Fringe Rate and Indirect Cost Recovery RFP 2024-FINAL.pdf

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

(RFP)

Issue Date: 09/20/24 RFP# 409:09-20-24

Title: Small Business Set-Aside Award Priority - Indirect Cost Recovery and Fringe Rate Calculation

Commodity Code: 91804, 94611

Issuing Agency: Commonwealth of Virginia

Department of Energy (Virginia Energy)

3405 Mountain Empire Rd.

Big Stone Gap, VA 24219

Using Agency and/or Location

Where Work Will Be Formed Department of Energy (Virginia Energy)

3405 Mountain Empire Rd.

Big Stone Gap, VA 24219

Initial Period of Contract: From November 1, 2024 Through October 31, 2025___ with the option to renew for four successive one-year renewal periods.

Proposals Will Be Received Until 2:00 PM October 4, 2024 For Furnishing The Services Described Herein.

All Inquiries for Information Should Be Directed To: Megan Sturgill Email: megan.sturgill@energy.virginia.gov.

IF PROPOSALS ARE MAILED, SEND DIRECTLY TO ISSUING AGENCY SHOWN ABOVE. IF PROPOSALS ARE HAND DELIVERED, DELIVER TO:

3405 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap VA 24219; Buchanan Smith Building 1st Floor Receptionist

Street Address Building Floor Room No.

In compliance with this Request for Proposal (RFP) and all conditions imposed in this RFP, the undersigned firm hereby offers and agrees to furnish all services in accordance with the attached signed proposal or as mutually agreed upon by subsequent negotiation, and the undersigned firm hereby certifies that all information provided below and in any schedule attached hereto is true, correct, and complete.

*Virginia Contractor License No. _____________________ * DSBSD-certified Small Business No. ________________

Class: __________ Specialty Codes: __________________

Name and Address of Firm:

Date:

By:

(Signature in Ink

Zip Code: Name:

eVA Vendor ID or DUNS #: (Please Print)

Fax Number ( ) Title:

E-mail Address: Telephone Number: ( )

Note: This public body does not discriminate against faith-based organizations in accordance with the Code of Virginia, §

2.2-4343.1 or against a bidder or offeror because of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, or veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state law relating to discrimination in employment. Faith-based organizations may request that the issuing agency not include subparagraph 1.f in General Terms and Condition C. Such a request shall be in writing and explain why an exception should be made in that invitation to bid or request for proposal.

mailto:megan.sturgill@energy.virginia.gov

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR RFP# 409:09-20-24

PAGE

I. PURPOSE 3

II. BACKGROUND 3

III. STATEMENT OF NEEDS 3-4

IV. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS 4-6

V. EVALUATION AND AWARD CRITERIA 7-8

VI. REPORTING AND DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS 8

VII. PREPROPOSAL CONFERENCE 8

VIII. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS 8-16

IX. SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS 16-21

X. METHOD OF PAYMENT 22

XI. PRICING SCHEDULE 22

XII. ATTACHMENTS 22

A. Vendor Data Sheet 23

B. Small Business Subcontracting Plan 24-25

C. State Corporation Commission Form 26

I. PURPOSE:

The purpose of this Request for Proposal, hereafter known as RFP, is to solicit sealed proposals to establish a contract through competitive negotiation for the purchase of professional accounting services to provide Fringe Rates and Indirect Cost Rates as explained in Section III, Statement of Need, as required by Virginia Department of

Energy, hereafter known as Virginia Energy, an agency of the Commonwealth of

Virginia.

II. BACKGROUND:

Virginia Energy has entered into and anticipates that it will continue to enter into grant and/or contract agreements with federal agencies, particularly the U. S. Department of

Interior, U. S. Department of Energy and its cognizant agencies. The recovery of statewide and agency indirect cost and fringe rates are allowed under these agreements in accordance with the provisions of the Office of Management and Budget

Circular A-87. The General Assembly requires the recovery of indirect costs and fringe rates as provided by the 2008 – 2010 Appropriations Act, Chapter 879, §4-2.03, Acts of

Assembly. Each Program of Virginia Energy has a DOI approved rate for recovery of indirect cost for state fiscal year 2024. The product of this RFP will be a cost allocation plan and a proposal for multiple rates for the recovery of indirect costs and fringe rate costs which will be submitted to the U. S. Department of Interior and U.S. Department of Energy by Virginia Energy so that it can negotiate rates for state fiscal years 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029 for the recovery of indirect cost and fringe rates associated with federal grants and contracts.

III. STATEMENT OF NEEDS:

A. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS:

The project shall encompass all requirements to complete the development of rates designed to produce the maximum indirect cost recovery and fringe rates for each of the Virginia Energy Programs as appropriate and allowed under the provisions of the U.

