1305M220QNMAN0136 - RFQ.pdf

This is a COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION for commercial items prepared in accordance with the information in

FAR Subpart 12.6, using Simplified Acquisition Procedures as supplemented with the additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; a written solicitation will not be issued. PAPER

COPIES OF THIS SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE. This combined synopsis/solicitation SHALL be posted on beta.SAM.gov.

Solicitation number is 1305M220QNMAN0136 and is being issued as a Request for Quotations (RFQ).

This solicitation documents and incorporates provisions and clauses in effect through:

a. Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2020-05, effective 3/30/2020 located on https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far

b. Commerce Acquisition Regulations (CAR), effective 12/11/2018 located at http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/acquistion_management/policy/default.htm,

c. NOAA Acquisition Manual https://www.ago.noaa.gov/acquisition/AcqManual/09_acquisitionmanualtableofcontents.html

It is the responsibility of the contractor to be familiar with the applicable clauses and provisions.

The associated NAICS code is 541511 and the associated PSC code is 7030, Information Technology Software. The small business size standard is $30 Million. The proposed contract is 100% set-aside for small-business concerns. Offers from other than small business concerns will not be considered.

All responsible sources may submit a quote which shall be considered by the agency. Vendors shall provide pricing that corresponds with the requirements and specifications identified in Attachment I- Statement of Work (SOW) utilizing the price template provided by Attachment 2- Price Schedule. All quotes shall include price(s), a point of contact, name and phone number, business size, and payment terms. Each response must clearly indicate the capability of the vendor to meet all specifications and requirements.

It is anticipated one Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract will be issued in response to this RFQ. The

Government anticipates the placement of task orders against the IDIQ for the required specifications and services outlined in the SOW. The resultant contract will contain five (5) twelve month Ordering Periods. The place of performance will be determined on the individual task orders placed against the resultant contract.

Award will be made only if the vendor meets qualification requirement at time of award, in accordance with FAR clause

52.209-1. The solicitation identifies the office where additional information can be obtained concerning qualification requirements and is cited in each individual solicitation.

System for Award Management (SAM). Quoters must be registered in the SAM database to be considered for award.

Registration is free and can be completed on-line at http://www.sam.gov/.

Quoters shall include a completed copy of 52.212-3 with quotes. All clauses shall be incorporated by reference in the contract.

This announcement will close at 1:00 pm Eastern on May 28, 2020. Questioning pertaining to this RFQ are due at 1:00 pm Eastern, May 14, 2020 and must be submitted in writing to Jessica Loftus via email at Jessica.loftus@noaa.gov.

Telephonic requests will not be honored. Quotes may be submitted via electronic means (email) to jessica.loftus@noaa.gov by the date and time listed above.

The following FAR provision and clauses are applicable to this procurement:

52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items

Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items

The text of paragraph “f” is hereby deleted, and the paragraph is annotated as “Reserved.” All references herein to

“offerors” shall be construed as “vendors” and all references herein to “offers” or “bids” shall be construed as “quotes.”

Paragraph “c” is amended as follows: “The vendor agrees to hold the prices in its quote firm for 120 calendar days from https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/acquistion_management/policy/default.htm https://www.ago.noaa.gov/acquisition/AcqManual/09_acquisitionmanualtableofcontents.html http://www.sam.gov/ the date specified for receipt of quotes, unless another time period is specified in an addendum to the solicitation.”

a) Vendors are required to submit a Business Solution which will be used to assess their ability to provide ship stability software and required services that meet the requirements described in Attachment 1: Statement of Work.

The solution shall clearly demonstrate that the vendor has a thorough understanding of the effort called for herein.

b) Vendors shall assume that the Government has no prior knowledge of them and that it will base its evaluation on the information presented in the Solution; as such, Solutions must be fully self-sufficient and provide all necessary information for a comprehensive evaluation.

The following volumes of material shall be submitted for each quote:

Volume I – Business Solution

Business Solution: Electronic copies shall include all information required for evaluation, excluding any reference to price.

Volume I shall be subdivided into the following factors:

Software and Technical Capability

Past Performance

The Business Solution shall be subdivided by the factors listed above and shall collectively be no more than 25 pages.

