EPA_Tribal_Request_for_Quote.doc

Acquisition Services Directorate

Sierra Vista, Arizona

The Department of the Interior

Interior Business Center

Acquisition Services Directorate

Sierra Vista, Arizona

On Behalf of

The Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation, U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution

Request for Quote (RFQ) For

EPA-Tribal Western Wetlands Management Coordination The US Department of the Interior, Interior Business Center, Acquisition Services Directorate, Sierra Vista, Arizona is issuing a Request for Quote (RFQ) on behalf of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation, U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, as documented in this RFQ.

Project Title

EPA-Tribal Western Wetlands Management Coordination

Instructions to Offerors Offerors must submit the information listed below. Total submission package should be no more than twenty-one (21) pages. Quotes with a page count exceeding this page limit will be considered non-responsive. Please do not provide supplemental materials. Each volume as described below shall be submitted as a separate attachment.

Volume 1 – Technical Expertise

1) Name, title, organization, email and mailing addresses, telephone and fax numbers of Project Lead/Senior Facilitators (key personnel) to support this project.

a) The Project Leads must have at least senior level experience equivalent to the minimum entry criteria required for the U.S. Institute’s National Roster of Environmental Dispute Resolution and Consensus Building Professionals (Roster). Information about the Roster can be found at http://ecrroster.udall.gov/Default.aspx

2) Resume(s) of Key Personnel shall be included as separate attachments. Resumes for other-than Key Personnel shall not be included. Each resume shall not be more than four (4) pages with no smaller than 11 point font. Resumes will NOT be included in Volume 1’s total page count. Resumes longer than this page limit will not be considered.

3) A description of the offeror’s understanding of the proposed work and how the offeror may approach the process.

4) An estimate of labor hours will be included as a separate attachment utilizing Attachment A. Do NOT include hourly rates, travel hours, total labor costs, or any other price elements. The estimated hours will be used in the evaluation of the offeror’s approach to the requirements. The offeror is to quote the amount of hours they deem necessary for the requirement. If the hours quoted differ from the Government’s estimate as listed in Attachment A, the offeror is to provide a justification for the difference. This attachment shall not exceed two (2) pages and will NOT be included in Volume 1’s total page count. The page count of this attachment consists of: a completed Attachment A spreadsheet which will count as one (1) page, leaving an additional page for justifications and assumptions. Note: the 11 point font requirement does not apply to the spreadsheet.

5) A description of how the Project Leads will coordinate and communicate with the U.S. Institute, EPA project contacts, and tribes in the region to ensure coordination of requirement and deliverable expectations.

6) A description of how the two project leads each meet the following capabilities deemed by the government to be necessary for the success of the project:

a) SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Demonstrated senior-level experience and expertise working in a neutral capacity designing and facilitating stakeholder assessments as well as multi-party dialogues and forums with a diverse set of participants.

b) Demonstrated senior-level experience working with the Environmental Protection Agency, ideally with experience with the agency in regions 6, 7, 8, and 9.

c) Demonstrated expertise and knowledge of wetlands management, ideally including knowledge of the Clean Water Act.

d) Demonstrated experience working with tribes with preference given to experience working with tribes in the Arid-Southwest and Rocky Mountains eco-regions.

e) Availability to begin the project immediately upon award of the contract and to make the project a priority commitment during the period of performance of this requirement.

f) Clarity and effectiveness of the offeror’s approach to accomplishing the requirements detailed in the Statement of Work.

7) A statement of any possible conflicts of interest and how the offeror proposes to address them.

Volume 1 – Technical Expertise should be no more than six (6) pages with no smaller than 11 point font. Quotes containing a Volume 1 with a page count exceeding this page limit will be considered non-responsive.

Volume 2 – Past Experience This volume will be used to provide additional data for the evaluation of Volume 1 – Technical Expertise.

1. Using up to two examples from past experience of the key personnel, briefly describe the offeror’s approach to:

· Working with tribes using an interest-based conflict resolution approach to develop solutions to complex issues.

· Organizing, convening, and managing an inter-tribal process that includes a diversity of cultural backgrounds.

· Handling travel management for at least 15 tribal members to a meeting.

2. Past Experience should also communicate how the contractor has previously accomplished activities similar to those which are listed under Volume 1 (6a-d).

3. Summaries shall include the specific contract number, the agency/organization supported, and the name and contact information for one reference for each project.

Volume 2 – Past Experience should be no more than two (2) pages with no smaller than 11 point font. Quotes containing a Volume 2 with a page count exceeding this page limit will be considered non-responsive.

