HDEC09-18-R-0001.pdf

SEE ADDENDUM

(No Collect Calls)

HDEC09-18-R-0001 16-Jul-2018

b. TELEPHONE NUMBER

49 631-3523-228

8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL TIME

01:00 PM 31 Aug 2018

5. SOLICITATION NUMBER 6. SOLICITATION ISSUE DATE

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012)

Prescribed by GSA – FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

(TYPE OR PRINT)

(SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

ADDENDA X ARE

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Gov t. Use Only )

23.

CODE 10. THIS ACQUISITION IS

SUCH ADDRESS IN OFFER

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT

BELOW IS CHECKED

TELEPHONE NO.

HDEC099. ISSUED BY

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a. UNLESS BLOCK

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL:

a. NAME

THOMAS M COPELAND

2. CONTRACT NO. 3. AWARD/EFFECTIVE DATE 4. ORDER NUMBER

(TYPE OR PRINT)

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER 30c. DATE SIGNED 31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR 31a.UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

1 27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1. 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3. 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED.X

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

1. REQUISITION NUMBER

20.

ADDITIONAL SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED.

OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, AND 30

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

LEARU70194001

ARE NOT ATTACHED

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED

(BLOCK 5), INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE

SET FORTH HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

. YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN

% FOR:SET ASIDE:UNRESTRICTED ORX

SMALL BUSINESS

17a.CONTRACTOR/ CODE FACILITY

OFFEROR CODE

DEFENSE COMMISSARY AGENCY

EUROPEAN REGION

GEBAUDE 2780 KAPAUN AS

67661 KAISERSLAUTERN

18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS A

13b. RATING

CODE15. DELIVER TO CODE 16. ADMINISTERED BY

SEE SCHEDULE

12. DISCOUNT TERMS11. DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINA-

TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

X SEE SCHEDULE

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

RFQ IFB RFPX

FAX:

TEL: 049-(0)631-3523-128 SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

8(A)

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

SIZE STANDARD:

NAICS:

311991

OFFER DATED

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REF.

DELIVER ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND

EMAIL:

TEL:

31c. DATE SIGNED

SEE SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/ SERVICESITEM NO. QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

24.22.21.19.

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS (WOSB)

ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

EDWOSB

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

(CONTINUED)

PAGE 2 OF79

ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED: ______________________________________________________

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED

32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE 32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 32f . TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

37. CHECK NUMBER

FINALPARTIALCOMPLETE

36. PAYMENT35. AMOUNT VERIFIED

CORRECT FOR

34. VOUCHER NUMBER

FINAL

33. SHIP NUMBER

PARTIAL

38. S/R ACCOUNT NUMBER 39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER 40. PAID BY

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT

41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERTIFYING OFFICER 41c. DATE

42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

42b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42c. DATE REC'D (YY/MM/DD) 42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012) BACK

Prescribed by GSA – FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

SEE SCHEDULE

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/ SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY UNIT

22. 23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

19.

ITEM NO.

HDEC09-18-R-0001

Section SF 1449 - CONTINUATION SHEET

STATEMENT OF REQUIREMENT

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) Europe will contract with one contractor to provide Fresh Fruits & Vegetables (FF&V), to various US Forces resale facilities (commissaries) in the United Kingdom (UK) as listed in Attachment 1 of this solicitation. The contractor shall supply a full line of quality products available world-wide including organic products and brand name bagged salads that meet or exceed EU Class 1 (except for organic items that are commonly marketed as EU Class 2)*.

ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1

INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS – COMMERCIAL ITEMS

1. ACCEPTANCE OF OFFERS: The period of acceptance of offers shown in paragraph (c) of the FAR Clause 52.212-1, is changed as follows:

The offeror agrees to hold the offer firm for 120 calendar days from the solicitation closing date (offer due date), see block 8 on SF1449 (page 1).

2. QUESTIONS RELATING TO THIS SOLICITATION: All questions of a technical and/or contractual nature concerning this solicitation shall be submitted in writing no later than 15 calendar days prior to the solicitation closing date. A consolidated list of questions and answers, if applicable, may be provided to all prospective offerors as appropriate. Answers to questions will not alter the solicitation unless, and until, an amendment is made to the solicitation. Address questions to the Contracting Officer at:

DeCA Europe Contracting, ATTN: Mr. Dieter Dollwett/Mr. Thomas Copeland/Ms. Petra Pulze Bldg 2780, Kapaun Air Station 67661 Kaiserslautern, Germany or E-mail to: dieter.dollwett@deca.mil / thomas.copeland@deca.mil / petra.pulze@deca.mil

3. BUSINESS REFERENCES:

a. Proposals shall contain a minimum of three (3) business references (commercial resale/supermarket chains and/or DeCA) that your firm has done business during the last three years, or currently in progress, that are similar to the requirements of this solicitation and demonstrates your firm’s ability to perform the proposed effort. The references must be able to provide information on their business experience with your company relating to the following:

(1) Quality History/Customer Satisfaction, (2) Product Delivery to Commercial Supermarkets/Commissaries and (3) Resale Business Relations with Commercial Supermarkets/Commissaries. This information should be related to the supply of fresh fruits and vegetables. If your company intends to subcontract for the resulting contract, provide your subcontractor(s) information. Subcontractors will be contacted regarding the Business Relations between prime contractor and subcontractor.

