36C26025R0056.docx

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.

36C26025R0056 X 04-01-2025

TBD

692-24-105 36C260

NCO 20

Network Contracting Office

ATTN: V4CONT

1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd Bldg.17, Suite B428 Vancouver WA 98661 NCO 20 Network Contracting Office

ATTN: V4CONT

1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd Bldg.17, Suite B428 Vancouver WA 98661 Helen Woods 253-888-4915 692-24-105 Replace B211A Chiller Veterans Affairs Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center & Clinics located at 8495 Crater Lake Hwy, White City, OR 97503.

This requirement is for a complete, stand-alone firm-fixed-price construction project.

This requirement is a total-set-aside for small business only.

The magnitude of this solicitation per FAR 36.204 is between $500,000.00 and $1,000,000.00.

An organized site visit is being held on April 08, 2025. See later in RFP for additional instructions.

All questions must be submitted by April 21, 2025. Late questions may be accepted at the discretion of the Government.

All proposals shall be submitted by the deadline for receipt of offerors. Late proposals will not be considered unless a determination by the Contracting Officer is made that a valid exception per FAR part 15 applies.

All questions and proposals shall be submitted by email to Helen.Woods@va.gov. No other point of contact or designated point of submission is provided for this requirement. Information provided by other than amendment to this solicitation has no bearing and if determined to provide an unfair competitive advantage, may remove an offeror from consideration.

The Davis-Bacon Act Wage Determination for Jackson County, Oregon for "Buildings" applies at all times to this requirement and is available on SAM.gov. A courtesy copy has been attached to this solicitation. Any subsequent updates by Department of Labor supersede the included courtesy copy effective date published to SAM.gov.

This solicitation is under NAICS 238220, Plumbing, Heating,and Air Conditioning Contractors which has a size standard of $19.0 million dollars.

NOTE:

Any and all FAR or VAAR clauses listed on supporting documents, i.e. specifications, are strictly for reference only and do not supersede, replace, or enhance those clauses or provisions, in full or reference, included in the solicitation or contract. FAR and VAAR clauses or provisions found in the solicitation or contract shall prevail.

Notice to Proceed will be issued in a timely manner after award of project, and agreed to by all parties.

x x 52.211-10 X 10 from award 12:00

PDT

05-02-2025 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

NCO 20 Network Contracting Office

ATTN: V4CONT

1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd Bldg.17, Suite B428 Vancouver WA 98661 Department of Veterans Affairs

FMS-VA-2(101)

Financial Services Center PO Box 149971 Austin TX 78714-9971

Table of Contents

A.3 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE

ITEM INFORMATION

All work in accordance with the scope of work to complete the project PRINCIPAL NAICS CODE: 238220 - Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors PRODUCT/SERVICE CODE: Z1DA - Maintenance of Hospitals and Infirmaries

Page 1 of Page 1 of

36C26025R0056

INFORMATION REGARDING PROPOSAL MATERIAL, OFFER GUARANTEE AND BONDS

Page 1 of

Page 1 of

PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS

It is the responsibility of each offeror to ensure that their proposal reaches the designated point of submission (pg. 1 of RFP) in a timely manner.

Offerors must submit the following information with their proposals to be considered acceptable. Offerors who do not comply with the submittal requirements described below or do not provide the information needed to assess an evaluation factor may have their proposals deemed non-compliant and may not be substantially considered further.

Proposal Submittal Requirements for Compliance Offerors must submit the following to be considered compliance with solicitation requirements. These items are required for compliance but will not be evaluated further than for compliance unless identified as part of an evaluation factor (below).

Volume 1- Price and Administrative Information

· SF 1442 completed and signed. Signature by contractor must be in accordance with FAR part 4.102 and should not be in any fields regarding award at this time.

· Amendment(s) (if issued by the Government) In the event amendment(s) are issued, amendments shall be acknowledged in one of three ways listed on the amendment by the offeror.

· Pricing – complete pricing for all elements of the project. Partial offers shall not receive consideration.

· Representations and Certifications – all clauses and provisions that require offeror complete any portion thereof are required to be fully compliant. If your company uses covered communications items in Government contract performance, an additional clause may be required per FAR.

· Offer Guarantee (also known as a Bid Bond)

Volume 2- Technical Experience and Past Performance

· Technical Experience Examples – see below under evaluation factors.

