Delivering Improved Understanding of Natural Attenuation Processes Using a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)

Classification Code: A -- Research & Development
NAICS Code: 541 -- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services/541712 -- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Additional NAICS Code: 541330 -- Engineering Services

The Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) is the Department of Defense's (DoD) demonstration and validation program for environmental technologies. The ESTCP Office is interested in receiving proposals for innovative technology transfer approaches as candidates for funding beginning in Fiscal Year (FY) 2015. This notice constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) as contemplated in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.102(d)(2). Readers should note that this is an announcement to declare ESTCP's intent to competitively fund projects as described in the Program Announcement on the ESTCP website.

The Program Announcement and complete submittal instructions is found at;

https://www.serdp-estcp.org/Funding-Opportunities/ESTCP-Solicitations/Technology-Transfer-Solicitation

To be eligible for consideration, parties wishing to respond to this announcement must submit a proposal in accordance with the instructions on the website, no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 14, 2015. No electronic mail or faxed proposals will be accepted.

No request for proposals (RFP), solicitation, or other announcement of this opportunity will be posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website. It is the sole responsibility of the offerors to make certain the proposal is properly received by ESTCP. Awards will take the form of contracts. Submission of proposals is not restricted in any way to any particular entity. The Government will not pay for any costs associated with the preparation of proposals, travel to present oral presentations in support of the proposals, nor initial preparation and submission of a project plan.

There is no commitment by ESTCP to make any contract awards, nor to be responsible for any costs incurred by the offeror before contract award is made. It is expected that multiple awards totaling approximately $2 million will result, depending on availability of funds.

Awardees under this BAA will be selected through two stage process involving a written proposal and oral presentation. Based on evaluation of the written proposal, ESTCP will either request or not request that the offeror make an in-person oral presentation in the Arlington, VA area. Based on evaluation of the proposal and the presentation, each submitter will be notified as to whether the Government wishes to enter into negotiations for the award of a contract. As noted in the instructions located on the ESTCP website, evaluation criteria for proposals that pass the relevance criterion are, in decreasing order of importance, Technical Merit, Personnel Qualifications, Cost of Proposal, and Small Business Participation. Due to the anticipated volume of proposals that will be received, the Government will not provide debriefs to those that are not selected for award. Instructions for preparing a presentation will be provided at the time of notification. A request for an oral presentation does not indicate a decision has been made to make an award.

Small business participation is strongly encouraged as the Government's goal is that small business, historically black colleges, universities and minority institutions participation represent 5 percent of the total contract award value. If a full proposal is requested and the proposed budget is $650,000 or more, a Small Business Participation Plan (SBPP) must accompany the full proposal, whether it is submitted by a large or small business vendor. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes are 541712 and 541330 with the small business size standard of 500 employees and $15.0M respectively. Selected contract proposals that exceed $650,000 submitted by other than small business concerns must be accompanied by a Small Business Subcontracting Plan in accordance with FAR 52.219-9. The Humphreys Engineer Center Support Activity (HECSA) Small Business Office website at http://www.usace.army.mil/HECSA/HECSASmallBusiness.aspx provides information on how to prepare a subcontracting plan, along with links to find small businesses to participate.

Points of Contact:
Procedural Questions - ESTCP, Ms. Jina Banks-Saunders, 571-372-6565.
Technical Questions - ESTCP, Dr. Andrea Leeson, 571-372-6565.
Contract Questions - HECSA, Ms. Susan Hill, Susan.M.Hill@usace.army.mil or 703-428-6420.
Small Business Participation Plan or Subcontracting Plan - HECSA Small Business Representative, HECSASmallBusinessProgram@usace.army.mil or 703-428-7385.