Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF MARCH 11, 2004 FBO #0836
MODIFICATION

R -- Automated Special Agent Selection Process

Notice Date

3/9/2004
 

Notice Type

Modification
 

NAICS

561499 — All Other Business Support Services
 

Contracting Office

Department of State, Office of Logistics Management, Acquisition Management, P.O. Box 9115 Rosslyn Station, Arlington, VA, 22219
 

ZIP Code

22219
 

Solicitation Number

S-LMAQM-04-R-0045
 

Response Due

3/15/2004
 

Archive Date

3/30/2004
 

Point of Contact

Tracy Ford, Contract Specialist, Phone 7038756056, Fax 7038756085,
 

E-Mail Address

fordtr3@state.gov
 

Small Business Set-Aside

Total Small Business
 

Description

The purposes of Amendment No. 2 to Solicitation No. S-LMAQM-04-R-0045 are to: (1) correct a typo-graphical error to Amendment No. 1 and (2) provide the Questions and Answers to all offerors. Therefore in Amendment No. 1, under description in the third sentence the word "inadvertly" is deleted and replaced "inadvertently". The following Questions and Answers are hereby provided to all prospective offerors: 1. Question: Should the cost and technical proposals be submitted separately or in one binder: Answer: Separately. 2. Question: How many copies: Answer: Four copies of each. 3. Shall the required “examination operations and support” for online examinations be extended to both government personnel, and applicants taking the examination? Answer: The required examination is for applicants. 4. Question: Shall the proposal include costs to support future DS “changes, enhancement(s), or updates?” Or will such requests be covered under separate task orders? Answer: The cost proposal should include costs for the base year and the four option years. 5. Question: Offerors are required to submit 52-212-3 reps. and certs. Can you send me a copy of these so I can complete them. Answer: FAR Part 52-212-3 reps and certs can be attained at website http://www.arnet.gov/far. 6. Question: The RFP indicates that the test results will be delivered according to a schedule. How often is the test to be offered or is it to be offered continuously? Answer: At present, the test is offered twice per year, there is a strong possibility that it could be offered continuously and it should be designed to do both. (twice per year and continuously) DS will decide that sometime in the future. 7. Question: The RFP states that deliverables are due X days after contract award. Are these calendar days or business days? We are assuming calendar days. Answer: Calendar days. 8. Question: Will pilot test examinees be incumbents or applicants? Approximately how many people do you expect will be tested during pilot? Approximately how many people do you expect will be tested during each operational administration? Answer: Pilot test examinees will be applicants. All the persons that apply will be tested during the pilot. DS do not know how many people will be tested during each operational administration, it could range from 500 to 2000. 9. What type of cost proposal is expected? We are assuming fixed price. Answer: Fixed Price. 10. Question: …will this be an ongoing contract? Answer: It is anticipated that this requirement is for a minimum of five years (Base Year and 4 Option Years.) 11. Question: Will the contract host the application? Answer: The pilot program, the contractor will not host the applications. All applications will come to HR/REE/EVL as always. The Contractor will keep a database of the applications and the test scores. 12. Question: Will the Government provide questions for the pre- screening? Answer: Yes. 13. Question: Does the application need to support the multiple sittings – allow a respondent to partially respond, leave, come back and finish application process? Answer: The application does not need to support multiple setting. It is a one shotlog on; no partial responses leave, come back and finish application process. 14. Question: The pilot phase deliverable requirement indicates a “draft” methodology report “30 days” following contract award, and a “final” methodology report 15 days after the review of the draft. Given that an online demonstration is due at the 30day mark, did the solicitation mean to state the demonstration is due 30 days after the final methodology report (or will the report and development occur simultaneously) Answer: The solicitation meant to state that the “draft” methodology report is due 30 days after the contract is awarded and a “final” methodology report 15 days after the draft. The final methodology report and the development will occur simultaneously. 