Attachment 0001 BOA On-Ramping Instructions and Evaluation Criteria.docx

Attachment 0001 BOA On-Ramping Instructions and Evaluation Criteria

1. Overview: These instructions are a guide for preparing a proposal to the solicitation. These instructions describe the type and extent of information required and emphasize the significant areas to be addressed in the proposal. Offerors shall examine the solicitation and attachments in its entirety and ensure understanding of the requirements. This document contains all required submission and evaluation information.

The information requested and the manner of proposal is essential to permit prompt evaluation of all proposals on a fair and uniform basis.

2. Electronic Files Format: The electronic copies of the proposal shall be submitted in a format readable by Microsoft (MS) 365, and PDF as applicable. A standard, single-spaced, 12-point font size, Arial font applies. Charts, diagrams, graphs, etc. may use a reduced font size of no less than 8-point font and shall be produced only in the Portrait Orientation mode (e.g., Landscape Orientation is not permitted). The files shall use the following page setup parameters:

(1) Margins – Top, Bottom, Left, and Right – 1”

(2) Gutter – 0”

(3) From Edge – Header, Footer 0.5”

(4) Page Size, Width – 8.5”

(5) Page Size, Height – 11”

(6) Portrait Orientation only

Note: Pages larger than 8 1/2 x 11-inch paper size will be counted as two pages.

3. General:

a. The United States Government (USG) intends to execute BOAs resulting from this solicitation to the responsible Offeror(s) whose proposal conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the USG. The USG reserves the right to award to an unlimited number of BOAs should it be in the best interest of the USG.

b. The USG intends to execute agreements based on initial proposals. It is the USG’s intent to award agreements without exchanges with Offerors; however, exchanges may be required. If exchanges are held, they may be written or oral questions. Initial proposals should contain Offeror’s best terms for this work.

c. Proposals that do not respond to all requirements in the solicitation may be rejected without further evaluation, deliberation, or discussion. The USG may reject any proposal that is non-compliant with the solicitation requirements.

4. Phase I Instructions, Required Documents, and Evaluation:

a. Instructions:

All interested parties shall submit their responses for phase I to the USG by 12:00PM CST June 14, 2024 via email to Adam Geneva, adam.m.geneva.civ@army.mill; and Kara Cosgrove, kara.s.cosgrove.civ@army.mil .

The purpose of Phase I is to separate the AI-centric companies from the staffing companies. USG want companies that have a deep understanding of the AI-space and employees with the corresponding qualifications/certifications that come with that. USG is not looking for recruiting agencies.

Phase I: Interested parties shall provide examples of corporate experience (real use cases vs past performance/CPARS) within the field of AI/ML/Data Science. This phase will be used to down-select Offerors into Phase II who have actual AI development or staffing experience vs general Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) staffing.

This phase will look into corporate experience and determine whether companies have adequate history in the field of AI to truly dissect and understand USG requirements based on a short scope description. Examples should include but are not limited to:

1) How the Offeror contributed or directly developed an AI solution with industry, academia, or USG.

2) The general scope/description of the solution to show complexity Responses for Phase I shall be no longer than 5 pages, excluding cover letter.

b. Required Documents:

Phase I shall be submitted as one PDF:

Cover Letter: The Cover Letter shall be limited to one page using the above formatting information, but will not be part of evaluation decision, nor will it count against the page count. The Cover Letter shall be submitted in PDF, entitled: Phase I, Offeror Name, AI Talent 2.0 BOA Cover Letter. The Cover Letter shall include the following information:

1) Solicitation number

2) A statement that the proposal is valid for 120 days after submission date of proposal

3) Contractor name

4) UEI number

5) CAGE code

6) Business size and socioeconomic status of prime under NAICS 541715*

7) Complete business mailing address

8) Point(s) of Contact (POC), to include the BOA Manager, designated to represent the Offeror in this acquisition (Name, title, e-mail address, and phone number)

9) Acknowledgement of representations and certifications in beta.sam.gov are correct and up-to-date.

*Note: This is for 100% set aside for small businesses under this NAICS. The business size and socioeconomic status of the Offeror shall be identified based upon self-certification at the time of solicitation closing. The Contracting Officer will compare the self-certification against the designation within System for Award Management (SAM). In the event of a conflict, the Contracting Officer may refer any final Small Business determinations to the Small Business Administration. If the size status listed in the Offeror’s proposal is different from the size status in SAM, this difference should be explained in narrative form. Each Task Order will also need to be verified prior to award.

Completed Response to Phase I: Complete your responses to Phase I instructions found above in 4(a). It shall be submitted as a pdf, entitled: Offeror Name, AI Talent 2.0, Phase I Response. The response shall be detailed and tell the story of the Offeror’s approach. Please do not attach any other documents.

c. Evaluation:

Phase I will be evaluated as follows:

Red: Provided corporate experience and history is not relevant. It does not show if the company has experience in the field of AI as a Subject-Matter Expert (SME); therefore, presents a high risk to successful performance.

Yellow: Provided corporate experience and history shows some relevancy in the field of AI as a SME and therefore, presents a moderate risk to successful performance.

