Att_4__Final_Evaluation_Factors_for_Award.docx

68HE0H18FR0030

Conflict Prevention and Resolution Services

Attachment 4

EVALUATION FACTORS FOR CONTRACT AWARD

1. GENERAL EVALUATION PLAN

The Government will make an award to an Offeror whose offer conforms to the request for proposal (RFP) and is most advantageous to the Government with cost or price and other factors considered. For this RFP, all evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined, are significantly more important than price.

2. TECHNICAL EVALUATION FACTORS (VOLUME I)

The following technical evaluation factors, listed in descending order of importance, will be used to evaluate technical proposals on a tradeoff basis.

TECHNICAL EVALUATION FACTOR 1 – STAFFING APPROACH

This factor is comprised of two (2) significant subfactors, which are of equal importance: Subfactor 1.1 Staffing Plan and Subfactor 1.2 Key Personnel.

Subfactor 1.1 Staffing Plan: The Offeror’s response contained in Section 1: Staffing Approach, Subsection 1.1 Staffing Plan of its Technical Proposal (Volume I) and the Offeror’s responses to the pre-selected questions concerning the Offeror’s proposed staffing methodology in responding to the selected sample task order scenario during the Question Segment of the Offeror’s oral presentation will be evaluated under this factor.

The Offeror’s proposed staffing plan will be evaluated on its proposed methodology for selecting appropriate and qualified staffing resources; its demonstrated ability to provide qualified staffing resources across all task and subtask areas as quickly as possible upon contract award and upon issuance of a task order with minimal onboarding obstacles; its demonstrated ability to staff multiple, concurrent projects throughout the continental United States; and its demonstrated ability to maintain a qualified workforce for the duration of the CPRS contract.

Subfactor 1.2 Key Personnel: The Offeror’s response contained in Section 1: Staffing Approach, Subsection 1.2 Key Personnel, and Appendix A: Key Personnel Resumes of its Technical Proposal (Volume I), and the Offeror’s responses to the pre-selected questions concerning the Offeror’s proposed Key Personnel qualifications during the Question Segment of the Offeror’s oral presentation will be evaluated under this subfactor.

The Offeror’s proposed Key Personnel’s qualifications (i.e. technical experience, management experience, certifications, education, and expertise) in providing technical and management support will be evaluated based on the extent to which key personnel demonstrate knowledge, skills, abilities, availability, and experience appropriate for managing this contract, including experience in performing contracts comparable in size, scope, complexity and subject matter.

TECHNICAL EVALUATION FACTOR 2 – MANAGEMENT APPROACH

The Offeror’s response contained in Section 2: Management Approach of its Technical Proposal (Volume I) and the Offeror’s responses to the pre-selected questions concerning the Offeror’s proposed Management Approach in responding to the selected sample task order scenario during the Question Segment of the Offeror’s oral presentation will be evaluated under this factor.

The Offeror’s Management Approach will be evaluated on the extent the proposed PM Plan, contained in Section 2: Management Approach of its written Technical Proposal (Volume I), and the management approach in responding to the sample task order scenario during the oral presentation: is realistic to meet the demands of the tasks in the SOW and the overall challenges of supporting EPA’s CPRS requirements; describes practical and cost-effective methods for producing, managing, and evaluating deliverables and reports to ensure high-quality results; and the likelihood of success in efficiently managing the CPRS requirements and overall service delivery, including quality assurance, client satisfaction, financial tracking, and reporting.

TECHNICAL EVALUATION FACTOR 3 – TECHNICAL APPROACH

The Offeror’s response contained in Section 3: Technical Approach of its Technical Proposal (Volume I) and the Offeror’s responses to the pre-selected questions concerning the Offeror’s proposed Technical Approach in responding to the selected sample task order scenario during the Question Segment of the Offeror’s oral presentation will be evaluated under this factor.

The Offeror’s Technical Approach for each of the three (3) sample task orders will be evaluated on the Offeror’s demonstrated understanding and approach to delivering Conflict Prevention and Resolution Services in response to the sample task order scenarios contained on pages 6-7 of Attachment 3 entitled, “Proposal Instructions Alternate II (Tailored),” of this solicitation. EPA will evaluate the Offeror’s approach to each of the three (3) selected scenarios, including accuracy of their understanding of each scenario and the programmatic, logistical, and subject matter constraints; completeness of the proposed solution; the extent to which the approach demonstrates a technically sound, logistically appropriate, cost-effective, and efficient solution to each of the given scenarios; the extent applicable sections of the SOW are addressed in the Offeror’s approach; and how the Offeror’s proposed solution to each of the three (3) sample task order scenarios will be beneficial to EPA.