Pages submitted above this page count will not be read or considered part of the evaluation. Each side of a single sheet of paper is considered a page, such that a single sheet of 8 ½ X 11, is two pages of the 25 page total, exclusive of dividers and any single sheet front or back cover. Each page in this volume shall be separately numbered.

The quote shall contain technical information that addresses how the vendor’s ability to meet or exceed the requirements of the RFQ based on the following evaluation criteria and shall not include any pricing information.

A. Software and Technical Capability

The vendor’s Software Capability shall describe its software’s capability and functionality. This description shall demonstrate the vendor’s software ability to successfully meet or exceed the requirements identified in Attachment 1:

Statement of Work and convey a clear understanding for successfully performing the specification requirements.

B. Past Performance

The vendor shall submit, as part of its quote, information on up to three (3) of its most relevant contracts or efforts

(including Federal, State, and local Government and/or commercial) within the past three (3) years prior to the date the RFQ was issued. For each contract or effort, the vendor shall provide:

Name of Vendor

Contract Number, Order Number, or Identifier

Contract Type

Description of work performed that demonstrates the similarity of the contract in terms of scope and magnitude to the requirements of this RFQ.

Customer Name, Location, and Title including e-mail address and Telephone number

Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer’s Representative/Technical Point of Contact Name, Location, and Title including e-mail address and Telephone number

Total dollar value for the Contract

Contract Period of Performance.

The solicitation shall also authorize vendors to provide information on problems encountered on the identified contracts and their corrective actions.

The Government reserves the right to obtain information for use in the evaluation of past performance from any and all sources including sources outside of the Government. Vendors lacking relevant past performance history will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance. However, the quote of a company with no relevant past performance history, while not rated favorably or unfavorably for past performance, may not represent the most advantageous quote to the Government and thus, may be an unsuccessful quote when compared to the responses of other vendors. The vendor shall provide the information requested above for past performance evaluation, or affirmatively state that it possesses no relevant directly related or similar past performance. The assessment of the vendor’s past performance will be used as a means of evaluating the relative capability of the responder and other competitors to successfully meet the requirements of the RFQ. The Government will give greater consideration to the contracts that the Government feels are most relevant to the RFQ.

Volume II – Price Quote

The price quote shall be submitted separately from the Business Solution using the CLIN structure identified in Attachment

2- Price Schedule.

(End of Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items)

FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation—Commercial Items

Addendum to FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation—Commercial Items

(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible vendor whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be the most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate quotes:

Evaluation Factor 1- Software and Technical Capability

Evaluation Factor 2- Past Performance

Evaluation Factor 3- Price

Software and Technical Capability and Past Performance, when combined, are significantly more important than price.

(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 a quote, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful quoter within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the quote’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept a quote (or part of a quote), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

(End of Addendum to FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation—Commercial Items)

52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items

Addendum to FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions- Commercial Items

(A) FAR 52.216-18 ORDERING (OCT 1995)

(a) Any supplies and services to be furnished under this contract shall be ordered by issuance of delivery orders or task orders by the individuals or activities designated in the Schedule. Such orders may be issued from date of award through 60 months thereafter.

(b) All delivery orders or task orders are subject to the terms and conditions of this contract. In the event of conflict between a delivery order or task order and this contract, the contract shall control.

(c) If mailed, a delivery order or task order is considered “issued” when the Government deposits the order in the mail. Orders may be issued orally, by facsimile, or by electronic commerce methods only if authorized in the

Schedule.

(B) FAR 52.216-19 ORDER LIMITATIONS (OCT 1995)

(a) Minimum order. When the Government requires supplies or services covered by this contract in an amount of less than $1,000.00, the Government is not obligated to purchase, nor is the Contractor obligated to furnish, those supplies or services under the contract.

(b) Maximum order. The Contractor is not obligated to honor --

(1) Any order for a single item in excess of $200,000.00;

(2) Any order for a combination of items in excess of $200,000.00; or

(3) A series of orders from the same ordering office within ninety days that together call for quantities exceeding the limitation in subparagraph (b)(1) or (2) of this section.

(c) If this is a requirements contract (i.e., includes the Requirements clause at subsection 52.216-21 of the Federal

Acquisition Regulation (FAR)), the Government is not required to order a part of any one requirement from the

Contractor if that requirement exceeds the maximum-order limitations in paragraph (b) of this section.

