75N95023R00004_Att. 13_Additional Business Proposal Instructions.pdf

ADDITIONAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS

These Business Proposal instructions reflect the requirements of the RFP and provide specific instructions and formatting for the Business Proposal. Offerors are not required to propose on all Technical Areas but may submit proposals that include one, two, or all three Technical Areas. Proposals will be evaluated for each Technical Area the offeror proposes. Offerors are advised to give careful consideration to the Statement of Work, all attachments, the Technical Evaluation Criteria in SECTION M, and the RFP as a whole in the development of their Business Proposals.

Offerors shall use the following format for preparing and presenting your Business Proposal. Section headings should be bolded and in a larger font. It is desired but not required that section headings be bookmarked and linked to from the Table of Contents. An Excel spreadsheet containing a breakdown of proposed estimated costs must accompany the Business Proposal. Although no page limit has been placed on the business proposal, offerors are encouraged to limit its content to only those documents necessary to provide adequate support for the proposed costs.

SECTION 1: TITLE PAGE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Proposal Title Page

The following information shall be provided on the first page of your pricing proposal:

a. Solicitation, contract, and/or modification number;

b. Name and address of Offeror;

c. Name and telephone number of point of contact;

d. Name, address, and telephone number of Contract Administration Office, (if available);

e. Name, address, and telephone number of Audit Office (if available);

f. Proposed cost and/or price; profit or fee (as applicable); and total;

g. The following statement: By submitting this proposal, the offeror, if selected for discussions, grants the contracting officer or an authorized representative the right to examine, at any time before award, any of those books, records, documents, or other records directly pertinent to the information requested or submitted.

h. Date of submission; and

i. Name, title and signature of authorized representative.

2. Proposal Summary and Data Record, NIH-2043

The Offeror must complete Form NIH-2043 with particular attention to the length of time the proposal is firm and the designation of those personnel authorized to conduct negotiations. (See SECTION J, Attachment entitled, PROPOSAL

SUMMARY AND DATA RECORD).

3. Table of Contents

RFP No. 75N95023R00004 Attachment 13

SECTION 2: BUSINESS PROPOSAL INTRODUCTION

1. Summary

A summary of the technical area(s) proposed on and the proposed costs and fee for each technical area.

2. Administrative Information

a. Submission of Electronic Funds Transfer Information with Offer, FAR Clause 52.232-38 (Jul 2013).

The offeror shall provide, with its offer, the following information that is required to make payment by electronic funds transfer (EFT) under any contract that results from this solicitation. This submission satisfies the requirement to provide EFT information under paragraphs (b)(1) and (j) of the clause at 52.232 34, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer Other than System for Award Management.

1. The solicitation number (or other procurement identification number).

2. The offeror's name and remittance address, as stated in the offer.

3. The signature (manual or electronic, as appropriate), title, and telephone number of the offeror's official authorized to provide this information.

4. The name, address, and 9 digit Routing Transit Number of the offeror's financial agent.

5. The offeror's account number and the type of account (checking, savings, or lockbox).

6. If applicable, the Fedwire Transfer System telegraphic abbreviation of the offeror's financial agent.

7. If applicable, the offeror shall also provide the name, address, telegraphic abbreviation, and 9 digit Routing Transit Number of the correspondent financial institution receiving the wire transfer payment if the offeror's financial agent is not directly on line to the Fedwire and, therefore, not the receiver of the wire transfer payment.

(End of provision)

b. Financial Capacity

The offeror shall indicate if it has the necessary financial capacity, working capital, and other resources to perform the contract without assistance from any outside source. If not, indicate the amount required and the anticipated source. A copy of the Offeror’s most recent annual report must be included as an attachment.

c. Adequate Accounting System

FAR Part 16 sets forth the requirements and limitations for consideration of contract type. As stated in Section L.1., General Instructions of this solicitation, the resultant contract will not be Firm-Fixed Price. Therefore, the offeror's/contractor's accounting system and practices must be adequate and suitable for accumulating costs under government contracts.

