SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Automated Special Agent Selection Process
- Notice Date
- 3/5/2004
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 561990
— All Other Support Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of State, Office of Logistics Management, Acquisition Management, P.O. Box 9115 Rosslyn Station, Arlington, VA, 22219
- ZIP Code
- 22219
- Solicitation Number
- S-LMAQM-04-R-0048
- Response Due
- 3/15/2004
- Archive Date
- 3/30/2004
- Point of Contact
- Tracy Ford, Contract Specialist, Phone 7038756056, Fax 7038756085, - Benita Williams, Branch Chief, Phone 7038755429, Fax 7038756085,
- E-Mail Address
-
fordtr3@state.gov, williamsbd@state.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation and proposals are being requested. The U.S. Department of State is seeking services to conduct an initial screening for expediting the overall system of the Special Agents candidate examination as stated in the following Statement of Work: AUTOMATED SPECIAL AGENT SELECTION PROCESS. Background: The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) recruits and hires Special Agents based upon their suitability for the job. Approximately 10% of all applicants are immediately eliminated due to failure to meet minimum qualifications. The remainders are tested in a process that culminates in each candidate being interviewed and examined in person. Candidates who are successful are then placed on a rank-ordered list that is used to fill future vacancies. DS needs to reduce the time and resources expended in this screening and initial testing process in order to more effectively focus attention on the personal interview/testing portions. Improved preliminary methodology is considered imperative in meeting increased demands for additional Special Agent resources. An automated selection process to provide the methodology for conducting an initial screening is hereby recommended as the most feasible solution for expediting the overall system of Special Agent candidate examination. The resulting improvement would enable DS Recruiters to devote time to reviewing only the most qualified candidates who successfully complete the preliminary screening/testing. Objective: The objective of the program is to streamline the application and recruitment process to ensure that only the highest caliber applicants are offered appointments to be tested for the DS Special Agent position. The goal will be achieved by implementing an on-line examination/assessment process designed to identify only the best-qualified candidates for further consideration. The priority for implementation of this process is immediate. It is anticipated that the requirement is for a minimum of five years. Pilot Phase Online Examination Development: The offeror shall insure that the vital components of the Department’s assessment criteria are addressed. These are referred to as the “KSAP’s” - Knowledge, Skills, Aptitude and Personal Characteristics. The offeror shall address the three core areas previously described and insure that assessment tools are widely recognized and proven in the field. The examination shall be designed to minimize test-taker lethargy. The examination is subject to DS and HR prior-approval and shall be sufficiently flexible to enable changes are deemed appropriate. Pilot Phase Deliverables and Schedule: (1) Draft Examination/Assessment Methodology Report, proposed 60-75 multiple-choice question examination in computer software format (e.g., Microsoft Word, Notepad). Deliver not later than 30 days following contract award. (2) Final Examination/Assessment Methodology Report in computer format (e.g., Microsoft Word, Notepad). Deliver not later than 15 days following DS review of draft. (3) Online Examination Demonstration that demonstrates the entire process by which an applicant is redirected to the offeror’s website, tested, scored, and the results reported to DS. Deliver not later than 30 days after contract award. (4) Pilot Phase Testing. Beginning from approximately 45 days after contract award (following successful demonstration to DS and approval by DS to proceed) and ending 180 days after contract award. (5) Program Review: Approximately 165 days after contract award. (6) Upon completion of Pilot Program (to run simultaneously with April 2004, Special Agent Vacancy Announcement), deliver results of online screening to DS. This will serve to validate the process. Online Examination Operations and Support: The offeror shall provide online examination operations and support. DS will identify any changes, enhancement, or updates to the online examination are required to support this program. The offeror shall support the online testing of DS Special Agent applicants using its own website resources and shall provide suitable documentation to DS containing the test results of each applicant who took the online examination. The offeror shall monitor their website to maintain a high level of user availability. Additionally, the offeror shall monitor the entire online examination process to verify the accuracy