Open Source Intelligence Services

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - 19AQMM19N0002
Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Threat Investigations and Analysis Directorate
Open Source Intelligence Services

Purpose

This is a Request for Information (RFI) as outlined in FAR 15.201(c) (7). The purpose of this RFI is to accomplish market research pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10, and to identify sources capable of performing the services described herein. This notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a commitment on the part of the Government to conduct a solicitation for the below-listed services in the future. Responders are advised that the Government will not pay for information submitted in response to this RFI, nor will it compensate interested parties for any costs incurred in the development/furnishing of a response.

Please note that a decision not to submit a response to this RFI will not preclude a vendor from participating in any future solicitation.

Description of the Requirement

The Open Source Intelligence (OSIN) program is located in the Directorate of Threat Investigations and Analysis (TIA), Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS), Department of State (DoS). The Open Source Intelligence program identifies and analyzes information within the open source environment related to terrorism, political violence, threats, and suspicious activity directed against the Secretary of State, Department personnel and facilities, designated foreign dignitaries and facilities in the United States, and personnel abroad under chief of mission authority. The program also provides analytical support to overseas elements performing similar functions at missions abroad.

In support of the above operations, the Department is seeking information on possible sources to provide the following services.

1. Monitoring Specialists

Monitor open source and social media content in accordance with established DS monitoring priorities. Perform cursory, initial triage of content to eliminate information that is from sources known to be provocative, parodic, or similar. Maintain internal database of sites and users known to be valuable, reliable, unreliable, or parodic. Create cursory, standardized reports per OSIN SOP to provide to analytical team for further analysis. Operations for OSIN are 24/7 with shifts consisting of 12-hour day and night shifts.

2. Monitoring Specialists - Arabic

Provide Arabic language capabilities to monitoring effort. Monitor open source and social media in accordance with established DS monitoring priorities. Perform cursory, initial triage of reports to eliminate information that is from sources known to be provocative, parodic, or similar. Maintain internal database of sites and users known to be valuable, reliable, unreliable, or parodic. Create cursory, standardized reports per OSIN SOP to provide to analytical team for further analysis. Operations for OSIN are 24/7 with shifts consisting of 12-hour day and night shifts.

3. Monitoring Specialists - Special Programs

Assigned to a Special Programs team, this position provides support to monitoring priorities driven by special events or as otherwise directed by leadership for a limited duration. Monitor open source and social media in accordance with special program's monitoring priorities. Perform cursory, initial triage of content to eliminate information that is from sources known to be provocative, parodic, or similar. Maintain internal database of sites and users known to be valuable, reliable, unreliable, or parodic. Create cursory, standardized reports per OSIN SOP to provide to analytical team for further analysis. The positions are on business hours schedule, unless altered for a special program.

4. Overseas Support Analyst

Provide supplemental analytical support to overseas Regional Security Officers (RSOs) operations and pilot programs for social media and open source monitoring. Note that these team members are not meant to provide posts with monitoring support, but rather provide analytical support when a post is unable to resolve specific issues raised in their monitoring. When not providing overseas support, position will provide domestic analytical support, i.e. analyze information provided by monitoring specialists for value and accuracy, identifying and including additional information, as needed, from classified and law enforcement databases. Create specific reports according to OSIN SOP for dissemination to internal and external partners, as necessary. Coordinate with working-level analysts at partnered agencies, as appropriate, to facilitate information sharing and address information gaps. Operations for OSIN are 24/7 with shifts consisting of 12-hour day and night shifts.

5. Special Programs Analyst

Provide supplemental analytical support to support to projects driven by special events or as otherwise directed by leadership for a limited duration. Position will provide analytical support, i.e. analyze information provided by monitoring specialists for value and accuracy, identifying and including additional information, as needed, from classified and law enforcement databases. Create specific reports according to OSIN SOP for dissemination to internal and external partners, as necessary. Coordinate with working-level analysts at partnered agencies, as appropriate, to facilitate information sharing and address information gaps. The positions are on business hours schedule, unless altered for a special program.

6. Logistics Coordinator

Coordinate procurement, inventory, space and other logistical issues for start-up and ongoing operations. The position is on a normal business hours schedule, with occasional OT requirements.

7. Office Management Specialist

The position is on a normal business hours schedule, with occasional OT requirements.

For personnel assigned to operational shifts, the incumbents report to a Team Lead who determines the priorities and deadlines for assignments and provides general guidance. The work is mainly sedentary, with possible occasional overseas deployment that may involve long and strenuous travel to foreign and remote locales under adverse conditions. The work may also require working long hours under stressful conditions to meet compressed timelines for critical mission objectives.

Guidelines consist of DS strategic mission plans and policy statements; Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure; applicable FAM/FAH regulations; OSIN objectives, plans, policies, priorities, and standard operating procedures; and analytical methods, including compliance with Intelligence Community (IC) writing standards and analytical integrity standards (IC Directives 203 and 206).

U.S. Citizenship and Top Secret/SCI Clearance required is required for analyst positions, U.S. Citizenship and Top Secret Clearance required is required for monitoring specialists, logistics coordinator and OMS positions.

Instructions

The Government is seeking responses from all sources in order to establish an effective acquisition strategy. Responses must be limited to 15 pages or less and be submitted in Microsoft Word or Portable Document format (PDF), using Times New Roman, 12-point font. The Government will not entertain telephone calls or questions for this RFI. The responses should include the following information:

A. Company Profile, to include:
1. All interested companies must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) and not be on the Excluded Party List.
2. If applicable, a statement self-certifying the company as small under the NAICS code 541519, Other Computer Related Services, and identifying the socioeconomic category of the business (e.g., 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned, Women Owned, HUBzone, Small Business, etc.).
3. Information regarding all Government wide acquisition contracts held, i.e., vehicle name, contract number, etc.
4. DUNS Number
5. CAGE Code to include National Industrial Security Program Clearance Information (if applicable).
6. Company Point-of-Contact and contact information, i.e., telephone number and email address.

B. Technical Capability, to include:
1. Summary of company's technical capabilities which would support the services described herein. The Government would like to see information regarding whether or not the required knowledge exists in-house or if the company plans to subcontract.
2. A list of up to five (5) U.S. Government contracts under which the company has previously performed services similar to those described herein with regard to scope, and complexity, specifically demonstrating experience in the open source environment and using monitoring tools. The list shall include -
a. Agency name,
b. Contract number,
c. Contracting Officer name, email address, and telephone number,
d. Dates of performance; and
e. Brief description of work performed, including security clearance requirements.
3. Ability to Provide Cleared and Qualified Personnel. The minimum clearance level for individuals performing monitoring services is TOP SECRET. The minimum clearance level for individuals performing analytical services is TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION.

Submit your response no later than Monday, November 26, 2018 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time, to Jessica Osterberger at OsterbergerJL@state.gov.

The Government intends to have one on one discussions with any or all companies that have been determined to be technically capable of providing the services based on a review of the contents of the written response. Those companies will be contacted individually and more information regarding the discussions will be provided at that time.