The Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Boston Healthcare System, has a requirement for a HR Employee Relations Retirement Specialist. This individual must have the expertise to calculate the retirement estimates using the GRB Assist software program to include but not limited to calculation of service computation dates, determining high 3 consecutive years of salary and proration for part time service, calculating death benefits, and calculating disabilities benefits. He must know how to process applications for retirement; applications for disability retirement, assisting HR with employees placed in the wrong retirement system, and provide training and advice to Employee Relations staff on all OPM regulations pertaining to Federal retirement benefits, Federal Employee Group Life Insurance and Federal Employee Health Benefits. Individual will be expected to conduct/oversee periodic retirement seminars at the three main campuses, oversee and or assist with counseling employees regarding their retirement benefits, and oversee/assist employee in completing an application for retirement. Individual will continue to review possible FERCCA cases. It is the Government's intention to solicit and negotiate only with this source. Please refer to the Sole Source Justification. This is not a solicitation; it is notice of intent to sole source a requirement. Inquires/information received after established deadline of March 1, 2009 shall not be considered. The submission of any data for review shall not impede award of this contract as planned. The Government does not intend to pay for information solicited. This synopsis is issued pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION 1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity. VA Boston Healthcare System, Human Resources Management Service, Boston, MA Retirement Specialist Services. *2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved. Sole Source procurement of the following: Provide retirement services related to the Federal Employees Retirement System and the Civil Service Retirement System and developmental training to HR Employee Benefits Specialist(s). *3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs (including the estimated value). Calculation of retirement estimates using the GRB Assist software program to include but not limited to calculation of service computation dates, determining high 3 consecutive years of salary, determining proration for part time service, calculating death benefits, and calculating disability benefits. Processing of applications for retirement, applications for disability retirement, assisting HR with employees placed in the wrong retirement system, and providing continued training and advice to Employee Relations staff on all OPM regulations pertaining to Federal retirement benefits, Federal Employee Group Life Insurance and Federal Employee Health Benefits. Expected to conduct/oversee periodic retirement seminars at the three main campuses, oversee and or assist with counseling employees regarding their retirement benefits, and oversee/assist employees in completing an application for retirement. Individual will also continue reviewing possible FERCCA cases. The total value of this Solicitation is $15,400.00 from April 1, 2009 - September 30, 2009. 4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition. FAR 6.302-1, USC 253(c)(1) Only One Responsible Source. *5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor's unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority sited. The service requires an individual with extensive training and experience in OPM retirement regulations and operating procedures and who has the knowledge and ability to address the most complex issues and fully understand the impact that various decisions of the applicant will have on the employees benefits (to include Social Security benefits). The individual must be aware of changes in the law that affects eligibility and entitlements. The anticipated candidate has 27 years experience with the Office of Personnel Management. He received extensive training in federal retirement benefits and has provided training to federal employees on these retirement benefits. Since his own retirement from OPM, he has contracted with the Graduate School, US Department of Agriculture (who is responsible for training programs for federal employees) to provide training. He is extremely knowledgeable in federal regulations. He has a Central Contract Registration for the Defense Logistics Agency and has been used as an independent contractor for retirement training by many VHA facilities to include the VISN 1 office. *6. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many Potential sources as is practicable, including whether a FBO notice was or will be published. The knowledge of this individual is not readily gained outside the federal government. We are unaware of any other individual who has left federal employment in the Boston area who has the depth of knowledge required. 7. Determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. A determination of price reasonableness will be made prior to the award of the said contract. 8. Description of the market survey conducted (i.e., names, of firms and the date(s) the firms were contacted) and the results or a statement of the reasons a market survey was not conducted. Covered under 6. above. *9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition, such as an explanation why technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statements of work, or purchase descriptions suitable for full and open competition have not been developed or are not available. Covered under # 5 above 10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition. None to date. 11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required. HR recruited to fill a permanent federal position to provide the same service; however, that individual then accepted a position in another service. Due to the complexities of the retirement program processes and HR staff retirements, the incumbent had been reassigned back to HR. Employee Relations staff need training and experience in order to provide the same services. This individual will continue to provide training and guidance of this position and HR Employee Relations staff as required to meet the demands of BHS Services. POC: Christine Gorman, Contract Specialist Fax:
+1 (555) 000-0000 e-Mail:
contact@example.gov Post on FBO Tuesday February 24, 2009 1600 EST Deadline: Monday, March 1, 2009 1600 EST
