The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Contract Management Division is conducting market research to identify potential small business sources (including 8(a), veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUB Zone small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns) with the capacity and technical capability necessary to successfully perform the requirements described herein. The subject requirement is to provide technical support for State partners by identifying effective Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) anti-fraud approaches in 3 to 5 participating State agencies. The detection and prevention techniques must be proven. Furthermore, the scope is not directed at contractors who specialize solely in deploying and implementing fraud detection tools. The tasks outlined in this section outline an enterprise approach that integrates data integrity, organization, policies, and advanced analytics into a holistic project to determine and demonstrate successful fraud prevention strategies in State SNAP operations. This is a combined Sources Sought Notice (SSN) and Request for Information (RFI) only. (Note: Any interested party may respond to the RFI. Only potential small business sources interested in competing in any future solicitation as a prime contractor should respond to the Sources Sought Notice.) This is not a solicitation announcement. No contract will be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement. The Government will use responses to this Sources Sought Notice to make appropriate acquisition decisions. Any resultant contract is anticipated to be a Firm Fixed Price (FFE) type of contract or task order with a two (2) year period of performance. The Performance Work Statement (PWS) requirements fall under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541611, "Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services." Interested firms must demonstrate in their qualification statement that they are qualified to perform the complete PWS under this NAICS code. Detailed information on the PWS requirements is provided via the draft PWS which is posted on this announcement. This RFI is being issued to: 1. Gather industry input on the attached draft PWS 2. Request information on any changes in industry that the Government should consider to achieve direct cost savings 3. Request information on possible contract pricing considerations 4. Request information on other possible contract changes 5. Inform prospective offerors of the general acquisition timeline Firms responding to the RFI are asked to submit comments that address the Government's requirements, assumptions, conditions, or contemplated approaches to this future acquisition. Please submit information or suggestions that may encourage new, different or innovative approaches that would result in direct cost savings to the Government. Firms SHOULD NOT submit: proposals or offers; capability statements, white papers or other company marketing materials; past performance information or general descriptions of corporate experience; requests to be considered for award or to be notified of a future solicitation; requests to be added to a mailing or distribution list; questions or comments not related to this RFI. Firms responding to the Sources Sought Notice are requested to provide the USDA, FNS all appropriate documentation (i.e., a detailed capability statement and/or relevant past performance history documenting its ability to perform similar PWS requirements) -- to operate large, complex federal programs that require the management and processing of substantial volumes of complex data; operating high volume, rapid turnaround administrative and technical support programs; implementing project management controls; significant multi-tasking; and ability to control costs to support its ability to carry-out the requirements of the Draft PWS. In addition, your capability statement and/or relevant past performance history should: • Identify appropriate levels and types of expertise in a manner that demonstrates its understanding of the requirements of the Draft PWS; • Identify all property, equipment, and facilities necessary to perform the requirements of the Draft PWS. Note: The contractor shall provide all property, equipment, and facilities necessary to perform under the resultant contract. • Identify its specific experience in administrative and technical review/validation of hardcopy and electronic laboratory analytical data in a production environment to meet performance specifications similar to those identified in the Draft PWS; • Provide a comprehensive contract start-up plan for establishing, organizing, staffing the contract, and clearly identify mobilization status at 15, 30, 45, and 60 calendar day points; • Identify its Software Engineering Institute's Capability Maturity Model Integration Level or equal (if any); • Provide relevant samples of a Quality System setting forth its capability for quality assurance (QA) and its general approach for accomplishing QA specifications similar to the Draft PWS. Responses are limited to 30 pages, excluding the last two bullet requirements above. Interested concerns who believe they have the capability of providing the required services as defined in the Draft PWS are invited to submit a Qualification Statement, including the above described documentation. Responses should be emailed to
[email protected] and
[email protected]. Please indicate in your email if you are responding to the Sources Sought Notice or the Request For Information. Due to server limitations, please limit the size of each email to no more than 2MB. Telephonic and mail/courier responses will not be accepted. Small business firms that cannot be considered as prime contractors, but would like to be considered for subcontracting opportunities should add themselves to the list of "Interested Vendors" on FBO. If a solicitation is released, it will be via FedBizOpps (http://www.fedbizopps.gov). It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor the website for any information that may pertain to this SSN/RFI or a future solicitation. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. Feedback and/or evaluation information will be provided to any firm regarding their individual capability statements in response to the Source Sought Notice but, no feedback will be provided in response to the Request For Information. The deadline for submitting Questions and/or comments directly related to this announcement is June 18, 2013 by 3:00 pm EST. The deadline for submitting capability statements in response to the Sources Sought Notice and comments in response to the Request for Information is not later than June 24, 2013 by 1:00 pm EST.