CSS 1333ND24QNB670122.pdf

CLASSIFICATION CODE: B - Special Studies/Analysis, Not Research and Development

TITLE: Support Services for 5G/6G Core Networks Project

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 1333ND24QNB670122

RESPONSE DATE: 03/15/2024

CONTACT POINTS: Robert Cowins, Contract Specialist, (301) 975-8335

Hing Pan Wong, Contracting Officer, (301) 975-6289

DESCRIPTION:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a requirement for the procurement of support services to be utilized by the Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL) at NIST, Gaithersburg, MD campus.

THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL

ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN FAR SUBPART 12.6-STREAMLINED

PROCEDURES FOR EVALUATION AND SOLICITATION

FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS-AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN

THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; QUOTATIONS ARE

BEING REQUESTED, AND A SEPARATE WRITTEN SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED.

THE SOLICITATION IS BEING ISSUED USING SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES UNDER THE

AUTHORITY OF FAR PART 13.

This solicitation is a Request for Quotations (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-03 dated 02/23/2024.

1352.215-72 INQUIRIES (APR 2010)

Offerors must submit all questions concerning this solicitation in writing to robert.cowins@nist.gov. Questions should be received no later than three calendar days after the issuance date of this solicitation. Any responses to questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner, and will be included in an amendment to the solicitation. Even if provided in other form, only the question responses included in the amendment to the solicitation will govern performance of the contract.

(End of Provision)

The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541519 – Other Computer Related Services with a small business size standard of $34 million in annual revenue.

This is acquisition being solicited as a 100% small business set-aside.

All offerors shall provide a quotation for the following line items:

CLIN 0001: Base Period Description: The contractor shall provide a support service for NIST 5G/6G Core Networks Project in accordance with the incorporated Statement of Work.

QTY: 1

Unit of Issue: LO Period of Performance: 12 months from the date of award mailto:robert.cowins@nist.gov

CLIN 0002: Option Period I Description: The contractor shall provide a support service for NIST 5G/6G Core Networks Project in accordance with the incorporated Statement of Work.

QTY: 1

Unit of Issue: LO Period of Performance: 12 months from the expiration of the base period of performance

STATEMENT OF WORK

Support Services for 5G/6G Core Networks

I. BACKGROUND

The Transformational Networks and Services Group (TNSG) in the Communications Technology Laboratory, Smart Connected Systems Division, at the National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST) develops foundational network science, network measurement science, engineering, standards, and best practices to support industrial transformations critical to national priorities such as industrial automation and smart transportation. TNSG’s research efforts include fifth and sixth generation (5G/6G) core networks, edge and distributed AI (Artificial Intelligence) and their applications to networking, AI-based autonomous networking, optical and quantum networking, cloud computing, information-centric networks, and automated driving.

II. OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this requirement is to obtain contractor services to develop networking and measurement technologies for 5G/6G networks and applications, build 5G/6G core network testbed, create test methods and tools, and conduct experiments in support of our 5G/6G-related research and our efforts to contribute to 6G standards.

III. SCOPE OF WORK / GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall carry out design and implementation of a 5G core network testbed, develop machine learning (especially distributed learning such as federated learning) solutions for supporting 5G/6G networks and applications, and conduct evaluation of selected applications (such as automated driving and automated manufacturing) over 5G/6G networks. The Contractor shall also support NIST’s internal and external collaborations.

Task Number

Description

1 Base Period

Requirement 1-1 Develop 5G/6G core network testbed:

The Contractor shall contribute to the design and implementation of our 5G core network testbed (OpenCoreNet). In particular, the Contractor shall develop OpenCoreNet using the Open5GCore software available at NIST and other opensource 5G implementations when necessary. The Contractor shall contribute to the enhancement of the existing OpenCoreNet to support end-to-end (E2E) network slicing and differentiated services. The Contractor shall support NIST’s effort to generate and collect data over OpenCoreNet to support research on E2E service interference measurement. The Contractor shall also explore enhancements to 3GPP standards for assuring E2E service quality.

