RFQ_Attachment_1_HQ0034-18-R-0229.pdf

Attachment 1

RFQ # HQ0034-18-R-0229

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

General Information

Document Type: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

Solicitation Number: HQ0034-18-R-0229

Posted Date: 25-Jul-18

Amendment Date: TBD

Original Response Date: 03-Aug-18

Current Response Date: 03-Aug-18

Classification Code: D -- Information technology services, including telecommunications services

Set Aside: Small Business

NAICS Code: 541511 - Custom Computer Programming Services

Contracting Office Address

Washington Headquarters Services, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22350

Description

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 12.6, “Streamlined Procedures for

Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items,” as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. Quotes will be evaluated in accordance with FAR subpart 12.602

“Streamlined Evaluation of Offers” and FAR 13.106-2 “ Evaluation of Quotations or Offers” as implemented by FAR 13.5 “Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items”. This announcement incorporates provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition

Circular.

This solicitation is a Request for Quotes (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-101 and

DFARS change notice 20180629. Solicitation provisions and contract clauses that pertain this contract are contained in RFQ Attachments 4. There is no assigned Defense Priorities and

Allocations System (DPAS) rating for this requirement.

The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541511 - Custom Computer Programming Services, with a small business size standard of $27.5M. The following documents constitute the complete RFQ solicitation and are hereby incorporated:

RFQ Attachment 1_ HQ0034-18-R-0229(Full Text)

RFQ Attachment 2_PWS

RFQ Attachment 3_Price Template

RFQ Attachment 4_Clauses & Provisions

INSTRUCTIONS TO QUOTERS

Section 1: General RFQ Instructions

1. Quoters shall read this document in its entirety as it contains information and procedures regulating how Quoters will structure its quotes in response to this solicitation.

2. This RFQ is being competed as unrestricted under 541511 - Custom Computer

Programming Services with a size standard of $27.5M.

3. The Government anticipates awarding one stand-alone contract, as described below, for

Development of Cyberstakes Capture-the-Flag Problem Set to the Quoter whose quote is the most advantageous to the Government as set forth in the “Evaluation for Award” section below and as outlined in RFP Attachment 2 – Performance Work Statement (PWS). The contracting officer has a broad discretion in determining suitable evaluation procedures. The Government may award the contract to other than the Quoter quoting the lowest price or achieving the highest adjectival rating.

4. Each Quoter must submit a response to the solicitation, consistent with the instructions herein, in order to be considered for an award. Incomplete quote submissions will not be evaluated and, therefore, will not be considered for an award. Submission of these items, as detailed below, will constitute the Quoter’s compliance with the terms and conditions of the RFQ solicitation.

5. The Government intends to award the contract without discussions. Therefore, initial submissions should contain the Quoter’s best terms from a price and technical standpoint.

Notwithstanding its intent to award without discussions, the Government reserves the right to conduct discussions with Quoters, if it deems necessary, and to permit Quoters to revise their quotes.

6. Quoters are advised to closely read the technical quote instructions, technical evaluation process and evaluation criteria contained in the following sections prior to preparing a technical quote.

7. The Government will pay no expenses incurred by any Quoter for the preparation and submission of a quote in response to this RFP.

8. Quoters shall use standard 8 ½ x 11” size paper with, at minimum, 3/4” margins on all sides. The entire written submission shall use Times New Roman or other plain font easily understandable and, at minimum, a 12 point font size for text and a 10 point font size for tables and graphics. All pages shall include page numbering. Any pages over the specific page limitations for each factor as outlined below may not be considered.

9. Submission and File Naming. Quoters shall submit their quotes, for consideration of award, as separate volumes of the total quote package, as outlined above. All non-price information shall be organized by sections, relative to the evaluation factor structure, and be contained within Volume 1 – Technical Quote. Quoters shall omit all pricing details from all technical quote submissions. File attachments for Volumes 1 and 2 shall be named as follows:

Volume 1 – Technical_Company Name

Volume 2 – Pricing_Company Name

10. Questions. All questions regarding this RFP shall be addressed to Kaitlin Lockett, titled

“DDS Cyberstakes RFQ Questions_Company Name” sent to whs.mc-alex.ad.mbx.ssb-vendor-submissions@mail.mil no later than 26 July 2018 @ 10:00 AM Eastern Time (EST). Answers to

Quoter questions shall be compiled and provided to all Quoters via an Amendment on Federal

Business Opportunities website.

11. Quote Due Date. Submission of vendor quotes in response to this RFP shall be addressed to Kaitlin Lockett, tilted “DDS Cyberstakes RFQ Submission_Company Name” sent to whs.mc-alex.ad.mbx.ssb-vendor-submissions@mail.mil >. Responses are due no later than 03 August

2018 @ 2:00 PM ET.

