Solicitation Amendment FA955025RB0010001 SF 30.pdf

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11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended. is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing items 8 and 15, and returning copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER

NUMBER IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

16C. DATE SIGNED

Previous edition unusable STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016) Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1. CONTRACT ID CODE PAGE OF PAGES

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUISITION NUMBER 5. PROJECT NUMBER (If applicable)

6. ISSUED BY CODE 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (X) 9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

CODE FACILITY CODE

SF 30 BLOCK 14 CONTINUATION PAGE

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Section I - Contract Clauses

Additional Regulation or Supplemental Clauses Incorporated by Full Text

The following Clauses modifications were made:

52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract. Feb 2000 hereby reads as follows:

Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (Mar 2000)

The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor within ; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a (a) 30 days preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least days before the contract expires. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an 60 days extension.

If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause.(b)

The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed .(c) 60 months

(End of clause)

The following Clause(s) were deleted:

FAR Clauses Incorporated by Full Text 52.216-7 Allowable Cost and Payment. (Jul 2018)

ALLOWABLE COST AND PAYMENT (AUG 2018)

Invoicing.(a) The Government will make payments to the Contractor when requested as work progresses, but (except for small business concerns) not more (1) often than once every 2 weeks, in amounts determined to be allowable by the Contracting Officer in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart

31.2 in effect on the date of this contract and the terms of this contract. The Contractor may submit to an authorized representative of the Contracting Officer, in such form and reasonable detail as the representative may require, an invoice or voucher supported by a statement of the claimed allowable cost for performing this contract.

(2) Contract financing payments are not subject to the interest penalty provisions of the Prompt Payment Act. Interim payments made prior to the final payment under the contract are contract financing payments, except interim payments if this contract contains Alternate I to the clause at 52.232-25.

(3) The designated payment office will make interim payments for contract financing on the [Contracting Officer insert day as prescribed by agency head; if 30th not prescribed, insert "30th"] day after the designated billing office receives a proper payment request. In the event that the Government requires an audit or other review of a specific payment request to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the contract, the designated payment office is not compelled to make payment by the specified due date.

Reimbursing costs.(b) For the purpose of reimbursing allowable costs (except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this clause, with respect to pension, deferred (1) profit sharing, and employee stock ownership plan contributions), the term "costs" includes only-

(i) Those recorded costs that, at the time of the request for reimbursement, the Contractor has paid by cash, check, or other form of actual payment for items or services purchased directly for the contract;

(ii) When the Contractor is not delinquent in paying costs of contract performance in the ordinary course of business, costs incurred, but not necessarily paid, for-

(A) Supplies and services purchased directly for the contract and associated financing payments to subcontractors, provided payments determined due will be made-

(1) In accordance with the terms and conditions of a subcontract or invoice; and

(2) Ordinarily within 30 days of the submission of the Contractor's payment request to the Government;

(B) Materials issued from the Contractor's inventory and placed in the production process for use on the contract;

(C) Direct labor;

(D) Direct travel;

(E) Other direct in-house costs; and

(F) Properly allocable and allowable indirect costs, as shown in the records maintained by the Contractor for purposes of obtaining reimbursement under Government contracts; and

(iii) The amount of financing payments that have been paid by cash, check, or other forms of payment to subcontractors.

(2) Accrued costs of Contractor contributions under employee pension plans shall be excluded until actually paid unless-

(i) The Contractor's practice is to make contributions to the retirement fund quarterly or more frequently; and

(ii) The contribution does not remain unpaid 30 days after the end of the applicable quarter or shorter payment period (any contribution remaining unpaid shall be excluded from the Contractor's indirect costs for payment purposes).

FA955025RB0010001

(3) Notwithstanding the audit and adjustment of invoices or vouchers under paragraph (g) of this clause, allowable indirect costs under this contract shall be obtained by applying indirect cost rates established in accordance with paragraph (d) of this clause.

(4) Any statements in specifications or other documents incorporated in this contract by reference designating performance of services or furnishing of materials at the Contractor's expense or at no cost to the Government shall be disregarded for purposes of cost-reimbursement under this clause.

(c) . A small business concern may receive more frequent payments than every 2 weeks.Small business concerns Final indirect cost rates.(d) Final annual indirect cost rates and the appropriate bases shall be established in accordance with subpart 42.7 of the Federal (1)

Acquisition Regulation (FAR) in effect for the period covered by the indirect cost rate proposal.

