RFQ_Talent_Team_Recruiting_Support_BPA.pdf

General Services Administration Federal Acquisition Service

Technology Transformation Services 1800 F St NW | Washington, DC | 20405

Talent Team Recruiting Support BPA

Request for Quotation Solicitation Number

QP0023233

Government Point of Contact Contracting Officer (CO): Jennifer Calik Contracting Office: General Services Administration (GSA), Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) Technology Transformation Services (TTS), Office of Acquisition (OA) Email Address: Jennifer.Calik@gsa.gov Correspondence: Any emails related to this solicitation shall use the email subject heading “RFQ# QP0023233 - [Vendor’s Name]”

Important Information and Dates:

❖ Solicitation Posting Date: August 19, 2019 ❖ Solicitation Closing Date: August 26, 2019, 4:00 pm ET. Any quotation received after the closing date and time will be considered late and will not be accepted or considered for award.

❖ Solicitation Posting Location: Federal Business Opportunities (FBO)

❖ Questions Due: August 21, 2019, 6:00 pm Eastern Time (ET). Questions received after this date and time may not be answered.

❖ How to Submit Questions: Email to the Contracting Officer ❖ Estimated Release of Answers: August 23, 2019 ❖ Posting Location for Answers: FBO ❖ Communications During Solicitation Posting: The only method by which any terms and conditions of this BPA may be changed is by a formal amendment generated by the CO and published to FBO. No other communication made whether oral or in writing will modify or supersede the terms of the BPA. All communication related to the solicitation shall be directed to the Contracting Officer through email.

mailto:Jennifer.Calik@gsa.gov https://fbo.gov/ https://fbo.gov/

Acquisition Vehicle Overview Contract Action: Multiple Award Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) Applicable FAR Part: FAR 12/13 Set Aside: Small Business NAICS Code: 561311, Employment Placement Agencies PCS Code: R431 Support - Professional: Human resources Note: Only Small Businesses under the above listed NAICS code will be considered

List of Attachments Solicitation Attachments:

● Attachment 1 - Blanket Purchase Agreement and its attachments

● Attachment 2 - Solicitation Provisions

● Attachment 3 - RFQ Response Form

● Attachment 4 - Past Performance Questionnaire

● Attachment 5 - Potential Organizational Conflict of Interest Statement https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IUCzCUDKRl77b2JAE6un60MZ9Sy98bZHLIiID872-zU/edit#heading=h.2xcytpi https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lDKjgwIYBkHDbQG816Uf0_PMBUzS1gRNFOZmat_8QCM/edit# https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1vp7WOYPBf3mkGw-Suhya0OAUuVB37k09a82jtTj0Cac/edit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Zrt_c_prdlf4SJpEeEsw6wgqmryvB9c8_jaj8v_3K-g/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PM_gN2QUSaWEdG547caUFIoFq785J4LZcmrBlzPQDrY/edit#heading=h.gjdgxs

Table of Contents

1.0 General 4

2.0 Instructions 4

2.1 Quotation Instructions 5

2.2 Quotation Submission 5

2.2.1 Technical Quotation 5

Factor 1: Technical Approach 5 Factor 2: Past Experience and Performance 6

2.2.2 Price Quotation 7

2.3 Technical Interview Process 7

Agenda 8 Rules 8

3.0 Evaluation 9

3.1 Basis of Award 9

3.2 Quotation Evaluation 10

3.2.1 Technical Quotation 10

Factor 1: Technical Approach 10 Factor 2: Past Experience and Performance 11

3.2.2 Price Quotation 12

4.0 Miscellaneous Information 12

4.1 Potential Organizational Conflict of Interest Statement: 12

4.2 Responsibility Determination 13

5.0 TTS Transparency Policy 13

6.0 Solicitation Provisions 13

1.0 General

GSA TTS OA hereby issues this solicitation as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) with its associated attachments, on behalf of the TTS Talent Team under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 12.6 and FAR 13.5 ordering procedures to establish up to three (3) Multiple Award Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) for recruiting support services.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-101

This solicitation, and any published updated, are being published to Federal Business Opportunities.

