Inactive
Notice ID:68HERC19R0023
THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS FOR WRITTEN INFORMATION ONLY. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PROPOSALS AND NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FROM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE M...
THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS FOR WRITTEN INFORMATION ONLY. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PROPOSALS AND NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FROM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE MADE FOR ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND ANY FOLLOW-UP REQUESTS. NO TELEPHONE CALLS REQUESTING A SOLICITATION WILL BE ACCEPTED OR ACKNOWLEDGED. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is performing a "market search" for large and small businesses in preparation for a future procurement. The EPA has need for a contractor to provide support to the EPA's Office of Water, Office of Wastewater Management (OWM), in supporting the implementation of water-efficiency programs. In 2006, EPA launched a voluntary public-private partnership program that seeks to protect the future of the nation's water supply by promoting water efficiency and enhancing the market for water-efficient products, services, systems, and practices. This market-enhancement program helps end-users identify water-efficient products and programs. The WaterSense® label indicates that these products and programs meet water-efficiency and performance criteria. WaterSense labeled products perform well, help save money, and encourages innovation in manufacturing. The contractor's efforts will broadly support the EPA's efforts to increase water efficiency in the U.S. The successful contractor will be expected to provide technical support services to aid the Agency in the following task areas primarily in the water efficiency arena: market transformation strategy development; technical analysis of programs and products; voluntary specification development for products, programs, and/or services; general voluntary program support; market/industry analysis; partnership development; product certification and conformity assessment; tracking, evaluation & analysis; marketing and outreach; consumer education; customer service/relationship management; recognition; website development and maintenance; and general outreach materials development such as, case studies, newsletters, slide shows, brochures, videos, public displays, etc. Potential organizations must possess: 1) thorough understanding of sustainable infrastructure principles, 2) thorough understanding of EPA voluntary partnership programs, 3) thorough understanding of green building principles and specifically water-efficiency technologies, practices and procedures, demonstrated experience conducting analysis and program evaluation, 4) demonstrated ability to develop and implement market transformation strategies, and 5) the ability to effectively communicate with a wide variety of stakeholders. It is anticipated that the contract will be an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) multiple award contract with firm fixed price, cost plus fixed fee, and time and materials task orders with an ordering period of 5 years. Approximately 195,000 LOE hours are anticipated for the ordering period. The applicable NAICS code is 541611 with a size standard of $15 million in average annual receipts. In the capabilities statements, contractors must provide their size status for the above referenced NAICS code, (i.e. large, small) and whether or not they are a certified hub zone, 8(a), women owned, small disadvantaged and/or service disabled veteran owned concern. The EPA reserves the right to set this action aside for small businesses. As a reminder, small businesses must comply with FAR 52.219-14, as revised by Section 1651 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) effective June 30, 2016 (The changes in FAR are currently pending). In the previous acquisitions, EPA restricted the following types of firms from receiving award due to an inherent conflict of interest posed by the implications of the offeror developing products specifications or managing the product certification process under which the products are certified to receive the WaterSense label: Firms that own, operate, consult for or invest in companies that make or sell products that are eligible to earn or have earned the WaterSense label and firms involved in the testing and certification of products to the WaterSense specifications (licensed certifying bodies). These may include: plumbing product manufacturing plants, irrigation product manufacturing plants, retailers or wholesalers of plumbing products, retailers or wholesalers of irrigation products, water-using medical devices manufacturing plants, retailers or wholesalers of water-using medical devices, manufacturers of water-using food service industry devises, manufacturers of cleaning equipment, manufacturers of water reuse systems, manufacturers of cooling equipment. Since the WaterSense label which is issued by the EPA may give a company that manufactures or sells WaterSense labeled products a marketing advantage, such a firm could be biased in their performance of support tasks for the WaterSense program. A draft copy of the performance work statement (PWS) is included as an attachment. Interested parties with the capability of providing any of the services described in the draft PWS posted at the FedConnect website: https://www.fedconnect.net/ are invited to submit up to a ten (10) page document, in writing, sufficient information that clearly demonstrates their ability to provide the services described in the draft PWS, including personnel, experience and qualifications. A description of similar services previously or currently provided shall be provided. Standard company brochures will not be considered a sufficient response to this sources sought synopsis. Capabilities Statements in response to this sources sought synopsis MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH THE FEDCONNECT PORTAL by 3:00 p.m. EDT, on April 19, 2019. Any questions regarding the content of this sources sought synopsis announcement must be submitted through the FedConnect portal. You must register with FedConnect to submit documents, questions, and to view responses. FedConnect can be accessed at www.fedconnect.net/fedconnect/. FedConnect is a web portal that connects agencies and vendors to streamline the process of doing business with the federal government. Through FedConnect contractors will be able to receive, review and respond to contract pre- and post-award actions and documents such as correspondence, request for proposals, tasking instruments and contract modifications. The use of FedConnect also furthers the EPA's commitment to moving towards a paperless acquisition environment by reducing its carbon footprint and conducting its business in an ecologically friendly manner. There is no charge to use FedConnect. Vendors can register with FedConnect at www.fedconnect.net/fedconnect/. For assistance in registering or for other FedConnect technical questions please call the FedConnect Help Desk at (800) 899-6665 or email at support@fedconnect.net. In addition, all vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), as this facilitates registration for FedConnect. Please note that vendors MUST have their SAM profile set to "public" otherwise FedConnect will not be able to access the SAM information required to validate vendor credentials. Registration may be completed and information regarding the registration process may be obtained at http://www.sam.gov. There is no charge for registration in SAM. A separate synopsis will be issued for the Request for Proposal (RFP) resulting from this sources sought synopsis.
