Amend_1_-__Instructions_and_Evaluation_Factors_0001.pdf

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Amended Instructions and Evaluation Factors:

A) TO SUBMIT AN OFFER / SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Delivery of Offers:

Proposals shall be submitted via email. Proposals submitted via any means other than email shall not be accepted.

X via email

2. Proposals shall be sent to the following:

i. Contract Specialist: christopher_bauer@nps.gov

3. Title subject line for all proposal submissions shall contain the solicitation number, project name and number of total emails (this is if the size limit of the attachment is too large to send in one email – please see size limits below), per the following example:

i. Subject: 140P6422R0008 – Railroad Tamping and Crossing Replacement – email 1 of 2

4. Submit proposal documents in separate VOLUMES (I and II) and the FORMATS specified, containing CONTENTS required for each volume listed below. Each volume shall be submitted in separate email attachment documents:

i. Document #1 titled as “Volume I – Non-Price Proposal”

ii. Document #2 titled as “Volume II – Price Proposal”

5. Size Limits:

i. The total size limit of each email containing all attachments cannot/shall not exceed 100MB; so please ensure that the total size limit of individual attachments in the email conform with the size limitation for the total email attachment limit

ii. Page Format Restrictions and Limitations: Proposals will be 8 ½ " x 11" paper except for foldouts used for charts, tables, or diagrams, which may not exceed 11" x 17".

B) DOCUMENT FORMAT, ORGANIZATION, CONTENTS

1. VOLUME I – NON-PRICE PROPOSAL

i. FORMAT: Submit one (1) electronic copy. No hard copies shall be submitted.

ii. ORGANIZATION: Combine all contents into one document package, titled “Volume I – Non- Price Proposal”

1. Technical

a. Technical Questionnaire

2. Past Performance

a. Past Performance Questionnaires

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iii. CONTENTS:

1. TECHNICAL - Offeror shall complete the attached Technical Questionnaire. Vendors are encouraged to provide detailed specific information. Failure to provide sufficient information so that the evaluation team cannot discern if the offeror has a thorough understanding of the work in question may lead to the questionnaire receiving a lower rating. Information provided in the Technical Questionnaire should be relevant to the Project Specifications and supporting documents.

2. PAST PERFORMANCE – Offerors shall complete the attached Past Performance Questionnaires (preferably a minimum of 3 and/or a maximum of 5) that provide information on the performance quality of work on similar projects as outlined in the project specifications. THE ATTACHED PAST PERFORMANCE QUESTIONNAIRE MUST BE THE ONE COMPLETED – NO EXCEPTIONS. If available, offerors may submit a CPARS/PPIRS evaluation report in lieu of Past Performance Questionnaire(s). Contact information SHALL be provided so that the Government may contact and confirm the information provided. Additionally, the Government may consider any and all other sources of information, including, but not limited to, contacting the contractor or contracting officer of the projects provided, and retrieval of information from the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS).

NOTE: A rating of Neutral will only be used for companies when Past Performance does not exist. This is neither a negative or positive assessment. The offeror must fillout the attached Past Performance Questionnaire briefly explaining that they do not have relevant past performance record for the work outlined in the specifications. Also, the Past Performance Questionnaires should/can include both government past performance and/or commercial past performance.

2. VOLUME II – PRICE PROPOSAL

i. FORMAT: Submit one (1) electronic copy. No hard copies shall be submitted.

ii. ORGANIZATION: Combine all contents into one document package, titled “Volume II – Price Proposal”

1. Solicitation: SF1442

2. Amendments (if applicable) – or acknowledged in Block 19 on SF1442

3. Price: Bid/Price Schedule

4. SF24 Bid Guarantee

5. SAM.gov Printout or Section K Representations and Certifications

iii. CONTENTS:

1. SOLICITATION - Complete Solicitation Form SF1442 blocks 14 through 20c.

2. AMENDMENT(S): Offeror shall acknowledge all solicitation amendments in block 19 or sign the amendment and provide it with proposal package in this portion of their proposal.

3. PRICE – provide pricing on the attached Bid/Price Schedule. Total price shall be cited and be the same amount list on Solicitation Form SF1442 in block 17. All pricing to be rounded to the nearest dollar. Alternate pricing and alternate proposals will not be accepted.

4. BID GUARANTEE: Offeror shall submit a Standard Form 24. The bid guarantee amount shall be at least 20 percent of the bid price but shall not exceed $3M. Original

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5. SAM.GOV PRINTOUT OR SECTION K REPRESENTATIONS AND

CERTIFICATIONS – Offeror shall submit a SAM.gov printout of their Representations and Certifications from http://www.sam.gov. SAM registration is required to have a status of “active” in order for an award of contract.

NOTE: Your company must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and be considered a small business for the size standard associated with the NAICS code stated above/utilized throughout this solicitation - this registration must have an “active” status in SAM, NO EXCEPTIONS, at the time of RFQ/RFP submission close date.

