R -- DATA ARCHITECTURE SUPPORT SERVICE

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid (FSA) requires an individual with experience and expertise in FSA's structure and operations, Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC) activities, business-case development, and federal enterprise architecture (EA) to fulfill an immediate, short-term requirement. The Contractor shall support FSA's IT Investment Management team in providing guidance to, and assisting project managers with, developing high quality business cases. This entails training project managers on the eCPIC tool and providing assistance in developing portions of the business case itself (performance measures, Enterprise Architecture and Strategic Objectives and Alignment). The Contractor shall support the IT Investment Management team is responsible in managing the business case delivery and the IPC schedules to help ensure all business cases are reviewed by the IPC, and later by the PIRWG as appropriate. The Contractor shall follow the following three-stage approach to complete reviews of all business cases prior to the June 15, by May 31, 2005: In Stage 1, assist project managers with Major & Significant business cases complete their business cases, and schedule them for IPC reviews. In Stage 2, assist all other remaining projects with their business cases, and schedule them for IPC reviews. In Stage 3, assist business units with preparing Major & Significant business cases for presentation to the Department's PIRWG and assisting with implementing any corrective actions that result from the PIRWG review and evaluation. Place of Performance: The Office of Federal Student Aid will provide a workspace for one individual for the duration of this requirement. The individual shall actively support project managers and the capital planning process for FSA for a period of approximately 4 months, from June 1, 2005 (date of award) through September 30, 2005. Additional Information This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular Number 2001-03. This requirement is set-aside under NAICS 541511. FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial, applies to this acquisition. FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items Evaluation will be made on a best value basis where technical understanding and experience, past performance, and price are evaluated equally. Offerors must include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with its offer. FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and no addenda are included to the clause. FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items applies to this acquisition and a statement regarding which, if any, of the additional FAR clauses cited in the clause are applicable to the acquisition. The offeror shall provide only fully qualified personnel for the work performed under this contract and they must also have the appropriate Department 5c or 6c Security investigation clearance prior to being eligible for billing the government. According to Department policy (OM: 5-101, Sec III (Policy), part 4), every effort must be made to minimize and where possible eliminate, the number of non-U.S. Citizens employed in High Risk level positions; this applies to all contractors and sub-contractors. However, the Department recognizes there is, from time to time, a compelling reason that may exist to grant a non-U.S. Citizen High Risk access. In those circumstances where a non-U.S. Citizen possesses a unique or unusual skill or expertise urgently needed by the Department, but a suitable U.S. Citizen is not available, a non-U.S. Citizen may be assigned to a High Risk level position provided: they are Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States; they have resided continuously in the United States for a minimum of three (3) years; the head of the Principal Office, or his/her designee that owns the system/information/network approves the assignment in writing, and the written approval is filed with the Contracting Officer before requesting a preliminary screening and/or investigation.