Requirement 1-2 Support 5G/6G network federation research:

The Contractor shall design, implement, and test software modules that will be required to federate the OpenCoreNet testbed developed in Requirement 1- 1 with a partner’s 5G testbed. The development will be based on the ETSI GANA (Generic Autonomic Networking Architecture) framework. The Contractor should assist in the collaboration with the partners for developing the federation software and conducting experiments over federated networks.

Requirement 1-3 Develop edge and distributed learning algorithms:

The Contractor shall contribute to the development of federated learning algorithms for supporting 5G/6G networks and applications, including supporting E2E service quality assurance and vehicle teleoperation applications. The Contractor shall support NIST research in developing AI-native architectures for 6G systems, which will leverage edge and distributed learning. The Contractor shall further assist in NIST efforts on evaluating the requirements for 6G networks to support advanced applications such as automated driving and industry automation.

The Contractor shall provide monthly reports which detail activities accomplished, findings established, and completed deliverables.

2 Option Period

Requirement 2-1 Develop 5G/6G core network testbed Phase 2:

The Contractor shall contribute to the continuing advancement of the 5G/6G core network testbed – OpenCoreNet. This will include improving the testbed to support measurement, analysis, and management of end-to-end (E2E) service interference, differentiated services, AI-native network architectural concepts, new E2E service enablement architectures, and selected applications such as vehicle teleoperation. The Contractor shall further develop a software simulation of 5G core network, leveraging the Open5Gcore software and other opensource implementations of 5G networks.

Requirement 2-2 Support 5G/6G network federation research Phase 2:

The Contractor shall contribute to NIST’s effort to federate the 5G/6G core network testbed – OpenCoreNet – with additional NIST and external 5G/6G testbeds. The Contractor shall assist NIST in exploring advanced networking capabilities and applications that may be enabled by network federation.

Requirement 2-3 Develop edge and distributed learning algorithms Phase 2:

The contractor shall contribute to the continuing advancement of edge and distributed machine learning algorithms. The Contractor shall assist NIST in developing new AI-native network architectural concepts that may be enabled by edge and distributed learning. The Contractor shall further assist NIST in developing AI-based automation methods for 5G/6G systems. The Contractor shall assist NIST in producing contributions to 3GPP standards in AI-native architectures, E2E service enablement, and support of automated driving and industry automation applications.

The Contractor shall provide monthly reports which detail activities accomplished, findings established, and completed deliverables.

IV. DELIVERABLES

Deliverables are subject to FAR Clause 52.227-17 – Rights in Data Special Works, to be incorporated into any task order contract resulting from this requirement.

Number Description Format Quantity Date Required

BASE PERIOD

1-1 Develop 5G/6G core network testbed MSWord or PowerPoint

1 12 months from date of award

1-2 Support 5G/6G network federation research MSWord or PowerPoint

1 12 months from date of award

1-3 Develop edge and distributed learning algorithms

MSWord or PowerPoint

1 12 months from date of award

Monthly Progress Report MSWord via email to the TPOC

1/month Monthly

OPTION PERIOD

2-1 Develop 5G/6G core network testbed Phase 2 MSWord or

PowerPoint 1 12 months from date of option exercise

2-2 Support 5G/6G network federation research Phase 2

MSWord or PowerPoint

1 12 months from date of option exercise

2-3 Develop edge and distributed learning algorithms Phase 2

MSWord or PowerPoint

1 12 months from date of option exercise

Monthly Progress Report MSWord via email to the TPOC

1/month Monthly

Standards for Acceptance of Deliverables:

The NIST Subject Matter Expert (SME) or Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) shall review each submitted deliverable and respond with an acceptance or request for revision email to the Contractor Point of Contact (POC) within 7 days of receipt. The Contractor shall make any needed changes to the deliverables within 7 calendar days from receipt of electronic or written comments from the SME or COR. This applies to deliverables which must be reviewed and approved for acceptance (reports, draft plans, drawings, etc.).

V. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The work shall be performed primarily at NIST, Gaithersburg, Maryland campus located at the following address:

NIST

100 Bureau Drive Building 222, Room A228 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1640

Work may also be performed offsite in order to continue work during times when NIST is closed or access is restricted, for example during a government shutdown or due to pandemic-related restrictions. Offsite work may also be permitted whenever the Government determines it is advantageous to the Government for progress or performance of the work. All offsite work or telework requests must be approved prior by the COR or SME.

I. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The Period of Performance shall be:

Base Period: April 24, 2024 through April 23, 2025

Option Period: April 24, 2025 through April 23, 2026

II. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

All property, data and information provided by the Government in the performance of this requirement remains the property of the Government and shall be surrendered to the government upon completion or termination of this requirement. Likewise, all deliverables generated under this requirement remain the property of the Government.

Upon award of this requirement, the Government will provide the Contractor with equipment needed in the performance of this requirement. Specifically, NIST will provide on-site office space, a workstation, PC, email and Internet access, telephone, routine office supplies, and access to all facilities needed for the project. The Contractor shall only access low risk general- purpose IT equipment and common network services available to NIST associates. Government- furnished equipment will be provided in an as-is working condition. The Government will not provide the contractor with internet or telephone resources off-site; any such resources required are the responsibility for the contractor.

III. CONTRACT TYPE

The contract type will be firm fixed price.

IV. RISK LEVELS

The work under this purchase order is designated as IT-Low Risk.

V. TRAVEL

The Contractor may be required to travel for workshops, conferences, or standards meetings during the contract’s Period of Performance.

Each trip is expected to be less than a week in duration.

NIST will provide at least three weeks’ notice before each trip.

Prior approval from the Contracting Officer is required in these scenarios: lodging exceeding the government rate, airline/rental car upgrades, medical accommodations, driving instead of flying to destinations outside local travel, multiple destinations in a single trip, or trips longer than a week in duration.

Prior approval is requested by the Contractor to the Contracting Officer via the COR. At a minimum, include the justification and documented cost comparison.

Travel Dates and Locations will be determined by the COR during contract execution.

VI. SECURITY

1. NIST is a restricted campus. An identification badge is required for access into buildings and must be presented to the armed Security Police when entering the campus.

2. Regular Business Hours: Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Local Time.

3. Identification Badges: Contractor employees shall comply with NIST identification and access requirements. Each Contractor employee shall wear a visible identification badge provided by the NIST Security Office.

4. Vehicle Registration: All Contractor employees must register their vehicles with the NIST

Security Office to gain access to the campus. A valid driver’s license, Government-furnished civilian ID, proof of insurance and current registration must be presented to the NIST Security Office, at which time a NIST vehicle pass will be issued. The pass shall be displayed on the vehicle in accordance with NIST Security Office instructions.

VII. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

Number

Desired Output

Required Service Performance Standard Monitoring Method

1-1

Develop 5G/6G core network testbed

Using Open5GCore software to implement a 5G/6G core network testbed (OpenCoreNet) as part of a team.

Develop test methods and tools for data collection from OpenCoreNet

Successful setup and operation of OpenCoreNet testbed.

Successful collection of selected data sets.

NIST COR shall review the progress of the AV evaluation effort and determine its acceptability

1-2

Support 5G/6G network federation research

Develop software modules required to support 5G/6G network federation. Federate OpenCoreNet with one partner’s 5G testbed.

Successful setup and operation of a federated 5G network.

NIST COR/TPOC

shall periodically review the progress of the study and determine acceptability

1-3

Develop edge and distributed learning algorithms

Develop federated learning algorithms in support 5G/6G networking needs.

New federated learning algorithms that can overcome key limitations of edge learning.

NIST COR/TPOC

shall review the quality of the measurements and determine acceptability

2-1

Develop 5G/6G core network testbed Phase 2

Enhance the OpenCoreNet testbed to support advanced capabilities and explore potential standards gaps

Abilities of OpenCoreNet to support measurement, analysis, and management of end-to-end service interference and differentiated services.

