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COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF SEPTEMBER 30,1996 PSA#1690Social Security Administration, Office of Acquisition and Grants, 1710
Gwynn Oak Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21207-0696 R -- QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEWS AND HOTLINE INVESTIGATIVE OPERATIONS
POC Wayne McDonald Tel: 410-966-1323 The SSA is seeking sources to
indicate interest in a requirement to provide investigative support
services. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. The purpose
of this notice is develop a list of qualified firms to perform the
necessary to meet the Government's minimum requirements. Organizations
having the required expertise and capabilities are invited to submit
complete information discussing such capabilities. Information
furnished should include an outline of specific previous experience and
projects of a similar scope and complexity. The information provided
shall pertain to this synopsis only. Any interested organization must
submit appropriate data in two copies within 15 days of this
announcement. Cross referencing to material previously submitted is not
recommended and will not be considered. The Government does not intend
to pay for the information solicited or received. Respondents will not
be notified of the results of the source data received, nor will source
list be provided. General Description. Offerors are invited to submit
capability statements demonstrating the ability to furnish the
necessary personnel to provide the Social Security Administration
(SSA), Office of the Inspector General (OIG) with comprehensive
evaluations of investigative operations. These services will be used as
an aid to perform program improvement support in the area of quality
assurance of investigations and Hotline operations. The period of
performance shall be 12 months. Background. The mission of SSA is to
administer Social Security programs as prescribed by legislation in an
equitable, effective, efficient, and caring manner. The mission of the
OIG, as mandated by the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, is
to protect the integrity of SSA's programs. The OIG reports to both the
Commissioner and the Congress, program and management problems and
recommendations to correct them. This mission is carried out through a
nationwide network of audits, evaluations and investigations. In order
to accomplish the mission of investigations, the OIG has an Office of
Investigations that usually works independently, but at times conducts
joint investigations with other Federal Law Enforcement agencies. Each
program administered by SSA, and each type of benefit within a program,
presents its own vulnerabilities, and is therefore susceptible to
particular types of fraudulent activities. Scope of Work. The work
requirement is to evaluate the investigative operations of the OIG to
ensure adherence to SSA current program, policies and procedures.
Concurrent evaluation of these program, policies and procedures will
help ensure consistency with Federal laws and President's Council on
Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE) guidance on goals and performance
measures relating to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993
(GPRA). Work to be performed will include quality assurance reviews of
investigative case files in regional and field operations and an
evaluation of the OIG Hotline operations at headquarters. Quality
assurance reviews of investigative files will include: a) A review and
analysis of current SSA OIG investigative guidance including
identification of deficiencies and suggested rewrites; and b) review
and analysis of current SSA OIG investigative operations for each of
the following field offices: Northeast - Buffalo, New York; MidAtlantic
- Baltimore, Maryland; Southeastern - Atlanta, Georgia, Memphis,
Tennessee, Tampa, Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Midwestern - Chicago,
Illinois, Detroit, Michigan, Kansas City, Missouri, St. Louis,
Missouri, Cincinnati, Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio, Des Moines, Iowa;
Southwestern - Dallas, Texas, Denver, Colorado, Houston, Texas, San
Antonio, Texas, El Paso, Texas; Western - Los Angeles, California, San
Francisco, California, and Seattle, Washington. There are an estimated
6000 cases available for review spread throughout the offices listed
above. The SSA requires a review of approximately 25% of the total
number of cases or 1500 cases total. Interviews will be required with
senior OIG officials at SSA Headquarters. The following are areas of
concern for each field office: a) The proper development and
achievement of general and specific investigative plans; b) Determining
the frequency and significance of deviations from mandated programs and
procedures; c) The effectiveness of coordination with local U. S.
Attorney offices; d) The adequacy of resources to address noncompliance
with SSA laws and regulations; e) The status of work in progress and
case aging; and, f) The number and impact of prosecutions. The SSA
requires an evaluation be conducted on the operations of the Hotline in
the following areas: a) Review and evaluate the current OIG guidance
for Hotline operations; b) Interview Hotline personnel to assess their
knowledge and experience in hotline operations; c) Assess the
propriety of the receipt, documentation, and routing of complaints
received via the Hotline. SSA believes that the following are specific
areas of concern that should be addressed in the operation of the
Hotline: a) effectiveness of the receipt of complaints; b) adequacy and
accuracy of the documentation of complaints; c) protection of sources
of information; d) adequacy of systems for determining complaint
resolutions; c) responsiveness of the program to complainants; d)
adequacy of Hotline resources and staffing. Work will begin with an
entrance conference with the Government Project Officer (PO) and/or
alternate PO. The meetings are required with the PO at the inception of
work performance. The PO will supply the total number of investigative
cases available for review within each office listed above, including
organizational charts, and any current administrative investigative
manual deemed appropriate. First Draft of Reports. The SSA will require
an investigative case review in the form of a narrative report. Each
field office shall be reviewed and reported separately. Each report
shall address the broad objective of proper case initiation, effective
planning, thoroughness, timeliness and appropriate case management,
and reflect the areas of concern listed above. In addition, each report
shall include general observations of the contractor regarding the
organizational structure of the particular field office and the
office's coordination with other SSA components and other Federal
agencies. The SSA requires delivery of five (5) copies of the first
draft within five (5) calendar days after completing the investigative
case review of each field office. The SSA requires a compilation of
the Hotline review into a narrative report. The report shall include a
description of the analysis and review of the Hotline and any findings
and recommendations resulting from the analysis. The report shall
conform to the organization, style, format, and layout of the OIG
Special Reports. The SSA requires delivery of five (5) copies of the
first draft within 20 days after completing the review of the Hotline
operation. After a review of the first draft the SSA will provide
written comments within 15 calendar days of receipt of the first draft.
The revision of the draft should incorporate the SSA's comments for
delivery of five (5) copies of the final draft within 14 days after
receipt of written comments. The SSA shall make written comments on the
final draft within ten (10) calendar days from receipt of the final
draft report. The final report should incorporate the SSA's comments.
Upon acceptance of the final draft, but no later than 30 calendar days,
the SSA requires delivery of ten (10) copies of the final reports. The
text of this synopsis is available to be downloaded from the SSA
Homepage on the Internet in electronic format. The Internet address is
http://www.ssa.gov/oag/acq/toc.htm, go to category R. (0270) Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0074 19960927\R-0012.SOL)
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