VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF USA Tender

This Is A Sources Sought Notice Only. This Is Not A Request For Quotes And No Contract Will Be Awarded From This Announcement. The Government Will Not Provide Any Reimbursement For Responses Submitted In Response To This Source Sought Notice. Respondents Will Not Be Notified Of The Results Of The Evaluation. if A Solicitation Is Issued It Shall Be Announced At A Later Date, And All Interest Parties Must Respond To That Solicitation Announcement Separately. Responses To This Notice Are Not A Request To Be Added To A Prospective Bidders List Or To Receive A Copy Of The Solicitation. the Purpose Of This Announcement Is To Perform Market Research To Gain Knowledge Of Potential Qualified Sources And Their Size Classification Relative To Naics 541611, With A Size Standard 24.5 Million Dollars. The Department Of Veterans Affairs (va), Is Seeking To Identify Any Vendor Capable Of Providing Support Servicesâ per The Draft Performance Work Statementâ below. this Sources Sought Notice Provides An Opportunity For Respondents To Submit Their Capability And Availability To Provide The Requirement Described Below. Vendors Are Encouraged To Submit Information Relative To Their Capabilities To Fulfill This Requirement, In The Form Of A Statement That Addresses The Specific Requirement Identified In This Sources Sought. Information Received From This Sources Sought Shall Be Utilized To Facilitate The Contracting Officer S Review Of The Market Base, For Acquisition Planning, Size Determination, And Procurement Strategy. submission Instructions: Interested Parties Who Consider Themselves Qualified To Perform The Services Are Invited To Submit A Response To This Sources Sought Notice By 3:00 Pm Est, 05-januarry-2024. All Responses Under This Sources Sought Notice Must Be Emailed To Joshua.gallien@va.gov With Rfq #36c10d24q0037 Support Services In The Subject Line. Telephone Inquiries Will Not Be Accepted Or Acknowledged, And No Feedback Or Evaluations Will Be Provided To Companies Regarding Their Submissions. interested Parties Should Complete The Attached Sources Sought Worksheet. Parties May Submit Additional Information Related To Their Capabilities, Provided It Contains All The Requirements Contained In The Sources Sought Worksheet. Responses To This Sources Sought Shall Not Exceed 8 Pages. In Addition, All Submissions Should Be Provided Electronically In A Microsoft Word Or Adobe Pdf Format. attachment 1 sources Sought Worksheet qualification Information: company / Institute Name: _______________________________________________________ address: ______________________________________________________________________ phone Number: ________________________________________________________________ point Of Contact: _______________________________________________________________ e-mail Address: ________________________________________________________________ unique Entity Identifier (uei) #:â ___________________________________________________ cage Code: __________________________________________________________________ sam Registered: (y / N) other Available Contract Vehicles Applicable To This Sources Sought (gsa/fss/nasa Sewp/etc): __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ socio-economic Status: vip Verified Sdvosb: (y / N) vip Verified Vosb: (y / N) 8(a): (y / N) hubzone: (y / N) economically Disadvantaged Women-owned Small Business: (y / N) women-owned Small Business: (y / N) small Business: (y / N) note: Respondent Claiming Sdvosb And Vosb Status Shall Be Registered And Center For Veterans Enterprise (cve) Verified In Vetbiz Registry Www.vetbiz.gov. based On The Responses To This Sources Sought Notice/market Research, This Requirement May Be Set-aside For Sdvosb, Vosb, Small Businesses Or Procured Through Full And Open Competition. capability Statement: provide A Brief Capability And Interest In Providing The Service As Listed In Attachment 2 Draft Performance Work Statement) With Enough Information To Determine If Your Company Can Meet The Requirement. The Capabilities Statement For This Sources Sought Is Not A Request For Quotation, Request For Proposal, Or Invitation For Bid, Nor Does It Restrict The Government To An Ultimate Acquisition Approach, But Rather The Government Is Requesting A Short Statement Regarding The Company S Ability To Provide The Services Outlined In The Pws. Any Commercial Brochures Or Currently Existing Marketing Material May Also Be Submitted With The Capabilities Statement. This Synopsis Is For Information And Planning Purposes Only And Is Not To Be Construed As A Commitment By The Government. The Government Will Not Pay For Information Solicited. Respondents Will Not Be Notified Of The Results Of The Evaluation. I Invite You To Provide Any Feedback / Comments To Improve The Draft Performance Work Statement And To Reduce Potential Confusion. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ attachment 2 draft Performance Work Statement veterans Benefits Administration office Of Mission Support (oms) performance Work Statement (pws) background the Veterans Benefits Administration (vba) Is One Of Three Federal Agencies That Together Form The U.s. Department Of Veterans Affairs (va). Vba Delivers Services Through 56 Regional Benefits Offices Located In Each State, Puerto Rico And The Philippine Islands. Vba Has Additional Facilities Including A Records Management Center, Data Centers, And Out-based Offices Located On Or Near Military Installations. Vba Employees Deliver Benefits Through Six Major Programs And One Major Support Division By Determining Claims For: 1. Disability Compensation, A Tax-free Monetary Benefit Paid To Veterans With Disabilities Resulting From A Disease Or Injury Incurred Or Aggravated During Active Military Service. 2. Supplemental Income To Help Veterans And Their Families Cope With Financial Challenges Through The Veterans Pension And Survivors Pension Benefit Programs. 3. Education Benefits To Help Veterans And Their Families Attend Higher Education Programs. 4. Vocational Rehabilitation And Employment To Assist Veterans Obtain Job Training, Support In Building A New Business Or Independent Living Services For Severely Injured Veterans. 5. Home Loan Guaranty Benefits And Other Housing-related Programs To Help Veterans Purchase, Build, Repair, Retain Or Adapt A Home. 6. Life Insurance For Service Members, Veterans And Their Families To Provide Financial Security For Military Families Given The Extraordinary Risks Involved In Military Service. 