36C77623Q0149.docx

Combined Synopsis-Solicitation for Commercial Items

GENERAL INFORMATION

Program Contracting Activity Central

6100 Oak Tree Blvd, Suite 490 Independence OH 44131

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Andrew Allen Andrew.Allen6@va.gov

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

ADDRESS

POSTAL CODE

COUNTRY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice

DESCRIPTION

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice

Description This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 12.6, “Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items,” as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested, and a written solicitation document will not be issued.

This solicitation is issued as an RFQ. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2023-01

This solicitation is set-aside for Small Business

The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 519290, with a small business size standard of 1000 employees The FSC/PSC is R605.

The Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC), 6100 Oak Tree Blvd, Suite 490, Independence, OH 44131 is seeking to purchase existing, off-the-shelf, web and print-based journal subscriptions for the VA Central Office (VACO) Library.

All interested companies shall provide quotations for the following:

Supplies/Services

BASE YEAR

Option Year 1

Option Year 2

TOTAL PRICE

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) requires a commercial off the shelf web-based purchase of VACO Library print and e-journals, a purchase that will be made available throughout the VHA healthcare system. Please reference the Statement of Work in the Standard Form (SF)1449 Solicitation document for specific project information and requirements.

The contract period of performance is twelve (12) months from the date of award plus two (2) twelve-month (12) option periods

Place of Performance/Place of Delivery

Washington, DC

The full text of FAR provisions or clauses may be accessed electronically at http://acquisition.gov/comp/far/index.html.

The following solicitation provisions apply to this acquisition:

1. FAR 52.212-1, “Instructions to Offerors–Commercial Items” (Dec 2022)

2. FAR 52.212-3, “Offerors Representations and Certifications–Commercial Items” (Dec 2022)

Offerors must complete annual representations and certifications electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM) website located at https://www.sam.gov/portal in accordance with FAR 52.212-3, “Offerors Representations and Certifications–Commercial Items.” If paragraph (j) of the provision is applicable, a written submission is required.

The following contract clauses apply to this acquisition:

· FAR 52.212-4, “Contract Terms and Conditions–Commercial Items” (Dec. 2022)

The following clauses are included as addenda to FAR 52.212-4:

· VAAR 852.203-70 – Commercial Advertising (MAY 2018)

· VAAR 852.232-72 – Electronic Submission of Payment Requests (NOV 2018)

FAR 52.212-5, “Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders” (Dec. 2022)

The following subparagraphs of FAR 52.212-5 are applicable:

· FAR 52.217-8 - Option to Extend Services (NOV 1999)

· FAR 52.217-9 – Option to Extend the Term of Contract (MAR 2000)

· FAR 52.219-6 - Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (NOV 2020)

· FAR 52.219-28 - Post Award Small Business Program Representation (MAY 2020)

· FAR 52.222-26 - Equal Opportunity (SEP 2016)

· FAR 52.222-36 - Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (JUNE 2020)

· FAR 52.222-50 - Combating Trafficking in Persons (Nov 2021)

· FAR 52.223-18 - Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (JUNE 2020)

· FAR 52.232-33 - Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer – Systems for Award Management (OCTOBER 2018)

· FAR 52.222-41 - Service Contract Labor Standards (MAY 2018)

· FAR 52.222-42 - Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires (MAY 2014)

· FAR 52.222-55 - Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (JAN 2022)

· FAR 52.222-62 - Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 (JAN 2022)

All quoters shall submit the following:

(A) Volume I – Technical - Quotes shall clearly and completely address the appropriate technical areas of consideration described below in a format that follows the Statement of Work (SOW) deliverables. Responses to these items will form the basis for the technical merits of each quote.

(B) Volume II – Price - The Offeror shall submit a firm-fixed price quote for all items described within the SOW. The Government will evaluate the price by adding the total of all line item prices, including all options and an estimated cost to exercise FAR 52.217-8. The Total Evaluated Price will be that sum.

All quotes shall be sent electronically via email to Andrew Allen, Contract Specialist, at Andrew.Allen6@va.gov. Only electronically submitted quotes will be accepted.

Basis for Award will be made to the lowest priced, technically acceptable quote. To receive consideration for award, a rating of Acceptable must be achieved for the Technical Factor.

FACTORS TO BE EVALUATED

1. Technical

a. Technical Capability

2. Price All Offerors are advised that, in the interest of efficiency, the Government reserves the right to conduct the evaluation in the most effective manner. Specifically, the Government may first evaluate the total proposed price of all Offerors. Thereafter, the Government will evaluate the technical quote of the lowest priced Offeror only. If the lowest priced Offeror’s technical quote is determined to be rated as Acceptable, the Government may make award to that Offeror without further evaluation of the remaining Offerors’ technical quotes. If the lowest priced Offeror’s technical proposal is determined to be rated as Unacceptable, then the Government may evaluate the next lowest priced technical quote, and so forth and so on, until the Government reaches the lowest priced technical quote that is determined to be rated as acceptable. However, the Government reserves the right to evaluate all Offerors’ technical quotes should it desire to conduct discussions, or otherwise determine it to be in the Government’s best interest.

Please be advised that any Offeror-imposed terms and conditions which deviate from the Government’s material terms and conditions established by this solicitation may render the Offeror’s proposal Unacceptable and thus, ineligible for award.

1. TECHNICAL EVALUATION APPROACH

The technical evaluation process will consider the following:

(1) The evaluation process will consider whether the quote demonstrates a clear understanding of the technical features involved in meeting the solicitation requirements and whether the Offeror’s methods and approach have adequately and completely considered, defined and satisfied the requirements in the Solicitation.

2. PRICE EVALUATION APPROACH

Firm Fixed Price: The Government will evaluate offers by adding the total of all line item prices, including all options.

In addition, FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services applies to this solicitation. As such, evaluation of options under FAR 52.217-8 will also include using the prices offered for the last option period to determine the price for an additional 6-month option period in the event an extension is issued under FAR 52.217-8. The Offeror’s proposed total base year price, total option period prices, and the additional 6-month option period price will then be added together to arrive at the Offeror’s Total Evaluated Price. The Total Evaluated Price will be that sum.

Evaluation of any options will not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

Offerors are further advised that the Firm Fixed unit prices proposed by the Offeror for each CLIN shall be incorporated into the basic contract and used as applicable pricing under same.

The award will be made to the response most advantageous to the Government. Responses should contain your best terms, conditions.

Due Date

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Program Contracting Activity – Central (PCAC) is issuing this Request for (RFQ) to solicit vendors for the purpose of entering into a single award contract. This solicitation is set-aside for small businesses.

Any technical questions regarding this RFQ should be directed to the Contract Specialist (CS) in writing by e-mail to Andrew.Allen6@va.gov

The due date for questions concerning the RFQ will be Wednesday, January 19, at 1:00 pm EST. Questions received after this time may not be accepted.

The Offeror’s quote shall be submitted electronically via email to Andrew Allen at Andrew.Allen6@va.gov by January 25th, 2023, at 1:00 PM EST.

To facilitate the award process, all quotes must include a statement regarding the terms and conditions herein as follows:

"The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document without modification, deletion, or addition."

OR

"The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:"

Quoters shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s), if any.

Late submissions shall be treated in accordance with the solicitation provision at FAR 52.212-1(f).

Any questions or concerns regarding this solicitation should be forwarded in writing via e-mail to the Point of Contact listed below.

Point of Contact Andrew Allen, Contract Specialist Andrew.allen6@va.gov

See attached document: S02 - Statement of Work (SOW).

See attached document: S02 - Brand Name Justification and Approval.

End of Document Effective Date: 02/01/2022