Attachment 5 - Instructions to Offeror.pdf

Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors- Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Sep 2023)

The following is inserted as a new paragraph (m) of the provision: (m) Offer Preparation Instructions

A. This requirement is being issued as a 100% small business set-aside, competitive acquisition using

Performance Price Tradeoff (PPT) best value source selection procedures. The contracting officer has determined there is a high probability of adequate price competition in this acquisition. Upon examination of the initial offers, the contracting officer will review this determination and if, in the contracting officer's opinion, adequate price competition exists, no additional cost information will be requested and certification under FAR 15.406-2 will not be required. However, if at any time during this competition the contracting officer determines that adequate price competition no longer exists; offeror(s) may be required to submit information to the extent necessary for the contracting officer to determine the reasonableness of the price.

B. Proposals must be complete, self-sufficient, and respond directly to the requirements of the Request for Proposal (RFP). Failure to meet a requirement may result in an offer being ineligible for award. Offerors must clearly identify any exception to the solicitation terms and conditions and provide complete accompanying rationale.

C. The Government intends to evaluate offers and award this firm fixed-price contract without discussions.

However, the Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if deemed in its best interest.

Therefore, the offeror’s initial proposal should contain the offeror’s best terms.

D. Offerors may be asked to clarify certain aspects of their proposal (e.g., the relevance of past performance information) or respond to adverse past performance information to which the offeror has not previously had an opportunity to respond. Adverse past performance is defined as past performance information that supports a less than satisfactory rating on any evaluation element or any unfavorable comments received from sources without a formal rating system. Exchanges conducted with regard to adverse past performance or to resolve minor or clerical errors will not constitute discussions, and the contracting officer reserves the right to award a contract without the opportunity for proposal revision. The offeror's proposal shall consist of three (3) separate parts; Part I - Technical Factor, Part II - Past Performance Information, and Part III - Price Proposal.

E. All pertinent questions regarding this solicitation shall be provided in writing via email to both Contract

Specialist, Lance Redolosa at lance.redolosa.1@us.af.mil and Team Lead, Jeremy Kersey at jeremy.kersey.1@us.af.mil no later than 11 April 2025 at 12:00 PM CST. No questions will be accepted after this time.

F. Specific Instructions:

1. Submit proposals in electronic format. The Price Schedule must be in MS Excel; the remainder shall be in MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) and/or Adobe PDF Format. All proposal information shall be submitted to: Contract Specialist Lance Redolosa, lance.redolosa.1@us.af.mil;

Team Lead Jeremy Kersey, jeremy.kersey.1@us.af.mil; and Contracting Officer Sandra Turner, sandra.turner.1@us.af.mil; PROPOSALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 12:00 P.M. CDT ON 21 APRIL 2025. Offerors are encouraged to confirm proposal receipt.

2. Addendum to 52.212-1(e), Multiple Offers. Deleted

3. Addendum to 52.212-1(h), Multiple Awards. Deleted

G. Communications: Exchange of source selection information after submission of the initial proposal packages between the Government and offerors will be controlled by the Contracting Officer. E-mail may be used to transmit such information only if the e-mail can be sent encrypted, and must include “Source Selection Information – See FAR 2.101 and 3.104” in the subject line of the e-mail. Otherwise, source mailto:lance.redolosa.1@us.af.mil mailto:jeremy.kersey.1@us.af.mil mailto:lance.redolosa.1@us.af.mil mailto:jeremy.kersey.1@us.af.mil mailto:sandra.turner.1@us.af.mil selection information will be transmitted via direct mailing or DROP SAFE at https://safe.apps.mil/about.php. In order to facilitate the sending and receiving of encrypted e-mails, offerors must use MS Outlook e-mail configured to support encryption or a different e-mail product that is S/MIME compatible and configured to support encryption. If you intend to submit your source selection information via encrypted e-mail, you will need to contact the following Contract Specialist and Team Lead: lance.redolosa.1@us.af.mil, and jeremy.kersey.1@us.af.mil prior to that first submittal in order to exchange certificates used for encryption. To ensure the process is working correctly, send a test encrypted message first (without including any source selection information). When submitting source selection information via e-mail, file suppression utilities, to include but not limited to zip files, will not be accepted.

H. Standard Form 1449, complete blocks 12, 17a, 30a, 30b, and 30c of the RFP. A scanned copy of the originally signed (“wet” signature) page or electronically signed signature page should be included in the proposal package.

I. Standard Form 30 (SF 30), complete blocks 15A-15C, for any/all amendments. A scanned copy of the originally signed (“wet” signature) page or electronically signed signature page should be included in the proposal package for any/all amendments.

J. Representations and Certifications:

1. IAW FAR 52.212-3, the offeror shall complete only paragraphs (b) of this provision if the offeror has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM) website, accessed through http://www.sam.gov/portal.

2. If the Offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically, the Offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (v) of this provision, including the additions to

(c) (11) at 52.212-3, Alternate I.

