THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR MARKET RESEARCH ONLY – NO AWARD WILL BE MADE FROM THIS RFI I. Introduction The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Government Contracting Services (GCS) has received a request from the Office of Family Assistance (OFA) to release this Request for Information (RFI) to determine the interest and capabilities of potential vendors. The purpose of this RFI is to assist the Government in conducting market research. The Government seeks a contractor to provide targeted support to Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) grantees, with an aim of improving grantee performance. This notice is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation for bids, quotes, or proposals. This notice does not obligate the Government to solicit for this requirement or award a contract and does not obligate the Government to reimburse interested parties for any costs incurred to prepare or provide a response to this request for information. Submission Instructions: Please address your response to Kenneth Brumfiel, Contract Specialist at email address
[email protected] on or before the submission response date. Responses by phone will not be accepted. Capability statements shall be submitted no later than (SEE ANNOUNCEMENT) in accordance with the instructions reflected in the notice. RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE: Firms who can fulfill this requirement and who would be interested in submitting a quote/proposal, in the event that a solicitation is issued, are requested to provide the following information in response to this request: SCOPE OF REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR OFFICE OF FAMILY ASSITANCE HMRF SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE II. Background: The Office of Family Assistance (OFA), an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF), administers the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) discretionary grant programs authorized under Section 403(a)(2) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. § 603(a)(2)]. OFA’s programs foster economically secure households and communities for the well-being and long-term success of children and families. The contractor shall be responsible, primarily, for carrying out activities to provide targeted support to Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) grantees. The contractor shall also: establish a process to assess the provision of grantee support to determine the value and effectiveness regularly; provide subject-matter expertise on an array of topics for training, resource development, and dissemination; provide other administrative support (OAS)1; and provide subject-matter expertise, content, and agendas for events, meetings (including virtual meetings) and other activities. All work shall inform and support HMRF grantees, the HMRF fields, and the public. There are currently approximately 110 grant recipients, with grants from September 2020 through September 2025. Assuming continuation of appropriations, a new cohort of 5-year grants is anticipated to be awarded in September 2025. OFA anticipates awarding additional contracts in support of the HMRF program. The contractor awarded this contract, the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Support Project, will be expected to coordinate with the following contracts: HMRF Logistics and Event Support Contract – this contact shall provide logistical and administrative support for all planned HMRF events including but not limited to; designing, planning, and organizing all events; the provision of logistical support for all events; and the provision of wrap-up and follow-up activities, and archiving of all events. The HMRF program hosts meetings, conferences, and other such events during each year of an awarded 5-year cohort of grants. These events can range from 70-700 attendees and there can be multiple events in one fiscal/program year. The events are designed to foster knowledge sharing and advance performance of programs funded in the HMRF program. HMRF Support and Resource Website – this contract shall operate a website, based on an existing system, with resources for HMRF grantees and information related to grantees funded by OFA. The HMRF program currently operates an existing website, First-line Access System for Training, Technical Assistance, Resources, and Communications, or “FastTRAC,” located at www.hmrffasttrac.acf.hhs.gov. This website provides a central location for OFA federal staff, relevant partners and HMRF grantees to access resources and collaborate across multiple service providers. If a contractor firm submits a proposal for this contract (HMRF-SP) in addition to either or both of the above contracts (HMRF Logistics and Event Support Contract, HMRF Support and Resource Website), the contractor must fully describe how the staffing needs would be supported if multiple contracts were to be awarded to one firm. Objectives : The objectives for this Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Support Project (HMRF-SP) include but are not limited to: providing targeted support to HMRF grantees establishing a process to assess the provision of grantee support to regularly determine the value and effectiveness providing subject-matter expertise on an array of topics for training, resource development, and dissemination providing subject-matter expertise, content, and agendas for regional roundtable events, grantee conferences (including the 2025/2026 Grantee Entrance conference), meetings (including virtual meetings), and activities associated with the HMRF programs collaborating with HMRF program partners including federal staff and other contracted partners. Contract type and structure . The contract is expected to be a set of non-severable services components, each with distinct end-products-of-value which are not obtainable without completion of the entire services component. The phases and structure of the contract may be: Phase One: Wind down/sustaining phase (period of performance: September 30, 2024-September 29, 2025). Phase One is unique, because it will occur during the last year of a 5-year cohort of HMRF grants. Thus, under Phase One, the contractor shall support grantees in winding down HMRF-funded grant activities and creating and executing sustainability plans. Services components shall be: CLIN 0001 (firm fixed price): Key Services, non-severable services component. End products of value: Summary Report of All HMRF Support Activities Provided; and Exit Report for Grantees’ Success, Strengths, and Challenges. CLIN 0002 (time & materials): Travel CLIN 0003 (time & materials): Other Direct Material Costs / Order-Level Materials Phase Two: Planning/initiating phase (period of performance: September 30, 2025-September 29, 2026). Phase Two is unique, because it will occur during the first year of a 5-year cohort of HMRF grants. Thus, under Phase Two, the contractor shall support a new set of grantees as they undergo a rigorous planning period and then initiate HMRF-funded grant activities. Services components shall be: CLIN 1001 (firm fixed price): Key Services, non-severable services component. End products of value: Summary Report of All HMRF Support Activities Provided; and Report of Grantees’ Success, Strengths, and Challenges during Planning and Initial Implementation. CLIN 