PEM Facilitator
SYNOPSIS NUMBER FOR SOURCES SOUGHT
Product Attribute Elicitation Method (PEM) Requirements Generation Facilitator
INTRODUCTION
The US Army Natick Research Engineering and Development Center (NSRDEC) in Natick, Massachusetts is issuing this Sources Sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify potential sources that have the ability to provide Product Attribute Elicitation Method (PEM) requirements generation sessions and data analysis. The PEM requirements generation facilitator requirements being sought can be found in the ‘Required Capabilities' section of this sources sought.
The results of this market research will be used to determine the method of procurement (if and when a requirement for PEM requirements generation facilitator arises). Based on the responses to this sources sought notice/market research, this requirement may be set-aside for small businesses (in full or in part) or procured through full and open competition. All small business set-aside categories will be considered. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding submissions.
THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) TO BE SUBMITTED. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.
PROGRAM BACKGROUND
The Combat Ration Engineering and Support Team (CREST), Combat Feeding Directorate (CFD) has a need for an experienced PEM requirements generation facilitator in support of new ration systems development. A new ration will be tailored to first to fight Warfighters operating in high tempo operations. Gathering user generated requirements utilizing both the Structured Ideation (SI) and PEM is critical to the success of the development of the new ration system. Utilizing the PEM process will allow for the translation of subjective consumer needs into a statement of objective product requirements. It is imperative for CFD to accelerate the development of this new ration to support emerging Warfighter activities. Utilizing the PEM process provides specific support that includes both attribute eliciting consumer testing knowledge and resources, and innovative product development support. CFD is in need of specific PEM support in order to meet major milestones related to the accelerated development of this ration system.
REQUIRED CAPABILITIES
Capabilities include, proper understanding of, experience and background in sensory science and the PEM, PEM user requirements generation facilitation, and PEM data analysis. The intent of this Sources Sought is to assess the capability of interested businesses to provide a PEM requirements generation facilitator and offer the specific services described below as part of the agreement. Only one award is sought to cover the service agreement requested. Capabilities sought are:
General Requirements:
1) Proficiency of PEM and the ability to effectively design and execute PEM sessions to develop specific physical and sensory criteria in support of product development efforts.
2) Successful development of food products in the marketplace using the PEM process.
3) Knowledge and previous experience using descriptive sensory methods such as the Flavor Profile Method and Profile Attribute Analysis (PAA in combination with innovative consumer testing methodologies in support of successful product development efforts.
4) Knowledge of the Product Development Process (PDP) and experience with critical task activities such as designing and executing Structured Ideation (SI) sessions.
5) Knowledge and understanding of Operational Rations and various rations platforms.
6) Knowledge and experience of sensory characteristics of Operational Rations
7) Knowledge and understanding of CFD's Technical Sensory laboratory.
8) Proficiency in facilitating PEM requirements generation focus groups and analyzing user feedback
9) Proficiency in PEM data analysis and correlation to descriptive sensory analysis methods such as PAA.
Specific Requirements:
1) Planning and Preparation for Structured Ideation/PEM sessions:
a. The contractor shall assist CFD Project Officers in organizing and facilitating a Planning Session Workshop to review relevant background information, outline key steps for the Product Development Process (PDP). This will include facilitating a working session of the emerging technologies to gain critical insight into and possible applications for each technology relative to components rations and delivery systems.
b. The contractor shall organize and facilitate a SI Workshop to determine what materials need to be developed and provided, how the sessions will be facilitated and what the desired outputs and deliverables will be.
c. The contractor shall finalize and prepare SI materials, and prepare database and information input systems.
d. The contractor shall organize and facilitate an Initial PEM Preparation Workshop to determine what materials need to be developed and provided, how the sessions will be facilitated and what the desired outputs and deliverables will be.
e. The contractor shall finalize and prepare Initial PEM materials, and prepare database and information input systems.
f. The contractor shall organize and facilitate a workshop to create detailed specifications for prototypes to move forward in the PDP. This will include a comprehensive review of both SI and PEM results, confirmation of key findings including desired ration and delivery system features, determination of number of prototypes needed, format of prototypes including guidelines for combing features for desired outcomes, identifying critical challenges, risks, and contingencies, and setting PDP milestones for prototype development and testing.
g. The contractor shall work with the CFD technical sensory experts to apply descriptive sensory methods to assess prototypes in development and provide specific guidance for subsequent PDP tasks
h. The contractor shall finalize and prepare Advanced Prototype PEM materials, and prepare database and information input systems.