NIST COR/TPOC

shall review the progress of the evaluation and determine acceptability

2-2

Support 5G/6G network federation Phase 2

Enhance the network federation capabilities that OpenCoreNet can support. Federate OpenCoreNet with additional internal and external 5G testbeds from partners. Explore advanced applications enabled by 5G network federation.

Abilities of OpenCoreNet to federate with more than one 5G testbeds from partners.

NIST COR/TPOC

shall regularly review the progress of the evaluation and determine acceptability

2-3

Develop edge and distributed learning algorithms Phase

Enhance federated learning algorithms. Assist NIST team in developing AI-native architectural concepts for 5G/6G and in producing contributions to 3GPP

Documentation and publication of new federated learning algorithms and their applications for 5G/6G networks, new AI-native

NIST COR/TPOC

shall review the quality of the study and deployment and determine acceptability standards. network architectural concepts for 6G, potential gaps in 3GPP standards for supporting AI-native architectures and end-to-end service enablement.

VIII. KEY PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS

One senior computer scientist is required as Key Personnel who must meet the following minimum qualifications: At least three years of experience in each of the following areas:

• Theoretical design and practical application in distributed systems, machine learning (especially federated learning) algorithms, network measurements, network management, and standard network protocols (e.g., IPv4 and IPv6).

• Familiarity with 5G core network standards and opensource implementations.

• Ability to independently design and efficiently implement all aspects of a network testbed.

• Knowledge of Java or a similar programming language.

• Experience with software version control systems such as Git and GitHub.

• A MS or higher degree in a field related to the Statement of Work requirements.

Provisions and Clauses:

The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition and are hereby incorporated by reference. All FAR clauses may be viewed at http://farsite.hill.af.mil/.

FAR Provisions

52.204-7, System for Award Management 52.204-16, Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting 52.204-17, Ownership or Control of Offeror (JUL 2016)

52.209-2 Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations – Representation

52.225-25, Prohibition on Contracting with Entities Engaging in Sanctioned Activities Relating to Iran

52.203-18 Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements-Representation

52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items

52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items

52.204-20 Predecessor of Offeror

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision– “Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code” means–

(1) An identifier assigned to entities located in the United States and its outlying areas by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Contractor and Government Entity (CAGE) Branch to identify a commercial or government entity, or

(2) An identifier assigned by a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or by NATO’s Support Agency (NSPA) to entities located outside the United States and its outlying areas that DLA Contractor and Government Entity (CAGE) Branch records and maintains in the CAGE master file. This type of code is known as an NCAGE code.

“Predecessor” means an entity that is replaced by a successor and includes any predecessors of the predecessor.

“Successor” means an entity that has replaced a predecessor by acquiring the assets and carrying out the affairs of the predecessor under a new name (often through acquisition or merger). The term “successor” does not include new offices/divisions of the same company or a company that only changes its name. The extent of the responsibility of the successor for the liabilities of the predecessor may vary, depending on State law and specific circumstances.

(b) The Offeror represents that it □ is or □ is not a successor to a predecessor that held a Federal contract or grant within the last three years.

(c) If the Offeror has indicated “is” in paragraph (b) of this provision, enter the following information for all predecessors that held a Federal contract or grant within the last three years (if more than one predecessor, list in reverse chronological order):

Predecessor CAGE code: ________ (or mark “Unknown”) Predecessor legal name: _________________________ (Do not use a “doing business as” name)

(End of provision)

52.209-11 Representation by Corporations Regarding Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction under any Federal Law.

(a) As required by sections 744 and 745 of Division E of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235), and similar provisions, if contained in subsequent appropriations acts, the Government will not enter into a contract with any corporation that—

(1) Has any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, where the awarding agency is aware of the unpaid tax liability, unless an agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and made a determination that suspension or debarment is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government; or

(2) Was convicted of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the preceding 24 months, where the awarding agency is aware of the conviction, unless an agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and made a determination that this action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government.

