Nuclear Test Personnel Review Program - Veterans Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction (VBDR) Support

Description: This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE; there is no solicitation available at this time. No response will be provided to requests for a solicitation. THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE IS PUBLISHED FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY. Background: The mission of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency is to safeguard the United States and its allies from Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) (Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosive, or CBRNE) by providing capabilities to reduce, eliminate and counter the threat and mitigate its effects. This mission dictates a diverse set of customers and unique mission requirements. The Nuclear Survivability Division (RD-NTS) would like to identify interested sources that will be capable of supporting the Veterans Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction (VBDR) to perform its legislative mandate and ensure that requirements set forth in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and the Privacy Act of 1974 are fulfilled. The latest legislation was enacted on December 16, 2003, as the Veterans' Benefits Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-183, referred to below as the Act). Following the recommendation of a National Academy of Sciences report published in 2003 on the Dose Reconstruction Program of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, this Act required the establishment of an independent Advisory Board to provide oversight of the dose reconstruction and claims settlement programs for veterans. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) seeks potential sources for Veterans Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction (VBDR) Support in the following capacities: (a) support the VBDR in conducting periodic, random audits of dose reconstruct-ions and decisions on claims for radiogenic diseases (specifically employ auditors who can complete this function in support of the VBDR), (b) assist VA and DTRA in communicating to veterans information on the mission, procedures, and evidentiary requirements of the Dose Reconstruction Program, (c) provide all logistical support required for approximately one annual VBDR plenary meeting, and eight annual subcommittee meetings, to include preparation of any applicable Federal Register issued documents; arranging locations and accommodations for meetings; making travel reservations per Government Joint Travel Regulations; providing/arranging for clerical, audio-visual, and transcription services (d) travel to meetings and conferences in support of the VBDR (e) complete all required federal training (e.g. Privacy Act, Information Assurance, and FACA) to fully support VBDR, and (f) support the VBDR in carrying out such other activities with respect to the review and oversight of the Dose Reconstruction Program as the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs shall jointly specify. (g) prepare and submit quarterly reports, (h) maintain the VBDR website: http://www.vbdr.org/ (i) maintain and secure all VBDR records - approximately 16.4 linear feet of hardcopy records (or 15.3 ft3) and 2.1 GB of electronic records, (j) establish contact with key organizations, individuals, and national scientific committees representing veteran, public, and governmental interests and advocacies to identify potential candidates to serve on an external review and oversight group. Conduct the necessary interviews and collect resumes of potential candidates for review by DTRA and/or VA, including independent recommendations for consideration, and (k) maintain VBDR records and conduct VBDR business in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act , Privacy Act of 1974, and as directed by the Contracting Officer's technical representative (COR). (l) Contractor facility shall be located within the Washington, DC area, (m) office space for use by the VBDR chairperson, during normal working hours, with access to restrooms and parking within reasonable distances. This office will include a desk, chairs, shelves, telephone, and one computer system with email, internet access, and Microsoft office software, (n) conference room space (seating approximately 25 personnel) to support VBDR meetings. The conference room will support electronic presentations of data residing on computers and be able to support teleconferences via phone to multiple participants, (o) space for the VBDR hardcopy records, (p) photocopy services and consumable materials to support the VBDR, to include scanning and saving in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format for archiving records, and (q) establishment and maintenance of a toll-free telephone line and generic email address, so that interested parties can request information about the VBDR, meeting dates, and submit questions and/or comments to the board. (r) Transition Requirements: The contractor will be required to prepare an incoming transition strategy that shall detail all aspects of ramp-up including transition risks with mitigations strategies and staffing schedules/training. The contractor will be required to account for both hardcopy and electronic records. The contractor will be required to provide an Incoming Transition Plan to ensure minimally disrupted VBDR operation while transitioning from the existing contract to a new contract. Additionally the contractor will be required to provide a Follow-on Transition Plan that documents board closure and record archiving or a follow-on contract or some other significant change to the present level of effort. Sources sought responses shall reflect corporate information and a capability summary reflecting experience related to the above areas. Responses shall indicate whether the above described services are available through an existing government contract and if so, identify the contract and provide contact data for the Government point of contact managing that contract. Responses are to be limited to no more than two (2) pages. Company information should include qualifications and experience in work of this nature, point of contact, phone number, fax number, e-mail address, CAGE code, DUNS Number, business size, and small business classification (8(a), HUBZone, etc.), if applicable. Any information submitted in response to this Sources Sought Notice is strictly voluntary. This synopsis is for information planning purposes and the Government will not pay or otherwise reimburse respondents for information submitted. Responses shall be submitted no later than 2:00pm EDT on 5 January 2009. Electronic responses are required and shall be submitted to Ms. Debra Mudd at debra.mudd@dtra.mil. All documentation shall become the property of the Government. Unless otherwise stated herein, no additional information is available. Requests for the same will be disregarded. There is no commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation, to make award or awards, or to be responsible for any monies expended by any interested parties in support of any effort in response to this Sources Sought Notice. Information provided herein is subject to change and in no way binds the Government to solicit or award a contract.