36C24924R0069.docx

36C24924R0069 Attachments

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER

2. TYPE OF SOLICITATION

3. DATE ISSUED

PAGE OF PAGES

4. CONTRACT NUMBER

5. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUEST NUMBER

6. PROJECT NUMBER

7. ISSUED BY

CODE

8. ADDRESS OFFER TO

a. NAME

b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include area code) (NO COLLECT CALLS)

10. THE GOVERNMENT REQUIRES PERFORMANCE OF THE WORK DESCRIBED IN THESE DOCUMENTS (Title, identifying number, date) 12a. THE CONTRACTOR MUST FURNISH ANY REQUIRED PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT BONDS?

(If "YES," indicate within how many calendar days after award in Item 12B.)

12b. CALENDAR DAYS

13. ADDITIONAL SOLICITATION REQUIREMENTS:

STANDARD FORM 1442 (REV. 8/2014)

STANDARD FORM 1442

Prescribed by GSA-FAR (48 CFR) 52.236-1(d)

SOLICITATION, OFFER,

AND AWARD

(Construction, Alteration, or Repair)

SOLICITATION

SOLICITATION

IMPORTANT - The "offer" section on the reverse must be fully completed by offeror.

9. FOR INFORMATION

CALL:

NOTE: In sealed bid solicitations "offer" and "offeror" mean "bid" and "bidder".

SEALED BID (IFB)

NEGOTIATED (RFP)

11. The Contractor shall begin performance within ____________ calendar days and complete it within calendar days after receiving award, notice to proceed. This performance period is mandatory negotiable. (See _____________________________).

YES

NO

a.

Sealed offers in original and ___________________copies to perform the work required are due at the place specified in Item 8 by _____________ (hour) local time _____________________ (date). If this is a sealed bid solicitation, offers must be publicly opened at that time. Sealed envelopes containing offers shall be marked to show the offeror's name and address, the solicitation number, the date and time offers are due.

b.

An offer guarantee is, is not required.

c.

All offers are subject to the (1) work requirements, and (2) other provisions and clauses incorporated in the solicitation in full text or by reference.

d.

Offers providing less than _______________________ calendar days for Government acceptance after the date offers are due will not be considered and will be rejected.

36C24924R0069 X 05-07-2024 603-24-3-2304-0004 603-24-102 90C Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 9 (90C) Vance Rosebush, Contracting Officer 1639 Medical Center Parkway, Suite 204 Murfreesboro

TN

37129 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 9 (90C) Jen Jamieson, Contract Specialist jen.jamieson@va.gov

Jen Jamieson 615-867-6000 x20202 Project 603-24-101 Replace Steam Traps at Robley Rex VA Medical Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The VA Medical center has a requirement for construction services to replace 98 traps and all required trap assembly items (VA will supply all isolation valves (if replacement is necessary), strainers, and check valves; The contractor shall supply all traps, pipe, nipples and fittings. The contractor shall install all parts needed (traps, nipples, pipe, isolation valves, check valves, strainers, and trap tags) for each trap being replaced.

Magnitude of Construction: Between $250,000.00 and $500,000.00.

Type of Construction: NAICS 238220 Small Business Size - $19 Million Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price Project will be procured under FAR 15.101-2 Lowest Price Technically Acceptable.

A scheduled site visit will be held on Tuesday, 14 May 2024 at 9:30 AM, EDT at Robley Rex VA Medical Center.

All participants attending will meet at Robley Rex VA Medical Center, 800 Zorn Ave Room B016, Louisville, Kentucky.

Please Submit any Questions/Requests for Information thru email No Later Than Wednesday, 22 May 2024, 2:00 PM, EDT To obtain clarifications and/or additional information concerning the contract requirement, specifications, and/or drawings, submit a written Request for Information (RFI) via email to the Contracting Officer, Vance Rosebush at vance.rosebush@va.gov and Jen Jamieson, Contract Specialist at jen.jamieson@va.gov. RFI's must be specific in identifying section, paragraph and page number and must be in question format. All RFI's submitted shall include the project number and title, contractor name, city, state, telephone, email address, date submitted and RFI question(s).

Questions received after 2:00 PM, EDT, 22 May 2024 will not be answered unless it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government as deemed by the Contracting Officer. All questions must be submitted in writing only.

In accordance with P.L 109-461, this acquisition is 100% set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) concerns. To be eligible to receive an award under this solicitation, the SDVOSB contractor must be listed and viewable in the VetCert Registry located at https://veterans.certify.sba.gov/ at the time of offers due and at time of the award. In accordance with FAR 52.204-7 System for Award Management (SAM), all prospective offerors must have an active SAM's registration at the time of offer submission.

