National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) Web Support Services

Sources Sought / Market Research

This document is a Sources Sought notice for market research purposes only. It is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) and does not constitute a solicitation. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking to identify qualified and experienced sources to support the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) with Web Support Services. The information gathered will be used by NSF to facilitate decision-making and will not be disclosed outside the government.

The NSF is interested in understanding vendor capabilities related to:

• Evaluating custom or customized features of a Content Management System (CMS).

• Reengineering non-simple web applications for optimized deployments in commercial cloud environments.

• Modernizing legacy software from monolithic architecture to microservices.

• The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541512, with a size standard of $34M.

• The NSF encourages responses from all qualified businesses, including small businesses in all socioeconomic categories.

• Responses must be concise, compliant with content requirements, and not exceed 5 pages.

• Use 12-point Times Roman font.

• Do not submit cost or price information.

• Provide relevant references, including joint venture work.

• A cover page with corporate information (name, address, contact, socioeconomic status, UEI Number, applicable contract vehicles) is required.

• Capability demonstration should address the specific experience questions listed above.

• Submission Deadline: January 23, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET.

• Submission Method: Email to Derek Bowks at dbowks@nsf.gov.

• Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.

• All qualified businesses (large and small) are encouraged to respond.

• Small businesses in all socioeconomic categories are specifically encouraged to help determine a final small business set-aside.

• Responses are strictly voluntary.

• No funds are available to pay for response preparation.

• NSF may contact respondents for additional information or due diligence sessions.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To provide web programming and design services to maintain, modify, and enhance the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) web presence on the NSF website (https://ncses.nsf.gov). This includes supporting NCSES's mandate to disseminate information on the state of science and engineering and research and development in the U.S.

• Maintain, modify, and enhance the existing NCSES website, including design and redesign (usability, accessibility), development, and maintenance.

• Develop and maintain applications, and support electronic publication of statistical reports.

• Provide quality assurance and ensure Section 508 compliance.

• Work primarily in a Linux environment.

• Support integration and presentation of data from NCSES data systems onto the website.

• Assist with the ongoing migration of IT systems to a cloud environment (Amazon Web Services).

• Support the Content Management System (CMS) and its ongoing development and maintenance.

• Provide help desk support for the CMS.

• Conduct usability testing and provide reports.

• Perform search engine optimization (SEO) and website content tagging.

• Manage archiving of website content.

• Support database updates and maintenance.

• Provide electronic publishing services for NCSES publications.

• Support ad-hoc website-related requests and projects.

• Adherence to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and general accessibility standards.

• Continuous improvement of website usability, navigation, and integration of data resources.

• Monthly and ad hoc website metrics reports, including analysis and recommendations.

• Usability testing reports provided annually.

• Maintenance of a Quality Control Plan (QCP).

• Not explicitly stated in the provided document, but implies ongoing support.

• Work activities primarily in a Linux environment.

• Mandatory understanding and implementation of Section 508 accessibility standards.

• Ability to work with various technologies including HTML5, XML, CSS, ColdFusion, Sybase, Java/JSP, Oracle, HighCharts, PDFReactor, cloud migration (AWS), and Postgres database software.

• Project management, risk management, schedule building, and communication planning.

• Financial management, resource planning, and procurement of hardware/software.

• Transition-in and transition-out planning.

• 24/7 uptime and off-hours maintenance for system administration tasks.

• Government Furnished Equipment (laptops) to be acquired according to NSF specifications.

• Open-source code sharing via Code.gov where feasible.