U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, Purchasing Division, Room 1230, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092

U -- EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY TRAINING SEMINARS Sol 96-C-23 Due 071596. POC Karen Haskins-Brewer (312/751-4615). I. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. II. This solicitation is issued as Request-For-Quotations (RFQ) 96-C-23. III. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular Number 90-37. IV. This solicitation is not a small business set-aside. V. (Line Item 001): Offeror to provide nine (9) full 2-consecutive-day EEO seminars. VI. Offeror must conduct nine (9) full 2-consecutive-day EEO for Supervisors and Managers seminars in Chicago, Illinois, within the boundaries of Division Street, Roosevelt Road, Orleans Street, and Lake Michigan. In conducting these seminars the vendor that is awarded the contract will do the following: (1) Participate in preliminary and post training discussions with RRB official(s) to tailor elements of the seminars to meet the specific needs of the RRB and provide constructive feedback on systemic or potential EEO problems discovered during the training. The preliminary discussions will be conducted in person and will not exceed 2 consecutive days at the RRB's Chicago, Illinois headquarters. The post training feedback will require a written summary report from the contractor followed by not more than 2 teleconferences; (2) Provide blocks of training seminars that include lectures, all reference materials, simulations/case studies, audio-visual equipment; (3) Course evaluation design, distribution and feedback; and (4) Provide a training site within the boundaries specified above. The seminars will provide training for approximately 225 RRB managers and supervisors ranging in grade from GS-7 to SES, most of whom will be exposed to this type of training for the first time. Each seminar will have 20-30 participants grouped and scheduled, as best as practicable, by grade ranges. The RRB project manager will arrange all scheduling and provide the contractor a list of participants not later than 5 calendar days prior to each seminar. The duration of the contract performance will be nine (9) months. The contract period must begin on or about September 1996 and be completed not later than June 1997. Seminars will be generally conducted in blocks of two seminars on the following tentative 1996 dates: October 28 & 29, October 31 & November 1, November 18 & 19; and the following tentative 1997 dates: January 27 & 28, January 30 & 31, March 3 & 4, March 6 & 7, April 21 & 22, April 24 & 25. The post training summary report and the follow-up teleconferences will be due not later than June 30, 1997, and prior to payment for the final block of seminars. The firm dates for each seminar will be determined by the RRB in advance of awarding the contract. Each seminar day will commence at 8:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. and include a 15 minute morning and afternoon break and a 1 hour lunch break. Lunch breaks will be independent and each participant will be responsible for the cost of his/her lunch. The seminars must be designed for Federal Agencies in general and specifically to meet the needs of the RRB. They must integrate these topical areas: in-house EEO/Affirmative Employment Programs, managing/appreciating diversity in the work place, leadership, sound human resource management and personnel practices--especially during agency downsizing. The seminars must help managers: (1) Understand the emerging diversity of the work place; (2) Understand their legal and leadership responsibility for creating and maintaining a work environment that is free from illegal discrimination; (3) Recognize and prevent sexual harassment in the work place; (4) Understand complaint resolution and the cost benefits in managing complaints; (5) Understand how poor personnel practices can lead to EEO complaints and (6) Develop and implement the managerial leadership required for effective EEO action in the work place. The seminars must be interactive and use a combination of lecture, small and large group discussions, visual aides, and reference material. The seminars must be designed with enough flexibility to adjust to meet the dynamics and needs of each group of participants, and respond to constructive recommendations extracted from course evaluations. The seminar pricing must be inclusive of all training fees, all materials, air fare, per diem, seminar site for each seminar, and the creation of a class participant feedback instrument to be administered by RRB staff leading to contractor transmittal of a report summarizing and discussing the RRB trainee experience. The RRB will pay the contractor for each block of seminars in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act. Vendors interested in competing for this contract must provide the following documentation: (1) Seminar description broken down into hours devoted to each course element; (2) syllabus reflecting the outline of both seminar days; (3) samples of course materials; (4) past performance information that includes the names of at least 3 agencies for whom the vendor has conducted this or similar type training, contract numbers and/or training agreements, description of the training conducted, dates of the training and names of the trainers on the respective contracts, names and telephone numbers of the agency project managers or points of contact; (5) names and biographies of the trainers proposed for this contract; and (6) training facility Booking Agreement. The RRB requires four (4) copies of the vendor's written proposal and one (1) copy of the sample of course materials. VII. FAR Provision 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial items, applies to this acquisition and is hereby included by reference. VIII. FAR provision 52.212-2 is incorporated by reference with the following addenda: In paragraph (a), (1) Proposals will be evaluated using the following technical and past performance criteria - A. Course content, including visual aids and course material; B. Expertise and experience of trainers; C. Past performance of similar training seminars. The relationship of price to all other factors is 1:2. Following the evaluation of proposals, the government will select the proposal providing the best value to satisfy this training requirement. IX. FAR provision 52.212-3, Offerors Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items, must be completed and submitted with the offer. X. FAR clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items, applies to this solicitation. XI. FAR clause 52.212-5. Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items, hereby applies to this acquisition. In accordance with FAR clause 52.212-5, the following clauses are hereby incorporated by reference in paragraph (b): 52.203-10 Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal Improper Activity (41 U.S.C. 423); 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity (E.O. 11246), 52.222-35 Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans (38 U.S.C. 4212), 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers (29 U.S.C. 793), 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era (38 U.S.C. 4212). XII. Response time is fifteen (15) calendar days after date of this publication for submission of proposals and the required sample of course materials to the above contracting office. Mark outside of envelope clearly with ``RFQ 96-C-23 enclosed'' and offeror's name and address. XIII. No telephone calls will be accepted. Any further questions regarding this Request for Quotations (RFQ) must be in writing on company letterhead and can be sent or faxed to Ms. Karen Haskins-Brewer of the RRB Purchasing Division at 312/751-4923. The RRB will not send an acknowledgment of receipt of any firm's submission. (179)

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