N6264520R0002_Amendment_1.docx

N6264520R0002

SECTION SF 30 BLOCK 14 CONTINUATION PAGE

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

SECTION SF 30 - BLOCK 14 CONTINUATION PAGE

The following have been added by full text:

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS

Question 1: M.3.3. Evaluation Factor III: Small Business Participation Commitment Document/Subcontracting Plan; Section M.3.3. (g), Page 87-88, If an offeror’s proposed technical solution does not require the use of small business subcontractors, should the offeror provide sufficient justification to not to use a small business subcontractor(s) in accordance with the language included at M.3.3(g), could such a proposal still receive an “acceptable” rating on this factor? If so, what information would DoD like in the justification statement?

Response Question 1: In accordance with L.7.4.2, as revised via this Amendment, if the Offeror believes there are no subcontracting possibilities, the Offeror shall submit documentation with their proposal sufficient to justify its position. Section M.3.3. is revised via this Amendment.

Question 2: Business Associate Agreement, Section VII – Miscellaneous, Page 39. In the Business Associate Agreement, Section VII, Navy Enterprise-Wide Contractor Manpower Reporting Application (ECMRA) requires that contractors report all labor hours, including subcontractor labor hours, required for performance under this award. One of our proposed partners is a non-profit organization bound by FAR 31.3 cost principles, and therefore do not track or bill for labor by hour. Instead, they track and bill based on percent effort (%FTE). Further, similar to the government, our preference is to use Firm Fixed Price subcontracts to the maximum extent practical, which do not involve the reporting of labor hours. For these two scenarios, can the ECMRA requirement be satisfied by reporting approximate labor hours derived for illustrative purposes from a percentage of effort, or reporting those used as the basis of estimate for FFP Subcontracts, respectively?

Response Question 2: The Business Associate Agreement ends after Section VII (b). The ECMRA reporting requirement is not associated with the Business Associate Agreement. In accordance with Section H, Navy Enterprise-Wide Contractor Manpower Reporting Application (ECMRA), Contractors may direct questions to the help desk, linked at https://www.ecmra.mil/Default.aspx.

Question 3: Section C.3.1, Paragraph 1, Page 6; Column two of the staffing estimates table is labeled “Number of Full-Time Individuals”. Do staff members need to be committed to the project full time or may proposed labor categories consist of multiple individuals?

Response Question 3: In accordance with Section C.3.1, “The Government estimated staffing is identified for Offerors to ascertain the approximate or estimated level of effort for this requirement and to allow Offerors to better understand the general scope of this requirement. Offerors are encouraged and expected to submit a level of effort and labor categories consistent with their technical approach to accomplish the work identified in this requirement.”

Question 4: Section L.6.1, Paragraph 3, Page 76; Will the government accept proposals submitted as Adobe PDF files to aid with the submission of attachments/appendices?

Response Question 4: Proposals shall be submitted in accordance with Section L.6.1. MS Word is an acceptable file format for Volume I of the proposal. MS Word and MS Excel are acceptable file formats for Volume II of the proposal.

Question 5: Page 4, item 2.1.1.7. What is the typical length of each manuscript for publication?

Response Question 5: The length of each manuscript for publication can vary by topic; however, the typical length of each manuscript is within the range of 20 – 40 pages, and are based on the restrictions of Academic journals. The successful offeror will participate in identifying the optimal journal to submit each paper for publication. The journal’s page restrictions will determine the required length.

Question 6: Page 4, item 2.1.1.7. Are manuscript topics finalized and agreed with the contractor at the beginning of the period-of-performance, over the term of the period-of-performance, or within a set number of days of the start of the period-of-performance?

Response Question 6: Manuscript topics are agreed upon over the term of the period of performance. For example, the Millennium Cohort Study has a formal process that all researchers must complete prior to starting any new analytic projects. This formal process involves the preparation of a five page proposal that requires approval by a committee of both NHRC and external subject matter experts. The committee meets quarterly and approximately two to five projects are typically reviewed during each review cycle.

Question 7: Page 4, item 2.1.1.8. What is the typical length of each manuscript for publication?

