RESEARCH, STUDIES, AND ANALYSES This is a notice of intent to award a contract to Logistics Management Institute (LMI) for research, studies, and analyses for the Department of Defense. Since 1985, LMI has worked under a sole source contract to operate a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) to provide DOD with essential research, studies and analysis capability related to 1) life cycle management of weapon systems, military equipment and supplies; 2) readiness, deployment and sustainment of military forces; 3) procurement of defense goods and services; 4) training, organization, and management of DOD's active military, reserve and civilian work forces; 5) construction, maintenance and operation of military installations and facilities; and 6) application of information technology and resource analysis to defense policy and management issues. Operations of the LMI FFRDC ceased at the end of FY 1998, which has provided an opportunity to transition from a sole source approach to procuring these services to one involving competition. Such a transition must occur over a period of several months to permit completion of important projects where LMI is the original source. Award to another contractor would result in duplicative costs and unacceptable schedule delays. Nonetheless, it is planned that the amount of work in this area issued under other than full and open competition will be reduced significantly in FY 1999 from the levels in previous years. For the reasons discussed above, there is a need to issue a contract by other than full and open competition for the FFRDC follow-on work required in FY 1999 while the transition plan is being executed. The establishment of a sole source contract with LMI is a follow-on contract for the continued provision of highly specialized services where LMI was the original source in the following areas: Logistics: Research and analysis in three broad areas: setting the strategic direction for defense logistics activities, integrating and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of logistics processes through supply chain management concepts, and designing and implementing effective support concepts for weapon systems. Acquisition: Research and analysis of defense acquisition policy and its implementation. Tasks will be in three principal areas: acquisition reform, international programs, and price and cost analysis. Force Readiness and Management: Research on issues of readiness assessment, human resource management, and health care systems. Readiness assessments will include equipment, training and personnel qualification skills Installations and Facilities: Support to DoD's highly specialized base realignment and closure efforts, assessing the effectiveness of base closure strategies, potential economic and environmental impacts, and related issues. Information Technology: Assess and advise DoD in the development of key information systems. Major tasks that are anticipated include information resource management (IRM) strategic planning, performance measurement of information systems, requirements determination, compliance with Klinger-Cohen requirements, development of prototype systems, independent verification and validation, benchmarking, business process reengineering, CMM compliance, software development risk assessment, and the management of software development. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A solicitation document does not exist. Points of Contact for this notice are Frances J. Meckel, Contracting Officer, (703) 614-4577; EMail: MeckeFJ@hqda.army.mil or Joyce Rose, Contracting Officer, (703) 695-2564. Posted 12/21/98 (W-SN282157).

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