To be considered for an award under this solicitation, the offeror shall include, in the Business Proposal, the following Certification:

"By submission of its signed offer, the Offeror certifies that its accounting system:

1. Complies with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

2. Provides for:

A. Proper segregation of direct costs from indirect costs.

B. Identification and accumulation of direct costs by contract.

C. A logical and consistent method for the allocation of indirect costs to intermediate and final cost objectives.

D. Accumulation of costs under general ledger control.

E. A timekeeping system that identifies employees' labor by intermediate or final cost objectives.

F. A labor distribution system that charges direct and indirect labor to the appropriate cost objectives.

G. Interim (at least monthly) determination of costs charged to a contract through routine posting of books of account.

H. Exclusion from costs charged to government contracts of amounts that are not allowable in terms of FAR 31, "Contract Cost Principles and Procedures," or other contract provisions.

I. Identification of costs by contract line item and by units (as if each unit or line item were a separate contract) if required by the proposed contract.

J. Segregation of preproduction costs from production costs, if applicable.

3. Accounting system provides financial information:

A. Required by contract clause concerning limitation of cost (FAR 52.232-20) or limitation on payments (FAR 52.216-16).

B. Required to support requests for progress payments.

4. Accounting system was designed, and records are maintained in such a manner that adequate, reliable data are developed for use in pricing follow-on acquisitions.

5. Accounting system is currently in full operation.”

The Contracting Officer reserves the right to request, with the Final Proposal Revision (FPR), a current (within 18 months) CPA opinion confirming that the Offeror's accounting system is compliant as certified above.

d. Facilities Capital Cost of Money, FAR 52.215-16, (Jun 2003).

(This is applicable if you are a commercial organization.)

1. Facilities capital cost of money will be an allowable cost under the contemplated contract, if the criteria for allowability in FAR 31.205-10(b) are met. One of the allowability criteria requires the prospective Contractor to propose facilities capital cost of money in its offer.

2. If the prospective Contractor does not propose this cost, the resulting contract will include the clause Waiver of Facilities Capital Cost of Money.

(End of Provision).

If the offeror elects to claim this cost, the offeror shall specifically identify or propose it in the cost proposal for the contract by checking the appropriate box below.

Fac Cap Cost of Money (Has) The prospective Contractor has specifically identified or proposed facilities capital cost of money in its cost proposal and elects to claim this cost as an allowable cost under the contract. Submit Form CASB-CMF (see FAR 31.205-10).

Fac Cap Cost of Money (Has Not) The prospective Contractor has not specifically identified or proposed facilities capital cost of money in its proposal and elects not to claim it as an allowable cost under the contract.

SECTION 3: COST INFORMATION

I. SUBSECTION 3.A. – TECHNICAL AREA 1 SAMPLE TASK ORDER

If you are not proposing on Technical Area 1, include Subsection 3.A. in your proposal and include a statement that you are not proposing on this technical area instead of providing the information requested below.

1. Data Other Than Certified Cost or Pricing Data

a. Data submitted shall be sufficient to permit the Contracting Officer and authorized representatives to determine price reasonableness or cost realism, e.g., data to support an analysis of material costs (when sufficient data on labor and overhead rates is already available), or data on prices and quantities at which the offeror has previously sold the same or similar items.

Data submitted must support the price proposed. The offeror shall include sufficient detail or cross references to clearly establish the relationship of the data provided to the price proposed. The offeror shall support any data provided with explanations or supporting rationale, as needed, to permit the Contracting Officer and authorized representative to evaluate the documentation.

Unless otherwise stated in this solicitation, the information may be submitted in the offeror's own format.

b. The data submitted shall be at the level of detail described below.

1. Direct Labor

Provide a breakdown of labor hours and rates. Key personnel shall be separately estimated. Provide the basis for estimates.

2. Materials and Supplies

Provide a consolidated price summary of individual material and supply quantities included in the various tasks, orders, or contract line items being proposed and the basis for pricing (vendor quotes, invoice prices, etc.).

3. Subcontracted Items

Include parts, components, assemblies, and services that are to be produced or performed by others in accordance with offeror's design, specifications, or direction and that are applicable only to the prime contract.

