Debt Management Servicer

This Sources Sought Announcement (SSA) is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) and does not commit the Government to award a contract. No Contract will be awarded from this announcement. No solicitation is available at this time. No Reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement or any follow up/associated information requested. This announcement is issued solely for information and planning purposes. The U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid (FSA) mission is to facilitate the availability of financial assistance to millions of eligible applicants pursing education beyond high school. Annually, this involves disbursing over $150 billion of loans, grants and other forms of assistance, while also managing a default portfolio valued at $44.7 million with 4.1 million borrowers. The purpose of this Sources Sought Announcement is to identify small businesses with the experience and technical capability to be a Debt Management Servicer who will receive and service the debts assigned to FSA using the Debt Management and Collections System. See the attached requirements document for detailed information. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 522110, Commercial Banking with a size standard of $175 million in total assets. All interested parties shall provide a capability statement of no more than fifteen (15) pages, and no smaller than size 12 point font. Each capability statement should include information regarding: debt portfolio management experience as it relates to servicing at least 500,000 defaulted borrowers simultaneously within the last 3 years; preferably direct experience with Titanium ORE Software; an average cost per borrower; past experience with similar services; preferably any prior Government experience as it relates to Financial Federal Processing; preferably experience servicing and/or collecting Federal student loans and any other information, which shows the Contractor's ability to successfully perform these services. Additionally, interested parties shall provide copies of their annual financial statements and no more than 3 past performance references who can discuss any contact management center support provided by your company, as well as any relevant experience in regards to the services identified in the attachment. Past performance references shall include point of contact information such as name, title, address, phone number and email address; the name of project/work provided (such that the reference will recognize the effort being described); a brief description of the work provided, in terms of scope, complexity and magnitude; and state the total contract dollar value of agreement (e.g. fixed unit rate; firm, fixed price; time and materials; etc.). FSA is interested in responses only from small businesses at this time. Based upon the responses received the Government may solicit as a small business set-aside or as an unrestricted effort. All small business organizations (Small Business, Disadvantaged Small Business, Women-Owned Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, 8(a) and HUBZone) are encouraged to respond to this notice. Interested parties should provide their size and classification status for the above referenced NAICS Code. It is important all interested parties recognize, if the aforementioned requirement is acquired from a small business, at least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern. Electronic responses are required via email to the following: Ms. Murthlyn Samuel at Murthlyn.Samuel@ed.gov and Ms. Julia Jones at Julia.Jones@ed.gov no later than 3:00pm Eastern Standard Time (EST), Friday, February 8, 2013. Information received in response to this notice is voluntary and becomes the property of the Government upon receipt. Respondents will not be notified of the results of information gathered in response to this notice. All future information about this acquisition, including solicitation and/or amendments will be distributed solely through the Federal Business Opportunities website at www.fbo.gov. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring this site to ensure receipt of the most-up-to-date information regarding any future acquisition. All Contractors doing business with the Federal Government must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database. The website for this registration is www.sam.gov. Any questions regarding this announcement should be directed via email to Ms. Murthlyn Samuel at Murthlyn.Samuel@ed.gov and Ms. Julia Jones at Julia.Jones@ed.gov no later than 3:00pm EST on Wednesday, January 30, 2013. Any responses received after the due date and time will not necessarily be considered. It is anticipated that a response to questions asked will be provided no later than 3:00pm EST on Friday, February 1, 2013, though not all questions may be answered at this time.