ATTACHMENT 1 - SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD (002).pdf

CULTURAL RESOURCES SERVICES FOR THE

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY DIVISION AND THE

MEMPHIS, VICKSBURG, OR NEW ORLEANS DISTRICTS

Solicitation Number W912P8-24-R-0038

ATTACHMENT 1

Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award

This acquisition will utilize the Tradeoff source selection procedures in accordance with FAR 15.3 as supplemented by the DoD Source Selection Procedures, dated August 2022 to make an integrated assessment for a Tradeoff award decision. The Government intends to award up to four contracts as a result of this solicitation. In using the Tradeoff approach, the Government seeks to award to the offeror who gives the Government the greatest confidence that it will best meet or exceed the requirements affordably in a way that will be advantageous to the Government. This may result in an award to a higher rated, higher priced offeror where the decision is consistent with the evaluation factors and the Source Selection Authority (SSA) reasonably determines that the technical superiority and/or superior past and present performance of the higher priced offeror outweighs the cost difference. The Best-value approach allows the Government to select factors other than price as a basis for award. Cultural resources services include highly specialized skills from an interdisciplinary team that require technical and managerial competency and performance experience not evident through price of services alone.

Evaluation of submissions will be based on three factors: technical capability, past performance, and price. Past Performance is considered more important than technical capability. The technical capability and past performance factors, when combined, are significantly more important than price. In accordance with Director, Defense Pricing and Contracting Policy memorandum dated 8 August 2022, entitled “Department of Defense Source Selection Procedures,” (see PGI 215.300) the factors aside from Price will be rated using Combined Technical/Risk Ratings and Past Performance Relevancy, Performance Confidence Assessments as follows:

(1) Past Performance will include a review of past deliverables, project experience statements, and evaluation of CPARS and performance questionnaires, and will be rated using the Performance Confidence Assessments Rating Method – Table 5 (“Department of Defense Source Selection Procedures” 3.1.3.3). It will also address specific performance history including work products, and location of projects within the region.

(2) Technical Capability will evaluate capability based on corporate organization, key personnel, teaming/subcontractor relationships, and equipment using the Combined Technical/Risk Rating Method – Table 3 (“Department of Defense Source Selection Procedures” 3.1.2.2).

(3) Price will be analyzed pursuant to FAR 15.404-1.

FACTOR 1 - PAST PERFORMANCE

1. Evaluation Criteria

1.1 Past Deliverables: The Offeror has a demonstrated record of meeting or exceeding satisfactory performance in the delivery of the following types of work products:

(1) Literature and Records Search,

(2) Research Design Development,

(3) Cultural Resource Reconnaissance, Phase I surveys, and Phase II testing projects,

(4) Phase III data recovery (mitigation) projects (prehistoric, historic, terrestrial and underwater),

(5) Historic Buildings/Architectural Survey and Historic District Identification, and

(6) HABS/HAER/HALS documentation in Library of Congress

1.2 Past Performance: The Offeror has a past record of successful performance on contracts with respect to control of costs, quality of work, ability to meet schedules, and contract administration. The proposal demonstrates a history of completion of work similar to that requested by the current Scope of Work and Solicitation. Demonstration of this work does not require documentation of past work for USACE MVD (MVN, MVK, or MVM). Past performance that received favorable reviews from SHPO, or THPO or Federal Agency and/or highlights compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) will be seen most favorably by the SSEB. Work for other Federal Agencies or for private-client compliance needs will be evaluated equal to that performed for USACE by the SSEB.

2. Submission Requirements

2.1. Past Deliverables. The Offer should provide two different examples of each of the following four categories of work provided in .pdf format on a CD/DVD:

(1) Literature and Records Search,

(2) Research Design Development,

(3) Cultural Resource Reconnaissance, Phase I surveys, and Phase II testing projects, and

(4) Phase III data recovery (mitigation) projects (can be either/or prehistoric, historic, terrestrial and underwater)

2.2. Past Performance. A maximum of six (6) cultural resource (CR) projects as indicated below in Paragraphs 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 will be evaluated. If an offeror disregards these instructions and submits more than six projects, only the first six projects will be evaluated. Offerors should describe each project with enough detail to ensure that the Government can meaningfully assess the projects against the evaluation criteria described in the RFP.

2.2.1. The offeror shall submit information for no more than six (6) CR projects. Attachments L-2 and L-3 shall include projects that are similar in size, scope, and complexity that best demonstrate the offeror’s Cultural Resource experience (to be defined from among the activities described within Section 4.0 General Performance Specifications and Section

5.0 Special Studies and Tasks of the PWS/SOW) as a prime contractor as described in this solicitation. To be evaluated, each project must have been completed or must be substantially complete** by the offeror within six (6) years of the date that proposals are due.

**Substantially complete is defined as being 50% complete by the date that proposals are due.

If an offeror submits a project that it represents as “substantially complete,” the offeror must reasonably explain why the project is considered at least 50% complete. If an offeror submits an ongoing project without providing an accompanying reasonable explanation that explains how the project is at least 50% complete, the Government reserves the right to reject the project.

