1449 .usTLD Solicitation.pdf

RFQ IFB RFP

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

(WOSB) ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN-OWNED

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

1. REQUISITION NUMBER PAGE OF

2. CONTRACT NO. 3. AWARD/EFFECTIVE

DATE

4. ORDER NUMBER 5. SOLICITATION NUMBER 6. SOLICITATION ISSUE

DATE

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL:

a. NAME b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (No collect calls)

8. OFFER DUE DATE/

LOCAL TIME

9. ISSUED BY

13b. RATING

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

CODE

15. DELIVER TO 16. ADMINISTERED BY CODE

18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODEFACILITY

CODE

CODE

TELEPHONE NO.

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN

OFFER

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK

BELOW IS CHECKED

SEE ADDENDUM

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA 26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only)

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN

DELIVER ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY

ADDITIONAL SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REF.

DATED . YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION

(BLOCK 5), INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE

SET FORTH HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 30c. DATE SIGNED

31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print) 31c. DATE SIGNED

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND

OFFER

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

11. DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINA-

TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

SEE SCHEDULE

12. DISCOUNT TERMS

ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED

ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA

17a CONTRACTOR/

OFFEROR.

CODE

8 (A)

SIZE STANDARD:

NAICS:

% FOR:SET ASIDE:UNRESTRICTED OR

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

SMALL BUSINESS

10. THIS ACQUISITION IS

EDWOSB

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

1331L526R13350002

Jacqueline Brown jbrown4@doc.gov TBD

2:00 PM ET

SSD

Shared Services 1401 Constitution Ave, NW HCHB Suite 200

WASHINGTON DC 20230 561110

See Schedule see continuation page for line item details.

See Schedule

MAY 18, 2026

Please

April 20, 2026

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012) BACK

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED:

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT

32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE

41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERTIFYING OFFICER 41c. DATE

42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

42b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42c. DATE REC'D (YY/MM/DD) 42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS

40. PAID BY

32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 32f. TELPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

33. SHIP NUMBER 34. VOUCHER NUMBER 35. AMOUNT VERIFIED

CORRECT FOR

PARTIAL FINAL

37. CHECK NUMBER

38. S/R ACCOUNT NO. 39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER

36. PAYMENT

COMPLETE PARTIAL FINAL

1331L526R13350002

CUI//PROCURE//FEDCON

SECTION B ‐ SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.1 GENERAL

This procurement is a no-cost, $0.00 contract between the prospective awardee and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC). As a result, this is not a Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)-based contract.

However, select FAR and CAR clauses are incorporated into the contract to establish a contractual framework for Contractor performance and government contract administration. To the extent FAR or agency specific clauses are incorporated, those clauses are in full force and effect unless subsequently modified by mutual agreement of the parties.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

This is a no-cost contract. The Contractor will not receive any funding from the Government during the performance of this contract.

B.3 COST/PRICE

The Contractor shall not charge the U.S. Government to perform the requirements of this Contract. The Contractor may establish and collect fees from third parties provided the fee levels are approved by the Contracting Officer and are fair and reasonable. The Contractor shall base any proposed fee structure on the cost of providing the specific service for which the fee is charged and the resources necessary to monitor the fee driven requirements.

B.4 SCHEDULE

This contract consists of a base period of 36 months (inclusive of a transition period up to 9 months), and four (4) one year ordering periods for a total ordering period of 7 years as depicted in Table 1.

Table 1: Schedule

Period Duration

Base Period 36 months (inclusive of a transition period up to 9 months)

Option Period 1 1 Year

Option Period 2 1 Year

Option Period 3 1 Year

Option Period 4 1 Year

Total Ordering Period 7 Years

(End of Section B)

SECTION C ‐ DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

C.1 REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT

See section J.1, Attachment 01 – REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT

(End of Section C)

SECTION D ‐ PACKAGING AND MARKING

N/A

(End of Section D)

SECTION E ‐ INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

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

Revolutionary FAR Overhaul | Acquisition.GOV

(End of Section E) https://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul

SECTION F ‐ DELIVERIES AND PERFORMANCE

F.1 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this address:

Revolutionary FAR Overhaul | Acquisition.GOV

52.203-16 PREVENTING PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST (JUN 2020)

52.242‐15 STOP‐WORK ORDER (AUG 1989)

52.242‐17 GOVERNMENT DELAY OF WORK (APR 1984)

52.247‐34 F.O.B. DESTINATION (NOV 1991)

F.2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED IN FULL TEXT

CAR 1352.270‐70 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE (APR 2010)

NOTE: The period of performance will start upon award.