(2) The Contractor shall submit an adequate final indirect cost rate proposal to the Contracting Officer (or cognizant Federal agency official) and auditor within (i) the 6-month period following the expiration of each of its fiscal years. Reasonable extensions, for exceptional circumstances only, may be requested in writing by the Contractor and granted in writing by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall support its proposal with adequate supporting data.

(ii) The proposed rates shall be based on the Contractor's actual cost experience for that period. The appropriate Government representative and the Contractor shall establish the final indirect cost rates as promptly as practical after receipt of the Contractor's proposal.

(iii) An adequate indirect cost rate proposal shall include the following data unless otherwise specified by the cognizant Federal agency official:

(A) Summary of all claimed indirect expense rates, including pool, base, and calculated indirect rate.

(B) . Schedule of claimed expenses by element of cost as identified in accounting records (Chart of General and Administrative expenses (final indirect cost pool) Accounts).

(C) . Schedule of claimed expenses by element of cost as identified in accounting records (Chart of Accounts) for Overhead expenses (final indirect cost pool) each final indirect cost pool.

(D) . Schedule of claimed expenses by element of cost as identified in accounting records (Chart of Occupancy expenses (intermediate indirect cost pool) Accounts) and expense reallocation to final indirect cost pools.

(E) Claimed allocation bases, by element of cost, used to distribute indirect costs.

(F) Facilities capital cost of money factors computation.

(G) Reconciliation of books of account ( , General Ledger) and claimed direct costs by major cost element.i.e.

(H) Schedule of direct costs by contract and subcontract and indirect expense applied at claimed rates, as well as a subsidiary schedule of Government participation percentages in each of the allocation base amounts.

(I) Schedule of cumulative direct and indirect costs claimed and billed by contract and subcontract.

(J) . Listing of subcontracts awarded to companies for which the contractor is the prime or upper-tier contractor (include prime and Subcontract information subcontract numbers; subcontract value and award type; amount claimed during the fiscal year; and the subcontractor name, address, and point of contact information).

(K) Summary of each time-and-materials and labor-hour contract information, including labor categories, labor rates, hours, and amounts; direct materials; other direct costs; and, indirect expense applied at claimed rates.

(L) Reconciliation of total payroll per IRS form 941 to total labor costs distribution.

(M) Listing of decisions/agreements/approvals and description of accounting/organizational changes.

(N) Certificate of final indirect costs (see 52.242-4, Certification of Final Indirect Costs).

(O) Contract closing information for contracts physically completed in this fiscal year (include contract number, period of performance, contract ceiling amounts, contract fee computations, level of effort, and indicate if the contract is ready to close).

(iv) The following supplemental information is not required to determine if a proposal is adequate, but may be required during the audit process:

(A) Comparative analysis of indirect expense pools detailed by account to prior fiscal year and budgetary data.

(B) General organizational information and limitation on allowability of compensation for certain contractor personnel. See 31.205-6(p). Additional salary reference information is available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ContractorCompensationCapContractsAwardedBeforeJune24.pdf and https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ContractorCompensationCapContractsAwardedafterJune24.pdf.

(C) Identification of prime contracts under which the contractor performs as a subcontractor.

(D) Description of accounting system (excludes contractors required to submit a CAS Disclosure Statement or contractors where the description of the accounting system has not changed from the previous year's submission).

(E) Procedures for identifying and excluding unallowable costs from the costs claimed and billed (excludes contractors where the procedures have not changed from the previous year's submission).

(F) Certified financial statements and other financial data ( , trial balance, compilation, review, ).e.g. etc.

(G) Management letter from outside CPAs concerning any internal control weaknesses.

(H) Actions that have been and/or will be implemented to correct the weaknesses described in the management letter from subparagraph (G) of this section.

(I) List of all internal audit reports issued since the last disclosure of internal audit reports to the Government.

(J) Annual internal audit plan of scheduled audits to be performed in the fiscal year when the final indirect cost rate submission is made.

(K) Federal and State income tax returns.

(L) Securities and Exchange Commission 10-K annual report.

(M) Minutes from board of directors meetings.

(N) Listing of delay claims and termination claims submitted which contain costs relating to the subject fiscal year.