Include the following information for each business reference and subcontractor:

Name and Address of the Business Reference Company Name and Title of the Point of Contact Telephone number, fax number and e-mail address of contact person Type of business (retail, wholesale, or foodservice) Estimated annual sales volume in Euros, Britsh Pounds or US Dollars

b. If your firm has provided fresh fruits & vegetables to DeCA commissaries in the past or currently in progress under a formal or informal contract/agreement (with DeCA Europe or any other U.S. Government Agency), please provide the contract/agreement number and list the commissary stores. DeCA will obtain Past Performance information directly from the commissary stores.

c. Generally, offerors submit commercial references of their best customers and anticipate a favorable rating of their Past Performance. However, if an offeror believes negative information may be obtained from a reference that has since been corrected, you may annotate a brief narrative with your submission of business references or business proposal. If negative information is obtained, the Contracting Officer will provide the offeror with an opportunity to respond to general comments about adverse Past Performance.

d. Offerors may submit with their business proposal additional information relating to the firm’s relevant Past Performance that may promote its likelihood of successfully performing the solicitation requirements. For example, quality awards or certifications suggesting good workmanship or conformance to contract specifications, or letters from customers addressing adherence to contract schedule, commitment to customer satisfaction, and overall business relations. The burden for providing these examples of Past Performance information rests with offeror, and must be submitted with the original proposal by the date stated as the date for receipt of offers. The Government reserves the right to consider other Past Performance data obtained from other sources as stated above.

(Business References as listed above shall be included in Section 1 of Business Proposal, Volume I, Section 1).

4. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

a. Compliance with Instructions: The Government may assess the extent that the offeror complies with the instructions in this RFP and completeness. The Government will consider any failure to comply with these instructions to be indicative of the quality of work that can be expected during contract performance and a lack of capability to perform satisfactorily.

b. Format of Proposal: Submit your proposal in two (2) volumes (Volume I Business Proposal and Volume II Technical Proposal). Provide an original of each volume; in addition, provide one (1) copy of Volume I (Business Proposal) and provide four (4) copies of Volume II (Technical Proposal). Each Volume should contain a table of contents and should be indexed in a systematic format. All requests in the solicitation that require a written response to a question should be addressed by first stating the question and then providing the answer. Each volume of the proposal should not exceed 100 pages, including all exhibits provided by the offeror. All attachments required by the solicitation are excluded from the proposal size. Proposals are subject to an initial screening by the Contracting Officer for completeness and compliance with proposal preparation requirements. In addition a Compact Disk (CD) shall be included that contains the entire proposal (Volume I Business Proposal and Volume II Technical Proposal) electronically by way of PDF and/or MS-Office file format only (JPEG or picture format is not acceptable). Only those proposals meeting these requirements may be considered for further evaluation.

c. Submission of Proposal: Mail the completed package to the following address:

DeCA Europe Contracting Division - ATTN: Mr. Thomas Copeland Bldg 2780, Kapaun Air Station 67661 Kaiserslautern, Germany

Proposals can be mailed, hand carried and/or delivered by courier service.

The solicitation number, date and time for receipt of offers, and the designated receiving office shall be clearly stated on the envelope. The proposal package must be received no later than the date and time shown in Block 8 of the SF1449, unless changed by amendment. Proposals submitted by facsimile or email shall NOT be accepted.

d. Contract Award.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 52.212-1(G), OFFERORS ARE HEREBY ADVISED

THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO EVALUATE OFFERS AND AWARD A

CONTRACT WITHOUT DISCUSSIONS WITH OFFERORS.

Therefore, offerors should propose their best offer initially containing the best terms from a price and technical standpoint. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct discussions. In accordance with FAR 15.306(d)(2), the objective of discussions is to “maximize the Government’s ability to obtain best value, based on the requirements and the evaluation factors set forth in the solicitation.” Should discussions be deemed necessary by the Contracting Officer due to proposal weaknesses, deficiencies, or other issues that must be addressed before award, they will be conducted either orally and/or in writing with only those offerors determined to be within the competitive range. The Government may reject any or all offers if such action is in the public interest; accept other than the lowest offer; and/or waive informalities and minor irregularities in offers received.

e. Site Visit Assessment: The Government reserves the right to conduct a site visit of the offeror’s facility, if deemed necessary by the Government.

f. Intellectual Property/Data Rights: Documentation as it relates to the software that will be used in any contract that results from the solicitation should be included in Section 1 of the Business Proposal immediately following the information provided to address the requirements of paragraph d specifically, the offeror shall provide the following information on company letterhead:

(1) Does your firm have the intellectual property or data rights to the software you intend to use under any contract that results from this solicitation? If so, provide documentation of ownership to include any copyright or pending patents.

