Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF APRIL 05, 2009 FBO #2687
SOURCES SOUGHT

R -- National Scenic Byways Research, Assistance and Promotion

Notice Date

4/3/2009
 

Notice Type

Sources Sought
 

NAICS

541611 — Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
 

Contracting Office

Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Office of Acquisition Management, HAAM, Mail Stop E65-101, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, District of Columbia, 20590
 

ZIP Code

20590
 

Solicitation Number

DTFH61-09-D-00015
 

Point of Contact

Joseph A. Fusari,, Phone: 2023664244, Bob G Prior,, Phone: (202)366-4247
 

E-Mail Address

Joseph.fusari@dot.gov, Bob.Prior@dot.gov
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

MARKET RESEARCH for National Scenic Byways Research, Assistance and Promotion Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) DTFH61-09-R-00015 April 3, 2009 The Federal Highway Administration is conducting market research to: •Determine if sources exist that are capable of satisfying the Government’s requirements listed below, •Determine the capabilities of potential contractors, including an estimate of prices, •Determine the size and status of potential sources, and •Determine the level of competition (i.e. 8(a), set-aside or full and open) The Federal Highway Administration, on behalf of the Department of Transportation (DOT), intends to establish multiple, 5-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contracts for National Scenic Byways Program expertise to assist DOT with respect to the task areas described herein. The FHWA seeks to award multiple task /order contracts to highly qualified firms with demonstrated knowledge of the National Scenic Byways Program, including an understanding of the factors and other considerations affecting the nomination and designation of roads as National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads and the eligibility requirements for program funding. The use of multiple award contracts will allow the FHWA to take continuous advantage of the competitive forces of the commercial marketplace, which will result in lower prices, better quality, and improved contractor performance in satisfying THE FHWArequirements. This document is being published in order to gather information on potential sources and to identify sources capable of performing the work described below. Please send responses to Gary Jensen at Gary.Jensen@dot.gov or fax 202-366-3705. In the event of a fax response, please also provide an E-Mail notification that a fax has been sent. This document contains a list of specific technical requirements necessary for successful performance of our task orders in support of this program. Your responses addressing your experience and capabilities will be used to determine the availability of suitable businesses. Contractors are encouraged to respond to each requirement. BACKGROUND Within the U.S. Department of Transportation, the FHWA has lead responsibility for the National Scenic Byways Program. The Program is a grassroots, collaborative effort established to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States. The Secretary of Transportation recognizes certain roads as America’s Byways® – All-American Roads or National Scenic Byways – based on one or more archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic intrinsic qualities. The law guiding implementation of the National Scenic Byways Program is Section 162, Title 23 of the United States Code; 23 U.S.C. 162, see http://www.bywaysonline.org/program/us_code.html. The FHWA established the principal policy for the Program in its May 18, 1995 Interim Policy (60 FR 26759), see http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=1995_register&docid=fr18my95-105. Under the National Scenic Byways Program, the Secretary of Transportation designates roads having outstanding qualities as National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads. There are 125 nationally designated byways – 98 National Scenic Byways and 27 All-American Roads in 44 States. Nominations may originate from any local government, including Indian tribal governments, or any private group or individual. Nominations to the National Scenic Byways Program of byways on public lands may originate from the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, or the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Nominations must be submitted to the FHWA by a State, an Indian tribe, or a Federal land management agency. The Secretary of Transportation makes grants to States and Indian tribes to implement projects on highways designated as National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads, or as State or Indian tribe scenic byways. Projects submitted for consideration should benefit the byway traveler’s experience, whether it will help manage the intrinsic qualities that support the byway’s designation, shape the byway’s story, interpret the story for visitors, or improve visitor facilities along the byway. The FHWA maintains two websites under the National Scenic Byways Program. The FHWA’s National Scenic Byways Program website, www.bywaysonline.org is the principal medium for doing program business, as well as a primary medium for the FHWA to communicate to the byway community. FHWA’s website at www.byways.org is a major medium for the FHWA’s promotion of the collection of National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads as America’s Byways®. ID/IQ CONTRACT SCOPE OF WORK SUMMARY Overview The ID/IQ contract holders will provide a series of services, as needed within these specified task areas: congestion, safety planning, security planning, freight planning, state, metropolitan, rural, and tribal planning capacity building, national/international planning, tools to support planning and environment, and program management and outreach. Examples of experience and expertise required to successfully accomplish potential task orders include, but are not limited