Small Business Outreach Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Contract Management Division, Policy Branch is in the process of establishing a high performance Small Business Outreach Program. CMD is soliciting participation from selected vendors in order to meet and/or exceed the agencies small business goals. One method to accomplish this goal has been to host monthly small business roundtable sessions at Park Center. The meeting location is as follows: USDA, FNS, CMD 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 204C Alexandria, VA 22302 The purpose is to identify small businesses to establish a data base of vendors that are capable of performing the types of work listed below. Vendors will be selected based on the following types of products and services procured by FNS. "Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities." FNS is seeking firms with the capability of conducting sound social science research. 1. Small businesses are highly encouraged to submit documentation as required by this sources sought. 2. Small business should identify the 51% of the work that they will accomplish along with their projected teaming arrangements (GSA schedule), joint venture, or subcontracting arrangements. 3. Small business should identify concerns they have with the sources sought which would prevent them from proposing on the project. 4. Do not send in generic capability statements; address the specifics of the request. Qualifications that are being sought include but are not limited to: Staff experienced in highly technical sampling techniques to obtain representative samples of FNS programs and/or participants and the development of corresponding sample weights for complex sample designs. Staff experienced with developing complicated study designs, questionnaire development for computer assisted data collection or hard-copy and OMB Information Collection Packages. Experienced survey managers who can recruit a sufficient number of capable data collectors to provide information nationwide and over a short period of time; can train and monitor data collectors' performance to collect high quality data and minimize non-response. Experienced data collectors and interviewers who are proficient at collecting information from a wide variety of sources (e.g., State agencies, school administrative staff, foodservice staff, etc.) using a variety of data collection techniques (e.g., CATI/CAPI data collection, on-site observation, record abstraction, etc.) Staff experienced with and demonstrated proficiency in using analytic methods, including mathematical modeling, multivariate regression analysis; and descriptive and inferential statistics. Staff with proficiency in manipulating complex databases, using mainstream software packages, synthesizing results from multiple research sources, performing literature searches and reviews, conducting nutrient and other complex analyses; imputation; and creating complex, large scale databases accessible to any proficient database programmer. Staffs who have the necessary skills and experience to produce high quality well edited reports which may be targeted to technical readers or to policy officials. Staff who can produce briefing materials (including PowerPoint presentations) and present study findings for technical and/or policy staff. Staff that are knowledge about the operational aspects of the Food and Nutrition Service's food assistance programs. This is a Total Small Business Set Aside request. The main North American Industry Classification System Code is 541720 and the following standard applies: "a concern is small if its average annual receipts for its preceding three (3) fiscal years do not exceed 19 million dollars." Do not send in generic capability statements, please address the specifics of this request. The first six qualified contractors will be invited to present their company capabilities to our Office of Research and Analysis, Program Office. In addition to the capabilities, please provide three past performance references and a maximum of six pages. Please submit your socioeconomic status and provide a two to five page capabilities statement to Charles.Cunningham@fns.usda.gov by 5:00 p.m. EST on Monday, July 18, 2012.