X X 52.211-10 X electronic

2:00 PM

EDT

06-07-2024 X

14. NAME AND ADDRESS OF OFFEROR

15. TELEPHONE NUMBER

16. REMITTANCE ADDRESS

CODE

FACILITY CODE

17. The offeror agrees to perform the work required at the prices specified below in strict accordance with the terms of the solicitation, if this offer is accepted by the Government in writing within __________ calendar days after the date offers are due.

AMOUNTS

18. The offeror agrees to furnish any required performance and payment bonds.

19. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS

AMENDMENT

NUMBER

DATE.

20a. NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN OFFER 20b. SIGNATURE 20c. OFFER DATE

21. ITEMS ACCEPTED:

22. AMOUNT

23. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

24. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN

ITEM

25. OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION PURSUANT TO

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)( 41 U.S.C. 3304(a) (

26. ADMINISTERED BY

27. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

PHONE:

FAX:

28. NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT

29. AWARD

Your Contractor agrees offer on this solicitation is hereby accepted as to the items listed. This to furnish and deliver all items or perform all work requirements identified award consummates the contract, which consists of (a) the Government on this form and any continuation sheets for the consideration stated in solicitation and your offer, and (b) this contract award. No further cont-this contract. The rights and obligations of the parties to this contract ractual document is necessary.

shall be governed by (a) this contract award, (b) the solicitation, and (c) the clauses, representations, certifications, and specifications incorporated by reference in or attached to this contract.

30a. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTOR OR PERSON AUTHORIZED 31a. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

TO SIGN

30b. SIGNATURE 30c. DATE 31b. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 31c. AWARD DATE

BY

OFFER

AWARD

STANDARD FORM 1442 (REV. 8/2014) BACK

(Include ZIP Code) (Include area code) (Include only if different than Item 14.)

(Insert any number equal to or greater than the minimum requirement stated in Item 13d. Failure to insert any number means the offeror accepts the minimum in Item 13d.)

(The offeror acknowledges receipt of amendments to the solicitation -- give number and date of each) (Type or print) (4 copies unless otherwise specified) (Type or print) (Type or print) (Contractor is required to sign this document and return _______ copies to issuing office.)

(Contractor is not required to sign this document.)

(Must be fully completed by offeror) (To be completed by Government)

CONTRACTING OFFICER WILL COMPLETE ITEM 28 OR 29 AS APPLICABLE

Line Item 0001: _________________________ Detailed pricing must be submitted on the attached form titled "Pricing Schedule" 90C Network Contracting Office 9 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office (90C) 1639 Medical Center Parkway Suite 204 Murfreesboro

TN

37129 90C FSC e-Invoicing Payment http://www.fsc.va.gov/fsc/einvoice.asp Invoice Setup Information 1-877-489-6135 Invoice must be submitted electronically

Setup 1-877-489-6135 Vance Rosebush Contracting Officer

Table of Contents

A.3 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE

ITEM INFORMATION

Contractor shall furnish all labor, materials and technical expertise needed to replace 98 traps and all required trap assembly items (VA will supply all isolation valves (if replacement is necessary), strainers, and check valves; The contractor shall supply all traps, pipe, nipples and fittings. The contractor shall install all parts needed (traps, nipples, pipe, isolation valves, check valves, strainers, and trap tags) for each trap being replaced. See SOW for additional information.

Contract Period: Base POP Begin:

POP End:

PRINCIPAL NAICS CODE: 238220 - Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors PRODUCT/SERVICE CODE: J035 - Maintenance, Repair, and Rebuilding of Equipment - Service and Trade Equipment

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

Page 1 of Page 1 of

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

Department of Veterans Affairs Robley Rex VA Medical Center Repair (Replace) Steam Traps

PART I

A. Introduction–This project will Replace Steam Traps that have failed or need to be converted to steel steam traps at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center, 800 Zorn Avenue, Louisville, KY. The period of performance is 240 days.

B. Background–Existing steam traps have failed, causing steam condensate to back-up, shock, flashing, hammering and equipment failures, and the VA is now requiring that all steam traps and associated fittings used in high pressure and medium pressure steam systems (greater or equal to 15 psi) must be cast steel, forged steel, or stainless steel.

C. Applicable Codes:

1. NAICS Code 238220

2. Product Service Code J035

D. Project Objectives

1. Replace 98 traps and all required trap assembly items (VA will supply all isolation valves (if replacement is necessary), strainers, and check valves; The contractor shall supply all traps, pipe, nipples and fittings. The contractor shall install all parts needed (traps, nipples, pipe, isolation valves, check valves, strainers, and trap tags) for each trap being replaced.

2. Where traps are being replaced, replace failed or missing components at each trap assembly. Refer to VA Standard Details for trap assemblies (attached). Verify complete, compliant, functional assemblies.

