SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Testing Services
- Notice Date
- 3/31/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 611710
— Educational Support Services
- Contracting Office
- Social Security Administration, Office of Budget, Finance, and Management, Office of Acquisition and Grants, 1st Floor, Rear Entrance, 7111 Security Blvd., Baltimore, Maryland, 21244
- ZIP Code
- 21244
- Solicitation Number
- OISP-11-00003
- Point of Contact
- Joeie E. Tracht, Fax: 410-594-0133
- E-Mail Address
-
joeie.tracht@ssa.gov
(joeie.tracht@ssa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE. It is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations and in no way obligates the Government to award a contract. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information, for planning purposes, regarding the availability and capability of potential sources that are: 1) Capable of developing and maintaining a secure web-based electronic application service and secure web-based electronic information service; and 2) Provide examination services for a 40-50 multiple choice question test (paper and pencil or computer based format) in five (5) cities throughout the United States; and 3) Score examinations, prepare a post-test analysis report to SSA and provide test results to applicants; and 4) Oversee and monitor participant's eligibility status and provide monthly reports to SSA. The NAICS code for this planned acquisition is 611710, Educational Support Services. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Social Security Administration (SSA) in planning the appropriate acquisition strategy. Background: The Social Security Disability Applicant's Access to Professional Representation Act of 2010 (PRA), Public Law 111-142, extends direct payment of fees to eligible non-attorney representatives. SSA must ensure that each non-attorney representative who wishes to receive direct payment must: Have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education or at least four years of relevant professional experience and either a high school diploma or general education development (GED) certificate; Pass a written examination that Social Security Administration (SSA) writes and administers which tests the knowledge of the relevant provisions of the Act and the most recent developments in SSA and court decisions affecting titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (the Act); Secure and maintain continuous professional liability insurance or equivalent insurance, which SSA determines to be adequate to protect claimants in the event of malpractice by the representative; Undergo a criminal background check to ensure the representative's fitness to practice before us; and Demonstrate ongoing completion of qualified courses of continuing education including education regarding ethics and professional conduct, which are designed to enhance professional knowledge in matters related to entitlement to, or eligibility for, benefits based on disability under titles II and XVI of the Act. Response Information: In order for SSA to assess a firm's capability, firms must submit a response that provides enough detail to indicate it can provide the services that meet the requirements listed below. Secure Web-based Electronic Application and Secure Web-based Electronic Information Service Requirements The vendor must create and maintain a secure website that will allow applicants access to program and examination information, examination applications, application and notification services, and a participant information system. The website must be operational no later than four (4) weeks from the date of the contract award. The website must be consistent with the statutory requirements set forth in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The vendor must maintain an ongoing record of each participant's eligibility status and provide monthly reports to SSA. The vendor will submit an encrypted Microsoft Excel document on the last business day of the month to a secure SSA email box displaying each participant's name, social security number, and eligibility status. Examination Requirements SSA employee subject matter experts will develop questions for the examination. SSA will also perform the background checks. The vendor must be proficient in test development and administration. The SSA application to take the examination must be available on the contractor's website for applicants to download no later than four (4) weeks from the date of the contract award and the contractor must administer the initial examination no later than 16 weeks after the date of the contract award. The vendor must be able to score each applicant's test (in whatever test format taken) and prepare a post-test analysis report for SSA that includes the results of the examination, a summary of participation and demographics, and key findings about question difficulty. The vendor must mail the test results to each applicant. Examination Center Requirements Once a year the vendor must secure examination sites in five (5) cities selected by SSA. All examination centers must comply with the American with Disabilities Act. The vendor must provide reasonable accommodations to applicants, including readers, additional time, and other special accommodations as requested by the applicants. Examination Security Requirements The vendor must maintain control and security of sensitive material. The vendor must develop clear standard operating procedures for test proctors to collect and secure examinations before returning them to the vendor for scoring. Vendor submissions of simple marketing materials or brochures, incomplete responses that do not conform to the elements of this request for information, or references to vendor websites will not be considered by SSA. Also, please include the following in your response: Business Information •a. DUNS number •b. Company Name •c. Company Address •d. Current GSA Schedules appropriate to this notice •e. Type of Company (i.e. large business, small business, small disadvantaged business, women owned small business, HUBZone small business, and service disabled veteran owned small business) as validated via the Central Contractor Registration •f. Company Point of Contact, Phone and Email address •g. Indicate if this is a Teaming Arrangement and provide items a thru f for each entity on the proposed team All responses must be submitted in an electronic format via e-mail to the Contract Specialist, Joeie Tracht at joeie.tracht@ssa.gov no later than 5:00p.m. Eastern Time on April 15 th, 2011. Responses will not be accepted after the due date. Faxed information will not be considered. The file size limitation for e-mail attachments is 5 megabytes. SSA will not return any information submitted in response to this notice. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information submitted in reply to this notice. Information submitted in response to this notice will be used in SSA's market research efforts and for procurement planning purposes. This notice is not to be construed as a commitment by SSA. The Government reserves the right to contact, or not contact, any party responding to this notice in order to obtain further information for market research purposes.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/SSA/DCFIAM/OAG/OISP-11-00003/listing.html)
- Record
- SN02414479-W 20110402/110331234946-666923e5d9d17dd5cefefe9186674e55 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |