Section M Oct.docx

SECTION M: LOWEST PRICE TECHNICALLY ACCEPTABLE

Nov 1, 2009

1.0 Source Selection

a. Basis for Contract Award This acquisition will utilize Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection procedures in accordance with FAR 15.101-2. Technical tradeoffs will not be made and no additional credit will be given for exceeding acceptability. Award will be made to the technically acceptable Offeror with the lowest evaluated cost or price, which is deemed responsible in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation and whose proposal conforms to the solicitation requirements. The solicitation requirements include all stated terms, conditions, representations, certifications, and all other information required by Section L of this solicitation. The Government reserves the right to award without discussions. Therefore, each initial offer should contain the Offeror’s best terms from a price and technical standpoint. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if determined necessary by the Contracting Officer.

b. Number of Contracts to be Awarded The Government intends to award one Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract for the AN/TMQ-53 Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) Program.

c. Rejection of Unrealistic Offers The Government may reject any proposal that is evaluated to be unrealistic in terms of program commitments, including contract terms and conditions, or unrealistically high or low in cost when compared to Government estimates, such that the proposal is deemed to reflect an inherent lack of competence or failure to comprehend the complexity and risks of the program.

d. Correction Potential of Proposals The Government will consider, throughout the evaluation, the "correction potential" of any deficiency or uncertainty. The judgment of such "correction potential" is within the sole discretion of the Government. If an aspect of an Offeror's proposal not meeting the Government's requirements is not considered correctable, the Offeror may be eliminated from the competitive range.

e. Competitive Advantage from Use of GFP The solicitation contains a description of all Government property that the Offeror will have access to on a rent-free basis. Use of Government property not already identified as part of this RFP is not authorized.

f. Evaluation Methodology Technical acceptability will be evaluated on all offers. The Government technical evaluation team shall evaluate the technical proposals on a pass/fail basis, assigning ratings of Acceptable, Reasonably Susceptible of Being Made Acceptable, or Unacceptable. Only those Offerors determined to be technically Acceptable, either initially or as a result of discussions, will be considered for award. Next, the Government shall evaluate those proposals which were found to be technically Acceptable, either initially, or as a result of discussions, for cost and price reasonableness, balance, and realism. Proposals which remain within the competitive range will be listed from lowest to highest price based on the total evaluated price. Award will be made to the lowest evaluated priced proposal that is found to be technically Acceptable.

2.0 Evaluation Factors and Sub-Factors

a. Factor 1 - Technical

Award will be made to the Offeror if a technically acceptable proposal based on the evaluation sub-factors described below, and the best price to the Government. At time of award, all Critical Requirements (C) and Non-Critical Requirements (NC) the Offeror proposed in their solicitation shall have the capability and capacity to support the AN/TMQ-53. Non-Critical Requirements (NC) if government deemed acceptable from Offerors proposal the Offeror shall have capability and capacity to work with government after award to implement specific NC Requirements to support all AN/TMQ-53 requirements.

Factor 1 – Technical, shall be rated as follows:

Acceptable – The proposal meets specified minimum requirements necessary for acceptable contract performance.

Reasonably susceptible of being made acceptable – The proposal does not clearly meet some specified minimum requirements necessary for acceptable contract performance, but there is reason to believe that through minor revisions, an acceptable proposal could result. For award without discussions these proposals are considered “unacceptable.”

Unacceptable – The proposal fails to meet specified minimum requirements necessary for contract performance. Proposals with an unacceptable determination are not awardable.

Technical evaluation provides an assessment of the Offeror’s capability to satisfy the Government’s requirements. If the Government determines the technical proposal fails to meet specified minimum requirements, no other factors will be evaluated. The PCO will notify Offerors of decision to declare them technically unacceptable.

