SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Firearms Licensee Hearings Support Services
- Notice Date
- 10/5/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 922190
— Other Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities
- Contracting Office
- Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Acquisition and Property Management Division, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Room 3290, Washington, DC, 20226
- ZIP Code
- 20226
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-HearingOfficers2007
- Response Due
- 9/20/2006
- Archive Date
- 10/20/2006
- Point of Contact
- Amanda Boshears, Contracting Officer, Phone (202) 927-8027, Fax (202) 927-8688, - Amanda Boshears, Contracting Officer, Phone (202) 927-8027, Fax (202) 927-8688,
- E-Mail Address
-
amanda.boshears@atf.gov, amanda.boshears@atf.gov
- Description
- This is a combined synopsis/solicitation in accordance with FAR Part 12. No other solicitation will be issued; proposals are being requested via this notice. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) enforces federal laws and regulations relating to alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives and arson. The law and regulations (18 U.S.C. ? 923(f)(2) and 27 CFR, part 478, subpart E) provide for a hearing if an applicant or licensee requests one upon receipt of a notice of license denial or revocation. ATF requires contractor services for these hearings. ATF will award multiple blanket purchase agreements (BPA) as a result of this notice. The Firearms and Explosives Industry Services Division (FEISD) will monitor the hearings. Contract hearing officers who are under contract with the ATF shall be known as Special Hearing Officers. Special Hearing Officers, hereinafter referred to as contractor(s), must possess sufficient abilities to perform the tasks assigned to them by the FEISD. The abilities needed to successfully serve in this capacity necessitate the use of retired law enforcement Special Agents, Inspectors, Attorneys and Officers as Special Hearing Officers. Each contractor, when conducting a hearing, is representing the ATF. The ATF expects such representation to reflect positively on the Bureau. To that end, contractors, when conducting hearings, must present themselves in a professional manner. Upon completion of a hearing assignment each contractor must submit the following items to the FEISD: 1) Hard copy of the Hearing Officer Report; 2) Disk or CD containing the Hearing Officer Report; 3) Audio tape(s) of the hearing; 4) Completed Contractor Invoice for Payment; and 5) Attachments/exhibits as stated in the Hearing Officer Report. These items must be hand delivered to the FEISD or shipped using Federal Express or other authorized carrier. Hearing Officer Reports shall be submitted within ten business days of the completion of the hearing. If a contractor determines that he or she cannot meet the due date for a particular report, the contractor must seek an extension from the FEISD. Each contractor is responsible for ensuring that all of their reports are neatly prepared, grammatically correct, free of spelling errors, and most importantly, factually accurate. Hearing Officer Reports must be able to stand up to de novo judicial review in U.S. District Court if necessary. Repeated inaccuracies or discrepancies will result in the contract being terminated. Hearing Officer Reports must objectively state the facts as presented during the hearing. The hearing shall be recorded using an audio tape recorder, which will be provided by the Bureau and operated by the hearing officer. The tape, along with the exhibits, shall constitute the official record of the hearing. Contractors will be required to conduct the hearing, review the tape recording (post-hearing), take accurate notes of the hearing, and reduce those notes to writing in the form of a Hearing Officer Report. In order to receive assignments and to complete the required Hearing Officer Reports, each contractor must possess, or have access to, certain equipment, and possess the knowledge to use it. The following equipment and related software programs are required: 1) A personal computer with a Windows? operating system, preferably Windows 98? or newer; 2) An Inkjet or LaserJet printer. Dot-matrix printers are not acceptable equipment; 3) A full version of Microsoft Word?. Microsoft Works? will not suffice as an acceptable software program; 4) Each personal computer must have Microsoft Excel? loaded thereon, or each contractor must be able to download from the World Wide Web a ?reader? that will permit the user to read Microsoft Excel? documents; and 5) Each personal computer must have loaded thereon Microsoft Outlook?. Microsoft Outlook Express?, standing alone, will not be sufficient. Pre and post-hearing responsibilities, in many cases, requires the contractor to use his or her personal telephone, cellular telephone, FAX machine, or other related equipment. ATF assumes no responsibility for the purchase, maintenance, use or misuse of these devices. ATF will reimburse the contractor for reasonable and necessary FAX transmittals and long-distance telephone calls made in