For each subcontract over $750,000, the support should provide a listing by source, item, quantity, price, type of subcontract, degree of competition, and basis for establishing source and reasonableness of price, as well as the results of review and evaluation of subcontract proposals when required by FAR 15.404-3.

4. Equipment

If direct charge, list any equipment in accordance with Item (13) Other Administrative Data, subparagraph (2) Government Property of this Section L.2.c of this solicitation.

5. Travel

Provide the cost of travel including destination, duration, purpose, per diem, transportation, and the basis for pricing.

6. Other Costs

List all other costs not otherwise included in the categories described above (e.g., computer services, consultant services) and provide basis for pricing.

7. Fringe Benefits

Show fringe benefits as a separate line item. Include the rate(s) and/or method of calculating fringe benefits.

Provide a copy of the Offeror’s fringe benefit rate or institutional guidelines.

8. Indirect Costs

Indicate how Offeror has computed and applied offeror's indirect costs, including cost breakdowns, and provide a basis for evaluating the reasonableness of proposed rates. Indicate the rates used and provide an appropriate explanation. Where a rate agreement exists, provide a copy.

2. Total Compensation Plan

a. Instructions

1. Total compensation (salary and fringe benefits) of professional employees under service contracts may, in some cases, be lowered by recompetition of these contracts. Lowering of compensation can be detrimental in obtaining the necessary quality of professional services needed for adequate performance of service contracts.

It is, therefore, in the best interest of the Government that professional employees, as defined in 29 CFR Part 541, be properly compensated in these contracts. All offerors as a part of their Business Proposal will submit a "Total Compensation Plan" (salaries and fringe benefits) for these professional employees for evaluation purposes.

2. The Government will evaluate the Total Compensation Plan to ensure that this compensation reflects a sound management approach and an understanding of the requirements to be performed. It will include an assessment of the offeror's ability to provide uninterrupted work of high quality. The total compensation proposed will be evaluated in terms of enhancing recruitment and retention of personnel and its realism and consistency with a total plan for compensation (both salaries and fringe benefits).

3. Evaluation for award, therefore, will include an assessment of the Total Compensation Plan submitted by each offeror.

b. Evaluation

1. Total Compensation Plan (Professional Employees)

In establishing compensation levels for professional employees, the total compensation (both salaries and fringe benefits) proposed shall reflect a clear understanding of the requirements of the work to be accomplished and the suitability of the proposed compensation structure to obtain and retain qualified personnel to meet mission objectives. The salary rates or ranges must recognize the distinct differences in professional skills and the complexity of varied disciplines as well as job difficulty. Proposals offering total compensation levels less than currently being paid by the predecessor Contractor for the same work will be evaluated, in addition to the above, on the basis of maintaining program continuity, uninterrupted work of high quality, and availability of required competent professional employees. Offerors are cautioned that instances of lowered compensation for essentially the same professional work may be considered a lack of sound management judgment in addition to indicating a lack of understanding of the requirement.

2. Cost (Professional Compensation)

Proposals which are unrealistically low or do not reflect a reasonable relationship of compensation to the professional job categories so as to impair the Contractor's ability to recruit and retain competent professional employees, may be viewed as reflecting a failure to comprehend the complexity of the contract requirements.

The Government is concerned with the quality and stability of the work force to be employed on this contract.

The compensation data required will be used in evaluation of the offeror's understanding of the contract requirements.

3. Other (Labor Relations)

An assessment of the potential for adverse effect upon performance and maintenance of the required number of professional employees with requisite skills resulting from an unrealistically low compensation structure will also be made.

4. Federal Acquisition Regulation Clauses incorporated by Reference

FAR Clause 52.222-46, Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees.

3. Other Administrative Data

a. Property

1. It is HHS policy that Contractors will provide all property necessary for contract performance. Exception may be granted to provide Government property (Government-furnished or Contractor-acquired), but only when approved by the Contracting Officer. If the offeror requests that Government property be provided, the proposal must include a comprehensive justification addressing the following items:

A. State why the property is essential to contract performance and whether the property will be used exclusively for this contract.

