U. S. Department of Energy Data Collection & Reporting
Added: Jul 08, 2016 3:03 pm This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation Number: DE-SOL-000010088; this solicitation is issued as a Request for Proposal (RFP). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect tough Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-88, effective May 16, 2016. This requirement is a 100% small business set-aside. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541720, Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities, and the size standard is $20.5 million. Contract Line Item: Item Description 0001 The contractor shall provide all tools, labor, travel, materials, and equipment necessary to perform the work described in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) entitled “U.S. Energy Employment Data Collection and Report” dated June 22, 2016 for Year 1. Firm Fixed Price. 0002 The contractor shall provide all tools, labor, travel, materials, and equipment necessary to perform the work described in the PWS entitled “U.S. Energy Employment Data Collection and Report” dated June 22, 2016 for Year 2. Firm Fixed Price. 0003 The contractor shall provide all tools, labor, travel, materials, and equipment necessary to perform the work described in the PWS entitled “U.S. Energy Employment Data Collection and Report” dated June 22, 2016 for Year 3. Firm Fixed Price. 1001 Data in support of CLIN 0001. Not Separately Priced. 1002 Data in support of CLIN 0002. Not Separately Priced. 1003 Data in support of CLIN 0003. Not Separately Priced. Period of Performance: Tee (3) years from the date of award. Delivery, Inspection and Acceptance: FOB destination Delivery Address: 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585 The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial, applies to this acquisition with the following addenda to the provision: 1. Submission of offers. Submit signed and dated offers via the FEDCONNECT website (https://www.fedconnect.net) at or before the exact time specified in this solicitation. Late offers will be processed in accordance with FAR 52.212-1(f) “Late submission, modifications, revisions, and withdrawals of offers.” NOTE: NO CHANGES ARE ALLOWED AFTER TIME OF SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS. As a minimum, offers must provide: (a) Technical Proposal Offeror shall provide documentation that demonstrates the offeror’s ability to meet the technical requirements as contained in the PWS. Technical proposals should not just be a parroting of the requirement. Offerors shall use descriptive and explanatory elements in addressing all elements. A single statement of offeror compliance will not be accepted in lieu of an explanatory description and shall disqualify the offeror from contract award consideration. Proposals that do not address all elements in the noted sections individually may not be reviewed and may not be given contract award consideration. The technical proposal shall be submitted as a separate file from the price proposal. Maximum page limit: 30 pages. (b) Past Performance Past performance information will be obtained from the Governmentwide Past Performance Information Retrieval System and/or any other reasonable basis. (c) Price Offeror shall propose a firm-fixed price for each line item of the solicitation. The price shall be submitted as a separate file from the technical proposal. No page limit. (d) The Government intends to evaluate offers and award a contract without discussions with offerors. Therefore, the offeror’s initial offer should contain the offeror’s best terms from a price and technical standpoint. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if later determined by the Contracting Officer to be necessary. The Government may reject any or all offers if such action is in the public interest; accept other than the lowest offer; and waive informalities and minor irregularities in offers received. 2. Offer must agree with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. Offers that fail to furnish required representations or information, or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration. 3. The offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 90 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers, unless another time period is specified in an addendum to the solicitation. 4. Offeror must comply with the requirements of FAR 52.212-1(j) “Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number” and FAR 52.212-1(k) “System for Award Management” to be eligible for award. Addendum to FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation -- Commercial Items 1. An initial review of proposals will be conducted to determine acceptability of the proposals. An offeror whose proposal does not comply with the solicitation submittal requirements may be determined unacceptable. All unacceptable proposals will be eliminated from further evaluation. 2. