Attachment_4,_RFQ_-_BPA_Chemical_Analysis_BPA.DOC

RFQ: FA527018QB002

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION

The Department of the Air Force, PACAF, 18th Contracting Squadron / LGCB intends to issue Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) for non-personal services as described in the attached Performance Work Statement (PWS) dated 6 Nov 2017.

In order to be considered for a BPA, all quotes must be received No Later Than (NLT) Close of Business (COB), 1400 hours, 1 Dec 2017 JST.

1. Please provide a Firm Fixed Price quote with FOB Destination pricing. Responses and questions shall be submitted in writing, using the English language, to the members via email below. Deadline for question submittals is by close of business (1630 JST) 29 Nov 2017.

Andrea L. Strong and Om Hamamoto 18th Contracting Squadron / LGCB e-mail: andrea.strong@us.af.mil and cc: om.hamamoto.jp@us.af.mil Phone: Com from US: 011-81-98-961-2127, Com from Japan: 098-630-1110, dial 634-2127

2. REQUIREMENT DESCRIPTION: Non-Personal Services. The contractor shall provide all management, tools, supplies, equipment, and labor necessary for Chemical Analysis services in accordance with the attached Performance Work Statement. The specific focus of these BPAs will be to provide in country support for all DoD Korean bases to include samples consultation, collection, and analysis. Work shall comply with Government and commercial standards.

3. Please complete the Company Information page and the Price List and return both pages as your quote. The payment method will be Government Purchase Card (GPC).

4. This information may be used for market research on future requirements and is not in any form, a guarantee of receiving a BPA award.

5. All quotes must be submitted in the English language to be considered for contract award.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL ISSUE BPAs UP TO TWO OFFERORS WHO PROVIDE THE BEST VALUE TO THE GOVERNMENT. THE GOVERNMENT MAY CONSIDER PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE, DELIVERY TIMES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS, PRICE AND ANY OTHER FACTORS IN DETERMINATION OF BEST VALUE. TO BE CONSIDERED, VENDORS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PRICING ON A SUBMITTED PRICE LIST. ALL PRICING SHALL REMAIN VALID FOR 1 YEAR.

The following provisions and clauses can be viewed through internet access at the Air Force FAR Site, http://farsite.hill.af.mil. In accordance with FAR 52.252-1 and FAR 52.252-2, the following provisions and clauses are incorporated by reference or by full text:

52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items

52.212-3 Alt I Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items

52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items

52.222-56 Certification Regarding Trafficking in Persons Compliance Plan

52.225-14 Inconsistency Between English Version and Translation of Contract

52.228-4 Worker’s Compensation and War-Hazard Insurance Overseas

252.203-7000 Requirements Relating to Compensation of Former DoD Officials

252.203-7005 Representation Relating to Compensation of Former DoD Officials

252.204-7011 Alternative Line Item Structure

252.204-7012 Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting

252.204-7015 Disclosure of Information to Litigation Support Contractors

252.215-7007 Notice of Intent to Resolicit

52.212-5 - CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS (Jan 2017)

(a) The Contractor shall comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses, which are incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

(1) 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (Nov 2015)

(2) 52.233-3, Protest After Award (AUG 1996) (31 U.S.C. 3553).

(3) 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (OCT 2004) (Public Laws 108-77, 108-78 (19 U.S.C. 3805 note)).

(b) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b) that the contracting officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

_X_ (1) 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (Sept 2006), with Alternate I (Oct 1995) (41 U.S.C. 4704 and 10 U.S.C. 2402).

___ (2) 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (Oct 2015) (41 U.S.C. 3509).

___ (3) 52.203-15, Whistleblower Protections under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Jun 2010) (Section 1553 of Pub L. 111-5) (Applies to contracts funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009).

_X_ (4) 52.204-10, Reporting Executive compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (Oct 2016) (Pub. L. 109-282) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

___ (5) [Reserved]

___ (6) 52.204-14, Service Contract Reporting Requirements (Oct 2016) (Pub. L. 111-117, section 743 of Div. C).

___ (7) 52.204-15, Service Contract Reporting Requirements for Indefinite-Delivery Contracts (Oct 2016) (Pub. L. 111-117, section 743 of Div. C).