(O) Contract briefings, which generally include a synopsis of all pertinent contract provisions, such as: contract type, contract amount, product or service(s) to be provided, contract performance period, rate ceilings, advance approval requirements, pre-contract cost allowability limitations, and billing limitations.

(v) The Contractor shall update the billings on all contracts to reflect the final settled rates and update the schedule of cumulative direct and indirect costs claimed and billed, as required in paragraph (d)(2)(iii)(I) of this section, within 60 days after settlement of final indirect cost rates.

(3) The Contractor and the appropriate Government representative shall execute a written understanding setting forth the final indirect cost rates. The understanding shall specify (i) the agreed-upon final annual indirect cost rates, (ii) the bases to which the rates apply, (iii) the periods for which the rates apply, (iv) any specific indirect cost items treated as direct costs in the settlement, and (v) the affected contract and/or subcontract, identifying any with advance agreements or special terms and the applicable rates. The understanding shall not change any monetary ceiling, contract obligation, or specific cost allowance or disallowance provided for in this contract. The understanding is incorporated into this contract upon execution.

(4) Failure by the parties to agree on a final annual indirect cost rate shall be a dispute within the meaning of the Disputes clause.

(5) Within 120 days (or longer period if approved in writing by the Contracting Officer) after settlement of the final annual indirect cost rates for all years of a physically complete contract, the Contractor shall submit a completion invoice or voucher to reflect the settled amounts and rates. The completion invoice or voucher shall include settled subcontract amounts and rates. The prime contractor is responsible for settling subcontractor amounts and rates included in the completion invoice or voucher and providing status of subcontractor audits to the contracting officer upon request.

(6) If the Contractor fails to submit a completion invoice or voucher within the time specified in paragraph (d)(5) of this clause, the Contracting Officer may-(i)

(A) Determine the amounts due to the Contractor under the contract; and

(B) Record this determination in a unilateral modification to the contract.

(ii) This determination constitutes the final decision of the Contracting Officer in accordance with the Disputes clause.

(e) . Until final annual indirect cost rates are established for any period, the Government shall reimburse the Contractor at billing rates established by Billing rates the Contracting Officer or by an authorized representative (the cognizant auditor), subject to adjustment when the final rates are established. These billing rates-

(1) Shall be the anticipated final rates; and

(2) May be prospectively or retroactively revised by mutual agreement, at either party's request, to prevent substantial overpayment or underpayment.

(f) . Quick-closeout procedures are applicable when the conditions in FAR 42.708(a) are satisfied.Quick-closeout procedures

(g) . At any time or times before final payment, the Contracting Officer may have the Contractor's invoices or vouchers and statements of cost audited. Any Audit payment may be-

(1) Reduced by amounts found by the Contracting Officer not to constitute allowable costs; or

(2) Adjusted for prior overpayments or underpayments.

Final payment.(h) Upon approval of a completion invoice or voucher submitted by the Contractor in accordance with paragraph (d)(5) of this clause, and upon (1) the Contractor's compliance with all terms of this contract, the Government shall promptly pay any balance of allowable costs and that part of the fee (if any) not previously paid.

(2) The Contractor shall pay to the Government any refunds, rebates, credits, or other amounts (including interest, if any) accruing to or received by the Contractor or any assignee under this contract, to the extent that those amounts are properly allocable to costs for which the Contractor has been reimbursed by the Government. Reasonable expenses incurred by the Contractor for securing refunds, rebates, credits, or other amounts shall be allowable costs if approved by the Contracting Officer. Before final payment under this contract, the Contractor and each assignee whose assignment is in effect at the time of final payment shall execute and deliver-

(i) An assignment to the Government, in form and substance satisfactory to the Contracting Officer, of refunds, rebates, credits, or other amounts (including interest, if any) properly allocable to costs for which the Contractor has been reimbursed by the Government under this contract; and

(ii) A release discharging the Government, its officers, agents, and employees from all liabilities, obligations, and claims arising out of or under this contract, except-

(A) Specified claims stated in exact amounts, or in estimated amounts when the exact amounts are not known;

(B) Claims (including reasonable incidental expenses) based upon liabilities of the Contractor to third parties arising out of the performance of this contract;

provided, that the claims are not known to the Contractor on the date of the execution of the release, and that the Contractor gives notice of the claims in writing to the Contracting Officer within 6 years following the release date or notice of final payment date, whichever is earlier; and

(C) Claims for reimbursement of costs, including reasonable incidental expenses, incurred by the Contractor under the patent clauses of this contract, excluding, however, any expenses arising from the Contractor's indemnification of the Government against patent liability.

