R408--Professional Services GAO High Risk List Notice of Intent to Sole Source

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Description of Action

A Justification ad Approval (J&A) for Other than Full and Open Competition has been approved and will be made publicly available at the Government Point of Entry (GPE) within 14 days after contract award as required by FAR 6.305(a).

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Strategic Acquisition Center- Frederik (SAC-F), in accordance with Public Law 109- 461: Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 specifically, the Veterans First Contracting Program outlined in 38 USC § 8127(c) and VAAR 819.7007 (Sole source awards to service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns) intends to negotiate a sole-source procurement with Blue water Thinking LLC, located at 3939 Bayside Drive Edgewater MD, 21037 to support VA s efforts to meet criteria for removal from the GAO High Risk List.

Scope of Work

VA determined that it requires professional support services to assist the Acquisition Lifecycle Framework (ALF) Office with the implementation and continued assessment of its GAO HRL strategic direction and to define contractor requirements to support GAO HRL efforts for VA Acquisition Management to meet criteria for removal from the GAO High Risk List. The scope of work to be performed by the contractor shall include the following:

Project Management and Reporting Program Management brings a repeatable best-practice management approach that ensures formal oversight for each GAO identified area of concern.

Portfolio/Program/Project Management initiating, planning, executing, controlling, tracking, and closing the work of the GAO HRL Steering Committee to achieve specific goals and meet specific success criteria at the specified time. This includes development and adjustment of timelines and proposals for reallocation of resources to meet required outcomes.

Preliminary Strategic Planning for GAO HRL implementation (2-year) Encompasses the planning activities required to identify preliminary root causes and underlying management deficiencies that caused the High-risk List designation.

Strategic Plan Roadmap Development expertise and manpower for Strategic Development, also known as strategic planning, including reflective engagement and analytical questioning to develop and recommend short and long-term courses of action to achieve specific goals and objectives. The deliverable from the Preliminary Strategic Planning activity that identifies the scope and requirements of the GAO-identified risks in advance of the publication of the 2021 HRL report.

Risk Management Risk is defined as the effect of uncertainty on objectives. The scope includes Subject Matter Expertise, consultation and manpower for the identification, evaluation, and prioritization of risks to the GAO HRL initiative. This includes coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize and monitor the impact and/or probability of identified risks to program objectives.

Change Management - exercising approaches to prepare and support individuals, teams, and program areas in making organizational change. The GAO HRL initiative includes all of the most common change drivers including: technological evolution, process reviews, crisis, and habit changes; pressure from new business entrants, acquisitions, mergers, and organizational restructuring.

Technical Writing/Editing - also called technical communications, prepare instruction manuals, journal articles, policies, proposals and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily. They will develop, gather, and disseminate technical information among customers, GAO HRL stakeholders, and the ALF Office.

Administrative Support and Meeting Planning assist with correspondence, scheduling, keep records, make appointments, prepare meeting minutes/ agendas, plan and coordinate attendance, facilitate execution of meetings, prepare presentations, and carry out similar tasks.

Anticipated period of performance:

Base Period: May 1, 2020- October 31, 2020 (6 Months)

Option Period One November 1, 2020 April 30, 2021 (6 Months)

Option Period Two May 1, 2021 October 31, 2021 (6 Months)

Option Period Three November 1, 2021 April 30, 2022 (6 Months)

Contract Type:

Firm Fixed Price

Place of performance:

Work shall primarily be performed virtually and at the contractor s facilities. Work at the Government site, located at 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C, will occur occasionally to support working meetings.

This notice of intent is not a solicitation or request for competitive quotations. No solicitation package is available.