Peace Corps, Office of Contracts, Rm. 1420E, 1111 2O th St. N.W., Washington, DC 20526

70 -- DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELECTRONIC APPLICATION SYSTEM. SOL PCORPS-99-Q-1039 DUE 090999 POC Meg Russell, Contracting Officer, (202) 692-1625 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contracting Officer., mrussell@peacecorps.gov. The Peace Corps seeks the services of a contractor to implement an Electronic Application system that would allow users to fill out a Peace Corps Volunteer Application on the Web and submit the information electronically to the agency. The purpose of this Electronic Application system is to fulfill the agency's goal of providing a high level of customer service and convenience to Peace Corps applicants, while also capturing and disseminating the applicant's data more efficiently and accurately. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; a proposal is being requested and no solicitation will be issued. The solicitation number is PCORPS-99-Q-1039. This combined synopsis/solicitation and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-12. The Standard Industrial Classification Code for this acquisition is 7030. This contract will be for one base period of 12 months and four, 12-month option periods. Currently, all applicants to the Peace Corps must fill out and mail in a 16-page Volunteer Application. The only electronic version of our Peace Corps Volunteer Application requires applicants to download a PDF file from the Peace Corps' Web site. Applicants must fill out the application on screen or type in their information on a printed copy, and then mail the completed application and other related forms to a Peace Corps recruiting office. While the Peace Corps will retain use of its printed application for those applicants who do not have access to the Internet, the agency seeks to introduce an Electronic Application system to achieve the following four goals. 1) Make the application process more convenient and less expensive for applicants, saving them the time and expense of printing and postage. 2) Reduce the need for Peace Corps staff to manually enter the application data from printed applications. 3) Save money in printing and postage for the Peace Corps by reducing the number of paper application forms to be mailed out. 4) Speed the receipt and dissemination of application information among Peace Corps offices in different locations. An Offeror shall submit a proposal to create an Electronic Application system that must include the following eight mandatory elements. 1) The development of a Web-based Peace Corps Electronic Application form. The text, graphic look, and data fields of the Electronic Application will be customized for the Peace Corps. 2) Specific information about the appearance and functionality of the Web-Based Application from an applicant's perspective. Examples include, but are not limited to the following: the URL that will be displayed in a user's browser window; the process for assignment of a unique user ID; options for saving and printing the application; options for completing the application during multiple sessions; availability of additional information about the application process; the process for requesting and receiving technical assistance; and the ability to browse, print, or attach documents related to the application. 3) The system must be flexible so that any changes to the application, such as the number of fields and their size, could be implemented after the initial design. 4) Detailed plans for server hosting (including 24-hour/7-day availability, backups, etc.), troubleshooting and support for application system, support to Peace Corps for transferring data, and help-desk support for applicants/users. 5) Detailed information about the Electronic Application System's ability to collect and store confidential data in a fully secure manner. 6) Secure transfer of the completed application data to the Peace Corps at regular intervals; intervals and method of transfer to be specified by the Peace Corps at the time of contract award. 7) Delivery of applicant data in a format that can be used by the Peace Corps' existing database systems, with the ability to change the format if the agency acquires new database systems in the future. 8) Necessary training services and manuals for Peace Corps staff whom would use the Contractor's system to view applications. Please address, in detail, the costs of performing major and minor revisions to the application form after initial development and implementation and any additional costs related to training requirements and documentation. The Peace Corps does not charge an application fee, therefore, Offerors should not propose a fee collection system. While the Electronic Application is the primary focus of this contract, the Peace Corps is interested in related features that also serve its goal of providing high customer service to applicants and increasing its outreach to qualified potential applicants. Proposals should also include information about the following features, which may or may not be used by the Peace Corps, but will be used in evaluating the offer. Offerors shall also provide detailed information about costs related to the following optional elements. 