RFP_REV_1amend_01_7_9_13.docx

Amendment 01, dated July 9, 2013 RFP AG-32SB-S-13-640776 Executive Leadership Coaching and Facilitation Support Service

I. ADDENDA TO FAR 52.212-4 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS-COMMERCIAL ITEMS

(JUNE 2013)

A. SCHEDULE OF SERVICE AND PRICE

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service, Administrative and Finance Management, National Capitol Regional Business Service Center, Office of the Director, requires contractor personnel to provide Executive Leadership Coaching and Facilitation Support Services.

A.1 PRICE LIST

The Contractor shall provide all services via individual task orders in accordance with the resultant Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) price schedule and discounts offered.

A.2 FUNDING

This BPA does not obligate any funding. All funding will be obligated via written task orders issued by the Contracting Officer.

A.3 ESTIMATES

The Government estimates, but does not guarantee, the total amount of purchases made pursuant to this BPA may be (+) or (-) $625,000.00 over the life of the agreement.

A.4 PURCHASE LIMITATION

There is no annual ceiling limitation.

A.5 TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT

Travel may or may not be required for this effort. If required by the COTR it shall be included as a separate line item on the contractor’s price quote and not rolled up into any of the Contractor’s rates. Travel cost will not be reimbursed if within 35 miles of GWCC.

If required, reimbursement will be made in accordance with (IAW) the Federal Travel Regulations. The Contractor shall be reimbursed for travel cost in accordance with travel cost principle in FAR 31.205-46. Charges exceeding the maximum per diem amounts established in the Federal Travel Regulations may be disallowed as unreasonable unless approved in advance by the Contracting Officer.

B. AGAR 452.211-74 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE (FEB 1988)

The period of performance with option periods, if exercised, is as follows:

Option Year 2 August 30, 2015 through August 29, 2016 Option Year 3 August 30, 2016 through August 29, 2017 Option Year 4 August 30, 2017 through August 29, 2018

C. AGAR 452.247-70 DELIVERY LOCATION (FEB 1988)

D. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

The Contracting Officer is the only person authorized to approve any changes in the scope of work of this contract. The authority remains solely with the Contracting Officer. In the event the Contractor effects any changes at the direction of any person other than the Contracting Officer, the changes will be considered to have been made without authority and no adjustment to the contract price will be made to cover any increase incurred as a result thereof.

301-504-1116 - Phone

Alvenia.pitts@ars.usda.gov

4. Contractor’s Point of Contact (CPOC) Name and Title:

Address:

Telephone Number:

Fax Number:

Email Address:

E. INVOICING

In accordance with FAR 52.212-4(g)(1), the Contractor shall submit an original invoice to the Government’s Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative identified in Section D.3 and one copy to the Contract Administrator identified at Section D.2. Invoices may be submitted electronically with simultaneous electronic mailing to the Contract Administrator. Electronic invoices shall contain at a minimum, the following information:

NOTE: Invoices that do not contain all proper information described above will be rejected and returned to the Contractor for correction, which will require re-dating and resubmission for payment. Partial shipments are NOT authorized.

F. AGAR 452.246-70 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE (FEB 1988)

Beltsville, MD 20705.

G. Statement of Work (SOW)

See Attachment 1

H. SCHEDULE OF DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall provide, but is not limited to the following:

1. Participate in pre-meeting planning sessions (by telephone or in person) and pre-meeting conference calls as appropriate

2. Assist with meeting preparation

3. Help meeting participants articulate their comments, suggestions and recommendations

4. Facilitate conversations to ensure a constructive outcome

5. Record discussions made during meetings

6. Ensure that participants have a clear understanding of the next steps

7. Process the outcomes from the meetings and identify the next steps

I. ORDERING

All task orders will be placed by an Agricultural Research Service, National Capitol Regional Business Service Center Contracting Officer. All task orders will be assigned a specific number, in addition to the BPA number and are subject to the terms and conditions of the resultant BPA.

In the event of a conflict between a task order and this BPA, the BPA shall control.

Task orders may be issued at anytime during the BPA period of performance. Any order issued during the effective period of this BPA and not completed within that period shall be completed by the Contractor within the time specified in the order. The BPA shall govern the Contractor’s and the Government’s rights and obligations with respect to that order to the same extent as if the order was completed during the BPA’s effective period; provided, that the Contractor shall not be required to make any deliveries under this BPA after the expiration of the final task order period of performance. Each order shall identify the hourly rate, the number of hours, travel cost, if applicable, and the total amount of the task order.