3. Coordinate and monitor to ensure the work is safe and complete. Provide foremen to directly oversee the work crews, ensuring proper precautions and performance.

4. Minimize disruptions on medical center operations. Some after-hours work will be required to minimize disruptions, equipment connections/verification.

PART II

A. Scope of Work

1. The contractor shall reference the attached spreadsheet (Replace Steam Traps – Trap Inventory) to see details on each trap assembly. For high and medium pressure steam trap assemblies, cast iron components of the trap assembly will be replaced with steel components. For low pressure steam trap assemblies, only the steam traps and failed or missing components mentioned in the trap inventory spreadsheet will be replaced. Note: Low pressure is considered less than 15 psi.

2. Contractor is responsible for providing all repair services, labor, and demolition to replace steam traps and trap assemblies. Trap assemblies include steam traps, connector blocks, isolation valves, check valves, strainers, pipe, nipples, and fittings. Work includes mechanical and necessary modifications of associated structures and systems. The contractor shall supply all traps, pipe, nipples and fittings.

3. The VA will supply all isolation valves, strainers, and check valves if they need to be replaced because they are made of materials that are not suitable, have failed, or are missing.

4. The contractor shall supply steam traps and connector blocks, pipe, nipples, and fittings. Note: For all high pressure and medium pressure steam trap assemblies, all parts must be cast steel, forged steel or stainless steel (steam traps, connector blocks, pipe, nipples, fittings).

5. Contractor is to furnish all materials listed above, labor, equipment, tools, supervision, transportation, storage, and quality control necessary to accomplish the objectives in accordance with the SOW and specifications. The contractor shall reference the attached spreadsheet (Replace Steam Traps – Trap Inventory), and shall get all replacement traps approved by VA COR prior to purchase and installation.

6. The project does not include insulating piping within the steam trap assembly (boundary defined by the steam isolation valves). However, the VA will require the contractor to replace any pipe insulation that is damaged or removed unnecessarily.

B. Scheduling and Duration – After-hours project work will be required to minimize disruptions to medical center operations. Medical center normal hours of operation are from 7am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. Work producing noise, dust or blocking hallways must be coordinated outside normal working hours. Coordinate with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) at least 7 days in advance. On-site work shall be managed to minimize the effect on medical center. Period of Performance is 240 days. All “days” within this document refer to calendar days.

C. Inspections – The VA COR is responsible for the inspection of the work called for in this project. Inspections shall be requested at least 7 days in advance by the contractor. Inspections made by the COR are for the sole benefit of the Government and do not relieve the Contractor of any quality control responsibilities. All work shall be inspected during installation and at final completion by the COR.

D. Warranty – All work shall be warranted against defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year.

E. Training – Provide training for M&O personnel. The contractor shall conduct 1 session. The contractor shall organize the training and develop the format/content with the manufacturer’s rep. The manufacturer’s rep shall conduct the training session(s) for each new type of equipment (each trap type) and the contractor will assist. Contractor shall provide M&O manuals tabbed by trade, including as-builts with referenced tables (spreadsheet indicating the trap model, characteristics and components installed at each location), cutsheets and maintenance instructions for each piece of equipment.

F. Delivery and Storage – The contractor is responsible for all transportation, deliveries and storage of materials and all associated costs. No onsite storage will be provided by the Government.

G. Fees and Mark-up – The contractor’s price to the government shall be all-inclusive, including all associated fees/costs and services to complete the work and provide a certified, fully functional system.

H. Bid/Proposal Item – Contractor proposal will not include a bid deduct, so there will be one bid item and complete price. The Bid Item will include all work to replace traps and repair assemblies as indicated in the project documents and scope of work. Total duration is 240 days.

PART III

A. Guidelines and Standards

1. Comply with current applicable state, local, & federal building codes as well as codes from other recognized authoritative bodies; including, but not limited to, Associated Air Balance Council (AABC), American Concrete Institute (ACI), Acoustical and Insulating Materials Association (AIMA), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Gypsum Association (GA), Hydraulic Institute (ANSI/HI for pump design, installation and testing), International Building Code (IBC), NEC, NFPA, National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB), National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC), OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), and American Barriers Act (ABA).

2. Comply with VA Infection Control Standards.

B. General Requirements and Notes

1. Prior to performing work, Contractor will coordinate the work with subcontractors and the VA COR. All details, equipment and material selections, sizing, locations, configurations/arrangements, etc., shall be worked-out in the field by the contractor and his QC. The contractor shall follow the recommendations listed in the Trap Inventory Spreadsheet. The contractor shall then submit the Trap Inventory Spreadsheet with a proposed replacement trap for each line item; listing the manufacturer and model number proposed.

