Section_L_15_AUG_2017_(Final).docx

Section L - Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors

52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at this/these addresses:

http://farsite.hill.af.mil

PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

52.204-7 System for Award Management OCT 2016

OCT 2010

PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY FULL TEXT

52.216-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1984)

The Government contemplates award of a Firm Fixed Price contract resulting from this solicitation.

252.227-7017 IDENTIFICATION AND ASSERTION OF USE, RELEASE, OR DISCLOSURE RESTRICTIONS (JAN 2011)

(a) The terms used in this provision are defined in following clause or clauses contained in this solicitation—

(1) If a successful offeror will be required to deliver technical data, the Rights in Technical Data--Noncommercial Items clause, or, if this solicitation contemplates a contract under the Small Business Innovation Research Program, the Rights in Noncommercial Technical Data and Computer Software--Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program clause.

(2) If a successful offeror will not be required to deliver technical data, the Rights in Noncommercial Computer Software and Noncommercial Computer Software Documentation clause, or, if this solicitation contemplates a contract under the Small Business Innovation Research Program, the Rights in Noncommercial Technical Data and Computer Software--Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program clause.

(b) The identification and assertion requirements in this provision apply only to technical data, including computer software documentation, or computer software to be delivered with other than unlimited rights. For contracts to be awarded under the Small Business Innovation Research Program, the notification and identification requirements do not apply to technical data or computer software that will be generated under the resulting contract. Notification and identification is not required for restrictions based solely on copyright.

(c) Offers submitted in response to this solicitation shall identify, to the extent known at the time an offer is submitted to the Government, the technical data or computer software that the Offeror, its subcontractors or suppliers, or potential subcontractors or suppliers, assert should be furnished to the Government with restrictions on use, release, or disclosure.

(d) The Offeror's assertions, including the assertions of its subcontractors or suppliers or potential subcontractors or suppliers, shall be submitted as an attachment to its offer in the following format, dated and signed by an official authorized to contractually obligate the Offeror:

Identification and Assertion of Restrictions on the Government's Use, Release, or Disclosure of Technical Data or Computer Software.

The Offeror asserts for itself, or the persons identified below, that the Government's rights to use, release, or disclose the following technical data or computer software should be restricted:

Technical Data or

Computer Software

Name of Person

*For technical data (other than computer software documentation) pertaining to items, components, or processes developed at private expense, identify both the deliverable technical data and each such item, component, or process. For computer software or computer software documentation identify the software or documentation.

**Generally, development at private expense, either exclusively or partially, is the only basis for asserting restrictions. For technical data, other than computer software documentation, development refers to development of the item, component, or process to which the data pertain. The Government's rights in computer software documentation generally may not be restricted. For computer software, development refers to the software. Indicate whether development was accomplished exclusively or partially at private expense. If development was not accomplished at private expense, or for computer software documentation, enter the specific basis for asserting restrictions.

***Enter asserted rights category (e.g., government purpose license rights from a prior contract, rights in SBIR data generated under another contract, limited, restricted, or government purpose rights under this or a prior contract, or specially negotiated licenses).

****Corporation, individual, or other person, as appropriate.

*****Enter “none” when all data or software will be submitted without restrictions.

(End of identification and assertion)

52.233-2 SERVICE OF PROTEST (SEP 2006)

(a) Protests, as defined in section 33.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, that are filed directly with an agency, and copies of any protests that are filed with the General Accounting Office (GAO), shall be served on the Contracting Officer (addressed as follows) by obtaining written and dated acknowledgment of receipt from:

(b) The copy of any protest shall be received in the office designated above within one day of filing a protest with the GAO.

52.252-5 AUTHORIZED DEVIATIONS IN PROVISIONS (APR 1984)

(a) The use in this solicitation of any Federal Acquisition Regulation (48 CFR Chapter 1) provision with an authorized deviation is indicated by the addition of"(DEVIATION)" after the date of the provision.

(b) The use in this solicitation of any Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (48 CFR Chapter 2) provision with an authorized deviation is indicated by the addition of "(DEVIATION)" after the name of the regulation.

L-1 SPECIAL NOTICE TO OFFEROR

L-1.1 Failure to submit any of the information requested by this solicitation may be cause for unfavorable consideration.

