Atch 6- FOCIS V Section M (Mar 2025).pdf

Mar 11 2025

SECTION M

EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

1. GENERAL

1.1 - Basis for Contract Award

This is a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection conducted in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation, as supplemented by the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and Department of the Air Force Federal Acquisition Regulation (DAFFARS).

Award will be made to the lowest priced offeror whose proposal conforms to the solicitation requirements and who is found to be Technically Acceptable. The Government will organize the proposals in order of Total Evaluated Price (TEP) and will evaluate the technical approach of the lowest priced offeror first. The Government will evaluate proposals in ascending order of price until two technically acceptable proposals are found.

Award shall be made to the lower price of the two proposals without further consideration to any other offers. While the Government will strive for maximum objectivity, the source selection process, by its nature, is subjective; therefore, professional judgment is implicit throughout the entire process.

1.2 – Number of Contracts to be awarded

The Government intends to award one D-type contract for the Fiber Optic Cable & Installation Support (FOCIS V)

1.3 – Correction Potential of Proposals

The Government will consider, throughout the evaluation, the "correction potential" of any deficiency. The judgment of such "correction potential" is within the sole discretion of the Government. If an aspect of an offeror's proposal does not meet the Government's requirements and is not considered correctable, the offeror may be eliminated from the competitive range.

1.4 – Discussions

The Government reserves the right and fully intends to award this contract without discussions based on the initial proposal received. If, during the evaluation period, it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government to hold discussions, a competitive range will be established in accordance with FAR 15.306(c).

1502058009C Cross-Out

1502058009C Cross-Out

In the event, Offeror responses to discussion Evaluation Notices (ENs) and the Final Proposal Revision (FPR) will be considered in making the source selection decision. If the offeror’s proposal has been evaluated as Acceptable at the time discussions are closed, any changes or exceptions in the FPR are subject to evaluation and may introduce risk that the offeror’s proposal be determined Unacceptable, and thus, ineligible for award.

The Government may reject any proposal from this competition prior to evaluating the proposal against the Evaluation Factors if an initial assessment of the proposal shows the proposal to be grossly deficient. A grossly deficient proposal is a proposal that fails to address essential requirements of the RFP or fails to furnish information demonstrating compliance with mandatory requirements set forth in the RFP and does not represent a reasonable initial effort by the Offeror to address the requirements of the RFP.

1.5 – Solicitation Requirements, Terms, and Conditions

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 factors or subfactors. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the solicitation may result in an offeror’s being ineligible for award. Offerors must clearly identify any exception to the solicitation terms and conditions and must provide complete supporting rationale. The Government reserves the right to determine any such exceptions unacceptable and the proposal, therefore, ineligible for award.

2. EVALUATION FACTORS

2.1 Overview

Entry Gate: Relevant Performance History

Factor 1: Technical

The following entry gate, evaluation factors, and subfactors will be used to evaluate proposals as needed. The Government will evaluate Technical subfactors for acceptability.

Subfactor 1: Management Plan Subfactor 2: Quality Assurance

Factor 2: Price

3. ENTRY GATE

3.1 – Entry Gate Overview: The entry gate evaluates whether the offeror has relevant performance history.

A. Prior Contract greater than $50,000 in total value demonstrating one (1) year of recent experience, within the past five years of the RFP release date, that represents outside plant fiber installation and internal structured wiring similar in type and scale identified in the PWS.

B. Experience with outside plant cabling is evidenced by involvement in multiple large-scale projects, including the installation of fiber optic and copper cabling in diverse outdoor environments. Additionally, hands-on experience with conduit installation and boring operations further enhances the technical capabilities.

C. For structured horizontal cabling, the proposal highlights history of installing high-count internal wiring in commercial and industrial settings. Recognizing the latest ANSI/ BICSI standards for cable management installation, and grounding/bonding.

D. Highlighting confined space safety, executing projects requiring confined space entry by adhering to OSHA guidelines and implementing rigorous safety protocols. Recognizing fully trained personnel in confined space entry procedures.

This Gate will be rated on a pass/fail basis per the table below. If the Evaluation Gate is rated Acceptable, the proposal will proceed for evaluation. If the Evaluation Gate is rated as Unacceptable, the proposal will be eliminated from consideration for award and no further evaluation will be conducted.

