Draft Advisory & Assistance Services at USAFA

The purpose of this Special Notice is to solicit feedback from industry concerning the attached DRAFT Solicitation and Performance Work Statement (PWS) for Advisory & Assistance Services (A&AS) at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). A&AS support may encompass organizational policy development; decision-making; management and administration; program and/or project management and administration; or R&D activities. It can also furnish professional advice or assistance rendered to improve the effectiveness of Federal management processes or procedures (including those of an engineering and technical nature). In rendering the foregoing services, outputs may take the form of information, advice, opinions, alternatives, analyses, evaluations, recommendations, training and the day-to-day aid of support personnel needed for the successful performance of ongoing Federal operations. The 10th Contracting Squadron, USAFA, is conducting market research to determine capable, experienced, and potential interested sources. The assigned NAICS is 541690-Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services and the size standard is $14 million. The Government is in the acquisition planning stages for this potential effort. In accordance with FAR 19.8(b), "contracts may be awarded to the SBA for performance by eligible 8(a) firms on either a sole source or competitive basis."Response to this notice is strictly voluntary and will not affect any 8(a) organization's ability to submit an offer when the solicitation is released. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice or to otherwise pay for the information solicited. THIS NOTICE IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR MARKET RESEARCH AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION, AN INVITATION FOR BIDS, A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS. The following is a synopsis of the potential requirement contained in the draft Performance Work Statement (PWS): This potential requirement encompasses executing effective support and providing responsive management to multiple USAFA organizations in a number of fields: - Project Management o The Government requires professional support services to assist in day-to-day management activities associated with tasks, such as: management and oversight of A&AS task order work performance; preparing and maintaining the project schedule and budget; preparing and delivering status reports. o The Government also requires support services to assist in project and program operations, such as: preparing and maintaining the project schedule; preparing and delivering status reports; prioritization of tasks; reviewing project requirements against deliverables; assistance in analyzing program direction and directives, plans and other program guidance; furnishing ideas in development of business solutions; organizing and coordinating routine activities; providing guidance/alternatives regarding feasibility, implementation, operational costs and functional adequacy of potential solutions. - Office Administration Support o The Government requires support for office administration activities, such as: preparing electronic correspondence, briefings, and staff summary packages. Additional support includes updating and managing events/calendars, administering databases, performing file processing and executive administrative tasks, managing suspense tracking, preparing travel itineraries, taking meeting minutes, and providing desktop training. - Financial Management Support o The Government requires support for financial management activities, such as: assisting in budget formulation to include analyses of annual and multi-year budget estimates; provide advice, assistance, and guidance on budgeting and related information, analysis, reviews, special studies, and reconciliation of multiple program office funding, preparation of financial reports and briefings, economic and impact studies, trend analysis, execution tasks, cost management effectiveness, and sensitivity studies and analyses; budgeting activities, such as but not limited to, assisting program financial managers by compiling, reconciling, and initiating funding documents for expenditure of funds, tracking funding for commitments, obligations and expenditures, coordination with project officers, Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) personnel, and other Department of Defense (DoD) organizational and/or contractor personnel. - Information and Communications System Support (Excluding Routine Information Technology Services) o The Government requires support for information and communication systems activities to provide insight, expertise, and recommendations regarding the optimization of business and workforce processes with an emphasis on the integration of technology-based solutions to streamline workflow and implementation of data communications and database management systems. The requirement also includes applying knowledge of computer science and information management principles, data processing functions, IT hardware/software and network system structures, integration of storage and retrieval methods, database management and programming. Additional support includes workflow and system usage and demand analysis, design, testing, troubleshooting, repair and documentation. In addition, collecting information from and working with Government personnel to develop and define requirements, assist with problem identification and recommend solutions to meet operational needs are included. Other support activities required in this field include: Assisting the Government on resource allocation; asset and configuration management; system and facility certification/accreditation; compliance inspections; readiness assessments and audits; training; and equipment disposal. Advisory support may also be required to enhance use of such technologies as video teleconference, telephone, webpage and internet. - Engineering Support o The Government requires engineering support on a variety of moderately complex to complex tasks. Some tasks may be at the edge of the state-of-the-art or require substantial interaction of technical disciplines with high levels of engineering experience and expertise. The requirement also includes providing administrative and technical direction independently, or as part of team, with responsibility for analysis of problems. Studies, plans, and analyses in support of task efforts will be prepared and presented. More requirements in this field include: Creating project goals, strategies, project internal controls and overall work plans. Reports providing expert advice to the customer will be prepared, reviewed, and delivered. o Engineers and other technical support personnel require assistance on a task basis in performing software, hardware or other engineering activities of an analysis, design, or test nature. Guidance to less experienced engineers and technical staff will be provided. The requirement also exists to plan, conduct and may supervise research, development, or installation of product and systems in conformance with engineering design and customer specifications. Engineering requirements support both domestic and international products and services. - Technical Support o The Government requires technical expertise to assist academic and laboratory centers solve specialized functional area problems using available hardware, software, data and peripheral equipment. The requirement also includes: Participation in the review and testing of scenarios to help define the impact of changes to key variables in models or simulations; Gathering and evaluate information and statistical data; Coordinating and developing data analysis files, tracking and reporting key software metrics, developing, editing, and producing technical and graphic documentation. Assisting in on-site organization and management of functional area equipment and facilities, ensuring adherence to design concepts and user specifications are included in this field. Finally, conducting appropriate statistical analyses, making recommendations and writing analytical reports while performing support functions for defined project objectives are required. - Analysis Support o The Government requires the contractor to provide analysis of functional and organizational program/business processes, assist in data collection, validation of unclassified security requirements and formulation/design of solutions to complex program problems, implementing recommendations to facilitate and optimize process improvements and provide management consulting services. Prepares/presents studies, plans, analyses and recommendations in support of task efforts. All information contained in the notice is preliminary as well as subject to modification and is in no way binding on the Government. All interested and qualified sources are asked to submit the following documentation and responses: a. Name of Company and Address, Point of Contact, Phone Number, E-mail Address, Website (if applicable), Business size for this NAICS code, CAGE code and DUNS Number. b. Examples of prior services provided of similar level of scope and complexity. c. The planned contract type is firm fixed price with cost reimbursable travel contract line items. Identify any comments or concerns with the contract type. d. Comments on the draft solicitation and PWS, and the ability to accurately submit proposals (such as key technical criteria) and complete contract requirements based on the information contained in the PWS. e. Verify your ability to respond to such a draft solicitation within 15 days of an RFP notice or provide comments. Participants are allowed and encouraged to submit questions, comments, advice, and additional feedback. All information received that is marked "Proprietary" will be handled accordingly. Responses will not be returned nor will receipt be confirmed. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Responses are due no later than 27 May 2014, 4:00 pm Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) to Londres Medranda, Contract Specialist, at londres.medranda@us.af.mil, 719-333-6483 and Rebecca Graham, Contracting Officer, at rebecca.graham.5@us.af.mil, 719-333-3200. Contracting Office Address: 10th Contracting Squadron, USAFA, 8110 Industrial Drive, Ste 200, USAF Academy, CO 80840-2315