J. PLACEMENT OF ORDERS/TASK ORDER ISSUANCE AND ORDERING INFORMATION

Each order will be issued as a Task orders (TO) to the Contractor and shall perform work under the order as specified in the written task orders issued by the Contracting Officer. The Task Orders shall be ordered on a fixed price basis will be requested by email or hard copy.

a. Upon receipt of the Task Order Request for Quote (RFQ), which will include the Statement of work, the Contractor shall submit a quote containing the following:

iv. Travel may or may not be required for this effort. If required by the COTR it shall be included as a separate line item on the contractor’s price quote and not rolled up into any of the contractor’s rates.

b. Upon receipt of the contractor’s quote, if required, discussions with the Contractor will take place to reach a mutual agreement, the Government will issue a written task order authorizing the Contractor to proceed with the work.

c. Only the Contracting Officer can obligate funds and issue task orders against this contract.

NOTE: The contractor may discount the rates which shall be stated in the task order proposal.

II 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

The contract incorporates one or more clauses 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. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this address:

http://www.arnet.gov/far

Clauses Incorporated By Reference:

52.232-18 Availability of Funds (Apr 1984)

III 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items (Jan 2013)

(a) The Contractor shall comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses, which are incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

(1) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Feb 2009) (22 U.S.C. 7104(g)).

___Alternate I (Aug 2007) of 52.222-50 (22 U.S.C. 7104(g)).

(2) 52.233-3, Protest After Award (AUG 1996) (31 U.S.C. 3553).

(3) 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (OCT 2004) (Pub. L. 108-77, 108-78).

(b) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b) that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

[Contracting Officer check as appropriate.] __ (1) 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (Sept 2006), with Alternate I (Oct 1995) (41 U.S.C. 253g and 10 U.S.C. 2402).

_x_ (2) 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (Apr 2010) (Pub. L. 110-252, Title VI, Chapter 1 (41 U.S.C. 251 note)).

__ (3) 52.203-15, Whistleblower Protections under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (June 2010) (Section 1553 of Pub. L. 111-5). (Applies to contracts funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.)

__ (4) 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (Aug 2012) (Pub. L. 109-282) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

__ (5) 52.204-11, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act—Reporting Requirements (Jul 2010) (Pub. L. 111-5).

__ (6) 52.209-6, Protecting the Government’s Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment. (Dec 2010) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

__ (7) 52.209-9, Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters (Feb 2012) (41 U.S.C. 2313).

__ (8) 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (May 2012) (section 738 of Division C of Pub. L. 112-74, section 740 of Division C of Pub. L. 111-117, section 743 of Division D of Pub. L. 111-8, and section 745 of Division D of Pub. L. 110-161).

__ (9) 52.219-3, Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole-Source Award (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 657a).

__ (10) 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (JAN 2011) (if the offeror elects to waive the preference, it shall so indicate in its offer) (15 U.S.C. 657a).

__ (11) [Reserved] _x (12)(i) 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Nov 2011).

__ (iii) Alternate II (Nov 2011).

__ (13)(i) 52.219-7, Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside (June 2003) (15 U.S.C. 644).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Oct 1995) of 52.219-7.

__ (iii) Alternate II (Mar 2004) of 52.219-7.

__ (14) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Jan 2011) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)).

__ (15)(i) 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Jan 2011) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(4)).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Oct 2001) of 52.219-9.

__ (iii) Alternate II (Oct 2001) of 52.219-9.

__ (iv) Alternate III (Jul 2010) of 52.219-9.

_x (16) 52.219-13, Notice of Set-Aside of Orders (Nov 2011)(15 U.S.C. 644(r)).

__ (17) 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(14)).

__ (18) 52.219-16, Liquidated Damages—Subcon-tracting Plan (Jan 1999) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(4)(F)(i)).

__ (19)(i) 52.219-23, Notice of Price Evaluation Adjustment for Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns (OCT 2008) (10 U.S.C. 2323) (if the offeror elects to waive the adjustment, it shall so indicate in its offer).

__ (ii) Alternate I (June 2003) of 52.219-23.

__ (20) 52.219-25, Small Disadvantaged Business Participation Program—Disadvantaged Status and Reporting (Dec 2010) (Pub. L. 103-355, section 7102, and 10 U.S.C. 2323).

