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SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.1. Specification - The contractor shall furnish pricing to include all personnel, materials and services necessary to perform the requirements set forth in this solicitation.

B.2. All-Inclusive Pricing - Any equipment, material or service required in the performance of a contract for which a price is not specifically identified by the contractor will be considered to be included in the price of another item in the contract or provided at no cost to the Government unless otherwise specified in the contract.

B.3. Data Other Than Certified Cost or Pricing Data - Offerors are required to submit data other than certified cost or pricing data in order to support the Offeror’s Estimated Total Contract Price [Base Performance Period (48 months) plus Option Performance Periods (36 months per option period]. Data other than certified cost or pricing data shall be all-inclusive and include the following:

1. Nomenclature of products offered.

2. Description of services offered.

3. Quantities of products and services offered.

4. If applicable, unit prices of installation services [one-time charges, Non-Recurring Costs (NRC)].

5. Monthly prices of services (individual unit price of each line, etc.). The unit price shall be the same for a quantity of one (1) through the estimated total not-to-exceed maximum quantities of each line, etc.

6. Other Supporting Services when applicable.

7. Other pertinent information to support cost or pricing.

B.4. Tariff Offers - If tariff charges are offered, Offeror shall submit the following information:

1. A statement indicating why the Offeror elected to propose tariff charges.

2. The regulatory mandate (if any) and the FCC/PSC point of contact that has issued an Order prohibiting the Offeror from offering technical and negotiated price proposals pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) terms and conditions.

3. Tariff pages that support the price proposals and underlining the charges.

4. Identification of the item numbers to which tariff charges apply.

5. Description of the tariff.

6. Tariff references for each component.

7. Quantities to be installed.

8. Installation (Non-Recurring Charges) charges.

9. Monthly recurring charges for each item described.

Note: Tariff items or services are required to be approved by the appropriate regulatory authority at the initial proposal submission. If a tariff offered solution is awarded, the initial tariff charges will be the contract’s fixed prices for the life of the contract (base period plus option periods) and are not subject to price adjustments.

However, if an Executive Order or Congressional ruling is issued during the term of the contract that may cause the contractor to incur cost beyond the negotiated price(s), GSA may allow fair and reasonable price adjustments.

B.5 Contract Negotiated Prices - Contractors shall not arbitrarily increase the negotiated prices of the contract(s) during the life of the contract(s).

B.7. Instructions for Preparing the Estimated Total Contract Price Summary Spreadsheets:

The Estimated Total Contract Price Summary MS Excel spreadsheets (pages 8 through 16 of this solicitation) shall be used and submitted as part of the Price Proposal (Volume III). The spreadsheets are outlined by four (4) price table Categories as follows:

Category 1: Voice Services for LATA CLINs 0001 through 0040.

Category 2: Data Services for LATA CLINs 0041 through 0080.

Category 3: Converge Services for LATA CLINs 0081 through 0120.

Category 4: Other Wired Telecommunications Services for LATA CLINs 0121 through 0160.

Each LATA Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) under each Category will be evaluated separately. Offerors are encouraged to propose as many CLINS as possible that can be supported by the technical solutions and data other than certified cost and pricing data. Estimated fixed prices shall be all-inclusive and consist of the estimated total maximum quantities for each category LATA. After preparing the Offeror’s independent data other than certified cost and pricing data that will support the Estimated Total Contract Price, Offerors shall prepare the Estimated Total Contract Price Summary spreadsheets as follows:

1. Insert the Estimated Total Price for Non-Recurring Cost (NRC) for each LATA CLIN offered under the appropriate Category. This estimated total price is a one-time charge [Non-Recurring Cost (NRC)] for installation services.

2. Insert the forty-eight (48) months (Contract Base Period) Estimated Total Price for Monthly Recurring Cost (MRC) for each LATA CLIN offered under the appropriate Category.

