This Sources Sought Notice is for market research purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal or an obligation on the part of the Department of Education (the Department), Office of Federal Student Aid, to acquire any products or services. The Department does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this Sources Sought, nor pay for the information provided. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges shall arise as a result of submission of responses to the Sources Sought and the Department's use of such information. The Department of Education (ED), Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), expects to issue a solicitation to acquire a service for system processing to replace the current Debt Management and Collections System and Total and Permanent Disability (DMCS/TPD) System with a single, integrated system. The current portfolio contains approximately 2.47 million defaulted student debts with a total value of $25 billion. The portfolio is comprised of 51% Direct Loans and 46% FFEL loans with the remaining portion containing Perkins Loans and grant overpayments. Specific compliance activities for processing Federally held assets may include, but are not limited to: 1) Business System Support, 2) Call Center, 3) Imaging, 4) Escalated Issues, 5) Payment Exception Processing, 6) Web Services, 7) Reporting, 8) Integrated Communications, and 9) Data Integrity. Available high level requirements are attached. Desired capabilities include: 1) Develop and/or enhance offeror system(s) to accept and process Federally-held Defaulted Debts and TPD Claims, 2) Support Call Center activities, 3) Image and retrieve documents, 4) Support escalated issues, 5) Process payment exceptions, 6) Provide web services and integrated communications. Depending upon the results of this notice, the Government anticipates issuing a solicitation in the summer of 2009. Please provide a capabilities statement (not to exceed 10 pages), which demonstrates your organization's ability to meet the Government's requirements identified herein. In your response, please also indicate the size status of your organization (small, women-owned, etc.). Any questions should be submitted in writing to Mike.Whisler@ed.gov; Bradley.Bumgarner@ed.gov; and Terri.Smith@ed.gov by 2:00PM EDT on June 26, 2009. Your submission should be sent to the following e-mail addresses: Mike.Whisler@ed.gov; Bradley.Bumgarner@ed.gov; and Terri.Smith@ed.gov by 2:00PM EDT on July 8, 2009.