(2) Provide documentation that identifies the owner of the software and documentation of ownership of the right-to-use license or transfer of ownership.

(3) Are you allowing other companies to use your web based ordering system? If so, how are you securing customer’s data and controlling this process?

BUSINESS PROPOSAL – VOLUME I:

Section 1: This section of your firm’s proposal shall include the following:

a. A completed Standard Form (SF) 1449. Ensure that Blocks 30a, 30b, and 30c on the SF 1449 are complete and that an authorized official with authority to bind the company contractually signs the document. Provide your company's Name, Mailing Address, Telephone Number, Email Address in Block 17a. Complete Block 17b accordingly. If your company has been assigned a DUNS and/or CAGE code number, please insert those on page 2.

b. All amendments issued against this solicitation before the closing date shall be acknowledged by completing and signing Blocks 8, 15A, 15B, and 15C on the Standard Form 30, Amendment of Solicitation and included in this section. FAR Clause 52.212-3 - Offerors Representations and Certifications- Commercial Items shall be completed online in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM. A completed copy of the representations and certifications (FAR 52.212-3) are required to be submitted. This requirement MUST be completed electronically through SAM (SAM.gov) for both FAR and DFARS). If any portions listed at para. (b) of 52.212-3 have been updated specifically for this solicitation, the offeror shall complete and submit those adjusted certifications with the offer.

The SAM certifications must include the respective NAICS code found in the solicitation. The following DFARS representation and certification is also required to be completed in SAM or submitted with the offer for this solicitation:

DFARS 252.247-7022, Representation of Extent of Transportation by Sea.

c. The following fill-ins must be completed and submitted in this section:

FAR Clause 52.209-7 – Information Regarding Responsibility Matters, FAR Clause 52.215-6, Place of Performance, DFARS 252.229-7001 – Tax Relief, paragraph a., DeCA Local Clause 52.232-4500, Delivery Ticket Invoice (DTI) Procedures, Paragraph 11e., enter number of hours for changes to already placed orders.

CLINS 0001AA through 3001AA - Proposed Minimum Percentage of Patron Savings for HVCI listed at Attachment 4 shall be annotated, CLINS 0001AA through 3001AA – Estimated Amount shall be left blank.

d. Combined Technical Capability/Risk and Past Performance will be the indicators for a realistic viewpoint of the contractor’s capability and likelihood of satisfactory contract performance. By submission of an offer, the offeror acknowledges the requirement that a prospective awardee (s) shall be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database and complete the Annual Representations and Certifications prior to award at https://www.acquisition.gov/.

SAM certifications must include the respective NAICS code found within the solicitation. The awardee shall also establish Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) capability, register in Electronic Document Access (EDA), the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) and DeCA’s Web Pricing System. An active registration status must be maintained in all of the above systems throughout the life of the contract.

e. The offeror shall also include in this section a letter on company letterhead that provides the names and titles of all persons who are authorized to negotiate and bind the firm contractually. These will be the only persons authorized to request changes on behalf of the contractor to the Contracting Officer under any contract resulting from this solicitation.

f. The offeror may provide any additional information relating to the firm’s Past

Performance as stated in paragraph 3 (Business References) above that has not already been provided in advance.

g. Intellectual Property/Rights (if applicable)

Section 2: This section of your firm’s proposal shall include the following:

a. Review the Delivery Schedule for each store in the United Kingdom. Attachment

2. At a minimum, compliance with this schedule is mandatory for consideration for contract award.

b. Complete the Delivery Schedule Compliance Certification at

Attachment 3 and return it with your proposal in Section 2 of Volume I.

c. Provided the offeror certifies his intent to comply with the attached delivery schedule, an offeror may also propose an alternate delivery schedule for consideration. On a separate page, the offeror must provide the proposed alternate delivery schedule and an explanation of the differences between the attached delivery schedule and the proposed alternate schedule, and its benefits to the

Government. The Government is not obligated to accept an alternate delivery schedule. The Contracting Officer will provide written notification if a proposed alternate delivery schedule is determined to be acceptable.

Section 3: This section of your firm’s proposal shall include the following:

a. Completed copy of the spreadsheet in Attachment 4 listing the high volume core items with estimated quantities per week based on actual average sales figures.

Description of the core items reflects the Government’s requirements on quality, origin and size. You are required to fill-in the price per kilogram (kg) per item and under the column “Remarks” any deviation from the item description (e.g., country of origin, etc.). The proposed prices will indicate an understanding of the offeror’s compliance with the Patron Savings requirement as stated under the Statement of Requirements.

b. Prices shown in Attachment 4 shall reflect your firm’s prices valid for the week of 13 – 18 Aug 2018 (CW 33).

c. Fill-in minimum Patron Savings in the Schedule for the base period, as well as for the three option periods.

d. As adequate competition is expected from this solicitation no cost or pricing data is required; however, the Contracting Officer reserves the right to require such data if the Contracting Officer is otherwise unable to determine the proposed price to be reasonable and realistic, or to resolve any apparent unbalanced pricing.

