Notice of Intent to Sole Source - AAAS Fellows Program

The National Science Foundation intends to negotiate a sole source contract with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).  For Recruitment, Outreach, and Management of the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships (STPF). AAAS, a non-profit organization, works across the federal agencies and provides fellows that are doctoral level scientists and engineers.  These fellows are recruited by AAAS to be placed in by federal agencies across all three branches of government.

Fellows are recruited across all NSF Directorates, Offices, NSB and NNCO, to come to NSF for one to two fellowships to work on projects that benefit the NSF and enable the fellows to cultivate critical policy leadership skills. AAAS fellows provide NSF with a broad range of skilled talent and expertise that extends the range of projects undertaken by its permanent and temporary workforce.

AAAS is unique in its qualifications and ability to perform this work. The AAAS, by virtue of a committee of scientific experts in the areas of concern, its independent and objective point of reference, its unparalleled acceptance by the target audience(s), and its broad experience in the establishment and conduct of Policy Fellowships in other Federal agencies, is the only source that can provide the measure of expertise, independence, objectivity, and scientific acceptance necessary to meet the program requirement.

The authority permitting a sole source acquisition is 41 U.S.C. § 3304(a)(1), FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source.  AAAS is the only responsible source to provide AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships and no other services will satisfy the Government’s requirements.

The intent of this notice is not to request competitive proposals, and any information received will only be considered for the purpose of determining whether a competitive procurement should be conducted.  However, the Government will consider capability statements provided by qualified companies.  Interested parties must reference 49100424K0021 – AAAS Fellows Program Support and include the following:

1. Name and address of company;
2. Business Size and Socio-economic status;
3. Point of Contact with full contact information;
4. UEI number;
5. Capability statement (not more than 5 pages) to include specific service that your company offers that fulfills the same function as the services to be included on this contract or evidence that your firm is capable of providing Science and Technology Policy Fellowships; and,
6. List of organizations to whom the same or similar types of services have been previously provided to include contract number, dollar value, organization name, and the Contracting Officer’s contact information.

A determination by the Government to not compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.   Any company responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the company's qualifications to perform the services. 

All information submitted in response to this notice must be received on or before May 31, 2024, 10:00 AM Eastern Time.  Submit responses to Katrina Barry via e-mail to kbarry@nsf.gov.