S. Office and Management Circulars A102 and A87, latest revisions, as they apply. On or before December 1 of each year, the contractor shall complete a Fiscal Plan and submit to the Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Energy (DOE), National

Business Center, Indirect Cost Services, Sacramento, California (USDOI) a proposed Final

Rate for the previous fiscal year, which ends June 30. The fee is contingent on the successful negotiation of the indirect cost and fringe rates. Ten percent of the fee shall be held until rates are approved by the federal negotiators of the USDOI and USDOE.

Negotiations between the contractor and USDOI and USDOE shall be conducted quickly and as often as needed to obtain the multiple indirect cost rates by the first day of each fiscal year, namely July 1st.

B. METHODOLOGY/DELIVERABLE:

The method for the performance of the project shall be determined by the contract as it deems appropriate to the successful and timely completion of the work. Phases of the work performance must be identified and estimated hours and completion dates are required for each phase.

The contractor is expected to complete and deliver to the Virginia Energy Project

Manager an approved Federal Indirect Cost Negotiation Agreement with the USDOI, U.

S. Department of Interior, either a fixed rate or a provisional rate as required by the outcome of negotiations. The successful contractor must also be able to complete its portion of the work which includes all necessary detail that meets the needs of both

Virginia Energy and the U. S. Department of Interior to determine fair and consistent rates, as mentioned in Paragraph IIIA.

Not more than four (4) weeks after a contract is signed and prior to beginning work on the project, the contractor shall provide a work plan outlining specific objectives and task. Virginia Energy shall have the right to modify any part of the work plan and/or require additional detail as may be necessary to assure preparation of a defensible and negotiable cost allocation plan, indirect cost rate and fringe rate proposals.

The contractor shall provide for Virginia Energy to review a draft of the cost allocation plan, indirect cost rate, and fringe rate proposals no later than November 15th of each fiscal year. (First year contingent upon approval of Request for Proposal. Subsequent years no later than November 15th of each fiscal year.)

Virginia Energy will provide the contractor access to data and documents required to prepare the cost allocation plan, indirect cost rate, and fringe rate proposals. Virginia

Energy will also provide the contractor with office space during the data collection phase of the plan.

IV. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

A. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

1. RFP Response: To be considered for selection, offerors must submit a complete response to the Request for Proposals. Regarding mailed or hand-delivered submittals: One original, 3 paper copies and 1 electronic copy of each proposal must be submitted to Virginia Energy. Regarding eVA submittals: one electronic copy of each proposal must be submitted to Virginia Energy. No other distribution of the proposal shall be made by the offeror.

2. Proposal Preparation:

a. Proposals shall be signed by an authorized representative of the offeror. All information requested should be submitted. Failure to submit all information requested may result in the purchasing agency requiring prompt submission of missing information and/or giving a lowered evaluation of the proposal. Proposals which are substantially incomplete or lack key information may be rejected by the purchasing agency. Mandatory requirements are those required by law or regulation or are such that they cannot be waived and are not subject to negotiation.

b. Proposals should be prepared simply and economically, providing a straightforward, concise description of capabilities to satisfy the requirements of the RFP. Emphasis should be placed on completeness and clarity of content.

c. Proposals should be organized in the order in which the requirements are presented in the RFP. All pages of the proposal should be numbered. Each paragraph in the proposal should reference the paragraph number of the corresponding section of the RFP. It is also helpful to cite the paragraph number, sub letter, and repeat the text of the requirement as it appears in the RFP. If a response covers more than one page, the paragraph number and sub letter should be repeated at the top of the next page. The proposal should contain a table of contents which cross-references the RFP requirements.

Information which the offeror desires to present that does not fall within any of the requirements of the RFP should be inserted at an appropriate place or be attached at the end of the proposal and designated as additional material. Proposals that are not organized in this manner risk elimination from consideration if the evaluators are unable to find where the RFP requirements are specifically addressed.

d. As used in this RFP, the terms "must", "shall", "should" and “may” identify the criticality of requirements. "Must" and "shall" identify requirements whose absence will have a major negative impact on the suitability of the proposed solution. Items labeled as "should" or “may” are highly desirable, although their absence will not have a large impact and would be useful, but are not necessary. Depending on the overall response to the RFP, some individual "must" and "shall" items may not be fully satisfied, but it is the intent to satisfy most, if not all, "must" and "shall" requirements. The inability of an Offeror to satisfy a "must" or "shall" requirement does not automatically remove that Offeror from consideration; however, it may seriously affect the overall rating of the Offerors’ proposal.

e. Each copy of the proposal should be bound or contained in a single volume where practical. All documentation submitted with the proposal should be contained in that single volume.

f. Ownership of all data, materials, and documentation originated and prepared for the State pursuant to the RFP shall belong exclusively to the State and be subject to public inspection in accordance with the

Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Trade secrets or proprietary information submitted by an offeror shall not be subject to public disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; however, the offeror must invoke the protections of § 2.2-4342F of the Code of

Virginia, in writing, either before or at the time the data or other material is submitted. The written notice must specifically identify the data or materials to be protected and state the reasons why protection is necessary. The proprietary or trade secret material submitted must be identified by some distinct method such as highlighting or underlining and must indicate only the specific words, figures, or paragraphs that constitute trade secret or proprietary information. The classification of an entire proposal document or prequalification application, line item prices, and/or total proposal prices as proprietary or trade secrets is not acceptable and will result in rejection of the proposal. If, after being given reasonable time the offeror refuses to withdraw an entire classification designation, the proposal will be rejected.