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforms to the solicitation and that will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: Technical Capability Past Performance Price Technical Capability and Past Performance, when combined, are significantly more important than price. (a) Technical Capability: Technical capability reveals the offeror’s comprehensive understanding and application of techniques, methods, and procedures required to efficiently execute the contract resulting from this solicitation. The Government will evaluate the offerors submitted documentation to determine the offeror’s ability to meet or exceed the requirements of the attached Performance Work Statement (PWS). Offerors that do not meet or exceed the requirements of the PWS will not be considered for award. The Technical Capability rating for award of the contract will consist of evaluation of the offerors submitted documentation and response to the following eight listed items. 1. A plan for data management controls and project management. 2. A plan for training survey takers. 3. A plan for compliance with CIPSEA. 4. Demonstrate established data collection operation, including phone bank, survey interviewing process, training and methodology 5. Provide examples of capability to gather and manage information, conduct analysis, and communicate effectively, verbally and in writing. 6. Demonstrate expertise in report writing. 7. Demonstrate expertise in graphic design, layout and presentation skills. 8. Demonstrate experience with: a. Survey data collection and report writing b. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system, Current Population Survey, Census, BEA, and BLS data, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Occupational Outlook Quarterly, Quarterly Census on Employment and Wages, Current Employment Survey c. Deep knowledge of economics and labor statistical information and similar data d. Labor market and comparative analysis (National, state, local and regional) e. Electronic records management f. Use of Excel and other software g. Data and content management h. Data warehousing i. Database development j. Website development, and online content development/deployment a k. Advanced data visualization techniques, graphic design l. Federal government data, IT, web, and survey standards, access and governance m. Graphic design and layout (b) Past Performance: The offeror’s past performance record will be evaluated and assigned a rating of acceptable or unacceptable. The Government will evaluate offerors with no relevant past performance as neutral. The evaluation will consider past performance information obtained from the Governmentwide Past Performance Information Retrieval System and/or any/other reasonable basis. An offeror that is rated unacceptable will not be considered for award. (c) Price: Price will be evaluated for reasonableness by comparing the proposed prices received in response to the solicitation. (d) Basis for Award: The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror using the best value continuum where Technical Capability and Past Performance are significantly more important than price. By submission of its offer, the offeror accedes to all solicitation requirements, including terms and conditions, representations and certifications, in addition to those identified as evaluation factors. 3. A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. Offeror shall include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items, with its offer. FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items, apply to this acquisition with the following addenda to the clause: 52.203-3 Gratuities (Apr 1984) 52.203-17 Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights And Requirement To Inform Employees Of Whistleblower Rights (Apr 2014) 52.204-4 Printed Or Copied Double-Sided On Postconsumer Fiber Content Paper (May 2011) 52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance (Jul 2013) 52.204-18 Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance (Nov 2014) 52.232-39 Unenforceability of Unauthorized Obligations (Jun 2013) 52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (Dec 2013) 52.233-1 Disputes (May 2014) 52.242-13 Bankruptcy (Jul 1995) Data (Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA)) (a) DOE Data Rights. The Government shall have ownership rights in all data produced in the performance of the contract which uses, incorporates or is based on DOE furnished data and in all programs and data produced in the performance of this contract. When specified by the Contracting Officer or in any event upon termination of the contract, all such programs and data shall be delivered to DOE in machine readable form and made operational for use at the DOE computer facility. (b) Restrictions on Use of DOE Data. The contractor acknowledges that data furnished to it by DOE may contain information which must be held in confidence. Accordingly, the contractor agrees to retain such data in confidence and not to use any DOE furnished data except in the performance of this contract. Further, the contractor shall not duplicate or disclose any DOE furnished data or data in which the Government has ownership rights under this contract without the prior written authorization of the Contracting Officer. The contractor agrees to maintain such data in accordance with this clause and the clause "Confidentiality of Information" if included in this contract. (c) Standards and Documentation. The contractor shall comply with all standards contained in the U.S. Energy Information Administration Standards Manual, and as imposed by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) regarding the design and implementation of data systems. All data systems developed by the contractor must be