2.0 Instructions

The Government intends to award the Multiple Award Blanket Purchase Agreement(s) based on initial quotations. Therefore, it is critical that your initial submission is for your best quotation and that you are fully responsive to the solicitation.

Quotations will be evaluated on the factors listed below. Failure to follow the instructions may result in your quotation being removed from further consideration for award.

Vendors are cautioned not to include caveats, or exceptions within any part of their submission. Vendors should ONLY submit information explicitly requested in this RFQ.

Unless expressly authorized by the RFQ, any Quoter planning to make an exception to a term or condition of the solicitation should consult with the Contracting Officer (CO) in writing before submitting a quotation.

Vendors shall refer to Attachment 1 - Blanket Purchase Agreement and its attachments of the RFQ for a more robust overview of the need and requirement.

2.1 Quotation Instructions

Vendors shall submit their quotations in accordance with the instructions, terms, and conditions of this solicitation.

https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.fbo.gov/ https://www.fbo.gov/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IUCzCUDKRl77b2JAE6un60MZ9Sy98bZHLIiID872-zU/edit#heading=h.2xcytpi

Technical Submittal: All technical, non-price, quotations shall be submitted as attachments to the RFQ Response Form.

Price Submittal: Price quotations, including any supporting information, shall be uploaded to the RFQ Response Form.

2.2 Quotation Submission

Quotations shall consist of the following content:

2.2.1 Technical Quotation

Factor 1: Technical Approach Quoters are instructed to propose a Technical Approach to accomplishing work, detailed in Section 3.0 Requirements of Attachment 1 - Blanket Purchase Agreement, that demonstrates complete understanding of recruiting support services. Quoters are cautioned that a quotation’s failure to address all aspects of the requirements, will not meet the requirements of this factor.

Quoters are instructed to propose a sound process for identifying and recruiting technical talent into full time positions from leading industry companies with an emphasis on how these strategies will be applied to recruiting top talent into the GSA

FAS TTS.

This submission should be separated into files as follows:

● Technical Approach Narrative: May be submitted in .doc, .pdf, or similar file format, and may not be any longer than 5 pages in length.

● Candidate Guarantee: Quoters will also include details, terms, and conditions regarding the candidate guarantee provided by their firm. Note: This guarantee will be included in the BPA award.

● Resumes: Resumes should be attached as they are applicable to the technical approach. Those specific individuals that are proposed, will be considered Key Personnel as described in the agreement and their positions will be subject to the Change in Key Personnel process described therein. There is no page limitation on the total resume submission, however each resume may not be longer than 3 pages in length.

Factor 2: Past Experience and Performance Quoters shall describe the experience and capability of their organization in providing their proposed solution, preferably within the design and technology engineering industry, and provide past performance reference information to demonstrate their successful performance of the work.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1vp7WOYPBf3mkGw-Suhya0OAUuVB37k09a82jtTj0Cac/edit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1vp7WOYPBf3mkGw-Suhya0OAUuVB37k09a82jtTj0Cac/edit

The proposed solution must have been provided by either:

a. The Quoter itself,

b. A teaming partner or subcontractor that is included in response to this solicitation.

Quoters shall provide:

● The following statistics related to their recruiting support work for technical talent including design and engineering:

○ Candidate turn-over rates,

○ Candidate identification rates,

○ Conversion ratios,

○ Time to source,

○ Time to screen; and

○ The percentage of their business that is recruiting technical talent including design and engineering.

● A narrative describing their similar experience as it relates to this requirement.

Content of this section should be as follows:

○ A minimum of one experience example must be provided, but no more than three.

○ Reference contact information including phone numbers, email addresses, and PPIRS information (as applicable). References may be from Government customers, or commercial customers.

○ Project summaries for examples must identify how the Quoter’s proposed team (identified in Factor 1) were involved in the example.