(End of clause)

Section J - List of Attachments

The following Attachment(s) were added:

NDSEG PWS 6.10.2025

NDSEG RFP Questions and Answers 6.12.25

The following Attachment(s) were deleted:

NDSEG PWS

NDSEG Question and Answer Log

Section L - Instructions, Conditions, & Notices to Offerors or Quoters

Header Miscellaneous Text (Modified):

Proposal Submission

: A. General The following instructions cover the preparation and submittal of the offeror's proposal for this solicitation. 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 to 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. Offerors are required to ensure their proposals remain valid for a period of no less than 90 days following the proposal due date.

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. The Government intends to evaluate proposals and award a contract without discussions with offerors. 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. 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.

If a joint venture arrangement exists for this acquisition, the offeror shall provide a copy of the joint venture agreement that is signed and dated by all joint venture members as part of the proposal submission. Offerors shall submit only one proposal for the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Program as the Government will review only one proposal per offeror. Proposals must be received via email at valencia.thornton@us.af.mil and david.franklin.25@us.af.mil no later than the date and time specified in Block 9 on the face page of the RFP, STANDARD

FORM33.

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. Offerors must comply with the submission instructions specified in the solicitation. The Air

AFOSR) has the right at its discretion, to determine an offer ineligible for award if an Offeror does not comply materiallyForce Office of Scientific Research ( with the submission instructions.

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 that must be completed by the offeror include blocks 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 address(es): https:// www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far

B. Availability of Funds: 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. will be based on the successful offeror's The phases price proposal submitted in accordance with Section L herein.

C. Communications: Offerors shall e-mail written questions requesting clarification of the solicitation to the Government using the NDSEG Question and Answer template via the Contracting Officer, Ms. Valencia Thornton at: and the Contract Specialist, Mr. David Franklin at: valencia.thornton@us.af.mil david.franklin.25@us.af.mil no later than EST, 05 JUN 2025 . All questions received will be gathered and then subsequently answered and posted to 6:00 PM SAM.gov. Questions received after this date may not be answered. Only questions submitted in this manner will be answered. Only proposals submitted in accordance with section II. Volume Organization" of this solicitation will be accepted.

Contracting Officer:

Ms. Valencia Thornton

Email: valencia.thornton@us.af.mil

Contract Specialist:

Mr. David Franklin

Email: david.franklin.25@us.af.mil

1. All volumes must be received by the Contracting Thornton, via email at valencia.thornton@us.af.mil and Contract Specialist, David Officer, Valencia Franklin via email at david.franklin.25@us.af.mil no later than EST, 30 JUN 2025. will not be accepted. Proposals submitted through 9:00 AM Late submissions SAM.gov will not be accepted.

2. Offerors must identify the solicitation number in the Subject Line of the email and should include "# of #"if multiple emails are required for submission of the entire proposal. Offerors are advised to submit electronic documents early and confirm successful transmission/receipt. Offerors also may want to considers ending more than one email to ensure size limitations will not hinder transmission. Offerors must ensure that the proposal is received by the Government by the submission due date.

3. Discrepancies. If an Offeror believes the requirements in these instructions contain an error, omission, or are otherwise unsound, the Offeror shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer (CO) in writing with supporting rationale as well as the remedies the Offeror is asking the CO to consider as related to the omission or error.

Volume Organization

General: 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). Cover Letter shall also include small business status/categories, , and UEI. Proposals shall be submitted to the Government in THREE separate volumes as set forth CAGE Code below:

VOLUME PAGE LIMITS NUMBEROF COPIES DESCRIPTION

I N/A 1 Completed RFP (signed with completed fill-ins, including amendments)

II 25 2 Technical Mission Capability (1redacted and 1 unredacted)

III N/A 1 Pricing Sheet

III 10 1 Pricing Proposal Summary/Narrative

*See Volume III, Cost/Price Proposal, below for additional instructions on the Cost/Price Proposal

1. : The cover letter, title page, table of contents, table of figures, list of tables and glossary of abbreviations & acronyms do not count Page Limitations 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.

