This REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) NOTICE is being issued by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to inform interested parties about the Government's intent in establishing an Other Arrangement (OA; pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1862(a)(1) and 42 U.S.C. § 1870(c)) with an established Consortium management organization to establish and manage a Consortium for America’s DataHub (DataHub). The desired Consortium management organization for this OA will have demonstrated the experience, ability, and expertise to effectively form and manage a Consortium.

CONSORTIUM PURPOSE: NSF’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) intends to establish and operate a Consortium through a Consortium management organization to support America’s DataHub under NCSES direction and subject to an NCSES-approved governance structure. The DataHub will advance NCSES’s ability for “serving as a central Federal clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, analysis, and dissemination of objective data on science, engineering, technology, and research and development.” 42 U.S.C. § 1862p.

The DataHub will engage in activities related to data access and linkage, data security and privacy, analyses, and research and development that will enable the Government to develop more effective ways to collect, link, analyze, and protect information to improve policy and strengthen U.S. global leadership. The Consortium will also assist in coalescing different communities around these complex, cross-cutting, and interdisciplinary challenges.

Once established, America’s DataHub will provide a source of information for policy formulation by other federal agencies, including the dissemination of information that may be used to formulate policy approaches to complex social/economic issues and emerging crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic’s differential impact on marginalized populations and communities, or the economic recovery from the pandemic.

The scope of services under the Consortium will be tailored to address the scope of the DataHub’s work while allowing for strategic, innovative collaboration between government, industry, and/or non-profits.

INFORMATION REQUESTED: NSF requests the following information from experienced, qualified, and interested Consortium management organizations:

1. A summary of the organization’s experience managing and operating a complex scientific Consortium. This summary shall include a description of the Consortia managed and the Government points of contact for the Consortia (name, email, and phone number).
2. The Consortium manager’s DUNS number and points of contact (name, email, and phone number).

Interested organizations may submit an unlimited number of examples for number one above, but the submission shall not exceed three pages, inclusive of any cover page, table of contents, and other information. Information shall be submitted to Keith Boyea at [email protected] no later than the date/time in this announcement.