Combo_IEA Admin and Tech Writing.docx

(i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, prepared in accordance with the format in subpart 12.6 of the FAR and as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

(ii) Solicitation number 75H70422Q00IEA applies, and is issued as a Request for Quote (RFQ).

(iii) This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2022-05.

(iv) This requirement is a total Small Indian Owned Business set-aside and the associated NAICS is 541611 with small business size standard of $21.5M.

Non-Small Indian Owned Business offerors will not be considered for the award.

See 25 U.S.C. 47 for the details.

(v) The Contract Line Items (CLINs) structure is as shown below.

Total Firm Fixed Price (FFP): $_____________

*Each Firm-Fixed Price CLIN encompasses all requirements to provide administrative support and technical writing services for all meetings in accordance with the PWS and all other terms and conditions set forth in this solicitation.

**Please note that Contractor Travel, if applicable, will be considered as Cost-Reimbursable at a not to exceed (NTE) amount to be determined at time of award.

(vi) The purpose of this fixed price contract is to secure a Contractor to organize and manage HHS/IEA meetings, provide technical writing services, and provide administrative support. The Contractor shall work with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) to ensure that all meetings are conducted in a professional manner using the best commercial practices at the desired time and location. The Contractor shall provide logistical and administrative services for pre-meeting activities, meeting management and post-meeting support. The technical writing services include taking notes for all meetings, development of meeting minutes, preparation and delivery of a final Section 508 compliant report that summarizes the events and recommendations made at each event, and compilation of 3 reports under the direction of the program/COR. Please see the attached Performance Work Statement (PWS) for additional information.

(vii) The contract period of performance will include a one-year base period and four (4) one-year option periods. The Government also be evaluating the potential six-month extension of services under FAR 52.217-8 and this clause is included in the solicitation and will be included in the final award.

(viii) The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items (OCT 2014), applies to this solicitation.

a. Basis for Award. The Government will issue a contract to the responsible offeror whose proposal conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate quotations: (1) Technical Capability, (2) Relevant Past Performance and (3) Price. See the attached Evaluation Factors and Criteria for details.

b. Evaluation Approach. The Government will evaluate quotations using the comparative evaluation process outlined in FAR 13.106-2 (b) (3), where quotations will be compared to one another to determine which provides the best benefit to the Government. The Government reserves the right to consider a quotation other than the lowest price that provides additional benefit(s). Quotations may exceed minimum requirements of the solicitation. The Government reserves the right to select a quotation that provides benefit to the Government that exceeds the minimum requirements of the solicitation but is not required to do so. Each response must meet the minimum requirements of the solicitation. The Government is not requesting or accepting alternate proposals submissions.

c. Options. The Government will evaluate quotations for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. This includes the potential six month extension of services under FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, which applies to this solicitation.

d. A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, emailed 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.

(ix) Offerors shall include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (FEB 2021), with its offer. The Offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the Offeror has completed the annual representations and certification electronically in the System for Award Management (SAM).

(x) The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (OCT 2018), applies to this acquisition and the additional FAR clauses cited in the clause are applicable to the acquisition.

a. The following addendum applies:

1. Only electronically invoicing will be accepted. Email Addresses for submission of invoices are cole.cook@ihs.gov, HQInvoices@ihs.gov, and COR’s email.

2. 52.217-8 Option to Extend the Services (NOV 1999) The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor within 30 days of the end of the current period of performance.

3. 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 prior to the expiration date of the executed contract period; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 7 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 five (5) years.

(xi) The clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items (JAN 2021), and the additional FAR clauses cited in the clause are applicable to the acquisition.

a. The Contractor shall comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses, which are incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

1. 52.203-19, Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements (JAN 2017) (section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235) and its successor provisions in subsequent appropriations acts (and as extended in continuing resolutions)).

2. 52.204-23, Prohibition on Contracting for Hardware, Software, and Services Developed or Provided by Kaspersky Lab and Other Covered Entities (JUL 2018) (Section 1634 of Pub. L. 115-91).

3. 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment. (AUG 2020) (Section 889(a)(1)(A) of Pub. L. 115-232).

4. 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (Nov 2015)

5. 52.233-3, Protest After Award (AUG 1996) (31 U.S.C. 3553).

6. 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (OCT 2004) (Public Laws 108-77, 108-78 (19 U.S.C. 3805 note)).

b. The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b) that the contracting officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

1. 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (JUN 2020), with Alternate I (Oct 1995) (41 U.S.C. 4704 and 10 U.S.C. 2402).

2. 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (JUN 2020) (Pub. L. 109-282) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

3. 52.209-6, Protecting the Government’s Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (JUN 2020) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

4. 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (NOV 2020) (15 U.S.C. 644).

5. 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (OCT 2018) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)).

6. 52.219-28, Post-Award Small Business Program Re-representation (NOV 2020) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)).

7. 52.219-30, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Women-Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under the Women-Owned Small Business Program (MAR 2020) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).

8. 52.222-3, Convict Labor (JUN 2003) (E.O. 11755).

9. 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (APR 2015).

10. 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (SEP 2016) (E.O. 11246).

11. 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (JUN 2020) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

12. 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (JUN 2020) (29 U.S.C. 793).

13. 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (JUN 2020) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

14. 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (DEC 2010) (E.O. 13496).

15. 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (OCT 2020) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627).

16. 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (OCT 2015). (E. O. 12989). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items or certain other types of commercial items as prescribed in 22.1803.)

17. 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (JUN 2020) (E.O. 13513).

18. 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (JUN 2008) (E.O.’s, proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury).

19. 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer— System for Award Management (OCT 2018) (31 U.S.C. 3332).

c. The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (c), applicable to commercial services, that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

1. 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (AUG 2018) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67.).

2. 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires (MAY 2014) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

3. 52.222-43, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards -- Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts) (AUG 2018) (29 U.S.C.206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

4. 52.222-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (NOV 2020).

5. 52.222-62, Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 (JAN 2017) (E.O. 13706).

(xii) The following additional contract requirement(s) and terms and conditions are determined by the contracting officer to be necessary for this acquisition and consistent with customary commercial practices:

a. 52.252-1, Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998) & 52.252-2 -- Clauses Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998) applies to solicitation 75H70422Q00IEA. This solicitation incorporates solicitation provisions and clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at this address: www.acquisition.gov/far/.

(xiii) Proposals are due 12 Noon ET, May 13, 2022. Questions are due 12 Noon ET, May 10, 2022.

Email questions and final proposal to Contracting Officer, Cole Cook at cole.cook@ihs.gov. Offerors are responsible for confirming the IHS receipt of their questions (if applicable) and proposal submissions. As exceptions taken to the terms and conditions of the solicitation or assumptions made may impact the acceptability of submitted proposals, the offeror is encouraged to submit questions on any issues/concerns identified following the review of the solicitation. The contractor shall include the below items on the cover page of their proposal submission.

a. Offeror Name (Include Doing Business As name if applicable)

b. DUNS and CAGE Code

c. Name, e-mail, and phone number of the offerors authorized representative

d. Tax ID Number (TIN) – This is required to be entered into the contract writing system of the eventual awardee

e. Their proposal submission is valid 30 days from the closing date of the solicitation.

(xiv) POC for this action is:

a. Cole Cook, Contracting Officer, cole.cook@ihs.gov