Solicitation 12SAD123R0003_amendment 7.pdf

INTRO PAGE(S) FOR COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION

Document Type: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

Solicitation Number: 12SAD123R00031 Title: Professional Services Supporting Cybersecurity, Compliance, Quality

Assurance and Surge Support for Modernization Efforts Classification Code: D310, IT and Telecom – D310 - Information Technology and Telecom –

Cybersecurity and Data Backup

Contracting Office Address

USDA – Rural Development Business Center 1400 Independence Ave, SW

DC 20250

i.This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services 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.

ii.The solicitation number is 12SAD123R00031 and solicitation is being issued as a request for proposal (RFP).

iii.This solicitation document incorporates those provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2023-04.

iv.The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541511 – Custom Computer Programming Services; the applicable Small Business Size Standard is $30 million. This requirement is solicited as full and open after exclusion of sources;

this is 100% set-aside for SBA Certified 8(a).

v.Requirement and Background: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural

Development (RD), Technology Office (TO) has a requirement for Professional Technology Services in On-Prem and Salesforce environment supporting Cybersecurity, Compliance, Quality Assurance and Surge Support Services. Please review the Performance work Statement for a detailed description of requirements for the services to be acquired. Contract Type: The Government anticipates this solicitation will result in a single award Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to issue Task Orders as defined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) Scope and identified by Contract Line Item Number(s) (CLINS). A FFP Task Order (TO)1 will be awarded to the successful Offeror at the time of award of the IDIQ contract. Anticipated Award date is TBD.

vi.Period(s) of Performance

The Period(s) of Performance for the IDIQ will be one base period of 12 months and three option periods of 12 months each.

Anticipated Period of Performance is as follows:

Base Period: 12 months Option Period 1: 12 months Option Period 2: 12 months

Option Period 3: 12 months Optional CLIN -Transition Out Period - Estimated to begin within 30 days prior to last exercised period of performance.

Place of delivery: Please see PWS.

vii.52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial (March 2023), applies to this acquisition. The evaluation procedures to be used are described in the PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND EVALUATION INFORMATION section.

viii.Offerors are to include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3 (DEC 2022), Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with its offer.

ix.52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (DEC 2022), applies to this acquisition.

x.52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders- Commercial Items (DEC 2022), applies to this acquisition. Please see complete clause in clause section within this posting.

xi.Proposals are due: 08/30 10/20 10/06 10/11/2023, no later than 3:00pm, EST. Proposals are to be electronically submitted to:

Robert.cortez@usda.gov and aaron.street@usda.gov xii.Contracting Officer is Robert Cortez and can be reached at Robert.cortez@usda.gov

INSTRUCTIONS:

PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND EVALUATION INFORMATION

Introduction

USDA Rural Development intends to establish a single award firm-fixed price IDIQ to issue Task Orders for services as defined in the PWS Scope and identified by CLINS.

The IDIQ Award and subsequent Task Orders are subject to Availability of Funds.

The IDIQ maximum is $40,000,000. The IDIQ minimum is $10,000.

Task Order types allowed under this IDIQ will be Firm Fixed Price.

Tasks Orders will be issued when requirements are required by the ordering activity.

Only the Contracting Officer is authorized to issue a Task Order under this agreement.

This requirement shall be procured per FAR Part 15.101-1: Tradeoff Process, under SIN Category 54151S -NAICS is 541511.

This acquisition is set aside for 8A Small Business Concerns.

One solicitation will be issued for this acquisition. For the purposes of this solicitation, amendments may be posted as necessary. The evaluations are subjective based on the information provided in response to the evaluation factors.

ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible for award, the business must have a valid and active System for Award Management (SAM) registration.

Proposal Submission Requirements

Proposals - Offeror’s are to submit One electronic copy of the Technical Proposal and One electronic copy of the Price Proposal to the email address below. NO FAXED PROPOSALS WILL BE

ACCEPTED.

Please include in your email submission Subject line, the Solicitation number 12SAD123R0003.

Submit your Proposal package to:

robert.cortez@USDA.gov Contracting Officer, Rural Development

And Aaron.street@usda.gov Contracting Officer, Rural Development

PROPOSALS SHALL BE ELECTRONICALLY SUBMITTED FOR RECEIPT 3:00PM EST,

August 30 October 06 11, 2023. This Proposal is considered the official Proposal and will be the version that is used to determine compliance, including timely delivery.

Offerors shall prepare the Proposals with the Selection Criteria and Evaluation Factors in mind, in terms of both content and organization, to facilitate evaluation.

A complete Proposal submittal shall consist of two three electronic files in total.

One MS Word or Adobe Acrobat PDF file containing a

Technical Proposal.

One completed MS Word and Excel for the IDIQ CLIN Pricing

Workbook (no Adobe Acrobat) file containing a Price Proposal.

One completed Excel Workbook (no Adobe Acrobat) file containing a Price Proposal.

