Training and Certification in support of the U. S. Army Chaplains Office in the Strong Bond Program.

The purpose of this modification to the previous notice is revise paragraph 1.6.13 (contractor travel)of the Performance Work Statement.

The purpose of this modification to the previous notice is to respond to questions from industry, revise the combined synopsis/solicitation and attach the past performance questionnaire.

The purpose of this modification to the previous notice is to change the number of redacted copies of the proposal to one from three.

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; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-37. The requirement is 100% small business set aside, and the associated NAICS code is 611430. The size standard is $7 million. The Government will award a firm-fixed price contract from this solicitation. The period of performance is a base year with two 12 month option years. The period of performance reads as follows: Base Year: 14 February 2010 13 February 2011, Option Year I: 14 February 2011 13 February 2012, Option Year II 14 February 2012 13 February 2013. The Government intends to evaluate offers and award a contract without discussions with offerors. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct discussion if later determined by the Contracting Officer to be necessary. This requirement is for certification training for 180 Army chaplains, chaplains assistants and family members in the Strong Bonds version of the Couples Communication program. Questions pertaining to this requirement are due NLT 3 February 2010. Questions shall be emailed to the Contract Specialist, Joyce Bettis (email listed below). The completed Request for Proposal (RFP) is due 9 February 2010. The RFP will be emailed to joyce.bettis@us.army.mil. Its the sole responsibility of the offeror to review the FEDBIZOPPS site for any amendments or updates. No information or questions concerning this RFP or request for clarifications will be provided in response to telephone calls. Please see the attached Performance Work Statement for description of services.

Clauses can be accessed electronically in full text through http://farsite.hill.af.mil. Contractors must be actively registered with Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at http://www.ccr.gov. Instructions to Offerors IAW 52.212-1 Instruction to Offerors Commerical Items. PERIOD OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFERORS: The offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 30 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers, unless another time period is specified in an amendment to the solicitation. LATE OFFERS; Request for Proposals or modification of proposals received at the address specified for the receipt of offers after the exact time specified for receipt of offers WILL NOT be considered. The submission shall be clearly indexed and logically assembled. Each volume shall be appropriately numbered and clearly identified with the date and solicitation number in the header and/or footer and shall begin at the top of each page. The offeror is required to provide three redacted copies without the names (i.e. company, key personnel, etc.). Interested Offerors should contact the contract specialist via email for an offeror code. This code is to be used throughout your proposal in lieu of your company name or logo and must be clearly identified on each volume of your proposal. NOTE: Please submit a cover letter with your redacted proposal addressed to Mrs. Joyce Bettis with your companys contact information. A Table of Contents should be created using the Table of Contents feature in MS Word. MS Word (.doc) files shall use the following page setup parameters.

Margins Top, Bottom, Left, Right 1
Gutter 0
From Edge Header, Footer 0.5
Page Size, Width 8.5
Page Size, Height 11

The following additional restrictions apply: Each paragraph shall be separated by at least one blank line. A standard, 12-point minimum font size applies. New Times Roman fonts are required. Tables and illustrations may use a reduced font size not less than 8-point and may be landscape. The offerors proposal shall consists of three separate volumes with one original and three redacted copies of each volume. Offerors shall attach a cover sheet to the outer cover of each volume, which clearly identifies each volume-by-volume number, volume name, and copy number (i.e., Volume I, Technical, copy 2 of 6), Request for Proposal (RFP) number, and date of submission. Use tab indexing to identify all sections within a particular proposal volume. Do not include writing on the tab index page other than that required to identify the particular section. The page count is as follows:

Proposal Part Page Count
Volume I Technical- NTE 50 pages, excluding the QCP, excluding resumes, covers, title pages, executive summaries, and table of contents and supporting documentation.
Volume II Past Performance- NTE 15 pages, excluding covers, title pages, executive summaries, and table of contents.
Volume III Price- No Page Limitation