(d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the Contractor shall honor any order exceeding the maximum order limitations in paragraph (b), unless that order (or orders) is returned to the ordering office within 3 days after issuance, with written notice stating the Contractor’s intent not to ship the item (or items) called for and the reasons. Upon receiving this notice, the Government may acquire the supplies or services from another source.

(C) FAR 52.216-22 INDEFINITE QUANTITY (OCT 1995)

(a) This is an indefinite-quantity contract for the supplies or services specified, and effective for the period stated, in the Schedule. The quantities of supplies and services specified in the Schedule are estimates only and are not purchased by this contract.

(b) Delivery or performance shall be made only as authorized by orders issued in accordance with the Ordering clause. The Contractor shall furnish to the Government, when and if ordered, the supplies or services specified in the Schedule up to and including the quantity designated in the Schedule as the “maximum.” The Government shall order at least the quantity of supplies or services designated in the Schedule as the “minimum.”

(c) Except for any limitations on quantities in the Order Limitations clause or in the Schedule, there is no limit on the number of orders that may be issued. The Government may issue orders requiring delivery to multiple destinations or performance at multiple locations.

(d) Any order issued during the effective period of this contract and not completed within that period shall be completed by the Contractor within the time specified in the order. The contract shall govern the Contractor’s and

Government’s rights and obligations with respect to that order to the same extent as if the order were completed during the contract’s effective period; provided, that the Contractor shall not be required to make any deliveries under this contract after one year of the contract’s effective period.

(D) FAR 52.217-8 OPTION TO EXTEND SERVICES (NOV 1999)

The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the

Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the

Contractor 30 days prior to contract expiration. Inclusion of FAR clause 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, in the solicitation and resultant contract is for use by the Government as outlined at FAR 37.111, Extension of

Services. The option will be exercised as needed at any time during the life of the contract using the rates applicable at the time of exercise.

(E) COMMERCE ACQUISITION REGULATION (CAR) 1352.201-70 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S

AUTHORITY (APR 2010)

The Contracting Officer is the only person authorized to make or approve any changes in any of the requirements of this contract, and, notwithstanding any provisions contained elsewhere in this contract, the said authority remains solely in the Contracting Officer. In the event the contractor makes any changes at the direction of any person other than the Contracting Officer, the change will be considered to have been made without authority and no adjustment will be made in the contract terms and conditions, including price.

(F) CAR 1352.201-72 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) (APR 2010)

(a) TBD AT AWARD is hereby designated as the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The COR may be changed at any time by the Government without prior notice to the contractor by a unilateral modification to the contract. The COR is located at:

TBD AT AWARD

(b) The responsibilities and limitations of the COR are as follows:

(1) The COR is responsible for the technical aspects of the contract and serves as technical liaison with the contractor. The COR is also responsible for the final inspection and acceptance of all deliverables and such other responsibilities as may be specified in the contract.

(2) The COR is not authorized to make any commitments or otherwise obligate the Government or authorize any changes which affect the contract price, terms or conditions. Any contractor request for changes shall be referred to the Contracting Officer directly or through the COR. No such changes shall be made without the express written prior authorization of the Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer may designate assistant or alternate COR(s) to act for the COR by naming such assistant/alternate(s) in writing and transmitting a copy of such designation to the contractor.

(G) CAR 1352.216-75 MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNTS (APR 2010)

During the term of the contract, the Government shall place orders totaling a minimum of $5,000.00. The amount of all orders shall not exceed TBD at Award. The maximum contract amount will either be established based on the value of the Government’s Independent Cost Estimate or the total evaluated price of the successful quoter, whichever is higher.

(H) CAR 1352.216.76 PLACEMENT OF ORDERS (APR 2010)

(a) The contractor shall provide goods and/or services under this contract only as directed in orders issued by authorized individuals. In accordance with FAR 16.505, each order will include:

(1) Date of order;

(2) Contract number and order number;

(3) Item number and description, quantity, and unit price or estimated cost or fee;

(4) Delivery or performance date;

(5) Place of delivery or performance (including consignee);

(6) Packaging, packing, and shipping instructions, if any;

(7) Accounting and appropriation data;

(8) Method of payment and payment office, if not specified in the contract;

(9) Any other pertinent information.