For the purposes of this solicitation, one page is defined as one electronic page which is no larger than 8.5” x 11” with 1” margins on all sides. Font shall be either Times New Roman or Arial and the font size shall be no smaller than 11. However, for tables and graphics, font size no smaller than 6 may be used. For headers and footers, please do not use font size smaller than 8. Offerors may present an 8.5x11” page in landscape format if used solely for a wide table or graphic.

Electronic proposal files shall be free of any restrictions which prevent or limit the Government’s ability to copy, print, comment, etc. within the electronic documents.

Any proprietary information must be marked as such either in the page footer or header.

Mark each page in your proposal as “Source Selection Information-See FAR 2.101 and

3.104. For Government Use Only” either in the header or footer section.

OFFEROR is defined as the entity that would be the PRIME contractor if selected as awardee. Offeror’s Team is defined as the employees of the Prime Offeror. The term ‘Offeror’ does not encompass the Offeror’s subcontractors, affiliates, etc.

Proposal Questions

All questions regarding this solicitation shall be submitted to the above email, no later than 3:00pm EST on August 14, 2023. There is no guarantee that questions received after this time will be answered. The earlier the questions are submitted, the earlier a response should be able to be posted.

Submit your Proposal questions to: robert.cortez@USDA.gov

Contracting Officer, Rural Development And aaron.street@usda.gov Contracting Officer, Rural Development

EVALUATION FACTORS AND CRITERIA FOR AWARD

1. The Government will evaluate Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation, which meet the requirements in accordance with the evaluation factors listed. Offerors are required to meet all solicitation requirements, including terms and conditions, representations, and certifications. Offerors that do not comply with the detailed instructions for the format and content of the proposal may be considered non-responsive and may be ineligible for award. In addition, a proposal may be eliminated from further consideration before the initial rating if the proposal is deficient as to be totally unacceptable on its face. For example, a proposal may be deemed deficient if it does not represent a reasonable initial effort to address the essential requirements of the solicitation, or if it clearly demonstrates that the Offeror does not understand the requirements of the solicitation. Failure to provide the minimal information needed for each factor will result in the Proposal being considered non-responsive. A non-responsive determination will result in a no confidence rating.

2. THE TECHNICAL EVALUATION FACTOR IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE

IMPORTANT THAN THE PAST PERFORMANCE FACTOR.

3. THE TECHNICAL EVALUATION SUBFACTORS WILL NOT BE SEPARATELY

RATED BUT WILL BE RATED COLLECTIVELY.

3. ALL EVALUATION FACTORS, OTHER THAN COST OR PRICE, WHEN

COMBINED, WILL BE CONSIDERED OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE TO COST OR

PRICE.

4. The Government reserves the right to make best value cost/technical tradeoffs that are in the best interest of the Government. The Government reserves the right to accept other than the lowest priced offer. The right is also reserved to reject any offers.

5. Award may be made without communications/discussions with offerors. However, minor clarifications may be requested.

6. This procurement will result in a single award on a best value basis to the responsible offeror, whose technical/past performance/price relationship represents the best value to the Government.

7. The Government will consider all options, if any, to have been evaluated through the evaluation of proposals for all contract periods. Offerors shall consider the prospect of the Government extending when proposing costs for each contract period.

8. Price Realism and Price Reasonableness analysis may be utilized in the evaluation process. The Contracting Officer will confirm the business size recertification from each

Offeror.

9. Contracting Officer requests the SBA Requirement Letter (also known as the Social

Disadvantage Qualification letter from SBA that affirms continued participation in the 8(a) program) business size recertification, dated after July 19, 2023, from each Offeror.

PROPOSAL FORMAT

(i) TECHNICAL PROPOSAL and PAST PERFORMANCE – Volume One TAB A. General Information

Cover Page to include the following: Solicitation Number, Project Title, PRIME Company’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Cage Code, Tax ID number, SBA Requirement Letter (also known as the Social Disadvantage Qualification letter from SBA,) Socioeconomic business status, Principal points of contact, email address, mailing address, phone numbers, etc.

Table of Contents

TAB B: Technical (Page maximum is 263 pages. There is no minimum page count.)

PRIME’s Prior Experience (5-page max) PRIME’s Technical Approach for IDIQ PWS (5-page max) and also Task Order

One PWS (5-page max)

PRIME’s Technical Qualifications (5-page max) PRIME’s Quality Control (3-page max) Organizational Conflict of Interest (3-page max)

(ii) PRICE PROPOSAL – Volume 2

TAB A: General Information

Cover Page to include the following: Solicitation Number, Project Title, PRIME Company’s UEI Number, Cage Code, Tax ID number, Socioeconomic business status, Principal points of contact, email address, mailing address, phone numbers, etc.

Table of Contents Signed Proposal - Signed and dated by the owner or authorized representative Signed and dated acknowledgement of all amendments, and that the Firm Offer is valid for 60 days.

