Market survey for program management support associated with assessment of planning and capital requirements, recapitalization of the existing medical facility inventory, and improvement of facilities for quick response to changing requirements. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District intends to negotiate a purchase order with Mitretek Systems, Inc., McLean, VA, as a nonprofit, conflict-of-interest free source, who does not compete for design or construction projects for private or governme nt entities and has a high degree of expertise in the requirement below. This request is only a market survey, not a request for proposal (RFP) or announcement of a solicitation. The Health Facilities Planning Agency (HFPA) is responsible for the planning and execution of facility-related investments for hospitals, clinics, research and other medically-related facilities world-wide. The objective of this Statement of Work is to supplement HFPAs program management efforts by incorporating skilled contract ors knowledgeable about the resource requirements. Because of the nature of this work a strict conflict of interest policy must be implemented. HFPA is seeking support with its initiatives to: assess planning and capital requirements for Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) installations in selected markets and multi-markets; recapitalize the existing Army medical care delivery, medical research, an d biodefense laboratory inventory; shape and improve facilities in order to respond quickly and efficiently to the ever-changing face of Army and Military Health System (MHS) requirements; identify and use alternative business practices to leverage private industry capital in the development of Army facility projects; and, research emerging facility technologies and find opportunities to incorporate these technologies into the Army healthcare facility life cycle management process. The contractor shall assist HFPA in gathering the information needed to acquire, allocate, and manage resources for HFPA military functions. The contractor may be required to assist HFPA in considering and addressing impacts to its program as a result of troops restationing, BRAC announcements, and coordination and interfacing with the Services in multi-service markets. The contractor will assist HFPA in conducting special studies, investigations, or focused analyses on a variety of healthcare related iss ues and topics. These analyses may involve a focused area of inquiry or may involve assessment of a broad set of topics. Such investigations will feature preparation of a special output document(s) which include policy recommendations and/or actionable i tems/recommendations that should be pursued and that can be referenced by HFPA. In order to support HFPA in managing its program, the following characteristics will be required of the contractor: - Independent and Objective. To ensure credibility, consistency, and defensibility, the evaluation of contractor performance must be free of any perceived or actual bias, free from conflict of interest, and based on the best possible analysis and expertis e. It is imperative that there be no potential for a conflict of interest on the part of the organization providing the required essential technical capability. HFPA must be able to trust this organization with sensitive, government-proprietary informati on without concern for its misuse. - Access to HFPA Planning, Budgeting, and Acquisition Information. Some activities require extensive access to planning, budgeting, and acquisition information. Given the frequent restructuring of corporate ownership, it is difficult to ensure that the r elease of sensitive information to a profit-seeking entity is not going to eventually undermine the integrity of current or future procurements. Even if there is no actual harm, the appearance of a conflict of interest could severely handicap HFPAs abili ty to act. Actual organizational conflict of interes t is not eliminated completely by temporary exclusion clauses or Chinese walls that attempt to separate conflict-free portions of a company from other parts that could gain a competitive advantage through access to sensitive information, and none of these measures are effective against the appearance of a conflict of interest. - Need for an Honest Broker. There are many competing priorities within the HFPA operating entities and the requirement exists to engage an organization that can provide objective assessments and recommendations on both external and internal positions. T here is a continuing need to establish an objective resource to help HFPA sort out internal priorities and to represent a credible, independent input to the program management process. This resource must have access to sensitive information and key decisi on makers, and have the mandate to provide neutral ground where internal priority conflicts can be examined and fairly resolved. - Continuity of Effort. Informed program management decisions require enlightened advice based on broad, in-depth, and enduring knowledge of the HFPA corporate culture and way of doing business. The use of a profit-seeking contractor to provide such cont inuity would be unwise in this situation because it would be difficult to maintain continuity without giving unfair competitive advantage and inhibiting appropriate free and open competition. To fulfill its responsibilities with the highest level of efficiency and cost effectiveness, HFPA requires the support of an organization that can simultaneously: - Provide a general program management support, which it has successfully applied to other large and complex systems, - Have access, beyond that which is common to the normal contractual relationship, to government and private sector data, including sensitive and proprietary data, and to employees and facilities, and - Operate in the public interest with objectivity and independence and with freedom from any organizational conflict of interest. The support of an experienced, conflict free contractor is particularly important to HFPA when its policy choices and decision making have long range and far reaching implications. This support will be used to accomplish tasks that are integral to the mission and operation of HFPA, but it will not be used to perform inherently governmental functions or when the need can be met as effectively with in house resources or by other contra ct support gained via competition. The contractor will be used when continuity of effort is critical, when the contractor possesses a unique and essential knowledge base, and/or when it is necessary to have access to sensitive or proprietary information, including strategic planning information. The contractor will also be used when the nature of the work is such that it must be performed by an entity operating in the public interest, without profit motive, with objectivity and independence, and with free dom from organizational conflicts of interest. Responses are required within fifteen (15) days after publication of this notice. Respondents must demonstrate a broad capability in the statement of work above. Responses should be addressed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, ATTN: CESAM-CT-C, P.O . Box 2288, Mobile, AL 36628-0001 or
[email protected] and will be directed to Mrs. Jacalyn Jenkins, (251) 441-5598. Firms interested in being considered shall provide brief documentation of the company's capability to perform the work required, and past performance of similar work. A list of completed projects with similar requirements shall be submitted, along with the project location, and the names and telephone numbers of customer points of contact. The Government will not pay for any material provided in response to this synopsis nor return the data provided. The results of this synopsis will be considered to be in effect for a period of six months from the date of pu blication of this notice. The NIAC CODE FOR THIS PROCUREMENT IS 541618.