Marketing, branding, communication, strategic development, strategic planning and evaluation of projects support services for the Innovation & Industry Services Organization

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) strives to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. The NIST Innovation and Industry Services (IIS) Office is responsible for the NIST suite of external partnership programs, including the Technology Partnerships Office, the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), the Office of Advance Manufacturing (OAM), and the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (BPEP).

The Government has a requirement to establish multiple indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to provide marketing, branding, communications, and strategic analysis support services to IIS Offices.  Marketing, branding, communications, and strategic analysis support services shall be provided in accordance with task orders that would be issued on a firm fixed price basis. Task orders will be awarded and performed concurrently.

The types of services procured will be directly relevant to one or more of the following areas of expertise: 

1.  Research and Strategy Development Initiatives - Provide research and analysis on manufacturing topics, including those pertaining to the launch of semiconductor/microelectronics initiatives stemming from the CHIPS + Science Act, and technology transfer topics. Information from the research will be used to inform strategic program priorities and develop plans for competitive awards portfolio.

2. Marketing Support - Perform marketing, strategy development and deployment support functions to accomplish promoting the MEP, Manufacturing USA networks, and Baldrige ecosystem as well as accomplishing multiple initiatives, including the new CHIPS + Science Act related outreach for MEP or Manufacturing USA, technology transfer efforts, and Baldrige.

3. MEP Center and Manufacturing USA Institute Support – Provide support to MEP and OAM in a variety of areas related to Center/Institute operations.

4. Deployment and Execution of Strategic Plans – Provide support in the deployment and execution functions to accomplish the current MEP and/or Manufacturing USA Strategic Plans as well as to support the development and execution of future MEP and/or Manufacturing USA Strategic Plans. 

5. Evaluation and Assessment of Projects, Programs and Client Impacts - Perform evaluations of the MEP, Manufacturing USA program, and BPEP programs as well as other initiatives.  The Contractor may be required to evaluate and assess Center/Institute performance and conduct research on various performance matters. 

6. MEP National Network, Manufacturing USA Network, Technology Partnership Office, and BPEP Meetings and Event Support - Perform meeting support functions for network meetings and events.

The period of performance will be a five (5) year period.

The NAICS code for this requirement is 541611 with a small business size standard of $24.5 million.  Contracting by Negotiation shall be utilized under the authority of FAR Parts 12 and 15. This requirement is 100% set-aside for firms that are Small Businesses.

NIST will posting a draft solicitation for questions and comments from industry that will be incorporated into the final RFP.  The draft RFP shall be made available via the Internet at the System for Award Management website (www.SAM.Gov) under RFP number 1333ND24RNB480016.

The competitive Request for Proposal (RFP), amendments, and all questions and answers related to this procurement shall be made available via the Internet at the System for Award Management website (www.SAM.Gov) under RFP number 1333ND24RNB480016.

Potential Offerors shall be responsible for downloading the solicitation and amendments, if any, from www.sam.gov after the solicitation has been posted.  It is, and will continue to be, the responsibility of each potential offeror to monitor www.sam.gov for any amendments or other information related to the solicitation. 

Any communications regarding this acquisition must be made in writing and forwarded via email to robert.singman@nist.gov, and shall identify the solicitation number, company name, company address, as well as point of contact email address and phone number.

NIST anticipates posting the solicitation approximately ten (10) days after the date of publication of this notice.