SOLICITATION NOTICE
V -- FARE MEDIA DEBIT CARD PROGRAM
- Notice Date
- 8/26/2008
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 561110
— Office Administrative Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary of Tranportation (OST) Procurement Operations, OST Acquisition Services Division, 1200 New Jersey Ave, Washington, District of Columbia, 20590
- ZIP Code
- 20590
- Solicitation Number
- DTOS59-08-R-00019
- Point of Contact
- Charley Yancey,, Phone: 2023666338, Phaedra Johnson,, Phone: (202) 366-0742
- E-Mail Address
-
charley.yancey@dot.gov, phaedra.johnson@ost.dot.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation document incorporates provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-27. The North American Industry Classification Code is 561110, small business size standard is $6.5 million The U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Transportation Services (TRANServe) intends to competitively award a firm-fixed-rate contract for a debit card program that works as a prepaid debit card to provide transit benefits to its Transit Benefit Program participants. The intended contract is to have a two-year base period and three one-year option periods. Line Item 0001 – 10/01/2008 to 09/30/2010 (Base Period); Line Item 0002 – 10/01/2010 to 09/30/2011 (Option Period 1) Line Item 0003 – 10/01/2011 to 09/30/2012 (Option Period 2) and lLine Item 0004- 10/01/2012 to 09/30/2013 (Option Period 3) Unit of Issue: EA. This competition is planned to be held as a Full and Open Competition in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 15: Contracting by Negotiation. The objective is to develop a debit card program to provide nationwide electronic fare media coverage for our customers. The use of a debit card program will allow participants in the regions to use electronic fare media. The Contractor shall conduct work in accordance with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, standards, codes, regulations, and directives to include applicable publications. Telephone requests for information will not be honored. Questions regarding this notice may be sent in writing, via email, only to the Contract Specialist. Period of Performance: 09/01/2008 to 09/30/2009 THIS SOLICITATION MAY RESULT IN MORE THAN ONE AWARD THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS SOLICITING PROPOSAL(S) TO AWARD ONE OR MORE FIRM-FIXED-PRICED CONTRACT(S) TO PROVIDE NATIONWIDE DEBIT CARDS FOR FARE MEDIA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATEMENT OF WORK IN THIS NOTICE. THE AWARDED CONTRACT(S) SHALL BE A BASE YEAR WITH FOUR OPTION YEARS. THE GOVERNMENT MAY AWARD MORE THAN ONE CONTRACT FROM THIS REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS (RFQ). AWARD WILL BE MADE TO THE RESPONSIBLE OFFEROR(S) WHOSE PROPOSAL WILL BE THE MOST ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT (PRICE AND OTHER FACTORS). THE FOLLOWING FACTORS (LISTED IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE) WILL BE USED TO EVALUATE QUOTES: 1.PAST PERFORMANCE (THE GOVERNMENT WILL EVALUATE THE EXTENT AND QUALITY OF THE OFFEROR'S EXPERIENCE PERFORMING COMPARABLE SERVICES.) 2.QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE OF ASSIGNED STAFF (THE GOVERNMENT WILL EVALUATE THE OFFEROR'S PROPOSED APPROACH FOR STAFFING, MANAGING, AND ACCOMPLISHING THESE SERVICES, INCLUDING THE QUALIFICATIONS AND PROVEN EXPERTISE OF STAFF IN PERFORMING THE SOLICITATION REQUIREMENT AND FAMILIARITY WITH THE APPLICABLE REGULATIONS/GUIDANCE. THE RESUME OF THE PROPOSED KEY PERSONNEL SHALL BE PROVIDED. 3.PRICE (THE OFFEROR SHALL PROPOSE A FIRM-FIXED-PRICE FOR THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. TRAVEL WILL BE REIMBURSED AT COST PLUS APPLICABLE OFFEROR LOADINGS (EXCLUDING PROFIT/FEE). ADDENDUM--THE EVALUATION PROCEDURES AT FAR 13.106-2(B) ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE. OFFERORS SHALL SUBMIT A BRIEF (NOT TO EXCEED FIFTEEN (15) PAGES) PROPOSAL ADDRESSING THE ABOVE TWO TECHNICAL FACTORS AS WELL AS A PRICE PROPOSAL (I.E., PRICING INFORMATION IS NOT COUNTED AGAINST THE 15 PAGE LIMIT). RESUMES DO NOT COUNT AGAINST THE 15-PAGE LIMIT BUT SHALL NOT EXCEED TWO (2) PAGES EACH. QUOTATIONS ARE DUE BY 5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME ON AUGUST 15, 2009. QUOTATIONS SHALL BE DELIVERED TO: PHAEDRA JOHNSON DOT,OST W-83,492 1200 NEW JERSEY AVE,S.E. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998) This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address: http://www.arnet.gov/far http://www.arnet.GSAM/gsam.html CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE FAR 52.204-4 Printed or Copied Double-Sided Recycled Paper (8/00) FAR 52.233-4 Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim STATEMENT OF WORK TRANSPORTATION SERVICES ELECTRONIC FARE MEDIA/DEBIT CARD PROGRAM 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. The Office of Transportation Services (TRANServe), within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration for U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), provides transit benefit support services to DOT and other federal agencies nationwide. Services include purchasing and distributing transit fare media (i.e., Metrocheks) via Economy Act agreements and the authority of the Administrative Working Capital Fund (49 U.S.C. 327); providing timely and efficient transit benefit service to over 240,000 customers. 2 BACKGROUND 2.1. On April 24, 2007, The Assistant Secretary for Administration Department of Transportation (DOT) testified on the Department’s role in implementing the Federal Transit Benefit Program at the Hearing on the Transit Benefit Program before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate. The statement addressed both the Department’s own participation in the Transit Benefit Program as a Federal Agency and its role as the home agency for Transportation Services (TRANServe), the organization utilized by 108 Federal entities nationwide to obtain and manage the distribution of transit benefit fare media. 2.2. On April 24, 2007, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its report on the Federal Transit Benefit Program titled “Ineffective Controls Result in Fraud and Abuse by Federal Workers.” Electronic fare media supports the government’s initiative to reduce fraud and abuse, provides for convenient adjustment to benefits required, and generates program savings. 3.SCOPE 3.1. The scope of this project provides federal employees the means to obtain specific fare media with a nationwide debit card and to reduce and/or eliminate the physical inventory with a program based on TRANServe’s standard operating procedures and best practices. 3.2. The Contractor will administer and execute actions necessary to provide the services specified. The Contractor will conduct work in accordance with this contract and all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, standards, codes, regulations, and directives to include applicable publications. 4. OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS 4.1.The Contractor will provide individual, reloadable cards with approved design containing TRANServe logo and participant name. 4.2. The Contractor employees will be fully trained expert technical staff, consistently providing cheerful and accurate professional services using applicable standards and guidelines. 4.3. All staff that interact with TRANServe customers will have comprehensive knowledge of the TRANServe program and primary customer service training with periodic refreshes to that training. 4.4. Background investigations are required for all contractor employees handling personally identifiable information. 4.4.1. Contractor staff must have at a minimum interim back ground investigation with a position sensitivity of at least high risk. 4.4.2 Contractor staff will submit completed DOT form 1600.8 Personnel Security Action Request and Notification. 4.4.2 Contractor staff will e-QIP online security questionnaire as soon as access is granted by DOT Security. 4.4.3 Contractor staff will wear and display DOT issued Building Pass at all times. 4.4.4 Contractor staff will be readily available for security interviews. 4.5. The contractor will ensure monthly delivery of specific fare media via debit card and/or paper fare media to transit benefit participants as specified by TRANServe customer requirements. Until the benefit can be provided electronically, paper fare media may be substituted. 4.6. The Contractor will guarantee amounts loaded on the debit card monthly will match those specified by TRANServe. 4.7. The Contractor must credit unclaimed advances and returned fare media to TRANServe monthly. The Contractor will propose a plan which prevents any participant from possessing more than the statutory limit during any one month. 4.8. The Contractor, who may not speak for the government, must provide supporting documentation and assist COTR in various customer agency audits and inquiries in accordance with all applicable Federal, State, and Local laws, standards, codes, regulations, and directives to include publications. 4.9. The Contractor must provide out of cycle reports in response to requests by COTR or TRANServe Management within two business days. 4.10. All data must be maintained in active format and transferred onto a compatible storage device and returned to DOT at the end of each contract year for permanent storage. 4.11. The Contractor must comply with changing federal regulations related to the transit benefit program throughout the term of the contract. 4.12. The Contractor will ensure the debit card will only be redeemable at transit terminals for the purchase of fare media as required by IRS notice 2007-76. 