TECHNICAL PROPOSAL – VOLUME II

This volume of the proposal shall include the written Combined Technical Capability/Risk narratives. Sections 1-5 should be tabbed for ease of identification. It is imperative that your written narratives explicitly address all of the questions under each evaluation factor. The narratives must be written in a clear, concise fashion, describing precisely how the offeror proposes to perform the requirements.

Section 1: Technical Sub-Factor - Quality Program

The offeror’s quality control and quality assurance system throughout the entire supply chain must be addressed.

The offeror must describe in detail procedures in place to assure product quality and food safety, for example receipt and storage of product, inspections and tests (types and frequency) supplier audit systems, (IFS certification, DIN EN ISO 9001 certification, DIN EN ISO 14001, and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical

Control Point) program), existing ISO (Internal Standardization Organization) certifications, compliance with European Union*, national and local regulation, identification and correction of deficiencies resolution of customer complaints and product traceability procedures.

Describe your company’s methodology used in your quality program that ensures the stability of the products in order to deliver fresh fruits and vegetables of the highest quality and freshness. Include your firm’s plan to ensure proper product inspection, receiving, storage, staging and shipping procedures. Name the possible provider(s) for Bagged Salads that is listed as a Sanitarily Approved Food Establishment for Armed Forces Procurement (U.S. Army Public Health Command).

IFS = International Food Standard DIN EN ISO 9001 (Quality Management System) DIN EN ISO 14001 (Environment Management System) HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point – IAW ECC Reg. 93/43)

Section 2: Technical Sub-Factor – Resale Experience/Existing Commercial Relationships

Describe, in detail, your firm’s experience in selling FF&V to resale supermarkets that is of similar nature, scope, complexity, and difficulty that must be performed under the resulting contract of this solicitation. Include your firm’s resale experience in buying, selecting product assortment, pricing, order processing, inventory management, and delivering fresh fruits and vegetables to the commercial resale supermarket sector and/or DeCA. Also include in this narrative how long your firm has been in business. The proposal shall also contain how the offeror plans to provide certain ethnic specialties and special convenience products requested by the US customers (e.g., Collard Greens, Bagged Salads, US Baby Carrots, Bitter Melons, Cilantro, etc.). Special emphasis is placed on the contractor’s ability to provide bagged salads originating from DoD approved sources. Provide a company profile with related experience of individuals who will be involved with all aspects of performance of any resulting contract from this solicitation (i.e. key personnel and experience levels).

Describe your firm’s corporate structure, to include departments such as buying, quality assurance, and food safety. Explain how the knowledge and level of expertise in these departments will meet and successfully satisfy DeCA’s requirements from buying through product delivery.

Describe, in detail, your firm’s pricing and ordering system that will be used to help to provide efficient produce department operations. Include a detailed description of all system features and a detailed explanation of how your system will meet the needs described in the Statement of Requirements and how it will interface with DeCA’s systems (i.e. Enterprise Business Solution – see verbiage in Addendum 52.212-4). Describe if you can provide weekly prices as txt file ready for download into the DeCA Produce Pricing System. Discuss your firm’s contingency plans to ensure timely pricing and order submissions in the event you firm experience system downtime or personnel shortages and how your firm will minimize any effects on deliveries. The Government reserves the right to test the automation solution and shall require a test login and password in order to validate capabilities and confirm compatibility, at a time specified by the Contracting Officer. A paper copy of the suggested order guide shall be provided.

Any cost incurred by the offeror to conduct this test will be borne solely by the offeror unless otherwise agreed to by the Contracting Officer.

Section 3: Technical Sub-Factor - Force Protection (Security of the goods and protection of U.S. facilities and personnel)

Describe in detail the types of measures in place or scheduled to be put in a place for the performance period of the resulting contract. You are to include specific security measures relating to but not limited to the following areas:

a. Employee Identification

b. Background Checks where applicable

c. Control of Access to your facilities

d. Control of gates and doors at each of your facilities

e. Internal Security

f. Training and Security Awareness

g. Security check on all proposed sub-contractors (if applicable)

At a minimum the offeror shall describe the following: What steps your firm takes to insure that products have not been tampered with or contaminated throughout the manufacturing, storage and delivering process.

Section 4: Technical Sub-Factor - Transportation

The proposal must describe the scope of current or proposed transportation capacity. This solicitation requires for temperature controlled vehicles only. Firms must identify the number of vehicles owned and if sub-contracting will be proposed and to what extent. Describe how the required delivery times will be met.

