N6264518R0045_Amendment_1.docx

N6264518R0045

The required response date/time has changed from 08-Aug-2018 02:00 PM to 09-Aug-2018 02:00 PM.

AMENDMENT 0001:

The purpose of Amendment 1 is to provide responses to questions received from potential offerors. The proposal due date has been extended.

Question 1: In the defense of defining “healthy”, would the Government please provide your exclusion list?

Response: Animals shall be free from the following bacteria and viruses listed below. The offeror’s Quality Assurance/Quality Control reports shall provide confirmation that the colony is free from the following:

Toolan's H1 Virus (TH1)

Question 2: Essential Characteristics: Quality Control/Quality Assurance USDA recent lab test results. The last three statements and third to last statement are exactly the same. These last 3 statements in the Essential Characteristics (pg. 1) should not pertain to this RFP since rats are not a USDA covered species. Please verify that this statement is correct.

Response: If the offeror is not USDA licensed, they must be AAALAC (Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care) accredited. The offeror shall provide their latest quality assessment or quality control report for either the USDA or AAALAC. The solicitation has been updated to reflect this information. The duplicate statement has been removed.

Question 3: Attachment 2: We are assuming that Attachment 2 was included in the RFP packet in error, as there is no reference to it in the Proposal Instructions. We are asking the Government to verify our assumption.

Response: Attachment 2 has been removed.

Question 4: Based on historical order history, would the Government provide the anticipated number of animals per order?

Response: The minimum order is two (2) rats; the solicitation, Essential Characteristics, has been updated to reflect this information.

Question 5: Who has the current contract?

Response: NMLC does not have a current contract in place for this requirement.

Question 6: What is the current contract pricing?

Response: Refer to response to Question 5.

Question 7: Why must the container not exceed four (4) rats?

Response: This is the Government’s requirement. The Government does not intend to change this requirement.

Question 8: Section 52.212-2 (pg. 5): Please elaborate on Volume I and Volume II – which documents need to be included with each of the two (2) Volumes?

Response: Refer to pages 2 through 5 under the Section Addendum to 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Addendum to 52.212-1. The section referenced in the question, 52.212-2, is the evaluation factor section.

Question 9: Does the “Subject” in the email questions and email final proposal have to include specific verbiage other than, “Email 1 of 2, or email 1 of 3” if multiple email proposals are sent?

Response: Please reference the solicitation, N62645-18-R-0045, when submitting the proposal. In the event the file is too large to send in one email, the solicitation number and “Email 1 of 2”, or “Email 1 of 3”, should be referenced in the subject line.

Question 10: Section 1.1: is registration in SAM a requirement to be considered for this bid?

Response: The offeror must be registered in SAM in accordance with Addendum to 52.212-1, Section 1.1.

Question 11: What happens if we are not registered in SAM?

Response: The offeror must be registered in SAM to be considered for award. Refer also to response to Question 10.

Question 10: What happens if we do not have a QA/QC test results for the USDA?

Response: QA/QC tests from the AAALAC accredited or USDA licensed offeror is required. The solicitation, Essential Characteristics, has been updated.

The following have been modified:

ADDENDUM TO 52.212-1

INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS – ADDENDUM TO 52.212-1

In addition to the guidance included in FAR Provision 52.212-1 entitled “Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items,” the following are applicable for the preparation and submission of proposals.

Proposal Content and Instructions for Preparation of Proposals.

Instructions for preparation of proposals. This section specifies the format and content that offerors shall use in this Request for Proposal (RFP). The intent is not to restrict the offerors in the manner in which they will perform their work but rather to ensure a certain degree of uniformity in the format of the responses for evaluation purposes. Offerors must submit a proposal that is legible and comprehensive enough to provide the basis for a sound evaluation by the Government. Information provided should be precise, factual, and complete. Legibility, clarity, completeness, and responsiveness are of the utmost importance. Proposals shall be in the form prescribed by, and shall contain a response to, each of the areas identified in this Section (Addendum to 52.212-1). Any proposal that does not provide, at a minimum, that which is required in this solicitation may be determined to be substantially incomplete and not warrant any further consideration. The Government shall award a contract to the responsible offeror whose offer will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered.

The proposal shall be submitted in two separate volumes:

Volume I* – Non-Price Factors Volume II – Price (to include additional requirements listed below)

*No pricing information shall be included in Volume I.