__ (21) 52.219-26, Small Disadvantaged Business Participation Program— Incentive Subcontracting (Oct 2000) (Pub. L. 103-355, section 7102, and 10 U.S.C. 2323).

__ (22) 52.219-27, Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 657 f).

__ (23) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (Apr 2012) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)).

__ (24) 52.219-29, Notice of Set-Aside for Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Concerns (Apr 2012) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).

__ (25) 52.219-30, Notice of Set-Aside for Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Concerns Eligible Under the WOSB Program (Apr 2012) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).

_x (26) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (June 2003) (E.O. 11755).

_x (27) 52.222-19, Child Labor—Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Mar 2012) (E.O. 13126).

__ (28) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Feb 1999).

_x (29) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Mar 2007) (E.O. 11246).

_ (30) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Sep 2010)(38 U.S.C. 4212).

__ (31) 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (Oct 2010) (29 U.S.C. 793).

__ (32) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (SEP 2010) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

__ (33) 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (Dec 2010) (E.O. 13496).

__ (34) 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (JUL 2012). (Executive Order 12989). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items or certain other types of commercial items as prescribed in 22.1803.)

__ (35)(i) 52.223-9, Estimate of Percentage of Recovered Material Content for EPA–Designated Items (May 2008) (42 U.S.C. 6962(c)(3)(A)(ii)). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items.)

__ (ii) Alternate I (May 2008) of 52.223-9 (42 U.S.C. 6962(i)(2)(C)). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items.)

__ (36) 52.223-15, Energy Efficiency in Energy-Consuming Products (DEC 2007) (42 U.S.C. 8259b).

__ (37)(i) 52.223-16, IEEE 1680 Standard for the Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products (DEC 2007) (E.O. 13423).

__ (ii) Alternate I (DEC 2007) of 52.223-16.

_x (38) 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (AUG 2011) (E.O. 13513).

_x (39) 52.225-1, Buy American Act—Supplies (Feb 2009) (41 U.S.C. 10a-10d).

__ (40)(i) 52.225-3, Buy American Act—Free Trade Agreements—Israeli Trade Act (Nov 2012) (41 U.S.C. chapter 83, 19 U.S.C. 3301 note, 19 U.S.C. 2112 note, 19 U.S.C. 3805 note, 19 U.S.C. 4001 note, Pub. L. 103-182, 108-77, 108-78, 108-286, 108-302, 109-53, 109-169, 109-283, 110-138, 112-41, 112-42, and 112-43).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Mar 2012) of 52.225-3.

__ (iii) Alternate II (Mar 2012) of 52.225-3.

__ (iv) Alternate III (Nov 2012) of 52.225-3.

__ (41) 52.225-5, Trade Agreements (NOV 2012) (19 U.S.C. 2501, et seq., 19 U.S.C. 3301 note).

_x (42) 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (June 2008) (E.O.’s, proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury).

__ (43) 52.226-4, Notice of Disaster or Emergency Area Set-Aside (Nov 2007) (42 U.S.C. 5150).

__ (44) 52.226-5, Restrictions on Subcontracting Outside Disaster or Emergency Area (Nov 2007) (42 U.S.C. 5150).

__ (45) 52.232-29, Terms for Financing of Purchases of Commercial Items (Feb 2002) (41 U.S.C. 255(f), 10 U.S.C. 2307(f)).

__ (46) 52.232-30, Installment Payments for Commercial Items (Oct 1995) (41 U.S.C. 255(f), 10 U.S.C. 2307(f)).

_x (47) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer—Central Contractor Registration (Oct 2003) (31 U.S.C. 3332).

__ (48) 52.232-34, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer—Other than Central Contractor Registration (May 1999) (31 U.S.C. 3332).

__ (49) 52.232-36, Payment by Third Party (Feb 2010) (31 U.S.C. 3332).

__ (50) 52.239-1, Privacy or Security Safeguards (Aug 1996) (5 U.S.C. 552a).

__ (51)(i) 52.247-64, Preference for Privately Owned U.S.-Flag Commercial Vessels (Feb 2006) (46 U.S.C. Appx. 1241(b) and 10 U.S.C. 2631).

__ (ii) Alternate I (Apr 2003) of 52.247-64.

(c) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (c), applicable to commercial services, that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

[Contracting Officer check as appropriate.] __ (1) 52.222-41, Service Contract Act of 1965 (Nov 2007) (41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.).

__ (2) 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires (May 1989) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.).

