L-1_Instructions_to_Offerors_v2.pdf

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

L-1 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

L-1.1 This is an all-electronic solicitation release. Hard copies are not available. The Government will post all information pertaining to the solicitation and award of this requirement to the Electronic

Posting System, also known as FedBizOpps (www.fbo.gov). It is the responsibility of each offeror to review the web page for postings of amendments, updates or changes to current information.

L-1.2 Offerors are required to meet all solicitation requirements, such as terms and conditions, representations and certifications, and technical requirements, in addition to those identified as evaluation factors. Failure to meet a requirement may result in an offer being ineligible for award.

Offerors must clearly identify any exception to the solicitation terms and conditions and provide complete accompanying rationale.

L-1.3 Communications: Exchanges of source selection information between Government and offerors will be controlled by the Contracting Officer. Prospective offerors are advised that the pre-proposal conference will be held solely for the purpose of explaining the seed project and terms and conditions of the solicitation. Questions received, in writing, and subsequent answers will be posted to FedBizOpps. Offerors are encouraged to submit in writing all questions and requests for clarifications no less than ten days prior to the RFP closing date. The decision whether to respond to questions and requests for clarification made less than ten days prior to the RFP closing shall be at the sole discretion of the contracting officer. Failure of a prospective offeror to submit any questions or attend the conference will be construed to mean that the prospective offeror fully understands all requirements of the solicitation.

L-1.4 Joint Venture Offerors: If the offeror is a joint venture, the offeror shall provide all required solicitation information for all parties including a copy of the joint venture agreement with proposal.

The agreement shall include information, which identifies the responsibilities for each entity under this contract. The agreement shall demonstrate the relationship between firms and identify contractual relationships and authorities to bind each entity of the joint venture. If the joint venture is comprised of 8(a) firms, the Small Business Administration (SBA) must approve the joint venture agreement prior to award. Either party to the joint venture may submit performance information on behalf of the joint venture. Joint venture performance will be evaluated and rated based on either party’s performance. The Small Business Administration (SBA) must receive Joint Venture

Agreements prior to proposal due date and approved before award of a resulting contract. If a joint venture is contemplated, then the assigned SBA Business Opportunity Specialist (BOS) must be advised as soon as possible. Ensure the agreement is submitted to the BOS in sufficient time to permit a regulatory compliance review. Any corrections and/or changes requested must allow for review time by the BOS before the proposal due date. No corrections and/or changes are permitted after the time for submission of offers.

L-1.5 Teaming/Partnering Offerors: If the offer is based on a teaming/partnering relationship, the offeror shall provide all required solicitation information for all parties including a copy of the teaming/partnership agreement. The agreement shall include information, which identifies the responsibilities for each entity under this contract. The agreement shall demonstrate the relationship between firms and identify contractual relationships and authorities to bind each entity of the teaming/partnering relationship.

L-1.6 Multiple Companies: If a company has multiple business ventures, only one of their business ventures will be allowed to submit a proposal. The intent of the IDIQ program is to receive multiple offers with independently prepared proposals that foster competition.

L-1.7 Mentor/Protégé Program: For information regarding the Small Business Administration’s

(SBA) Mentor-Protégé Program see: http://www.sba.gov/.

L-1.8 Incurred Expenses: The Government is not responsible for any costs incurred or associated with preparation and submission of a proposal in response to this solicitation.

L-1.9 In compliance with FAR Subpart 4.8, the Government will retain one copy of all unsuccessful proposals and will destroy all extra copies. No destruction certificate will be provided.

L-1.10 All proposals must be complete, and respond directly to the requirements of this solicitation.

Any commitments made in the proposal shall become a part of the resultant contract. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in the Government summarily rejecting the offeror’s proposal.

L-1.11 The seed project, price proposal, contract forms, performance references and offeror information shall include the documentation listed below. The price proposal must be based on the offeror's proposal for the seed project as set forth in the task order solicitation documents (see

Section J, Attachments 13 through 25). The government will evaluate the proposal in accordance with Section M.