Representations & Certifications, as required in any included provisions.

TAB B: Price

Pricing details by IDIQ CLIN structure Deliverables- Schedule Pricing Chart & Breakdown for IDIQ Pricing narrative and any other supporting Documentation for IDIQ Pricing details by Task Order One CLIN structure Deliverables- Schedule Pricing Chart & Breakdown for Task Order One Pricing narrative and any other supporting Documentation for Task Order One

PROPOSAL EVALUATION/ SELECTION CRITERIA

A. Selection and Evaluation Procedures:

1. Proposal Evaluation/Selection Criteria:

The Government will evaluate all proposals in accordance with FAR 15.305(a) and may award contracts without discussions. Evaluations are based on the information provided in response to the below evaluation factors.

The Contracting Officer, with the assistance of qualified Technical Evaluators, will evaluate each Proposal to determine the offer’s ability to accomplish the work as set forth in this solicitation. Evaluations will be based solely on the evaluation factors and criteria detailed below in Criteria Section.

It is intended that a Best Value award will be made; therefore, all offerors are advised to include their best terms and conditions in their initial Proposal.

Offerors should not assume that they will have an opportunity to participate in communications discussions or be asked to submit a revised offer. The Government may conduct clarifications as described in FAR 15.306. The Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if determined necessary and may limit such discussions to a competitive range for purposes of efficiency. Award of a conforming proposal may be made without exchanges, if deemed to be within the best interests of the Government; however, offerors are advised that exchanges may occur if deemed necessary.

i. The Government will award a firm fixed price contract to that responsible

Offeror whose proposal, conforming to the solicitation, is reasonable and balanced, and has been determined to be most advantageous to the Government, considering quality, price, and other factors, and is deemed to provide at least an overall satisfactory confidence level or above for technical and past performance.

ii. The Government reserves the right to accept other than the lowest priced offer. The right is also reserved to reject all offers.

iii. The Government reserves the right to reject a proposal due to unacceptable technical risks.

iv. Each Offeror’s Proposal shall address the following evaluation Criteria factors.

B. Evaluation Criteria

NOTE: The purpose of technical factors is to assess whether the Offeror’s Proposal response will satisfy the Government’s requirements. Please note that any Proposal narrative should tell the story (the how) the offeror intends to accomplish all the requirements of the PWS. Offeror’s Proposal response should demonstrate a full understanding of the work contained in the PWS and the associated risks. Do not simply copy and paste the PWS into your Proposal response. Please note that the page limit is the maximum. There is not a minimum.

1. Technical - Factor 1 will be cumulatively assessed based on the following:

Ability to follow Solicitation instructions and Proposal Organization, appearance, & completeness

Experience (5-page max)

(i) The PRIME Offeror is to provide up to five relevant and recent past contracts, in which the Offeror was either a Prime contractor or subcontractor, that best relate to the tasks in this PWS.

Recent is within the last 3 years.

As per SBA’s rule 13 C.F.R. 125.2(g), if a Prime 8A firm includes a proposed team of 8A subcontractors and specifically identifies the first-tier 8A subcontractor(s) in its proposal, the Government evaluation team will take into consideration the capabilities, past performance, and experience of each first tier 8A subcontractor that is part of the Prime 8A firm’s team as the capabilities, past performance, and experience of the 8A prime contractor if the capabilities, past performance, and experience of the 8A prime do not independently demonstrate capabilities and past performance necessary for award.

However, for each first tier 8A subcontractor that is part of the Prime 8A firm’s team per the Prime's offer, the Prime 8A firm must submit a prime/sub contract that delineates the first tier 8A subcontractor duties, and the prime/sub contract must be signed by both the prime and first tier 8A subcontractor.

(ii) For each contract listed, provide the following information:

• Contract/BPA Call /Task Order Number

• Brief description (sufficient to establish similarity of experience to the PWS requirements) o Role of Offeror which clearly identifies the level and type of services performed under the contract o Role of the Offeror in performing the work.

o How the Offeror’s experience and learning on the referenced project will provide value to the Government on this project.

o How the experience and learning on the referenced project will be used to mitigate USDA program risks on this project on this project.

• Period of performance

• Contract value

• Amount your company has invoiced to date

• Client (POC) contact number and email in order for the government to verify the experience listed o For each listed referenced contract, if the listed

POC(s) cannot be reached, the proposal will be downrated under this section, because that contact reference(s) cannot be reached. It is advised to check your references before you list them.

(iii) The POC for your experience will be asked the following questions Offerors are required to send the following questions to the designated points of contact for each identified contract:

• To verify the relevant contract information the Offeror listed in 1(ii).

• If the POC would hire your company again

• Whether your company’s performance was:

o Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, or Unsatisfactory.

