RFI-MSPB-08-006.doc

U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board

Financial and Administrative Management

1615 M Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036

Phone: 202 653 6772, ext. 1120; Fax: 202 653 7821; E-Mail: veronica.bullock@mspb.gov

March 6, 2008

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

MSPB-08-006

ELECTRONIC TRANSCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION

The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is an independent, quasi-judicial agency established to protect Federal merit systems against partisan political and other prohibited personnel practices and to ensure adequate protection for Federal employees against abuses by agency management.

The MSPB carries out its statutory responsibilities and authorities primarily by adjudicating individual employee appeals and by conducting merit systems studies. In addition, MSPB reviews the significant actions of the Office of Personnel Management to assess the degree to which those actions may impact merit.

bACKGROUND In fiscal year 2007, MSPB conducted 868 hearings (similar to a court proceeding) with records of the proceedings obtained using various court reporting firms throughout the country. Currently, these court reporting firms are required to provide a record of the hearing through one of two recording formats, cassette tape or CD. Cassette tape technology is out-dated and becoming less and less available in the marketplace.

The MSPB has eight satellite offices. Six regional offices are located in Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; San Francisco, California; and Alexandria, Virginia. Two field offices are located in Denver, Colorado and New York City, New York. Our hearings are held in these office locations, as well as a number of other sites throughout the country. During the period of October 2006 through September 2007, MSPB conducted hearings in the geographical areas covered by each of the regional and field offices as listed below:

Atlanta, Georgia

Chicago, Illinois

Dallas, Texas

Denver, Colorado

New York, New York

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

San Francisco, California

Alexandria, Virginia

The attachment shows the number of hearings at each specific sight.

purpose of request for information The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to assist MSPB in meeting its statutory responsibility for adjudicating appeals by the most effective and efficient means possible at a reasonable cost. We are using this RFI to gather information on the technology which is currently available that will offer the choice of an electronically searchable record of a hearing and also allow for a hard copy transcript if desired.

Description of information requested The MSPB is interested in the technology available for recording hearings and the best practices currently being used in court reporting. Specifically, we are interested in:

Available Technology

· The various technologies available for producing full-text searchable electronic transcripts. Examples may include such methods as Stenographic, CART, cassette, digital, mask, or voice writing with speech recognition. Please describe the methods you use and the resulting electronic transcript format.

Cost Estimates

· The MSPB is interested in the cost for continuous monitored recording services for both a four and eight hour hearing which is normally conducted during the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6 p.m., excluding time for lunch, Monday through Friday. Cost estimates should also include any additional costs the various court reporting methods may require. Some examples are overtime rates, cancellation costs, minimum fees and travel costs, as well as the delivery costs for 1, 5, and 10 day delivery of the record of the hearing.

disclaimer This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. In accordance with FAR 15.202(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the review.

how to respond Please submit your response to the RFI at the following address no later than 4:00 PM on March 28, 2008:

U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board ATTN: Veronica Bullock, Room 500 1615 M Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 Please include in your response those areas where your services are available for all or parts of the MSPB locations noted above and on the attachment.

Responses may also be submitted via email at procurement@mspb.gov

ATTACHMENT - MSPB HEARINGS

Number of Hearings

ATLANTA REGIONAL OFFICE

Atlanta, Georgia

Biloxi, Mississippi

Birmingham, Alabama

Charleston, South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina

Eglin AFB, Florida

Gray, Tennessee

Hinesville, Georgia

Huntsville, Alabama

Jackson, Mississippi

Jacksonville, Florida

Key West, Florida

Knoxville, Tennessee

Macon, Georgia

Memphis, Tennessee

Miami, Florida

Mobile, Alabama

Montgomery, Alabama

Nashville, Tennessee

Orlando, Florida

Palm Beach, Florida

Panama City, Florida

Pensacola, Florida

Robins AFB, Georgia

Tampa, Florida

Valdosta, Georgia

Warner Robins, Georgia

West Palm Beach, Florida

CENTRAL REGIONAL OFFICE (CHICAGO)

Chicago, Illinois

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio

Des Moines, Iowa

Detroit, Michigan

Indianapolis, Indiana

Kansas City, Missouri

Lexington, Kentucky

Louisville, Kentucky

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Nashville, Tennessee

St. Louis, Missouri

St. Paul, Minnesota

DALLAS REGIONAL OFFICE

Corpus Christi, Texas

Dallas, Texas

Houston, Texas

Little Rock, Arkansas

New Orleans, Louisiana

San Antonio, Texas

DENVER FIELD OFFICE

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Bismark, North Dakota

Denver, Colorado

El Paso, Texas

Kansas City, Missouri

Lakewood, Colorado

Omaha, Nebraska

Ontario, California

Salt Lake City, Utah

Tucson, Arizona

NEW YORK FIELD OFFICE

Buffalo, New York

New York, New York

NORTHEASTERN REGIONAL OFFICE (PHILADELPHIA)

Baltimore, Maryland

Boston, Massachusetts

Charleston, West Virginia

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Hartford, Connecticut

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Portland, Maine

Providence, Rhode Island

Richmond, Virginia

Trenton, New Jersey

WASHINGTON DC REGIONAL OFFICE

Alexandria, Virginia

Arlington, Virginia

Norfolk, Virginia

WESTERN REGIONAL OFFICE (SAN FRANCISCO)

Bakersfield, California

Beale AFB, California

Boise, Idaho

Camp Pendleton, California

Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona

Davis, California

Edwards AFB, California

El Segundo, California

Glendale, California

Honolulu, Hawaii

LaGuna Niguel, California

Las Vegas, Nevada

Los Angeles, California

Medford, Oregon

Olympia, Washington

Portland, Oregon

Reno, Nevada

Sacramento, California

Salinas, California

San Bernardino, California

San Diego, California

San Francisco, California

Santa Ana Heights, California

Santa Clara, California

Seattle, Washington

Spokane, Washington

Washington, DC

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