The Small Business Administration (SBA) Acquisition Division and the National Woman's Business Council (NWBC) intend to procure a Purchase Order for Research on Women's Participation in Incubators and Accelerators.
This solicitation is a request for quotation (RFQ). The period of performance for services is for one year of performance. The NAICS classification is 541990 All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services. The small business size standard is $15M.
This is a combined synopsis/solicitation prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This procurement is being conducted under Simplified Acquisition procedures pursuant to the authority in FAR Part 13 and FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items (Title VII of the Federal Acquisition Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-355)).
According to the solicitation, the SBA and NWBC hope to identify the types of entrepreneurs who are selected to participate in Incubators and Accelerators to make sure that these programs are not missing women entrepreneurs with business models that would provide a strong return on investment; to find out if women are participating as effectively or at the same rates as their male peers; and if they are experiencing higher rates of attrition.
When completing research on Women’s Participation in Incubators and Accelerators, the contractor shall be responsible for all aspects of collecting survey data, conducting interviews, and analyzing results, and then also must present a clear and complete view of this topic in a comprehensive written report and a PowerPoint deck.
The contractor shall complete the data collection for three Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-approved surveys: One survey that focuses specifically on women’s experiences as business owners, a second survey geared toward female incubator and accelerator graduates, and a third survey targeting the program managers of a business incubator and accelerator programs. The contractor will need to survey additional women graduates and program managers from incubator and accelerator programs to meet the participation requirements of these surveys.
The contractor almost must conduct two in-depth interviews, using questions that the NWBC prepares, and also must arrange and conduct expert panels. Participants in the expert panels shall include representatives of incubators, accelerators, entrepreneurs, economic development agencies, non-profits, and other experts.
Contractors will perform work off-site (not at SBA headquarters) for a base period of three months from the date of the award. The SBA and NWBC may extend the contract by an additional four months, beginning the day after the base period of three months ends.
Responses must include a section on technical approach, defining the scope of work and resources necessary to execute the work; past performance, including documentation and references for projects completed within the previous three years; and a price quote.
The SBA and the NWBC will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price of the basic requirement. Evaluation of options will not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).
Responses are due no later than 8:30 a.m. Mountain Time on December 4, 2015, via email to Contract Specialist John Babcock, john.babcock@sba.gov. The solicitation number (SBAHQ-16-Q-006) and subject title (Research on Women’s Participation in Incubators and Accelerators) must be included in the subject line of the email submission.
To speak with a Contracting Specialist, Call: (866) 216-5343