(a) The base period of performance of this contract is three (3) years, inclusive of a transition period up to 9 months. If an option is exercised, the period of performance shall be extended through the end of that option period. The period of performance for each Option Period is one (1) year.

(b) The notice requirements for unilateral exercise of option periods are set out in FAR 52.217‐ 9.

F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The requirements of this contract shall be performed in the United States.

F.4 SCHEDULE OF DELIVERABLES

All deliverables, including administrative deliverables required during the period of performance of this contract, shall be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract. For lists of deliverables specific to technical performance requirements please reference the attached Requirements Document.

For purposes of delivery, all deliverables shall be made by close of business (COB) 4:30 P.M.

local time at the destination, Monday through Friday, unless stated otherwise.

All deliverables submitted in electronic format shall be free of any known computer virus or defects. If a virus or defect is found, the initial deliverable shall not be accepted. A replacement file shall be provided within two (2) business days after notification.

Any failure of the Contractor to adhere to a delivery schedule or deliverable requirement may be reflected in the Contractor’s past performance report.

F.5 GOVERNMENT RIGHTS TO DELIVERABLES

All deliverables provided under this contract become the property of the U.S. Government. The Government has unlimited rights to all documents/material produced under this contract pursuant to FAR 52.227‐17, Rights in Data‐Special Works. All documents and materials shall be Government owned and the property of the Government with all rights and privileges of ownership/copyright belonging exclusively to the Government. These documents and materials may not be used or sold by the Contractor without written permission from the CO. All materials supplied to the Government shall be the sole property of the Government and may not be used for any other purpose. These rights do not abrogate any other Government rights.

F.6 TIMELY NOTICE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF PERFORMANCE DELAYS

In the event the Contractor encounters difficulty in meeting performance requirements, or when it anticipates difficulty in complying with the contract delivery schedule or completion date, or as soon as the Contractor has knowledge that any actual or potential situation is delaying or threatens to delay the timely performance of this contract, the Contractor shall immediately notify the COR and CO, in writing.

This notification shall give pertinent details, but this data shall be informational only in character;

this term shall not be construed as a waiver by the Government of any delivery schedule or date, or any rights or remedies provided by law or under this contract.

(End of Section F)

SECTION G ‐ CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 CLAUSES INCORPORATED IN FULL TEXT

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.

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

(a) Inserted at time of 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.

Email: (Will be inserted at time of 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.

(End of Section G)

SECTION H ‐ SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this address.

Revolutionary FAR Overhaul | Acquisition.GOV

H.2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED IN FULL TEXT

CAR 1352.209-70 POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST (APR 2010)

a) There is a potential organizational conflict of interest (see FAR Subpart 9.5, Organizational and Consultant Conflicts of Interest and PWS Section 6.29) due to the inherent nature of the different types of tasks and services required. Accordingly:

1) Restrictions are needed to ensure that future Conflicts of Interest are mitigated or avoided.

2) As a part of the proposal, the offeror shall provide the Contracting Officer with complete information regarding previous or ongoing work that is in any way associated with the contemplated acquisition.

b) The organizational conflict of interest clause in this solicitation may not be modified or deleted.

(End of clause)

CAR 1352.209-74 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST (APR 2010)

(a) Purpose. The purpose of this clause is to ensure that the contractor and its subcontractors:

1) Are not biased because of their financial, contractual, organizational, or other interests which relate to the work under this contract, and

2) Do not obtain any unfair competitive advantage over other parties by virtue of their Performance of this contract.

(b) Scope. The restrictions described herein shall apply to performance or participation by the contractor, its parents, affiliates, divisions and subsidiaries, and successors in interest (hereinafter collectively referred to as “contractor”) in the activities covered by this clause as a prime contractor, subcontractor, co-sponsor, joint venturer, consultant, or in any similar capacity. For the purpose of this clause, affiliation occurs when a business concern is controlled by or has the power to control another or when a third party has the power to control both.

(c) Warrant and Disclosure. The warrant and disclosure requirements of this paragraph apply with full force to both the contractor and all subcontractors. The contractor warrants that, to the best of the contractor's knowledge and belief, there are no relevant facts or circumstances which would give rise to an organizational conflict of interest, as defined in FAR Subpart 9.5, and that the contractor has disclosed all relevant information regarding any actual or potential conflict. The contractor agrees it shall make an immediate and full disclosure, in writing, to the Contracting Officer of any potential or actual organizational conflict of interest or the existence of any facts that may cause a reasonably prudent person to question the contractor's impartiality because of the appearance or existence of bias or an unfair competitive advantage. Such disclosure shall include a description of the actions the contractor has taken or proposes to take in order to avoid, neutralize, or mitigate any resulting conflict of interest.

