SOURCES SOUGHT: ERDC Fellowship Program Administration and Research Supportview on SAM.gov

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ERDC Fellowship Program Administration and Research Support Notice Type: Sources Sought / Market Research Notice ID: PANERD-26-P-0000-027000 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 541715 – R&D in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences Product Service Code (PSC): R425 – Support–Professional: Engineering/Technical Size Standard: 1,000 Employees 1. Purpose The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), is conducting market research to identify capable small businesses and other-than-small businesses that can establish and administer an ERDC Fellowship Program. This notice is issued solely for planning and market-research purposes. It does not constitute a solicitation, request for proposal, request for quotation, commitment by the Government, or promise to issue a solicitation or make an award. The Government will not reimburse respondents for costs associated with preparing or submitting a response. Responses will help the Government assess the availability, capability, capacity, and socioeconomic status of potential sources and inform acquisition planning, including any small-business strategy. The Government has not made a determination regarding set-aside status, acquisition approach, contract type, evaluation criteria, or award decision. 2. Requirement Overview ERDC seeks a contractor capable of serving as an integrator between scientifically accredited universities and ERDC laboratories to establish and administer a fellowship program. The program is intended to enable scientists, engineers, and postsecondary students to perform independent research that addresses ERDC-defined problems and supports science and technology objectives with potential civil and military applications. The anticipated requirement is for a single-award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract under which ERDC laboratories would issue and fund individual task orders for laboratory-specific research efforts. The Performance Work Statement (PWS) identifies the following ERDC laboratories as anticipated users: Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL), Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL), Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), Environmental Laboratory (EL), Geospatial Research Laboratory (GRL), Geotechnical Structures Laboratory (GSL), and Information Technology Laboratory (ITL). The current PWS contemplates a five-year ordering period consisting of one 12-month base period and four 12-month option periods. 3. Scope of Needed Capabilities The Government seeks information from firms capable of providing end-to-end fellowship program administration, including the ability to: a. Recruit, screen, and manage Fellows in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and related disciplines; b. Administer fellowship appointments and support research opportunities aligned with ERDC task-order requirements; c. Pay Fellows and manage adm…