SSS_19-Q-5002_SFL-TAP_14_JUN_18.pdf

Sources Sought Synopsis – Soldier For Life Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP)

This is a Sources Sought Notice only. Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) - Fort Knox is seeking possible sources to provide the scope of services supported by the Human Resources Command (HRC). The support will be provided throughout the Continental United States (CONUS) and some Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) locations to include, but not limited to Korea, Kuwait, Germany and Italy. The government encourages all businesses, to include small business and those in all socioeconomic categories (including, 8(a) Business Development Program, Small Disadvantage Business, Historically Underutilized Business Zone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Women-Owned Small Business concerns), to identify their capabilities in meeting the requirement at a fair market price.

This notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes to industry in order to identify a pool of contractors who have the capacity and interest in competing for the proposed procurement. It does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ) or a promise to issue an RFQ in the future. This notice does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any service. Further, the U.S. Government is not seeking quotes at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals in response to this sources sought notice.

The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this notice. Submittals will not be returned to the responder. Not responding to this notice does not preclude participation in any future RFQ, if any is issued. Contractors are advised that this requirement may be delayed, cancelled, or revised at any time due to unforeseen circumstances during the solicitation and/or award process, and is subject to the availability of funds. Please review the entire Performance Work Statement (PWS) attached herewith. The anticipated NAICS code is: 541612, Human Resources Consulting Services, size standard is $15 Million.

Project Description: This is a non-personal services contract providing transition services to Soldiers to the standards prescribed by the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, Army Regulation 600-81;

Army’s Career Readiness Standards (CRS); and site-specific government directives. This includes but is not limited to: operation of all identified transition assistance places of performance; providing pre-separation and initial counseling; personalized transition and financial counseling; individual transition planning advice; Accessing Higher Education (AHE); Career Skills Program (CSP) support; employment-seeking assistance; marketing and career/hiring event support; and assisting employers with connecting their open positions with the transitioning service member population.

The contractor shall utilize existing capabilities to offer a choice-based program, allowing clients to receive services via face-to-face and/or virtual means as the client elects. Existing capabilities include autonomous installation transition assistance centers, itinerant sites, 24/7 virtual counseling center (with telephonic voice over internet protocol providing instant messaging, file transfer, and video conferencing capabilities), social networks, and connecting clients to jobs.

Because SFL-TAP is the commander’s program, the installation commander and their Soldiers are the contractor’s primary client. AR 600-81 provides guidance regarding eligibility for SFL-TAP, command support, and common levels of services each Soldier requires. Installation commanders own the program and may direct additional services at their individual site, in the form of specialized classes, marketing, processes, and employer assistance, based on the needs of their location and transitioning Soldier demographics.

The general SFL-TAP process includes:

Assessing the clients’ transition desires; advise/assisting development of a personal plan to achieve goals; and connecting to services/training to achieve their goals

Managing a case-load of clients in accordance with (IAW) individual standards prescribed in AR 600-81

Sources Sought Synopsis – Soldier For Life Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP)

Assisting all program, job marketing and employer initiatives Assisting installation hiring, career fair and employer events Using automated system to schedule and track events and attendance to value-added classes

(dress for success, FED/ADV Resume, etc.)

Supporting installation leadership with coordination and recording Installation Transition Council meetings (minutes, presentations, etc.)

Assisting clients and commanders with CAPSTONE event and eForm Support the Designated Government Representative (DGR) with program management of CSP;

marketing; and community relations (COMREL) outreach initiatives Inputting data and maintain the integrity of the Government’s full range of automation systems pertaining to client data, events, and data-analysis Supporting all elements of the Soldier Life Cycle on a space-available basis Supporting commander relationships with employers through agreements, sanctioned career and hiring fairs as well as employment summits and Career Skills Program events.

The contract objective is to provide tailored, professional services that support each requirement of AR 600-81, and aid command and client understanding of statutory and regulatory requirements, available services, and support resources available to them during transition. The preferred order for delivering SFL-TAP services is Brick and Mortar (B&M), virtual and then JKO. Timelines are specified in AR 600-81 and shall be followed based on when the client initiates SFL-TAP services. The objectives of Army SFL- TAP are:

Eligible Soldiers shall receive services IAW AR 600-81, SFL-TAP HQ Policy, and installation commander guidance via the DGR

Staff/operate B & M locations and FTST based on mission requirements, average client throughput, and command input via the DGR

Ensure separating Soldiers Active Duty and RC Soldiers; retirees; eligible DA Civilians; and family members receive services IAW AR 600-81

Track all separating clients’ compliance and noncompliance with transition standards IAW AR 600-81

Fully support employer-Soldier connection, marketing, recruiting employer participation, CSP and events to facilitate direct Soldier employment

Keep accurate client records, collect data and analyze/summarize as required by the Government Provide eligible clients a choice-based, personalized program allowing the user to receive face-to-face (or virtual) services as they choose.