__ (3) 52.222-43, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Act—Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts) (Sep 2009) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.).

__ (4) 52.222-44, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Act—Price Adjustment (Sep 2009) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.).

__ (5) 52.222-51, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Act to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment—Requirements (Nov 2007) (41 351, et seq.).

__ (6) 52.222-53, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Act to Contracts for Certain Services—Requirements (Feb 2009) (41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.).

__ (7) 52.222-17, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers (JAN 2013) (E.O.13495).

__ (8) 52.226-6, Promoting Excess Food Donation to Nonprofit Organizations (Mar 2009) (Pub. L. 110-247).

__ (9) 52.237-11, Accepting and Dispensing of $1 Coin (Sept 2008) (31 U.S.C. 5112(p)(1)).

(d) Comptroller General Examination of Record. The Contractor shall comply with the provisions of this paragraph (d) if this contract was awarded using other than sealed bid, is in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold, and does not contain the clause at 52.215-2, Audit and Records—Negotiation.

(1) The Comptroller General of the United States, or an authorized representative of the Comptroller General, shall have access to and right to examine any of the Contractor’s directly pertinent records involving transactions related to this contract.

(2) The Contractor shall make available at its offices at all reasonable times the records, materials, and other evidence for examination, audit, or reproduction, until 3 years after final payment under this contract or for any shorter period specified in FAR Subpart 4.7, Contractor Records Retention, of the other clauses of this contract. If this contract is completely or partially terminated, the records relating to the work terminated shall be made available for 3 years after any resulting final termination settlement. Records relating to appeals under the disputes clause or to litigation or the settlement of claims arising under or relating to this contract shall be made available until such appeals, litigation, or claims are finally resolved.

(3) As used in this clause, records include books, documents, accounting procedures and practices, and other data, regardless of type and regardless of form. This does not require the Contractor to create or maintain any record that the Contractor does not maintain in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to a provision of law.

(e)(1) Notwithstanding the requirements of the clauses in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this clause, the Contractor is not required to flow down any FAR clause, other than those in this paragraph (e)(1) in a subcontract for commercial items. Unless otherwise indicated below, the extent of the flow down shall be as required by the clause—

(i) 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (Apr 2010) (Pub. L. 110-252, Title VI, Chapter 1 (41 U.S.C. 251 note)).

(ii) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Dec 2010) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)), in all subcontracts that offer further subcontracting opportunities. If the subcontract (except subcontracts to small business concerns) exceeds $650,000 ($1.5 million for construction of any public facility), the subcontractor must include 52.219-8 in lower tier subcontracts that offer subcontracting opportunities.

(iii) 52.222-17, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers (JAN 2013) (E.O. 13495). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (l) of FAR clause 52.222-17.

(iv) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Mar 2007) (E.O. 11246).

(v) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Sep 2010) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

(vi) 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (Oct 2010) (29 U.S.C. 793).

(vii) 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (Dec 2010) (E.O. 13496). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (f) of FAR clause 52.222-40.

(viii) 52.222-41, Service Contract Act of 1965 (Nov 2007) (41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.).

(ix) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Feb 2009) (22 U.S.C. 7104(g)).

___Alternate I (Aug 2007) of 52.222-50 (22 U.S.C. 7104(g)).

(x) 52.222-51, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Act to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment-Requirements (Nov 2007) (41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.).

(xi) 52.222-53, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Act to Contracts for Certain Services-Requirements (Feb 2009) (41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.).

(xii) 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (JUL 2012).

(xiii) 52.226-6, Promoting Excess Food Donation to Nonprofit Organizations (Mar 2009) (Pub. L. 110-247). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (e) of FAR clause 52.226-6.

(xiv) 52.247-64, Preference for Privately Owned U.S.-Flag Commercial Vessels (Feb 2006) (46 U.S.C. Appx. 1241(b) and 10 U.S.C. 2631). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (d) of FAR clause 52.247-64.

(2) While not required, the contractor may include in its subcontracts for commercial items a minimal number of additional clauses necessary to satisfy its contractual obligations.

(a) Awards made under this solicitation are subject to the provisions contained in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (P.L. No. 112-55), Division A, Sections 738 and 739 regarding corporate felony convictions and corporate federal tax delinquencies. To comply with these provisions, all offerors must complete paragraph (1) of this representation, and all corporate offerors also must complete paragraphs (2) and (3) of this representation.

