Notice of Intent to Sole Source - PitchBook Platform Subscription

Pursuant to the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), the US Department of Education's (Department), Institute of Education Sciences (IES) intends to award a contract to PitchBook Data, Inc. on a sole source basis to implement a due diligence model to support the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. This includes establishing a risk-based due diligence framework for assessing foreign influence in potential SBIR awardees. The SBIR team has developed a multi-pronged due diligence framework, and commercial insights into financing, employee history, and other connections is a component of that framework. PitchBook focuses on private market funding and venture capital funding. It allows tracking across time for specific companies (particularly relevant to SBIR due diligence) or sectors. Data sources include targeted company-level tracking to include patent development, technological developments, fundraising, investment activities, executives, and more. Funding sources and patent development are specifically called out in the SBIR reauthorization language. Executive-level information ties in to existing due diligence efforts using platforms that search published literature to better understand personnel connections across companies. The notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, the Department will give consideration to any interested party that identifies its interest and capability to meet the requirements and provide the data sources. Responses to this notice must be submitted in writing to [email protected] by the response date.