15. May we obtain a copy of the KSAPs for the Special Agent position? Answer: Yes, KSAPs are listed in the following: FOREIGN SERVICE SPECIAL AGENT QUALIFICATIONS EVALUATION PANEL (Background information for panel members) The current qualification evaluation process uses a written “questionnaire” that addresses several qualification areas (specified below). The questionnaire is followed by an oral qualification review conducted by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). Both scores are averaged to reach a “QEP score” for the applicant. HR/REE has reviewed and approved this qualification evaluation process for DS Special Agent applicants. Although the process has changed somewhat, the factors used to determine an applicant’s competitive profile are virtually the same as those used in the past. While the following categories were considered when the questions were written, it serves no useful purpose to use them as ‘headings’ on the examination that is given to the applicants. The process is used to assess an applicant’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and personal characteristics (KSAP’s) in the following areas:  Organizational and planning skills  Ability to interact with others and oral communications skills  Educational competitiveness  Written communications skills  Leadership and supervision skills  Problem solving ability and judgement  Volunteer work, internships, extracurricular activities and achievements It is important that examiners understand that KSAP’s are the basis for the questions and are an inherent part of the entire assessment process. Questions relating to organizational and planning skills seek to determine an applicant’s work experience, academic achievements, initiative, planning and scheduling ability. Some of the questions address an applicant’s experience with office operations, serving clients or other organizations, experiences in planning, organizing, budgeting, etc. Several questions seek specific examples relating to organizing or planning activities or events, experience with a budget, responsibility for equipping or staffing an office. Questions relating to oral communication skills and ability to interact with others seek to address an applicant’s participation in negotiations and groups (academic, business, government), working with or training or evaluating others, working with the public, explaining policies and procedures, etc. Several questions seek specific examples of public speaking experiences, formal speech training, and representing a group’s interests. Questions relating to educational competitiveness seek to determine academic achievements as indicated by grade point average (GPA) as well as higher achievements such as master’s or law degrees. An applicant’s preparation and interest in the Special Agent position is also addressed. Specific scores are assigned according to GPA; additional points are awarded for a Master’s degree in criminal justice, a Law degree, or similar degree. To determine an applicant’s understanding of the position, they are asked to demonstrate knowledge of the job by describing the duties of a DS Special Agent (information concerning those duties is contained within the job announcement). Questions relating to written communication skills seek to determine the level of an applicant’s past writing experiences. Specific examples are sought of writing that required analysis and recommendations, of policy documents or standard operation procedures, or instances where the applicant’s writing has been published in a journal or magazine. Questions relating to leadership and supervision seek to determine the level of an applicant’s experiences in academic, business or social situations. Applicant’s are asked about participation in informal or formal leadership positions, their work with others, negotiations, and group problem solving. Several questions seek specific examples of serving on committees where the applicant represented or led a group, experiences in negotiations, training or evaluating others, or informal leadership roles. Questions relating to problem solving and judgment seek to determine an applicant’s experience in negotiating or solving problems within groups as well as assess an applicant’s situational judgment or reasoning. Some questions seek specific examples of working within a group or negotiating with other groups to solve a problem. One question asks what the applicant judges to be the primary purpose of carrying a firearm. Other questions address what the applicant judges to be the best response to certain situations; two arithmetic reasoning questions are also included. Questions relating to volunteer work, internships, extracurricular activities and achievements seek to determine an applicant’s involvement in the larger community and participatory experiences which, in turn, provide some indication of abilities to work or socialize with others, show initiative, resourcefulness, or dedication. Questions seek specific examples of participation in civic, social, professional organizations or associations, work as a paid or unpaid intern as well as certification of the applicant’s skills such as professional licenses, certification of various skills, or awards. The combination of the written questionnaire, with an oral follow-up to further assess the applicant by asking for specific examples or explanations, are all directed towards evaluating the applicant’s qualifications and competitiveness. Applicants whose scores are sufficiently competitive may have their candidacy continued through the oral BEX examination. End of Amendment No. 2.
 

Web Link

Link to FedBizOpps document.
(http://www.eps.gov/spg/State/A-LM-AQM/A-LM-AQM/S-LMAQM-04-R-0045/listing.html)
 

Place of Performance

Address: Offeror's Location

Country: US
 

Record

SN00541003-F 20040311/040309230910 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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