3. Oral Presentation: Offerors who submit a proposal in response to this RFP may be required to give an oral presentation of their proposal to the agency. This provides an opportunity for the offeror to clarify or elaborate on the proposal.

This is a fact finding and explanation session only and does not include negotiation. The issuing agency will schedule the time and location of these presentations. Oral presentations are an option of the purchasing agency and may or may not be conducted.

B. SPECIFIC PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Proposals should be as thorough and detailed as possible so that Virginia Energy may properly evaluate your capabilities to provide the required services. Offerors are required to submit the following items as a complete proposal:

1. Return the RFP cover sheet and all addenda acknowledgments, if any, signed and filled out as required.

2. A written narrative statement to include:

a. Experience in providing the goods/services described herein.

b. Names, qualifications and experience of personnel to be assigned to the project.

c. Resumes of staff to be assigned to the project.

d. Description of your training and development program which will assure that all personnel assigned to perform under any resultant contract shall be capable and qualified in the work assigned to them.

3. Specific plans for providing the proposed services including:

a. What, when and how the service will be performed.

b. Time frame for completion (if not otherwise specified by the agency in the statement of needs).

4. Proposed Price. Indicate in the pricing schedule, Section XI of the RFP, if provided.

5. Small Business Subcontracting Plan – Attachment B

6. State Corporation Commission Form: Attachment C

7. Vendor Data Sheet – Attachment A

V. EVALUATION AND AWARD CRITERIA:

A. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Proposals shall be evaluated by Virginia Energy using the following criteria:

POINT

VALUE

1. Expertise, experience, and qualifications of personnel in 30 each discipline that may provide services relevant to RFP.

2. Plan to respond to requests for services and ability to complete 25 any project in a timely manner. Willingness to provide services on the projects of similar size, scope, and features as those required for the Scope of Service on this RFP.

3. Expertise and past experience in providing services on other 20 projects of similar size, scope, and features as those required on this RFP.

4. Small Business Subcontracting Plan 20

5. Financial Responsibility as evidenced by carrying Professional 5 Liability Insurance.

TOTAL 100

B. AWARD OF CONTRACT:

The Commonwealth shall engage in individual discussions with two or more offerors deemed fully qualified, responsible and suitable on the basis of initial responses and with emphasis on professional competence, to provide the required services. Repetitive informal interviews shall be permissible.

Such offerors shall be encouraged to elaborate on their qualifications and performance data or staff expertise pertinent to the proposed project, as well as alternative concepts. At the discussion stage the public body may discuss non-binding estimates of total project costs, including, but not limited to, life-cycle costing, and, where appropriate, non-binding estimates of price for services. Proprietary information from competing offerors shall not be disclosed to the public or to competitors. At the conclusion of the informal interviews, on the basis of evaluation factors published in the Request for

Proposals and all information developed in the selection process to this point, the purchasing agency shall select, in the order of preference, two or more offerors whose professional qualifications and proposed services are deemed most meritorious. Negotiations shall then be conducted, beginning with the offeror ranked first. If a contract satisfactory and advantageous to the purchasing agency can be negotiated at a price considered fair and reasonable, the award shall be made to that offeror.

Otherwise, negotiations with the offeror ranked first shall be formally terminated and negotiations conducted with the offeror ranked second, and so on, until such a contract can be negotiated at a fair and reasonable price. The Commonwealth reserves the right to make multiple awards as a result of this solicitation. Should the Commonwealth determine in writing and in its sole discretion that only one offeror is fully qualified, or that one offeror is clearly more highly qualified and suitable than the others under consideration, a contract may be negotiated and awarded to that offeror.

VI. REPORTING AND DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS:

Virginia Energy shall oversee and monitor the contract. Brittany Criswell shall be the point of contact for the project. The contractor shall designate a Project Manager to plan and coordinate the performance of the work and serve as the Virginia Energy primary point of contact.

The contractor shall provide for Virginia Energy a review draft of the cost allocation plan and indirect cost rate and fringe rate proposal no later than November 15, 2024. (First year contingent upon approval of Request for Proposal. Subsequent years no later than November 15th of each fiscal year.)

All reports are to be delivered to:

Virginia Energy

Attn: Clara J Harris, Chief Financial Officer

3405 Mountain Empire Road

VII. PREPROPOSAL CONFERENCE

Not applicable

VIII. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

A. VENDORS MANUAL: This solicitation is subject to the provisions of the Commonwealth of Virginia Vendors

Manual and any changes or revisions thereto, which are hereby incorporated into this contract in their entirety. The process for filing a complaint about this solicitation is in section 7.13 of the Vendors Manual.

