NCSES Portfolio Review - Notice of Intent to Sole Source to NASEM

The National Science Foundation Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Support intends to sole source a cost-reimbursement contract to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) for a comprehensive review of the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) data collection portfolio. The primary objective is to convene a multi-disciplinary consensus study committee that will evaluate NCSES's existing surveys across federal agencies, research centers, universities, and businesses. This committee will assess the effectiveness of current data collection methods, identify potential survey duplications, and explore alternative data sources for capturing scientific and engineering landscape changes. The contractor will be required to conduct open stakeholder meetings and produce a consensus report with transformative recommendations for the survey system. Interested parties have 15 calendar days from the January 8, 2025 publication date to submit capabilities statements to the contracting officer, Derek Bowks.

The procurement carries no specific set-aside designation and falls under the NAICS code 541690 with a $19 million size standard. The contract is anticipated to commence around February 1, 2025, with an 18-month period of performance. While the precise award value is not explicitly detailed, the scale suggests a significant investment in understanding and potentially restructuring science and engineering statistical data collection methodologies. The sole-source approach indicates the National Academy of Sciences possesses unique capabilities or expertise critical to meeting the NSF's specific requirements. The procurement's strategic focus on improving data collection processes demonstrates the government's commitment to enhancing the comprehensiveness and accuracy of national science and engineering statistical reporting.