connection with the conduct of a hearing. Local telephone calls or cellular airtime charges will not be reimbursed. Each contractor must make every reasonable effort to protect data associated with a hearing. Audiotapes, notes, exhibits, copies of Hearing Officer Reports, etc. are the sole property of ATF and must be safeguarded against unlawful disclosure. The contractor will retain all notes and a copy of the Hearing Officer Report for 120 days after the official report and file is submitted. The contractor is to destroy all notes and material at that time. Identification media, ATF-provided software, and all other Government property must be surrendered when requested by the FEISD. Contractors are expected to use their own private facilities when preparing the Hearing Officer Report in connection with hearings. ATF assumes no responsibility for the purchase or maintenance of a contactor facility, nor will ATF reimburse any contractor for use of such facility. Contractors must be able to conduct hearings within a 200-mile radius of their home. Contractors are expected to possess an automobile with appropriate insurance coverage. ATF assumes no liability for contractor misconduct or negligence while driving their personal automobile in connection with their hearing assignments. When using their personal automobile in connection with performing assignments, contractors will be reimbursed for mileage driven at the prevailing rate established by the General Services Administration. Contractors must submit an invoice for payment detailing the number of miles driven, as well as any other incidental expenses, in connection with any particular assignment. Such invoice is subject to audit by the FEISD. Each contractor shall undergo a personnel security investigation to determine their suitability to access ATF facilities, proprietary information, and/or data. This investigation will be conducted by or under the auspices of the Personnel Security Branch, and be performed under such standards as the Personnel Security Branch may establish. The contractor is advised that this investigation may take 90 days or more to complete, depending upon the complexities of the issues. Failure to timely complete the required background forms, or failure to have a background investigation favorably adjudicated constitutes grounds for disqualification of the contractor. Should the contractor be disqualified, he or she will not be granted unescorted access to any ATF facility, and access to ATF proprietary information or data will not be authorized. Contractors are responsible for notifying the Personnel Security Branch of any changes in personnel information. Contractors will be compensated for conducting the hearing, travel to the hearing site, travel back to their residence, and the preparation of the hearing officer report. All travel must be pre-approved by the FEISD in order to be compensated. Contractors will also be reimbursed for reasonable and ordinary expenses, such as long distance telephone calls, tolls, parking fees, etc. Travel arrangements are the responsibility of the contractor and no advances will be made. Airfares must be the coach or business class rate whichever is less. The contractor shall submit such expenses detailed on an invoice specifying the hearing where the expenses apply. This invoice, together with any other approved expenses incurred during any 30-day period will be summarized on a monthly invoice. The Government has the right to audit all claims for payment or reimbursement. The expert shall sign a non-disclosure agreement. The technical point of contact will be responsible for monitoring and assessing contractor performance and deliverables, receiving and accepting the deliverables, and keeping the contracting officer informed of any issues that may affect performance under the contract. The following provisions and clauses are incorporates into this RFQ by reference and no addenda apply: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items; FAR 212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items; FAR 212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items. Each offeror shall include a completed copy of Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (https://orca.bpn.gov/) with their proposal. No additional FAR clauses apply. These FAR clauses may be found online at http://www.arnet.gov/far/current/html/52_212_213.html. The NAICS code is 922190 with no size standard. Offerors shall submit past experience/past performance in accordance with the qualifications above. Contractors will be paid at the rate of $53/hour to conduct hearings. All potential offerors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration database (www.ccr.gov) prior to award. This solicitation closes at 5:00PM October 20, 2006. The point of contact for this requirement is Amanda Boshears, 202-927-8027 or amanda.boshears@atf.gov.
- Place of Performance
- Address: Throughout the United States
- Zip Code: 20226
- Country: UNITED STATES
- Zip Code: 20226
- Record
- SN01161922-W 20061007/061005220233 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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