1333ND23QNB730037 Combined Synopsis Solicitation.pdf

1333ND23QNB730037

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN

ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN FAR SUBPART 12.6-STREAMLINED PROCEDURES

FOR EVALUATION AND SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS-AS SUPPLEMENTED

WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; QUOTATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED; AND A

WRITTEN SOLICITATION DOCUMENT (I.E. STANDARD FORM) WILL NOT BE ISSUED.

This solicitation is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2022-08.

The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the requirement is 238210- Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors. The small business size standard is $16.5 million.

This a 100% small business set-aside solicitation. Simplified acquisition procedures will be utilized.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Materials and Structural Systems Division’s (MSSD) Infrastructure Materials Group (IMG) IMG conducts research to predict performance of materials composing US buildings and infrastructure. Research is performed on these items throughout their service life by developing a fundamental understanding of the performance properties and the degradation mechanisms when exposed to intended (real world) or accelerated (laboratory) loading environments. IMG has developed an integrating sphere-based high UV intensity chamber, so called “SPHERE” (Simulated Photodegradation via High Energy Radiant Exposure) weathering device to conduct laboratory exposure under different environmental conditions. The NIST 2m Sphere with 32 environmental chambers has been in operation for more than 20 years. NIST is also working on a more commercially viable version of this instrument, the NIST 0.5m 6-port SPHERE.

The commercial version of the 0.5m 6-port SPHERE based on NIST’s design have been successfully produced in collaboration with Labsphere, INC., however the environmental chambers for the 6-port SPHERE are still designed and built in NIST using a similar design to these chambers in 2m SPHERE.

To produce a turnkey version of a 6-port SPHERE weathering device, six updated commercially viable environmental chambers are needed to accommodate the new 6-port SPHERE. Recently, NIST has designed an updated environmental (Temperature and humidity controlled) chamber utilizing commercially available components as much as possible to replace old environmental chambers used for 2m SPHERE. The first 6 environmental chambers were constructed and tested at various temperature and humidity conditions to meet IMG research needs. NIST now requires the production of six environmental chambers (control and sample chamber boxes) for the 2nd NIST 6-port SPHERE.

APPLICABLE ATTACHMENTS

• Attachment 1 – Statement of Need o Attachment A – Tasks 6-Port o Attachment B – Box Assembly o Attachment C – Control Box Assembly (Complete) o Attachment D – Electronics Box Assembly o Attachment E – Environmental Chamber (Complete) o Attachment F – Lower Box Assembly o Attachment G – New Electronics Enclosure4a o Attachment H – Water Filter Assembly o Attachment I – Electronics Mounting Plate o Attachment J – Parts List

Note: While the Parts List references specific brand-name items, Offerors may propose alternate brand-name items so long as the proposed alternate meets the salient characteristics documented within the Parts List.

o Attachment K – Photos

• Attachment 2 – Applicable Provisions and Clauses

1352.215-73 INQUIRES (APR 2010):

Offerors must submit all questions concerning this solicitation in writing electronically to Adam Powell at adam.powell@nist.gov. Questions must be received no later than December 9, 2022 5:00 p.m. EST after solicitation issuance. Any responses to questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner, and will be included in an amendment to the solicitation. Even if provided in other form, only the question responses included in the amendment to the solicitation will govern performance of the contract. (End of Provision).

DUE DATE FOR QUOTATIONS

All quotations must be submitted via e-mail to adam.powell@nist.gov.

Quotations must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time December 16, 2022.

CONTRACT LINE ITEM STRUCTURE

Offerors shall provide firm-fixed pricing for the following contract line-item number (CLIN):

Note: All proposed equipment shall be new. Used or refurbished equipment will not be considered.

Experimental, prototype, or custom items will not be considered. The use of “gray market” components not authorized for sale in the U.S. by the Offeror is not acceptable.

CLIN Description Quantity Price

The Contractor shall provide six (6) environmental chambers in accordance with Attachment I – Specifications and corresponding Specification Attachments.

