SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Romanian Technical Consultative Services and Project Support
- Notice Date
- 1/26/2005
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541618
— Other Management Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center, Division of Acquisition Management, Parklawn Building Room 5-101 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20857
- ZIP Code
- 20857
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-05Eios050027
- Response Due
- 2/9/2005
- Archive Date
- 2/20/2005
- Description
- SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES DATE: JANUARY 26, 2005 REQUISITION NO: 05EIOS050027 INTENDED SOURCE: LTS CORPORATION PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: DATE OF AWARD THROUGH ELEVEN MONTHS PURPOSE: THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, OFFICE OF GLOBAL HEALTH AFFAIRS THROUGH THE PROGRAM SUPPORT CENTER, PLANS TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION TO LTS CORPORATION. CLOSING DATE IS FEBRUARY 9, 2005. THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROCUREMENT IS: THE PURPOSE OF THIS SCOPE OF WORK IS FOR THE CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONSULTATIVE SERVICES AND PROJECT SUPPORT TO CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD MONITORING AND TRACKING INFORMATION SYSTEM (CMTIS). BACKGROUND: HHS/OFFICE OF GLOBAL HEALTH AFFAIRS (OGHA) HAS WORKED WITH THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) IN ROMANIA SINCE 2002 TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ROMANIA (GOR) TO HELP ENHANCE THE EXISTING SYSTEM THAT TRACKS CHILDREN RECEIVING SERVICES IN THE CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM IN ROMANIA, TO EXPAND THE CAPABILITIES OF THE TRACKING SYSTEM, AND TO IMPLEMENT AN IMPROVED, FUNCTIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEM TO ALL COUNTIES IN ROMANIA. UNDER THE FORMER COMMUNIST REGIME, ROMANIA HAD A PRACTICE OF INSTITUTIONALIZING A LARGE NUMBER OF THEIR CHILDREN DUE TO ECONOMIC AND/OR SOCIETAL REASONS. WITH THE END OF COMMUNIST RULE IN THE LATE 1980S, DONORS IN THE WEST BEGAN WORKING WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF ROMANIA TO REFORM THE WAY CHILDREN RECEIVED CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES. THIS WORK INCLUDED RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT THAT THEY REMOVE CHILDREN FROM INSTITUTIONS, PUT MECHANISMS INTO PLACE TO KEEP CHILDREN FROM GOING INTO INSTITUTIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND INSTITUTE LEGISLATION TO REFORM CHILD PROTECTION IN ROMANIA. IN ADDITION, HHS RECOMMENDED THAT DATA BE COLLECTED AND TRACKED ON SERVICES BEING PROVIDED TO THESE CHILDREN AND PROVIDED TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO MONITOR THE SERVICES PROVIDED, INCLUDING FINANCIAL DATA. CHILD WELFARE REFORM IN ROMANIA HAS ALSO BECOME A CRUCIAL CRITERIA FOR ROMANIA'S ACCESSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU). SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROJECT, MODULE I ON SERVICES AND MODULE II ON STAFFING HAS BEEN DEVELOPED. MODULE I WAS PILOTED IN FIVE SITES AND TRAINING WAS PROVIDED TO ALL COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY. THE CURRENT REQUEST IS FOR THE CMTIS PROJECT TO CONTINUE AT ITS CURRENT FOCUSED PHASE. TRAINING AND FINAL IMPLEMENTATION IS NECESSARY FOR MODULE II AND DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MODULE III (FINANCIAL) ARE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT AND PROVIDE THE SUSTAINABILITY FOR ITS INGRAINED USE THROUGHOUT ROMANIA. STATEMENT OF WORK: THE CONTRACTOR WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING CONTINUED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONSULTATIVE SERVICES AND PROJECT SUPPORT FOR THE ENHANCED CHILD MONITORING AND TRACKING INFORMATION SYSTEM (CMTIS) IN ROMANIA. THE CONSULTATIVE SERVICES INCLUDE THE LOCAL ROMANIAN TECHNICAL TEAM THAT HAS MANAGED THE DAY-TO-DAY FUNCTIONING OF THIS PROJECT. THIS TECHNICAL TEAM CONSISTS OF THREE MEMBERS: A PROJECT COORDINATOR AND TWO CHILD WELFARE SPECIALISTS. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTINUITY, CONSISTENCY AND OUR PROJECT TIMELINE, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE CONSULTANTS USED TO DATE BE EXTENDED UNDER THIS NEW ACTIVITY IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. THESE ARE FULL-TIME POSITIONS. THIS TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING WITH THE LOCAL USERS AND THE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL OFFICIALS TO IDENTIFY SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS; THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMMERS TO TRANSLATE NEEDS INTO SYSTEM FUNCTION; THE USERS TO TRAIN THEM ON NEW FUNCTIONS AND RESOLVING PROBLEMS BY SERVING AS A HELP DESK FUNCTION; THE SYSTEM TO MONITOR DAILY USE, TO ENSURE THE PROPER INPUT OF DATA AND