(Note section 7.13 does not apply to protests of awards or formal contractual claims.) The procedure for filing contractual claims is in section 7.19 of the Vendors Manual. A copy of the manual is normally available for review at the purchasing office and is accessible on the Internet at www.eva.virginia.gov under “I Sell To

Virginia”.

B. APPLICABLE LAWS AND COURTS: This solicitation and any resulting contract shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to its choice of law provisions, and any litigation with respect thereto shall be brought in the circuit courts of the Commonwealth. The agency and the contractor are encouraged to resolve any issues in controversy arising from the award of the contract or any contractual dispute using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedures (Code of Virginia, § 2.2-4366).

ADR procedures are described in Chapter 9 of the Vendors Manual. The contractor shall comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.

C. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION: By submitting their (bids/proposals), (bidders/offerors) certify to the

Commonwealth that they will conform to the provisions of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, as well as the Virginia Fair Employment Contracting Act of 1975, as amended, where applicable, the Virginians

With Disabilities Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act and § 2.2-4311 of the Virginia Public Procurement Act

(VPPA). If the award is made to a faith-based organization, the organization shall not discriminate against any http://www.eva.virginia.gov/ recipient of goods, services, or disbursements made pursuant to the contract on the basis of the recipient's religion, religious belief, refusal to participate in a religious practice, or on the basis of race, age, color, gender sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin and shall be subject to the same rules as other organizations that contract with public bodies to account for the use of the funds provided; however, if the faith-based organization segregates public funds into separate accounts, only the accounts and programs funded with public funds shall be subject to audit by the public body. (Code of Virginia, § 2.2-4343.1E).

In every contract over $10,000 the provisions in 1. and 2. below apply:

1. During the performance of this contract, the contractor agrees as follows:

a. The contractor will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other basis prohibited by state law relating to discrimination in employment, except where there is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the contractor. The contractor agrees to post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants for employment, notices setting forth the provisions of this nondiscrimination clause.

b. The contractor, in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or on behalf of the contractor, will state that such contractor is an equal opportunity employer.

c. Notices, advertisements and solicitations placed in accordance with federal law, rule or regulation shall be deemed sufficient for the purpose of meeting the requirements of this section.

d. If the contractor employs more than five employees, the contractor shall (i) provide annual training on the contractor's sexual harassment policy to all supervisors and employees providing services in the

Commonwealth, except such supervisors or employees that are required to complete sexual harassment training provided by the Department of Human Resource Management, and (ii) post the contractor's sexual harassment policy in (a) a conspicuous public place in each building located in the Commonwealth that the contractor owns or leases for business purposes and (b) the contractor's employee handbook.

e. The requirements of these provisions 1. and 2. are a material part of the contract. If the Contractor violates one of these provisions, the Commonwealth may terminate the affected part of this contract for breach, or at its option, the whole contract. Violation of one of these provisions may also result in debarment from State contracting regardless of whether the specific contract is terminated.

f. In accordance with Executive Order 61 (2017), a prohibition on discrimination by the contractor, in its employment practices, subcontracting practices, and delivery of goods or services, on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, political affiliation, disability, or veteran status, is hereby incorporated in this contract.

2. The contractor will include the provisions of 1. above in every subcontract or purchase order over

$10,000, so that the provisions will be binding upon each subcontractor or vendor.

D. ETHICS IN PUBLIC CONTRACTING: By submitting their proposals, offerors certify that their proposals are made without collusion or fraud and that they have not offered or received any kickbacks or inducements from any other offeror, supplier, manufacturer or subcontractor in connection with their proposal, and that they have not conferred on any public employee having official responsibility for this procurement transaction any payment, loan, subscription, advance, deposit of money, services or anything of more than nominal value, present or promised, unless consideration of substantially equal or greater value was exchanged.

E. IMMIGRATION REFORM AND CONTROL ACT OF 1986: Applicable for all contracts over $10,000:

By entering into a written contract with the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Contractor certifies that the

Contractor does not, and shall not during the performance of the contract for goods and services in the

Commonwealth, knowingly employ an unauthorized alien as defined in the federal Immigration Reform and

Control Act of 1986.

F. DEBARMENT STATUS: By participating in this procurement, the vendor certifies that they are not currently debarred by the Commonwealth of Virginia from submitting a response for the type of goods and/or services covered by this solicitation. Vendor further certifies that they are not debarred from filling any order or accepting any resulting order, or that they are an agent of any person or entity that is currently debarred by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

If a vendor is created or used for the purpose of circumventing a debarment decision against another vendor, the non-debarred vendor will be debarred for the same time period as the debarred vendor.