Sub-Factor #1: Technical Approach

1) Levels of Certification (C)

2) Modification - Integration Test Plan Process - Systems Engineering (C)

3) Technical Orders (NC)

4) Computer Based Familiarization Materials (Training) (NC)

Sub- Factor #2: Management Approach

1) Transition from Incumbent Plan (C)

2) Configuration Management Plan (C)

Sub-Factor #3: Experience Approach

1) Logistic Maintenance Supply Management Experience (C)

2) Global Shipping/Customs Experience (C)

3) Contractor Maintenance Logistics Support and AFWA Remedy Action Request System (ARS) Database Experience (C)

4) Support of Active Military Operations Experience (C)

5) Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) Repair Experience (NC)

6) System Security Authorization Agreement (SSAA) Experience (C)

7) AN/TMQ-53 Integration Software Support Requirements (C)

Sub-Factor #4: Quality Control Approach

1) ISO 9000, ISO 9001 Qualifiers (C)

2) Reliability and Maintainability (R/M) Plan (C)

3) Unique Identifier (UID) Compliance (NC)

4) Government Auditing and DCMA Experience (NC)

(1) – Offeror’s Statement of Sub-Factor #1 – Technical Approach Offerors will be evaluated based on their technical capabilities, corporate knowledge, and experience with the key PWS related elements listed below in relation to direct, specific support of the currently fielded version of the AN/TMQ-53(V) and/or other similar Tactical, Deployable Weather Systems. Including four (4) potential CLS baseline examples described in 1.0 Program Structure and Objectives of Section L Information to Offerors and Instructions for Proposal Preparation.

The key elements to be addressed include:

a. Levels of Certification (C): IAW PWS Sec.1.6, and 3.1.2

b. In Offerors RFP response government will verify current status of SEI-CMMI and ISO 9000/9001 certificates and date of award.

c. Acceptable: SEI-CMMI Level III or higher; ISO 9000/9001 both current and valid.

b) Modification - Integration Test Plans Process – Engineering Services (C): IAW PWS Par. 3.2.7.4 – 3.2.7.17

a. Government will review the Offerors narrative applying their Systems Engineering process to a potential awardable task - modification to ensure acceptable contractor knowledge, understanding, and ability in their Technical Approach to provide these services as applicable to the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) system and solicitation.

b. Government will review the Offerors Integration Test Plans and Test Reports to ensure acceptable contractor knowledge, understanding, and ability in their Technical Approach to provide these services as applicable to the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) system and solicitation.

c) Technical Orders (NC): IAW PWS Sec. 4.1 Par. 4.1.1 – 4.1.7

a. Government will review the Offerors Technical Order plan to ensure acceptable knowledge, understanding, and ability to provide this service as applicable to the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) system and solicitation, including Offerors response in their Technical Approach Methodology to Distribution (packaging, shipping, handling, re-supplying), Updating, Approval Process, and Integration of Technical Order, COTS manuals, and Time Compliance Technical Orders to the AN/TMQ-53 systems to all locations/users.

b. Government will review the Offerors COTS Technical Orders for technical integration and applicability to TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program requirement for acceptability.

d) Computer Based Familiarization Materials (Training) (NC): IAW PWS Par. 4.2

a. Government will review the Offerors Computer Based material and plan in Technical Approach Methodology to Distribution (packaging, shipping, handling, re-supplying), Updating, Approval Process, and Integration of new material to provide computer based training (CBT) familiarization for operator maintained equipment to include system setup, network setup, operations, basic sensor and troubleshooting requirements, teardown, and system storage for applicability to TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program system requirement and solicitation for acceptability

b. Government will review the Offerors CBT for technical integration and Applicability to TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program requirement for acceptability.

(2) – Offeror’s Statement of Sub-Factor #2 – Management Approach Offerors will be evaluated based on the degree to which their Transition Plan from Incumbent addresses the requirements of the Performance Work Specifications. Additionally, Transition Plan will be evaluated for quality and feasibility of initiatives proposed by the Offerors to improve current customer support requirements.