K. Interested parties capable of providing the requirement must include discount terms (if any), tax identification number, CAGE code, and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

L. Authorization Letter. Submit a letter, signed at the vice-president level or equivalent or higher, that identifies the individual(s) with the authority to obligate or otherwise bind your company to the resulting contract and, if necessary, future contract modifications.

M. Joint Venture Agreement. If a joint venture arrangement exists for this acquisition, the offeror shall provide a copy of the joint venture agreement that is signed and dated by all joint venture members as part of the proposal submission.

N. Responsibility Determination and Supporting Documentation. To assist in determining offeror responsibility in accordance with FAR 9.104-3(a), the offeror shall explain how they plan to maintain adequate financial resources for a contract of this magnitude and length. The offeror shall address a fiscal plan for covering mobilization, unexpected or emergency situations, and initial performance costs prior to recoupment in the form of monthly invoice payments. If the offeror intends to rely on internally available working/operation capital, documentation of availability must be submitted. If the offeror plans to rely on financial support from external sources, documentation of availability and maximum lines of credit available (based upon the inclusion of this contract effort) must be submitted. Evidence of external funding must be provided in the form of a dated letter from the external source.

O. IAW FAR 9.104-5, the offeror is required to comply with the submission regarding FAR 52.209-5, Certification Regarding Responsibility Matters. Since it is the Government’s intent to make Award without Discussions IAW FAR 52.215-1, the Government may request that an offeror submit additional information so a responsibility determination can be made. This request for additional information will not be construed as communications or discussions with an offeror as defined by FAR 15.306. An incomplete proposal may be considered to indicate lack of understanding of the requirement and may result in the entire proposal being determined “unacceptable” and eliminated from further consideration.

https://safe.apps.mil/about.php mailto:lance.redolosa.1@us.af.mil mailto:jeremy.kersey.1@us.af.mil

PART I – TECHNICAL FACTOR: The written technical part shall be clear and concise. The offer should not simply rephrase or restate the Government's requirements but shall provide convincing rationale to address how the offeror intends to meet these requirements. Offerors shall assume the Government has no prior knowledge of their capabilities, work processes, facilities, and experience and will base its evaluation on the information presented in the offeror's technical proposal.

Offeror shall provide documentation and include all information in sufficient detail to clearly demonstrate their capability of meeting all requirements as outlined in the Schedule of Supplies/Services and Attachment 2, Performance Work Statement (PWS). There is no page limit on the technical information, but it shall not be excessive and shall contain only pertinent data.

There is no page limit on the technical proposals, but proposals shall not be excessive and shall contain only pertinent data.

Each page should contain the following legend at the bottom of each sheet:

SOURCE SELECTION INFORMATION – SEE FAR 2.101 and 3.104

The following subfactors shall be provided by the offeror as part of the technical proposal:

Subfactor 1: The offeror shall provide an assigned Airworthiness Certificate or FAA equivalent for each aircraft to be used in completion of the required services IAW PWS Para. 5.2.

Subfactor 2: The offeror shall provide a written statement verifying that all ejection seats for the aircraft to be used in completion of the required services are operable IAW PWS Para. 5.2.

Subfactor 3: The offeror shall provide a syllabus or lesson plan of Ejection Seat Training Program (ESTP) specific to the make and model of the aircraft to be used in completion of the required services IAW PWS Para.

5.4.1.

Subfactor 4: The offeror shall provide pilot resumes to verify that contracted pilots possess a Commercial Pilot Certificate and are fully qualified Instructor pilots for the type aircraft utilized. Contracted pilots shall have at least 500 hours in military aircraft (US or foreign), at least 100 hours in the last year, and at least 300 hours in-type IAW PWS Para. 5.3.

PART II – PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION – Each offeror shall submit a Past Performance Volume with its proposal. The Past Performance volume shall be prepared in accordance with all instructions contained within this section. Only references for past efforts/contracts of relevance are desired.

A. Volume Organization. The offeror shall include the three (3) most recent (within three (3) years from the date of issuance of the solicitation) and relevant contract or project references (whether federal, state or local government, or private industry for the prime contractor and significant subcontractors).

B. Quality and Satisfaction Rating for Contracts Completed in the Past Three Years: Provide information currently available (letters, metrics, customer surveys, independent surveys, etc.) which demonstrate customer satisfaction with overall job performance and/or quality of completed and/or ongoing contracts. In addition, explain corrective actions taken in the past, if any, for substandard performance and any current performance problems such as cost overruns, extended performance periods, numerous warranty calls, etc. There is no required format for submission of this information.

C. Past Performance Surveys/Questionnaires: Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) shall be used by the offeror in obtaining and providing past performance information.

THE RESPONSIBILITY TO SEND OUT THE PAST PERFORMANCE QUESTIONNAIRE RESTS

SOLELY WITH THE OFFEROR.