L-2 PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

L-2.1 Volume Organization: Proposals shall be submitted electronically to the Government in three (3) separate volumes as set forth below:

Volume Description Copies ReferenceParagraph

I Contract Documents 1 L-2.2.1

II Past Performance 1 L-2.2.3

III Price 1 L-2.2.4

L-2.2.1 Volume I – Contract Documents

L-2.2.1.1 SF1442 and Solicitation: Complete Blocks 14 – 20 (A – C) of SF1442 and all fill-in clauses in solicitation Sections I – L.

L-2.2.1.2 SF30, Amendment Form: Complete Blocks 8 and 15 (A – C) for each amendment issued under this solicitation.

L-2.2.1.3 Clauses and Provisions: Offerors shall complete all areas contained in Administrative

Data of Section G, FAR Provision 52.219-28 in Section I, FAR Provisions 52.204-8 and 52.209-7 in Section K, and all other clauses and provisions, including exceptions or deviations, within

Sections I, K, and L, as applicable to the offeror.

L-2.2.1.4 Proposal Guarantee (Bid Bond): Bonds shall be submitted electronically with proposals in the amount of 20% of the proposed seed project price in accordance with FAR Clause

52.228-1 found in Section I of this solicitation. Offerors shall ensure all seals and signatures are plainly visible in electronically-submitted bonds.

L-2.2.1.5 Joint Ventures and Teaming / Partnering Agreements: Joint ventures and teaming or partnering agreements must be disclosed and comply with Section K and Section L, paragraphs

L-1.4 or L-1.5, as applicable, of the solicitation.

L-2.2.3 Volume II – Past Performance

L-2.2.3.1 Past Performance: The electronic output product of the PPI Tool will constitute

Volume II of your proposal.

L-2.2.3.2 Past Performance Questionnaires: The offeror will provide the government furnished questionnaire (“Past Performance Questionnaire”) to those federal agencies and commercial customers whose performances are deemed recent and relevant and direct them to return the completed questionnaires to the point of contact listed on the questionnaire. The evaluation of past performance information will take into account past performance information regarding predecessor companies, key personnel who have recent, relevant experience, or subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement when such information is relevant to the instant acquisition. Up to five (5) Past Performance Questionnaires, Solicitation Attachment J-5, can be submitted for the offeror or each joint venture member, as applicable, for contracts or orders performed for Federal agencies and commercial customers within the past three (3) years from the solicitation date (SF1442 Block 3). Project references similar in scope, magnitude, and complexity, to the seed project are highly preferred.

NOTE: PAST AND PRESENT PERFORMANCE QUESTIONNAIRES WILL NOT BE

ACCEPTED FROM THE OFFEROR; IT MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE RATER. IT IS

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OFFEROR TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE RATER IN

ORDER TO ENSURE PAST AND PRESENT PERFORMANCE QUESTIONNAIRES ARE

SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNMENT.

L-2.2.4 Volume III – Price: Submit a completed copy of Solicitation Attachment J-3, Seed

Project Price Schedule.

L-3. Past Performance Information (PPI) for Offerors – EZ Source Instructions.

Offerors must use the PPI Tool (Use latest version from FBO.gov) in order to electronically submit the PPI portion of the Past Performance Volume in accordance with the RFP.

Downloading the PPI Tool The PPI Tool can be downloaded by performing the following steps (if you are unable to download the Tool, contact the contracting officer for assistance):

1. Access the FedBizOpps (https://www.fbo.gov/) website.

2. Find the solicitation posting.

3. Locate the “ppi tool” link from the “All Files” column on the solicitation’s “Notice Details” tab .

4. Select the link and save the “ppi tool” to your computer. Name the file as the prime contractor + RFP number + file extension (e.g. XYZCompanyFA861710R6158.accdb).

Note: PPI Tools saved in Microsoft Office versions 2007 and greater will be saved with

“.accdb” file extension.

Entering information in the PPI Tool

After selecting and saving the tool, enter information by performing the following steps:

1. Open the saved PPI Tool.

2. Select the “Options” button from the “Security Warning” banner, if applicable

3. The “Security Alert” pop-up screen displays.

Figure 1: Security Alert Pop-up

Note:

Files saved using Microsoft Office 2010 will have the “Enable Content” button on the

“Security Warning” banner and therefore will not get a Security Alert pop-up.