and integrity of test results produced by the online examination. The offeror shall deliver the test results to DS on a schedule designation by the DS Recruitment Office. Evaluation: The evaluation will be based upon the contractor’s: (1) ability to meet the delivery schedule, (2) previous experience in conduct of on-line pre-employment screening examinations, (3) past performance in conduct of such screening procedures. Award will be based on lowest price technically acceptable. All interested offerors shall submit a written technical and cost proposal. Acceptance shall be at Destination. Shipping shall be FOB Destination. Delivery shall be to the U.S. Department of State, DS/REC, SA-20, 9th Floor, Rosslyn, VA 22209. The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors –Commercial, applies to this acquisition. The government reserves the right to make an award without discussions. Offeror shall include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, Offeror Representation and Certification with its offer. The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Status or Executive Orders—Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The clause at 52.212-5, contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following additional FAR clauses cited in this clause are applicable: FAR 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government, with Alternate I (41 U.S.C 253g and 10 U.S.C. 2402), FAR 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUB Zone Small Business Concerns (Jan 1999) (if the offeror elects to waive the preference, it shall so indicate in its offer), FAR 52-219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (15 U.S.C. 637 (d)(2) and (3)); FAR 52.222-21 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Feb 1999); FAR 52-222-26 Equal Opportunity; FAR 52-222-35 Affirmative Action For Workers with Disabilities; FAR 52-222-37, Employment Reports on Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era (38 U.S.C. 4212); FAR 52-232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration (May 1999), USE OF NON-GOVERNMENT EVALUATORS (05/95) - (a)Contractor support services may be used to assist the Government in performing technical and/or cost evaluations of offeror's proposals. Support contractors, if used, will be authorized access only to those portions of the proposal data and discussions that are necessary to enable them to provide advice on specialized matters or on particular problems. Support contractors may participate as voting or non-voting members of a source evaluation board and may participate as technical advisors to a source selection board. However, in no event shall support contractors participate as voting members of any source selection board. (b) The offeror shall include the following notice as a cover page to its proposal: GOVERNMENT NOTICE FOR HANDLING PROPOSALS -This proposal shall be used and disclosed for evaluation purposes only, and a copy of this Government notice shall be applied to any reproduction or abstract thereof. Any authorized restrictive notices that the submitter places on this proposal shall also be strictly complied with. Disclosure of this proposal outside the Government for evaluation purposes shall be made only to the extent authorized by, and in accordance with, the procedures in Section 615.413-2(f) of the Department of State Acquisition Regulation (48 CFR Chapter 6). In addition, the selected offeror must certify that they: (a) do not comply with the Arab league boycott of Israel by the Arab League countries, which Section 8(a) of the Export Administration Act of 1979 as amended (50 USC Ap 2407a) prohibits a U.S. person form taking, and (b) do not discriminate in the award of subcontracts on the basis of religion. (DOSAR 6.225-70), the full text of DOSAR clauses may be accessed electronically at http://www.statebuy.inter.net/acpolicy. The full text of the FAR references may be accessed electronically at this address: http://www.arnet.gov/far, Responses to this RFP must be signed, dated, and received by March 12, 2004, no later than 3:00 PM EST. Address to: U.S. Department of State, Office of Acquisition Management, SA-6, 1701 N. Ft. Meyer Drive, Arlington, VA or mailed to U.S. Department of State, Office of Acquisition Management, P.O. Box 9115, Rosslyn Station, Arlington, VA 22219, attention of Tracy Ford. Vendors who are not registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database prior to award will not be considered. Vendors may register with CCR by calling 1-800-334-3414 or by registering online at www.ccr.gov. For questions concerning this solicitation contact Tracy Ford, Contract Specialist via email fordtr3@state.gov. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.
- Web Link
-
Link to FedBizOpps document.
(http://www.eps.gov/spg/State/A-LM-AQM/A-LM-AQM/S-LMAQM-04-R-0048/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Vendor's Location
- Record
- SN00538587-F 20040307/040305234546 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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