B. Describe other alternatives (e.g., purchase, lease, etc.) pursued and why they were not viable options.

2. Government Property

A. The offeror shall identify Government property in its possession which it proposes to use in the performance of the prospective contract as follows:

i. A list or description of all Government property that the offeror or its subcontractors propose to use on a rent-free basis. The list shall identify the accountable contract under which the property is held and the authorization for its use (from the Contracting Officer having cognizance of the property);

ii. The dates during which the property will be available for use (including the first, last, and all intervening months) and, for any property that will be used concurrently in performing two or more contracts, the amounts of the respective uses in sufficient detail to support prorating the rent;

iii. The amount of rent that would otherwise be charged in accordance with FAR 52.245-9, Use and Charges; and

iv. A description of the offeror's property management system, plan, and any customary commercial practices, voluntary consensus standards, or industry-leading practices and standards to be used in the offeror in managing Government property.

NOTE: The Contracting Officer will consider any potentially unfair competitive advantage that may result from an offeror or Contractor possessing Government property. This will be done by adjusting the offers by applying, for evaluation purposes only, a rental equivalent evaluation factor, as specified in FAR 52.245-9.

4. Past Performance Information

a. A list of the last three contracts completed during the past five years and all contracts currently being performed that are similar in nature to the solicitation workscope. Contracts listed may include those entered into by the Federal Government, agencies of state and local governments and commercial concerns. Offerors may also submit past performance information regarding predecessor companies, key personnel who have relevant experience or subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement when such information is relevant to the instant acquisition. For the purposes of this solicitation, a "major subcontract" is defined as a subcontract with a dollar value exceeding $100,000.00.

Include the following information for each contract or subcontract listed:

1. Name of Contracting Organization

2. Contract Number (for subcontracts, provide the prime contract number and the subcontract number)

3. Contract Type

4. Total Contract Value

5. Description of Requirement

6. Contracting Officer's Name and Telephone Number

7. Program Manager's Name and Telephone Number

8. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code

The offeror may provide information on problems encountered on the identified contracts and the offeror's corrective actions.

b. The Government is not required to contact all references provided by the offeror. Also, references other than those identified by the offeror may be contacted by the Government to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation of the offeror's past performance.

5. Breakdown of Proposed Costs

Offerors shall submit an Excel spreadsheet with the breakdown of proposed costs and fee. Offerors are to use the attachment titled Breakdown of Proposed Estimated Costs (plus fee) w/Excel Spreadsheet, in SECTION J – LIST OF ATTACHMENTS. Offerors should use one Excel workbook for each technical area proposed on. For example, if an offeror is proposing on all three technical areas, three separate Excel workbooks should be submitted; one for each technical area.

If subcontractors are proposed, Offerors must submit subcontractor cost information in the same format as the Offeror’s cost information. Offerors should include its own cost information, as well as the cost information for any proposed subcontractor, in each Excel workbook. For example, if an Offeror proposes to use two subcontractors, the Excel workbook should contain the cost information for all three vendors. Cost information should be clearly identified on each tab so it is easy to see what cost information for which vendor is included on that spreadsheet. Costs proposed by the Offeror and all proposed subcontractors must be supported by adequate documentation.

II. SUBSECTION 3.B. – TECHNICAL AREA 2 SAMPLE TASK ORDER

If you are not proposing on Technical Area 2, include Subsection 3.B. in your proposal and include a statement that you are not proposing on this technical area instead of providing the information requested below.

1. Data Other Than Certified Cost or Pricing Data

a. Data submitted shall be sufficient to permit the Contracting Officer and authorized representatives to determine price reasonableness or cost realism, e.g., data to support an analysis of material costs (when sufficient data on labor and overhead rates is already available), or data on prices and quantities at which the offeror has previously sold the same or similar items.

Data submitted must support the price proposed. The offeror shall include sufficient detail or cross references to clearly establish the relationship of the data provided to the price proposed. The offeror shall support any data provided with explanations or supporting rationale, as needed, to permit the Contracting Officer and authorized representative to evaluate the documentation.