G. ANTITRUST: By entering into a contract, the contractor conveys, sells, assigns, and transfers to the

Commonwealth of Virginia all rights, title and interest in and to all causes of action it may now have or hereafter acquire under the antitrust laws of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia, relating to the particular goods or services purchased or acquired by the Commonwealth of Virginia under said contract.

H. MANDATORY USE OF STATE FORM AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Failure to submit a proposal on the official state form provided for that purpose may be a cause for rejection of the proposal. Modification of or additions to the General Terms and Conditions of the solicitation may be cause for rejection of the proposal;

however, the Commonwealth reserves the right to decide, on a case by case basis, in its sole discretion, whether to reject such a proposal.

I. CLARIFICATION OF TERMS: If any prospective offeror has questions about the specifications or other solicitation documents, the prospective offeror should contact the buyer whose name appears on the face of the solicitation no later than five working days before the due date. Any revisions to the solicitation will be made only by addendum issued by the buyer.

J. PAYMENT:

1. To Prime Contractor:

a. Invoices for items ordered, delivered and accepted shall be submitted by the contractor directly to the payment address shown on the purchase order/contract. All invoices shall show the state contract number and/or purchase order number; social security number (for individual contractors) or the federal employer identification number (for proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations).

b. Any payment terms requiring payment in less than 30 days will be regarded as requiring payment 30 days after invoice or delivery, whichever occurs last. This shall not affect offers of discounts for payment in less than 30 days, however.

c. All goods or services provided under this contract or purchase order, that are to be paid for with public funds, shall be billed by the contractor at the contract price, regardless of which public agency is being billed.

d. The following shall be deemed to be the date of payment: the date of postmark in all cases where payment is made by mail, or when offset proceedings have been instituted as authorized under the Virginia

Debt Collection Act.

e. Unreasonable Charges. Under certain emergency procurements and for most time and material purchases, final job costs cannot be accurately determined at the time orders are placed. In such cases, contractors should be put on notice that final payment in full is contingent on a determination of reasonableness with respect to all invoiced charges. Charges which appear to be unreasonable will be resolved in accordance with Code of Virginia, § 2.2-4363 and -4364. Upon determining that invoiced charges are not reasonable, the Commonwealth shall notify the contractor of defects or improprieties in invoices within fifteen (15) days as required in Code of Virginia, § 2.2-4351.,. The provisions of this section do not relieve an agency of its prompt payment obligations with respect to those charges which are not in dispute

(Code of Virginia, § 2.2-4363).

2. To Subcontractors:

a. Within seven (7) days of the contractor’s receipt of payment from the Commonwealth, a contractor awarded a contract under this solicitation is hereby obligated:

(1) To pay the subcontractor(s) for the proportionate share of the payment received for work performed by the subcontractor(s) under the contract; or

(2) To notify the agency and the subcontractor(s), in writing, of the contractor’s intention to withhold payment and the reason.

b. The contractor is obligated to pay the subcontractor(s) interest at the rate of one percent per month

(unless otherwise provided under the terms of the contract) on all amounts owed by the contractor that remain unpaid seven (7) days following receipt of payment from the Commonwealth, except for amounts withheld as stated in (2) above. The date of mailing of any payment by U. S. Mail is deemed to be payment to the addressee. These provisions apply to each sub-tier contractor performing under the primary contract. A contractor’s obligation to pay an interest charge to a subcontractor may not be construed to be an obligation of the Commonwealth.

3. Each prime contractor who wins an award in which provision of a SWaM procurement plan is a condition to the award, shall deliver to the contracting agency or institution, on or before request for final payment, evidence and certification of compliance (subject only to insubstantial shortfalls and to shortfalls arising from subcontractor default) with the SWaM procurement plan. Final payment under the contract in question may be withheld until such certification is delivered and, if necessary, confirmed by the agency or institution, or other appropriate penalties may be assessed in lieu of withholding such payment.

4. The Commonwealth of Virginia encourages contractors and subcontractors to accept electronic and credit card payments.

K. PRECEDENCE OF TERMS: The following General Terms and Conditions VENDORS MANUAL, APPLICABLE

LAWS AND COURTS, ANTI-DISCRIMINATION, ETHICS IN PUBLIC CONTRACTING, IMMIGRATION REFORM AND

CONTROL ACT OF 1986, DEBARMENT STATUS, ANTITRUST, MANDATORY USE OF STATE FORM AND TERMS

AND CONDITIONS, CLARIFICATION OF TERMS, PAYMENT shall apply in all instances. In the event there is a conflict between any of the other General Terms and Conditions and any Special Terms and Conditions in this solicitation, the Special Terms and Conditions shall apply.

L. QUALIFICATIONS OF OFFERORS: The Commonwealth may make such reasonable investigations as deemed proper and necessary to determine the ability of the offeror to perform the services/furnish the goods and the offeror shall furnish to the Commonwealth all such information and data for this purpose as may be requested. The Commonwealth reserves the right to inspect offeror’s physical facilities prior to award to satisfy questions regarding the offeror’s capabilities. The Commonwealth further reserves the right to reject any proposal if the evidence submitted by, or investigations of, such offeror fails to satisfy the Commonwealth that such offeror is properly qualified to carry out the obligations of the contract and to provide the services and/or furnish the goods contemplated therein.