(10) Data Distribution Categorization for mesonet data types.

(b) In accordance with FAR 52.216–18, Ordering, the following individuals (or activities) are authorized to place orders against this contract: NOAA Eastern Acquisition Division (EAD)

(I) CAR 1352.239-72 SECURITY REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

RESOURCES (APR 2010)

(J) CAR 1352.246-70 PLACE OF ACCEPTANCE (APR 2010)

(a) The Contracting Officer or the duly authorized representative will accept supplies and services to be provided under this contract.

(b) The place of acceptance will be:

NOAA OMAO

8403 Colesville Road, 5th Floor

Silver Spring, MD 20910

(K) CAR 1352.270-70 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE (APR 2010)

The base period of this contract is date of award through sixty (60) months thereafter.

(L) NOAA ACQUISITION MANUAL (NAM) 1330-52.242.70 SUBMITTAL OF INVOICES (FEB 2011)

The Contractor shall prepare and submit an invoice to the COR for approval [with a paper copy to the contracting officer for information]. All invoices shall be submitted by the 10th day of the subsequent month.

To constitute a proper invoice, the contractor’s invoice shall be prepared in accordance with, and contain all elements specified in, the paragraph titled, “Contractor’s Invoice,” of the applicable prompt payment provision of the contract (e.g., FAR 52.232-25, Prompt Payment; FAR 52.232-26, Prompt Payment for Fixed-Price Architect

Engineer Contracts; or FAR 52.232-27, Prompt Payment for Construction Contracts). For contracts and orders for commercial items and services, paragraph (g) of FAR 52.212-4, titled, “Invoices,” applies.

If the invoice does not comply with the applicable prompt payment provision of the contract, the COR will return it to the contractor within seven days after the date the designated office received the invoice along with a statement as to the reasons why it is not a proper invoice.

(M) NAM 1330-52.203-71 NOTICE OF POST-GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS (OCT

2015)

By submission of an offer in response to a NOAA solicitation or acceptance of a contract, the contractor acknowledges the restriction on current NOAA employees regarding contact with quoters regarding prospective employment and the corresponding obligations for contractors who engage them. The contractor further acknowledges that it has provided notice to former NOAA employees who will provide service to NOAA under the contract of post-Government employment restrictions that apply to them. Such restrictions include, but are not limited to, those set forth in:

(a) 41 U.S.C. § 2103 regarding contacts between a Federal employee working on a procurement and a quoter about prospective employment;

(b) 18 U.S.C. § 207 regarding the restrictions on former Federal employees having contact with a Federal agency on behalf of another person or entity concerning a specific party matter with which the former employee was involved as a Federal employee or for which the former Federal employee had official responsibility;

(c) 18 U.S.C. § 207 regarding the restrictions on former senior employees and senior political employees from having contact with his former Federal agency on behalf of another person or entity concerning any official matter; and

(d) 41 U.S.C. § 2104 regarding the restrictions on a former Federal employee involved in an acquisition over

$10,000,000 from accepting compensation from a contractor.

(N) NAM 1330-52.215-70 SCHEDULE OF DELIVERABLES

Schedule of all deliverables, including administrative deliverables, shall be identified in individual task orders.

(O) NAM 1330-52.222-70 NOAA SEXUAL ASSAULT AND SEXUAL HARRASSMENT PREVENTION

AND RESPONSE POLICY (MAY 2018)

In accordance with NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 202-1106, NOAA Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment

Prevention and Response Policy, it is the policy of NOAA to maintain a work environment free from sexual assault and sexual harassment. NOAA prohibits sexual assault and sexual harassment by or of any employee, supervisor, manager, contractor, vendor, affiliate, or other individual with whom NOAA employees come into contact by the virtue of their work for NOAA.

(a) Definitions.

Contractor Employees - The term “contractor employees,” as used in this solicitation and contract language, refers to employees of the prime contractor or its subcontractors, affiliates, consultants, or team members.

Sexual Assault - The term sexual assault, as used in this solicitation and contract language, means any conduct proscribed by state or federal sexual abuse laws, including, but not limited to, those defined in chapter 109A of title 18 of the U.S. Code (sexual abuse), and assaults committed both by offenders who are strangers to the victim and by offenders who are known or related by blood or marriage to the victim.