(b) The Offeror represents that—

(1) It is □ is not □ a corporation that has any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability; and

(2) It is □ is not □ a corporation that was convicted of a felony criminal violation under a Federal law within the preceding 24 months.

52.212-2 Evaluation - Commercial Items

(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:

An award will be made to the offeror whose quotation offers the best value to the Government price and other factors considered. The Government will evaluate quotations based on the following evaluation criteria: 1) Technical Capability and 2) Price. Non-price factor shall be equally important to price.

(b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

(c) 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.

52.252-1 Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference.

This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions 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/these address(es):

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR): www.acquisition.gov/far/ Commerce Acquisition Regulation (CAR): www.acquisition.gov/car/ (End of provision)

FAR Clauses

FAR 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference.

This contract incorporates one or more 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. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR): www.acquisition.gov/far/ Commerce Acquisition Regulation (CAR): http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=8b5f22b07c12a52e8b29841ad60f1fd9&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title48/48chapter13.tpl

52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance 52.204-18, Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance 52.204-19, Incorporation by Reference of Representations and Certifications 52.204-25 Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause—

Covered foreign country means The People’s Republic of China.

Covered telecommunications equipment or services means–

(1) Telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities);

(2) For the purpose of public safety, security of Government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities);

(3) Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such equipment; or

(4) Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the government of a covered foreign country.

http://www.acquisition.gov/far/ http://www.acquisition.gov/car/

Critical technology means–

(1) Defense articles or defense services included on the United States Munitions List set forth in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations under subchapter M of chapter I of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations;

(2) Items included on the Commerce Control List set forth in Supplement No. 1 to part 774 of the Export Administration Regulations under subchapter C of chapter VII of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, and controlled-

(i) Pursuant to multilateral regimes, including for reasons relating to national security, chemical and biological weapons proliferation, nuclear nonproliferation, or missile technology; or

(ii) For reasons relating to regional stability or surreptitious listening;

(3) Specially designed and prepared nuclear equipment, parts and components, materials, software, and technology covered by part 810 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to assistance to foreign atomic energy activities);

(4) Nuclear facilities, equipment, and material covered by part 110 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to export and import of nuclear equipment and material);

(5) Select agents and toxins covered by part 331 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, part 121 of title 9 of such Code, or part 73 of title 42 of such Code; or

(6) Emerging and foundational technologies controlled pursuant to section 1758 of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4817).

Substantial or essential component means any component necessary for the proper function or performance of a piece of equipment, system, or service.

(b) Prohibition. Section 889(a)(1)(A) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on or after August 13, 2019, from procuring or obtaining, or extending or renewing a contract to procure or obtain, any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system. The Contractor is prohibited from providing to the Government any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system, unless an exception at paragraph

(c) of this clause applies or the covered telecommunication equipment or services are covered by a waiver described in Federal Acquisition Regulation 4.2104.

(c) Exceptions. This clause does not prohibit contractors from providing—

(1) A service that connects to the facilities of a third-party, such as backhaul, roaming, or interconnection arrangements; or

(2) Telecommunications equipment that cannot route or redirect user data traffic or permit visibility into any user data or packets that such equipment transmits or otherwise handles.

(d) Reporting requirement.

(1) In the event the Contractor identifies covered telecommunications equipment or services used as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system, during contract performance, or the Contractor is notified of such by a subcontractor at any tier or by any other source, the Contractor shall report the information in paragraph (d)(2) of this clause to the Contracting Officer, unless elsewhere in this contract are https://www.acquisition.gov/content/part-4-administrative-and-information-matters#id1989GI040ZO established procedures for reporting the information; in the case of the Department of Defense, the Contractor shall report to the website at https://dibnet.dod.mil. For indefinite delivery contracts, the Contractor shall report to the Contracting Officer for the indefinite delivery contract and the Contracting Officer(s) for any affected order or, in the case of the Department of Defense, identify both the indefinite delivery contract and any affected orders in the report provided at https://dibnet.dod.mil.