Describe how the required delivery schedule will be met by the offeror’s proposed method of distribution to all specified locations, e.g., if procedures are in place for breakdowns/emergencies, is there radio contact with the drivers at all times, are trucks locked at all times while on the road to prevent theft.

The environmental impact of the transportation is also of interest to the

Government. Therefore, the proposal shall describe how CO2 emission and fuel usage is being controlled (e.g., age of your transportation fleet, CO2 emission rating of the trucks, etc.)

Section 5: Technical Sub-Factor - Value Added Service

Discuss, in detail, how your company shall meet the minimum weekly visitation requirement for each store and your plans for providing additional support to the commissaries in a business schedule. The proposed business schedule shall address the additional support that will be provided to each facility under the resulting contract. Additional support includes additional merchandisers, point of sale material, recipe cards, pamphlets, or other material available from produce commissions. Describe, in detail, your firm’s plan for providing merchandising support, to include how many people would be involved, how, where, and when they would be utilized. Additional support also includes periodic merchandising support during promotions, resets, etc. The value added services enhance the program and increase customer satisfaction through a well-merchandised department. The business schedule shall also describe what and how many promotion plans your firm intends to implement to increase sales.

Provide number and examples of monthly proposed business schedules of promotional activities that will be provided under the resulting contract.

Promotional events can be in the form of demonstrations, sampling, or other marketing strategies that are used to attract and excite our patrons about your products. These events create excitement, increase sales, and entice our customers while promoting your products. The offeror will be required to provide any marketing tools associated with the promotions at no additional costs to the Government. The contractor shall provide weekly manager’s specials, i.e., at least three (3) FF&V items shall be offered at a special price during the week.

ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-2

EVALUATION – COMMERCIAL ITEMS

A. BASIS FOR AWARD: The Government will award one (1) contract resulting from this solicitation. The source selection methodology is Best Value, Trade-off. The process permits trade-offs among cost or price and non-cost factors and allows the Government to accept other than the lowest price proposal or other than the highest technically rated proposal. Proposals will only be considered for award where all “high volume” core items are priced, minimum patron savings are provided for the base period and all option periods and other required information is submitted. Contract award will be made to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will provide the best value to the Government considering the evaluation factors as stated below:

1. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

Factor 1 - COMBINED TECHNICAL CAPABILITY/RISK

a. Sub-factor - Quality Program

b. Sub-factor – Resale Experience/Existing Commercial Relationships

c. Sub-factor - Force Protection

d. Sub-factor - Transportation

e. Sub-factor - Value Added Service

Factor 2 - PAST PERFORMANCE

a. Sub-factor – Quality History/Customer Satisfaction

b. Sub-factor - Product Delivery to Commercial Supermarkets/Commissaries

c. Sub-factor – Resale Business Relations with Commercial Supermarkets/Commissaries

Factor 3 – PRICE

2. Relative Importance of Evaluation Factors:

For evaluation purposes, the Combined Technical Capability/Risk evaluation factor is significantly more important than the Past Performance evaluation factor. Combined Technical Capability/Risk and Past Performance when combined are considered to be significantly more important than Price, as this provides the contracting officer with the broadest discretion in determining best value for the Government. Within the Combined Technical Capability/Risk evaluation factor, the Quality Program, Resale Experience/Existing Commercial Relationships, Force Protection, Transportation and Value added Services sub-factors are of equal importance to each other. Within the Past Performance evaluation factor, the Quality History/Customer Satisfaction, Product Delivery to Commercial Supermarkets/Commissaries and Resale Business Relations with Commercial Supermarkets/Commissaries sub-factors are all of equal importance to each other.

3. Subject to provisions contained herein, award will be made to the offeror who is deemed responsible in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), conforms to the solicitation requirements, and whose proposal, judged by an overall assessment of the evaluation criteria and other considerations specified in this solicitation, represents the Best Value Trade-off procedure to the Government. It is the Government’s intent to award without discussions; however, in accordance with FAR 15.306, should discussions become necessary, the Government reserves the right to hold them. If this occurs, a competitive range may be determined and Offerors notified in accordance with FAR 15.306 (c)(2). Offerors are urged to reflect their best possible terms, to include cost related elements, since less than the best potential prices could result in exclusion of the proposal from further consideration. The Government reserves the right to award to other than the lowest proposed price.

Unrealistically high or low proposed prices may be grounds to eliminate a proposal from the competitive range based upon assessment that the offeror does not understand the requirement or the offeror has made an unrealistic proposal.

B. Evaluation Methodology and Ratings for Combined Technical Capability/Risk – Factor 1:

Combined Technical Capability/Risk: The technical proposals shall be evaluated using the evaluation sub-factor enumerated below:

At a minimum the offeror shall describe the following:

1. Quality Program: The offeror’s quality control and quality assurance system throughout the entire supply chain must be addressed. The offeror must describe, in detail, procedures in place to assure product quality, food safety and traceability.

