SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Professional and Management Development Training
- Notice Date
- 8/10/2007
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 611430
— Professional and Management Development Training
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt (BPD), Division of Procurement, Avery 5F 200 Third Street, Parkersburg, WV, 26106-5312, UNITED STATES
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- RFI-DNC-07-0023
- Archive Date
- 8/10/2008
- Description
- This is a sources sought notice and not a request for quotations. The purpose of this announcement is to determine potential qualified Small Businesses who can furnish and deliver the service listed below. 1. GENERAL INFORMATION Objective The Denali Commission seeks a Contractor to provide consulting, training and advisory services for the development of high performance investment strategies for Denali Commission?s grant program areas. This requirement entails staff training in areas related to: determination of strategies to maximize the public?s investment in projects; selection of effective projects to fund; measurement of critical factors of impact; identification of project risk and use of best practices; and communication of program and project evaluation. Background of Agency The Denali Commission In 1998, national attention was focused on the infrastructure and economic challenges faced by rural Alaska communities with the passage of the Denali Commission Act. The Act was signed into law on October 21, 1998 becoming Title III of Public Law 105-277, 42 USC 3121. The Commission is an innovative federal-state partnership designed to provide critical utilities, infrastructure and support for economic development in Alaska by delivering federal services in the most cost-effective manner possible. With the creation of the Commission, Congress acknowledged the need for increased inter-agency cooperation in addressing the unique infrastructure and economic challenges faced by America?s most remote communities. The Denali Commission Act of 1998, as amended (Division C, Title III, PL 105-277) states that the purposes of the Denali Commission are: To deliver the services of the Federal Government in the most cost-effective manner practicable by reducing administrative overhead costs. To provide job training and other economic development services in rural communities, particularly distressed communities (many of which have a rate of unemployment that exceed 50%). To promote rural development and provide power generation and transmission facilities, modern communication systems, bulk fuel storage tanks, water and sewer systems, and other infrastructure needs. The Denali Commission includes seven Commissioners: a Federal Co-Chair appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, a State Co-Chair who is the Governor of Alaska, and five additional members representing statewide, non-governmental organizations. The Commission is staffed by a small number of employees, augmented by additional personnel from partner organizations. The Commission relies upon a special network of federal, state, local, tribal and other organizations to successfully advance its mission. The Commission will partner with tribal, federal, state and local governments and collaborate with all Alaskans to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of government services, to develop a well-trained labor force employed in a diversified and sustainable economy, and to build and ensure the operation and maintenance of Alaska?s basic infrastructure. There are approximately 1,400 projects statewide. A few of the programs that the Commission is currently involved in are: Energy, Health Care Facilities, Economic Development, and Training. Geography, climate and distance are the momentous issues faced by those who live in Alaska. These combine to produce tremendous obstacles, especially for people who live in small rural communities here. The varied geography of Alaska is challenging ? 17 of the 20 tallest mountains in North America, glaciers, and vast wilderness present barriers to communication and transportation. Tundra wetlands and permanently frozen soil in the central and northern regions of the State require special engineering considerations for constructing building foundations and utilities. The harsh climate of Alaska requires that construction practices used in the rest of the United States be rethought and reengineered at significant cost, and construction materials must be modified to withstand Arctic wind, weather and temperature. Rivers that represent the only mode of transport for construction goods to many Alaskan communities freeze and are impassable for more than half the year, making logistics complex. Construction of infrastructure projects here is expensive, and the harsh climate makes engineering difficult. Alaska is equivalent to one-fifth the size of the 48 lower contiguous states, and stretches 2,800 miles east-to-west and 1,400 miles north-to-south. With only a few communities scattered across the State connected by roads, the rest of the roughly 250 communities in Alaska rely upon aircraft, watercraft, and snowmobiles (as weather permits) to transport goods. Alaska is striving to reach the same level of infrastructure enjoyed by the rest of the country, so that communities here can achieve sustainability. A lack of roads, boardwalks or docks; limited safe water sources; varying degrees of sanitation facilities; and deficient or inaccessible health care are critical gaps that keep communities from achieving their goals. Denali Commission?s mission is to improve the infrastructure in Alaska to help individuals contribute to the sustainability of the communities in which they live. For nine years, the Commission has awarded federal grant funds to projects throughout the State with these goals in mind. Over 1,400 projects have been funded, and the results are tangible: ? 85 Bulk fuel tank farms have been renovated or constructed, and communities have safe and adequate storage of fuel. ? 85 Health clinics have been built and another 92 are in process, encouraging cooperation at the community, sub-regional, and regional levels, so that preventive and primary health care is made accessible to all residents of those regions. ? More than 3,000 individuals have been trained in vocational and career skills valuable to the State?s development. ? Several washeterias, multi-use, and domestic violence facilities have also been constructed to help communities ensure that sanitation, family support, and safety are offered to everyone in that village. The goal to improve infrastructure is complicated by the length of time that most village sites have been inhabited, and the depth of connectedness residents have to the locale. Cultural norms and practical matters must be considered and respectfully addressed in the proposal for any modernization efforts. For example: ? Would the seemingly positive prospect of indoor plumbing be overshadowed by the complex considerations of prohibitive monthly cost and inconvenient protection of the pipes from the elements? ? Is a new clinic or multi-use facility too large for the community to support economically? 