NIA Small Business R&D Programs Outreach and Communications

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. This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only. Background: The National Institute on Aging (NIA) leads the federal government in conducting and supporting research on aging and the health and well-being of older people. NIA seeks to understand the nature of aging, the aging process, diseases and conditions associated with growing older, and factors that extend the healthy, active years of life. The NIA Office of Strategic Extramural Programs (OSEP) manages NIA's entrepreneurial and small business funding programs (SBIR & STTR) in addition to other programs such as NIA's training and career development programs. NIA continually needs to ensure that the programs are accessible and understandable to potential applicants, including marketing the programs in a manner that expands the base of potential applicants. Marketing of these programs includes, but is not limited to, email and newsletters, social media outreach, webinar development and hosting, outreach events, and other communications. Important also is to provide helpful resources for current awardees. NIA's Small Business R&D Programs consist of the Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Programs (SBIR and STTR grant programs) and related post-award commercialization and entrepreneurial-training resources and programs. The NIA Small Business R&D Programs are unique R&D funding vehicles, providing non-dilutive (financing that does not require the sale of company shares) funding to develop and commercialize products addressing aging and aging-related diseases and conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD), and the conditions, concerns, and special problems and needs of older Americans. As a feeder to the SBIR and STTR programs, the NIA's Small Business R&D Programs also include entrepreneurial training programs designed to expand the bench of entrepreneurs expected to be competitive for the SBIR/STTR programs. These programs include a Challenge Prize and Accelerator program, expected to be held at least every 2 years, aimed at fostering entrepreneurial diversity and development of NIA-relevant innovations. Purpose and Objectives: The NIA seeks to create an integrated, branded marketing and strategic communications campaign for its Entrepreneurial Development and Small Business R&D Funding Programs that continually reaches new and diverse potential applicants. The marketing campaign and outreach efforts should also optimally target key stakeholders to amplify outreach efforts as well as support current awardees. Additionally, NIA will seek to create and promote tools that support applicants who may be unfamiliar with NIH grants processes. The development of such tools should be aligned with outreach efforts that together provide support to help applicants understand and negotiate the application submission, review, and award process. Project requirements: Please see the attached draft SOW for specific requirements. Capability statement /information sought. Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required services should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contracting Officer. The capability statement must specifically address each of the project requirements separately. Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements outlined, 3) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts and/or other government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Capability statements must also include the Company Name, Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information. The response must include the respondents technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. Additionally, the government is requesting that offerors address the following in their capability statements: Describe familiarity with NIH and NIA's entrepreneurial and small business seed funding programs including SBIR and STTR. Include any documented experience working with the programs, particularly as it relates to outreach and content development. Describe expertise in strategic planning for communications and marketing, including gap analyses, engaging hard-to-reach audiences, and refining strategies and flexibly adapting to changing communications landscapes. Describe expertise in graphic design, including creating engaging digital content for web and print media for in-person events and social media. This should particularly focus on summarizing and distilling complex information into easy-to-understand content for audiences unfamiliar with NIH small business funding programs. Describe expertise in event support, including managing and coordinating both in-person and virtual meetings. Include experience coordinating travel logistics for attendees. Interested companies are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code, and size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please reference the solicitation notice number. One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2 x 11 paper size, with 1 top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing. The information submitted must be in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required. The response is limited to ten (10) pages. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested. All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted. The response must be submitted to Eric McKay, Contracting Officer at e-mail address Eric.McKay@nih.gov and Karen Mahon, Contracting Officer, at e-mail address Karen.Mahon@nih.gov. The response must be received on or before November 14, 2024, at 3:00 pm, Eastern Time. - 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 presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in www.sam.gov. 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).