3. Insert the thirty-six (36) months (Option Period 1) Estimated Total Price for MRC for each LATA CLIN offered under the appropriate Category.

4. Insert the thirty-six (36) months (Option Period 2) Estimated Total Price for MRC for each LATA CLIN offered under the appropriate Category.

5. Add the Estimated Total for NRC + the forty-eight (48) months (Contract Base Period) Estimated Total Price for MRC + the thirty-six (36) months (Option Period 1) Estimated Total Price for MRC + the thirty-six (36) months (Option Period 2) Estimated Total Prices for MRC, and insert the corresponding total prices on the Estimated Total LATA CLIN Price blocks for each offered CLIN.

6. Add the Estimated Total Price of each LATA CLIN and insert the Estimated Total Price on the corresponding block at the end of each Category spreadsheet (pages 9, 11, 13, and 15), as offered.

7. Insert each Category Estimated Total Price on the corresponding block of page 16.

8. Add each Estimated Total Price and insert the Estimated Total Contract Price on the corresponding block of page 16.

9. Print the prime contractor’s name under “Contractor”, print the prime contractor’s binding official’s name under “Name”, sign the proposal under “Signature” (should be binding official), print the signer’s occupation title under “Title”, and date the proposal under “Date”.

L.6. Disposition of Proposals

The acquisition office issuing the solicitation will retain at least one (1) copy of each proposal and the remainder will be destroyed. No destruction certificate will be issued.

L.7. Proposal Preparation Costs

This solicitation does not commit the Government to pay any costs to the Offeror for preparation and submission of proposals in response to this solicitation.

L.8. Proposal Preparation Instructions:

L.8.1 General Instructions -- The proposal shall be in three (3) volumes. Each volume shall be separate and complete so that evaluation of each may be accomplished independently, or concurrently with, evaluation of other volumes. In order to protect and safeguard contractor proprietary information, Offerors shall initially submit hardcopies of (1) original and two (2) copies of each volume to the Contracting Officer, only. The Government reserves the right to request electronic copies of each volume or copies of parts of each volume after the initial complete hardcopy has been received by the Contracting Officer, only, on or before the due date for receipt of proposals.

Volume I shall be termed the “Business Proposal” and contain a completed Optional Form 308 (Solicitation and Offer - Negotiated Acquisition), Representations & Certifications (Section K), a completed GSA Form 527 (Contractor’s Qualifications and Financial Information), resumes for key personnel, an itemized list of state and local taxes for agency-designated counsel legal review [if any; See Section H.23(b)], Past Performance information corresponding to Past Performance Evaluation Factors listed in Section M.4.1. and at least three (3) references (to include the name of each reference, telephone numbers, and email addresses), Offeror’s Earlier Proposed Delivery Schedule (if applicable; See Section F.2), Contractor’s Contract Administration Representative (See Section G.2), Contractor’s Payment Address (See Section G.4), proof of required insurance (See Section H.16), Other Statements of Offers, and a Small Business Subcontracting Plan (if required).

NOTE: Large businesses shall submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan in accordance with FAR 52.219-9 (APR 2008) for proposals that exceed $650,000.00. Subcontracting Plan submittals do not apply to small business concerns.

All aforementioned forms shall be signed and information shall be accurate and complete.

Volume I shall include reference to and explanation of exceptions or deviations taken (if any) or conditional assumptions made (if any) with respect to the Offeror’s proposal versus the requirements of Section C, or any other clause, provision, term and condition of this solicitation. Any exception(s) taken must contain sufficient explanation and justification to permit evaluation. All benefits to the Government shall be explained for each exception taken. Notwithstanding an exception or deviation taken to a requirement, an Offeror, pursuant to discussions, may be required to offer a technical solution and pricing that meets the requirements.

Volume II shall be termed the “Technical Proposal”. The technical proposal must be presented in a concise and straightforward manner and shall not contain pricing information.

PART A: Introduction to the Technical Proposal.

