Basis_for_Award.docx

M.3 BASIS FOR AWARD (BEST VALUE) – TRADEOFF

The Government anticipates the award of a single contract as a result of this solicitation to the responsible Offeror whose proposal is responsive to the solicitation and is determined to be the best value to the Government. Selection of the best value is determined through the process of evaluating strengths and weaknesses of each Offeror’s proposal in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated herein.

In determining the best value, Technical Approach is more important than Relevant Experience, Past Performance, Staff Resources, and the Business Management Proposal. When combined, Relevant Experience and Past Performance are equal in importance to Technical Approach.

The Government is more concerned with obtaining a proposal demonstrating superior value in the non-price factors than making an award at the lowest evaluated cost. The non-price factors (Technical Approach, Relevant Experience, Past Performance, and Staff Resources) are significantly more important than the evaluated cost, as reflected in the evaluation of the Business Management Proposal. However, the closer or more similar in merit the evaluation of the non-price factors, the more likely the evaluated cost may be the determining factor in selection for award. The Government will not make an award at a premium in cost that it considers disproportionate to the benefits associated with the evaluated technical superiority of the non-price factors (Technical Approach, Relevant Experience, Past Performance and Staff Resources). The Government will assess whether the strengths and weaknesses between or among competing proposals indicate superiority from the standpoint of what the difference might mean in terms of expected performance and what the evaluated cost to the Government would be to take advantage of the difference.