2. 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 minimum12-point font size or a maximum10 characters per inch (10-pitch, pica) spacing. Bolding, underlining, and italics may be used to identify topic demarcations or points of emphasis. , including tables, while not subject to the same font size and spacing requirements, shall have Graphic presentations spacing and text that is easily readable.

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

4. Offeror shall submit all proposal information in electronic format via email. Text, spreadsheet, and graphics portions of the electronic copies shall be in a format readable by Microsoft 365. contain links, but only to documents/spreadsheets that have been submitted as part of the Volumes may proposal.

5. Offerors shall submit two (2) copies of Volume II Technical Mission Capability, one (1) redacted version removing offeror identifying information and one

(1) un-redacted version. Redacted information shall include Offeror's company name, CAGE Code, UEI (Unique Entity Identifier), and company primary and alternate points of contact. All proposals submitted in response to this solicitation shall be in compliance with these instructions.

6. Each page containing proprietary information shall be marked.

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

"SOURCE SELECTION INFORMATION--SEE FAR2.101 and 3.104

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY"

A. Volume I, Completed RFP

1. General: Volume I Completed RFP shall consist of the completed and signed RFP (on STANDARD FORM33), to include any amendments issued, with a cover letter delineating any exceptions taken to the solicitation terms and conditions with accompanying rationale. The Government reserves the right to determine any such exceptions as unacceptable. Any exception determined unacceptable by the Government may result in the Offeror's proposal being

Offerors are cautioned that any noncompliance with the terms and conditions of the RFP their determined unacceptable and ineligible for award. may cause proposal to be determined not eligible for award. This information shall be provided in the format and content of the table below within the Offerors proposal cover letter. If no exceptions are taken, include a statement stating so within the proposal cover letter.

SOLICITATION EXCEPTIONS

Solicitation Document Page/Paragraph Requirement/Portion Rationale

PWS, SECTION L,

SECTION M, etc.

Applicable Page and Paragraph Numbers

Identify the requirement or portion to which exception is taken

Describe why the requirement can/ will not be met.

Offerors shall ensure that all clauses and provisions that require "fill-in" information are appropriately completed, including the proposed prices (see Volume) associated with the contract line items in the Schedule of the RFP.

2. See Volume III for information on submitting Pricing.

B. Volume II, Technical Mission Capability

1. General: The written technical proposal shall be clear, concise, and include all the information required by this provision in sufficient detail for effective evaluation. 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 the Government has no prior knowledge of their capabilities, work processes, facilities, and experience and will base its evaluation on the information presented in the offeror's technical proposal.

2. Format and Specific Content: The following information shall be provided in the written technical proposal and will be evaluated to assess technical acceptability in accordance with Section M, Evaluation Factors for Award. The Technical Mission Capability Volume shall be organized in the following format:

Sub-factor 1 Administration of Payment of Stipends and Academic Expenses Sub-factor 2 Panel Evaluation Sub-factor 3 Manage Travel Sub-factor 4 Database/Financial Management Sub-factor 5 Attraction of Applicants Sub-factor 6 Website Design and Maintenance Sub-factor 7 Administer Mentor Program

Sub-Factor 1: Administration of Payment of Stipends and Academic Expenses

This section shall Offeror's process/approach to ensure fellows will be provided stipends and the fellows' universities will be provided full tuition, describe the required fees, and any other appropriated funding as listed in PWS sections 1.4 (e), 1.8 and 2.2.4.The offeror shall demonstrate experience in providing successful accomplishment of all aspects of fellowship administration in a science and technology environment to include managing a range of up to 200 new fellowships per year; ability to manage up to 400 fellows in a 4-year program; and processing new fellowship applications during the first year of the requirement.

