Amendment_000002_(TFSAFSA15CI0013).pdf

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TFSAFSA15CI0013

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1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT

THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted , such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

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Parkersburg WV 26101 200 Third Street

FSA-PARKERSBURG

Avery 5F Administration Branch Division of Procurement Bureau of the Fiscal Service

Parkersburg WV 26101 Attn: S. Nulter

FSA-SNULTER

200 Third Street Avery 5F Division of Procurement Bureau of the Fiscal Service

04/03/2015000002

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended , by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

03/12/2015

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

THE PURPOSES OF THIS AMENDMENT ARE AS FOLLOWS:

(1) PROVIDE FORMAL RESPONSES TO PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED VENDOR QUESTIONS.

(2) EXTEND THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS. THE REVISED DEADLINE

FOR PROPOSALS IS 10:30AM (ET) ON APRIL 7, 2015.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT RESPOND TO SUBSEQUENT VENDOR INQUIRIES, NOR

DOES IT INTEND TO FURTHER EXTEND THE REVISED PROPOSAL DEADLINE.

ALL OTHER TERMS OF THE SOLICITATION REMAIN UNCHANGED.

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

STEVEN S. NULTER

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

AMENDMENT 000002 (TFSAFSA15CI0013)

LEADERSHIP ADVISORY AND CONSULTING SERVICES

RESPONSES TO VENDOR QUESTIONS

1. In regard to the fully loaded labor rates being requested, where should an offeror put its management fee for an endeavor such as this? Is that fee expected to be incorporated into the fixed hourly labor rate(s) being requested?

Yes, offerors should include any overhead fees associated with providing the advisory/consulting services in their fully loaded hourly labor rates.

2. Is there a possibility that the Government would consider utilizing a leadership consultant that does not presently live within the Greater-Washington DC Metropolitan Area under a “remote consulting engagement”? Such consulting personnel could then travel for in-person meeting as necessary.

The Government has determined that a remote consulting arrangement is not feasible for this requirement; however, consultants outside the Greater-Washington, DC Metropolitan area will be permitted. Travel will be permitted in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR).

3. In regard to normal working hours for the advisory/consultant personnel, how many hours per month

(on average) does the Government anticipate needing?

The Government anticipates approximately 20-25 advisory/consultant hours per month.

4. Is this a new requirement?

Yes, this is a new requirement and there is not an incumbent contractor.

5. Is there a strategic plan or any progress reports related to the merger of FMS and BPD that could be made available to offerors in order to better assess the needs of the BFS leadership in regards to this requirement?

The Government declines to provide additional information in this regard to prospective offerors. Additional information regarding the merger of FMS and BPD will be provided to the awardee as needed after contract award.

6. Understanding that the Government anticipates a labor-hour type contract, offerors recognize that the

Government is not entirely clear on the level of effort necessary to perform these duties. Is there a range related to the level of effort that expected by the Government in regards to these consulting services or is that entirely undetermined at this point?

As previously stated, the Government anticipates that the awardee will provide approximately 20-25 advisory/consultant hours per month.

7. What are the distinct and overlapping responsibilities for BPD’s three deputy commissioners?

Common responsibilities of the three deputy commissioners include policy making, strategic direction, employee engagement, and inter-agency outreach. Distinct responsibilities are related to the programs managed by each deputy. Specific information will be provided to the awardee as needed after contract award.

8. Page 19 (PWS) – “The consolidation of the two bureaus created multiple programs and locations, different leadership mindsets and cultures to manage.” Will the Government provide examples of references programs?

The Government will provide detailed information on these issues after contract award.

Simple examples of the issues would be consolidating similar functions previously accomplished at various locations, including administrative services, information technology, and accounting functions.