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

BASIS FOR AWARD

(a) The government will conduct a source selection using the Best Value Continuum Tradeoff Process defined in FAR Part 15.1. The Contracting Officer (CO) will obligate and award a contract to the offeror who submits a proposal the Source Selection Authority (SSA) determines conforms to the solicitation requirements; is fair and reasonable; and provides the best value to the government considering all evaluation factors combined as detailed below. For this acquisition, the CO is the SSA.

(b) The Government will then rate each factor based on perceived value. Based on perceived value, the

Government may accept other than the lowest priced proposal when the perceived benefits of a higher priced proposal merit the price differential.

(c) Additionally:

a. The Government may reject any or all proposals if such action is in the Government’s interest.

b. The Government may waive informalities and minor irregularities in proposals received.

c. The Government intends to evaluate proposals and award a contract without discussions with offerors

(except clarifications as described in FAR 15.306(a)). Therefore, the offeror’s initial proposal should contain the offeror’s best terms from a cost or price and technical standpoint. The Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if the Contracting Officer later determines them to be necessary or is in the Government's best interest.

d. Evaluation of Options: Except when it is determined not to be in the Government’s best interests, the Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. Evaluation of options will not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). (End of Provision)

e. Exercise of Options: The Government reserves the right to award any or no options at the time of award. Pricing will be evaluated based on what is determined to be the best value to the Government.

Options may be exercised in any combination, order, or grouping deemed in the judgment of the Contracting Officer to offer the best value to the Government. (End of Provision)

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EVALUATION PROCESS

All proposal evaluations will be conducted in strict confidence. Each offerors proposal contents will be revealed only to individuals involved in the evaluation process. No information will be revealed to other offerors. The evaluation process is as follows:

1. Initial Review: Proposals will be reviewed for compliance with the solicitation to verify that all submission requirements are met; all certifications are complete, and the offeror is responsive and otherwise eligible to receive award of a federal contract. If the proposal does not comply or lacks sufficient information to be meaningfully evaluated, it may be eliminated from further consideration for award.

2. Technical Evaluation: A Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) comprised of Government personnel will conduct a non-price evaluation of proposals. The TEP will review, evaluate, assess risk, and rate all acceptable proposals against the technical factors contained in this solicitation. The TEP will not have knowledge of any pricing until the technical evaluation is complete.

3. Past Performance Evaluation: The TEP and CO/SSA will also evaluate offerors’ past performance. The evaluation will assess the government’s confidence level for offers to successfully perform contract requirements based on past performance questionnaire responses, CPARS/PPIRS data, and other pertinent, relevant information.

4. Price Evaluation: Upon completion of the technical evaluation, the TEP and CO/SSA will review pricing as evaluated in Volume II below. The TEP will make an award recommendation to the CO/SSA.

5. Tradeoff Analysis: The CO/SSA will review the TEP’s award recommendation and independently perform a tradeoff analysis between each proposal’s (1) demonstrated technical advantages, disadvantages, strengths, weaknesses; (2) past performance confidence assessment; and (3) proposed pricing.

6. Selection: The CO/SSA will select the proposal that provides the overall best value, considering all evaluation factors, to the Government for award. The Government may elect to accept other than the lowest priced proposal when the perceived benefits of a higher priced proposal merit the price differential.

EVALUATION FACTORS

EVALUATION FACTORS for this solicitation are TECHNICAL, PAST PERFORMANCE and PRICE.

1. Non-Price Factors: Volume I – Non-Price Proposal

a. Factor #1 - Technical: Subfactors 1-4 are in descending order of importance

b. Factor #2 - Past Performance

2. Price Factors: Volume II – Price Proposal

a. Factor #3 - Price

RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF FACTORS

a) Technical and Past Performance are equally important.

b) All evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined, are significantly more important than cost/price.

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The following Factors/Subfactors and Rating Criteria shall be used to evaluate offers:

1. VOLUME I – NON-PRICE PROPOSAL

a. Technical:

Offeror shall complete the attached Technical Questionnaire. Vendors are encouraged to provide detailed specific information. Failure to provide sufficient information so that the evaluation team cannot discern if the offeror has a thorough understanding of the work in question may lead to the questionnaire receiving a lower rating. Information provided in the Technical Questionnaire should be relevant to the Project Specifications and supporting documents.

Subfactor 1 – Technical Approach

Technical approach is your means and methods to complete the technical aspect of required work in Railroad Tamping and Crossing Replacement as described in the project specifications. Submit a written narrative limited to 5 pages describing your technical approach to the specific aspects below. Additional pages will not be evaluated. Pictures can be included and will not be counted towards the page limitation.

Approach to Critical Contract Requirements: Describe your approach to successfully accomplish Railroad Tamping and Crossing Replacement in accordance with requirements outlined in the Project Specifications and Drawings within proposed contract performance period and budget.

Technical approaches that comply with applicable contract requirements; are realistic, appropriate, efficient; and demonstrate clear logic and scope understanding present lower levels of risk and will be more favorably rated. Approaches not demonstrating these attributes present higher levels of risk and will be less favorably rated.

Subfactor 2 – Project Experience

Submit "Project Experience" addressing specific experience working in Railroad Tamping and Crossing Replacement in the below section/box, preferably a minimum of 3 and/or a maximum of 5, relevant projects completed in the last 7 years.

