Industry Data Investigations RFI

This Request for Information and Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought is for Planning Purposes Only The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI/Sources Sought notice or to otherwise pay for the information solicited. Your response to this RFI/Sources Sought will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a quote. This request is issued for the purpose of exchanging information to improve the understanding of industry capabilities, thereby allowing potential offerors to judge whether or how they can satisfy the Government's requirements, and enhance the Government's ability to obtain services, at reasonable cost and price, and increase efficiency in proposal preparation, proposal evaluation, negotiation, and contract award. The Eastern Region Acquisition Division (ERAD) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Norfolk, VA, on behalf of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Greater Atlantic Region Fisheries Office (GARFO) is conducting market research in an effort to identify all potential industry sources with the capabilities to provide support for their Industry Data Investigations requirement, as described in the attached draft Performance Work Statement (PWS). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement 541620, with a size standard of $15 Million. This RFI/Sources Sought will be used solely for market research and does not constitute a solicitation. REQUIREMENT DESCRIPTION NMFS processes statistical information sufficient to characterize and manage marine fisheries. Much of this information comes in the form of documents which permit holders are legally required to submit to NMFS. Failure to meet these reporting requirements may result in permits to engage in select business activities not being issued or being revoked or withheld. Non-compliance with these regulations may affect permit holder activities. For GARFO, this task falls under the Analytical Program Support Division (APSD) in Gloucester, Massachusetts. This information is managed by APSD staff (Fishery Specialists) stationed in the GARFO and various fishing ports of the region. Personnel process information submitted by industry participants harvesting or purchasing marine species and conduct reconciliation activities with industry participants in order to obtain the necessary suite of information necessary for proper fisheries management. Two criteria which are critical to the success of this project are the timeliness and accuracy of the data processed by Contractor staff. Activities associated with this contract will be conducted in an office environment; however a significant portion of this task involves communicating directly with industry participants. While the focus of this effort is data reconciliation, Contractor employees will also have interaction with the public and other entities in support of NMFS' mission. Therefore, Contractor employees are expected to have and maintain a solid understanding of the Agency, fisheries regulations and fishing methods. RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS Interested Contractors should include the following in their response: - Capability statement (core competencies and other relevant information); - Company size status under NAICS code 541620; - Socio-economic status under NAICS code 541620 (8(a), hubzone, small disadvantaged business, service-disabled/veteran owned, women owned, etc.); - Relevant past performance. Relevant past performance is performance under contracts or efforts (within recent years) that is of the same or similar scope, magnitude, and complexity to that which is described in this RFI/Sources Sought. Include a list of current or previous contracts performed within the recent past that are of a similar nature to this request and include: contract number, name and address of the Government agency or commercial entity, description of work and services provided, point of contact with current phone number and e-mail address, date of contract award, period of performance, initial and current contract value, and the extent of subcontracting. Limit this list to a maximum of three (3) contracts. Responses to this RFI/Sources Sought are due no later than 12:00 PM ET., April 10, 2015. Responses shall be sent via e-mail to Christie.McCloud@noaa.gov. The electronic copy of your response must be in ".pdf format" and readable by the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Questions pertaining to this notice may be emailed to the Contract Specialist, Christie.McCloud@noaa.gov.