DRAFT SOLICITATION -- Expert Financial Advisory Services (U.S. Information Technology Sector)

AMENDMENT 2: PBGC responses to industry questions are now attached to this announcement for industry review.

[End of Amendment 2 text.]

AMENDMENT 1: The closing date for this DRAFT solicitation has been extended to maximize the number of interested firms who may review it and submit questions or comments.

[End of Amendment 1 text.]

****PLEASE READ: This is a DRAFT solicitation, the purpose of which is to provide interested firms an early opportunity to familiarize themselves with the solicitation and submit questions and feedback. Although PBGC anticipates that some details of this solicitation will change prior to releasing the final version, we expect the two versions to be substantially similar. The only significant difference known to PBGC at this time relates to Attachment 4 - Clauses and Provisions, which is omitted from this draft solicitation but will be included with the final solicitation. PBGC will highlight any other substantive changes between the draft and final versions. 

Submit questions and feedback to this draft solicitation using Attachment 7 - Industry Feedback Form before the deadline identified in this post. PBGC will consolidate the questions, remove identifying information, and share responses publicly.

Again, this is a DRAFT only. PBGC is not requesting quotations at this time. The draft solicitation begins after the below line.****

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Overview

This is a request for quotations (RFQ) prepared in accordance with Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) 5.201(c). The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation is seeking quotations from firms that can provide expert financial advisory services and that possess specialized knowledge of the U.S. information technology sector. See below for additional information about the services.

Concise Description of Services

PBGC, a wholly owned U.S Government corporation, administers the pension plan termination insurance program established by Title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. PBGC protects the retirement income of approximately 44 million workers in more than 27,000 private defined benefit pension plans and monitors the corporate events and transactions of defined benefit pension plan sponsors to mitigate risks to the insurance program and increase overall plan funding levels.

PBGC’s Corporate Finance and Restructuring Department requires the assistance of an experienced financial advisory services firm with proven experience in the U.S. information technology (IT) sector leading large distress valuation and turnaround engagements and/or representing clients in a lead capacity on large and complex restructuring and/or bankruptcy transactions involving enterprises with funded debt exceeding $4 billion. PBGC will place particularly high value on prior experience with the PBGC pension termination process and on contractor personnel with relevant expert testimony experience.

Detailed Description of Services

This section applies only to firms that have not already submitted documentation under the pre-solicitation announcement linked to this solicitation. Firms that have already submitted this information should disregard this section.

The performance work statement (PWS) contains a detailed description of services. To receive a copy of the PWS, interested firms must complete and submit Attachment 6 – Intent to Compete and Non-Disclosure Agreement no later than 48 hours before the closing date of this announcement. PBGC will not consider any requests received after this time. Before permitting an interested firm to view the PWS, PBGC will verify that the firm (1) has expertise and experience that fits the general scope of work as described above, and (2) is actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and otherwise eligible to do business with the U.S. Government.

Eligibility

All responsible sources will have an opportunity to submit a quotation for PBGC to consider. To be eligible for award a firm will need to have:

• experience providing in-court or out-of-court restructuring advisory services to a debtor or creditor in a case in which the debtor had at least $4 billion in funded debt at the time of filing for bankruptcy or at the initiation of an out-of-court restructuring; and
• executed and submitted Attachment 6 – Intent to Compete and Non-Disclosure Agreement no later than 48 hours before the closing date of this announcement.

Description of Attachments

Attachment 1 – Instructions to Interested Firms: Interested firms should thoroughly review this documents to ensure adherence to and understanding of the solicitation process.

Attachment 2 – Evaluation Criteria: Describes how PBGC will evaluate quotations and select the contract awardee

Attachment 3 – PWS: Only available to select firms as previously described in this announcement.

Attachment 4 – Clauses and Provisions: [Omitted from draft solicitation.]

Attachment 5 – Pricing Template: Use this template to quote prices for this work. (Due date is identified in Attachment 1.)

Attachment 6 – Intent to Compete and Non-Disclosure Agreement: Use as previously described in this announcement.

Attachment 7 – Industry Feedback Form: Use to pose questions or provide suggestions. Deadline for submission is identified in Attachment 1.