HQ003416Q0005_Cybersecurity_SME_Support_Instructions_FINAL.pdf

Cybersecurity SME Support Services

WHS-Acquisition Directorate, Washington, DC 20301-1155

INSTRUCTIONS TO VENDORS/EVALUATION FACTORS

1. Washington Headquarters Services – Acquisition Directorate requests a quotation (RFQ) for the services specified in the attached Performance Work Statement (PWS) contained within.

Quotation evaluation will be conducted in accordance with these Instructions, with intent to award to the offeror whose quotation provides the best value to the Government. Quotations must be received by Stephanie L. Houle at stephanie.l.houle.civ@mail.mil by 8AM EDT, 16

September 2016.

2. Questions regarding the solicitation are due to Stephanie Houle NLT 0800AM EST on

8 September 2016; responses will be posted on as soon as possible.

3. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

3.1. Quotations shall include two attachments and shall be submitted in one email. The first attachment represents the vendor’s response to Non-Priced Factors 1 and 2. The second attachment, Factor -3, represents the vendor’s Price Quote. The first page of each attachment shall include the RFQ number, date of submittal, the vendor’s name, address, CAGE code, POC name, phone, and email. Vendors may use the body of their email as a cover letter. Limit the cover letter to 600 words.

3.2. Text shall be single-spaced, on 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper, with minimum one-inch margins on all sides and minimum 12-point font. Text and graphics shall be in a format readable by

Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or Excel. Note: There is a 10MB limit for email submissions.

3.3. Page Limitations. Any pages in excess of the page limitations below will not be considered.

Attachments Page Limits

First Page (see 3.1) 1 page

Factor 1 – Technical Approach 5 pages

Factor 2 – Key Personnel 5 pages

Factor 3 – Price No Page Limit mailto:stephanie.l.houle.civ@mail.mil

4. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Factor 1 – Key Personnel

Provide individual Resumes and a short Capability & Experience statements for personnel identified in PART 6. Substitution of key personnel requires government approval. Vendors must state whether key personnel proposed are subject to a contingency offer of employment.

For all key personnel proposed, identify projects performed (completed or ongoing) of similar scope to the requirements of the PWS. Include the following information:

a. Describe the nature of the project, the relevance to this requirement, and the role the proposed personnel played in the performance of the project. Experience within the last three years will be considered to be more relevant.

Factor 2 – Technical Approach

Describe your technical approach for meeting PWS requirements. Include a description of the following:

a. Ability to support for PWS requirements (PWS PART 4 - Tasks including a detailed understanding of the requirement and how it will be performed.

b. Ability to provide innovation and flexibility in supporting a changing environment, including any tools, technologies, capabilities and skills proposed for meeting contract requirements.

Factor 3 – Price

Provide a firm-fixed-price for the base year and each option period. The vendor’s price quote shall identify the number of hours and fully-burdened hourly rates for each labor category, and any materials or supplies required to perform the PWS. Significant discounts are strongly encouraged and shall be identified in the vendor’s price quote.

5.0 EVALUATION

The Government intends to evaluate quotations utilizing a trade-off approach and award a firm-fixed-price order based upon the vendor’s proposed key personnel, technical approach, and price based on initial quotation. Therefore, the vendor’s initial quotation should contain the best terms from a pricing and technical standpoint.

The award shall be made to the responsible vendor whose quotation represents the best value to the Government. The Government may reject any or all quotations if such action is in the public interest; accept a quotation other than the lowest priced quotation; and waive informalities and minor irregularities in quotations received.

5.1. Order of Importance

Factor 1 - Key Personnel is more important than Factor 2 - Technical Approach. Combined

Factors 1 and 2 are more important than Factor 3 - Price.

5.2. Definitions

The following evaluation definitions are provided to assist the evaluator(s):

Deficiency: A material failure of a quotation to meet a Government requirement or a combination of significant weaknesses in a quotation that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance to an unacceptable level.

Weakness: A flaw in the quotation that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance.

A significant weakness in the quotation is a flaw that appreciably increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance.

Strength: A proposed method or technique in the quotation that exceeds the solicitation requirements.

5.3. Ratings

Each Factor (except Price), through an assessment of any strengths, weaknesses, and deficiencies, will receive one rating described in Table 1. In addition, Personnel will be evaluated in accordance with the minimum requirements set forth in PWS PART 6.0.

TABLE 1 - TECHNICAL RATINGS

Outstanding Quotation meets requirements and indicates an exceptional approach and understanding of the requirements. Strengths far outweigh any weaknesses. Risk of unsuccessful performance is very low.

Good Quotation meets requirements and indicates a thorough approach and understanding of the requirements. Quotation contains strengths which outweigh any weaknesses. Risk of unsuccessful performance is low.

Acceptable Quotation meets requirements and indicates an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements. Strengths and weaknesses are offsetting or will have little or no impact on contract performance. Risk of unsuccessful performance is no worse than moderate.

Marginal Quotation does not clearly meet requirements and has not demonstrated an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements. The quotation has one or more weaknesses which are not offset by strengths. Risk of unsuccessful performance is significant.

Unacceptable Quotation does not meet requirements and contains one or more deficiencies. Risk of unsuccessful performance is high.

5.4. Factor 3 – Price

Quotations shall be evaluated, for award purposes, based upon the total price proposed for the basic requirements (basic award) and all options. The sum of all the CLINs (Basic Year and

Options) will represent the total evaluated price.

The government will evaluate whether the proposed level of effort is appropriate for the requirements of the PWS to ensure successful performance; and whether the proposed rates per hour are reasonable.

The government has included 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services. For evaluation purposes, the

Government will consider the price for the six-month Option to Extend Services as equal to half the price of the last option period quoted. The total evaluated price will include the base period and all options including the Option to Extend Services. Evaluation of the option will not obligate the government to exercise the option.