(d) Remedies. The Contracting Officer may terminate this contract for convenience, in whole or in part, if the Contracting Officer deems such termination necessary to avoid, neutralize or mitigate an actual or apparent organizational conflict of interest. If the contractor fails to disclose facts pertaining to the existence of a potential or actual organizational conflict of interest or misrepresents relevant information to the Contracting Officer, the Government may terminate the contract for default, suspend or debar the contractor from Government contracting, or pursue such other remedies as may be permitted by law or this contract.

(e) Subcontracts. The contractor shall include a clause substantially similar to this clause, including paragraphs (f) and (g), in any subcontract or consultant agreement at any tier expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. The terms “contract,” “contractor,” and “Contracting Officer” shall be appropriately modified to preserve the Government's rights.

(f) Prime Contractor Responsibilities. The contractor shall obtain from its subcontractors or consultants the disclosure required in FAR 9.507-1, and shall determine in writing whether the interests disclosed present an actual, or significant potential for, an organizational conflict of interest. The contractor shall identify and avoid, neutralize, or mitigate any subcontractor organizational conflict prior to award of the contract to the satisfaction of the Contracting Officer.

If the subcontractor's organizational conflict cannot be avoided, neutralized, or mitigated, the contractor must obtain the written approval of the Contracting Officer prior to entering into the subcontract. If the contractor becomes aware of a subcontractor's potential or actual organizational conflict of interest after contract award, the contractor agrees that the Contractor may be required to eliminate the subcontractor from its team, at the contractor's own risk.

(g) Waiver. The parties recognize that this clause has potential effects which will survive the performance of this contract and that it is impossible to foresee each circumstance to which it might be applied in the future. Accordingly, the contractor may at any time seek a waiver from the Head of the Contracting Activity by submitting such waiver request to the Contracting Officer, including a full written description of the requested waiver and the reasons in support thereof.

(End of clause)

H.3 ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

In addition to the work requirements specified in this requirements document, vendors must ensure that all electronic documents (e.g. public facing websites, WHOIS database, etc.) that they prepare will meet the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The act requires that all electronic products prepared for the Federal Government be accessible to persons with disabilities, including those with vision, hearing, cognitive, and mobility impairments. Vendors can view Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (http://www.access-board.gov/508.htm) and the Federal IT Accessibility Initiative (Home Page) (http://section508.gov/) for detailed information.

Applicable Standards

The following standards have been determined to be applicable to this contract:

_____ 1194.21 Software applications and operating systems.

_____ 1194.22 Web-based intranet and Internet information and applications.

_____ 1194.23 Telecommunications products.

_____ 1194.24 Video and multimedia products.

_____ 1194.25 Self-contained, closed products.

_____ 1194.26 Desktop and portable computers.

The standards are available at http://www.access-board.gov/508.htm. The standards do not require the installation of specific accessibility-related software or the attachment of an assistive technology device, but merely require that the Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) be compatible with such software and devices so that it can be made accessible, if so required by the agency, in the future.

The following paragraphs summarize these requirements for preparing DOC required reports, policies and documents in conformance with Section 508 for eventual posting to a DOC-sponsored website (i.e. .us registry website). If you have further questions, please contact the DOC Contracting Officer’s Representative listed in the requirements document.

Electronic documents with images:

Provide a text equivalent for every non-text element in all publications prepared in electronic format. Use descriptions (such as, "alt" and "longdesc") for all non-text images or place them in element content. For all documents prepared, vendors must prepare one standard HTML format (as described in this statement of work) AND one text format that includes descriptions for all non-text images. “Text equivalent” means text sufficient to reasonably describe the image. For example, an image that is merely decorative requires only a very brief “text equivalent” description. However, if the image conveys information that is important to the content of the report, then text sufficient to reasonably describe that image and its purpose within the context of the report must be provided.

http://www.access-board.gov/508.htm http://section508.gov/ http://www.access-board.gov/508.htm

Electronic documents with complex charts or data tables:

When preparing tables that are heavily designed, provide adequate alternate information so that assistive technologies can read them out. Identify row and column headers for data tables. Provide the information in a non-linear form. Markup shall be used to associate data cells and header cells for data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers.

Electronic documents with forms:

When electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, the form shall allow people using assistive technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues

H.4 POST AWARD EVALUATION OF CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE

a) Interim and final evaluations of Contractor performance will be prepared on this contract in accordance with FAR 42.1502 and CAM 1342.15. The final performance evaluations will be prepared at the time of completion of work.

b) The Contractor can elect to review the evaluation and submit additional information or a rebuttal statement. The Contractor will be permitted 30 calendar days to respond unless an extension for an additional 30 days is requested in writing to the Contracting Officer.

