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FBO DAILY ISSUE OF FEBRUARY 15, 2003 FBO #0440
SOLICITATION NOTICE

U -- Retirement Benefits Program Seminars

Notice Date

2/13/2003
 

Notice Type

Solicitation Notice
 

Contracting Office

Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Administration, Division of Contracts, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, 20852-2738
 

ZIP Code

20852-2738
 

Solicitation Number

RS-HR-03-361
 

Response Due

3/6/2003
 

Archive Date

3/21/2003
 

Point of Contact

Amy Siller, Contract Specialist, Phone (301) 415-6747, Fax (301) 415-8157, - Robert Webber, Senior Contract Specialist, Phone (301) 415-6552, Fax (301) 415-8157,
 

E-Mail Address

ajs3@nrc.gov, rbw@nrc.gov
 

Small Business Set-Aside

Total Small Business
 

Description

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Requisition (FAR) Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number is RS-HR-03-361 and is issued as a Request for Proposal (RFP). This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 12. This solicitation is for a small business set-aside. The applicable NAICS code is 61143 and the size standard is $6 million in annual revenues. FAR provisions 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial, and 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items, apply to this acquisition. Offerors must submit a completed copy of FAR provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items with their proposals. FAR clauses 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, and 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes and Executive Orders-Commercial Items, with the following additional clauses: 52.219-8, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36 and 52.222-37, apply to this acquisition. Proposals are due on 03/06/03 by 3:00 PM. For proposals sent through the U.S. mail, please use the following address: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ATTN: Ms. Amy Siller, ADM/DC/CMC2 (Solicitation RS-HR-03-361), Mail Stop T-7-I-2, Washington, DC 20555-0001. All hand-carried proposals, including those made by private delivery services, must be delivered to the USNRC loading dock security station at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852-2738 and received in the depository located in Room T-7-I-2. All offerors should allow extra time for internal mail distribution or for pick-up of hand-carried deliveries to arrive at their destination prior to the closing date and time. NRC is a secure Federal facility with perimeter access-control and NRC personnel are only available to receive hand-carried proposals during normal working hours, i.e., 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. PURPOSE: NRC intends to award a one-year base, with four (4) one-year options, indefinite-delivery, firm, fixed-price contract. NRC intends to offer each of the following seminars twice during any given contract year: Financial Planning for New FERS Employees and Mid-Career Retirement Planning Seminar; and the following seminars four times during any given contract year: Planning for Retirement Seminar and Retirement Planning Review. SCOPE OF WORK. The contractor shall provide NRC employees, who fall under FERS and have less than five (5) years of Federal service, with a one-day seminar to explain FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System), TSP (Thrift Savings Plan), SS (Social Security), FEGLI (Federal Employees Government Life Insurance), FLTCIP (Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program) and FEHB (Federal Employees Health Benefits). The contractor shall explain the TSP function for retirement and discuss how to move funds within TSP, and will make other suggestions for ways to maximize savings and investments. The contractor shall provide NRC employees, who fall under CSRS, CSRS-Offset, FERS, and Trans-FERS with 10-15 years of Federal service with a two-day overview of the Federal retirement systems, retirement eligibility, annuity computations, credit for service, disability benefits, survivor benefits, FEGLI, FEHB, FLTCIP, TSP, Social Security benefits, legal aspects, tax planning, and financial planning. The contractor shall provide a three-day seminar for NRC employees with five-to-ten-years of service left until eligible for retirement. The instruction shall provide in-depth discussion of Federal retirement benefits, including the Thrift Savings Plan, Federal Employees Government Employees Life Insurance, Federal Employees Health Insurance, Medicare, Social Security, Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program voluntary contributions for CSRS employees, legal aspects of retirement, fitness and health concerns, tax planning, financial planning, and life after retirement to include discussion for embarking on a second career. The contractor shall provide a one-day seminar for NRC employees within six (6) months of retirement on the retirement application process, Thrift Savings Plan withdrawal options, overview of survivor's benefits, health benefits and life insurance after retirement, Federal long term care insurance program, an overview of Social Security and Medicare, and a discussion of new developments affecting retirements. The four (4) separate retirement seminar materials shall be off-the-shelf but shall contain up-to-date information pertaining to retirement benefits, financial planning, legal aspects, tax implications, and life after retirement concerns, appropriate to the seminar being presented, and shall be so maintained in a current state throughout the life of the contract at no additional cost to NRC. TASKS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. TASK 1. COURSE MATERIALS. The contractor shall prepare and provide to each participant (maximum of 35 and a minimum of 3 per session) seminar materials for the seminar being offered. These materials shall consist of an agenda, a notebook, and other relevant materials applicable to the seminar being given. Official government handouts and contractor-prepared course materials shall be approved by the NRC Project Manager prior to distribution. NRC considers the quality