This serves as a sources sought notice and market survey to locate qualified small businesses capable of performing a variety of specialized studies for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). FSIS requires contractual support services for various studies and analyses related to the implementation of the final Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) rule and other program initiatives. The studies and analyses would fall into the following general categories: 1) Studies and analysis which assess the feasibility of proposed changes to FSIS programs, the effectiveness of existing programs, and the reliability or usefulness of databases that report on the quality and safety of meat, poultry, and egg products; 2) Projects testing the feasibility or effectiveness of changes in program operations; 3) surveys or focus groups to obtain information from industry, consumer groups, academic community and the public about current or planned Agency initiatives; and 4) studies concerning the economic impact or costs and benefits of regulatory and policy options, information needs and data development, risk management decision-making, and the structure of the meat, poultry and egg product industries. Small businesses having the capabilities necessary to provide the described services are invited to submit appropriate documentation which will demonstrate that it has the ability to perform this service. This information will allow the Government to determine whether small business concerns can satisfy the Government's requirement and whether the procurement should be set-aside for small businesses. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541690, Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services, and the small business size standard is $6 million in average annual receipts. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) or an announcement of a solicitation and no solicitation package exists at this time. The Government is not requesting technical/management proposals and no contract will be awarded as a result of this sources sought notice. Your responses will be used solely for market research purposes of the Government. The Government will not pay for any materials provided in response to this synopsis and submittals will not be returned to the sender. If a solicitation is later released it will be synopsized in FedBizOpps. It is the potential offerors responsibility to monitor this cite for the release of any synopsis or solicitation. Interested small businesses are requested to submit a package delineating qualifications, capabilities, and experience for meeting the range of services described herein. Include information on your company?s managerial and technical resources to be able to meet the requirements. Companies must sufficiently demonstrate that they have the capability to perform this service and must provide detailed experience and qualifications in all previous work pertinent to this effort. Responses should also include the following: name and address of firm; size of business; number of years in business; and list of customers covering the past five years (highlight relevant work performed, contract numbers, contract type, dollar value of each procurement, and point of contact with address and phone number). Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. Responses may be submitted by e-mail to
[email protected]; or by mail to Debra C. Kaelberer at USDA, FSIS, ASD, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Maildrop 5230, Beltsville, MD 20705-5230; or by fax at 301-504-4276. The information requested is due by 4:00 p.m. local time on August 21, 2002.