(2) The Contractor shall report the following information pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this clause

(i) Within one business day from the date of such identification or notification: the contract number; the order number(s), if applicable; supplier name; supplier unique entity identifier (if known); supplier Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code (if known); brand; model number (original equipment manufacturer number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number); item description; and any readily available information about mitigation actions undertaken or recommended.

(ii) Within 10 business days of submitting the information in paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this clause: any further available information about mitigation actions undertaken or recommended. In addition, the Contractor shall describe the efforts it undertook to prevent use or submission of covered telecommunications equipment or services, and any additional efforts that will be incorporated to prevent future use or submission of covered telecommunications equipment or services.

(e) Subcontracts. The Contractor shall insert the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (e), in all subcontracts and other contractual instruments, including subcontracts for the acquisition of commercial items.

(End of clause)

52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Items 52.227-17 Rights in Data-Special Works 52.232-39 Unenforceability of Unauthorized Obligations 52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Items (JUL 2020)-- including subparagraphs:

52.203-6 - Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government 52.204-10 - Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards 52.209-6 - Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside 52.219-28 - Post Award Small Business Program Representation 52.222-3 - Convict Labor 52.222-19 - Child Labor - Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies;

52.222-21 - Prohibition of Segregated Facilities 52-222-26 - Equal Opportunity

52.222-36 - Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities 52.222-50 - Combating Trafficking in Persons 52.223-18 - Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving 52.225-13 - Restriction on Certain Foreign Purchases 52.232-33 - Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer- System for Award Management https://dibnet.dod.mil/ https://dibnet.dod.mil/

Commerce Acquisition Regulations (CAR) Provisions and Clauses:

CAR Provisions CAR 1352.233-70 Agency Protests

(a) An agency protest may be filed with either: (1) the contracting officer, or (2) at a level above the contracting officer, with the appropriate agency Protest Decision Authority. See 64 Fed. Reg. 16,651 (April 6, 1999)

(b) Agency protests filed with the Contracting Officer shall be sent to the following address:

NIST/ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT DIVISION

ATTN: HING PAN WONG, CONTRACTING OFFICER

100 Bureau Drive, MS 1640 Gaithersburg, MD 20899

(c) Agency protests filed with the agency Protest Decision Authority shall be sent to the following address:

NIST/ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT DIVISION

ATTN: HEAD OF THE CONTRACTING OFFICE (HCO)

100 Bureau Drive, MS 1640 Gaithersburg, MD 20899

(d) A complete copy of all agency protests, including all attachments, shall be served upon the Contract Law Division of the Office of the General Counsel within one day of filing a protest with either the Contracting Officer or the Protest Decision Authority.

(e) Service upon the Contract Law Division shall be made as follows:

U.S. Department of Commerce Office of the General Counsel Chief, Contract Law Division Room 5893, Herbert C.

Hoover Building 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20230.

FAX: (202) 482-5858

CAR 1352.233-71 GAO and Court of Federal Claims Protests

(a) A protest may be filed with either the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or the Court of Federal Claims unless an agency protest has been filed.

(b) A complete copy of all GAO or Court of Federal Claims protests, including all attachments, shall be served upon

(i) the Contracting Officer, and (ii) the Contract Law Division of the Office of the General Counsel, within one day of filing a protest with either GAO or the Court of Federal Claims.

(c) Service upon the Contract Law Division shall be made as follows:

U.S. Department of Commerce Office of the General Counsel Chief, Contract Law Division Room 5893 Herbert C. Hoover Building 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20230.

