B -- Soursce Sought Small Businesses

SOURCES SOUGHT – SMALL BUSINESSES ARE SOUGHT FOR SPECIAL STUDIES AND ANALYSIS FOR THE USDA FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has a variety of projects for various studies ranging in estimated project size from $250,000.00 to $6,000,000.00. Following is partial listing of the qualifications that we are looking for in a company. Qualifications needed for FNS studies: · A dedicated project director who can deliver high quality work, adhere to project schedules, keep costs within budget, manage the work of many professionals on many tasks simultaneously, and contribute knowledge and understanding of FNS programs. · Staff experience in highly technical sampling techniques to obtain nationally 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. · Experienced survey managers who can recruit a sufficient number of capable data collectors to obtain 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 in collecting information from a wide variety of sources (e.g., low-income households, school administrative staff, food service staff, grocery stores, etc.) using a variety of data collection techniques (e.g., CATI/CAPI data collection, on-site observation, compliance buys, etc.). · Staff experience 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 analysis, imputation, and creating complex, large scale databases accessible to any proficient database programmer. · Staff 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 who have knowledge of the operational aspects of a variety of FNS programs (National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program, WIC, Food Stamp Program, etc.). Responses: Vendors interested in responding to this RFI need to submit a capability statement that clearly and convincingly identifies their capabilities in each of the above categories that they qualify for. All responses must be received no later than 11:00am (local time) Friday, March 5, 2004. Responses must be submitted to the following address: USDA/FNS/ASD/CMB, Tina M Nevitt Contracting Officer, 3101 Park Center Drive Room 228, Alexandria, VA 22302-1500. Your response shall not exceed 15 single sided pages. You are required to include an original with three (3) copies, and an electronic copy in Microsoft Word or a compatible format (Adobe PDF).