ML20132E554
| ML20132E554 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/04/1983 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Barnes W HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20132C205 | List:
|
| References | |
| FOIA-85-564 NUDOCS 8510010115 | |
| Download: ML20132E554 (1) | |
Text
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WV 0 4 1983 1
e Honorable Michael D. Barnes - q , f-Chaiman, Federal Government Service Task Force fG" 9'
Congress of the United States; .
Washington, D. C. 20515 .
Dear Mr. Chairman:
This is in response to your le'tter of October.13.1983, concerning aid to retirees in connection with. health . benefits and.in particular "Open Season" changes. . . . . .
It has always been the policy'of the Nuclear . Regulatory .Comnission to aid its retirees in whatever facet of their retirement they require ~
assistance. This applies to all benefits, forms, infonnation searches and comunication with the Office of. Personnel Management whenever necessary. -
Our. benefit officers will be available during Open Season to provide infomation, forms and guidance as to .the benefits provided by the different insurance carriers without endorsing .a specific. plan. We will '
welcome OPM briefings on how to. respond to annuitant inquiries regarding the FEHB program. .
i We realize the special needs of . retirees to .obtain timely and accurate information about health benefits and therefore. intend to do all we can to ensure a smooth and beneficial .0 pen Season for all . employees past and present.
Sincerely, (Signed) Jack W. Roe i
William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations Distribution:
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W. J. Dircks, EDO SECY-83-2383 .
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T. Rehm, Asst. for Opers. .
V. Stello, DEDR0GR P. Norry, Dir. , ADM .
M. Springer, Dep. Dir. , ADM . . .
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TTY *(3c t) p6-0100 E5asijingten, D.C. 20515 February 9, 1984 Nunzio J. Palladino Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555
Dear Chairman Palladino:
Enclosed is correspondence from one of my constituents, Ann Riley of Tayloe Associates, concerning certain contracting practices within your agency. My constituent represents a small busine'ss company and feels that they are not being fairly treated by your agency.
Ms. Riley is requesting that your office review this matter to determine the reasons NRC is not exercising the option year under the existing contract for stenographic reporting services. Tayloe Associates is also concerned that they were not advised of NRC's intentions in this matter.
Thank you for your consideration of the concerns of this small business company. -I would appreciate your pro-viding me with a response.at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely, Michael D. Barnes MDB/mf cc: Ann Riley 2/16..To EDO for Direct Reply... Suspense: Feb 27. 0CA to Ack. 84-0163 N hkN - -.
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MAR 12 1984 DISTRIBUTION:
WJDircks, EDO ACB r/f JRoe, DEDO SECY-84-0163
-CKamnerer, OCA GT 14106 PGNorry, ADM GCunningham, ELD MLSpringer, ADM WKerr, OSDBU/CR ELHalman, DC MJMattia, DC honorable United States Michael HouseD. Barnes of Representatives KADavis, DC EDO r/f I[
Washington, D.C. 20515 DC r/f
Dear Congressman Barnes:
I am pleased to respond to your February 9,1984 inquiry on behalf of your constituent, Ann Riley of Tayloe Associates, regarding the NRC decision not to exercise the option to extend the Tayloe contract.
Contract No. NRC-17-83-399 was awarded to Tayloe Associates for the -
NRC stenographic reporting requirements throughout the United States. -
including the Washington, D.C. area, for the period March 16, 1983 through March 15, 1934. The contract provides that the term may be extended for an additional twelve months at the option of the Govern-ment, provided that a preliminary notice of intent to extend is given to the contractor at least 30 days before the contract expires. Contrary ,
to Ms. Riley's impression, NRC has not exercised such options routinely.
In fact, the current Tayloe contract is the first for stenographic services which contained an option provision.
Before an option may be exercised, the Contracting Officer must determine, in writing, that exercise of the option is the most advantageous method of fulfilling the~ Govemment's need. Procurement regulations specify that price must be the primary factor in making this detemination. Quality of service of- an incumbent contractor may not be considered. In September 1983, we conducted an infomal market survey of prices paid by six other Government agencies for similar services to determine whether we.could anticipate receiving more advantageous pricing by resoliciting the requirement.
Our survey could only reflect similar services because of the wide variances between agencies as to recuirements for del-ivery, travel, complexity of transcripts, and number of copies. The survey showed that NRC was generally paying more for these services than the other agencies, particularly since NRC reimburses travel costs separately and the other agencies surveyed include such costs in their per page price. The survey was made using the basic contract year prices. The Tayloe prices for the option year include a 7.5 per cent increase, exclusive of reimbursable travel costs.
In addition, the lack of. adequate contract incentives to control travel costs through effective use of subcontracting has resulted in even higher i per page prices than had been anticipated. Based on the results of our
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Congressman Barnes survey, the determination required by the Federal Procurement Regulations that the option year prices were better than prices available in the market could not be made. Consequently, the option year under the Tayloe contract could not be exercised.
We believe that the higher prices under the Taylce contract were the direct result of the absence of effective price competition. As you may recall, in May of 1982 (your letter of May 13, 1982 and NRC response dated June 2,1982), the solicitation for these services was set aside for small businesses at the recomendation of the Small Business Administration (SBA). The solicitation was issued to 76 business concerns and only three responded. Of the three, Tayloe was the only concern with whom meaningful negotiations could be conducted.
Based primarily on the history of this procurement, we determined that a -
combination of a small business set-aside for the Washington, D.C. area and an unrestricted competition for those stenographic reporting require-ments outside the D.C. area will best serve the needs of the agency and the small business comunity as well as comply with all applicable procurement regulations.
The notice of NRC's intention to issue two solicitations was published in the Comerce Business _ Daily on January 11, 1934. Tayloe Associates recuested copies of botn solicitations by letter dated January 24, 1984.
Copies of the solicitations, SECY-84-327 and ASB-84-352, were mailed on January 31,1984 and February 6,1984, respectively. While it is not the nomal practice to advise contractors that options will not be exercised, our Administrative Contracting Officer, Tim Hagan spoke with Tayloe's attorney, Mr. Joe Gallo on January 11,1984 and advised him of our intentions.
Tayloe Associates has perfomed well under the present contract and we are hopeful that they will be a viable competitor under our two solicitations.
If we can provide further infomation, please let me know.
Sincerely.
Original Signed by Patricia Norry Patricia G. Norry, Director Office of Administration
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