7. National Call Centers (nccs) Support Veterans By Providing A Central Point Of Contact To Assist With Questions Regarding Benefits. the Mission Of The Facilities Directorate, Office Of Mission Support (oms) Is To Provide Project Management Support To Vba Regional Offices And Satellite Locations In The Areas Of Minor Construction, Property Lease, Operational Procurements, And Project Budget Management. this Performance Work Statement Outlines The Contractual Requirements For A Qualified Service Provider To Support Vba S Office Of Mission Support Project Management Initiatives. The Services Provided Through This Requirement Will Encompass Project Management, Process Improvement, And Data Analytics In All Areas Related To Minor Construction And Property Leasing. The Objective Of This Contract Is To Help Ensure That Vba S Minor Construction Initiatives Are Executed Efficiently And Effectively, Achieving The Desired Outcomes Within Specified Timelines And Budgets. applicable Documents in The Performance Of The Tasks Associated With This Performance Work Statement (pws), The Contractor Shall Comply With The Following: 44 U.s.c. § 3541, Federal Information Security Management Act (fisma) Of 2002 federal Information Processing Standards (fips) Publication 140-2, Security Requirements For Cryptographic Modules fips Pub 201-2, Personal Identity Verification Of Federal Employees And Contractors, August 2013 carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute, Capability Maturity Modelâ® Integration For Development (cmmi-dev), Version 1.3 November 2010; And Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute, Capability Maturity Modelâ® Integration For Acquisition (cmmi-acq), Version 1.3 November 2010 5 U.s.c. § 552a, As Amended, The Privacy Act Of 1974 va Directive 0710, Personnel Suitability And Security Program, June 4, 2010, Http://www.va.gov/vapubs/ va Handbook 0710, Personnel Suitability And Security Program, September 10, 2004, Http://www.va.gov/vapubs va Directive And Handbook 6102, Internet/intranet Services, July 15, 2008 office Of Management And Budget (omb) Circular A-130, Management Of Federal Information Resources, November 28, 2000 va Directive 6500, Managing Information Security Risk: Va Information Security Program, September 20, 2012 va Handbook 6500, Risk Management Framework For Va Information Systems Tier 3: Va Information Security Program, March 10, 2015 va Handbook 6500.1, Electronic Media Sanitization, November 03, 2008 va Handbook 6500.2, Management Of Data Breaches Involving Sensitive Personal Information (spi) , January 6, 2012 va Handbook 6500.3, Assessment, Authorization, And Continuous Monitoring Of Va Information Systems, February 3, 2014 va Handbook 6500.5, Incorporating Security And Privacy In System Development Lifecycle March 22, 2010 national Institute Standards And Technology (nist) Special Publications (sp) va Directive 6300, Records And Information Management, February 26, 2009 va Handbook, 6300.1, Records Management Procedures, March 24, 2010 Scope Of Work this Requirement Is For On-site Program Management, Process Improvement And Data Analysis Support Services. The Contractor Personnel Shall Provide Functional Inputs And Outputs On Minor Construction And Lease Project Development And Execution. the Contractor Shall Conduct A Comprehensive Organizational Gap Analysis To Identify And Evaluate Inefficiencies And Redundancies Within The Specified Areas Of Operation Within Vba. This Analysis Shall Involve Mapping And Documenting Current Processes, Collecting And Analyzing Relevant Data, And Identifying Areas For Potential Improvement. The Contractor Shall Enumerate Proposed Solutions To Bridge Identified Gaps, Evaluate Their Potential Impact, And Provide An Implementation Strategy, Including Proposed Timelines, Resource Requirements, And Associated Costs. The Contractor Shall Propose A Monitoring And Evaluation Framework To Assess Effectiveness Of The Implemented Changes And Recommend Necessary Adjustments. All Recommended Solutions Shall Comply With Relevant Laws And Regulations. the Contractor Shall Assist Facilities Directorate Project Managers And Regional Office Personnel In Evaluating The Feasibility Of Minor Construction And Leasing Projects. When Applicable, The Contractor Shall Assist In Developing Project Charters Outlining The Requirements Of The Project, Identifying Key Stakeholders And Required Deliverables. the Contractor Shall Provide Comprehensive Data Analysis Services To Assist The Office Of Mission Support And The Veterans Benefits Administration In Making Informed Decisions. The Contractor Shall Collect, Process, And Analyze Relevant Data From A Variety Of Resources, Applying Statistical Or Other Advanced Methods To Extract Insights And Patterns. The Contractor Shall Generate Accurate And Detailed Reports That Present The Data Analysis In A Clear, Concise, And Visually Compelling Manner, Suitable For A Variety Of Audiences. The Contractor Shall Identify Opportunities For Improving Data Quality, Collection Methods, And Analysis Techniques. The Contractor Shall Provide Ad-hoc Data Analysis Upon Request And Offer Professional Interpretation And Insight On The Implications Of The Findings For Office Of Mission Support And Veterans Benefits Administration Mission Objectives. performance Details performance Period the Period Of Performance Will Be 12-month Base Period With Four (4) 12-month Annual Option Periods To Be Exercised At The Discretion Of The Contract Officer. any Work At The Government Site Shall Not Take Place On Federal Holidays Or Weekends Unless Directed By The Contracting Officer (co). If Required, The Co May Designate The Contractor To Work During Holidays And Weekends. there Are Eleven (11) Federal Holidays Set By Law (usc Title 5 Section 6103) That Va Follows: new Year's Day martin Luther King Day washingtons Birthday memorial Day juneteenth National Independence Day independence Day labor Day columbus Day veterans Day thanksgiving Day christmas Day if Any Of The Above Falls On A Saturday, Then Friday Shall Be Observed As A Holiday. Similarly, If One Falls On A Sunday, Then Monday Shall Be Observed As A Holiday. place Of Performance the Contractors May Be Requested To Provide Services Throughout The United States To Include Puerto Rico And The Philippine Islands, But The Majority Of Services Will Be Provided At The Following Location: u.s. Department Of Veterans Affairs 1800 G St. Nw washington, Dc 20006 work May Be Done At Contractor S Facilities With Cor