A complete Volume I – Non-Price Factors and Volume II – Price shall be submitted by the closing date specified in this solicitation. If any one Volume is received past the stated closing date specified in this solicitation, the entire proposal can be considered late.

1. Volume I: Non-Price Factors. Volume I shall not include any pricing information. In accordance with file submission requirements given in this section, the offeror shall submit the following:

1.1. Evaluation Factor I: Technical Approach: The offeror shall provide sufficient technical documentation (including but not limited to: product literature, specifications) demonstrating the following:

· The offeror is able to meet the requirements listed under “Essential Characteristics” in this solicitation.

· The offeror is able provide the NIH-Foxn1RNU homozygous male rats listed in the “Essential Characteristics” in this solicitation.

· The offeror shall provide a statement that they are registered in SAM (System for Award Management, https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/#1#1. The statement must also state that the SAM registration is current and that the offeror is listed under NAICS code 112990.

· The offeror is USDA certified to sell animals or is AAALAC accredited.

· The offer has provided a copy of their most recent Quality Control/Quality Assurance reports.

1.2 Evaluation Factor II: Past Performance: The offeror shall describe its past performance on up to two contracts it has held within the last five years that are for the same or similar products to that which is detailed in this solicitation, or affirmatively state the offeror possesses no relevant past performance directly related to or similar past performance. Offerors who present similar contracts shall provide a detailed explanation demonstrating the relevance of the contracts to the requirements of the solicitation. The Government reserves the right to contact any references.

The offeror shall provide the following information for each of the two past performance reference contracts they are providing:

1.2.1. Contract number(s), award date, dates of performance and location(s) of performance for the past performance reference.

1.2.2. Name, phone number, and email address of a validated point of contact at the federal, state, local government or commercial entity for which the contract was performed. Offeror shall verify the validity of the contact information provided.

1.2.3. Dollar value of the past performance reference contract.

1.2.4. Description of the products provided under the contract.

1.2.5. The number, type, and severity of any quality or delivery problems in performing the contract, the corrective action taken and the effectiveness of the corrective action (if applicable).

1.2.6. The total number of rejected or returned products, with reasons for rejection or return, and total number of product(s) (if applicable).

1.2.7. Provide information regarding compliance with established delivery schedules and ability to provide timely replacement products due to recall or return.

1.2.8. Any other relevant information.

1.2.9. Answer “Has the POC agreed to be to be contacted as a reference?”

1.2.10. The government reserves the right to consider other past performance information at its disposal, in addition to any information obtained from the references provided above. The government is likely to randomly select references provided for contact and does not commit to contact every reference.

Page limit for Volume I – Non-Price Factors: not to exceed 15 pages (excluding a Cover Sheet and Table of Contents). Any information submitted that is in excess of the page limit shall not be considered as part of the proposal. Each past performance reference contract (2 maximum) shall be limited to 1 page each for a total of 2 pages. This page limitation is in addition to the page limit for Volume I.

2. Volume II: Price Proposal (Evaluation Factor III - Price). In accordance with file submission requirements given in this section, the offeror shall submit the following:

The offeror’s title page on the Volume II (Price Proposal) shall contain the following: complete company name and address, company Point of Contact (to include phone and email address), the offeror’s CAGE code and the DUNS number.

The offeror shall include a signed statement (from an official having the authority to bind the firm contractually) acknowledging the combined synopsis/solicitation, all amendments (if applicable), and include a statement that the offer is valid for 90 days.

The offeror shall complete and submit FAR provision 52.212-3 ALT I. Offerors shall only complete paragraph b if they have completed the annual representations and certifications in SAM.

2.1. Offerors shall complete the Pricing Sheet (instructions included) in its entirety (include Business Name and Date of Proposal) for the base period and all option periods to include the following.

The price per each:

1. Healthy (health certified) NIH- Foxn1RNU homozygous male rats for each age range specified in the pricing sheet. In addition, the highest unit price shall be multiplied by 400 (estimated maximum quantity) to obtain the maximum potential price per 12-month period of performance. The maximum potential price for each 12-month period of performance will be listed in each applicable CLIN (0001, 1001, 2001, 3001, and 4001) upon contract award.

2. Shipping Crates (assuming minimum of two (2) rats per crate, but not to exceed four (4)). Maximum quantity is 200.

3. Freight – must specify, for example, flat rate per delivery or per crate

- Offerors will provide a total price for each CLIN (0001, 1001, 2001, 3001, and 4001). The basis of the total price is the highest unit price for age specific NIH-Foxn1RNU homozygous male rats multiplied by the maximum ordering quantity per CLIN of 400 to include health certificates and requirements listed in the “Essential Characteristics” in this solicitation.

