Attachment_04_Evaluation_Factors_-_Minimum_Acceptability_Standards.pdf

EVALUATION FACTORS - MINIMUM ACCEPTABILITY STANDARDS

A. The process will utilize the best value process of Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA). In accordance with FAR 15.101-2, LPTA is appropriate when best value is expected to result from selection of the technically acceptable proposal with the lowest evaluated price. When using the lowest price technically acceptable process, the following apply:

(1) The evaluation factors and significant sub-factors that establish the minimum acceptability standards shall be set forth in the solicitation. Solicitations shall specify that award will be made on the basis of the lowest evaluated price of proposals meeting or exceeding the minimum acceptability standards for non-cost factors. If the contracting officer documents the file pursuant to 15.304(c)(3)(iii), past performance need not be an evaluation factor in lowest price technically acceptable source selections. If the contracting officer elects to consider past performance as an evaluation factor, it shall be evaluated in accordance with 15.305. However, the comparative assessment in 15.305(a)(2)(i) does not apply. If the contracting officer determines that a small business’ past performance is not acceptable, the matter shall be referred to the Small Business Administration for a Certificate of Competency determination, in accordance with the procedures contained in Subpart 19.6 and 15 U.S.C. 637(b)(7)).

(2) Tradeoffs are not permitted.

(3) Proposals are evaluated for acceptability but not ranked using the non-cost price factors. The lowest priced offer shall be evaluated first. If it is determined to be technically acceptable the evaluation process shall cease, pending a determination the offered price is fair and reasonable.

Should the lowest priced offer be determined to be technically unacceptable or the offered price determined not to be fair and reasonable, the process shall continue with the next lowest priced offer and so on until an offer is determined to be technically acceptable at a fair and reasonable price.

(4) Exchanges may occur in accordance with FAR 15.306.

B. Technical, Past Performance and Price are the factors that will be evaluated. Evaluation factors represent those specific characteristics that are tied to significant the solicitation’s requirements. They are the uniform baseline against which each offeror’s proposal is evaluated allowing the Government to make a determination of acceptability. The evaluation factors/minimum acceptability requirements shall be set forth in the solicitation in enough depth to communicate what will be evaluated. The evaluation factors shall be the primary determinant of the detailed information requested in the solicitation’s instructions to offerors. Factors are to be evaluated on an “acceptable” or “unacceptable” basis. These factors and will identify the minimum requirements that are key to successful contract performance.

Proposals will be evaluated for acceptability but not ranked using the non-price/price factors. In order to be considered for award, the offer must be determined “acceptable” in every non-price factor.

1) Factor 1: Technical http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/15.htm#P241_37849 http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/15.htm#P270_41811 http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/15.htm#P270_41811 http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/19.htm#P579_121609 http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/15.htm#P286_46346

i. The offeror shall demonstrate in their proposal an understanding of the requirement, experience for the support as described in the PWS and the management approach and the degree of the offeror’s understanding:

ii. The minimum requirements which must be met by both the contractor and personnel in order to be acceptable are:

a. The contractor shall have at least 5 year experience designing and executing independent research using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, providing data analyses and developing recommendations.

b. A minimum of 3 year experience working in the SC/SA environment.

iii. The minimum acceptability standards which must be met by the personnel is listed below:

a. Contractor’s Program Manager

Required Experience:

At least 5 years of project/program management experience in direct support of international programs, foreign military sales, or security cooperation programs.

Required Education & Training:

Minimum of a Master’s Degree in Business Administration or Science

Required Skills:

Project/Program Management of activities directly related to International Programs.

b. Security Cooperation Workforce Development SME & Project Manager

At least 5 years of experience designing and executing independent research using both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

At least 10 years of experience developing predictive statistical models related to organizational operations.

At least 10 years of experience designing and implementing survey instruments using recognized industry standards research using survey data.

At least 10 years of experience directly supporting international programs, foreign military sales or security cooperation programs.

At least 10 years of experience executing and supporting training and education activities.

At least 10 years of experience executing and supporting workforce development initiatives.

At least 5 years of experience using the Security Cooperation Workforce Development

Database and analyzing Security Cooperation Workforce data.

