FEDBIZOPPS ANNOUNCEMENT REQUEST FOR INFORMATIONPursuant to FAR 15.202 (e) Military Community and Family Support ServicesMILITARY ONESOURCE Program The Department of Interior, Acquisition Service Directorate Herndon (AQD-Herndon) Procurement will handle this Request For Information. AQD-Herndon is a Federal Franchise Fund Contracting Office within the Department of Interior under the authority of the Government Management Reform Act and provides contracting support to all Federal and DoD Agencies. For an easier to read format of this RFI please go to our website at http://www.aqd.nbc.gov/solic/solicitations.asp. INTRODUCTION On behalf of the Military Departments and the Guard and Reserve Components, the Department of Defense (DoD) requires a contractor to provide services in support of the Military OneSource program. This program, a primary source of information for troops and families, provides members of the Armed Forces and their families, about 4 million persons ("Client") at locations worldwide, with a broad array of information and referrals to both military and civilian resources for variety of needs to include counseling services. (i) These services are available through the Internet, telephone (via 800 number and collect calls) e-mail, postal and face-to-face, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The contractor shall maintain the current 800 number and be responsible for all costs associated with the toll free services including service provider fees and usage charges. (ii) It is understood that this is a dynamic environment encompassing comprehensive Support Systems related to military members and their families. Unpredictable world events (such as terrorism attacks at home), military situations (such as deployments), and disasters may affect this contract, thus challenging DoD and the contractor with developing innovative options to support military members and their families in a "just-in-time" mode. BACKGROUND Today, U.S. military forces are engaged in conflicts around the world in support of the Global War on Terrorism, most prominently in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Ongoing deployments, changing demographics, and other challenges exert considerable stress on military members and their families. Concern over these and other issues can diminish mission readiness, particularly for those on the battlefield. The GWOT has resulted in an unprecedented level of lengthy and repeated deployments of American military personnel to Iraq, Afghanistan and other international areas of extreme conflict. These deployments into harm's way, which are viewed nightly on national television, have placed extreme stress on military families. Stress on marriages is at unprecedented levels. Military families are struggling to balance complex and competing demands requiring a wide range of problem solving skills to include: single parenting; communications; child care; financial stability; spouse employment; fluctuating family income; frequent relocations; isolation from other military families (Guard and Reserve families); family's education needs, etc. The DoD recognizes that families also serve and is committed to supporting military families. The Department intends to make expert telephonic consultation, referral, and information services and short term, situational, problem-solving counseling services available to troops, on demand. The Department of Defense (DoD) recognizes the reciprocal relationship that binds the military member, the military mission, and military families. Military OneSource demonstrates the commitment of the DoD to improving the quality of life for military members and their families. These information and support services, fully integrated with other resources available throughout the military community, reveal the concern of military leaders for the welfare of military members and their families. Military OneSource helps ensure that military members will continue to be mission deployable. PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST AND INFORMATION SOUGHT From this Market Research--Sources Sought synopsis, the Government is seeking responses from contractors that can provide all the following services for this requirement by identifying themselves and responding to this RFI. The Government requests recommendations, comments, concerns, and/or questions relating to the contemplated support services. The Government is looking for contractors that possess demonstrable and credible experience for all of the requirements listed in the SOW. The Government's intent is to determine availability in the commercial marketplace of contractors capable of fulfilling the objectives of this acquisition as stated in the draft Statement of Work. The Statement of Work describes the scope of the Military OneSource effort as encompassing all resources and development of resources, processes, personnel, materials, training, equipment, and technology necessary to provide service members and their families with unlimited access (via 24-hour, toll-free telephone and on-line/Internet) to stateside and international information, referral and counseling services available through a centralized source. The Government's intent is to obtain responses to the items listed below to assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition strategy. Interested offerors shall provide the following in their response: 1. Name of Company- include a contact person's name, telephone number, and email address, and company address. 2. Size of Business and identify the NAICS code for this requirement. 3. Are the types of services required available in the commercial marketplace and therefore, can be competed as a Commercial Item Acquisition. 4. Identify standard commercial terms and conditions typically associated with these services. 5. Recommend and give rationale for the contract type that would best suit this requirement. 6. Identify existing or potential pricing structure/methodologies in support of this type of work. 7. Provide an estimated dollar amount for this type of work for a base period of twelve (12) months and four (4), twelve (12) month option periods. 8. Provide comments and feedback regarding the Statement of Work. Please refer to the paragraph below. 9. Teaming and subcontracting opportunities to meet the Department of Defense socioeconomic goals, particularly with Ability One, Service Disabled Veteran on Businesses, and Veteran Owned Businesses. The Government is attaching a draft Statement of Work (SOW) for public comment as a part of this Request for Information. The purpose of the draft is to afford the public an opportunity to comment on best practices and critical elements that should be included in the SOW. Any comments provided should not be viewed as a vehicle for presenting a specific approach to be proposed, but as an opportunity to improve an eventual solicitation package. The Government has prepared a draft SOW to explain how the acquisition relates to the agency's program need and requirement for a contractor's solution. The Government is in the process of finalizing the SOW and attempting to minimize questions prior to the release of the Request for Proposal. The draft Statement of Work is being attached solely for the purpose of public comment and feedback. This does not constitute a request for proposal. Additionally, attachment 2 is provided and represents the vision for this requirement and a link to the Military OneSource website is also provided: http://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/home.aspx. The government anticipates a pre-solicitation conference in the Washington, District of Columbia area within the next 45 days. CONTEMPLATED TYPE OF CONTRACT Predominately a Firm Fixed Price Contract with some Time and Material/Labor Hour CLINS. DISCLAIMER This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only, is not a commitment by the Government, and does not constitute a solicitation. In accordance with FAR 15.202(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. An announcement for proposals is not a part of this RFI and a contract will not be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement and any follow-up information requests. HOW TO RESPOND Firms interested in performing this requirement may reply to this RFI on or before June 2, 2008 by 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time addressing all of the nine (9) items above and any other recommendations, comments or suggestions that may assist the Government with this acquisition. Comments, whether supportive or critical, are earnestly solicited regarding every aspect of this requirement. Please provide your response via email only to
[email protected]. There is no page limit for responses. Proprietary processes or data must be clearly marked and documented as such in the response. For a Microsoft Word version of this Request for Information and for the draft copy of the Statement of Work, please refer to the Acquisition Services Directorate website at: http://www.aqd.nbc.gov/solic/solicitations.asp . If you have any questions, please send an email to
[email protected].