TECHNICAL EVALUATION FACTOR 4 – PAST PERFORMANCE

The Offeror’s Past Performance will be evaluated based on information submitted in Section 4: Past Performance of its Technical Proposal (Volume I) in response to the section L clause “Past Performance Information,” the completed past performance questionnaires submitted by the Offeror’s current and former clients, past performance information contained in the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), or any source of past performance information. In particular, the Offeror’s past performance on contracts of similar size, scope, and complexity to the SOW will be evaluated to determine the level of quality of the prospective Offeror’s work products as an indication of how well the Offeror would perform the tasks in the SOW. The various areas of past performance, including but not limited to: Quality of Product / Services, Timeliness /Schedule, Cost Control, Business Relations, Key Personnel, and Utilization of Small Business, are not weighted individually and are not considered to be subfactors under this evaluation factor. The Offeror’s overall Past Performance rating will be based on all relevant contracts / subcontracts completed in the last three (3) years and all contracts / subcontracts currently in process.

3. COST/PRICE (VOLUME II)

The Government will evaluate Offerors’ Price Proposal (Volume II) in accordance with FAR 15.404-1. The calculated value in cell E8 on the “Summary” sheet contained in Attachment 7, Cost Proposal Pricing Template, will represent the Offeror’s overall proposed price in response to this solicitation. Price analysis will be performed to determine that the overall proposed price is reasonable and realistic.

4. RESPONSIBILITY FACTORS (VOLUME III)

The Offerors Responsibility Factors, submitted in Volume III of the Offeror’s proposal, will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis to determine responsibility in accordance with FAR 9.104-1. Notwithstanding the evaluation of an offer with respect to the Technical Evaluation Factors or the evaluation of an Offeror’s Cost/Price, an Offeror whose response to any of the following Responsibility Factors that is ultimately unacceptable at the time of award will not be eligible for a contract award.

RESPONSIBILTY FACTOR 1: SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTING PLAN

The Offeror’s response contained in Section 1: Small Business Subcontracting Plan of its Responsibility Factors (Volume III) will be evaluated under this factor.

To earn a rating of “Pass” for this responsibility factor, the Offeror shall submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan in accordance with the requirements at FAR 52.219-9 Small Business Subcontract Plan (OCT 2014) – Alternate II (OCT 2001) containing small business subcontracting goals which at least meet EPA’s market research-based estimate of 60% of total subcontracted dollars for small business subcontracting opportunities available for this procurement across the socio-economic categories identified in Local Clauses EPA-L-19-102 EPA'S GOALS FOR SUBCONTRACTING WITH SMALL BUSINESSES across all 5 years for the CPRS contract.

RESPONSIBILTY FACTOR 2: PHASE-IN TRANSITION PLAN

The Offeror’s response contained in Section 2: Phase-In Transition Plan of its Responsibility Factors (Volume III) will be evaluated under this factor.

To earn a rating of “Pass” for this responsibility factor, the Offeror’s Phase-In Transition Plan must address: proposed staffing resources, their roles, and duties; a staff resources onboarding plan to ensure all necessary staffing resources are able to commence work without security, conflict of interest, or other delays within 30 days after contract award; a plan and schedule, with defined processes, deliverables, and deadlines, for accomplishing the complete and seamless transition of all on-going work from the incumbent within 90 days of contract award with no more than minimal disruption to the on-going work; a plan for taking on new work within the 90 day transition period to ensure quality and timely performance on both on-going and new work; a plan for standing up the proposed case tracking system solution within 30 days of contract award; and assumptions on the resources needed or to be provided by the Government. In addition to addressing the above, the plan must be feasible.

RESPONSIBILTY FACTOR 3: REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

The Offeror’s response contained in Section 3: Representations and Certifications of its Responsibility Factors (Volume III) will be evaluated under this factor.

To earn a rating of “Pass” for this responsibility factor, the Offeror must fully address all representations and certifications in Section K of the solicitation to the extent they are applicable.

RESPONSIBILTY FACTOR 4: CONFLICT OF INTEREST PLAN

The Offeror’s response contained in Section 4: Conflict of Interest Plan of its Responsibility Factors (Volume III) will be evaluated under this factor.

To earn a rating of “Pass” for this responsibility factor, the Offeror must submit a plan that meets the minimum standards set forth in Local Clause EPA-L-09-103 Minimum Standards for EPA Contractor’s Conflict of Interest Plans and describes: its plans to mitigate, avoid, or neutralize personal conflicts of interest, or personal COI, for all staffing resources (i.e. prime contractor employees, subcontractor employees, and consultants) and organizational conflicts of interest, or OCI; conflict of interest training plan for all staffing resources (i.e. prime contractor employees, subcontractor employees, and consultants); and the Offeror’s conflict of interest notification procedures during contract performance.