(iv) The completed questionnaire must be submitted directly to the Contracting Officer from the designated point of contact, and will not be accepted after the proposal due date and time. Experience can be experience acquired by the Prime Offeror while performing as a Prime or as a Sub-contractor on a contract, either with the Government or industry companies.

(v) The Offeror’s provided experience will be evaluated to determine how closely it matches the PWS requirements in scope and size.

(vi) Particular PWS skill requirements to note are located in the PWS section under each Focus Area description and required tasks.

Technical Approach (5-page max)

(i) Offeror is to provide a narrative that details your company’s technical approach towards successfully fulfilling the PWS requirements (providing FY23 Cybersecurity, Compliance, Quality Assurance Services and Surge Support Services for Modernization Efforts).

Offeror’s narrative will be evaluated to determine if it demonstrates proven methods and techniques, and the extent to which the offeror’s methods and approach to performing all aspects of the scope of work, specifically the PWS tasks, are expected to result in successful completion of the proposed tasks and technical requirements within the period of the contract.

(ii) Proposed technical risks, constraints, impacts and solutions - Offeror’s narrative will be evaluated to determine if it describes any technical difficulties that may be encountered in any of the PWS tasks, and a narrative of preventative measures or solutions to overcome these issues.

(iii) Offeror’s proposal should convey the story about how the work will be successfully completed and any possible insights on how your company would mitigate possible unforeseen challenges.

Offeror’s proposal must reflect its company’s understanding of the tasks involved to complete the required work.

(iv) Be sure to demonstrate an understanding of IT security standards, how PII is processed or stored in applications and databases to ensure such holdings are accurate, relevant, timely, and complete, and reduce them to the minimum necessary for the proper performance of a documented agency function, testing and exercising to assess the agency incident response capability, cybersecurity forensics, cyber defense planning, Defect Testing, Regression Testing, Smoke Testing, Acceptance Testing, Accessibility Testing, Release Management, Section 508 requirements, and USDA security requirements.

(v) Exceptions/Assumptions – include any information of this type under this area.

Qualifications (5-page max) (IDIQ only)

(i) Offeror’s brief description of Offeror’s capabilities, background, and relevant information will be evaluated to determine if Offeror’s stability and strengths and evidence of ability to perform the services of this PWS are sufficient.

(ii) Offeror’s Key Personnel need to have the necessary qualifications and certifications.

Expected Experience Includes, but is not limited to:

o Cybersecurity Administration o Risk Assessment/Analysis and Management

Vulnerability o Computer and Data Networking o National Security Community, Threat and

Vulnerability Assessments and Solution Design o Security Assessment Plan (SAP) development o Performing security assessment following federal rules and regulations.

o Security Incident Handling & Response o Creating Security Assessment Report and

Remediation actions o Interpret and assess NIST 800-53 Revision 4-5 security and privacy controls o NIST risk management framework and application and vulnerability testing o Develop Assessments of system-specific, common and hybrid controls o Technical Expertise with hardware, software, and firmware components as it relates to an accreditation boundary o Data Analysis o Writing and managing test cases/scripts/plans o 508 compliance o Automated quality assurance testing activities o Substantiate expertise in access and security controls utilized within the Salesforce platform.

o Implementation of quality assurance program and lifecycle management.

(iii) Key Personnel - Resumes The Contractor must identify individual(s) by name and resume for key functional roles in its Proposal. Contractor is to propose its employee roles. The following are only examples of the type of roles that m+-ay be required to fulfil the PWS requirements.

1. Project Manager

2. Cybersecurity Administration

3. Risk Assessment and Management

4. Computer and Data networking

5. National Security Community, Threat and Vulnerability

Assessments

6. Interpret and assess NIST 800-53 Revision 4-5 security and privacy controls

7. Security Incident Handling & Response

8. Develop Assessments and remediation of system-specific, common and hybrid controls

9. Operational Availability when Conducting Tests, Assessments, Reviews and Analysis

10. Quality Assurance

11. Data Analysis

12. Writing and Manage Test Cases/Scripts/Plans

For the included Task Order, the Contractor must provide information to include, but not be limited to:

1. Name of Key Personnel employee

2. Title

3. Responsibilities employee will be performing on the

Task Order

4. The percentage of time that the individual will spend on the Task Order duties.

The Contractor may submit the information listed above for other personnel it considers important to the overall operation and success of the contract.

Resumes will be excluded from the page count under this sub-factor.

Resumes must not exceed 2 pages per individual and may be submitted in the Offeror’s choice of formats.

Quality Control: (3-page max) (IDIQ and Task Order)

(i) Offeror is to submit a Quality Control Plan specific to PWS

Tasks/Deliverables. This Plan will be evaluated to determine if it addresses the following:

o reflects monitoring of work to ensure a high level of service quality, and o shows how quality control will be handled with the different levels of work, different sections of the PWS and any Task Orders, and types of inspection needed to meet the requirements.

o reflects the incorporation of automated test scripts in the delivery schedule to improve product quality.

