Sources Sought Notice SBA - Regional Innovation Cluster Initiative Services - 2020 Product Service Code – R / R499 – Support – Professional, Other NAICS Code – 541690 – Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services / size standard $16.5M The SBA, Office of Entrepreneurial Development (OED), has a need for professional support of its Regional Innovation Cluster Initiative Program. The NAICS code for this requirement is 541690, Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services, with a size standard of $16.5 Million. The Product Service Code is R499, Support – Professional – Other. Market Research : The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to perform market research to determine if there are two or more for-profit small businesses that are technically able to provide cluster services, that have sufficient professional experience to lead a cluster and deliver required cluster services in one or all of the three specialized area described above, and that have an interest in providing these cluster services to the Government. Requirement Background : The SBA is investing in regional clusters throughout the United States. Clusters are geographic concentrations of interconnected companies and institutions in a particular field. These clusters span a variety of industries that include energy, manufacturing, agriculture, and advanced defense technologies. The goal of the Agency’s involvement in clusters is to increase small business participation and economic activity. A cluster initiative serves as an organizing entity. The cluster activities increase opportunities for small businesses to participate, promote innovation within any chosen industry, and generally enhance regional economic growth. Successful cluster initiative proposals will include partnerships with and between business and industry groups, academic institutions, economic development organizations, entrepreneurial education programs, and training initiatives - and will reflect an industry-specific or region-specific focus and collaboration. This Acquisition Need : The SBA intends to award up to five (5) contracts to contractors to head cluster initiatives. Each contract will be for a base year and four option years. The base year is expected to be for a firm-fixed, not-to-exceed (level-of-effort) price of approximately $500,000. Travel costs and event costs will be included in the negotiated firm-fixed, not-to-exceed price. The contractor will provide fully loaded labor rates for a Program Director, Program Manager, Project Manager, and Technical Business Advisor or other key personnel for each year. The rates for the base year will be used to determine that the offered firm-fixed, level-of-effort price is fair and reasonable. The option year rates will be used to negotiate the option year firm-fixed, not-to-exceed price, with the final price determined once a Federal budget is established. This Sources Sought Notice is for market research purposes only, and a response to this notice need not include a proposal. It is expected that a Combined Synopsis/Solicitation for this contractual need may be issued at a date TBD. A draft performance-based statement of work (SOW) is attached to this Sources Sought notice. Response Requested : Contractor’s response shall include the following information in the following order: The full name of Contractor, Contractor’s DUNS number, address, two points-of-contact with both email addresses and telephone numbers; Contractor’s socio-economic status for the related NAICS code of 541690 for which Contractor must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM); A description of Contractor’s core business, including its core competencies and services it currently provides. A Description of Contractor’s relevant experience in performing services covered by NAICS code 541690. Include any relevant contract numbers, Government or business names of parties, periods of performance, and value of contract. Include any GSA Schedule or other Government contracting vehicle to which contractor is a schedule holder or party. For each contract reported, include whether Contractor is the Prime Contractor. If a contractor was a subcontractor, please describe duties and responsibilities. A description of Contractor’s expertise, abilities, and approach as it relates to cluster initiatives. Contractor shall address how it will provide at least three of the following services to small businesses involved in the cluster: Business training, Business counseling/consulting, Mentoring, Technology transfer counseling/consulting, Commercialization of existing research and development (R&D) counseling/consulting, Engagement with Department of Defense, Department of Energy, or other Federal Agency’s Small Business Innovative Research & Development Programs, Export readiness counseling/consulting, Support for underserved communities, or Other services related to small businesses. Contractor’s Response Format and Dates : Responses shall be in English, printable by electronic media on one side of the paper, use 12-point font of any type, and be either single or double-spaced. Responses shall be sent as a pdf file attachment to an email to the Contracting Officer’s email address no later than the date and time provided in this notification. Do not include formatting that requires large megabyte support. General/Related Information : A solicitation/RFP is not being issued at this time, and this notice shall not be construed as a commitment of any nature by the Government. No contract will be awarded as a result of this Sources Sought Notice. A request for solicitation/RFP documents will not receive a response. All costs associated with providing information as requested by this Sources Sought Notice shall be the responsibility of the Contractor. This Notice does not restrict the Government in any way to a particular acquisition approach. Submit the information requested above (response) by email to Pedro Arritola-Vazquez, Contracting Officer,
[email protected] , no later than 3 p.m., EST, on December 3, 2020.