SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- National Center on Tribal Child Care Implementation and Innovation
- Notice Date
- 5/25/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 611710
— Educational Support Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center, Division of Acquisition Management, Parklawn Building Room 5-101, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland, 20857
- ZIP Code
- 20857
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-ACF-OCC-SBSS-11-004
- Archive Date
- 6/24/2011
- Point of Contact
- Tanya Crawford, Phone:
- E-Mail Address
-
tanya.crawford@psc.hhs.gov
(tanya.crawford@psc.hhs.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Synopsis: This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your response to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. Background: The Office of Child Care (OCC) falls within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The OCC supports low-income working families through child care financial assistance and promotes children's learning by improving the quality of early care and education and after-school programs. The OCC is responsible for administering the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) - a program that helps low-income families access child care for children while parents work or participate in education or training. A portion of CCDF also is used to improve the quality of child care. In FY 2010, the OCC awarded $5 billion in CCDF funds to States, Territories, and Indian Tribes through block grants. States and Territories invest $1 billion each year in quality improvements. Each State, Territory and Tribe appoints a Lead Agency to administer the CCDF funds. These Lead Agencies make decisions about CCDF priorities, policies, and expenditures, including: determining eligibility requirements, setting family co-payment levels, establishing provider payment rates, setting target populations, and prioritizing quality investments. States, Territories and Tribes are required to complete a comprehensive planning process every two years, and to provide information on child care policies to ACF in biennial CCDF Plans. OCC recognizes that efficient, well run programs enhance access to services for eligible families and children and create a key link in the education of young children and the self sufficiency of families. The National Center on Tribal Child Care Implementation and Innovation will support the work of Tribal grantees related to CCDF administration by: helping Tribes create continuous quality improvement efforts as they set quality goals; developing and coordinating peer-learning opportunities and leadership development; and supporting a biennial National Conference and other trainings for Tribal grantees. OCC has established a Child Care Technical Assistance Network (CCTAN) to support the work of States, Territories, and Tribes that administer the CCDF. In the years 2007-2011, CCTAN projects included: After-School Investments; the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning; Child Care Aware; Child Care and Early Education Research Connections; the Child Care Information System Technical Assistance Project; the Communications Management Center; Healthy Child Care America; the National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center; the National Infant and Toddler Child Care Initiative; the Tribal Child Care Technical Assistance Center, and the Child Care Improper Payments Initiative. In FY 2011, OCC will reorganize its CCTAN to specialize its technical assistance (TA) in core areas, including the following new projects: the National Center on Child Care Quality Improvement; the National Center on Child Care Professional Development Systems and Workforce Initiatives; the National Center on Child Care Subsidy Innovation and Accountability; and the State Child Care Systems Specialist Network. The National Center on Tribal Child Care Implementation and Innovation will play a key role in the new CCTAN, coordinating with other CCTAN projects to support tribal CCDF grantees as they implement their new FY 2012-2013 Tribal CCDF plans Purpose and Objectives: The National Center on Tribal Child Care Implementation and Innovation will assist Tribal CCDF grantees in their efforts to enhance the quality, affordability and availability of child care. One of the OCC's priority goals is assisting States, Tribes, and Territories to design child care subsidy programs that are child focused, family friendly, and fair to providers. These child care subsidy programs reach all sectors of the early childhood and school age field, thus serving children birth through age twelve. The aim is to integrate child development goals and family self-sufficiency goals in order to promote increased stability and higher quality services that lead to improved child and family outcomes. Major objectives and activities to be undertaken are: providing targeted TA (on-site and distance) to help Tribes create continuous quality improvement efforts and other activities in support of their CCDF plan goals; developing and coordinating peer-learning opportunities and leadership development; identifying, evaluating and promoting innovations and promising practices, including State-Tribal policies or practices that address OCC goals (e.g., quality improvement activities, professional development, health and safety and tribal-State coordination); and supporting a biennial National Conference and other trainings for Tribal grantees. Project Requirements: • The Contractor's staff will have expert level and operational knowledge of how CCDF program and policies are administered at the tribal level (including the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services plan option, authorized by Public Law 102-477; and construction and renovation of child care facilities); and operational knowledge of and expertise in the broad areas covered by the Center, including the full range of issues and services and new directions within the child care field. • The Contractor will employ a project director with relevant experience in managing projects of this scope and complexity, preferably with CCDF issues and key staff that have subject matter experience related to the CCDF plan preprint subject headings. • The Contractor will share information and coordinate efforts with CCTAN members, as appropriate to support tribal CCDF grantees as they implement their FY 2012-2013 tribal CCDF plans, including sharing share Tribal-State best practices, and other program administration strategies and innovations that have replication potential for all CCDF grantees. • The Contractor will have expert knowledge, expertise, and capability to support the maximum use of technology and distance learning for ongoing communication, knowledge gathering, knowledge sharing, including demonstrated experience in developing web ready material and populating websites. • The Contractor will be able to both manage the contract and operate the Center in-house, and through the use of OCC approved consultants and/or subcontractors. Specifically, key personnel must be employees of the Contractor. Anticipated period of performance: The period of performance will include one 12-month base period and four 12-month option periods. Other Important Considerations: The Contractor is expected to work closely with the OCC and ACF, provide ongoing support, and participate in CCTAN meetings and topical subcommittees, and other activities that involve OCC staff that take place regularly in Washington, DC. Capability statement/information sought: Respondents must provide, as part of their responses, a capability statement, which addresses the following: 1. Familiarity with and knowledge of the Office of Child Care (OCC), the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and related policies and legislation. 2. Demonstrated ability to provide: a. Professional staff with extensive early childhood experience (preferably CCDF); b. Professional staff with knowledge and expertise related to administration of the CCDF at the tribal level, including knowledge and experience related to the CCDF Plan Preprint subject headings; c. the ability to direct and manage projects of this magnitude, including solid fiscal management. 3. In-depth knowledge of Tribal early childhood systems, Tribal governance structures and the unique needs and cultures of Tribal communities. 4. In depth knowledge of child care policy from Federal, Tribal and State perspectives as it relates to the CCDF as well as other Federal, State, and Tribal local child care funding streams. 5. Expert knowledge, expertise, and capability to support the maximum use of technology and distance learning for ongoing communication, knowledge gathering, and knowledge sharing, and demonstrated experience in producing materials related to the early care and education field, with adequate editorial and graphic support. 6. Demonstrated experience with managing large and complex national technical assistance efforts involving multiple types of tasks simultaneously in several geographic locations. Teaming Arrangements: Teaming arrangements are encouraged. Respondents' must include their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, etc) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code. Include technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. Submissions should be sent electronically to: Tanya Crawford, at tanya.crawford@psc.hhs.gov. Responses must be double-spaced and single-sided on 8.5" x 11" plain white paper, with 1" margins on all side, using a standard font no smaller than 12 point. The response cannot exceed 15 pages. The response must be sequentially numbered, beginning on the first page after the table of contents. Cover letters and tables of contents do not count against the page limit. Responses are due June 10, 2011 by 2:00 pm. Responses will not be accepted after the due date. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.
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