If a "read only" file is opened, in order to populate data in the file, click "Save As" in the

"Read-Only" message bar. Enter the filename as the prime contractor + RFP number + file extension (e.g. XYZCompanyFA861710R6158.accdb).

4. Select the radio button “Enable this content” and then click “OK.” A setup pop-up screen displays.

https://www.fbo.gov/

Figure 2: Setup Pop-Up

5. Select the “Start” button. The “Application Setup” screen displays.

Figure 3: Application Setup Screen

Note: Once the Offeror’s Name and RFP Number have been entered they can be edited by selecting the “Edit Offeror And RFP Number” button from the “Contractor’s Menu”

6. Enter the Offeror’s Name and RFP Number and then click the “Next” button. The application setup continues.

Figure 4: Continue the Application Setup

7. Choose the appropriate option by selecting the corresponding radio button and then click the

“Next” button. The “Contractor’s Menu” displays.

Figure 5: Contractor’s Menu

8. Click the “Step 1: Set up Business Relationships” button to create a business relationship, if applicable, for each business entity before proceeding throughout the PPI Tool (refer to Section L of the RFP for detailed instructions). Identify all prime and sub-prime organizations and categorize them according to the appropriate role in the proposed acquisition. The “Business Relationships” screen displays.

Figure 6: Business Relationships

9. Click the “New” button to create a business relationship for the proposed acquisition. An additional “Business Relationships” screen displays.

Figure 7: Enter New Business Relationship

10. Complete the fields as follows (fields marked on the screen with an asterisk ‘*’ are required):

Contractor’s Name: Self-explanatory

Role in Proposed Acquisition: Choose one of the four options – Prime, Sub, Joint

Venture, or Other (Explain). An explanation comment box will display when you select

“Other.”

Place of Work: Location where contractor will perform work.

Percentage of Work: Identify percentage of work contributed by specified business entity

Responsibilities: Detail proposed responsibilities of specified business entity.

11. Select one of the buttons at the bottom of the screen.

Add – Saves the current business relationship and allows for the addition of a new one.

Close – Cancels the current business relationship without saving.

Note: In order to edit or delete an existing business relationship in the list, double-click on it.

12. Select the “Close” button on the “Business Relationships” screen after all of the business relationships has been added.

13. Click the “Step 2: Enter Past Performance Information (PPI)” button to enter the Past Performance Information. The “Past

Performance” screen displays.

Figure 8: Past Performance

14. Click the “New” button to enter Past Performance Information for the proposed acquisition.

An additional “Past Performance” screen displays.

Figure 9: Enter Past Performance Information

15. Complete the fields on each of the tabs as follows (fields on the screen marked with an asterisk ‘*’ are required):

Contract Information Tab

Contractor: Select from the dropdown the appropriate business entity.

Cage Code: Self-explanatory.

Contract Number: If you don’t have a contract number, enter “N/A.”

Program Title: Enter full name of program.

Contr Agency/Customer: Enter servicing contracting agency and customer (office symbols suffice).

DUNS Number: Self-explanatory

Delivery Task/Order: If the order is provided as a stand-alone reference, enter the task/call/delivery/purchase order number.

Contract Type: Enter Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP), Cost Plus Fixed-Fee (CPFF), Indefinite

Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ), LH, Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), Cost

Plus Incentive-Fee (CPIF), Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF), etc. For additional clarification, click the question mark button.

Short Program Title (i.e. Acronym): Enter abbreviated title for the program or enter

“N/A.”

Contract Dollar Value:

o Original: Input total contract dollar value, with all options if applicable, in the amount originally awarded on the referenced contract.

If ID/IQ or BPA, provide total ceiling.

If stand-alone task/call/delivery/purchase, provide amount of the individual contract.

o Current: Input total contract dollar value, with all options if applicable, as the contract stands at time of PPI submission.

If ID/IQ or BPA, provide total ceiling.

If stand-alone task/call/delivery/purchase, provide amount of the individual contract.

o Explain the differences in Contract Value, if applicable: Enter an explanation of the difference between the original contract dollar value and the revised value as of the time of PPI submission.

