General Services Administration, Federal Technology Service (FTS), Office of Acquisition (TQ), 7525 Colshire Drive, McLean, VA, 22102-7492

R -- INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICE TO OPERATE THE NATIONWIDE FEDERAL INFORMATION CENTER (FIC) SOL TQD-RC-98-0002 DUE 121498 POC Robert Corey, Contract Specialist, Phone (703) 610-2024, Fax (703) 610-1664, Email bobcorey@gsa.gov -- Robert Corey, Contract Specialist, Phone (703) 610-2024, Fax (703) 610-1664, Email bobcorey@gsa.gov WEB: Visit this URL for the latest information about this, http://eps.arnet.gov/cgi-bin/WebObjects/EPS?ActionCode=P&;ProjectID=TQD -RC-98-0002&LocationID=65. E-MAIL: Robert Corey, bobcorey@gsa.gov. The General Services Administration (GSA) intends to procure information and referral services to operate the nationwide Federal Information Center (FIC). The Standard Industrial Code (SIC) that applies to this procurement is 7375. The industry size standard for this SIC is $18.0 million. The solicitation will be issued electronically on November 10, 1998. On that date it will be posted on the Acquisition Reform Network World Wide Web (www) site at http://eps.arnet.gov, and on the Federal Information Center's www site at http://fic.info.gov/rfp. The current FIC has a nationwide service area with special attention paid to the residents of about 85 key metropolitan areas. Individuals with speech and hearing impairments must have access to the information services provided under the FIC Program. In performing this requirement the contractor will provide (i) all necessary personnel, training, supervision, administrative support and management; (ii) all facilities, supplies, equipment, ADP hardware, and ADPservices (except for services provided by the Government); (iii) all software and research and reference materials (except those provided by the Government); (vi) current information to the public according to directions provided by the Government; and (v) a quality control program. The contractor will be able to perform the work requirements of the contract at one work site within the United States, or at multiple work sites within the United States as long as all inter-city telephone inquiries (i.e. public inquiries) are answered in a single work site that allows telephone access to callers nationwide. The contractor will be responsible for responding to approximately 2 million inquiries from the general public annually, principally by telephone. Inquiries are on subjects that cover the entire range of Federal activities and concerns. Responses are in the form of referrals to other agencies, mailing of printed information, providing information directly, or linking the inquirer and the information provider. The contractor will be responsible for maintaining and keeping current an automated (internal-use) database used by the FIC's information specialists in responding to public inquiries. There are presently more than 250 million bytes in the data base files. The contractor will be required to develop, maintain, and update a version of the automated nationwide database for public use via the Internet. The contractor will be responsible for the maintenance of the content of a web site, primarily sections that deal with Government contacts and frequently asked questions about Government. The contractor may be required to process public requests for documents and information for and about various government agencies. This will include the sale of documents with payment effected through the use of credit cards. The contractor may also be required to place outbound calls to the public for a number of federal agencies. The contractor will be required to conduct local and/or national media campaigns when required. The contractor will provide all local telecommunications, including a call sequencing mechanism capable of answering by recordings and maintaining data on calls received. The contractor will be required to develop and implement a plan to conduct agency liaison with Federal agencies' regional and headquarters offices, visiting at least 15 different cities each year. The contractor will also be responsible for listing the FIC telephone number in the directory of targeted metropolitan areas. The contractor will prepare and deliver reports, as required by the SOW. In order to be technically qualified a firm must have had the following experience during the past five (5) years: (i) three (3) years of general experience in providing information and referral service; (ii) one (1) year of specific experience in multi-subject, or broad geographical-based (ten states or more) information and referral service which provided complex, narrative answers, as distinguished from simple locator or directory service; and (iii) one (1) year of specific experience in information and referral service which handled at least thirty-five (35) percent of the telephone inquiry volume cited herein.***** Posted 10/22/98 (D-SN264542). (0295)

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