R -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR AN ON-SITE CLASSIFICATION SPECIALIST TO PERFORM PEER REVIEW FUNCTIONS

On-Site Classification Specialist to Perform Peer Review Functions - Request For Information regarding potential sources. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), this request is for planning purposes only, and does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, a Request for Proposals, a Solicitation, a Request for Quotes, or an indication the Government will contract for the items contained in the RFI. This request is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. The Government does not reimburse respondents for any cost associated with submission of the information being requested or reimburse expenses incurred to interested parties for responses to this RFI. Any responses received will not be used as a proposal. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking to identify any sources (in particular Small Business sources) with capabilities or prior experience that can provide an on-site classification specialist to perform peer review functions in accordance with the following statement of work. This is a potential firm-fixed price contract with a base period and four option years. The previous source for this requirement was FPMI Solutions. STATMENT OF WORK: 1) Receive and review Peer Review Packages. 2) Analyze proposed promotion packages prior to peer review meetings referring to reference materials such as the Classifiers Handbook; significant classification appeals decisions, Center peer review policy and procedures, etc. 3) Provide advisory services to chair and committee members 4) Attend peer review committee meetings. 5) Respond to appeals and grievances. 6) Prepare final Peer Review reports and evaluations in proper format and acceptable to the OMP authorized approving official or his/her designee, and in conformance with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and PHS, FDA standards of adequacy, as specified in 5 USC Chapter 51; Federal Personnel Manual (FPM) HHS, PHS Chapter 511; applicable position Classification Standards; and OPM position Classification Standards Guidelines, Background and Introduction. 7) Write job descriptions in the OPM factor evaluation system (FES) or narrative format to conform to the grade controlling standard format, with numbered paragraphs for major duties (with percentage of time) and an unnumbered topic or summary paragraph at the beginning on the mission of the organization. 8) Prepare job descriptions and evaluation statements typed in final form on 8 1/2 x 11 plain bond paper and ensure that an Optional Form 8 (OF-8) is attached to each job description with blocks 2-5, 7, 9-11, 15e, 18a-18e, and 22 are complete and accurate. 9) Designate the units of work to be prepared in accordance with the list of jobs or positions provided for review by the Peer Review Coordinator. 10) Advise employees of appeal rights and peer review procedures Coordinating Instructions 1) In all cases, the job descriptions and OF-8 prepared by the contractor will be reviewed and signed by the responsible supervisor as representing an accurate description of the duties and responsibilities as certified by the supervisor's signature on Block 20a before being referred to the Peer Review Coordinator as the authorized approving official or his/her designee for technical review and acceptance. 2) The contractor is not obligated to evaluate the positions at the requested grade level if the facts do not support such a determination. The program officials, not the contractor, will be responsible for the accuracy of all statements and documents submitted to OMP. Materials and resources to be supplied by FDA: 1) FES, GSSG (SGEG), or other existing FDA standardized evaluation forms 2) FDA guides and position classification standards or supplements applicable to particular units of work. 3) The program will provide information regarding the missions and functions of organizational elements or blocks of work. 4) Office space, PC, printing capability, telephone, and office supplies. The contractor(s) will work Monday through Friday on site at 5600 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD, 20857 from 8:30-5:00, excluding federal holidays, not to exceed a total of 1,664 hours for the performance period. Companies are encouraged to respond if they have the capability and capacity to provide the identified services with little or no disruption of services to the current users at the FDA. In the response, firms must provide their business size status in accordance with the Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov) for the referenced NAICS code (ex. small business, 8(a), HUBZone, Small Disabled Veteran Owned Business, etc.), DUNS number, Tax Identification Number, company name, address, email, telephone number, web-site (if available), and a name and telephone number of a point of contact having the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with Government representatives. Identification of the firm's GSA schedule and SINs that are applicable to this potential requirement are also requested. To the maximum extent possible, please submit non-proprietary information. Any proprietary information submitted should be identified as such and will be properly protected from disclosure. The potential North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541612, with size limitation standards of $6M. All interested sources must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) before they can be considered as potential sources. Interested offerors should submit their capability statement not exceeding fifteen (15) pages in length, excluding standard brochures. SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE no later than 5:00pm, Eastern Time, October 26, 2007. The capabilities response shall be e-mailed to: kimberly.davila@fda.hhs.gov. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Information provided in response to this RFI will be used to assess alternatives available for determining how to proceed in the acquisition process. This notice is part of Government Market Research, a continuous process for obtaining the latest information on the commercial status of the industry with respect to their current and near-term abilities. The information provided herein is subject to change and in no way binds the Government to solicit for or award a competitive contract. The FDA will use the information submitted in response to this RFI at its discretion and will not provide comments to any submission; however, the content of any responses to this RFI may be reflected in subsequent Request For Proposals (RFPs). FDA reserves the right to contact any respondent to this RFI for the sole purpose of enhancing FDA's understanding of the RFI submission. It is emphasized that this is a notice for planning and information purposes only and is not be construed as a commitment by the government to enter into a contractual agreement, nor will the government pay for information solicited.