Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP) Program Analytic Support

General Information: This SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE is to determine the availability of potential small businesses (e.g., 8(a), service-disabled veteran owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, veteran-owned small business, and women-owned small business) that can provide the required work outlined in the attached draft Performance Work Statement (PWS). This Sources Sought Notice is for information and planning purposes only and should not be construed as a commitment by the Government. This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and no contract will be awarded from this Notice. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this Notice. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this evaluation. Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date. This synopsis does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP). Description: The purpose of this announcement is to request information as to the availability of small businesses with the capability to provide analytical analytic and technical support for the collection, assembly, tabulation, and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data supplied by projects funded by the State Education Agencies (SEA) as part of their mandated annual evaluation of the Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program, and (2) logistical support for meetings and conferences to provide technical assistance on evaluation issues. The Department of Education (ED) is planning to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) on or about May 2, 2011 for the services of a contractor (1) to collect, aggregate, and analyze the Annual Performance Report (APR) on the impact of MSP-funded projects, (2) provide technical assistance to the states and funded projects on program reporting and project administration matters, (3) maintain and update web sites that shall facilitate data collection and provide the general public access to information on the MSP program and funded projects and (4) provide logistical support for annual meetings Background: Mathematics and Science Partnership is a formula grant program to the states. Each state is responsible for administering a competitive grants program with the funds they receive from the federal government. As a part of this process, the states establish program priorities and a review process that yields projects to address their most pressing problems through professional development activities. Once the projects are funded, the states are responsible for monitoring their progress and working with the U.S. Department of Education to document their effectiveness. The enabling legislation requires that all projects funded by the states report to the Secretary on an annual basis concerning the impact they have on increasing teachers' content knowledge and on student learning. The MSP supports partnerships between the mathematics, science, and/or engineering faculty of institutions of higher education and high need school districts whose purpose is to increase teachers' content knowledge and pedagogical skills. Other partners, including schools of education, business, and nonprofit organizations may also join the work. In FY 2010, an appropriation of $180 million supported 625 projects. The FY 2011 appropriation is anticipated to be $180 million. Objective: 1. This Request for Information (RFI) requests capability statements from small business vendors only. This draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) is primarily a Fixed Price Performance-Based Acquisition (PBA) with mission-oriented objectives, event-driven performance measures, metrics, incentives and disincentives. 2. This RFI is to assist in a small business determination. The scope of the draft PWS encompasses Contractor support to provide analytical, technical, and logistical. Tasks include: a. Communication with ED, States, and MSP Projects b. Maintain and Update Website to Collect and post On-Line Annual Performance Report Data c. Analyze, Aggregate, and Report Project Profile Findings d. Collect and Analyze Annual Performance Reports e. Provide Logistical Support for Evaluation Meetings f. Facilitate Support for a Technical Working Group of States and/or Grantees to Improve Evaluation g. Submission of progress reports h. Establish a Quality Control Program 3. The Small Business Administration (SBA) uses the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes to establish size standards on an industry by industry basis. The NAICS code for the MSIX is 541611, Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services. The size standard for this code is based on average annual receipts of $7,000,000 for three most recent completed fiscal years. Based on the size standard established, please provide whether or not your company is small or large. If you are a small business please also indicate if you are an 8(a) or a HUBZone business. 4. In addition to the discussion of the implementation of technical assistance and other services to the above standards, a series of questions regarding capability must be answered. a. Company Name, DUNS Number, Company Address, Point of Contact, Telephone Number, e-mail Address, and Size of your Organization (i.e. Large Business, Small Business) as validated via the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), using as the basis for your response. b. GSA Schedule Number, if applicable. c. In reviewing the capability statements, ED will be looking for demonstrated expertise in each of the following: i. Demonstrating technical expertise and experience with collecting, aggregating and analyzing data across projects for the purpose of synthesizing the data for an analytic and narrative report. ii. Developing, coordinating and implementing a technical assistance plan, to include planning and conducting technical assistance with grantees. iii. Creating a variety of documents (e.g., best practices, "how to,") for dissemination and information sharing purposes. iv. Developing and maintaining interactive online data collection websites for information sharing and evaluation purposes. v. Providing logistical support (i.e., hotel and travel arrangements) for the training sessions and meetings. For each of the elements above, evidence of the successful application of this expertise into practice must be provided. Capability statements should address both corporate experience and the qualifications and experience of key staff that are relevant to the above criteria. The capability statements shall be evaluated on the basis of the qualification, knowledge, and expertise demonstrated in the areas identified above. Structure of Responses: The deadline to submit questions via e-mail in response to this RFI is April 8, 2011, 1pm Eastern Time. Response to all questions will be posted on FBO.gov, for all potential offerors no later than April 12, 2011. The Government will not accept questions regarding this Request for Information after the due date listed above. Offerors should submit capability statements in respond to this RFI by e-mail (only) to the Contract Specialist copying the Contracting Officer by April 18, 2011, 1pm Eastern Time. Limit response to a maximum of 15 pages, using 12 point font. Please submit clarifying questions and capability statements electronically to Elizabeth Price (Contract Specialist) at Elizabeth.Price@ed.gov and cc: Gabriella McDonald (Contracting Officer) at Gabriella.McDonald@ed.gov. Disclaimer: The requested information to be provided is for planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) nor does it restrict the Government as to the ultimate acquisition approach. The government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information solicited. Any contract that might be awarded based on information received or derived from this RFI will be the outcome of the competitive process of ED's choice.