· Past Performance References – see below under evaluation factors.

EVALUATION FACTORS

The following information will be evaluated:

Factor 1- Technical Experience The offeror shall provide at least two (2) examples but not more than five (5) examples of their recent and relevant experience with HVAC.

The project must be completed by the offeror as the prime contractor for the project.

If subcontractors were used as part of the proposed team to demonstrate experience, describe the role they played/play and the percentage of work they performed/are performing.

In describing the projects, provide specific details of the requirement(s) to demonstrate the applicable construction experience, including key personnel identifies for the project manager, and the superintendent/site safety and health officer/quality control manager.

General statements claiming experience that do not include specific references to prior work or that do not include sufficient information to validate recency and relevancy will not be considered and are not considered acceptable.

Offerors with recent and relevant experience working in active/occupied hospital environments may be assessed up to one strength under this factor.

Offerors with recent and relevant successful completion of projects at an active/occupied VA facility may be assessed up to one strength under this factor.

Factor 2- Past Performance Offerors may submit up to recent and relevant five (5) past performance references of work as a prime contractor responsible for managing multiple subcontractors and coordinating with multiple stakeholders. The references must be submitted via the attached Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) Worksheet.

A recent and relevant past performance reference is defined as within the past six years in accordance with FAR 42.1503(g) and of a similar size and scope to the project this RFP is issued for.

Past performance references shall clearly describe (1) the scope completed by the offeror, (2) the percentage of completion of the project, (3) the dates the project was completed, (4) if for a Government agency, the full contract number and (5) a current and correct point of contact as a reference to contact for validation, e.g., if work was done a government agency, the Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer’s Representative, including name, position, email, and phone number.

Past performance on contracts with government agencies and private industry may be evaluated. Evaluations will utilize information from the Contractor Performance Assessment Rating System (CPARS) and outer sources including contracting entities who have done business with the firm previously, and other reasonable avenues.

Offerors will be evaluated based on past performance with government agencies and private industry in terms of work quality, innovation, compliance with schedules, cost control (if applicable), overall safety record, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder/customer satisfaction.

The evaluation may be based on information provided through CPARS, past performance questionnaires, and may include other information provided by the offeror, customer inquiries, other Government databases, and other information available to the Government including information from the points of contact provided by the offeror and from VA staff’s knowledge of and experience with the offeror. The evaluation will only consider past performance information from the previous six years in accordance with FAR 42.1503(g).

Failure to provide requested data, accessible points of contact, or valid contact information may result in the VA being unable to verify/validate the information provided and may result in a lower adjectival rating.

Offerors with no past performance experience will be rated neutral.

Past Performance will be assessed in terms of relevancy of contractual work performed and how well the contractual work was performed.

Factor 3- Price Price will be evaluated on a basis of fair and reasonableness including any applicable evaluation preference factors.

Offerors are required to review to ensure their price(s) are complete and accurate prior to submitting to the government. If there is an assumed mistake in proposal, the company will be offered to 1) perform at the original price, or 2) withdraw their proposal submission.

The Government will apply the following deductive factor to implement VAAR 852.215-70:

· Full credit (the offeror is a Small Business Administration Certified SDVOSB) is a reduction of 2% of the total price.

· Partial credit (the offeror is a SBA Certified VOSB) is a reduction of 1% of the total price.

· Partial credit (the offeror is not a SBA certified SDVOSB or VOSB and has committed to subcontracting to SBA certified SDVOSB or VOSB) is a reduction of 0.5% of the total price.

The deductive factor is applied for price evaluation only. Offerors will only get one credit applied, if applicable. The actual price proposed by the offeror in their submission will be the awarded price if a contract is awarded.

EVALUATION PROCESS

The Government may reject any or all proposals and reserves the right to make not award if no proposal received is found to offer best value to the Government, funding is determined to be no longer sufficient, or the Government otherwise determines it is not in its best interest to continue the solicitation for the project at this time.

Any informalities or minor irregularities in received proposals may or may not be waived at the Government’s discretion.

The Government intends to make one (1) award to the proposal that offers the overall best value to the Government. As such, award may not be made to the lowest price offeror.

The Government intends to award without discussions but reserves the right to enter discussions if determined best interest of the Government.