2) Execution of Structured Ideation/PEM Sessions:
a. The contractor will facilitate not less than three SI Sessions conducted over two days on sites to be determined using up to 10 participants per session. The contractor will execute the sessions using standard practices, and assist with data entry and storage in preparation of data analysis.
b. The contractor will facilitate not less than three Initial PEM Sessions conducted over three days on sites to be determined using up to 10 participants per session. These sessions require the execution of at least one three-hour PEM session and then not less than two follow-on sessions. The contractor will execute the sessions using standard practices, and assist with data entry and storage in preparation of data analysis. The contractor will employ experienced facilitation skills to ensure the successful generation of valuable PDP information. The information generated from the Initial PEM sessions must include standard overall liking data using a nine-point degrees of liking scale, a participant lexicon of terms used to support likes and dislikes, well defined participant generated attribute categories and scales with user defined endpoints, group attribute averages for additional samples assessed by participants using their attribute scoresheet, scoring for ideal samples, and an assessment of the level of importance of each participant generated attribute using standard multi-voting techniques. Data outputs will be used to develop the final prototypes for the Advanced Prototype PEM session.
c. The contractor will facilitate not less than three Advanced Prototype PEM Sessions to evaluate final prototypes. These sessions will be conducted over three days on sites to be determined using up to 10 participants per session. These sessions require the execution of at least one three-hour exploratory PEM session and then not less than two follow-on sessions. The contractor will execute using standard practices, and assist with data entry and storage in preparation of data analysis. The information generated from the PEM sessions must include standard overall liking data using a nine-point degrees of liking scale, a participant lexicon of terms used to support likes and dislikes, well defined participant generated attribute categories with categories and scales with user defined endpoints, group attribute averages for additional samples assessed by participants using their attribute scoresheet, scoring for ideal samples, and an assessment of the level of importance of each participant generated attribute using standard multi-voting techniques.
3) Data Analysis and Reporting of outputs from SI/PEM sessions:
a. The contractor will review the SI data for integrity, assist in preparing the data for analysis, manage the data analysis efforts, and provide key data analysis interpretation skills to develop outputs and deliverables critical to subsequent steps in the PDP.
b. The contractor will review the Initial PEM data for integrity, assist in preparing the data for analysis, manage the data analysis efforts, and provide key data analysis interpretation skills to develop outputs and deliverables critical to subsequent steps in the PDP.
c. The contractor will review the Advanced Prototype PEM for integrity, assist in preparing it for analysis, help manage the data analysis efforts, and provide key data analysis interpretation skills to develop outputs and deliverables critical to making final adjustments to the prototypes in preparation of operational testing.
ELIGIBILITY
The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 541715 [Research and Development
Physical, Engineering, Life Sciences]. The Product Service Code (PSC) is AD30 [R&D Subsistence].
SUBMISSION DETAILS
Interested businesses should submit a brief capabilities statement package (no more than ten 8.5 x 11 inch pages, font no smaller than 10 point) demonstrating ability to provide the services listed in the Required Capabilities section.
Your response to this Sources Sought, including any capabilities statement, shall be electronically submitted to Steven Streeter, in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF), via email steven.e.streeter4.civ@mail.mil no later than 12:00 p.m. (EST) on July 25, 2018 and reference this synopsis number in the subject line of e-mail and on all enclosed documents. Information and materials submitted in response to this request WILL NOT be returned. DO NOT SUBMIT CLASSIFIED MATERIAL.
If your organization has the potential to provide the required services, please provide the following information:
1) Organization name, Address, Primary Points of Contact (POCs) email, FAX#, Website Address, Telephone Number, and Type of Ownership for the Organization.
2) Tailored Capability Statements Addressing the Requirements of the notice, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capabilities, provide an estimate of anticipated subcontractor efforts.
3) Name of company and point of contact, telephone number, address and email of POC, business size (i.e. large business, small business, SBA certified HUBZone Business, Economically Disadvantaged Small Business, Woman-Owned Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business) and proposed NAICS code if different than 541715.
All data received in response to this Sources Sought that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside of the Government.
Steven E. Streeter, Phone 5082336180, Email steven.e.streeter4.civ@mail.mil