documented in conformance with guidelines set forth in Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) Publication 38, Guidelines for Documentation of Computer Programs and Automated Data Systems. The Director, Office of Information Technology (OIT) is the source of information on DOE ADP standards and related computer activities. (d) Data Validation. Pursuant to Section 54 of the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974, and Section 11(b) (2) of the Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act, of 1974, the U.S. Energy Information Administration is authorized to audit the validity of energy information. Therefore, the Government reserves the right to conduct follow-up inquiries, investigations, and/or audits as necessary to establish the meaningfulness, accuracy, reliability, and precision of any data or models used in and/or generated under this contract. Upon request by the Contracting Officer, the contractor shall assist with such inquiries, investigations, and/or audits by DOE both of the resulting products and of the methodology used to arrive at those products. (e) Contractor Security Requirements. The contractor shall establish administrative, technical and physical security measures to protect DOE furnished data marked as "Official Use Only" data from unauthorized disclosure or use, and to prevent unauthorized access to the DOE computer system via the contractor's terminals. Failure to adequately protect “Official Use Only” data from unauthorized disclosure or misuse, or failure to prevent unauthorized access to, or misuse of, the DOE computer system from a contractor owned or operated terminal may result in a termination of the contract for default. DOE reserves the right to inspect the contractor’s physical security measures, storage methods, data handling procedures and other security safeguards to determine the security posture of the contractor's facility. (f) Specific Contractor Security Requirements for the Protection of “Official Use Only” (OUO) Data. The specific security requirements for the protection of data are: (1) The contractor facility must be located in a building which has a 24-hour guard force or other adequate physical security measures to limit access to authorized personnel only. (2) Physical access to contractor office areas containing OUO data must be restricted to authorized personnel only. Office areas must be equipped with appropriate locking devices, and must be secured during non-work hours. (3) Storage of OUO data – “Official Use Only” data, when not in actual use, must be stored by one of the following methods: (i) In a locked, bar security container; (ii) In a locked room over which a security guard maintains periodic surveillance during non-work hours. (4) Destruction of OUO data – “Official Use Only” Information must be disposed of in a secure manner so as to preclude its reconstruction. Approved destruction methods include: (i) Burning; (ii) Pulping; (iii) Disintegrating; (iv) Sedding; and (v) Chemical disposition. (5) Under no circumstances shall “Official Use Only” material be disposed of in an unapproved security disposal. (6) Transmission of “Official Use Only” Information - OUO Information may be sent from the contractor facility by: (i) Special messenger or courier authorized by DOE to handle OUO material; (ii) Regular U.S. mail, or commercial services; (iii) Teleprocessing lines; or (iv) Authorized contractor personnel. (7) OUO material sent by the contractor will be secured in such a way so as to preclude disclosure during transit. OUO material must be transmitted under cover of a protective cover sheet marked with the legend "Official Use Only". (8) Marking Requirements for OUO data: (i) Reports containing “Official Use Only” data shall be marked with the legend "Official Use Only" on the front cover, and on each internal page of the document, in bold, conspicuous letters. All OUO reports generated by the computer system will have the required markings automatically printed on the document. (ii) Any machine readable medium (e.g. magnetic tape reels, card decks, etc.) which contains “Official Use Only” information will bear a clear external marking designating the contents "Official Use Only." (9) Release of “Official Use Only” data - All requests received by the contractor for Official Use Only data will be referred to DOE for action. (10) Specific contractor computer Security Requirements are: (i) Terminals used to access the DOE computer system will be located in locked office areas, and physical access limited to authorized individuals only. (ii) Telephone numbers of the DOE computer system, security identifiers, log-on keywords, and data set passwords will be safeguarded from unauthorized use or disclosure. (iii) Only those contractor personnel who have been formally validated by the COR may access the DOE computer system. (iv) Contractor personnel will access only those data sets which have been approved by the DOE Project Officer. (v) The COR will be notified immediately should any contractor personnel possessing current log-on keywords leave the project. (vi) All contractor personnel accessing the DOE ADP system must be familiar with the DOE Security Directive, and with DOE computer system security policy and procedures published by the DOE’s Information Technology Group. (vii) The contractor agrees to appoint an individual