Harnesses_Sec_L_Rev_0014.doc

19 April 2017

SECTION L

Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to respondents FOR PROPOSAL PREPARATION USING LOWEST PRICE TECHNICALLY ACCEPTABLE (LPTA) PROCEDURES

1. General Instructions

1.1. Instructions to the Offerors (ITO):

This section of the ITO provides general guidance for preparing proposals as well as specific instructions on the format and content of the proposal. The offeror’s proposal must include all data and information requested by the ITO and must be submitted in accordance with these instructions. The offeror shall be compliant with the requirements as stated in the Section B Schedule, Performance Work Statement and Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL). Non-conformance with the instructions provided in the ITO may result in an unfavorable proposal evaluation.

1.2. Include Sufficient Detail:

The proposal shall be clear, concise, and shall include sufficient detail for effective evaluation and for substantiating the validity of stated claims. The proposal should not simply rephrase or restate the Government’s requirements, but rather shall provide convincing rationale to address how the offeror intends to meet these requirements. Offerors shall assume that the Government has no prior knowledge of their facilities and experience, and will base its evaluation on the information presented in the offeror’s proposal.

1.3. Embellishments Not Desired:

Do not provide elaborate brochures or documentation, binding, detailed artwork, or other embellishments. These are unnecessary and are not desired.

1.4. Proposal Acceptance and Validity Dates:

The proposal acceptance period is specified in Section A of the model contract/solicitation. The offer shall make a clear statement in Section A, of the proposal documentation, that the proposal is valid until this date.

1.5. Disposition of Proposals:

In accordance with FAR 4.803(a)(10) (Contents of Contract Files), the Government will retain one copy of all unsuccessful proposals. Unless the offer requests otherwise, the Government will destroy extra copies of such unsuccessful proposals.

2. GENERAL INFORMATION

2.1. Point of Contact:

The Procurement Contracting Officer (PCO) and the contract negotiator (CN) are the sole points of contact for this acquisition. Address any questions or concerns you may have to the PCO and the CN. Written requests for clarification may be sent to the PCO and the CN at the address located in Section A of the model contract/solicitation. Email is preferred. PCO: nathan.lee.3@us.af.mil CN: corey.muir@us.af.mil

2.2. Debriefings:

The PCO will promptly notify offerors of any decision to exclude them from the competition in accordance with FAR 15.503. Whereupon they may request and receive a debriefing. Offerors desiring debriefing must make their request in accordance with the requirements of FAR 15.505 or 15.506, as applicable.

2.3. Discrepancies:

If an offeror believes that the requirements in these instructions contain an error, omission, or are otherwise unsound, the offeror shall immediately notify the PCO in writing with supporting rationale. The offeror is reminded that the Government reserves the right to award this effort based on the initial proposal, as received, without discussion.

Table 1 - Proposal Structure

Table Notes;

Copies; Disc copy is suitable for electronic copy.

Paper Copies (hard copies) are to be received “in hand” on specified deadline date and time.

Acceptable electronic copy formats; Microsoft office, PDF embedded, Excel spreadsheets.

2.4. Page limitations:

Page limitations identified in Table 1 shall be treated as maximums. If exceeded, the excess pages will not be read or considered in the evaluation of the proposal and (for paper copies) will be destroyed as soon as practicable. Page size shall be 8.5 x 11 inches, white, standard office paper printed with 1.5 line spacing. The text size shall be no less than 12 point in Times New Roman typeface. Tracking, kerning, and leading values shall not be changed from the default values of the word processing or page layout software. Use at least 1 inch margins on the top and bottom and 3/4 inch side margins. Pages shall be numbered sequentially by volume. Legible tables, charts, graphs and figures shall be used wherever practical to depict organizations, systems and layout, implementation schedules, plans, etc. These displays shall be uncomplicated, legible and shall not exceed 8.5 by 11 inches in size. For tables, charts, graphs and figures, the text shall be no smaller than 8 point Arial typeface in both electronic and hard copy format. Each page shall be counted except cover pages, tables of content, tabs, glossaries, master cross reference matrix, resumes, letters of intent, pricing appendix and past performance appendix.

2.5. Executive Summary

Submit a high level overview of offeror’s ability to meet the responsibilities outlined in the RFP.

2.6. Glossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms

Submit one glossary of all abbreviations and acronyms used with an explanation for each. The glossary will be provided as a separate volume.

3. EVALUATION FACTORS

3.1. FACTOR 1--TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

The technical proposal should be specific and complete. Your responses to the factors and elements will be evaluated in accordance with section M of this solicitation.

3.1.1 Volume I – Executive Summary

In the executive summary volume, the Offeror shall provide a concise narrative summary of the entire proposal, including significant risks, and a highlight of any key or unique features, excluding cost/price. The salient features should tie in with evaluation factors/sub-factors. Any summary material presented here will not be considered as meeting the requirements for any portions of other volumes of the proposal.

The Offeror shall also provide a master table of contents of the entire proposal and a cross reference matrix indicating, by ITO and Government SOW paragraph number, the corresponding proposal/Offeror SOW paragraph that addresses the referenced item. The table of contents and cross reference matrix will not count against the page limitation for this volume.