1) Application management features that would assist the Peace Corps in its Volunteer outreach and recruiting efforts, or would provide added convenience and service to applicants. Possible examples include, but should not be limited to, e-mail tools, the ability to target applicants who posses certain qualifications that the Peace Corps is seeking to recruit, the ability for applicants to log in and check the status of their applications, and functions that will enable the Peace Corps to announce recruiting events from its 11 regional offices. 2) Implementing an Inquiry Management System, which would be used in managing marketing leads from the Peace Corps Web site, by telephone, by mail, and from other sources. Please address how the Inquiry Management System would be integrated with the Electronic Application system. All optional elements proposed will be evaluated to help determine the best value for the Peace Corps. Offerors are encouraged to propose optional elements that would enhance their complete proposal. Dependent upon award date of this proposed contract, the Electronic Application system development shall be completed no later than November 30, 1999. The successful Offeror will work in partnership with the Peace Corps during the development process in order to reduce the necessity for major revisions. The Offeror may be required, at no additional cost to the Peace Corps, to do one major revision and one or more minor revisions before receiving final approval for the Electronic Application and related elements. The following FAR provisions and clauses are incorporated by reference and apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS (AUG 1998); FAR 52.212-3 OFFERORS REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS (OCT 1998); FAR 52.212-4 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS (APR 1998); and FAR 52.212-5, CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JAN 1999). The following Addendum is added and these FAR clauses apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.222-26 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY; and FAR 52.239-1 PRIVACY OR SECURITY SAFEGUARDS. YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE (OCT 1998) (a) The vendor shall ensure that all information technology, which will be required to perform the tasks defined above, will be Year 2000 compliant. The Offeror shall include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS ALT I -- COMMERCIAL (OCT 1998) with its proposal. Award will be based on evaluation of the above mentioned eight mandatory and optional elements. The Government reserves the right to award based on Best Value, however cost will always be considered. Technical acceptability will be determined solely on the content and merit of the information submitted in response to these elements. Therefore, it is incumbent on the Offeror to provide sufficient technical literature, documentation, etc., in order for the Government to make an adequate technical assessment of the proposal. This includes information on security, privacy, and Year 2000 readiness. Offerors shall submit two separate proposals to the government, one technical and one cost. The Technical proposal should consist of the following: 1) In a narrative form, state how the Offeror would implement the mandatory and optional elements. 2) Submit a sample Web site (for example, from a previous client) that includes an online demonstration that is representative of the application proposed. It is not necessary to customize this sample Web site for the Peace Corps. 3) Submit a list of the team, i.e. labor categories, which will be assigned to develop and maintain the proposed system, along with the expertise of the team. The following evaluation criteria, arranged in their order of importance, shall be used to evaluate offers: 1) Content of proposal submitted, including technical capabilities of the Application System, customer service features, and quality of design. 2) Scope of maintenance and support that the Offeror will supply in hosting this system, including number of personnel, detailed plans for server hosting and troubleshooting, and technical support for the Peace Corps and applicants/users. 3) Past performance of the Offeror on similar projects and technical expertise of staff members assigned to this project. 4) Cost. The Government reserves the right to make award to the Offeror that will be the Best Value to the Peace Corps. All non-cost evaluation factors, when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price. The proposal should separate costs related to the development period and costs related to ongoing maintenance and support. The contract covers development of the Electronic Application from date of award through November 30, 1999. Maintenance support shall be from December 1, 1999 through December 1, 2000 for the base period. There is no page limit to the proposal, however, all proposals should be submitted on 8 X 11 inch paper. If diskettes are submitted with the proposal, they must be 3.5 inch and sent by U.S. mail. Interested parties may submit offers electronically, U.S. mail or by facsimile to Meg Russell, Contracting Officer; email: mrussell@peacecorps.gov; address: Peace Corps, Office of Contracts, Room 4444, 1111 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20526; facsimile: (202) 692-1621; no later than September 09, 1999, 11:00 a.m. eastern standard time. Offerors may contact Meg Russell, (202) 692-1625 or via email for more information regarding this solicitation. Posted 08/23/99 (W-SN371180). (0235)

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