Sub-Factor 2: Panel Evaluation

The Offeror shall describe its process/approach to convene panels of experts drawn from the academic community, industry, and government in the disciplines listed in PWS sections1.2, 1.4 (b) and 2.2.3.2. The Offeror shall demonstrate the ability to successfully solicit the willing participation of evaluators of the highest caliber. Selection of qualified evaluators is a vital component in the successful operation of the program given that the Offeror's status within the U.S. academic and science and technology community shall be of sufficient stature to successfully enlist highly qualified evaluators for the review process. The Offeror shall provide examples of current panel members in five of the 23 research disciplines, with qualifications listed in section1.4(b) of the PWS, in related Department of Defense (DoD) relevant research areas identified in PWS section 1.2

Sub-factor 3: Manage Travel

The Offeror shall describe its ability and approach to coordinate and administer up to 400 NDSEG fellows' travel for professional development including touring DoD mentors facilities/laboratories, attending DOD mentors program management reviews and other meetings, performing research, and/or participating in professional societies' conferences/workshops to present research to further the NDSEG fellows' professional development throughout their tenure as listed in PWS sections 2.2.9 and 2.2.10.1 to include records maintenance processes such as travel request forms and trip reports. The Offeror shall demonstrate that its database management system is sufficient to maintain travel records and deliver timely on fellows' travel costs and financial reports trip reports. The Offeror shall demonstrate their JTR procedures understanding of

Sub-factor 4: Database/Financial Management

1. This section shall describe the Offeror's database and financial management system as stated in PWS sections 2.2.7 and 2.2.8.2. The database management system must be sufficient to collect and categorize applications, maintain records of for four years from date of unsuccessful applicants application, maintain records of current fellows, and maintain records of selectees for at least ten years following end of fellowship tenure. Data shall be organized such that demographic lists, alphabetical lists and other data are easily accessible. The database shall include information regarding the fellow's institution, current address, scientific discipline, academic record, comments and any benefits derived from participation in the program, whether or not fellow participated in summer employment at an Army, Navy or Air Force/Space Force R&D Center/Laboratory, current status of fellow, and other data of potential interest for analysis for at least ten years following end of fellow's tenure. The Offeror shall demonstrate how the database management system will be maintained accurately and comprehensively to provide information to DAF, DoD, and Congressional personnel in a timely manner regarding the program's demographics, attrition, and follow-on research opportunities and program finances. The Government expects the Offeror to provide demographic and other analyses of applicants or selectees as requested by the sponsoring agencies. Further, the Offeror shall demonstrate that data created and maintained can be transferred to a successor contractor's database system.

2. This section shall provide a description, including recommended timeline with milestones, of the process to deliver quarterly financial reports and quarterly reports on the status of applications, placements, progress, interactions, and payments of stipends, allowances, tuition, and fees, to permit timely re-estimates of DoD costs as stated in PWS sections 2.2.8.1-2.2.8.2 and 2.2.8.4.7-2.2.8.4.8.

3. This section shall describe the Offeror's abilities and resources to establish and maintain administrative files for each fellow as stated in PWS section 2.2.7. The Offeror shall discuss its plan to ensure stipends and academic expenses are paid promptly to the fellow and the institution as stated in PWS section 2.2.4. Stipends are paid monthly directly to the fellows and tuition and fee payments are paid based on institutional billing practices.

Stipend payments shall be electronically transferred directly to each fellow's financial institution on a monthly basis. The Offeror shall demonstrate familiarity and experience with electronic direct deposit systems and the Electronic Payments Association (NACHA) to effectively distribute stipend and allowance payments even during peak payment periods.

Sub-factor 5: Attraction of Applicants

The Offeror shall describe its approach for attracting a diverse pool of highly qualified applicants via outreach plan as described in PWS sections 1.2, 1.4(a) and 2.2.1. The Offeror's outreach method shall describe the solicitation to diversified S&T academic community as identified in PWS sections 1.2, 1.4(a) and

2.2.1. The Offeror shall provide three examples of social media platforms currently being used in the execution of an aggressive marketing campaign outreach plan that the Offeror is managing or has managed in the past.

Sub-factor 6: Website Design and Maintenance

The Offeror shall describe its ability to design and maintain a website to sustain an on-line application process, market and promote federal government research opportunities and overall program details to include mentoring program and travel as stated in PWS sections 2.2.1, and 2.2.6.1. The Offeror shall provide relevant example of a current or past fellowship program website design.

Sub-factor 7: Administer Mentor Program

The Offeror shall demonstrate its ability to administer mentoring resources between DoD mentors and assigned mentees, coordinate mentor-mentee engagement, validate quarterly meetings, assist in overall communication, and post amongst other resources on its website as mentoring information described in PWS sections1.4(g), 1.15, and 2.2.6.