Contractor response is voluntary. If the Contractor does not respond within 30 days (60 days if extension is requested), the Government will presume that the Contractor has no comment.

Any disagreement between the parties regarding an evaluation will be referred to an individual at a level above the Contracting Officer, whose decision is final.

c) Copies of the evaluations, Contractor responses, and review comments, if any, will be retained as part of the contract file, and may be used to support future award decisions.

d) The DOC Enterprise Acquisition Office (EAO) utilizes the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) to record and maintain past performance information. CPARS hosts a suite of web‐ enabled applications that are used to document Contractor performance information that is required by Federal Regulations.

e) The CPARS module assesses performance on contracts for Systems, Services, Information Technology, and Operations Support. CPARS reference material can be accessed at http://www.cpars.gov/. The registration process requires the Contractor to identify an individual that will serve as a primary contact. This individual will be authorized access to the evaluation for review and comment. In addition, the Contractor is encouraged to identify a secondary contact in the event the primary contact is unavailable to process the evaluation within the required 30‐day time period. After the DOC Contract Specialist registers the contract in CPARS, the Contractor will receive a system generated e‐mail notifying him/her that the contract is registered. A system generated e‐mail will also provide the Contractor with a User ID if the person does not already have a CPARS User ID.

f) Once a performance evaluation has been prepared and is ready for comment, the Contractor representative will receive a system generated e‐mail notification that the performance evaluation is electronically available for review and comment. The Contractor representative http://www.cpars.gov/ http://www.cpars.gov/ will receive an automated e‐mail whenever an assessment is completed and can subsequently retrieve the completed assessment from CPARS. Contractors may access evaluations at http://www.cpars.gov/ for review and comment in CPARS.

H.5 POST AWARD CONFERENCE

The Contractor shall participate in a post award conference to be held within thirty (30) business days after award of this contract. The purpose of the post award conference is to aid both the Contractor and the Government in achieving a clear and mutual understanding of all contract requirements and identify and resolve potential problems and to ensure the timely commencement of a transition, if any, from the incumbent contractor.

The CO is responsible for establishing the time and place of the conference and will notify the appropriate Government representatives and the Contractors. The conference may be conducted at a location within the Washington, D.C. commuting area, regionally to facilitate Contractor attendance, or virtually at the Government’s discretion.

H.6 UNAUTHORIZED INSTRUCTIONS FROM GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL

The Contractor will not accept technical direction issued by any other person employed by the U.S. Government other than the Contracting Officer or the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) acting within the limits of their authority.

No information, other than that which may be contained in an authorized modification to this contract will be considered as grounds for deviation from any stipulations of the contract's terms and conditions.

H.7 NEWS RELEASES

The Contractor shall make no news releases pertaining to the contract award and/or performance thereunder without prior agency approvals and then only in coordination with the Contracting Officer.

H.8 ACCELERATED AND PROMPT PAYMENTS TO SUBCONTRACTORS

Prime Contractor Obligation. The Prime Contractor shall make accelerated and prompt payments to its subcontractors as follows:

1) Small Business Subcontractors: Upon receipt of a proper invoice from a small business subcontractor, the Prime Contractor shall make payment to the subcontractor to the maximum extent practicable either within 15 days or in accordance with the timelines established in the subcontract, whichever is shorter.

2) General Subcontractors: For all other subcontractors, the Prime Contractor shall make payment in accordance with the terms and conditions of the respective subcontract agreement, ensuring that payments are not unduly withheld.

Flow-Down Requirement. The Prime Contractor shall include the substance of this provision, including this paragraph, in all subcontracts issued under this contract, including subcontracts with small business concerns for the acquisition of commercial products or commercial services.

Compliance and Reporting. The DOC reserves the right to:

a) Request evidence of payment cycles from the Prime Contractor to verify compliance.

b) Inquire directly with subcontractors regarding the timeliness of payments received.

H.9 SYSTEM UPDATES

System updates may lag policy updates. The System for Award Management (SAM) may continue to require entities to complete representations based on provisions that are not included in agency solicitations. Examples include 52.222-25, Affirmative Action Compliance, and paragraph (d) of 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services. Contracting officers will not consider these representations when making award decisions or enforce requirements. Entities are not required to, nor are they able to, update their entity registration to remove these representations in SAM.

