Inactive Partial Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

Potential Sources Sought. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is conducting a market survey to identify potential sou... Potential Sources Sought. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is conducting a market survey to identify potential sources for a series of anticipated contracts/task order awards. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information, for planning purposes, regarding (1) the availability and capability of qualified sources to perform all or some of the work described below; and (2) the size classification of the available and capable sources relative to the North American Industry Classification (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. This notice does not solicit proposals. Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the government to form a binding contract. Additionally, the U.S. Government will not provide reimbursement for any information that may be submitted in response to this sources sought/market research. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses with responding to this this sources sought/market research. Responding to this sources sought/market research will neither increase nor decrease an information provider’s likelihood of being awarded any contract in the future by FHWA for the requisite services. Pursuant to 48 C.F.R. Part 10, the Government is conducting market research to: Determine what sources exist that are capable of satisfying the Government’s requirements listed below, Determine the capabilities of potential contractors, Determine the size and status of potential sources, and Determine the level of competition (i.e. 8(a), set-aside, or fill and open). BACKGROUND This is a sources sought announcement to conduct market research. The FHWA Office of Acquisition and Grants Management contemplates multiple awards for a five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP), Time and Material/Labor Hour (T&M/LH), or hybrid FFP and T&M/LH task orders for Safety, Civil Rights, Business and Public Administration and Quality, and Communications Training. The purpose of this sources sought is to conduct market research to identify potential offerors having an interest in, and the resources to support this requirement. The subject work currently is being performed under Contracts DTFH61-17-D-00025 – 00029, which have a scheduled completion date of September 28, 2021. This market research announcement is issued in support of the planned re-compete of the aforementioned contracts entitled, “National Highway Institute’s Highway Safety Training.” NATURE OR WORK BACKGROUND Established by Congress in 1970, the National Highway Institute (NHI) is the training and education arm of the Federal Highway Administration under the United States Department of Transportation. NHI’s mission is to provide technical training and resource materials to the transportation community. In terms of scope, NHI maintains a training curriculum of approximately 250 courses and presents over 700 training sessions per year to more than 40,000 participants nationwide. To meet the time challenges of customers and reach as many participants as possible, NHI espouses distance learning options, currently NHI uses Web-Based Training (WBT), Web Conference Training (WCT), virtual world training (VWT), video conference training (VCT), job aids, and blended learning opportunities and are open to other learning options as they become viable. NHI course offerings currently covered by expiring ID/IQ contracts in the area of the existing contracts may be found under the 310XXX, 361XXX, 380XXX and 420XXX course number series. Additional related courses or web-based offerings may be added as needs are defined. To learn more about NHI and the courses offered, you can visit the following Web site: http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/home.aspx OBJECTIVES FHWA’S NHI is seeking to identify sources that can provide support services related to: Designing and developing courseware for engaging graduate level training courses: define target population characteristics; articulate Learning Outcomes; explain instructional strategies and methods; develop subject content, create participant exercises, incorporate best practices; design case studies; chunk or sequence content; determine instructional time allocations; develop evaluation strategies. Develop and deliver distance-based/virtual training and job aids Develop or Update an Instructor Guide, Participant Workbook, Reference Manual and Visual Aids, based on the established principles of Instructional Systems Design (ISD) for courses offered by NHI. Subject matter experts – preferably with adult education experience- to deliver synchronous training in both face-to-face and distance formats, according to NHI standards. Incorporate learner-centric approaches and innovation in training development and delivery strategies. PARTICIPATION IN THE MARKET RESEARCH IN NO WAY AFFECTS YOUR ELIGIBILITY TO COMPETE FOR THESE SERVICES IF AN RFP IS SUBSEQUENTLY ISSUED. REQUESTED CONTENT OF RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the listed services for all or some of the knowledge and skill areas are invited to submit a response to this sources sought/market research notice. Responses shall clearly identify: Name, Address, Point of Contact; Size standard under NAICS code 611430 Identify all applicable classifications for your organization such as: Small Business Woman-owned business 8(a) business Large business Small disadvantaged business HUBZone business SDVOB business Non-profit Description of technical capabilities and relevant experience to perform the work described in Section 4 of this document; and Description of possible planned staffing and teaming/subcontracting. Capability Statements: Keeping FHWA’s NHI’s business objectives and anticipated support requirements in mind, outline how you would support the requirements. Sources are requested to submit a capability statement that addresses their ability to deliver the required products and/or services. Sources who are only interested in specific areas may only submit a capability statement that addresses specific areas of interest. The capability statement should clearly identify the following items regarding the interested organization(s): (1) name and address of prospective organization; (2) technical capabilities to perform the work; (3) relevant experience and credentials; (4) synopsis of experience and expertise of potential staff; (5) relevant projects completed related to the anticipated objectives of the contract with information on the client, scope, and products; and (6) a description of available facilities to perform the work outlined above. PAGE LIMIT: The capability statement shall be no more than 10 pages in length, single-spaced, with font sized 12 or larger using Times New Roman or Arial. The minimum font size for charts shall be 10 point. Margins (Top, Bottom, Right and Left) no smaller than 1” (headers and footers are allowed in the margins) page size shall be no greater than 8.5” x 11.” Submission shall be provided in electronic format readable and searchable by Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Word. Do NOT submit marketing material, slide presentations or technical papers. Do NOT submit resumes. Questionnaire: FHWA has created a Skills Questionnaire that will allow the opportunity for sources to provide an at-a-glance view of their expertise to meet the anticipated FHWA/NHI requirements. Sources should complete this questionnaire as completely as possible. 