Technical Questions 4.1.2025.pdf

NDSEG 2025 RFI Tech Questions

SUBJECT: Request for Information (RFI)

The information collected through this process is determined to be market research as described by FAR 2.101 and in accordance with FAR 10.002. This is NOT a Request for Proposals (RFP), and nothing shall be construed herein or through the Sources Sought process to commit or obligate the Government to further action. In addition, vendors responding to this notice shall bear all risks and expenses of any resources used to provide the requested information. The submission of capability information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary.

No entitlement to payment by the Government of direct or indirect costs or charges will arise as a result of the submission of contractors' information. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any improperly identified proprietary information.

Documentation submitted and received becomes the property of the U.S. Government and will not be returned nor will receipt be confirmed. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

Background: The Department of Defense (DoD), through the Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering and the military services, promotes education in science and engineering (S&E) research disciplines in DoD mission areas. One means of promoting S&E education is through awarding fellowships to encourage promising young scientists to pursue doctoral degrees in designated disciplines. The three-year Fellowship program, will award between 100-200 fellowships annually, described herein is designed to encourage baccalaureate recipients to enter graduate school and ultimately gain doctorates which align to the DoD services Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) in research and development. The broad research area disciplines include, but are not limited to: aeronautical and astronautical engineering; artificial intelligence and machine learning; astrodynamics; biomedical engineering, biosciences (includes toxicology); biotechnology; chemical engineering;

chemistry; civil engineering; cognitive, neural, and behavioral sciences; computer and computational sciences; cyber sciences (includes “hard” networks, cybersecurity, disinformation; electrical engineering; geosciences (includes terrain, water, and air); materials science and engineering; mathematics; mechanical engineering; naval architecture and ocean engineering (includes undersea systems); oceanography (includes ocean acoustics, remote sensing, and marine meteorology); physics (includes optics); political, economic, and sociocultural sciences; space physics; and quantum science. The Government may revise the aforementioned disciplines from year to year to ensure relevancy to the Defense mission is maintained. For the most relevant research areas please review the tri-services BAAs. NDSEG Fellowships will be awarded for full-time study and research leading to doctoral degrees.

Preference will be given to applicants who indicate an intention to pursue a doctoral degree in, or closely related to, one of the specialties related to one of the agencies broad agency announcements (BAAs).

Capabilities: The NDSEG contractor will provide administrative support to include management of up to 200 students per class (three-year graduate fellowships) each fiscal year (subject to the availability of funds) to individuals who have demonstrated the ability and special aptitude for advanced training in S&E. The administrative support includes managing the payment of the Government pass through funds (tuition, stipends, insurance, travel, etc.) to the students or universities.

1. Have the capability to host and maintain database and website allowing for electronic nationwide advertisement to attract and select the most outstanding doctoral science and engineering students.

a. Ability to distribute, receive, log, process, sort, and track an on-line application process for up to 6,000 potential applicants per class in a centralized location IAW all personally identifiable information (PII) policies and guidance

b. Ability to manage and sustain application selection process via External Board of

Reviewers evaluation panels IAW all personally identifiable information (PII) policies and guidance (see item 2)

c. Ability to maintain and sustain website that promotes and markets DoD laboratory research opportunities, DoD Mentoring program, and DoD National NDSEG conference

d. Ability to maintain and sustain a 24/7 secure database that serves as repository for all application packages (successful/unsuccessful), all awardee information and documentation packages, all evaluation panelist information, all mentoring information and packages IAW all PII policies and guidance

2. Have the capability to assemble, conduct, and maintain STEM evaluation panels (External Board of Reviewers) consisting of premiere nationally recognized experts to evaluate prospective candidate applications. External Board of Reviewers, as approved by the DoD NDSEG program manager, shall be recognized authorities in their field with previous panelist experience and research experience related to areas of interest to the DoD.

a. Panelist(s) works or has worked within the last five years as an active researcher, professor, or department head at an accredited university, government, or industry;

holds a PhD or equivalent degree or a master’s or equivalent degree; and has a depth of technical expertise and experience, reflected in publications and a respected reputation in their technical or academic community

b. Panelist(s) has prior experience on DoD academic and internship selection panels

3. Have an established business in science and engineering awardee management.

a. Must have at least five years’ experience in the execution and maintenance for up to 600 fellows tuition/fee payments, monthly stipends and benefits, and travel expenses

b. Must have experience in program administrative costs and transfer of funds (pass through funds) to pay fellows stipends

4. Have the capability to plan, coordinate, and administer travel for NDSEG fellows

a. Ability to manage and execute Fellow’s travel to include but not limited to DoD mentor’s facilities/laboratories tours, DoD appointed mentors’ meetings, perform PhD related research, and/or participate in professional societies’ conferences and workshops to present research

5. Have the capability to establish and maintain mentoring program for NDSEG fellows.

The contractor shall serve as the liaison between mentees and mentors for all NDSEG activities including but not limited to mentoring resources, and overall guidance. The DoD will provide DoD S&Es with general mentoring information including the fellows’ roster and projected research information and direct them to the Contractor website for mentoring application. Upon the collection of all interested potential DoD mentors, the Contractor will submit information to GPM/COR. The GPM will distribute to appropriate DoD sponsoring agency and they will assign the mentor to the mentee. The Contractor will be responsible for the distribution of all mentoring resources. The Contractor will develop and distribute the mentoring agreement and mentoring guide. The mentoring agreement will include mentee/mentor name, contact information, and mentoring expectations (minimum quarterly meetings, monthly communication). The mentoring guide will include long term career statement, short term career goals, current and future research trajectory (significance, innovation, approach and DoD and broader impacts), development plan (opportunities and completion dates), areas of opportunities and concerns. If there are mentoring specific questions that may only be answered by DoD, the Contractor will notify the GPM/COR. If a mentor is no longer able to fulfill their duties, the Contractor will notify the GPM/COR and appropriate DoD sponsoring agency. The DoD sponsoring agency will assist with reassignment.

This announcement is part of our market research, and your responses are sought to identify sources that have knowledge, skills, and capability to perform the work. Response to this Sources Sought notice is strictly voluntary and will not affect any firm or corporation's ability to submit an offer if and when a solicitation is released. There is no bid package or solicitation document associated with this announcement. The requested information is for planning purposes and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued. This notice is provided as information to the marketplace and is an invitation for an expression of interest and demonstration of capability to perform the anticipated work.

Interested companies are requested to provide the following:

1. Company name, address, Cage Code, DUNS Number, NAICS codes, point of contact, telephone number, and e-mail address.

2. Small business status (e.g., service-disabled veteran owned small business, HUB Zone, 8(a), minority business enterprise, etc.)

3. Company's primary source of business (commercial/private or Government sector)

4. Brief examples of prior services provided of similar level of scope and complexity (Project Title, Project Description, Period of Performance, and Contract Number)

5. Level of interest in this requirement: Highly likely to propose, may propose, or unlikely to propose; and

6. Please provide comments on the attached, draft NDSEG PWS.

Capabilities: The NDSEG contractor will provide administrative support to include management of up to 200 students per class (three-year graduate fellowships) each fiscal year (subject to the availability of funds) to individuals who have demonstrated...