DHHS/Administration for Children and Families, Division of Acquisition Management, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., Washington, DC 20447

R -- CROSS PROGRAM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STRENGTHEN THE IMPLEMENTATION AND INTEGRATION OF FEDERAL/STATE PROGRAMS FOR CHILD CARE, CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AND TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) IN THE CONTEXT OF FUNDAMENTAL CULTURAL CHANGE AND SYSTEMIC REFORM POC Sylvia M. Johnson, Contracting Officer, (202) 401-9358, Kimberly A. Marshall, Contract Specialist, (202) 401-4721 The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families is seeking sources to indicate interest in a requirement for services of an organization or group thereof with significant expertise and credibility among the top leaders of State government, including the State executives, top gubernatorial staff and policy advisors, legislative leaders and senior legislative staff, and top officials of State agencies charged with administering the Child Care, Child Support, and TANF programs. Among the latter, ACF has already established partnering relationships, but many program issues transcend agency boundaries and involve other departments and branches of State government, in addition to having implications that cross State borders. Many of the Governors of the States and their staff and policy advisors have been taking a direct and active role in developing their own welfare reform programs. Additionally, State Legislators are involved as well, and have a great impact upon implementation. For these reasons, ACF needs to establish linkages, information channels, and build partnerships inclusive of but also reaching beyond its current, direct State administrative constituency. The contractor will assist ACF's Office of Family Assistance, Office of Child Support Enforcement, Child Care Bureau, and Regional Offices in compiling, synthesizing, packaging, and communicating outcome-oriented, strategic policy and cross-program design information and technical assistance to strengthen the strategic design, implementation and integration of the abovementioned and related programs in the context of fundamental cultural change and systemic reforms mandated by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 (P.L. 104-193). Tasks to be performed include: (1) To compile, explain, package, and disseminate information about innovative and/or promising practices, ideas, policy/design choices, and technical assistance that will help State and community leaders improve the ability of these and other programs to work holistically in achieving the outcome goals of the three programs; (2) To deliver, present, and explain strategic and leadership-relevant aspects of the above information through a variety of means to top level State and community policy-and decision-makers, (including Governors, key legislators, and their top staff), program managers and implementers across the three programs; (3) To put this flow of information into an outcome-oriented, comprehensive perspective that will help States develop integrated implementation and operational strategies in a framework that effectively connects the three (and related) programs not only to address the multiple needs of the service population but relate "welfare reform" program outcomes to the interests of other sectors and citizens. This objective is generally applicable to tasks 1, 2 and 4; and (4) To establish a framework for developing consensus on outcomes, integrated measurement schema, and continuous improvement performance targets related to the results which PRWORA and the three programs are intended to accomplish. The contractor will convene and facilitate a consensus-building, pilot event, "town hall," or forum in which a widely representative, multi-level group of influential partners and stakeholders would develop performance measures, targets, and intergovernmental/inter-sectoral/inter-jurisdictional strategies. This is not a request for competitive proposals. The purpose of this notice is to identify qualified firms to meet the Government's minimum requirements. Firms having the required expertise, capabilities, and experience are invited to submit complete information discussing such capabilities. Information furnished should include company background information and a detailed description of relevant experience. Responses should NOT include cost or pricing data. The information provided will pertain to this synopsis only. Any interested firm must submit appropriate data in two copies within 15 days of this announcement. The Government does not intend to pay for the information solicited or received. Respondents will not be notified of the source data received, nor will a source list be provided. This is not a request for proposals (RFP) and there is no RFP available. (0134)

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