Technical Experience, Past Performance, and Price are worth approximately the same as each other.

The following definitions apply:

Strength- an aspect of an Offeror’s proposal that has appreciable merit or exceeds specified performance or capability requirements in a way that will be advantageous to the Government during performance.

Weakness- a flaw in the proposal that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance.

Deficiency- a material failure of a proposal to meet a government requirement or a combination of significant weaknesses in a proposal that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance to an unacceptable level.

Relevant- effort involved is of a similar scope and magnitude of effort and complexities to the project this solicitation is for.

Somewhat Relevant- effort involved includes some of the scope and magnitude of effort and complexities this solicitation requires. This could be considered a weakness.

Not relevant- effort involved little or none of the scope and magnitude of effort and complexities this solicitation requires. A performance example that is not relevant is a weakness.

The following tables will be used to provide adjectival ratings unless an exclusion is listed below:

Table 1- Combined Rating – Factor 1

approach and understanding of the requirements. Proposal contains no strengths and two or fewer weaknesses.

Marginal

Proposal does not clearly meet requirements or has not demonstrated an acceptable approach and understanding of the requirements. The proposal contains no strengths and more than two weaknesses, but no deficiencies.

Table 2- Past Performance Relevancy – Factor 2

An example would be a construction project $500,000 or greater with the VA or other Government agencies on a healthcare installation (internal/external).

An example would be a construction project $500,000 or greater with other Government agencies on a healthcare installation (internal/external).

An example would be a construction project less than $500,000 on a healthcare installation (internal/external).

An example would be a construction project less than $500,000 not on a healthcare installation.

Table 3- Past Performance Confidence Assessment – Factor 2

INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS AND OTHER STATEMENTS TO OFFERORS

2.1 52.201-1 ACQUISITION 360: VOLUNTARY SURVEY (SEP 2023)

(a) All actual and potential offerors are encouraged to provide feedback on the preaward and debriefing processes, as applicable. Feedback may be provided to agencies up to 45 days after award. The feedback is anonymous, unless the participant self-identifies in the survey. Actual and potential offerors can participate in the survey by selecting the following link: https:// www.acquisition.gov/360.

(b) The Contracting Officer will not review the information provided until after contract award and will not consider it in the award decision. The survey is voluntary and does not convey any protections, rights, or grounds for protest. It creates a way for actual and potential offerors to provide the Government constructive feedback about the preaward and debriefing processes, as applicable, used for a specific acquisition.

(End of Clause)

2.2 52.204-26 COVERED TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES—REPRESENTATION (OCT 2020)

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision, “covered telecommunications equipment or services” and “reasonable inquiry” have the meaning provided in the clause 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.

(b) Procedures. The Offeror shall review the list of excluded parties in the System for Award Management (SAM) (https://www.sam.gov) for entities excluded from receiving federal awards for “covered telecommunications equipment or services”.

(c) Representations. (1) The Offeror represents that it [ ] does, [ ] does not provide covered telecommunications equipment or services as a part of its offered products or services to the Government in the performance of any contract, subcontract, or other contractual instrument.

(2) After conducting a reasonable inquiry for purposes of this representation, the offeror represents that it [ ] does, [ ] does not use covered telecommunications equipment or services, or any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services.

(End of Provision)

2.3 52.216-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1984)

The Government contemplates award of a Firm-Fixed-Price contract resulting from this solicitation.

(End of Provision)

2.4 52.222-5 CONSTRUCTION WAGE RATE REQUIREMENTS—SECONDARY SITE OF THE WORK (MAY 2014) (a)(1) The offeror shall notify the Government if the offeror intends to perform work at any secondary site of the work, as defined in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of the FAR clause at 52.222-6, Construction Wage Rate Requirements, of this solicitation.

(2) If the offeror is unsure if a planned work site satisfies the criteria for a secondary site of the work, the offeror shall request a determination from the Contracting Officer.

(b)(1) If the wage determination provided by the Government for work at the primary site of the work is not applicable to the secondary site of the work, the offeror shall request a wage determination from the Contracting Officer.

(2) The due date for receipt of offers will not be extended as a result of an offeror's request for a wage determination for a secondary site of the work.

