Q -- Employee Assistance Program

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) plans to award a sole source contract to Business Health Services of Baltimore, MD, for employee counseling services in fiscal year 2004. This decision is based on the importance of maintaining continuity by continuing with the same counselor who previously provided services to the CFTC's New York office before the events of 9/11. The intent is to sustain these counseling services for an additional year while gradually phasing them out. This contract will not be open to competitive proposals, and no solicitation will be posted for this award. Although the CFTC is not soliciting bids, interested parties may submit qualifications and pricing information to the Contracting Officer, but such submissions will only serve to determine if a competitive solicitation should be issued later. This information will not be used for negotiating or awarding the current contract. The CFTC retains sole discretion on whether to proceed with a competitive solicitation at any point. Submissions must be made in writing within 15 days of the notice date, and telephone inquiries are not permitted.