Continuation of 1449.docx

B. CONTINUATION OF THE SF 1449

B.1 Continuation of Block 16—ADMINISTERED BY

B.1.1. CONTRACTING OFFICER

The Contracting Officer (CO) has the overall responsibility for the administration of this contract. The CO alone, without delegation, is authorized to take actions on behalf of the Government to amend, modify or deviate from the contract terms, conditions, requirements, specifications, details and/or delivery schedules; issue task orders against the contract; make final decisions on disputed deductions from contract payments for nonperformance, or unsatisfactory performance; terminate the contract for convenience or default; and issue final decisions regarding contract questions or matters under dispute. However, the CO may delegate certain other responsibilities to the CO Contracting Officer’s Representatives (COR). All delegated duties will be specified in writing by a COR Appointment and Delegation Notice.

[End of Text]

B.2 Continuation of Block 18b—INVOICES

B.2.1 INVOICE SUBMISSION (April 2013)

INVOICE PROCESSING PLATFORM (IPP)

Effective May 6, 2013, payment requests must be submitted electronically through the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).

“Payment Request” means any request for contract financing payment or invoice payment by the Contractor. To constitute a proper invoice, the payment request must comply with the requirements identified in the applicable Prompt Payment clause included in the contract, or the clause 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Items included in commercial item contracts. The IPP website address is: https://www.ipp.gov.

The Contractor must use the IPP website to register, access and use IPP for submitting requests for payment. Contractor assistance with enrollment, UserIDs and Passwords can be obtained by contacting the IPP Helpdesk via email at IPP Customer Support Desk at 1-866-973-3131 or IPPCustomerSupport@fms.treas.gov. For all other IPP issues, please contact: National Finance Center’s Controller Operations Division (COD) Helpdesk at 1-877-243-3072 or COD.HELP@usda.gov

(End of text)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

https://www.acquisition.gov (End of Clause)

C.2 FAR 52.212-5 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS—COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JAN 2018)

(a) The Contractor shall comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses, which are incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

(1) 52.203-19, Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements (Jan 2017) (section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235) and its successor provisions in subsequent appropriations acts (and as extended in continuing resolutions)).

(2) 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (Nov 2015).

(3) 52.233-3, Protest After Award (Aug 1996) (31 U.S.C. 3553).

(4) 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (Oct 2004)(Public Laws 108-77 and 108-78 (19 U.S.C. 3805 note)).

(b) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b) that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

[Contracting Officer check as appropriate.] __ (1) 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (Sept 2006), with Alternate I (Oct 1995) (41 U.S.C. 4704 and 10 U.S.C. 2402).

__ (2) 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (Oct 2015) (41 U.S.C. 3509)).

_X_ (3) 52.203-15, Whistleblower Protections under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (June 2010) (Section 1553 of Pub. L. 111-5). (Applies to contracts funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.)

_X_ (4) 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (Oct 2016) (Pub. L. 109-282) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

__ (5) [Reserved].

__ (6) 52.204-14, Service Contract Reporting Requirements (Oct 2016) (Pub. L. 111-117, section 743 of Div. C).

__ (7) 52.204-15, Service Contract Reporting Requirements for Indefinite-Delivery Contracts (Oct 2016) (Pub. L. 111-117, section 743 of Div. C).

__ (8) 52.209-6, Protecting the Government’s Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment. (Oct 2015) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

_X_ (9) 52.209-9, Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters (Jul 2013) (41 U.S.C. 2313).

__ (10) [Reserved].

__ (11)(i) 52.219-3, Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole-Source Award (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 657a).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Nov 2011) of 52.219-3.

__ (12)(i) 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (Oct 2014) (if the offeror elects to waive the preference, it shall so indicate in its offer) (15 U.S.C. 657a).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Jan 2011) of 52.219-4.

__ (13) [Reserved] __ (14)(i) 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Nov 2011).

__ (iii) Alternate II (Nov 2011).

__ (15)(i) 52.219-7, Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside (June 2003) (15 U.S.C. 644).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Oct 1995) of 52.219-7.

