SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- COR/GTM - OF 612
- Notice Date
- 11/21/2016
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Grants, Acquisitions, Procurement and Policy Division (INL/RM/GAPP), SA-4 Navy Hill, South Building, 2430 E Street, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia, 20037, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20037
- Solicitation Number
- PSC-17-006-INL
- Archive Date
- 1/5/2017
- Point of Contact
- Deborah Strom,
- E-Mail Address
-
StromDG@state.gov
(StromDG@state.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- To be considered responsive to the solicitation, you must submit a completed and signed OF-612. Otherwise, your submission is considered non-responsive and will not be considered. You have received this "Personal Services Contractor" (PSC) solicitation through the Department of State (DOS) Internet site. If you have any questions regarding this PSC, you may contact the DOS Official named in this solicitation. The Department is not responsible for any data and/or text not received when retrieving this document electronically. Amendments to solicitation documents generally contain information critical to the submission of an application. Contracting Officer's Representative (COR)/Government Technical Monitor (GTM) Kabul, Afghanistan Issuance Date: 11/21/2016 Closing Date: 12/21/2016 SOLICITATION NUMBER: PSC-17-006-INL SUBJECT A solicitation for a Personal Services Contractor (PSC), Department of State (DOS), Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) The United States Government (USG), represented by the DOS, seeks applications from US citizens interested in providing PSC services as described in this solicitation. PRE-AWARD ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF PSC (JUN 2011) This solicitation may result in the award of one or more personal services contracts as defined in FAR 2.101. Prior to contract award, all offerors or quotes must advise the cognizant Contracting Officer if they have a personal conflict of interest, such as a financial conflict, that would prevent them from either meeting the requirements of the clause entitled, "Post-Award Ethical Responsibilities of Personal Services Contractors," or otherwise objectively performing their contractual duties upon contract award. HOW TO APPLY Offerors proposal shall be in accordance with the requirements stated in this solicitation at the place and time specified. A proposal will be determined non-responsive and ineligible for consideration unless all required documents and information are included in the submission. Offerors shall ensure their resume demonstrates their possession of the minimum qualifications outlined in this Solicitation, as well as their ability to fulfill all required duties. The Government is not responsible for any costs incurred by the offeror during the solicitation process. Proposals must include the following and not exceed twenty (20) pages: 1) Form OF-612 (Completed and signed) 2) Resume 3) Three letters of recommendation OR three references to include contact information *** ONE PDF ATTACHMENT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED VETERAN'S PREFERANCE Veteran's preference is not applicable to this position therefore do not submit DD-214. Submit proposal via e-mail to the attention of: INL/Deborah Strom E-mail: StromDG@state.gov Direct questions regarding this solicitation to: INL/Deborah Strom E-mail: StromDG@state.gov INL will not accept proposals beyond the closing time/date; unless it can be determined DOS mishandled the proposal. 1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: PSC-17-006-INL 2. ISSUANCE DATE: 11/21/2016 3. CLOSING DATE: 12/21/2016 4. TIME SPECIFIED FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: 3:00 PM, EST 5. POSITION TITLE: INL COR/GTM 6. MARKET VALUE: $67,395 - $122,142 (FS-03-02 Equivalent) 7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One year from date of award, with four optional years 8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Kabul, Afghanistan 9. JOB DESCRIPTION: See below GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONTRACTOR: The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is responsible for the development, supervision, coordination, and implementation of international narcotics control assistance activities and international criminal justice issues for the U.S. Department of State (DOS). As the foreign assistance funds have grown, INL has had to dramatically expand its oversight capabilities and staff to properly administer these foreign assistance programs in the areas of counternarcotics, rule of law, mentoring, commodity transfers, and infrastructure improvements. To date, these programs have built useful relationships and positive results across each country. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Works closely with INL stakeholders to analyze program needs for contractor support, as well as to define and document scopes of work, plans, schedules, site-specific considerations, work requirements, milestones, and operational activities for a variety of support contracts. Advises program managers in developing clear, accurate, and detailed contractual requirements. • Represents INL interests and priorities when coordinating contract administration efforts among multiple federal agencies and organizations both internal and external to DOS that are involved with, supported, or affected by INL contracts. Facilitates the flow of accurate and timely information among stakeholders, including organizing, hosting, and documenting project meetings. • Coordinates with program/project officers and designated contractor representatives on all technical matters that arise in the administration of the assigned contracts and task orders. Provides clarifications with regard to contract technical requirements, including inspection, testing, and acceptance procedures. • Maintains constant cognizance