to, research conducted, data collection and analysis in the subject area, technical assistance on the issues and modeling and model development. Task Orders Issued Will Likely Include Activities Such As: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION The contractor will provide expertise and experience in multiple support areas required by the FHWA including travel expenses for the individuals providing technical assistance and education activities. The target audience for the training and education activities includes local byway representatives, State and Indian tribe scenic byways coordinators, the FHWA division office staff, byway leaders, and other individuals participating in the National Scenic Byways Program. These training and education activities will include expertise in areas of grant review, nomination review and designation event assistance, marketing, and education and training. Discretionary Grants: Potential activities in technical assistance and education associated with grants include: 1. Development and use of information and instructions on www.bywaysonline.org and www.grants.gov for grant applications, 2. Answering questions from State and Indian tribe coordinators, byway leaders and other interested individuals about the use of this information when preparing an application or considering whether to advance a project for possible funding under the program, 3. Reviewing grant applications in accordance with FHWA program guidance and requirements to ensure eligibility, 4. Using and manipulating electronic databases, spreadsheets, and other programs with information on grant applications, 5. Developing and preparing written feedback to grant applicants, 6. Compiling information for use in the selection of projects, 7. Developing suggestions and recommendations to improve the grant application and review process, 8. Analyzing and compiling information on program and project results for distribution by the FHWA to transportation officials and the byway community, and 9. Developing and providing grant related technical assistance in a variety of forums, e.g., workshops, written brochures, fact sheets, web-based information, telephone or email inquiries, regularly scheduled conference calls with State and Indian tribe scenic byway coordinators and byway leaders, etc. NOMINATIONS AND DESIGNATIONS: As part of the nomination process, a panel of six to eight experts from outside the U.S. Department of Transportation assists the FHWA staff in the review of roads nominated for possible designation by the Secretary. Panel members are selected based on their expertise in particular areas such as historic preservation, visual assessment, cultural or natural resources – combined with their experience in recreation, tourism, transportation, or the overall byway program. An independent facilitator is used throughout the panel’s deliberations. Travel assistance is provided for panel members. See the Conference Sponsorship and Travel Assistance Task below. The FHWA completes a thorough review of each nomination package, and compiles information for use by panel members in completing their review. Panel members provide the FHWA comments and suggestions on routes nominated for national designation. Using the results of the independent assessment by the expert panel and the FHWA’s internal evaluation, the FHWA staff will prepare a decision package is prepared for the FHWA Administrator and the Secretary to make the final selections for roads to be designated as National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads. The FHWA organizes the designation event, and may also organize and conduct special training and orientation workshops for the byway leaders of each newly designated byway. The FHWA may provide travel assistance for this special technical assistance session. See the Conference Sponsorship and Travel Assistance Task below. Potential activities in Nominations and Designations include: 1. Development and use of information and instructions on www.bywaysonline.org for nomination applications, 2. Answering questions from State and Indian tribe coordinators, byway leaders and other interested individuals about the use of this information when preparing an application or considering whether to advance a byway for possible funding designation by the Secretary, 3. Reviewing nomination materials, 4. Using and manipulating electronic databases, spreadsheets, and other programs with information on nominations, 5. Compiling information for use by the expert review panel, 6. Assisting panel members (by phone, E-mail or face-to-face) throughout their deliberations, 7. Developing and preparing written feedback to individuals who prepared the nominations, 8. Compiling information for use in making decisions on which roads to designate as National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads, 9. Participating in meetings with byway leaders of each newly designated byway, 10. Developing suggestions and recommendations to improve the nomination development and review process, 11. Analyzing and compiling information on nominations and designations results for distribution by the FHWA to transportation officials and the byway community, and 12. Developing and providing nomination-and-designation related technical assistance in a variety of forums, e.g., workshops, written brochures, fact sheets, web-based information, telephone or email inquiries, regularly scheduled conference calls with State and Indian tribe scenic byway coordinators and byway leaders, etc. DESIGN, LAYOUT AND PRODUCTION Potential activities in Design, layout and production include: 1. Design, layout and production of program, technical, and traveler oriented materials. 2. Production broad enough to encompass printed documents as well as web layout and other electronic media. 3. Development of new GIS-based maps for nominated byways and revision of existing GIS maps as required. 4. Updating maps to ensure accuracy through internal review and external verification with the byways. 