(End of Provision)

2.5 52.225-10 NOTICE OF BUY AMERICAN REQUIREMENT—CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS (MAY 2014) ALTERNATE I (MAY 2014)

(a) Definitions. "Commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) item," "construction material," "domestic construction material," and "foreign construction material," as used in this provision, are defined in the clause of this solicitation entitled "Buy American—Construction Materials" (Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.225-9).

(b) Requests for determinations of inapplicability. An offeror requesting a determination regarding the inapplicability of the Buy American statute shall submit the request with its offer, including the information and applicable supporting data required by paragraphs (c) and (d) of the clause at FAR 52.225-9.

(c) Evaluation of offers.

(1) The Government will evaluate an offer requesting exception to the requirements of the Buy American statute, based on claimed unreasonable cost of domestic construction material, by adding to the offered price the appropriate percentage of the cost of such foreign construction material, as specified in paragraph (b)(3)(i) of the clause at FAR 52.225-9.

(2) If evaluation results in a tie between an offeror that requested the substitution of foreign construction material based on unreasonable cost and an offeror that did not request an exception, the Contracting Officer will award to the offeror that did not request an exception based on unreasonable cost.

(d) Alternate offers.

(1) When an offer includes foreign construction material not listed by the Government in this solicitation in paragraph (b)(2) of the clause at FAR 52.225-9, the offeror also may submit an alternate offer based on use of equivalent domestic construction material.

(2) If an alternate offer is submitted, the offeror shall submit a separate Standard Form 1442 for the alternate offer, and a separate price comparison table prepared in accordance with paragraphs (c) and (d) of the clause at FAR 52.225-9 for the offer that is based on the use of any foreign construction material for which the Government has not yet determined an exception applies.

(3) If the Government determines that a particular exception requested in accordance with paragraph (c) of the clause at FAR 52.225-9 does not apply, the Government will evaluate only those offers based on use of the equivalent domestic construction material, and the offeror shall be required to furnish such domestic construction material. An offer based on use of the foreign construction material for which an exception was requested—

(i) Will be rejected as nonresponsive if this acquisition is conducted by sealed bidding; or

(ii) May be accepted if revised during negotiations.

(End of Provision)

2.6 52.228-1 BID GUARANTEE (SEP 1996)

(a) Failure to furnish a bid guarantee in the proper form and amount, by the time set for opening of bids, may be cause for rejection of the bid.

(b) The bidder shall furnish a bid guarantee in the form of a firm commitment, e.g., bid bond supported by good and sufficient surety or sureties acceptable to the Government, postal money order, certified check, cashier's check, irrevocable letter of credit, or, under Treasury Department regulations, certain bonds or notes of the United States. The Contracting Officer will return bid guarantees, other than bid bonds—

(1) To unsuccessful bidders as soon as practicable after the opening of bids; and

(2) To the successful bidder upon execution of contractual documents and bonds (including any necessary coinsurance or reinsurance agreements), as required by the bid as accepted.

(c) The amount of the bid guarantee shall be percent of the bid price or , whichever is less.

(d) If the successful bidder, upon acceptance of its bid by the Government within the period specified for acceptance, fails to execute all contractual documents or furnish executed bond(s) within 10 days after receipt of the forms by the bidder, the Contracting Officer may terminate the contract for default.

(e) In the event the contract is terminated for default, the bidder is liable for any cost of acquiring the work that exceeds the amount of its bid, and the bid guarantee is available to offset the difference.

(End of Provision)

2.7 52.228-17 INDIVIDUAL SURETY—PLEDGE OF ASSETS (BID GUARANTEE) (FEB 2021)

(a) Offerors shall obtain from each person acting as an individual surety on a bid guarantee—

(1) A pledge of assets that meets the eligibility, valuation, and security requirements described in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 28.203–1; and

(2) Standard Form 28, Affidavit of Individual Surety.

(b) The Offeror shall include with its offer the information required at paragraph (a) of this provision within the timeframe specified in the provision at FAR 52.228–1, Bid Guarantee, or as otherwise established by the Contracting Officer.

(c) The Contracting Officer may release the security interest on the individual surety’s assets in support of a bid guarantee based upon evidence that the offer supported by the individual surety will not result in contract award.