Unless otherwise stated in this solicitation, the information may be submitted in the offeror's own format.

b. The data submitted shall be at the level of detail described below.

1. Direct Labor

Provide a breakdown of labor hours and rates.

2. Materials

Provide a consolidated price summary of individual material quantities included in the various tasks, orders, or contract line items being proposed and the basis for pricing (vendor quotes, invoice prices, etc.).

3. Subcontracted Items

Include parts, components, assemblies, and services that are to be produced or performed by others in accordance with offeror's design, specifications, or direction and that are applicable only to the prime contract.

For each subcontract over $750,000, the support should provide a listing by source, item, quantity, price, type of subcontract, degree of competition, and basis for establishing source and reasonableness of price, as well as the results of review and evaluation of subcontract proposals when required by FAR 15.404-3.

4. Equipment

If direct charge, list any equipment in accordance with Item (13) Other Administrative Data, subparagraph (2) Government Property of this Section L.2.c of this solicitation.

5. Travel

Provide the cost of travel including destination, duration, purpose, per diem, transportation, and the basis for pricing.

6. Other Costs

List all other costs not otherwise included in the categories described above (e.g., computer services, consultant services) and provide basis for pricing.

2. Total Compensation Plan

a. Instructions

1. Total compensation (salary and fringe benefits) of professional employees under service contracts may, in some cases, be lowered by recompetition of these contracts. Lowering of compensation can be detrimental in obtaining the necessary quality of professional services needed for adequate performance of service contracts.

It is, therefore, in the best interest of the Government that professional employees, as defined in 29 CFR Part 541, be properly compensated in these contracts. All offerors as a part of their Business Proposal will submit a "Total Compensation Plan" (salaries and fringe benefits) for these professional employees for evaluation purposes.

2. The Government will evaluate the Total Compensation Plan to ensure that this compensation reflects a sound assessment of the offeror's ability to provide uninterrupted work of high quality. The total compensation proposed will be evaluated in terms of enhancing recruitment and retention of personnel and its realism and consistency with a total plan for compensation (both salaries and fringe benefits).

3. Evaluation for award, therefore, will include an assessment of the Total Compensation Plan submitted by each offeror.

b. Evaluation

1. Total Compensation Plan (Professional Employees)

In establishing compensation levels for professional employees, the total compensation (both salaries and fringe benefits) proposed shall reflect a clear understanding of the requirements of the work to be accomplished and the suitability of the proposed compensation structure to obtain and retain qualified personnel to meet mission objectives. The salary rates or ranges must recognize the distinct differences in professional skills and the complexity of varied disciplines as well as job difficulty. Proposals offering total compensation levels less than currently being paid by the predecessor Contractor for the same work will be evaluated, in addition to the above, on the basis of maintaining program continuity, uninterrupted work of high quality, and availability of required competent professional employees. Offerors are cautioned that instances of lowered compensation for essentially the same professional work may be considered a lack of sound management judgment in addition to indicating a lack of understanding of the requirement.

2. Cost (Professional Compensation)

Proposals which are unrealistically low or do not reflect a reasonable relationship of compensation to the professional job categories so as to impair the Contractor's ability to recruit and retain competent professional employees, may be viewed as reflecting a failure to comprehend the complexity of the contract requirements.

The Government is concerned with the quality and stability of the work force to be employed on this contract.

The compensation data required will be used in evaluation of the offeror's understanding of the contract requirements.

3. Other (Labor Relations)

An assessment of the potential for adverse effect upon performance and maintenance of the required number of professional employees with requisite skills resulting from an unrealistically low compensation structure will also be made.

4. Federal Acquisition Regulation Clauses incorporated by Reference

FAR Clause 52.222-46, Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees.

3. Other Administrative Data

a. Property

1. It is HHS policy that Contractors will provide all property necessary for contract performance. Exception may be granted to provide Government property (Government-furnished or Contractor-acquired), but only when approved by the Contracting Officer. If the offeror requests that Government property be provided, the

A. State why the property is essential to contract performance and whether the property will be used exclusively for this contract.

