In accordance with FAR 5.101(a)(1) and 5.201, this is a notice of intent to award a sole-source contract and is not a request for proposals. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Office of Acquisition Management, NETC & Regional Support Section, 16825 S. Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD, 21727-8998, intends to award a sole-source contract to the Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), Justice and Safety Center (JSC), 245 Stratton Building, 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond KY 40475 for testing and evaluation services related to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Supporting Technology Evaluation Program (NIMS STEP) and for the facilitation of the development and publication of national standards, guidelines, and protocols for the promotion and progression of the NIMS in support of Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 5 on behalf of the FEMA National Preparedness Directorate. Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), Justice and Safety Center (JSC) is a U.S. state government entity. FEMA OAM intends to award a Time & Materials contract for a Base Period (12 months) plus two, twelve-month Option Periods for these services as well as other professional services related to incident management standards; outreach to NIMS and National Integration Center (NIC) stakeholders; technical assistance to the Incident Resource Inventory System (IRIS); and professional services related to exercise and training program support for the National Exercise Division and the Training and Exercises Integration Division at the NIC. It is a requirement that the testing operation and facility that conducts the NIMS STEP program be accredited to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories and ISO/IEC 17020 General criteria for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection for the evaluation of Organization for the evaluation of Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) Common Alerting Protocol v1.1 and the EDXL suite of standards. NIMS STEP directly supports the Communications and Information Management Component of NIMS and specifically incident management related information technology and data exchange interoperability. The proposed contract is for supplies and services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) is 541380. All interested firms should submit their Letter of Statement Capability response that provides proof of your organization's required accreditations, detailed above in this announcement, to FEMA OAM by 3:00PM Eastern Time, June 25, 2009 to: Mr. Christopher Gloyd, Contract Specialist via e-mail: christopher.gloyd@dhs.gov - Phone: (301) 447-7274.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Office of Acquisition Management, NETC & Regional Support Section, 16825 S. Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD, 21727-8998, is issuing a solicitation for testing and evaluation services related to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Supporting Technology Evaluation Program (NIMS STEP) and for the facilitation of the development and publication of national standards, guidelines, and protocols for the promotion and progression of the NIMS in support of Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 5 on behalf of the FEMA National Preparedness Directorate.  The requirement also includes other professional services related to incident management standards; outreach to NIMS and National Integration Center (NIC) stakeholders; technical assistance to the Incident Resource Inventory System (IRIS); and professional services related to exercise and training program support for the National Exercise Division and the Training and Exercises Integration Division at the NIC.  Offerors must provide proof of the organization's required accreditations at the time of proposal submission.  It is a requirement that the testing operation and facility that conducts the NIMS STEP program be accredited to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories and ISO/IEC 17020 General criteria for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection for the evaluation of Organization for the evaluation of Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) Common Alerting Protocol v1.1 and the EDXL suite of standards.  NIMS STEP directly supports the Communications and Information Management Component of NIMS and specifically incident management related information technology and data exchange interoperability.  The period of performance shall be for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of award.  The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) is 541380.  The requirement is being solicited using FAR Part 15 procedures.  Solicitation document HSFEEM-09-R-0048 is attached.  Questions in response to this solicitation are due to FEMA OAM no later than 3:00 PM Eastern Time, Friday, July 17, 2009 to: Mr. Christopher Gloyd, Contract Specialist via e-mail: christopher.gloyd@dhs.gov  No telephone calls please.