Sources Sought EOP V.docx

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This Sources Sought Notice is a means of obtaining feedback from contractors concerning the requirements stated below, under Description of the Requirement, which is part of the acquisition planning and market research phase for this procurement. The industry input received from this Sources Sought Notice will aid in determining available sources that can meet the Government’s below stated requirements and may be considered in the preparation of the official solicitation package.

This Sources Sought Notice does not constitute a solicitation. Instead, it is an opportunity for the Department of Energy (DOE) to maximize small business participation in the Energy Information Administration Omnibus Procurement (EOP) V by measuring the capacity and competency of small business to perform in all areas of this acquisition. Furthermore, we are interested in the capabilities and interest of other than small business in this procurement. Previous RFIs have been posted to SAM.gov and shared via GSA’s Market Research as a Service.

We anticipate the release of the Request for Proposals in the 3rd or 4th quarter of this calendar year.

SUBJECT: Sources Sought Notice for the EOP V Competition.

INTRODUCTION:

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. DOE. EIA collects, analyzes, and disseminates independent and impartial energy information to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding of energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment. EIA is the nation's premier source of energy information and, by law, its data, analyses, and forecasts are independent of approval by any other officer or employee of the U.S. Government.

To accomplish its mission, EIA conducts a comprehensive data collection program that covers the full spectrum of energy sources, end uses, and energy flows. EIA also prepares informative energy analyses, monthly short-term forecasts of energy market trends, and long-term U.S. and international energy outlooks. EIA disseminates its data products, analyses, reports, and services to customers and stakeholders primarily through its website. EIA has a broad range of stakeholders, with its major customers including Congress, Federal and State governments, the private sector, the broader public, and the media.

EIA requires follow-on technical, managerial, and project support services in the areas of energy information and statistical data analysis. Specifically, EIA requires contractor performance in the following task areas in order to successfully accomplish these objectives:

1. Program Management

2. Survey Operations

3. Energy Analysis and Modeling

4. Information Technology Support

5. Product/Service Development, Production, and Marketing

6. Organizational Support

If your firm is interested in this requirement and has performed similar projects, we request the information shown below. All business sizes under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 518210 should consider submitting a response to this notice (note: see Submission Instructions, “D,” below).

As permitted by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10, this is a market research tool being utilized for informational and planning purposes. Your responses will assist the Government in the development of its acquisition strategy for a possible Request for Proposals (RFP), to be issued at a later date, and in determining whether there are contractors capable of completing these requirements.

This notice shall not be construed as an RFP or as any commitment or obligation on the part of the Government to issue a solicitation. The Government does not intend to award a contract based on this request, so quotes will not be considered. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this synopsis or any follow-up information requests.

Response is strictly voluntary – it is not mandatory to submit a response to this notice to participate in any formal RFP process that may take place in the future. However, it should be noted that information gathered through this notice may significantly influence our acquisition strategy. All interested parties will be required to respond separately to any solicitations posted as a result of this Sources Sought Notice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REQUIREMENT:

The anticipated period of performance for EOP V is a 10-year base with no options. EOP V will be a multiple-award Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.

Background:

EIA’s mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate independent and impartial energy information to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding of energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment. EIA is the Nation’s premier source of energy information and, by law, its data, analyses, and forecasts are independent of approval by any other officer or employee of the U.S. Government.

EIA conducts a relevant, reliable, and timely data collection program that covers the full spectrum of energy sources, end-uses, and energy flows; generates short- and long-term domestic and international energy projections; and performs informative energy analyses. EIA communicates its statistical and analytical products primarily through its website and customer contact center.

Purpose and Objectives:

The EIA has the following requirements to fulfill its mission:

1) Develop, manage, operate, and maintain comprehensive energy data collection programs and systems.

2) Develop, manage, operate, and maintain U.S. and international energy models for forecasting and performing energy-related analyses.

3) Disseminate, communicate, and promote the results of these activities to a wide range of stakeholders.

EIA requires contractor performance in the following task areas in order to successfully accomplish these objectives:

1. Program Management

2. Survey Operations

3. Energy Analysis and Modeling

4. Information Technology Support

5. Product/Service Development, Production, and Marketing

6. Organizational Support

The need for unbiased, statistically-sound energy data information has never been greater and EIA’s products and services will continue to help promote sound policy decision making, provide for efficient markets, and generate greater public understanding. Therefore, the primary objective of this acquisition is to ensure that EIA acquires the energy-industry and technical resources necessary to accomplish its primary mission. Specifically, EIA plans to achieve its objectives as follows:

1. Conduct EIA’s data collection programs in the most efficient manner, incorporating best business, survey, statistical practices, and standardized methods, introducing innovative solutions, and utilizing state-of-the-art technology whenever possible.

2. Advance EIA’s forecasting and analysis programs with inventive, statistically-sound methods and techniques, and knowledge of energy marketplace dynamics.

3. Continue to develop and deploy electronic products and services using state-of-the-art technology and engaging EIA’s wide range of stakeholders on an on-going basis to better understand their ongoing and emerging needs.