Period of Performance (mm/dd/yy) o Start Date: Input start date of contract.

o Original End Date: Input original end date based on award.

o Current End Date: Input end date, as the contract stands at time of PPI submission.

o Explain the differences in Period of Performance, if applicable: Enter an explanation of the difference between “Original End Date” and “Current End

Date.”

Program Details Tab

Brief Description of Effort as:

o Select Prime, Sub, Joint Venture, or Other (Explain). An explanation comment box will display when you select “Other.”

o Provide a brief description of the service provided and actual work performed under this contract reference.

o ****If applicable: Provide information on performance problems encountered on the identified contracts. At a minimum, briefly describe the problem experienced, actions taken to alleviate the problem, and whether or not the problem was satisfactorily overcome.****

Explain how your performance on this contract is relevant for each applicable factor or subfactor, as instructed under Past Performance in Section M of the RFP. Include any unique aspects that demonstrate relevancy in this effort. Provide evidence to support such relevance to the requirements as described in the RFP.

Include relevant information concerning your compliance with FAR 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns, on the contract you are submitting, if applicable.

Identify whether a subcontracting plan was required for the contract you are submitting. If one was required, identify in percentage terms the planned versus achieved goals during contract performance. Explain why goals were not met, if applicable:

POC & Key Individuals Tab

Key Individuals: Click the “New” button to specify any key individual or individuals who participated in this program or who may support the proposed acquisition. Also indicate their roles for both acquisitions, previous and current. To edit or delete an existing key individual, double-click an item from the list.

Note: In accordance with FAR 15.305(a)(2)(iii), relevant contract efforts performed by from key personnel may be evaluated. If you wish to include the past performance of individual key personnel, select the “New” button for each individual and fill out the necessary information.

Customer Points of Contact: Click the “Program/Site Manager,” “Contracting

Officer” or “Admin POC” button for the point of contact that you would like to add, edit, or delete.

Note: For government contracts provide current information on Program Manager, Contracting Officer, and Admin POC, if available.

For commercial contracts provide points of contact fulfilling these same roles, if available.

16. Select from the buttons at the bottom of the Past Performance screen:

Save – Saves the Past Performance Information and displays the “Contract Information” tab on the Past Performance screen.

Close – Closes the Past Performance screen. If there were any updates, a pop-up window displays asking to save before closing.

Delete – Deletes the current PPI record. A pop-up window displays, select “Yes” to delete the record or “No” to close the window without deleting the record.

Note: In order to edit or delete an existing PPI record in the list, double-click on it.

17. Select the “Close” button on the “Past Performance Information” screen after all of the PPI records have been added.

Printing Reports and Submitting PPI Tool

In order to print the Business Relationships and PPI reports, perform the following steps:

1. Click the “Step 3: Print Report” button . A pop-up displays asking which report to print.

Figure 10: Select Report to Print

2. Select separately each of the two options, “Business Relationships” or “Past Performance.”

The Business Relationships and Past Performance documents will print separately; combine the two to create your Past Performance Volume.

In order to submit the Business Relationships and PPI, perform the following steps:

3. Click the “Step 4: Submit” button . The “Submission

Instructions” screen displays.

Figure 11: Submission Instructions

4. Follow the submission instructions. The electronic product of the pages generated from this tool shall be used in the past performance volume which is subject to the limitations outlined in this RFP and should be Tab 2 of your proposal .

Note:

Submit an electronic copy of the saved PPI database file with your proposal. If a prime contractor is submitting the file enter the filename as:

o prime contractor + RFP number + file extension (e.g.

XYZCompanyFA861710R6158.accdb)

If a subcontractor is submitting the file enter the filename as:

o subcontractor + RFP number + file extension (e.g.

ABCCompanyFA861710R6158.accdb)

Once the file is saved to a CD or any location that is marked as “Read-only,” it must first be saved to the desktop in order to read/edit the file.

Editing Offeror and RFP Number In order to edit the Offeror name and/or the RFP number identified during start-up, perform the following steps:

1. Click the “Edit Offeror and RFP Number” button . The

“Application Setup” screen displays.

Figure 12: Change Name and RFP Number - Application Setup

2. Update the Offeror’s name and/or RFP number.

3. Click the “Next” button twice to return to the “Contractor’s Menu”.