Approval. Work May Be Performed At Remote Locations With Prior Approval From The Cor. travel regular Or Fixed Recurring Travel Other Than The Primary Location As Listed Above (washington, Dc) Is Not Anticipated. However, Occasional Long-distance Travel To Or From Vba, Va, U.s. Government, Or Commercial Contractor Locations May Be Necessary To Accomplish Contract Tasks. Travel Must Be Approved In Advance By The By The Co Or Cor And Will Be Reimbursed At Cost, In Accordance With The Federal Travel Regulations (ftr) And Federal Acquisition Regulation (far) 31.205-46. Travel Within A 50-mile Radius Of Between The Contractor S Facility And Government Locations Are Considered Local Travel And Will Not Be Reimbursed. Travel To And From Work Is Considered The Cost Of Doing Business And Shall Not Be Reimbursed. The Government Will Reimburse The Contractor For All Appropriate Costs Associated With Official Approved Travel. Contractors Performing Official Travel Shall Include Copies Of All Receipts That Support The Travel Costs Claimed In The Invoice. G&a Shall Not Be Applied. The Ftr Can Be Referenced At: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/102886 specific Tasks services Performed Shall Be Of A Non-personal Nature. Vba And Oms Will Not Provide Supervision Of Contractor Personnel. Contractor Personnel Shall At No Time Allow An Employer- Employee Relationship To Develop With Vba Organizations Or Their Staff And Vba Organizations Will Refrain From Any Activities That Create The Appearance Of Such A Relationship. Contractors Shall Not Perform Inherently Governmental Functions Including Decision-making, Supervision Of Government Employees, Supervision Of Other Contractors On Other Contracts And Activities That Create The Appearance Of Performing Such Functions. the Contractor Shall Perform The Following: program Management Support the Contractor Shall Provide Comprehensive Project And Program Management Support Services To Vba Organizations For A Variety Of Projects Throughout The Period Of Performance. The Project Management Support Approaches Employed By Contractor Staff Shall Be Consistent With Project Management Best Practices, Notably Those Specified By Pmi S Pmbok Guide. the Contractor Shall Assist The Government In Implementing Disciplined, Comprehensive, Flexible Program And Project Management Processes, Including Monitoring Of Project Metrics, Rigorous Risk Management, And Prompt Reporting On Government-approved Cost, Schedule, Performance, And Scope Baselines. the Contractor Shall Assist The Government In Drafting Any Required Memorandums, Standard Operating Procedures, Or Other Official Documents In Support Of Projects Or Agency Initiatives. expected Service Requirements Include, But Are Not Limited To The Following: project Planning the Contractor Shall Provide Assistance In The Development Of Comprehensive Project Plans Outlining The Tasks, Timelines, Resources, And Costs For Each Minor Construction Initiative. The Contractor Shall Identify Potential Risks Associated With Each Project And Propose Mitigation Strategies. project Execution the Contractor Shall Assist Government Personnel In Monitoring Progress Of Minor Construction And Leasing Projects, Ensuring Work Is Progressing As Per The Determined Timelines And Budget. The Contractor Shall Coordinate With Internal And External Stakeholders, Maintaining Open Lines Of Communication To Ensure Program Objectives Are Met. risk Management the Contractor Shall Continually Identify, Monitor And Manage Project Risks. The Contractor Shall Document Any Significant Risks And Adjust The Risk Mitigation Strategies As Necessary. The Contractor Shall Communicate Effectively With All Stakeholders About The Identified Risks. project Reporting the Contractor Shall Provide A Monthly Written Report With Updates On Recent Activities, Analytics, Anticipated Issues, Performance, And Other Topics As Requested By The Cor. The Monthly Status Report Is An Overarching Report Providing Status Of Tasks And Deliverables Identified Below And Plans Representing All Aspects Of Program Performance. Monthly Status Report Is A Comprehensive Report Of Accomplishments For Each Project/task Assigned. This Report Shall Accompany And Be Reviewed In Conjunction With The Vendor S Monthly Invoice. the Contractor Shall Provide A Bi-weekly Significant Activity Report Detailing The Major Achievements For The Reporting Period, Upcoming Milestones, And Any Items That Would Require Vba Or Oms Leadership Awareness Or Action. project Closure the Contractor Shall Assist The Government In Ensuring That All Project Tasks Are Completed And Deliverables Are Provided To The Government. The Contractor Shall Conduct A Post-project Assessment, Identifying Lessons Learned And Best Practices To Be Applied To Future Projects. the Contractor Shall Prepare And Present A Final Project Report, Detailing The Project S Performance Against The Initial Plan And Any Recommendations For Future Initiatives. task Tracking the Contractor Shall Develop, Implement, And Maintain A Task Tracking System That Is Capable Of Monitoring, Reporting, And Archiving All Assigned Tasks. The Contractor Shall Ensure The Task Tracking System Has Functionalities For Setting Due Dates, Prioritizing Tasks To Specific Individuals Or Teams, And Alerting For Overdue Tasks. 5.1.7 Document Libraries the Contractor Shall Create And Maintain A Secure, Accessible, And Efficient Document Library That Allows For Easy Storage, Retrieval, And Management Of All Necessary Government Documents. The Contractor Shall Implement An Indexing And Cataloguing System In The Document Library To Allow For Quick Location And Access To Specific Documents. The Contractor Shall Ensure Documents Are Properly Classified, Categorized, And Tagged According To Government Information Management Standards. The Contractor Shall Ensure Document Libraries Comply With Federal And Va Regulations Regarding Data Privacy, Security, And Accessibility. process Improvement the Contractor Shall Conduct Thorough Assessments Of Current Processes, Identify Gaps And Inefficiencies, And Propose Evidence-based Improvement Strategies. The Contractor Shall Be Equipped To Assist With The Implementation Of These Strategies, Including The Provision Of Necessary Training And Change Management Support. The Contractor Shall Monitor And Evaluate The Impact Of The Process Improvement Initiatives, Adjusting Strategies As Necessary Based On Performance Data And Stakeholder Feedback. expected Service Requirements Include, But Are Limited To The