__ (iii) Alternate II (Mar 2004) of 52.219-7.

__ (16) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Nov 2016) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)).

__ (17)(i) 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Jan 2017) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(4)).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9.

__ (iii) Alternate II (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9.

__ (iv) Alternate III (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9.

__ (v) Alternate IV (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9.

__ (18) 52.219-13, Notice of Set-Aside of Orders (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644(r)).

__ (19) 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting (Jan 2017) (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(14)).

__ (20) 52.219-16, Liquidated Damages—Subcontracting Plan (Jan 1999) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(4)(F)(i)).

__ (21) 52.219-27, Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 657 f).

__ (22) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (Jul 2013) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)).

__ (23) 52.219-29, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns (Dec 2015) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).

__ (24) 52.219-30, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Women-Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under the Women-Owned Small Business Program (Dec 2015) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).

_X_ (25) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (June 2003) (E.O. 11755).

_X (26) 52.222-19, Child Labor—Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Jan 2018) (E.O. 13126).

_X_ (27) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015).

_X_ (28) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Sept 2016) (E.O. 11246).

_X_ (29) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Oct 2015)(38 U.S.C. 4212).

_X_ (30) 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jul 2014) (29 U.S.C. 793).

__ (31) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (Feb 2016) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

_X_ (32) 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (Dec 2010) (E.O. 13496).

_X_ (33)(i) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Mar 2015) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Mar 2015) of 52.222-50 (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627).

__ (34) 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (Oct 2015). (Executive Order 12989). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items or certain other types of commercial items as prescribed in 22.1803.)

__ (35)(i) 52.223-9, Estimate of Percentage of Recovered Material Content for EPA–Designated Items (May 2008) (42 U.S.C. 6962(c)(3)(A)(ii)). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items.)

__ (ii) Alternate I (May 2008) of 52.223-9 (42 U.S.C. 6962(i)(2)(C)). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items.)

__ (36) 52.223-11, Ozone-Depleting Substances and High Global Warming Potential Hydrofluorocarbons (Jun 2016) (E.O. 13693).

__ (37) 52.223-12, Maintenance, Service, Repair, or Disposal of Refrigeration Equipment and Air Conditioners (Jun 2016) (E.O. 13693).

__ (38)(i) 52.223-13, Acquisition of EPEAT®-Registered Imaging Equipment (Jun 2014) (E.O.s 13423 and 13514).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Oct 2015) of 52.223-13.

__ (39)(i) 52.223-14, Acquisition of EPEAT®-Registered Televisions (Jun 2014) (E.O.s 13423 and 13514).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Jun 2014) of 52.223-14.

__ (40) 52.223-15, Energy Efficiency in Energy-Consuming Products (Dec 2007) (42 U.S.C. 8259b).

__ (41)(i) 52.223-16, Acquisition of EPEAT®-Registered Personal Computer Products (Oct 2015) (E.O.s 13423 and 13514).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Jun 2014) of 52.223-16.

__ (42) 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (Aug 2011) (E.O. 13513).

__ (43) 52.223-20, Aerosols (Jun 2016) (E.O. 13693).

__ (44) 52.223-21, Foams (Jun 2016) (E.O. 13693).

__ (45)(i) 52.224-3, Privacy Training (JAN 2017) (5 U.S.C. 552a).

__ (ii) Alternate I (JAN 2017) of 52.224-3.

__ (46) 52.225-1, Buy American—Supplies (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 83).

__ (47)(i) 52.225-3, Buy American—Free Trade Agreements—Israeli Trade Act (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 83, 19 U.S.C. 3301 note, 19 U.S.C. 2112 note, 19 U.S.C. 3805 note, 19 U.S.C. 4001 note, Pub. L. 103-182, 108-77, 108-78, 108-286, 108-302, 109-53, 109-169, 109-283, 110-138, 112-41, 112-42, and 112-43.

