Senior Acquisition Policy Support

This is an 8(a) Small Business Sources Sought Notice. This is not a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Acquisition Management and Policy (OAMP), Office of Acquisition and Logistics Management (OALM), Office of the Director (OD), is conducting a market survey to ascertain the availability and potential capability of potential 8(a) Small Business vendors with expert, high level knowledge of Federal contracting, and the skills and abilities to complete projects that are integral to the OAMP mission. The anticipated period of performance is a one-year base period with four (4) one-year option periods. BACKGROUND The Office of Acquisition Management and Policy (OAMP), Office of Acquisition and Logistics Management (OALM), Office of the Director (OD) is responsible for developing and implementing acquisition policy, providing policy advice and guidance to the NIH acquisition community and program staff, and supporting NIH negotiated acquisition and simplified acquisition operations. OAMP's role continues to expand in an environment where acquisition and contracting activities are complex. OAMP manages and administers acquisition-related training; contract data and contractor performance; Research and Development (R&D), negotiated contracts, and simplified acquisition policy; oversight of operational Offices of Acquisitions (OAs) and delegated acquisition offices; contract financial advisory services, and the NIH Purchase Card and Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Programs. In addition, the OAMP provides technical advice and assistance to both the OAs and delegated acquisition staff in the simplified acquisition community. OAMP also conducts significant analyses and evaluations of acquisition functions and methods in a continual effort to improve processes and procedures and mitigate agency risk. With the ever-expanding role of OAMP in direct acquisition issues and issues tangentially related to acquisition, the demands on OAMP staff members continue to be intense and complex. Important projects require considerable attention, but current staffing levels preclude staff from being able to handle issues in a timely manner. The majority of projects are not considered inherently governmental in nature, and therefore could be performed under a contractual arrangement. The complex duties that OAMP staff now perform allow little time for orienting and training a contractor i.e., there would be little time or opportunity to give detailed instruction on how to carry out the necessary work, what contacts will be available, needed, or appropriate, what resources should be used to research issues, and other associated issues. The contractor must have sufficient knowledge of Federal and Health and Human Services (HHS) law and regulation, as well as have or be able to rapidly familiarize with NIH procedures and policies. A thorough understanding of the complex and unique NIH structure and environment is required to handle assignments in an efficient and timely manner. Please refer to the attached Statement of Work for more details regarding this requirement. DESCRIPTION OF INFORMATION TO INCLUDE IN THE CAPABILITY STATEMENT The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this requirement is 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services) with a size standard of $16.5 million. In light of this project summary, all interested concerns are invited to submit a tailored capability statement. The capability statement should reference 8(a) Small Business Sources Sought Notice No. HHS-NIH-OD-OLAO-SBSS-22-006 and should be no longer than 15 pages in length and shall include the following: (1) Name and Address of the Organization, (2) The size and type of business: 8(a) Small Business, as listed under SAM.gov, (3) Point of Contact with name, title, voice/telephone, facsimile number, and email address, (4) DUNS number, (5) Contractor's capability statement that addresses the organization's ability, knowledge, experience and personnel to perform the service described in the Statement of Work (Pamphlets and standard brochures will not be considered responsive to this 8(a) Small Business Sources Sought Notice), (6) List of organizations to whom similar types of services have been previously provided to include contract number, dollar value, name and phone number of the Contracting Officer, and (7) Do not submit pricing information in your response to this 8(a) Small Business Sources Sought Notice. This market survey is being conducted only for the purpose of identifying potential sources and to gather current market information. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Responding vendors should provide an electronic copy of their capability statement to Sheryn N. Etti at ettis@mail.nih.gov (Ref. HHS-NIH-OD-OLAO-SBSS-22-006: Senior Acquisition Policy Support). ALL INFORMATION SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE. THE CLOSING DATE FOR RESPONSES IS MARCH 25, 2022, at 2:00 PM EASTERN TIME. All questions and/or comments regarding this 8(a) Small Business Sources Sought Notice must be in writing and may be emailed to Sheryn N. Etti at ettis@mail.nih.gov. Comments and questions will NOT be answered but may assist in creating a solicitation for this requirement. 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 solicitation may be issued. 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).