4.13. The Contractor must update cardholder information to include but not limited to: fare increase/decrease, name change, and other corrections within a 24-hour period. 4.14. The Contractor must provide instant change of status to suspend or reactivate debit cards. 4.15. The Contractor must provide on going support to include: help desk support, town hall meetings, literature, individual first time process walk through and customized 508 compliant website, on timelines established with the COTR. 4.16. The Contractor must provide expert technical services, including help desk support to TRANServe staff within one hour of contact. 4.17. The Contractor will provide branded user-friendly internet support through the TRANServe website. 4.18.The Contractor will provide telephone support from 8 a.m. through 6 p.m. eastern standard time 4.19. The Contractor will provide automated customer survey after each help desk call. 4.20. The Contractor will provide the TRANServe staff read only access to reports, individual participant records and history. 4.21 Customer communications will be conducted according to TRANServe SOPs with TRANServe management approval using the TRANServe name, logo and website. 4.21.1Notification of any changes in key personnel associated with the contract will be communicated to the COTR within 24 hours. 5. DELIVERABLES 5.1. Delivery schedules and timelines will be developed and mutually agreed upon as requirements are defined with the COTR. 5.2. Delivery schedules will vary by individual regional transit companies and/or agency requirements. 5.3. An activity log will be maintained and reported weekly, to include: name of caller, agency, phone number, comment and action items. 5.4. The transit benefit will be delivered and/or loaded onto debit cards according to the specified timeline, at the 100% level. 5.5. Within one week of contract award, a pilot program implementation schedule will be developed and mutually agreed upon to include: MARTA in Georgia and VRE and MARC in the National Capitol Region. Once the pilot is completed, an implementation schedule will be developed and agreed upon for all other regions. 5.6. Participants unable to use the debit card program must be supplied with paper fare media and converted to the debit card as soon as each transit authority has the ability to use the technology. 5.7. The contractor will provide billing information to the COTR by no later than the fifth day of the next month for services rendered the previous month in a tab delimited data file. The reports will include – but not be limited to: the agency code, card number, last name, first name, customer ID, year/month (yyyymm) of pick up and claimed amount. These reports must be sent via email to the COTR. 5.8. Reports on the status of the program must be submitted via email to the COTR on the first and fifteenth of each month. The reports will contain but not be limited to: 1) a clear and complete account of the work performed; 2) notification of changes in key personnel; 3) description of the approach taken and progress in achieving contract objectives; 4) description of any problems encountered or anticipated that will affect the completion of the contract within the time and fiscal constraints in the contract, together with recommended solutions, or a statement that no problems were encountered; and 5) a summary of any problems or concerns requiring U.S. Government guidance or assistance. 5.9 The contractor will ensure monthly delivery of specific fare media via debit card and/or paper fare media to transit benefit participants as specified by TRANServe customer requirements. Until the benefit can be provided electronically, paper fare media may be substituted. 5.10 Requirement of status reporting will be reduced to once monthly after meeting schedules and timelines following 90 days at a 95% positive evaluation level. If customer service levels should fall the reports will return to weekly. Delivery, inspection and acceptance will occur at the various locations nationwide FOB Destination points. FAR provisions 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial and 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items apply to this solicitation. Offerors are advised to include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with its offer. Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Item applies to this acquisition; 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders
- Web Link
-
FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=514a89ae101ec7aabb3ff7edfaf383e5&tab=core&_cview=1)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Contractor's Location, United States
- Record
- SN01651500-W 20080828/080826225345-602f480167170c5baa92c38c1bf43df2 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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