Combo Solar Cells.pdf

General Information Document Type: Request for Quote Classification Code: 1675 NAICS Code: 336419

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; quote is being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Please be advised that this Request for Quote (RFQ) in no manner obligated the Government to award a contract as a result from the issuance of the RFQ.

This solicitation is being issued as RFQ FA700024Q0055

This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-05, dated 22 May 2024.

This effort is being procured as full and open competition. The NAICS code is 336419 and the size standard is 1,050 employees. Multiple Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA) will be made as a result of this solicitation.

***Notice to Vendor(s)/Supplier(s): Funds are not presently available for this effort. No award will be made under this RFQ until funds are available. The Government reserves the right to cancel this RFQ, either before or after the closing date. In the event the Government cancels this RFQ, the Government has no obligation to reimburse a vendor for any costs. ***

The Government bears no legal liability for the costs associated with preparing a quote. Vendors should not submit a quote unless they are willing to absorb all costs associated with submitting a quote. The Government will not consider any quotes that contain used, reconditioned, refurbished, gray market, or liquidated stock.

Before submitting a quote, please read the instructions in the addenda to FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items, listed below and comply with all requirements for submitting a quote. Failure to comply with all instructions contained within this synopsis/solicitation could result in the quote being ineligible for award. It is the quoter’s responsibility to ensure their quote meets all the requirements identified herein. The quotes will be evaluated IAW FAR 52.212-2, found herein.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENTS

This is a new requirement for USAFA and aims to build flight arrays for future spacecraft. The Space Systems Research Center (SSRC) developed a qualified solar array build process for use in the FalconSAT program. Qualification and flight solar arrays were built for use on the FalconSAT-Xtra spacecraft. Multiple BPAs are required to build flight arrays for future spacecraft. Coverglass Interconnect Cells (CICs) are solar cells intended for use in spaceflight.

CICs are manufactured using specific materials designed to survive in the orbital environment (e.g. limit degradation due to atomic oxygen or outgassing in the vacuum of space). The cells need to be compatible with existing tooling within the SSRC.

Size requirements

26.62 cm^2 surface area with cropped corner 5 mil coverglass >= 30.7% efficiency QTY = 1500 CICs

It is USAFA’s preference/intent to acquire only domestic end products per the Buy American Statute (41 USC Chapter 83), except as provided in FAR 25.103. Foreign offers will be evaluated per DFARS 225.502 when comparing domestic and foreign offers. This requirement is for commercial off-the-shelf items; therefore, the manufacturing country of origin will determine if the quoted product is foreign or domestic. The Buy American – Balance of Payments Program Certificate (DFARS 252.225-7000), Attachment 3 – FA700024Q0032 Buy American Certificate, must be completed and submitted with the quote.

Any applicable shipping costs must be factored into the unit price(s) of the line item(s). Do not include a separate line item for shipping charges.

Delivery:

Delivery must be F.O.B. Destination to United States Air Force Academy, CO 80840.

Required Delivery Date:

Schedule to be submitted by vendor.

Inspection and Acceptance:

The Government will inspect and accept supplies at the Government’s location, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO 80840. Payment on invoices cannot be made until the Government has accepted the supplies.

SOLICITATION INSTRUCTIONS

1) In all instances throughout this solicitation, to include the applicable provisions and clauses, any use of the word "proposal" should be understood as "quote." All instances of the word "offeror" should be understood as "quoter." All instances of the word "award" or “contract” should be understood as “blanket purchase agreement.”

Quotes supplied in response to this solicitation are not binding. Award of this requirement will be offered to the Quoter IAW 52.212-2, found herein.

2) The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Mar 2023), and the addenda listed below apply to this acquisition.

Addenda to FAR 52.212-1

Submission of offers. FAR 52.212-1(b) is amended to include the following:

1) Submit signed and dated quotes via e-mail to Dawson Hopkinson, dawson.hopkinson@us.af.mil, and Ms. Susan Davis Ulma, susan.ulma@us.af.mil

Note: zip files are not an acceptable format for the Air Force Network and will not go through our email system.

2) Quotes must be submitted by 24 June 2024, 10:00 A.M. Mountain Standard Time.

