Sole Source Award for Labor Relations Support

The National Science Foundation (NSF) intends to place a simplified acquisition order with D. Casillas and Associates on a sole source basis. The NSF is seeking to secure the contract services of a professional with extensive labor relations experience; in-depth knowledge of the NSF mission, programs, and unique culture; labor management issues specific to NSF; labor relations negotiation skills, and alternative dispute resolution. The Foundation's LRO position is currently vacant and a nationwide effort is underway to back-fill this critical position. Until such time as the LRO position is filled, including an adequate opportunity for knowledge transfer, contractual services of an experienced LRO with in-depth NSF knowledge are necessary. Such services are critical to ensure that short, mid and long-term labor relations issues of a sensitive and high priority basis continue on an on-going, consistent and high-quality manner. Consultant services will also be required on an as-needed basis to augment and support NSF on labor relations issues once the LRO position is filled. This support is expected to last up to one year. No internal resources exist to backfill this position while it's vacant. A number of highly sensitive labor relations issues currently exist which require immediate and on-going attention. To achieve this a consultant with in-depth knowledge of the Foundation, its' unique programs and staffing, its' union representation and existing labor relations cases is essential to ensure that current issues are resolved in a timely manner and protect the interests of the Foundation. Many of the issues currently being negotiated are complex and highly sensitive and it is critical that the new Labor Relations officer, once hired, have sufficient opportunity to become familiar with the intricacies of these programs, cases and issues. Thus, a consultant with comprehensive experience in labor relations coupled with a detailed understanding of the Foundation and an in-depth/comprehensive knowledge of existing labor relations and alternative dispute resolution cases is essential to maintain the continuity of the program and ensure an orderly transition for the LRO. Similarly, there a number of longer-term programs and initiatives, including a new collective bargaining agreement, that will require considerable time and resources; much more than a one-person Labor Relations Office can accomplish in an efficient and expeditious manner. A consultant with comprehensive knowledge of these initiatives and with established and effective communication lines with senior management and the union will facilitate the implementation of these initiatives. Ms. Docia Casillas is the only consultant that has the requisite skills to accomplish the immediate and critical labor relations needs of the Foundation. Ms. Casillas has the requisite experience as NSF's LRO, has been intimately involved in developing management's position and negotiating with the union on all on-going LRO and ADR issues, and who has intimate knowledge and understanding of all short, mid and long term initiatives that will be undertaken within the Foundation. This in-depth experience and knowledge is necessary to negotiate/resolve existing issues that are unique for the Foundation, ensure an orderly transition for a new LRO, including a complete knowledge transfer, and provide, as necessary, the experience level required to augment the LRO and senior management on issues of a longer-term nature, including re-negotiating the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Based on the foregoing, D. Casillas and Associates is the only source reasonably available to perform this effort.