Following: process Assessment the Contractor Shall Map And Document The Existing Processes, Highlighting The Key Activities, Decision Points, Inputs And Outputs. The Contractor Shall Collect And Analyze Assessments Related To The Efficiency And Effectiveness Of These Processes, Including Timelines, Costs, Error Rates, And Customer/stakeholder Satisfaction. gap Analysis the Contractor Shall Identify Gaps And Bottlenecks Within The Existing Processes That May Lead To Inefficiencies, Increased Costs, Or Decreased Service Quality. The Contractor Shall Assess The Impact Of These Gaps On Vba And Oms Mission Objectives. process Redesign And Implementation: the Contractor Shall Redesign Processes Based On The Proposed Strategies, Creating Streamlined And Efficient Workflows. The Contractor Shall Assist In The Implementation Of The Redesigned Processes In Collaboration With Relevant Stakeholders, Ensuring Minimum Disruption To Ongoing Operations. reporting the Contractor Shall Provide Regular Reports To The Government On The Status Of Process Improvement Initiatives, Including Any Change In Performance Metrics, Issues Encountered, And The Results Of The Process Improvement Initiatives. The Contractor Shall Make Recommendations For Further Process Improvement Or Other Strategic Changes Based On The Results Of The Process Improvement Initiatives. data Analysis the Contractor Shall Provide Comprehensive Data Analysis Services. The Objective Is To Enable Data-driven Decision Making, Enhancing Operational Efficiency, And Fostering Strategic Planning. The Contractor Shall Proficiently Handle A Wide Variety Of Tasks, Including Data Collection, Statistical Analysis, And Report Generation. The Contractor S Output Shall Offer Valuable Insights, Identify Trends And Patterns, And Facilitate Informed Policy Decisions. The Contractor Shall Identify Opportunities To Improve Data Quality And Analytical Methodologies. The Data Requiring Analysis Includes But Is Not Limited To Capital Assets (vba Infrastructure To Include Leased And Owned Buildings), Budget Forecasting And Execution, And Capital Investment Planning (action Plans, Business Cases, And Gap Analysis). expected Service Requirements Include, But Are Not Limited To, The Following: data Collection And Management the Contractor Shall Collect, Validate, And Manage Relevant Data From Various Sources In Line With The Government S Requirements. The Contractor Shall Develop And Implement Strategies To Improve Data Collection Methods, Ensuring Accuracy And Consistency. data Analysis the Contractor Shall Conduct Detailed Analysis Using Suitable Statistical And Data Analysis Techniques. The Contractor Shall Use Modeling And Predictive Analytics To Identify Patterns, Correlations And Trends In The Data. reporting And Visualizations the Contractor Shall Generate Detailed Reports Providing A Thorough And Accessible Understanding Of The Data Analysis Findings. The Contractor Shall Develop Visualizations Such As Charts, Graphs, And Dashboards To Effectively Communicate Complex Data Insights. insights And Recommendations the Contractor Shall Translate Data Findings Into Actionable Insights And Recommendations That Align With Oms And Vba Goals And Strategies. The Contractor Shall Advise On Potential Implications Of The Data Analysis For Policy Making, Strategic Planning, And Operational Improvements. data Quality Improvement the Contractor Shall Recommend And Implement Methods To Improve The Quality Of Data And Data Analysis Practices, Such As Enhanced Data Collection Methods Or New Analytical Tools. compliance And Privacy the Contractor Shall Ensure All Data Collection, Storage, And Analysis Activities Comply With Relevant Regulations And Ethical Guidelines, Especially Those Related To Data Privacy And Protection. general Requirements 6.1 Deliverables the Contractor Shall Provide All Deliverables Identified In The Pws, And In Formats As Agreed To By The Cor. All Deliverables, Unless Otherwise Specified Shall Use Microsoft Office Compatible Formats. It Is Common To Allow Stakeholders 10 Business Days To Review And Approve Deliverables. task deliverable Description ffp And Labor Hour date 5.1 program Management Plan ffp thirty (30) Business Days After Effective Date Of Task Order Award 5.1.1 5.1.3 project Plan Including Timelines, Milestones, Identified Risks And Mitigation Strategies, Resource Allocation, And Budget. ffp due At The Initiation Of Each Minor Construction And Leasing Project. 5.1.4 monthly Status Report ffp due On The Second Business Day Of Each Month Throughout Period Of Performance 5.1.4 significant Activities Report ffp due Bi-weekly, On Wednesdays. 5.1.5 project Closure Report ffp due At The Completion Of Each Minor Construction And Leasing Project 5.1.6 task Tracking System ffp one Hundred And Twenty (120) Days After Effective Date Of Task Order Award. 5.1.7 document Library one Hundred And Twenty (120) Days After Effective Date Of Task Order Award. 5.2.1 5.2.2 process Assessment And Gap Analysis Report ffp ninety (90) Days After Effective Date Of Task Order Award, And Ninety (90) Days After Each Exercised Option Period 5.2.3 process Redesign And Implementation Plan ffp 120 Days After Effective Date Of Task Order Award. 5.2.4 process Improvement Report ffp quarterly, Or As Determined By Process Assessment And Gap Analysis Report. 5.3.1 5.3.2 5.3.3 5.3.4 5.3.5 5.3.6 data Analysis And Findings Report ffp quarterly. option Years One Through Four Schedule Of Deliverables: task deliverable Description ffp And Labor Hour date 5.1 program Management Plan ffp thirty (30) Business Days After Effective Date Of Option Year Exercise 5.1.1 5.1.3 project Plan Including Timelines, Milestones, Identified Risks And Mitigation Strategies, Resource Allocation, And Budget. ffp due At The Initiation Of Each Minor Construction And Leasing Project. 5.1.4 monthly Status Report ffp due On The Second Business Day Of Each Month Throughout Pop 5.1.4 significant Activities Report ffp due Bi-weekly, On Wednesdays. 5.1.5 project Closure Report ffp due At The Completion Of Each Minor Construction And Leasing Project 5.2.1 5.2.2 process Assessment And Gap Analysis Report ffp ninety (90) Days After Each Exercised Option Period 5.2.4 process Improvement Report ffp quarterly, Or As Determined By Process Assessment And Gap Analysis Report. 5.3.1 5.3.2 5.3.3 5.3.4 5.3.5 5.3.6 data Analysis And Findings Report ffp quarterly. 