Attachment 4 - Instructions to Contractors.docx

Instructions to Offerors (Contractors) FDA Solicitation # 75F40125Q00034

Quotes must be prepared in accordance with and in compliance with the instructions given in this RFQ and address all of the requirements set forth in the Statement of Work. Merely reinstating the statement of work is not acceptable or not providing adequate information that clearly demonstrates the training that is being requested in the SOW will be considered unacceptable and the contractor will not be eligible for an award. The Government does not anticipate requesting revisions to quotes, so contractors should provide their best solution and price in its response to the RFQ.

The agency will assess the evaluation factors in accordance with FAR Subpart 13.106 and in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated within the solicitation. After this assessment, the Contracting Officer may award an order to the Contractor/Company representing the best value or may contact the contractor (or multiple contractors) and request quote revisions that seek additional price discounts, provide revisions to the technical quote or explain aspects of the quote to improve the terms of the training that are reflected in the quote. In the event quote revisions are requested, the Government will not necessarily be seeking revisions from all contractors and will not be conducting "discussions".

VOLUME I - TECHNICAL QUOTE INSTRUCTIONS

The Technical volume shall be limited to 45 pages, with 1-inch margins, and using not less than 12-point font. Tables of contents and works cited and the Technical Appendix are not included in the page count.

The technical volume shall not contain any pricing; however, resource information, such as, materials, subcontracts, etc., must be contained in the technical volume so that the Contractor/Company's understanding of the scope of work may be evaluated.

The Contractor/Company's technical approach must be disclosed in sufficient detail to provide a clear and concise quote that includes, but is not limited to, the requirements of the technical volume instructions. The Contractor/Company must provide clear responses, including objectives and outcomes, to Tasks one to Task four of the SOW (Attachment One). The technical volume must reflect a clear understanding of the nature of the work being undertaken.

Technical Appendices:

The Contractor/Company shall include a Technical Appendix that will include all attachments, such as transcripts, resumes, letters of commitment.

TECHNICAL APPROACH – VOLUME I

Overall Technical Approach to the Statement of Work (SOW) (Factor 1 - Volume I)

The technical approach shall demonstrate and provide a detailed narrative that clearly and completely demonstrates its technical approach to create and execute mindfulness coaching services via zoom that addresses the following topics:

1. The contractor’s ability to demonstrate how to incorporate evidence-based (empirically backed) mindfulness principles that support performance and resilience into their training and coaching.

2. The contractor’s ability to provide measures to assess behavioral change for participants in cohort tasks (Task 4:1 and Task 4.4 in the SOW).

VOLUME II – KEY PERSONNEL

The Contractor/Company shall provide a copy of a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training certificate and resume(s) of all the key personnel. The key personnel must have obtained an 8-week training certification in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) that allows the individual to provide instruction mindfulness practices and stress management techniques.

VOLUME III - REVELANT EXPERIENCE QUOTE INSTRUCTIONS

The Contractor/Company must provide a minimum of one (1) but no more than three (3) relevant experience references in Volume III. The Contractor/Company must provide a narrative describing the experience that is most like this effort in terms of scope, complexity, and size.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE – VOLUME III

The narrative shall describe the Contractor/Company’s current or previous experience within the past five (5) years. The Contractor/Company shall identify federal or private organizations in which it has performed similar tasks (if any) including the degree of its involvement (prime or subcontractor), the size of the client’s organization, and other information to describe its expertise and performance in the subject areas, highlighting the organization’s demonstrated successes. Relevant experience may include a mix of the Prime and subcontractors’ information.

The following information is requested for each reference:

· Contract Number

· Type of Contract (e.g., BPA/IDIQ/Delivery Order/FFP/T&M/LH)

· Period of Performance

· Whether Prime/ Teaming Partner performed the work as a Prime/ Subcontractor for this effort

· Size of the client’s organization

· Description of the scope of the requirement, size and complexity of training provided

Scope: Identifies the aspects of the scope that are the same or similar to the work requirements as listed in the SOW.

Complexity: Describes the specialized nature of the engagement.

Size: Identifies the total dollar value of the contract and the total number of personnel engaged in the effort.

VOLUME IV – PAST PERFORMANCE

The Contractor/Company must provide a minimum of one no more than three (3) relevant past performance references in Volume IV. The contractor/company must send the Past performance questionnaire to their clients to complete, and the contractors’ clients must send the completed past performance questionnaire (Attachment 6) via email to Michele.Jackson@fda.hhs.gov no later than December 12, 2024 @ 10am. FDA has the right to contact the references to obtain additional details about performance. In addition, FDA may use the contractor performance assessment reporting system to obtain past performance information.

VOLUME V - PRICE/BUSINESS QUOTE INSTRUCTIONS -

The Contractor/Company shall prepare a price volume using Attachment 2 – Pricing table that contains all information necessary to allow for a comprehensive evaluation of the prices quoted. The contractor must complete Attachment 2 – Pricing Table with all firm fixed pricing that includes training, materials etc., The Contractor/Company shall submit all electronic documents for Microsoft Office suite products without the use of “macros”. If the offeror submits documents that contain macros, the Government will not be able to view or open such documents and the submission will be considered non-responsive to the solicitation. No additional time will be given to an offeror or applicant to correct the document submission and the Government will not inform the offeror or applicant that their submission is non-responsive prior to award. It is the offeror’s or applicants’ responsibility to ensure all electronic documents are submitted without the use of macros.

The following language will be included in the resultant contract award:

Be advised that the FDA does not accept documents which contain the use of macros. Document submissions required throughout the period of performance of this contract shall not have macro enabled functionality, and any document delivered having that functionality will be deemed delinquent, if not corrected prior to the due date.

PRICE/BUSINESS VOLUME V

Volume V shall contain all pricing associated with the requested services at a firm fixed price. All pricing must be listed in Volume V only and Attachment 2 - Pricing Table “excel spreadsheet” format must be used. A “pdf” file of Attachment II will not be accepted.

BASIS FOR AWARD

Award will made to the Contractor/Company that represents the best value using the tradeoff process. Technical, key personnel, past performance and experience (non-cost factors), when combined, are significantly more important than price.