B -- National Flood Insurance Program

This Sources Sought is for "Market Research" only. The purpose of this Sources Sought is to determine if there are qualified firms interested in this requirement. All interested and qualified parties are requested to submit required information by the closing date listed below. The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Headquarters is seeking qualified small businesses to conduct studies on the impact of climate change on the National Flood Insurance Program and to determine whether policies and methodologies for mapping coastal special flood hazard areas should be revised. This involves three different (albeit related) studies or analyses to be performed. They include: (1) a study recommended by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that would analyze the impact of climate change on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); (2) concerns regarding the use of the primary frontal dune in determining the landward boundary of Velocity (V) Zones; and (3) questions regarding whether the NFIP should map and manage coastal A Zones separately from riverine A Zones and develop insurance rates that are specific to this new insurance class. The NAICS code for these services is 524298 - Insurance Related Services. To qualify as a small business under this NAICS code, your firm must have had an average of less than $6.5 million in revenue over each of the past three years. This sources sought notice is for information and planning purposes only. The government will not pay or otherwise reimburse respondents for information submitted. It is anticipated that Firm Fixed Price contract may be awarded from the follow-on solicitation. This contract will be for an 18 month period. Based upon evaluation of responses received by the closing date, the government reserves the right to set-aside any and all procurements that may result hereunder for small or minority-owned businesses; or to open the follow-on solicitation to full and open competition. Minimum capabilities must include documented evidence of experience and expertise in all of the following areas: (1) Experience and flexibility in drawing on diversified expertise from various sectors (e.g., universities, environmental organizations, corporations, and government) to examine scientific and economic issues and develop national policy options. (2) Demonstrated knowledge of climate change and its potential impact on sea level rise, precipitation changes, hurricane intensity and frequency, and other natural processes; (3) Demonstrated knowledge of climate change and its potential impact on social aspects of the U.S- especially the insurance industry; (4) Past Performance on contracts of comparable size with government agencies and private industry in terms of: (a) Cost control; (b) Quality of work; (c) Compliance with performance schedule. (d) Submittals must include references' names, affiliations, and phone numbers. (5) Demonstrated knowledge of the National Flood Insurance Program; (6) Experience of firm and key personnel in the coordination and facilitation of public relations/outreach involving technical issues with local officials, private citizens, Federal and State entities, and private industry. (7) Experience of firm and key personnel demonstrating the capability to maintain adequate product quality control of contract of comparable size. (8) Demonstrated knowledge and experience in (or demonstrated capability of enlisting the services of experts in) scientific and engineering fields and disciplines such as: meteorology, climatology, riverine hydraulics and flooding, coastal processes and flooding, sea level rise, hurricane science, and other scientific and engineering fields relevant to a study of this nature and scope; (9) Demonstrated experience in (or demonstrated capability of enlisting the services of experts in) insurance, actuarial sciences, demographics, geographical information systems, and other fields relevant to a study of this nature and scope; (10) Demonstrated experience with (or expert knowledge of) the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and the Climate Change Science Program; (11) Demonstrated experience in establishing steering committees to oversee and/or provide guidance on studies of national scope and significance; (12) Demonstrated experience in producing national-scale reports or studies that receive national exposure, include findings, conclusions, policy options, and recommendations for changes to government programs; Small Businesses with these capabilities who are interested in performing the proposed effort are invited to submit one original and 4 copies of complete information to the following mailing address: Federal Emergency Management Agency Acquisition Operations Branch Mitigation Section/ Mrs. Beverly Howell 500 C ST, SW PP 5th Floor Washington DC 20472 Information furnished should include: (1) The number and professional qualifications of scientists, engineers, technical and other appropriate personnel; (2) Company experience related to the proposed project; (3) A description of general and special facilities; (4) A current financial statement, and (5) Other literature that demonstrates the minimum capabilities listed above. Information packages must be received no later than 2:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time, Thursday, January 31, 2008. The point of contacts for this action at FEMA HQ is Mrs. Beverly Howell (beverly.howell1@dhs.gov) who may contacted at 202-646-2750 or Mrs. Veronica Key (veronica.key@dhs.gov) who may be contacted at 202-646-3253 The Small Business Administration may be used to verify business size. Draft--Statement of Objectives (Available upon request) Impact of Climate Change on the National Flood Insurance Program, and Improving Coastal Flood Plain Mapping