2. The contractor’s superintendent and foremen will be on site at all times during the performance of contract work.

3. Contractor shall provide all labor, materials, equipment, components, supplies, supervision, and knowledge to perform the job. When “furnish”, “provide”, “install” or similar term is used, it shall mean a complete installation that is ready for use and fully functional.

4. The contractor shall identify all employees that will be working under the awarded contract. Contractor personnel shall include employees, sub-contractors, suppliers, and delivery personnel entering the medical center. Those employees shall bring photo ID to obtain a VA Contractor identification badge that shall be worn above the belt at all times while on medical center property. Contractor’s employees shall return all I.D. badges to designated personnel at the end of the period of performance of the contract. Lost badges will result in a surcharge.

5. Contractor shall perform safety inspections of all contract operations. All VA and OSHA safety regulations shall be observed during the performance of work. Provide PPE, signage, protection, barriers, and barricades, as required to maintain the safety of contractor and VA staff, visitors, and patients.

6. Prior to bid, the contractor and subcontractors shall visit the job site to thoroughly familiarize themselves with all the details of this work and working conditions. The contractor shall also verify all dimensions and material takeoffs in the field and shall advise the Contracting Officer and COR of any discrepancy or issues before performing any work. The contractor shall be specifically responsible for the coordination and proper performance of their work in the building.

7. Contractor shall not allow smoking in any building. Smoking is not permitted on the VA Campus.

8. Contractor will take adequate precautions to protect adjacent structures, equipment, and walkways in and around the work area.

9. The Contractor does not have assigned parking and is responsible for parking. Space will be made available for temporary unloading and loading of materials. The contractor will be allowed to park 6 vehicles while the actual work is being performed. Drivers should be particularly concerned with pedestrian traffic, Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Seat Belt use is mandatory on all VA grounds.

10. The Contractor shall keep the work area, including any areas where materials/equipment is being stored, free from accumulations of waste materials at all times. Upon completion of the work, the Contractor shall remove any rubbish and contractor owned materials, equipment, tools, and temporary measures.

11. When items, equipment, or materials are to be demolished, remove all appurtenances and patch back as necessary using materials consistent with adjacent site preparation. Do not leave any abandoned components or utility feeds. Remove utilities feeds back to the source or an active line, main, or main branch.

12. Equipment shall be provided by nationally recognized manufacturers that produce and distribute products across the United States for over 5 years. Manufacturers must have local vender representatives within a 300-mile driving distance, capable of responding to issues the same day.

13. Due to space limitations, the contractor will only have space for a small staging area with 1 Connex, 1 dumpster and 1 vehicle. The contractor shall immediately remove equipment/materials/supplies from the site when it is no longer needed or actively being installed/used. The contractor is responsible for the proper disposal of all waste.

14. Do not use any cast iron components. Traps shall be carbon steel or stainless steel. Other trap assembly components shall be carbon steel.

15. Provide and install all necessary devices, equipment and any other components that are required to complete the project and provide a functional system. Do NOT reuse existing components and devices. Any failed components in an assembly shall be replaced. Any missing components required for a complete assembly shall be installed.

16. Identify/label equipment. Use hard, UV resistant, vinyl tags. Provide a schedule to accurately identify the equipment and reflect the changes.

17. Submittals/materials/equipment must be processed within 5 days of contract award. Contractor shall review/sign all materials, submittals, providing comments and acting on the submittal. The contractor and their QC specialist shall review submittals/materials prior to installation. Submittals must be approved by all parties prior to the performance of work.

18. Submit a schedule/plan within 5 days after NTP. If the schedule slips 10 days, submit a revised schedule/plan to the COR and CO, indicating the reasons for the slippage and suggesting actions to remedy the schedule slippage.

19. Contractual Provisions: This SOW shall be considered as the most specific requirement for this project and shall quash any conflicting requirement(s) or terms. When the requirements/terms of the contract do not directly conflict, that provision shall be considered as an additional requirement.

C. Completion

1. Upon completing a segment of work (related to a location/task/objective), the Contractor shall leave the work area in a clean, neat, and orderly condition satisfactory for use.

2. Upon completion of a segment of work, the Contractor shall demonstrate that all work is complete, and the system is fully functional.

3. Comply with manufacturer’s requirements.

4. Correct and reinspect any QC listed issues prior to requesting final inspection.

5. Provide a stamped QC report and certification prior to requesting final inspection. Report shall document the work, inspections, corrective actions and approval of each assembly.

6. Request for final inspection shall be submitted in writing to contracting officer and COR 7 days in advance of the inspection date.