9. Page 19 (PWS) – “The Fiscal Service has identified the need for a leadership advisory and consulting services resource to provide senior level advisory services to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners to assist with the stabilization, leadership development, culture transformation, and meeting facilitation within the bureau.” What efforts have been conducted to support organizational transformation and stabilization of corporate culture since Fiscal Service was established as a result of the bureaus merging (10/07/2012)? Have these efforts, if any, been successful? Why or why not?

The Government will not provide further information in this regard. Numerous efforts with differing effectiveness have occurred over the past three years. Detailed information on this subject will be provided at award.

10. What are the known obstacles, barriers, or resistance to organizational transformation and stabilization of corporate culture?

Many of the obvious obstacles, barriers, and resistance to organizational transformation and stabilization of corporate culture have been addressed over the past three years.

Still remaining are difference in culture, approach to work, management, and leadership styles, as well as employee expectations around these issues.

11. Page 19 (PWS) – “The Contractor shall provide strategic-thinking support, advice, and consulting services for the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners.” Will the contractor have access to interface with employee levels below Deputy Commissioner?

The Contractor will have access to employee levels below the Deputy Commissioners, as needed, and as deemed appropriate.

12. Page 19 (PWS) – “The Contractor shall provide assistance and advice with the development and implementation of a roadmap/timeline for the organizational stabilization of Fiscal Service.” Is there an existing roadmap/timeline that needs to be refreshed?

There is currently no formal roadmap for this purpose. Upon award, the Contractor will be provided available documentation related to completed and scheduled activities.

13. Page 19 (PWS) – “The Contractor shall evaluate and provide leadership development to senior level management as necessary.” Does Fiscal Service have existing leadership development programming in operation today?

Each senior level leader within the Fiscal Service prepares an Individual Development Plan, which is approved by their corresponding Deputy Commissioner.

14. Does Fiscal Service have leadership competencies/leadership competency model in operation today?

Yes, the Fiscal Service has this type of program in place. Detailed information related to the program will be provided to the awardee upon contract award.

15. Has Fiscal Service previously conducted leadership evaluations/assessments? If yes, will these results be provided to the contractor upon contract award?

Leadership evaluations/assessments have been conducted in conjunction with some training programs. Relevant information, as available, available on the various results will be provided upon contractor award.

16. Page 19 (PWS) – “The Contractor shall evaluate and assist with the creation, transformation, and stabilization of a Corporate Culture that reinforces the mission, vision, and values of Fiscal service, as well as provide facilitation and communication support to senior leadership with messaging the culture and changes to management and employees.” Will the Commissioner require contractor support to establish a new/refreshed vision for the organization? Does this vision exist today?

The Fiscal Service has created Mission, Vision, and Values statements since the consolidation. No additional contractor support in that area is anticipated.

17. How many Deputy Commissioners are present at Fiscal Service?

Currently, there are three (3) Deputy Commissioners within the Fiscal Service.

18. How does Fiscal Service define "senior level management"?

The Fiscal Service definition of senior level management varies. However, at a high level there is currently one (1) Commissioner, three (3) Deputy Commissioners, and ten (10) Assistant Commissioners.

19. How many senior level managers does Fiscal Service employ today and how many will be included in the leadership development services to be provided by the contractor?

This will vary. As previously stated, there is currently one (1) Commissioner, three (3) Deputy Commissioners, and ten (10) Assistant Commissioners.

20. Does the government have internal resources to support graphic design, printing, and communication via multiple channels related to this scope of work?

The awardee will be responsible for all graphic design, printing, and development of communication (including communication channels) for all activities.

21. Page 19 (PWS) – “The Contractor shall maintain a web presence that provides senior leadership access to leadership articles, documents, webinars, etc. to assist with leadership direction and development.” Please confirm there is an existing internal website. On what platform is the existing site hosted?

The Contractor will ultimately be responsible for maintaining a web presence to keep themselves informed and up to date on current leadership topics and concerns, not for maintaining a website on behalf of the Fiscal Service.

22. What will be within the scope of web responsibilities? For example, is it providing design consultation and content or will it be to actually do web programming, updates, graphics and all that is included in having a web presence?