Examples of plan characteristics (these characteristics are suggestions and an Offeror’s plan should not be to be limited to this list):

The specific policy establishing schedules for the performance of quality control tasks.

System of records and documentation for all Quality Control inspections

Inspection methods such as planned, 100%, or random, and frequency of inspections to ensure quality work.

Detail what actions will be taken and by whom, from the detection of a deficiency to the corrective action.

A policy for reporting quality control findings to the Contracting Officer.

A procedure whereby the Contracting Officer may resolve disputes that have not received satisfactory responses from the first levels of quality control personnel.

The plan for review, evaluation, and Contractor quality control of submittals, prior to Government receipt.

Organization Conflict of Interest: (3-page max)

(i) The Offeror must describe its approach to Organizational Conflict of

Interest (OCI) prevention. The Offeror should include the procedures to identify, report, and mitigate any real, potential, or perceived Organizational or Individual Conflicts of Interest for the Prime Contractor and its Team. Specifically, the Offeror should provide its approach to understanding OCI issues that may arise during contract performance. The Offeror must provide its strategy for detecting, disclosing, avoiding, and mitigating OCI issues and risks, to include those resulting from subcontracts, teaming arrangements, and joint ventures, beginning the first day of contract performance.

(ii) OCI will be evaluated to determine that Offeror must have no OCI or have successfully mitigated them to the satisfaction of the Contracting Officer. The Offeror’s approach to detecting, disclosing, avoiding, and mitigating any real, potential, or perceived Organizational or Individual Conflicts of Interest issues and risks to include those resulting from subcontracts, teaming arrangements, and joint ventures, beginning the first day of contract performance is sound.

2. Past Performance - Factor 2

Do not submit additional information for this factor.

The questionnaires received from the Offeror regarding Experience will be utilized for evaluating past performance. Government will call and/or email the PRIME Offeror’s references listed in the Experience technical section for ‘Technical - Factor 1: Sub-Factor 2 Experience’ to inquire regarding performance on those contracts.

Each POC listed in Offer’s Technical Experience section will be asked The primary question under consideration will be whether your company’s performance was: Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, or Unsatisfactory.

If the Offeror’s references do not respond, the evaluation rating under the Past Performance Factor, unlike the Experience subfactor, where references non-responses would result in a lower confidence rating, may result in an unknown confidence level rating, which is neither favorable nor unfavorable under the Past Performance section.

The Government will also evaluate the PRIME Offeror and its team’s past performance based upon information in CPARS.

For this section, Relevant performance means projects of similar scope and in similar or greater magnitude as described in the PWS. Recent means within the last five years.

PRIME Offerors lacking relevant past performance history will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably in past performance. However, the proposal of an PRIME Offeror with no relevant past performance history, while rated “No Rating” in past performance, may not represent the most advantageous proposal to the Government as opposed to a PRIME Offeror who possess favorable relevant past performance history.

NOTE: The Government may also utilize the information in SAM per the Excluded Parties List System and Central Contractor Online Representations and Certifications Application, and other publicly accessible databases, and internet searches.

3. Price - Factor 3 – for both the IDIQ and the Task Order Basis of Evaluation: Price analysis may be performed by one or more of the following techniques to ensure a fair and reasonable price and price realism:

(i) Comparison of proposed prices received in response to the proposal.

(ii) Comparison of proposed prices with the IGCE.

(iii) Comparison of proposed prices with available historical information.

(iv) Comparison of market survey results.

Pricing will be evaluated to determine if it reflects the CLIN structure and if an adequate deliverable pricing schedule is provided. The deliverable pricing schedule will be evaluated to determine if it is reasonably related to the PWS deliverables and reasonably balanced, i.e., not front-loaded, or unevenly skewed towards beginning increments of the contract. A price reasonableness and price realism analysis may be utilized as part of the evaluation. A price realism analysis may be utilized to determine whether an offeror’s proposed prices are so low that there is a risk that the offeror does not understand the technical requirements or may not be able to successfully perform.

Pricing Section for both the IDIQ and Task Order One must include Three sub-sections:

1. Sub-section one- IDIQ:

The offeror shall provide a total price, which includes the base year and any option years along with the following price breakdown:

i. per each CLIN

ii. per base and each option period, as applicable

2. Sub-section two - IDIQ:

The following supporting information will be utilized for analysis purposes and if vendor is the awardee for invoicing purposes.

i. Vendor is to submit a Deliverables-Schedule Pricing chart to reflect anticipated accepted deliverables for each anticipated invoiced time-period.

a. A brief Deliverables-Schedule Pricing Example is provided as an attachment.

ii. All deliverables mentioned in the PWS must be addressed and have supported pricing in the offeror’s Deliverables-Schedule Pricing chart. It is not acceptable to delineate a deliverable as a “no charge”.

