Section L - Instructions Considerations and Notices to Offerors.docx

Solicitation No. GS-10F-12-LP-R-0002 SECTION L Dial-tone Infrastructure Procurement System (DIPS)

SECTION L – INSTRUCTIONS, CONSIDERATIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

L.1. 52.252-1 Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998) This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

(a) Federal Acquisition Regulation: https://www.acquisition.gov/far/

(b) General Services Acquisition Manual: https://www.acquisition.gov/GSAM/gsam.html (End of provision)

FAR

PROVISION NO.

PROVISION TITLE AND DATE

GSAM

PROVISION NO.

PROVISION TITLE AND DATE

FILL-IN: “purchase additional quantities of supplies or services and to extend the term of this contract”

L.2 52.216-1 Type of Contract (Apr 1984) The Government contemplates award of one Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract.

L .3 52.233-2 Service of Protest (Sept 2006)

(a) Protests, as defined in section 31.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, that are filed directly with an agency, and copies of any protests that are filed with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), shall be served on the Contracting Officer (addressed as follows) by obtaining written and dated acknowledgment of receipt from:

Ms. KIMBERLEE N. WALLENTINE Senior Contracting Officer General Services Administration, Federal Acquisition Service Acquisition Solutions Division (AQSAG), Network Services Contracts 400 15th Street SW Auburn, WA 98001

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

L.4 SITE VISIT ARRANGEMENTS AND SPACE AVAILABILITY

Offerors are encouraged to inspect Government facilities that may be used for placement of equipment, however, given the scope and breadth of this contract, site visits to every Government location throughout the tri-state region of WA, OR and ID are not feasible during the Solicitation phase. Individual site visits pertinent to a particular service order at the time of task order placement following initial Contract award will be accommodated at the Contractor’s request. For proposal purposes, offerors are required to submit unit pricing for identified services as indicated in Schedule B.

L.5 PRE-PROPOSAL QUESTIONS

Any questions identified by Offerors shall be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer (kimberlee.wallentine@gsa.gov). This Solicitation will remain unchanged unless it is specifically amended in writing via a formal amendment issued by the Contracting Officer. All amendments will be posted to the FBO website. If an amendment is issued, an Offeror will be required to acknowledge the amendment by acknowledging the amendment in Block 14, on the SF 33 submitted with its proposal.

Notice to Offerors: Offerors are encouraged to submit all general questions and requests for clarification no less than 10 days prior to the RFP closing date. The decision whether to respond to questions and requests for clarifications made after that date shall be at the sole discretion of the Contracting Officer.

L.6 INSTRUCTIONS FOR MODIFYING PROPOSALS

Offerors are hereby reminded that modifications of a proposal are subject to the requirements and restrictions defined within FAR Clause 52.215-1(c), Submission, Modification, Revision, and Withdrawal of Proposals. Following receipt of initial proposal submissions on the proposal due date as specified in the Solicitation, modifications and/or revisions to original proposal submission shall not be accepted unless requested as a result of participation in discussions following establishment of a competitive range. Should proposal revisions be requested, any changes made shall be indicated by drawing vertical line adjacent to the change in the right margin, using track changes function (i.e. strikethrough and changes highlight) and showing the date of the modification at the bottom of the respective pages.

L.7 PROPOSAL PREPARATION OVERVIEW

The Government will evaluate the all proposals in accordance with the evaluation criteria described herein, using the evaluation rating systems outlined below. Price information will be evaluated for fairness, reasonableness, and for material unbalancing, as described herein. The evaluation will be conducted in accordance with FAR Part 15.

Proposal must be complete, self-sufficient, and respond directly to the requirements of this Solicitation. Any commitments made in the proposal may become a part of the resultant contract.

L.8 BASIS OF AWARD

The Contracting Officer will award one firm fixed-price (FFP) indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to that responsible Offeror whose proposal the Source Selection Authority determines conforms to the solicitation, is fair and reasonable, and offers the best overall value to the Government, considering the price and non-price factors described herein. All evaluation factors, other than price, when combined, are considered significantly more important than the price. When conducting the best value trade-off between price and non-price factors, the Government will consider both the demonstrated technical capability of an Offeror as well as the Offeror’s Total Evaluated Price (see Total Evaluated Price Information Worksheet) which will be calculated by using the proposed unit pricing and estimated quantities identified on the submitted Schedule B. After the Government individually evaluates and rates each proposal, the Source Selection Authority will determine which proposal represents the best value. The Government reserves the right to accept other than the lowest priced offer, other than the highest rated technical offer, or to reject all offers. The Government will not award a contract to an Offeror whose proposal contains a deficiency, as defined in FAR 15.001. If there is a lower priced, conforming offer(s), the Source Selection Authority must determine that the added value of a more expensive proposal (within the cost limitation) would justify award to that Offeror.