One (1) Lot

(LO)

DELIVERY

Delivery shall be completed no later than 6-months after award. Prior to delivery, the Contractor shall submit a test report, which clearly demonstrates that the assembled chambers meet the specifications herein. Delivery shall be coordinated with the NIST Designated Government Official (DGO) and Technical Point of Contact (TPOC).

Delivery shall be made to:

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 100 Bureau Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20899

Delivery terms shall be FOB Destination.

mailto:adam.powell@nist.gov mailto:adam.powell@nist.gov

INSPECTION & ACCEPTANCE

The Government will complete inspection and acceptance in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.212-4(a) no later than ten (10) business days after delivery.

Acceptance testing will include testing the assembled chambers to ensure the chambers can control temperature and relative humidity at 50°C/50% RH (near room humidity) condition for 24 hours.

The Government will have sole discretion to require repair or replacement of damaged and/or nonconforming supplies at no cost to the Government. The Government, at any time prior to acceptance, has the right to reject the items due to defects and/or nonconformance.

PAYMENT TERMS

One lump sum payment will be authorized upon completion of delivery and the Government’s acceptance.

ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1 – INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

Overall Arrangement of Quotations

All quotations shall conform to solicitation provisions/clauses and be prepared in accordance with this section. The quotation shall be clearly and concisely written as well as be neat, indexed (cross-indexed as appropriate) and logically assembled. Note: The term “indexed” refers to a table of contents that lists sections and page numbers. In the event that the Offeror is unable to create an indexed quotation, an alternative approach such as a Table of Contents shall suffice. All pages of the quotation shall be appropriately numbered. Page limits are provided below for the different sections as appropriate. In all sections of the Offeror’s quotation, the Offeror must use a font size of no smaller than 11-point and must use margins of no smaller than 1 inch on top/bottom/left/right. The Offeror may use a font size no smaller than 8-point font for tables and graphics.

In preparing the quotation, each volume shall stand on its own. For each given evaluation factor the Government will only evaluate the information provided in the corresponding section of the quotation.

There shall be no pricing information included in the Non-Price/Technical Volume. Volume I shall include the responses to Technical Capabilities and Organizational Experience. The Offeror’s quotation shall be clearly divided into the following distinct sections.

The page limitation for Factors A and B combined is 10 pages (excluding cover letter, and executive summary).

Volume I – Technical Volume

Volume I of an Offeror’s quotation shall consist of the following subsections:

Factor A: Technical Capabilities

The Offeror shall include its technical approach for completing the requirements of the Statement of Need. The technical approach shall demonstrate the Offeror understands the requirements of the contract and demonstrate the Offeror’s technical expertise in the requirements. More specifically, the Offeror shall clearly demonstrate the Offeror’s approach to assembling the required equipment in accordance with the Government’s assembly requirements.

Note: The Offeror’s technical approach for fulfilling the Government’s requirements shall not simply regurgitate the Government’s requirements. The Offeror’s technical approach shall rather provide a clear description as to how the Offeror intends to accomplish the Government’s requirements as required above.

Factor B: Organizational Experience

At a minimum, the Organizational Experience subsection shall provide examples of experience (either as a prime Contractor or as a significant subcontractor) in performing work on similarly sized and scoped contracts completed or substantially completed within the past five (5) years.

Volume II: Price Volume

The Offeror shall submit the following as part of Volume II:

A. A firm-fixed price, F.O.B. Destination price quotation for the line item identified herein. The price quotation shall include sufficient documentation that clearly demonstrates how the proposed firm-fixed price was calculated.

The Offeror shall provide a “Summary” price quotation that clearly states their total proposed firm fixed price for the requirement. Additionally, the Offeror shall provide the unit pricing and total pricing for each proposed component within the respective columns (the “$ Each” and “$ Total” columns) provided in Attachment J – Parts List.

In the event an alternate manufacturer item is proposed, the Offeror shall provide the alternate manufacturer name and alternate manufacturer part number within the respective columns (the “Equal Manufacturer” and “Equal Manufacturer Part Number” columns) provided in Attachment J – Parts List. An Offeror’s quotation will be considered incomplete if it does not include a completed Attachment J- Parts List with the aforementioned columns completed as applicable.