Sexual Harassment - As defined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature when any of the following are true:

Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly as a term or condition of an individual's employment;

Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual;

The conduct unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.

The main characteristics of sexual harassment are that the harasser's conduct is targeted against the recipient’s sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation, and is unwelcome to the recipient. It may include, but is not limited to:

offensive jokes, slurs, epithets or name calling, undue attention, physical assaults or threats, unwelcome touching or contact, intimidation, ridicule or mockery, insults or put-downs, constant or unwelcome questions about an individual's identity, and offensive objects or pictures.

(b) Requirements.

(1) It is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that contractor employees maintain the highest degree of conduct and standards in performance of the contract. In support of this, NOAA urges its contractors to develop and enforce comprehensive company policy addressing sexual assault and sexual harassment.

(2) The contractor shall include wording substantially the same as this solicitation and contract language in every subcontract so that it is binding upon each subcontractor.

(3) If a contractor employee observes or is the object of sexual assault or sexual harassment, he or she is highly encouraged to report the matter, as soon as possible, to their immediate supervisor, the Contracting

Officer’s Representative (COR), subset of the COR (e.g. Task Manager or Assistant COR), or contracting officer (CO) if a COR is not assigned to the contract. The contract employee may also contact the NOAA

Civil Rights Office to obtain guidance on reporting instances of sexual assault or sexual harassment. If deemed necessary, the contractor employee may also report such instances to local law enforcement. In the case where the incident occurs while performing at a remote location, such as at sea or in the field (at a field camp or other isolated location) where the above referenced individuals are unavailable, the contractor employee should follow the reporting procedure set forth in NAO 202-1106, Section 6,.07, Reporting from Remote Locations.

i. Swift reporting allows NOAA and the contractor to take the appropriate measures to ensure that offensive behavior stops and the complainants’ needs are addressed.

ii. The COR (if assigned), CO, and contractor, where applicable, will work together to ensure appropriate action is taken in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, contract terms and conditions, and the contractor’s written policy (where applicable).

(4) The contractor shall provide all contractor employees assigned to perform under this contract with mandatory sexual assault and sexual harassment prevention and response training in compliance with the requirements of NAO 202-1106, Section 5, Prevention Training and Awareness, as part of their initial in-processing and on an annual basis thereafter. The initial training shall be completed within business days [30 unless a different number is inserted] of contract award or the date a contractor employee is assigned to perform under the contract, as applicable.

Evidence of initial training by name and date completed for each contractor employee, shall be submitted to the COR or contracting officer (if no COR assigned) within 10 business days of completion.

Evidence of annual training by name and date completed for each contractor employee shall be submitted to the COR or contracting officer (if no COR assigned) no later than March 1st of each calendar year of contract performance.

i.The mandatory sexual assault and sexual harassment training provided by the contractor shall include the required elements set forth by NOAA’s Workplace Violence Program Manager. A link to the website including the required elements of the training is provided at:

http://www.ago.noaa.gov/quicklinks/harassment_training.html. The website will also provide training materials and resources to assist the contractor in conducting the training. The contractor may provide training that solely addresses the NOAA required elements or may supplement existing company sexual assault and sexual harassment training in a manner that ensures all of the elements are adequately addressed.

ii.The required elements of the training and resources available to the contractor for the training may be updated by NOAA periodically. The contractor is responsible for monitoring the website and incorporating any changes to the NOAA required elements into the contractor provided training.

iii.NOAA’s Workplace Violence Program Manager, COR, or CO may periodically review the contractor’s training outline to ensure all required elements are included and, if necessary, any appropriate adjustments are made to the training by the contractor.

iv.Contractor employees performing on assignments in a remote location, such as at a field camp or other isolated locations, are subject to receiving the same briefing on the parameters of the order provided to NOAA employees as set forth in Section 6 of NAO 202-1106.

(5) The contractor shall provide a copy of this solicitation and contract language and NAO 202-1106 to contractor employees.

(c) Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment (SASH) Helpline.

For NOAA employees, affiliates, and contractors who have experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment, NOAA has established the NOAA Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment (SASH) helpline. This helpline is designed to provide crisis intervention, referrals, and emotional support to those who are victims and/or survivors of sexual harassment or sexual assault within the workplace. Contractor employees may use the helpline to receive live, confidential, one-on-one support in an occurrence of sexual harassment or assault by a Federal Government employee.