__ (ii) Alternate I (May 2014) of 52.225-3.

__ (iii) Alternate II (May 2014) of 52.225-3.

__ (iv) Alternate III (May 2014) of 52.225-3.

__ (48) 52.225-5, Trade Agreements (Oct 2016) (19 U.S.C. 2501, et seq., 19 U.S.C. 3301 note).

__ (49) 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (June 2008) (E.O.’s, proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury).

__ (50) 52.225-26, Contractors Performing Private Security Functions Outside the United States (Oct 2016) (Section 862, as amended, of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008; 10 U.S.C. 2302 Note).

__ (51) 52.226-4, Notice of Disaster or Emergency Area Set-Aside (Nov 2007) (42 U.S.C. 5150).

__ (52) 52.226-5, Restrictions on Subcontracting Outside Disaster or Emergency Area (Nov 2007) (42 U.S.C. 5150).

__ (53) 52.232-29, Terms for Financing of Purchases of Commercial Items (Feb 2002) (41 U.S.C. 4505, 10 U.S.C. 2307(f)).

__ (54) 52.232-30, Installment Payments for Commercial Items (Jan 2017) (41 U.S.C. 4505, 10 U.S.C. 2307(f)).

_X_ (55) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer—System for Award Management (Jul 2013) (31 U.S.C. 3332).

__ (56) 52.232-34, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer—Other than System for Award Management (Jul 2013) (31 U.S.C. 3332).

__ (57) 52.232-36, Payment by Third Party (May 2014) (31 U.S.C. 3332).

__ (58) 52.239-1, Privacy or Security Safeguards (Aug 1996) (5 U.S.C. 552a).

__ (59) 52.242-5, Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (Jan 2017)(15 U.S.C. 637(d)(12)).

__ (60)(i) 52.247-64, Preference for Privately Owned U.S.-Flag Commercial Vessels (Feb 2006) (46 U.S.C. Appx. 1241(b) and 10 U.S.C. 2631).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Apr 2003) of 52.247-64.

(c) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (c), applicable to commercial services, that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

[Contracting Officer check as appropriate.] __ (1) 52.222-17, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers (May 2014)(E.O. 13495).

__ (2) 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

__ (3) 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires (May 2014) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

__ (4) 52.222-43, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards-Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts) (May 2014) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

__ (5) 52.222-44, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards—Price Adjustment (May 2014) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

__ (6) 52.222-51, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment—Requirements (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

__ (7) 52.222-53, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Certain Services—Requirements (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

__ (8) 52.222-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (Dec 2015).

__ (9) 52.222-62, Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 (JAN 2017) (E.O. 13706).

__ (10) 52.226-6, Promoting Excess Food Donation to Nonprofit Organizations (May 2014) (42 U.S.C. 1792).

__ (11) 52.237-11, Accepting and Dispensing of $1 Coin (Sept 2008) (31 U.S.C. 5112(p)(1)).

(d) Comptroller General Examination of Record. The Contractor shall comply with the provisions of this paragraph (d) if this contract was awarded using other than sealed bid, is in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold, and does not contain the clause at 52.215-2, Audit and Records—Negotiation.

(1) The Comptroller General of the United States, or an authorized representative of the Comptroller General, shall have access to and right to examine any of the Contractor’s directly pertinent records involving transactions related to this contract.

(2) The Contractor shall make available at its offices at all reasonable times the records, materials, and other evidence for examination, audit, or reproduction, until 3 years after final payment under this contract or for any shorter period specified in FAR subpart 4.7, Contractor Records Retention, of the other clauses of this contract. If this contract is completely or partially terminated, the records relating to the work terminated shall be made available for 3 years after any resulting final termination settlement. Records relating to appeals under the disputes clause or to litigation or the settlement of claims arising under or relating to this contract shall be made available until such appeals, litigation, or claims are finally resolved.

(3) As used in this clause, records include books, documents, accounting procedures and practices, and other data, regardless of type and regardless of form. This does not require the Contractor to create or maintain any record that the Contractor does not maintain in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to a provision of law.