The introduction shall contain a brief overview and a glossary that includes service nomenclatures and descriptions.

PART B: Technical Solutions in response to Section C.

Volume II shall be structured with tabs identifying the response for each paragraph and subparagraph of Section C that relates to the offered solution(s). This will assist evaluators in locating information quickly. Offerors must DEMONSTRATE the ability to meet all applicable requirements described in Section C (and references contained therein) of this solicitation. The information included in this volume will be used as the basis for the evaluation of technical factors listed in Section M.3 of this solicitation.

Offeror shall clearly DESCRIBE IN TECHNICAL DETAILS the ability to comply with each paragraph and subparagraph of Section C that relates to the offered solution(s). A statement of compliance without the DETAILED description of how compliance will be met will not be considered sufficient evidence that the services offered can technically meet the requirements. Statements such as “concur”, “understand”, “will comply”, etc., may result into evaluation delays and most likely will require additional information or clarifications at time of proposal evaluation.

Volume III shall be termed “Price Proposal” and shall contain all information stipulated in Section B of this solicitation. Information other than cost or pricing data should reflect the actual prices to be paid by the Government during the entire contract period for performance of the work required under the contract, or any optional services proposed. The information required in the price proposal should be specific, accurate, concise, and complete in every detail. The price proposal shall be organized as follows:

PART A: Introduction to the Price Proposal.

The introduction shall contain a brief overview of the proposed pricing. If any alternate offers are proposed, a summary of the service differences shall be given, along with the differences in pricing (i.e. discounts, cost savings, benefits to the Government).

PART B: Estimated Total Contract Price Summary Spreadsheets.

This part shall consist of the completed MS Excel Estimated Total Contract Price Summary spreadsheets depicted in Section B (pages 8 through 16) of this solicitation. Offerors shall complete the spreadsheets in accordance with the instructions given at Section B.7 of this solicitation. Offerors shall submit the initial proposal spreadsheets in hardcopy form, only. The Government reserves the right to request electronic copies of the spreadsheets after the initial complete hardcopy has been received by the Contracting Officer, only on or before the due date for receipt of proposals. The hardcopy submission shall be in letter size, completed and signed. The intent of the summary spreadsheets is for the Government to compare estimated total price proposals at an equal level of effort.

PART C: Data Other Than Certified Cost and Pricing Data spreadsheets.

Offerors are required to submit data other than certified cost and pricing data spreadsheets in order to support the Offeror’s Estimated Total Contract Price Summary. Data other than certified cost and pricing data shall be all-inclusive, accurate, clear, complete, and shall include, as the minimum, the following details:

3. Quantities of products and services offered.

4. If applicable, unit prices of installation services [one-time charges, Non-Recurring Costs (NRC)].

5. Monthly prices of services (individual unit price of each line, etc.).

The unit price shall be the same for a quantity of one (1) through the estimated total not-to-exceed maximum quantities of each line, etc.

6. Other Supporting Services when applicable.

7. Other pertinent information to support cost or pricing.

L.8.5. Below is a Proposal Preparation Checklist for Offeror use.

Proposal Preparation Checklist

Required:

Optional Form 408, Solicitation and Offer

Representations and Certifications (Section K)

GSA Form 527, Contractor's Qualifications and Financial Information

Resumes for Key Personnel

Past Performance Information corresponding to Section M.4.1.

At least three (3) Past Performance references

Contractor’s Contract Administration Representative (Section G.2)

Contractor’s Payment Address (Section G.4)

Proof of Required Insurance (Section H.16)

Itemized List of State and Local Taxes [Section H.23(b)]

Check X

Offeror’s Proposed Earlier Delivery Schedule (Section F.3)

Small Business Subcontracting Plan

Standard Form LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

Explanation of Exceptions, Deviations, or Assumptions

Check X

Required:

Part A: Introduction to the Technical Proposal

Part A: Overview

Part A: Glossary

Part B: Technical Solutions in Response to Section C with tabs.

