HBCU Capacity Building Assessment

A. Purpose: This is a Sources Sought Notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The Department of Defense (DoD), Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), Acquisition Directorate (AD) is seeking firms doing business in North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 611710 Educational Support Services. B. Introduction/Background: The Basic Research Office (BRO) provides oversight and management of Department of Defense's (DoD) basic research investments. Additionally, BRO sets scientific priorities aimed toward ensuring DoD is a leader in scientific discovery and identifying new paths for investigation. The BRO is responsible for setting DoD policy for grants, and manages programs including: the Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship, the Minerva Research Initiative, as well as a number of pilot programs meant to rethink the DoD's approach to managing and maturing basic research investments and building networks of researchers. The strength of the United States DoD and United States Research and Development (R&D) ecosystem is bolstered by high-quality research conducted in our university system. As the United States looks to maintain our global dominance in Science and Technology (S&T), we need to explore untapped wells of talent both domestically and internationally, that could conduct research in new and relevant topic areas. Various qualitative studies have shown that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have a history of conducting high quality research with unique perspectives that have advanced within the DoD and US R&D ecosystem. Over the last 30 years, HBCUs have received utility patents in energy, advanced manufacturing technology, nanotechnology, alternative fuel technologies, and breast cancer treatment. However, despite their distinguished contributions, initial data analytics studies suggest that the DoD is not taking full advantage of all the scientific advances coming out of HBCUs. The DoD is not building mutually beneficial relationships with HBCU researchers that would simultaneously advance HBCUs research interest and capacity and bolster the DoD research ecosystem. The DoD seeks to partner with organizations that have existing relationships with HBCUs to access Principal Investigators (PIs), rising stars, and university administrative leaders. This partnership will allow the DoD to gain insight into the DoD-relevant research strengths of HBCUs, to identify the challenges and barriers that HBCUs face when engaging with the DoD, and to identify mechanisms to increase the impact of DoD-relevant research and research capacity at HBCUs. C. Objective: The overall objective of this effort is to explore ways to strengthen the research capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) (and) to pursue rigorous research relevant to the Department of Defense by directly engaging with HBCU PIs, university administration and university leadership. This effort will help the DoD identify the DoD-relevant strengths of HBCUs and the challenges they face in engaging with the DoD so we can better collaborate and take advantage of the research advances in DoD relevant areas coming out of the HBCUs. The primary objectives are to: Identify DoD-relevant research strengths of HBCUs Identify DoD-relevant research areas where HBCUs research is making or has the potential to make revolutionary advances in the scientific community Identify challenges and barriers for HBCU PIs, university administration and leadership to engage effectively with the DoD Identify potential mechanisms to increase the impact of DoD relevant research at HBCUs Identify potential mechanisms to increase research capacity in DoD relevant areas at HBCUs D. Response Requirements: Responses to this notice must include: Company name, address and phone number Type of Business: Small, Large, University, Non-Profit, Contractor and Government Entity (CAGE) code and Unique Identification Code (UIC) / DUNS number Primary Point of Contact name, phone and email address A summary description that demonstrates the ability to meet the aforementioned objectives. Respondents should provide complete responses to each objective addressed above. If respondent has a government contract vehicle such as a Federal Supply Schedule or other government-wide use contract that would address the scope of this requirement, please indicate contract number in your response. Questions Submission: Interest offerors must submit any questions concerning this Sources Sought Notice no later than 11:00am (EST), Wednesday April 27, 2022. E. Deadline: The Government requests interested parties to submit a letter of interest and statement of current ability to provide the required services via email with the subject line - HBCU Capacity Building Assessment to Jimmie Toloumu at jimmie.j.toloumu.civ@mail.mil and Chrissandra Smith at chrissandra.smith.civ@mail.mil by 2:00 pm (EST), Wednesday May 4, 2022. F. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This Sources Sought Notice is for market research purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal/Quotation; and, it is not considered to be a commitment by the Government to award a contract nor will the Government pay for any information provided; no basis for claim against the Government shall arise as a result from a response to this Sources Sought Notice or Government use of any information provided. Failure to submit information in sufficient detail may result in considering a firm as not a viable source and may influence competition and set-aside decisions. Regardless of the information obtained from this Sources Sought Notice, the Government reserves the right to consider any arrangement as deemed appropriate for this requirement. Respondents are advised that the Government be under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response to this Sources Sought Notice. The Government reserves the right to use any information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate, including using technical information provided by respondents in any resultant solicitation. At this time, no solicitation exists; therefore, DO NOT REQUEST A COPY OF THE SOLICITATION and DO NOT SUBMIT OFFERS. G. Point of Contact: Chrissandra Smith Contracting Officer Email: chrissandra.smith.civ@mail.mil H. Draft Statement of Work (SOW) is attached.