Complete Column 2 in the Proposal Reference Information Table:

DESCRIPTION

PROPOSAL VOLUME &

PARA #

PWS

Instructions to Offerors

Evaluation Factors

Administration of Payment of Stipends and Academic Expenses

To Be Completed by Offeror

1.8 &

2.2.4 Volume II

Factor 1 (Technical)

(1) Sub-factor 1

Panel Evaluation To Be Completed by Offeror

1.2 &

2.2.3.2 Volume II

Factor 1 (Technical)

(1) Sub-factor 2

Manage Travel To Be Completed by Offeror

2.2.9 &

2.2.10.1 Volume II

Factor 1 (Technical)

(1) Sub-factor 3

Database/Financial Management To Be Completed by Offeror

2.2.7 &

2.2.8 Volume II

Factor 1 (Technical)

(1) Sub-factor 4

Attraction of Applicants To Be Completed by Offeror

1.4(a) &

2.2.1 Volume II

Factor 1 (Technical)

(1) Sub-factor 5

Website Design and Maintenance To Be Completed by Offeror

2.2.1 &

2.2.6.1 Volume II

Factor 1 (Technical)

(1) Sub-factor 6

Administer Mentoring Program To Be Completed by Offeror

1.4(g), 1.15 & 2.2.6.

Volume II

Factor 1 (Technical)

(1) Sub-factor 7

Cost/Price To Be Completed by Offeror

2.2.10 Volume III

Factor 2 (Cost/

Price)

C. Volume III, Cost/Price Proposal

1. : The FFP CLINs shall be filled in the included excel spreadsheet ("Pricing Sheet", TAB 1) with your proposed prices to include CLINs Pricing Sheet, TAB 1 0001, 1001, 2001,3001, 4001, Please include prices for all highlighted green CLINs as referenced above. Please refer to the information provided in the CLINs in the solicitation, referencing information in the PWS to come up with your pricing.

The Cost Reimbursement "pass-through" CLINs have been provided as Government provided plug-in numbers within the spreadsheet and will be included in the total price/cost of your proposal. No fee/profit or indirect costs can be charged on these "pass-through" funds. Any administrative costs shall be included in the administrative FFP CLINs that are being proposed.

Tab 1 will calculate the Total Evaluated Price for your offer.

2. Submit a summary by major price element for the entire period of performance to include pricing for each of the Summary and Pricing Sheet, TAB 2:

Firm Fixed Price CLINs in the Base Year and each of the 4 Option Years 0001, 1001, 2001,3001, 4001. Offerors shall also submit a TAB 2 of the included "Pricing Sheet" identifying labor categories, hourly rates, hours, profit, monthly pricing, and total pricing proposed for each of the Firm Fixed Price CLINs in the Base Year, and each of the 4 Option Years 0001,1001, 2001, 3001, 4001

The Offeror shall provide a summary total proposed price tab rolling up the proposed pricing for each year. Each proposed labor category shall be a captured on separate row. When job classification or position titles (e.g. "Project Manager", Technician" or "Web Designer") are used, provide narrative descriptions of related qualifications, duties, and responsibilities as an attachment to the price proposal. The detail required for each major price element should provide supporting rationale to explain the methodology used to project the price. Address all price elements applicable to the proposed effort and provide a narrative to support the proposed pricing. The price proposal narrative should not exceed ten (10) pages, there is no limit on the size of the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Provide these Price Proposal Instructions to anticipated subcontractors. Proprietary subcontractor data must be submitted directly to the Government in accordance with Proposal Preparation instructions in this announcement.

Summary/Price proposal narrative will be a separate Microsoft word document not exceeding 10 pages.

Pricing Sheet, TAB2 will be a blank sheet in the Provided Excel file titled "Pricing Sheet". Offerors should create or place the requested pricing information in this tab.

ADMINISTRATIVE ONLY NO REQUISITIONS, 875 N RANDOLPH ST STE 325

ARLINGTON, VA 22203-1768

UNITED STATES

VALENCIA THORNTON, Email: valencia.thornton@us.af.mil Telephone: 7036967337 AdminBy:

SCD: PAS:

1) Make revisions to Section I, specifically remove clause 52.216-7 and edit clause 52.217-9

2) Revise the Performance Work Statement (PWS)

3) Revise Section L, subsection A to include the minimum period of validity required for Offerors' proposals

4) Revise Section L, C.1, to correct the proposal submission deadline

5) Provide responses to questions received regarding the solicitation