with respect to technical compliance with contract terms and conditions on the part of contractors. • Monitors contractors' progress and performance to assure compliance with all contract terms and conditions. Provides leadership and direction to program/project officers to ensure that rigorous surveillance of contractor activities is being exercised. Visits contractor work sites to provide guidance and resolve issues as needed. Reviews, evaluates, and documents contractor performance in relation to contract requirements, including conducting progress reviews and providing appropriate approvals. Prepares progress reports in conjunction with contract milestones and updates plans and schedules as needed. Ensures that the results of all projects administered by INL support the achievement of the bureaus goals and objectives. • Secures/Recommends approval, if required, for deviations from approved budgets, plans, schedules, and scopes of work, and documents the changes accordingly. • Reviews and approves contractor invoices for assigned contracts and task orders. Conducts analyses of spending trends in order to ensure compliance with spending plans and to anticipate potential funding issues. Initiates action to promptly resolve funding issues. • Approves contractor procurement requests within the authority delegated by the CO. Serves as property administrator for the assigned contracts. • Identifies and recommends solutions or corrective action to resolve any problems that interfere with contract progress and with the completion of projects according to contract requirements. In those cases where problems cannot be resolved within the incumbent's scope of authority, makes recommendations to INL management and the CO/COR on appropriate corrective actions and implements those actions upon approval. • Develops, implements and ensures compliance with contract administration processes, including invoice submission/review, payment authorization, verification of receiving reports, quality assurance/surveillance, deliverables receipt and acceptance, project file and COR contract document maintenance. • Oversees the development and implementation of a series of contractor and reports that ensure a regular flow of management information regarding contract activities among all concerned parties, including contractors, program offices/officers, and INL's senior management team. Serves as a technical advisor to INL and Embassy management on contract terms and conditions and performance requirements. Provides assessments of contractor progress as requested. ETHICAL REQUIREMENTS: • In performance of this contract, the contractor shall be subject to the ethics rules applicable to Department of State employees under 5 CFR Part 2635 (Standards of ethical conduct for employees of the Executive Branch), 2 FAM 700 (Ethics), and 3 FAM 4120 (Employee Responsibilities Abroad) and 4170 (Official Clearance of Speaking, Writing and Teaching). Contractor shall also be subject to five CFR Part 2637 (regulations concerning post-employment conflicts of interest). • Conditions for Contracting Prior to Receipt of Ethics Clearance: The Contractor may commence work prior to the completion of the ethics clearance. The Contractor shall not perform Contracting Officer Representative functions until clearance received. Further, if Contractor does not obtain ethics clearance within 30 days of commencing work, this contract may be terminated in accordance with paragraph (a) (2) of General Provision 16 of this contract. COR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES If selected for the COR position the duties, responsibilities shall include the following: 1. Coordinate with the Contractor on all technical matters which may arise in the administration of this contract. 2. Give technical clarification as to the meaning of the specifications, including inspection, testing, and acceptance procedures. 3. Monitor and inspect the Contractor's technical progress and performance and the expenditures of resources to assure compliance with the contract terms and conditions. 4. Inspect and accept deliverables (supplies, services, and/or reports) on behalf of the Government. 5. Verify satisfactory delivery of contract items and prepare receiving reports and/or approve invoices for payment. 6. Verify efficient and satisfactory performance of work by the Contractor. 7. Authorize payments. 8. Notify the Contracting Officer and Contractor in writing of any deficiencies in workmanship or materials immediately, and monitor response and repair items as stipulated in the contract. 9. Notify the CO writing, of any performance or schedule failure by the Contractor. 10. Verify contractor receiving, inspection, and acceptance reports. 11. Maintain constant cognizance with respect to technical compliance with contract terms on the part of the Contractor. 12. Resolve technical issues arising under the contract which fall within the scope of the COR's authority, and refer to the CO any issues which cannot be resolved without additional cost or time. 13. Inform the CO and the Program Office in writing of any needed changes in the Scope of Work or specifications. 14. Ensuring the Government meets its contractual obligations to the Contractor, e.g., providing Government furnished equipment and services and timely Government review and approval of documents if such reviews are required by the contract. 15. Know and understand the terms and provisions of the contract. 16. Know the scope and limitations of COR authority. 17. Protect privileged and sensitive procurement information. 18. Routinely visit the Contractor's workplace to check on the work of the contractor to ensure contract compliance. 19. Serve as the designated property administrator for the contract. 20. Serve as the primary liaison between the Contractor and the CO. 21. Ensure consistency among multiple GTMs under a single contract when providing guidance to the Contractor and evaluating the Contractor's performance. 