A Deliverable breakdown is required as it may assist evaluators in determining that a Vendor has priced all individual PWS areas and that each item is reasonably and realistically priced, and it will be utilized for the Awardee Vendor’s future invoicing submissions.

However, there is not a precise deliverable breakdown format required as this allows vendors flexibility in its quote.

The deliverable pricing schedule will be evaluated to determine if it is reasonably related to the PWS deliverables and reasonably balanced, i.e., not front-loaded, or unevenly skewed towards beginning increments of the contract. A price reasonableness and price realism analysis may be utilized as part of the evaluation. A price realism analysis may be utilized to determine whether an offeror’s proposed prices are so low that there is a risk that the offeror does not understand the technical requirements or may not be able to successfully perform.

Future invoice payments will be dependent on the Vendor’s Deliverables- Schedule Pricing.

After award of the IDIQ, an updated Deliverables-Schedule Pricing Breakdown may be required by the CO for each Task Order issuance.

3. Sub-section three - IDIQ:

Explanation narrative. Please feel free to include any information relevant.

Vendor is not required to include information on i, ii, iii, or iv below, but is encouraged to do so. See following comments to clarify as to what these elements are referencing or why Vendor may want to include a statement.

i. Basis of price. This is to assist the Vendor & the government by documenting any relevant sources that Vendor may be relying on for pricing.

ii. Clarifications and Assumptions.

iii. Exclusions. Vendor may state that pricing does not include A,B,C … anything that Vendor does not want the government to infer that is in Vendor pricing that customarily may be included in such services.

iv. Rationale for rates used, etc.… Example: Suppose a vendor has an incredibly low price on a particular service area, here is where Vendor could explain the extremely lower-than-market pricing, allowing the government to be aware of Vendor’s intention.

4. Sub-section one- Task Order One:

The offeror shall provide a total price with the following price breakdown:

i. per each CLIN

5. Sub-section two - Task Order One:

The following supporting information will be utilized for analysis purposes and if vendor is the awardee for invoicing purposes.

iii. Vendor is to submit a Deliverables-Schedule Pricing chart to reflect anticipated accepted deliverables for each anticipated invoiced time-period.

a. A brief Deliverables-Schedule Pricing Example is provided as an attachment.

iv. All deliverables mentioned in the PWS must be addressed and have supported pricing in the offeror’s Deliverables-Schedule Pricing chart. It is not acceptable to delineate a deliverable as a “no charge”.

A Deliverable breakdown is required as it may assist evaluators in determining that a Vendor has priced all individual PWS areas and that each item is priced reasonably and realistically, and will be utilized for the Awardee Vendor’s future invoicing submissions.

However, there is not a precise deliverable breakdown format required as this allows vendors flexibility in its proposal.

The deliverable pricing schedule will be evaluated to determine if it is reasonably related to the PWS deliverables and reasonably balanced, i.e., not front-loaded, or unevenly skewed towards beginning increments of the contract. A price reasonableness and price realism analysis may be utilized as part of the evaluation. A price realism analysis may be utilized to determine whether an offeror’s proposed prices are so low that there is a risk that the offeror does not understand the technical requirements or may not be able to successfully perform.

6. Sub-section three - Task Order One:

Explanation narrative. Please feel free to include any information relevant.

Vendor is not required to include information on i, ii, iii, or iv below, but is encouraged to do so. See following comments to clarify as to what these elements are referencing or why Vendor may want to include a statement.

i. Basis of price. This is to assist the Vendor & the government by documenting any relevant sources that Vendor may be relying on for pricing.

ii. Clarifications and Assumptions.

iii. Exclusions. Vendor may state that pricing does not include A,B,C … anything that Vendor does not want the government to infer that is in Vendor pricing that customarily may be included in such services.

iv. Rationale for rates used, etc.… Example: Suppose a vendor has an incredibly low price on a particular service area, here is where Vendor could explain the extremely lower-than-market pricing, allowing the government to be aware of Vendor’s intention.

*Progress payment deliverable pricing schedule. Progress being used here does not mean financing payment under FAR Part 32. Under appropriation and procurement law, the government is only permitted to make payments on work completed (deliverables). We are not permitted to provide advance payments. Additionally, due to high national visibility and procurement audits, Contractors are now required to provide more robust proposals and proposals in response to USDA RD’s RFPs/RFQs. USDA RD must demonstrate how it is spending taxpayer dollars responsibly to provide economic opportunity, help rural America; promote agriculture production; and preserve our Nation's natural resources, restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands.

RATING SYSTEM

Rating System Chart for evaluation of Technical/Performance factors (non-price only):

The Government will assess its level of confidence that the offering contractor, based on the Offeror’s proposal will successfully perform all requirements considering the criteria factors below.

Supreme Confidence

The Government has supreme confidence that the Offeror understands the requirement, proposes a sound approach, and will be successful in performing the contract with no Government intervention.