(End of Provision)

2.8 52.233-2 SERVICE OF PROTEST (SEP 2006)

Protests, as defined in section 33.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, that are filed directly with an agency, and copies of any protests that are filed with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), shall be served on the Contracting Officer (addressed as follows) by obtaining written and dated acknowledgment of receipt from:

Hand-Carried Address:

NCO 20 Network Contracting Office

ATTN: V4CONT

1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd Bldg.17, Suite B428 Vancouver WA 98661 Mailing Address:

NCO 20 Network Contracting Office

ATTN: V4CONT

1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd Bldg.17, Suite B428 Vancouver WA 98661

(b) The copy of any protest shall be received in the office designated above within one day of filing a protest with the GAO.

(End of Provision)

2.9 52.236-27 SITE VISIT (CONSTRUCTION) (FEB 1995) ALTERNATE I (FEB 1995)

(a) The clauses at 52.236-2, Differing Site Conditions, and 52.236-3, Site Investigations and Conditions Affecting the Work, will be included in any contract awarded as a result of this solicitation. Accordingly, offerors or quoters are urged and expected to inspect the site where the work will be performed.

(b) An organized site visit has been scheduled for— April xx, 2025 at xxxx Pacific

(c) Participants will meet at— Building 229 8495 Crater Lake Highway, White City, OR (End of Provision)

2.10 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions 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. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.va.gov/oal/library/vaar/

(End of Provision)

2.11 VAAR 852.228-72 ASSISTING SERVICE-DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED AND VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES IN OBTAINING BONDS (DEC 2009) Prime contractors are encouraged to assist service-disabled veteran-owned and veteran-owned small business potential subcontractors in obtaining bonding, when required. Mentor firms are encouraged to assist protégé firms under VA's Mentor-Protégé Program in obtaining acceptable bid, payment, and performance bonds, when required, as a prime contractor under a solicitation or contract and in obtaining any required bonds under subcontracts.

(End of Clause)

2.12 VAAR 852.233-71 ALTERNATE PROTEST PROCEDURE (OCT 2018)

(a) As an alternative to filing a protest with the Contracting Officer, an interested party may file a protest by mail or electronically with: Executive Director, Office of Acquisition and Logistics, Risk Management and Compliance Service (003A2C), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 or Email: EDProtests@va.gov.

(b) The protest will not be considered if the interested party has a protest on the same or similar issue(s) pending with the Contracting Officer.

(End of Provision) PLEASE NOTE: The correct mailing information for filing alternate protests is as follows:

Or for solicitations issued by the Office of Construction and Facilities Management:

2.13 VAAR 852.233-70 PROTEST CONTENT/ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (OCT 2018)

(a) Any protest filed by an interested party shall—

(1) Include the name, address, fax number, email and telephone number of the protester;

(2) Identify the solicitation and/or contract number;

(3) Include an original signed by the protester or the protester’s representative and at least one copy;

(4) Set forth a detailed statement of the legal and factual grounds of the protest, including a description of resulting prejudice to the protester, and provide copies of relevant documents;

(5) Specifically request a ruling of the individual upon whom the protest is served;

(6) State the form of relief requested; and

(7) Provide all information establishing the timeliness of the protest.

(b) Failure to comply with the above may result in dismissal of the protest without further consideration.

(c) Bidders/offerors and Contracting Officers are encouraged to use alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures to resolve protests at any stage in the protest process. If ADR is used, the Department of Veterans Affairs will not furnish any documentation in an ADR proceeding beyond what is allowed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

(End of Provision)

REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Please note:

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.

3.1 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (JAN 2025) (DEVIATION FEB 2025) (a)(1) The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 238220.

(2) The small business size standard is $19 Million.

(3) The small business size standard for a concern that submits an offer, other than on a construction or service acquisition, but proposes to furnish an end item that it did not itself manufacture, process, or produce is 500 employees, or 150 employees for information technology value-added resellers under NAICS code 541519, if the acquisition—

(i) Is set aside for small business and has a value above the simplified acquisition threshold;

(ii) Uses the HUBZone price evaluation preference regardless of dollar value, unless the offeror waives the price evaluation preference; or

(iii) Is an 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, economically disadvantaged women-owned, or women-owned small business set-aside or sole-source award regardless of dollar value.

(b)(1) If the provision at 52.204-7, System for Award Management, is included in this solicitation, paragraph (d) of this provision applies.