The government will not consider the text of the emails, only the attachments. A single email cannot exceed 10 MBs. Files should be in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe .PDF format; zip files are accepted.

Section 2: Quote Instructions

1. Content and Format. Quotes shall consist of two (2) separate volumes and shall be organized as follows:

The technical quote shall consist of a comprehensive written quote containing of two (2) sections: Technical Approach & Staffing Plan and Corporate Experience. Quote content under the section headers should be compiled regarding the technical quote instructions and page limitations detailed below. Volume I is broken down as follows:

Section Header Description Page Count

Cover Letter Cover Letter 1 Page

Technical Factor 1 Technical Approach & Staffing Plan 8 Pages

Technical Factor 2 Corporate Experience 5 Pages

The price quote (Volume I) shall consist of the contract pricing and does not have a page limitation. Pricing data is prohibited in, and shall be omitted from, Volume I.

2. Quoters are strongly encouraged to be succinct, clear, and concise in writing their quote and adhering to the set page limitations. Bullet-sized or outline formats are welcomed where appropriate.

3. The technical quotes must contain the necessary and required information to enable the

Government to evaluate the Quoter under the “Evaluation for Award” section below.

4. In the technical quote, Quoters are encouraged to use quantitative and graphical methods to portray facts through charts, lists, matrices, diagrams, tabulations, etc. These quantitative and graphical methods are included in the overall page limitation.

mailto:whs.mc-alex.ad.mbx.ssb-vendor-submissions@mail.mil mailto:whs.mc-alex.ad.mbx.ssb-vendor-submissions@mail.mil mailto:whs.mc-alex.ad.mbx.ssb-vendor-submissions@mail.mil mailto:whs.mc-alex.ad.mbx.ssb-vendor-submissions@mail.mil

5. Each acronym used shall be spelled out in the text the first time it appears in each volume.

Section 3: Volume I Quote Instructions

1. The following introductory information is required (cover letter format is acceptable) on the first page of Volume I of the submitted Technical Quote:

RFQ Number & Title, Name and address of Quoter, Name, telephone number & e-mail address of the main point-of-contact, Name of your Contract Administrator, Date of submission, Name, title, and signature of authorized representative, Quoter's DUNS number, and

Exceptions to RFQ/Performance Work Statement (if applicable).

2. Technical Approach & Staffing Plan. The Quoter’s technical quote must provide a clear and complete approach for addressing Technical Factor 1, Technical Approach & Staffing Plan.

Instructions for Technical Factor 1 is detailed below.

Technical Approach. The Quoter’s technical quote must contain a clear, concise, and complete description of the Quoter’s proposed technical approach to accomplishing the requirement outlined in the PWS. Technical responses shall contain sufficient content for the Government to determine whether a Quoter understands and has experience with the

PWS requirements. To demonstrate understanding, the Quoter shall propose sound, practical, and feasible methods to accomplish all tasks identified in the PWS, including but not limited to, those tasks listed in PWS Section 5.0. Demonstrated understanding and experience also includes whether the Quoter demonstrates a complete understanding of the detailed service requirements involved when developing Cyberstakes Capture-the-

Flag Problem Set, understanding of the deliverables required, logistics and any potential issues that may be encountered on the project. Quoters are cautioned against using such phrases as “standard procedures will be employed” or “well-known techniques will be used” in their quotes.

Staffing Plan. Quote submissions under this technical factor shall include a Staffing Plan.

The Staffing Plan shall detail the resource allocation for all tasks identified in the PWS.

The Staffing Plan shall show a breakout of all proposed labor, labor categories, and associated hours, by task, for all tasks. The Staffing Plan shall detail how the Quoter proposes to effectively and efficiently meet the Government’s requirement with the proposed staff.

In its quote, the Quoter must also effectively demonstrate that the proposed level-of-effort (LOE) and labor mix can acceptably perform the PWS tasks and requirements and is reflective of its proposed Management and Technical approach. Note: The

Government will compare the proposed LOE, labor mix, and any explanations for innovative approaches to the current/historical LOE provided in this RFP and perform an analysis. Based on the results of the analysis, an overall determination of whether the proposed LOE is sufficient to perform the work will be made.

3. Corporate Experience. Instructions for addressing Technical Factor 2, Corporate

Experience, are detailed below.

Quoters are instructed to demonstrate at least three years of total relevant corporate experience in performing services similar in size, complexity, and scope to the

Cyberstakes Capture-the-Flag Problem Set requirement and the extent to which the experience is relevant. Relevance is based upon the size, scope, and complexity of the project, as compared to the work required in this RFQ.

