1712Professional and Technical Services

The Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is planning to procure professional and technical services. The draft acquisition strategy is based on full and open competition to award multiple Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) type contracts with the majority of the contract awards reserved for small businesses. The use of full and open competition with contracts reserved for small business is pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15 and Public Law 111-240, Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, Section 1331(FAR19.502-4). NOAA has established five domains based on the organizational structure of the bureau in which multiple IDIQ contracts will be awarded. The five domains are Ocean, Satellites, Fisheries, Meteorological, and Enterprise Operations. The acquisition of NOAA professional and technical services encompasses the following six North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes: - 541330 - Engineering Services; - 541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services; - 541620 - Environmental Consulting Services; - 541690 - Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services; - 541712 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology); and - 541990 - All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services. Each domain has been assigned a NAICS code for determining status as a small business. The domains and applicable NAICS codes and related small business size standards are set forth below: - Ocean - 541690 - $14M - Satellites - 541712 - 500 employees - Fisheries - 541690 - $14M - Meteorological - 541712 - 500 employees - Enterprise Operations - 541611 - $14M Any of the NAICS codes may be assigned to the task orders depending on the requirements of the task order performance work statements. Offerors may be awarded contracts in one or more domains as prime contractor. An awardee will be eligible for task orders only in those domains for which they possess a contract. NOAA intends to utilize both qualified large and small businesses in the Pro-Tech program. NOAA will reserve a number of contract awards for small business in each domain as set forth insection 1331 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, and implemented in FAR 19.502-4. Notwithstanding the requirements of FAR 16.505(b) (1) Fair Opportunity, NOAA's task order procedures for ordering shall be based in part on FAR 19.502-2 and 19.502-3 procedures. To encourage, to the greatest extent possible, subcontracting opportunities for qualified small businesses, offerors will be encouraged to propose subcontracting strategies which effectively utilize small businesses in their subcontracting plans. The contracts under the Pro-Tech program shall be awarded for a two year base period with three one year option periods. It is anticipated that the solicitation will be available in 2013. NOAA anticipates the base period will commence in 2014. The total performance period is not anticipated to exceed five (5) years. This notice is not a request for proposals. NOAA is providing all industry stakeholders an opportunity to review this acquisition strategy in draft form. NOAA encourages communication and a robust dialog on this draft acquisition strategy among all stakeholders. NOAA requests written comments on the proposed draft acquisition strategy, specifically as to whether the use of the domains and contract reserves, as described, facilitate meaningful participation by small businesses. Comments must be submitted, in writing, no later than July 31, 2013, addressed to: Pro-Tech@noaa.gov, Attention: Pro-Tech Strategic Sourcing Program