Check X

Alternate Offers

Check X

Required:

Part A: Introduction to the Price Proposal (Overview)

Part B: Estimated Total Contract Price Summary Spreadsheets (Section B)

Part C: Data Other Than Certified Cost and Pricing Data spreadsheets

Check X

Part D: Discounts Offered (Overview)

Part E: Tariffed Pages, etc.

Alternate Offers

a. Contract Administration (includes Subcontracting Plan achievements and quarterly reporting, when applicable).

b. Technical Solutions.

c. Maintenance of Services.

d. Billing and Invoicing.

e. Customer Satisfaction.

M.3.2. Past Performance Evaluation [GSAM 515.305(d)(1)]:

The Government will use information from the Past Performance Retrieval System (PPIRS) at www.ppirs.gov when evaluating an Offeror’s past performance. In addition, the Government may also obtain information through questionnaires tailored towards the aforementioned factors from submitted past performance information and references by the Offeror.

M.3.3. Past Performance Evaluation [GSAM 515.305(d)(2)]:

If an Offeror is required to submit a subcontracting plan, the Government may obtain information to evaluate an Offeror’s past performance on subcontracting plan goals and small disadvantage business participation, monetary targets, and notifications under FAR 19.1202-4(b) from the following sources:

a. The Small Business Administration.

b. Information on prior contracts from Contracting Officers and Administrative Contracting Officers.

c. Offeror’s references.

d. Past performance information collected under FAR 42.15 and available through PPIRS.

M.3.4. Past Performance Evaluation for Offeror without a record of relevant past performance [FAR 15.305 (a)(2)(iv)]:

If an Offeror has no relevant performance history, Offeror has an opportunity to identify past or current contracts (including Federal, State, and local government and private) for efforts similar to the Government requirement. The Offeror shall provide information on problems encountered on the identified contracts and the Offeror’s corrective actions. The Government shall consider this information, as well as information obtained from any other source, when evaluating the Offeror’s past performance.

M.4. EVALUATION OF PRICE PROPOSALS

The evaluation of estimated total price proposals will include the contract base performance period and all option performance periods.

M.4.1 PRICE REALISM - EVALUATION OF DATA OTHER THAN CERTIFIED COST OR PRICING

DATA

Offerors shall submit data other than certified cost or pricing data to support offered estimated total prices. A Price Realism Analysis will be performed including a review of the specific elements of each price proposal in order for the Government to assess the Offeror’s understanding of the requirements and the risk inherent in the Offeror’s approach, and to assess whether the offered prices are realistic and consistent with the unique method of performance as offered in the technical proposal.

Offerors are required to submit data other than certified cost or pricing data spreadsheets in order to support the Offeror’s Estimated Total Contract Price Summary. Information other than cost and pricing data shall be all-inclusive, accurate, clear, complete, and shall include, as the minimum, the following details:

3. Quantities of products and services offered.

4. If applicable, unit prices of installation services [one-time charges, Non-Recurring Costs (NRC)].

5. Monthly prices of services (individual unit price of each line, etc.).

The unit price shall be the same for a quantity of one (1) through the estimated total not-to-exceed maximum quantities of each line, etc.

6. Other Supporting Services when applicable.

7. Other pertinent information to support cost or pricing.

M.4.2 PRICE REASONABLENESS DETERMINATION

The Contracting Officer will make the determination on whether the estimated total price proposals are fair and reasonable.

M.5. best value award(s) The Government will consider award(s) to responsible Offeror(s), whose offer conforms to all solicitation requirements, is determined technically acceptable, has acceptable past performance, and whose prices are determined fair and reasonable.

Best value is expected to result from the selection of proposal(s) from responsible Offeror(s), whose offer conforms to all solicitation requirements, is determined technically acceptable, has acceptable past performance, and whose prices are determined fair and reasonable prices.

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