B. This is a solicitation for Six (6) Environmental Chambers as defined herein. The Government intends to award a purchase order as a result of this solicitation that will include the terms and conditions that are set forth herein. In order to facilitate the award process, ALL quotations shall include a statement regarding the terms and condition herein as follows:

a. The offeror shall state “The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document without modification, deletion, or addition.”

OR

b. The offeror shall state “The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:…”

Note: Offerors shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s)

C. The Unique Entity ID # for the offeror’s active System for Award Management (SAM) registration. Quoters must have an active registration at www.sam.gov to be considered for award.

D. Completed Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provisions:

a. FAR 52.204-20 – Predecessor of Offeror

b. FAR 52.204-24 – Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video

Surveillance Services or Equipment

c. FAR 52.204-17 – Ownership or Control of Offeror

d. FAR 52.204-26 – Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services-Representation

e. FAR 52.209-2 – Prohibition on Contracting With Inverted Domestic Corporations –

Representation

f. FAR 52.209-11 – Representation by Corporations Regarding a Delinquent Tax Liability or a

Felony Conviction Under Any Federal Law

g. FAR 52.225-18 – Place of Manufacture

Please note that this procurement IS NOT being conducted under the GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program or another Government-Wide Area Contract (GWAC). If an offeror submits a quotation based upon an FSS or GWAC contract, the Government will accept the quoted price.

However, the terms and conditions stated herein will be included in any resultant Purchase Order, not the terms and conditions of the offeror’s FSS or GWAC contract, and the statement required above shall be included in the quotation.

ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-2 – EVALUATION – COMMERCIAL ITEMS

The Government intends to use a price/non-price trade process to award a firm-fixed price purchase order from this solicitation to the responsible Offeror whose quotation represents the best value to the Government. The Government reserves the right to make an award to other than the lowest cost/priced Offeror or to the Offeror with the highest technical rating if the Contracting Officer determines that doing so would result in the best value to the Government. The Contracting Officer intends to award without discussions, but reserves the right to initiate discussions, if necessary.

Quotations that are unrealistic in terms of technical or schedule commitments, or unrealistically high or low in terms of price, may be deemed to be reflective of an inherent lack of technical competence, or indicative of a failure to comprehend the complexity and risks of the proposed work and may be grounds for rejection of the quotation as being technically unacceptable. Failure to provide the information required to evaluate a quotation could result in rejection of the quotation as being technically unacceptable.

Each quotation will be evaluated using the trade-off method against the evaluation factors listed below.

An Offeror’s failure to address any factor may be considered indicative of the Offeror’s lack of understanding of the Government’s requirements and may result in the quotation being determined unacceptable. Factors A and B are considered equal in importance. In determining best value, all non-price factors, when combined, shall be slightly more important than price. However, should technical competence between Offerors be considered approximately the same, Factor C (Price) could become the primary factor for award.

Factor A – Technical Capabilities

Factor B – Organizational Experience

Factor C – Price

Factor A – Technical Capabilities: The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s overall technical understanding of the Government’s Statement of Need and the extent to which the Offeror has demonstrated the expertise and ability to perform the requirements of the Statement of Need. Further, the Government will evaluate the extent to which the Offeror’s completed Attachment J- Parts List demonstrates that the offeror’s proposed solution complies with the Government’s requirements. For any components quoted in the offeror’s Attachment J- Parts List that are of a different manufacturer than the Manufacturer listed in the “Manufacturer” column of each worksheet, the Government will consider whether the offeror has provided sufficient description and/or supporting documentation to demonstrate that the proposed parts meet the requirements listed in the “Requirements” column of each worksheet.

Factor B – Organizational Experience: The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s relevant previous experience, either as a prime Contractor or as a subcontractor, in performing work on similarly scoped contract/orders completed or substantially completed within the past five years. An Offeror without a history of relevant experience may receive a lower rating for the experience evaluation factor.

Factor C – Price: The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s proposed pricing information to determine the extent to which the pricing if fair and reasonable. Proposed pricing must be entirely compatible/consistent with the technical quotation.