○ Examples shall either be currently underway or have been completed within 3 years of the due date for quotations. Relevant examples that have been completed more recently to the due date of this solicitation may be given additional consideration (for example, the Government may consider relevant experience examples completed in the last 12 months more favorably than those completed in three years previously).

This submission shall be submitted as a single document and may not be any longer than 5 pages in length.

Here, “similar work" is meant to convey similarity in subject matter, dollar value, duration, and complexity to the requirements described in Section 3.0 Requirements of the Blanket Purchase Agreement, such as for recruiting services with the design and technology engineering industry.

Additionally, Quoter’s will send their reference(s) the hyperlink to Attachment 4, Past Performance Questionnaire, for them to complete and submit directly to the Contract Officer no later than the closing date and time of this solicitation via the linked Google

Form. Contractors are highly encouraged to request confirmation of the submissions of these questionnaires from their references. The Government is not responsible for ensuring reference questionnaires are received.

2.2.2 Price Quotation

Quoters are instructed to propose a Firm Fixed Price percentage rate. This rate will be applied to the salary for positions competed as call orders. For example, if the Quoter designates their proposed rate at 25%, the Government shall pay that percentage of the base pay rate to the Quoter for each filled call order. Quoter will be paid upon successful conversion of proposed candidate to onboarded employee. (For a GS-15, Step 10 position in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington region [base pay of $166,500.00] this award would equal $41,625 under the example Firm Fixed Price percentage.)

(Note: The 25% example rate is for illustrative purposes only. Quoter are encouraged to submit proposals based on their understanding of the requirements and price to provide.)

Quoters can provide any substantiating price-related information it deems necessary.

Substantiating price-related information is optional and not a requirement.

2.3 Technical Interview Process

The Government will hold interviews for all Quoters with a ranking of “Some Confidence” or “High Confidence” during phase 1.

The Government is much more interested in the content of the Quoters’ answers than the particular style or technique used in delivering the answers. The Government may take notes during the interview at its discretion, and may use such notes in the evaluation. No copies will be provided to any Quoters.

Agenda

Agenda Item Time Allocated

Introductions Approximately 5 Minutes

Technical Interview 55 Minutes Maximum--but may go shorter

Rules The interview, consisting of a question and answer session on technical factors, does not and will not constitute discussions or negotiations. The Government is not obligated to determine a competitive range, conduct discussions, and solicit or allow revised quotes. Quote revisions will not be requested or accepted during interviews.

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/19Tables/html/DCB.aspx

The interview sessions will be conducted via a group video call. The Government will coordinate and set up the meeting space accordingly and provide dial in or links using tools such as appear.in, Zoom, or Google Hangouts. Quoters shall not bring or present slides, graphs, charts or any other written presentation materials nor will the Government accept or receive Quoters handouts.

The Government will schedule the date and time of the interviews with each Quoter, in random order, after completing Phase 1. The Government reserves the right to reschedule any Quoters interview date at the discretion of the CO.

The Quoter may include as many participants as it feels is necessary and is the full responsibility of the Quoter. All proposed Key Personnel currently employed by the Quoter, or its teaming partners, shall attend the session - the Government is most interested in hearing from staff that will have a direct role in performing the work. The letter(s) of intent and resume(s) will suffice for Key Personnel currently not employed by the Quoter or its teaming partners.

After the presentations, Quoters shall provide an email with names and roles of participants to the CO.

The interview will consist of the Quoter answering the Government’s questions related to the technical factors identified in the RFQ and the Quoters technical understanding and approach of the requirements identified in the PWS. Throughout the interview, the Government may ask follow-up questions on any information presented by the Quoter that the Government feels is unclear or needs elaboration. The Government’s questions may differ among the Quoters based on the portions of their quotation that need elaboration. If the Government has no follow-up questions with a particular Quoter, then this part of the session will not take place. The answers given in this session are part of the Quoter’s technical interview.

