SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- The purpose of this RFI is to search for qualified vendors capable of meeting the Department of Defense (DOD) global requirement for a variety of language related services.
- Notice Date
- 11/20/2009
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541930
— Translation and Interpretation Services
- Contracting Office
- HQ USAINSCOM, Directorate of Contracting, ATTN: IAPC-DOC, 8825 Beulah Street, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5246
- ZIP Code
- 22060-5246
- Solicitation Number
- W911W4-10-LINGUIST
- Response Due
- 12/10/2009
- Archive Date
- 2/8/2010
- Point of Contact
- Sung Park, 703-428-4674
- E-Mail Address
-
HQ USAINSCOM, Directorate of Contracting
(sung.j.park1@us.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Synopsis: The purpose of this RFI is to search for qualified vendors capable of meeting the Department of Defense (DOD) global requirement for a variety of language related services. This requirement will also include related support to other U.S. Agencies and foreign coalition forces. This requirement specifically supports the goals of the Defense Language Transformation Roadmap (Jan 2005), DODs National Military Strategy (NMS), and the Presidents National Security Strategy (NSS). The anticipated period of performance will be one base year plus four option years for a potential total of five years. The contract(s) will be performance-based and competition will be conducted in accordance with FAR Parts 12 and 15. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is 541930. The DoDs high-level objective for the Linguist service support requirement is to acquire the highest quality linguist services at a fair and reasonable cost or price. To accomplish this objective, it is envisioned the contract(s) shall provide language-related services including interpreting, translating, and transcription services to support global linguist missions. Ensuring high levels of quality, performance, and cost/price controls are maintained, it is envisioned the contractor(s) will provide the necessary management, supervisory, and project personnel to direct, administer, and report on these services on a daily basis. It is expected the performance under this (these) contract(s) shall include nonspecific, urgent, requirements from various locations throughout the globe, as well as mature (clearly defined) requirements for areas such as: areas of conflict, other OCONUS locations as well as CONUS. Performance, deliverables, and exact location(s) of the work will be conveyed to the successful offeror(s) by the Contracting Officer or his/her designated Contracting Officer Representative(s) (COR). The contract(s) will require personnel who can perform monitoring, transcribing, translating, and interpreting (listening, writing, speaking, and reading) from the targeted language to English and vice versa, and occasionally, from one targeted language to another targeted language Contracted linguists performing under this (these) contract(s) may at some time be required to perform any of these duties. However, it is understood no single individual can perform all tasks with equal facility. Language proficiency testing is required in the source language(s) and English for all levels of linguists in the four basic communications skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Evidence of language proficiency testing with acceptable results is required prior to assignment and shall be retained for audit purposes. Additionally, a number of contractor personnel will require security clearances at or above SECRET, to include Top Secret SCI with polygraph.. It is also desirable for contractor(s) to manage linguists to a secondary level of mission related skills, such as medical, Legal, Engineering, and Military fields in order to ensure the right skill set is applied to each mission. Linguist will be deployed to targeted area(s) with adequate contractor management staff and will be required to undergo the necessary screening, vetting, clearing, and approval processes prior to, during, and following deployment to the host nation. This is a request for information only. This is not a solicitation announcement. This notice neither constitutes a Request for Proposal, nor does it restrict INSCOM to an ultimate acquisition approach. No contract will be awarded from this announcement, and requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement. Any information submitted by respondents to this notice is strictly voluntary. Firms responding to this notice are also requested to provide INSCOM with statements addressing the questions below. Responses to the RFI shall be limited to 25 pages or less, font 12, Times New Roman. Graphics and charts must be legible and clearly visible to the unaided eye (if included). Responses may be submitted either in hard-copy format in document/folder form or in the form of CD or DVD. Electronic submissions shall be e-mailed to sung.j.park1@us.army.mil. All submissions must be received no later than 2:00 PM ET, December 10, 2009. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Dependent upon the results of this market survey, INSCOM may subsequently issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to acquire the support services. Response to this sources sought is not a request to be added to a prospective bidders list or to receive a copy of future solicitations. I.General questions on Governments acquisition approach 1.If you were the Government, how would you structure this acquisition and subsequent contract vehicle? 