Modernizing Channels of Communication with SNAP Participants

Modernizing Channels of Communication with SNAP Participants This SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE is for small businesses only. The purpose of this sources sought notice is to determine the interest and feasibility of a small business set-aside for the following requirement: Modernizing Channels of Communication with SNAP Participants. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government, nor will the U.S. Government pay for information solicited. The information from this notice will help the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) plan their acquisition strategy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) intends to issue a procurement for the subject research study in Fiscal Year 2018 and is seeking statements of capability from potential offerors. Preference will be given to small businesses with experience and staffing to perform the requirement as demonstrated in their capability statement. FNS is seeking a contractor to conduct a research study that will (1) provide a general overview of how mobile technologies are used by states and program recipients for case management and notification; (2) conduct case studies of selected State projects that use mobile technology to conduct case management and/or receive communication from state and local program staff; and (3) conduct focus groups to collect qualitative data from SNAP participants regarding the implementation and effectiveness of existing mobile communication strategies (MCS) projects. The findings from this study will strengthen agency understanding of how mobile technology can improve communication and provide a comprehensive description of best practices for developing case management and notification programs that are smart-phone accessible. This will include the following activities: - Selecting, recommending, and recruiting States for participation in the study. - Developing and pretesting data collection instruments and obtaining OMB approval for the data collection. - Collecting primary data through in-person focus groups with SNAP participants and through case studies of selected MCS projects. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME. The Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support (OPS) & Contracts Management Division (CMD), is conducting a market survey to determine the availability and technical capability of qualified small businesses, including small disadvantaged businesses (SDB), 8(a) small businesses, woman-owned small businesses (WOSB), veteran owned small businesses (VOSB), service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB), and Historically Under-utilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small businesses capable of conducting a research study that will explore whether policy options designed to recommend best practices for MCM projects. All responding small business firms are requested to identify their firm's size and type of business to the anticipated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code. For this acquisition, the NAICS code is 541720, and the Small Business Standard is $20.5 Million. Teaming arrangements and joint ventures will be considered for any subsequent procurement based on the Government's market research, provided the prime contract is awarded to an applicable small business and that small businesses provide fifty percent or more of the support. The Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support is conducting market research to identify sources that can demonstrate their experience, skills, and qualifications with projects of similar scope and size completed within the last three (3) years, and explain in appropriate detail how they intend to demonstrate competency in each of the following points (A) through (H). Expound, utilizing specific examples, on how the firm has undertaken and/or demonstrated the prerequisites listed below: A. General familiarity with the operation and administration of SNAP and, in particular, of program eligibility rules and policies and guidelines related to communication with SNAP households. B. General familiarity with ways in which States use mobile technology to interact with participants in State assistance programs. C. Demonstrated experience directly related to testing the usability and functionality of mobile apps and mobile-enabled websites. D. Experience conducting case studies, interviews, and focus groups; recruiting and training staff to conduct data collection; drafting information collection request packages for submission to the White House Office of Management and Budget; and recording, coding, analyzing, and reporting on findings. E. Demonstrated experience using multiple sources of data, including administrative data, qualitative data, and program materials, to conduct policy analyses and to address research objectives in an integrated way. F. Demonstrated experience writing reports of technical information in language appropriate to non-technical audiences. G. Experience providing briefings of technical findings appropriate for non-technical audiences. H. Demonstrated experience managing projects of a similar size and scope, including meeting government objectives, ensuring the quality and timeliness of deliverables, and coordinating with the government funding agency. Research Objectives of the Requirement: 1. Provide a general overview of how mobile technologies are used by all States and program recipients for case management and notification. 2. Conduct case studies of selected State projects that use mobile technology for case management and/or notification. 3. Gather information on client satisfaction and perspectives on mobile communication strategies. 4. Identify best practices and lessons learned Submission Requirements: 1. Limit the length of the packages to 15 double spaced pages. Note: Packages over 15 pages will not be evaluated. 2. 1 inch margins (top, bottom and sides) 3.Times New Roman typeface, 12-point font 4. Page limitation does not include appendices, 1 cover page or 1 letter of introduction page 5. Do not include promotional materials Interested firms responding to this market survey must provide a capability statement demonstrating their experience, skills and capability to fulfill the Governments requirements for the above in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.502-2(b). The capability statement shall be in sufficient enough detail, but not exceed fifteen (15) pages TOTAL, so that the Government can determine the experience and capability of your firm to provide the requirements above. The Government technical team will then assess the experience & capabilities (A-H above) based on relevance to the described requirements and objectives. These capability responses should be based upon the 8 capabilities (A - H) pre-requisites listed above. Your capability statement needs to include a list of three customers (Government/non-Government) within the past 3-years highlighting similar work in nature, scope, complexity, and difficulty and a brief description of the scope of work. Please specify one primary and one alternate Point of Contact (POC) within your firm, including telephone numbers and email addresses. Interested firms responding to this Sources Sought Notice shall submit the following: Company name, address, point of contact, telephone number, email address, and Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS), and NAICS code. Provide business size and status such as Small Business, Disadvantaged, 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB) Zone, Woman Owned, Minority Owned, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, or Other Than Small Business. Provide contract vehicles you participate in such as General Services Administration (GSA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise Wide Procurement (SEWP), National Institutes of Health (NIH) Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center (NITAAC), or any other vehicle. Only electronic copies of capability statements will be accepted and should be emailed to: Gloria Brown at Gloria.Brown@fns.usda.gov and Lawrence Williams at Lawrence.Williams@fns.usda.gov The e-mail shall contain the following subject line: Response to Sources Sought Notice 12-3198-18-Q-0054 Modernizing Channels of Communication with SNAP Participants. A determination by the Government to proceed with the acquisition as a set-aside is within the discretion of the Government. If capability statements are not received from at least two responsible small businesses or if the Government determines that no small business concerns are capable of performing this requirement based upon an assessment of the capability statements submitted, the Government may proceed with a full and open competition. Please submit all information to Gloria Brown at Gloria.Brown@fns.usda.gov and Lawrence Williams at Lawrence.Williams@fns.usda.gov no later than June 27, 2018 by 2:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time. NO TELEPHONE REQUESTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.