(e)(1) Notwithstanding the requirements of the clauses in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this clause, the Contractor is not required to flow down any FAR clause, other than those in this paragraph (e)(1) in a subcontract for commercial items. Unless otherwise indicated below, the extent of the flow down shall be as required by the clause—

(i) 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (Oct 2015) (41 U.S.C. 3509).

(ii) 52.203-19, Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements (Jan 2017) (section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235) and its successor provisions in subsequent appropriations acts (and as extended in continuing resolutions)).

(iii) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Nov 2016) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)), in all subcontracts that offer further subcontracting opportunities. If the subcontract (except subcontracts to small business concerns) exceeds $700,000 ($1.5 million for construction of any public facility), the subcontractor must include 52.219-8 in lower tier subcontracts that offer subcontracting opportunities.

(iv) 52.222-17, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers (May 2014) (E.O. 13495). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (l) of FAR clause 52.222-17.

(v) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015)

(vi) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Sept 2016) (E.O. 11246).

(vii) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Oct 2015) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

(viii) 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jul 2014) (29 U.S.C. 793).

(ix) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (Feb 2016) (38 U.S.C. 4212)

(x) 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (Dec 2010) (E.O. 13496). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (f) of FAR clause 52.222-40.

(xi) 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

(xii) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Mar 2015) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O 13627). Alternate I (Mar 2015) of 52.222-50 (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O 13627).

(xiii) 52.222-51, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment-Requirements (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

(xiv) 52.222-53, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Certain Services-Requirements (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

(xv) 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (Oct 2015) (E.O. 12989).

(xvi) 52.222-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (Dec 2015).

(xvii) 52.222-62, Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 (Jan 2017) (E.O. 13706).

(xviii)(A) 52.224-3, Privacy Training (Jan 2017) (5 U.S.C. 552a).

(B) Alternate I (Jan 2017) of 52.224-3.

(xix) 52.225-26, Contractors Performing Private Security Functions Outside the United States (Oct 2016) (Section 862, as amended, of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008; 10 U.S.C. 2302 Note).

(xx) 52.226-6, Promoting Excess Food Donation to Nonprofit Organizations (May 2014) (42 U.S.C. 1792). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (e) of FAR clause 52.226-6.

(xxi) 52.247-64, Preference for Privately Owned U.S.-Flag Commercial Vessels (Feb 2006) (46 U.S.C. Appx. 1241(b) and 10 U.S.C. 2631). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (d) of FAR clause 52.247-64.

(2) While not required, the Contractor may include in its subcontracts for commercial items a minimal number of additional clauses necessary to satisfy its contractual obligations.

(End of clause)

C.3 LEGAL HOLIDAYS (DEC 2008)

(a)The Federal Government observes the following days as holidays.

*If the date falls on a Saturday, the Government holiday is the preceding Friday. If the date falls on a Sunday, the Government holiday is the following Monday.

(b) In addition to the days designated above as holidays, the Government may observe additional days in accordance with 5 USC 6103.

[End of text]

C.4 - PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The total period of performance shall not exceed 4 months. The periods of performance are defined as follows:

D. DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS OR ATTACHMENTS

D.1 ATTACHMENTS

A—Statement of Work

E - SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFEROR(S)

E.1 FAR 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at http://www.acquisition.gov.

[End of Provision]

E.2 FAR 52.216-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1984)

The Government contemplates award of a firm fixed price contract resulting from this solicitation.

(End of Provision)

E.3 COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING THIS SOLICITATION

Any questions or comments regarding this solicitation shall be submitted through email to Sabrina.brown@usda.gov by December 13, 2018 at 12 pm ET.

E.4 FAR 52.212-2 EVALUATION—COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JAN 1999)

(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The Government will make an award based on the lowest price technically acceptable.

(b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

(c) 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.

(End of provision)

E.5 ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR OFFERORS

1. Offerors shall submit proposals via email to Sabrina.Brown@usda.gov, for receipt no later than the date and time specified on the SF-1449. Only those proposals received by this date and time will be considered for award.

