Science and Technology Fellowship Program (STFP)

Closed Solicitation Posted

Solicitation number
FA9550-24-R-B001
Agency
Air Force Research Laboratory Air Force Materiel Command, Department of Defense
Responses due
Set-aside
No set-aside

Opportunity facts

NAICS code
541990 All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
PSC
R431 Support- Professional: Human Resources
Place of performance
United States

Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

This solicitation seeks proposals to administer the Science and Technology Fellowship Program for the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Offerors must propose capabilities for outreach, recruitment of fellows and advisors, evaluation of applications and research topics, and program management. Proposals will be evaluated based on an outreach plan demonstrating recruitment partnerships, maintaining a qualified independent review panel, objective evaluation and selection processes, and adequate program management procedures. Proposals are due by November 17, 2023 to be considered for an award by January 2024.

There is no set-aside designation. The NAICS code is 541715 and PSC code is R425. The incumbent contractor is eligible to bid. The base year and four option years are to be priced using firm-fixed-price contract line items, with a total proposed price of $46,567,400. Research associates will conduct full-time research at sponsoring Air Force laboratories located within the United States for one to three year terms. The solicitation was issued by the Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Research Laboratory.

Notice text

2 versions

Update #2 · Latest ·

***Amendment 0001, FA955024RB0010001- Please see SF30 Amendment document for details on changes in description Block 14. 

CONTRACT INFORMATION: This is a solicitation notice for a full and open Request for Proposal (RFP) for a non-personal services contract to provide Science and Technology Fellowship Program (STFP) services to be overseen by theAir Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) for the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The overall purpose of the STFP is to enlist highly-qualified non-government Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers (S&Es) to enhance the scientific and technological (S&T) research capabilities and accomplishments of the DAF S&T organizations.


The overall purpose of the STFP is to enlist highly qualified non-government Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers (S&Es) to enhance the scientific and technological (S&T) research capabilities and accomplishments of the DAF S&T organizations.These organizations include, but are not limited to, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the United States Air Force Academy (DAFA), the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) and the United States Space Force (USSF). To accomplish this purpose, two goals must be met. The first goal is to attract Ph.D.-level S&Es, hire them on limited-term appointments, and place these S&Es (referred to from this point forward as research associates) in DAF laboratories. Two categories of research associates are specifically sought. The first category (junior research associate) is for S&Es who received theirPh.D. five or fewer years prior to the time of their application to this program. The second category (senior research associate) is for S&Es who received their Ph.D. five or more years prior to their application and/or have gained national and/or international reputations for the quality and impact of their research. The second goal of the STFP is to ensure that the research conducted by these research associates is well connected to the existing research teams of the laboratories towhich the research associates are assigned. In particular, each research associate must be connected with a qualified government S&E who serves as a research advisor and the technical lead for the research opportunity off ered to the research associates.


The objectives of the STFP include:
Attraction of applicants: The intent of the STFP is to attract a broad and diverse spectrum of applicants with PhDs who are highly qualified to conduct research of relevance to the USAF laboratories where they are placed. An outreach plan isrequired to address diversity and inclusion of underrepresented communities, Tier 1-3 institutions, and professional societies and organizations.

Evaluation of applicants: To ensure the stature of the program and the quality of the research associates selected to participate in this program, the STFP contractor should employ review panels that consist of a mixture of recognized experts in at least five scientific & engineering research disciplines. The panel shall be comprised of at least 85% fellows from a professional society and/or distinguished/recognized endowed chairs from academia, industry, and government. The review panels will evaluate applicant packages to identify those applicants that are qualified for the program ingeneral and for the specific opportunity that he/she is applying for. Final selection of an applicant to become a research associate will be made by the Government based upon the review panel’s recommendations.

Evaluation of Government research advisors and proposed research topics: All DAF organizations seeking to place research associates at their location through STFP must provide the STFP contractor with names of Government research advisors and research topic area descriptions for which they are advisors. The STFP contractor shall have executed and managed review boards within the last five years (01 January 2018 – Present). The STFP contractor will recommend a set of criteria to the Government Program Manager (GPM) that the Government research advisors and the S&T areas must satisfy to be included in the program. Upon approval of these criteria, the STFP contractor will provide external review panels that consist of highly qualified experts to evaluate the qualifications, in accordance with the agreed-upon criteria, of the proposed Government research advisors and their research topics provided by the DAF organizations. Final selection of a proposed Government research advisor will be made by the government based upon the review panel’s recommendations.