B. Describe other alternatives (e.g., purchase, lease, etc.) pursued and why they were not viable options.

2. Government Property

A. The offeror shall identify Government property in its possession which it proposes to use in the performance of the prospective contract as follows:

i. A list or description of all Government property that the offeror or its subcontractors propose to use on a rent-free basis. The list shall identify the accountable contract under which the property is held and the authorization for its use (from the Contracting Officer having cognizance of the property);

ii. The dates during which the property will be available for use (including the first, last, and all intervening months) and, for any property that will be used concurrently in performing two or more contracts, the amounts of the respective uses in sufficient detail to support prorating the rent;

iii. The amount of rent that would otherwise be charged in accordance with FAR 52.245-9, Use and Charges; and

iv. A description of the offeror's property management system, plan, and any customary commercial practices, voluntary consensus standards, or industry-leading practices and standards to be used in the offeror in managing Government property.

NOTE: The Contracting Officer will consider any potentially unfair competitive advantage that may result from an offeror or Contractor possessing Government property. This will be done by adjusting the offers by applying, for evaluation purposes only, a rental equivalent evaluation factor, as specified in FAR 52.245-9.

4. Past Performance Information

a. A list of the last three contracts completed during the past five years and all contracts currently being performed that are similar in nature to the solicitation workscope. Contracts listed may include those entered into by the Federal Government, agencies of state and local governments and commercial concerns. Offerors may also submit past performance information regarding predecessor companies, key personnel who have relevant experience or subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement when such information is relevant to the instant acquisition. For the purposes of this solicitation, a "major subcontract" is defined as a subcontract with a dollar value exceeding $100,000.00.

Include the following information for each contract or subcontract listed:

1. Name of Contracting Organization

2. Contract Number (for subcontracts, provide the prime contract number and the subcontract number)

3. Contract Type

6. Contracting Officer's Name and Telephone Number

7. Program Manager's Name and Telephone Number

8. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code

The offeror may provide information on problems encountered on the identified contracts and the offeror's corrective actions.

b. The Government is not required to contact all references provided by the offeror. Also, references other than those identified by the offeror may be contacted by the Government to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation of the offeror's past performance.

5. Breakdown of Proposed Costs

Offerors shall submit an Excel spreadsheet with the breakdown of proposed costs and fee. Offerors are to use the attachment titled Breakdown of Proposed Estimated Costs (plus fee) w/Excel Spreadsheet, in SECTION J – LIST OF ATTACHMENTS. Offerors should use one Excel workbook for each technical area proposed on. For example, if an offeror is proposing on all three technical areas, three separate Excel workbooks should be submitted; one for each technical area.

If subcontractors are proposed, Offerors must submit subcontractor cost information in the same format as the Offeror’s cost information. Offerors should include its own cost information, as well as the cost information for any proposed subcontractor, in each Excel workbook. For example, if an Offeror proposes to use two subcontractors, the Excel workbook should contain the cost information for all three vendors. Cost information should be clearly identified on each tab so it is easy to see what cost information for which vendor is included on that spreadsheet. Costs proposed

III. SUBSECTION 3.C. – TECHNICAL AREA 3 SAMPLE TASK ORDER

If you are not proposing on Technical Area 3, include Subsection 3.C. in your proposal and include a statement that you are not proposing on this technical area instead of providing the information requested below.

1. Data Other Than Certified Cost or Pricing Data

a. Data submitted shall be sufficient to permit the Contracting Officer and authorized representatives to determine price reasonableness or cost realism, e.g., data to support an analysis of material costs (when sufficient data on labor and overhead rates is already available), or data on prices and quantities at which the offeror has previously sold the same or similar items.

Data submitted must support the price proposed. The offeror shall include sufficient detail or cross references to clearly establish the relationship of the data provided to the price proposed. The offeror shall support any data provided with explanations or supporting rationale, as needed, to permit the Contracting Officer and authorized representative to evaluate the documentation.

Unless otherwise stated in this solicitation, the information may be submitted in the offeror's own format.

b. The data submitted shall be at the level of detail described below.

1. Direct Labor

Provide a breakdown of labor hours and rates.