_X_ (8) 52.209-6, Protecting the Government’s Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (Oct 2015) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

___ (9) 52.209-9, Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters (Jul 2013) (41 U.S.C. 2313).

___ (10) [Reserved]

___ (11) (i) 52.219-3, Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole-Source Award (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 657a).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Nov 2011) of 52.219-3.

___ (12) (i) 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (Oct 2014) (if the offeror elects to waive the preference, it shall so indicate in its offer)(15 U.S.C. 657a).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Jan 2011) of 52.219-4.

___ (13) [Reserved]

___ (14) (i) 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Aside (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Nov 2011).

___ (iii) Alternate II (Nov 2011).

___ (15) (i) 52.219-7, Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside (June 2003) (15 U.S.C. 644).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Oct 1995) of 52.219-7.

___ (iii) Alternate II (Mar 2004) of 52.219-7.

___ (16) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Nov 2016) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)).

___ (17) (i) 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Jan 2017) (15 U.S.C. 637 (d)(4)).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9.

___ (iii) Alternate II (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9.

___ (iv) Alternate III (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9.

___ (v) Alternate IV (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9.

___ (18) 52.219-13, Notice of Set-Aside of Orders (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644(r)).

___ (19) 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting (Jan 2017) (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(14)).

___ (20) 52.219-16, Liquidated Damages—Subcontracting Plan (Jan 1999) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(4)(F)(i)).

___ (21) 52.219-27, Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 657f).

___ (22) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (Jul 2013) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)).

___ (23) 52.219-29, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns (Dec 2015) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).

___ (24) 52.219-30, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Women-Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under the Women-Owned Small Business Program (Dec 2015) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).

_ __ (25) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (June 2003) (E.O. 11755).

_X__ (26) 52.222-19, Child Labor—Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Oct 2016) (E.O. 13126).

_X__ (27) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015).

_X__ (28) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Sep 2016) (E.O. 11246).

_ __ (29) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Oct 2015) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

_ __ (30) 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jul 2014) (29 U.S.C. 793).

_ __ (31) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (Feb 2016) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

_ __ (32) 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (Dec 2010) (E.O. 13496).

_X__ (33) (i) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Mar 2015) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Mar 2015) of 52.222-50, (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627).

_ __ (34) 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (Oct 2015). (E. O. 12989). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items or certain other types of commercial items as prescribed in 22.1803.)

___ (35) 52.222-59, Compliance with Labor Laws (Executive Order 13673) (Oct 2016). (Applies at $50 million for solicitations and resultant contracts issued from October 25, 2016 through April 24, 2017; applies at $500,000 for solicitations and resultant contracts issued after April 24, 2017).

Note to paragraph (b)(35): By a court order issued on October 24, 2016, 52.222-59 is enjoined indefinitely as of the date of the order. The enjoined paragraph will become effective immediately if the court terminates the injunction. At that time, DoD, GSA, and NASA will publish a document in the Federal Register advising the public of the termination of the injunction.

___ (36) 52.222-60, Paycheck Transparency (Executive Order 13673) (Oct 2016).

___ (37) (i) 52.223-9, Estimate of Percentage of Recovered Material Content for EPA-Designated Items (May 2008) (42 U.S.C. 6962(c)(3)(A)(ii)). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items.)

___ (ii) Alternate I (May 2008) of 52.223-9 (42 U.S.C. 6962(i)(2)(C)). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items.)

___ (38) 52.223-11, Ozone-Depleting Substances and High Global Warming Potential Hydrofluorocarbons (Jun 2016) (E.O.13693).

___ (39) 52.223-12, Maintenance, Service, Repair, or Disposal of Refrigeration Equipment and Air Conditioners (Jun 2016) (E.O. 13693).