Offerors will be evaluated based on the degree to which their Configuration Management Plan (CMP) addresses the requirements of the Performance Work Specification. Including four (4) potential CLS baseline examples described in 1.0 Program Structure and objectives.

Additionally, the CMP will be evaluated for quality and feasibility of initiatives proposed by the Offerors to improve current customer support requirements.

Key elements to be addressed:

a) Transition Plan from Incumbent (C): IAW PWS 3.2

a. Government will review the Offerors Transition Plan from Incumbent to ensure Offerors proposed Management Approach is acceptable and encompasses the AN/TMQ-53 requirements with Offerors responses to transfer workload to their facility. Government will review all Offerors responses to Sec L 4.2.1.2.1 (i through ix) and preparation required for not to exceed 30 day transition.

b) Configuration Management Plan (C): IAW PWS Par. 3.2.7.15

a. Government will review the Offerors Configuration Management Plan to ensure Offerors proposed Management Approach is acceptable and encompasses the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program requirements and solicitation.

b. Government will review the Offerors Configuration Management Plan responses to and governments receipt of Offerors Table VI-6 to ensure Offerors proposed Management Approach is acceptable and encompasses the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program requirements and solicitation.

c. Government will review the Offerors Configuration Management Plan response to PWS Table VI-5 new system configuration, purchasing requirement, and understanding of the multi-vendor military unique adapted COTS product that ensure Offerors proposed Management Approach is acceptable and encompasses the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program requirements and solicitation.

d. Government will review the Offerors Configuration Management Plan response to PWS VI-4 2009 software configuration, purchasing requirement, and understanding of the multi-vendor military unique adapted COTS product that ensure Offerors proposed Management Approach is acceptable and encompasses the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program requirements and solicitation.

(3) Offeror’s Statement of Sub-Factor #3 – Experience Approach Offerors will be evaluated based on the experience presented and the degree of expertise, knowledge, capability, and thoroughness in their descriptions to address the requirements of the Performance Work Statement for each key element below. Including four (4) potential CLS baseline examples described in 1.0 Program Structure and Objectives. Additionally, answers will be evaluated for quality and feasibility of initiatives proposed by the Offerors to improve current customer support requirements for the TWDS (AN/TMQ-53).

Key elements to be addressed:

a) Logistic Maintenance Supply Management Experience (C): PWS 3.2.4

a. Government will review the Offerors Logistics Maintenance Supply experience with DoD GFP/GFE/GFI submission to ensure acceptable contractor knowledge, understanding, and ability in their Experience Approach to provide these services as applicable to the AN/TMQ-53 system and solicitation.

b. Government will assess Offerors Staffing Plan for the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program and appropriate skill levels for the PWS requirements for these services and this solicitation. Core personnel requirement ten (10) years of Logistics Maintenance Supply experience.

b) Global Shipping/Customs Experience (C): PWS 3.2.5.9 – 3.2.5.15

a. Government will review the Offerors Global Shipping/Customs experience of DoD GFP/GFE/GFI assets submission to ensure acceptable contractor knowledge, understanding, and ability in their Experience Approach to provide these services as applicable to the AN/TMQ-53 system and solicitation.

b. Government will assess Offerors Staffing Plan for the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program and appropriate skill levels for the PWS requirements for these services and this solicitation. Core personnel requirement of ten (10) years of Logistics Maintenance Supply experience.

c) Contractor Maintenance Logistics Support and AFWA REMEDY Action Request System (ARS) database Experience (C): PWS Sec. 3.2.3

a. Government will review the Offerors Contractor Maintenance Logistics Support (Helpdesk) expertise, knowledge, methodology, contractor maintenance support plan, capacity, and capability to implement this service in their Experience Approach as applicable to the AN/TMQ-53 system and solicitation.

b. Government will assess Offerors Staffing Plan for the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program and appropriate skill levels for the PWS requirements for these services and this solicitation. Core personnel requirement ten (10) years of Logistics Maintenance Supply experience.

