20190405_SSS_GRE.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS

THIS IS A Sources Sought Notice ONLY. The U.S. Government currently intends to award a contract for the Graduate Record Examination on an SOLE SOURCE basis, but is seeking vendors that may be able to perform this requirement in order to support a competitive procurement. Accordingly, the U.S. Government highly encourages all interested businesses (large and small) to respond to this sources sought synopsis. In addition, small businesses, in all socioeconomic categories (including, 8(a) Business Development Program, Small Disadvantage Business, Historically Underutilized Business Zone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Women-Owned Small Business concerns), must describe their identifying capabilities in meeting the requirements at a fair market price, i.e., information which may help support a set-aside.

The proposed fixed-price sole source contract to administer the Graduate Record Examination to captains attending the Captains’ Career Course in fiscal year 2019. The statutory authority for the sole source procurement is 10 United States Code 2304(c)(1) as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. Attached is the draft “statement of work.”

This notice does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ)/Invitation for Bid (IFB)/Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFQ, IFB or RFP in the future. This notice does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service. Further, the U.S. Government is not seeking quotes, bids or proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals in response to this sources sought notice.

The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this notice. Submittals will not be returned to the responder. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. However, if a competitive solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Governmentwide Point of Entry. It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the Governmentwide Point of Entry for additional information pertaining to this requirement. The NAICS code is anticipated to be: 611710.

In response to this sources sought, please provide:

1. Identify any condition or action that may be having the effect of unnecessarily restricting competition with respect to this acquisition and identify alternatives or solution solutions. Also contact the MICC Advocate for Competition, Scott Kukes, at scott.d.kukes.civ@mail.mil or 210-466-3015, if you believe that this action is unreasonably restricting competition. Include the subject of the acquisition, this announcement, and the MICC POC information from the Sources Sought Synopsis.

Provide the specific aspects that unreasonably restrict competition and the rationale for such conclusion.

2. Name of the firm, point of contact, phone number, email address, DUNS number, CAGE code, identify business size (large business or a small business), and if applicable, a statement regarding small business status (including small business type(s)/certifications(s) such as SDB, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, etc.) and the corresponding NAICS code.

3. Identify whether your firm is interested in competing for this requirement as a prime contractor or not. Identify subcontracting, joint ventures or teaming arrangement that will be pursued, if any.

4. Information in sufficient detail regarding previous experience (indicate whether as a prime contractor or subcontractor) on similar requirements (include size, scope, complexity, timeframe, government or commercial), pertinent certifications, etc., that will facilitate making a capability determination.

5. Information to help determine if the service requirement is commercially available, including pricing information, and the basis for the pricing information for example (market pricing, catalog pricing), delivery schedules, customary terms and conditions, warranties, etc.

6. Identify how the Army can best structure these contract requirements to facilitate competition, including competition among small business concerns.

7. Recommendations to improve the Army's approach/specifications/draft PWS/PRS to acquiring the identified items/services.

8: The contract type is anticipated to be a blanket purchase agreement. A secret clearance is not required. The period of performance is anticipated to be 15-June-19 through 14-June-2023. FAR Clause 52.217-8 is likely to be used as part of this requirement.

9. Reponses to this notice shall be sent to:

Shelly.r.goetz.civ@mail.mil with a copy to Shelton.l.watson.civ@mail.mil. Response shall be provided in either MS Word or PDF format and must be limited to 5 MB to ensure receipt by the government. No telephone responses will be accepted.

Please provide responses in writing no later than 2:00 pm Central Time by April 22, 2019.