D. Attachments

1. Steam Trap Inventory Spreadsheet April 16 2024

2. Inverted Bucket Steam Trap Assembly

3. Float and Thermostatic Steam Trap Assembly

END OF STATEMENT OF WORK

IMPORTANT SUBMISSION INFORMATION

SOLICITATION MATERIALS: All solicitation materials consisting of drawings, specifications, contract forms, Amendments, and other documents will be posted to the Contract Opportunities Government website located at https://sam.gov/. Enter “36C24924R0069” into the search box to access the solicitation materials. This is the only official location where these documents can be obtained and where updates are posted. No ‘hard copy’ solicitation materials are available.

SOLICITATION SUBMISSION: The following documents must be included in the solicitation submission in the formats as stated:

- One (1) electronic copy of an original, fully completed and signed and dated SF 1442 Offer page, acknowledgment of all amendments issued by completing block 19 of the SF1442 and providing them with the SF 1442 Offer page; prices online item(s) listed on the Price/Cost Schedule; completed Representations and Certifications section (FAR 52.204-8, 52.209-5 (Deviation), and 52.209-7); and fully completed Contractor Experience Modification Rate (EMR) Certification documents.

- One (1) electronic copy of an original completed and signed SF 24 Bid Bond or other allowable Bid Security. Any missing elements of the bid bond submission could render the offeror ineligible and their offer will not be considered.

Subject: Class Deviation from the Federal Acquisition Regulation to Eliminate Hard Copy Original Documents, Signatures, Notarization, Seals on Bonds, and Other Seals for Certain Contract Requirements.

1. Purpose. To issue a class deviation in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 1.404, to allow greater flexibility by eliminating the requirement for hard copy original documents, original signatures, notarization, seals on bonds, and other scenarios confronting the acquisition workforce in connection with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

2. FAR Parts Impacted. FAR parts 28, 32, 42, and 52.

3. Effective Date. Immediately.

4. Expiration Date. This deviation expires when incorporated into the FAR or otherwise or rescinded.

5. Applicability. This class deviation applies to all VA contracting activities.

6. Exception. None.

7. Background. The deviation is issued in response to the COVID-19 national emergency, as authorized by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council (CAAC) letter 2020- 04, dated May 1, 2020.

a. Current FAR Policy. In certain situations, the FAR requires hard copy original documents, original signatures, notarization, and seals on bonds. Class Deviation from the FAR eliminating hard copy original documents, signatures, notarization, seals on bonds and other seals for certain contract requirements was issued and serves as consultation to agencies in accordance with FAR 1.404. Email copy will be acceptable.

b. Need for Deviation. In response to the COVID-19 national emergency, agencies are encouraged to issue FAR deviations to eliminate the requirements discussed herein.

c. New Policy. Contracting officers shall use the attached deviation FAR text as follows:

1) When obtaining financial protection against losses under contracts per FAR part 28:

· 28.101-3(c) allowing the use of electronic means is moved to an added section at 28.002 to apply the same flexibilities to all of part 28;

· 28.106-1 adding an exception to stamping a corporate seal on bonds;

· 28.106-8 allowing a signed statement by the contractor that the payment is due and owed;

· 28.203(b) not requiring the Standard Form 28 to be sworn and notarized;

· 28.203-5 allowing a written authorization of the release signed by the surety saying that it approves of such release;

· 52.228-11, Pledges of Assets (Aug 2018) (DEVIATION APR 2020), not requiring the Standard Form 28 to be sworn and notarized, in place of 52.228-11, Pledges of Assets (Aug 2018);

· 52.228-15, Performance and Payment Bonds – Construction (OCT 2010) (DEVIATION APR 2020), not requiring the seal when executing the standard forms required by the clause; and

· 52.228-16, Performance and Payment Bonds – Other than Construction (NOV 2006) (DEVIATION APR 2020), not requiring the seal when executing the standard forms required by the clause.

2) When processing assignment of claims per FAR subpart 32.8:

· 32.802(e) allowing the use of a copy of the assignment instrument; and

· 32.805(a), (b), (c), and (e) allowing the use of electronically signed documents and a copy of the assignment instrument.

3) When executing novation agreements and change-of-name agreements per FAR part 42:

· 42.1204(f) allowing the use of a copy of the documents;

· 42.1204(i) not requiring a seal on the Novation Agreement; and 42.1205(b) not requiring a seal on the Change-of-Name Agreement.

FEDERAL HOLIDAYS: Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) establishes the following public holidays for Federal employees: New Year’s Day, Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Please note that most Federal employees work on a Monday through Friday schedule. For these employees, when a holiday falls on a non-workday -- Saturday or Sunday -- the holiday usually is observed on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday).

All contractors are required to complete:

· VA Privacy Training for employees with access to VA computer systems or VA sensitive information.

· VA Talent Management System (TMS) training course VA10176 provides the mandatory Privacy Training requirements for any contractor with access to VA computer systems or VA sensitive information.

