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

The Government is posting responses to questions received.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) is posting a draft request for proposal (RFP) for the Innovation and Industry Services (IIS) IDIQ contract. 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 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 draft RFP is posted for industry to review the draft solicitation and submit their questions and comments that may be incorporated into the final RFP.  When the solicitation is formal posted, all questions and responses will be posted at that time.  Please submit all question on the attached Excel spreadsheet (1333ND24RNB480016-ADIIS Draft RFP Questions), to Robert Singman (robert.singman@nist.gov).