2. Resale Experience/Existing Commercial Relationships: Describe in detail, your firm’s resale experience with work of similar nature, scope, complexity and difficulty that must be performed under the resulting contract of this solicitation.

3. Force Protection Measures: Describe what steps your firm takes to insure that products have not been tampered or contaminated throughout the manufacturing, storage and delivering process.

4. Transportation Plan: The proposal must describe the scope of current proposed transportation capacity. This solicitation requires for temperature controlled vehicles only.

5. Value Added Service: Describe your company’s plan how to support the commissaries with merchandising support, product promotion plans, Point of Sale (POS) material, store visits by vendor personnel, etc.

After the evaluation of each sub-factor of the technical proposals, each proposal shall be assessed as a whole in terms of the following:

Outstanding Proposal indicates an exceptional approach and understanding of the requirements and contains multiple strengths, and risk of unsuccessful performance is low.

Good Proposal indicates a thorough approach and understanding of the requirements and contains at least one strength, and risk of unsuccessful performance is low to moderate.

Acceptable Proposal meets requirements and indicates an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements, and risk of unsuccessful performance is no worse than moderate.

Marginal Proposal has not demonstrated an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements, and/or risk of unsuccessful performance is high.

Unacceptable Proposal does not meet requirements of the solicitation, and thus, contains one or more deficiencies, and/or risk of unsuccessful performance is unacceptable. Proposal is unawardable.

C. Evaluation Methodology and Ratings for Past Performance – Factor 2:

1. The information presented in the Offeror’s Past Performance documentation, together with performance information from the referenced points of contact and other sources available to the Government will be the basis of evaluation for this factor.

2. The offeror’s Past Performance in each contract will be evaluated based on the following sub-factor:

(a) Quality History/Customer Satisfaction; i.e. Compliance with contract requirements, item selection, fill rates, promotion schedule, conduct of liaison personal, non-conforming reports in comparison to delivered quantities.

(b) Product Delivery to Commercial Supermarkets/Commissaries; Reliability, Meets contract delivery schedule.

(c) Resale Business Relations with Commercial Supermarkets/Commissaries; Effective management, including subcontracts, reasonable/cooperative behavior, Responsive to contract requirements, Notification of problems, Flexibility, Pro-active vs. reactive.

3. The contractor’s Past Performance information will be used to determine how relevant a recent effort accomplished by the offeror is to the effort to be acquired as outlined in the statement of requirement. A Past Performance relevancy assessment rating of very relevant, relevant, somewhat relevant and not relevant as defined below:

PAST PERFOMANCE RELEVANCY RATING METHOD

Adjectival Rating

Description

Very Relevant

Present/past performance effort involved essentially the same scope and magnitude of effort and complexities this solicitation requires.

Relevant Present/past performance effort involved similar scope and magnitude of effort and complexities this solicitation requires.

Somewhat Relevant

Present/past performance effort involved some of the scope and magnitude of effort and complexities this solicitation requires.

Not Relevant Present/past performance effort involved little or none of the scope and magnitude of effort and complexities this solicitation requires

4. The contactor’s Past Performance will be used to assess the Offeror’s expected performance as outlined in the statement of requirement in terms of performance confidence assessments. A performance confidence assessment rating of substantial, satisfactory, limited, no or unknown (Neutral) as defined below:

PERFORMANCE CONFIDENCE ASSESSMENTS RATING METHOD

Adjectival Rating Description Substantial Confidence Based on the offeror’s recent/relevant performance record, the Government has a high expectation that the offeror will successfully perform the required effort.

Satisfactory Confidence Based on the offeror’s recent/relevant performance record, the Government has a reasonable expectation that the offeror will successfully perform the required effort.

Neutral Confidence No recent/relevant performance record is available or the offeror’s performance record is so sparse that no meaningful confidence assessment rating can be reasonably assigned. The offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on the factor of past performance.

Limited Confidence Based on the offeror’s recent/relevant performance record, the Government has a low expectation that the offeror will successfully perform the required effort.

No Confidence Based on the offeror’s recent/relevant performance record, the Government has no expectation that the offeror will be able to successfully perform the required effort.

5. The Government may reject a proposal if it is found that any information that has a negative impact on the offeror’s Past Performance record has been deleted, misrepresented, or withheld.

D. Price: There is not a rating for the Price Evaluation Factor. Price will be evaluated by price analysis to determine price reasonableness. The Government may also conduct a price realism evaluation for Price (Minimum Percentage of Patron Savings). The Government will evaluate each offeror's proposed minimum guaranteed percentage of patron savings for the HVCI and the proposed prices for price reasonableness in relation to the total requirements of the solicitation. The proposed unit/case prices should reflect the application of the minimum percentage of 25% or more of patron savings for the HVCI. The proposed unit prices should reflect an accurate application of the proposed minimum percentage of patron savings during week of 13 – 18 Aug 2018 (CW 33) as stated in the solicitation and will indicate an understanding of the percentage of patron savings application, in addition to providing the government with the opportunity to perform a price realism assessment. Each offeror must submit a case and unit price for each designated high volume core item (HVCI). If an offeror does not submit a guaranteed percentage of patron savings for each group with its initial offer or price a HVCI, the proposal may not receive further consideration for award.