High Confidence The Government has high confidence that the Offeror understands the requirement, proposes a sound approach, and will be successful in performing the contract with very little Government intervention.

Satisfactory Confidence

The Government has satisfactory confidence that the Offeror understands the requirement, proposes a sound approach, and will be successful in performing the contract with some Government intervention.

Low Confidence The Government has low confidence that the Offeror understands the requirement, proposes a sound approach, or will be successful in performing the contract even with Government intervention.

No Confidence The Government has no confidence that the Offeror understands the requirement, proposes a sound approach, or will be successful in performing the contract even with Government intervention.

Unknown Confidence

This category relates only to the Past Performance factor. If no recent/relevant performance record is available, or the offeror’s performance record is so sparse that no meaningful confidence assessment rating can be reasonable assigned, the Offeror will be rated as Unknown Confidence, PROVISIONS

INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

52.203-18 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES THAT REQUIRE CERTAIN

INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS OR STATEMENTS-REPRESENTATION

(JAN 2017)

52.204-7 SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (OCT 2018)

52.204-16 COMMERCIAL AND GOVERNMENT ENTITY CODE REPORTING (AUG 2020)

52.217-5 EVALUATION OF OPTIONS. (JULY 1990)

52.222-56 CERTIFICATION REGARDING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS COMPLIANCE PLAN

(OCT 2020)

FULL TEXT

52.204-20 PREDECESSOR OF OFFEROR (AUG 2020)

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision– Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code means–

(1) An identifier assigned to entities located in the United States or its outlying areas by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Branch to identify a commercial or government entity by unique location; or

(2) An identifier assigned by a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) to entities located outside the United States and its outlying areas that the DLA Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Branch records and maintains in the CAGE master file. This type of code is known as a NATO CAGE (NCAGE) code.

Predecessor means an entity that is replaced by a successor and includes any predecessors of the predecessor.

Successor means an entity that has replaced a predecessor by acquiring the assets and carrying out the affairs of the predecessor under a new name (often through acquisition or merger). The term "successor" does not include new offices/divisions of the same company or a company that only changes its name. The extent of the responsibility of the successor for the liabilities of the predecessor may vary, depending on State law and specific circumstances.

(b) The Offeror represents that it □ is or □ is not a successor to a predecessor that held a Federal contract or grant within the last three years.

(c) If the Offeror has indicated "is" in paragraph (b) of this provision, enter the following information for all predecessors that held a Federal contract or grant within the last three years (if more than one predecessor, list in reverse chronological order):

Predecessor CAGE code: (or mark "Unknown").

Predecessor legal name: .

(Do not use a "doing business as" name).

(End of provision)

52.204-24 REPRESENTATION REGARDING CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT. (NOV 2021)

The Offeror shall not complete the representation at paragraph (d)(1) of this provision if the Offeror has represented that it "does not provide covered telecommunications equipment or services as a part of its offered products or services to the Government in the performance of any contract, subcontract, or other contractual instrument" in paragraph (c)(1) in the provision at 52.204-26, Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services—Representation, or in paragraph (v)(2)(i) of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Products or Commercial Services. The Offeror shall not complete the representation in paragraph (d)(2) of this provision if the Offeror has represented that it "does not use covered telecommunications equipment or services, or any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services" in paragraph (c)(2) of the provision at 52.204-26, or in paragraph (v)(2)(ii) of the provision at 52.212-3.

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision— Backhaul, covered telecommunications equipment or services, critical technology, interconnection arrangements, reasonable inquiry, roaming, and substantial or essential component have the meanings provided in the clause 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.

(b) Prohibition. (1) Section 889(a)(1)(A) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on or after August 13, 2019, from procuring or obtaining, or extending or renewing a contract to procure or obtain, any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system. Nothing in the prohibition shall be construed to—

(i) Prohibit the head of an executive agency from procuring with an entity to provide a service that connects to the facilities of a third-party, such as backhaul, roaming, or interconnection arrangements; or

(ii) Cover telecommunications equipment that cannot route or redirect user data traffic or cannot permit visibility into any user data or packets that such equipment transmits or otherwise handles.

(2) Section 889(a)(1)(B) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on or after August 13, 2020, from entering into a contract or extending or renewing a contract with an entity that uses any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system. This prohibition applies to the use of covered telecommunications equipment or services, regardless of whether that use is in performance of work under a Federal contract. Nothing in the prohibition shall be construed to—

(i) Prohibit the head of an executive agency from procuring with an entity to provide a service that connects to the facilities of a third-party, such as backhaul, roaming, or interconnection arrangements; or

(ii) Cover telecommunications equipment that cannot route or redirect user data traffic or cannot permit visibility into any user data or packets that such equipment transmits or otherwise handles.

(c) Procedures. The Offeror shall review the list of excluded parties in the System for Award Management (SAM) ( https://www.sam.gov) for entities excluded from receiving federal awards for "covered telecommunications equipment or services".