L-1.2 Upon receipt, all proposals become Government property. After contract award, the unsuccessful offerors will be required to return to the Government all information, data, drawings, specifications, etc., provided to the offerors by the Government.

L-1.3 Funds are not presently available for this contract. The Government's obligation under this contract is contingent upon the availability of funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise until funds are made available to the Contracting Officer for this contract and until the Contractor receives notice of such availability, to be confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer. The Government reserves the right to phase the project based upon funds available. The phases will be based on the successful offeror's cost proposal submitted in accordance with Section L herein.

L-2 NON-RELEASABILITY OF RFP DOCUMENTS

The documents contained in the RFP contain sensitive information; therefore the Offeror may not release the RFP documents, including attachments and any other documents or drawings provided, to the general public without prior permission from the Contracting Officer. After contract award, the unsuccessful offeror will be required to return to the Government all information, data, drawings, specifications, etc., provided to the offeror by the Government, including copies of those documents made by the offeror.

L-3 SOLICITATION RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS

L-3.1 GENERAL

The Offeror shall submit documentation illustrating their approach for satisfying the requirements of this solicitation. Proposals must be clear, coherent, and prepared in sufficient detail for effective evaluation of the offeror’s proposal against the evaluation criteria. Also, this documentation shall cover all aspects of this solicitation and include the Offeror’s approach for integration and program management activities. Proposals must clearly demonstrate how the Offeror intends to accomplish the project and must include convincing rationale and substantiation of all claims. Unnecessarily elaborate brochures or other presentations beyond those sufficient to present a complete effective response to the solicitation are not desired.

The Offeror shall describe its proposal, through the use of graphs, charts, diagrams and narrative, in sufficient detail for the Government to understand and evaluate the nature of the approach. In its evaluation and confidence assessment, the Government will consider the degree of substantiation of the proposed approaches in the proposal volumes and in response to any discussions if the Contracting Officer determines discussions to be necessary. The Government intends to evaluate proposals and award a contract without discussions with offereors. Therefore the offeror’s initial proposal should contain the offeror’s best terms from a cost or price and technical standpoint. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if the Contracting Officer later determines them to be necessary.

All correspondence in conjunction with this solicitation should be directed to the Government's Point of Contacts (POCs) identified below:

Ms. Shane C. Lomelin Contracting Officer Phone: 703-588-0196 E-mail: afosr.pk.stfp@us.af.mil

L-3.2 PROPOSAL VOLUMES REQUIREMENTS

The proposal shall be accompanied by a cover letter (letter of transmittal) prepared on the company’s letterhead stationery. The cover letter (letter of transmittal) shall identify all enclosures being transmitted and shall be used only to transmit the proposal and shall include no other information. The first or title page shall be in accordance with FAR 52.215-1, paragraph (c)(2).

3.2.1 Cross Reference Matrix. The following Cross Reference Matrix chart contains further descriptions of the information that shall be provided with the proposal. Offerors shall complete the Proposal Paragraph column for evaluation criteria for all items detailed below in Table 1: Cross Reference Matrix.

Table 1

Volume

Page Limit

I. Executive Summary

L-5.4

II. Technical Mission Capability

Marketing Plan;

PWS Para 5.1.2, 5.1.2.1, 5.1.2.2.g

Panel Members;

Para 1.3.b, 5.1.1.d, and 5.1.3

Evaluation/Selection Process;

PWS Para 5.1.1.a and 5.1.3.a

Program Management;

PWS Para 5.1.4

III. Relevant Past Performance

IV. Cost/Price

*see L-5.2.2 for additional details

L-3.2.2 Page Limitations. The cover letter, title page, table of contents, table of figures, list of tables and glossary of abbreviations & acronyms do not count against page count limitations. Proposal contents that exceed the stated page limitations above will be removed from the proposal by the Contracting Officer, prior to turning the proposal over to the Government evaluation teams, and will not be considered in the evaluation.

L-3.2.3 Format. Text shall be single-spaced, on 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper (except as specifically noted), with a minimum one-inch margin all around. Print shall be of a minimum 12-point font size or a maximum 10 characters per inch (10-pitch, pica) spacing. Bolding, underlining, and italics may be used to identify topic demarcations or points of emphasis. Graphic presentations, including tables, while not subject to the same font size and spacing requirements, shall have spacing and text that is easily readable.

