SOURCES SOUGHT
D -- Consulting Services for State Agency Systems (COSSAS) - Attachments
- Notice Date
- 4/3/2009
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541512
— Computer Systems Design Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Contract Management Branch, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 228, Alexandria, Virginia, 22302
- ZIP Code
- 22302
- Solicitation Number
- FNS-09-147
- Archive Date
- 5/19/2009
- Point of Contact
- Jason Kattman,, Phone: 7033052250
- E-Mail Address
-
jason.kattman@fns.usda.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Description of the inherent environment and potential conflicts of interest to be aware of and plan for. Examples of Potential Needs, for scoping purposes and improved understanding of concept and tasks. Statement of Objectives for Feedback Contemplated Acquisition Strategy for Review and Feedback RFI Letter REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FNS-09-0147 2 APRIL 2009 AGENCY: USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) TITLE: Consulting Services for State Agency Systems (COSSAS) 1. This is an RFI notice only. USDA FNS is contemplating awarding Multiple Blanket Purchase Agreements for commercial services pertaining to Consulting Services for State Agency Systems. A subsequent RFP may follow, however is not guaranteed. 2. Procurement Plan. FNS is seeking market information from qualified, experienced and interested vendors on its proposed acquisition strategy (Attachment 1) for Consulting Services for State Agency Systems (COSSAS). FNS is also seeking comments on the contemplated Statement of Objectives (SOO) for COSSAS (see Attachment 2). For the purpose of this procurement, Consulting Services are intended to provide technical advice to FNS and State agencies in support of information systems used to determine program eligibility and issue program benefits for two FNS programs: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Examples of potential upcoming tasks are included in Attachment 3: Examples of Potential Needs for FYs 2009-2010. FNS is planning to solicit proposals for award of a 5-year Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for technical consulting and support services. The purpose of the BPA is to establish a procurement vehicle that will meet FNS' need to acquire technical expertise in three areas: Data Analysis, Technical Writing, and Technical Support. Along with each of these areas, it is very important each vendor have a high level of reporting and management capabilities. FNS expects to qualify multiple contractors for award under multiple individual BPAs. Contractors may submit proposals and be qualified under one, two, or all three of the areas of technical expertise. Individual Task Orders will be placed either on a competitive basis among the qualified firms, or on a sole source basis upon the determination that competition is limited based on expertise in a specific subject area or if other BPA holders are ineligible due to a conflict of interest. Since the technical services will provide assistance to FNS and our State agencies, contractors may not provide services on the same project to both FNS and individual State agencies separately. Potential organizational and personal conflicts of interest must be addressed for each Task Order. 3. General Procurement Interest. If interested, please provide your responses to the questions below about the general procurement. 3.1. Assuming your firm is interested, please provide your company's name, contact information and Small Business Administration (SBA) certified business size. 3.2. Please identify if you are on a General Services Administration (GSA) schedule, and if so, which one. 3.3. Please identify if you are interested and capable but not currently set up to work with the Federal Government (i.e. Registered in Central Contractor Registry (CCR). 3.4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code identified for this requirement is 541512, Computer systems integration design consulting services 3.4.1. Is this code appropriate? If not, what NAICS code should be used? 3.5. The USDA considers these services to be "commercial" per Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR 2.101 Definitions). Please explain if you do not agree with this determination. 3.6. What is the appropriate amount of time needed to adequately respond to a Request for Proposal (RFP) for these services? 3.7. Can a proposal be submitted based on the information provided in the SOO? If not, please explain. 3.7.2. Is there anything missing in the SOO that should be included? 3.7.3. Given the objectives and deliverables outlined in the SOO, as an appendix to your response, please provide the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) your firm would be willing to be held accountable for. If you are not willing to respond to this item please provide a brief statement why. 3.8. Given the outlined contract structure and acquisition strategy discussed: 3.8.1. Does this structure promote competition? 3.8.2. Does this structure contain a desirable level of potential effort given the ad-hoc nature of the requirements? 3.8.3. Are the conflict of interest provisions manageable? If not, what problems do you see given the complicated nature of the different tasks and the relationship between State and Federal systems requirements? 3.8.3.2. Given the objectives and deliverables outlined in the SOO, and the Conflict of Interest environment described in attachment 4, as an appendix to your response, please provide the Conflict of Interest provisions to which your firm would be willing to be restricted. If you are not willing to respond to this item please provide a brief statement why. 3.9. Any other comments, feedback or response on how to improve this SOO is highly encouraged. 4. Capabilities Statement. If interested in this procurement, please provide a brief capabilities statement responding to your firm's ability to provide services outlined in the SOO. This statement should include three sections: 4.1 A brief statement about your technical capabilities no longer than 5 pages The capability statement should draw from past performance examples in the Appendix (referenced in 4.3 below), either as a prime or subcontractor, with State, Federal, or commercial contracts providing these types of services. 4.2 A statement about your firm's management, quality assurance and reporting capabilities. This should be no longer than 3 pages. 4.3 An appendix documenting your relevant past performance. It is highly recommended that each example of past performance be limited to one page and include the customer, customer contact information, contract dollar value and period of performance. 5. Submission Instructions. Responses will be accepted in Adobe PDF or MS Word format with the following page limits, however fewer pages are encouraged: • General Procurement Interest (Responses to Questions in section 3 of this RFI) (5 Pages.) • Appendix 1: Service Level Agreements in response to the draft SOO or revised SOO with your firm's comments. (2 Pages) • Appendix 2: Comments, questions, and suggestions about Conflict of Interest provisions. (1 Page) • Capabilities Statement: (8 pages total) o Technical capabilities (5 pages) o Management capabilities (3 pages) • Appendix 3: Past Performance Appendix: Recommended 1 page per engagement, no limit on number of engagements. It is preferred that the period of performance be limited to the past five years. Please send responses via e-mail to jason.kattman@fns.usda.gov no later than May 1st 2009, 11:59am EST. Earlier submissions are highly encouraged. FNS will evaluate your capability statement and past performance and will respond with a brief, written statement regarding your perceived viability to successfully receive an award in a potential BPA competition. 6. Agency Contact. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Contract Specialist, Mr. Jason Kattman, at (703) 305-2250. David Lum Contracting Officer Attachments: 1. Acquisition Background and Proposed Strategy Overview for Comment. 2. Draft Statement of Objectives (SOO), Consulting Services for State Agency Systems 3. Examples of Potential Needs for FYs 2009-2010. 4. Conflict of Interest Environment
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- Place of Performance
- Address: As support will be required on State and Federal systems, performance will take place throughout the 50 US States., United States
- Record
- SN01785689-W 20090405/090403221338-a799081df2e617d397fa87abc2b1a3e8 (fbodaily.com)
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