A11 Sources Sought_Data Research.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES

ACQUISITION DIRECTORATE

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1.0 General Information

Document Type: Sources Sought Notice ID# SY080820240826 Title: Data Research Support Services Sources Sought Post Date: August 15, 2024 Sources Sought Response Due Date: 3:00 P.M. EST on Thursday August 22, 2024 NAICS Code: 541720 - Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities Product Service Code: B599 – Special Studies/Analysis

2.0 Background

The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) is a legislative branch advisory commission established pursuant to Section 1091 of the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act. The NSCEB is responsible for analyzing policy issues related to national security and biotechnology and providing recommendations to Congress on this topic.

3.0 Introduction

The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) is a legislative commission created by Congress to consider the national security implications of biotechnology and the bioeconomy. The Commission has a critical mission to evaluate how threats to the bioeconomy can hurt national security, how biotechnology can be misused, and to characterize biotechnology developments over the horizon to educate and train a prepared bioworkforce for the future. The Commission is due to deliver policy recommendations to Congress and the Executive Branch at the intersection of emerging biotechnology and national security. Pursuant to fostering a pertinently skilled bioworkforce in the future, the NSCEB aims to understand the current state of the emerging biotechnology (EB) industry, project future needs, and map education and training programs required to meet those needs. This information will be critical in informing the NSCEB’s policy recommendations to promote and nurture a bioworkforce that will be ready for what is on the horizon.

The objective of this requirement is to support the NSCEB in communicating about its work to the public and to obtain support for media research, analysis, and engagement from a firm with a deep understanding of the biotech industry and its major media/industry entities.

4.0 Sources Sought

To facilitate market research, the Government is looking to identify qualified sources under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 541720 - Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities

Responses are requested from “all” sources including Other than Small Businesses. Small Businesses, 8(a) small businesses, HUBZone small businesses, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, Women-Owned Small Businesses and Economically Disadvantaged Women- owned Small Businesses are encouraged to respond.

This Sources Sought Notice is for information and planning purposes only and shall NOT be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Government. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in the response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any concern responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the concern’s qualifications to perform the work.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received, or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. The Government will NOT accept requests for meetings or briefings. No phone solicitations or email with regards to the status of the Request for Proposal (RFP) will be accepted prior to its release. Information and materials submitted in response to this notice WILL NOT be returned.

As a result of this notice, the Government MAY issue a Request for Proposal (RFP). There is no solicitation available at this time. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against the Government will arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice, nor the Government’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process, nor in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement.

Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation.

5.0 Program Details

The Washington Headquarters Services / Acquisition Directorate (WHS/AD) is issuing this notice to obtain information to assist the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology in providing Data Research Support Services. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to identify a pool of qualified offerors to provide the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) with services to support implementation of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Reforms to Security Cooperation programs and activities. The following service requirement critical task areas describe the broad range of functions and tasks in support of this effort:

6.0 Service Requirement, Objectives, Scope, and Critical Task Areas/Elements

1) Objectives and Scope. The objective of this requirement is to support the NSCEB in communicating about its work to the public and to obtain support for media research, analysis, and engagement from a firm with a deep understanding of the biotech industry and its major media/industry entities. This includes:

Estimate the current size of the emerging biotechnology (EB) workforce in the U.S. by subsector and geographic region to then project (both short- and long-term – 5, 10, 20 years) the number of workers that will be needed in these subsectors in the future

NSCEB staff will specify the emerging biotechnology subsectors of interest for this project (e.g., AIxBio, cell and gene therapy, tissue engineering).

For each subsector, identify and produce a list of the most desired and/or required EB skills along with the level of training needed for those skills

Map the identified skills back to requisite education and training programs needed in the United States to build sufficient bioworkforce capacity for EB sectors.

Create a report of the analyzed data in visual graphics and written narrative formats.

The overall scope of this contract is for the contractor to provide NSCEB the ability effectively develop policy recommendations based on results of the objectives.

2) Task Areas. Capability statements should address the Task Areas and Key Capabilities identified below and for each provide information to demonstrate how the offeror’s experience and recent past performance (last 3 years) is relevant to the technical areas listed, including the dollar value, period of performance, size and scope of the offeror’s prior contracts. Offeror’s can address one, all, or a combination of the task areas identified below.

Please identify which specific task areas are addressed in the capability statement.

Task 1: Estimate the current size of the emerging biotechnology (EB) workforce in the U.S. by subsector and geographic region to then project (both short- and long-term – 5, 10, 20 years) the number of workers that will be needed in these subsectors in the future. NSCEB staff will specify the emerging biotechnology subsectors of interest for this project (e.g., AIxBio, cell and gene therapy, tissue engineering).

Task 2: For each subsector, identify and produce a list of the most desired and/or required EB skills along with the level of training needed for those skills.

Task 3: Map the identified skills back to requisite education and training programs needed in the United States to build sufficient bioworkforce capacity for EB sectors.

Task 4: Create a report of the analyzed data in visual and written narrative formats. The contractor must be able to provide both figures and narrative interpretation of the analyzed data.

Place of Performance: The majority of the work associated with this effort can be performed at the Contractor’s site.

7.0 Capability Statements

Offerors must demonstrate their ability to comply with the requirements in this Sources Sought in order to be considered capable of satisfying the Government’s requirement.

All interested offerors having the experience, skills and capabilities necessary to perform the stated requirements are requested to provide capability statements not to exceed 5 pages in “Times New Roman” 12-pitch font on 8.5 x 11 paper that include the following information:

1) Company name, address, point of contact name, telephone, and email address.

2) CAGE Code and UEI Number.

3) Business size status (business size/socio-economic category must be submitted to be used).

4) Identify contracts your company has been awarded under NAICS: 541720 - Research and

Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Additional information on NAICS codes can be found at www.sba.gov.

5) Recommended/suggested NAICS codes for this effort.

6) Recommended/suggested contract type.

7) Number of contracts currently held with the Government to include any Federal Supply

Schedules listed under GSA Advantage.

8) Documentation that addresses each of the three (3) Service Requirement, Objectives, Scope, and Critical Task Areas/Elements (4 task areas) above.

9) A description of Corporate Experience & Past Performance Information for similar contracts and/or projects accomplished within the last 3 years. The description must include where, when, and for whom each similar contract and/or project was performed and a brief description of each contract and/or project, including the size, scope, dollar value, and period of performance. This information must demonstrate how the offeror’s recent Corporate Experience and Past Performance (last 3 years) is relevant to the Data Research Support Services Requirement.

8.0 Submission Instructions

The response to this notice is limited to five (5) single sided pages including all attachments, charts, etc. (single spaced, 12 point font minimum excluding charts and graphics) and should also include current business size status, and any applicable Federal Supply Schedule(s). This indication should be clearly marked on the first page of the response, as well as the eligible business concern’s name, point of contact, address, and cage code.

All responses to this Sources Sought Notice must be submitted electronically via email to whs.mc-alex.ad.mbx.ks@mail.mil by 3:00 P.M. EST on Thursday August 22, 2024. The subject of the email must be titled “Sources Sought Notice ID# SY080820240826: Data Research Support Services.” Facsimile responses will not be accepted.

To facilitate a timely and comprehensive review of all submitted responses, offerors must respond using the format requested in this Notice. Any deviation from this format may lead to the rejection of the response.

9.0 Common Cut-off Time/Date

Responses to the information above are due no later than 3:00 P.M. EST on Thursday August 22, 2024.

Responses received after this date and time may not be considered.