B08.02 CSS - VTN Content and Maintenance W912HQ25R0017.docx

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Number: W912HQ25R0017 Request for Proposal – Value to the Nation: Content Development and Website Maintenance

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 12.603 – Streamlined Solicitation for Commercial Products and Commercial Services, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice and FAR Part 13 procedures. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Proposals are being requested, and a written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2025-04, dated 12 MAY 2025.

A Firm Fixed Priced (FFP) award will be made in accordance with the following:

This acquisition is being solicited as a 100% small business set-aside. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541990— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; with a size standard of $19.5M.

II. NATURE OF ACQUISITION:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office of History has a requirement to purchase the services stated below. This procurement will be awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures. All questions must be received by Wednesday 13, August 2025, 4:30 pm US Eastern Time. Proposals must be received no later than Wednesday, 27 August 2025, 4:30 pm US Eastern Time. Electronic proposals submitted via email are required. Email questions and proposals to the Contract Specialist, MacKenzie Rivera at mackenzie.rivera@usace.army.mil. It is the Offeror’s responsibility to ensure the proposal has been received by the contracting office via email. Fax proposals will not be accepted. Late proposals will be processed in accordance with FAR 52.212-1(f) “Late submission, modifications, revisions, and withdrawals of offers.” Upon receipt of the electronic offer, the Government will acknowledge receipt of that offer via email to the Offeror.

III. SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Institute for Water Resources (IWR) was formed to provide forward-looking analysis and research in developing planning methodologies to aid the Civil Works program.

The purpose of this contract is to provide support for the development, update, and maintenance of the contents of Value to the Nation narratives and Fast Facts (benefits and capital stock) reports on the VTN website. The Contractor shall develop new Fast Facts and narratives for each business line using data and any additional information provided by the USACE Team. Additionally, the Contractor shall provide any support necessary in USACE Team’s efforts to improve and modernize the VTN website, including adding visualization, and any further support as may be reasonably required or determined necessary by the USACE Team to enhance the VTN website and/or VTN reporting process.

Period of Performance:

The period of performance (POP) shall commence upon issuance of the Notice to Proceed (NTP) and shall continue for a duration of fifteen (15) months thereafter, unless extended via No-Cost Time Extension (NCTX).

Subject to satisfactory performance and fulfillment of all contractual requirements, the Government may, at its sole discretion, exercise an option to extend the contract for an additional fifteen (15) months.

Place of Performance:

The work will be performed at the Contractor’s physical site.

IV. BASIS FOR AWARD

Informal source selection procedures will be used for this requirement in accordance with FAR 13.106-2 “Evaluation of quotations or offers.”

All proposals received in response to the Request for Proposal (RFP) will be comparatively evaluated in accordance with the solicitation. The objective of the evaluation process is to award a contract to the responsible offeror whose proposal is determined to represent the “Best Value” to the Government using price, and other non-price factors considered by the Contracting Officer.

The Government intends to make awards without discussions; however, the Government may determine that discussions are necessary. For this reason, the offeror’s proposals must be complete and contain their most favorable terms. The proposal shall address and contain the information listed below.

Evaluation Factors Offerors shall submit proposals that address each of the evaluation factors listed below. The Government will evaluate proposals based on the degree to which they demonstrate a clear understanding of the requirements and ability to successfully perform the work. Each factor will be assessed using the specified rating scale defined and evaluated independently to support a comprehensive best value determination.

To be eligible for award, offerors must receive ratings of no less than “Acceptable” for the Technical Factors and no less than “Neutral Confidence” for the Past Performance Factor and must submit a fair and reasonable price.

The order of importance of the factors is as follows: Factors 1 through 3 are of equal importance.

All evaluation factors other than price, when combined, are significantly more important than price.

Factor 1: Technical Understanding and Approach The proposal will be evaluated on the offeror’s technical understanding of the content development and website maintenance objectives, and the clarity and practicality of its technical approach. The proposed approach must demonstrate feasibility, alignment with Government goals, and responsiveness to potential operational challenges. Additionally, the proposal must reflect the offeror’s knowledge of the USACE Civil Works Mission, familiarity with all major business lines and concepts of economics (including National Economic Development Benefits), and ideally, IWR work processes and the Value to the Nation Program and its products. Offerors must include an Excel spreadsheet separate from their price proposal that details the labor categories, mix of labor and quantity of labor hours per task in the PWS.

Factor 2: Personnel Qualifications

The proposal will be evaluated on the qualifications, expertise, and background of proposed personnel in relation to the required services. The proposal must identify team capabilities aligned with the scope of content development and website maintenance. Emphasis will be placed on the demonstrated qualifications of personnel contributing to economics-related and data-driven content, including applicable academic training or analytical experience. The proposal must also present a clear and realistic level of effort, detailing the roles, labor categories, and expected availability of each key team member over the performance period.

The Technical Factors (other than Past Performance) will be rated using the following adjectival ratings:

Factor 3: Past Performance

The proposal will be evaluated on the offeror’s demonstrated experience supporting content-driven web platforms and similar government or mission-oriented initiatives. The proposal must reflect a strong performance history, relevance to this scope, and the ability to deliver results that meet or exceed quality expectations.