Minimum of Master’s Degree in International Relations, International Affairs, International Politics, Operations Research, or Statistics

Has completed formal education at the collegiate level in quantitative analysis or quantitative research methods.

Has completed the following training courses: (1) Security Cooperation Management

Orientation Course (SCM-OC-OL), (2) International Programs Security Requirements

Course (IPRS) or equivalent, (3) Missile Technology Control Regime Course.

Quantitative Analysis

Qualitative Analysis

Expertise with the Security Cooperation Workforce Development Database (SCWD-D)

Survey Design and Implementation

Resource Utilization Analysis

Predictive Modeling

International Affairs

Workforce Development

Data Collection Design and Analysis

Training and Education

System Requirements definition and Analysis

Research Report Writing

Expertise with quantitative analysis and statistical software (e.g., IBM SPSS, SAS, or

STATA)

Expertise with Survey Implementation Software (eg., survey monkey, survey methods, etc.)

Expertise with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and OneNote

c. Security Cooperation Workforce Research Consultant (NCR)

At least 5 years of experience conducting research and analysis using both quantitative and qualitative methods.

At least 5 years of experience directly supporting international programs, foreign military sales or security cooperation programs.

At least 5 years of experience executing and supporting workforce development or training and education activities. At least 5 years of experience developing business intelligence reports and preparing presentations and briefings to present research findings.

At least 5 years of experience analyzing data systems and supporting requirements definition for system enhancements.

International Politics, Operations Research, Statistics, Accounting, or Financial

Management.

Has completed the following training courses: (1) Security Cooperation Management

Orientation Course (SCM-OC-OL), (2) International Programs Security Requirements

Course (IPRS) or equivalent.

Workforce Development

Training and Education

International Affairs

Data Collection and Analysis

Quantitative Research Methods

Qualitative Research Methods

Report Writing and Briefing Preparation

Systems Analysis and Requirements Definition

Expertise with the Security Cooperation Workforce Development Database (SCWD-D)

Expertise with the International Affairs Certification Program Database (IACPD)

Expertise with the administration of the Security Assistance Network (SAN) and the

International Security Assistance Network (iSAN)

Expertise with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word

Expertise with Adobe Creative Suite Software (Photoshop, Lightroom, Acrobat Pro)

d. Senior Security Cooperation Workforce Development & Management Operations

Consultant

At least 5 years of experience analyzing budget and account data.

At least 5 years of experience directly supporting international programs, foreign military sales or security cooperation programs.

At least 5 years of experience executing and supporting training and education activities.

At least 5 years of experience executing and supporting workforce development initiatives.

At least 5 years of experience using the Security Cooperation Workforce Development

Database and analyzing Security Cooperation Workforce data.

At least 5 years of experience drafting program documentation and defining workforce development program requirements, and drafting formal correspondence in preparation for Sr. Executive level signature.

At least 5 years of experience developing and writing technical documents and user guides for workforce data systems.

International Politics, Operations Research, Statistics, Accounting, or Financial

Management.

Has completed the following training courses: (1) Security Cooperation Management

Orientation Course (SCM-OC-OL), (2) International Programs Security Requirements

Course (IPRS) or equivalent.

Workforce Development

Budget Analysis

International Affairs

Data analysis

Technical Writing

Editing Academic Journal Articles Related to Security Cooperation & Security

Assistance

System Requirements definition and analysis

Expertise with the Security Cooperation Workforce Development Database (SCWD-D)

Expertise with the International Affairs Certification Program Database (IACPD)

Expertise with the administration of the Security Assistance Network (SAN) and the

International Security Assistance Network (iSAN)

Expertise with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word

Expertise with Adobe Creative Suite Software (Photoshop, Lightroom, Acrobat Pro)

e. Cooperation Workforce Research Consultant (WPAFB)

At least 5 years of experience designing and conducting both quantitative and qualitative research studies.

At Least 5 years of experience analyzing research data using statistical software.

At least 5 years of experience executing data collection projects and identifying anomalies in data.

At least 5 years of experience documenting research and presenting research findings.

Direct professional experience analyzing Security Cooperation Workforce Development

Database (SCWD-D) data, and resolving or escalating issues related to the data.