c. Government will review the Offerors AFWA Remedy Action Request Systems (ARS) helpdesk expertise, knowledge, methodology, capacity, and capability to gain access and train to implement this service in their Experience Approach as applicable to the AN/TMQ-53 system and solicitation.

d. Government will assess Offerors Staffing Plan for the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program and appropriate skill levels for the PWS requirements for these services and this solicitation. Core personnel requirement ten (10) years of Data Based Helpdesk Support experience.

d) Support of Active Military Operations Experience (C): PWS entirety

a. Government will review the Offerors Support of Active Military Operations expertise, methodology, support plan to implement this service to the AN/TMQ-53 customers in their Experience Approach as applicable to the AN/TMQ-53 system and solicitation.

b. Government will assess Offerors Staffing Plan for the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program and appropriate skill levels for the PWS requirements for these services and this solicitation. Core personnel requirement ten (10) years of experience of Support of Active Military Operations.

e) Line Replaceable Unit Repair (LRU) Experience (NC): PWS 3.2.6

a. Government will review the Offerors Unit Repair Cost estimation and maintenance LRU repair experience from their response to TMOS annual repair requirements, methodology, and maintenance plan to implement this service to the AN/TMQ-53 customers and support of Military Operations including Overseas Contingency Operations and similar DoD requirements in their Experience Approach as applicable to the AN/TMQ-53 system and solicitation.

b. Government will assess Offerors Staffing Plan for the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program and appropriate skill levels for the PWS requirements for these services and this solicitation. Core personnel requirement, ten (10) years of experience in system maintenance and LRU repair, troubleshooting, and processing repairable items.

f) System Security Authorization Agreement (SSAA) Experience (C): PWS 3.2.7.16 – 3.2.7.32

a. Government will review the Offerors SSAA and DoD Directive requirements for GIG accreditation and continued global operations experience, methodology plan to support, update, and integrate SSAA requirements in their Experience Approach as applicable to the AN/TMQ-53 program and solicitation.

b. Government will assess Offerors Staffing Plan for the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program and appropriate skill levels for the PWS requirements for these services and this solicitation. Core personnel requirement, ten (10) years of experience of SSAA documentation and related DoD requirements.

g) AN/TMQ-53 Integration Software Support Requirements (C): PWS 3.2.7.11 – 3.2.7.32

a. Government will review the Offerors System Integration Software Support experience, methodology plan to support, update, and integrate Software and related hardware, communications DoD requirements in their Experience Approach as applicable to the AN/TMQ-53 program and solicitation.

b. Government will assess Offerors Staffing Plan for the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program and appropriate skill levels for the PWS requirements for these services and this solicitation. Core personnel requirement is ten (10) years of experience of software integration support, documentation, and related DoD software/hardware/communications requirements. Specific experience limitations the government will accept to AN/TMQ-53 requirements are:

c. Federal Desktop Core Configuration (FDCC)/Standard Desktop Configuration (SDC) Integration PWS 3.2.7.23 – 3.2.7.32

i. Government will review Offeror’s proposal to ensure the minimum acceptable level of experience is personnel with two (2) years experience of FDCC/SDC requirements to this DoD weapon system computer.

d. Windows based Operating System Integration PWS 3.2.7.11 – 3.2.7.32

i. Government will review Offeror’s proposal to ensure the minimum acceptable level of experience is personnel with six (6) years experience of Microsoft Windows 2K, and Vista Operating System to this DoD weapon system computer.

e. AOSTM software Operating System Integration PWS 3.2.7.11 – 3.2.7.32

i. Government will review Offeror’s proposal to ensure the minimum acceptable level of experience is personnel with six (6) years experience AOS software experience or similar DoD/DoC software integration experience for this DoD weapon system computer.

f. Time Compliance Network Orders (TCNO) PWS 3.2.7.21 – 3.2.7.22

i. Government will review Offeror’s proposal to ensure the minimum acceptable level of experience is personnel two (2) years experience of TCNO requirements and application to this DoD weapon system computer.

