The magnitude of this effort is expected to be $4,000,000 or more per year.

The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this effort is 561499 with a small business size standard of $7M.  The NAICS is provided for use by businesses in determining their appropriate business size in response to this sources sought notice.  For further information on business size definitions please refer to the Small Business Administration's web site.

NETL is owned and operated by DOE.  A major part of NETL’s research efforts are focused on resolving the environmental, supply, and reliability constraints of producing and using America’s fossil fuel resources.  NETL is a single organization supported by facilities in Albany, OR; Fairbanks, AK; Morgantown, WV; Pittsburgh, PA; and Sugar Land TX.  The laboratory’s activities are primarily funded through DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy, but NETL also conducts work for other DOE offices and Federal agencies.  Significant work is sponsored by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE).

To accomplish the laboratory’s mission, NETL draws on more than 1,300 Federal and support contractor employees to implement and manage a broad spectrum of research programs; approximately half are Federal employees and half are site support contractors.  NETL conducts more than 1,800 onsite and contracted activities in the United States and in more than 40 foreign countries.  Additional information about NETL can be attained at our website.

The primary functions performed under this service contract will include technical and scientific writing, public outreach writing, and executive level speech writing support, graphics support, multimedia support, web site support, institutional history support, communications strategy support, publications management support, training support, education outreach support, and knowledge management support.  Anticipated work assignments for this service contract would support activities at all NETL sites; however, on site presence will only be required at the Morgantown and Pittsburgh sites, with potential travel to other locations. 

The work assignments are issued to support six (6) main service areas:  Communications Support, Communications Strategy Support, Publication Management Support, Training Support, Education Outreach Support, and Knowledge Management Support.

The Communications Support area provides crosscutting services throughout the NETL organization.  The types of services required for this support will include, but are not limited to, technical and scientific writing and editing, coordination for product development, public outreach writing, executive level speech writing, graphics, multimedia, web site, and institutional history support.

The Communications Strategy Support area provides crosscutting services throughout the NETL organization.  The types of services required for this support will include, but are not limited to, support for development and execution of NETL communications and outreach strategy and support for NETL relationship building efforts with its stakeholders.

The Publications Management Support area provides crosscutting services throughout the NETL organization.  The types of services required for this support will include, but are not limited to, collecting, cataloging, managing, and providing public access to NETL work products, and publication assessment.

The Training Support area provides crosscutting support services throughout the NETL organization.  The types of services required for this support will include, but are not limited to, developing, implementing and administering a training program, administering a training database including training records and materials, and providing training instruction. 

The Education Outreach Support area provides support for activities such as NETL’s Regional Science Bowls.  The type of services required for this support will include, but are not limited to, logistical and administrative supporting preparation for and attendance during, these activities.

The Knowledge Management (KM) Support area provides support to the KM structure and methodology being established.  The types of services required for this support will include, but are not limited to, supporting the KM infrastructure design that NETL will establish, supporting the deployment of the designed infrastructure, supporting the evaluation of performance of the KM infrastructure, measuring return on investment, and supporting the continuous improvement of KM.

With specific emphasis placed on the six areas delineated above, interested small business concerns should provide a capability statement including a concise description of the following information:

1. Demonstrated past experience providing expert and high level communications support for specific areas such as technical and scientific writing, public outreach writing, executive level speech writing, graphics, multimedia, web site, institutional history, communications strategy, publication management, training, education outreach, and knowledge management for complex organizations.
2. Organization’s current project management practices and resource base and how that established practice will be implemented in a geographically dispersed environment with crosscutting areas of emphasis and programs.
3. Describe the basis for your organization's ability to assume the financial responsibilities associated with receiving a contract of this projected dollar amount.  Specifically discuss the assurance that resources are available to meet payroll, subcontracting, and material obligations at this magnitude.  Please do not provide financial statements as part of your response; it should be limited to a discussion of the rationale.
4. Current or planned management, project, and administrative resources including summary of credentials of current key personnel (with all applicable certifications, licenses, degrees, and relevant publications titles) to effectively meet diverse customer needs for a broad range of communications support.
   
5. If subcontracting is anticipated, demonstrated experience in successfully managing subcontracts and a detailed description of how the Contractor guarantees the performance and participation of the potential subcontractor, including the documentation for proposed subcontractors and expected levels of subcontracting (magnitude).
6. Include your business size as it relates to the above stated NAICS code and size standard information listed (specify the small business classification:  small business, small disadvantaged business, woman owned, veteran owned, disabled veteran owned, 8(a) or HUB Zone) (Note: if a teaming arrangement is proposed your business size should be considered large unless you have obtained written SBA approval for your team to be considered in another size category).

As indicated previously, this is NOT a solicitation therefore no cost or pricing information should be provided.  This is a market survey to identify potential sources capable of performing the effort required.  Responses should be limited to the Contractors expression of interest, identification of business size, and demonstration of capabilities/experience based on the list provided.  It is not mandatory for an offeror to respond to this sources sought notice in order to be eligible for proposing on a subsequent solicitation when issued.