UMRB preparing a report that will become a component of the Report to Congress that NIDIS will submit on the UMRB Data Value Study;

SPECIAL NOTICE 145044-24-0031SRG

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Acquisition & Grants Office, Western Acquisition Division-Boulder, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with JG Research & Evaluation LLC of Bozeman, MT for the nonpersonal services to dentifying stakeholders from within the Upper Missouri River Basin (UMRB) Region that represent a range of sectors/interests to participate in drought-oriented focus groups;

Deliverables: Interview protocols; list of stakeholders; and contact information; Conducting a series of in-region focus groups to document the needs, interests, and nal data. This will be used in turn to inform ongoing federal and state activities related to building tools and services across the UMRB region to serve the general public; and Preparing a report that will become a component of the Report to Congress that NIDIS will submit on the UMRB Data Value Study. Project report following the NIDIS-provided template; additional supporting write-ups to use for communication purposes. The work would be completed in Bozeman, MT.

The sole source determination is based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), Climate Control Office (CPO) requirement with the UMRB is to meet the Congressional mandate for a Report to Congress documenting the value of soil moisture data from within the Upper Missouri River Basin.

JG Research and Evaluation (JG) has Subject Matter Expertertise (SMA) on stakeholder engagement and related social science methodologies used to gauge public perspectives on natural resource issues. The mission of JG is to provide applied social science skills to the public sector, with the goal of using the research process to support decision-making, program design and implementation, and increased knowledge of key issues impacting the health and well-being of all types of communities.

JG staff hold advanced degrees in rural sociology, agricultural economics, environmental studies, public health, and psychology. Missouri River Basin with the sectors being targeted for this drought-oriented research, including producers, Tribes, water resource managers, and others. This location- and stakeholder-specific knowledge is essential in the context of engaging the public on this federal need, which can prove to be difficult absent existing relationships.

The JG Team furthermore have proprietary knowledge of the requirements and process for drought monitoring, the US Drought Monitor process, and the uses of data to support those activities, through their recent work (2022-2023) for the State of Montana on the Montana Drought Management Plan. The period of performance will be from the date of award through 9/30/2025.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can fully meet the government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact within 15 days after publication of this synopsis. Such documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.