SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- National Center on Child Care Subsidy Innovation and Accountability
- Notice Date
- 5/19/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541611
— Administrative Management and General 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, Maryland, 20857
- ZIP Code
- 20857
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-ACF-OCC-SBSS-11-002
- Archive Date
- 6/18/2011
- Point of Contact
- Camille M. Timmerman, Phone: 301.443.6851
- E-Mail Address
-
camille.timmerman@psc.hhs.gov
(camille.timmerman@psc.hhs.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your response to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. Background: The Office of Child Care (OCC) falls within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The OCC supports low-income working families through child care financial assistance and promotes children's learning by improving the quality of early care and education and after-school programs. The OCC is responsible for administering the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) - a program that helps low-income families access child care for children while parents work or participate in education or training. A portion of CCDF also is used to improve the quality of child care. In FY 2010, the OCC awarded $5 billion in CCDF funds to States, Territories, and Indian Tribes through block grants. States and Territories invest $1 billion each year in quality improvements. Each State, Territory and Tribe appoints a Lead Agency to administer the CCDF funds. These Lead Agencies make decisions about CCDF priorities, policies, and expenditures, including: determining eligibility requirements, setting family co-payment levels, establishing provider payment rates, setting target populations, and prioritizing quality investments. States, Territories and Tribes are required to complete a comprehensive planning process every two years, and to provide information on child care policies to ACF in biennial CCDF Plans. OCC recognizes that efficient, well run programs enhance access to services for eligible families and children and create a key link in the education of young children and the self sufficiency of families. The National Center on Child Care Subsidy Innovation and Accountability will provide technical support that combines strong policies that support access, quality, and accountability into a holistic framework. Subsidy administration encompasses a wide range of activities that may include, but is not limited to, program management and governance, strategic planning, policy review and development, community partnerships and business practices. Program integrity involves the strengthening of accountability while continuing to preserve access for eligible children and families. The center will coordinate activities that combine subsidy administration and program integrity through coordinated technical assistance activities. The intersection of these two areas will help ensure that child care subsidy programs are being managed in an efficient and effective manner and that limited program dollars are leveraged to benefit the low-income eligible families for which assistance is intended. OCC has established a Child Care Technical Assistance Network (CCTAN) to support the work of States, Territories, and Tribes that administer the CCDF. In the years 2007-2011, CCTAN projects included: After-School Investments; the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning; Child Care Aware; Child Care and Early Education Research Connections; the Child Care Information System Technical Assistance Project; the Communications Management Center; Healthy Child Care America; the National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center; the National Infant and Toddler Child Care Initiative; the Tribal Child Care Technical Assistance Center, and the Child Care Improper Payments Initiative. In FY 2011, OCC will reorganize its CCTAN to specialize its technical assistance (TA) in core areas, including the following new projects: the National Center on Child Care Quality Improvement; the National Center on Child Care Professional Development Systems and Workforce Initiatives; the National Center on Child Care Subsidy Innovation and Accountability; and the State Child Care Systems Specialist Network. This Sources Sought notice only addresses the requirements and minimum capabilities for the National Center on Child Care Subsidy Innovation and Accountability. Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this contract is to create an integrated technical assistance framework that provides valuable support to Lead Agencies in their efforts to: - Develop and maintain a strong subsidy administration that promotes policies and implementation strategies that are child-focused, family-friendly, and that work in partnership with child care providers; and - Increase accountability and integrity of programs to ensure that program dollars are utilized appropriately and efficiently to promote high-quality services and best serve the low-income eligible families for which assistance is intended. While the specific topics for new technical assistance will evolve based on current needs, input from stakeholders and the CCDF Plans and goal setting, OCC's objective is for the technical assistance, consultation, training and materials under this contract to help States and Territories work toward four core goals: 1) A higher proportion of low income children, in particular children who receive child care subsidies, served in higher quality care. 2) Increased stability and continuity of subsidy receipt and quality child care arrangements to promote families' financial security and children's development. 3) An adequate and stable supply of high quality providers. 4) Strong program integrity in the context of CCDF. Project Requirements: The Contractor's staff will have expert level knowledge of how CCDF program and policies are administered at the state level; and operational knowledge of and expertise in the broad areas covered by the Center, including the full range of issues and services and new directions within the child care field. The Contractor will employ a project director with relevant experience in managing projects of this scope and complexity, preferably with CCDF issues and subject matter experts that have formal education experience in the administration of high quality early childhood development and school age services and program integrity efforts that intersect with subsidy administration. - The Contractor will share information and coordinate efforts, as appropriate to advance state level system development and integration, with the National Center on Child Care Professional Development Systems and Workforce Initiatives, and National Center on Child Care Quality Improvement. - The Contractor will have expert knowledge, expertise, and capability to support the maximum use of technology and distance learning for ongoing communication, knowledge gathering, knowledge sharing, including demonstrated experience in developing web ready material and populating websites. - The Contractor will be able to both manage the contract and operate the Center in-house, and through the use of OCC approved consultants and/or subcontractors. Specifically, key personnel must be employees of the Contractor. Anticipated period of performance: The period of performance will include one 12-month base period and four 12-month option periods. Other Important Considerations: The Contractor is expected to work closely with the OCC and ACF, provide ongoing support, and participate in CCTAN meetings and topical subcommittees, and other activities that involve OCC staff that take place regularly in Washington, DC. Teaming: Teaming arrangements are encouraged. Capability statement/information sought: Respondents must provide, as part of their responses, a capability statement, which addresses the following: 1. Familiarity with and knowledge of the Office of Child Care (OCC), the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and related policies and legislation. 2. Demonstrated ability to provide: a. Professional staff with extensive child care experience (preferably CCDF); b. Professional staff with knowledge and expertise related to administration of the CCDF at the State level, including knowledge and experience with key CCDF components related to subsidy administration and program integrity; and c. the ability to direct and manage projects of this magnitude, including solid fiscal management. 3. Demonstrated familiarity with other related Federal programs and policies related to early childhood education and program integrity. 4. Demonstrated ability to create a meaningful and structured framework that combines multiple content areas (e.g. subsidy innovation and program integrity) in a comprehensive technical assistance delivery system. 5. Demonstrated experience with conducting analysis and synthesis of information; promoting collaboration across programs, agencies or funding sources; developing written technical assistance materials; and providing and facilitating training, consultation and meetings. 6. Demonstrated experience with managing large and complex national technical assistance efforts involving multiple types of tasks simultaneously in several geographic locations. 7. Demonstrated experience and expertise in producing quality TA products in response to high priority activities and extremely short deadlines. Respondents' must include their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, etc) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code. Include technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. Submissions should be sent electronically to Camille Timmerman, Contract Specialist, at camille.timmerman@psc.hhs.gov. Responses must be double-spaced and single-sided on 8.5" x 11" plain white paper, with 1" margins on all side, using a standard font no smaller than 12 point. The response must be sequentially numbered, beginning on the first page after the table of contents. Responses may not exceed 15 pages, not including the cover sheet and table of contents. Responses are due June 3, 2011 by 2:00 pm. Responses will not be accepted after the due date. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.
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