Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF MARCH 03, 2011 FBO #3386
DOCUMENT

R -- VA Policy Development - Attachment

Notice Date

3/1/2011
 

Notice Type

Attachment
 

Contracting Office

Center Acquisition Innovation Frederick;Department of Veterans Affairs;7485 New Horizon Way;Frederick MD 21703
 

ZIP Code

21703
 

Solicitation Number

VA79811RI0052
 

Response Due

3/14/2011
 

Archive Date

3/21/2011
 

Point of Contact

Selena Robinson
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

Request for Information The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this Request for Information in accordance with FAR 15.201(e). The agency does not intend to award a contract but rather gather information on pricing, delivery and other market information pertinent for acquisition planning. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement and identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement for the following: DESCRIPTION The VA is seeking to better integrate policy development and strategic planning department-wide. It is looking to create a strategic framework to facilitate improved policy analysis, development and decision making. A robust veteran policy analysis community of practice can help the VA integrate and assess the impact various policy options will have on all VA-related organizations, partnering Departments, support organizations and veterans. VA is considering the merits of establishing a high-level advisory policy forum that would contribute to establishing the community of veteran policy analysis. This advisory forum would also enhance the VA's capacity to conduct integrated policy analyses and make decisions to achieve VA's strategy, goals, and vision. DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE OF THE RFI With this RFI we request information regarding your company and your services. The same information will be gathered from different companies and will be used to evaluate what suppliers we will follow up with in the sourcing process with a RFP or RFQ. If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information: 1) Organization name, address, email address, Web site address, telephone number, and size, NAICS code, SIN Category and GSA Schedule and 2) Tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements. The government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to 1) provide services consistent in scope and scale with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated; 2) secure and apply the full range of corporate financial, human capital, and technical resources required to successfully perform similar requirements; 3) implement a successful project management plan that includes: compliance with tight program schedules; cost containment; meeting and tracking performance; hiring and retention of key personnel and risk mitigation; and 4) provide services under a performance based service acquisition contract. In addition to discussing your capability statement as discussed in the DRAFT SOO, a series of questions regarding capability must be answered. Please reference question number with each response as follows: 1.Responses should describe your organization's experience with and capabilities for evaluating projects of this magnitude. 2.Based on your experience, what would be the expected yearly cost, level of effort etc. associated to evaluating projects of this size? What would the estimated costs be over a five year period? 3.Briefly discuss the techniques and methodologies your organization would use as solutions to the objectives described in the DRAFT SOO. 4.Provide a list of the positions/experience level needed by the workers assigned to each task in order for them to provide the deliverables within the prescribed period. 5.Provide an estimate of how many man hours at each specialty will be required in order to provide the deliverables within the prescribed period. 6.Provide an estimate of the total contract cost to provide the deliverables within the prescribed period. 7.What are the pros/cons/risks of establishing a VA policy forum? 8.What role, if any, should a VA policy Forum play in advising the SECVA on issues of importance/relevance to the National Security Council? 9.What, if any, other forums or bodies might be able to provide a sounding board for ideas and innovation to help VA operate more efficiently and better serve our Veterans? How can such bodies cultivate scholarship on Veterans issues? 10.What skill sets/experience would be most advantageous? 11.Provide a sample list of Forum members with a short explanation of how the composite skills of the Forum would complement each other. Structure of Responses Contractors should respond to this RFI by e-mail to Selena.Robinson@va.gov. Limit response to a maximum of 20 pages. The Point of Contact (POC) for this RFI is as follows: Selena Robinson Contract Specialist Center of Acquisition Innovation 7485 New Horizon Way Frederick MD 21703 202-461-0748 Timeframe 03/01/2011- The RFI issued 03/14/2011 RFI closes 03/14/2011-Submissions of questions due NLT 12:00pm EST 03/28/2011-Submission of responses due NLT 12:00pm EST Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Framework for Enhancing Veteran Policy Analysis Capability Statement of Objectives (SOO) I. Background The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking to better integrate policy development and strategic planning department-wide. It is looking to create a strategic framework to facilitate improved policy analysis, development and decision making. Currently, there is limited analysis of the interrelationships of policies and planning decisions across VA programs, administrations, business