TO TROUBLE SHOOT PROBLEMS; AND TO MODIFY THE PREVIOUS MODULES BASED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODULE III. THE CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING MONTHLY SUBSTANTIVE AND FINANCIAL REPORTS, CLARIFYING ANY UNCLEAR REPORTING, AND PROMPTLY PAYING THE CONSULTANTS FOR WORK APPROPRIATELY REPORTED. THE CONTRACTOR IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPORTING COSTS FOR CMTIS PRESENTATIONS AND/OR TRAINING SESSIONS. THESE COSTS WILL INCLUDE A RANGE OF MATERIALS AND FACILITIES FOR THESE ACTIVITIES. THE MATERIALS MAY INCLUDE PAPER, MEETING BINDERS, PENS AND PENCILS, FLIP CHARTS AND MARKERS, COMPACT DISKS FOR DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM MATERIALS, AND OFFICE SUPPLIES (SUCH AS SCOTCH TAPE, STAPLES, NAME TAGS, HOLE PUNCHES, ETC.) THE CMTIS TRAINING SESSIONS ARE USUALLY HELD AT A CENTRAL LOCATION AND THE NEIGHBORING LOCAL USERS AND/OR REGIONAL OFFICIALS TRAVEL BY CAR OR TRAIN TO THE TRAINING SITE, NECESSITATING REASONABLE LOCAL TRANSPORTATION COSTS BASED ON THE CHEAPEST MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. THE TRAINING SESSIONS USUALLY LASTS TWO TO FOUR DAYS FOR UP TO 20 TO 35 PARTICIPANTS. TWO TRAINING SESSIONS ARE SCHEDULED FOR MODULE II IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. THE NECESSARY TRAINING COSTS FOR THIS SCENARIO INCLUDE HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS, USUALLY IN A DORMITORY SETTING, FOR THE NIGHTS NECESSARY TO COVER THE TRAINING PERIOD; PER DIEM FOR MEALS DURING THE TRAINING PERIOD. THE CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING WITH THE PROJECT COORDINATOR TO ENSURE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS. THE CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSFERRING PAYMENT DIRECTLY TO THE TRAINING FACILITY OR VENDOR FOR THE AGREED UPON SERVICES. THE LOCAL PROJECT COORDINATOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING AND VERIFYING THE SIGNED ACCOMMODATION AND TRANSPORTATION DOCUMENTATION FROM EACH PARTICIPANT, AND SUBMITTING THE DOCUMENTATION TO THE CONTRACTOR TO SUBSTANTIATE THE PAYMENT. HHS CHILD WELFARE PROJECT COORDINATOR - POSITION DESCRIPTION THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS) CHILD WELFARE PROJECT COORDINATOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING, OVERSEEING AND SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHILD WELFARE MONITORING AND TRACKING INFORMATION SYSTEM (CMTIS) AND TO TRACK AND INCORPORATE OTHER CHILD WELFARE REFORM ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN IN ROMANIA. KEY AMONG THESE REFORM EFFORTS IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMATION SYSTEM TO TRACK AND MONITOR THE CHILDREN IN ROMANIA'S CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM AND THE SERVICES BEING PROVIDED TO THESE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THE RANGE OF OTHER CHILD WELFARE REFORM EFFORTS MAY INCLUDE: NATIONAL AND/OR LOCAL POLICY DEVELOPMENT; ORGANIZATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGE AND/OR DEVELOPMENT; UPGRADING SKILLS AND STRENGTHENING PROFESSIONAL ROLES; AND ENHANCING PROGRAM MONITORING AND EVALUATION ETC. THE HHS CW PROJECT COORDINATOR WILL WORK TO ASSIST IN THE SUCCESSFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES. IT IS ENVISIONED THAT THE HHS CW PROJECT COORDINATOR WILL BE A FULL-TIME POSITION. THE SPECIFIC DUTIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: ASSIST IN THE SUBSTANTIVE PLANNING, COORDINATION, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHILD WELFARE MONITORING AND TRACKING INFORMATION SYSTEM (CMTIS). THE HHS CW PROJECT COORDINATOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING WITH THE LOCAL USERS AND THE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL OFFICIALS TO IDENTIFY SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS; THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMMERS TO TRANSLATE NEEDS INTO SYSTEM FUNCTION; THE USERS TO TRAIN THEM ON NEW FUNCTIONS AND RESOLVING PROBLEMS BY SERVING AS A HELP DESK FUNCTION; THE SYSTEM TO MONITOR DAILY USE, TO ENSURE THE PROPER INPUT OF DATA AND TO TROUBLE SHOOT PROBLEMS; AND TO MODIFY THE PREVIOUS MODULES BASED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODULE III. IN TRACKING AND COORDINATING OTHER CHILD WELFARE REFORM ACTIVITIES, THE HHS CW PROJECT COORDINATOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR: IDENTIFYING PROGRAMMATIC AND/OR TECHNICAL ISSUES NEEDING ATTENTION; COMMUNICATING WITH THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ENTITIES INVOLVED IN CHILD WELFARE PROGRAMS AND REFORM; IDENTIFYING WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE AND PEOPLE THAT CAN 'CHAMPION' CHANGE; IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS CONCERNING PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION WITH SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS; IDENTIFYING APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL TO DEAL WITH SPECIFIC ISSUES AND COORDINATE EFFORTS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY AND NOT AT CROSS PURPOSES; IDENTIFYING WORK PLANS AND TIMELINES FOR GETTING ACTIVITIES COMPLETED; AND, AS THE ON-THE-GROUND PROJECT COORDINATOR, OVERSEEING THE DAY-TO-DAY PROJECT ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE MONITORING OF HOURS WORKED AND BILLED, AND PROJECT EXPENDITURES, ENSURING THAT APPROPRIATE REPORTING DOCUMENTATION IS SUBMITTED. THE PROJECT COORDINATOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THE MOST ECONOMICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRAINING SITES AND FACILITIES TO TRAIN LOCAL USERS ON THE LATEST MODULE. THE PROJECT COORDINATOR SERVES AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND CONTINUITY ON PROJECT ACTIVITIES. THE CW PROJECT COORDINATOR REPORTS PROGRAMMATICALLY TO THE HHS PROJECT MANAGER AND ADMINISTRATIVELY TO THE CONTRACTOR. THE PROJECT COORDINATOR IS ALSO TO KEEP THE LOCAL USAID CHILD WELFARE STAFF INFORMED OF PROGRAMMATIC ISSUES. MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORTS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED TO THESE PARTIES, DETAILING: ACTIVITIES PERFORMED, ISSUES AND PROBLEMS WITH RECOMMENDED SOLUTIONS, REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE, IF NECESSARY, AND PLANS FOR THE UPCOMING MONTH. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - BILINGUAL IN ENGLISH AND ROMANIAN, WITH EXCELLENT WRITING SKILLS IN ENGLISH. - PROFESSIONAL DEGREE IN CHILD WELFARE DISCIPLINE. - EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF ROMANIAN CHILD WELFARE AND REFORM EFFORTS. - SKILL IN FACILITATING WORKING RELATIONS AMONG DISPARATE GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS. SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED UPON THE FOLLOWING: THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS) HAS PROVIDED CRITICAL TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR A CHILD WELFARE REFORM (CWR) PROJECT IN ROMANIA. THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED THROUGH THE LOGISTICAL TECHNICAL SERVICES (LTS) CORPORATION WHO PROVIDED LOCAL EXPERTS, A ROMANIAN PROJECT COORDINATOR AND CHILD WELFARE SPECIALIST FOR THE PROJECT. THE CWR WAS INITIATED IN 1999 AND THE LAST AND FINAL PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION WILL TAKE PLACE DURING 2005. IN ORDER TO EFFECT A SUSTAINED DEVELOPMENT AND TO ASSURE THAT THE ROMANIANS WILL HAVE SUFFICIENT BACKGROUND AND TRAINING TO MOVE CONFIDENTLY FORWARD, IT IS CRITICAL THAT HHS, OFFICE OF GLOBAL HEALTH (OGHA) BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE WITH THE SAME LOCAL PROJECT COORDINATOR AND CHILD WELFARE SPECIALISTS WHO WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE EXPERTISE THAT WILL PROVIDE THE CONTINUITY THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SMOOTH EXECUTION OF THIS FINAL PHASE OF IMPLEMENTATION. A FULLY FUNCTIONING CHILD WELFARE MONITORING AND TRACKING INFORMATION SYSTEM (CWMTIS) IS THE FINAL DELIVERABLE FOR THE CWR PROJECT. TRAINING SESSIONS FOR CWMTIS WILL BE HELD OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS AND THE EXISTING EXPERTS WILL PASS ON THEIR EXPERTISE AND PROGRAM KNOWLEDGE TO THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS. FAILURE TO LAUNCH THE FINAL PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE LTS CORPORATION UTILIZING THE EXISTING TECHNICAL STAFF, WILL HARM THE CRITICAL TIMEFRAME FOR FINAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CWMTIS. FURTHER A DELAY IN AWARD WOULD DIMINISH THE EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIP AMONG OUR COUNTRIES, THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, THE U.S. AMBASSADOR IN ROMANIA, AND ULTIMATELY THE ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT ENTITY THAT PROVIDES THE OVERSIGHT FOR THE CARE OF CHILDREN IN THE ROMANIAN CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. THE PROPOSED SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION IS FOR SERVICES FOR WHICH THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO SOLICIT AND NEGOTIATE WITH ONLY ONE SOURCE (FAR 6.302-1). A DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO COMPETE THIS PROPOSED SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. CONTRACTORS MAY FORWARD CAPABILITY STATEMENTS TO THE REFERENCED ADDRESS. INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL NORMALLY BE CONSIDERED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSES OF DETERMINING WHETHER TO CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT DARREN JANSEN, IN ROOM 5C-13, PARKLAWN BLDG., 5600 FISHERS LANE, ROCKVILLE, MD 20857 OR ON 301-443-1857
- Record
- SN00740370-W 20050128/050126211927 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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