Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) which is an Operating Administration within the United States (U.S.) Department of Transportation is currently seeking qualified firms to provide Financial Cap... The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) which is an Operating Administration within the United States (U.S.) Department of Transportation is currently seeking qualified firms to provide Financial Capacity Assessments and Financial Assessments support services. The Government anticipates awarding more than one Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract concerning this requirement. This requirement is being competed utilizing Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15 procedures and as a small business set-aside. Typed questions concerning this RFP/Solicitation are due to Mr. Deldridge Berry, Contract Specialist, via email at Deldridge.Berry.ctr@dot.gov, Ms. Shequesha Evans, Contract Specialist, via email at Shequesha.Evans.ctr@dot.gov with a copy to Mrs. Stephanie Cooke-Nwadibia, Senior Contracting Officer, via email at Stephanie.Cooke-Nwadibia@dot.gov only no later than 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) on May 28, 2019. Proposal responses to this RFP/Solicitation are due by 2:00 EST PM on June 17, 2019 to the Government at: U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Office of Acquisition Management 1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E. 4th Floor - East Building, Office: E42-117 Washington, DC 20590 Interested offerors must provide one electronic copy (CD-ROM) of their entire proposal with each volume separated and marked along with 4 physical copies (1 of the hard copies must be marked as original) of the proposal response by the stated due date and time. If the offeror is utilizing a carrier type firm to deliver their proposal, offerors must ensure they are delivered prior to the noted time and date indicated for this RFP/Solicitation. Background of Program: Federal public transportation law (49 U.S.C. § 5309) authorizes the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program. The program provides discretionary funding for fixed guideway investments such as new and expanded bus rapid transit, heavy rail, commuter rail, and light rail as well as corridor-based bus rapid transit investments that emulate the features of rail. FTA utilizes financial contractors to help FTA make its determination of local financial commitment for each project seeking CIG funds. Many projects seeking CIG funds are multi-billion-dollar projects with complex financial plans. Therefore, it is imperative that financial contractors have financial analysis experience and knowledge of the following: • Financing large transit capital infrastructure projects; • Operation and maintenance of transit systems; and • Federal regulations, policy, and guidance. The CIG program is a discretionary program in which FTA selects projects based on merit and eligibility. There are three categories of eligible projects under the CIG program: New Starts, Small Starts, and Core Capacity. The law requires that the Secretary of Transportation make a number of determinations before awarding Section 5309 CIG Program funds for construction of any New Starts, Small Starts, or Core Capacity project. By law, each project must progress through a multi-year, multi-step process as described on FTA's website at https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grant-programs/capital-investments/about-program. FTA is required to evaluate and rate the projects at several points during the process, including when a New Starts or Core Capacity project seeks entry into the Engineering phase and when a New Starts, Small Starts, or Core Capacity project seeks a construction grant agreement. Additionally, FTA must prepare an Annual Report to Congress that includes new or updated project ratings for many projects seeking CIG funds. The overall program as well as individual CIG projects are subjected to a high level of review and scrutiny by multiple agencies, organizations, and members of the public. Therefore, all financial contractors working under awarded contracts must be able to produce reports that are written in a clear, straightforward manner so that the information can be understood by multiple audiences who do not have formal financial training. Multiple projects are moving through the CIG program at any given time. Financial evaluations are needed throughout the year for various projects, but typically there is a high point of activity in the fall and winter related to preparation of the Annual Report to Congress. Therefore, contractors must have sufficient staff resources and "depth of bench" to perform multiple project reviews concurrently.