The Past Performance Factor will be rated using the following adjectival ratings:

Substantial Confidence Based on the offeror’s recent/relevant performance record, the Government has a high expectation that the offeror will successfully perform the required effort.

Neutral Confidence No recent/relevant performance record is available or the offeror’s performance record is so sparse that no meaningful confidence assessment rating can be reasonably assigned. The offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on the factor of past performance.

Limited Confidence Based on the offeror’s recent/relevant performance record, the Government has a low expectation that the offeror will successfully perform the required effort.

No Confidence Based on the offeror’s recent/relevant performance record, the Government has no expectation that the offeror will be able to successfully perform the required effort.

Factor 4 – Price:

This factor will use price analysis to determine the total evaluated price. The price factor will be evaluated for price reasonableness in accordance to FAR 13.106-2. The price to be analyzed is the total price inclusive of the base and all options.

Contract Line Items: This requirement and associated contract line-item numbers (CLIN) are provided below (also are contained below within the PWS):

All work is to be performed in accordance with the attached PWS.

Prices must show the total price per task to complete the required services in accordance with the PWS, including all indirect rates and profit. This requirement will be awarded as a firm-fixed price contract. The Offeror must submit proposed total and extended pricing to complete the required services.

V. QUOTE PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

52.212-1 ADDENDUM - INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS – COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES To ensure timely and equitable evaluation of quotes, offerors must comply with instructions contained herein. Offers must be complete, detailed and respond directly to the requirements of this solicitation.

a. Interested parties capable of providing the requirement must submit a signed and dated offer on company letterhead with unit prices, extended prices, discount terms, tax identification number, CAGE code, and SAM UEI in response to this solicitation. The requirements of this synopsis/solicitation, including specification, "Schedule of Supplies/Services" and terms and conditions, the offeror agrees to all solicitation requirements. Offerors must clearly identify any exception to the solicitation terms and conditions and provide complete accompanying rationale.

b. All offer information shall be emailed to MacKenzie Rivera at mackenzie.rivera@usace.army.mil. The offer must be signed and dated by an authorized official of the company. Electronic submissions via e-mail are required.

c. Offerors must provide pricing for the total price to complete the required services, the hourly rate proposed for each labor category and subtotal cost of labor for each of the labor categories.

d. To be eligible to receive an award resulting from this RFQ, Contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database, no exceptions. To register, please visit http://www.sam.gov.

e. Offer Content: See section IV – Factor 1, 2, 3, and 4, above

VI. CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition and can be viewed electronically at https://www.acquisition.gov/ in accordance with 52.252-1. The use in this solicitation of any Department of Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (48 CFR Chapter 2) provision with an authorized deviation is indicated by the addition of "(DEVIATION)" after the name of the regulation.

The Following Provisions and Clauses Are Incorporated By Reference:

The Following Provisions and Clauses Are Incorporated by Full Text:

FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation -- Commercial Products and Commercial Services

(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

(i) Technical Capability

(ii) Personnel Qualification

(iii) Past Performance

(iv) Price The non-price factors are significantly more importance than Price.

A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

FAR 52.212-3 ALT I Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Products and Commercial Services is incorporated by reference in this combine synopsis and solicitation. Offerors must include a statement that certifies the Offeror’s Representations and Certifications are up to date in System for Award management.

FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders.

The following FAR Clauses cited within FAR 52.212-5 are applicable to this acquisition:

The following FAR and DFARS Clauses are applicable to this acquisition in addition to those above in the table for clauses within FAR 52.212-5.

FAR 52.217-9 OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT (MAR 2000)

(a) The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 15 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 24 months.

(End of clause)

FAR 52.246-20 WARRANTY OF SERVICES (MAY 2001)

(a) Definition.

"Acceptance," as used in this clause, means the act of an authorized representative of the Government by which the Government assumes for itself, or as an agent of another, ownership of existing and identified supplies, or approves specific services, as partial or complete performance of the contract.

(b) Notwithstanding inspection and acceptance by the Government or any provision concerning the conclusiveness thereof, the Contractor warrants that all services performed under this contract will, at the time of acceptance, be free from defects in workmanship and conform to the requirements of this contract. The Contracting Officer shall give written notice of any defect or nonconformance to the Contractor within 30 days. This notice shall state either

(1) that the Contractor shall correct or reperform any defective or nonconforming services, or (2) that the Government does not require correction or reperformance.

(c) If the Contractor is required to correct or reperform, it shall be at no cost to the Government, and any services corrected or reperformed by the Contractor shall be subject to this clause to the same extent as work initially performed. If the Contractor fails or refuses to correct or reperform, the Contracting Officer may, by contract or otherwise, correct or replace with similar services and charge to the Contractor the cost occasioned to the Government thereby, or make an equitable adjustment in the contract price.

(d) If the Government does not require correction or reperformance, the Contracting Officer shall make an equitable adjustment in the contract price.

(End of clause)