___ (40) (i) 52.223-13, Acquisition of EPEAT® -Registered Imaging Equipment (Jun 2014) (E.O.s 13423 and 13514

___ (ii) Alternate I (Oct 2015) of 52.223-13.

___ (41) (i) 52.223-14, Acquisition of EPEAT® -Registered Television (Jun 2014) (E.O.s 13423 and 13514).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Jun 2014) of 52.223-14.

___ (42) 52.223-15, Energy Efficiency in Energy-Consuming Products (Dec 2007) (42 U.S.C. 8259b).

___ (43) (i) 52.223-16, Acquisition of EPEAT® -Registered Personal Computer Products (Oct 2015) (E.O.s 13423 and 13514).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Jun 2014) of 52.223-16.

_X__ (44) 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging while Driving (Aug 2011) (E.O. 13513).

___ (45) 52.223-20, Aerosols (Jun 2016) (E.O. 13693).

___ (46) 52.223-21, Foams (Jun 2016) (E.O. 13696).

___ (47) (i) 52.224-3, Privacy Training (Jan 2017) (5 U.S.C. 552a).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Jan 2017) of 52.224-3.

___ (48) 52.225-1, Buy American--Supplies (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 83).

___ (49) (i) 52.225-3, Buy American--Free Trade Agreements--Israeli Trade Act (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 83, 19 U.S.C. 3301 note, 19 U.S.C. 2112 note, 19 U.S.C. 3805 note, 19 U.S.C. 4001 note, Pub. L. 103-182, 108-77, 108-78, 108-286, 108-302, 109-53, 109-169, 109-283, 110-138, 112-41, 112-42, and 112-43).

___ (ii) Alternate I (May 2014) of 52.225-3.

___ (iii) Alternate II (May 2014) of 52.225-3.

___ (iv) Alternate III (May 2014) of 52.225-3.

___ (50) 52.225-5, Trade Agreements (Oct 2016) (19 U.S.C. 2501, et seq., 19 U.S.C. 3301 note).

___ (51) 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (Jun 2008) (E.O.’s, proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury).

___ (52) 52.225-26, Contractors Performing Private Security Functions Outside the United States (Oct 2016) (Section 862, as amended, of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008; 10 U.S.C. 2302 Note).

___ (53) 52.226-4, Notice of Disaster or Emergency Area Set-Aside (Nov 2007) (42 U.S.C. 5150).

___ (54) 52.226-5, Restrictions on Subcontracting Outside Disaster or Emergency Area (Nov 2007) (42 U.S.C. 5150).

___ (55) 52.232-29, Terms for Financing of Purchases of Commercial Items (Feb 2002) (41 U.S.C. 4505), 10 U.S.C. 2307(f)).

___ (56) 52.232-30, Installment Payments for Commercial Items (Jan 2017) (41 U.S.C. 4505, 10 U.S.C. 2307(f)).

___ (57) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer— System for Award Management (Jul 2013) (31 U.S.C. 3332).

___ (58) 52.232-34, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer—Other Than System for Award Management (Jul 2013) (31 U.S.C. 3332).

___ (59) 52.232-36, Payment by Third Party (May 2014) (31 U.S.C. 3332).

___ (60) 52.239-1, Privacy or Security Safeguards (Aug 1996) (5 U.S.C. 552a).

___ (61) 52.242-5, Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (Jan 2017) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(12)).

___ (62) (i) 52.247-64, Preference for Privately Owned U.S.-Flag Commercial Vessels (Feb 2006) (46 U.S.C. Appx 1241(b) and 10 U.S.C. 2631).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Apr 2003) of 52.247-64.

(c) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (c), applicable to commercial services, that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

[Contracting Officer check as appropriate.]

