Cover Letter 4TH QTR FY 24 General.pdf

U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Prisons

United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy

P. O. Box 2067 Inez, Kentucky 41224

June 11, 2024

Re: 15B11824Q00000009

Dear Offeror:

This letter precedes a solicitation package for various subsistence items for delivery to United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy, Inez, KY. This package contains all necessary information for you to submit a price quote to the government. The following MUST be completed and submitted with your offer.

Standard Form (SF) 1449 - Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items and continuation sheets.

Quoters are advised the government reserves the right to make single or multiple awards based on best value. The Government will award to the responsible quoter(s) whose quote, conforming to the solicitation, is most advantageous to the Government based on best value. Best value will be determined by evaluating each quotation for price, technical acceptability, and past performance. Award may be issued with a Purchase Card or Purchase Order. Line item quantities are for delivery as required by USP Big Sandy. Please quote only on those items specified. Do not change the item description or the unit of issue. Do not use phrases such as “minimum award amount”, “All or none”, or any other phrases that would limit the government from awarding by line item. ANY CHANGES TO THE

SOLICITATION CAN RESULT IN THE GOVERNMENT REJECTING PART OR ALL OF

THE QUOTE SUBMITTED. Be sure to complete blocks 17a, 23, 24, 30a, 30b, and 30c of SF-1449 and the continuation sheets. Please include your telephone number, and email in block 17a.

The completed package shall be returned no later than 4:00 P.M., Eastern Standard Time, JUNE 25, 2024:

Federal Bureau of Prisons USP Big Sandy

1197 Airport Road PO Box 2067 Inez, KY 41224 Attn: James Music, Supervisory Contract Specialist

The preferred method regarding the return of quotes is through email. Email quotations to BSY-Contracting-S@bop.gov

If you have any questions regarding this solicitation, please do not hesitate to contact us at

BSY-Contracting-S@bop.gov

ALL AWARDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED ON, OR AROUND JUNE 28, 2024.

mailto:BSY-Contracting-S@bop.gov

While we acknowledge COVID-19 is affecting us all and how we conduct business, it must be pointed out the serious nature of delays in our receiving food shipments. Simply put, a lack of food can lead to riots in the prison setting.

Short delays happen, that's why Federal Acquisition Clause 52.212-4 is incorporated into every award. 52.212-4(f) defines acceptable delays, but more importantly in our case, it states that the Contractor is responsible for notification of delays, and follow up on those delays. We shouldn't have to reach out and ask where a shipment is, the vendor should be notifying us "setting forth the full particulars in connection therewith."

Every Pre-solicitation, and Solicitation that we post has a letter that explicitly lists our evaluating factors as Price, Technically Acceptable, and Past Performance. Not abiding by the terms of the above said clause will be saved to the Contract File as an example of past performance.