g. IridiumTM satcom Integration PWS 3.2.7.11 – 3.2.7.32

i. Government will review Offeror’s proposal to ensure the minimum acceptable level of experience is personnel two (2) years experience of Iridium satcom requirements and application to this DoD weapon system computer.

h. Host Based Security Systems (HBSS) PWS 3.2.7.24 – 3.2.7.26

i. Government will review Offeror’s proposal to ensure the minimum acceptable level of experience is personnel to implement the HBSS requirements and application to this DoD weapon system computer.

i. Host Intrusion Prevention Systems (HIPS) PWS 3.2.7.24

i. Government will review Offeror’s proposal to ensure the minimum acceptable level of experience is personnel to implement the HBSS requirements and application to this DoD weapon system computer.

j. Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) Publication 140-2

i. Government will review Offeror’s proposal to ensure the minimum acceptable level of experience is personnel to implement the FIPS requirements and application to this DoD weapon system.

(4) – Offeror’s Statement of Sub-Factor #4 – Quality Control Approach Offerors will be evaluated based on the degree of expertise, knowledge, capability, and thoroughness in their description with the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) and addresses the requirements of the Performance Work Statement. Including four (4) potential CLS baseline examples described in 1.0 Program Structure and Objectives. Additionally, answers will be evaluated for quality and feasibility of initiatives proposed by the Offerors to improve current customer support requirements.

Key elements to be addressed:

a) International Organization of Standardization (ISO) 9000, 9001 (C): PWS Sec. 1.6

a. Government will verify from Offerors RFP response the Offerors current status of ISO 9000/9001 certificate and date of award.

b. Government will review from Offerors RFP proposal the Quality Reports provided, past 5 years from all DoD, DoC, DoT, state, or non-government contracts referred to in their TDWS representation the Offerors presented in their RFP response and government retains the right to check sources for verification.

b) Reliability and Maintainability (R/M) Plan (C): PWS 3.1.3

a. Government will review the Offerors R/M experience, methodology plan to support, update, and integrate hardware (system, sensor, and components), software requirements in their Quality Control Approach as applicable to the performance and maintainability to the AN/TMQ-53 program and solicitation.

b. Government will assess Offerors Staffing Plan for the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program and personnel identified and available in Offerors Quality Control Approach in appropriate skill levels for the PWS requirements for these services and this solicitation. Core personnel requirement, ten (10) years of experience of R/M documentation, plans, and to supporting Active Military Operations for the AN/TMQ-53 program and Overseas Contingency Operations and similar DoD requirements.

c) Unique Identifier (UID) Compliance Plan (NC): PWS 3.2.6.6 – 3.2.6.7

a. Government will review the Offerors UID experience, methodology plan, and understanding of the AN/TMQ-53 UID requirements to provide this service and solicitation.

d) Government Auditing and DCMA experience (NC): PWS 1.7, 3.2.5.6

a. Government will review the Offerors Government Auditing and DCMA experience, methodology plan, documentation/record keeping and understanding of the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) government auditing and inspection requirements to provide this service and solicitation.

b. Government will review the Offerors RFP proposal to ensure the Offeror will provide personnel with ten (10) years experience of contractor to government auditing and DCMA background applicable to the TDWS (AN/TMQ-53) program.

c. Offerors Staffing Plan for the AN/TMQ-53 program and timeframe required in PWS with personnel identified and available in Offerors appropriate skill level categories described throughout PWS.

b. Factor 2 – Cost and Pricing

The Government will evaluate the Contractor’s Cost/Price Volume for price reasonableness, balance, realism on the Cost Rates, and a Total Evaluated Price will be developed for award purposes. Unrealistically Low Costs or Prices: Unrealistically low proposed costs or prices, initially or subsequently, may be grounds for eliminating a proposal from competition either on the basis that the contractor does not understand the requirement or the contractor has made an unrealistic proposal.

