SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Fellows Program
- Notice Date
- 7/18/2012
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 813920
— Professional Organizations
- Contracting Office
- U.S. Department of State, Office of Logistics Management, Acquisition Management, P.O. Box 9115, Rosslyn Station, Arlington, Virginia, 22219, United States
- ZIP Code
- 22219
- Solicitation Number
- 10082A0377
- Archive Date
- 8/16/2012
- Point of Contact
- Lisa G. Goodwine, , Gwendolyn Dukes,
- E-Mail Address
-
goodwinelc@state.gov, DukesGM@state.gov
(goodwinelc@state.gov, DukesGM@state.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The following is a Request for Information (RFI). This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal. Science, technology, and engineering are key elements of many issues in foreign policy and diplomacy, including global health, climate change, energy, food security, water, environment, cyber security, nonproliferation, and arms control, just to name a few. The Department of State, Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science has a requirement for mechanisms by which to bring in more scientists and engineers to provide their expertise on these issues. The Department of State is conducting market research for any sources and participation from industry in identifying the ability to provide the program. The organization that runs this program, heretofore referred to as "the organization," should preferably have prior experience in running a fellowship program and a large alumni network of former fellows with whom to collaborate. It should also be one of the world's premier science organizations in order to be credible and draw the best possible scientists and engineers to the program. The fellows in the program should be connected to the extensive scientific and policy networks of the organization, including former fellows, in order to maximize the impact of their work on the State Department. This fellowship program will provide a steady pipeline of scientists and engineers to the State Department. The organization that runs the program should conduct work in the following areas 1) promotion and recruitment; 2) selection and placement; 3) professional development; and 4) monitoring and reporting. The work that should be performed by the organization in each of these areas is described below. Promotion and Recruitment The organization should recruit highly qualified applicants for the fellowships from many sources, including universities, industry, not-for-profit organizations, national laboratories, and other entities. Each year, an announcement should be broadcast widely to the science and engineering community to solicit applications from those interested in public service. The organization should be a premier science organization with the respect of the scientists and engineers worldwide in order to be a credible steward of this program. It should also have extensive scientific networks in order to reach the broadest possible audience. The outreach conducted by the organization could include information booths and presentations at annual scientific conferences and information sessions and workshops at university campuses and scientific organizations; announcement on numerous science and technology related electronic bulletin boards, listservs and websites, in print publications, and through direct email solicitations; and general advertising in appropriate professional journals, magazines, newspapers, and newsletters. Prior experience with running a large fellowship program that has a large alumni network would be most useful because former fellows can also help disseminate information through their professional networks and personal connections. Selection and Placement The selection process should be very competitive, with several stages. Applicants are judged on their educational and professional credentials and references; demonstrated competence in a specific area of science or engineering; ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; leadership ability and potential; and commitment and flexibility to apply science to policy. The goal is to select the best scientists and engineers from the applicant pool, as well as those whose experiences and interests fit the focus of the particular fellowship area and with the mission of hosting agencies and offices. Applications are due in December, and review takes place January through March. Applicants are required to submit a statement of interest, three recommendations, a statement of extracurricular activities, and their CV. The selection process is as follows: • The organization reviews each application to ensure candidates meet designated criteria and all required materials are submitted. • Each application is read and scored by three people with science policy experience, preferably previous alumni of the program; scores are compiled and utilized to designate the top-ranking candidates as the priority review group. • Applications in the priority review group in each fellowship area are scored by a minimum of three selection committee members drawn from the science policy community, and then discussed by the selection committees to determine the semi-finalists to interview. • The organization arranges for semi-finalists to come to Washington, DC for an in-person interview by the selection committee to decide who will become finalists. • The organization arranges for finalists to participate in placement week in Washington, DC, when they will interview at the partner agency offices interested in hosting a fellow. The organization should choose members of the selection committee that are drawn from the academic community, partner agencies, the private sector, non-profit organizations, and alumni fellowship program and represent a broad range of backgrounds and professional experience. To maintain an objective and rigorous process, several committee members should rotate annually to ensure an infusion of new expertise and perspectives. The placement process will involve interviews between finalists and partner agency potential host offices to explore compatibility between projects, expertise and interests. This is followed by matching finalists with offices and issuing offer letters to confirm final assignments. The process involves the following steps: • The organization should provide background information on the finalists to partner agencies via an online, searchable database. This should include