5. Maintaining maps and data for use in publications and the websites. RESEARCH The FHWA sponsors research in support of a National program, promotion and marketing of America’s Byways®, and providing States, Indian tribes, byway leaders, and related organization with information and tools needed to advance individual byways. This research needs to take into account the diversity of byways and the evolution of the national program. Byways have multiple dimensions and vary with respect to: - Physical characteristics: location, type of road, type of route (linear, loop, series of loops, spurs or excursion routes), length (within a single State or across a number of States, topography, climate, land use (mix as well as the extent of public and private land and uses), byway designation including the type(s) and date(s) of designation, etc. - Resources or intrinsic qualities: archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreation, and scenic. - Visitor experience: active and passive experiences with respect to the physical characteristics and resources, continuity of experience (in relation to the density of resources or attractions, length and type of route), availability of interpretive information, etc. - Lead organization for the byway: volunteer based, non-profit organization, travel or tourism entity, public agency (local, regional, State, Indian tribe, or Federal) as well as the period of time for which the organization has had lead responsibility for the byway. Potential activities in RESEARCH include: 1. Resource assessment, resource management (protection, preservation, enhancement), land use and transportation impacts, and economic development. 2. Byway organizational issues, funding strategies and opportunities (to support byway organizations and implement the corridor management plan). 3. Interpretive planning, way finding, virtual tours, maps, brochures, pamphlets, and media information. 4. Market research, branding and brand development, marketing plans and strategies, promotion of America’s Byways®, and forming partnerships and working with partners. 5. Information on advancing the state of the art and practice for byways including current, relevant examples of techniques, products and projects, as well applicable approaches from other disciplines, programs, or organizations. 6. Assessment of different approaches for 1) nominating, designating, and de-designating byways, 2) developing and preparing grant applications, 3) reviewing and assessing proposed byway nominations and grant applications, 4) funding byways projects, byway organizations, and marketing or promoting byways, and 5) leading, guiding, and advising byway leaders. 7. Application and use of various geographic-based reference systems for byway management and traveler information, including the compilation, analysis and display of readily available data in forms useful to byway practitioners or travelers, such as thematic maps, three-dimension and spatial-temporal simulations, and innovative methods for data visualization. 8. Alternative Means for Sustaining www.byways.org 9. Identifying options for obtaining sponsors and partners to enable the byway travel-oriented components of the website independent and self-supporting from the FHWA’s program business components of the website, www.bywaysonline.org, 10. Assessing the trade-offs of partnering with different entities, and explore, form, and nurture partnership opportunities in the public and private sectors. PROMOTION OF AMERICA’S BYWAYS® The FHWA conducts its marketing to strengthen the presence and awareness of the America’s Byways® brand and promoting America’s Byways®. These efforts will be coordinated closely with State, Indian tribe, and byway representatives, taking into account the diversity of byways. Potential activities in PROMOTION OF AMERICA’S BYWAYS® include: 1. Developing a network and providing guidance and support to local byway leaders, marketing contacts and other byway representatives, State and Indian tribe scenic byways coordinators, the FHWA division office staff, National Scenic Byways Program staff, and America’s Byways® Resource Center staff. 2. Identifying and building strong working relationships with partners and obtaining results from partnership opportunities including such groups as State, Indian tribe, and local scenic byway organizations, other Federal agencies, tourism groups and operators, media outlets, and other private and public entities. 3. Fulfilling media requests and inquiries. 4. Preparing and arranging for the publication of articles for a variety of media. 5. Leading, organizing or collaborating in the development and organization of special events. 6. Identifying, developing, updating, and providing training and educational material such as a marketing tool kit. 7. Providing technical assistance or training in special workshops held independently or in conjunction with biennial national scenic byways conferences, regional workshops or other selected conferences or events. CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP AND TRAVEL ASSISTANCE Potential activities in CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP AND TRAVEL ASSISTANCE include: 1. Identifying alternative locations, assessing cost, convenience, and ease of access (via airline and surface connections) for prospective participants, identify opportunities for mobile workshops on byways, develop hotel and conference specifications, provide specifications to hotel broker or individual hotels and solicit proposals, analyze and summarize proposals, etc. 2. Mail and distribute advance information to target audiences, otherwise promote participation in the conference, identify and organize conference sessions, develop conference schedule and program, contact and work with presenters or speakers to identify audio-visual or other support for particular sessions, assemble bio information and copies of presenters’ materials, work with hotel and conference center to ensure speakers and presenters have audio-visual equipment, room set-up and other support needed for particular sessions, etc. 3. Identifying different levels of conference sponsorship and associated recognition as a sponsor, contact prospective exhibitors or other potential sponsors for to explain sponsorship opportunities, obtain sponsorships, etc. 4. Facilitation of pre-conference via on-line (Internet) registration and fax/telephone registration, on-site conference registration, etc. 5. Staff support for registration, assemble and distribute conference schedule, pre-conference materials, and information packet, provide speaker and presenter support during each session, facilitate selected sessions, general assistance to conference participants, etc. 6. Develop conference evaluation form, collect completed forms from conference participants, analyze and summarize evaluations, develop recommendations for improvements in future conferences (location, conference planning and organization, content and format of sessions, possible speakers and presenters, and logistics), etc. 7. Assemble and compile conference proceedings (presentation materials, handouts, and other information), distribute in appropriate form or medium as noted under the Design, Layout and Production Task Area, etc. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT The FHWA provides management, accounting, and fiscal support of the National Scenic Byways Program funds. The program funds are primarily used for discretionary grants to States and Indian tribes for implementing byway projects. However, the FHWA also uses program funds for work carried out by consultants. Potential activities in FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT include: 1. Review existing databases and records management systems used by the FHWA to manage, maintain, monitor, and reconcile the use of National Scenic Byways Program funds for discretionary grants, contracts with consultants, and other acquisitions or procurements. 2. Identify improvements that may be implemented to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, reliability, and validity of these databases and record management systems. 3. Manage and Maintain the databases and records management systems to track the availability, allocation, deobligate, and related funding transactions associated with the National Scenic Byways Program. The contractor will further reconcile any discrepancies in account balances associated with the National Scenic Byways Program, including accounts managed and maintained within the National Scenic Byways Program office with FHWA’s overall financial systems, e.g., FMIS and Delphi. 4. Preparing memorandums, completing Procurement Requests forms, compiling supporting data and information, and preparing other documents necessary to allocate, deobligate, or reconcile program funds. TECHNICAL SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS Skills Required 1) Demonstrated experience in presenting objective assessments of issues within a sometimes politically charged environment. The contractor must demonstrate the ability to deliver the completed product or provide technical assistance, with full quality assurance and appropriate fact checking. Prospective sources should describe at least one successful example it recently completed. The example may be provided as a summary, report or a web address where a report/summary can be found. If you choose to submit a summary, please make it no longer than one page. 2) Demonstrated knowledge and expertise of the Task Areas defined above. The contractor is expected to retain the necessary expertise within the principals and supporting staff of the organizations, have a precise understanding of all applicable Federal requirements, have resources at hand or access to resources to fulfill contractual requirements, be able to provide training and facilitation support, documentation presentation, conference and meeting expertise, and marketing expertise. Prospective sources should provide examples of projects recently completed in each of the six categories in the ID/IQ Contract scope of work summary documenting expertise in the National Scenic Byways Program, Print and Web Layout and Design, Geographic Information Systems, Marketing and Communications, Meeting Planning, and/or Federal Financial Management, within one page per category. If the prospective source cannot provide examples of projects recently completed in each of the six categories in the ID/IQ Contract scope of work summary, please indicate so in each category that cannot be provided. 3) Computer expertise and government publication requirement expertise. Prospective sources should describe their or experience related to general computer expertise and government publications. The description may be provided as a summary, report or a web address where a report/summary can be found. If you choose to submit a summary, please make it no longer than one page. 4) Demonstrated knowledge of the National Scenic Byways Program, including an understanding of the factors and other considerations affecting the nomination and designation of roads as National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads and the eligibility requirements for program funding. Prospective sources should provide examples of their proposed staff experience with the National Scenic Byways Program, such as previous positions, training, or specific research or other projects recently completed. The examples may be provided as a summary, report or a web address where a report/summary can be found. If you choose to submit a summary, please make it no longer than one page. 5) Ability to successfully write and edit publicized technical deliverables in at least three of the areas listed above. Prospective sources should provide examples of publicized materials previously developed by their proposed staff. The example may be provided as a summary, report or a web address where a report/summary can be found. If you choose to submit a summary, please