All services are anonymous, secure, and available worldwide, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The NOAA

SASH helpline is accessible through a variety of channels, including:

Phone: 1-866-288-6558

Website & Online Chat: https://www.noaasashhelpline.org/

Mobile App: NOAA SASH Helpline (available via iOS and Android App Stores)

Text: (202) 335-0265

(d) Confidentiality.

Any party receiving information from the filing of a complaint alleging sexual assault or sexual harassment, or while performing an investigation into such a complaint, shall keep the information confidential. “Confidentiality” means that the information shall only be shared with others who have a need to know the information to conduct their official duties.

(e) Remedies.

In addition to other remedies available to the Government, contractor employee violations of Federal requirements

(e.g., law, statutes, executive orders, code, rules, regulations) applicable to sexual assault and sexual harassment and/or failure to complete the mandatory training set forth in this solicitation and contract language, may result in:

1. Requiring the Contractor to remove a contractor employee or employees from the performance of the contract;

2. Requiring the Contractor to terminate a subcontract;

3. Suspension of contract payments until the Contractor has taken appropriate remedial action;

4. Termination of the contract for default or cause, in accordance with the termination clause of this contract;

5. Suspension or debarment; or

6. Other appropriate action.

(P) NAM 1330-52.237-70 CONTRACTOR COMMUNICATIONS

(a) A contractor employee shall be identified both by the individual’s name and the contractor’s name when:

1. Included in NOAA’s locator, and

2. When submitting any type of electronic correspondence to any NOAA employee or stakeholder.

(b) Any written correspondence from a contractor or any contractor employee shall be printed on company/organization letterhead or otherwise clearly identify the sender as an employee of the company or organization and shall identify the contract number.

(c) Contractors and/or contractor employees shall clearly identify themselves as such in any verbal communications, whether in informal discussion or a formal meeting.

(Q) NAM 1330-52.237-71 NOAA GOVERNMENT-CONTRACTOR RELATIONS - NON-PERSONAL

SERVICES CONTRACT (SEPT 2017)

(a) The Government and the contractor understand and agree that the services to be delivered under this contract by the contractor to the Government are non-personal services as defined in FAR Part 37, Service Contracting, and the parties recognize and agree that no employer-employee relationship exists or will exist under the contract between the Government and the contractor’s personnel. It is, therefore, in the best interest of the Government to afford both parties an understanding of their respective obligations.

(b) Contractor personnel under this contract shall not:

1. Be placed in a position where they are under relatively continuous supervision and control of a Government employee.

2. Be placed in a position of command, supervision, administration, or control over Government personnel or over personnel of other contractors performing under other NOAA contracts.

(c) The services to be performed under this contract do not require the contractor or the contractor’s personnel to exercise personal judgement and discretion on behalf of the Government. Rather, the contractor’s personnel will act and exercise personal judgement and discretion on behalf of the contractor.

(d) Rules, regulations, directives, and requirements that are issued by the Department of Commerce and NOAA under its responsibility for good order, administration, and security are applicable to all personnel who enter the

Government installation and facilities, who are provided access to Government systems, or who travel on

Government transportation. This is not to be construed or interpreted to establish any degree of Government control that is inconsistent with a non-personal services contract.

(e) Both parties are responsible for monitoring contract activities for indications of improper employee-employer relationships during performance. In the event a situation or occurrence takes place inconsistent with this contract language, the following applies:

1. The contractor shall notify the contracting officer in writing within 5 business days from the date of any situation or occurrence where the contractor considers specific contract activity to be inconsistent with the intent of this contract language. The notice must include the date, nature and circumstance of the situation or occurrence, the name, function and activity of each Government employee or contractor employee involved or knowledgeable about the situation or occurrence, provide any documents or the substance of any oral communications related to the activity, and an estimated date by which the Government is recommended to respond to the notice in order to minimize cost, delay, or disruption of performance.

2. The contracting officer will review the information provided by the contractor, obtain additional information (if needed), and respond in writing as soon as practicable after receipt of the notification from the contractor. The contracting officer’s response will provide a decision on whether the contracting officer determines the situation or occurrence to be inconsistent with the intent of this contract language and, if deemed necessary, will specify any corrective action(s) to be taken in order to resolve the issue.