M. TESTING AND INSPECTION: The Commonwealth reserves the right to conduct any test/inspection it may deem advisable to assure goods and services conform to the specifications.

N. ASSIGNMENT OF CONTRACT: A contract shall not be assignable by the contractor in whole or in part without the written consent of the Commonwealth.

O. CHANGES TO THE CONTRACT: Changes can be made to the contract in any of the following ways:

1. The parties may agree in writing to modify the terms, conditions, or scope of the contract. Any additional goods or services to be provided shall be of a sort that is ancillary to the contract goods or services, or within the same broad product or service categories as were included in the contract award. Any increase or decrease in the price of the contract resulting from such modification shall be agreed to by the parties as a part of their written agreement to modify the scope of the contract.

2. The Purchasing Agency may order changes within the general scope of the contract at any time by written notice to the contractor. Changes within the scope of the contract include, but are not limited to, things such as services to be performed, the method of packing or shipment, and the place of delivery or installation. The contractor shall comply with the notice upon receipt, unless the contractor intends to claim an adjustment to compensation, schedule, or other contractual impact that would be caused by complying with such notice, in which case the contractor shall, in writing, promptly notify the Purchasing Agency of the adjustment to be sought, and before proceeding to comply with the notice, shall await the Purchasing Agency's written decision affirming, modifying, or revoking the prior written notice. If the Purchasing Agency decides to issue a notice that requires an adjustment to compensation, the contractor shall be compensated for any additional costs incurred as the result of such order and shall give the Purchasing Agency a credit for any savings. Said compensation shall be determined by one of the following methods:

a. By mutual agreement between the parties in writing; or

b. By agreeing upon a unit price or using a unit price set forth in the contract, if the work to be done can be expressed in units, and the contractor accounts for the number of units of work performed, subject to the

Purchasing Agency’s right to audit the contractor’s records and/or to determine the correct number of units independently; or

c. By ordering the contractor to proceed with the work and keep a record of all costs incurred and savings realized. A markup for overhead and profit may be allowed if provided by the contract. The same markup shall be used for determining a decrease in price as the result of savings realized. The contractor shall present the

Purchasing Agency with all vouchers and records of expenses incurred and savings realized. The Purchasing

Agency shall have the right to audit the records of the contractor as it deems necessary to determine costs or savings. Any claim for an adjustment in price under this provision must be asserted by written notice to the

Purchasing Agency within thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of the written order from the Purchasing

Agency. If the parties fail to agree on an amount of adjustment, the question of an increase or decrease in the contract price or time for performance shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures for resolving disputes provided by the Disputes Clause of this contract or, if there is none, in accordance with the disputes provisions of the Commonwealth of Virginia Vendors Manual. Neither the existence of a claim nor a dispute resolution process, litigation or any other provision of this contract shall excuse the contractor from promptly complying with the changes ordered by the Purchasing Agency or with the performance of the contract generally.

P. DEFAULT: In case of failure to deliver goods or services in accordance with the contract terms and conditions, the Commonwealth, after due oral or written notice, may procure them from other sources and hold the contractor responsible for any resulting additional purchase and administrative costs. This remedy shall be in addition to any other remedies which the Commonwealth may have.

Q. INSURANCE: By signing and submitting a bid or proposal under this solicitation, the bidder or offeror certifies that if awarded the contract, it will have the following insurance coverage at the time the contract is awarded. For construction contracts, if any subcontractors are involved, the subcontractor will have workers’ compensation insurance in accordance with §§ 2.2-4332 and 65.2-800 et seq. of the Code of Virginia. The bidder or offeror further certifies that the contractor and any subcontractors will maintain these insurance coverages during the entire term of the contract and that all coverage will be provided by companies authorized to sell insurance in Virginia by the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

MINIMUM INSURANCE COVERAGES AND LIMITS:

1. Workers’ Compensation - Statutory requirements and benefits. Coverage is compulsory for employers of three or more employees, to include the employer. Contractors who fail to notify the Commonwealth of increases in the number of employees that change their workers’ compensation requirements under the Code of Virginia during the course of the contract shall be in noncompliance with the contract.

2. Employer’s Liability - $100,000.

3. Commercial General Liability - $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate. Commercial General Liability is to include bodily injury and property damage, personal injury and advertising injury, products and completed operations coverage. The Commonwealth of Virginia shall be added as an additional insured to the policy by an endorsement.

4. Automobile Liability - $1,000,000 combined single limit. (Required only if a motor vehicle not owned by the Commonwealth is to be used in the contract. Contractor must assure that the required coverage is maintained by the Contractor (or third party owner of such motor vehicle.)