1002 (time & materials): Travel CLIN 1003 (time & materials): Other Direct Material Costs / Order-Level Materials Phase Three: Stabilizing/ramp-up phase (period of performance: September 30, 2026-September 29, 2027). Phase Three is unique, because it will occur during the second year of a 5-year cohort of HMRF grants. Thus, under Phase Three, the contractor shall support a relatively new set of grantees as they seek to stabilize and ramp-up HMRF-funded grant activities. Services components shall be: CLIN 2001 (firm fixed price): Key Services, non-severable services component. End products of value: Summary Report of All HMRF Support Activities Provided; and SRU – Report of Grantees’ Success, Strengths, and Challenges during Stabilizing and Ramp-up. CLIN 2002 (time & materials): Travel CLIN 2003 (time & materials): Other Direct Material Costs / Order-Level Materials III. Task Areas: Task PMC – Project Management and Communication . The contractor shall hold an on-boarding discussion. Subsequently, the contractor shall hold ongoing ACF/OFA discussions, and shall submit monthly technical progress reports and invoices to the COR. Task UWP – Updated Work Plan . The contractor shall draft an updated work plan. Task EOE – Engagement of Experts . The contractor shall actively engage a number of experts in carrying out key activities, including (but not limited to) consultation with HMRF program participants and staff, and asking individual experts to review key documents. Task GSA – Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Grantee Support and Advancement . The contractor shall plan for and provide individualized, group-based, and virtual activities designed to support grantees in achieving their objectives and shall develop relevant multi-media activities. If a Grantee Support and Advancement Plan is approved, the contractor shall carry out the activity, including any applicable logistics, which may involve individual grantee support, support to groups of grantees, webinars, roundtables, site exchanges, etc. Task EWD – Employment and Workforce Development Grantee Support and Advancement . The contractor shall plan for and provide individualized, group-based, and virtual activities designed to support grantees in achieving their economic and workforce development objectives and shall develop relevant multi-media activities. If a Grantee Support and Advancement Plan is approved, the contractor shall carry out the activity, including any applicable logistics, which may involve individual grantee support, support to groups of grantees, webinars, roundtables, site exchanges, etc. Task OAS – Other Administrative Support . On an as-needed basis, and at the request of the COR, the contractor shall provide experienced administrative support staff to OFA to assist with: (1) grant monitoring activities, including grant monitoring site visits; (2) serve as facilitators at grantee meetings, conferences, and workshops; and (3) provide general program support. Task SAR – Summary Report of All HMRF Support Activities Provided . The contractor shall assess and report on the efforts conducted by the HMRF Support Project. Task ERG – Exit Report for Grantees’ Success, Strengths, and Challenges . The contractor shall create an exit report assessing and reporting on the grantees’ capabilities at the end of a contract year. IV. Capability statements should include the following Capability, Past Experience, and Staff Expertise Information. Capability statements must be no less than single spaced, with either 12-point Times New Roman font or 11-point Calibri font. The total page limit must be between 5 and 7 pages, and must not exceed 7 pages. The following information is requested in response to this request: General Information SAM UEI # Name of Company: Address of Company: Name, phone number and email address of company representative. Company size standard and/or socio-economic standing; i.e., large business, small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUB Zone small business, small disadvantaged business, or women- owned small business. A list of any questions you would be likely to ask if the requirements above were included, as is, as part of the final solicitation. Vendor Capability Statement, Past Experience Provide a Capability Statement that demonstrates the ability to perform the requirements listed in this Request for Information. Ensure your responses address capabilities and experience in the following areas: Please describe your experience(s) and approach(es) supporting the federal Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) programs, and, if you have this experience, please clarify whether the experience is at the federal and/or state level. If you have experience supporting other OFA or ACF programs, please list those and describe your experience. Please describe your experience(s) and approach(es) to successfully completing the full range of activities in Task EOE, in the context of HMRF. (If you have experience completing activities in Task EOE in other OFA or ACF programs, please list those and describe your experience.) Please describe your experience(s) and approach(es) to successfully completing the full range of activities in Task GSA, in the context of HMRF. (If you have experience completing activities in Task GSA in other OFA or ACF programs, please list those and describe your experience.) Please describe your experience(s) and approach(es) to successfully completing the full range of activities in Task EWD, in the context of HMRF. (If you have experience completing activities in Task EWD in other OFA or ACF programs, please list those and describe your experience.) Please describe your experience(s) and approach(es) to successfully completing the full range of activities in Tasks SAR and ERG, in the context of HMRF. (If you have experience completing activities in Tasks SAR and ERG in other OFA or ACF programs, please list those and describe your experience.) Please describe your recommended best practices for successfully meeting the needs of this project. Demonstrate past experience on at least three (3) similar projects, performed within the last five to ten years, consistent in: scope (3 yrs. or more, providing targeted support to Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) grantees or other OFA or ACF grantees, with an aim of improving grantee performance); size (around $10M); and complexity (e.g. the full range of tasks above). For each project, provide the specifics below: Contract number Contract title PoP Point of Contact (name, phone number and email address) Scope: Scope of contract; and brief description of work performed Size: Overall value of contract Complexity: Range of tasks successfully accomplished THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR MARKET RESEARCH ONLY – NO AWARD WILL BE MADE FROM THIS RFI Questions will be reviewed and shared with the program office. However, the Government is not obligated to respond to any questions resulting from this RFI. Disclaimer and Important Notes. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed. Information provided will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for the potential requirement and may lead to the development of a solicitation. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. Confidentiality. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).