Nces Data Licensing and Inspection Support   2

AMENDMENT 001:
The purpose of this Amendment is to post the Government's response to the clarification question.
For further details, see the Attachment for Amendment 001
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SOLICITATION:

Solicitation Number ED-IES-13-R-0004 is now released for the "NCES DATA LICENSING AND INSPECTION SUPPORT" procurement.

All information pertaining to this solicitation is attached. Interested offerors should read all the attachments for further details.

Clarification Questions regarding this solicitation are due by 1:00 pm, ET on April 22, 2013.

Proposals are due by 11:00 am, ET on May 13, 2013.

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PRESOLICITATION NOTICE:

The U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the Institute of Education Science (IES) contemplates award of a contract to perform periodic, on-site inspections of selected IES/NCES licensee sites where researchers have licensing agreements with IES/NCES to access IES/NCES restricted-use data files, to maintain and update the License Documentation System, to review data security plans submitted by the licensure applicants, and to perform data inspection technical assistance.

The U.S. Department of Education anticipates that work will be performed under a Fixed-Price contract.

The solicitation will be available via the Federal Business Opportunities website (www.fbo.gov) in April 2013.

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REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND CAPABILITY STATEMENTS:
The U.S. Department of Education is conducting market research to identify potential offerors capable of providing Data Licensing and Inspection Support services.
This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations.
The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified small business sources in the market to provide the Department of Education Data Licensing and Inspection Support services.

Vendors also have an opportunity to provide questions and comments on the attached Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS).

Capability Statement Instructions for Interested Small Business Vendors

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the Institute of Education Science (IES) contemplates award of a contract to perform periodic, on-site inspections of selected IES/NCES licensee sites where researchers have licensing agreements with IES/NCES to access IES/NCES restricted-use data files, to maintain and update the License Documentation System, to review data security plans submitted by the licensure applicants, and to perform data inspection technical assistance. NCES anticipates that work will be performed under a Fixed Price contract.

NCES anticipates capability statements from interested parties with demonstrated comprehensive understanding of required tasks to meet the stated performance objectives and an ability to provide all functional capabilities of performance in each technical area. The capability statement shall not exceed 10 double spaced, 12-point font, typed pages, excluding resumes and questions. The capability statement shall include the following information:

1) organization capability

2) staff with required knowledge, skills, and experience listed in the Performance Work Statement (i.e., familiarity with institutions of higher education, years of law enforcement investigative experience, etc.) and whether they are ready to travel and conduct the site inspections immediately after the contract is awarded

3) related organizational experience in conducting on-site sensitive inspections

4) storage capability as specified in subtask 2b
Resumes may be provided in appendices. Each resume shall not exceed 3 single spaced, 12-point font, typed pages. The response can also include questions regarding the Performance Work Statement in one double spaced, 12-point font, typed page.

Submit capability statements, questions, and comments to Deila.Johnson@ed.gov and Joseph.Gibbs@ed.gov on or before December 21, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. noon ET.

All information submitted should support the capability to provide the services required. The response must be in writing and must provide clear and concise documentation indicating capability to provide these services. Oral communication will be not accepted in response to this notice.

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