Combined Synopsis Solicitation_ Max Dark Fiber 06232023.pdf

Solicitation Number: 75N97023Q00034

General Information

Short Title: Mid-Atlantic Crossroads Dark Fiber Connection.

Document Type: Combined Synopsis / Solicitation Notice

Solicitation Number: 75N97023Q00034

Posted Date: 6/23/2023

Response Date: 7/7/2023

Classification Code: DA01

NAICS Code: 517311

Contracting Office Address

Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Office of Acquisitions, 6707 Democracy Boulevard, Room 105Q29, Bethesda, MD

20817, UNITED STATES.

1. Description

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation includes all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through FAR FAC 2023-04 (June 2023) Simplified Procedures for Commercial items.

The Government contemplates only one award of a Firm-Fixed Price contract. The Associated North America Industry Classification Code (NAICS) 517311 and the Business Size Standard is 1500. It has been determined there are no opportunities to acquire green products or services for this procurement. Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. This will be full and open competition.

2. Background

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) plans to continue to make use of the Next Generation Internet/Internet2 services available through the Mid-Atlantic Crossroads (MAX) organization, part of the University of Maryland College Park, via its primary connection, for continued access to the domestic and international research and development advanced networking community and requires this dark fiber connection to provide continuity of operations.

3. Objectives

The Contractor shall support the NLM in the above efforts. This is a contract request to provide a single long-haul dark fiber pair from the NLM located in Bethesda, MD to the MAX network point of presence (POP) located on the University of Maryland, College Park Campus.

4. Scope

The scope of this procurement is the acquisition of dark fiber connectivity and related support services.

5. Description of Work

The Contractor shall provide the NLM with the following:

Dark fiber (i.e., fiber unlit-by-electronics) for a single connection between the National Library of Medicine (NLM) Telephone Equipment Room Building 38A 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20894 (NPA/NNX 301/435) and the Mid-Atlantic Crossroads (MAX) consortium facilities located at the University of Maryland Computer and Space Sciences Building, Building #224 Room 0312B, College Park, MD 20742-2411 (NPA/NNX 301/405).

The dark fiber must be installed and tested at a level that will ensure fiber meets 100G data transfer standards, with minimal dB loss. Certified test results shall be provided to the NLM upon completion.

Clearly defined maintenance intervals and notification windows. This shall include the identified maintenance classification and the lead time for notifications sent to customers.

Clearly defined process for the NLM to directly report incidents or outages.

6. Government Furnished Property (GFP)

The Government will provide adequate conduit into the building and confirm access facilities to the building are available for fiber provisioning. The Government will also locate private utilities on the premises if construction is required. Any construction requirements will be at the expense of the Contractor and must be coordinated with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

The Government will ensure the demarcation point is accessible and in an environmentally controlled location.

The Government will provide space in a 19” wide data rack for the required hardware.

Government will provide a dedicated power outlet and common ground.

The Government will complete inside wiring before the arrival of the installation technicians and extend the wiring from the demarcation point to the location where the NLM edge router is located.

7. Contract Type

This is a firm fixed price contract.

8. Place of Performance

National Library of Medicine Building 38A 8600 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20894

9. Period of Performance

Base Year 8/1/2023 – 7/31/2024 Option Year 1 8/1/2024 – 7/31/2025 Option Year 2 8/1/2025 – 7/31/2026 Option Year 3 8/1/2026 – 7/31/2027 Option Year 4 8/1/2028 – 7/31/2029

10. Deliverables/Delivery Schedule

The Contractor will work with the NLM staff to continue providing technical support as needed at the request of the COR.

11. Payment

Payment shall be made after submission and approval of invoice by the NLM COR and Department of Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform. NIH Invoices will now be processed via Department of Treasury's Invoice Processing Platform (www.IPP.gov). This award hereby incorporates HHSAR 352.232-71 Electronic Invoice Submission of Payment Requests (FEBRUARY 2, 2022) (a) Definitions. As used in this clause - Payment request means a bill, voucher, invoice, or request for contract financing payment with associated supporting documentation. The payment request must comply with the requirements identified in FAR 32.905(b), "Content of Invoices" and the applicable Payment clause included in this contract.

QUESTIONS: If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please submit your inquiries to Kathy Elliott, Contracting Officer, at Elliottk@mail.nih.gov no later than June 28, 2023, at 11:00AM Eastern Standard Time. Questions with the Government’s responses will be posted to Sam.gov. Please be advised that the Government reserves the right to transmit those questions and answers of a common interest to all prospective Offerors.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND PROPOSAL DUE DATE:

In order to receive an award, Contractor must be registered and have a valid certification in the System For Award Management (SAM) http://www.sam.gov. Interested vendors capable of providing the Government with the services specified in this solicitation shall submit electronic responses to besta@mail.nih.gov reference solicitation number 75N97023Q00034 on all correspondence to this notice.

Proposals must be submitted electronically no later than July 7, 2023, at 4:00 PM EST. The proposal submitted shall be prepared in two volumes and clearly identified as: Volume 1:

Technical Proposal and Volume 2: Business Proposal.

Proposals shall be in sufficient detail to permit proper evaluation, negotiation, and/or acceptance thereof. The technical proposal must not contain reference to price; however, resource information (such as data concerning labor hours and categories, materials, subcontracts, etc.) must be contained in the technical proposal so that the offeror’s understanding of the Statement of Work may be evaluated. The price proposal shall be submitted as a Fixed Price proposal with pricing for each element of the Statement of Work.

Page Limit: 10 pages, excluding appendices.

Formatting: Page size 8.5 by 11 inches with 1 inch margins. Paragraphs single spaced. Minimum font size/style 10 point Times New Roman font for Text, 9 point font in the Arial family for Tables, and 8 point font in the Arial family for Graphics. Tables and graphics may be landscape; all other text must be portrait.

If the offeror uses a different format (font size, margin, etc.), the government reserves the right to adjust the proposal to fit the parameters of the format as stated in the RFP, and if this results in the proposal exceeding the page limitations in any one area, the government will not consider those excess pages.

EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

1. Selection of an offeror for award will be based on the evaluation of proposals in accordance with FAR 15.101-2 -- Lowest Price Technically Acceptable Source Selection Process. Award will be made on the basis of the lowest evaluated price of proposals meeting or exceeding the acceptability standards for non-cost factors.

2. EVALUATION OF OPTIONS

It is anticipated that any order awarded under this Request for Quotation will contain option provision(s) and period(s). In accordance with FAR Clause 52.217-5, Evaluation of Options (July 1990), the Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement, except when it is determined in accordance with FAR 17.206(b) not to be in the Government’s best interests. Evaluation of options will not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REQULATION (FAR) CLAUSES

The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference.

Full text may be found at https://www.acquisition.gov

FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Items FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Items FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Items FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes and Executive orders

The offeror must include a completed copy of the following provisions with your proposal submission: FAR Clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items and FAR Clause 52-212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items – Deviation for Simplified Acquisitions.