- Offerors will provide a price for each crate for each CLIN (0002, 1002, 2002, 3002, and 4002). The basis of the total price is the unit price multiplied by the maximum estimated quantity of 200 (assuming 2 but no more than 4 rats per crate) according to the shipping requirements listed in “Essential Characteristics” in this solicitation.

- Offerors shall provide a price for each shipping CLIN (0003, 1003, 2003, 3003, and 4003). Offerors shall be specific as to if this cost is a flat rate fee per delivery or if (how) the shipping costs change according to the quantity ordered. The maximum number of shipments is 200 per each 12-month period of performance.

-Offerors will provide a total price for the overall contract. The basis of this price is the sum value of all of the CLIN total values (calculated automatically in the pricing sheet). Offeror’s are responsible for assuring the calculations submitted with their proposal are accurate.

Page limit for Volume II – Price: There is NO page limit for Volume II – Price.

3. Proposal Submission.

The Government intends to award a contract without discussions. Offerors should provide their best, complete proposal upon initial submission. The Government reserves the right to hold discussions if deemed necessary by the Contracting Officer.

Questions shall be submitted (by email) to cheryl.r.vendemia.civ@mail.mil and thomas.l.hood26.civ@mail.mil not later than 10:00 AM Eastern Time, 31 July 2018. It is requested that only one set of questions be submitted by each offeror, numerous sets of questions from an offeror will not be accepted.

Proposal Submission:

a. The proposal shall be submitted via email to cheryl.r.vendemia.civ@mail.mil and thomas.l.hood26.civ@mail.mil. Multiple emails are accepted (if required) but they should be numbered in the email title as “X” of “X” (example Email 1 of 2). No other methods of submission will be accepted. The solicitation number (N62645-18-R-0045) should also be included in the subject line.

Once the offeror has submitted their proposal, they shall also send a confirmation email to cheryl.r.vendemia.civ@mail.mil and thomas.l.hood26.civ@mail.mil. The confirmation email shall include the company name and contact information as well stating that they have submitted a complete proposal to NMLC in response to N62645-18-R-0045. Proposals shall be submitted electronically by email no later than the proposal due date for this solicitation.

b. The proposal due date is 2:00 PM Eastern Time, 10 August 2018.

The estimated award date is 10 September 2018.

The Contracting Officer reserves the right to adjust each 12-month ordering period based on the actual award date.

Offers shall be valid for a period of 90 days.

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS

Below are the essential characteristics the award holder of this contract must meet for the products to be in compliance with this Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract:

This IDIQ contract is for the delivery of up to 400 healthy*, homozygous male NIHRNU rats (specifically NIH-Foxn1RNU homozygous male rats) of varying ages (refer to pricing sheet) for a base period of 12-months, and four 12- month option periods for the Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio (NAMRU-SA). The NAMRU-SA facility is located on the Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX.

The successful awardee must have the ability to deliver the specified aged rats to NAMRU-SA within three business days of receipt of each delivery order or on the delivery date identified in the order (if delivery is more than three business days from the date the delivery order is emailed).

The minimum order is two (2) rats. Each shipping crate should fit a minimum of two rats but no more than four rats, allowing up to 200 shipping crates per 12-month period. The offeror shall quote a price per shipping crate. The offeror shall also quote a flat rate price for each delivery or for each shipping crate. Rats of different ages shall not be shipped in the same crate.

The successful awardee shall provide a health certificate for each rat demonstrating the health status of each rat.

The health document/summary should include information such as results and date of testing on sentinel.

The offeror shall provide their most recent Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) reports.

*Rats shall be free from the following bacteria and viruses:

Toolan's H1 Virus (TH1)

QA/QC shall be monitored by the Awardee. If the colony does test positive, the awardee shall notify the Contracting Officer in writing (via email) within five (5) business days upon confirmation.

The offeror shall be either USDA licensed or shall be AAALAC accredited prior to award and shall maintain accreditation throughout the award.

The offeror shall provide the requested rats from an AAALAC accredited facility.

If AAALAC accreditation becomes lapsed, suspended, or is terminated during the award, the offeror shall notify the Contracting Officer in writing (via email) within two (2) calendar days of the event.