Government Contract Audit Services

TO: Local, Small Businesses and Other Businesses Providing Services under NAICS Code 541211 SUBJECT: Request for Information (RFI) No. HSFELA-12-I-0003 related to Small Business Capabilities, Government Contract Audit Services for Louisiana Maintenance and Deactivation Contracts (MDC) and Group Site Maintenance Contracts (GSMC): 1. For Louisiana Small Businesses: FEMA is formulating the acquisition strategy for this government contract audit services requirement. We request your assistance in determining if this acquisition should be a: (1) total small business set-aside as authorized in FAR Part 19, Small Business Programs, in addition to a set aside for local area Louisiana business in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) subpart 26.2; or, (2) a total small business set-aside under General Services Administration's Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) SIN 520-7 designation. We intend to advertise the requirement using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541211, Offices of Certified Public Accountants, with a new $19 million small business size standard, effective March 12, 2012. If you are a small business that may be interested in submitting a proposal as a prime on the subject solicitation, we request that you provide a summary of your qualifications to meet the attached Statement of Objectives (SOO). Responses shall be limited to no more than five (5) pages and include the following information: a) Discussion of your firm's Socioeconomic Designation(s). Does your business meet the definition of a small business concern as set forth in FAR 52.219-6 and FAR part 19, Small Business Programs? b) Discussion of your firm's designation as a Louisiana business in accordance with FAR subpart 26.2. If this requirement is set aside for Louisiana organizations, firms, and individuals, will your business represent that it has its main operating office in the area; and that office generated at least half of your gross revenues and employed at least half of the your permanent employees? If not, can your business satisfy any of the factors in FAR 52.226-3, Disaster or Emergency Area Representation? c) Description of the audits your firm has provided to federal government agencies within the past three (3) years. d) Evidence of your company's managerial capabilities and financial resources to be able to meet the program requirements as detailed in the draft Statement of Objectives (SOO). e) Evidence of your ability to recruit and retain a fully qualified workforce to minimize disruption and maximize continuity of services. f) Evidence that you company has the requisite accounting, purchasing, property, insurance, and funds management capabilities to support this effort. g) Evidence of your company's ability to provide sound management and physical security of government assets. h) Discussion of your firm's ability to provide and maintain a quality control program that includes provisions for a pro-active corrective and preventive action methodology that meets the Government's quality requirements. i) Discussion of any questions related to your review and understanding of the Statement of Objectives (SOO). 2. For Small Businesses under GSA FSS Contract with a SIN 520-7 Designation Simultaneously with this announcement, we are also requesting feedback at a separate government portal, GSA's e-Business innovation, eBuy (www.gsaadvantage.gov), from those businesses listed under GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) SIN Category 520-7, Financial and Performance Audits, that may be interested in the requirement. 3. For All Respondents Please Note: FEMA will not pay for information requested, or recognize any costs associated with RFI responses. Information may be distributed to any Government or non-Government entity to which FEMA releases information for review. As such, to the extent that any information submitted in response to this RFI is marked as, "Proprietary," businesses are hereby notified the responses submitted may be disclosed to third parties. This Request for Information: (a) is issued solely for information and planning purposes; (b) does not constitute a Request for Proposal or a promise to issue a Request for Proposal in the future; (c) is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to procure at this, or a future, time; and (d) is not a commitment by the Government to contract for any supply or service. To the extent a formal solicitation should issue, it will be announced separately. Response to this RFI from industry is strictly voluntary. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. 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. 4. Submittal Deadline for Your Responses We request that you submit your responses to the information listed above applicable), no later than 4:00 pm CST, Tuesday, March 6, 2012. Please submit all documents electronically via e-mail to lro-acquisitions@fema.dhs.gov. You must include the title of this Request for Information, Government Contract Audit Services for Louisiana Maintenance and Deactivation Contracts (MDC) and Group Site Maintenance Contracts (GSMC) and RFI No. HSFELA-12-I-0003 in the subject line for your email. Please advise in your response whether your firm would like to be included on the Interested Parties List. 5. Other Information/Questions a. For your planning purposes and depending upon the responses we receive, we intend to release a solicitation on or about March 30, 2012. b. If you have any questions pertaining to this Request for Information, please direct them to the Contracting Officer, Jules P. Shabazz, by email to lro-acquisitions@fema.dhs.gov, no later than 12:00 p.m., CST, March 1, 2012. c. The Government may issue a subsequent Request for Information (RFI) depending on the responses received from this request.