Scientific Services Program
WELCOME TO THE SCIENTIFIC SERVICES PROGRAM
U.S. Army Research Office
ATTN: CCAP-SCR
P.O. Box 12211
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2211
Scientific Services Program (SSP)
Bulletin Alert
- New task and modification requests must be submitted via the SSP Portal
- Updated COR training requirements
- Maximum Performance Period of task orders is 18 months.
- New ARO Fee Structure effective 09 March 2012
- New OPSEC/Security requirements
- Fiscal Year cut-off date for complete packages is 13 August 2012
Ms. Melony Wicker, Procurement Assistant
Commercial: 919-549-4344, DSN: 832-4344
Fax: 919-549-4388, Email: melony.p.wicker.ctr@mail.mil
Mr. Andrew Fiske, Contract Specialist
Commercial: 919-549-4355, DSN: 832-4355
Fax: 919-549-4388, Email: andrew.l.fiske.civ@mail.mil
Ms. Vonetta Goodson, Contracting Officer
Commercial: 919-549-4291, DSN: 832-4291
Fax: 919-549-4388, Email: vonetta.y.goodson.civ@mail.mil
The Scientific Services Program (SSP) is an accelerated contract mechanism that enables all federal government organizations to obtain scientific/technical services in order to accomplish their organizational goals and mission objectives.
Through the SSP, non-government scientists, engineers, analysts, consultants and subject matter experts can be quickly subcontracted to perform short term, well defined efforts when the expertise required is not available at the requesting government organization. Battelle Memorial Institute administers the SSP for ARO and is the prime contractor. Subcontracts are competitively issued to SSP task performers. Self-employed consultants, faculty, colleges & universities, small and large businesses may perform SSP tasks.
SSP SCOPE
SSP tasks can be performed in any science and technology area of interest to all federal government agencies. For example, SSP tasks are currently being performed in these technology areas:
- Chemical Sciences
- Life Sciences
- Material Sciences
- Physics
- Medical & Health Sciences
- Electronics & Computer Sciences
- Environmental Sciences
- Engineering Sciences
- Mathematics
- Network Sciences
- Modeling & Simulation
- Psychology
- Social Science
- Operations Research
Work of a scientific and technical nature for the solution of specific problems related to research and development that can be described as a study, analysis, evaluation, assessment or interpretation may be conducted through the SSP. The scientific/technical problem to be solved should be clearly explained in the SOW and pertain to one of the science or technology areas identified above.
For example: The services of scientists or engineers, with technical support, are required to evaluate specific problems relating to the development of a sensor based redundancy resolution method for mobile manipulators. The operation of mobile manipulators in military applications offers significant opportunities for solving important battlefield, search and rescue, demining, and many other problems. Redundancy resolution is one of the most challenging problems in planning and control of mobile manipulators. Sensor based redundancy resolutions provide important task flexibilities for the operations of mobile manipulators, which can significantly improve the task efficiency, reliability and operation safety, thus enhancing the capability of the mobile manipulation to cope with both task and environment uncertainties.
Tasks may include analysis panels and workshops where the successful completion of these tasks are focused on solving specific problems involving research, development, or on-going scientific actions requiring studies, analyses, evaluations, assessments and interpretations. The completion of these tasks may include some administrative support which is integral to the completion of scientific and technical analysis.
PLEASE NOTE:The SSP is not designed to provide advisory and assistance services (e.g., program management activities, open ended advisory functions, market/business analytical activities, evaluation of agency operations, on-going support to internal operations, etc.). Nor is the program designed to fill agency staffing shortfalls or to circumvent personnel ceilings and competitive employment procedures. The same individual cannot be selected to perform repetitively on identical tasks. This will preclude the SSP task orders from becoming personal services contracts which are not authorized under the SSP.
SSP TASK FUNDING
SSP tasks are funded entirely by the requesting Government organization. The cost to the government sponsor is the subtotal of technical support costs plus ARO fee to cover the cost of contract administration. The SSP task ceiling is $750K, exclusive of the ARO fee. Advisory & Assistance (A&AS) or American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds will not be accepted. Funding must be submitted via the SSP Portal with each new task or modification request.