2. Materials

Provide a consolidated price summary of individual material quantities included in the various tasks, orders, or contract line items being proposed and the basis for pricing (vendor quotes, invoice prices, etc.).

3. Subcontracted Items

Include parts, components, assemblies, and services that are to be produced or performed by others in accordance with offeror's design, specifications, or direction and that are applicable only to the prime contract.

For each subcontract over $750,000, the support should provide a listing by source, item, quantity, price, type of subcontract, degree of competition, and basis for establishing source and reasonableness of price, as well as the results of review and evaluation of subcontract proposals when required by FAR 15.404-3.

4. Equipment

If direct charge, list any equipment in accordance with Item (13) Other Administrative Data, subparagraph (2) Government Property of this Section L.2.c of this solicitation.

5. Travel

Provide the cost of travel including destination, duration, purpose, per diem, transportation, and the basis for pricing.

6. Other Costs

List all other costs not otherwise included in the categories described above (e.g., computer services, consultant services) and provide basis for pricing.

2. Total Compensation Plan

a. Instructions

1. Total compensation (salary and fringe benefits) of professional employees under service contracts may, in some cases, be lowered by recompetition of these contracts. Lowering of compensation can be detrimental in obtaining the necessary quality of professional services needed for adequate performance of service contracts.

It is, therefore, in the best interest of the Government that professional employees, as defined in 29 CFR Part 541, be properly compensated in these contracts. All offerors as a part of their Business Proposal will submit a "Total Compensation Plan" (salaries and fringe benefits) for these professional employees for evaluation purposes.

2. The Government will evaluate the Total Compensation Plan to ensure that this compensation reflects a sound assessment of the offeror's ability to provide uninterrupted work of high quality. The total compensation proposed will be evaluated in terms of enhancing recruitment and retention of personnel and its realism and consistency with a total plan for compensation (both salaries and fringe benefits).

3. Evaluation for award, therefore, will include an assessment of the Total Compensation Plan submitted by each offeror.

b. Evaluation

1. Total Compensation Plan (Professional Employees)

In establishing compensation levels for professional employees, the total compensation (both salaries and fringe benefits) proposed shall reflect a clear understanding of the requirements of the work to be accomplished and the suitability of the proposed compensation structure to obtain and retain qualified personnel to meet mission objectives. The salary rates or ranges must recognize the distinct differences in professional skills and the complexity of varied disciplines as well as job difficulty. Proposals offering total compensation levels less than currently being paid by the predecessor Contractor for the same work will be evaluated, in addition to the above, on the basis of maintaining program continuity, uninterrupted work of high quality, and availability of required competent professional employees. Offerors are cautioned that instances of lowered compensation for essentially the same professional work may be considered a lack of sound management judgment in addition to indicating a lack of understanding of the requirement.

2. Cost (Professional Compensation)

Proposals which are unrealistically low or do not reflect a reasonable relationship of compensation to the professional job categories so as to impair the Contractor's ability to recruit and retain competent professional employees, may be viewed as reflecting a failure to comprehend the complexity of the contract requirements.

The Government is concerned with the quality and stability of the work force to be employed on this contract.

The compensation data required will be used in evaluation of the offeror's understanding of the contract requirements.

3. Other (Labor Relations)

An assessment of the potential for adverse effect upon performance and maintenance of the required number of professional employees with requisite skills resulting from an unrealistically low compensation structure will also be made.

4. Federal Acquisition Regulation Clauses incorporated by Reference

FAR Clause 52.222-46, Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees.

3. Other Administrative Data

a. Property

1. It is HHS policy that Contractors will provide all property necessary for contract performance. Exception may be granted to provide Government property (Government-furnished or Contractor-acquired), but only when approved by the Contracting Officer. If the offeror requests that Government property be provided, the

A. State why the property is essential to contract performance and whether the property will be used exclusively for this contract.

