Events Management and Related Technical Services

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Research Services (ORS), is conducting a market survey to ascertain the availability and potential technical capability of SMALL BUSINESSES including 8a Small Businesses, HubZone Small Businesses, and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses, to provide the following: a broad range of events management services, operating and maintaining audiovisual and multimedia presentation systems, operating and maintaining the NIH television operating center, executing video production services and providing video products. These services are in support of the mission and objectives of the twenty-seven NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) as the premier agents of world class bio-medical research funded by the US Government. THIS NOTICE IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts or quotations. The DRAFT Performance Work Statement (PWS) is attached to this Sources Sought Notice. The performance of the services addressed in the Draft PWS, are primarily performed in the ORS managed conference facilities, the television operation center, an editing suite and a small studio. Some IC request services are in off-site locations. Since the NIH Events Management operates on a total cost recovery basis, all the above services are available to the NIH Community for a fee. Like all other ORS fee-for-service programs, NIH Events Management reviews and revises the fee schedule for every fiscal year. The Government will look for expertise in evaluating and improving a reasonable fee structure for conference, audiovisual and video services. The contractor will not be responsible for the collection of the fees from within the Government. The Government will provide adequate office and storage space for the contractor's onsite staff and functions. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this requirement is 561210 with a size standard of $35.5 million. In light of this project summary, all interested SMALL BUSINESSES are invited to submit a tailored capability statement. The capability statement should reference Sources Sought Number HHS-NIH-OD-OLAO-SBSS-10-009 and should be no longer than 15 pages in length and shall include the following: (1) Name and Address of the Organization, (2) The size and type of business: Small Business; 8a Small Business; Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business; HubZone Small Business, as listed under www.ccr.gov, (3) Point of Contact with name, title, voice/telephone, facsimile number, and email address, (4) DUNS number, (5) Contractor's capability statement that addresses organizational and staff experience and expertise for each of the service categories addressed in the attached Draft Performance Work Statement as follows: Events Management, Technical Support Services, Video Services, Editing Services, and Management of institute-owned conference facilities. Additionally, capability statements should address the availability/recruitment of key staff which shall consist of the Project Manger, Assistant Project Manager, A/V Engineer, Assistant A/V Engineer, Broadcast Engineer and Video Producer/Editor. Corporate resources and relevant projects should also be addressed. The company must demonstrate that they have the necessary personnel, labor, materials, services, and equipment to support the efforts in the Draft PWS (pamphlets and standard brochures will not be considered responsive to this Sources Sought Notice). (6) List of three organizations to which similar types of services have been previously provided within the last three years - to include contract number, dollar value, name and telephone number of customer. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code of 561210 should not submit a response to this notice. This market survey is being conducted to reach the widest possible audience and to gather current market information. The Government is contemplating a 100% small business set-aside. Responding firms should provide four (4) copies of their capability statement to Erin Flynn Pacifico (Ref. HHS-NIH-OD-OLAO-SBSS-10-009), National Institutes of Health, Office of Acquisitions, 6011 Executive Blvd., Room 541B, (MSC 7663) Bethesda, MD 20892-7663. (NOTE: If you are using a courier service, Federal Express, or UPS the city, state, and zip code should read ROCKVILLE, MD 20852). Please be aware that the U.S. Postal Service's "Express Mail" DOES NOT deliver to the Rockville, Maryland address AND delivery to the Bethesda, Maryland address will result in a delayed delivery to our office in Rockville, MD (up to 3 - 5 days). ALL INFORMATION SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE. THE CLOSING DATE FOR RESPONSES IS Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Email and facsimile copies will not be accepted. All questions and/or comments regarding this sources sought notice must be in writing and may be emailed to Erin Flynn Pacifico at flynne1@od.nih.gov. Comments and questions will NOT be answered, but may assist in creating a solicitation for this requirement. 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. Respondents 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. 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).