Understanding The Impact OF Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Online Applications

Sources Sought Notice UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ONLINE APPLICATIONS This SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE is for small businesses only. The purpose of this sources sought notice is to determine the interest and feasibility of a small business set-aside for the following requirement: Understanding the Impact of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Online Applications. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government, nor will the U.S. Government pay for information solicited. The information from this notice will help the Food and Nutrition Service plan their acquisition strategy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service intends to issue a procurement for the subject research study in Fiscal Year 2018 and is seeking statements of capability from potential offerors. Preference will be given to small businesses with experience and staffing to perform the requirement as demonstrated in their capability statement. FNS seeks a Contractor to conduct a study that will examine the potential impact(s) of online applications on customer service, identity theft, dual participation in more than one State, payment accuracy, and application processing timeliness rates. Also, the study will examine how State features, such as availability of service kiosks and the number and location of SNAP offices may affect customer service and program integrity. Data will be collected from up to nine States for this study. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will identify the study States. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME. The Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support, and Contracts Management Division, is conducting market research to determine the availability and technical capability of qualified small businesses, including small disadvantaged businesses (SDB), 8(a) small businesses, woman-owned small businesses (WOSB), veteran owned small businesses (VOSB), service- disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB), and Historically Under-utilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small businesses capable of conducting a study that includes developing and administering a comprehensive survey on online application processes and procedures to the study States, collecting relevant extant data, analyzing survey and extant data to address the study objectives and research questions and preparing a report. All responding small business firms are requested to identify their firm's size and type of business to the anticipated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code. For this acquisition, the NAICS code is 541720, and the Small Business Standard is $20.5 Million. Teaming arrangements and joint ventures will be considered for any subsequent procurement based on the Government's market research, provided the prime contract is awarded to an applicable small business and that the small business provide at least fifty percent of the support. This market research is meant to identify sources that can demonstrate their experience, skills, and qualifications with projects of similar scope and size completed within the last three (3) years, and explain in appropriate detail how they intend to demonstrate competency in each of the following points (A through H). Expound, utilizing specific examples, on how the firm has undertaken and/or demonstrated the prerequisites listed below: A. Demonstrated experience managing projects of similar size and scope to meet government objectives, and ensuring the quality and timeliness of deliverables. B. Demonstrated experience in working with multiple States to collect administrative data and survey data within a short time frame. C. Experience in approaches that result in securing full participation by selected States D. Detailed knowledge of methods that can be used for detecting and measuring fraudulent online activity and/or experience with projects that address fraudulent activities that are especially related to SNAP online applications. E. Detailed knowledge and understanding of the regulations and operations of SNAP, especially relating to applying for SNAP benefits through online applications. F. Subject matter expertise in statistical methods appropriate for analyzing State administrative and survey data to address the research objectives described below in an integrated way. G. Demonstrated capacity and experience in writing fully comprehensive reports that present study methodology and findings in language appropriate to non-technical policy-relevant audiences. H. Demonstrated experience providing oral briefings to non-technical policy-relevant audiences on technical information Research Objectives of the Requirement The key objectives of this project are: 1. Describe each State's experience with online applications. 2. Describe the variations in the features of online applications in each State. 3. Describe how the State agencies process online applications. 4. Determine the degree to which the use of online applications varies by participant demographics and geographic location. 5. Determine the degree to which the use of online applications varies by State characteristics. 6. Determine the rate of fraudulent activities in each State that are related to online applications. 7. Determine the impact of online applications on program outcomes including payment accuracy and application timeliness rates. Submission Requirements: 1. List each prerequisite (A - H). Under each listed prerequisite, please provide a response as to how your firm meets it. 2. Limit the length of the packages to 10 single spaced pages. Note: Packages over 10 pages will not be evaluated. 3. 1 inch margins (top, bottom, and sides). 4. Times New Roman font - 12 point. 5. Page limitation does not include appendices, 1 cover page, or 1 letter of introduction page. 6. Do not include promotional materials. Interested firms responding to this sources sought research must provide a capability statement demonstrating their experience, skills and capability to fulfill the Governments requirements for the above in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.502-2(b). Your capability statement should be based upon the 8 capabilities (A - H) pre-requisites listed above. Your capability statement should also include a list of three customers (Government/non- Government) within the past 3-years highlighting similar work in nature, scope, complexity, and difficulty and a brief description of the scope of work. The capability statement shall be in sufficient enough detail, but not exceed 10 pages total, so that the Government can determine the experience and capability of your firm to provide the requirements above. The Government will then assess the experience and capabilities (A - H above) based on relevance to the described requirements and objectives. Please specify one primary and one alternate Point of Contact (POC) within your firm, including telephone numbers and email addresses. Interested firms responding to this Sources Sought Notice shall submit the following: Company name, address, point of contact, telephone number, email address, and Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS), and NAICS code. Provide business size and status such as Small Business, Disadvantaged, 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB) Zone, Woman Owned, Minority Owned, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, or Other Than Small Business. Provide contract vehicles you participate in such as General Services Administration (GSA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise Wide Procurement (SEWP), National Institutes of Health (NIH) Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center (NITAAC), or any other vehicle. Only electronic copies of capability statements will be accepted and should be emailed to: Gloria Brown at Gloria.Brown@fns.usda.gov and copy Lawrence Williams@fns.usda.gov. The e-mail shall contain the following subject line: Response to Sources Sought Notice - 12319818Q0047 Understanding the Impact of SNAP Online Applications. A determination by the Government to proceed with the acquisition as a set-aside is within the discretion of the Government. If capability statements are not received from at least two responsible small businesses or if the Government determines that no small business concerns are capable of performing this requirement based upon an assessment of the capability statements submitted, the Government may proceed with a full and open competition. Please submit all information via email to Gloria Brown at Gloria.Brown@fns.usda.gov and copy Lawrence Williams@fns.usda.gov no later than 2:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, Tuesday, June 5, 2018. No phone calls or faxes will be accepted.