4. FACTOR 1 TECHNICAL

4.1 – Technical Overview

The Government’s technical evaluation team will evaluate the technical proposals on a pass/ fail basis, assigning one of the ratings described below for each subfactor. Proposals must meet the Measure of Merit within a given subfactor in order for the subfactor to be rated “Acceptable.” Any subfactor evaluated as “Unacceptable” will render the entire proposal unacceptable and, therefore, unawardable. Only those proposals determined to be technically acceptable, either initially or as a result of discussions, will be considered for award.

However, the offeror is reminded that the Government intends to award this effort based on the initial proposal, as received, without discussion.

4.2 Technical Ratings Table

Description: This requirement is met when the offeror's demonstrates technical capability to provide both Inside and Outside plant management and provides proof to meet the requirements of this solicitation.

Measure of Merit:

5. FACTOR 2 PRICE

5.1 Price Overview

Rating Description

Acceptable Proposal meets the requirements of the solicitation.

Unacceptable Proposal does not meet the requirements of the solicitation.

4.5 –Subfactor 3: Technical Capability (PWS Paragraph Section 1)

3.2 – Entry Gate Measure of Merit This entry gate is passed when the proposal provides evidence demonstrating that they have completed the following four criteria within a single contract or no more than (3) prior contracts as highlighted in Section L 3.5A:

4.4 –Subfactor 2: Quality Assurance (PWS Paragraphs 1.3.6, 1.5.2.1, 5.6.4, CDRL A005)

Description: This subfactor will evaluate the offeror’s proposed approach to quality assurance for both Inside and Outside plant management throughout the life of the contract.

Measure of Merit: The measure of merit is met when the offeror's proposal describes a sound approach for quality control.

5. FACTOR 2 PRICE

5.1 Price Overview

Price proposals will be evaluated for (1) completeness, (2) reasonableness, (3) unbalanced pricing, and (4) Total Evaluated Price (TEP). Offerors whose price is determined to be unreasonable will not be considered for award. Proposals that are determined to be incomplete may be ineligible for award. If the Contracting Officer (CO) determines that the lack of balance poses an unacceptable risk to the Government, the offeror may not be eligible for award.

5.2 – Completeness

The Government will review the pricing submissions for completeness and compliance with Section L, Additional Instructions to Offerors of the solicitation and FAR 52.212-1, Evaluation Commercial Products and Commercial Services. Offerors will be evaluated based on their compliance with regards to the Service Contract Labor Standards (formerly called Service Contract Act of 1965), as amended. If not complete and in compliance, the proposal may make the Offeror's proposal ineligible for award.

5.3 - Reasonableness

The offeror’s Price proposal will be evaluated, using one or more of the techniques defined by FAR 15.404 to determine if it is reasonable. For a price to be reasonable, it must represent a price to the Government that a prudent person would pay in the conduct of competitive business. Normally, price reasonableness is established through price analysis techniques as described in FAR 15.404. For additional information see FAR 31.201-3.

Description: This subfactor will evaluate the offeror's approach to managing the contract.

Measure of Merit: The measure of merit is met when the offeror’s proposal describes a sound approach to manage, administer and execute the contract.

4.3 –Subfactor 1: Management Plan (PWS Paragraphs 1.2, 1.5, 1.6.5, 5.6.2)

5.4 Unbalanced Pricing

The Government will conduct an analysis for unbalanced pricing in accordance with FAR 15.404-1(g). Unbalanced pricing exists when, despite an acceptable TEP, a proposed line item is significantly overstated or understated as indicated by the application of price analysis techniques. Unbalanced pricing may increase performance risk and could result in payment of unreasonably high prices. Offerors are cautioned that a proposal may be rejected if unbalanced pricing exists and the Contracting Officer determines that the lack of balance poses an unacceptable risk to the Government. The burden of proof for demonstrating balanced pricing rests with the Offeror.

5.5 Total Evaluated Price (TEP)

The Offeror’s Price Volume will be evaluated based upon the Pricing Matrix (Attachment 3). The TEP will be the summation of all total prices listed for each of the ordering periods. The TEP will be used for evaluation purposes only, and does not necessarily reflect an actual award value of any ensuing contract.

Other:

List of Attachments: Section L attachments listed below are provided as separate files.

• Attachment 1: Performance Work Statement (PWS)

• Attachment 2: CDRLs

• Attachment 3: Pricing Matrix

• Attachment 4: 2015-4731 Wage Determinations

• Attachment 5: DD254

Notice to Offeror: 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.