This is a Sources Sought Notice only. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this sources sought notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) The availability and capability of qualified sources/ availability of competition; and (2) the business size and socioeconomic status (e.g. small or large business, HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small business; woman-owned small business; woman-owned small businesses; small disadvantage businesses; or large business), relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. The Government will utilize this information in determining an acquisition strategy, including whether a set-aside is possible. BACKGROUND: Approximately 1000 employees of the Institute's staff including contractors are located in the David P. Rail Building which was constructed in the early I980's. Additionally, 300 NIEHS employees are located in the Keystone Building approximately 1.5 miles from the NIEHS main Campus. From its opening, a full service cafeteria has been in operation on the first floor this building. Specifically, the cafeteria occupies about 7000 square feet of the first floor of A Module; the cafeteria adjoins the Institute's main conference center. In January 2002, the Institute completed a major renovation of the entire cafeteria. This renovation incorporated the latest design for food service and preparation. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are served five days a week. The incumbent contractor is currently experiencing a customer count of approximately 725 per day. However, the Government recognizes a potential for this number to increase. The cafeteria is an important component of the Institute's benefit package to its employees. It is in the Institute's best interest to attract as many staff as possible to the cafeteria to promote the exchange of information, reduce the amount of traffic leaving the Institute for lunch and promote the efficiency of our operations. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this effort is to provide high quality, nutritious food and food services to the employees of NIEHS. This includes providing a clean, safe and attractive serving and dining area, reasonable prices for food and a variety of food offerings. The contractor shall provide a variety of menu options, including a hot vegetarian selection containing no meat, fish or poultry at each meal. The objective of this effort is to provide a convenient, affordable place for employees to buy meals and snacks without having to leave the Institute's grounds. The contractor is expected to attract increasing numbers of customers. The contractor shall provide all management, personnel and training to operate the NIEHS onsite cafeteria, and catering service as specified herein. ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The Government anticipates a one-year (12 month) base contract with four (4) one year option periods. NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE: The intended procurement will be classified under the NAICS code 722514 - Cafeterias, Grill Buffets, and Buffets ANTICIPATED CONTRACT TYPE: The anticipated contract type will be a hybrid labor hour and firm fixed price contract type. PERFORMANCE LOCATION: See Statement of Work. CAPABILITY STATEMENT/INFORMATION SOUGHT: Interested organizations are required to submit their capability statements via email to elizabeth.mcewen@nih.gov and should not exceed five (5) pages in length (excludes response to number 9 below); not including a standard product brochure that clearly details the ability to perform the aspects of the notice described in the Draft Statement of Work and should be SPECIFICALLY TAILORED to the "Project Requirements" as concise as possible. Capability statements should also include the following information: 1. DUNS Number 2. CAGE Code: 3. Organization Name: 4. Company Address: 5. Point of Contact (including name, title, addresses, telephone number, fax number and Email address) 6. Business size (e.g. small or large): 7. Socio-economic Status (e.g., HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses): 8. GSA Contract Number: 9. Clear and convincing documentation of your capability and ability to provide the services specified in this notice. 10. Examples of prior completed contracts and other related information. Note that standard product brochures will not be considered a sufficient response to this source sought synopsis. CONFIDENTIALITY: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). DISCLAIMER AND IMPORTANT NOTES: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Potential Quoters are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. The Government shall consider all responses received within ten (10) days of this posting. Written responses to this synopsis shall contain sufficient documentation to establish their capability to fulfill this requirement. NIEHS will not be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this notice. Please email, with the sources sought notice number in the subject line to the Contract Specialist and /or Contracting Officer listed below.
