United Stated Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Postdoctoral Research Awards Program

Added: Sep 30, 2011 11:08 am This amendment is issued to address the following changes to the solicitation, FA9550-11-R-0001:

-  Revise proposal instructions for CLIN 0004 (including all supported sub and option CLINs)
-  Revise the PWS to incorporate line item changes and other administrative updates as detailed in the amendment's schedule page
-  Make necessary typographical corrections and provide clarification to Attachment 3, Instructions to Offerors 

Added: Feb 14, 2011 2:24 pm Modified: Jul 05, 2011 4:29 pmTrack Changes Description
1) The Government's intent to solicit for potential sources to administer the United Stated Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Postdoctoral Research Awards Program.

2) The AFRL Postdoctoral Research Program is designed to provide researchers of exceptional promise and ability, opportunities to solve problems that are compatible with the interest of the United States Air Force and to contribute to the overall efforts of AFRL by the stimulus offered to research programs by the presence of highly motivated, recent doctoral graduates.

3) The program provides approximately (70) postdoctoral awards per year. Researchers are competitively selected on the basis of their overall qualifications and technical proposals addressing specific areas defined by the host AFRL laboratories. The selected participants will perform research at Air Force research laboratories while interacting with senior laboratory scientists and engineers.

4) To be considered for this effort; prospective offerors must demonstrate detailed knowledge and experience in program administration in the following areas:

a. Have the capability to advertise nationwide to attract and select the most outstanding researchers, who hold doctoral degrees and have the capability to provide an on-line website method of applying for the AFRL Postdoctoral Awards Program.

b. Have the capability to assemble and conduct evaluation panels consisting of nationally recognized experts in science, mathematics, and engineering to evaluate prospective candidate applications. Panel experts as approved by Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), shall be recognized authorities in their field with previous research experience related to areas of interest to the Air Force.

c. Have the capability to establish and maintain a current database, provided by AFOSR, of AFRL research interests and advisors at Air Force research facilities.

d. Have the capability to establish and maintain an electronic financial management system for issuing award stipends and tracking awardees costs.

e. Have an established business in science and engineering awardee management.

The contract will cover administrative costs of the program and also for transfer of funds (pass through funds) to the contractor to pay recipients stipends
Interested sources are requested to provide a concise capability statement, limited to three pages, to include experience relevant to the described functions; experience in similar programs; knowledge of appropriate means to publicize the program and recruit participants; familiarity with issues related to conducting research ; capability to assemble and conduct evaluation panels consisting of nationally recognized experts in science, mathematics, and engineering to evaluate prospective candidate applications ; capability to advertise nationwide to attract and select the most outstanding researchers, who hold doctoral degrees; capability to provide an on-line website method of applying for the AFRL Postdoctoral Awards Program; cost accounting and financial management systems adequate to track costs, issue stipends and tracking costs; database management capabilities to gather and maintain data; have a business in science and engineering awardee management; and other resources necessary to conduct a program of this magnitude in a timely manner.

All questions/inquiries must be submitted in WRITING through email or by mail to Laura Peters, Contract Specialist, laura.peters@afosr.af.mil and Paul Lauro, Contracting Officer, paul.lauro@afosr.afmil; by mail to the following address: Air Force Office of Scientific Research, ATTN: Paul Lauro, 875 N. Randolph Street, Room 3112, Arlington, VA 22203.

Propoals are due no later than 1 August 2011, 15:00 Eastern time.

The Government does not commit to providing a response to any comment or question. No basis for a claim against the Government shall arise as a result of this notice.

Point of Contacts:
Laura Peters, Contract Specialist, 703-696-5957, laura.peters@afosr.af.mil
Paul Lauro, Contracting Officer, 703-696-7305, paul.lauro@afosr.af.mil

Added: Feb 14, 2011 2:24 pm Information is being collected from all potential sources at this time. This is not a solicitation for proposal, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information for planning and market research purposes only and constitutes neither a Request for Proposal (RFP), nor does it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach. This synopsis should not be construed as a commitment or payment for information by the Government for any purpose. Any submissions will be considered to be public information. Responses will not be returned.

