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This Sources Sought Notice is not a Request for Quote (RFQ), and does not constitute a commitment by the Government. The Government is currently conducting market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 to identify potential small business sources to fulfill a requirement and gather information on current capabilities of small businesses within the market. All information submitted in response to this Sources Sought Notice is voluntary. The Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information submitted in response to this notice. Proprietary information submitted should be marked appropriately. All information submitted shall remain with the U.S. Government and will not be returned.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Eastern Acquisition Division (EAD), Kansas City, MO, on behalf of the National Ocean Services (NOS), Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R), is conducting market research to determine potential small business sources to provide business and scientific support services as outlined in the attached DRAFT Performance Work Statement (PWS). The Government anticipates awarding a contract/order with a period of performance starting on December 1, 2023 through November 31, 2024 with four one-year options. The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 541620, Environmental Consulting Services. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) small business size standard for this NAICS code is $19 million. You are considered a small business concern under this NAICS code if your company averaged $19 million or less in average annual receipts for your last three completed fiscal years.

Background: OR&R is the focal point for spill preparedness and response, hazardous waste site investigation, environmental damage assessment through use of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process, coastal ecosystem restoration programs, and marine debris programs within NOAA. OR&R addresses environmental threats from natural and technological hazards both accidental and intentional, such as oil and chemical spills, chronic toxic releases from Superfund waste sites, marine debris, and vessel groundings in marine sanctuaries. OR&R partners with communities and decision-makers through training, guidance, decision-making tools, and funding that emphasize actions to improve coastal ecosystem health. Further information regarding OR&R can be found here https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/.

Key Components: The key components of the draft PWS are listed below:

1. Scientific and technical services in support of Prevention, Preparedness and Response at NOAA’s Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center in Mobile, AL to include tracking and formulating budgets, cost documents, travel, general facility maintenance, supporting Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) cases, project management and property management. For more information see paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2 of the draft PWS.
   
   


2. Scientific and technical services in support of OR&R’s Disaster Preparedness Program (DPP) to include development and support of contingency plans, partnerships, and training. For more information see paragraph 5.6 of the draft PWS.
   
   


3. Scientific and technical services with some IT and budget type services in support of OR&R Business Operation Division (BOD) to include IT helpdesk, AWS, database and physical service infrastructure, and IT security. Services in support of BOD include cost documentation (sometime referred to as “cost recovery packages”). OR&R collects data, conducts studies, and performs analyses needed to determine whether coastal resources have sustained injury from oil or hazardous substances releases, how to restore injured resources, and what are the appropriate damages to accomplish restoration. OR&R performs these activities as part of NOAA’s Damage Assessment Remediation and Restoration Program (DARRP) which consists of OR&R, the NOAA Restoration Center (RC) in NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and NOAA’s Office of General Counsel (OGC). In order to recover reasonable costs of assessment activities incurred by offices in NOAA, the DARRP office prepares documentation packages on costs expended on individual cases for submission to and reimbursement by responsible parties or the U.S. Coast Guard. For more information see paragraph 5.7 of the draft PWS.

Responses: Interested sources shall include the following information:

1. Company name and address
   
   


2. Small Business status in the System for Award Management (SAM) (Yes or No) with regard to the applicable NAICS code (541620) and corresponding size standard ($19 million) referenced in this Sources Sought Notice.
   
   


3. Type of business and socio-economic status (example: other than small business, small business, 8(a) participant, HUBZone small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, economically disadvantaged women-owned small business, woman-owned small business) as validated in SAM.GOV https://sam.gov
   
   


4. Company Point of Contact(s): Provide the name, title, phone number, and email address of your company representative(s) for future correspondence regarding this Sources Sought Notice
   
   


5. Unique Entity ID – SAM and corresponding Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code
   
   


6. If applicable list your GSA Schedule contract number, along with the corresponding category/subcategory, and Special Item Number (SIN), your Government Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) contract number and agency, and any other agency-specific Multiple Award Contracts (MACs) to include contract number and issuing agency.
   
   


7. Clear explanation of capabilities for performing the key components described above. If projecting to subcontract any of the work, provide the name of the subcontractor(s) and general description of work they will perform and their capabilities.
   
   


8. Provide any other relevant information not specifically mentioned in this Sources Sought Notice that your company feels would be beneficial to the Government to consider in finalizing its market research and acquisition strategy.

NOAA will be conducting a within scope determination for NOAA’s multiple award contracts for Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Program (ProTech). Should this requirement fall within scope of NOAA’s ProTech Program, which is a mandated for use by NOAA, then the ProTech contracts will be used to solicit and award this requirement.

Interested sources are encouraged to provide any feedback, comments, and questions pertaining to this Sources Sought Notice. Responses to this Sources Sought Notice are limited to not more than 7 pages. All responses to this Sources Sought Notice shall be sent by email to marion.cavanaugh@noaa.gov with copy to tyrone.m.lewis@noaa.gov and be received in the email in box before Friday, March 24, 2023 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time.