3.1.1. Volume II – Technical

The technical proposal should clearly illustrate the Offeror’s technical solution and how the offeror plans on executing that solution to meet the requirements of the SOW.

3.1.1.1. Sub-factor 1: Facilities and Processes

The proposal shall describe the Offeror’s facilities and processes with the elements listed.

Key elements to be addressed:

· Types of machines offeror has in house to perform required tasks

· Braiding machinery and spool material

· Specialized Braiding Technology (Metal Braiding, etc.)

· Cutting and Crimping Tools and Methods (Hand, Pneumatic, etc.)

· Wire Marking Methods (Sleeve, Sticker, Laser)

· Insulation Material and Availability (TKT or Kapton)

· Harness Kitting

· Operators technical level

· Subcontract process

· Subcontractors expertise

3.1.1.2. Sub-factor 2: Production and Management Capabilities The proposal shall describe the Offeror’s production and management elements listed in the SOW.

Key elements to be addressed:

· Heat shrink

· Assembly (i.e. installation of connectors, application of sheathing)

· Quality assurance

· Must comply with SAE AS9100

· Must comply with SAE AS9102 and deliver Forms 1, 2, and 3, if applicable, of aforementioned specification with each delivery. The Government reserves the right to make final determination of applicability.

· Must have familiarity and compliance with 16PR145 Contractor will identify all significant risks and mitigation strategies associated with the initial delivery order requirements and the offeror’s approach for fulfilling the requirement.

· Kit packaging, delivery, and tracking

· Workforce (production, shipping, etc.)

· Procurement of required materials and parts

3.1.1.3. Sub-factor 3: Sample Task/Initial Delivery Order (IDO) The proposal shall describe the Offeror’s ability to meet the requirements listed in the Sample Task/IDO per the elements listed in the SOW. Offeror shall include a response to the Sample Task/IDO attached to the RFP. Offeror shall include a work breakdown structure (WBS) for the Sample Task/IDO. Pricing shall not be included in this volume. The response to this sub factor shall address the following:

· Note that the exception in SOW 9.1.1. does not apply to the Sample Task/IDO. The contractor shall propose to the requested delivery schedule.

The Government reserves the right to award the IDO as proposed by the offeror.

NOTE: The technical proposal should be specific and complete. Legibility, clarity and coherence are very important. Your response to the factors will be evaluated in accordance with Section M of the solicitation. All the requirements specified in the solicitation are mandatory. By your proposal submission you are representing that your firm will perform all the requirements specified in the RFP. It is not necessary or desirable for you to tell us so in the proposal. Do not merely reiterate the objective or reformulate the requirements specified in the solicitation.

3.1.2. Proposal Organization:

The Technical Proposal shall be organized according to the following general outline:

Table of Contents

Glossary

Factor 1- Technical

3.2. FACTOR 2--PRICE PROPOSAL

Completion of the RFP and Sample Task will represent the price proposal.

4. CONTRACT DOCUMENTATION

4.1

Model Contract/Representations and Certifications:

The purpose of this section is to provide information to the Government for preparing the contract document and supporting file. The offeror's proposal shall include a signed copy of the Model Contract, and Sections A through K. The Basic IDIQ will not have pricing. Pricing for Section B will only be provided on the IDO. The offeror needs to fill out the front page and sign and return the solicitation as well as all amendments that may be issued. The contractor also needs to provide any other fills throughout the solicitation where designated.

4.1. Exceptions to Terms and Conditions:

Offerors are required to meet all solicitation requirements, including terms and conditions, representations and certifications, and technical requirements. 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. Each exception shall be specifically related to each paragraph and/or specific part of the solicitation to which the exception is taken. Provide rationale in support of the exception and fully explain its impact, if any, on the performance, schedule, cost, and specific requirements of the solicitation. This information shall be provided in the format and content of Table 1. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the solicitation may result in the offeror being ineligible for award.

Table 1—Solicitation Exceptions

SOLICITATION

Document Paragraph/

Page Requirement/

Portion Rationale

SOO, SOW, SPEC

Model Contract, ITO, etc.

Applicable Page and Paragraph

Numbers

4.2. Other Information Required:

Authorized Offeror Personnel: Provide the name, title and telephone number of the company/division point of contact regarding decisions made with respect to your proposal and who can obligate your company contractually. Also, identify those individuals authorized to negotiate with the Government.

Government Offices: Provide the mailing address, telephone and fax numbers and facility codes for the cognizant Contract Administration Office, DCAA, and Government Paying Office. Also, provide the name and telephone and fax number for the Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO).

Company/Division Address, Identifying Codes, and Applicable Designations: Provide company/division's street address, county and facility code; CAGE code; DUNS code; size of business (large or small); and labor surplus area designation. This same information must be provided if the work for this contract will be performed at any other location(s). List all locations where work is to be performed and indicate whether such facility is a division, affiliate, or subcontractor, and the percentage of work to be performed at each location.

4.3 Small Business Status

This contract is a Small Business Set-Aside. Offeror shall be active in the System for Award Management (SAM) and shall meet/include evidence that they meet the small business restrictions for NAICS 336413. Offeror shall provide the address and CAGE code associated with the SAM entry. Offerors who cannot comply with the small business restrictions will be ineligible for award.