Each volume in the proposal shall include a copy of the cover letter (letter of transmittal), title page and table of contents. The table of contents shall list sections, subsections and page numbers. Each volume shall contain a glossary of all abbreviations and acronyms used. Each acronym used shall be spelled out in the text the first time it appears in each proposal volume.

Offeror shall submit all proposal information in electronic format via email. Text and graphics portions of the electronic copies shall be in a format readable by Microsoft (MS) Office 2013, MS Word 2013. Data submitted in spreadsheet format shall be readable by MS Office 2013, MS Excel 2013. Volumes may contain links, but only to documents/ spreadsheets that have been submitted as part of the proposal.

Offerors shall submit two (2) copies of Volume II Technical Mission Capability, one redacted version removing offeror identifying information and one un-redacted version.

L-3.2.4 Submission Due Dates. All volumes must be received prior to 12:00 Noon EST, {Date TBD}. Late submissions will not be accepted.

L-3.2.5 Restriction Of Disclosure/Proprietary Information. If the Offeror wishes to restrict the disclosure or use of its proposal, use the legend permitted by FAR 52.215-1(e). Individual subcontractor/vendor proprietary information may be submitted via email. The information must be referenced (page and section number, as appropriate) within the main proposal where the information would have been included if it were not subcontractor/vendor proprietary. This information is subject to all other requirements of the RFP and must be well marked to clearly indicate any special handling instructions.

L-3.2.6 Electronic Submission of Proposal. (a) Offerors shall submit electronic proposals to Shane Lomelin at afosr.pk.stfp@us.af.mil. Offerors must identify the RFP number in the Subject Line of the email and should include “# of #” if multiple emails are required for submission of entire proposal. Offerors are advised to submit electronic documents early and confirm successful transmission/receipt. Offerors also may want to consider sending more than one email to ensure size limitations will not hinder transmission. Offerors must ensure that proposal is received by the Government by submission due date.

(b) The Offeror must ensure that:

(1) It has verified that the electronic proposals are free of computer viruses using standard commercial anti-virus software;

(2) It has verified that its electronic proposal is readable on the hardware and software operating system format specified below:

Text and graphics portions of the electronic copies shall be in a format readable by Microsoft (MS) Office 2013, MS Word 2013. Data submitted in spreadsheet format shall be readable by MS Office 2013, MS Excel 2013.

(c) A proposal that fails to conform to the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) above may be subject to interception or delay at Governmental electronic communications portals. This interception or delay may result in the proposal being lost, deleted, destroyed, or forwarded in such a manner that the proposal arrives at the target destination past the time and date of the deadline for submission established in the solicitation. In the event that a proposal is lost, deleted, or destroyed due to the Offeror's failure to conform to the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) above, such proposal will be considered to have never been delivered to the Government. In the event that a proposal is delayed due to the Offeror's failure to conform to the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) above, the proposal will be treated as late in accordance with the provision of this solicitation entitled Late Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals of Proposals.

L-3.3 COMMUNICATION WITH THE CONTRACTING OFFICE

Solicitation information and amendments will be posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website at www.fbo.gov. Offerors may e-mail written questions within seven (7) calendar days of the release of this RFP requesting clarification of the RFP to the Government via the Contracting Officer, Ms. Shane Lomelin, at: afosr.pk.stfp@us.af.mil. Questions received after this date may not be answered. Only proposals submitted in accordance with Section L-5.2 entitled “Proposal Volume Requirements” of this solicitation will be accepted.

L-3.4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FACTOR VOLUME REQUIREMENTS (VOLUME I)

L-3.4.1 General. The Executive Summary shall describe key elements and unique features of each offeror’s proposal. The salient features shall tie in with Section M evaluation criteria. This section provides the offeror the opportunity to describe, explain, and substantiate the significant features of their offer. The offeror shall describe the basic concepts to be analyzed, include key vendors that will participate and or team. Describe the offeror’s key milestones. Any summary material presented here shall not be considered as meeting the requirements for any portions of other volumes of the proposal. It shall address in summary form the program objectives and approach, as well as a top level program schedule.