as the Contractor Computer Security Officer, who will be responsible for ensuring that DOE Security policy and procedures are complied with. (End of Clause) DOE-G-2005 Billing Instructions (OCT 2014) (a) Contractors shall use Standard Form 1034, Public Voucher for Purchases and Services Other than Personal, when requesting payment for work performed under the contract. (b) Contractors shall submit vouchers electronically tough the Oak Ridge Financial Service Center's (ORFSC) Vendor Inquiry Payment Electronic Reporting System (VIPERS). VIPERS allows vendors to submit vouchers, attach supporting documentation and check the payment status of any voucher submitted to the DOE. Instructions concerning contractor enrollment and use of VIPERS can be found at https://vipers.doe.gov. (c) A paper copy of a voucher that has been submitted electronically will not be accepted. (End of Clause) DOE-G-2007 Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting (OCT 2014) (a) The Contracting Officer will document the Contractor’s performance under this contract (including any task orders placed against it, if applicable) by using the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). CPARS information is handled as “Source Selection Information.” Performance assessments entered into CPARS by the Contracting Officer are transmitted to the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS) which is maintained by the Department of Defense (DoD). Information in PPIRS is available to authorized Government personnel seeking past performance information when evaluating proposals for award. (b) Contractor performance will be evaluated at least annually at the contract or task order level, as determined by the Contracting Officer. Evaluation categories may include any or all of the following at the Government’s discretion: (1) quality, (2) schedule, (3) business relations, (4) business management/key personnel, and (5) cost/price. PPIRS information is available at http://www.ppirs.gov, and CPARS information is available at http://www.cpars.gov. It is recommended that the Contractor take the overview training that can be found on the CPARS website. The Contractor shall acknowledge receipt of the Government’s request for comments on CPARS assessments at the time it is received and shall respond to such requests within thirty (30) calendar days of the request. (End of Clause) FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes Or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following additional FAR clauses cited in the clause are applicable to the acquisition: 52.203-6 Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (Sept 2006), with Alternate I (Oct 1995) 52.204-10 Reporting Executive compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (Jul 2013) 52.209-6 Protecting the Government’s Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (Aug 2013) 52.209-9 Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters (Jul 2013) 52.209-10 Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (Dec 2014) 52.219-6 Notice of Total Small Business Aside (Nov 2011) 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting (Nov 2011) 52.219-28 Post Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (Jul 2013) 52.222-3 Convict Labor (June 2003) 52.222-19 Child Labor—Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Jan 2014) 52.222-21 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015) 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity (Apr 2015) 52.222-35 Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Jul 2014) 52.222-36 Equal Opportunity for Workers With Disabilities (Jul 2014) 52.222-37 Employment Reports on Veterans (Jul 2014) 52.222-40 Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (Dec 2010) 52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons (Mar 2015) 52.223-18 Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging while Driving (Aug 2011) 52.225-1 Buy American--Supplies (May 2014) 52.227-14 Rights in Data—General (May 2014) 52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer— System for Award Management (Jul 2013) 52.233-3 Protest After Award (Aug. 1996) 52.233-4 Applicable Law For Breach Of Contract Claim (OCT 2004) In order for DOE to receive an offeror’s response tough the Strategic Integrated Procurement Enterprise System (STRIPES), all current and potential acquisition and financial assistance firms must be registered at the Compusearch FedConnect vendor portal, which is located at https://www.fedconnect.net. To get more information about FedConnect and to register your company, open your Internet browser and go to https://www.fedconnect.net. To view the solicitation, click on “Search Public Opportunities” and search for the solicitation by using number DE-SOL-000010088. Instructions on how to submit your offer electronically can be found in the help document, which is located under the “Have questions” link on the FedConnect page. If there are any technical difficulties with using FedConnect, please contact the FedConnect help desk at 1-800-899-6665. Offers are due by August 1, 2016, 4:00 pm Eastern Time. All questions regarding this solicitation shall be submitted tough FedConnect by July 25, 2016. Please note that telephone or email inquiries regarding this solicitation will not receive a response.
DE-SOL-0010088 Department of Energy Headquarters
7/8/16, 3:03 PM