Description
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 directed that all providers of interstate telecommunications services contribute to a federal universal service support mechanism in an equitable and nondiscriminatory manner and that there be specific, predictable, and sufficient federal and state mechanisms to preserve and advance universal service. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has by federal regulation designated the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), a private not for profit company, to administer the universal service support mechanisms for schools, libraries, rural health care providers, high cost areas, and low income consumers. USAC manages the Universal Service Fund (USF) in its administration of these support mechanisms.In its role as Administrator, USAC has the responsibility to take measures to prevent, deter and detect waste, fraud, and abuse involving the USF and the universal support mechanisms, and to report to the FCC and Congress regarding actions to prevent waste, fraud and abuse. In fulfilling its responsibilities, USAC works closely with the FCC Office of Inspector General (OIG). The oversight responsibility of the FCC OIG is to independently detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse with respect to all FCC programs, including the USF. USAC, in consultation with the OIG, developed the requirements of this Request for Proposals (RFP). The purpose of this procurement is to conduct beneficiary audits that will enable USAC, in consultation with FCC OIG, to: (1) detect waste, fraud, and abuse by beneficiaries of the universal service support mechanisms, (2) deter waste, fraud, and abuse by beneficiaries of the universal service support mechanisms, (3) generate insights about the compliance of beneficiaries with applicable law and the quality of administration of the universal service support mechanisms, and (4) identify areas for improvement in the compliance of beneficiaries with applicable law and the administration of the universal service mechanisms. The preliminary number of audits to be performed nationwide is 710. Under a multiple contract award, we anticipate qualifying an adequate amount of contract resources to accomplish these within approximately eighteen months of contract award. We will adjust this schedule as necessary should we be unable to obtain adequate resources from qualified bidders. The number of audits to be performed for the remaining term of the contract(s) will be determined after completion and analysis of the results of the initial 710 audits. The estimated number of initial audits is sufficient to calculate an estimated error rate of improper payments in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance regarding the Improper Payment Information Act (IPIA). Audits shall be conducted in accordance with Generally Accepted Audit Standards (GAAS), Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS), and Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (IPIA), Public Law 107-300. The RFP also requires offerors to have the capability to provide investigative support services. This contracting action replaces a prior USAC competitive procurement for these audit services that commenced in November 2004. All previous offerors are encouraged to submit proposals. In addition, new offerors are also invited to submit proposals. It is anticipated that this solicitation will result in multiple awards to allow for competition between the awardees for specific task orders. Awarded contracts will have a one-year base period and four one-year option periods. It is anticipated that Time and Material (T&M) task orders will be awarded for the first 710 audits. This will be followed by fixed price task orders, when ever possible, for the audits authorized for the remaining term of the contract(s). Time and material task orders will be awarded for all investigative services. Due to the number of potential relationships between offerors and contributors, service providers, and/or beneficiaries of the USF, offerors will be required to disclose any actual or potential personal or organizational conflicts of interest (OCIs), as well as their process for identifying and evaluating potential or actual OCIs. A mitigation plan shall be required if an actual or potential conflict of interest is identified by disclosure or other means. It should be noted that if an offeror’s proposed mitigation plan is deemed to be inadequate to avoid, neutralize, or adequately mitigate an identified actual or potential OCI, then the offeror’s proposal will be subject to disqualification without further evaluation. The deadline for submission of proposals will be stated in the RFP. Late and non-responsive proposals shall not be evaluated or considered for award. Copies of the RFP will be made available electronically at http://www.universalservice.org no earlier than 15 days after publication of this synopsis, or can be requested by FAX at 202-776-0080, or by phone at 202-776-0200. Fedreal Communications Commission POCs are: Mark R. Crawford, Contract Specialist 202 418-0933 Dennis Dorsey, Contracting Officer 202 418-1952