Quotes with a ranking of “Some Confidence” or “High Confidence” will move on to Phase 3.

3.0 Evaluation

3.1 Basis of Award

This procurement is being conducted in accordance with FAR subpart 12.6, “Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items,” as supplemented with additional information included in the RFQ. Technical Factors will be evaluated in accordance with FAR subpart 12.602 “Streamlined Evaluation of Offers”. Price will be evaluated in accordance with FAR subpart 13.106. Provision

52.212-2, Evaluation -- Commercial Items, does not apply to this requirement. The Quoters agree to and are bound by all instructions, procedures and rules of this RFQ.

In accordance with FAR 13.106-2, TTS will evaluate the submitted quotations against the following evaluation criteria and then make an award to approximately three vendors based on best value using tradeoffs. TTS will award agreement(s) resulting from this RFQ to the responsible Quoter(s) whose quotation(s) conforms to the Request for Quote and represents the best value to the Government, based on price and other criteria specified below. Quoters are advised that technical evaluation factors combined are more important than price; as Non-Price ratings become closer, price will become more important. Criteria are listed in descending order of importance.

Factor 1: Technical Approach Factor 2: Past Performance and Experience Factor 3: Price

TTS intends to utilize a phased approach for this procurement as described below. To be considered for award, Quoters must successfully pass through each phase.

Phase 1: Technical Evaluation Phase 2: Technical Interview Phase 3: Price Evaluation

Quoters must meet all requirements in Phase 1 and will be assigned a confidence rating. After the initial Phase 1 confidence assignment, Quoters with a ranking of “Some Confidence” or “High Confidence” will be invited for Phase 2 - Technical Interview.

Quoters that have failed to meet the criteria established in Phase 1 will no longer be considered for award. Quoters that pass Phase 2 with a “Some Confidence” or “High Confidence” will be evaluated based on their price submittal.

TTS will evaluate price quotes for award purposes by evaluating the percentage rate provided by the Quoter. This will include evaluating sample quantities for the purpose of considering the estimated total cost to the Government.

The Government also reserves the right to make no award.

NOTE: TTS anticipates selecting awardees based upon initial quotations received;

therefore, Quoters are cautioned to submit their best price and technical quotes in the initial submission.

http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/52_000.htm#P1584_221596

3.2 Quotation Evaluation

3.2.1 Technical Quotation

Factor 1: Technical Approach The Technical Approach will be evaluated to determine the extent to which the Quoter demonstrates understanding of the requirements. Any proposed approach must reflect a demonstrated understanding of the requirements, feasible method to accomplish all tasks, and proposes acceptable methods for ensuring quality personnel.

Specifically, the Government will evaluate the extent to which the Quoter’s proposed Technical Approach:

● Demonstrates complete understanding of the PWS requirements.

● Demonstrates an understanding of the market for technical talent and

Government hiring constraints.

● Details a sound strategy for recruiting technical talent into GSA FAS TTS and the approach for assessing which candidates to refer.

● Contains effective tools, technologies, or methodologies used to support candidate sourcing and conversion.

Candidate Guarantees will be evaluated as a part of this factor. Vendors with more favorable guarantee terms and conditions will be rated more favorably.

Factor 2: Past Experience and Performance Past experience and performance will be evaluated to determine the Quoter’s relative likelihood of being able to successfully perform on this agreement.

Company recruiting statistics will be evaluated as they relate to past experience and performance. Specifically, the percentage of the Quoter’s business this is recruiting technical talent will be evaluated as a part of the Quoter’s past experience, and all other statistics requested will be evaluated as a part of past performance.

Company recruiting statistics may be evaluated more favorably if:

● The following statistics are low:

○ Candidate turn-over rates,

○ Time to source, or

○ Time to screen; OR

● The following statistics are high:

○ Candidate identification rates are high,

○ Conversion ratios, or

○ The percentage of their business that is recruiting technical talent including design and engineering.

