Inactive Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Set-Aside (FAR 19.14)

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ). THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IS NOT SOLICITING OFFERS OF ANY KIND. NO CONTRAC... THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ). THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IS NOT SOLICITING OFFERS OF ANY KIND. NO CONTRACT AWARD WILL BE MADE ON THE BASIS OF ANY RESPONSE(S) TO THIS NOTICE. 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. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 Market Research and Public Law 109-461, the Department of Veterans Affairs is conducting market research to ascertain if there are verified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) concerns that have the capability to provide to the Government contractor support services to facilities listed below at a fair and reasonable price. This announcement is for informational and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the government, implied or otherwise, to issue a solicitation or award a contract. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Regional Procurement Office Central (RPO-C) has a need for an experienced contractor who has six (6) or more years of experience supplying acquisition support services to federal agencies. The contractor is needed to assist various contracting teams in their procurement requirements. The contractor shall provide experienced Contract Acquisition Specialists (CAS) and Acquisition Utilization Specialists (AUS) to Network Contracting Offices (NCOs) and the Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC). Contractor acquisition support services will be required throughout the life of this contract. The contractor s office and contractor personnel shall be located within the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The contractor shall provide non-personal, non-inherently governmental acquisition support services in support of the VHA s contracting offices. The contractor and contractor personnel shall not be designated as the CO or COR or make decisions; rather they will support the various VA procurement teams in their procurement needs. Contractor personnel may not supervise or otherwise direct Government employees. VA COs, CSs, CORs and other staff shall ultimately be responsible for making decisions on behalf of VA. Acquisition support services may include, but are not limited to strategy, planning, data analysis, requirements and/or documentation development, preparing Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE), compliance reviews for acquisition documents and forms. Services may include advisory support and assisting functional area technical experts with the development of writing requirements into sound/sufficient Statement of Work (SOW), PWS and/or Orders. Other support functions may include acquisition planning, solicitation preparation, market research/analysis, source selection document preparation, administration of terms and conditions, preparing contract modifications and documents, cost/price analysis, development of analytics, creating reports, preparation of contract termination documents, and drafting contract close-out documents. Successful performance of this contract requires a wide variety of associated procurement skills and activities including research, analysis, data entry, writing, document preparation, editing, scanning, document management, phone calls, faxing, filing, and other activities as necessary to complete the tasks assigned. Acquisition Utilization Specialist (AUS) Requirements: Education: Four (4) years above high school from an accredited college or university as recognized by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education. Experience: The AUS shall have a minimum of two (2) years of federal contracting experience working on government acquisitions within the last five (5) years. Contract Acquisition Specialist (CAS) Requirements: Education: Bachelor s degree with a major in any field; or at least twenty-Four (24) semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, and organization and management. Experience: A minimum of three (3) recent years (within the last five years) relevant experience in conducting comprehensive acquisition support services with knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR), and all other applicable regulations and policies. Senior Contract Acquisition Specialist (SCAS) Requirements: Education: Bachelor s degree with a major in any field; or at least twenty-four (24) semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, and organization and management. A Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C Level I, II, or III), FAC-C (Professional), or DAWIA Level III in Contacting certification or courses leading to certification, or demonstration of the completion of commercial courses equivalent to certification. Experience: A minimum of five (5) recent years within the last seven (7) years relevant experience in conducting comprehensive and complex acquisition support services with an extensive knowledge of the FAR, Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR), and all other applicable regulations and policies. Resume must reflect documented experience of pre- and post-award acquisition processes and activities along with related training and certifications. SCAS Specialized Experience Requirements: Construction/Architect-Engineering (AE) Specialized Experience Requirements: Ability to apply the required knowledge of laws, regulations, and procedures to the act of properly issuing and administering a construction contract in accordance with Federal acquisition laws, regulations, and best business practices. Have knowledge of construction and AE contracting request and develop construction/AE solicitation packages in accordance with FAR, VAAR, and agency policies and procedures. Familiar with FAR Part(s) 14, 15, 36, and 43. Unless otherwise approved by the VA any SCAS (who meets the 5 years general experience requirement) who will be specializing in construction/AE requirements must also have the following experience: (1) 3 years of experience in developing AE solicitations and administrating AE contracts and modifications; (2) 3 years of experience developing construction solicitations and administering construction contracts and modifications. Complex service contracts (such as Health Care Contracts) experience requirements: Have in-depth knowledge of FAR 13/15. Familiarity with medical language. Any SCAS (who meets the 5 years general experience requirement) who will be specializing in Complex service contracts must also have the following experience: 5 years of experience developing complex service solicitations and administering complex service contracts and modifications. Leasing and Specialized experience requirements: Be familiar with Real Property Leasing, utilities contracts, sharing of space and other non-medical agreements (selling/sharing agreements, revokable licenses, interagency agreements), and hotel services for Veterans using procedures outlined in the FAR, VAAR, General Services Acquisition Manual (GSAM), General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR), public laws, and agency policy. Unless otherwise approved by the VA any SCAS (who meets the 5 years general experience requirement) who will be specializing in Leasing and Specialized Contracts must also have the following experience: 2 years of experience developing real property/lease related solicitations, contracts and modifications. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES: The following is a general description of the acquisition support services that the Contractor will be required to provide during the life of the resulting contract. The three labor categories will include diverse and various acquisition support responsibilities in support of the NCO/PCAC. The Contractor shall provide qualified personnel who can perform cradle to grave acquisition functions in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR), and all other applicable regulations and policies. Contractor personnel shall perform pre-award procurement functions such as requirements definition, market research, drafting contractual documents such as solicitations, awards, and modifications using the Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS), coordinating with requiring activities, industry, and other stakeholders, and completing contractual files. Contractor personnel shall perform post-award procurement functions such as drafting modifications, drafting option year notices and modifications, monitoring contractor performance, and preparing contracts for close-out. Additional acquisition support services include, but is not limited to, the following: 4.1. Assist NCO customers with reviewing and/or writing requirements to ensure submission of sound and sufficient procurement requests. 4.2. Performing and/or evaluating market research, trends, conditions, alternative sources, and technological advances as they apply to the program 4.3. Researching and reviewing all applicable policies, guidance, and regulations to support the customer and Contracting Officer (CO) in their decision making 4.4. Providing business advice and assistance to functional area technical experts, requiring activities, and customers 4.5. Collaborating with customers and stakeholders on performance requirements among multiple sites and service lines to obtain agreement, standardize enterprise equipment, supply and/or service requirements in support of strategic acquisition plans 4.6. Analyzing and assisting in the development of IGCEs 4.7. Drafting/preparing contractual related documents, forms, and solicitations 4.8. Reviewing procurement documents for accuracy, adequacy, and completeness 4.9. Refining and improving source selection evaluation criteria 4.10. Analyzing and evaluating pricing data and other types of pricing information to draft a price reasonableness recommendation for the CO 4.11. Working with the technical experts and the CO to ensure project milestones are reflected in the contractual documents and project plan 4.12. Supporting, coordinating, and assisting with the planning, preparing, developing, executing, and maintaining of current acquisition plans, strategies, and overall program office acquisition administration functions including program control and tracking 4.13. Establishing parameters and maintaining controls to ensure contracts are executed in accordance with terms and conditions 4.14. Supporting Cos and CSs on all phases of negotiation for contract modifications, change orders, supplemental agreements and delivery order processes including requirements requiring definitions, justification and approval for service contract extension, method of contracting, evaluation of proposals and advice concerning contract administration 4.15. Preparing/drafting contract modifications and associated modification documentation requirements 4.16. Researching, analyzing, preparing, and reviewing invoice receipts, receiving reports, fund status, final payments, release of claims, certificates of completion, close-out documents, and any additional supporting documents or activities needed for contract closeout 4.17. Investigating, reviewing, and preparing open obligations/undelivered orders (UDO) for closeout;  4.18. Monitoring quality assurance surveillance plans (QASPs) to ensure contracted services meet contract requirements along with the expectations and needs of the facility 4.19. Performing post-award administration in support of CO 4.20. Coordinating with leadership, staff, and other stakeholders to conduct analyses and recommend or develop a course of action 4.21. Preparing and processing purchase requisitions and procurement packages to the supporting CO for award 4.22. Making suggestions by analyzing difficult contracting issues and identifying alternative courses of action to satisfy specialized requirements and solve a variety of contracting problems 4.23. Assisting in the performance of cost benefit analysis  4.24. Conducting gap analyses and understanding of cost elements which go into the production, management or delivery of a healthcare resource service or product 4.25. Assisting with monitoring contract performance over the life of the concerning contract and demonstrate the ability to solve a broad range of problems relating to proposals for change, claims, payments, and similar problems 4.26. Planning, coordinating, evaluating, and executing the logistical actions required to support the mission of the organization 4.27. Providing advisory support and prepare procurement packages for review in accordance with customer requirements and in compliance with VA policy and procedures, to include federal and state laws and regulations 9. This is a remote position. The Government will provide the equipment (to include laptop, monitors, docking stations., and any other equipment deemed necessary by the COR), materials, and/or services that will be required by the contract personnel in the performance of this contract. The VA retains ownership of all Government furnished equipment, materials, and/or services furnished under this contract. 10. The purpose of this notice is to determine interest and capability of potential verified SDVOSB and VOSB concerns relative to the North American Industry Classification code (NAICS) 541611, Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services” with a size standard of $16.5 million in average annual revenue. To make an appropriate acquisition decision for this requirement, the Government will use the response to this RFI. The type of solicitation to be issued and the manner of advertisement will also depend on the response to this RFI. To be considered a SDVOSB/VOSB concern, offerors must be verified in www.veterans.certify.sba.gov. 11. Responses to this RFI shall be sent via emailed to Lenny.Flagg@va.gov No later than 12:00 PM ET, Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Please include “36C77624Q0280 Acquisition Support Services– RPO-C” in the subject line of all correspondence. Indicate if firm is either a SDVOSB/VOSB and current/prior contracts of similar services held in the last 3 years. Please include in your response your firm’s capabilities statement along similar services held in the past 3 years. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Responses received after the specified date and time will not be considered.