L.9 BETTERMENTS

As part of the evaluation, the Government will evaluate betterments in proposals relative to the minimum standards in the RFP to determine if they offer additional value to the Government. In addition, innovations in proposals will be evaluated to determine if creative ideas of the Offeror are a better value to the Government compared to the minimum criteria.

Offerors are hereby notified the Government intends to award without discussions. See FAR Clause 52.215-1, Instructions to Offerors – Competitive for more information.

L.10 PROPOSAL PREPARATION CONSIDERATIONS

Offerors are advised that the following proposal preparation considerations are applicable to this Solicitation.

L.10.2 Mandatory Responsibility Requirements

(1) The General Services Administration’s (GSA’s) commitment to ensuring that maximum practicable opportunity is provided to small, HUBZone small, small disadvantaged, women- owned, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran owned small business concerns to participate as subcontractors in the performance of this contract, consistent with its efficient performance, must be reflected in the offeror’s subcontracting plan submitted pursuant to the clause of this contract at FAR 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan.

(2) In addressing the eleven elements described at FAR 52.219-9(d), the offeror shall demonstrate that its subcontracting plan represents a creative and innovative program for involving small, HUBZone small, small disadvantaged, women-owned, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran owned small business concerns in performing this contract. An offeror submitting a commercial plan can demonstrate its commitment in providing maximum practicable opportunities through subcontracting opportunities it provides to small, HUBZone small, small disadvantaged, women-owned, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran owned small business concerns that relate to the offeror’s production generally; i.e., for both its commercial and Government business.

(3) The subcontracting plan shall include a description of the offeror’s subcontracting strategies used in previous contracts and significant achievements, with an explanation of how this plan will build upon those earlier achievements. Additionally, the offeror shall demonstrate through its plan that it understands the small business subcontracting program’s objectives, GSA’s expectations, and is committed to taking those actions necessary to meet these goals or objectives.

(b) GSA believes that this contract provides significant opportunities for the use of small, HUBZone small, small disadvantaged, women-owned, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran owned small business concerns as subcontractors. Accordingly, it is anticipated that an acceptable subcontracting plan will contain at least the following goals:

Small Business

30 percent

HUBZone Small Business

3 percent

Small Disadvantaged Business

5 percent

Women-Owned Small Business

5 percent

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business

Veteran-Owned Small Business

NOTE: Target goals are expressed as a percentage of planned subcontracting dollars.

(c) In determining the acceptability of any subcontracting plan, the Contracting Officer will—

(d) Failure to submit an acceptable subcontracting plan and/or correct deficiencies in a plan within the time specified by the Contracting Officer shall make the offeror ineligible for award.

(End of provision)

L.11 PROPOSAL FORMAT AND PREPARATION GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

The minimum acceptance period shall be sixty (60) days unless a longer period is specified in the offer by the Offeror in Block 12 on the SF 33. The proposal shall consist of three (3) volumes. Each volume shall be separate and complete so that evaluation of each may be accomplished independently of or concurrently with the evaluation of the other volumes. Offerors shall submit one (1) original hard copy and five (5) hard copies. In addition, Offerors shall submit one (1) CD-ROM with an electronic version of all documents (i.e. all documents on one CDs) as well as five (5) CD-ROMs with only the Technical Proposal (Volume III) information on it (i.e. no pricing or business information shall be included on these five (5) CDs).

Failure to follow proposal instructions may result in an Offeror’s proposal being considered technically deficient and, therefore, excluded from further consideration.

· Pre-Award Information Sheet (see Section L – Addendum(i))

· List of Point of Contacts (POCs) (See Section G and Section H)

· Completed Representations, Certifications and Other Statements of Offerors (See Section K) and statement acknowledging completion of representations and certifications (“reps and certs”) via the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) website. (NOTE: Offerors need not submit a printed copy of the full ORCA profile; Offerors need only acknowledge that the required ORCA documentation has been completed and is current online.)

· Certification from State Public Utility Commissions to perform telecommunication services in WA, OR and ID.

· Small Business Subcontracting Plan in accordance with FAR 52.219-9 (Alt II) and GSAR 552.219-72 (applicable to large businesses only).

· Exceptions or deviations taken or conditional assumptions made with respect to the Offeror’s proposal versus the solicitation. All exceptions taken must contain sufficient justification to permit evaluation.