Project experience demonstrating (1) capability to successfully complete relevant projects of similar scope and magnitude to this solicitation; (2) strong technical knowledge and skill required for this solicitation; and (3) effective management, problem solving, communication, coordination, and organization present lower levels of risk and will be more favorably rated. Those not demonstrating these attributes present higher levels of risk and will be less favorably rated.

NOTE: The same projects evaluated for experience under this factor shall also be evaluated for Past Performance. Projects determined more relevant under this factor will be given more weight in the Past Performance evaluation.

Subfactor 3 – Schedule

Submit your proposed construction schedule for THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT showing completion within the required period of performance contained in this solicitation with accompanying schedule narrative. Submit your schedule so that it is clear and concise, addressing the following: major milestones, explain schedule logic, critical path activities, procurement lead-times and key considerations and constraints. There is no preprinted form for this submittal.

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Construction schedules and narrative descriptions documenting (1) clear and efficient critical path and logical sequencing; (2) account for procurement lead-time, subcontractor/trade coordination, resource and time constraints; and (3) demonstrate successful completion within the required period of performance present lower levels of risk and will be more favorably rated. Schedules which do not demonstrate these attributes present higher levels of risk and will be less favorably rated.

Subfactor 4 - Safety

Submit an overview of your company’s Construction Safety Program and an assessment of the safety risks associated with this construction project. Submit a written narrative limited to 10 pages describing your safety plan for a project of this nature.

Include the names, resumes, and specific safety training completed (i.e., OSHA, etc.)

for the proposed Project On-Site Safety Specialist/Manager for this project.

Safety information (overview, risk assessment, and tailoring for this specific project) demonstrating a higher level of project understanding; risk mitigation; and qualifications and capabilities of proposed safety personnel will be more favorably rated.

Technical Criteria Technical Rating

Definition/Standards

Outstanding

Proposal indicates an exceptional approach and understanding of the requirements and contains multiple strengths, and risk of unsuccessful performance is low.

Good

Proposal indicates a thorough approach and understanding of the requirements and contains at least one strength, and risk of unsuccessful performance is low to moderate.

Acceptable

Proposal meets requirements and indicates an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements. and risk of unsuccessful performance is no worse than moderate.

Marginal

Proposal has not demonstrated an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements, and/or risk of unsuccessful performance is high. Proposal is unawardable without discussions.

Unacceptable

Proposal does not meet requirements of the solicitation, and thus contains one or more deficiencies, and/or risk of unsuccessful performance is unacceptable. Proposal is unawardable without discussions.

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b. Past Performance:

Offerors shall complete the attached Past Performance Questionnaires (preferably a minimum of 3 and/or a maximum of 5) that provide information on the performance quality of work on similar projects as outlined in the project specifications. THE ATTACHED PAST PERFORMANCE QUESTIONNAIRE MUST BE THE ONE COMPLETED – NO EXCEPTIONS. If available, offerors may submit a CPARS/PPIRS evaluation report in lieu of Past Performance Questionnaire(s). Contact information SHALL be provided so that the Government may contact and confirm the information provided. Additionally, the Government may consider any and all other sources of information, including, but not limited to, contacting the contractor or contracting officer of the projects provided, and retrieval of information from the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS).

NOTE: A rating of Neutral will be used when no relevant Past Performance record is available.

This is neither a negative or positive assessment. The offeror must fillout the attached Past Performance Questionnaire briefly explaining that they do not have relevant past performance record for the work outlined in the specifications. Also, the Past Performance Questionnaires should/can include both government past performance and/or commercial past performance.

2. VOLUME II – PRICE PROPOSAL

a. Price:

Proposed pricing will be evaluated for fair and reasonableness. Reasonableness will be determined considering comparisons to competitive pricing and to the independent Government estimate (IGE). Proposed pricing that differs significantly from the competition or IGE may be reviewed to assess potential performance risk and the offeror’s understanding of contract requirements. If multiple contract line items are included in the bid/price schedule, prices will be evaluated to determine whether any line items are unbalanced. Offerors are cautioned to distribute costs appropriately.

** Alternate proposals or any alteration to the bid/price schedule will not be accepted. The items outlined in the statement of work and/or specifications as "or equal" items/products will be the only items considered during the evaluation phase. The final price on the bid schedule is the price that will be evaluated. Please ensure that the final price includes all items being proposed. **

Past Performance Relevancy Criteria Past Performance Rating Definition Substantial Confidence Based on the offeror’s recent/relevant performance record, the Government has a high expectation that the offeror will successfully perform the required effort

Satisfactory Confidence Based on the offeror’s recent/relevant performance record, the Government has a reasonable expectation that the offeror will successfully perform the required effort

Neutral Confidence No recent/relevant performance record is so sparse that no meaningful confidence assessment rating can be reasonably assigned. The offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on the factor of past performance.

Limited Confidence Based on the offeror’s recent/relevant performance record, the Government has a low expectation that the offeror will successfully perform the required effort

No Confidence Based on the offeror’s recent/relevant performance record, the Government has no expectation that the offeror will successfully perform the required effort