Profession/Service Limits

Accounting $1,000,000 per occurrence, $3,000,000 aggregate

R. ANNOUNCEMENT OF AWARD: Upon the award or the announcement of the decision to award a contract as a result of this solicitation, the purchasing agency will publicly post such notice in eVA

(www.eva.virginia.gov) for a minimum of 10 days.

http://www.eva.state.va.us/

S. DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE: Applicable for all contracts over $10,000:

During the performance of this contract, the contractor agrees to (i) provide a drug-free workplace for the contractor's employees; (ii) post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants for employment, a statement notifying employees that the unlawful manufacture, sale, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance or marijuana is prohibited in the contractor's workplace and specifying the actions that will be taken against employees for violations of such prohibition; (iii) state in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or on behalf of the contractor that the contractor maintains a drug-free workplace; and (iv) include the provisions of the foregoing clauses in every subcontract or purchase order of over $10,000, so that the provisions will be binding upon each subcontractor or vendor.

For the purposes of this section, “drug-free workplace” means a site for the performance of work done in connection with a specific contract awarded to a contractor, the employees of whom are prohibited from engaging in the unlawful manufacture, sale, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of any controlled substance or marijuana during the performance of the contract.

T. NONDISCRIMINATION OF CONTRACTORS: A bidder, offeror, or contractor shall not be discriminated against in the solicitation or award of this contract because of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, faith-based organizational status, any other basis prohibited by state law relating to discrimination in employment or because the bidder or offeror employs ex-offenders unless the state agency, department or institution has made a written determination that employing ex-offenders on the specific contract is not in its best interest. If the award of this contract is made to a faith-based organization and an individual, who applies for or receives goods, services, or disbursements provided pursuant to this contract objects to the religious character of the faith-based organization from which the individual receives or would receive the goods, services, or disbursements, the public body shall offer the individual, within a reasonable period of time after the date of his objection, access to equivalent goods, services, or disbursements from an alternative provider.

U. eVA BUSINESS-TO-GOVERNMENT VENDOR REGISTRATION, CONTRACTS, AND ORDERS: The eVA Internet electronic procurement solution, web site portal www.eVA.virginia.gov, streamlines and automates government purchasing activities in the Commonwealth. The eVA portal is the gateway for vendors to conduct business with state agencies and public bodies. All vendors desiring to provide goods and/or services to the

Commonwealth shall participate in the eVA Internet e-procurement solution by completing the free eVA

Vendor Registration. All bidders or offerors must register in eVA and pay the Vendor Transaction Fees specified below; failure to register will result in the bid/proposal being rejected.

Vendor transaction fees are determined by the date the original purchase order is issued and the current fees are as follows:

a. For orders issued July 1, 2014, and after, the Vendor Transaction Fee is:

(i) DSBSD-certified Small Businesses: 1%, capped at $500 per order.

(ii) Businesses that are not DSBSD-certified Small Businesses: 1%, capped at $1,500 per order.

b. Refer to Special Term and Condition “eVA Orders and Contracts” to identify the number of purchase orders that will be issued as a result of this solicitation/contract with the eVA transaction fee specified above assessed for each order.

For orders issued prior to July 1, 2014, the vendor transaction fees can be found at www.eVA.virginia.gov.

The specified vendor transaction fee will be invoiced, by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of

General Services, typically within 60 days of the order issue date. Any adjustments (increases/decreases) will be handled through purchase order changes.

V. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS: It is understood and agreed between the parties herein that the agency shall be bound hereunder only to the extent that the legislature has appropriated funds that are legally available or may hereafter become legally available for the purpose of this agreement.

W. SET-ASIDES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT AWARD PRIORITY: This solicitation is set-aside for award priority to DSBSD-certified micro businesses or small businesses when designated as “Micro Business Set-Aside Award Priority” or “Small Business Set-Aside Award Priority” accordingly in the solicitation. DSBSD-certified micro businesses or small businesses also includes DSBSD-certified women-owned and minority-owned businesses when they have received the DSBSD small business certification. For purposes of award, offerors shall be deemed micro businesses or small businesses if and only if they are certified as such by DSBSD on the due date for receipt of proposals.

X. BID PRICE CURRENCY: Unless stated otherwise in the solicitation, bidders/offerors shall state bid/offer prices in US dollars.

Y. AUTHORIZATION TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IN THE COMMONWEALTH: A contractor organized as a stock or nonstock corporation, limited liability company, business trust, or limited partnership or registered as a registered limited liability partnership shall be authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth as a domestic or foreign business entity if so required by Title 13.1 or Title 50 of the Code of Virginia or as otherwise required by law. Any business entity described above that enters into a contract with a public body pursuant to the Virginia Public Procurement Act shall not allow its existence to lapse or its certificate of authority or registration to transact business in the Commonwealth, if so required under Title 13.1 or Title 50, to be revoked or cancelled at any time during the term of the contract. A public body may void any contract with a business entity if the business entity fails to remain in compliance with the provisions of this section.