2. OBJECTIVE/GOALS The primary focus of this contract will be advising the Commission on customized program development and accountability measurement. The Denali Commission desires to maximize the impact of grant program areas to rural Alaskan residents. The Contractor shall provide training, advise and consultation on principles and methods in order to strengthen the Denali Commission?s staffs? ability to plan, develop, monitor and evaluate programs. Training, advise and consultation shall be in areas including: determination of strategies to maximize the public?s investment in projects; selection of effective projects to fund; measurement of critical factors of impact; identification of project risk and use of best practices; and communication of program and project evaluation. The goals are as follows: 1. Provide training and consultation to Denali Commission staff, distinct sub-sets of staff, and senior leadership in program planning to include a vision of expected change to be effected, timelines, project selection guidelines, funding and monitoring methods. 2. Provide a customized guide to incorporating the topics described above in Commission program planning efforts. 3. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY The Contractor shall have access to all media, program documents, grant-making history, agency policies and current program guidelines for the Commission. 4. CONTRACTOR-FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES The Contractor shall provide all management, supervision, personnel and equipment to meet the requirements of this PWS. 5. PROJECT MANAGER The Offeror shall designate a Project Manager for this contract. The Project Manager (or equivalent) shall be the Contractor?s authorized point of contact. Contractor requests for substitutions in Project Manager shall be submitted in writing to the COTR with a complete resume for the proposed substitute. The COTR and the Contracting Officer (CO) will evaluate such requests and promptly notify the Contractor of approval or disapproval in writing. 6. PROGRESS MEETINGS The Project Manager shall meet with the CO/COTR as necessary to maintain satisfactory performance and to resolve any issues pertaining to Government/Contractor procedures. 7. REQUIREMENTS The types of services are described below; specific requirements will be identified in task orders. Scope of Training and Consultation: ? Proven investment principles to apply to Denali Commission programs ? both existing and newly-conceived. ? Support those principles through documentation in a customized guide for the Commission. ? Effective and appropriate solutions to local problems, funding strategy, monitoring and evaluation methods and reasonable timelines in which these tasks occur. ? Performance measures (Return on Investment) regarding of the performance of US Taxpayers? investments on Commission projects Customized Guide: ? Provide supported documentation of best practices and customized recommendations in a program development and performance results guide. 5. CONTRACT AWARD The government makes no assurance as to the amount of tasks to be ordered. A one-year contract with four one-year options is anticipated. It is anticipated vendors will be requested to provide firm-fixed pricing for recommended training classes (price per class); firm-fixed price for a program development and performance results guide; firm-fixed rate for consulting services. 6. ORDERING PROCEDURE The COTR will provide the Contractor with a description of the required services. The Contractor shall submit an overview of the approach required to complete the task and an estimate of the number of hours by labor categories and a fixed price or not-to-exceed amount, depending on the type of order envisioned and timeframe necessary to complete the project. If necessary, the CO and Contractor may negotiate the number of hours and timeframe needed to complete the project. A task order will be issued as approval to proceed. 7. TRAVEL Travel may be necessary in the execution of this PWS. When required, task orders will specify the location to which to travel and travel dates. The Government, in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR), will arrange travel on behalf of the Contractor, via Invitational Travel. FTR requires that copies of airline, car and lodging invoices and invoices for any single item over $75 be submitted with the Contractor?s travel reimbursement request. 8. QUALIFICATIONS OF OFFEROR In light of the similarities of rural Alaska issues with developing countries internationally, it is expected vendors shall have experience and success in carrying out similar scopes of work with developing countries. The qualified offeror shall demonstrate the capability to address cultural sensitivity and respect. The ideal offeror will have a track record of managing rural development grant programs and projects, to include a system of monitoring, evaluation, and increasing outcomes, as well as a background in providing training in the same areas. 9. INFORMATION SUBMITTAL Vendors are requested to respond with the following information: Business/Corporation information, including Contact name, address, phone number, socio-economic type and business size. ? Examples of when the vendor has successfully managed rural development grant programs and projects, including a system of monitoring, evaluation, and increasing outcomes. These examples should be similar to grants issued by the Denali Commission. Grant information can be viewed at www.denali.gov ? 3 past performance references from customers who have attended your training. ? List of suggested training courses to meet requirements of this PWS. ? Explanation of why your company would provide excellent services. Responses to this announcement shall be sent to: Lisa Gossett, Contract Specialist, Phone 304-480-7213, Fax (304) 480-7204, Email psb3@bpd.treas.gov by 2:00 p.m., Eastern time 8/20/2007. Responses shall include Company Name, DUNS #, address, telephone number, point of contact, email address, business size, socio-economic status and capabilities statement. Potential contractors should be registered at www.ccr.gov. Point of Contact Lisa Gossett, Contract Specialist, Phone 304-480-7213, Fax (304) 480-7204, Email psb3@bpd.treas.gov Gina Hanna, Contracting Officer, Phone 304-480-7181, Fax (304) 480-7204, Email psb3@bpd.treas.gov Place of Performance Address: Anchorage, AK Postal Code: 99501-1935 County: USA
- Place of Performance
- Address: Anchorage, AK
- Zip Code: 99501-1935
- Country: UNITED STATES
- Zip Code: 99501-1935
- Record
- SN01369467-W 20070812/070810222707 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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