4. Improve IT integration support across EIA to streamline services and improve coherence and performance.

5. Conduct contract management activities by continuing to adopt best management practices and standardized reporting.

Project Requirements Description of Service Areas

The following Service Areas describe the intended focus of this contract:

1. Program Management

2. Survey Operations

a. Survey Operations for EIA’s Non-Supply Based Surveys

b. Survey Operations for EIA’s Supply Based Surveys

3. Energy Analysis and Modeling

4. Information Technology Support

5. Product/Service Development Production and Marketing

6. Organizational Support

See attachment entitled, “Draft Performance Work Statement EOP V,” for the full Project Requirements.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

All interested contractors that are certified small business concerns (please specify which type) or other than small business concerns who believe they can meet the requirements described in this Sources Sought Notice are invited to submit, in writing, complete information describing their ability to provide the deliverables under this effort.

Qualified firms shall submit a statement of interest on company letterhead demonstrating the firm’s qualifications to perform the defined work. Responses must be complete and sufficiently detailed to address the specific information. The documentation shall address, at a minimum, the following:

A. Company Profile, to include:

1. Company name and address;

2. Affiliate information, parent company, joint venture partners, and potential teaming partners;

3. Year the firm was established and number of employees;

4. What other procurement vehicle(s) (e.g. GSA MAS, GSA OASIS, CIO-SP3) do you hold contracts under and what is the contract number(s)?

5. Point of contact (name, title, phone number, and e-mail address);

6. UEI number and CAGE Code, as registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov/, and confirmation of an Active SAM registration.

7. Business designation/status (must correlate with SAM registration) under the applicable NAICS:

Small business HUBZone WOSB _____ EDWOSB

8(a) VOSB SDVOSB

Small Disadvantaged Business

Other than Small Business

B. Documentation of firm’s ability/experience:

1. Statement of which of the 6 EOP V Service Areas your firm can perform under;

2. Staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training;

3. Current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work;

4. Prior completed projects of similar nature (note which EOP V Service Area(s) each project speaks to);

5. Corporate experience and management capability; and

6. Examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information.

Additionally, for each project listed of same or similar nature, provide the following:

1. Brief description of the work performed and the EOP V Service Area(s) it speaks to;

2. Whether your firm was the Prime or a Subcontractor (and if a Subcontractor, what percent of the work did your firm perform?);

3. Project dates (within the last 3 years is preferred);

4. Project title;

5. Dollar value;

6. Location;

7. Customer’s point of contact name and phone number.

C. Responses are requested to indicate the likelihood of responding to an actual solicitation, if an actual solicitation is issued, using the following:

75% to 100% 50% to 74% 25% to 49% Less than 25%

D. The anticipated NAICS for this requirement is 518210: Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services (SB size standard: $35 million). If contractors believe a more appropriate NAICS applies to the requirement as detailed above, include the feedback in your response.

E. What are your opinions, suggestions, and/or concerns if a full and open (unrestricted) IDIQ solicitation, with a 100 % small business reserve for task orders for Service Area 2b, “Survey Operations – Supply Based;” Service Area 4, “Information Technology Support;” and Service Area 5, “Product/Service Development, Production and Marketing,” was issued?

F. What are your opinions, suggestions, and/or concerns if a partial set-aside IDIQ solicitation, with the partial set-aside for small business for Service Area 2b, “Survey Operations – Supply Based;” Service Area 4, “Information Technology Support;” and Service Area 5, “Product/Service Development, Production and Marketing,” was issued?

G. What are your opinions, suggestions, and/or concerns if the IDIQ solicitation had a 50% reserve for small business for Service Area 1, “Program Management;” Service Area 2a, “Survey Operations – Non-supply Based;” Service Area 3, “Energy Analysis and Modeling;” and Service Area 6, “Organizational Support;” and a 100% reserve for small business for Service Area 2b, “Survey Operations – Supply Based;” Service Area 4, “Information Technology Support;” and Service Area 5, “Product/Service Development, Production and Marketing”?

H. For small businesses: What acquisition strategy would increase your firm’s likelihood in providing an offer to the RFP?

I. If your firm was interested in this procurement (EOP 1-4) in the past and your firm did not provide an offer, what issues or concerns influence your firm’s decision?

J. Additional comments or questions:

FORMAT OF RESPONSES

Please provide a synopsis of your company’s capabilities and contact information with no more than ten (10) single-sided pages, 12-point font, minimum one-inch margins, in Microsoft Word format with a “.docx” or “.doc” extension or in Adobe format with a “.pdf” extension. To the extent possible, all responses should be unclassified and for general access by the Government. Any proprietary information submitted must be clearly and separately identified and marked and will be appropriately protected. The Government will NOT be responsible for any proprietary information not clearly marked. Any material provided may be used in development of future solicitations.

All responses shall be submitted via e-mail on or before 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET), May 27, 2022, to the Contracting Officer, Katherine Bowen (e-mail: Katherine.Bowen@hq.doe.gov), and must include the information requested above. Late responses will not be accepted. This is strictly market research and the Government will not entertain any questions.

Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. We appreciate your interest and thank you in advance for responding to this Sources Sought Notice.