Research, analysis, and reports of Global Elites - RFI

This Request for Information (RFI) is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to conduct market research which will be used to plan and implement an acquisition strategy to procure services pertaining to open source data research that will support in the detailed planning and preparation of plans discussed below and strategic assessments in support of USSOCOM J5. Please note: Vendors who do not have TS facility clearance and storage capability at the Secret Level will not be cleared to receive any actual solicitation documents in the event the Government issues a solicitation. Background: The USSOCOM J5 develops and coordinates USSOCOM's position on global plans and programs for operations against State and Non-State Actors and their networks that threaten the United States, its citizens, and its interests worldwide. The J5 reviews and coordinates on Operational Plans (OPLANS), concept plans (CONPLANs), Functional Plans (FUNCPLANs) and Theater Security Cooperation Plans (TSCPs) in support of Combatant Commanders and Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to prosecute the War on Terrorism and support USSOCOM Forces. Capability: Below are SAMPLE tasks (provided for informational purposes only) that Interested Vendor's will have the proprietary methods, tools, and personnel (generally PhD level to include, but not limited to the behavior, mathematical, statistical, threat finance, and physical sciences who are capable of creating probability and mathematical based studies) to conduct independent quantitative research analysis for identified topics associated with the Countries of Interest (COIs), using massive open source data, and Government Furnished Information (GFI), including classifications up to Top Secret (TS/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)). NOTE: COIs, ROIs and stated elites will be identified in individual contract task orders. SAMPLE TASKS: -Document and assess the extent of COI scientific collaboration as reflected in COI(s) technical literature (English and native language), concentrating on science and technology topics most relevant to nuclear weapon and missile development. -Examine the extent of and focus on areas concerning the exploitation of databases of scientific literature of COI's collaboration with research entities outside of the COI and identify new nodes or personalities of interest. -Provide analytical reports on the technical developments uncovered and the nature of external collaboration; include searchable electronic database formatted information with the written products. -Evaluate relevant elites for elite dynamics and Conduits of Influence topics/themes and their ability to disseminate persuasive information across political sectors at the national and regional levels. -Analyze recent English and native language publications of the COI's scientists in international journals and open archives, combined with indigenous journals to identify previous and existing international collaboration that may benefit the training of COI scientists or support Technology of Interest (TOI) development. -Conduct research and analysis of COI's cyberspace dynamics to include recent changes as a result of the known, persistent, and ever-increasing threat mechanism of cyberspace attacks directed against the military complex. Include personalities of interest, leadership, and country-to-country interplay and regional analysis. -Document and analyze the continuities and changes in the elite interactions in the region and stated events based on COI's role in precipitating potential conflict across ROIs. Highlight alignments and fissures both within and among identified countries that could exacerbate or mitigate potential conflict, shape the intent and direction of COIs advanced military capabilities, or impact diplomatic, military, or economic relationships. Assemble significant entities into a consolidated database containing pertinent metadata. -Identify the elites (and structures) within and between national leadership and cabinet; the foreign affairs establishment; the military establishment; and its departments; local/provincial governments; key finance, trade and industry establishments; public health and education establishments, and internal security establishments. Analyze and assess the prospects for a coordination game operating within the (COI) elite across multiple equilibria that includes the elite from key regional and global actors. -Provide the most effective methods to develop analysis and strategic underpinnings for activities of interest in COI. Using analytical approaches that make use of all available data sources, including information in languages other than English, design methodologies based on sound strategic framework. Recommend necessary and optional tasks as well as the rationale for the tasks and estimate timelines. -Provide political factors that will cause/allow alliances and/or isolation of key actors, key second and lower tier elites, and the these lesser elites, to emerge to positions of power within COIs, ROIs, or globally, -Describe regional reactions alignments for event-based triggers to provide assistance with the planning of Strategic Influence Campaigns that potentially target COI, ROI, and global actors, including recommending methods to measure performance and methods to measure effectiveness of a given campaign. -Research coalitions that develop within COIs or ROIs and the central issues that link them and/or demonstrate the positions of selected COIs on critical global or regional issues, showing fluctuations over time and the associated stimuli. -Illustrate global proliferation networks, illuminating the interaction between technical networks, political and program management elite networks, supply networks and key program facilities. Responses to this RFI: A detailed and thorough response to this RFI is necessary in order to assist USSOCOM in determining the potential levels of interest, acquisition strategy, and technical capability of Interested Vendors. Interested Vendors should respond to the personnel listed below with a notice of intent (NOI) and a summary of their firm's capability (white paper) combining the experience as described above. Please include the Full name of your firm, Point of Contact, contact numbers/emails, CAGE Code, address, and vendor business size. Please limit response to 10 pages. Please do not provide processes, answers, solutions, or reports to the SAMPLE TASKS. Sample Tasks were provided for informational purposes only, to help Vendors better understand the scope of work. If your firm responded to the RFI posted 31 October 2016, please respond again to this updated RFI. However, if your previous white paper submission remains unchanged, please advise the Contracting Officer below. ** Per Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997): 1. The Government will not award a contract on the basis of this RFI notice or to otherwise pay for the information. There is a possibility that based on the learned information a future RFP may be issued. 2. Although "proposal" and "respondent" are used in this RFI, your responses will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ** Please submit responses concerning this RFI to Elizabeth Mullis, Contracting Officer (elizabeth.mullis@socom.mil) and Matthew Strange (matthew.strange@socom.mil) No Later than 1600 Thursday, 15 December 2016.