Seven Steps
to performance-based acquisition
    
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Vetted Samples and Examples
Email samples & examples to Seven Steps team. Important Notice: The very nature of performance-based contracting limits the chances that you will find the "perfect" template, sample, or example to meet your needs. Each requirement has its unique aspects, and each program has its unique objectives, constraints, and intended results. In fact, we recommend in Step 2 not to start with the requirement's former solicitation or a search for templates. The first consideration is, what is the problem the agency needs to solve? What results are needed? Will it meet the organizational and mission objectives? Nonetheless, as learning considerations, we offer the following examples, complete in many cases with "helpful hints" at the end of the documents. These examples were chosen based primarly on predetermined criteria.

Websites with Samples

STEP 1: Establish the team.

FAA's Team Charter Template (from FAA's Team Plan or Charter Guidelines Document)
Team Charter Template (Generic)
NWS' Sample Project Plan (Class VIII computing system)
Sample Ground Rules and Operating Procedures for Teams (Generic)
Roles and Responsibilities Matrix


STEP 2: Describe the problem.

STEP 3: Examine private-sector & public-sector solutions.

STEP 4: Develop PWS or SOO.

Comparison: From PWS to a SOO
Commerce's Guard Services, Before and After

Performance Matrices
Commerce's Computer Help Desk Support
Commerce's Help Desk AQLs
Performance Templates (Various generic IT samples)
Energy's Procurement Technical Support and Management
Sample Performance Examples and AQLs (Various - generic)

Performance Work Statements (PWS)
DoD's PWS for Emergency Room Services
DoD's PWS for Commissary Bakery
IRS Guard Services PWS
DoD's PWS for Medical Examinations
AF's Statement of Work for AF Base Custodial Services
SSA's Statement of Work for Local Area Network Maintenance
Table of Contents for PWS (Generic)
Scope of Work for the Development of Closure Plan and Sampling of Open Burning Grounds at Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant
VA's PWS for Cemetery Grounds Maintenance
NIH's sample PWS and guidance for developing performance requirements and QASPs
Sample R&D PWS

Statement of Objectives
Business Transformation Agency (BTA)/DISA SOO (Online Representations and Certifications Application)
Commerce's NexRad SOO (Upgrade to NEXRAD Radar Product Generators)
Custom's Modified SOO to add performance incentives (National Uniform Program)
Customs' PBSA SOO (Facilitated Improvement in Performance Based Contracting)
DISA's Draft RFP for "Electromagnetic Spectrum Engineering Services."
FEMA Flood Map Modernization SOO (mapping services)
FSA Front End Business Integration SOO (IT support services and program and change management)
HHS' National Health Service Corps Matching and Monitoring
GSA's Management Support for the Applied Learning Center SOO (Program Management, Organizational Change Management, Statistical Analysis, Administrative Support)
Navy RFP for Performance-Based Services Acquisition (PBSA) Support
NOAA's Expert Environmental Review Process Services
GSA's Performance-Based Contracting Training SOO
US Special Operations Command's solicitation for "Technology Demonstration"
VBA Loan Servicing SOO

Pre-Solicitation Notice
Commerce, Pre-solicitation notice implementing the multi-step advisory down-select process

Solicitation
SSA's BPA for IT Support Services
IRS Solicitation with PWS for Custodial/Grounds Maintenance Services
Commerce's COMMITS NexGen Solicitation (IT Services GWAC Limited to Small Businesses)
TSA's Instructions for Task Order Proposal Submission for Information Technology Managed Services Task Order Competition (with SOO)
NASA's solicitation for a "Crew Exploration Vehicle"
DISA's Solicitation for "Enterprise Business Modernization (EBM) project." (zip file)
GSA's Solicitation for Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) system (web-based Government-wide Point of Entry for federal agencies and contractors for federal procurement opportunities)
GSA's Solicitation for Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation (FPDS-NG) (government-wide electronic data collection and management information dissemination system)
USDA's Solicitation with PWS for Animal Handling Services
DoD's Solicitation with PWS for Physical Therapy & Speech Pathology Service
GSA's Solicitation with Statement of Work for Custodial Services
USPTO Solicitation for Human Resources Operations and Customer Service Support Acquisition This acquisition was the 2004 Excellence in Performance-Based Service Acquisition Award-winner. As submitted by the agency, accomplishments include "significantly decreased turnaround times for all personnel actions, a reduction in backlog, and excellent data entry, coding, and filing accuracy." The contract features "carefully selected performance standards, performance measures, and performance incentives."
-Solicitation
-Attachment A, Glossary of Terms
-Attachment B, Current Workflow Process
-Attachment C, Personnel and Payroll Document Types
-Attachment D, HCUP-Indebtedness Procedures for Contractors (Data Entry Processing Unit)
-Attachment E, OHR Customer Service Process
-Attachment F, Sample Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)

VA's Solicitation "Cemetery Facilities Maintenance" (This is a very good sample of a PWS, listing all the work required to maintain a cemetery, along with performance measures and metrics.)


STEP 5: Decide how to measure & manage performance.

HHS's Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan for Grants.gov
DOE's Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan for the New Brunswick Laboratory A-76 Competition
USDA's QASP for Facility Operations and Maintenance Support Services
DOI's Sample QASP for Charge Card Database Management System
USCG's Draft Award Term Plan for the Integrated Deepwater System
IRS's Quality Assurance Plan for Guard Services
Treasury's Quality Assurance Plan for Seat Management Services
NASA's Quality Assurance Plan for Software
Quality Assurance Plan Guidance, Checklists, Examples, and Templates (Generic)
USPTO's Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan for Human Resources Operations and Customer Service Support
Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan for Software Design, Development, and Maintenance (Generic)
Army's Standard Procurement System Help Desk Metrics
Department of the Navy, Seaport Sample: Award Term Plan (Generic)
NRC Award Term Evaluation Plan
NASA's Performance Standards for General Administrative Support Services and Incentive Plan (Very detailed)
NASA's Sample Award Fee Plan


STEP 6: Select the right contractor.

STEP 7: Manage Performance.

Articles on Performance-Based Acquisition

A Proposal For A New Approach To Performance-Based Services Acquisition
September 2007, Defense Acquisition Review Journal

Roofing Services: A Sourcing Case Study
May 2007, Contract Management, NCMA

Performance Accountability: The 5 Building Blocks and 6 Essential Practices
2006, IBM Center for the Business of Government

I-10, Another Victim of the Storm [Hurricane Katrina], Enjoys a Quick Rebirth
January 3, 2006, New York Times

Developing Performance Criteria for Professional Services
Mike Cameron, Booz-Allen-Hamilton

Public Statement on PBA to the Acquisition Advisory Panel
August 8, 2005, Acquisition Solutions, Inc.

Learning Curve: Integrators get up-to-speed on performance-based contracting
March 14, 2005, FCW.com

Making Performance-Based Contracting (and Relationships) Work
Winter 2003-04, The Public Manager

Contracting for Performance: No More Acquisition Think
October 2003, GovPro.com

It's what's up front that counts
November 10, 2003, GCN.com

OFPP to standardize program for performance-based contracting
April 8, 2003, GCN.com

Tame the Compliance Monster
April 1, 2002, GCN.com

GSA puts contracting tool online
January 22, 2002, FCW.COM


 
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