(d) Representation. The Offeror represents that—

(1) It □ will, □ will not provide covered telecommunications equipment or services to the Government in the performance of any contract, subcontract or other contractual instrument resulting from this solicitation. The Offeror shall provide the additional disclosure information required at paragraph (e)(1) of this section if the Offeror responds "will" in paragraph (d)(1) of this section; and

(2) After conducting a reasonable inquiry, for purposes of this representation, the Offeror represents that— It □ does, □ does not use covered telecommunications equipment or services, or use any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services. The Offeror shall provide the additional disclosure information required at paragraph (e)(2) of this section if the Offeror responds "does" in paragraph (d)(2) of this section.

(e) Disclosures. (1) Disclosure for the representation in paragraph (d)(1) of this provision. If the Offeror has responded "will" in the representation in paragraph (d)(1) of this provision, the Offeror shall provide the following information as part of the offer:

(i) For covered equipment—

(A) The entity that produced the covered telecommunications equipment (include entity name, unique entity identifier, CAGE code, and whether the entity was the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or a distributor, if known);

(B) A description of all covered telecommunications equipment offered (include brand;

model number, such as OEM number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number; and item description, as applicable); and

(C) Explanation of the proposed use of covered telecommunications equipment and any factors relevant to determining if such use would be permissible under the prohibition in paragraph (b)(1) of this provision.

(ii) For covered services—

(A) If the service is related to item maintenance: A description of all covered telecommunications services offered (include on the item being maintained: Brand; model number, such as OEM number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number; and item description, as applicable); or

(B) If not associated with maintenance, the Product Service Code (PSC) of the service being provided; and explanation of the proposed use of covered telecommunications services and any factors relevant to determining if such use would be permissible under the prohibition in paragraph (b)(1) of this provision.

(2) Disclosure for the representation in paragraph (d)(2) of this provision. If the Offeror has responded "does" in the representation in paragraph (d)(2) of this provision, the Offeror shall provide the following information as part of the offer:

(i) For covered equipment—

(A) The entity that produced the covered telecommunications equipment (include entity name, unique entity identifier, CAGE code, and whether the entity was the OEM or a distributor, if known);

(B) A description of all covered telecommunications equipment offered (include brand;

model number, such as OEM number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number; and item description, as applicable); and

(C) Explanation of the proposed use of covered telecommunications equipment and any factors relevant to determining if such use would be permissible under the prohibition in paragraph (b)(2) of this provision.

(ii) For covered services—

(A) If the service is related to item maintenance: A description of all covered telecommunications services offered (include on the item being maintained: Brand; model number, such as OEM number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number; and item description, as applicable); or

(B) If not associated with maintenance, the PSC of the service being provided; and explanation of the proposed use of covered telecommunications services and any factors relevant to determining if such use would be permissible under the prohibition in paragraph (b)(2) of this provision.

(End of provision)

52.204-26 COVERED TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES-

REPRESENTATION. (OCT 2020)

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision, "covered telecommunications equipment or services" and "reasonable inquiry" have the meaning provided in the clause 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.

(b) Procedures. The Offeror shall review the list of excluded parties in the System for Award Management (SAM) ( https://www.sam.gov) for entities excluded from receiving federal awards for "covered telecommunications equipment or services".

(c) (1) Representation. The Offeror represents that it □ does, □ does not provide covered telecommunications equipment or services as a part of its offered products or services to the Government in the performance of any contract, subcontract, or other contractual instrument.

(2) After conducting a reasonable inquiry for purposes of this representation, the offeror represents that it □ does, □ does not use covered telecommunications equipment or services, or any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services.

(End of provision)

52.212-3 OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS—COMMERCIAL

PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (DEC 2022)

The Offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the Offeror has completed the annual representations and certification electronically in the System for Award Management (SAM) accessed through https://www.sam.gov. If the Offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically, the Offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (v) of this provision.

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision— "Covered telecommunications equipment or services" has the meaning provided in the clause 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.

Economically disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB) concern means a small business concern that is at least 51 percent directly and unconditionally owned by, and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by, one or more women who are citizens of the United States and who are economically disadvantaged in accordance with 13 CFR part 127, and the concern is certified by SBA or an approved third-party certifier in accordance with 13 CFR 127.300. It automatically qualifies as a women-owned small business eligible under the WOSB Program.

Forced or indentured child labor means all work or service—

(1) Exacted from any person under the age of 18 under the menace of any penalty for its nonperformance and for which the worker does not offer himself voluntarily; or

(2) Performed by any person under the age of 18 pursuant to a contract the enforcement of which can be accomplished by process or penalties.

Highest-level owner means the entity that owns or controls an immediate owner of the offeror, or that owns or controls one or more entities that control an immediate owner of the offeror. No entity owns or exercises control of the highest level owner.

Immediate owner means an entity, other than the offeror, that has direct control of the offeror.

Indicators of control…