Z. CIVILITY IN STATE WORKPLACES: The contractor shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that no individual, while performing work on behalf of the contractor or any subcontractor in connection with this agreement

(each, a “Contract Worker”), shall engage in 1) harassment (including sexual harassment), bullying, cyber-bullying, or threatening or violent conduct, or 2) discriminatory behavior on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religious belief, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, political affiliation, veteran status, or disability.

The contractor shall provide each Contract Worker with a copy of this Section and will require Contract

Workers to participate in agency training on civility in the State workplace if contractor’s (and any subcontractor’s) regular mandatory training programs do not already encompass equivalent or greater expectations. Upon request, the contractor shall provide documentation that each Contract Worker has received such training.

For purposes of this Section, “State workplace” includes any location, permanent or temporary, where a

Commonwealth employee performs any work-related duty or is representing his or her agency, as well as surrounding perimeters, parking lots, outside meeting locations, and means of travel to and from these locations. Communications are deemed to occur in a State workplace if the Contract Worker reasonably should know that the phone number, email, or other method of communication is associated with a State workplace or is associated with a person who is a State employee.

The Commonwealth of Virginia may require, at its sole discretion, the removal and replacement of any

Contract Worker who the Commonwealth reasonably believes to have violated this Section.

This Section creates obligations solely on the part of the contractor. Employees or other third parties may benefit incidentally from this Section and from training materials or other communications distributed on this topic , but the Parties to this agreement intend this Section to be enforceable solely by the Commonwealth and not by employees or other third parties.

IX. SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

1. AUDIT: The contractor shall retain all books, records, and other documents relative to this contract for five

(5) years after final payment, or until audited by the Commonwealth of Virginia, whichever is sooner. The agency, its authorized agents, and/or state auditors shall have full access to and the right to examine any of said materials during said period.

2. AWARD OF CONTRACT: The Commonwealth shall engage in individual discussions with two or more offerors deemed fully qualified, responsible and suitable on the basis of initial responses and with emphasis on professional competence, to provide the required services. Repetitive informal interviews shall be permissible. Such offerors shall be encouraged to elaborate on their qualifications and performance data or staff expertise pertinent to the proposed project, as well as alternative concepts. At the discussion stage the public body may discuss non-binding estimates of total project costs, including, but not limited to, life-cycle costing, and, where appropriate, non-binding estimates of price for services. Proprietary information from competing offerors shall not be disclosed to the public or to competitors. At the conclusion of the informal interviews, on the basis of evaluation factors published in the Request for Proposals and all information developed in the selection process to this point, the purchasing agency shall select, in the order of preference, two or more offerors whose professional qualifications and proposed services are deemed most meritorious.

Negotiations shall then be conducted, beginning with the offeror ranked first. If a contract satisfactory and advantageous to the purchasing agency can be negotiated at a price considered fair and reasonable, the award shall be made to that offeror. Otherwise, negotiations with the offeror ranked first shall be formally terminated and negotiations conducted with the offeror ranked second, and so on, until such a contract can be negotiated at a fair and reasonable price. The Commonwealth reserves the right to make multiple awards as a result of this solicitation. Should the Commonwealth determine in writing and in its sole discretion that only one offeror is fully qualified, or that one offeror is clearly more highly qualified and suitable than the others under consideration, a contract may be negotiated and awarded to that offeror.

3. CANCELLATION OF CONTRACT: The purchasing agency reserves the right to cancel and terminate any resulting contract, in part or in whole, without penalty, upon 60 days written notice to the contractor. In the event the initial contract period is for more than 12 months, the resulting contract may also be terminated by the contractor, without penalty, after the initial 12 months of the contract period upon 60 days written notice to the other party. Any contract cancellation notice shall not relieve the contractor of the obligation to deliver and/or perform on all outstanding orders issued prior to the effective date of cancellation.

4. eVA ORDERS AND CONTRACTS: It is anticipated that the contract will result in TWO purchase orders (i.e., one for each delivery requirement) with the eVA transaction fee specified below assessed for each order.

5. RENEWAL OF CONTRACT: This contract may be renewed by the Commonwealth for (one year)/(four successive one year periods) under the terms and conditions of the original contract except as stated in 1. and

2. below. Price increases may be negotiated only at the time of renewal. Written notice of the

Commonwealth’s intention to renew shall be given approximately 90 days prior to the expiration date of each contract period.

1. If the Commonwealth elects to exercise the option to renew the contract for an additional one-year period, the contract price(s) for the additional one year shall not exceed the contract price(s) of the original contract increased/decreased by more than the percentage increase/decrease of the _Accounting category of the CPI-U section of the Consumer Price Index of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics for the latest twelve months for which statistics are available.

2. If during any subsequent renewal periods, the Commonwealth elects to exercise the option to renew the contract, the contract price(s) for the…