SBIR/STTR Partnering Platform

The Department of Energy-Oak Ridge, TN is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in, and the resources to  

develop and maintain an easily accessible, public facing platform that helps SBIR/STTR applicants and awardees (INNOVATORS) identify and engage with the myriad of partners required throughout technology development and productization.  Partners will come from industry, investment community, national labs, universities, service vendors, etc.  Partner capabilities include Subject Matter Expert (SME), collaborators, subcontractors, manufacturing, prototype design, engineering services, business services (accounting, market research, strategy, grant writing, marketing materials, web design), testing, certification, packaging, funding, etc.  A secondary objective is to provide partners with an easy to use interface to find and connect with small businesses developing technologies of interest to them. The overall goal is to improve the outcomes of both research and commercialization within the DOE SBIR/STTR programs. The NAICS for this requirement is 518210

The vendor shall have the technical capabilities to develop and maintain the following platform:

• Searchable repository of DOE Phase II awards categorized by industry, DOE program office, year, state, key words
• Secure, password protected PARTNER and INNOVATOR registration pages providing automated population of fields where possible, reducing the hurdle for registration
• existing web service or API that enables vendor’s AI to provide matching between PARTNER capabilities and INNOVATOR needs/interest
• existing web service or API that enables real-time collection and categorization (ecomapping) of publicly available information on a specific topic (ecosystem) that is searchable and kept evergreen
• Repositories (INNOVATORS, Ecosystem Resources and PARTNERS) should be searchable by both key word and semantic (artificial intelligence and machine learning)
• Provide secure, confidential (non-identifying) communications/messaging between INNOVATORS and PARTNERS
• existing web service or API that enables current, ecosystem-relevant links to news from across the web [RSS stream]
• Provide and staff administrative dashboard for vetting of registrants and metric collection

Any selected vendor shall provide a platform that is compliant with the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Accessibility Standard, Section 508. 

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY.  This request for capability information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the Government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.  The Government is under no obligation to award a contract as a result of this announcement. 

Interested organizations with the potential capability to perform these contract services are requested to provide the following information:

• Organization Name

• Address including email address
• Web site
• Telephone number
• Size and type of organization including any small business status
• Tailored capability statements addressing the requirement including supporting documentation
• Description of significant subcontracting or teaming arrangements
• Summary of the organization’s administrative and management structure

The government will assess responses to ascertain an organizations capability to:

• Provide services consistent in scope and scale
• Secure and apply the full range of corporate financial, human capital, and technical resources required to successfully perform similar requirements; and
• Implement a successful project management plan that includes compliance with tight program schedules; cost containment; meeting and tracking performance; hiring and retention of key personnel and risk mitigation

THIS REQUIREMENT IS SET-ASIDE FOR 8(a) SMALL BUSINESSES .Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

Submission Instructions: Interested parties are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by September 14, 2022:  2:00pm ET.  Responses must be emailed to mary.halterman@science.doe.gov  The response should not exceed 8 pages (8 1/2 X 11 and no smaller than 12 point font).