Demonstration Project for Contractors Employing Persons with Disability capability review

NOTICE TYPE: Request for Information (RFI) COMPONENT OFFICE: DHRA/ERA REQUIREMENT: Demonstration Project for Contractors Employing Persons with Disabilities 1. The Defense Human Resources Activity is issuing this Request for Information Notice (RFI) as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in, and the resources for, providing services under DFARS Subpart 226.72 Demonstration Project for Contractors Employing Persons with Disabilities. The Government requires contractor services to support the following category management areas: 1. Information Technology and Telecommunications 2. Professional Services 3. Industrial Products & Services 4. Office Management 5. Transportation and Logistics Services This notice shall not be construed as a formal solicitation or an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. In addition, it does not guarantee that a subsequent solicitation will be issued. Submission of any information in response to this Sources Sought notice is voluntary and will assist in selecting the appropriate solicitation type/method. Costs associated with any submission shall not be reimbursed by the Government. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT SEEKING PROPOSALS AND WILL NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS. 2. The Government is specifically performing Market Research to see if there are potential vendors who can provide capabilities in a number of areas. Responding organizations will be added to DHRA’s Vendor Database when sending capabilities to include but not limited to the following areas: • IT Service Management • IT Operations Management • IT Business Management • Security Operations • Customer Service Management • Performance Analytics • Business and Administrative Services • Management and Advisory Services • Office Management Services • provide program management and coordination, performance management and measurement, acquisition support and administrative and clerical services • Online resource that provides skills improvement, educational and training skills. SUBMISSION INFORMATION: A. COVER SHEET - 1 page 1. Vendor name, address, website, Data Universal Numbering Systems (DUNS) Number, and Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code. 2. Point of contact to include e-mail address and telephone number. 3. Type of business, including socio-economic category (Large, Small, 8(a) Participant, Small Disadvantaged Business, HUBZone, Woman-Owned Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, or Non Profit) 4. If applicable, GSA contract number, schedule. B. CAPABILITIES STATEMENT & MARKET INFORMATION - no more than 10 pages 1. Please describe your organization's breadth of expertise/competency that may be eligible under DFARS Subpart 226.72 Demonstration Project for Contractors Employing Persons with Disabilities. This is a Request for Information (RFI) to gain knowledge of potential, qualified sources having the capability of providing professional support services that is compliant with DFARS Subpart 226.72 Demonstration Project for Contractors Employing Persons with Disabilities even if you have not ever been awarded a federal contract. The purpose of the Demonstration Project is to provide defense contracting opportunities for entities that employ severely disabled individuals C. BACKGROUND: SEC. 853. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR CONTRACTORS EMPLOYING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. (a) AUTHORITY- The Secretary of Defense may carry out a demonstration project by entering into one or more contracts with an eligible contractor for the purpose of providing defense contracting opportunities for severely disabled individuals. (b) EVALUATION FACTOR- In evaluating an offer for a contract under the demonstration program, the percentage of the total workforce of the offeror consisting of severely disabled individuals employed by the offeror shall be one of the evaluation factors. (c) DEFINITIONS- In this section: (1) ELIGIBLE CONTRACTOR- The term `eligible contractor' means a business entity operated on a for-profit or nonprofit basis that-- (A) employs severely disabled individuals at a rate that averages not less than 33 percent of its total workforce over a period prescribed by the Secretary; (B) pays not less than the minimum wage prescribed pursuant to section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206) to the employees who are severely disabled individuals; and (C) provides for its employee’s health insurance and a retirement plan comparable to those provided for employees by business entities of similar size in its industrial sector or geographic region. (2) SEVERELY DISABLED INDIVIDUAL- The term `severely disabled individual' means an individual with a disability (as defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)) who has a severe physical or mental impairment that seriously limits one or more functional capacities. D. EXPERIENCE: If applicable, provide the following information on one (1) similar projects that fell under the Demonstration Project for Contractors Employing Persons with Disabilities where you were the prime or Sub-Contractor or one of your capabilities that you are presenting under this RFI 1. The name and value of each project; 2. The name, address, telephone and email address for point of contact; 3. A description of each project, including challenges and successes; and 4. Your company's role and services provided for each project. All interested and capable contractors are encouraged to respond. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the sources sought evaluation. The results of this sources sought notice will assist the Contracting Officer in determining whether an 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), Certified HUBZone Small Business, Woman-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB), Small Business set-aside, or full and open competition is an acceptable strategy for this procurement. Responses to this synopsis may be used to aid in establishing realistic, achievable small business participation goals. Interested contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) in order to conduct business with the Government. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding will be solely at the interested party’s expense. All information received in response to this submission that is clearly marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Acknowledgement of receipt of responses will not be made and submissions to this Sources Sought will not be returned. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. Potential responders are encouraged to research the above authority to determine if its company can potentially meet DFARS Subpart 226.72 Demonstration Project for Contractors Employing Persons with Disabilities prior to contract award. RESPONSE DUE DATE: The Government requests that all responses be returned by 11:00 AM EST on 17 March 2021. All responses shall be submitted electronically to the DHRA Procurement Support Office point of contacts: Ms. Candi Keller, Acquisition Specialist at [email protected], Mr. Tim Green, Senior Resource Advisor at [email protected] , and Mr. Nathan Shumway, Contract Specialist, [email protected]. Small Businesses may additionally contact the Small Business Point of Contact to discuss this requirement: Ms. Tammy Proffitt, [email protected], phone number: 703-332-9247. Information on DHRA’s Vendor Database is available at www.dhra.mil/sb Informational Requirement Purposes contact Ms. Candida Keller, [email protected]