___ (1) 52.222-17, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers (May 2014) (E.O. 13495)

___ (2) 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67.).

___ (3) 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires (May 2014) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

___ (4) 52.222-43, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards -- Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts) (May 2014) (29 U.S.C.206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

___ (5) 52.222-44, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards -- Price Adjustment (May 2014) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

___ (6) 52.222-51, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment--Requirements (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

___ (7) 52.222-53, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Certain Services--Requirements (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

___ (8) 52.222-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (Dec 2015) (E.O. 13658).

___ (9) 52.222-62, Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 (JAN 2017) (E.O. 13706).

___ (10) 52.226-6, Promoting Excess Food Donation to Nonprofit Organizations. (May 2014) (42 U.S.C. 1792).

___ (11) 52.237-11, Accepting and Dispensing of $1 Coin (Sep 2008) (31 U.S.C. 5112(p)(1)).

(d) Comptroller General Examination of Record The Contractor shall comply with the provisions of this paragraph (d) if this contract was awarded using other than sealed bid, is in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold, and does not contain the clause at 52.215-2, Audit and Records -- Negotiation.

(1) The Comptroller General of the United States, or an authorized representative of the Comptroller General, shall have access to and right to examine any of the Contractor’s directly pertinent records involving transactions related to this contract.

(2) The Contractor shall make available at its offices at all reasonable times the records, materials, and other evidence for examination, audit, or reproduction, until 3 years after final payment under this contract or for any shorter period specified in FAR Subpart 4.7, Contractor Records Retention, of the other clauses of this contract. If this contract is completely or partially terminated, the records relating to the work terminated shall be made available for 3 years after any resulting final termination settlement. Records relating to appeals under the disputes clause or to litigation or the settlement of claims arising under or relating to this contract shall be made available until such appeals, litigation, or claims are finally resolved.

(3) As used in this clause, records include books, documents, accounting procedures and practices, and other data, regardless of type and regardless of form. This does not require the Contractor to create or maintain any record that the Contractor does not maintain in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to a provision of law.

(e)

(1) Notwithstanding the requirements of the clauses in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this clause, the Contractor is not required to flow down any FAR clause, other than those in this paragraph (e)(1) in a subcontract for commercial items. Unless otherwise indicated below, the extent of the flow down shall be as required by the clause—

(i) 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (Oct 2015) (41 U.S.C. 3509).

(ii) 52.203-19, Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements (Jan 2017) (section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235) and its successor provisions in subsequent appropriations acts (and as extended in continuing resolutions)).

(iii) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Nov 2016) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)), in all subcontracts that offer further subcontracting opportunities. If the subcontract (except subcontracts to small business concerns) exceeds $700,000 ($1.5 million for construction of any public facility), the subcontractor must include 52.219-8 in lower tier subcontracts that offer subcontracting opportunities.

(iv) 52.222-17, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers (May 2014) (E.O. 13495). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (1) of FAR clause 52.222-17.

(v) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015).

(vi) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Sep 2016) (E.O. 11246).

(vii) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Oct 2015) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

(viii) 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jul 2014) (29 U.S.C. 793).

(ix) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (Feb 2016) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

(x) 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (Dec 2010) (E.O. 13496). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (f) of FAR clause 52.222-40.

(xi) 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (May 2014), (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

(xii) (A) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Mar 2015) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627).

(B) Alternate I (Mar 2015) of 52.222-50 (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 E.O. 13627).

(xiii) 52.222-51, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment--Requirements (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67.)

(xiv) 52.222-53, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Certain Services--Requirements (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67)

(xv) 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (Oct 2015) (E. O. 12989).

(xvi) 52.222-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (Dec 2015).

(xvii) 52.222-59, Compliance with Labor Laws (Executive Order 13673) (Oct 2016) (Applies at $50 million for solicitations and resultant contracts issued from October 25, 2016 through April 24, 2017; applies at $500,000 for solicitations and resultant contracts issued after April 24, 2017).

Note to paragraph (e)(1)(xvii): By a court order issued on October 24, 2016, 52.222-59 is enjoined indefinitely as of the date of the order. The enjoined paragraph will become effective immediately if the court terminates the injunction. At that time, DoD, GSA, and NASA will publish a document in the Federal Register advising the public of the termination of the injunction.

(xviii) 52.222-60, Paycheck Transparency (Executive Order 13673) (Oct 2016).

(xix) 52.222-62, Paid sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 (JAN 2017) (E.O. 13706).