make it no longer than one page. Federal Highway Administration Market Research - National Scenic Byways Research, Assistance and Promotion Please complete the following questionnaire: 1. Would your firm be able to support the delivery of: _____ a)More than 10 tasks orders per year _____ b)5– 10 task orders per year _____ c)Less than 5 task orders per year _____ d)Materials developed in compliance with Section 508 2. Based on your firm’s experience please provide rough fully burdened rates for the following services: ITEM UNIT PRICE Item 1: Program Manager Hourly _______$ Item 2: Byways Researcher Hourly _______$ Item 3: Editor Hourly _______$ Item 4: Print Layout and Design Hourly _______$ Item 5: Web Layout and Design Hourly _______$ Item 6: GIS Specialist Hourly _______$ Item 7: Marketing Director Hourly _______$ Item 8: Meeting Planner Hourly _______$ Item 9: Financial Management Hourly _______$ Item 10: Support Personnel Hourly _______$ 3. Which of the following apply to your firm: (check all that apply) _____ Small business? _____Small disadvantage business? _____Woman-owned business? _____HUBZone business? _____8 (a) business? _____SDVOB business? _____Large? _____Non Profit? Place an X beside each requirement your firm would be able to satisfy. ________ National Scenic Byways Program ________ Print and Web Layout and Design ________ Geographic Information Systems ________ Marketing and Communications ________ Meeting Planning ________ Federal Financial Management Technical Assistance and Education _____ a)Development of technical information regarding National Scenic Byways Program grants. _____ b)Review and evaluation of grant applications in accordance with statutory and administrative criteria and policy. _____ c)Development of technical information regarding the designation of National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads _____ d)Review and evaluation of nominations in accordance with statutory and administrative criteria and policy. _____ e)Facilitation of review panels _____ f)Process evaluation _____ g)Development of technical information regarding byway related topics such as corridor management planning, organizational development, and traveler experience _____ h)Plan and implement conferences, workshops, teleconference, webinars, and other training tools in various media on byway related topics. _____ i)Research, write and edit stories, features, itineraries, and other information for travelers and the byway community. _____ j)Software and other tools to support data acquisition and review processes that involve multiple people across multiple organizations Design, Layout and Production _____ a)Design and layout of printed technical and traveler oriented materials. _____ b)Design and layout of electronic technical and traveler oriented materials including web pages and other electronic media. _____ c)Development of GIS files of byways, attractions, and other features. _____ d)Development of GIS-based maps and revision of existing GIS-based maps suitable for publication and web posting. Research _____ a)Corridor management planning. _____ b)Byway organizations and community support. _____ c)Traveler experience and information. _____ d)Marketing and promotion. _____ e)Byways best practices. _____ f)State and Federal byway program options. _____ g)GIS, spatial data analysis, and geo-coding byway applications and uses. _____ h)Alternative means for sustaining www.byways.org. Promotion of America’s Byways® _____ a)Cooperative marketing planning, implementation, and evaluation _____ b)Partnership assessment and development _____ c)Evaluation of www.byways.org for travelers and the media _____ d)Data collection of travel behavior _____ e)Branding development, implementation, and evaluation _____ f)Communications strategy development, implementation, and evaluation Conference Sponsorship and Travel Assistance _____ a)Conference registration and on-site support. _____ b)Conference evaluation and proceedings. _____ c)Travel assistance including processing billing, payments, reimbursements, and fees for individual travelers and sponsorships _____ d)Assessing, securing, and providing conference sponsorships. _____ e)Conference planning, organization, and publicity _____ f)Pre-conference planning including assessment of needs, alternative locations, and accessibility Financial Management _____ a)Development of memorandum, procurement requests, and other summaries, briefings, data, and information regarding National Scenic Byway Program grants, acquisitions, and funding. _____ b)Manage, develop, review, and evaluate databases and records management systems for National Scenic Byways Program grants and acquisitions. _____ c)Track all National Scenic Byways Program transactions, including availability, authorization, appropriation, allotment, allocation, obligation, and expenditure of funds. _____ d)Monitor and utilize FHWA’s Fiscal Management Information System (FMIS) and Departmental Accounting System (Delphi). _____ e)Reconcile National Scenic Byways Program accounts with other FHWA financial systems. 15. Would your firm be able to support the delivery of Task Orders: _____ a)Full-time on-site at the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, DC _____ b)With some required time on-site in Washington, DC _____ c)Remotely PARTICIPATION IN THE MARKET RESEARCH IN NO WAY INFLUENCES THE COMPETITION FOR THESE SERVICES. THE SOLICITATION WILL BE PUBLISHED IN FedBizOpps.gov. Please return the completed form no later than May 5, 2009 to Gary.Jensen@dot.gov or fax 202.366.3713 Thank you for participating in the DOT’s market research.
 

Web Link

FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=70dd48e37242a921e8c7984b87b9ec1f&tab=core&_cview=1)
 

Place of Performance

Address: District of Columbia, 20590, United States

Zip Code: 20590
 

Record

SN01785379-W 20090405/090403220822-70dd48e37242a921e8c7984b87b9ec1f (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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