Proposal_Instructions_ March 2020.docx

PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS – 2020 SOLICITATION EEO INVESTIGATORS

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT ANY OFFEROR WHO DOES NOT FOLLOW THE PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR 2020 SOLICITATION

EEO INVESTIGATORS: NO EXCEPTIONS.

Proposals can be submitted at any time during the open posting. Classes are held periodically throughout the year.

A. General Information

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is soliciting individuals with the right skill sets and interested in investing numerous hours a week to conduct EEO investigations and management initiated investigations into harassment allegations that are not part of a discrimination complaint, in accordance with EEOC regulations and USPS quality and timeliness standards. Selected individuals will be independent contractors, located throughout the United States, who will enter into Ordering Agreements with the USPS to provide EEO investigative services in accordance with the Terms and Conditions set forth in the Ordering Agreement. An Ordering Agreement is not itself a contract. It is a written agreement negotiated between a purchasing organization and an awardee that contains Terms and Conditions applying to future contracts between the parties; individual Task Orders assigning the investigation of particular complaints of discrimination or harassment allegations that are not part of a discrimination complaint may be issued under the Ordering Agreement in a "fee for service" arrangement. Contracts will be formed when individual Task Orders are issued under the Ordering Agreement. There is no guarantee of work or the number of cases assigned for awardees selected to enter into Ordering Agreements under this solicitation. An Investigator is paid on a “per case” basis; on average $1,200 on successful completion of the case. The average amount of time spent completing an investigation varies, but most investigations are labor intensive. Investigator performance will be evaluated by the Contracting Officer’s Representative. Again, there is no guarantee that an awardee will be assigned any number of cases.

The USPS operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and an Investigator may be required to make phone calls during all hours in order to contact the appropriate personnel on a case.

B. Proposal Preparation Instructions These instructions establish the acceptable minimum requirements for the format and content of proposals. The Technical Proposal and Past Performance (Provision 4-2) shall be limited to a total of 7 pages. Cover Page, Table of Contents, Provision 4-3, References, and Resume will be separate documents not included in the page count. A page is defined as an 8 -1/2 inch by 11 inch sheet of paper with one inch margins on all four sides. Ensure each of the Evaluation Factors or Supplier Capability and Supplier Past Performance elements are addressed.

Please ensure pages are numbered to eliminate any confusion. In the event of an ambiguity in the numbering of pages, the USPS will exercise its own discretion in the counting of pages. Pages in excess of the set limitations will not be evaluated.

Proposals must set forth full, accurate and complete information as required by this solicitation (including attachments). The making of any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements in the Offeror’s proposal is prohibited by federal law and may render the Offeror subject to criminal prosecution under section 1001, Title 18, United States Code.

The Proposal must be sufficiently detailed and complete to demonstrate an understanding of the ability to comply with the requirements of 2019 Solicitation EEO INVESTIGATORS. Offerors must demonstrate capability of performing all tasks outlined in the Statement of Work.

C. Proposal Submission Instructions The following documents designated as “Required” must be used as part of the proposal (any deviations will not be considered):

· Cover Page (Optional)

· Table of Contents (Optional)

· Provision 4-2 (Required) Sections A Pass/Fail Qualifications & B Technical Evaluation

· Provision 4-3 (Required)

· References (Required)

· Resume (Required) When submitting, use the following naming conventions and submit as “separate” files:

· Your last name_Cover Page

· Your last name_Table of Contents

· Your last name_Provision 4-2

· Your last name_Provision 4-3

· Your last name_References

· Your last name_Resume Electronic submissions within the provided documents will be the only acceptable submission format for this requirement. The electronic submission MUST be in the original Microsoft Word format only; ANY OTHER FORMAT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. The electronic submission shall not exceed a size limit of 10 megabytes (10MB). It is the responsibility of each offeror to confirm transmission and receipt of their Proposal. Offerors shall allow sufficient time for transmission through the USPS’s Information Technology (IT) firewall. Delays encountered due to the offeror’s IT system DO NOT constitute excusable delays. Proposals must be received by the Purchasing Specialist, no later than the exact time specified below, to be considered for award. E-mail messages should have “Request for Proposal August 2020 EEO INVESTIGATORS in the subject line. Proposals shall be submitted no later than August 30, 2020 at 3:00 PM MST.

NOTE: Proposals must be submitted to: X2ST00@usps.gov LATE PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Facsimile submissions are not authorized for this solicitation.

Payment of Proposal Costs This Solicitation does not commit the USPS to pay for any costs incurred in the submission of the offer or in making necessary studies or designs for the preparation thereof, nor to contract for services or supplies.

Questions or Clarifications All questions or request for clarifications shall be submitted electronically to X2ST00@usps.gov no later than August 24, 2020 at 3:00 PM MST. Questions received after this date and time will not be addressed.

Fee Schedule

The Postal Service has established the fee schedule for the services required for EEO Investigative services listed below.

EEO Investigative Services (including Title VI and Title IX investigations and other nondiscrimination statutes)

Task Orders issued under this agreement may provide, at the Postal Service’s sole discretion, for the payment of a $550.00 incentive payment if the investigation is completed within 30 days of receipt of the case file. An incentive payment will not be payable to the contractor unless such payment is expressly permitted in the task order.

Fact-Finder and Harassing Conduct investigations

Fee per Fact-Finder and Harassing Conduct $1,750.00

2. Competency Rating

An overall Evaluation rating using the adjectival rating criteria is described below:

Not Demonstrated at Minimal Level – This indicates that the qualifications presented by the offeror do not meet the demands of the service needed

Minimally Acceptable – This indicates that the offeror has adequately met the listed qualifications

Above Average – This indicates that the offeror’s stated qualifications are above average

Superior – This indicates that the offeror’s stated ability to meet the listed qualifications is superior

3. All Awards are Conditional on Successful Completion of EEO Investigator Skills Class

A written notice will be provided to the most highly qualified applicants who will be selected to attend a 5-day EEO Investigator Skills class held in Tampa. All travel and miscellaneous costs to attend the class is at the applicants’ own expense and the USPS will not reimburse attendees for any travel expenses. Successful completion of this course and receipt of a security clearance issued by the United States Postal Inspection Service will qualify a selected applicant for the EEO Investigator contracting opportunity. It is customary to award an Ordering Agreement if the applicant successfully passes the EEO Investigator Skills class. New investigators must take an assigned case within sixty (60) days of Ordering Agreement Award. Please note, the USPS cannot reimburse selected applicants for any travel expenses associated with attending the EEO Investigator Skills class, even in the event that a selected applicant does not complete the class successfully and thereby becomes ineligible for performing EEO Investigations.

4. Supplier Disqualifying Factors

The following factors will disqualify offerors:

· The Postal Service does not award an Ordering Agreement or contract to suppliers who are listed as disbarred, suspended or ineligible on (1) SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM) available at http://www.epls.gov.

· The USPS does not award ordering agreements or contracts to current Federal and USPS employees.

· The USPS does not award ordering agreements or contracts where doing so would create a perception of bias or appear to compromise confidentiality.

5. Notification to Unsuccessful Offerors

The Unsuccessful Offeror Notification Letter will be transmitted electronically or by First Class Mail to applicants who are not selected.

August 2020 Solicitation EEO INVESTIGATOR Page 4