Final_RFP_Executive_Summary.docx

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20528

National Biodefense Analysis Countermeasures Center (NBACC)

Executive Summary

Solicitation Number: HSHQDC-15-R-00050

SELECTION OF A MANAGEMENT AND OPERATING CONTRACTOR FOR THE

NATIONAL BIODEFENSE ANALYSIS COUNTERMEASURES CENTER (NBACC)

This letter is a summary of the salient elements of the acquisition, but is not an integral part of the attached RFP. Should there be any conflict between this Executive Summary Letter and the RFP, the data and the information in the RFP shall prevail.

The Department of Homeland Security is releasing this RFP as part of a multi-phase approach to award a contract for the management and operation of NBACC Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). For this RFP, DHS is seeking proposals from offerors interested in competing for this requirement.

Specific details of contract performance requirements are described in the RFP. The RFP can be found on Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website at http://www.fbo.gov. All questions must be directed to the Procuring Contracting Officer, Mr. Aaron H. Ford, at Aaron.Ford@hq.dhs.gov. Responses to questions, posting of the final RFP, and any amendments to the RFP will be posted onto FBO.

It is requested that all questions on this RFP be submitted no later than April 16, 2015.

The NBACC facility has an estimated 160,000 gross square feet to include an estimated laboratory space of 20% Bio-Safety Level (BSL)-4, 53% BSL-3, and 27% BSL-2. The total estimated staff at NBACC is approximately 168. The NBACC facility provides the nation with BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 biocontainment laboratory space for biological threat characterization and Bioforensics work, consistent with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 10 (HSPD-10). The October 2012 Strategic Plan for NBACC describes the mission of providing a scientific basis for the characterization of biological threats (e.g., to support intelligence assessments, preparedness planning, and response to both events), emerging threat characterization (e.g., continuously available national capability of broad and adaptable competencies that provide both pre-positioned information and responsive scientific experiments for newly identified threats) and bioforensics analysis to support attribution of the planned or actual use of biological weapons.

In order to further the Government’s policy of maximizing electronic commerce and making the acquisition process optimally cost effective, electronic media will be the primary method of communication from the Government regarding this solicitation. The solicitation, solicitation amendments, responses to questions, and other official communications from the Government will be posted onto FBO website. Offerors are responsible for checking FBO frequently for information, notices, and updates regarding this solicitation.

The overall objective of this acquisition is to select the Contractor that is most capable of managing and operating the NBACC FFRDC. A Source Selection Evaluation Board (SSEB) will be established to evaluate proposals submitted in response to the final solicitation. The SSEB will conduct its activities in accordance with DHS regulations and policies. Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the specific methodology and evaluation criteria set forth in Section M of the final RFP. General instructions are contained in Section L of the final RFP.

SIGNIFICANT ITEMS OF INTEREST CONCERNING THIS SOLICITATION:

Offerors are encouraged to pay particular attention to the following aspects of the RFP:

Contract Type—the Government anticipates that the type of contract that will be used for this requirement will be a hybrid cost-reimbursement contract consisting of Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) and Cost-Plus-Award-Fee (CPAF) line items.

The proposed contract will also include Indefinite-Delivery-Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) type line items for the Work-For-Others (WFO) and/or Analytic Tasks Programs. These line items will allow for the Government to issue CPFF (either completion or term type) for the performance of specific work sent to DHS from other Federal agencies.

Award-Term Incentive—the basic contract consists of a one-year base period and four traditional one-year option periods. For this requirement, the Government has added five earnable Award-Term incentive periods to provide a positive non-monetary incentive to the successful Contractor to earn five additional years of contract term for exemplary performance. (Refer to Section F.6 entitled “Award-Term—Terms and Conditions”.)

Section J, Attachment 3 entitled “Award-Term Plan” provides a draft of the Award-Term Plan for the NBACC Project which will provide DHS’s approach to measuring the performance of the Contractor managing and operating the NBACC FFRDC. The draft Award-Term Plan is provided for information and for prospective Offerors to provide comments/recommendations/updates. The final Award-Term Plan will be included at contract award.

Award-Fee Plan—section J, Attachment 2 entitled “Award-Fee Plan” provides a draft of the Award-Fee Plan for the NBACC project which will provide DHS’s approach to measuring the performance of the Contractor managing and operating the NBACC FFRDC. The draft Award-Fee Plan is provided for information and for prospective Offerors to provide comments/recommendations/updates. The final Award-Fee Plan will be included at contract award.

Employee Retention—subject to appropriation of the requisite funding, the selected Offeror will be encouraged to retain the current workforce with the exception of “Discretionary Incumbent Management Employees” assigned to Key Personnel positions as listed in the incumbent’s contract, in Section H under the clause entitled “Key Personnel” as of the date of release of the RFP, including any subsequent changes of these personnel after release. (Refer to Section H clause entitled “Workforce Transition”)

Small Business Subcontracting Plan—offerors will be required to submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan that is consistent with DHS’s goals as part of their proposal response to the final RFP. The draft RFP provides DHS’s current small business goals for informational purposes. (Refer to Section I clause 52.219-9 and Alternate II in Section I and Section L—Section L.4.3.5—Volume IV—Contract Administration (Chapter 3.0—Small Business Subcontracting Plan)

Transition Plan—offerors will be required to submit a transition plan covering a phase-in period of maximum of 120 days prior to assuming responsibility for the management and operations of the NBACC FFRDC. This plan should address the specific steps necessary to assume full responsibility for management and operations of the NBACC FFRDC. (Refer to Section H special requirement H.23 entitled “Transition-In Option Period Procedures” and Section L—L.4.3.2.1 entitled “Technical Volume”)

Transition Cost—offerors will be required to submit a cost estimate for all transition activities in the format described in Section L in their proposal response to the final RFP. The transition period will be on a CPFF basis, subject to the cost principles of Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 31 and Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation Part 3031, and limited to the amount specified in the Offeror’s transition cost proposal.

Issuance of Final RFP—the Government anticipates that the FINAL issuance of the RFP will occur on/or about March 16, 2015. The Government will provide additional information on the final release of the RFP via notices in FBO.

The Government strongly encourages all prospective vendors to thoroughly review the RFP in order to gain a complete understanding of the requirements, terms, and conditions for this acquisition.

Proposal Due Date—proposals, and any modifications or revisions, in response to the final RFP are due at 2:00 PM EDT (1400 hours) on May 19, 2015. Proposals are to be submitted in writing and electronically submitted to the Procuring Contracting Officer in accordance with the instructions contained in Section L of the RFP. Late proposals, modification, and withdrawals will be treated in accordance with Section L FAR Clause 52.215-1—Instructions to Offerors—Competitive Acquisition.

Evaluation Criteria—the RFP describes the criteria that DHS will use in the selection of a Contractor which are as follows: (1) Management and Technical Approach; (2) Past Performance; (3) Small Business Participation; (4) Earned Value Management System (EVMS) Approach; and (5) Cost/Price. (Refer to Section M)

The Government will evaluate cost proposals for reasonableness and realism and will consider transition period costs. A contract will be awarded to the responsive, responsible offeror whose proposal represents the best value to the Government. (Refer to Section M)

While not required, Offerors intending to submit an offer in response to the final RFP are requested to send an email to the Procuring Contracting Officer at Aaron.Ford@hq.dhs.gov no later than the close of business, 15 business days after the final RFP is released.

Enclosure:

Request for Proposal HSHQDC-15-R-00050 NBACC Final RFP Executive Summary Page ES-1

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