Large Business to Small Business Outreach Program.

SOURES SOUGHT Posting Date: Friday, June 22, 2012 The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Contract Management Division, Policy Branch is in the process of establishing a high performance, Large Business to Small Business Outreach Program. CMD is soliciting participation from multiple vendors in order to increase Large and small business interaction on FNS contracts. The purpose is to establish a data base of vendors and identify large businesses that are willing to subcontract with small businesses in 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. Large businesses are highly encouraged to submit documentation as required by this sources sought. 2. Large business should identify the work that they will accomplish along with their projected teaming arrangements (GSA schedule), joint venture, or subcontracting arrangements in accordance with FAR Subpart 19.7 - The Small Business Subcontracting Program. 3. Large 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. Staff who has 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. The first six qualified contractors will be invited to present their company's capabilities as well as their small business subcontracting plan to our Office of Research and Analysis, Program Office. In addition to the capabilities, please provide three past performance references with a maximum of six (6) pages. Please submit your socioeconomic status and provide a two to five page capabilities statement to [email protected] by 5:00 p.m. EST on Monday, July 23, 2012.