2.2.2. For each project submitted, the offeror shall provide:

A. Project description and information using “Project/Offeror Experience Form”

(Attachment L-2). The offeror must address all items included on Attachment L-2 (no more than two (2) pages per project). Offerors may identify state and local government and private contracts that are like the requirements of this solicitation.

and one of the following:

B. If a completed Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) evaluation is available, submit it with the proposal.

C. If there is not a completed CPARS evaluation, submit a completed Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) (Attachment L-3) for the project. Offerors are advised to ensure correct phone numbers and email addresses are provided for the Client point of contact.

(Do not submit a PPQ when a completed CPARS evaluation is available).

FACTOR 2 - TECHNICAL CAPABILITY

1. Evaluation Criteria. The Offeror’s proposal demonstrates its proposed approach meets the technical capability requirements of the project (described in PWS/SOW Section 4) based on the following sub-factors. Key Personnel is the subfactor of most importance. Specialized Equipment and Specialized Procedures will be evaluated on a Go/No GO basis.

1.1. Organization and Key Personnel Qualifications

1.1.1. Key Personnel that must be identified in the proposal are Principal Investigator, Field Supervisors, Laboratory Supervisors, and Project Managers.

1.1.2. Key Personnel Qualifications should show the requisite education, professional qualifications, and experience described in C-14 Required Personnel.

1.1.3. The following may each be considered a strength in evaluating the qualifications of all key personnel:

1.1.3.1. Practical experience (investigator, field, laboratory, or management as applicable) exceeding the minimum number of years specified for each position;

1.1.3.2. Extensive knowledge and ongoing research interest in local cultural history (local classificatory units, historical data, etc.);

1.1.3.3. Knowledge of local working conditions within the defined Districts of New Orleans, Vicksburg, and Memphis Corps of Engineers;

1.1.3.4. Experience with Cultural resource management and Historic building inventories;

1.1.4. For the Principal Investigator role, the following will considered a strength in evaluating the qualifications:

1.1.4.1. Authorship in peer-reviewed material;

1.1.4.2. Reference by other author/publication for notable contribution to research or investigation.

1.1.5. For the Field Supervisor role, the following will considered a strength in evaluating the qualifications:

1.1.5.1. Experience across multiple ecosystem environments; and

1.1.5.2. Experience across multiple levels of investigations.

1.1.6. For the Laboratory Supervisor role, the following will considered a strength in evaluating the qualifications:

1.1.6.1. Experience with multiple types of analyses and procedures, including but not limited to those identified as special procedures in the CLINs.

1.1.7. For the Program Manager role, the following will considered a strength in evaluating the qualifications:

1.1.7.1. Experience with managing projects with multiple types of work product deliverables, such as Literature and Records Search, Research Design Development, Cultural Resource Reconnaissance, Phase I surveys, and Phase II testing projects, and Phase III data recovery (mitigation) projects (can be either/or prehistoric, historic, terrestrial and underwater).

1.2. Specialized Equipment.

Proposal demonstrates possession or access to necessary equipment for field and laboratory as identified in CLINs 0041-0059 to complete the required services.

1.3. Specialized Procedures

Proposal demonstrates ability to provide procedures as identified in CLINs 0041-0059 to complete the required services.

2. Submission Requirements

2.1. The offeror shall provide a narrative that describes the offeror’s organization, key personnel, and specialized equipment and procedures as specified below. Limit the information to three

(3) pages or less. Provide an organizational chart for key personnel and key subcontractors including lines of authority. The page limit does not include organizational chart, resumes submitted for key personnel, equipment inventory list or statements of capability for specialized equipment and specialized procedures.

2.2. Organization: Describe the prime contractor proposed to participate in this project, their resources and how their resources will be utilized, their roles and responsibilities and any contractual arrangements that are established. Also if external resources would be required to meet PWS/SOW elements, discuss teaming partners, subcontractors, and who will be providing the major services at the task order level. Include an organizational chart to show the relationship between the prime contractor, teaming partners, and subcontractors. The chart shall correlate the organization with key personnel and shall show position title, lines of authority, and job location for the following key personnel at a minimum: Principal Investigator, Field Supervisors, Laboratory Supervisors, and Project Managers. If no partnering is necessary, state that clearly. After contract award, key personnel may be replaced only with the approval of the Contracting Officer or their Authorized Representative.

2.3. Key Personnel: Key Personnel Capabilities/Qualifications and Experience: Provide resumes

(not included in the page count limit above) for the roles of Principal Investigator, Field Archeologist, Laboratory Supervisor, and Project Manager using the Attachment L-1, Key Personnel Resume Form (or similar). A maximum of ten (10) resumes total will be accepted.

Offeror shall identify which role each resume is applicable to; offeror may identify multiple roles for a resume if the individual meets the minimum qualifications for multiple roles.

2.4. Specialized Equipment. The Offeror shall provide a statement of capability demonstrating possession or access to necessary equipment for field and laboratory as identified in CLINs 0041-0059 that includes an inventory of equipment and/or sources of equipment; a mobilization plan for moving or using equipment; and plan and source for acquiring special equipment that may not be frequently used.

2.5. Specialized procedures: Provide a statement of capability of how the specialized procedures listed in CLINs 0031- 0037 will be performed.

FACTOR 3: Price

Price will be analyzed pursuant to FAR 15.404-1.