lines and offices. VA policy and planning decisions are sometimes not collaborated with the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Often, neither the short- or long-term budgetary implications of policy and planning decisions are assessed before implementation. Without broad perspective and input, barriers to policy implementation may arise limiting the positive results for veterans. Unlike the fields of defense or health policy analysis, there is not a well developed, objective, non-partisan veteran policy analysis community of practice available to support VA. The absence of a veteran policy analysis community of practice limits VA's ability to draw upon outside expertise to enhance its policy development and decision making process. The VA has limited opportunity to seek and receive broad-based, high-level advice from recognized experts on major veteran policy issues, and assess the impact of policies on veterans and VA programs. A robust veteran policy analysis community of practice can help the VA integrate and assess the impact various policy options will have on all VA-related organizations, partnering Departments, support organizations and veterans. VA is considering the merits of establishing a high-level advisory policy forum that would contribute to establishing the community of veteran policy analysis. This advisory forum would also enhance the VA's capacity to conduct integrated policy analyses and make decisions to achieve VA's strategy, goals, and vision. II. Objective The objective's of this Statement of Objectives (SOO) are to: (1) establish a high-level policy forum that improves VA's policy analysis, development and decision making process; (2) encourage establishment of a veteran policy analysis community of practice, and (3) define a strategic framework for VA to better integrate policy development and strategic planning department-wide. III. Scope of Work The scope of this SOO is to cover all activities to achieve these objectives. This effort must take into account the interrelationships of policies across the various VA programs, administrations, and offices, as well as policy impacts on partnering Departments, support organizations and veterans. In addition, both short and long-term impacts on mandatory and discretionary budget expenditures must be thoroughly assessed and incorporated into the strategic framework. IV. Description of Tasks Task 1 - Task Order Management Sub-Task 1.1 - Post-Award Kickoff Meeting No later than 15 days after award, the CONTRACTOR shall participate in a post-award kickoff meeting. The meeting will serve as the means to provide the CONTRACTOR with details regarding the SOO, the interrelationships among tasks and subtasks, deliverables, and to support the development of the initial project work plan. The kickoff meeting shall review task coordination details, e.g., meeting schedules and topics, deliverable review and issue resolution processes, preferred communication mechanisms (e.g., telephone, e-mail), and discuss procedures for obtaining and returning Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) and Government Furnished Information (GFI), if provided. Deliverable 1: Summary of kickoff meeting Sub-Task 1.2 - Project Work Plan and Reporting No later than 30 days after award, the CONTRACTOR shall provide a Project Work Plan that will be used to manage and oversee the work to be accomplished. The government will approve the project work plan or provide comments for revision within ten (10) business days of delivery. The project work plan may be revised as needed, throughout the period of performance to accommodate changing priorities and work requirements. Updates will be scheduled as mutually agreed between the government and the CONTRACTOR. If updates to the work plan result in an adjustment, upward or downward, in the estimated resources to perform the work, the CONTRACTOR shall advise the government of such impact at the time the plan is submitted. Deliverable 2: Project Work Plan The CONTRACTOR shall provide a progress report on a monthly basis. This report shall describe the accomplishments for the month (activities and deliverables), anticipated activities and deliverables for the following month, and any risks or issues identified during the month. The progress report and the Public Voucher for Purchases and Services Other Than Personal, SF 1034, shall be submitted concurrently with the progress report to the maximum extent practicable. Deliverable 3: Monthly progress reports Task 2 - Establish a Veteran Policy Forum (VPF) The CONTRACTOR will develop a proposal and business case for a veteran policy forum (VPF) that enables the Secretary to receive advice from external experts. This forum will expand on informal meetings that may have taken place and accomplish a similar function as the Defense Policy Board, but may be structured differently. Sub-Task 2.1 - Define a Concept and Business Case Analysis for a Veteran Policy Forum The CONTRACTOR will develop a concept and business case for a new VPF by forming a Technical Expert Panel (TEP). The CONTRACTOR will consult with the Office of Policy and Planning (OPP) in developing the criteria and qualifications to be used in identifying and selecting candidates that would be appropriate for the TEP and the CONTRACTOR will propose a list of potential members. The CONTRACTOR will analyze the application of the 1972 Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and identify advantages and disadvantages of an advisory committee subject to FACA. Regardless of whether the VPF is subject to FACA, or takes on a different character and role, the CONTRACTOR will make recommendations as to the qualifications and composition of such an advisory component, and how it would enhance the overall department-wide policy development and strategic planning processes. Deliverable 4: Concept and business case analysis for a veteran policy forum Sub-Task 2.3 - Inaugural Support of a Veteran Policy Forum If the proposal and business case analysis is accepted, the CONTRACTOR will support initial establishment and inaugural meeting of the VPF. Deliverable 5: Summary of inaugural meeting of the veteran policy forum Task 3 - Defining the Community of Practice for Veteran Policy Analysis The area of veteran policy analysis has not received the attention that other communities-such as defense and health policy analysis-have received. Therefore, there is a need to define and develop the community of practice of veteran policy analysis. Sub-Task 3.1 - Identify Applicable Policy Analysis Frameworks The CONTRACTOR will conduct an environmental scan to identify and analyze existing policy analysis frameworks used by governments, organizations, and academia in fields similar to veteran issues. In particular, the CONTRACTOR will look at agencies such as Department of Defense, Social Security Administration, and Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, the CONTRACTOR will explore the extent to which veteran policy analysis exists in other countries and the frameworks, if there are any, used in these countries. Sub-Task 3.2 - Assess Policy Analysis in the Current VA Strategic Management Process Using the policy analysis frameworks identified from other sources, the CONTRACTOR will assess policy analysis capabilities within the current VA Strategic Management Process. To understand the role existing veteran policy analysis plays in current VA policy development and strategic planning, the CONTRACTOR will analyze the existing VA strategic management process by interviewing appropriate VA staff and representatives, as well as review VA documents describing the Strategic Management Process. The CONTRACTOR will summarize the VA's current capacity to conduct veteran policy analyses, and conduct a gap analysis comparing the current capacity to the capabilities identified in the veteran policy analysis frameworks. Deliverable 6: Summary of veteran policy frameworks and assessment of current VA policy analysis capacity Task 4 - Develop a Strategy for Enhancing Veteran Policy Analysis in VA Based on the review from Task 3, the CONTRACTOR will make recommendations for a future policy analysis framework that will help reshape future VA policy development. The framework should address the current strategic planning processes - identifying changes required to improve policy analysis and development. This framework must be compatible with current processes to provide opportunities for immediate impact. The CONTRACTOR will develop a strategy for enhancing the capacity and capabilities to conduct veteran policy analysis within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This strategy will describe options to enhance the VA's capacity and capabilities for veteran policy analyses to narrow or close any identified gaps. The CONTRACTOR will develop and test the proposed framework by conceptually applying it to a small number of veterans' issues to assess how well it works. The purpose of doing this is to see how the framework works and where and how it needs refinement. The CONTRACTOR, in consultation with VA, will identify various significant issues facing veterans' policy issues to run through the proposed conceptual framework. The CONTRACTOR will include an analysis of current VA policies, practices, organization, as well as capacity and capabilities relative to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) needed to effectively implement the proposed framework. Deliverable 7: Dept of Veterans Affairs Policy Framework and Strategy for Implementation IV. Deliverable Schedule Table 1. Task Order deliverables, schedule estimates, and deliverable format DeliverableSchedule EstimateFormat Task 1 - Task Order Management Deliverable 1 - Summary of kickoff Meeting Deliverable 2 - Project Work Plan Deliverable 3 - Monthly Progress Reports 20 days after Award 30 days after Award Due on the 5th of each month Summary of Meeting Document Document Task 2 - Establish a Veteran Policy Forum Deliverable 4: Concept and Business Case Analysis for Veteran Policy Forum Deliverable 5: Summary of Inaugural Meeting of Veteran Policy Forum 3 months after Award 5 months after Award Presentation/Document Document Task 3 - Defining the Field of Policy Analysis Deliverable 6: Summary of Veteran Policy Frameworks and Assessment of Current VA Policy Analysis Capacity 6 months after Award Presentation Task 4 -Strategy for Enhancing Veteran Policy Analysis in VA Deliverable 7: DVA Policy Analysis Framework and Implementation Plan 9 months after Award Document/Presentation
 

Web Link

FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/VA/AFMLOVASS/VASSMD/VA79811RI0052/listing.html)
 

Document(s)

Attachment
 

File Name: VA798-11-RI-0052 VA798-11-RI-0052_1.docx (https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=179345&FileName=VA798-11-RI-0052-001.docx)

Link: https://www.vendorportal.ecms.va.gov/FBODocumentServer/DocumentServer.aspx?DocumentId=179345&FileName=VA798-11-RI-0052-001.docx

 

Note: If links are broken, refer to Point of Contact above or contact the FBO Help Desk at 877-472-3779.
 

Record

SN02390562-W 20110303/110301234934-48a93c431a58d227b9a2912b8e6a3831 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

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

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