22. Perform all acceptance tests required by the contract. 23. Establish and maintain adequate COR files. 24. Prepare statements of satisfactory performance or deviations, shortages or deficiencies. 25. Monitor the Contractor's use of key personnel and notify the CO of any changes in key personnel proposed by the contractor. 26. Review and approve the Contractor's vouchers or invoices. GTM DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Make recommendations, provide technical monitoring, advice, and assistance to aid the COR in the monitoring and evaluation of a contractor's performance, and document and report any non-conformance of contract or task order performance. All such actions shall be made in writing to the COR. 2. Keep the COR informed of all actions taken. 3. Promptly notify the COR in writing of any noncompliance or deviation in performance or fai1ure to make performance. 4. Execute receiving reports promptly and transmit them to the COR. 5. Know and understand the terms and provisions of the contract. 6. Know and understand the scope and limitations of GTM authority. 7. Notify the COR immediately, verbally and in writing, if delivered supplies or services should be rejected. 8. Prepare written reports to the COR, setting forth problem(s) encountered and contractor disputes. 9. Notify the COR in writing if unable to perform your designated duties. TRAININGS & DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES 1. Completes the Contracting Officer Representative (PA296) distance-learning (DL) course through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) within 120 days of arriving at Post. 2. Completes the Introduction to Working in an Embassy (PN113) distance-learning (DL) course through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) within the first six (6) months of arriving at Post. 3. If applicable - Completes the mandatory Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) Course (OT610) prior to deployment to Post. RELATIONSHIPS The Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) carries out duties on behalf of the Contracting Officer (CO), but reports to the INL Management Officer at Post. The Government Technical Monitor (GTM) is delegated authority by the CO to assist the COR. The incumbent's actions, decisions and recommendations are reviewed on the basis of demonstrated professional judgment, results achieved and conformance with appropriate laws and regulations. At time of award, the USG will make the determination on the level of effort based on needs of the government. The Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) is delegated the authority to act for the Contracting Officer in matters concerning technical clarification, inspection and, after concurrence by the Contracting Officer, acceptance of Contractor performance under the contract, including preparation of receiving reports, and the authorization of progress payments when appropriate. The COR will coordinate all work with the Contractor and review Contractor's performance at significant stages of its development. In no instance, however, shall the COR be authorized to alter or modify the specifications or the contract terms and the conditions or waive the government's requirement, price, delivery, or other terms and conditions. Such changes must be authorized, in writing, to the Contracting Officer. DELIVERABLES/REPORTS Deliverables are required under this PSC and shall include; monthly status reports, monthly evaluation of contractor performance, special reports when required and "Completion of assignment report," which shall be a compressive review of the projects in which the contractor was involved. Each report shall include a critique of and recommendations for the various projects. The completions of assignment reports are due no later than fifteen (15) days prior to the expiration of this contract. The Personal Service Contractor shall submit two (2) copies of each report as required to the following; 1. INL/POST Director(s) and; 2. INL/Program Officer Per FAR Part 4, the above referenced documents shall be incorporated and copies stored in the PSC's hard file under Section V.; Tab E - Receiving Reports. The Contractor shall prepare and submit two copies of each technical report required by the schedule of this contract (e.g., progress reports, final reports, etc.), to the Embassy INL Section and to the Program Officer, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), Department of State Washington, DC. The title page of all reports forwarded pursuant to this paragraph shall include a descriptive title, the author's name(s), contract number, project number, and title, contractor's name, name of the State Department project office, and the publication or issuance date of the report. When preparing reports, the Contractor shall refrain from using elaborate artwork, multicolor printing, and expensive paper/binding, unless it is specifically authorized in the Contract Schedule. Wherever possible, pages should be printed on both sides using single spaced type. COMPLEXITY The programs implemented by INL are generally highly complex multi-year development and capacity-building programs. The programs often require the ability to resolve critical problems and achieve difficult goals that may impact on other programs. Programs are also characterized by large obligations of USG funds, a potentially high-risk security environment, a geographically broad operating platform, demanding program schedules, frequently-changing requirements, politically sensitive outcomes, multiple interagency and international actors, multiple contractor and sub-contractor relationships, and intense audit/oversight scrutiny. Detailed plans, goals, objectives and evaluation criteria are required for the long-range implementation and administration of the programs. Decisions concerning planning and organizing the programs are complicated by the intricacy of the contracts and the need to deal with multilayered concepts. Problems can arise that require intuition - the ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong; inductive reasoning - the ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events); and deductive reasoning - the ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. SCOPE AND EFFECTIVENESS The PSC performs broad and extensive assignments related to a complex administrative/financial program spanning the full-range of citizen safety, law enforcement, rule of law, and counternarcotics programs in Afghanistan, which is of significant interest to the public and to Congress. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 1. U.S. citizen, obtain/maintain Department of State Secret security, Medical and Ethics clearance. 2. A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution, or Ten (10) years' professional work experience, of which five years should be directly related to performing functions in program management and/or contractor oversight. 3. Training or experience in contract administration principles, policies, regulations and procedures. 4. Demonstrated knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. 5. Demonstrated knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. 6. Ability to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. 7. Coordination -- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. 8. Judgment and Decision Making, considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. 9. Demonstrated ability to facilitate win-win outcomes and reconcile competing or opposing points of view. 10. Demonstrated superior writing and communication skills. 11. Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar. 12. Demonstrated ability to communicate information and ideas orally so others will understand. 13. Demonstrated ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. 14. Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. 15. Writing and communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. 16. Demonstrated ability to engage constructively with senior government and industry officials. PHYSICAL DEMANDS IN AFGHANISTAN The work requires the ability to travel to and from several remote areas. The work requires an above average resistance to fatigue and physical hardships. Successful completion of a State Department Class 1 unrestricted medical exam is required. Extended assignments to remote program sites will be required, necessitating the ability to walk medium to longer distances (hundreds of yards or more) on generally irregular dirt or stone surfaces, in both hilly and flat terrain. Additionally, those undergoing medical treatment or taking certain medicines that limit their physical or mental abilities may find it difficult to adhere to the limitations recommended by their physician(s). Travel on helicopters and/or cargo-oriented fixed wing aircraft may also be required. Those with ear or other problems, who do not easily adapt to pressurized environments or higher but non-pressurized environments, will find the travel requirements of these positions difficult. Climate conditions are also a factor. Work is often done in extremes of cold and heat, in dusty and windy environments, and frequently outdoors. Those with circulation problems or difficulties adapting to climate extremes or extremely dusty environments will find this aspect of the work difficult and may not be capable of passing the State Department required medical exam. EVALUATION FACTORS: FACTOR 1: Program Management (25 points) Experience in providing contractor oversight on high dollar contracts, ensuring contractor requirements are being fulfilled per the Statement of Work and other deliverables; evaluating and documenting contractor performance, especially through a well-developed Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). FACTOR 2: Federal Acquisition (25 points) Comprehensive understanding of contract administration principles, policies, regulations and procedures, including U.S. Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). FACTOR 3: Department of State (25 points) Knowledge of Department of State INL programs and experience working programs or projects in an austere or post-conflict environment. FACTOR 4: Past Performance (25 points) Past performance evaluation of applicant's ability to perform under a contract. In conducting the evaluation, the Government reserves the right to utilize all evaluation information available at the time of evaluation, whether provided by the applicant or obtained from other sources. COMPENSATION (BASE PAY) For award, INL will negotiate for this contract based on the market value as outlined above and overall experience relevant to the solicitation requirements. BENEFITS & ALLOWANCES AS A MATTER OF POLICY, INL NORMALLY AUTHORIZES THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES BENEFITS - IF APPLICABLE • Employee's FICA/Medicare Contribution • Contribution toward Health and Life Insurance • Pay Comparability Adjustment • Annual Increase • Eligibility for Worker's Compensation • Annual, Sick and Home Leave • 401K Plan • MEDVAC Reimbursement ALLOWANCES IN ACCORDANCE WITH DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARDIZED REGULATIONS (DSSR) - IF APPLICABLE • Temporary Quarters Subsistence Allowance (TQSA) or Per Diem upon arrival at Post • Housing Allowance • Post Allowance • Supplemental Post Allowance • Maintenance Allowance (SMA) • Education Allowance • Educational Travel (full-time United States based secondary) • Post Hardship Differential • Danger Pay • Shipment of HHE, UAB, POV and Consumables
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/State/INL/INL-RM-MS/PSC-17-006-INL/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: US Embassy, Kabul, Afghanistan
- Record
- SN04333632-W 20161123/161121234540-190e29f981be4d8cfcf9d6599a4b55d8 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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