Human Capital Recruitment, Retention, and Development Support

This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; 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; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. Background The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Office of Workforce Effectiveness and Resources (OWER), is conducting market research for human capital recruitment and retention support. The market research is to determine the capabilities of all small businesses in providing assistance in support of long-term human capital strategy, and organization effectiveness planning and management, in order to recruit, assimilate, train, and retain a superior workforce. The Office of Workforce Effectiveness and Resources (OWER) of the NIAID proactively plans for, attracts, develops, and sustains a high performing workforce. NIAID's research workforce portfolio is expanding in response to new challenges such as bioterrorism; emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases including AIDS, SARS, West Nile virus, malaria, and tuberculosis; as well as the growth of programs driven by unprecedented scientific opportunities in NIAID's core scientific disciplines of microbiology, immunology, and infectious diseases. The planning, ongoing assessment, and management of a strategic Human Capital Program, and an organization effectiveness environment are critical to the realization of the research goals of the NIAID. Project Requirements The Contractor will be required to support OWER in the areas of strategic planning; workforce planning; NIAID's centrally-managed contractor program; branding, outreach, and advertising communications; human capital services; developing and sustaining a high performance workforce to include performance management and training; and project management. The Contractor shall further align the Institute's vision with its organizational structure, develop strategic human capital programs, and establish productivity expectations and performance measures for the NIAID workforce, necessary to carry out the mandates and anticipated/unprecedented changes. The contractor shall facilitate NIAID's attractiveness as an employer that is capable of recruiting, developing, and retaining a high performance workforce necessary in achieving NIAID's goals and objectives. All written products intended for posting to the NIAID internet must be delivered in compliance with Translation and Interpretation Services (TIS) for the disabled. For more information regarding the HHS 508 policies and standards please review the following website: http://www.hhs.gov/web/policies/pdfaccessibility/whycomply.html. Monthly and quarterly reporting is anticipated for the various project areas. Anticipated Period of Performance The anticipated period of performance will be approximately August 26, 2012 through August 25, 2013, with the option to extend the period of performance up to four additional option periods, through August 25, 2017. Capability Statement Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all the necessary equipment and facilities, services, qualified personnel, and material, not otherwise provided by the Government, as needed to perform the Statement of Work. A cost-reimbursement type contract is anticipated. All interested small businesses including veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns must provide an electronic capability statement, of no more than 10 pages, plus one title page including the respondent's DUNS number; organization name; address; point of contact; and size and type of business pursuant to the applicable NAICS code, to Wimberly King at kingwa@niaid.nih.gov on or before December 23, 2011 at 11:00 AM prevailing local time. Capability statements must address current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; prior completed projects of similar nature; and corporate experience and management capability. Capability statements must also provide examples of prior completed Government contracts, reference, and other related information. When referencing similar work that has been performed, the dollar value of that work must be included. Any respondents that do not provide this information will not be deemed capable. This is a market survey, not a request for proposals. Conclusion 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).