Response Question 7: Refer to response to Question 5.

Question 8: Page 4, item 2.1.1.8. Are manuscript topics finalized and agreed with the contractor at the beginning of the period-of-performance, over the term of the period-of-performance, or within a set number of days of the start of the period-of-performance?

Response Question 8: Refer to response to Question 6.

Question 9: Page 8, item 5.2. What data format will be provided by the Government?

Response Question 9: Data is typically provided in SAS® format.

SECTION I - CONTRACT CLAUSES

The following included by reference have been revised:

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS AND NOTICES TO BIDDERS

The following have been modified:

INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

L.1. PERIOD FOR ACCEPTANCE OF OFFERS

The period for acceptance of offers is within 180 days after the closing date of the Solicitation.

L.2. PRE CONTRACT COSTS

The Contractor will not be reimbursed for costs incurred prior to the effective date of the contract or for proposal preparation.

L.3. CONTRACT AWARD

L.3.1. TYPE OF SOLICITATION

This solicitation is issued as full and open competition under which all contractors eligible for Federal contracts are encouraged to participate.

L.3.2. ONE PROPOSAL

The Government will evaluate only one proposal from each prime Offeror.

L.3.3. NOTICE OF HUMAN USE RESEARCH

A. The performance of research involving human subjects shall be conducted in accordance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) clause 252.235-7004 “Protection of Human Subjects,” 32 CFR 219 “The Common Rule,” 10 USC 980 “Limitation on Use of Humans as Experimental Subjects,” Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction 3216.02 “Protection of Human Subjects and Adherence to Ethical Standards in DoD-Supported Research,” and Secretary of the Navy Instruction 3900.39 (series) “Human Research Protection Program,” as well as other applicable federal and state law and regulations, and Department of the Navy guidance. The Contractor shall be cognizant of and abide by the additional restrictions and limitations imposed on the DoD regarding research involving human subjects, specifically as they regard vulnerable populations, recruitment of military research subjects, and informed consent and surrogate consent and chemical and biological agent research. Food and Drug Administration regulation and policies may also apply. The Contractor shall rely on the local command’s designated Institutional Review Board (IRB) as the IRB of record for the research to be supported under the contract. The Contractor shall also comply with all research training requirements directed by the local command.

• The Contractor shall hold and maintain an active (i.e., not expired) Federalwide Assurance (FWA) appropriate for research to be supported under the contract. The FWA shall remain active for the duration of the contract. The FWA is issued by the Department of Health and Human Services.

B. The following requirements must be completed prior to the Contractor’s performance of research involving human subjects or expenditure of funding on such effort, whichever occurs first:

(1) The Contractor shall enter into a DoD Institutional Agreement for Institutional Review Board (IRB) Review (IAIR) with the local command. The IAIR will apply to all human subject research supported under the contract. The IAIR shall be executed by the parties no later than 30 calendar days after the effective date of the contract, or before commencement of performance of research involving human subjects or expenditure of funding, whichever occurs first.

(2) Contractor personnel providing support under the contract shall complete initial and ongoing research ethics and human subject protections training appropriate to each individual’s level of involvement, duties, and responsibilities. Specific training requirements will be directed by the local command.

(3) The Contractor shall obtain written notice from the local command that: (i) Contractor personnel identified as supporting human subject research under the contract have been added to the applicable research protocol; (ii) performance of the protocol has been approved by the Command’s Institutional Official and that performance may begin; (iii) a determination that the protocol meets exemption criteria including the exemption category or classification of research risk (e.g., minimal risk); (iv) confirmation of continuing acceptability of the Contractor’s assurances; and (v) Human Research Protection Official (HRPO) review of the protocol in accordance with DFARS clause 252.235-7004 has been completed. Contractor personnel shall not commence performance of research involving human subjects until stated notice is received.

(4) The Contractor shall notify the local command of personnel changes under the contract. New personnel that will perform research involving human subjects will be required to complete applicable training and will be added to the applicable research protocol(s) as discussed above.

