Section_L.pdf

SECTION L

Instructions to Offerors

1. PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

A. General Guidance

1. To assure timely and equitable evaluation of proposals, offerors must follow the instructions contained herein. Offerors are required to meet all solicitation requirements, including terms and conditions, representations and certifications, and technical requirements, in addition to those identified as evaluation factors or subfactors. Offerors must clearly identify any exception to the solicitation terms and conditions and provide complete accompanying rationale. The response shall consist of two (2) separate parts;

Part I – Technical Volume, Part II – Price Volume.

2. The contracting officer has determined there is a high probability of adequate price competition in this acquisition. Upon examination of the initial offers, the contracting officer will review this determination and if, in the contracting officer's opinion, adequate price competition exists no additional data will be requested and certification under FAR 15.406-2 will not be required. However, if at any time during this competition the contracting officer determines that adequate price competition no longer exists; offerors may be required to submit cost data to the extent necessary for the contracting officer to determine the reasonableness and affordability of the price.

3. Documents submitted in response to this RFP must be fully responsive to and consistent with the following:

a. Instructions in Section L.

b. Requirements of the RFP (CLINs & TWS) and government standards and regulations pertaining to the TWS.

c. Evaluation Factors for Award in Section M of this RFP.

B. Clarity of Proposal

The proposal shall be clear, concise, and include sufficient detail for effective evaluation and substantiating the validity of stated claims. The proposal shall 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 its facilities, capabilities, and experience and will base the evaluation solely on the information presented in the offeror's proposal.

C. What Not to Submit

Offerors shall not submit elaborate brochures or documentation, binding, detailed artwork, or other embellishments.

D. Period for acceptance of offers

The offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 90 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers, unless another time period is specified in an addendum to the solicitation.

E. Multiple Offers

The Government will only accept one (1) proposal per offeror. Multiple offers will not be accepted.

F. Late submissions, modifications, revisions, and withdrawals of offers.

1. Offerors are responsible for submitting offers, and any modifications, revisions, or withdrawals, so as to reach the Government office designated in the solicitation by the time specified in the solicitation. If no time is specified in the solicitation, the time for receipt is 2:00 p.m., local time, for the designated Government office on the date that offers or revisions are due.

2. Any offer, modification, revision, or withdrawal of an offer received at the Government office designated in the solicitation after the exact time specified for receipt of offers is "late" and will not be considered unless it is received before award is made, the Contracting Officer determines that accepting the late offer would not unduly delay the acquisition; and-

a. There is acceptable evidence to establish that it was received at the Government installation designated for receipt of offers and was under the Government's control prior to the time set for receipt of offers; or

b. If this solicitation is a request for proposals, it was the only proposal received.

3. However, a late modification of an otherwise successful offer, that makes its terms more favorable to the Government, will be considered at any time it is received and may be accepted. Acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at the Government installation includes the time/date stamp of that installation on the offer wrapper, other documentary evidence of receipt maintained by the installation, or oral testimony or statements of Government personnel.

4. If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal Government processes so that offers cannot be received at the Government office designated for receipt of offers by the exact time specified in the solicitation, and urgent Government requirements preclude amendment of the solicitation or other notice of an extension of the closing date, the time specified for receipt of offers will be deemed to be extended to the same time of day specified in the solicitation on the first work day on which normal Government processes resume.

5. Offers may be withdrawn by written notice received at any time before the exact time set for receipt of offers. Oral offers in response to oral solicitations may be withdrawn orally.

If the solicitation authorizes facsimile offers, offers may be withdrawn via facsimile received at any time before the exact time set for receipt of offers, subject to the conditions specified in the solicitation concerning facsimile offers. An offer may be withdrawn in person by an offeror or its authorized representative if, before the exact time set for receipt of offers, the identity of the person requesting withdrawal is established and the person signs a receipt for the offer.

G. Contract award

The Government intends to evaluate offers and award a contract without discussions with offerors. Therefore, the offeror's 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 later determined by the Contracting Officer to be necessary. The Government may reject any or all offers if such action is in the public interest; accept other than the lowest offer; and waive informalities and minor irregularities in offers received.

H. System for Award Management (SAM) Registration

System for Award Management (SAM) Registration. Unless exempted by an addendum to this solicitation, by submission of an offer, the offeror acknowledges the requirement that a prospective awardee shall be registered in the SAM database prior to award, during performance and through final payment of any contract resulting from this solicitation. If the Offeror does not become registered in the SAM database in the time prescribed by the Contracting Officer, The Contracting Officer will proceed to award to the next otherwise successful registered Offeror.

Offerors may obtain information on registration and annual confirmation requirements via the SAM database accessed through <https://www.acquisition.gov>.

I. Point of Contact (POC)

Exchanges of Source Selection information between Government and offerors will be controlled by the Contracting Officer. All inquiries regarding this solicitation must be submitted in writing (email) to Sean.Graves.2@us.af.mil and Jessica.Vetter.1@us.af.mil. Questions will be accepted and answered until 29 Mar 2019 at 2:00PM ET).

J. Debriefings

The Contracting Officer will notify unsuccessful offerors in the competitive range of the source selection decision in accordance with FAR 15.506. Upon such notification, unsuccessful offerors may request and receive a debriefing. Offerors desiring a debriefing must make their request in accordance with the requirements of FAR 15.506, as applicable.