(xx) (A) 52.224-3, Privacy Training (Jan 2017) (5 U.S.C. 552a).

(B) Alternate I (Jan 2017) of 52.224-3.

(xxi) 52.225-26, Contractors Performing Private Security Functions Outside the United States (Oct 2016) (Section 862, as amended, of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008; 10 U.S.C. 2302 Note).

(xxii) 52.226-6, Promoting Excess Food Donation to Nonprofit Organizations. (May 2014) (42 U.S.C. 1792). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (e) of FAR clause 52.226-6.

(xxiii) 52.247-64, Preference for Privately-Owned U.S. Flag Commercial Vessels (Feb 2006) (46 U.S.C. Appx 1241(b) and 10 U.S.C. 2631). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (d) of FAR clause 52.247-64.

(2) While not required, the Contractor may include in its subcontracts for commercial items a minimal number of additional clauses necessary to satisfy its contractual obligations.

(END OF CLAUSE)

252.225-7043 - ANTITERRORISM/FORCE PROTECTION FOR DEFENSE CONTRACTORS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES (JUN 2015)

(a) Definition. “United States,” as used in this clause, means, the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and outlying areas.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this clause, the Contractor and its subcontractors, if performing or traveling outside the United States under this contract, shall

(1) Affiliate with the Overseas Security Advisory Council, if the Contractor or subcontractor is a U.S. entity;

(2) Ensure that Contractor and subcontractor personnel who are U.S. nationals and are in-country on a non-transitory basis, register with the U.S. Embassy, and that Contractor and subcontractor personnel who are third country nationals comply with any security related requirements of the Embassy of their nationality;

(3) Provide, to Contractor and subcontractor personnel, antiterrorism/force protection awareness information commensurate with that which the Department of Defense (DoD) provides to its military and civilian personnel and their families, to the extent such information can be made available prior to travel outside the United States; and

(4) Obtain and comply with the most current antiterrorism/force protection guidance for Contractor and subcontractor personnel.

(c) The requirements of this clause do not apply to any subcontractor that is

(1) A foreign government;

(2) A representative of a foreign government; or

(3) A foreign corporation wholly owned by a foreign government.

(d) Information and guidance pertaining to DoD antiterrorism/force protection can be obtained from the appropriate Antiterrorism/Force Protection Office at the Command Headquarters. Also see https://atep.dtic.mil.

(END OF CLAUSE)

5352.201-9101 - OMBUDSMAN (JUN 2016)

(a) An ombudsman has been appointed to hear and facilitate the resolution of concerns from Offerors, potential Offerors, and others for this acquisition. When requested, the ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The existence of the ombudsman does not affect the authority of the program manager, contracting officer, or source selection official. Further, the ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals, the source selection process, or the adjudication of protests or formal contract disputes. The ombudsman may refer the interested party to another official who can resolve the concern.

(b) Before consulting with an ombudsman, interested parties must first address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the contracting officer for resolution. Consulting an ombudsman does not alter or postpone the timelines for any other processes (e.g., agency level bid protests, GAO bid protests, requests for debriefings, employee-employer actions, contests of OMB Circular A-76 competition performance decisions).

(c) If resolution cannot be made by the contracting officer, the interested party may contact the ombudsman:

Air Force Installation Contracting Agency (AFICA)/KP Director

1940 Allbrook Drive, Building 1

Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433

Phone: (937)257-5529

Fax: (937)656-0919

Concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations that cannot be resolved at the Center/MAJCOM/DRU/HQ AFICA/SMC ombudsman level, may be brought by the interested party for further consideration to the Air Force ombudsman, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary (ADAS) (Contracting), SAF/AQC, 1060 Air Force Pentagon, Washington DC 20330-1060, phone number (571) 256-2395, facsimile number (571) 256-2431.

(d) The ombudsman has no authority to render a decision that binds the agency.

(e) Do not contact the ombudsman to request copies of the solicitation, verify offer due date, or clarify technical requirements. Such inquiries shall be directed to the Contracting Officer.

(END OF CLAUSE)