3) All questions regarding this RFQ must be emailed to Mr. Dawson Hopkinson, dawson.hopkinson@us.af.mil, and Ms. Susan Davis Ulma, susan.ulma@us.af.mil no later than 17 June 2024 10:00 A.M. Mountain Standard Time. The questions and answers will be compiled and posted in SAM.gov under the solicitation notice.

NOTICE TO QUOTERS: The Government reserves the right to cancel this solicitation, either before or after the closing date. In the event the Government cancels this solicitation, the Government has no obligation to reimburse a quoter for any costs.

Quotation preparation instructions

1) General Instructions. To assure timely and equitable evaluation of quotes, the quoter must follow the instructions contained herein. Quoters are required to meet all solicitation requirements, including terms and conditions, representations and certifications, and technical requirements. Failure to meet a requirement may result in a quote being ineligible for award. Quoters must clearly identify any exception to the solicitation terms and conditions and provide complete accompanying rationale.

Delivery Method. Only electronic submissions are being requested. Note: .zip files are not an acceptable format for the Air Force Network and will not go through our email system.

The quoter shall submit the following with their quote: solicitation number, contact name, address, e-mail, and telephone number of the vendor, CAGE code, Unique Entity ID number, size of business.

All companies doing business with the Government must have an active registration in the System for Award Management at https://www.sam.gov at the time the quotation is submitted to be considered for award. See FAR 52.204-7, System for Award Management.

2) Specific Quote Instructions:

a) Price – Vendor shall submit a completed and signed price list. Prices shall be firm-fixed price. Vendor may include any additional items. Special terms and conditions should be included with the price list. Note: The Government will not provide financing for this acquisition. Hubzone will be evaluated IAW FAR Part 19.1307.

b) Technical Capability – Vendor shall submit a statement detailing the CICs that will be provided. For the quote to be considered by the Government, it must meet the salient functional, or performance characteristics specified in this solicitation. Clearly identify any brand names identified in Attachment 1- Salient Characteristics. Include any applicable descriptive literature, such as illustrations, specification sheets, or product brochures that clearly identify that the quote meets the Government’s requirements. If the offeror has successfully provided these items to USAFA within the last five years, the offeror may identify the contract number that these items were provided to USAFA and the descriptive literature requirement may be waived

c) Past Performance – Past performance will be considered.

d) CONTRACT DOCUMENTATION.

i) Quoters are required to be registered in the System of Award Management (SAM) (https://www.sam.gov) at the time the quotation is submitted in order to comply with the annual representations and certifications requirements. Quoters that are not registered in SAM at the time the quotation is submitted will not be considered.

ii) Quotes must include a completed copy of the following provisions that require fill-in text:

FAR 52.212-3 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) accessed through https://www.sam.gov. If the Offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically, the Offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (v) of this provision.

(End of Addendum)

ADDENDA TO FAR 52.212-2:

The addenda listed at FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2021) applies to this acquisition. The evaluation factors to be included in paragraph

(a) of this provision are Price, Technical, and Past Performance for Best Value.

Basis For Award

a. The Government will use Simplified Acquisition Procedures permitted by FAR Part 12.

The Government intends to award multiple blanket purchase agreements (BPAs) resulting from this solicitation to responsible quoters whose quotes conforming to the solicitation will be the most advantageous to the Government.

b. Award will be made using best value as an evaluation method for this requirement. All quotes submitted will be reviewed for completeness to determine if they contain all information requested in the addenda to FAR 52.212-1.

c. The Government reserves the right to award on an "All or None" basis.

Addenda to FAR 52.212-4

The clause at FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Dec 2022), and the addendum apply to this acquisition.

Text in paragraph (c) is deleted and replaced with the following:

(c) Changes. Changes in terms and conditions of this contract may be made only by written agreement of the parties with the exception of certain changes such as administrative changes including changes in paying office, appropriation data, etc.

authorized by the Federal Acquisition Regulation and its supplements that may be made unilaterally by the Contracting Officer, for a complete list of changes that may be made unilaterally, see FAR 43.103(b).

Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and assigned rating do not apply to this acquisition.

Attachments to this Solicitation

Attachment 1 – FA700024Q0032 Provisions and Clauses Attachment 2 – Buy American Certificate Attachment 3 – BPA Terms and Conditions Attachment 4 – Price List/Salient Characteristics