Those pages that exceed the page counts for each volume or attachment will not be evaluated. If there are more than forty-five (45) lines of text on any page, the sum of the additional lines will be removed from back to front of the particular volume or attachment and will not be evaluated. Request for Proposal (RFP) should be submitted and shall contain the following information: RFP Number; TIME SPECIFIED FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERORS; NAME, ADDRESS; TELEPHONE NUMBER OF OFFEROR; ANY DISCOUNT TERMS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ALL SOLICITATION AMENDMENTS (if applicable). Signed proposals must indicate quantity, unit price, and total amount for each item. Offerors shall include a statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. Proposal shall also contain all other documentation specified herein. EVALUATION/AWARD; IAW FAR 52.212-2, EvaluationCommercial Items, the Government will award a contract to the offeror whose proposal is judged to represent the lowest price technically acceptable. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror conforming to the solicitation that will be most advantageous to the Government. Award will be made using the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA). Offerors are urged to ensure that their proposals are submitted on the most favorable terms to reflect their best possible potential. Proposals should not contain classified data. The technical proposal will describe the capability of their organization and any anticipated subcontractors to perform the work in accordance with the Performance Work Statement. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers. Factor 1- Technical Approach- Subfactor I- Understanding of the Requirement- The Government will evaluate the offerors understanding of the work to be performed in accordance with the PWS. The offeror shall submit a proposal that demonstrates its understanding of the work described in Part 5 of the PWS and the extent to which potential risks are identified and mitigated. Offerors are cautioned parrotingof the PWS with a statement of intent to perform does not reveal the offerors understanding of the problems or their capability for addressing it. Subfactor II- Quality Control Plan- The Government will evaluate the offerors Quality Control Plan (QCP) on how it demonstrates how they intend to monitor, inspect, and correct deficiencies for the requirements of the PWS. The Government shall incorporate the QCP in the contract that will result from this solicitation. The QCP will no longer be considered proprietary and will be considered releasable under FOIA.

Factor 1, Technical, will be rated using the following Adjectival Scale

ADJECTIVAL DEFINITION
Acceptable- The proposal demonstrates an approach which is capable of meeting all requirements and objectives. The approach includes strengths which significantly outweigh the weaknesses. The risk of unsuccessful performance is at least moderate, as the proposal solutions are feasible and practical. These solutions are further considered to reflect moderate risk in that they are clear and precise, fully supported, and demonstrate an understanding of the requirement.

Unacceptable- The proposal demonstrates an approach which, based on a very high risk, will very likely not be capable of meeting all requirements and objectives. This approach has numerous weaknesses which outweigh the strengths. The risk of unsuccessful performance is very high as the proposal contains solutions which are not feasible and practical. The solutions are further considered to reflect very high risk in that they lack clarity or precision, are unsupported, and do not demonstrate a complete understanding of the requirement.

Factor 2 Past Performance- The offeror will submit past performance of 3 current or previous contracts for relevancy (within the last 3 years) based on how well the contractor performed on projects of similar dollars value, scope and complexity. Offerors are advised that the Government may use past performance information obtained from the centralized past performance databases and sources other than those identified by the offeror and the information obtained may be used for both the responsibility determination and the best value decision. Profiles of contract efforts should include dates, location, types of contract, dollar values, descriptions of the work and references. References information should include the name, address, fax number and telephone number of the Contracting Officer or contract administrator. Phone interviews with the references submitted for the past contract efforts on similar work will be used to confirm those efforts and determine whether they met or exceeded contractual requirements. Reference should also be provided for any anticipated subcontractors to be used. The absence of past performance data will be rated neither favorably nor unfavorably.

Factor 2, Past Performance, will be rated using the following Adjectival Scale

ADJECTIVAL DESCRIPTION
Low Risk- Little doubt exists, based on the Offerors performance record, that the Offeror can perform the proposed effort.

Moderate Risk- Some doubt exists, based on the Offerors performance record, that the Offeror can perform the proposed effort.

High Risk- Significant doubt exists, based on the Offerors performance record, that the Offeror can perform the proposed effort.

Unknown Risk- Little or no relevant performance record identifiable; equates to an unknown risk rating having no favorable or unfavorable evaluation significance.

