R -- DIVERSITY ORIENTED EMPLOYMENT REFERRAL SERVICES

Notice Date

December 6, 2000

Contracting Office

U.S. Department of the Interior, National Business Center, Acquisition Services, 1849 C Street NW, Room 1324, Washington, DC 20240

ZIP Code

20240

Solicitation Number

NBCW1S00001

Response Due

December 21, 2000

Point of Contact

Latetia Henderson,Latetia_M_Henderson@nbc.gov, Patrick Patterson,M_Patrick_Patterson@nbc.gov

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact the Contracting Officer/Contract (Latetia_M_Henderson@nbc.gov, M_Patrick_Patterson@nbc.gov)

Description

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in 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. Streamlined solicitation number NBCW1S01005 has been assigned to this request for proposal (RFP). Historically, minorities have not attained a level of employment in the Department of the Interior (DOI) commensurate with their presence in the Civilian Labor Force. Past, recent and current efforts to improve the under representation of diverse employees have not produced significant results. To address this under representation, the Department of the Interior developed and implemented a Strategic Plan for Work Force Diversity which directs all Bureaus and Offices within the Department to: "Improve diversity through outreach to under represented groups." Objective: The purpose of this project is to identify, recruit and refer individuals from diverse and minority communities in all types of occupations within the Department. This entails entering into a contractual relationship with a consortium of nonprofit community organizations and small businesses having employment and recruitment programs which will provide the Department and its Bureaus with an extensive network for outreach, recruitment and referral of diverse candidates resulting in a future diverse work force. Scope: This contract will establish an agreement with a consortium of nonprofit community organizations and/or small businesses who will recruit and register diverse candidates using the direct referral method as well as other sources such as automated databases for employment within the Department. The consortium will provide the Department and its Bureaus with a pool of diverse applicants from across the country for filling positions through competitive procedures involving public notice announcements (competitive examining), merit promotion announcements, and noncompetitive appointing authorities such as the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP), Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP), Outstanding Scholars, Veterans Re-Adjustment Authority (VRA), Employment of Persons with Disabilities, Disabled Veterans, Career Management Interns, etc., and other positions and vacancies throughout the country, including senior level positions. The consortium will provide the Department with a specific range and variety of diverse applicants from under represented occupations in locations throughout the nation, but with specific needs in the West and Southwestern portions of the country. The consortium will also utilize a Department approved methodology to identify and track applicants from the referral stage to accepted application (qualified, unqualified, best qualified, and selected). The contractor shall perform the following: (1) Establish new and maintain ongoing relationships with non-profit and community based organizations, and establish recruitment strategies that are responsive to the needs of the Department and its Bureaus; (2) Produce a high volume of qualified candidates that meet the requirements for vacancy announcements from the Department and its Bureaus; (3) Develop and maintain a tracking system for referral of applicants; (4) Establish and maintain database to link qualified applicants to Departmental vacancy announcements; (5) Establish a process for monitoring effectiveness of the project; baseline evaluation will occur at 6-month intervals to determine adequacy of performance; (6) Work together with DOI Bureaus and offices to meet the objectives of this initiative; (7) Use appropriate software tools. The following deliverables will be required: (1) Management plan with listing of recruitment strategies that address the employment requirement of the Department and its Bureaus (delivered within six weeks after contract award); (2) Monthly referral progress reports; (3) Monthly Bureau status reports; (4) Consultations, presentations and interactions with various Departmental working groups (as required); (5) Draft (cumulative) progress report (two months prior to end of each contract year); (6) Final (cumulative) progress report (due at the end of each contract year). The government anticipates awarding an one-year base year contract with 2 one-year options. In the event that funds are not made available for the continuation of a option year, the contract shall be canceled or terminated. Provision clause at FAR 52.217-1, Cancellation under Multi-year Contracts, and 52.217-5, Evaluation of Options, are applicable in this acquisition. The contractor will be notified of the government's intention to exercise the option 30 days prior to the expiration of the base period. The total duration of this contract including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed 3 years. The contractor's proposal must address the base year and option years separately in their business proposal. Place of performance for the base and option period is Washington, DC, delivery and acceptance of the contractor's work will be Dept. of Interior, 1849 C St, Washington, DC. Provision at 52.212-1, Instruction to Offerors-Commercial, applies to this acquisition. Provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items applies to this acquisition including the follwing evaluation criteria. The criteria in decending order of importance are Technical, Past Performance and Cost. The technical sub-criteria includes: (1) The offeror's ability to demonstrate established, or means to establish, relationships with minority community organizations, (2) Ability to demonstrate a track record and experience in conducting employment programs with a concentration in the recruitment and referral of diverse candidates, (3) Ability to plan, organize an control program activities, (4) Demonstrated ability minority representation with in the vendor's organization, (5) Ability to demonstrate a means of generating qualified referrals at varying professional and technical levels, and (6) Demonstrated use of appropriate software tools. Past Performance will be evaluated based on the offeror's ability to demonstrate successful performance on contracts of similar size and scope. Price will be evaluated for reasonableness. The award will be based on the vendor who can provide the highest technical approach for the most fair and reasonable costs. Provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items applies to this acquisition. Offers must submit Representations and Certifications with offer. Clause numbers 52.21-4, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition including subparagraphs (11), (12), (13), (14), (15) and (17). Offers are due no later than 2:00 pm on December 21, 2000. Individuals may contact Latetia Henderson via e-mail Latetia_M_Henderson@nbc.gov

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001208/RSOL010.HTM (W-341 SN5082K3)