Past experience will be reviewed for its similarities to the requirements of the BPA as well as the proposed technical approach provided for Factor 1, Technical Approach.

Past Performance Questionnaire responses submitted by reference points of contact will be reviewed to determine how successful the projects were.

Past experience and performance may be evaluated more favorably if:

● Quoters provide more than one relevant example

● Relevant examples that have been completed more recently to the due date of this solicitation may be given additional consideration (for example, the Government may consider relevant experience examples completed in the last 12 months more favorably than those completed in three years previously).

● Past Performance responses for similar projects are rated above a satisfactory level.

While the Government may elect to consider data from other sources, the burden of providing detailed, current, accurate and complete past experience and performance information rests with the Quoter.

3.2.2 Price Quotation

Prices will be evaluated after the technical evaluation and technical interview are completed. Only those with a rating of “Some Confidence” or “High Confidence” will have their price evaluated. Quoters with a ranking less than “Some Confidence” will not be notified until after award.

Quoters will be evaluated on price by comparing their proposed rates. Quoters shall submit the quotation for the fixed percentage fee that they would apply to all eligible positions for the entire Period of Performance. The quoted rate will be applied to a sample quantity of positions for the purpose of considering the estimated total cost to the Government.

4.0 Miscellaneous Information

4.1 Potential Organizational Conflict of Interest

Statement:

Quoters, including subcontractors as applicable, shall provide a signed Organizational Conflict of Interest statement. The statement shall concisely describe all relevant facts concerning any past, present, or planned interest (financial, contractual, organizational, or otherwise) relating to the work to be performed under the proposed purchase order and bearing on whether the Quoter has a possible organizational or personal conflict of interest with respect to:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PM_gN2QUSaWEdG547caUFIoFq785J4LZcmrBlzPQDrY/edit#heading=h.gjdgxs https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PM_gN2QUSaWEdG547caUFIoFq785J4LZcmrBlzPQDrY/edit#heading=h.gjdgxs

1. Being able to render impartial, technically sound, and objective assistance or advice; or,

2. Being given an unfair competitive advantage.

Quoters may also provide relevant facts that show how its organizational structure and/or management systems limit its knowledge of possible organizational conflicts of interest relating to other divisions or sections of the organization and how that structure or system would avoid or mitigate such organizational conflict.

No award shall be made until any potential conflict of interest has been neutralized or mitigated to the satisfaction of the CO in accordance with FAR Subpart 9.5 Organizational and Consultant Conflicts of Interest. Refusal to provide the requested information or the willful misrepresentation of any relevant information by a Quoter shall disqualify the Quoter from further consideration for award under this solicitation. If the CO determines that a potential conflict can be avoided, effectively mitigated, or otherwise resolved through the inclusion of a special contract clause, the terms of the clause will be subject to negotiation.

4.2 Responsibility Determination

In accordance with FAR 9.103(b), the Contracting Officer will evaluate the apparent awardee(s) for responsibility prior to making the award. No award shall be made unless the CO makes an affirmative determination of responsibility in accordance with FAR 9.104-1.

5.0 TTS Transparency Policy

Vendors are advised that TTS reserves the right to publish documents associated with this acquisition on a publicly-available website, including any Requests for Quotation or their amendments, as well as question and answer exchanges with vendors with source-identifying information removed. TTS reserves the right to publish any other relevant information that is not confidential or proprietary in nature, but will not publish any source-selection sensitive information that would otherwise implicate procurement integrity concerns.

Upon award of the acquisition, TTS may publish the total price of the selected proposal and certain non-source-identifying data (e.g. the number of bids, the mean price, the median, and the standard deviation of price). During the performance of this delivery order, TTS may similarly publish data related to project management (e.g. user stories, milestones, and performance metrics) and top-line spending data.

6.0 Solicitation Provisions

See Attachment 2 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lDKjgwIYBkHDbQG816Uf0_PMBUzS1gRNFOZmat_8QCM/edit