Please reference response to Question #21.

23. Page 20 (PWS) – Sections 4 and 8; The place of performance is at BFS but the GFP does not indicate BFS computers or equipment and it indicates “temporary onsite workspace which would not be indicative of a long term onsite contract. Please clarify if this is onsite using GFE.

It is anticipated that the Contractor will be on site as necessary to accomplish the work identified. When on site, temporary workspace will be provide, but neither permanent work space nor government furnished equipment/property will be provided.

24. Attachment 2 (Pages 1-4); Security requirements discuss onsite audits and reviewing security controls. If the contractor is onsite with GFE how is this applicable? Audits would be at your own facilities on your own systems. Please clarify. Or is the Govt considering having some of this work offsite?

It is conceivable, but not probable, that certain aspects of the advisory/consulting work may occur offsite.

25. Page 20 (PWS) – “Periodically, contractor personnel may also be required to attend meetings and/or provide advisory services at other locations. Such instances will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.” Please specify possible other locations.

Aside from the Greater-Washington, DC Metropolitan Area, the Fiscal Service currently has operations located in Parkersburg, WV; Birmingham, AL; Austin, TX; and Kansas City, MO. On rare occasions, travel to these locations may be required.

26. Is there an estimated number of FTE the Government has determined it will need for this?

No specific determination in regard to FTEs has been made. As previously stated, the Government anticipates that the awardee will provide approximately 20-25 advisory/consultant hours per month.

27. Page 27; Paragraph 4.2 – “Offerors shall submit firm-fixed price (FFP) fully burdened/all-inclusive hourly labor rates for the labor category or labor categories necessary for performing the services outlined in the PWS in accordance with Attachment 1." Because this is a labor hour contract, there is no mechanism to use to propose materials or tools that one would reasonably expect the contractor to provide for the tasks described in the PWS (eg. assessment tools, customized training workbooks, etc.). Without knowing the number of people who might require training, assessments, etc. it is difficult to correctly burden the labor rate to reflect the materials that will actually be needed. Will the Contracting Officer consider a line item to accommodate an accurate accounting of materials?

Yes, the Government will consider a line item to accommodate other direct costs.

28. Attachment 1 Pricing: Is there an estimated level of effort?

As previously stated, the Government anticipates that the awardee will provide approximately 20-25 advisory/consultant hours per month.

29. Attachment 2 Security Requirements: Is a facilities security clearance required? If so, is it acceptable to have the clearance in place within a short period of time after contract award?

No, a facilities security clearance is not required for this requirement.

30. Page 19; Section 3.1 – This paragraph indicates advise and consulting would be required by the

Commissioner and her Deputies. To achieve the desired results of the project, we would anticipate an approach and methodologies that begin with a comprehensive assessment of current and future states. Can the government please clarify the number and types of stakeholders that would be involved in articulating the current “as-is” state of the organization as well as the desire future “to-be” state?

Upon award, all available information relating to the as is and to be states will be made available to the successful awardee. The primary stakeholders are the Commissioner and the three Deputy Commissioners.

31. Page 19; Section 3.2 – This paragraph requires a timeline deliverable, however does not mention a task for collection, analysis and discussion of appropriate data and themes that will influence the development of a practical and achievable roadmap. Can the government please clarify if data collection and analysis has already been performed? If yes, please share the name of the firm that performed this work, and when the data and analysis work was completed? If no, is the government willing to consider including this very critical task?

The Government declines to provide a response to this inquiry.

32. Page 19; Section 3.2 – If previous work has been done to engage stakeholders and clarify the current and future states of the newly formed Bureau, will the government consider making the results of the data collection and analysis available as an Attachment to this solicitation?

The current and future state documentation will not be provided at this time; however, the Government will provide the documentation to the awardee upon award.