· VA Privacy Training for employees without access to VA computer systems or VA sensitive information.

· VA Talent Management System (TMS) training course VA20939 provides the mandatory Privacy Training requirements for any contractor without access to VA computer systems or VA sensitive information.

· Each employee self-enrolls for a profile on the VA TMS by visiting https://www.tms.va.gov/plateau/user/login.jsp. Once there, employees should follow the steps below to create a profile, launch the mandatory training, and complete the content prior to starting work at VA.

· Provide the COR with each employee’s printed certificate of completion from the TMS. This certificate displays the employee’s TMS User ID.

· Training must be completed annually throughout the performance of this contract.

THE EXCLUDED PARTIES LIST SYSTEM (EPLS): To ensure that the individuals or businesses providing services under the contract have not engaged in fraud or abuse regarding Sections 1128 and 1128A of the Social Security Act regarding federal health care programs, the contractor is required to check the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) located at https://sam.gov for each person or business providing services under this contract. During the performance of this contract the Contractor is prohibited from using any individual or business listed on the List of Excluded Individuals/Entities.

VETS-4212 REPORTING REQUIREMENT: Contractors are required to submit a required annual Form VETS-4212, Federal Contractor Veterans' Employment Report in all cases where the contractor or subcontractor has received an award of $150,000 or more in any fiscal year. Contracting Officers are prohibited from awarding a contract to a contractor that has not submitted a required VETS-4212 Report with respect to the preceding fiscal year if the contractor was subject to the reporting requirement of 38 U.S.C. 4212(d). Submit this report as soon as possible, if not already submitted, to avoid delays in the contract award process. For more information on this requirement and/or for completing the web-based reporting form, visit the following website https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/vets4212. See FAR provision 52.222-38, Compliance with Veterans' Employment Reporting Requirements (FEB 2016) under the Representations, Certifications and Other Statements of Offerors, and FAR clause 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (FEB 2016) under the General Conditions.

SECURITY:

It is agreed that:

1. The preliminary and final deliverables, and all associated working papers, application source code, and other material deemed relevant by VA which have been generated by the contractor in the performance of this contract, are the exclusive property of the U.S. Government and shall be submitted to the CO at the conclusion of the contract.

2. The CO will be the sole authorized official to release, verbally or in writing, any data, draft deliverables, final deliverables, or any other written or printed materials pertaining to this contract. No information shall be released by the contractor. Any request for information relating to this contract, presented to the contractor, shall be submitted to the CO for response.

3. Press releases, marketing material, or any other printed or electronic documentation related to this project, shall not be publicized without the written approval of the CO.

4. Employees shall not be on site without appropriate badge. Employees are responsible for reporting to the Engineering office with acceptable photo ID to obtain a badge. A VA approved badge shall be worn with the identification facing forward and visible above the waist. The employees may also be subject to inspection of their personal effects when entering or leaving the facility.

5. No photography or video recording of VA premises is allowed without prior authorization.

6. VA issued keys are to remain on VA property. Keys that are checked out from the Engineering Office shall be returned each day.

7. The contractor is responsible for safekeeping of all drawings, project manual and other project information. This information shall be shared only with those with a specific need to accomplish the project.

8. All paper waste or electronic media such as CD’s and diskettes shall be shredded and destroyed in a manner acceptable to the VA.

9. VA Information Custodial Language

· Information made available to the contractor or subcontractor by VA for the performance or administration of this contract or information developed by the contractor/subcontractor in performance or administration of the contract shall be used only for those purposes and shall not be used in any other way without the prior written agreement of the VA. This clause expressly limits the contractor/subcontractor's rights to use data as described in Rights in Data - General, FAR 52.227-14(d) (1).

· VA information should not be co-mingled, if possible, with any other data on the contractors/subcontractor’s information systems or media storage systems to ensure VA requirements related to data protection and media sanitization can be met. If co-mingling must be allowed to meet the requirements of the business need, the contractor must ensure that VA’s information is returned to the VA or destroyed in accordance with VA’s sanitization requirements. VA reserves the right to conduct onsite inspections of contractor and subcontractor IT resources to ensure data security controls, separation of data and job duties, and destruction/media sanitization procedures follow VA directive requirements.

· Prior to termination or completion of this contract, contractor/subcontractor must not destroy information received from VA, or gathered/created by the contractor while performing this contract without prior written approval by the VA. Any data destruction done on behalf of VA by a contractor/subcontractor must be done in accordance with National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requirements as outlined in VA Directive 6300, Records and Information Management and its Handbook 6300.1 Records Management Procedures, applicable VA Records Control Schedules, and VA Handbook 6500.1, Electronic Media Sanitization. Self-certification by the contractor that the data destruction requirements above have been met must be sent to the VA Contracting Officer within 30 days of termination of the contract.

