19FS1A21N0001 RFI Instructions.pdf

DOS/FSI/EX/ACQ

United States Department of State Foreign Service Institute

FSI Training: Administrative and Professional Support Services

(FSI TAPSS)

Request for Information: 19FS1A21N0001

As the U.S. government’s premier foreign affairs training provider, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) is dedicated to ensuring the career-long learning opportunities required for success in today’s global arena. FSI promotes substantive, regional, and linguistic expertise, leadership finesse, personal resilience and innovative problem-solving.

Request for Information 19FS1A21N0001

FSI TAPSS

FSI is proud to serve the U.S. Department of State and the entire U.S. government foreign affairs community as a strategic enabler of diplomatic excellence. At the

George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center and numerous domestic and overseas satellite facilities, FSI provides more than 800 courses—including some 70 foreign languages—to more than 225,000 enrollees a year from the State Department and more than 40 other government agencies and the military service branches. FSI develops the employees our nation requires to fulfill our leadership role in world affairs and to advance and defend U.S. interests.

The Institute's programs include training for the professional development of Foreign Service administrative, consular, economic/commercial, political, and public diplomacy officers; for specialists in the fields of information management, office management, security, and medical practitioners and nurses; for Foreign

Service Nationals who work at U.S. posts around the world; and for Civil Service employees of the State Department and other agencies. Ranging in length from one day to two years, courses are designed to promote successful performance in each professional assignment, to ease the adjustment to other countries and cultures, and to enhance the leadership and management capabilities of the U.S.

foreign affairs community.

FSI requires administrative support, and other operational and training program support services within the five components EX, and the Office of the Director. The services under this contract are a blend of administrative support services and scope also encompasses a broad range of program support and professional service expertise necessary to deliver the critical training that FSI delivers. The Contractor shall provide staff, both cleared and uncleared, to support FSI’s constantly evolving training objectives while maximizing customer service provided at the schools and divisions that utilize this contract.

Current staffing needs for this requirement are approximately 165 (one hundred sixty five) full time equivalent (~1880 hours annually) contract staff members across all FSI components. Of the 165 encumbered positions, approximately 115 are considered SCA and the remaining are exempt professional services.

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and is not a Request for Proposals or Quotes (RFP or RFQ) or an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any services. Responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The Government reserves the right to determine how it should proceed as a result of this notice. Furthermore, entities that respond to this RFI should not anticipate feedback with regard to submissions. The Government will not pay any cost incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the responding party's expense. The information provided in this RFI posting is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The Department of State, Foreign Service Institute is seeking information regarding the attached Draft Solicitation. Please carefully review the Draft Solicitation document and respond according to the directions stated below.

RFI Responses/capability statements should include the following:

1. Contact information:

a. Name of company

b. Applicable small business socioeconomic programs

c. Institutional or organization affiliation, if applicable

d. Email address

e. Phone number

f. DUNS number

2. Summary of credentials/professional and corporate experience relative to similar requirements; specifically

a. Providing administrative staffing services to federal customers with over 100 employees

b. Providing professional services for Curriculum, Evaluation, Educational Technology, and Communications for federal training facilities.

c. Providing contract staff support to the U.S. Department of State or other government foreign affairs agencies

3. Recommendations to improve or clarify the labor categories or other sections of the draft solicitation.

4. Any missing elements that should be addressed in the solicitation.

5. Based on the requirements of the draft labor categories, please state the estimated fully burdened labor rate hour. Any theoretical pricing provided is understood to be both notional and nonbinding.

6. This requirement is currently structured as a labor hour contract type. The government would prefer to structure the next iteration of the contract as firm-fixed price. Therefore, please advise:

a. The recommended approach to structure this as a firm fixed price. Is that weekly or monthly billing?

b. How would your billing structure account for gaps in service

7. How many PMs would you recommend for an effort of this size and scope? Is it customary for PMs to be fully funded by the government or should the contractor provide direct PM support via their G&A or overhead?

8. Recommendations for next steps to procure this requirement including available and appropriate 8(a) set-asides on GWACs other than GSA Schedule.

9. Any additional information that may benefit the Government to refine the Requirements Document.

Do not include the following in the response:

1. Do not submit formal proposals or offers;

2. Do not submit requests to be considered for award or to be notified of a future solicitation

3. Do not submit requests to be added to a mailing or distribution list;

4. Do not submit questions or comments not related to this RFI;

5. Do not respond via telephone.

How to Submit Responses:

1. Please submit responses via email to ModrakER@state.gov and

JohnsonD5@state.gov including “19FS1A21N0001: FSI TAPSS” in the e-mail subject line.

2. Please submit capability statement responses as a single Adobe pdf file attachment to the email.

3. If you have any questions regarding this RFI, please submit them via e-mail to ModrakER@state.gov. Please include “19FS1A21N0001: FSI TAPSS” in the email subject line.

4. The RFI submission closing date is Monday March 15, 2021 at 2:00 PM EST.

mailto:ModrakER@state.gov mailto:JohnsonD5@state.gov mailto:ModrakER@state.gov