L-3.4.2 The offeror shall show the relationship of this program to the overall company structure and the function and responsibility of major subcontractors and contain as a minimum the following:

L-3.4.2.1 General organizational experiences and background of offeror on similar programs.

L-3.4.2.2 Estimated extent of subcontracting anticipated together with a list of items or effort to be subcontracted.

L-3.4.2.3 Table of Contents. A master table of contents of the entire proposal shall also be included in the volume.

L-3.5 TECHNICAL MISSION CAPABILITY (VOLUME II)

The Technical Mission Capability Volume shall be organized in the following format:

Sub-Factor 4 Program Management Sub-Factor 5 Small Business Participation Commitment Document

L-3.5.1 Sub-Factor 1 - Marketing Plan. The Offeror shall submit a marketing plan to provide outreach and promotion of the STFP program that logically results in locating and attracting diversified significant interest of relevant research capabilities of highly qualified successful Ph.D. scientists and engineers to conduct research of relevance to USAF laboratories. The plan shall include the contractor’s established relationship with academic institutions (Tier I-III schools, HBCUs/MIs, etc.) and professional scientific societies/organizations. IAW Performance Work Statement (PWS) Para 5.1.2, 5.1.2.1, 5.1.2.2.g.

L-3.5.2 Sub-Factor 2 – Evaluation of Panel Members. The Offeror shall submit a plan that illustrates its capability to control and ensure the quality of an independent review panel as demonstrated by the mixture of recognized experts and distinguished/recognized endowed chairs’ qualifications, associations (academia, industry and/or government) in at least five different scientific & engineering research disciplines. IAW PWS Para 1.3.b, 5.1.1.d, and 5.1.3.

L-3.5.3 Sub-Factor 3– Evaluation/Selection Process of Applicants, Government Research Advisors and Proposed Research Topics. The Offeror shall submit a plan that illustrates their objectivity of the proposed process to ensure the eligibility of applicants, Government research advisor candidates and respective proposed research topics, details post-award review results in written reports to include research proposal, qualitative rating of proposal (positive and negative), & compensation package, and provides a list of managed and executed review boards within last 5 years (01 January 2012 – Present). IAW PWS Para 5.1.1. and 5.1.3.a.

L-3.5.4 Sub-Factor 4– Program Management. The Offeror shall submit a plan that demonstrates and logically results in the successful administration, management, and execution of all logistical processes necessary to obtain the effort of the government’s selectee research at all possible beneficiary locations. The plan shall include the offeror’s established financial system for payments of stipends, benefits, and travel allowances, financial tracking and reporting system of monthly disbursements for research associates stipends, benefits, travels, and other allowances (if applicable), electronic administrative reporting file system for research associates to include type of research, length of tenure, research locations, research presentations, pending or awarded patents, and other research awards, and compliance practices to align with Privacy Act of 1974 for maintaining, handling, and transmitting of data/reports/analysis. IAW PWS Para 5.1.4.

L-3.5.5 Sub-Factor 5– Small Business Participation Commitment Document. The Offeror shall provide a narrative detailing the corporate commitment and specific steps taken to identify sources and provide subcontracting opportunities for small businesses. Large business offerors shall not utilize the Small Business Subcontracting Plan in the place of the Small Business Commitment Document.

L-3.5.5.1 Format and Specific Content: The offeror shall submit a Small Business Participation Commitment Document for itself and any joint venture member, as well as each proposed critical subcontractor. The Small Business Participation Commitment Document shall address each of the following elements in the proposed performance of this resultant contract:

The extent of participation of proposed Small Businesses (SB) when subcontracting possibilities exist, including the company names with CAGE codes the offeror plans to use in the performance of this resultant contract; and, The description of the subcontracted work these proposed firms are to perform; and, The associated goals expressed in terms of percentages of the total planned subcontracted dollars. If limited or no subcontracting possibilities exist for these socio-economic entities, provide rationale for such. Offerors are cautioned against only acknowledging a goal is not met, if applicable. Rather, adequate rationale includes specific reasons why a goal is unmet and any actions being taken to increase any unmet goals. Additionally, if the offeror/joint venture member/critical subcontractor is a small business concern, it should include the work it will be performing when calculating the goals for your Small Business Participation Commitment information.