and quantity of the handouts and the participants' course materials to be of prime importance. TASK 2. COURSE INSTRUCTION. (a) The contractor speaker personnel shall present each of the following seminars the number of times noted during a fiscal year. Financial Planning for New FERS Employees - one day - two times; Mid-Career Planning for Retirement - two days - two times; Planning for Retirement - three days - four times; Retirement Planning Review - one-day - four times. (b) It is anticipated that a total of twelve (12) seminars will be given each year. (c) The contractor shall provide an overall learning objective for the entire seminar. Thereafter, each speaker who makes a presentation, shall restate the learning objective for the objective of the particular segment of the seminar that the instructor is teaching. (d) Also, the contractor shall provide an evaluation form to each class participant (sample to be provided upon award) that contains an overall rating scale of from 1 to 10 as to instructional effectiveness of the seminars. TASK 3. COURSE SESSION ADMINISTRATION. (a) The contractor shall deliver all seminar materials to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a minimum of five (5) working days prior to the start of any retirement benefits seminar (see Deliverables section for address). (b) On the day the seminar session begins, the contractor personnel shall arrive in the designated class room a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of class to make sure that all training materials are on hand, that instructor aids are available, and that the instructor is familiar with the equipment and facilities used in presenting the seminar. (c) On the first day of the seminar session, the contractor personnel shall account for participant attendance by making sure that all participants initial the class roster sheet. For seminars longer than one (1) day, it shall be the responsibility of the first speaker to make sure that the participant's roster is delivered to the Project Manager before the end of the first day. (d) Immediately following each seminar, the contractor personnel shall leave the training room neat, with used flip chart sheets stowed in the trash cans and any extra student materials boxed and marked for return to the contractor's office. NRC SECURITY REQUIREMENT. The contractor shall, upon award and within 30-calendar days of the award date, have each of its speakers complete the security-form package provided by the NRC Project Manager to the contractor, and submit the completed security package to the Project Manager. Each speaker whose completed security package is approved by NRC's Division of Facilities and Security will need to be both finger printed and have his/her photo taken for an NRC-picture badge. DELIVERABLES. (1) The contractor shall deliver all course materials to the NRC Professional Development Center, MS-T-3-B-3, Rockville, MD 20852 - Attention: Ms. Mary Holmes. The course title and start date shall be entered clearly on the outside of the package. (2) The contractor shall name, identify, and provide resumes of all proposed knowledgeable and qualified primary and alternate contractor personnel to be used for each topic of the seminar. (3) The contractor shall provide a topic outline, i.e., an agenda, of benefit information for each of the four (4) seminars to be presented to NRC participants and discuss its procedures for assuring that speakers maintain current information on government benefits and other concerns or interests pertaining to retirement, whether the retirement is to take place immediately or sometime into the future. (4) The course materials shall be placed in a three-ring binder with the course title on the spine and the front covers and a binder shall be provided for each participant in a given seminar. COURSE TIMES AND PLACE. (1) It is anticipated that all seminars contemplated under this contract will be conducted in NRC's Professional Development Center in Rockville, Maryland, at times and in rooms designated by the Project Manager. (2) Due to scarcity of training room space, the NRC must schedule training courses one (1) year in advance. Seven (7) working days after award of this contract, the contractor shall, in consultation with the Project Manager, establish a written schedule for fiscal year 2004. CONTRACTOR-FURNISHED MATERIALS. (1) It is expected that the contractor-furnished materials will be off-the-shelf and that no additional design/development work will be necessary to make them acceptable for use in presenting the seminars required under this contract. The Project Manager shall have the right to review the contractor's off-the-shelf materials for currency and appropriateness for the four (4) seminars to be given hereunder. (2) When changes are made to the off-the-shelf materials, a new copy of the revised or updated version shall be furnished, without additional costs, to the Project Manager within two (2) weeks after the changes are made. This will allow the Project Manager time to review and approve any further changes to be made prior to the time the seminar is offered. The contractor shall correct any errors found in the course materials without charge to NRC. (The changes discussed here are assumed to be editorial in nature.) GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED MATERIALS. (1) The NRC will provide the contractor with the following. (a) The facility for teaching the course. (Training rooms are set up and ready for instruction each time seminar is given.) (b) Roster of attendees. (c) Flip charts, marking pens, tent cards for attendees, attendee roster, overhead projector, LCD (but not laptop) screen, VCR, and monitor, if needed. MEETINGS AND TRAVEL. (1) It is not anticipated that any travel, other than local, will take place under the contract nor does it appear, based on past experience, that any meetings will be required. However, should NRC and the contractor mutually agree that meetings are necessary, a change to this contract will be negotiated through the Division of Contracts. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. The period of performance shall commence on October 1, 2003 and shall continue for a period of one (1) year through September 30, 2004 with four (4) one-year options available to be exercised at the Government's discretion. PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS. In accordance with FAR clause 52.212-2(a), the following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: corporate experience and past performance, personnel qualifications, sample course outlines and a current, off-the-shelf participant handbook. The proposal must provide sufficient information about each criterion so that a complete evaluation can be accomplished. Each offeror shall provide a detailed (unit cost per seminar) breakdown of the firm, fixed price. PRICING. All offerors shall provide a firm, fixed price for the cost of the course, including all costs for labor, local travel, if any, and fee; and any cost for specialized course presentation. CRITERIA 1. CORPORATE EXPERIENCE AND PAST PERFORMANCE. The offeror shall discuss its corporate experience in presenting the following courses in a Federal government setting: Financial Planning for New FERS Employees; Mid-Career Retirement Planning Seminar; Planning for Retirement Seminar; and Retirement Planning Review. Furthermore, the offeror shall demonstrate that it has successfully performed on other contracts or purchase orders of similar size and scope in a Federal government setting within the past five (5) years. To this end, the offeror shall list five (5) current/previous support contracts of the same or similar nature to the proposed contract. It is incumbent upon the offeror to provide information which is accurate and current as the NRC will contact each reference to verify the information provided. Offerors will be provided the opportunity to provide written rebuttal for any negative information received. This rebuttal information will be taken into consideration in evaluating proposals. The offeror shall provide the information requested using the format specified below. Each contract reference shall be limited to one (1) page in length: a. Contract or Purchase Order Number and Type of Contract, if Contract; b. Name and Address of Government Agency; c. Point of Contact with Telephone and Fax Numbers and E-Mail Address; d. Contracting Officer with Telephone and Fax Numbers and E-Mail Address; e. Technical Representative with Telephone and Fax Numbers and E-Mail Address; f. Estimated Value of Purchase Order/Contract Awarded; g. Period of Performance of the Contract or Purchase Order (including extensions); h. Outline how the contracted effort is similar or identical in nature to the NRC's requirement, with a brief technical description sufficient to permit ready assessment of the described project's relevancy to the NRC's requirement. (It is not sufficient to just note that it is similar in magnitude and scope.); and i. List Any Major Subcontractors Necessary to the Performance of the Effort. CRITERIA 2. PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS. The offeror shall identify "Key Instructional Personnel" and "Backup Instructional Personnel" to be utilized in the performance of any resultant contract. For the persons so identified, specify both experience directly related to the retirement seminars and the proposed percentage of time these individuals will devote to the specific seminar(s). Include a resume of not more than one (1) page of each proposed instructor for each of the four (4) seminars to be taught. Resume should specifically include the following information: name of firm with which associated; years of experience with this firm and any other similar firms; degrees and/or special certifications or training including the year granted. Offerors should clearly and concisely demonstrate each proposed individual's capabilities, qualifications, experience and suitability to the particular seminar. CRITERIA 3. COURSE OUTLINES AND A CURRENT OFF-THE-SHELF PARTICIPANT HANDBOOK. The offeror shall submit sample course outlines for each of the four (4) retirement seminars to be taught or for similar retirement seminars the offeror has given. Furthermore, the offeror shall submit a current, off-the-shelf participant handbook for one (1) of the retirement benefit seminars listed earlier or for a similar retirement benefit seminar the offeror has given. (This current, off-the-shelf participant handbook is for evaluation purposes only and offerors will not be given an opportunity to address errors, or omissions in their samples.) AWARD AND EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS. (A) By use of numerical scoring techniques, proposals are evaluated against the evaluation factors specified below. These factors are listed in their relative order of importance. (B) The government intends to award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose proposal represents the best value, as defined in FAR Part 2.101, after evaluation in accordance with the factors listed below. All technical evaluation factors, when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price, i.e., corporate experience and past performance, personnel qualifications and the adequacy and relevancy of the sample course outlines and a current, off-the-shelf participant handbook shall be weighted more heavily than cost or price. (C) The Government may: (1) Reject any or all proposals if the action is in the Government's best interest; and (2) Waive informalities and minor irregularities in proposals received. EVALUATION CRITERIA. Criteria 1. Corporate Experience or Past Performance, 60 Points. Criteria 2. Personnel Qualifications, 25 Points. Criteria 3. Adequacy and Relevancy of the Sample Course Outlines and A Current Off-the-Shelf Participant Handbook, 15 Points.
 

Web Link

Link to FedBizOpps document.
(http://www.eps.gov/spg/NRC/OA/DCPM/RS-HR-03-361/listing.html)
 

Place of Performance

Address: Two White Flint North, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD

Zip Code: 20852

Country: US
 

Record

SN00259530-F 20030215/030213221128 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

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

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