Price Reasonableness – A price is reasonable when it provides the best value to the Government considering current market prices, and technical and functional capabilities of the Offeror. The Offeror’s cost/price proposal will be evaluated using one or more of the techniques defined in FAR 15.404-1 (Proposal Analysis Techniques). Generally, adequate price competition will satisfy the criteria of price reasonableness. The proposed prices also will be compared with the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE).

Balance - Cost and/or price analysis of the information in the Cost/Price Proposal volume will be used to determine if the prices (Cost Rates) for the proposed contract line items are balanced or unbalanced. Unbalanced pricing exists when, despite an acceptable Total Evaluated Price, the price of one or more of the fully loaded rates, appear to be significantly over or under-stated. Per FAR 15.404-1(g)(3), if the Government determines that the lack of balance poses an unacceptable risk to the Government the proposal may be eliminated from the competition.

Realism on Cost Rates - Cost realism analyses will be conducted in accordance with FAR 15.403-1 (b), 15.403-3(a), and 15.404-1(d). Cost realism will be established by analysis of the costs submitted in the Cost/Price Volume to determine whether the estimated proposed cost elements reflect a clear understanding of the requirements; are realistic for the work to be performed; and are consistent with the methods of performance and materials described in the Contractor’s technical proposal.

Total Evaluated Price (TEP) – The TEP is for evaluation purposes only and will be a consideration in the award decision. The TEP will be developed for all ordering/pricing periods. The Government will compute the TEP based on the summation of the fixed price line items; government selected Best Estimated Quantities for the applicable CLINs; and the quantified Cost Rates. The Cost Rates will be quantified using government selected notional hours. The notional hours will not be disclosed to the Offerors until the final debriefings. The Offeror will complete the attached Excel Worksheet. This includes Section B and four attachments which will be utilized to develop the TEP.

Travel and other direct costs shall be under a Cost Reimbursable – No Fee CLIN and will not be evaluated as part of the proposal. The Government will establish a ceiling price for this CLIN on each Task/Delivery Order and shall verify that all travel is billed in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulations.

Cost Rates for work to be performed under CLINs 0009, 1009, 2009, 3009, and 4009, will be proposed in the basic contract and will be evaluated by the Government. Cost Rates will be utilized on future proposal submissions for task orders when the requirements are known. Labor hours and material will be evaluated and negotiated at time of issuance of each Task/Delivery Order.

3.0 Source Selection Discussions

It is the Government’s intent to award without discussions; therefore, it is imperative that Offerors submit their best terms initially. However, if, during the evaluation period, it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government to hold discussions, Offeror responses to Evaluation Notices (ENs) and the Final Proposal Revision (FPR) generated by the source selection team will be considered in making the source selection decision.

4.0 Pre-Award Survey

The Government may conduct a pre-award survey (PAS) as part of source selection activities. Results of the PAS (if conducted) will be used in determining each Offeror's capability to meet the requirements of the solicitation based on current capability observations.

5.0 Plant Visits

The Source Selection Evaluation Team (SSET) may conduct plant/site visits during the evaluation phase to gather information on the Offeror's potential for setting up a proficient help-desk engineering support team, examining the breadth/depth of resources that would be available to meet contract contingency requirements, evaluating the quality of support facilities/practices/ processes, or other areas that would be beneficial in evaluating the Offeror’s proposal and existing real world practices environment. If conducted, the results will be assessed under the applicable factors/subfactors and will be used to validate/confirm the Offeror's written proposal and/or oral presentation(s).

6.0 Solicitation Requirements, Terms and Conditions

Offerors to be rated acceptable are required to meet all solicitation requirements, such as terms and conditions, representations and certifications, and technical requirements not specifically stated in Section L and Section M in addition to those identified as factors or sub-factors to be eligible for contract award. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the complete solicitation may result in the Offeror being rated unacceptable and removed from consideration for award. Any exceptions to the solicitation’s terms and conditions must be fully explained and justified by the Offeror.

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