· The contractor/subcontractor shall not make copies of VA information except as authorized and necessary to perform the terms of the agreement or to preserve electronic information stored on contractor/subcontractor electronic storage media for restoration in case any electronic equipment or data used by the contractor/subcontractor needs to be restored to an operating state. If copies are made for restoration purposes, after the restoration is complete, the copies must be appropriately destroyed.

E-VERIFY SYSTEM: Companies awarded a contract with the federal government shall enroll in E-Verify within 30 days of the contract award date. They shall also begin using the E-Verify system to confirm that all their new hires and their employees directly working on federal contracts are authorized to legally work in the United States. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that allows an employer, using information reported on an employee's Form I-9, to determine the eligibility of that employee to work in the United States. There is no charge to employers to use E-Verify. (FAR 52.222-54).

PRIME CONTRACTOR INFORMATION- SAFETY OR ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS AND EXPERIENCE MODIFICATION RATING INFORMATION

All Bidders/Offerors shall submit information pertaining to their past Safety and Environmental record (using the attached EMR information/data form). The information must contain a certification that the bidder/offeror has no more than three (3) serious, or one (1) repeat or one (1) willful OSHA or any EPA violation(s) in the past three years. If such certification cannot be made, a Bidder/Offeror shall explain why and submit as much information as possible regarding the circumstances of its past safety and environmental record, including the number of EPA violations and/or the number of serious, repeat, and/or willful OSHA violations, along with a detailed description of those violations.

All Bidders/Offerors shall submit information regarding their current Experience Modification Rate (EMR). This information shall be obtained from the Bidders/Offeror’s insurance carrier and be furnished on the insurance carrier’s letterhead. If a Bidder/Offeror’s EMR is above 1.0, Bidder/Offeror must submit a written explanation of the EMR from its insurance carrier furnished on the insurance carrier’s letterhead, describing the reasons for the elevated EMR and the anticipated date the EMR may be reduced to 1.0 or below.

Self-insured contractors or other contractors that cannot provide their EMR rating on insurance letterhead must obtain a rating from the National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. (NCCI) by completing/submitting form ERM-6 and providing the rating on letterhead from NCCI. Note: Self-insured contractors or other contractors that cannot provide EMR rating on insurance letterhead from the states or territories of CA, DE, MI, NJ, ND, OH, PA, WA, WY, and Puerto Rico shall obtain their EMR rating from their state-run worker’s compensation insurance rating bureau.

If the NCCI cannot issue an EMR because the Bidder/Offeror lacks insurance history, Bidder/Offeror shall submit a letter indicating so from its insurance carrier furnished on the insurance carrier’s letterhead and include a letter from the NCCI indicating that it has assigned Bidder/Offeror a Unity Rating of 1.0.

The above information, along with other information obtained from Government systems, such as the OSHA and EPA online inspection history databases, will be used to make an initial Determination of Responsibility.

This requirement is applicable to all subcontracting tiers, and prospective prime contractors are responsible for determining the responsibility of their prospective subcontractors.

PAYMENT FOR MATERIALS STORED OFF-SITE: The COR and the contractor/project manager (whoever will oversee submitting the invoice) shall meet and discuss the items listed on a draft copy of the invoice prior to submission to OB10. All items will be approved prior to submission. It is the Contracting Officer’s discretion to pay for any stored materials. This should be discussed prior to submission of the first invoice. Contract financing is not part of this contract.

REVIEW REQUIRED REGISTRATION WITH CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (CPARS)

As prescribed in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 42.15, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) evaluates contractor past performance on all contracts that exceed $750,000 and shares those evaluations with other Federal Government contract specialists and procurement officials. The FAR requires that the contractor be provided an opportunity to comment on past performance evaluations prior to each report closing. To fulfill this requirement VA uses an online database, CPARS, which is maintained by the Naval Seal Logistics Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. CPARS has connectivity with the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS) database, which is available to all Federal agencies. PPIRS is the system used to collect and retrieve performance assessment reports used in source selection determinations and completed CPARS report cards transferred to PPIRS. CPARS also includes access to the federal awardee performance and integrity information system (FAPIIS). FAPIIS is a web-enabled application accessed via CPARS for contractor responsibility determination information.

Each contractor whose contract award is estimated to exceed $750,000 is required to register with CPARS database at the following web address: www.cpars.csd.disa.mil. Help in registering can be obtained by contacting Customer Support Desk at 207-438-1690. Registration should occur no later than thirty days after contract award and must be kept current should there be any change to the contractor's registered representative.