K. Cost or Pricing Information

All cost and pricing information shall be addressed ONLY in the Price Volume.

L. Binding and Labeling

The Contractor shall not identify the company name, names of individual personnel, and/or any other information or types of markings that could identify the Contractor anywhere within the Technical Volume.

M. Proposal Submission

Proposals (all volumes) shall be submitted electronically via email by 2:00PM ET, on the date specified in this RFP to Jessica.Vetter.1@us.af.mil and hard-copy to:

AFLCMC/PZIEB

Attn: Jessica Vetter Bldg 16, Room 128 2275 D Street Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7228

2. SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS:

A. General

1. Proposals shall be submitted to the Government in three separate volumes as set forth below:

Volume Page Limits Number of Copies Description

I n/a 1 Completed RFP II 20 1 Technical Proposal III 5 1 Cost/Price Proposal

2. The sealed package used to submit the proposal package must show the time and date specified for receipt. Each volume shall be marked with the RFP number, the offeror’s name and address, and the number of the Volume, i.e. I, II, III, etc. Proposals shall be in the English language and all monies shall be proposed in United States dollars.

3. Print shall be no smaller than a font size of 12 and should be on 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper.

Each volume within the proposal shall be separately tabbed and identified. Margins shall be no smaller than 1 inch and each page within a volume shall be numbered consecutively. Elaborate formats, bindings, or color presentations are not desired or required.

4. The page limitation for Volume II, Technical Proposal, is 20 pages. The page limitation includes any charts, graphs, drawings, diagrams, supporting illustrations, spreadsheets, etc., but excludes any cover page, table of contents or list of acronyms (if utilized).

Offerors are cautioned that any pages that exceed the page limitations shall not be read but shall be removed and either retained in the contract file without being considered in the evaluation, or, sent back to the offeror.

5. Each page containing proprietary information should be so marked.

6. Each page should contain the following legend at the bottom of each sheet:

SOURCE SELECTION INFORMATION--SEE FAR 2.101 and 3.104

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

7. Reference Attachment 4, Contract Security Classification Specification (DD254) for information regarding access to classified information.

B. Volume I – Completed RFP

1. Volume I, Completed RFP shall consist of the completed and signed RFP, to include any amendments issued, with a cover letter delineating any exceptions taken to the RFP terms and conditions with accompanying rationale. However, offerors are cautioned that any noncompliance with the terms and conditions of the RFP may cause their proposal to be determined not eligible for award. Offerors shall ensure that all clauses and provisions that require “fill-in” information are appropriately completed, including the proposed prices associated with the contract line items in the Schedule of the RFP.

C. Volume II – Technical Proposal

1. The technical proposal volume shall not make reference to cost or price data.

2. The hardcopy Technical Volume shall be secured in a ring or tab binder (hard or soft cover) with a removable cover sheet identifying (at a minimum) the solicitation number, project title, offeror name, address and Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. The electronic copy shall match the contents of the hardcopy.

3. No information identifying the offeror shall be included elsewhere in the technical proposal. Inclusion of company names, addresses or DUNS within the body of the Technical Proposal, including in headers or footers, will be considered non-responsive and may not be given further consideration.

4. Technical Subfactors

a. Each proposal shall address the offeror’s proposed approach to meeting the minimum requirements of each Technical Subfactor, as described in Section M Evaluation Criteria.

i. Subfactor 1: Technical Assistance.

ii. Subfactor 2: Provide expert systems/equipment advice and recommendations.

iii. Subfactor 3: Experience Level.

D. Volume III – Cost/Price Proposal

1. The hardcopy Cost/Price Volume shall be secured in a separate ring or tab binder (hard or soft cover) with a cover sheet identifying (at a minimum) the solicitation number, project title, offeror name and address and company point of contact (POC). An associated email address for correspondence shall be included. The price proposal shall be separate from the Technical Volume. The electronic copy shall match the contents of the hardcopy.

2. A Summary Pricing sheet shall be inserted after the cover sheet in the Cost/Price

Volume. This summary shall delineate each Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) price and the Total Evaluated Price (TEP).

3. The cover page of all RFP Amendments (if necessary) shall be signed and placed in the

Cost/Price Volume (tabbed) after the Summary Pricing sheet.

4. Insert proposed unit prices and extended prices for CLINs 1001, 2001, and 3001 on the lines provided on the SF 33.

5. All prices, to include both unit prices and total CLIN prices, shall be typed or printed legibly and be fully and clearly understandable.

6. The Cost/Price Volume shall also include a completed copy of Section K

Representations and Certifications.

7. The Government is providing a cost estimate for Travel on this basic contract in the amount of $0 for each Travel (CLIN). The offeror shall use this value as proposed Travel costs. Travel will be reimbursed on a cost reimbursable basis. No profit or fee will be paid on Travel costs.

8. The Government is providing a cost estimate for Relocation on this basic contract in the amount of $0 for each Relocation CLIN. The offeror shall use this value as proposed Relocation costs. Relocation will be reimbursed on a cost reimbursable basis. No profit or fee will be paid on Relocation costs.

9. Notice to Offeror(s)/Supplier(s): Funds are not presently available for this effort. No award will be made under this solicitation until funds are available. The Government reserves the right to cancel this solicitation, either before or after the closing date. In the event the Government cancels this solicitation, the Government has no obligation to reimburse an offeror for any costs.