Placement and management of research associates: The STFP contractor will continue to have a relationship with the applicants who are selected to become research associates by the Government and place them at designated locations on the Government's behalf. The STFP contractor shall remain in charge of all research associates, accomplishing all the relevant activities that are necessary.

The solicitation is anticipated to result in award of a single Firm Fixed Price (FFP) -w/Cost CLINs contract with a 12-month base period of performance and 4 one-year options.

Availability of Funds: Funds are not presently available for this contract. The Government's obligation under this contract is
contingent upon the availability of funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part
of the Government for any payment may arise until funds are made available to the Contracting Officer for this contract and
until the Contractor receives notice of such availability, to be confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer. The Government
reserves the right to phase the project based upon funds available. The phases will be based on the successful offeror's price
proposal submitted in accordance with Section L.

Please review Section L in the "Standard Form 33 FA955024RB001" document for guidance on proposal requirements, communication, and all due dates. 

Offerors shall e-mail written questions requesting clarification of the RFP to the Government via the
Contracting Officer, Ms. Eleanor Zachery at: AFOSR.STFP.SourceSelection@us.af.mil no later than 4:00 PM EST,
Wednesday, 25 OCT 2023. All questions received will be gathered and then subsequently answered and posted to SAM.
gov on Monday, 30 OCT 2023. Questions received after this date may not be answered. Only proposals submitted in
accordance with section "II. Volume Organization" of this solicitation will be accepted.
Contracting Officer:
Ms. Eleanor Zachery
E-mail: AFOSR.STFP.SourceSelection@us.af.mil
Subject Line :   FA955024RB001 Q&A 
 

Update #1 ·

CONTRACT INFORMATION: This is a solicitation notice for a full and open Request for Proposal (RFP) for a non-personal services contract to provide Science and Technology Fellowship Program (STFP) services to be overseen by theAir Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) for the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The overall purpose of the STFP is to enlist highly-qualified non-government Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers (S&Es) to enhance the scientific and technological (S&T) research capabilities and accomplishments of the DAF S&T organizations.


The overall purpose of the STFP is to enlist highly qualified non-government Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers (S&Es) to enhance the scientific and technological (S&T) research capabilities and accomplishments of the DAF S&T organizations.These organizations include, but are not limited to, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the United States Air Force Academy (DAFA), the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) and the United States Space Force (USSF). To accomplish this purpose, two goals must be met. The first goal is to attract Ph.D.-level S&Es, hire them on limited-term appointments, and place these S&Es (referred to from this point forward as research associates) in DAF laboratories. Two categories of research associates are specifically sought. The first category (junior research associate) is for S&Es who received theirPh.D. five or fewer years prior to the time of their application to this program. The second category (senior research associate) is for S&Es who received their Ph.D. five or more years prior to their application and/or have gained national and/or international reputations for the quality and impact of their research. The second goal of the STFP is to ensure that the research conducted by these research associates is well connected to the existing research teams of the laboratories towhich the research associates are assigned. In particular, each research associate must be connected with a qualified government S&E who serves as a research advisor and the technical lead for the research opportunity off ered to the research associates.


The objectives of the STFP include:
Attraction of applicants: The intent of the STFP is to attract a broad and diverse spectrum of applicants with PhDs who are highly qualified to conduct research of relevance to the USAF laboratories where they are placed. An outreach plan isrequired to address diversity and inclusion of underrepresented communities, Tier 1-3 institutions, and professional societies and organizations.

Evaluation of applicants: To ensure the stature of the program and the quality of the research associates selected to participate in this program, the STFP contractor should employ review panels that consist of a mixture of recognized experts in at least five scientific & engineering research disciplines. The panel shall be comprised of at least 85% fellows from a professional society and/or distinguished/recognized endowed chairs from academia, industry, and government. The review panels will evaluate applicant packages to identify those applicants that are qualified for the program ingeneral and for the specific opportunity that he/she is applying for. Final selection of an applicant to become a research associate will be made by the Government based upon the review panel’s recommendations.

