U.S. Department of Commerce, Acquisition Services, 14th & Constitution Ave., N.W., Room 6516, Washington, D.C. 20230

B -- ASSESSMENT OF CAREER MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS DUE 090198 POC Howard G. Price 202/482-4185 This is a Request for Information (RFI) ONLY. The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) requires an assessment of its career management and development programs. The specific areas for review and analysis using various employee demographics include the following: 1) performance appraisal and award/recognition programs; 2) internal merit promotion actions for grades 12 -- 15; and 3) available training opportunities and employee participation. The data, which will be derived from a sample comprised of four DOC operating units (approximately 16,000 employees), must be obtained and analyzed from manual and electronic searches encompassing a variety of systems, data bases and physical locations. The review period spans five years and may require the examination of thousands of records. The purpose of this notice is to identify potential sources, costs and the feasibility of accomplishing this type of assessment. Interested parties are asked to submit a written response to this RFI. Interested parties should respond to the following topics: understanding of career performance and development management programs and processes; the presentation of a practical framework for achieving the purpose; experience and past performance in conducting similar assessments; technical approach and methodology; qualifications and approach to providing insightful and pragmatic assessment; and, to the maximum extend practible, an accurate cost estimate. Multiple or alternative approaches are welcome. Although this RFI requests specific information, it is not intended to discourage innovative thinking on the part of industry to propose alternative solutions or approaches that the Government may not have considered. Interested parties may also submit comments or suggestions in addition to or in lieu of a written approach. Those comments are welcome, but will not be considered an approach for the purpose of advising vendors as to their viability as candidates for the planned competition. For the comments/suggestion submission, the vendor is encouraged to provide any comments or recommendations they may have on technology, acquisition strategy, contractual mechanism or other issues that would assist the Government in developing the solicitation. The vendor is also encouraged to provide suggestions for inclusion of information in the solicitation that would enable the vendor to prepare a complete and accurate proposal. Vendors responding should provide a point-of-contact including: representative's name, email address, street address, city/state/zip code, and telephone number. Further, the vendor should respond with business size and any business size indicators. Written submissions in response to this RFI should not exceed twenty-five pages for the requested information. Please submit four paper copies (double-sided) and formatted for 8 " by 11" sheets, single spaced with margins of one (1) inch on all sides. The type for all documents submitted (including charts and graphs) should be black print on white paper, should not exceed twelve (12) characters per linear inch or be smaller than twelve (12) point, and should not exceed six (6) lines per vertical inch. Your response is to be made by the Government by 4:00 PM Washington DC local time, on September 1, 1998. All documents should be delivered as a single package to the following location: U.S. Department of Commerce Acquisition Services, Room 6516 Attn: Howard G. Price 14th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20230 All packages must be delivered at the entrance on 15th Street between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues. This is not a pre-solicitation notice that consitutes an Invitation for Bid or Request for Proposal and IS NOT to be contrued as a commitment by the Government. The Government WILL NOT reimburse contractors for any costs incurred in responding to this notice or subsequent exchanges of information. Organizations having the required expertise and capabilities are invited to submit information as cited above. Comments do not constitute a proposal;rather, will be considered as an open exchange of capabilities and ideas. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the source data received, nor will a source list be provided. Posted 08/20/98 (W-SN239631). (0232)

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