Factor 3 Price- Price proposals will be evaluated for reasonableness and to determine the best overall value to the Government. The offeror shall also provide a detailed breakout of all labor categories and other costs that are associated with the work specified in the Performance Work Statement. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total of all CLIN prices, including all options to ensure that pricing is not unbalanced. No adjective ratings will be used to evaluate price. Submit your proposal in accordance with the following CLINs:

CLIN 0001 Training Strong Bonds 6 EA $________________
CLIN 0002 Other Direct Costs (Travel) NOT TO EXCEED $ 14,018.00
CLIN 0003 Contractor Manpower Report 1ea $________________
CLIN 1001 Training Strong Bonds 6EA $________________
CLIN 1002 Other Direct Costs (Travel) NOT TO EXCEED $14,578.00
CLIN 1003 Contractor Manpower Report 1ea $_____________
CLIN 2001 Training Strong Bonds 6EA $___________
CLIN 2002 Other Direct Costs (Travel) NOT TO EXCEED $ 15,161.00
CLIN 2003 Contractor Manpower Report 1ea $ _____________


Contract Manpower Report Clause: The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower & Reserve Affairs) operates and maintains a secure Army data collection site where the contractor will report ALL contractor manpower (including subcontractor manpower) required for performance of this contract. The contractor is required to completely fill in all the information in the format using the following web address: https://contractormanpower.army.pentagon.mil . The required information includes: (1) Contracting Office, Contracting Officer, Contracting Officers Technical Representative; (2) Contract number, including task and delivery order number; (3) Beginning and ending dates covered by reporting period; (4) Contractor name, address, phone number, e-mail address, identity of contractor employee entering data; (5) Actual direct labor hours (including sub-contractors); (6) Actual direct labor dollars paid this reporting period (including sub-contractors); (7) Total payments (including sub-contractors); (8) Predominant Federal Service Code (FSC) reflecting services provided by contractor (and separate predominant FSC for each sub-contractor if different); (9) Estimated data collection cost; (10) Organizational title associated with the Unit Identification Code (UIC) for the Army Requiring Activity (the Army Requiring Activity is responsible for providing the contractor with its UIC for the purposes of reporting this information); (11) Locations where the contractor and sub-contractors perform the work (specified by zip code in the United States and nearest city, country, when in an overseas location, using standardized nomenclature provided on website); (12) Presence of deployment or contingency contract language; and (13) Number of contractor and sub-contractor employees deployed in theater this reporting period (by country). As part of its submission, the contractor will provide the estimated total cost (if any) incurred to comply with this reporting requirement. Reporting period will be the period of performance not to exceed 12 months ending September 30 of each government fiscal year and must be reported by 31 October of each calendar year. Contractors may use a direct XML data transfer to the database server or fill in the fields on the website. The XML direct transfer is a format for transferring files from a contractors systems to the secure web site without the need for separate data entries for each required data element at the web site. The specific formats for the XML direct transfer may be downloaded from the web site.

All offerors must be Central Contractor Registered (CCR) and online representation and certification application (OCRA) must be activated. OCRA registration for online representation and certification requirements may be viewed via the internet at www.bpn.gov. OFFERORS MAY INCLUDE A COMPLETE COPY OF THE PROVISION AT FAR 52.212-3, OFFEROR REPRENSENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONSCOMMERCIAL ITEMS WITH THEIR OFFER, which can be downloaded from the internet or requested in writing via facsimile at 229-257-3547. Offerors that fail to furnish the required representation information via submission or ORCA registration, or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation, may be excluded from consideration. The listed Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses apply to this solicitation and are incorporated by reference. All FAR Clauses may be viewed in full text via the internet at http://farsite.hill.af.mil. FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items (Deviation). Pursuant to FAR Clause 52.212-5 the following clauses are hereby incorporated by reference: FAR 52.222-3, Convict Labor (E.O. 11755); FAR 52.233-3, Protest After Award (31 U.S.C. 3553 and 40 U.S.C.759); FAR 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim; FAR 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (E.O. 11246); FAR 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans (38 U.S.C. 4212); FAR 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers (29 U.S.C. 793);FAR 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disable Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era (38 U.S.C. 4212); FAR 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons; FAR 52.225-13 Restriction on certain foreign Purchase; FAR 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer; DFAR 252.232-7003, Electronic Submission of Payment Requests; DFAR 252.246-7000, Material Inspection and Receiving Report; FAR 52.219-6 Notice of Total Small Business Set Aside and FAR 52.219-8 Utilization of Small Business Concerns. FAR 52.202-1 Definitions; FAR 52.203-3 Gratuities; FAR 52.204-4 Printed or Copied Double Sided on Recycled Paper; FAR 52.204-9 Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel; FAR 52.242-15 Stop Work Order; DFAR 252.201-7000 Contracting Officers Representative; FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services; FAR 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract; FAR 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference.