Green: Provided corporate experience and history shows relevancy in the field of AI as a SME and therefore, presents a low risk to successful performance.

If an Offeror is favorably rated as green, they will be invited to Phase II. If an Offeror is rated as yellow, invitation is at the discretion of the USG. Any Offeror rated red will not be moved forward to Phase II.

Phase I will be used to down-select Offerors into Phase II who have actual AI development or staffing experience vs general Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) staffing.

Phase II information shall not be submitted during phase I submission.

5. Phase II. Instructions, Required Documents, and Evaluation:

a. Instructions:

After Phase I is complete and offerors are invited to Phase II, submission dates will be provided. Please note, Phase II will have a 10 calendar submission timeline.

Now that USG identified the AI-centric companies, USG want to examine their staffing capabilities and ensure they’re not in a niche space and will be able to respond to most of the RFPs.

Responses for Phase II shall be no longer than 7 pages, excluding cover letter, and signed and completed SF1449, and any signed amendments.

b. Required Documents:

Phase II shall be submitted as two PDF. One PDF shall be cover letter and questionnaire response. The other shall be the signed and completed SF 1449 and any signed amendments.

Cover Letter: The Cover Letter shall be limited to one page using the above formatting information, but will not be part of evaluation decision, nor will it count against the page count. The Cover Letter shall be submitted in PDF, entitled: Phase II, Offeror Name, AI Talent 2.0 BOA Cover Letter. The Cover Letter shall include the following information:

1) Solicitation number

2) A statement that the proposal is valid for 120 days after submission date of proposal

3) Contractor name

4) UEI number

5) CAGE code

6) Business size and socioeconomic status of prime under NAICS 541715*

7) Complete business mailing address

8) Point(s) of Contact (POC), to include the BOA Manager, designated to represent the Offeror in this acquisition (Name, title, e-mail address, and phone number)

9) Acknowledgement of representations and certifications in beta.sam.gov are correct and up-to-date.

Questionnaire Response:

Provide a response to the below Questionnaire in a separate PDF, entitled: Offeror Name, AI Talent 2.0, Phase II Response.

Questionnaire:

1. Does your company have experience providing backfills for highly qualified technical personnel in 14 business days with a maximum backfill replacement timeline of 30 business days? What is your plan to do so?

2. Given the projected scope of the AI Talent BOA, can your company perform this requirement as a Prime across CONUS? Alternatively, do you have experience managing subcontractors across CONUS?

3. Can your company demonstrate recent (5 years) and relevant business/corporate experience to confirm your experience and capability as a potential BOA awardee? Relevant experience in the staffing of highly technical personnel and in development of DoD AI/ML solutions is preferred.

4. Is your company capable of managing a task order with 10+ personnel anywhere in the U.S. with a potential total workforce of 50+ personnel across multiple DoD agencies?

5. Can your company provide demonstrable use cases that have resulted in expeditious fulfillment of AI/ML/Data Science specific staff for primary requisitions and backfill replacements? This can be within any USG Agency or within your company’s team.

Signed and Completed SF1449: Please submit the signed and completed Attachment 0008: SF 1449, conformed copy through P00003, as well as any additional amendments. The SF1449 shall be submitted as a PDF, entitled: Offeror Name, AI Talent 2.0 BOA SF1449. It is the Offeror’s responsibility to review and complete applicable clauses as needed. The SF1449 has no page limit. The SF1449 will need to be submitted for Phase II only.

c. Evaluation:

Phase II will be evaluated as follows:

Acceptable: The Offeror meets the requirements of all five of the questions. The responses demonstrate an understanding of each question and supports a proven approach that could be utilized under AI Talent 2.0’s task orders. They will be awarded a BOA.

Unacceptable: The Offeror does not meet the requirements of all five of the questions. The responses do not demonstrate an understanding of each question and does not support a proven approach that could be utilized under AI Talent 2.0’s task orders. The offeror will not be awarded a BOA.

6. AMC-LEVEL PROTEST PROGRAM

If you have complaints about this procurement, it is preferable that you first attempt to resolve those concerns with the responsible contracting officer. However, you can also protest to Headquarters, AMC. The HQ, AMC-Level Protest Program is intended to encourage interested parties to seek resolution of their concerns within AMC as an Alternative Dispute Resolution forum, rather than filing a protest with the General Accounting Office or other external forum. Contract award or performance is suspended during the protest to the same extent, and within the same time periods, as if filed at the GAO. The AMC protest decision goal is to resolve protests within 20 working days from filing. To be timely, protests must be filed within the periods specified in FAR 33.103.

If you want to file a protest under the AMC-Level Protest Program, the protest must request resolution under that program and be sent to the address below. All other agency-level protests should be sent to the contracting officer for resolution.

Headquarters U.S. Army Materiel Command Office of Command Counsel 4400 Martin Road Rm: A6SE040.001 Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5000 Facsimile number (256)450-8840 The AMC-Ievel protest procedures are found at: https://www.amc.army.mil/Connect/Legal-Resources/ If Internet access is not available, contact the contracting officer or HQ, AMC to obtain the AMC-Level Protest Procedures.