R--Education Support Service | RFI Special Notice | 00096

1. SUBJECT: The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (VA OSDBU) is conducting market research for the purpose of garnering industry feedback on draft technical requirements and to identify potentially capable providers of the services outlined in the draft PWS. Responses to this Request for Information (RFI) are required by 8:00 AM EST on 13 April 2016. Review and understanding of information pertaining to OSDBU's mission and the Verification and Evaluation process for small businesses is RECOMMENDED of all respondents. OSDBU mission information is publically available for all to review at: http://www.va.gov/osdbu/. 2. DISCLAIMER: In accordance with (IAW) FAR 15.201(c)(7), "agencies are encouraged to promote early exchanges of information about future acquisitions". IAW FAR 15.201(e) "RFIs may be used when the Government does not presently intend to award a contract, but wants to obtain price, delivery, other market information, or capabilities for planning purposes. Responses to these notices are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. IAW FAR 15.201(f) "General information about agency mission needs and future requirements may be disclosed at any time. After release of the solicitation, the contracting officer must be the focal point of any exchange with potential offerors". This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes of the Program Office and does not constitute a solicitation. Neither unsolicited proposals nor any other kind of offers will be considered in response to this RFI. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. All information received in response to this RFI marked as "proprietary" will be handled accordingly. Information provided as a response to the RFI will not be returned. The Planner of this RFI will not entertain any questions concerning the composition, requirements, or the nature of services to be performed under any future solicitation. ALL questions offered, in response to this RFI, will be answered at a later date by a Contracting Officer only. 3. BACKGROUND: Information garnered from responses to this RFI will support the refinement of OSDBU technical requirements. The VA OSDBU mission is to enable Veterans to gain access to economic opportunity by leveraging the federal procurement system and expanding participation of procurement-ready small businesses. This mission will be achieved by changing how Veteran-owned and other small business concerns, that are procurement-ready, gain access to economic opportunities. Current efforts seek to increase awareness, reduce risk, enhance access, and promote better performance in meeting small business goals. The responses provided to this RFI will be used by the members of an Integrated Project Team (IPT) as stated at FAR 15.201(e), to derive price, delivery, and other market information; to include capabilities for planning purposes. To assist in the preparation of responses, this RFI notice includes the following information for review IAW FAR 5.205(c): " DRAFT PWS "Education Support Service" " RFI Matrix (Captures all RFI Responses) 4. REQUESTED INFORMATION: OSDBU is seeking information necessary to identify potential offerors to fulfill the capabilities outlined in the draft PWS. Vendors must furnish the requested information to the OSDBU Planner for this RFI utilizing ONLY the provided (.xlsx) RFI Matrix: a. Company Info (.xlsx TAB 1): This tab consists of REQUIRED data fields. Please list company GSA Schedule number (if applicable), b. Gov't Request for Information (.xlsx TAB 2): This tab consists of REQUIRED data fields. Please respond to all questions accordingly, c. PWS Capability Matrix (.xlsx TAB 3): This tab consists of REQUIRED data fields. Please respond accordingly to all tasks and deliverables, d. PWS Comments for the Gov't (.xlsx TAB 4): This tab consists of all optional data fields. Please provide any technical or other recommendations for consideration (as applicable), e. General Questions for the Gov't (.xlsx TAB 5): This tab consists of all optional data fields. Please provide any questions for answers to be published for public review (as applicable). DO NOT SUBMIT any price proposals/quotes in response to this RFI. DO NOT SUBMIT any technical proposals in response to this RFI. If the respondent elects to submit a capability statement in addition to the required .xlsx RFI Matrix, such information will be considered only to the extent that it enhances interpretation of the information requested in the .xlsx RFI Matrix. 5. CONTACT INFORMATION: Response to this RFI must be submitted to Mr. Eugene Skinner, OSDBU Planner, via e-mail to contact@example.gov. The subject line of email responses to this RFI shall be annotated as such "Your Company Name - EDU SVC RFI Matrix". Responses to the RFI must be received by this office on or before 8:00 AM EST on 13 April 2016. This RFI is not a commercial solicitation. The Government will not pay for any information submitted, or for any costs associated with providing the information. 6. LATE SUBMISSIONS: Failure to respond to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future competition, nor will information provided in response to this RFI be used to exclude anyone from responding to any future requests for proposals/quotes. Communications with the OSDBU Planner with regard to this RFI will only be permitted in writing during the RFI response period. Responses to the RFI received by the OSDBU Planner after the submittal deadline and time indicated may be considered. 7. OWNERSHIP OF RESPONSE TO RFI: All informational material submitted in response to this request becomes property of OSDBU. 8. RELEASE OF CLAIMS, LIABILITY, AND PREPARATION EXPENSES: Under no circumstances shall OSDBU be responsible for any response preparation expenses, submission costs, or any other expenses, costs, or damages, of whatever nature incurred as a result of the Respondent's participation in this RFI process. Respondent understands and agrees that it submits its response at its own risk and expense, and releases OSDBU from any claim for damages or other liability arising out of this RFI. 9. ERRORS IN RESPONSE: OSDBU shall not be liable for any errors in Respondent's response. Respondent is responsible for careful review of its entire response to ensure that all information is correct and complete. Respondents are liable for all error or omissions contained in their responses. 10. ADDENDUM: OSDBU reserves the right to issue an addendum to this RFI at any time for any reason, to include extending the response due date.