THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND NOT/NOT A SOLICITATION. THE RFI IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING INDUSTRY COMMENTS ON HOW THE GOVERNMENT CAN SATISFY ITS NEEDS; ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES; TECHNOLOGY AVAILABILITY AND RISK; THE IDENTIFICATION OF COST DRIVERS; AND SUGGESTIONS ON WAYS TO ENHANCE OR SUSTAIN COMPETITION. The Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) in the Department of State seeks to institute a credit and/or debit card based system to manage diplomatic tax relief in the United States. OFM seeks from the private sector proposals for the provision of tax reclamation services initiated through the use of a provider issued “tax-exempt” credit or debit card to foreign missions and their eligible personnel. The U.S. government will not/not underwrite or assume any liability for these credit/debit cards, and also will not/not guarantee payment of the debts on these credit cards in any fashion. All risk in extending credit will fall on the issuing company. OFM envisions the use of a credit/debit card-based system for facilitating the government’s diplomatic tax relief obligations. This credit/debit card will serve as the only means a foreign mission or member would have in obtaining diplomatic tax relief on standard purchases. Therefore, OFM estimates that such credit/debit cards will be used frequently and will likely have a higher average use-rate in comparison to those issued to average consumers. There are roughly 15,000 diplomatic tax-exemption cards currently circulating throughout the United States. The National Capital Planning Commission estimates the annual consumer spending of foreign missions and their members in the Washington Metropolitan Region (DC, MD, VA) as $290 million. This figure does not include the annual spending of foreign missions in other states with high concentrations of foreign missions, such as New York, California, Florida and Texas. The provision of this service will attract the operating accounts of foreign missions and international organizations as well as the accounts of their members to the banks participating in this program. Therefore, providers stand to generate new revenues not only from providing this system, but through the added customer and deposit base that goes along with providing banking services to such account holders. As a point of reference concerning the credit worthiness of foreign missions and their members, in conjunction with participating oil companies, OFM has provided “tax-exempt” gasoline credit cards to foreign missions and diplomats since the mid-1980s. Although, the tax-relief mechanism used with this card is vastly different from the one described in this document, the extension and management of credit to foreign missions and their members is basically identical. Over the past 20 years, the providers of the “tax-exempt” gasoline credit cards have reported extremely few problems concerning foreign missions or their members as routinely delinquent or unable to pay balances on such accounts. A list of the oil companies that participate in the “tax-exempt gasoline credit card program can be viewed on the OFM website at www.state.gov/ofm/tax/gasoline/24625.htm. This Request for Information not only offers the opportunity for proposers to present a solution to OFM’s business process needs for a credit and/or debit card based diplomatic tax relief program, but to propose added services that might realize the Department of State’s vision of electronic and streamlined government business processes, both domestically and abroad. Currently, OFM plans to offer this opportunity to all proposers capable of meeting or exceeding the requirements established in this document. Background of the Diplomatic Tax Exemption Process: The Foreign Missions Act of 1982 (22 USC 4301-4316) requires that OFM manage the U.S. Government’s provision of certain diplomatic privileges on the basis of reciprocity. The U.S. Government’s obligation to provide diplomatic tax relief is primarily a result of both the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. However, this privilege is also an obligation of various other bilateral and multilateral treaties and agreements, such as the United Nations Headquarters’ Agreement. Due to the reciprocity requirement in the Foreign Missions Act, OFM is required to provide foreign missions with diplomatic tax relief privileges to the extent that each counterpart foreign government provides such relief to the U.S. diplomatic mission and its members. Therefore, OFM limits or denies tax exemption to missions that limit or deny tax relief to U. S. diplomatic representatives in the host country. Proposers should refer to the OFM website at http://www.state.gov/ofm/ and the Department of State website at www.state.gov for information about the OFM mission, organization, customer services, and current initiatives. Outline for responses to RFI: The following sections provide a recommended outline for responses to this RFI. This outline is intended to minimize the effort of the respondent and structure the responses for ease of analysis by the Government. Section 1 Conceptual Alternatives The Government is interested in conceptual alternatives for the concept described above. The Department of State encourages creativity, and cost saving responses to this RFI. Briefly describe one or more high-level alternative application concepts, assumptions based on information provided. Section 2 Program Management Approach Proposed strategies should consider OFM’s evolving mission and role, responsibilities, security and technical environment, and budget constraints that drive the need for an agile, responsive, cost effective system. Indicate the types of deliverables that may be provided and performance metrics to be used to measure the success of the program. Describe perceived potential technical or security risks and how those risks could be effectively mitigated through the acquisition strategy, source selection, and performance management process. (Sections 1 and 2 should not exceed 10 pages combined.) Section 3 Experience Describe up to three key projects the company participated in that are similar in size, scope and complexity to the OFM environment, potentially within the Federal Government arena. Briefly describe the customer environment, application solution designed / implemented, project management methodology, security requirements, best practices, and relevant lessons learned. In addition, proposers should indicate their General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract number, if applicable. Indicate size (e.g. number of client sites, transaction volumes, dollar value of each contract or project), scope, and complexity of the efforts cited. (3 pages) Review of vendor responses and information exchange meeting(s): The Government will review submissions to ascertain the relevance to the OFM environment and goals. Prior to review of vendor responses to the RFI, OFM may at their discretion hold technical information exchange meeting(s) with respondents. The meeting(s) will focus on industry experiences related to development, technical solutions, best practices and lessons learned, risks and programmatic benefits. Disclaimer: This RFI is issues for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not an offer and can not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. The OFM makes no implied or in fact contract by issuing and publishing this market survey. Vendor submission of responses and contact information: Electronic responses to this Request for Information are required. Please submit responses via email in Microsoft Word or Adobe pdf format no later than 4:00 pm EST on Wednesday, June 15, 2005, to:
[email protected]. Please contact Susan Raymie via email with questions related to this RFI. No telephone calls please. Point of Contact: Susan Raymie Contract Specialist 703-875-4801
[email protected] THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND NOT/NOT A SOLICITATION. THE RFI IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING INDUSTRY COMMENTS ON HOW THE GOVERNMENT CAN SATISFY ITS NEEDS; ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES; TECHNOLOGY AVAILABILITY AND RISK; THE IDENTIFICATION OF COST DRIVERS; AND SUGGESTIONS ON WAYS TO ENHANCE OR SUSTAIN COMPETITION.