In determining price reasonableness for this requirement, the Government will use independent government market basket survey equivalents and direct competition between offers. The independent government market basket equivalent will be derived from the results of the market basket surveys conducted by the commissary store locations’ personnel assigned to the United Kingdom. The independent government market basket survey equivalents will provide the retail selling prices of comparable commercial supermarket chains within a 50 km radius for each commissary location for the same HVCI stated in the solicitation during a specified period of time. Potential offerors are permitted to obtain their own market basket survey equivalents using the same criterion at their own expense if desired.

The sum of the retail unit prices for all HVCI represents the overall average retail price of all HVCI for the United Kingdom. The total estimated evaluated price will serve as a “snapshot in time” for price reasonableness. The total estimated evaluated price is not the total estimated contract amount.

To evaluate an offeror’s understanding of the patron savings application, the offeror’s overall adjusted price (DeCA’s selling price) of the HVCI will be compared to the overall retail price (Independent Market Basket Equivalents) of the HVCI. The percentage difference resulting from this comparison will be compared to the Minimum Percentage of Patron Savings offered in the proposal. If the Minimum Percentage of Patron Savings offered in the offeror’s proposal is not within 10% of the comparison results, the offeror’s proposal may not receive further consideration for contract award.

The HVCI are identified by item in the solicitation and may only be changed by the Contracting Officer. All HVCI are required to be priced. Offerors may identify to the Contracting Officer any HVCI that is not available globally within the specification required by the solicitation. The Contracting Officer will provide final disposition on those HVCI identified. Proposed alternate HVCI submissions in lieu of the HVCI stated in the solicitation will be disregarded without the Contracting Officer’s consent. Failure to provide the HVCI required by the solicitation may result in removal from further consideration for contract award.

E. Evaluation of Options: The Government will calculate and evaluate as basis of contract award the total evaluated price for all HVCI and the respective patron savings percentage offered for the base period and all option periods. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the options.

F. Notification: A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the proposal, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-4

CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS – COMMERCIAL

ITEMS

1. SCOPE

This contract is the primary source of supply for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (FF&V) for commissary stores in the United Kingdom. DeCA’s intent is to offer its patrons high quality products that are consistent with those in comparable commercial supermarkets. All products must meet or exceed EU Class 1 (except for organic items that are commonly marketed as EU Class 2)*.

ENTERPRISE BUSINESS SOLUTION (EBS)

DeCA is in the process of implementing a new supply chain system, Enterprise Business Solution (EBS), in phases over the next four years. Current legacy pricing, promotions, procurement, ordering, receiving, point of sale and warehouse systems will be phased out and new systems and processes will replace existing technology. All items, both UPC coded and PLU/GS1 based, will be sent electronically or loaded by the contractor using the EBS Vendor Portal.

DeCA will provide a standard produce spreadsheet that the vendor shall use for entering item and cost information under contract.

DeCA will follow the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) PLU/GS1 data. All items that do not fall within the PMA will be assigned by DeCA as a retailer assigned PLU. The PLU listing will be posted on DeCA's web page that can be accessed by the contractor. The contractor will use the DeCA standard PLU (Product Look Up) list provided on the DeCA web page.

All UPC based products / pre-packaged products shall be sold using the barcode, neither PLU nor GS1 DataBar stickers shall be placed over the original UPC/EAN bar codes. The UPC, PLUs, EANs, cost, description, and all other details as required by DeCA for the products will be submitted through the EBS Vendor Portal.

DeCA will request contractor to provide unique “vendor item numbers” for all produce items.

The contractor shall be expected to comply with any GS1 DataBars and provide GS1 DataBar data for produce random weight items.

The EBS system requires a "parent/child" linking of produce like items for the purposes of applying consistent cost information to all like items. The contractor shall work with DeCA to identify the linked items.

For items that do not exist in the DeCA PLU list, the contractor shall request a DeCA assigned PLU before adding the items to the catalog.

All products that are sold in the store will be approved by the category manager and will have a UPC or a DeCA standard PLU/GS1. Items that are not approved by the Category Manager will not be accepted at the stores by DeCA.

DeCA may choose to use a 5 digit PLU/GS1 for random weight products. The PLU/GS1 structure will be provided by DeCA.

Ordering and receiving: DeCA will use Power DAX and Power Inventory Management for ordering and receiving in Increment two of EBS. DeCA will not use the web ordering system that will be provided by the vendor when Increment two is fully implemented. The estimated time is between 2018 and 2019. The vendor shall adhere to the standard order data format from Power DAX for all produce orders. DeCA may choose to use the vendor item numbers/ Case UPCs to order produce items. The standard Case UPC , PLUs or item numbers may be used for receiving.

