GSA MOBIS.

Respond: Vendors who wish to respond to this should send responses electronically via email by January 14, 2013 by 11:00AM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) to Deborah Coons at deborah.coons@nist.gov. Interested businesses should submit a brief capabilities statement package (no more than seven pages) demonstrating ability to perform the services listed in this Sources Sought.

Questions or clarifications to this Source Sought must be submitted electronically via email to Deborah Coons at deborah.coons@nist.gov, the Contracting Officer. The opportunity for clarification of this Source Sought will not change the submission date identified above. Oral communications are not permissible. Marketing brochures and/or generic company literature will not be considered. FedBizOpps will be the sole repository for all information related to this announcement.

The total number of pages to reply to this source sought shall not exceed 5 pages.

NOTE: All vendors need to be registered in CCR for contract award. www.sam.gov No electronic capabilities statement will be accepted.

Capabilities Statements are due on Monday, January 14, 2013 by 11am Eastern Standard Time.

Once the results of this market research are obtained and analyzed for NIST's minimum requirements, NIST may solicit a competitive procurement and subsequently award contract. Stay tuned to www.fbo.gov for all future contract announcements from NIST.

Contracting Office Address:

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY (NIST)

Attn: Debbie Coons, Contract Specialist

100 BUREAU DR. BLDG 301 /ROOM 158 GAITHERSBURG, MD 20899

E-mail: deborah.coons@nist.gov