78 -- Fitness Center Access Project

SPECIAL NOTICE - REQUEST FOR INFORMATION -THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION, NO CONTRACT WILL BE ISSUED --- FITNESS CENTER ACCESS PROJECT --- The Social Security Administration (SSA) has identified a need to provide greater fitness center access to its employees. SSA currently has established fitness centers for its employees’ use at six SSA locations. SSA has also entered into arrangements with other Federal agencies at various Federal joint-use fitness centers which permit SSA employees access to those facilities, but these joint use arrangements and SSA-built centers serve just a fraction of SSA employees. SSA has 65,000 employees nationwide who may utilize fitness centers if offered reduced rates and non-restrictive memberships. The goal of SSA’s Fitness Center Access Project is to increase fitness center access for SSA employees nationwide by providing access through one or more companies that have established fitness center network(s). These networks will offer membership discounts to employees of SSA. The objec!ive will be to reduce the cost barrier to fitness club memberships, thereby encouraging a regimen of regular physical activity by SSA employees. However, SSA does not have the resources to locate and determine chain and individual fitness centers or health clubs to recommend to its employees. SSA is looking for a facilitator of these services. SSA would refer its employees to such a facilitator. SSA is looking for companies that can: 1) Provide access for SSA employees to a network(s) of chain and individual fitness clubs at a membership discount that is greater than what an employee could obtain without this service; 2) Pursue additions to the network clubs where possible in areas where SSA employees are located; 3) Enroll SSA employees who apply for membership in network clubs; 4) Handle membership, billing and network club administrative duties; 5) Maintain a directory of network clubs that lists names and addresses of current network fitness clubs and provide a mechanism for SSA employees to directly access this directory; and 6) Upon request, provide SSA with membership reporting data as well as assist SSA with ways to increase and accurately measure fitness center utilization. The provider would be required to protect employee confidentiality by not identifying individuals to any non-SSA party. To protect employee confidentiality, data provided to SSA will be required to be aggregated by geographic location and not identify individual employees. SSA does not intend to issue a contract for these services. SSA is looking for a qualified provider that can perform the referenced services and to which SSA can refer the use of the provider to its employees. For its part SSA will advertise and promote the Fitness Center Access Project and refer SSA employees to the qualified providers. SSA may refer its employees to more than one qualified provider in any particular area. In order to be a qualified provider you must: 1) Have experience and success at managing a fitness center discount network and 2) Have an established network of individual and chain fitness centers. If you are interested in partnering with SSA in its implementation of the Fitness Access Project please detail information outlining your capabilities and evidence that your company can perform the required services. You should supply written references and contact information from at least four entities that have used your services in a similar fashion to secure employee access to a fitness club network. This is NOT a Request for Proposa and the Government does not intend to pay for information submitted. RESPONSES ARE DUE BY JANUARY 13, 2006. Send all information related to this announcement to: Social Security Administration, Center for Employee Services, Attn: Lamont Brown, 2422 Annex, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, Maryland 21235. Reference SSA-RFI-Fitness-06. Direct any questions relating to this announcement to Mr. Lamont Brown at 410-965-8077.