R408--Notice of Intent to Sole Source

This is an INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE NOTICE only. This is an intent to sole source notice for commercial items prepared in accordance with FAR Subpart 5.2, Synopses of Proposed Contract Actions. This announcement constitutes the only notice of intent to sole source and synopsis of proposed action. The Department of Veteran Affairs, Network Contracting Office (NCO) 21, intends to issue a sole-source contract under the authority of this non-competitive acquisition as implemented by 41 U.S.C 253(c) (1) - FAR 6.302-1 (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements), to Red Duke Strategies LLC., located at 1313 Merchant Lane, McLean, VA 22101. Red Duke Strategies is the sole distributor of the Jupiter Intelligence System and supplier of complex database integration research personnel. The Public Health National Program Office (PHNPO) requires a multi-component solution to identify and create actionable interventions around climate-related health risks to U.S. Veterans. The Jupiter Intelligence is the only known robust database covering multiple years with extensive and accurate climate information. The Jupiter Intelligence Database integration to VA s Praedico BioSurveilence will be used to comply with Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. Services will be performed during a 12-month period.

This notice of intent is not a request for quotations; interested parties may express their interest by completing the attached Market Research Questionnaire and returning it to Rachael.Becker@va.gov no later than 3:00 PM PST on 8/28/24. When responding to this announcement, respondents should refer to number 36C26124Q1007, Notice of Intent in the subject line. A determination not to compete this proposed contract upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Verbal and facsimile responses are not acceptable and will not be considered. All interested parties are reminded to be registered with System for Award Management (SAM) at https://sam.gov/SAM/ in order to be eligible for award of Government contracts. No telephone calls will be accepted. If after 8/28/24 at 3:00 PM PST, no viable responses have been received in response to this announcement, NCO 21 shall negotiate solely with Red Duke Strategies LLC. The Government anticipates the award of a firm-fixed-price contract. A determination by the Government whether to compete the proposed requirement shall be based upon responses received and is solely within the discretion of the government. Information received shall be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competition.

Brief Description of Services

See attached Draft PWS.

All interested contractors must respond by email to Rachael.Becker@va.gov before 3:00 P.M. PST on Monday August 28, 2024.

Please answer the following questions when responding:

What is your company s Socioeconomic Status? (ex: small business, large business, SDVOSB, etc.)

a. If SDVOSB or VOSB, are you registered with the Small Business Administration?

Veteran Small Business Certification (sba.gov)

Provide Company s legal name along with Unique Entity ID (SAM) number.

Primary point of contact, including phone number and e-mail address.

Capabilities Statement.

List other Projects (Government and Commercial) that are similar in scope and size.

As this is a service acquisition, the Small Business Administration and the Federal Acquisition Regulation have a Limitations on Subcontracting requirement. For all small businesses, to include SDVOSB and VOSB, At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern. See FAR 52.219-14 and FAR 52.219-27 available in full text at https://www.acquisition.gov/far/html/52_217_221.html

6a. Of the service actions listed above, which one(s) will your company perform as the prime contractor using its own personnel without subcontracting?

6b. With respect to the service actions listed above, which action(s) do you intend on subcontracting or using other than your company s own personnel?

6c. Of those services that will be performed, approximately what percentage will be paid to the subcontractor(s)?

GSA Contract Number, if applicable.

Does your company have a database of historical climate data i.e., nationwide, states, territories? Please reference the number of years of climate change information available in the database.

Please provide an informal price estimate based on the draft performance work statement.

*Failure to provide the information requested above (items 1-9) will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered a viable source.

RFQ number 36C26124Q1007 has been assigned and should be referenced on all correspondence regarding this announcement.

The Government will use this information when determining its business type decision.

This synopsis is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government and no contract will be awarded as a direct result of this Sources Sought announcement.

Notes: Contractors must have a current registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://sam.gov/SAM/