6. NOTES PARTICIPATION IN THE MARKET RESEARCH IN NO WAY INFLUENCES THE SOURCE SELECTION FOR THESE SERVICES. This Sources Sought is not to be construed to be a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information or responses submitted as the result of this Sources Sought Notice. As a result of this Market Research, FHWA intends to issue a solicitation on https://www.fbo.gov/. Please complete the following skills questionnaire: Place an X beside each requirement your firm would be able to satisfy. Would your firm be able to support the completion of task orders for development of new courses or update to existing courses: Program Area Currently not capable or not interested Number of orders per year Less than 5 5-10 11-15 More than 15 Highway Safety Highway Safety Improvement Program Intersection Safety Guardrail Resources and ISPE Roadway Departure Safety Roadway Safety Data and Analysis Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Local and Rural Road Safety Civil Rights Title VI Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Business, Public Admin, and Quality Federal Aid Highways Program Risk-Based Stewardship and Oversight Contracting Officer Representative (COR) Program Reviews Communications Instructor Development Facilitation Would your firm be able to support course delivery of NHI courses: Program Area Delivery Type Currently not capable or not interested Number of sessions to be delivered per year 1-25 26-50 51-75 More than 75 Highway Safety Highway Safety Improvement Program Instructor led On-line with instructor/blended Intersection Safety Instructor led On-line with instructor/blended Guardrail Resources and ISPE Instructor led On-line with instructor/blended Roadway Departure Safety Instructor led On-line with instructor/blended Roadway Safety Data and Analysis Instructor led On-line with instructor/blended Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Instructor led On-line with instructor/blended Local and Rural Road Safety Instructor led On-line with instructor/blended Civil Rights Title VI Instructor led On-line with instructor/blended Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Instructor led On-line with instructor/blended Business, Public Admin, and Quality Federal Aid Highways Program Instructor led On-line with instructor/blended Risk-Based Stewardship and Oversight Instructor led On-line with instructor/blended Contracting Officer Representative (COR) Instructor led On-line with instructor/blended Program Reviews Instructor led On-line with instructor/blended Communications Instructor Development Instructor led On-line with instructor/blended Facilitation Instructor led On-line with instructor/blended Based on your firm’s experience please check the boxes where you have experience in the proposed task areas: Program Area Highway Safety Civil Rights Business, Public Admin, Quality Communications Design and development of courseware for graduate level training courses in specified program area(s). Development and delivery of distance-based/virtual training and job aids for specified program area(s). Development or Update of an Instructor Guide, Participant Workbook, Reference Manual and/or Visual Aids or, based on the established principles of Instructional Systems Design (ISD) for courses offered by NHI. Provide teams of qualified subject matter experts to deliver instructor-led classroom training for specified program area(s) according to NHI standards. Technical Expertise Knowledge and Skill Areas The government believes that the following skills and knowledge areas may be needed. It is desirable to have a balance of first-hand experience or field work and research capabilities in the area. The government is seeking sources that can provide skills in any combination of areas identified below. A source may address a single skill area. Skills Matrix Please indicate capability to provide this type of professional expertise. Skill Areas Capable with organization staff Capable with current subcontractors or through existing teaming Currently not capable or not interested Highway Safety Core area Components (not inclusive) Research and Application Roadway Design Roadway Operations Highway Safety Manual Crash Modification Factors FHWA Priority Areas Highway Safety Improvement Program Roadway Departure Intersection Safety Pedestrian and Bicycle Guardrail Resources and ISPE Human Factors Roadway Departure Safety Data Driven Safety Analysis Safe Systems Approaches Complete Streets Automated / Connected Vehicles and transportation safety Transportation Equity Skill Areas Capable with organization staff Capable with current subcontractors or through existing teaming Currently not capable or not interested Civil Rights Core area Components (not inclusive) TBD Americans with Disabilities/Section 504 Program Contractor Compliance Program Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program Environmental Justice Transportation Equity Skill Areas Capable with organization staff Capable with current subcontractors or through existing teaming Currently not capable or not interested Business, Public Admin, and Quality Core area Components (not inclusive) Federal Aid Knowledge and Use of Title 23 CFR, Title 23 USC, and Title 49 CFR Risk-based Stewardship and Oversight Transportation Equity Contracting Federal Acquisitions Regulations (FAR) Performance Improvement Process Reviews Report Writing Data Analysis Skill Areas Capable with organization staff Capable with current subcontractors or through existing teaming Currently not capable or not interested Communications Core area Components (not inclusive) Course Delivery Training Delivery and Evaluation Instructor Development Course Creation Content Development and Deployment Instructional Design Principles and Practices Creation and Use of Video Graphical Presentation Materials Is your firm: A small business? A small disadvantage business? A woman-owned business? A HubZone business? An 8(a) business? Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business? A large business? A non-profit Other? Is your firm on the GSA Schedule? ______________ If so, provide your SIN# ____________ and Schedule # ________________ Is your firm registered in System for Award Management (SAM)? __________ Provide your DUNS number: _________________