33. Page 19; Section 3.3 – Can the government please articulate the type of leadership development that is already anticipated for senior level managers? How did the Bureau of Fiscal Service (FS) determine this type of development experience was required? Did members of the leadership team participate in assessments? If yes, which assessments were utilized?

Assessments have been completed by senior leadership. The results may be provided to the Contractor upon award.

34. Page 19; Specific Service Tasks – “The Contractor shall maintain a web presence that provides senior leadership access to leadership articles, documents, webinars, etc. to assist with leadership direction and development.”

• What types of activities does the government intend as part of “maintaining” a web presence?

(For example, will web development expertise be required?)

• Does the government intend for the web presence to already exist or be developed from scratch?

• If it is an already existing web presence, is it one the government intends to provide or does the government expect it to be provided by the contractor?

• If provided by the government, what form of web presence is being provided? (For example, is it an intranet site that hypertext links to internal and/or external sources? Is it a SharePoint site, or other document repository, that serves as a library for leaders to access?)

• If developed from scratch, does the government intend to provide the server space for the web presence or for the contractor to provide it?

• Our expectation is that the contractor will have administrator privileges to an already existing web presence (or file repository) provided by the government, in which the contractor can upload documents, webinars, video clips, or other file types—or provide hypertext links to external resources—for bureau personnel to access. Is this an accurate expectation?

35. Page 19; Section 3.5 – Would the contractor be assisting in revising the current Fiscal Services’ Critical Success Factors document guide? Or would the contractor be helping to create a brand new guide from scratch?

The contractor will be helping create the new Critical Success Factors document for Fiscal Service.

36. Page 28; Technical Evaluation; Qualifications and Experience of Proposed Personnel – Is there a rough order of magnitude for the proposed value of the contract?

The Government will not disclose its estimated level of magnitude at this time.

37. Pages 4-5 (Terms and Conditions) – What is the meaning of the highlighted items? Is any action required on the part of offerors?

No action is required by offerors in this regard.

38. Page 7; Section (D)(1) Other Direct Costs – The Government has marked this clause as NOT

APPLICABLE. What about the cost of materials that may be required to complete the work, such as workbooks for facilitated workshops? Or any assessment tools deemed necessary to “evaluate and provide leadership development to senior level management…” Would the government consider amending that clause to allow the consultant to submit ODCs that are pre-approved by the

CO/COTR?

After further consideration, the Government will allow reimbursement of other direct costs on this acquisition.

39. Page 19 (Section 3.6) – “Maintain a web presence…” Would it be sufficient to allow access to a shared folder in the consultant’s secure cloud account where specified materials may be stored?

Does the government have something specific in mind here?

40. We find that having a designated management level counterpart/point of contact within the Office of the Commissioner will facilitate alignment, communication, and sustained forward progress. Does the Office of the Commissioner plan to assign someone to that role? Is that the COR?

All Government points of contact will be named at the time of award.

41. Page 19; Section 3.1 – It mentions facilitated meetings with the Commissioner and Deputy

Commissioners. Could the government provide the number of management level leaders within the bureau that will participate in leadership consulting sessions?

This will vary. As previously stated, there is currently one (1) Commissioner, three (3) Deputy Commissioners, and ten (10) Assistant Commissioners.

42. Page 20; Section 9 – It says Key Personnel will be designated at the time of award. Will we also need to submit the resumes of key personnel as part of our proposal on March 31st?

Yes, offerors shall submit resumes of proposed key personnel in accordance with the specified proposal deadline.

43. Page 23; Section 52.212-1(C) – It says offers shall remain firm for 30 calendar days following receipt of submissions. Following the submission deadline, how quickly does the bureau intend to award this contract?

The Government declines to provide a response to this inquiry.

44. Does the government want the contractor's total cost for services for the base and option years (total hours times rate by labor category to arrive at total cost for the services) or does the government only want fully burdened labor rates by labor category?

Offerors are only requested to submit the fixed-price, fully burdened hourly labor rates by labor category in accordance with the instructions to offerors.