Antarctic Research Vessel (ARV) Integrator, Small Business Subcontracting Interest

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is issuing this Special Notice to further engage with industry to improve planning for Antarctic Research Vessel (ARV) Integrator effort.

This notice concerns the interest of small businesses in participating in the ARV Integrator effort, particularly at the subcontractor level. NSF’s objective is to collect information from interested small businesses such that it can be provided to potential offerors/the awardee of an ARV Integrator solicitation. NSF’s intent in doing so is to increase the small business participation at the subcontractor level. Any future prime contractor for the ARV Integrator effort (the “prime contractor”) will not be required to subcontract with sources on this list – this list is for knowledge and visibility.

“Small business” should be understood as including the socioeconomic sub-categories of small business, such as Small Disadvantaged Businesses, Woman-Owned Small Businesses, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses, and HubZone entities.

Vendors are instructed to fill out the attached spreadsheet and submit to arv.procurement@nsf.gov no later than the closing date of this notice. NSF cannot guarantee that submissions after this date will be incorporated into a vendor list. This list will be shared publicly on SAM.gov as well – an option exists within the spreadsheet to opt out of this public SAM.gov release of vendors. If you require information on the technical requirement, please consult the draft Request for Proposal (RFP) release for the ARV Integrator. A link is provided at the bottom of this release.

This notice is being issued solely for informational and planning purposes.  Further, this notice does not constitute a procurement solicitation. This notice does not commit NSF to contract for any supply or service nor wed NSF to any particular contract type or process.  All costs associated with responding to this notice will be solely at the interested party’s expense and any information provided under this notice is purely voluntary. Not responding to this notice does not preclude participation in any future competition or participation in future subcontract opportunities which may arise. NSF expects to release any future solicitation regarding this matter at the Federal Point of Entry, www.sam.gov.  It is the responsibility of interested parties to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this anticipated competition. NSF also reserves all rights to update this announcement with additional information throughout and after the response period.