L.11.1.2.1 State Public Utility Commissions Certifications

Successful Offerors must be registered with the Washington, Oregon and Idaho Public Utility Commission (PUC)/Utilities and/or Transportation Commission (UTC) prior to submitting a prosposal for services under the resultant Contract.

As a result, Offerors shall submit proof of requisite licenses from PUCs and/or UTCs allowing performance in each of the tri-state areas (i.e. requisite licensing proof shall be submitted documenting authorization for the Offeror to provide telecommunication services in WA, OR and ID). Offerors failing to provide proof of requisite licensing shall not be eligible for award. Licensing shall be current as of the date proposals are due. Pending registration shall not be acceptable.

The Offeror should provide as much specific information on proposed subcontracted effort for the contract as possible. The Small Business Subcontracting Plan shall be thorough, complete, and in accordance with FAR Clause 52.219-9 Alternate II, as it will be incorporated into the contract upon award if found to be acceptable and upon final approval of the Contracting Officer should the Offeror be selected as the awardee.

The Plan shall include a description of the types of services the firm proposes to subcontract with Small Business (SB), Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), HUBZone Business, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), along with the proposed percentages of their participation, to demonstrate a plan to meet the subcontracting goals that will apply to these contracts. If practical, the Offeror shall provide specific information on proposed subcontracted effort for this project and submit the firm’s subcontracting compliance on previous projects completed or underway within the past three years of the date of this solicitation. This requirement may be supported by using copies of the U.S. Government Standard Form 295.

The Government will evaluate the Plan in accordance with the requirements of FAR Clause 52.219-9 Alternate II and will assign a Go/No-Go rating. To be acceptable (“GO” rating), subcontracting plans must:

a) Adequately address the required statutory elements and include satisfactory responses to all required information as outlined in 52.219-9 Alternate II.

b) Provide sufficient information to enable the CO to accept the plan.

c) Those areas where the plan is deficient will be reviewed with the Offeror with the goal of correcting deficiencies.

d) As part of the evaluation, the Government will compare the small business subcontracting opportunities in the plan with the goals established in the solicitation. The Government will review the plan for specific proposed subcontracting opportunities for the Small Business Community (Small Business (SB), Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), HUBZone Business (HUBZone), and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)).

e) As part of the subcontracting plan evaluation, the Government will also evaluate the Offeror’s past performance in establishing realistic yet challenging goals, and in achieving them.

Offerors are hereby advised that a proposal must contain all Schedules A though D (on set for each State) which shall include unit pricing for each item contained therein. Failure to provide any of the required unit pricing shall result in the Offeror’s pricing proposal being deemed deficient and may be grounds for dismissal of the proposal from further consideration. The unit prices for each line item shall reflect the actual prices to be paid by the Government for delivery and maintenance of the identified service/feature/equipment.

Volume II shall include the following elements and be organized as follows:

· Cover Letter addressing the following:

· Description of the standard and optional features for all services under this solicitation.

· The Offeror shall explain whether tariffed or non-tariffed prices are offered and the associated economic benefits to the Government. (Include a copy of the most current tariff rates that apply (annual and five year tariff rates), if applicable).

· Statement describing the company’s most favored customer, the rates, terms and conditions provided to them, along with a statement that describes the least favored customer, the rates, terms and conditions provided to them.

· Other pertinent information to support pricing (e.g. fees, taxes, etc.).

· Description of the standard and optional features for all services under this solicitation.

· If an alternate offer is submitted, the Offeror shall provide a summary of the service differences along with the differences in pricing and the benefits to the Government (i.e., cost savings, technological advances).

· A NPA/NXX list that would be included in the geographic area where the offeror is proposing to provide service.

· Signed Original Standard Form (SF) 33 (including acknowledgement of all amendments)

· Completed Price Schedules A – D for Washington

· Completed Price Schedules A – D for Oregon

· Completed Price Schedules A – D for Idaho

· Completed Total Evaluated Price Worksheet (See Section B – Addendum)

a) The Offeror shall utilize the Excel worksheets for Price Schedules A through E that are provided with this RFP. (NOTE: A separate Price Schedule (A through D) shall be submitted for each of the tri-state areas of WA, OR and ID. A total of three Price Schedules shall be submitted, each clearly labeled as to which area the Schedule covers.)

b) The Offeror shall review the Government’s estimated quantities as indicated in the Price Schedules. These estimated quantities shall be utilized by the Offeror as provided (without change) in calculating total estimated prices for each Schedule. The provided Excel spreadsheets are pre-loaded with formulas that will calculate the total estimated prices by multiplying the estimated quantities by the proposed unit pricing offered by the Offeror. These total estimated prices shall then be utilized in completing the Total Evaluated Price Worksheet.