The offeror shall ensure that the Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQ, Attachment 2) are provided to the referenced points of contact provided by the offeror. Fill in Part A of the PPQ and send directly to the references completing the questionnaire, using Cover Letter (Attachment 3). Completed questionnaires shall be sent directly to the Government by the references completing the questionnaire.

References should email the completed PPQ directly to the 42d Contracting Squadron representatives below. These questionnaires are due no later than the offer due date and time in block 8 of the Standard Form 1449. Once filled out, these questionnaires are deemed acquisition sensitive and must be safeguarded accordingly.

42d Contracting Squadron Representatives:

Lance Redolosa – lance.redolosa@us.af.mil Jeremy Kersey – jeremy.kersey@us.af.mil

Past Performance Questionnaire: For each of the three (3) submitted contracts found to have some relevance to the instant acquisition, the Past Performance Team will contact the points of contact identified in the PPQs. A telephone interview will be conducted utilizing the Present/Past Performance Questionnaire (Attachment 2). The Government reserves the right to change, alter, and/or supplement the questionnaire without further notice to the offeror(s).

One (1) of the past performance references may be for a subcontractor, teaming partner, and/or joint venture partner that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement (i.e., 10% or more of the work). Recent past performance information includes contracts performed and/or being performed for any customer within the last three (3) years from the issuance date of the solicitation, to include at least twelve (12) months of documented performance during the three (3) year period. Include rationale supporting your assertion of relevance and identify aspects of the contracts deemed relevant and how they relate to the proposed effort.

If an offeror has no past performance history of relevance, the offeror must affirmatively state it possesses no past performance history of relevance.

The evaluation of past performance information will take into account past performance regarding (i) predecessor companies, (ii) will take into account past performance of key personnel who have relevant experience, and/or (iii) will take into account past performance regarding subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement when such information is relevant to this acquisition. There is no required format for submission of this information.

D. Specific Content: Offerors may include a discussion of efforts accomplished by the Offeror to resolve problems encountered on prior contracts as well as past efforts to identify and manage program risk.

Merely having problems does not automatically equate to a Limited or No Confidence rating, since the problems encountered may have been on a more complex program or an Offeror may have subsequently demonstrated the ability to overcome the problems. The Offeror is required to clearly demonstrate management actions employed in overcoming problems and the effects of those actions, in terms of improvements achieved or problems rectified. This could result in a rating of Substantial or Satisfactory Confidence.

E. Teaming Agreement: If a teaming arrangement is contemplated, provide complete information as to the arrangement, including any relevant and recent past performance information on previous teaming arrangements with same partner. If this is a first-time joint effort, each party to the arrangement must provide a list of past contracts of relevance.

F. Subcontractor Consent: Past performance information pertaining to a subcontractor cannot be disclosed to the prime offeror without the subcontractor's consent. Provide with the proposal a letter (Attachment

4) from all subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement, consenting to the release of their past performance information to the prime contractor. If the subcontractor does not consent, include a statement to that effect.

mailto:lance.redolosa@us.af.mil mailto:jeremy.kersey@us.af.mil

PART III - PRICE PROPOSAL

(a) Insert proposed unit and extended prices in the Supplies or Services and Prices/Cost of the SF 1449 for each Contract Line Item Number (CLINs), X001 and 4002. The extended amount must equal the unit price multiplied by the number of units. It is imperative that mathematical calculations are correct; particular care should be taken to ensure the amounts match when using the EXCEL program and the rounding of figures, limited to two decimal places.

(b) Extreme care should be exercised to ensure that no price data of any kind are included in any other Part of the proposal.

(c) Price Reasonableness: The source selection will be conducted with the expectation of adequate price competition for this acquisition per FAR 15.403-1(c)(1); therefore, certified cost or pricing data are not required per FAR 15.403-1(b)(1). If at any time during this competition the Contracting Officer determines that adequate price competition no longer exists or that price reasonableness cannot be determined, offerors may be required to submit additional data other than certified cost or pricing data for the Contracting Officer to determine price reasonableness. A contract will not be awarded to a contractor whose price is not determined to be fair and reasonable.

Contract Award: The Government intends to evaluate offers and award a contract without discussions with offerors. Therefore, the offeror’s initial offer should contain the offeror’s best terms from a price and technical standpoint. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if later determined by the Contracting Officer to be necessary.

The offeror shall propose a dollar unit price, for the base period and each option period in the SF 1449. The sum total of all Items, for the Base Period and each Option Period, will form the offeror's Total Evaluated Price (TEP). Fill in the Price Schedule for all items. Failure to provide pricing information for all items may result in removal of the proposal from further consideration. Enter prices for the base period and each option period in the SF 1449. Do not exceed two (2) decimal places when entering pricing.

Discrepancies: If an offeror believes these instructions contain errors, omissions or are unsound, the offeror shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer in writing with supporting rationale as well as remedies the offeror is asking the Contracting Officer to consider as related to the omission or error.

(End of Addendum)