L-3.6 RELEVANT PAST PERFORMANCE FACTOR REQUIREMENTS (VOLUME III)

L-3.6.1 General. Each offeror shall submit a present and past performance volume with its proposal. This volume shall provide a list of recent and relevant contracts on which the offeror has performed, in the format requested below. This information, as well as other information the government may obtain elsewhere, will be used to evaluate the offeror’s past performance. Offerors are notified that the Government will use the data provided in this volume that is determined to be current and relevant to the effort at hand and data obtained from other sources in the development of performance risk assessments.

L-3.6.2 Recent and Relevant Contracts. Submit information on up to five contracts or grants that you consider recent and relevant in demonstrating your ability to perform the proposed effort. Explain how and why you consider the examples provided are recent and relevant. This information shall include data on efforts performed by other divisions, corporate management, critical subcontractors, or teaming contractors, if such resources will be brought to bear or significantly influence the performance of the proposed effort. The following format should be used to list recent and relevant contracts. Recent is defined as work that is ongoing or was completed in the last three years from, and for which the work began at least 6 months prior to, the date of this solicitation issuance. For each contract/grant, provide the following information:

L-3.6.2.1 Company/Division Name

L-3.6.2.2 Program Title

L-3.6.2.3 Contracting Agency or Customer

L-3.6.2.4 Contract Number

L-3.6.2.5 A brief description of the contract effort and relevance to the effort being proposed

L-3.6.2.6 Type of Contract

L-3.6.2.7 Period of Performance

L-3.6.2.8 Original contract Dollar Value and Final (or Current Estimated) Contract Dollar Value, and brief description or reason for the difference

L-3.6.2.9 Original completion date and current completion date, address whether effort included subcontracting plan (if so, provide information on compliance with subcontracting plan goals for Small disadvantaged business concerns, actual obtained versus goal, stated in dollars and percentages.)

L-3.6.2.10 Name address, and telephone number of current (or last, if contract has been completed) program director/manager, and the contracting officer.

L-3.6.2.11 Discuss any significant achievements and explain any past performance problems considered relevant to the proposed effort.

L-3.6.3 No Applicable Past Performance Information. If an offeror has no recent or relevant past performance information they should state that in this volume. The absence of any applicable past performance will be evaluated neither favorably nor unfavorably. However, the Government reserves the right to determine whether any relevant past performance information exists and is relevant notwithstanding the alleged absence thereof by any offeror.

L-3.7 COST FACTOR REQUIREMENTS (VOLUME IV)

L-3.7.1 Offerors shall –

L-3.7.1.1 Provide these Cost Proposal Instructions to anticipated subcontractors. Proprietary subcontractor data must be submitted directly to the Government in accordance with Proposal Preparation instructions in this announcement.

L-3.7.1.2 Ensure all rate data and estimating factors in the proposal have been submitted for review to the cognizant Defense Contract Audit Agency prior to cost proposal submission.

L-3.7.1.3 Submit a summary by major cost element for the entire period of performance. The detail required for each major cost element below should provide supporting rationale to explain the methodology used to project the price. Address all cost elements applicable to the proposed effort and provide a narrative to support costs. The cost proposal should not exceed twelve (12) pages.

a. Direct Labor - Show each proposed labor category on a separate row. When job classification or position titles (e.g. “Senior Scientist”, Technician” or “Lead Engineer”) are used, provide narrative descriptions of related qualifications, duties, and responsibilities as an attachment to the cost proposal.

b. Indirect Cost Rates and/or Factors - Identify all indirect cost rates (such as, fringe benefits, labor overhead, material overhead, G&A, Cost of Money (COM), etc.) and applicable allocation bases. If composite rates are used, provide the calculations used in deriving the composite rates. Identify the basis of proposed rates (e.g., Forward Pricing Rate Agreement and date of agreement, bidding rates and the date of submission, actual rates used and the effective date, billing rates and the date of approval, etc.).

c. ODCs- Separately identify costs for material, and other direct costs required to perform each year. Provide an itemized, priced list of all proposed equipment, materials and supplies. Provide a breakout and explanation of all other proposed ODCs.

L.3.8 SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTING PLAN (if applicable).

L.3.8.1 Submit a subcontracting plan in accordance with FAR 19.705-2 that complies with FAR 52.219-9 and DFARS 252.219-7003.