Assist with and support installation notification and follow-up with identified, eligible Soldiers Make new/emerging changes within the SFL-TAP, WRT requirements and standards within 30 days of notification

Notice Type: Sources Sought (Capabilities Statement Request). The government expects to release a solicitation early 2019 and provide 30 days for proposal response. Anticipated contract will be Firm Fixed-Price (FFP) and consist of a two-month phase in period (or less), a 10-month base period, and four, 12-month option periods. This contract will require support to U.S. Army Human Resources Command (HRC) and IMCOM using government facilities worldwide.

Incumbent Information: The incumbent contractor is Inverness Technologies, Inc. providing services under contract: W9124D-16-C-0011.

Sources Sought Synopsis – Soldier For Life Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP)

Request for Information/Capability Statements: The government is requesting capability statements from vendors to determine the capability to perform this requirement. If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these services, please provide the following information:

1) Organization name, address, email address, Web site address, point of contact, telephone number, a statement regarding small business status (including small business type(s)/certifications(s) such as SDB, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, etc.), and business size under NAICS code 541612. Include DUNS number and cage code.

2) Provide a detailed narrative that demonstrates the contractor’s capability to perform requirements contained in the draft PWS (it is highly recommended that capability information be tied back to the task specifics to ensure capability is clear during Government analysis of responses received). The capability statement should also address the following:

Describe your company’s approach and success for maintaining highly qualified professionals, so there is no vacancies that create sustained gaps in service.

Describe your company’s approach and success for managing a global program with multiple challenges. Other than time zones differences, what were the challenges (i.e., gaining entrance into OCONUS countries, management challenges including, but not limited to, expansive performance locations across a large footprint)?

Provide a summary of your company’s relevant experience as a prime contractor within the last five years. References can be commercial or government. Each contractor’s reference should include (a) Name of the project, (b) brief description of the project; (c) dollar value of the project; (d) number of FTEs; and (e) relevance of the project to the attached PWS.

If functioning as first tier subcontractor on prior actions which are anticipated to presented as capability validation for a firm, company shall provide the percentage of work for which they were responsible and the empowerment afforded them through the Prime in decision making to meet mission. References can be commercial or government. Each contractor’s reference should include

(a) Name of the project, (b) brief description of the project; (c) dollar value of the project; (d) number of FTEs; and (e) relevance of the project to the attached PWS.

3) If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, please include the administrative and management structure of such arrangements. Failure to include the information may result in a less favorable assessment of capabilities during Government analysis of responses received.

4) Information to help determine if the requirement (item or service) is commercially available, including pricing information, basis for the pricing information (e.g., market pricing, catalog pricing), delivery schedules, customary terms and conditions, warranties, etc.

5) Identify how the Army can best structure these contract requirements to facilitate competition by and among small business concerns.

6) Identify any possible inherently governmental functions, personal services, Organizational Conflict of Interests (to include page number and PWS paragraph).

7) Identify any condition or action that may be having the effect of unnecessarily restricting competition with respect to this acquisition. Please contact the MICC Advocate for Competition, Scott Kukes, at scott.d.kukes.civ@mail.mil or 210-466-2269, if you believe that this action is unreasonably restricting

Sources Sought Synopsis – Soldier For Life Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP) competition. Include the subject of the acquisition, this announcement, and the MICC POC information from this notice. Provide the specific aspects that unreasonably restrict competition and the rationale for such conclusion.

8) Recommendations to improve the approach/specifications/draft PWS/PRS to acquiring the identified services is requested. The government is providing the attached, draft PWS and seeks contractor comments no later than Monday, July 9, 2018, 10:00am Eastern Time to monika.watkins2.civ@mail.mil and Daniel.j.hereford.civ@mail.mil. The government will consider comments in the development of the request for quote, but will NOT respond to questions or guarantee the implementation of comments and/or recommendations. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged. Feedback will not be provided.

Request for Small Business response: The government is considering the possibility of setting aside this requirement for small business concerns. To aid in market research, request small business concerns respond to the following questions, in addition to providing their capability statement mentioned above, no later than Monday, July 9, 2018, 10:00am, Eastern Time to monika.watkins2.civ@mail.mil and Daniel.j.hereford.civ@mail.mil.

1. As a small business concern, our company is interested in participating in the subject procurement as a prime contractor.

______ YES ______ NO

2. Our company affirms that it has the requisite ability to comply with the performance limitations under FAR clause 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontract, which requires a small business firm under small business set aside to perform, ‘at least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel to be (shall be) expended for employees of the small business concern’.

______ YES ______ NO

Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this notice is strictly voluntary. No entitlements to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges to the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses, or the Government use of such information. The information obtained from industry responses to this notice may be used in the development of an acquisition strategy and future RFP. Proprietary information or trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials.

All information received that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. All Government personnel reviewing responses will have signed non-disclosure agreements and understand their responsibility for proper use and protecting from unauthorized disclosure of proprietary information as described in 41 USC 423. The Government will not be held liable for any damages incurred if proprietary information is not properly identified.

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, BUT A MARKET SURVEY TO

DEVELOP ACQUISITION STRATEGY.