a general data sheet, application essay, extracurricular activities, and CV. Host offices should be able to make appointments with finalists through this online portal. • The organization should provide password protected access to Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary (STAS) for distribution to the host offices. • The organization arranges for finalists to fly to Washington, DC and provides hotel accommodations for one week for the placement interviews. • The organization should conduct a half-day placement orientation to prepare the finalists for the week of interviews, and arrange a networking event to facilitate initial personal interactions between finalists, current and former fellows in federal agencies, and host office staff. • The organization should facilitate the interview phase by arranging and equipping a central office for finalists, and providing staff guidance and support during the week. • Finalists provide a ranked list of their preferred fellowship assignments on the Thursday following the end of placement week. • Offices interested in hosting a fellow(s) provide a ranked list of their preferred finalists on the Thursday following the end of Placement Week. • In the ensuing weeks, the organization and the State Department work together to broker matches between interested agencies/host offices and fellowship finalists. • Once matches are made, the organization should issue a formal fellowship offer letter that details the assignment, contact person, stipend level, and other stipulations of the fellowship. • Finalists accept the offer letter by returning a signed agreement form to the organization and begin their assignment the following September. Professional Development The organization should conduct a year-long professional development program that includes a two-week orientation, monthly seminars, career-enhancement sessions, skill-building workshops, events to build networks and learn about resources, and an annual summit. The organization also should maintain a database and listservs, and coordinates alumni events that enable fellows to interact and network during and beyond their fellowships. These activities help to enhance the fellows' knowledge and capabilities, and also to foster collaborative connections within and beyond the fellowship cohorts that benefit the host offices through broad networks. Monitoring and Reporting The organization should conduct ongoing monitoring of fellows' activities and their impact on the State Department. As part of monitoring activities, the organization will require the fellows to negotiate, write and submit a professional development plan for their fellowship year. The staff of the organization will also conduct a site visit for each fellow and meet to discuss the plan with the host office supervisor and the fellow. The organization will also require online mid-year and year-end reports written by the fellows. These should be compiled by the organization and shared with agency project officers in summary form for information purposes, and to collaboratively address potential challenges and opportunities for enhancement. The organization should also provide to partner agencies in the fall of each year an annual summary progress report covering the period of the previous September 1 through August 31. The government is requesting that industry identify their capabilities of the businesses that may be interested in this effort. The anticipated method of procurement will be to utilize FAR part 12 for commercial item/service and award to the technically acceptable low price contractor. The prices offered shall include all labor, materials, insurance, overhead, and profit. Anticipated performance is for a one-year period from the date of the contract award, with four one-year options. Please identify potential problem areas, and provide recommendations for industry standards. The Government believes industry feedback is important, and is receptive to any and all ideas from industry which would result in limiting unnecessarily constraining requirements, realizing possible cost savings, or highlighting potential technical or contractual problem areas associated with this requirement. Any comments provided should not be viewed as a vehicle for presenting a specific approach or product intended to be proposed but as an opportunity to identify capable firms. It is the Government's intention to make ONE award. All interested business concerns shall identify their interest by providing the company name, capabilities, mailing address, phone number, and electronic mail address to the contracting office. Replies are not mandatory. Replies will be separated from, and have no bearing on, subsequent evaluation of proposals submitted in response to any resulting formal Requests for Proposals. The use of information received from industry to complete final statements of work and resulting solicitation documents will be at the discretion of the government. Any subsequent solicitations will be synopsized prior to its release. Eligibility in participating in a future acquisition does not depend upon a response to this notice. The government will not critique a potential offeror's information and the RFI should not be used by offerors to market their services. The Government does not intend to pay for the information solicited and will not recognize any costs associated with submission of the RFI. Proprietary information is not being solicited. Information considered proprietary, if any, should be identified as such. Submit responses no later than 1 August 2012, via email. Attachments must be M.S. office 2007 compatible, word format) Internet and e-mail capabilities are a must! Point(s) of contact. Anthony McIntosh, Contracting Officer, Reply to Gwendolyn Dukes @ dukesgm@state.gov; (703)-875-5854, no phone calls will be accepted. An electronic response is the only accepted method. Future information on this acquisition will be located on Website: https://www.fbo.gov. It is the responsibility of the prospective offeror to check this site regularly for any changes.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/State/A-LM-AQM/A-LM-AQM/10082A0377/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: U.S. Department of State, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- Record
- SN02807120-W 20120720/120718235442-2ce227054b5a73e2fcf1a9f6a1908b47 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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