The Knowledge Services Division was recently established and is ramping up programs and services to meet its mission and mandate.  During this initial start-up period program support assistance is needed.  Additionally, the National Agricultural Library is seeking to expand the technical capabilities of its staff through onsite training.

Consultation Needs
We require a lead ontology expert to provide consulting services for the customization and extension of the Earthster Core Ontology  (ECO)(http://www.earthster.org/) to meet the needs of the LCA Digital Commons (http://www.lcacommons.gov).  The LCA Digital Commons (LCADC) is seeking to establish interoperability between our datasets and datasets managed and maintained by other data providers; notably, ecoinvent, the US LCI database, GaBi, and SimaPro.  To this end, cross walks and name harmonization efforts are underway.  Data harmonization is made on three levels: 1) mapping cutoff flows in the LCADC to other LCI databases; 2) harmonizing nomenclature; and 3) adjusting exchanges to account for system boundary mismatches.  ECO will provide the underlying technology for mapping and data transformation.  Extension of ECO is necessary to accomplish these tasks. 

Training Needs
The NAL staff includes a mixture of librarians, technical information specialists, and Information Technology specialists.  Implementation of ontologies/semantic technologies will require the skills and expertise of all the above named disciplines across the divisions at NAL.  The training needs to be general enough to provide a sound foundation and understanding of ontologies and semantic technologies for a diverse student class, yet sufficiently challenging to engage the more advanced students.  The underlying content is complex and difficult to comprehend in one training session.  It is most optimal to break the training into one or two sessions.  Training needs to be onsite in Beltsville, MD at the National Agricultural Library in order to ensure the greatest number of NAL staff receive the training.

The contractor is to provide assistance for projects which require the skills, training, education, and knowledge noted:
•·       A specialist to perform the work described in this statement of work (SOW).
•·       Trainers experienced with training mixed classes of students with a range of skills and backgrounds.
•·       The consultant must have 10-15 years' experience working with semantic technologies.
•·       The consultant must have 5 years' experience with software concept design and architecture.
•·       The consultant must have 2-3 years' experience with ontology integration and reuse.
•·       Desirable knowledge and skills include; experience with: 
    •o   Environmental networks (e.g. LTER, NEON, LTAR)
    •o   Semantic Web

 The NAICS Code for this requirement is 541512 Computer Systems Design Services

IIn accordance with FAR 6.302-1 and 41 USC 25(c)(1), the service needed by the USDA is available from only one responsible source and no other type of service will satisfy the needs of the USDA. This notice is not a request for competitive quotations. No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be honored. Any firm that believes it can provide the services listed above may submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. A determination not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government. The Point of Contact for this action Ms. Marian Dixon-Durham and any response must be emailed to [email protected]. Verbal responses are not acceptable and will not be considered. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement no later than September 20, 2013.