6.2 Method And Distribution Of Deliverables the Contractor Shall Deliver Documentation In Electronic Format, Unless Otherwise Directed By The Cor. Acceptable Electronic Media Include: Ms Word, Ms Excel, Ms Powerpoint, Ms Project, Ms Visio, Power Bi, Tableau, And Adobe Postscript Data Format (pdf). 6.3 Performance Metrics the Table Below Defines The Performance Standards And Acceptable Performance Levels For Objectives Associated With This Effort. performance Objective performance Standard acceptable Performance Levels 5.1 Project Management Support. each Deliverable Is: - Comprehensive For Its Required Scope; -feasible To Implement Within Va; - Contains Sufficient Detail; - Delivered On Time; - In Compliance With Established Organizational Templates And Formats; -written In A Professional Business Style; - Researched And Analyzed In A Manner Commensurate With Complexity Of Requirement; two Or Fewer Errors Or Omissions In The Reports And On Time 100% 5.2 Process Improvement existing Processes Are Accurately Assessed And Mapped, Gaps And Bottlenecks Identified, Sound And Effective Improvement Methodologies Identified And Implemented Leading To Substantial Gains In Efficiency And Effectiveness. satisfactory Or Higher 5.3 Data Analysis gaps In Data Collection And Analysis Are Identified, Recommendations Improving Data Quality And Analysis Practices Are Made, And New Processes Leading To Significance Gains In Data Collection And Analysis Are Implemented. satisfactory Or Higher the Government Will Utilize A Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (qasp) Throughout The Life Of The Contract To Ensure That The Contractor Is Performing The Services Required By This Pws In An Acceptable Manner. The Government Reserves The Right To Alter Or Change The Surveillance Methods In The Qasp At Its Own Discretion. A Performance Based Service Assessment Survey Will Be Used In Combination With The Qasp To Assist The Government In Determining Acceptable Performance Levels. key Personnel the Contractor Shall Be Responsible For Managing And Overseeing The Activities Of All Contractor Personnel, As Well As, Subcontractor Efforts Used In Performance Of This Effort. Contractor Management Responsibilities Shall Include All Activities Necessary To Ensure The Accomplishment Of Timely And Effective Support, Performed In Accordance With The Requirements Contained In The Pws. key Personnel: Certain Skilled Experienced Professional And/or Technical Personnel Are Essential For Accomplishing The Work To Be Performed. These Individuals Are Defined As Key Personnel And Are Those Persons Whose Rã©sumã©s Were Submitted And Marked By The Contractor As Key Personnel. Substitutions Shall Only Be Accepted If The Contractor Is In Compliance With The Substitution Of Key Personnel Provision Identified Below. key Personnel For This Effort Include The Contractor S Program Managers. program Manager description: Manager Performs Tasks Requiring Management Of A Large-scale Program, Encompassing Multiple Projects, With A Total Lifecycle Budget And Complexity Comparable To The Task Order At Hand. Tasks May Include Planning, Initiating, Managing, Executing, And Closing Out Small And Large Scale Programs In Support Of An Agency S Mission. minimum Experience: 8 Years the Program Manager At A Minimum Shall Have Experience In The Concepts And Principles Of Space And Program Planning To Develop Project Requirements For Renovations And/or New Construction For General Office Space For Government Agencies And/or Private Industries. Experience Can Be Demonstrated By Certifications Such As The Project Management Institute (pmi) Project Management Professional (pmp) Or Equivalent. substitution Of Key Personnel: All Contractor Requests For Approval Of Substitutions Hereunder Shall Be Submitted In Writing To The Cor, And The Co At Least 10 Business Days In Advance Of The Proposed Key Personnel Substitution Date. The Request Shall Include A Detailed Explanation Of The Circumstances Necessitating The Proposed Substitution, A Complete Rã©sumã© For The Proposed Substitute, And Any Other Information Requested By The Co Necessary To Approve Or Disapprove The Proposed Substitution. New Personnel Shall Not Commence Work Until All Required Security Requirements, Including, But Not Limited To Background Checks, Have Been Fulfilled And Rã©sumã© Provided And Accepted. The Cor And The Co Will Evaluate Such Requests And Promptly Notify The Contractor Of Approval Or Disapproval In Writing. Substituted Personnel Must Have The Same Or Better Education, Experience, And credentials As The Staff Originally Proposed, Subject To The Co S Express Written Review And Approval. government Furnished Equipment And Commodities the Government Will Provide Office Space, Telephone Service, It Communication Devices And Commodities, Va Network Access When Authorized Contract Staff Work At A Government Location As Required In Order To Accomplish The Tasks Associated With This Pws. All Procedural Guides, Reference Materials, And Program Documentation For The Project And Other Government Applications Will Also Be Provided On An As-needed Basis. the Contractor Shall Request Other Government Documentation Deemed Pertinent To The Work Accomplishment Directly From The Government Officials With Whom The Contractor Has Contact. The Contractor Shall Consider The Cor As The Final Source For Needed Government Documentation When The Contractor Fails To Secure The Documents By Other Means. The Contractor Is Expected To Use Common Knowledge And Resourcefulness In Securing All Other Reference Materials, Standard Industry Publications, And Related Materials That Are Pertinent To The Work. va May Provide Remote Access To Va Specific Systems/network In Accordance With Va Handbook 6500, Which Requires The Use Of A Va Approved Method To Connect External Equipment/systems To Va S Network. Citrix Access Gateway (cag) Is The Current And Only Va Approved Method For Remote Access Users When Using Or Manipulating Va Information For Official Va Business. Va Permits Cag Remote Access Through Approved Personally Owned Equipment (poe) And Other Equipment (oe) Provided The Equipment Meets All Applicable 6500 Handbook Requirements For Poe/oe. All Of The Security Controls Required For Government Furnished Equipment (gfe) Must Be Utilized In Approved Poe Or Oe. The Contractor Shall Provide Proof To The Cor For Review And Approval That Their Poe Or Oe Meets The Va Handbook 6500 Requirements And Va Handbook 6500.6 Appendix C, Herein Incorporated As Addendum B, Before Use. Cag Authorized Users Shall Not Be Permitted To Copy, Print Or Save Any Va Information Accessed Via Cag At Any Time. Va Prohibits