(End of Section H)

SECTION I ‐ CONTRACT CLAUSES

I.1 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

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

Revolutionary FAR Overhaul | Acquisition.GOV

52.203-12 LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS TO INFLUENCE CERTAIN

FEDERAL TRANSACTIONS (JUN 2020)

52.203-19 PROHIBITION ON REQUIRING CERTAIN INTERNAL

CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS OR STATEMENTS (JAN

2017)

52.203-16 PREVENTING PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

52.203‐17 CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEE WHISTLEBLOWER RIGHTS (NOV

2023)

52.204‐13 SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT MAINTENANCE

(DEVIATION DATE)

52.240-91 SECURITY PROHIBITIONS AND EXCLUSIONS (DEVIATION

DATE)

52.209-10 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH INVERTED

DOMESTIC CORPORATIONS (DEVIATION DATE)

52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS --- COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS

AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (DEVIATION DATE)

52.224‐3 PRIVACY TRAINING (JAN 2017)

52.227‐17 RIGHTS IN DATA—SPECIAL WORKS (DEC 2007)

52.233-1 DISPUTES (MAY 2014)

52.233-3 PROTESTS AFTER AWARD (DEVIATION DATE)

52.233-4 APPLICABLE LAW FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT CLAIM

(DEVIATION DATE)

52.237‐3 CONTINUITY OF SERVICES (JAN 1991)

52.244‐2 SUBCONTRACTS (JUN 2020)

52.245‐9 USE AND CHARGES (APR 2012)

I.2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED IN FULL TEXT

FAR 52.240-93 BASIC SAFEGUARDING OF COVERED CONTRACTOR

INFORMATION SYSTEMS (OCT 2025)

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause—

Covered contractor information system means an information system that is owned or operated by a contractor that processes, stores, or transmits Federal contract information.

Federal contract information—

(1) Means information, not intended for public release, that is provided by or generated for the Government under a contract to develop or deliver a product or service to the Government; but

(2) Does not include information provided by the Government to the public (such as on public websites) or simple transactional information (such as information necessary to process payments).

Information means any communication or representation of knowledge such as facts, data, or opinions, in any medium or form, including textual, numerical, graphic, cartographic, narrative, or audiovisual (Committee on National Security Systems Instruction (CNSSI) 4009).

Information system means a discrete set of information resources organized for the collection, processing, maintenance, use, sharing, dissemination, or disposition of information (44 U.S.C.

3502).

Safeguarding means measures or controls that are prescribed to protect information systems.

(b) Safeguarding requirements.

(1) Basic requirements. The Contractor shall safeguard its covered contractor information systems by implementing, at minimum, the following security controls:

(i) Limit information system access to authorized users, processes acting on behalf of authorized users, or devices (including other information systems).

(ii) Limit information system access to the types of transactions and functions that authorized users are permitted to execute.

(iii) Verify and control/limit connections to and use of external information systems.

(iv) Control information posted or processed on publicly accessible information systems.

(v) Identify information system users, processes acting on behalf of users, or devices.

(vi) Authenticate (or verify) the identities of those users, processes, or devices, as a prerequisite to allowing access to organizational information systems.

(vii) Sanitize or destroy information system media containing Federal Contract Information before disposal or release for reuse.

(viii) Limit physical access to organizational information systems, equipment, and the respective operating environments to authorized individuals.

(ix) Escort visitors and monitor visitor activity; maintain audit logs of physical access; and control and manage physical access devices.

(x) Monitor, control, and protect organizational communications (i.e., information transmitted or received by organizational information systems) at the external boundaries and key internal boundaries of the information systems.

(xi) Implement subnetworks for publicly accessible system components that are physically or logically separated from internal networks.

(xii) Identify, report, and correct information and information system flaws in a timely manner.

(xiii) Provide protection from malicious code at appropriate locations within organizational information systems.

(xiv) Update malicious code protection mechanisms when new releases are available.

(xv) Perform periodic scans of the information system and real-time scans of files from external sources as files are downloaded, opened, or executed.

(2) Other requirements. This clause does not relieve the Contractor of any other specific safeguarding requirements specified by Federal departments and agencies relating to covered contractor information systems generally or other Federal safeguarding requirements for controlled unclassified information (CUI) as established by Executive Order 13556.

(c) Subcontracts. The Contractor shall include the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (c), in subcontracts under this contract (including subcontracts for the acquisition of commercial products, other than commercially available off-the-shelf items, or commercial services), in which the subcontractor may have Federal contract information residing in or transiting through its information system.

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 at least 10 days before the contract completion.

FAR 52.217‐9 OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT (MAR

2000)

a) The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor within one (1) day, provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 10 days before the contract expires. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an extension.

b) If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause.

c) The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed 90 Months.