2.What quality assurance standards/methods do you think best for management and surveillance of linguist services during the three general phases of military operations (pre-deployment, deployed, and post-deployment)? 3.What do you see as the optimal strategy for meeting a global linguist service requirement? 4.For linguist related service contracts, what should we look for as success or failure indicators? 5.If the Government offered an incentive program for being responsive (meeting fill rates), quality assurance (right skill set, to right location, at right time), and/or cost controls, what incentive (or combination of incentives) would attract you most to meeting linguist service requirements? 6.Are there other incentives, which motivate a linguist service provider to improve performance while maintaining cost controls? 7.Are there general terms and conditions in federal contracts which would hamper your performance or creativity in bidding for a linguist services type contract? 8.What duties should be included in a linguist job description in order to provide the best support to the customer? 9.What socio economic considerations would you recommend the government contemplate and how would you structure the suggested considerations? 10.Would your company be receptive, if asked, to have your linguist program management and operations personnel meet one-on-one with Government representatives to discuss commercial and industry best practices, performance metrics and measurements, innovative delivery methods for the required linguist services, and incentive programs which providers have found particularly effective? Such a meeting would allow the Government to conduct the market research needed to craft an innovative acquisition strategy for a mission-critical agency need. Please ensure the point of contact identified in the Company Information below is the appropriate linguist program management/operations individual who can address the above issues. II.Host Nation Compliance: 1. Do you currently hold required licenses (i.e. Ministry of Interior (MOI) and Ministry of Trade) for being a provider in target countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan? 2. If you do not hold a current MOI license, what is your plan for obtaining one? 3. How does a MOI requirement, which limits the number of employees you have operating in the Host Nation, affect your ability to contract for additional theater-wide efforts? 4. How many people by category--Host Nation, Third Country Nationals and US Citizens--do you currently employ for contracts in Host Nation? 5. Are you presently performing as a prime contractor for any US Government Agency in support of a major operation such as Iraq or Afghanistan? If so, describe the scope of the effort. 6. Are you performing as a subcontractor for a US Government Agency in support of a major operation such as Iraq or Afghanistan? If so, describe the scope of the effort. III. Present ability to Contract with the US Government 1. At any time in the last two years, have you been prohibited from contracting with any US Government agency? 2. Have you in the last two years been the subject of any action to suspend, debar, or terminate for cause with the US Government? If so, please explain. 3. Given the present threat in several Host Nations, are there any operating locations which your firm would not support? IV. Support of Economic Development of the Host Nation 1. Do you have a plan for forging a relationship with incumbent(s) providing linguist services at deployed theater(s) of operations (such as Iraq)? 2. What would be your plan if asked to maintain at least a 90% linguist fill rate within targeted theater of operation (such as Iraq or Afghanistan)? 3. Please describe any current relationships with host nation firms. 4. Describe your ability to perform background checks and screening to ensure Host Nation personnel are able to meet security and linguist (English and target language) quality standards 5. Describe in detail your ability to train Host Nation personnel to perform their duties, if you were awarded a contract. 6. Do you have a plan to ensure management personnel read, write, and speak the target or host nation language and can also read, write, and speak English fluently? V. Company Information 1. Point of contact (to include phone/fax and e-mail) 2. Website address, if applicable 3. Cage Code 4. State whether your company is registered under NAICS code 541930. 5. State the size of your company in terms of average annual revenue. 6. Identify your companys policy on subcontract management/cost controls. Are there any other recommendations or information you believe the government should consider? Contracting Office Address: HQ USAINSCOM, Directorate of Contracting, ATTN: IAPC-DOC, 8825 Beulah Street, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5246 Place of Performance: HQ USAINSCOM, Directorate of Contracting ATTN: IAPC-DOC, 8825 Beulah Street Fort Belvoir VA 22060-5246 Point of Contact(s): sung.j.park1@us.army.mil
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USA/INSCOM/DASC01/W911W4-10-LINGUIST/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: HQ USAINSCOM, Directorate of Contracting ATTN: IAPC-DOC, 8825 Beulah Street Fort Belvoir VA
- Zip Code: 22060-5246
- Zip Code: 22060-5246
- Record
- SN02008683-W 20091122/091121000545-ec626ef5a25786677aa240c9549cfe63 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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