The contractor will be provided ample notification to make the necessary system changes. All changes that may be required to accept or send the produce orders or receipts will be at no additional charge to DeCA.

The contractor's catalog.txt file will need to be compatible with DeCA's current produce pricing system and any changes that may be required by the Enterprise Business Solution (EBS) will be brought to the contractors attention when Increment two of EBS is rolled out.

All current and future systems /data changes will be at no additional cost to DeCA.

2. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The base period of performance will start on 31 December 2018 for 24 consecutive months until 30 December 2020. In addition, there will be or three (3) option periods of 12 months each that may be exercised at the sole discretion of the Government, subject to the terms and conditions of this contract.

3. STATEMENT OF REQUIREMENTS

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) Europe will contract with one source to provide Fresh Fruits & Vegetables (FF&V), to various US Forces resale facilities (commissaries) in the United Kingdom as listed in Attachment 1 of this solicitation. The contractor shall supply a full line of quality products available world-wide including organic products and brand name bagged salads that meet or exceed EU Class 1 (except for organic items that are commonly marketed as EU Class 2)*. The government contemplates awarding one (1) Requirements Type Contract for Commissary support. The period of performance for the contract resulting from this solicitation shall be for a base period of 24 months, with three (3) 12-month option periods that may be exercised at the sole discretion of the Contracting Officer.

The contractor shall provide DeCA all necessary customer support, order processing, reporting, distribution and merchandising materials/personnel necessary for the successful performance under the resultant contract. Customer service shall be available at least from Monday through Saturday, 07:00 – 18:00 hrs GMT. In addition, the contractor shall be responsible for providing all necessary licenses, permits, supervision, facilities, equipment, order processing, distribution services, inventory management, and personnel at the contractor’s own facilities/distribution center to receive, store, handle, sort, and deliver all required FF&V items to the various commissaries that are serviced under any resultant contract.

The contractor shall provide at least one (1) dedicated customer service person committed to resolving all questions or concerns as well as maintaining a quality assurance program that is in accordance with the highest industry standards for the duration of the resultant contract. The duties and responsibilities of the contractor’s customer service person shall be presented in the proposal to include operating hours and response times. Included in the contractor’s quality assurance program must be safeguard measures to help assure the integrity and product security of the food supply from possible terrorism or product alterations. The contractor must provide customer service point of contact information (i.e., point of contacts, phone numbers, and operating hours) for each commissary prior to commencement of performance.

4. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The base period of performance will start on 31 December 2018 for 24 consecutive months until 30 December 2020. In addition, there will be three (3) 12-month option periods available that may be exercised at the sole discretion of the Government, subject to the terms and conditions of this contract.

5. PRODUCT LINE

The contractor will furnish a full line of quality fresh fruit and vegetables available world-wide to US forces customers in the United Kingdom. Upon execution of this contract, DeCA and the contractor will establish a complete catalog of items that shall be available all of the time, as well as those items subject to seasonal change.

6. QUALITY CONTROL

The contractor shall have and maintain a quality control system to ensure the following:

a. Product for US Customers must meet or exceed EU Class 1 (except for organic items that are commonly marketed as EU Class 2)*.

b. Product shelf life is monitored.

c. Correct items and quantities are delivered IAW delivery orders issued by DeCA commissaries.

d. Customer satisfaction is monitored and recorded.

e. Complaints are resolved in a timely manner.

f. Applicable food products (especially prepared salads, etc.) originate from a source listed as

Sanitarily Approved Food Establishment for Armed Forces Procurement (U.S. and European, U.S. Army Veterinary Command).

g. Procurement temperature and product cold chain are maintained in accordance with established commercial practices and individual item requirements. Temperature during transport shall not exceed 10º Celsius (50º Fahrenheit) for mixed loads.

h. Bagged Salads originate from a source listed in the Worldwide Sanitarily Approved Food Establishment for Armed Forces Procurement (Attachment 6). Products shall be delivered between 1-4°Celsius, or as recommended by the commercial industry.

7. WEEKLY PRICE UPDATES

Prices will be updated on a weekly basis. Contractor not having a Web-ordering system shall provide price updates via MS-Excel spreadsheet. Once DeCA and the contractor have agreed to the compatibility of the contractor’s produce pricing sheet with DeCA’s Produce Pricing System, the contractor shall then transmit pricing updates electronically. The contractor will provide the updated price and item list by Thursday (noon, GMT) of each week to all stores and the Contracting Officer. The price/item list will mark all new items, price changes, different cases weights or sizes. It should reflect the case price in the local currency as well as in US-Dollars (Conversion Rate will be supplied by the Contracting Officer on a monthly basis). If the vendor has a web-based ordering system, the price, item and weight changes need to be done by Thursday (noon, GMT) to ensure correct pricing for the following Monday orders. Prices shall be firm fixed and inclusive of all costs, overhead and profit. All prices shall be rounded to two decimal places.

8. PATRON SAVINGS…