RAB TAPP Grants

["Yarbrough, Charles H." <yarbrough.charles@email.mcclellan.af.mil>]

-----Original Message-----
From:   Bajka, Doris 
Sent:   Wednesday, February 17, 1999 3:09 PM
To:     Callaway, DelMar
Cc:     Yarbrough, Charles H.
Subject:        RE: RAB phone numbers

Subject:  HOW TO OBTAIN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
GRANTS

McCLELLAN AFB RAB COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEED HELP FROM OTHER DOD RAB COMMUNITY
MEMBERS REGARDING CONTRACTING OUT TAP SERVICES?!  THE RAB COMMUNITY
MEMBERS OF McCLELLAN AFB RAB WANT TO CHOOSE OUR OWN TAP CONTRACTOR, SO WE
HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN ORDER FOR US TO BETTER
ADVISE THE AIR FORCE ON THEIR CLEAN-UP OF McCLELLAN AFB.  WE ARE HAVING
OUR PROBLEMS WITH THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, MR.PAUL
BRUNNER, & SOME PEOPLE OF HIS STAFF ON THIS SUBJECT.  WE WOULD APPRECIATE
YOUR HELP!!  WE ALSO NEED TO KNOW WHETHER THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION GIVEN
TO US BY McCLELLAN AFB IS CORRECT?  IF NOT, WHAT IS THE CORRECT
INFORMATION? 

To date, we have provided you (and the other RAB members) with three
alternatives to buy TAPP services.  Please refer to the handout provided
at 1the 11 Feb meeting.  Pros and cons were included for each.  As was
briefed, RAB members could use any combination of the three so long as the
dollar thresholds are considered.  In summary they are as follows: 

1)  Direct source for efforts less than (LT) $2,500.00.  RAB members
provide the name of a qualified source. 

2)  Compete for efforts greater than (GT) $2,500.00 but LT $25,000.00. 
RAB members provide the names of two or more qualified sources. 
Requirement is posted in the Small Business Office.  McCLELLAN AFB
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT DIRECTORATE PUTS THE LOWEST BID THAT COMES IN TO
THEIR OFFICE ON THE BULLETEN BOARD IN THE SMALL BUSINESS OFFICE SO THAT
OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL FIRMS OR PEOPLE WHO DO TAPS FOR DOD CAN LOW BID AND
WIN THE TAP CONTRACT.  IN THIS WAY OF DOING THE BIDDING, IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHO THE RAB SUGGESTS FOR THE TAP, BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO WIN THE
CONTRACT.  YOU CAN BET YOUR LAST DOLLAR THAT EM DIRECTORATE AT McCLELLAN
AFB WILL TELL THE FIRMS THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE OF McCLELLAN AFB EM STAFF'S
WAY TO CLEAN UP McCLELLAN AFB WHEN THE LOWEST BID OF THE RAB COMMUNITY
RECOMMENDATION IS POSTED, SO THAT FIRM OR INDIVIDUAL CAN UNDER BID & WIN! 
CAN SOMEONE TELL ME, "IS THERE A WAY AROUND THIS SUPPOSED REQUIREMENT?!" 
Award is based on low price (RAB does not select from the proposals
submitted). 
                
3)  select one or more sources for an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite
Quantity (ID/IQ) contract.  Orders can be placed against the contract for
up to 5 yrs., cumulative total of all orders can not exceed $100,000.00. 
Requirement is published in the Commerce Business Daily (CBD).  This
concept requires the selection process we have discussed and would require
participants to acknowledge disclosure requirements by signing a statement
of non-disclosure for the statement of work. RAB COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE A PART OF THE SELECTION TEAM ACCORDING TO McCLELLAN AFB
ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTORATE PEOPLE.

All three options require contractors meet the qualifications identified
in the Federal Register AND total cumulative dollar value of TAPP services
can

not exceed $25,000.00 in any given year.  These options were reviewed at
the January and February TRRC meetings.  Although the AF believes option
three would provide the most overall flexibility, greatest potential for
continuity in contractors, and quickest response/availability of services,
it was clear that both yourself and Mr. Yarbrough were opposed to this
option.  Should the RAB members collectively agree with the opinions
expressed by both Mr. Yarbrough and yourself, we can terminate our efforts
associated with this option.  Request you and/or Mr. Yarbrough obtain a
group consensus.

THIS STATEMENT IS NOT CORRECT.  McCLELLAN AFB RAB COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE
UNDECIDED ON WHICH OPTION IS BEST INCLUDING THE TWO PEOPLE LISTED ABOVE. 

THERE IS A FORTH OPTION NOT MENTIONED ABOVE BECAUSE MR. PAUL BRUNNER THE
DIRECTOR OF EM AT McCLELLAN AFB WILL NOT EVEN CONSIDER IT!!!  THIS COMES
FROM THE U.S. ARMY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION GUIDANCE
PAGE 17.

4)  SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES BECAUSE OF THE DOLLAR LEVELS
INVOLVED IN THE PROCUREMENT, THE INSTALLATION PROCUREMENT OFFICE/SUPPORT
AGENCY CONTRACTING OFFICE WILL GENERALLY PROCESS THE APPROVED TAPP REQUEST
AS A PURCHASE ORDER USING SIMPLIFIED ACQUISTION PROCEDURES.  BENEFITS OF
USING SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES ARE THAT SOLICITATIONS CAN BE
SHORTER, CONTRACTING METHODS ARE MORE DIRECT, PAYMENT METHODS ARE QUICKER,
AND DOCUMENTATION GENERALLY LESS BURDENSOME. 
        
FACTORS OTHER THAN PRICE, SUCH AS PRIOR PERFORMANCE OR THE DEMONSTRATION
OF OTHER SPECIALIZED SKILLS, MAY BE CONSIDERED AND REQUIRE ONLY A MINIMAL
AMOUNT OF DOCUMENTATION USING SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES. 

THE RAB/TRC MAY WISH TO USE A SOLE-SOURCE PROCUREMENT.  THE SIMPLIFIED
ACQUISITION PROCEDURES MAKE THIS PROCESS SIMPLER THAN IN LARGER CONTRACTS
SIGNATURE AUTHORITY RESTS WITH THE CONTRACTING OFFICER FOR CONTRACTS UP TO
$100,000.00.  FURTHERMORE, DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS ARE LESS STRIGENT,
REQUIRING ONLY NOTATIONS IN THE RECORD AS TO WHY A SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT
WAS NECESSARY, BUT NOT REQUIRING A COMPLETE JUSTIFICATION DOCUMENT.  THE
CONTRACTING OFFICER SHOULD BE PREPARED TO WORK WITH THE RAB/TRC, THROUGH
THE INSTALLATION CO-CHAIR, TO ENSURE THAT THE SOW DOES NOT CONTAIN
SPECIFICATIONS THAT WOULD UNNECESSARILY OR UNFAIRLY EXCLUDE OTHERWISE
QUALIFIED RESPONDENTS. 

As was also discussed at the 11 Feb mtg., all the RAB members need to do
is agree on a task or set of tasks, fill out the form attached to the back
of the Federal Register, submit the form to McClellan, and select a
contracting method at which point we will pursue acquiring the service for
you.  The onus is on you to initiate this action.  We can buy you the
services you need today if you are willing to identify a requirement and
make choice among the methods.  We can continue discussions regarding
alternatives methods simultaneously. 

Hope this helps.  d bajka