(2) If the provision at 52.204-7, System for Award Management, is not included in this solicitation, and the Offeror has an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM), the Offeror may choose to use paragraph (d) of this provision instead of completing the corresponding individual representations and certifications in the solicitation. The Offeror shall indicate which option applies by checking one of the following boxes:

[ ] (i) Paragraph (d) applies.

[ ] (ii) Paragraph (d) does not apply and the offeror has completed the individual representations and certifications in the solicitation.

(c)(1) The following representations or certifications in SAM are applicable to this solicitation as indicated:

(i) 52.203-2, Certificate of Independent Price Determination. This provision applies to solicitations when a firm-fixed-price contract or fixed-price contract with economic price adjustment is contemplated, unless—

(A) The acquisition is to be made under the simplified acquisition procedures in Part 13;

(B) The solicitation is a request for technical proposals under two-step sealed bidding procedures; or

(C) The solicitation is for utility services for which rates are set by law or regulation.

(ii) 52.203-11, Certification and Disclosure Regarding Payments to Influence Certain Federal Transactions. This provision applies to solicitations expected to exceed $150,000.

(iii) 52.203-18, Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements—Representation. This provision applies to all solicitations.

(iv) 52.204-3, Taxpayer Identification. This provision applies to solicitations that do not include the provision at 52.204-7, System for Award Management.

(v) 52.204-5, Women-Owned Business (Other Than Small Business). This provision applies to solicitations that—

(A) Are not set aside for small business concerns;

(B) Exceed the simplified acquisition threshold; and

(C) Are for contracts that will be performed in the United States or its outlying areas.

(vi) 52.204-26, Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services—Representation. This provision applies to all solicitations.

(vii) 52.209-2, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations—Representation.

(viii) 52.209-5, Certification Regarding Responsibility Matters. This provision applies to solicitations where the contract value is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.

(ix) 52.209-11, Representation by Corporations Regarding Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction under any Federal Law. This provision applies to all solicitations.

(x) 52.214-14, Place of Performance—Sealed Bidding. This provision applies to invitations for bids except those in which the place of performance is specified by the Government.

(xi) 52.215-6, Place of Performance. This provision applies to solicitations unless the place of performance is specified by the Government.

(xii) 52.219-1, Small Business Program Representations (Basic, Alternates I, and II). This provision applies to solicitations when the contract is for supplies to be delivered or services to be performed in the United States or its outlying areas, or when the contracting officer has applied part 19 in accordance with 19.000(b)(1)(ii).

(A) The basic provision applies when the solicitations are issued by other than DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard.

(B) The provision with its Alternate I applies to solicitations issued by DoD, NASA, or the Coast Guard.

(C) The provision with its Alternate II applies to solicitations that will result in a multiple-award contract with more than one NAICS code assigned.

(xiii) 52.219-2, Equal Low Bids. This provision applies to solicitations when contracting by sealed bidding and the contract is for supplies to be delivered or services to be performed in the United States or its outlying areas, or when the contracting officer has applied part 19 in accordance with 19.000(b)(1)(ii).

(xiv) RESERVED.

(xv) RESERVED.

(xvi) 52.222-38, Compliance with Veterans' Employment Reporting Requirements. This provision applies to solicitations when it is anticipated the contract award will exceed the simplified acquisition threshold and the contract is not for acquisition of commercial products or commercial services.

(xvii) 52.223-1, Biobased Product Certification. This provision applies to solicitations that require the delivery or specify the use of biobased products in USDA-designated product categories; or include the clause at 52.223-2, Reporting of Biobased Products Under Service and Construction Contracts.

(xviii) 52.223-4, Recovered Material Certification. This provision applies to solicitations that are for, or specify the use of, EPA-designated items.

(xix) 52.223-22, Public Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Reduction Goals—Representation. This provision applies to solicitations that include the provision at 52.204-7.

(xx) 52.225-2, Buy American Certificate. This provision applies to solicitations containing the clause at 52.225-1.

(xxi) 52.225-4, Buy American—Free Trade Agreements—Israeli Trade Act Certificate. (Basic, Alternates II and III.) This provision applies to solicitations containing the clause at 52.225-3.

(A) If the acquisition value is less than $50,000, the basic provision applies.