Volume 3 – Pricing

1. Provide a Price Proposal utilizing the budget template included in the RFQ package at Attachment B. Please include the estimated hours required to complete each task, hourly rate, total labor costs and subcontractor costs.

2. Please identify as a specific line item the estimated billable labor hours for project-related travel. The Government intends to pay the Contractor(s) at fifty percent (50%) of the contracted Labor Rate(s) for all billable hours when travelling. Therefore, offerors shall include separate Labor Rate(s) and estimated hours for travel time. Travel expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations.

3. The offeror is to quote the amount of hours they deem necessary for the requirement. If the hours quoted differ from any Government estimate as listed in Attachment B, the offeror is to provide a justification for the difference.

4. Price quotes must include estimated direct expenses including all subcontractor labor (if applicable) and other direct expenses. Include burden as applicable, specifying burden rates and burden calculations.

5. Price will be evaluated based on the proposed amount of hours, labor rates, subcontractor costs, burden rates, and the total estimated cost.

Volume 3 – Price should be no more than two (2) pages with no smaller than 11 point font. Quotes containing a Volume 3 with a page count exceeding this page limit will be considered non-responsive. The page count of this volume consists of: a completed Attachment B spreadsheet which will count as one (1) page, leaving an additional page for justifications and assumptions. Note: the 11 point font requirement does not apply to the spreadsheet.

Volume 4 - Company Profile As a part of the quote, Offerors shall provide a Company Profile to include the following:

· DUNS Number

· Name, title, organization, email and mailing addresses, telephone and fax numbers of the offeror’s Contract Administrator to support this project.

Volume 4 - Company Profile shall be no more than one (1) page with no smaller than 11 point font.

Inquiries and all correspondence concerning this RFQ should be submitted electronically to the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist. All questions must be submitted by 5:00 PM Eastern on Friday, May 22, 2015. Offerors should contact only the Contracting Officer issuing the RFQ, with the Contract Specialist cc’d, about any aspect of this RFQ. Please put in the subject line of your email: “EPA Western Tribal Wetlands RFQ”.

Steven Campbell, Contracting Officer

Steven_Campbell@ibc.doi.gov Scott Butterfield, Contract Specialist Scott_D_Butterfield@ibc.doi.gov

Basis of Award/evaluation Procedures

The Basis of Award will be Best Value. A contract will be awarded to the offeror whose quote, conforming to the RFQ, will be the most advantageous to the Government. When determining Best Value, Technical and past performance, when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price. The following are key to this award:

· SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Demonstrated senior-level experience and expertise working in a neutral capacity designing and facilitating stakeholder assessments as well as multi-party dialogues and forums with a diverse set of participants.

· Demonstrated senior-level experience working with the Environmental Protection Agency, ideally with experience with the agency in regions 6, 7, 8, and 9.

· Demonstrated expertise and knowledge of wetlands management.

· Demonstrated experience working with tribes with preference given to experience working with tribes in the Arid-Southwest and Rocky Mountains eco-regions.

· Availability to begin the project immediately upon award of the contract and make the project a priority commitment during the period of performance of this requirement.

· Clarity and effectiveness of the offeror’s approach to accomplishing the requirements detailed in the Statement of Work.

Past Performance on similar projects and other U.S. Institute projects. Past Performance, to be differentiated from Volume 2 – Past Experience, will be evaluated using information located in the Government system Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS).

Contractor must have successfully completed all registrations in the federal System for Award Management (SAM) prior to task order award. https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/

Evaluation Phases and SUBMISSION DEADLINEs

Quote Submission:

Quotes in response to this request shall be submitted by 5:00 PM Eastern, on June 15, 2015.

Please submit information via FedConnect. Offerors should also send one (1) copy via email to:

Steven_Campbell@ibc.doi.gov Scott_D_Butterfield@ibc.doi.gov Lewis@ecr.gov Evaluation Phase 1:

The quotes received will be evaluated against the RFQ requirements. The acceptable quotes determined to most closely demonstrate Best Value may be selected to advance to an optional Phase 2.

Evaluation Phase 2:

If Phase 2 is deemed necessary by the Evaluation Team, offerors participating in this phase will be invited to provide oral presentations, including a question and answer period, lasting up to one hour by telephone.

After Phase 1 and Phase 2 (optional) evaluations are completed, the quote which represents the Best Value to the Government will be selected for Contract award.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

· Information about the U.S. Institute can be found at: www.ecr.gov

· See Attachment C for RFQ Provisions and Clauses