Remote Access To Va S Network From Non-north Atlantic Treaty Organization (nato) Countries. The Exception To This Are Countries Where Va Has Approved Operations Established (e.g. Philippines And South Korea). Exceptions Are Determined By The Cor In Coordination With The Information Security Officer (iso) And Privacy Officer (po). this Remote Access May Provide Access To Va Specific Software Such As Veterans Health Information System And Technology Architecture (vista), Clearquest, Propath, Primavera, And Remedy, Including Appropriate Seat Management And User Licenses, Depending Upon The Level Of Access Granted. The Contractor Shall Utilize Government-provided Software Development And Test Accounts, Document And Requirements Repositories, Etc. As Required For The Development, Storage, Maintenance And Delivery Of Products Within The Scope Of This Effort. The Contractor Shall Not Transmit, Store Or Otherwise Maintain Sensitive Data Or Products In Contractor Systems (or Media) Within The Va Firewall In Accordance With Va Handbook 6500.6 Dated March 12, 2010. All Va Sensitive Information Shall Be Protected At All Times In Accordance With Va Handbook 6500, Local Security Field Office System Security Plans (ssp S) And Authority To Operate (ato) S For All Systems/lan S Accessed While Performing The Tasks Detailed In This Pws. The Contractor Shall Ensure All Work Is Performed In Countries Deemed Not To Pose A Significant Security Risk. changes To Performance Work Statement any And All Changes To This Pws Shall Be Authorized And Approved Only Through Written Correspondence From The Co. Change Requests Will Be Monitored By The Co. No Payments Will Be Made For Any Unauthorized Supplies And/or Services Or For Any Unauthorized Changes To The Work Specified Herein. This Includes Any Services Performed By The Contractor Of Their Own Volition Or At The Request Of An Individual Other Than A Duly Appointed Co. Only A Duly Appointed Co Is Authorized To Change The Specifications, Terms, And Conditions Under This Effort. government Responsibilities the Government Shall Ensure That The Contractor Has Access To All Necessary Reference Material And Program Documentation As Appropriate. confidentiality And Nondisclosure it Is Agreed That: information Made Available To The Contractor By The Government For The Performance Or Administration Of This Effort Shall Be Used Only For Those Purposes And Shall Not Be Used In Any Other Way Without Prior Written Approval Of The Co. the Contractor Agrees To Assume Responsibility For Protecting The Confidentiality Of Veteran Records, Which Are Not Public Information. Each Contractor Or Employee Of The Contractor To Whom Information May Be Made Available Or Disclosed Shall Be Notified In Writing By The Client That Such Information May Be Disclosed Only For A Purpose And To The Extent Authorized Herein. the Preliminary And Final Deliverables And All Associated Working Papers, And Other Material Deemed Relevant By Va Which Has Been Generated By The Contractor In The Performance Of This Task Order Are The Exclusive Property Of The U.s. Government And Must Be Submitted To The Co At The Conclusion Of The Task Order. the Co Will Be The Sole Authorized Official To Release Verbally Or In Writing, Any Data, The Draft Deliverables, The Final Deliverables, Or Any Other Written Or Printed Materials Pertaining To This Task Order. The Contractor Must Release No Information. Any Request For Information Relating To This Task Order Presented To The Contractor Must Be Submitted To The Co For Response. press Releases, Marketing Material, Or Any Other Printed Or Electronic Documentation Related To This Project, Must Not Be Publicized Without The Written Approval Of The Co. organizational Conflict Of Interest the Solicitation Includes Vaar Provision 852.209-70 Organizational Conflicts Of Interest (oci). If At Any Point During Solicitation, Scope Of Task Order Performance And/or On Any Future Requirements The Va Or Contractor Is Made Aware Of A Possible Oci, The Contractor Shall Submit A Mitigation Plan To The Co. The Submission Of The Mitigation Plan During Solicitation, Contractor Shall Follow Vaar Provision 852.209-70 (b). If An Oci Is Identified During Performance Of Task Order The Contractor Shall Provide The Co With A Mitigation Plan For Review And Approval, No Later Than 10 Business Days From Incident. security va Information And Information System Security/privacy Requirements General all Contractors And Contractor Personnel Shall Be Subject To The Same Federal Security And Privacy Laws, Regulations, Standards And Va Policies As Va, Including The Privacy Act, 5 U.s.c. â§552a, And Va Personnel, Regarding Information And Information System Security. Contractors Must Follow Policies And Procedures Outlined In Va Directive 6500, Information Security Program; And Va Handbook 6500.6, Contract Security Which Are Available At: Http://www1.va.gov/vapubs And Its Handbooks To Ensure Appropriate Security Controls Are In Place. access To Va Information And Va Information Systems va Will Supply The Contractor With The Minimum Logical (technical) And/or Physical Access To Va Information And Va Information Systems For Employees, Sub-contractors: (1) To Perform The Services Specified In The Contract, (2) To Perform Necessary Maintenance Functions For Electronic storage Or Transmission Media Necessary For Performance Of The Contract, And (3) For Individuals Who First Satisfy The Same Conditions, Requirements, And Restrictions That Comparable Va Employees Must Meet To Have Access To The Same Type Of Va Information. all Contractors And Subcontractors Working With Va Sensitive Information Are Subject To The Same Investigative Requirements As Those Of Regular Va Appointees Or Employees Who Have Access To The Same Types Of Information. The Level Of Background Security Investigation Will Be In Accordance With Va Directive 0710, Handbook 0710, Which Are Available At: Http://www1.va.gov/vapubs, And Vha Directive 0710 And Implementation Handbook 0710.01, Which Are Available At: Http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/index.cfm . Contractors Are Responsible For Screening Their Employees. The Following Are Va's Approved Policy Exceptions For Meeting Va Background Screenings/investigative Requirements For Certain Types Of Contractor Personnel: contractor Personnel Not Accessing Va Information Resources, Such As Personnel Hired To Maintain The Medical Facility Grounds, Construction Contracts, Utility System Contractors, Etc. contractor Personnel With Limited And