(b) The Offeror represents that –

1. The Offeror is [ ], is not [ ] (check one) an entity that has filed articles of incorporation in one of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or the various territories of the United States including American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Midway Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands. (Note that this includes both for-profit and non-profit organizations.)

If the Offeror checked “is” above, the Offeror must complete paragraphs (2) and (3) of the representation. If Offeror checked “is not” above, Offeror may leave the remainder of the representation blank.

1. (i) The Offeror has [ ], has not [ ] (check one) been convicted of a felony criminal violation under Federal or State law in the 24 months preceding the date of offer.

(ii) The Offeror has [ ], has not [ ] (check one) had any officer or agent of Offeror convicted of a felony criminal violation for actions taken on behalf of Offeror under Federal or State law in the 24 months preceding the date of offer.

1. The Offeror does [ ], does not [ ] (check one) have any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability.

B. AGAR 452.209-71 ASSURANCE REGARDING FELONY CONVICTION OR TAX

DELINQUENT STATUS FOR CORPORATE APPLICANTS

(a) This award is subject to the provisions contained in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012, P.L. No. 112-55, Division A, Sections 738 and 739 regarding corporate felony convictions and corporate federal tax delinquencies. Accordingly, by accepting this award the contractor acknowledges that it –

(1) does not have a tax delinquency, meaning that it is not subject to any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, and

(2) has not been convicted (or had an officer or agent acting on its behalf convicted) of a felony criminal violation under any Federal or State law within 24 months preceding the award, unless a suspending and debarring official of the United States Department of Agriculture has considered suspension or debarment of the awardee, or such officer or agent, based on these convictions and/or tax delinquencies and determined that suspension or debarment is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government.

(b) If the awardee fails to comply with these provisions, [ ARS/USDA ] may terminate this contract for default and may recover any funds the awardee has received in violation of sections 738 or 739.

IV Representations and Certifications

Offerors shall complete online representations and certifications by accessing https://www.Sam.gov. Representation and certifications shall be completed at the time of proposal submission.

A. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS, ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1 – Statement of Work (SOW-Base Contract)

V. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

A. CONTRACT TYPE

This is a Fixed Price BPA, based on the number of labor position(s), and labor category hourly rates for each position proposed for Executive Leadership Coaching and Facilitation Services.

B. TECHNICAL APPROACH PROPOSAL

1. The Government intends to issue a Blanket Purchase Agreement contract award as a result of this Request for Proposal (RFP) to the responsible offeror whose proposal that is technically acceptable lowest price. Technical proposal shall be written to describe how the objectives of the Statement of Work will be achieved and managed from a technical standpoint. USDA is interested in knowing of specific examples on what the Offeror is currently doing or has done within the past three (3) years for other government agencies and specifically how the Offeror will meet and exceed USDA/ARS mission requirements. Offerors should not just regurgitate the Statement of Work (SOW) language, but provide clear concise details, processes, complexities, strategies, methodologies and examples that address the SOW requirements and the evaluation criteria.

2. The proposal must include a technical proposal and price proposal. Each of the parts shall be separate and complete so that evaluation of one may be accomplished independently from evaluation of the other. The technical proposal must not contain reference to cost. The technical proposal shall contain the technical approach, resumes, past performance information and copies of accredited credentials, so that the contractor’s understanding of the statement of work may be evaluated.

1.a Executive Leadership Coaching - Proposals shall include discussion of how the Contractor’s strategies, techniques and tools will be used in the coaching process to achieve the goals of the SOW. Proposals shall demonstrate and describe their understanding of the unique and complex issues government agencies similar to the Agriculture Research Service, Administrative and Finance Management Service are faced with. Describe your ability and experiences working with complex government organizations, a decentralized workforce that must work as a team, your ability coach a wide, diverse, variety of types of people and helping them achieve professional growth. Discuss the type of feedback you will provide for effective communication achieving the SOW goals.

1.b Facilitation- Describe ability, experience and any unique techniques or qualities you intend to employ in this process to ensure the end results of the SOW are achieved at the highest quality level. Provide copies of accredited certifications in both coaching and facilitation to support documented abilities and experience.

1.c Staffing/Resumes - The Offeror shall propose an Executive Coach/Facilitator with skills necessary to meet the requirements of the SOW. Resume(s) shall be submitted with the proposals. If offeror proposes staffing covered by a Service Contract Act Wage determination, the applicable WD will be provided by amendment to this RFP.