Evaluation of Government research advisors and proposed research topics: All DAF organizations seeking to place research associates at their location through STFP must provide the STFP contractor with names of Government research advisors and research topic area descriptions for which they are advisors. The STFP contractor shall have executed and managed review boards within the last five years (01 January 2018 – Present). The STFP contractor will recommend a set of criteria to the Government Program Manager (GPM) that the Government research advisors and the S&T areas must satisfy to be included in the program. Upon approval of these criteria, the STFP contractor will provide external review panels that consist of highly qualified experts to evaluate the qualifications, in accordance with the agreed-upon criteria, of the proposed Government research advisors and their research topics provided by the DAF organizations. Final selection of a proposed Government research advisor will be made by the government based upon the review panel’s recommendations.


Placement and management of research associates: The STFP contractor will continue to have a relationship with the applicants who are selected to become research associates by the Government and place them at designated locations on the Government's behalf. The STFP contractor shall remain in charge of all research associates, accomplishing all the relevant activities that are necessary.

The solicitation is anticipated to result in award of a single Firm Fixed Price (FFP) -w/Cost CLINs contract with a 12-month base period of performance and 4 one-year options.

Availability of Funds: Funds are not presently available for this contract. The Government's obligation under this contract is
contingent upon the availability of funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part
of the Government for any payment may arise until funds are made available to the Contracting Officer for this contract and
until the Contractor receives notice of such availability, to be confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer. The Government
reserves the right to phase the project based upon funds available. The phases will be based on the successful offeror's price
proposal submitted in accordance with Section L.

Please review Section L in the "Standard Form 33 FA955024RB001" document for guidance on proposal requirements, communication, and all due dates. 

Offerors shall e-mail written questions requesting clarification of the RFP to the Government via the
Contracting Officer, Ms. Eleanor Zachery at: AFOSR.STFP.SourceSelection@us.af.mil no later than 4:00 PM EST,
Wednesday, 25 OCT 2023. All questions received will be gathered and then subsequently answered and posted to SAM.
gov on Monday, 30 OCT 2023. Questions received after this date may not be answered. Only proposals submitted in
accordance with section "II. Volume Organization" of this solicitation will be accepted.
Contracting Officer:
Ms. Eleanor Zachery
E-mail: AFOSR.STFP.SourceSelection@us.af.mil
Subject Line :   FA955024RB001 Q&A 
 

Attachments

Files attached to this notice, newest first
File Type Posted
FA955024RB0010001 SF30.Solicitation Amendment.pdf PDF
RFP Questions and Answers 01 NOV 2023.pdf PDF
STFP CDRL 0002 OCI Mitigation Plan- Revised-RTC.pdf PDF
FA955024RB001 Questions and Answers.pdf PDF
Revised.STFP CDRL 0016 Quarterly Technical Reports-RTC.pdf PDF
STFP CDRL 0001 CPM Appointment.pdf PDF
STFP CDRL 0003 Program Management Reviews.pdf PDF
STFP CDRL 0011 Monthly Funding Summary.pdf PDF
STFP CDRL 0012 Annual Research Associates Report.pdf PDF
STFP CDRL 0015 Quality Control Plan.pdf PDF
STFP CDRL 0005 Research Advisors List.pdf PDF
PWS DAF STFP (18SEP23).docx DOCX document
STFP CDRL 0007 Site Visit Reports.pdf PDF
STFP CDRL 0009 Data Rights Notification.pdf PDF
STFP CDRL 0013 Final Research Associates Report.pdf PDF
STFP CDRL 0016 Quarterly Technical Reports.pdf PDF
STFP CDRL 0004 Evaluation Panel.pdf PDF
STFP CDRL 0008 Expert Review Panel List.pdf PDF
Solicitation - FA955024RB001.pdf PDF
Pricing Sheet for TEP.xlsx XLSX spreadsheet
STFP CDRL 0002 OCI Mitigation Plan.pdf PDF
STFP CDRL 0010 Application Evaluation Results.pdf PDF
STFP CDRL 0014 Program Process Flowchart and Estimated Execution Time Line.pdf PDF
STFP CDRL 0006 Outreach Plan.pdf PDF
Show all 24

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