Intermittent Access To Equipment Connected To Networks On Which No Va Sensitive Information Resides contractor Personnel With Limited And Intermittent Access To Equipment Connected To Networks On Which Limited Va Sensitive Information Resides And With Limited And Intermittent Access To Facilities At Which They Are Escorted va Information Custodial Requirements va Information Provided To The Contractor For Either The Performance Or Administration Of This Contract Shall Only Be Used For Those Purposes. No Other Use Is Permitted Without The Co S Express Written Authorization. This Clause Expressly Limits The Contractor S Rights To Use Data As Described In Rights In Data - General, Far 52.227-14(d)(1). The Government Shall Retain The Rights To All Data And Records Produced In The Execution Or Administration Of This Contract. prior To Termination Or Completion Of This Contract, Contractor Will Not Destroy Information Received From Va Or Gathered Or Created By The Contractor In The Course Of Performing This Contract Without Prior Written Approval By The Co. A Contractor Destroying Data On Va S Behalf Must Do So Accordance With National Archives And Records Administration (nara) Requirements As Outlined In Va Directive 6300, Records And Information Management And Its Handbook 6300.1 Records Management Procedures, And Applicable Va Records Control Schedules. All Data And Reports Shall Be Transferred To Vba Upon Contract Completion. the Contractor Shall Not Make Copies Of Va Information, Electronic Or Otherwise, Except As Necessary To Perform The Terms Of The Agreement Or To Preserve Electronic Information Stored On Contractor Electronic Storage Media For Restoration In Case Any Electronic Equipment Or Data Used By The Contractor Needs To Be Restored To An Operating State. the Contractor Shall Not Use Technologies Banned In Va In Meeting The Requirements Of The Contract (e.g., Bluetooth-enabled Devices). physical Security if The Contract Requires Taking Va Data To A Contractor Site And The Data Contains Personally Identifiable Information, The Contractor Will Provide An Independent Physical Security Assessment Of Their Facility To The Cor Prior To Commencing Work. General Guidelines For Physical Security Can Be Found In Va Directive 0730, Section 6 (physical Security) And Va Memorandum (subj: It Oversight & Compliance Information Physical Security Assessments) Dated October 24, 2007. training all Contractor And Subcontractor Personnel Requiring Access To Va Information And Va Information Systems Shall Complete The Following Before Being Granted Access To Va information And Networks: sign And Acknowledge Understanding Of And Responsibilities For Compliance With The National Rules Of Behavior Related To Access To Va Information And Information Systems successfully Complete Va Information Security Awareness Training And Annual Refresher Training As Required successfully Complete Va Privacy Awareness Training And Annual Refresher Training As Required successfully Complete Any Additional Information Security Or Privacy Training As Required For Va Personnel With Equivalent Information System Access the Contractor Shall Provide To The Cor A Copy Of The Training Certificates For Each Applicable Employee Within 1 Week Of The Initiation Of The Contract And Annually Thereafter, As Required. These Online Courses Are Located At Www.tms.va.gov. To Self-enroll, Click The Create New User Button On The Red Bar And Complete The Assigned Training. The Cor Will Provide The Contractor With The Appropriate Information To Complete Self-enrollment. Technical Issues With Tms Should Be Directed To The Tms Help Desk At Vatmshelp@va.gov Or 1.866.496.0463. failure To Complete This Mandatory Training Within The Timeframe Required Will Be Grounds For Suspension Or Termination Of All Physical And/or Electronic Access Privileges And Removal From Work On The Contract Until Such Time As The Training Is Completed. contractor Personnel Security all Contract Employees Who Require Access To The Va Site(s) And/or Access To Va Local Area Network (lan) Systems Shall Be The Subject Of A Background Investigation And Must Receive A favorable Adjudication From The Va Security And Investigations Center (sic). These Requirements Are Applicable To All Subcontractor Personnel Requiring The Same Level Of Background Investigation. the Level Of Background Security Investigation Will Be In Accordance With Va Directive 0710 Dated September 10, 2004 And Is Available At Http://www1.va.gov/vapubs/viewpublication.asp?pub_id=487&ftype=2 background Investigation the Contract Employee Level Of Background Investigation Required For This Effort Is: [naci]. contractor Responsibilities the Contractor Shall Bear The Expense Of Obtaining Background Investigations Or Reciprocals Of Previous Investigations Held That Meet Or Exceed The Required investigation Level. The Cost Of Background Investigations Is Based On The Current Office Of Personnel Management (opm) Rate At The Time The Application Is Processed At Opm. Fiscal Year 2016 Rates Are As Follows: Low Risk (naci) $381, Moderate Risk (mbi) $1,632, High Risk (bi) $3,984 Or Reciprocals Are $75. Va Will Pay For Investigations Or Reciprocals Processed Through The Va Sic And Conducted By Opm In Advance; However, The Contractor Shall Reimburse The Full Cost Of Background Investigations/reciprocals To Va Within 30 Days Of Bill Of Collections Received From Va. Va Shall Send Up To Three Plus One Final Delinquent Notice To The Contractor. If The Contractor Does Not Adhere To The Bill Of Collections, Future Invoices May Be Subject To Be Offset By Va To Recoup Background Investigation/reciprocal Costs. immediately After Contract Or Task Order Award, The Cor Will Provide The Contractor With The Following Background Investigation Documents To Be Completed By The Contractor And Returned To The Cor To Begin The Background Investigation Process For All Contract Employees Working On The Contract Who Will Have Access To Va Facilities, Va Systems, Or Privacy Data: background Investigation Request Worksheet optional Form 306 Declaration Of Federal Employment fingerprint Request Form upon Receipt Of The Above-stated Documents From The Cor, The Vsc Will Perform Preliminary Onboarding Review And Process The Request Through The Sic. Upon Notification Of Favorable Fingerprint Results By The Vsc, The Contractor May Begin Work While The Background Investigation Is Ongoing. Thereafter, The Contractor Will Receive An Email Notification From The Sic Identifying The Website Link That Includes Detailed