Notice of Intent to Sole Source for 2020 NEHRP Provisions and related training

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) intends to award a sole-source Task Order to the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) for earthquake hazards mitigation services, under IDIQ HSFE60-15-D-0022. As part of its responsibility under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) and in accordance with the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (PL 94-125), FEMA is responsible for acquiring the most up-to-date scientific advancements in the field of earthquake hazard mitigation and to translate those advancements into technical guidance and resource documents to support national earthquake hazard mitigation and make improvements to national design standards and building codes. The development of technical resources based on the 2020 NEHRP Provisions and related training, outreach and information dissemination services to be procured under this sole-source Task Order will help minimize losses of life and property from earthquakes for all buildings, improve the performance of higher occupancy structures, and increase the capability of essential facilities to function during and after an earthquake. The National Institute of Building Sciences is uniquely qualified to provide these services. The Task Order is classified under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 541690 Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services with a Small Business Size Standard of $16.5 million. The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, Public Law 93-383, designated the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) as the designated source to provide advice to the public and private sectors in the areas of building science, technology, and regulatory issues. Section 809(g)(3) of PL 93-383 specifically authorizes Federal agencies to contract with the institute for specific services where deemed appropriate. Accordingly, the justification for not providing for full and open competition in regard to the subject Task Order is in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-5(a)(2)(i) and 41 United States Code 3304(a)(5), Authorized or Required by Statute. THERE ARE NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS REQUIREMENT. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Requests for copies of a solicitation in response to this notice will not be honored or acknowledged. Parties interested in responding to this notice shall submit technical data sufficient to determine the capability to provide the same services electronically to [email protected] by the closing date of this notice. No portion of this work can be segregated to allow for competition. All capability statements, based on the attached Performance Work Statement (PWS), received within fifteen (15) days after publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. Capability statements (limited to 25 pages) shall be submitted via email only as a MS Word or Adobe PDF attachment. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of whether conducting a competitive procurement is in the best interest of the Government. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.