The technical approach proposal shall be limited to 10 pages and shall include the 1) Technical Approach, 2)Resume and 3)Past Performance Information. The accredited credentials can be included in with the technical information, but it is not part of the 10 page count. Pricing information shall be EXCLUDED from the technical information.

C. PRICE INFORMATION

The price proposal shall contain the following:

1. Complete descriptions of services

2. Labor category(s), labor hourly rate and applicable item number(s). Please spell out all abbreviations and acronyms prior to using them.

3. If on GSA Schedule, offerors are expected to list the applicable Labor Category(s), GSA FSS contract rates and applicable discounts offered. Labor category(s) must include full job titles and descriptions included in the Offeror’s GSA FFS of services being provided and as well as the matching full job title and description that the Offeror is proposing. A copy of the GSA FSS page containing the labor category, labor rate, contract number and contract expiration date shall be included.

4. An hourly rate shall be proposed for each period of performance.

Travel may or may not be required. Travel cost will not be reimbursed if within 35 miles of GWCC. Travel will not be evaluated for award of the BPA. However, if required after contract award will be approved on task orders and funded on an as needed basis.

D. PAST PERFORMANCE DATA

1. Discuss your firm’s experience and past performance on similar or related contracts and/or subcontracts for other Executive Coaching and Facilitation requirements comparable to ARS.

2. Provide a list of at least three (3) similar contracts that were awarded or performed within the past three (3) years or are currently ongoing. Each contract listed shall include the following information:

a. Name, address and telephone number of the contracting organization, the Contracting Officer, the government’s Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (telephone number, email address).

b. The Contract number, type of contract and dollar value.

c. Date of contract and period of performance.

d. Description of work performed.

e. Discussion of special problems encountered during the performance of service.

f. Identify contracts terminated for convenience or default within the past three (3) years.

E. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

NO TELEPHONE CALLS, PLEASE. All questions shall be submitted in writing not later than 12PM ET, July 02, 2013 to Alvenia K. Pitts, Contract Specialist/Administrator via email at Alvenia.Pitts@ars.usda.gov. Reference RFP#AG-32SB-S-13-640776, Executive Leadership Coaching and Facilitation Support in the “Subject” line of the email. Questions submitted after this due date and time may not receive a response. Please consolidate all questions into one email submission. Please do not send more than one email.

All proposals are due NLT July 19, 2013, at 2pm EST to Alvenia K. Pitts. Proposals shall be submitted electronically to Alvenia.pitts@ars.usda.gov. Award is anticipated by August 30, 2013.

VI. EVALUATION

The Government will evaluate proposals based on the following factors. Technical factors are in the descending order of importance.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

a. Technical Approach Proposal

1. The degree to which the firm can demonstrate their ability and experience working with complex government organizations.

2. The degree to which the firm has demonstrated their ability and experience working with a decentralized workforce who have to act as a team.

3. The degree to which the firm has demonstrated their ability and experience coaching and facilitating a wide, diverse and variety of types of people and helping them achieve professional growth. The firm has demonstrated they possess accredited certifications in both Executive Coaching and Facilitation.

4. Extra credit is given if the firm has experience with ARS and demonstrates an understanding of the issues unique to ARS.

b. Past Performance/Similar Experience

1. The firm’s relevant history of reasonable and cooperative behavior and commitment to customer satisfaction, and the firm’s businesslike concerns for the interest of the customer. The degree to which a firm can provide, at a minimum, satisfactory past performance and similar experiences to the attached SOW that demonstrates conformance to a “Statement of Work”, and contract price schedules.

2. Firms with no relevant history of past performance with federal government agencies must provide information demonstrating they can work with a large, diverse, geographically dispersed, government organizations. Past performance with state government and fortune 500 companies will be considered. Otherwise, firms with no past performance will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably.

c. Price

Price will be evaluated based on the lowest hourly rate offered, or for conformance to GSA schedule prices and discounts offered, as applicable. For evaluation purposes, the lowest price will be determined the lowest hourly rate proposed for the base year.

VII. FAR 52.217-5 EVALUATION OF OPTIONS (JULY 1990)

Except when it is determined in accordance with FAR 17.206(b) not to be in the Government’s best interest, the Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the base requirement.

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

VIII. BASIS FOR AWARD

The award decision will be made based on meeting all requirements of the SOW, proposal submission requirements and the submission of the average lowest quoted hourly rate(s); that represents the technically acceptable/lowest priced offer.