SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- 8(a) Contractor for Paralegal and FOIA Support Services
- Notice Date
- 5/13/2014
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541199
— All Other Legal Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, OJP/Acquisition Management Division, 810 Seventh Street NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20531
- ZIP Code
- 20531
- Solicitation Number
- DJO-OGC-14-F-0068
- Point of Contact
- Mary Taneyhill, Phone: 202-514-5546
- E-Mail Address
-
Mary.Taneyhill@usdoj.gov
(Mary.Taneyhill@usdoj.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Competitive 8(a)
- Description
- DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS (OJP) LEGAL SUPPORT SERVICES This Sources Sought is being released pursuant to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 10 Market Research. The information collected through the process is considered to be market research as described by FAR 2.101 and in accordance with FAR 10.002. This is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP), and nothing shall be construed herein or through the Sources Sought process to commit or obligate the Government to further action. In addition, vendors responding to this request for information shall bear all risks and expenses of any resources used to provide the requested information. The submission of capability information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary. The Department of Justice (DOJ), the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is issuing this Sources Sought to identify qualified and responsible 8(a) vendors having an interest in and possess the resources to provide Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) support services and related administrative services to the OJP Office of General Counsel. The Government intends to issue an 8(a) contract for these services. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to these proposed services is 541110. The Office of Justice Programs is the primary grant-making component within the Department of Justice. The FOIA requests received at OJP are primarily for information and documents pertaining to grant funding, training, programs, statistics, and research on technology to fight crime. FOIA requests are submitted by criminal justice agencies, researchers, organizations, law firms, media, inmates, and state agencies. In Fiscal Year 2013, OJP received 400 requests and completed the processing and closing of 391 requests. Since the beginning of FY 2014, the FOIA staff has devoted time to eliminating the backlog of three (3) very voluminous and complex requests pending since FY 2012 and 34 requests pending since FY 2013, in addition to processing 106 current requests received thus far in FY 2014. During this time, the FOIA Officer has also been training the current clerical contract employee, the FOIA Specialist, and the Contract Paralegal. Thus far in FY 2014, we have completed the processing of, and closed, 19 of the FY 2013 that were backlogged and completed the processing of 70 of the FY 2014 requests. OJP began receiving FOIA requests electronically in "FOIAOJP" e-mailbox and monitors the in-box daily to retrieve all FOIA requests and acknowledge receipt within two days, and to assign a FOIA tracking number. We receive approximately five to six e-mails weekly in the FOIAOJP e-mail box. The majority of our requests are received electronically; some are still received by regular mail. If the request is too vague, the FOIA Officer and/or the FOIA Specialist or Contract Paralegal contacts the requester by e-mail or telephone and requests additional information before assigning a FOIA tracking number. Upon receipt of the additional information, a FOIA tracking number is assigned and the request is acknowledged by e-mail, telephone, or regular mail. OJP responds to some requests by e-mailing responses and documents to the requesters, if requested to do so. The contract staff prepares documents for processing by scanning and photocopying. Task 1, FOIA/Privacy Act (PA) Services: Reviews all investigative materials compiled and examines and evaluates requests for information under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts; researches relevant legislation, regulations, and precedents and determines if documents or portions of them can be released. Documents are reviewed and the appropriate FOIA/PA exemption(s) is applied. Consults with other Federal agencies regarding the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts regulations and related requests, and coordinates related lawsuits with personnel attorneys of other agencies. Evaluates and analyzes pertinent facts; coordinates information and materials from multiple sources in order to meet established deadlines. Compiles and records production data for FOIA/PA reports; prepares FOIA/PA reports on volume of requests received for each month and the fiscal year; compiles and records statistical data from documents that have been processed by the FOIA Officer utilizing computer equipment and various software programs. Task 2, Litigation Support: Selects, assembles, summarizes and compiles substantive information including statutes, regulations, orders, digests, commentaries, legal instruments and other legal reference material. Maintains the FOIA reading room and the E-FOIA reading room including collecting, copying, organizing, and filing FOIA materials. Copies, scans, and organizes all documents identified by the FOIA Officer that are likely to be the subject of future FOIA requests and FOIA documents that have been requested in an electronic format in the appropriate format; e.g., scanning and data entry. Assist in maintaining and monitoring the FOIA electronic and manual tracking systems, entering names and personal data received from requesters, assigning FOIA/PA numbers, entering FOIA exemptions into a database. Assist in the administration of FOIA, including preparing monthly FOIA/PA status reports, and preparing file labels for FOIA/PA folders. Assist in answering telephones for OGC, which will include callers with FOIA/PA matters, as well as routing callers, assist in review and acknowledgment of e-mails through FOIA-OJP web site. Assist members of the staff in the procedural aspects of expediting the work of the office, including assembling reports and responses. Task 3, Other Administrative Services: Assist the Administrative Officer (AO) by delivering documents to or retrieving documents from other offices such as the Human Resources Division and Office of Chief Financial Officer. Assist with tracking expenditures, such as local and domestic travel, training, and government purchase card transactions. Assist in support of administrative functions, such as manning a reception desk, filing and records maintenance, shelving and updating library materials. Assist the AO with arrangements for procuring services of movers, obtaining office furniture and accessories, installation of telephone lines and other items relating to these matters Personnel Requirements: FOIA/Privacy Act (PA) Support, the following is required: either a B.A. or B.S. in one of the defined Fields Library Science, Liberal Arts, or Business Administration and three (3) years of experience in an office environment; alternatively, at least seven (7) years of experience working in the FOIA/PA arena in an office administration environment. Litigation Support, the following is required: either a B.A. or B.S. in the defined fields of Library Science, Liberal Arts, or Business Administration) and one (1) year of experience in an office environment, or alternatively, at least four (4) years of experience working in an office administration environment. Ability to evaluate and analyze pertinent facts; coordinate information and materials from multiple sources in order to meet established deadlines. Administrative Support, the following is required: either an Associate Degree (two (2) years of Junior College with the award of a degree) or three (3) years of college in a defined field and one (1) year experience in an office environment, or alternatively, at least three (3) years in an office administration environment. Must possess the ability to evaluate and analyze pertinent facts; coordinate information and materials from multiple sources in order to meet established deadlines. Respondents to this sources sought shall provide the following information: a) Vendor background summary including, contractor name, address, DUNS, point of contact information, email, phone, website address, and 8(a) certification number and documentation, and any GSA schedule number. b) Tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements. c) Past Performance- Provide a list of previous contracts where legal support advisory services were provided. Provide customer/Government Agency contact information where these services were provided including: contact name and organization, telephone number, and email address. The Government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to provide services consistent in scope described in this notice and otherwise anticipated. PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT THIS IS AN 8(a) REQUIREMENT. Any vendor that responds to this Sources Sought that cannot prove 8(a) certification will not be considered. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. Submission Instructions: Interested 8(a) vendors who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by Monday, May 19, 2014 at 1:00 PM. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to Mary.Taneyhill@usdoj.gov.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOJ/LEAA5/LEAA5/DJO-OGC-14-F-0068/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: DOJ Office of Justice Programs, 810 7th Street, NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20531, United States
- Zip Code: 20531
- Zip Code: 20531
- Record
- SN03365046-W 20140515/140514022005-b3b771fe59687fe0c6d8b253e99ca3a3 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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