(R) NAM 1330-52.237-72 CONTRACTOR ACCESS TO NOAA FACILITIES (SEPT 2017)

(a)

1. The performance of this contract requires employees of the prime contractor or its subcontractors, affiliates, consultants, or team members (“contractor employees”) to have access to and to the extent authorized, mobility within, a NOAA facility.

2. NOAA may close and or otherwise deny contractor employees access to a NOAA facility for a portion of a business day or longer for various reasons including, but not limited, to the following events:

i.Federal public holidays for Federal employees in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 6103;

ii.Fires, floods, earthquakes, and unusually severe weather, including but not limited to snow storms, tornadoes, and hurricanes;

iii.Occupational safety or health hazards;

iv.Lapse in Appropriations; or v.Federal Statute, Executive Order, Presidential Proclamation, or any other unforeseen reason.

3. In such events, the contractor employees may be denied access to a NOAA facility that is ordinarily available for the contractor to perform work or make delivery, as required by the contract.

(b) In all instances where contractors are denied access or required to vacate a NOAA facility, in part or in whole, the contractor shall be responsible to ensure contractor personnel working under the contract comply. If the circumstances permit, the contracting officer will provide direction to the contractor, either directly or through the

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), which could include continuing on-site performance during the NOAA facility closure period; however, if Government oversight is required and is not available, on-site performance shall not be allowed. In the absence of such direction, the contractor shall exercise sound judgment to minimize unnecessary contract costs and performance impacts, for example, performing required work off- site if possible or reassigning personnel to other activities if appropriate.

(c) The contractor shall be responsible for monitoring the Office of Personnel Management at opm.gov, the local radio, television stations, NOAA web sites, and other communication channels. Once the facility is accessible, the contractor shall resume contract performance as required by the contract.

(d) For the period that NOAA facilities were not accessible to contractors who required access in order to perform the services, the contracting officer may—

1. Adjust the contract performance or delivery schedule for a period equivalent to the period the NOAA facility was not accessible;

2. Forego the work; or

3. Reschedule the work by mutual agreement of the parties.

(e) Notification procedures of a NOAA facility closure, including contractor denial of access, are as follows:

1. The contractor shall be responsible for notification of its employees of the NOAA facility closure to include denial of access to the NOAA facility. The dismissal of NOAA employees in accordance with statute and regulations providing for such dismissals shall not, in itself, equate to a NOAA facility closure in which contractors are denied access. Moreover, the leave status of NOAA employees shall not be conveyed or imputed to contractor personnel. Accordingly, unless a NOAA facility is closed and the contractor is denied access to the facility, the contractor shall continue performance in accordance with the contract.

http://www.opm.gov/

2. Access to Government facilities and resources, including equipment and systems, will be limited and personnel necessary to administer contract performance may not be available. Generally, supply and service contracts that are funded beyond the date of the lapse in appropriation and do not require access to Government facilities, active administration by Government personnel or the use of Government resources in a manner that would cause the Government to incur additional obligations during the lapse in appropriation may continue. If a delivery date for a contract falls during the period of a lapse in appropriations, Government personnel may not be available to receive delivery. Contractors are directed to consult with a contracting officer before attempting to make a delivery. Contracting officers will be available throughout the lapse in appropriation period to provide guidance.

Once OMB guidance is given, CORs, in consultation with the contracting officer, will notify those contractors that are deemed by the Program Office to be performing excepted work and identify the contractor personnel requiring access to NOAA facilities. CORs will also coordinate with directly with facility management or physical security personnel at respective locations to ensure that the names of contractor personnel requiring access to Government facilities during the lapse in appropriations are provided to physical security personnel.

Contractors who are not designated as performing excepted work are not allowed access to Government facilities or to utilize Government resources in a manner that would incur any additional obligation of funding on behalf of the Government during the lapse in appropriation.

3. Unless otherwise specified within the contract award, contractors requiring access to NOAA facilities outside normal business hours or outside the normal workweek shall submit a written request in writing through the

COR to the contracting officer. The written request shall provide justification supporting the required access and be submitted 72 hours hours before access to the NOAA facility is needed.

