Addenda_to_SF-1449_USDA_Solicitation__AG-32SC-S-17-0024.docx

USDA Solicitation #AG-32SC-S-17-0024 Cont…

ADDENDA TO 52.212-1 – INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS – COMMERICAL ITEMS (JAN 2017)

ARTICLE 1 - PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Complete Article 3 – Evaluation Factors and Price.

2. The offeror must complete the annual representations and certifications electronically via the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) website at http://orca.bpn.gov.

3. Provide two (2) most recent (within the past 12 months) contracts similar in scope and complexity. Please include the name and phone number of the Contracting Officer, dollar value and period of performance.

ARTICLE 2 - DISCOUNTS

Prices to the Government shall be as low or lower than those charged to the contractor's most favored customer for comparable quantities under similar terms and conditions in addition to any trade or prompt payment discounts offered. Accordingly, discounts notwithstanding, the contractor must ensure that the items sold to the Government in the particular commodity category meet the requirement for "most favorable pricing" to the Government.

ARTICLE 3 - EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

Offerors are directed to the specific proposal evaluation criteria below. The Offeror must respond to each factor in a way that will allow the Government to evaluate the Offeror’s response. The Offeror must submit information in a clear, concise, factual and logical manner. The technical proposal shall facilitate evaluation and Best Value source selection for all proposals. This means there is a tradeoff between non-cost factors (past performance and experience) and cost/price which allows the Government to accept other than the lowest priced proposal or other than the highest technically rated proposal to achieve an overall best-value contract award. The technical proposal must contain sufficient detail to provide a clear and concise representation of the requirements in the performance work statement (PWS). And a detailed description of how the Government will evaluate the technical portion of the proposal in accordance with the following factors:

FACTOR 1 TECHNICAL AND MANAGEMENT APPROACH

Offerors must describe their understanding of the scope of work; the approach proposed to accomplish the technical objectives as stated in the PWS. The availability and competence of technical personnel as stated in the PWS. The Technical Rating Scale is as follows:

TABLE 1 TECHNICAL RATING SCALE

FACTOR 2 PAST PERFORMANCE AND EXPERIENCE:

Offerors must describe their experience, as well as the experience of any proposed subcontractors, in conducting services of similar scope, in applying innovative approaches and/or practices and in project management for projects of comparable size and complexity.

Offerors must include:

a. A brief description of relevant specific experience, including the budget for the project and the period of performance;

b. A brief description of the relevant project management experience;

c. A point of contact that may be used as a reference; and

d. A description of compliance with project schedules.

Past performance and experience is considered a technical factor and will be evaluated on conformance to contract requirements, timeliness, customer satisfaction, similarity, complexity, size and scope. An offeror’s past performance will be assessed based on information supplied by the offeror or other sources available to the Government. Offeror’s with no relevant performance history or for whom information on past performance is not available will receive a neutral rating. A neutral rating will be evaluated as a “pass” for the purposes of determining technical acceptability. In the investigation of an Offeror’s past performance, the Government has the right to contact former customers, government agencies, and other private and public sources of information. Offerors must either provide the below information or affirmatively state that it possesses no relevant, directly related, or similar past performance.

Past Performance Rating Scale is as follows:

TABLE 2 PAST PERFORMANCE RATING SCALE

FACTOR 3 PRICE

The proposed price will be evaluated to determine whether the estimate is reasonable and to determine the offerors understanding of the project, perception of risks and ability to organize and perform work.

Factors 1 and 2 when combined are approximately equal to price or cost.

Evaluation of Options 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 basic requirement. Evaluation of options will not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

ADDENDA TO FAR 52.212-4 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JAN 2017)

(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, the USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) may terminate this contract for default and may recover any funds the awardee has received in violation of sections 738 or 739.

(b) General Liability. (1) The Contractor shall have bodily injury liability coverage written on a comprehensive form of policy of at least $500,000 per occurrence.

(2) The Contractor shall have property damage liability insurance shall be required in the amount of $500,000 per occurrence.

D. AMENDMENTS TO PROPOSALS AGAR 452.215-72 FEB 1988

Any changes to a proposal made by the offeror after its initial submittal shall be accomplished by replacement pages. Changes from the original page shall be indicated on the outside margin by vertical lines adjacent to the change. The offeror shall include the date of the amendment on the lower right corner of the changed pages.

E. ADMINISTRATION

The Contracting Officer is the only person authorized to approve any changes in the scope of work of this order. The authority remains solely with the Contracting Officer. In the event the Contractor effects and 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 will be made in the contract price to cover any increase incurred as a result thereof.

1. CONTRACT SPECIALIST/ADMINISTRATOR

Rene D. Edwards USDA, ARS, EBSC-Acquisition Branch 5601 Sunnyside Ave.

Beltsville, MD 20705-5124 Office Ph. (301) 504-1744 E-mail: rene.edwards@ars.usda.gov

2. CONTRACTING OFFICER (CO)

Lori A. Faber USDA, ARS, EBSC-Acquisition Branch 1815 N. University Street Peoria, IL 61604 Office Ph. (309) 681-6610 E-mail: lori.faber@ars.usda.gov

(a) The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor within 30 days; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 60_ days before the contract expires. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an extension.

(b) If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause.

(c) The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed 5 years.