G4-149008 Instructions for Bidders.doc

Inquiry No. 4-B176-Q-00546-00

June 26, 2024

INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS

A.

General Information Argonne National Laboratory is operated by the UChicago Argonne, LLC under Prime Contract with the U. S. Department of Energy. As contractor, UChicago Argonne, LLC is responsible for the management of Argonne and endeavors to ensure that Argonne effectively carries out the mission assigned to it by the sponsoring government agency. UChicago Argonne, LLC is a nonprofit, limited liability corporation.

B.

Bidding Requirements 1.

Content:

a) All quotations shall be responsive to the terms and conditions contained in this specification and shall contain two (2) complete copies of your quotation, unless electronically submitted.

b) Any exceptions taken shall be detailed and refer to specific paragraphs of the technical requirements. The Laboratory reserves the right to accept minor deviations from the specifications attached.

2.

The bid shall be firm for a period of at least sixty (60) days after the due date.

3.

To be considered for an award the Department of Energy has mandated that all Offerors must supply a Dun and Bradstreet number and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). The SAM is the Official U.S. Government system that consolidated the capabilities of CCR/FedReg, ORCA, and EPLS. There is no fee to register for this site.

If necessary, information on obtaining the required certifications can be found on the following websites:

http://www.sam.gov http://www.dnb.com/us/ 4.

A completed and fully executed copy of Argonne Form 70B entitled Pre-Award Information and Representations and Certifications must be submitted with your quotation.

5.

It is recognized that some or all of the categories of employees to be furnished under this contract are “service employees,” as defined in the Service Contract Act of 1965 (As Amended). A wage determination has been obtained by Argonne from the U.S. Department of Labor through the U.S. Department of Energy for those service employees identified in the table below and has been made a part of this award.

7.

If available, Offeror to furnish a published pricelist with your Proposal to support quoted pricing.

OR

Offeror is requested to furnish one (1) of the following to support the offered price:

a) A published pricelist.

b) If a published pricelist is not available, please furnish a copy of an invoice to another Customer (Customer name can be removed) for the same or similar products/services as being requested by Argonne.

C.

Prices

1.

Firm Fixed Price, “F.O.B” Destination (Lemont, Illinois)” Proposals are requested. If other than firm prices are quoted, conditions of escalation are to be stated.

2.

Proposals shall be firm for a minimum period of sixty (60) days after the “due date” defined on page one (1) of the Request for Quotation, dated ________.

Offeror is asked to propose the best pricing available to the Laboratory, including any type of government discounted pricing (GSA, ICPT, etc.). If applicable, the proposal should include full details.

4.

Price proposals must include a breakdown of all costs related to travel (air fare, per diem, rental car, number of days, hourly rates, etc.) and/or installation charges, as well as, any other charge that may apply (delivery, set-up, special handling, etc).

D.

Go/ No-Go Requirements

*THIS RFP WILL BE EVALUATED BASED ON “GO, NO-GO” SELECTION CRITERIA*

Proposals meeting the mandatory requirements expressed in the Statement of Work, “Travel Management Services” dated May 28, 2024, and Price Schedule “C” will be further evaluated in accordance with the solicitation (GO category). Proposals not meeting all the mandatory requirements will be excluded from further consideration (No-Go category). Award will be made to the lowest price supplier in the "GO" category.

Contractor must provide evidence to support the capability of providing the above requirements to be deemed technically acceptable.

E.

Selection In making final selection of a supplier, the Laboratory will consider such factors as price, service, demonstrated experience and capabilities, and other requirements of this solicitation.

F.

Award 1.

Argonne will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible bidder whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Laboratory, cost or price and other factors, specified elsewhere in this solicitation, considered.

3.

Argonne may (a) reject any or all quotations, (b) accept other than the lowest quotation, and (c) waive informalities and minor irregularities in quotations received.

4.

The Laboratory may award a contract on the basis of initial offers received, without discussion. Therefore, each initial quotation should contain the bidder's best terms from a cost or price and technical standpoint.

G.

Submission of Offers

1.

Proposals are due by 5:00 PM. (CDT) on the “due date” defined on page one (1) of the “Request for Quotation,” dated June 26, 2024.

2.

Offers and modification thereof may be submitted by Electronic Mail (1) addressed to mmurtaugh@anl.gov , and (2) the subject line must identify the Argonne solicitation number and the name of the offeror.

The following documents must be fully executed by a person authorized to legally bind the Offeror.

Pre-Award Information and Representations and Certifications, ANL-70B form

Request for Quotation, ANL-70 form