1. Proposals shall be good for a period of 30 calendar days from the date specified above for proposal submission.

1. Only the required minimum amount of information is requested to provide for proper evaluation. Efforts should be made to keep offers as brief as possible, concentrating on substantive information essential for a proper evaluation. All information submitted shall be current as of the month this Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued and shall be specific and complete. The proposal shall be prepared in a format compatible with a PC and capable of being viewed using commonly available software such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Reader.

1. The proposal shall be divided between the following sections: (A) Forwarding Letter, (B) Pricing, and (C) Technical Approach.

1. The Forwarding Letter shall reference the solicitation and provide points of contact from your firm regarding any communications associated with the proposal. Any Questions and Responses Summary and/or Amendments to the Solicitation issued by the Government shall be acknowledged by the offeror as having been “received and considered for proposal preparation.” Also, the letter shall include a consolidated list of exceptions and clarifications to the solicitation terms and conditions. This section shall explain any exceptions (including any deviations and conditional assumptions) to technical, pricing or other requirements with respect to this solicitation. Any exceptions must contain sufficient justification to permit evaluation by the Government. Such exceptions will not, of themselves, automatically cause a proposal to be termed unacceptable. A large number of exceptions or one or more significant exceptions not providing any obvious benefit to the Government may, however, result in rejection of such a proposal as unacceptable. Finally, the letter should provide a self-assessment as to why the offeror’s proposal represents the best value to the Government in consideration of proposed price, technical and past performance merit, exceptions & clarifications and any other relevant factors.

1. The Pricing Section of the proposal shall include pricing by Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) (and Sub-CLIN (SLIN), if applicable) as included the schedule. Details regarding number of labor hours, mix between labor categories (i.e. skill mix), labor rates, material types and quantities, and any other direct costs shall be provided in the pricing section. If subcontracting or teaming is proposed, then a breakdown by price element between teammates and/or prime vice subcontractor shall be provided.

The Contractor shall propose a Payment Schedule. Payments will be made in arrears upon acceptable delivery.

1. The Technical Section of the proposal shall include a discussion of the offeror’s approach to meeting the requirements of the project. The discussion should be specific, detailed, and complete enough to clearly and fully demonstrate understanding of the requirements and the inherent problems associated with the objectives of this procurement. Stating that your firm understands and will comply with the specifications, or paraphrasing the specifications is inadequate as are phrases such as: "Standard procedures will be employed" and "Well-known techniques will be used."

E.2 AGRICULTURE ACQUISITION REGULATION CLAUSES (AGAR)

(a) Awards made under this solicitation are subject to the provisions contained in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (P.L. No. 112-55), Division A, Sections 738 and 739 regarding corporate felony convictions and corporate federal tax delinquencies. To comply with these provisions, all offerors must complete paragraph (1) of this representation, and all corporate offerors also must complete paragraphs (2) and (3) of this representation.

(b) The Offeror represents that –

1. The Offeror is [ ], is not [ ] (check one) an entity that has filed articles of incorporation in one of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or the various territories of the United States including American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Midway Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands. (Note that this includes both for-profit and non-profit organizations.)

If the Offeror checked “is” above, the Offeror must complete paragraphs (2) and (3) of the representation. If Offeror checked “is not” above, Offeror may leave the remainder of the representation blank.

1. (i) The Offeror has [ ], has not [ ] (check one) been convicted of a felony criminal violation under Federal or State law in the 24 months preceding the date of offer.

(ii) The Offeror has [ ], has not [ ] (check one) had any officer or agent of Offeror convicted of a felony criminal violation for actions taken on behalf of Offeror under Federal or State law in the 24 months preceding the date of offer.

1. The Offeror does [ ], does not [ ] (check one) have any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability.

(End of provision)

E.3 DISCUSSIONS

The Government intends to make award without discussions. If award is made without conducting discussions, offerors may be given the opportunity to clarify certain aspects of proposals or to resolve minor or clerical errors. Discussions may be needed if significant questions which may affect the award decision arise during evaluation.