c) The Offeror shall review each item description and provide a unit price for the base and option periods. For all offered items, pricing must be provided for the base and option periods for WA, OR and ID.

d) The Offeror shall ensure all unit prices do not exceed two decimal places by using the round function in Excel.

e) The Offeror shall insert offered prices in the appropriate cells in the unit price columns. The figures in the Amount columns will calculate automatically.

f) The Offeror shall complete Price Schedules A and B as described above.

g) The Offeror shall review each item description in Price Schedule C and insert a unit price to provide and install each line item for the base and option periods. Pricing must be provided for the base/option periods.

h) The Offeror shall complete Price Schedule D by providing a list of all fees and surcharges that are billable to the Federal Government and will appear on the Government’s invoices. All information must be provided on Schedule D for each fee and surcharge listed. The Offeror shall also provide supporting documentation, such as a copy of each jurisdiction’s regulation describing the fee or surcharge and the applicable rate.

· Tab 1: Factor 1: Management Approach

· Sub-factor 1(a): Transition Plan

· Sub-factor 1(b): Overall Management Plan

· Sub-factor 1(c): Quality Control Plan

· Sub-factor 1(d): Corrective Maintenance Plan

· Sub-factor 1(e): Risk Mitigation Plan

· Tab 2: Factor 2: Relevant Experience

· List of projects submitted (including owner/customer information)

· Project Experience Form (See Section M – Addendum) for each project

· Tab 3: Factor 3: Past Performance

· List of owners/customers to whom Surveys were submitted

· Contact information for each owner/customer

· Project information as described in L.11.1.4.1 below

L.11.1.4.1 Past Performance

Offerors shall not submit completed past performance questionnaires (see Section M, para M.4.3 – Past Performance criterion for additional information on survey requirements). Rather, completed surveys shall be submitted directly to the Contracting Officer (as per Section M) by the owner completing the survey. The Offeror shall include in its Volume III (Technical Proposal), under Tab 3 only a listing of the projects for which surveys were requested. The Volume III submission from the Offeror for this tab shall include the following information for each project for which a survey was requested from the owner:

i. Project title;

ii. Project description (narrative shall include how the project is relevant to that of this RFP);

iii. Period of performance (i.e. contract start and end dates);

iv. Project owner name, title; and

v. Project owner contact information including phone and email.

Section L – Addendum(i)

PRE-AWARD INFORMATION

SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WITH YOUR OFFER

NOTICE TO OFFERORS REGARDING PRE-AWARD INFORMATION

It is requested that the following information be provided with your offer:

1. Company Name and Address: __________________________________________________________________

2. Point of Contact (Authorized Representative):

Name: _______________________ Phone: (_____)_______________________

Alt Phone: (______)_____________ Fax: (_____)________________________

3. Electronic Transfer Payments will now be required for all new contracts. Do you currently receive Electronic Transfer Payments from this agency?

Yes ( ) NO ( )

4. Name of Bank and Branch: ____________________________________________

Personal Banker: ____________________________________________________

Telephone Number: __________________________________________________

Fax Number:________________________________________________________

5. Name of Bonding Agent Company:______________________________________

Agents Name:_______________________________________________________

Telephone: _________________________________________________________

6. List three projects that are substantially complete or have been completed within the last two years that are similar to this project. Projects should be listed in the following order: Federal Projects, state projects, city and county projects, than commercial projects. Please provide in the following format:

a) Title & Location of Project: __________________________________________

Agency/Company: _______________________________________________

Award Amount:__________________________________________________

Point of Contact (Name & Title): ____________________________________

Telephone Number: _____________________________________________

Year of Completion: _____________________________________________

b) Title & Location of Project: ________________________________________

Agency/Company: _______________________________________________

Award Amount: _________________________________________________

Point of Contact (Name & Title): ____________________________________

Telephone Number: ______________________________________________

Year of Completion: ______________________________________________

c) Title & Location of Project: _________________________________________

Agency/Company: _______________________________________________

Award Amount: _________________________________________________

Point of Contact (Name & Title):____________________________________

Telephone Number: ______________________________________________

Year of Completion: ______________________________________________

7) List all outstanding uncompleted projects, in the following format:

a) Title of Project: _________________________________________________

Agency/Company: _______________________________________________

Est. Completion Date:_____________________________________________

Award Amount: __________________________________________________

b) Title of Project: __________________________________________________

Agency/Company: _______________________________________________

Est. Completion Date: ____________________________________________

Award Amount: _________________________________________________

c) Title of Project: __________________________________________________

Agency/Company: ________________________________________________

Est. Completion Date: _____________________________________________

Award Amount: __________________________________________________

L-