SSP TASK ADMINISTRATION FEES
New overhead fees to utilize the Scientific Services Program (SSP) went into effect on 09 March 2012
The new fee structure has a one-time base cost of $5,500.00 for a new task start plus 3.5% of the project funding listed on the MIPR (Military Interdepartmental Purchase Request) DD Form 448 or Interagency Agreement. The fee needs to be identified on the MIPR by the funding agency as a separate MIPR from the project or task order amount (as shown below). Therefore, two MIPRs should be submitted for each action. One MIPR for the applicable fees and the other MIPR for the amount that will be placed on the individual task order.
Example 1 - Fully funding a new $100,000 SSP task order. A one-time base cost of $5,500 is required plus 3.5% of the $100,000 task order funding which is $3,500. Provide $109,000.00 to process the order.
Example 2 - Incrementally funding a new $100,000 SSP task order with $50,000. A one-time base cost of $5,500 is required plus 3.5% of the $50,000 task order funding, which is $1,750. Provide $57,250.00 to process the order.
Example 3 - Incrementally funding an existing $250,000.00 SSP task order with $75,000.00. 3.5% of the $75,000.00 task order funding or $2,625.00 is required. Provide $77,625.00 to process the order.
PLEASE NOTE: The Contracting Office will not be able to process your order until the $5,500 base cost (as applicable) and 3.5% assessment fee is received and identified on the funding documents.
In the description section of the MIPR (Military Interdepartmental Purchase Request) DD Form 448 or Interagency Agreement document, break out the task order or project cost, one-time base cost (as applicable), 3.5% assessed fees existing Task Order Number (TCN) if known, DODAAC or ALC and Paying Office DODAAC or ALC. Please note that the paying office will be HQ0337, DFAS Columbus for all Department of Defense (DoD) Agencies.
However, the paying office DoDAAC codes will need to be provided on the MIPR for all civilian agencies and the Army Corp of Engineers. Please include any additional agency-specific billing instructions for the prime contractor (Battelle) so they can be included in the order.
For example, identify the amounts to show
Order $100,000
Base Cost $5,500 (new orders only)
Assessed Fee 3.5% $3,500
DODAAC: (Your Physical Location)
Paying Office: (DFAS that Pays Your Invoices)
Billing Instructions: Send invoices to the Paying Office and to the COR
If there are any questions about this contact Ms. Melony Wicker at 919-549-4344.
SSP FLEXIBILITY
The sponsoring Government organization is represented on each SSP task by a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) who monitors the technical progress of the task performer toward completion of a Statement of Work (SOW). Each SOW is prepared by the COR or project official at the requesting organization and defines the specific objectives and tasks in accordance with their organizational requirements. The Government task requestor specifies:
- Level of effort: The number of scientists or engineers is unlimited, and the number of working days per scientist or engineer is unlimited. The use of technicians, graduate students, research assistants, clerical assistants, etc.is also unlimited.
- Location of effort: Work can take place in the task performer's facilities, a Government laboratory, etc.
- Travel: Travel to conferences and/or other locations for the purpose of obtaining data or presenting research results is permitted to the extent it is described in the SOW.
- Period of performance: Up to 18 months. Tasks cannot exceed 18 months including final report preparation.
- Security Classification: Unclassified through Top Secret.
- Deliverables:At a minimum a final written report is required upon the completion of every SSP task. Other deliverables such as monthly reports or a prototype or hardware item may be identified in addition to the final report.
Recommended Source: SSP task sponsors may recommend a task performer by name having the required skill set to complete the SOW. However, source selection is the sole responsibility of the prime contractor (Battelle) who is contractually required to obtain competition in the source selection process. Alternatively, the SSP can identify a performer from our database containing over 4,500 resumes with a wide range of scientific & engineering expertise.