RFI.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION D15PS00317 /

SOURCES SOUGHT

FOR CORE PLUS

WORKPLACE CONFLICT MANAGEMENT SERVICES

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued by the Department of Interior (DOI), Interior Business Center (IBC), Acquisition Service Directorate (AQD). AQD is a Federal Franchise Fund Contracting Office within DOI under the authority of the Government Management Reform Act and provides contracting support to all Federal agencies.

As this is a RFI only, all subsequent information such as responses to questions and answers related to this RFI will be posted to FedBizOpps.

This RFI is issued by AQD on behalf of the DOI Office of Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution (CADR) for information regarding conflict management in the workplace. The requirement is described in the attached DRAFT Performance Work Statement (PWS) titled “CORE PLUS Workplace Conflict Management Services”, dated February 24, 2015.

RFI OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this RFI are as follows.

Obtain Capability Statements from interested vendors describing the following: capability statements outlining relevant expertise, capabilities and interest to perform the subject requirement as detailed in the attached DRAFT PWS; description of similar past performance; and business size.

Gather industry feedback on the DRAFT PWS and RFI. The government encourages creative and different approaches to meet the requirement. The government is in the process of finalizing its requirement and would like the benefit of industry feedback. Interested parties are encouraged to respond to this RFI with their comments, concerns, questions, or suggestions.

The government requests that interested vendors suggest a simplified approach to pricing and discounting geographic / regional labor rates for the labor categories (SME, Senior, Mid-level, Junior) defined in the DRAFT PWS. The government would like to consider a limited number of local labor rates per labor category, as opposed to, one nationwide labor rate per labor category. The government would like vendors to suggest a simplified approach to regional labor rates, which would capture favorable regional discounts in labor rates, reflecting lower costs of living in different geographical areas.

The RFI is part of the acquisition planning and market research phase for this acquisition. The input received from this RFI will be considered in preparing the appropriate acquisition strategy and solicitation package.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their responses via email to the Points of Contact listed below. Any questions regarding this RFI must be received no later than Monday, April 6, 2015 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. All responses must be received no later than Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time.

2. All documents and materials submitted in response to this RFI will become the property of the government, and will not be returned.

3. Responses must be no more than 6 single sided pages and must include the following: point of contact information which includes: vendor company name and address, name of a point of contact, title, email address, phone number, and business size; and a six page narrative addressing all of the RFI objectives listed above.

POINTS OF CONTACT

The points of contact for this RFI are Louis Gilden, Senior Contracting Officer and Jeff Pearson, Contracting Officer, Acquisition Services Directorate, Interior Business Center, U.S. Department of the Interior, 381 Elden Street, Suite 4000, Herndon, VA 20170-4817. Any inquiries regarding this matter should be directed via email to Louis Gilden at Louis_Gilden@ibc.doi.gov and Jeff Pearson at Jeff_Pearson@ibc.doi.gov with the title “RFI D15PS00317 CORE PLUS” in the subject line.

DISCLAIMER

This RFI is for information and planning purposes only. It is not a commitment by the government and does not constitute a solicitation. In accordance with FAR 15.201, responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the government to form a binding contract. An announcement for proposals is not a part of this RFI and a contract will not be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement and any follow-up information requests. Interested parties responding to this RFI are not bound by the information in their responses.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Key Requirement - Interested vendors shall have the resources to provide Conflict Management Professionals (CMPs) in all of the geographic regions in which the DOI operates: the United States (Alaska and Hawaii), Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S. Territories, and Freely Associated States (Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau). The selected vendor shall: provide a pool of qualified CMPs throughout the country; oversee their performance; manage and administer Task Orders and deliverables; and provide technical direction. The selected vendor shall manage a roster of experienced professional service providers in all the disciplines described in the DRAFT PWS. The selected vendor must have the capability to identify CMP talent to successfully perform the required work.

Contract type – An IDIQ contract type is contemplated. Task Orders would be issued against the IDIQ contract as needed. The government would like vendors to suggest different contract types / approaches as appropriate.

Competition - The government is considering an open market competition. As the purpose of this RFI is market research, no set asides have been determined at this time.

Period of Performance (POP) - A 5 year POP is projected.

Labor Categories – See the DRAFT PWS. The government is contemplating using 4 labor categories, SME (Subject Matter Expert), Senior, Mid-level, and Junior, which are described in each of the 3 Tasks.

The government’s aspirational goal is to use more Junior labor categories than Senior labor categories, whenever possible.

Travel – An estimated breakout of where work will be performed.

a) 25% Washington DC metropolitan area

b) 15% Denver CO metropolitan area

c) 40% Rural USA

d) 20% Other USA metropolitan area

Historical Information - The volume of Task Order awards is approximately 2 per month and the average award is approximately $27,000.00. However, this is expected to increase under the new contract.

Washington DC Presence - The selected vendor must have a presence in the Washington DC metropolitan area for frequent meetings with the DOI CADR office in Washington DC.

Oral Presentations - Oral presentations are expected to be part of the evaluation process for the contract award.

Incumbent Contractor - The incumbent Contractor for Workplace Conflict Management Services at DOI is Carole Houk International (CHI), 2400 Garnett Drive, Alexandria, VA 22311-4908. Purchase Order D11PX18783 was issued to CHI effective June 23, 2011 with a 5 year period of performance including a Base Year and 4 Option Years, with a total ceiling of $2,943,971.00. The estimated value of the new 5 year IDIQ is expected to be greater than the current Purchase Order.

Potential NAICS Code - 541612 Human Resources Consulting Services - $15 million size standard

Potential Product Service Code (PSC) - R408 Support - Professional: Program Management/Support