(End of Section I)

SECTION J ‐ LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER

ATTACHMENT

1. Requirements Document (PWS)

2. usTLD Questions and Answers

3. Reference POC Template

4. Fee Overview Template

(End of Section J)

SECTION K ‐ REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND

OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

N/A

(End of Section K)

SECTION L ‐ INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO

OFFERORS

L.1 INCUMBENT CONTRACTOR

Registry Services LLC 21575 Ridgetop Circle Sterling, VA 20166 Contract No. 1331L519C13350044

L.2 GENERAL

i. Offerors are instructed to read the entire RFP document, including all attachments, prior to submitting questions and/or preparing your proposal. Omission of any information from the proposal submission requirements and failure to follow RFP instructions may result in rejection of the proposal.

ii. Offerors are required to be actively registered in SAM when submitting an offer and shall continue to be actively registered until time of award, during performance, and through the end of performance resulting from this solicitation. Refusal or failure to register may forfeit consideration for award. Note that “Active” SAM registration is specifically required; “ID Assigned” registration is not acceptable.

iii. Proposals shall be prepared in accordance with this RFP and are required to conform to the provisions of this RFP and the instructions of this section. To aid in the NTIA’s evaluation, the proposal shall be clearly and concisely written as well as be neat, indexed (cross-indexed as appropriate), and logically assembled. All pages of each part shall be appropriately numbered and identified with the name of the offeror, the date, and the Solicitation number. The Technical Volume I, Technical Volume II, and Cost Volume shall be distinguishable from each other and appropriately labeled. Text shall be single-spaced with a minimum of one-inch margins on all sides. All written submissions shall be 12-point font, Times New Roman. Figures and tables may use 11-point font, Times New Roman. Figures and tables will count toward the page limit. All written submissions shall be machine readable.

iv. All correspondence in conjunction with this solicitation must be directed to the Government Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist identified below:

Contracting Officer: Jacqueline Brown

E-mail address: jbrown4@doc.gov mailto:jbrown4@doc.gov

Contract Specialist: Blen Gabriel

E-mail address: BGabriel@doc.gov

All email correspondence shall reference the RFP number in the subject line.

v. Proposals must be received by the Strategic Solutions Program Office on or before the due date and time specified in the RFP. Only information received on or before the due date and time shall be considered for award. Any proposal, or part thereof, received after the due date and time, shall be deemed late and treated in accordance with FAR

15.107. Facsimile proposals will not be accepted. Hard copy proposals via postal mail will not be accepted.

Proposals shall be submitted via email to Jacqueline Brown, jbrown4@doc.gov and BGabriel@doc.gov

vi. This RFP does not commit the Government to pay any cost for the preparation and submission of a proposal.

L.3 Phased Procurement Schedule

The Government intends to conduct the proposal submission and evaluation process in two (2) Phases. Dates may fluctuate. If so, will be posted as an amendment.

Table 2: Notional Phased Procurement Schedule Final RFP Release

20 April 2026 Phase 1 Submissions Due 18 May 2026 Government Sends Advisory Down-Select Notifications

25 May2026

Phase 2 Submissions Due 8 June 2026 Negotiations 17 June 2026 Award 30 June 2026

Evaluation Factors Summary

Phase 1 (Written) Technical Volume I: Demonstrated Experience & Approach (Factor 1)

Phase 2 (Written and Oral) Technical Volume II: Work Statement Submissions (Factor 2) (Written and Oral) Cost Volume: Fee Structure with Cost Narrative (Factor 3) (Written and Oral) mailto:jbrown4@doc.gov mailto:BGabriel@doc.gov

The factors are listed in descending order of importance. When combined, Factors 1 and 2 are significantly more important than Factor 3.

L.4 Question and Answer Process

The Government released a Draft Solicitation for review and comment on December 30, 2025.

Questions and comments for the DOC were due on January 8, 2026. This is the only Q&A period for this solicitation. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct an additional round of Q&As during the Phased Process.

The complete Q&A response is available at www.SAM.gov.

L.5 Proposal Instructions

The following instructions are for the preparation and submission of proposals. The purpose of this section is to establish requirements for the format and content of proposals so that proposals contain all essential information and can be evaluated equitably.

This solicitation and its evaluation are being conducted in two phases. The purpose of the two-phase approach is to streamline the process for offerors and minimize traditional burdens associated with lengthy submissions. The two-phase approach requirements are summarized in the table below.

Table 3: Proposal Instructions

Proposal Submission Page Limit

Phase 1 Submission: Technical Volume I (PDF)

Factor 1: Demonstrated Experience & Approach

15 Pages

Advisory Down-Select Notification

Phase 2 Submission: Technical Volume II (PDF)

Factor 2: Work Statement Submissions 41 Pages

Phase 2 Submission: Cost Volume (Excel)

Factor 3: Fee Structure with Cost Narrative N/A

All information within the page limitations of the proposal is subject to evaluation. With the exception of attachments during Phase 2, as described below, for written content that extends beyond the page limitations, the Government may elect to not consider, review, or evaluate pages in excess of the page limitations. The use of hyperlinks in the written proposals is discouraged and any hyperlinks provided may not be reviewed.

