Description
Requirement is amended to include the statement of Work. STATEMENT OF WORK – BEST PRACTICES IN FEDERAL PROCUREMENT OUTREACH TO WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES BACKGROUND The National Women’s Business Council is a bi-partisan public policy advisory body created to serve as an independent source of advice to the President, Congress, and others on economic issues of importance to women business owners. The Council is committed to: • Conducting research on issues of importance to women business owners and their organizations; • Communicating these findings widely; • Connecting the women’s business community to public policy makers; and • Providing a platform for change to expand and improve opportunities for women business owners and their enterprises. The NWBC is interested in connecting women business owners and their organizations to public policy discussions. To better understand and assist in the Federal procurement process, this background research project would gather information from all of the Federal agency procurement officers in Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) focusing on all of the initiatives and programs they offer to women business owners (especially those which exclusively focus on women), and assess which are having the greatest impact. The resulting report would highlight best practices, identify gaps in program efforts, include recommendations for further action, and be shared widely throughout the government and small business policy communities to encourage more widespread implementation. STATEMENT OF WORK Task Number One: Identify and Contact OSDBU procurement officers The contractor shall work with the COTR to determine individuals to be included and contact them, asking them to be part of the project and setting up in-person and/or telephone conversations. The project scope may also include discussions with women business owners who have experience with Federal contracting and key women’s business association leaders. Task Number Two: Develop framework. The contractor shall work with the COTR to develop a discussion outline and topics to be covered. Task Number Three: Gather information. The contractor shall hold in-person and/or telephone conversations with all subjects as outlined in Task Number One. All conversations should be summarized and transcribed. Task Number Four: Summarized Development of Findings (Executive Summary) The contractor shall develop a written summary of findings based on these conversations as outlined in Task Number Three. Task Number Five: Full Development of Findings The contractor shall use the summarized development of findings as outlined in Task Number Four to produce a written report, focusing on best practices, and also including the identification of gaps in program efforts and recommendations for further policy and program action. This report shall also incorporate data from the Federal Procurement Data System, to show trends within and across agencies, specific industries of successful bidders, etc. PROGRESS REPORTS The contractor shall be required to provide a report detailing the progress made on the project and identifying and addressing problems encountered. This progress report shall be delivered to the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (“COTR”). At the end of one month, the contractor shall first provide a preliminary report to the COTR showing the progress to date and recommendations for conducting the project. The contractor shall also include in the report a timely response to any questions or clarification of any points raised by the COTR about the project. At monthly intervals from the date of contract award, the contractor shall provide interim reports on the progress and shall also provide a timely response to any questions or clarification on any points raised by the COTR about the interim reports. At least one draft version of the report shall be supplied to the COTR in advance of the final deliverable. The final report must take into consideration comments received from government employees and the COTR. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE Task Time Kick-off meeting Day 1 Preliminary progress report Day 30 Subjects identified and contacted Day 45 Interim progress report 1 Day 60 Discussion outline and topics finalized Day 75 Interim progress report 2 Day 120 Conversations completed Day 150 Interim progress report 3, including draft of executive summary Day 180 Draft of full research report Day 240 Delivery of full research report Day 270 The period of performance of this contract is approximately 9 months from date of award. DELIVERABLES The contractor shall provide the NWBC with 50 hard copies of the final report, as well as electronic versions in PDF and Word formats to facilitate posting on the NWBC website. The contractor shall submit the copies directly to the National Women’s Business Council, 409 3rd Street, SW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20024. REQUEST FOR QUOTATION The successful contractor will respond to this request by: • Providing five (5) copies of a succinct proposal of no more than 10 pages (including resumes and other addenda) and cost estimate for the aforementioned tasks. The cost estimate should be separate from the technical proposal and should include all costs associated with the project, including any travel, delivery or other miscellaneous costs. • Responding directly and clearly to each of the items in the statement of work. • Offering a creative approach to the statement of work and the tasks associated with the project. • Demonstrating relevant past experience and competency related to the contract tasks, and ability to meet the technical requirements of the project. • The National Women’s Business Council is especially interested in receiving quotes from women-owned businesses. EVALUATION This contract award will be based on the most technically acceptable proposal offering the best value to the government, and its award is subject to the availability of funds.