Amendment No. 000001, DU100A-17-R-0001 (Provide Reader Services, . .. )

 The purpose of the Amendment NO. 000001 is to make the following changes to
the Request For Proposals (RFP No. DU100A-17-R-0001), as follows:

1. Provide answers to all the timely received vendors' questions. (see Attachment).

2. Add a requirement of a minimum two years of relevant experience for the Reader.

2. Extend the proposal due date to: MARCH 8, 2017, 10.00 am (EST).

3. Replace the three impacted pages 11, 33 and 36 of the base (original) RFP, with the revised pages incorporating the above changes. (see Attachment)

All the other terms and conditions and statement of work remain unchanged.

                       Reader-Assistant-Paralegal Services for HUD/OGC

Section II: Statement Of Work

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of General Counsel (OGC) is seeking the services of a contractor to provide a Reader-Assistant-Paralegal (Reader) that will work directly with and receive tasking directly from the individual Assistant General Counsel (AGC) who is sight-impaired.

Objectives:

The Contractor shall read documents in both paper and electronic form to the AGC as needed as well as provide paralegal and administrative support to the AGC. As time permits, the Contractor shall provide paralegal and administrative support to other members of the AGC's staff.

Scope:

The Contractor shall be organized, timely, have good communication skills and have the ability to read complex legal and other documents aloud in a clear, quick, and easily understood voice, as well as provide paralegal and administrative support. The successful candidate shall be able to perform the following requirements:

• Shall work well in stressful, time-sensitive situations. Shall be available to travel overnight. Shall be available to work a flexible schedule, including working early mornings, late evenings, and possibly on weekends.
• Shall be proficient in information technology and common office software, including MS Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Shall be proficient in cite-checking legal memoranda and briefs and using in appropriate legal citation formats (i.e., Blue Book format).
• Shall have excellent writing and proof-reading skills, including proficiency in the use of correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Shall have superior oral communication and interpersonal skills that are professional and courteous, and the ability to perform those skills with the appropriate diplomacy with all types of individuals from the highest level of government officials to individual members of the public.
• Shall have strong organizational skills so as to ensure that the AGC remains organized.
• Shall have the ability to quickly comprehend complex legal materials in order to provide accurate, detailed oral and written summaries of complex legal and factual documents.
• Shall have good retention skills, including the ability to meet people and remember their names and faces, and identify them to the AGC in meetings, gatherings, and other circumstances.
• Shall have the ability to maintain the appropriate sensitivity to disability-related issues and terminology.

Tasks:

The Contractor shall perform the following services:
• Provide accurate oral or written summaries of messages, meetings, and complex legal and other documents.
• Convert documents to electronic or hard copy print formats that are accessible to the AGC.
• Schedule appointments on calendar and provide oral notifications to AGC, such as advising if the AGC's telephone voice mail light is on, informing the AGC of other attendees at meetings, events or other agency gatherings and of persons dropping by for unscheduled appointments.
• Maintain confidentiality with respect to sensitive and confidential information gained because of position (e.g., employee performance, labor/management relations, sensitive and confidential program information, legal advice offered by attorneys to clients).
• Proofread complex legal and other documents identifying typos, grammatical problems, formatting inconsistencies, and legal citation errors.
• Conduct searches on databases (i.e., Lexis.com or other appropriate web-based legal research sites), and provide legal analysis when identifying cases that relate to specific issues.
• Conduct fact-finding research and identify resources via internet or through document review.
• Review documents to identify those that are protected as attorney-client communications, deliberative process, or other applicable privileges.
• Perform legal citation checking on a daily basis from various databases for rule changes, updates of legal memoranda and legal briefs as they relate to the Federal Government and the activities of the AGC and the Office of Litigation.
• Assist the AGC in use of various computer systems such as the performance management system, the Concur travel management system, and the webTA time and attendance system, and, when needed, identify persons that can assist the AGC with understanding and accessing such systems.

Deliverables:

The Contractor is not required to provide any deliverables, except for biweekly employee signed and contractor certified payroll submission to the GTR/COR.

Government-Furnished Property, Material, Equipment, or Information:

The Contractor will have use of a desk, chair and computer in an office setting at HUD/HQ, Washington, D.C.

Contractor-Furnished Property, Material, Equipment, or Information:

None.

Security Considerations:

Prior to reporting for services, the Contractor shall undergo a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) background check. On the first day the Contractor shall report to the person assigned to escort the Contractor to HUD's Security Office where the Contractor shall obtain a Temporary Government ID.

Travel:

· Accompanies the AGC occasionally on travel in and outside of the Washington Metropolitan Area and assists with hotel reservations, identifying transportation, and locating meeting places, airports, restaurants, court rooms, congressional hearings and other venues, as may be necessary. Travel will be reimbursed in accordance with the government Federal Travel Regulation. (Note: Any local parking or travel, within 50 miles of the Washington Metropolitan Area, is not reimbursable).

· Accompanies the AGC to local meetings in and outside of the HUD Headquarters and within the Washington Metropolitan Area, takes notes, carries items, researches directions to meeting locations and arranges transportation services when required.

· All reimbursable travel requires prior written approval by the authorized GTR/COR.

Special Material Requirements:   None

Other Unique Requirements:        None.

Place of Performance: The Contractor shall perform the services set forth in this SOW at the Office of General Counsel (OGC), HUD/HQ, 451 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20410.

Hours of Work: Normal working hours will be from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm (EST), with one-hour lunch break, during the weekdays (Monday through Friday), or some variant as mutually agreed upon at the post award kick-off meeting. Extended work hours during any weekday (Monday thru Friday), and weekends, and some travel beyond the local area may be required, which will require prior written approval by the GTR/COR, and paid at the fixed overtime hourly rate specified under the respective CLIN price in the contract.