The cover page shall include the offeror name, contact information, and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

No cover letter, executive summary, or table of contents is required. Any cover letter, executive summary, or table of contents provided will not be evaluated and will not count against the page limitation.

L.6 Phase 1 Submission: Technical Volume 1

Factor 1 – Demonstrated Experience & Approach

The Offeror shall submit a PDF document, totaling no more than 15 pages, detailing its demonstrated relevant experience and approach as it aligns to Table 4 “Factor 1 – Demonstrated Experience & Approach - Description and Questions” outlined below. In Phase 1, Offerors are encouraged to provide only the necessary documentation to meet the requirements of Factor 1.

Of the 15 pages, 13 pages are permitted for a narrative response to the questions/prompts listed in Table 4, and two (2) pages total are permitted for Reference Point of Contact (POC)information using the Reference POC Template provided as an attachment to this solicitation. Each project reference must use the template and Offerors shall submit no more than three (3) project references.

When asked to provide experience against the question/prompts below, the Offeror shall use no more than three (3) projects during the last five (5) years where the vendor served as the prime contractor specifically focused on the questions/prompts below. In other words, experience as a domain name registry operator will likely instill higher confidence than other experience performed within the domain name industry.

Table 4: Factor 1 – Demonstrated Experience & Approach - Description and Questions The United States country code Top Level Domain (usTLD) administrator is responsible for administering the .us domain in the public interest and for the benefit of the nation’s businesses, organizations, and individuals. The role of the Contractor is to ensure the secure, stable, and reliable operation of the .us domain name system (DNS); to create, maintain, and evolve a policy-rich environment for the usTLD; and to advance the multistakeholder approach to internet governance.

# Performance Area Question/Prompt 1 Stability of

Operations and Compliance.

Please provide detailed responses to the following:

1. Domain Management/Operation: Provide evidence that you have been managing and/or operating a TLD with at least two million domains under management during the past five years. Such evidence may include Registry Agreements with ICANN or other appropriate documentation. Detail your management/operational history, including major management/operational and/or security incidents, how they were resolved.

2. Registrar Connectivity: List the ICANN-accredited registrars with which you have maintained operational connections. Briefly describe how these relationships are, or were previously, securely maintained.

3. Standards Compliance: Describe how you have ensured compliance with relevant security and privacy standards applicable to the TLD(s) you operate. Provide two examples of security frameworks, certifications, or audits that demonstrate compliance with industry standards.

2 Mitigating and Preventing DNS Abuse and Other Malicious Conduct.

Describe the proactive measures and strategies you have employed to mitigate and prevent DNS Abuse. Detail any automated tools, monitoring systems, incentive programs, or early-warning mechanisms you have used to detect potential threats and have taken preemptive action to safeguard the TLD(s) you operate. Detail how you have incentivized registrars to take action to prevent and/or mitigate DNS Abuse.

Describe your process for addressing reports of DNS Abuse. Detail the obligations of the Registrar to prevent, mitigate, and respond to DNS Abuse. Describe how the responsibilities of the Registry and the Registrar differ in the application of EPP codes to a registration, as well as in the Registrar’s obligations toward the Registrant.

3 Evidence-Based DNS Abuse Reporting.

Detail how you have used evidence-based reporting to track, document, and analyze DNS Abuse incidents. Include two examples of the types of data and metrics collected, as well as how this data has been used to act against DNS Abuse.

4 Actions on Illegal Website Content and Transparency Reporting.

Detail the specific tools, technologies, and methodologies you have employed to address illegal website content such as Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM), the illicit distribution of opioids to Americans, or commercial piracy. List the third-party organizations you have worked with to ensure a comprehensive, effective response.

Detail how these collaborations have informed and enhanced your approach to address illegal website content, such as CSAM, the illicit distribution of opioids, and commercial piracy. Include information about free speech safeguards to protect registrants’ First Amendment rights.

Describe the transparency reports you provide related to DNS Abuse, court orders, requests from law enforcement, and actions taken against illegal website content, such as CSAM, the illicit distribution of opioids, and commercial piracy. For each area, outline the frequency, level of detail, and key metrics included in these reports.

5 Registrar and Registrant Compliance.

Describe your experience working with registrars to address compliance concerns. Describe your experience with ensuring, through Registrars as appropriate, registrant compliance with important policies, such as nexus requirements. Which approaches have been successful, and which have not?