This combined sources sought/ synopsis announcement issued by the US Army Contracting Command, Contracting Center of Excellence (CCE) at Hoffman II, on behalf of the Office of the Chief of Chaplains intends to procure certification training in the Strong Bonds version of the Couples Communication program, using small business set-aside procedures or under full and open competitive procedures. If at least two responsible small business concerns are determined by the Government to be capable of performing this requirement based on the evaluation of the capability packages, the requirement will be solicited as a 100% set-aside for small business concerns in accordance with FAR Part 19. If capability packages are not received from at least two responsible small business concerns in accordance with FAR Part 19 by the response date or if the Government determines that no small business concerns in accordance with FAR Part 19 are capable of performing this requirement based upon an evaluation of the capability packages submitted; this requirement will be solicited under full and open competitive procedures.

Only small businesses concerns are to submit capability packages by 11 January 2010 at 9:00 AM Eastern Standard Time. NO EXCEPTIONS. Interested small businesses that are certified and qualified as a small business concern in NAICS code 611430 with a size standard of $7.0 Million are encouraged to submit their capability packages. The capability packages for this sources sought market survey are not expected to be proposals, but rather statements regarding the companys existing experience in relation to the areas specified in the PWS. Capability packages must not exceed 10 pages in length and must be submitted electronically. Packages over 10 pages will not be evaluated.

Responsible Small business concerns are to outline their experiences in the Couples Communication Program curriculum. Areas or tasks where a contractor does not have prior experience should be annotated as such. The following questions must be answered and elaborated on as part of the package: (1) What experience does your company have with certifying individuals as trainers to conduct training in the Couples Communication Program curriculum (2) What experience does your firm have in developing the curriculum for Couples Communication Program? (3) What experience does your company have with Army level activities or equivalent in providing curriculum that is focused on the delivery of resiliency programs to military families to build healthy relations in the environment of pre and post deployment concerns? (4) Does your company have an experienced staff who has conducted training to prepare military families to better cope with the challenges of relationships, military careers and wartime issues? (5) What experience does your company have with the Armys Strong Bonds program or military Chaplain led programs?


To assist us in maintaining a list of interested small business concerns for this potential procurement, please provide your companys name, point of contact (POC), address, phone number, and business size under the above NAICS code to the POC for this procurement, Joyce Bettis. A Firm-Fixed Contract is anticipated. The anticipated period of performance will be a base period of twelve months and two (2) option years and reads as follows: Base Year: 14 February 2010 to 13 February 2011, Option Year I: 14 February 2011 to 13 February 2012, Option Year II: 14 February 2012 to 13 February 2013. The place of performance will be within and outside the continental United States.

A written Request for Proposal (RFP) will be posted on or about 18 January 2010. The RFP must be retrieved and downloaded from the Governments point of entry on FedBizOpps.Gov at www.fbo.gov. No hard copies of the RFP will be issued. All amendments will be posted and must be retrieved from this website. Responses to the RFP must be submitted by email to the POC identified below. No solicitation mailing list will be compiled. Contractors are responsible for all costs for submitting their capability packages. POC is Joyce Bettis at 703-428-0489 or joyce.bettis @us.army.mil or Mr Donald Leath at 703-428-1211 or donald.leath@us.army.mil.