Instructions Regarding Completion Of The Background Clearance Application Process In The Electronic questionnaires For Investigations Processing (e-qip) System. E-qip Is An Online, Internet Accessible System Where The Contractor Employee Shall Complete The Security Questionnaire Required For Opm To Process The Background Investigation. contractors Who Have A Current Favorable Background Investigation Previously Conducted By Opm Or Defense Security Service (dss) May Be Accepted Through Reciprocation. When A Previous Clearance Is Currently Held, It Does Not Preclude The Vendor From Submitting A Complete Background Investigation Package As Stated Above To The Cor Immediately After Contract Or Task Order Award For All Contract Employees Who Will Be Working On The Contract. the Contractor Shall Prescreen All Personnel Who Require Access To Va Site(s) And/or Access To Va Lan Systems To Ensure They Maintain A U.s. Citizenship Or Alien Registration That Authorizes Them To Work In The U.s. And Are Able To Read, Write, Speak And Understand The English Language. contract Performance Shall Not Commence Before: the Vsc Has Confirmed Favorable Fingerprint Results, Or sic Confirms That It Has Received The Contractor S Investigative Documents, The Documents Are Complete, And That The Investigation Information Has Been Released To Opm For Scheduling Of The Background Investigation, Or vsc Or The Sic Has Confirmed That The Verified Investigation Will Be Reciprocated. the Cor Will Notify And Forward The Contractor A Copy Of The Certificate Of Eligibility (form 4236) If The Investigation Has Been Reciprocated. The Contractor, If Notified Of An Unfavorable Adjudication By The Government, Shall Withdraw The Employee From Consideration From Working Under The Contract. Failure To Comply With The Contractor Personnel Security Requirements May Result In Termination Of The Contract For Default. the Contractor Will Be Responsible For The Actions Of Those Contract And Subcontract Employees They Provide To Perform Work For Va. In The Event Damage Arises From Work Performed By Contractor Personnel, Under The Auspices Of The Contract, The Contractor Will Be Responsible For Resources Necessary To Remedy The Incident. should The Contractor Use A Vendor Other Than Opm Or Dss To Conduct Investigations, The Investigative Company Must Be Certified By Opm/dss To Conduct Contractor Investigations. The Vendor Cage Code Number Must Be Provided To The Va Sic, Which Will Verify The Information And Conclude Whether Access To The Government S Site(s) And/or Va Lan Systems Can Be Granted. the Investigative History For Contractor Personnel Working Under This Contract Must Be Maintained In The Databases Of Either Opm Or The Defense Industrial Security Clearance Organization (disco). government Responsibilities after The Sic Has Adjudicated The Background Investigation Package From The Contractor, The Sic Will Send An E-mail Notification To The Contractor And Their Poc Identifying The E- Qip Website Link That Includes Detailed Instructions Regarding Completion Of The Background Clearance Application Process And The Level Of Background That Was Requested. upon Receipt Of Required Investigative Documents, Sic Will Review The Investigative Documents For Completion And Initiate The Background Investigation By Forwarding The Investigative Documents To Opm To Conduct The Background Investigation. If The Investigative Documents Are Not Complete, The Sic Will Notify The Vendor Of Deficiencies And Include Corrective Instructions. va Will Pay For Investigations And Reciprocals Processed Through The Va Sic And Conducted By Opm In Advance, However, The Contractor Shall Reimburse The Full Cost Of Background Investigations/reciprocals To Va Within 30 Days Of Bill Of Collections From Va. Va Shall Send Up To Three Plus One Final Delinquent Notice To The Contractor. If The Contractor Does Not Adhere To The Bill Of Collections, Future Invoices May Be Subject To Be Offset By Va To Recoup Background Investigation Costs And May Be Considered Grounds For Default. the Cor Will Notify And Forward The Contractor A Copy Of The Certificate Of Eligibility (form 4236) If The Investigation Has Been Reciprocated. The Cor Will Also Notify The Contractor Of An Unfavorable Adjudication By The Government. security Incident Investigation the Term Security Incident Means An Event That Has, Or Could Have, Resulted In Unauthorized Access To, Loss Or Damage To Va Assets, Or Sensitive Information, Or An action The Breaches Va Security Procedures. The Contractor/subcontractor Shall Immediately Notify The Cor And Simultaneously, The Designated Iso And Privacy Officer For The Contract Of Any Known Or Suspected Security/privacy Incidents, Or Any Unauthorized Disclosure Of Sensitive Information, Including That Contained In System(s) To Which The Contractor/subcontractor Has Access. liquidated Damages this Pws Is Further Subject To The Statutory Requirement To Assess Liquidated Damages Against Contractors And/or Subcontractors Under 38 U.s.c. §5725 In The Event Of A Breach Of Sensitive Personal Information (spi)/personally Identifiable Information (pii). Said Liquidated Damages Shall Be Assessed At $37.50 Per Affected Veteran Or Beneficiary. A Breach In This Context Includes The Unauthorized Acquisition, Access, Use, Or Disclosure Of Va Spi Which Compromises Not Only The Information S Security Or Privacy But That Of The Veteran Or Beneficiary As Well As The Potential Exposure Or Wrongful Disclosure Of Such Information As A Result Of A Failure To Follow Proper Data Security Controls And Protocols. confidentiality And Nondisclosure it Is Agreed That: the Preliminary And Final Deliverables And All Associated Working Papers, Application Source Code, And Other Material Deemed Relevant By The Va Which Has Been Generated By The Contractor In The Performance Of This Task Order Are The Exclusive Property Of The U.s. Government And Shall Be Submitted To The Cor At The Conclusion Of The Task Order. the Co Will Be The Sole Authorized Official To Release Verbally Or In Writing, Any Data, The Draft Deliverables, The Final Deliverables, Or Any Other Written Or Printed Materials Pertaining To This Task Order. No Information Shall Be Released By The Contractor. Any Request For Information Relating To This Task Order Presented To The Contractor Shall Be Submitted To The Co For Response. press Releases, Marketing Material Or Any Other Printed Or Electronic Documentation Related To This Project, Shall Not Be Publicized Without The Written Approval Of The Co.