(S) NAM 1330-52.270-304 NOAA ACQUISITION AND GRANTS OFFICE OMBUDSMAN (OCT 2016)

(a) The NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO) Ombudsman is available to organizations to promote responsible and meaningful exchanges of information. Generally, the purpose of these exchanges will be to:

1. Allow contractors to better prepare for and propose on business opportunities.

2. Advise as to technologies and solutions within the marketplace that the Government may not be aware of, or is not fully benefiting

3. Identify constraints in transparency

(b) The AGO Ombudsman will objectively, reasonably, and responsibly collaborate with parties and recommend fair, impartial, and constructive solutions to the matters presented to him/her. Further, the AGO Ombudsman will maintain the reasonable and responsible confidentiality of the source of a concern, when such a request has been formally made by an authorized officer of an organization seeking to do business with, or already doing business with NOAA.

(c) Before consulting with the AGO Ombudsman, interested parties must first address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations with the respective contracting officer for resolution. However, direct access to the AGO Ombudsman may be sought when an interested party questions the objectivity or equity of a contracting officer’s decision, or when there is a bona fide reason to believe that reasonable, responsible, and objective consideration will not be received from an assigned contracting officer.

(d) There are several constraints to the scope of the AGO Ombudsman’s authority, for instance:

1. Consulting with the AGO Ombudsman does not alter or postpone the timelines of any formal process (e.g., protests, claims, debriefings, employee employer actions, activities involving A76 competition performance decisions, judicial or congressional hearings, or proposal, amendment, modification or deliverable due dates).

2. The AGO Ombudsman cannot participate in the evaluation of proposals, source selection processes, or the adjudication of protests or formal contract disputes.

3. The AGO Ombudsman is not authorized to generate or alter laws, judicial decisions, rules, policies, or formal guidance.

4. The AGO Ombudsman is not authorized to develop or alter opportunity announcements, solicitations, contracts, or their terms or conditions.

5. The AGO Ombudsman cannot overrule the authorized decisions or determinations of the contracting officer.

6. The AGO Ombudsman has no authority to render a decision that binds AGO, NOAA, the Department of

Commerce, or the U.S. Government.

7. The AGO Ombudsman is not NOAA’s agent relative to the service of magistrate or judicial process and cannot be used to extend service of process to another party (whether federal, public, or a private entity).

(e) After review and analysis of a filed concern or recommendation, the AGO Ombudsman may refer the interested party to another more suitable Federal official for consideration. Moreover, concerns, disagreements, and/or recommendations that cannot be resolved by the AGO Ombudsman will need to be pursued through more formal venues.

(f) The AGO Ombudsman is not to be contacted to request copies of forms and/or documents under the purview of a contracting officer. Such documents include Requests for Information, solicitations, amendments, contracts, modifications, or conference materials.

(g) Questions regarding items (a) through (f) within this language shall be directed to Rafael Roman, NOAA

AGO Ombudsman, at Rafael.Roman@noaa.gov.

(End of addendum to FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items)

52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial

Items

(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) 52.204-23, Prohibition on Contracting for Hardware, Software, and Services Developed or Provided by

Kaspersky Lab and Other Covered Entities (Jul 2018) (Section 1634 of Pub. L. 115-91).

(3) 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or

Equipment. (Aug 2019) (Section 889(a)(1)(A) of Pub. L. 115-232).

(4) 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (Nov 2015).

(5) 52.233-3, Protest After Award (Aug 1996) (31 U.S.C. 3553).

(6) 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:

mailto:Rafael.Roman@noaa.gov

__ (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)).

__ (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.)

XX (4) 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (Oct 2018) (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).

XX (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).

__ (9) 52.209-9, Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters (Oct 2018) (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]

XX (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 (Oct 2018) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)).

__ (17) (i) 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Aug 2018) (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 (Aug 2018) 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 (Oct 2019) (15 U.S.C.

657f).

XX (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)).

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

__ (26) 52.222-19, Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Oct 2019) (E.O.13126).

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

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

__ (ii) Alternate I (Feb 1999) of 52.222-26.

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

__ (ii) Alternate I (July 2014) of 52.222-35.

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

__ (ii) Alternate I (July 2014) of 52.222-36.

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

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

13496).

XX (33) (i) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Jan 2019) (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.