Respondents should indicate whether they are a large business, small business, small disadvantaged business (SDB), woman-owned small business (WOSB), 8(a)-certified business, service-disabled veteran-owned small Business (SDVOSB), veteran-owned small business (VOSB), or Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone). The North American Industry classification System (NAICS) code for this action is 561110. All prospective contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database to be awarded a contract. No set-aside decision has been made. Additionally, firms having GSA schedules should indicate their GSA schedule number in their response.

Description
1) The Government's intent to solicit for potential sources to administer the United Stated Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Postdoctoral Research Awards Program.

2) The AFRL Postdoctoral Research Program is designed to provide researchers of exceptional promise and ability, opportunities to solve problems that are compatible with the interest of the United States Air Force and to contribute to the overall efforts of AFRL by the stimulus offered to research programs by the presence of highly motivated, recent doctoral graduates.

3) The program provides approximately (50) postdoctoral awards per year. Researchers are competitively selected on the basis of their overall qualifications and technical proposals addressing specific areas defined by the host AFRL laboratories. The selected participants will perform research at Air Force research laboratories while interacting with senior laboratory scientists and engineers.

4) To be considered for this effort; prospective offerors must demonstrate detailed knowledge and experience in program administration in the following areas:

a. Have the capability to advertise nationwide to attract and select the most outstanding researchers, who hold doctoral degrees and have the capability to provide an on-line website method of applying for the AFRL Postdoctoral Awards Program.

b. Have the capability to assemble and conduct evaluation panels consisting of nationally recognized experts in science, mathematics, and engineering to evaluate prospective candidate applications. Panel experts as approved by Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), shall be recognized authorities in their field with previous research experience related to areas of interest to the Air Force.

c. Have the capability to establish and maintain a current database, provided by AFOSR, of AFRL research interests and advisors at Air Force research facilities.

d. Have the capability to establish and maintain an electronic financial management system for issuing award stipends and tracking awardees costs.

e. Have an established business in science and engineering awardee management.

The contract will cover administrative costs of the program and also for transfer of funds (pass through funds) to the contractor to pay recipients stipends
Interested sources are requested to provide a concise capability statement, limited to three pages, to include experience relevant to the described functions; experience in similar programs; knowledge of appropriate means to publicize the program and recruit participants; familiarity with issues related to conducting research ; capability to assemble and conduct evaluation panels consisting of nationally recognized experts in science, mathematics, and engineering to evaluate prospective candidate applications ; capability to advertise nationwide to attract and select the most outstanding researchers, who hold doctoral degrees; capability to provide an on-line website method of applying for the AFRL Postdoctoral Awards Program; cost accounting and financial management systems adequate to track costs, issue stipends and tracking costs; database management capabilities to gather and maintain data; have a business in science and engineering awardee management; and other resources necessary to conduct a program of this magnitude in a timely manner.

All questions/inquiries must be submitted in WRITING through email or by mail. For technical questions, contact the Program Manager, Ms. Leslie Peasant, at (703) 696-7316, Email; leslie.peasant@afosr.af.mil and carbon copy Ms. Lanette Barnes at lanette.barnes@afosr.af.mil on all correspondence. Contractual concerns may be addressed to Ms. Lanette Barnes, Contract Specialist, at (703) 696-9736; lanette.barnes@afosr.af.mil and carbon copy Ms. Leslie Peasant at leslie.peasant@afosr.af.mil; by mail to the following address: Air Force Office of Scientific Research, ATTN: Lanette Barnes, 875 N. Randolph Street, Room 3112, Arlington, VA 22203.

Final responses to this Sources Sought Notice should be forwarded to the Contract Specialist, Lanette Barnes at lanette.barnes@afosr.af.mil not later than 28 Feb 2011.

The Government will not respond to a business that does not follow the submission instructions in this notice. The Government will evaluate each respondent's capabilities statement to determine if the respondent has the requisite experience and past performance to complete the requirements described herein. No telephone inquiries will be accepted. The Government does not commit to providing a response to any comment or question. No basis for a claim against the Government shall arise as a result of this notice.

Point of Contacts:
Lanette Barnes, Contract Specialist, 703-696-9736,lanette.barnes@afosr.af.mil
Dorothy Howe, Contracting Officer, 703-588-8618, dorothy.howe@afosr.af.mil
Kevin Bannan, Contract Specialist, 703-588-8498, kevin.bannan@afosr.af.mil