Inactive

This is a request for information for market research purposes. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/Public Affair... This is a request for information for market research purposes. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/Public Affairs Office (PAO) works to help ensure strong, mutually beneficial relationships with NIST's major stakeholder groups. The Conference Program and Audiovisual Services (AV) Group of the PAO supports NIST Laboratories and major programs by providing professional conference planning and AV in a cost-effective manner and in accordance with all Government rules and regulations. Cafeteria facilities at the NIST site in Gaithersburg, MD, are currently undergoing renovations and are temporarily unavailable. The Government anticipates a need for catering services, for official conferences and meetings that include pre-registered participants and invited guests. Attendee numbers will vary by event. Numbers may be as few as 25 or as many as 250. NIST is conducting market research to identify a Contractor to provide catering services, on an as needed basis, for a period of performance of one year with two one-year option periods. Services may be provided on-site at the NIST campus in Gaithersburg, MD and/or off-site, not more than 50 miles from the NIST campus. The Contractor must be located not more than 50 miles from the NIST Gaithersburg campus. Government Travel Regulations set the maximum limits for meals: Meals & Incidental Expenses (M&IE) for Montgomery County, Maryland. The Government must adhere to these limitations to the maximum extent practicable: -Continental breakfast: $18 per person inclusive of gratuity and all service charges; -Lunch $19 per person inclusive of gratuity and all service charges. Required Information for Submission NIST is seeking responses from responsible small business sources. Small businesses are defined under the associated NAICS code for this effort, 722320 Catering, as those domestic sources having annual revenues of $8.0M or less. After the results of this market research are obtained and analyzed, NIST may conduct a competitive procurement(s) and subsequently award a contract. If at least two qualified small business are identified during this market research stage, then a competitive procurement would be anticipated to be conducted via a small business set-aside. If a small business set-aside results, a Limitation Subcontracting clause will be applicable to the anticipated procurement action. Businesses meeting the classification of the set-aside would be required to perform 50% of the labor for the required work with qualified in-house personnel. Sources must maintain adequate staff to perform the work in-house. Responses to this sources sought shall not exceed ten pages in length and shall demonstrate the respondent’s capability to perform the anticipated work. The response must provide detail well beyond a written capability statement. Documentation submitted shall include all of the following: - All of the following with respect to company requesting to have capabilities considered Organization Name DUNS Number for the Company’s active SAM.Gov Registration Organization Website Contact Name Contact Telephone Contact E-mail address. -How dietary restrictions are handled; -Minimum requirements: number of people or dollar amounts; -All payments will be made after services are completed. While a Government purchase card may be utilized, the Contractor may be required to invoice on a weekly or monthly basis to be paid for completed events. Net 30-day payment terms are anticipated; -NIST, as a federal government agency, is tax exempt. Invoices must not include state sales tax. -Guarantee changes: Late and onsite registration for attendees is commonplace at NIST events. What is the minimum amount of time needed to increase/change the catering order and are there additional charges for last minute changes? -Menu Items. At a minimum: Coffee/Decaf/Tea Service; Continental Breakfast with Coffee/Decaf and Tea Service; -Deluxe Continental Breakfast (includes hot item) with Coffee/Decaf and Tea Service; AM Coffee/Decaf/Tea Service with Snacks; Buffet Lunch with assorted bottled drinks; Box Lunch with assorted bottled drinks; PM Coffee/Decaf and Tea Service with Snacks; Fruit Tray and/or fresh fruit. -Any additional menu items you wish to include -Delivery -Gratuity -All Service Charges for setup and breakdown -Compostable paper goods -Price Information It is requested that estimated prices and/or price ranges for the following catering items and services be submitted. Estimates will be utilized for budgeting purposes. Therefore, it is preferred that prices and/or price ranges be within 10-15% of the total estimated price. This estimate is non-committal and will be held by NIST as confidential: The above information and any other information considered pertinent to this notification must be submitted to Carol A. Wood, Contracting Officer, not later than Thursday, July 8, 2021, at 3:30 PM Eastern Time. Email submission is required.