B. Describe other alternatives (e.g., purchase, lease, etc.) pursued and why they were not viable options.

2. Government Property

A. The offeror shall identify Government property in its possession which it proposes to use in the performance of the prospective contract as follows:

i. A list or description of all Government property that the offeror or its subcontractors propose to use on a rent-free basis. The list shall identify the accountable contract under which the property is held and the authorization for its use (from the Contracting Officer having cognizance of the property);

ii. The dates during which the property will be available for use (including the first, last, and all intervening months) and, for any property that will be used concurrently in performing two or more contracts, the amounts of the respective uses in sufficient detail to support prorating the rent;

iii. The amount of rent that would otherwise be charged in accordance with FAR 52.245-9, Use and Charges; and

iv. A description of the offeror's property management system, plan, and any customary commercial practices, voluntary consensus standards, or industry-leading practices and standards to be used in the offeror in managing Government property.

NOTE: The Contracting Officer will consider any potentially unfair competitive advantage that may result from an offeror or Contractor possessing Government property. This will be done by adjusting the offers by applying, for evaluation purposes only, a rental equivalent evaluation factor, as specified in FAR 52.245-9.

4. Past Performance Information

a. A list of the last three contracts completed during the past five years and all contracts currently being performed that are similar in nature to the solicitation workscope. Contracts listed may include those entered into by the Federal Government, agencies of state and local governments and commercial concerns. Offerors may also submit past performance information regarding predecessor companies, key personnel who have relevant experience or subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement when such information is relevant to the instant acquisition. For the purposes of this solicitation, a "major subcontract" is defined as a subcontract with a dollar value exceeding $100,000.00.

Include the following information for each contract or subcontract listed:

1. Name of Contracting Organization

2. Contract Number (for subcontracts, provide the prime contract number and the subcontract number)

3. Contract Type

6. Contracting Officer's Name and Telephone Number

7. Program Manager's Name and Telephone Number

8. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code

The offeror may provide information on problems encountered on the identified contracts and the offeror's corrective actions.

b. The Government is not required to contact all references provided by the offeror. Also, references other than those identified by the offeror may be contacted by the Government to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation of the offeror's past performance.

5. Breakdown of Proposed Costs

Offerors shall submit an Excel spreadsheet with the breakdown of proposed costs and fee. Offerors are to use the attachment titled Breakdown of Proposed Estimated Costs (plus fee) w/Excel Spreadsheet, in SECTION J – LIST OF ATTACHMENTS. Offerors should use one Excel workbook for each technical area proposed on. For example, if an offeror is proposing on all three technical areas, three separate Excel workbooks should be submitted; one for each technical area.

If subcontractors are proposed, Offerors must submit subcontractor cost information in the same format as the Offeror’s cost information. Offerors should include its own cost information, as well as the cost information for any proposed subcontractor, in each Excel workbook. For example, if an Offeror proposes to use two subcontractors, the Excel workbook should contain the cost information for all three vendors. Cost information should be clearly identified on each tab so it is easy to see what cost information for which vendor is included on that spreadsheet. Costs proposed

SECTION 4: ATTACHMENTS

Attachments should be used to document and support the information provided in Section 3. Attachments should not be used in place of the information requested. A detailed discussion of the requested content should be provided in Section 3 and be supported by attachments as applicable.

Such attachments should include any documents requested above or in the RFP or as needed to support the information provided above.

The attachments in Section 4 should be grouped together by technical area. All attachments for Technical Area 1 should be first, followed by attachments for Technical Areas 2 and 3 (if all technical areas are proposed on).

The attachments in Section 4 should be sequentially numbered and labeled with a header. The header should include the 1) technical area, 2) attachment number, and 3) a brief description of the document. For example: “TA 2_Att.

1_Adequate Accounting System”, or “TA 3_Att. 4_Total Comp Plan”. The header should make it easy for reviewers to quickly identify which technical area(s) the document pertains to and what the document is. Where the same attachment is needed for multiple technical areas, one attachment may be used. The header should identify all technical areas, such as: TA 1,2,3_Att. 2_Total Comp Plan.

References to attachments should include at least the technical area and attachment number. For example: “The letter documenting the adequacy of our accounting system is provided as Attachment 1 in Technical Area 2”, or “See the letter documenting the adequacy of our accounting system (TA 2_Att. 1_Adequate Accounting System)”.