U.S. General Accounting Office, Office of Acquisition Management, 441 G Street N.W., Room 6852, Washington, DC 20548

R -- METHODOLOGY TO EVALUATE THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL STRUCTURE OF A MAJOR FEDERAL AGENCY POC Karen Gantt, (202) 512-2709 The U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) is seeking sources to provide and support implementation of a ''state of the art'' methodology to evaluate the current financial management structure of a major federal agency. The federal agency has over 50,000 financial management personnel. The scope of this effort will involve analyzing the agency's current financial management structure, including the financial management functions, the number of personnel in those functional areas and their qualifications. In addition, the methodology should include a means of identifying the most efficient and competent financial management personnel structure to support the agency's mission. Finally, the contractor will be required to identify strategies to achieve a personnel structure with the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are needed to perform proficient federal financial management operations. More specifically, the methodology should identify the current status of the financial management structure, including (1) major functions and specific tasks that support financial management operations, such as entering data from source documents, verifying and supervising data entry, and reconciling accounts, (2) the organizations and number of personnel that perform the financial management tasks, and (3) the competencies of the personnel performing the financial management tasks. In addition, the methodology should identify the optimal number of personnel and corresponding skill levels to support those financial management functions. Finally, the contractor will be required to identify strategies and approaches to achieve the most efficient financial management personnel structure. This could include the identification of ''best practices'' used by other organizations (both federal and industry) to successfully meet their financial management personnel requirements. Contractors will be permitted to subcontract for needed disciplines to ensure effective and efficient methodology implementation. Firms possessing the capability to provide financial management personnel evaluation methodology are invited to submit details on their proposed approach and methodology along with their qualifications. Detailed and specific responses are encouraged, rather than standard marketing literature. Interested firms must submit their qualifications in terms of the education and experience of firm and subcontractor personnel. Preferred educational backgrounds and skills include (1) concentrations in Personnel/Organizational Theory, Social Sciences, Statistics, Policy Science/Policy Analysis, and Accounting, (2) technical skillsin financial management, including experience in federal financial management, and personnel structures, and (3) experience in implementing complex methodologies in the federal arena and/or large organizations. Firms should also include detailed descriptions of completed financial personnel evaluation reports. Written responses must be received within thirty (30) calendar days andsent to the U.S. GAO, Accounting and Information Management Division, Director-DFA, Room 6B16, 441 G Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20548. (0025)

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