FAX: (202) 482-5858

CAR Clauses

1352.201-70 Contracting Officer’s Authority 1352.201-72 Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) 1352.209-73 Compliance with The Laws 1352.209-74 Organizational Conflict of Interest

NIST Local Clauses

NIST LOCAL-53 Contract Performance During Changes in NIST Operating Status Unless otherwise stated in the contract terms and conditions, normal days of business operation are Monday through Friday, excluding Federal Holidays. However, throughout the contract period of performance, there may be circumstances beyond the control of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), that will impact normal days of business operation, such as inclement weather, power outages, etc. In circumstances such as these, the Contractor must call the appropriate NIST campus status line to verify the operating status:

Gaithersburg Campus Operating Status Line:

(301) 975-8000

(800) 437-4385 x8000 (toll free)

Boulder Campus Operating Status Line:

(303) 497-4000

During a lapse in appropriation, access to Government facilities and resources, including equipment and systems, will be limited to excepted personnel for both Federal employees and Contractor personnel. If performance of the contract is onsite and/or requires Government interaction, unless you have been, or are notified that you are to work under an excepted status, you will automatically enter a temporary work stoppage. The work stoppage shall remain in effect until the lapse is resolved and notification is provided via the NIST website at https://www.nist.gov/ and/or the NIST operating status lines. Additionally, Contractors are encouraged to monitor public broadcasts or the Office of Personnel Management’s website at www.opm.gov for the Federal Government operating status.

NIST will provide notification to all contractors that are determined to have excepted status. All excepted contractors are required to continue performance and communicate with the appointed Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for further guidance, or NIST Contracting Officer if a COR is not appointed.

Contractors with supply or service contracts that are fully funded at the time of contract award and do not require access to Government facilities, resources, or active administration by Government personnel in a manner that would cause the government to incur additional obligations during the lapse in appropriation may continue performance.

(End of clause)

NIST LOCAL-54 Electronic Billing Instructions

NIST requires that Invoice/Voucher submissions are sent electronically via email to INVOICE@NIST.GOV.

Each Invoice or Voucher submitted shall include the following:

(1) Contract number;

(2) Contractor name and address;

(3) Unique entity identifier (see www.sam.gov for the designated entity for establishing unique entity identifiers);

(4) Date of invoice;

(5) Invoice number;

(6) Amount of invoice and cumulative amount invoiced to-date;

(7) Contract Line Item Number (CLIN);

(8) Description, quantity, unit of measure, unit price, and extended price of supplies/services delivered;

(9) Prompt payment discount terms, if offered; and

(10) Any other information or documentation required by the contract.

INSTRUCTIONS:

System for Award Management (SAM)

In accordance with FAR 52.204-7, offerors are required to be registered in SAM when submitting an offer or quotation and shall continue to be registered until time of award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchasing agreement resulting from this solicitation. Offerors without active SAM registration will not be considered.

Required Information

The government will not consider any quotation without the information required by this solicitation.

Due Date for Quotations

Offerors shall submit their quotations so that NIST receives them not later than 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 03/15/2024. FAX and hard-copy quotations shall not be accepted. E-mail quotations shall be accepted at robert.cowins@nist.gov. Offerors’ quotations shall not be deemed received by the Government until the quotation is entered the e-mail address inbox set forth above. Late quotes will not be accepted.

Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, Quotation Preparation Instructions

1) Price Quotation: The pricing quotation shall be separate from any other portion of the quotation. The offeror shall propose a firm-fixed-price for each CLIN. Price quotations shall remain valid for a period of 90 days from the date quotations are due. Price quotations shall include a proposed milestone payment schedule.

2) Technical Quotation: The technical quotation shall address the following:

Technical Capability: The technical quotation shall address the vendor’s detailed technical approach for satisfying the Statement of Work (SOW) requirements. The technical approach shall address how the vendor will (a) perform and manage individual tasks required by the SOW; and (b) ensure that Contractor services and deliverables comply with the requirements of the SOW.

Resumes for each person proposed as key personnel, to include name, education, experience, and country of citizenship are required. If a candidate is not a US citizen, then the proper documentation, as required by CAR clause 1352.237-73, must be provided with the Quotation. In addition, the quotation shall indicate the labor categories for each candidate proposed.

Past Performance: The offeror shall provide past performance information regarding relevant contracts over the past three (3) years with Federal, state, or local governments, or commercial customers. If the offeror intends to subcontract with another firm(s) for part of this requirement, that firm’s past performance information shall also be provided. If the offeror has no relevant past performance, it may include a statement to that effect in its quotation. The government reserves the right to consider data obtained from sources other than those described by the offeror in its quotation. It is recommended that approximately 3-5 contracts be referenced.

