Rural Water Circuit Rider Program Services

This is a Sources Sought for Market research only. Do not send a proposal in response to this Sources Sought Notice. The USDA Rural Development (RD) is conducting Market Research to identify sources capable of supporting a RD requirement to operate a rural water circuit rider technical assistance program to provide assistance to eligible systems in all 50 States. Eligible systems are not required to have financing from RD to receive the technical assistance. The contractor will need to provide 117 persons employed as full-time rural water circuit riders. The applicable NAICS code is 813910 Business Association. Interested parties sought for non-personal services contract for Circuit Rider Technical Assistance program. NO AWARD WILL BE MADE FROM THIS SOURCES SOUGHT. NO SOLICTATION, SPECIFICATION, OR DRAWINGS ARE AVAILALE AT THIS TIME. Potential offerors having the skills and capabilities necessary to perform the described services below are invited to provide feedback via email to: Alberta.Smith@wdc.usda.gov All responses will be analyzed in order to determine the appropriate strategy for a potential future acquisition. Particularly, the purpose of this NOTICE is to gain knowledge of potential business sources including but not limited to certified HUBZone small business, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned small business, Veteran-Owned small business, Certified 8(a) small business, Women-Owned small business, etc. Project Description: The purpose of the Circuit Rider Program is to protect the nation's multi-billion dollar investment in rural and small municipal water systems by providing on-site technical assistance that assures cost-effective operations and adequate income for both operations and debt service within each state/jurisdiction. RD requires the Contractor to operate a rural water circuit rider technical assistance program to provide assistance to eligible systems in all 50 States. Eligible systems are not required to have financing from RD to receive the technical assistance. The contractor will need to provide 117 persons employed as full-time rural water circuit riders. Circuit riders will meet the following minimum requirement: CAPABILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS: a. Qualified personnel are required with recent knowledge and experience in: - Multi year employment required (5 years experience preferred) in working for, operating, maintaining, or managing a rural/community water system. - A well-rounded technical knowledge of rural and small system needs and methods of meeting those needs. - Technical knowledge of operating, maintaining, and managing a rural/community water system. - An understanding of budget/financial conditions. - Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with operators, decision makers, regulatory agencies and other professionals. - Ability to identify, locate and explain water problems to field personnel and decision makers. - Knowledge and understanding of regulations, monitoring, and reporting requirements. - Willingness to travel extensively. - Also, please provide information related to GSA, GWAC vehicles through which these services might be solicited. - Interested parties must be experts to protect the nation's multi-billion dollar investment in rural and small municipal water systems by providing on-site technical assistance that assures cost-effective operations and adequate income for both operations and debt service within each state/jurisdiction. - Period of Performance: The period of performance may be for one (1) Base Year of 12 months and four (4) 12-months option periods. Period of Performance begins as soon as contract is executed in 2018. - Offeror's should indicate type of business and Business Size (Large or Small Business; if Small Business, what socioeconomic group, if any - Certified 8a, Certified HUB Zone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), etc.). - Firm's capability to perform a contract of this magnitude and complexity based on the scope of work (include the firm's capability to provide technical assistance services to support a Circuit Rider program in the last (3) years): provide a brief description of the project(s), customer name, timeliness of performance, customer satisfaction, and dollar value of the fees charged. Provide at least three (3) examples maximum three (3) pages. RESULTS INFORMATION: Respondents will not be notified of the results of the analysis. Information received will help the government in making an acquisition strategy decision. Your response is limited to 10 single-sided pages total. Sources Sought market research for "Circuit Rider Services." All interested contractors or potential offerors having the skills and capabilities necessary to perform the described services above should provide the requested information in writing by email or mail by 1:00 pm EST on July 28, 2017. Submit response and information to: Alberta.Smith@wdc.usda.gov