Each project shall have underway for at least 3 months and or has been completed within the past three (3) years of the RFQ closing date.

Quoters are instructed to provide the following information for all work cited:

Name of the entity for whom the services were provided (agency, firm, etc.);

Whether the work was performed as a prime or subcontractor;

Description of services provided, to include magnitude, scope and responsibilities; and

Period of Performance.

In addition to the information requested above, Past Performance information may be obtained from any other sources available to the Government, to include, but not limited to, the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), Federal Awardee

Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), Electronic Subcontract

Reporting System (eSRS), or other databases; the Defense Contract Management

Agency; and interviews with Program Managers, Contracting Officers, and Fee

Determining Officials.

Section 4: Price Data Instructions

1. Pricing data shall be segregated from the Quoter’s technical quote. Volume 2 - Pricing data shall contain only the information requested in this section and shall not be used as an extension of the technical quote.

2. Quoters shall submit pricing data in a manner consistent with the information detailed below. Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word are acceptable formats for submitting Volume 2 price data. Quoters shall include any formulas and factors used in calculating the pricing data.

Quoters shall name the file “Volume 2 – Pricing_Company Name” in accordance with instructions listed above.

*Page Limitation: There is no page limitation for the submission of the pricing data. In addition to the requisite price information, Quoters can provide any substantiating price-related information it deems necessary. Substantiating price-related information is optional and not a requirement.

3. The Period of Performance for this contract will be 10 weeks. Pricing data shall be submitted to cover the entire Period of Performance.

4. Contract Line Item Number Pricing: Quoters shall use the following price templates for submission of requested pricing data relative to Cyberstakes Capture-the-Flag Problem Set requirement.

For CLINs 0001, Quoters shall prepare a Firm-Fixed-Price quote for 10 week base period. For purposes of uniformity across all Quoter price submissions, Quoters shall follow the provided pricing template (see Attachment 3 – Pricing Template) along with supporting documentation. Quoters shall provide an overall pricing summary that lists labor categories, total hours, labor hourly rates, total price, and any other price build-up for the Base Period. Additionally, Quoters shall include a CLIN pricing summary table, detailing unit prices, Contract Line Item Number(s) CLIN(s) total amounts, and a summary of all contract performance periods detailing the overall total proposed price of the contract. The quote shall contain burdened labor rates for all labor categories proposed under the Firm-Fixed Price portions of the quote.

All pricing shall be provided in the attached spreadsheet format compatible with

Microsoft Excel version 2003 or 2007 or higher.

EVALUATION OF QUOTATIONS

Section 6: Evaluation Procedures

1. The Government intends to award a single contract to the Quoter(s) whose quote(s) conforms to the RFQ requirements and is the most advantageous to the Government. In determining the awardee, the Government may, in accordance with FAR 13.106-2 and this RFQ, employ a tradeoff process allowing for an award to other than the lowest priced Quoter or other than the highest technical rated offer. Evaluation will be conducted and selection will be made in accordance with the guidelines provided in the FAR, Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS), and this RFP.

2. The evaluation procedures shall consist of the following steps:

STEP 1: The Quoter’s Volume 1 technical quote(s) will be evaluated under Technical Factor

1_Technical Approach and Staffing Plan using the “Technical Capability Performance

Evaluation Ratings and Definitions” listed in Section 9 below.

STEP 2: If the Quoter’s Technical Factor 2_Technical Approach and Staffing Plan Technical

Rating is “Acceptable” or higher, then the Quoter’s Technical Factor 2_Corporate Experience will be evaluated using the Technical Capability Evaluation Ratings.

STEP 3: If the Quoter’s Compliance Factor 1 is rated as fail and/or Technical Factor

1_Technical Approach and Staffing Plan or Technical Factor 2_Corporate Experience is rated as

“Marginal” or “Unacceptable”, then the price will not be evaluated.

The Technical Factor for Technical Approach and Staffing Plan and Corporate Experience are of equal importance. The Technical Factors for Technical Approach and Staffing Plan and

Corporate Experience when combined, are more important than the Price Factor. Price will be increasingly more important as non-price evaluation factors become increasingly equal.

Section 8: Evaluation Factors

Technical Factor 1 _ Technical Approach & Staffing Plan

1a) The extent to which the Quoter’s proposed Technical Approach demonstrates a complete understanding and feasibility of the requirement tasks, deliverables, and logistical details relating to the PWS, including addressing its understanding of potential issues that may be encountered and mitigation examples.

1b) The extent to which the Quoter's staffing plan ensures that the Quoter can properly perform the tasks of the PWS. The Government will also evaluate the quote to ensure that its proposed labor mix and level-of-effort are reflect of its proposed Technical Approach.