For contracts with a period of one year or less, the contracting officer will perform a single evaluation when the contract is complete. For contracts exceeding one year, the contracting officer will evaluate the contractor's performance annually. Interim reports will be filed each year until the last year of the contract, when the final report will be completed. The report shall be assigned in CPARS to the contractor's designated representative for comment. The contractor representative will have thirty days to submit any comments and re-assign the report to the VA contracting officer.

Failure to have a current registration in the CPARS database, or to re-assign the report to the VA contracting officer within those thirty days, will result in the Government's evaluation being placed on file in the database with a statement that the “contractor failed to respond.”

END OF SUBMISSION INFORMATION

INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS AND OTHER STATEMENTS TO BIDDERS/OFFERORS

EVALUATION FACTORS

603-24-101 - Replace Steam Traps

This section describes the evaluation process, proposal preparation, the significant factors and sub-factors and criteria to be used in the evaluation process. This procurement action is a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable source selection process in accordance with FAR 15.101-2. Proposals will be evaluated for acceptability, but not ranked using the non-price factors/sub-factors. In order to be considered for award, an offeror must have an “acceptable” rating in every non-price factor/sub-factor under consideration.

The Government intends to award a single contract to a qualified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) determined responsible in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), whose proposal conforms to all the requirements in this solicitation and is further determined to meet or exceed the standards of acceptability at the lowest offered price. The Government intends to evaluate proposals and award a contract without discussions with Offerors. Therefore, the Offeror’s initial proposal should contain the Offeror’s best terms from both a technical and cost standpoint.

The evaluation of offers submitted in response to this Request for Proposal (RFP) solicitation will be conducted utilizing the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) selection process. Utilization of this source selection process may result in not all offers being evaluated. The Contracting Officer upon receipt of offers, will determine eligibility and compliance to the solicitation requirements. The Vendor Information Pages (VetCert registry) will be checked to ensure that any offeror submitting a proposal to perform the work is both listed and verified. All proposals received will also be checked for an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). Thereafter, the Contracting Officer will review all proposals to ensure that the minimum proposal submission requirements have been met. Once these requirements have been satisfied, the Contracting Officer will select and submit for review to the Technical Evaluation Board (TEB) the technical proposal of the lowest priced offeror for consideration. Initially, the TEB will not receive any pricing information, only the technical portion of the offeror’s proposal. The offeror’s proposal will be rated against each evaluation factor as set forth in this solicitation.

If the selected offeror’s proposal is determined to be acceptable based on the standards of acceptability, and that offeror’s price is the lowest of all offers submitted, then no further evaluation of offers shall occur, and the Contracting Officer will document these findings and proceed with the responsibility determination of the offeror. Pricing information will only be provided to the TEB upon notification to the Contracting Officer that the technical proposal as submitted meets or exceeds the acceptability standard necessary to fulfill the objective of the requirement.

Should the initial offeror’s proposal be determined to be unacceptable according to the standards of acceptability, then the TEB will be required to provide to the Contracting Officer a summary evaluation sheet that documents how the offeror’s proposal fails to meet the standards of acceptability, and request to the Contracting Officer that another selection be made for consideration of award. This process shall continue until such time that an award is made.

Offerors shall respond in writing to the evaluation factors listed below, in the same order as they appear in this solicitation document. Failure to provide all information will adversely affect the evaluation of an offer. The information contained in the technical proposal should be complete, concise, and address each factor. If information is applicable to more than one evaluation factor, it must be repeated for each factor, unless stated otherwise.

Proposals are to be submitted via email to the Contracting Officer, Vance Rosebush and Contract Specialist, Jen Jamieson. Offerors shall submit one (1) electronic copy of complete proposal (a. Technical & b. Price) to the email provided below.

EMAIL: vance.rosebush@va.gov and jen.jamieson@va.gov

FAR 52.209-7 Information regarding responsibility Matters (b) shall be marked. If not marked, the proposal is technically unacceptable and cannot be considered for award.

Technical and Price sections of an Offeror’s proposal will be evaluated independently. Offeror shall separately bind each section. All pages containing text shall be consecutively numbered, type-written on 8-1/2x11 inch paper with margins of at least once inch and created using a Times New Roman 12-point font. The submitted package should contain two (2) sections, separately bind: a.) Technical Proposal b.) Price Proposal. The Offeror’s Technical proposal shall be no more than 50 pages’ total, which is not inclusive of the solicitation and any amendments issued thereof. The Offeror’s Price Proposal shall be no more than 25 pages inclusive of the bid bonds required. The Offeror is hereby advised that the attached “Pricing Schedule” worksheet shall be considered as 20 pages, regardless of the overall total. Each section must therefore be labeled with the following:

1. Construction Company Name

2. Physical Address of the Company

3. Telephone Number

4. Email address

5. VA Project Number (Project 603-24-101)

6. VA Project Name (Replace Steam Traps)

7.…