The description of each contract/order described in this section shall not exceed one half page in length. For each contract/order, the offeror shall provide the following information:

1. Contract number;

2. Description and relevance to solicitation requirements including dollar value;

mailto:robert.cowins@nist.gov

3. Period of Performance – indicate by month and year the state and completion (or “ongoing”) dates for the contract;

4. Reference Contact – If a non-Government contract, identify the name and address of the client with current telephone number and email address of a point of contact of the client responsible for the contract;

5. Contracting Office – If a Government contract (Federal or state), identify the Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO), Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO), and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), and their names, current telephone numbers and email addresses.

6. Problems Encountered – include information regarding information regarding any problems encountered on the contracts described above and corrective actions taken to resolve those problems.

Acceptance of Terms and Conditions: This is an open-market solicitation for equipment as defined herein. The Government intends to award a Purchase Order as a result of this solicitation that will include the clauses set forth herein. The quotation should include one of the following statements:

“The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document without modification, deletion, or addition.”

OR

“The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:

Offeror shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s)

Note: This procurement is not being conducted under the GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program or another Government-Wide Area Contract (GWAC). If an offeror submits a quotation based upon an FSS or GWAC contract, the Government will accept the quoted price. However, the terms and conditions stated herein will be included in any resultant Purchase Order, not the terms and conditions of the offeror’s FSS or GWAC contract, and the statement required above shall be included in the quotation.

QUOTATION EVALUATION:

The Government reserves the right to make an award without discussions based solely upon initial quotations.

Therefore, offerors should ensure that their initial quotation constitutes their best offer in terms of both price and the technical solution being proposed.

Basis of Award

Evaluation Factors

Award shall be made to the offeror whose quotation offers the best value to the Government price and other factors considered. The Government will evaluate quotations based on the following evaluation criteria listed in descending order of importance: 1) Technical Capability 2) Technical Key Personnel, 3) Past Performance, and 4) Price. All non-price factors, individually and when combined, are more important than price.

Technical Capability: The government will evaluate the extent to which the offeror has demonstrated the technical capability to successfully perform these services, and demonstrated a feasible technical approach to successfully perform and manage the required tasks while ensuring that all deliverable schedule requirements are met.

Technical Key Personnel:

The Government will evaluate the key personnel proposed by the offeror for the extent to which they are qualified to efficiently and effectively address the requirements in the Statement of Work. The Government will consider the extent to which the proposed key personnel meets or exceeds the minimum qualifications identified in the Statement of Work, as well as the qualifications “preference” identified in the Statement of Work. Greater consideration will be given to key personnel that exceed the specific minimum qualification requirements and/or meet the key personnel preference identified in the Statement of Work.

Past Performance: The Government will evaluate the Offeror's past performance information and, if appropriate, its proposed subcontractors' past performance to determine its relevance to the current requirement and the extent to which it demonstrates that the offeror has successfully completed relevant contracts in the past three years. In assessing the offeror's past performance information, NIST will evaluate, as appropriate, successful performance of contract requirements, quality and timeliness of delivery of goods and services, cost management, communications between contracting parties, proactive management and customer satisfaction. Evaluation of this factor will be based on information contained in the technical portion of the quotation and information provided by references. The Government will evaluate past performance information by contacting appropriate references, including NIST references, if applicable. The Government may also consider other available information in evaluating the Offeror’s past performance. The Government will assign a neutral rating if the offeror has no relevant past performance information.

NOTE -- If an offeror does not have a history of relevant contract experience, or if past performance information is not available, the offeror will receive a neutral past performance rating; however, an offeror without a history of relevant experience may receive a lowered rating for the Technical Key Personnel Factor.

Price: The Government will evaluate price for reasonableness.

Past Performance, Technical Key Personnel, and Price shall not be evaluated on quotations that are determined technically unacceptable under the Technical Capability evaluation factor.