Direct professional experience conducting datamining on workforce data.

Direct experience using Microsoft OneNote to facilitate discussions and to track action items.

Required Skills:

Workforce Development

Budget Analysis

Data analysis

Technical Writing

System Requirements definition and analysis

f. Security Cooperation Workforce Data Analyst

At least 5 years of experience providing support to external Department of Defense clients.

At least 5 years of experience supporting training and education programs in the

Department of Defense.

Experience executing data collection projects and identifying anomalies in data.

Experience documenting research and presenting research findings.

Direct professional experience analyzing Security Cooperation Workforce Development

Database (SCWD-D) data, and resolving or escalating issues related to the data.

Direct professional experience conducting datamining on workforce data.

Direct experience using Microsoft OneNote to facilitate discussions and to track action items.

Required Skills:

Workforce Development

End-user Support

Database Administration

Data mining and analysis

Technical Writing

System Requirements definition and analysis

Expertise with the Administration of the Security Assistance Network (SAN) and

International Security Assistance Network (iSAN)

iv. Quality Control Plan (QCP)

The QCP must demonstrate the contractor’s ability to provide oversight, measurements, and reporting processes to ensure compliance with all contract requirements. The Quality Control

Plan must include all elements in the PWS and Performance Requirements Summary; to include a comprehensive and effective Safety and Security programs. In addition, the contractor must provide a retention plan for employees and how they will fill billets if any employee is terminated or resigns within 30 days

2) Factor 2: Past Performance. There are two aspects to the past performance evaluation:

Past performance will initially be evaluated to determine whether the offeror’s present/past performance is recent, and relevant or not relevant to the effort to be acquired. “Recent” is defined as a contract or subcontract in-progress or completed within the last three (3) years. If the Offeror has not had Government contracts within the last three (3) years, information on recent commercial contracts and subcontracts may be submitted instead. The information must be clear as to whether the work by the

Offeror was done as a prime contractor or a subcontractor. “Relevant” is defined as a contract that is of similar scope, magnitude, and complexity to the requirements as set forth in this solicitation. Offerors who describe similar contracts and subcontracts should provide a detailed explanation demonstrating the similarity of the contracts to the requirements of this solicitation and PWS.

The second aspect of the past performance evaluation is to determine how well the contractor performed on the prior contracts. The past performance evaluation performed in support of a current source selection does not establish, create, or change the existing record and history of the offeror’s past performance on past contracts; rather, the past performance evaluation process gathers information from customers on how well the offeror performed those past contracts.

NOTE: In the case of an offeror without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available or so sparse that no meaningful past performance rating can be reasonably assigned, the offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance (see FAR 15.305(a)(2)(iv)). Therefore, the offeror shall be determined to have unknown (or “neutral”) past performance. In the context of acceptability/unacceptability, a neutral rating shall be considered “acceptable.”

3) Factor 3 Price:

1. A proposal analysis, of the total proposed price of the apparent lowest priced technically acceptable offer, shall be conducted to ensure the price is fair and reasonable. Per source selection policy, all offers with separately priced line items or subline items shall be analyzed to determine if the prices are unbalanced (FAR 15.404-1(g)). Offers may be rejected if the contracting officer determines the lack of balance poses an unacceptable risk to the Government.

2. The LPTA procedure is applied to known, firm requirements, usually readily available in the commercial marketplace where a fair and reasonable price determination is based on adequate price competition. Therefore, an analysis in accordance with FAR 15.404-1(b)(2)(i) shall be conducted, should adequate competition exist. Should competition not be adequate, one or more of the procedures at FAR 15.404-1(b)(2)(ii) or (iv) or (v) shall be used. The additional procedures are “Comparison of proposed prices to historical prices paid, whether by the

Government or other than the Government, for the same or similar items.”; “Comparison with competitive published price lists, published market prices of commodities, similar indexes, and discount or rebate arrangements.” and “Comparison of proposed prices with independent

Government cost estimates.”, respectively.

3. In accordance with FAR 52.217-5, all options shall be evaluated for the purpose of award. The

Government may determine that and offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).