6 Teaming Structure. Describe the teaming structure you have employed to manage/operate a large TLD. What services, if any, were subcontracted? Where were the services primarily located? What measures or systems did you employ to oversee the TLD operations and safeguard the quality of subcontracted services?

The Offeror must submit associated information on the projects referenced in the narrative response to the questions/prompts in Table 4. These are limited to two (2) pages and no more than three project references. The Offeror must use the Reference POC template provided in Section J as an attachment to this solicitation.

The Government may contact the Reference POC to confirm the level and quality of this demonstrated prior experience submissions. In addition, the Government reserves the right to review any information contained within the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) or any other Government system, source, or individual.

L.6.1 Advisory Down-Select Process

In Phase 1 of this solicitation, the Government will evaluate the Factor 1: “Demonstrated Experience and Approach” submissions and provide advisory down-select notifications to Offerors. This notification serves as the Government’s advice to individual Offerors on whether to proceed or not to proceed with the Phase 2 submission. The Government’s advisory down-select notification for proposals is intended to be a recommendation only and those Offerors who are advised not to proceed may elect to continue their participation in the procurement. The Government does not intend to provide feedback after the completion of the advisory down-select process, beyond that which is included in the advisory down-select notification. Detailed instructions for how and when Offerors can submit their intent to proceed to Phase 2 based on the Government’s advice will be included in the advisory down-select notification.

Proceeding to Phase 2: Failure to participate in Phase 1 of the procurement precludes further consideration of an Offeror in Phase 2. All Offerors who choose to proceed with a Phase 2 submission shall follow the instructions provided in the advisory down-select notification to indicate their intent to participate in Phase 2. Failure to respond within the time frame indicated in the advisory down-select notification may preclude the Offeror from being further considered for award.

Phase 2 Instructions: After the advisory down-select process concludes, the Government will issue Phase 2 submission instructions to all Offerors who have proceeded to Phase 2. The Government recommends Offerors begin preparation of Phase 2 quotes only after receipt of the Phase 1 advisory down-select notices.

L.7 Phase 2 Instructions

Further instructions and details pertaining to Phase 2 submission dates and the Oral Briefing component will be provided after the advisory down-select process including logistics, attendance, schedule, and overall requirements. The Department intends to conduct the Oral Briefings virtually.

Factor 2 – Work Statement Submissions & Oral Briefing

The purpose of Factor 2 is for the Government to assess whether the Offeror’s written Work Statement Submissions (WSSs) and Oral Briefing clearly and thoroughly respond to the Baseline Performance Objectives as detailed in the Requirements Document (RD) attached to this solicitation. The Offeror must provide a written response to all WSS sections within the RD.

The subsequent Oral Briefing will allow both parties (Offerors and the Government) to engage in an interactive dialogue, to ask and answer any questions for the submitted WSS, or any other question or topic pertaining to the RD. The table below provides a crosswalk of the WSSs contained in the Requirements Document to a corresponding page limit. The page limitations for each section are strict. Offerors are not permitted to include coverage of a corresponding scope element, corresponding requirement, or corresponding WSS in different section’s page limitation.

Offerors are advised that where the RD requests that Offerors present or propose new solutions, agreements, or policies (e.g. section 6.12, section 6.31), Offerors are invited to provide a draft, outline, or description of this solution as part of their WSS. Draft agreements or policies pertaining to the WSS may be attached as an annex and will not count toward the page limit of 41 pages. Such agreements may be reviewed as illustrative supplements to the WSS but will not be evaluated alongside the WSS or considered a replacement to the WSS.

Table 5: Work Statement Submission Crosswalk No. WS Submission Page

Limit Corresponding Scope Section

Corresponding BPOs

1 6.1.1 – Teaming arrangements 5 4.11 6.1; 6.6 2 6.3.7 – SLA for core registry functions 5 4.1 6.1; 6.2; 6.3;

6.4; 6.5; 6.8;

6.9; 6.11;

6.16; 6.22;

6.23; 6.24

3 6.5.1 – Disruption notification management matrix

2 4.1 6.1; 6.2; 6.3;

6.4; 6.5; 6.8;

6.9; 6.11;

6.16; 6.22;

6.23; 6.24

4 6.12.1 – Registrar/registrant agreement 1 4.4; 4.5 6.1; 6.12;

6.16; 6.18;

6.21; 6.27

5 6.14.1 – Registrar/registrant agreement compliance

3 4.4; 4.5 6.1; 6.12;

6.16; 6.18;

6.21; 6.27

6 6.15.3 – Registrar re-accreditation 5 4.2; 4.3; 4.4; 4.5 6.1; 6.12;

6.16;

7 6.17.1 – Registrar oversight 3 4.2; 4.3;…