USDA/ARS Membership in Scientific Collections International (SciColl)

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS . This notice is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. This procurement will be processed pursuant to FAR part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items and FAR part 13.5 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. No solicitation will be issued. Potential sources who believe they can provide the services listed are invited to submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact. Information received will be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. A determination by the Government to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government. Responses are to be received within 10 days of this notice. No telephone calls are being accepted. The United States Department Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), intends to negotiate and award on a Justification of Other Than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) basis. Purchase Order will be a one year and Firm Fixed Price. Award will be made to to Smithsonian Institution for USDA/ARS membership in Scientific Collections International (SciColl). Scientific Collections International (SciColl) is an international coordinating network devoted to promoting interdisciplinary research that relies on scientific collections as unique, irreplaceable sources of information and data. SciColl is unique in its global scope and in spanning the full range of research disciplines (anthropology, archaeology, biology, biomedicine, earth and space sciences, and applied fields such as agriculture, veterinary medicine and technology). SciColl was developed under the auspices of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Global Science Forum and was launched formally in April 2012. Three countries and seven research institutions signed the Memorandum of Understanding and committed to support SciColl for a period of three years (2013 - 2016), contingent on the availability of funds. The national membership for the United States is being shared among four government departments and agencies, including USDA's Agricultural Research Service. Annual US membership contributions will be used to support the activities of a Secretariat Office. The international organization determined that this office would be located in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. Thus, the Smithsonian Institution is exclusive in being the only business that can provide this membership. There are no other institutions that can provide the services that this Secretariat will provide. Award is In accordance with both 41 U.S.C 3304(a)(1), and FAR 6.302-1(a)(2).