(B) If the acquisition value is $50,000 or more but is less than $100,000, the provision with its Alternate II applies.

(C) If the acquisition value is $100,000 or more but is less than $102,280, the provision with its Alternate III applies.

(xxii) 52.225-6, Trade Agreements Certificate. This provision applies to solicitations containing the clause at 52.225-5.

(xxiii) 52.225-20, Prohibition on Conducting Restricted Business Operations in Sudan—Certification. This provision applies to all solicitations.

(xxiv) 52.225-25, Prohibition on Contracting with Entities Engaging in Certain Activities or Transactions Relating to Iran-Representation and Certifications. This provision applies to all solicitations.

(xxv) 52.226-2, Historically Black College or University and Minority Institution Representation. This provision applies to solicitations for research, studies, supplies, or services of the type normally acquired from higher educational institutions.

(A) Solicitations for research, studies, supplies, or services of the type normally acquired from higher educational institutions; and

(B) For DoD, NASA, and Coast Guard acquisitions, solicitations that contain the clause at 52.219-23, Notice of Price Evaluation Adjustment for Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns.

(2) The following representations or certifications are applicable as indicated by the Contracting Officer:

[X] (i) 52.204-17, Ownership or Control of Offeror.

[X] (ii) 52.204-20, Predecessor of Offeror.

[] (iii) 52.222-18, Certification Regarding Knowledge of Child Labor for Listed End Products.

[] (iv) 52.222-48, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment—Certification.

[] (v) 52.222-52, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Certain Services—Certification.

[] (vi) 52.227-6, Royalty Information.

[] (A) Basic.

[] (B) Alternate I.

[] (vii) 52.227-15, Representation of Limited Rights Data and Restricted Computer Software.

(d) The Offeror has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically in SAM accessed through https://www.sam.gov. After reviewing the SAM information, the Offeror verifies by submission of the offer that the representations and certifications currently posted electronically that apply to this solicitation as indicated in paragraph (c) of this provision have been entered or updated within the last 12 months, are current, accurate, complete, and applicable to this solicitation (including the business size standard applicable to the NAICS code referenced for this solicitation), as of the date of this offer and are incorporated in this offer by reference (see FAR 4.1201); except for the changes identified below [offeror to insert changes, identifying change by clause number, title, date]. These amended representation(s) and/or certification(s) are also incorporated in this offer and are current, accurate, and complete as of the date of this offer.

Any changes provided by the offeror are applicable to this solicitation only, and do not result in an update to the representations and certifications posted on SAM.

(End of Provision)

3.2 52.204-24 REPRESENTATION REGARDING CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT (NOV 2021) The Offeror shall not complete the representation at paragraph (d)(1) of this provision if the Offeror has represented that it ‘‘does not provide covered telecommunications equipment or services as a part of its offered products or services to the Government in the performance of any contract, subcontract, or other contractual instrument’’ in paragraph (c)(1) in the provision at 52.204–26, Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services—Representation, or in paragraph (v)(2)(i) of the provision at 52.212–3, Offeror Representations and Certifications–Commercial Products and Commercial Services. The Offeror shall not complete the representation in paragraph (d)(2) of this provision if the Offeror has represented that it ‘‘does not use covered telecommunications equipment or services, or any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services’’ in paragraph (c)(2) of the provision at 52.204–26, or in paragraph (v)(2)(ii) of the provision at 52.212–3.

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision— Backhaul, covered telecommunications equipment or services, critical technology, interconnection arrangements, reasonable inquiry, roaming, and substantial or essential component have the meanings provided in the clause 52.204–25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.

(b) Prohibition. (1) Section 889(a)(1)(A) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115–232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on or after August 13, 2019, from procuring or obtaining, or extending or renewing a contract to procure or obtain, any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system. Nothing in the prohibition shall be construed to—

(i) Prohibit the head of an executive agency from procuring with an entity to provide a service that connects to the facilities of a third-party, such as backhaul, roaming, or interconnection arrangements; or

(ii) Cover telecommunications equipment that cannot route or redirect user data traffic or cannot permit visibility into any user data or packets that such equipment transmits or otherwise handles.

(2) Section 889(a)(1)(B) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115–232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on or after August 13, 2020, from entering into a contract or extending or…