CROSSCUT RISK ASSESSMENT ANALYSIS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE: CROSSCUT RISK ANALYSIS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, (NIFA) USDA. This Sources Sought Notice is being issued for informational purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the USDA. A source sought notice for information regarding a potential procurement with National Institute of Food and Agriculture, (NIFA), USDA is being conducted. NIFA has the need for a requirement to conduct annual crosscut risk analysis to determine the amount of funds that are expended by NIFA on biotechnology research. The requirement will be a firm fixed price contract, base year with two option years. This is not a solicitation announcement or request for proposal. It does not constitute any commitment by the Government. No award will result from this notice. The purpose is to conduct market research to gain knowledge of potentially qualified sources. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this project is 541990 with a Size Standard of $15 million. Responses to this notice will be used by the Government to make an appropriate acquisition decision. The USDA will not award a contract on the basis of responses or pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this notice. After completing an analysis of the responses, the Government will determine whether to limit small business competition to 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, Women-Owned, or other small business firms, or to proceed with issuing an unrestricted solicitation, inviting full and open competition. 1. Background The purpose of this contract is to conduct an annual crosscut analysis to determine the amount of funds that are expended by the National Institute of Food Agriculture (NIFA) on biotechnology research. This crosscut analysis involves Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who read and evaluate in excess of 1,000 Current Research Information System (CRIS) reports (http://cris.nifa.usda.gov/) of NIFA-funded research projects to determine the percentage of biotechnology in each project. The process of the annual biotechnology crosscut analysis requires Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who read and classified each CRIS report according to prescribed criteria. For example, the Subject Matter Expert (SME) evaluates and classify each research project's CRIS report into specific categories, provided by NIFA, and the percentage of biotechnology involved in each of these projects. The completed evaluation of these CRIS reports is then summarized into a report for NIFA's budget office to report annually on biotechnology expenditures. In addition, this biotechnology crosscut report contributes to generating a program budget for USDA's Biotechnology Risk assessment Grants (BRAG) program. An example of how the biotechnology crosscut is used to determine a BRAG program budget: in FY2015, the biotechnology crosscut analyzes research projects from CRIS reports initiated in FY2014 to determine a FY2016 BRAG program budget. Until FY2017, NIFA has utilized a granting mechanism using Program Enhancement Funds for this annual biotechnology crosscut analyses. The total amount of funds available for award under a Request for Application (RFA) that was approved by NIFA's Associate Director of Programs and Deputy Director of NIFA's Institute of Food Production and Sustainability (IFPS) and reserved annually to support this crosscut analyses. Starting in FY2018, the biotechnology crosscut analyses process changed from a grant funding mechanism to a procurement contract funding mechanism. The scope of the work and availability of funds did not change from previous years. The award will be made through a procurement contract to solicit the service required to fulfill the needs of NIFA. 2. Objectives NIFA will search for NIFA-funded research projects in the CRIS database using keywords that broadly encompasses biotechnology. This strategy retrieves all projects that reference terms such as: genetic engineering, biotechnology, DNA, RNAi, genes, transgenics, molecular and cellular genetics, and related areas. A range of process dates is given to limit the retrieval to new and revised projects that have entered CRIS since the previous update of the last crosscut analyses (usually one year). The saved search is kept broad to pick up as many relevant projects as possible but limited to only NIFA and state partner sponsored projects. The results are then separated into the specified categories using subject of investigation classification codes. This list of retrieved CRIS projects (CRIS subfile) will then be delivered to the Contractor for further biotechnology percentage crosscut analyses. The contractor shall conduct a crosscut analysis using the CRIS subfile and Crosscut Spreadsheet provided by NIFA staff. The results will be spreadsheets outlining the percentage of projects pertaining to a specific component. The sum of the percentages must equal the overall percentage of relevance to biotechnology. Once the analysis is completed, the Crosscut Spreadsheet is returned to the NIFA's Planning, Accountability, and Reporting Staff (PARS) Office and entered into the CRIS system. The goals of the biotechnology crosscut analyses process are to: Determine total and categorized expenditure of biotechnology projects across NIFA funded projects Use the expenditures of biotechnology research to determine BRAG program budget for the next fiscal year. 3. Scope The Contractor shall receive the CRIS subfile, Crosscut Spreadsheet, and general guidance document for conducting cross-cut analyses. Upon determining the percentage of biotechnology within the projects based on the guidance provided, the Contractor shall record this data on the Crosscut Spreadsheet provided to return to NIFA. 4. Tasks or Requirements Develop a report detailing the process of the biotechnology crosscut analyses - a data management plan outlining a tentative schedule to ensure the deliverables will be submitted on time Determine major changes in crosscut categories in comparison to previous years crosscuts Create at least three electronic spreadsheets outlining the percentage of projects with the specified components. Annual Report 4.1 The Contractor shall provide a yearly annual report that summarizes the activities conducted for the year. The report should include a description of the significant outcomes and successes over the past year. In addition, the report should contain detailed listing of activities for each subcontractor involved in the analyses. Final Report 5.1 The Contractor shall provide a final report that summarizes all of the analysis's assistance provided during the full contract period. Additionally, the report shall provide a summary of barriers and issues encountered during the contract period as it relates to the crosscut analyses process and NIFA's oversight of the contract, if applicable. The final report will also provide a summary and updated contact information of each participant involved. Monthly Progress Report 6.1 The monthly progress report will summarize the activities of the preceding month. Each progress report will identify events and fully describe any significant outcomes. The monthly progress report shall identify any issues or concerns to NIFA staff. 5. Government-Furnished Equipment and Government-Furnished Information The Government will provide a CRIS subfile (search result using a pre-determined criterion by NIFA staff) and the Crosscut Spreadsheet for the analyses to be recorded on. 6. Place of Performance The Contractor is responsible for his/her own workspace, computer, email, and telephone access to perform the duties specified. 7. Period of Performance The period of performance is as follows: 03/27/2021 to 03/26/2022 (Base year) 03/27/2022 to 03/26/2023 (Option year I) 03/27/2023 to 03/26/2024 (Option year II) THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. NO SOLICITATION EXISTS. THIS REQUEST IS INTENDED ONLY TO IDENTIFY SOURCES. Government point of contact for this notice is Cheryl Lee at Cheryl.lee@usda.gov.