R -- Negotiation Support

Please note the date change below. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is currently interested in gaining information through market research from service providers with relevant experience in the area of national negotiations support. The Office of Labor Relations Strategy and Negotiations is responsible for conducting negotiations with the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) on major Servicewide and Business Operating Division specific initiatives. In addition, the successor agreement to the National Agreement must be negotiated. The Office potentially seeks contractor support to include, but not be limited to preparation of and conducting briefings for NTEU; preparation of management's proposals and counterproposals; assessment of the impact of NTEU's proposals on the Service; development of options and strategies for alternative courses of action; development of a framework for decision making, including advising Service executives of the pros and cons of decision options; leading a management team in bargaining with NTEU; ensuring the written agreement between IRS and NTEU accurately reflects the concepts agreed upon during the bargaining; ensuring bargaining history is prepared and that it and contract interpretation guidance is accurately reflected in the Contract Administration Handbook, and providing expert testimony to third parties such as, but not limited to, the Treasury Department, the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP), and/or arbitrators. Specialized experience shall also include comprehensive knowledge of the laws, rules, regulations, theories, principles and practices specific to Federal labor relations and extensive expertise in the current application of such knowledge and experience in such areas as preparing, with IRS General Legal Services, for presentations before third parties; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with national representatives of labor organizations and with agency managers and executives with full consideration of the bilateral nature of labor relations; performing and/or guiding others in negotiations of national labor agreements; and providing guidance and advice to managers and executives on the implementation and application of nationally negotiated agreements. The purpose of this notice is to obtain technical capability statements from individuals with demonstrated expertise in the areas stated above for the purpose of determining the acquisition method to be utilized based on the extent and nature of realistic competition which may exist. Interested parties should submit capabilities statements of no more than five pages in length, including synopses of relevant experience within the last three years, to steve.g.vanderlinden@irs.gov no later than May 23, 2006. This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) and is not a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract on the basis of the information received. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.