Receipt of a “Marginal” or “Unacceptable” rating for Technical Evaluation Factor 1 will render the quote unawardable and the Quoter will be considered ineligible for award and not evaluated further.

Technical Factor 2_Corporate Experience

The Government will evaluate the extent to which the Quoter demonstrates recent (within the last three (3) years), relevant (as defined below), and quality performance of past work identified. The information provided should include the ability to provide the requested services of the same magnitude and complexity of this RFP.

Specifically, the Government will consider:

2a) The extent to which the Quote demonstrated at least three years total of relevant past experience performing projects of similar size, scope, and complexity to the Specialized Staff

Support Services to the Counterintelligence & Security Directorate projects and the extent to which the experience is relevant. Relevance is based upon the size, scope, and complexity of the project, as compared to the work required in this RFQ. A quotation that does not demonstrate three years of relevant experience will be rated as “Unacceptable.”

Factor 3_Price

The Government will evaluate the total expected price of performing this work, in accordance with the process stipulated below.

Price will be evaluated independent of technical evaluations. The Quoter’s price will be evaluated to determine if it is fair and reasonable. Additionally, award will further be contingent upon determinations of contractor responsibility. The Government will determine contractor responsibility through the System of Award Management (SAM) and Federal Awardee

Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS). In order for an Quoter to be considered eligible for award, the Quoter shall have an active record with no exclusions in SAM and shall not have any negative records on FAPIIS. Price will not be rated adjectivally, but will be evaluated based on a comprehensive review. Price volumes will be evaluated with respect to accuracy and completeness based on information submitted in the Quoter’s written submission.

This process will involve verification that figures are correctly calculated, prices are presented in the requested format, and that proposed rates, and any applicable discounts, are accurate.

Additionally, the Government may utilize one or more of the methods of the following methods:

- Comparison of proposed prices received in response to the solicitation;

- Comparison of proposed prices to historical prices paid; or

- Comparison of proposed prices with independent Government cost estimates.

As part of the price evaluation, the Government will calculate an overall evaluated price. The overall evaluated price will be calculated by:

CLIN 0001 (FFP): The firm-fixed-price portions will be verified by multiplying the proposed labor rate by proposed labor hours for each labor category for the 10-week base, using the provided Attachment 3 - Pricing Template.

Note: Price will not be evaluated for a Quoter receiving an adjectival rating of “Marginal” or “Unacceptable” for Technical Factor 1 or Technical Factor 2. A rating of Marginal or

Unacceptable will render the quote(s) unawardable and the Quoter ineligible for award without further evaluation.

Section 9: Technical Capability Performance Evaluation Ratings and Definitions

1. The Quoter’s technical solution will be rated separately from the risk associated with its proposed approach. The technical rating evaluates the quality of the Quoter’s technical solution for meeting the Government’s requirement. The following adjectival rating scale will be utilized to evaluate the Quoter’s Volume 1 – Technical Quote relative to Technical Factor 1 _ Technical

Approach and Staffing Plan and Technical Factor 2 _Corporate Experience:

Adjectival

Rating Description

Outstanding

Quote meets requirements and indicates an exceptional approach and understanding of the requirements. The quote contains multiple strengths and no deficiencies.

Good Quote meets requirements and indicates a thorough approach and understanding of the requirements. Quote contains at least one strength and no deficiencies.

Acceptable Quote meets requirements and indicates an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements. Quote has no strengths or deficiencies.

Marginal Quote does not clearly meet requirements and has not demonstrated an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements.

Unacceptable Quote does not meet requirements and contains one or more deficiencies and is unawardable.

2. Assessment of technical risk, which is manifested by the identification of weakness(es), considers potential for disruption of schedule, increased costs, degradation of performance, the need for increased Government oversight, and/or the likelihood of unsuccessful contract performance. The following adjectival rating scale will be utilized to evaluate the Quoter’s

Volume 1 – Technical Quote relative to technical risk affiliated with Technical Factor 1 _

Technical Approach and Staffing Plan and Technical Factor 2 _Corporate Experience:

Adjectival

Rating Description

Low

Has little potential to cause disruption of schedule, increased cost or degradation of performance. Normal contractor effort and normal

Government monitoring will likely be able to overcome any difficulties.

Moderate

Can potentially cause disruption of schedule, increased cost or degradation of performance. Special contractor emphasis and close

Government monitoring will likely be able to overcome difficulties.

High

Is likely to cause significant disruption of schedule, increased cost or degradation of performance. Is unlikely to overcome any difficulties, even with special contractor emphasis and close Government monitoring.

Unacceptable Quote contains a material failure or a combination of significant weaknesses that increases the risk of unsuccessful performance to an unacceptable level.