C. The Contractor shall support administrative efforts by the local command to ensure compliance with the terms of this requirement. This support includes identifying Contractor personnel that may support human subject research under the contract and maintaining records of training and other documentation to demonstrate compliance with human research protection requirements under the contract. The Contractor shall also assist with the continuing review of the human subject research that is supported under the contract.

D. Failure of the Contractor to comply with the terms of this requirement will result in the issuance of a stop-work order under Federal Acquisition Regulation clause 52.242-15 Alt I to immediately suspend, in whole or in part, work and further payment under this contract, or will result in other issuance of suspension of work and further payment for as long as determined necessary at the discretion of the Contracting Officer.

E. The terms of this requirement are applicable to and shall be included in all Subcontracts that may include the support of human subject research.

L.4. AWARD ON INITIAL OFFER

The Government intends to evaluate proposals and award a contract without discussions. Clarifications may be conducted as described in FAR 15.306(a)(2). Therefore, the Offeror’s initial proposal should contain the Offeror’s best terms from a price and technical standpoint. The Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if the Contracting Officer later determines them to be necessary (FAR 52.215-1(f)(4)). If the Contracting Officer determines that the number of proposals that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the Contracting Officer may limit the number of proposals in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated proposals.

L.5. SOLICITATION QUESTIONS

Questions or concerns regarding this Solicitation shall be submitted to cheryl.r.vendemia.civ@mail.mil in order to be received no later than 10:00 AM, Eastern Time, 14 October 2019. Questions received after the due date will not be considered. Offerors shall submit one set of questions; multiple emails will not be accepted. Solicitation N6264520R0002 shall be included in the email subject line. Questions shall identify the respective Section and Paragraph of the Solicitation. The Government will provide responses to questions regarding this Solicitation via an Amendment posted to FBO.

L.6. PROPOSAL PREPARATION. Proposals shall be prepared (and submitted) in two Volumes:

Volume I: Non-Cost Volume II: Cost

Volume I and Volume II shall be stand-alone documents. Attachments shall be clearly identifiable. Each proposal Volume will be evaluated in accordance with the source selection process contained in Section M.

L.6.1. PROPOSAL

The overall proposal shall consist of the following separate, individually titled volumes.

Volume I – Non-Cost

Volume II – Cost

Section K Representations and Certifications No Page Limit

Volumes and number of copies each are identified above. The Government will not consider pages submitted in excess of the stated page limitations. Page limitations include all text, graphs, pictures, appendices, references and exhibits unless otherwise noted. Cross reference matrices, tabs, index sheets, tables of contents, dividers and other such aids that are solely used to assist the evaluator in locating information and are advisory in nature, imparting no other information other than the identification of content, will not be counted against any page limits stated within this Solicitation. Type shall be Times New Roman and no smaller than a font size of eleven (11) and shall have 1.0 line spacing. Type for graphics, tables and reproductions shall be no smaller than a font size of 10 with a minimum of 1” margins. Page size shall not exceed 8 ½” x 11”. Page limitations do not include Title Page, Table of Contents, and Glossary.

MS Word is an acceptable file format for Volume I of the proposal. MS Word and MS Excel are acceptable file formats for Volume II of the proposal. Unless a file format is specified above, the file format is unacceptable.

Offerors shall not submit duplicate copies of the same document (or Volume), by (for example) submitting an MS Word version and an Adobe Acrobat version of the same document.

Double column pages are not allowed. Separate electronic files shall be used for Volume I and Volume II.

L.7. EVALUATION APPROACH

L.7.1. VOLUME I: NON-COST

L.7.1.1. VOLUME I, SUBPART I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Offeror shall provide a high-level summation of its proposal.

The Offeror shall make a clear statement in the Executive Summary, that the proposal is valid for not less than 180 calendar days from the proposal due date.

L.7.2.A. VOLUME I, SUBPART II: TECHNICAL APPROACH/RISK:

The Technical Approach should address the following:

· Approach to successfully accomplish the work identified in the PWS.

· Management oversight and personnel structure with regard to roles and responsibilities, lines of authority, span of control, flow of information, and communication strategies amongst the Offeror' team, subcontractors (if applicable), NHRC and DoD entities, and external organizations.

· Ability to perform and monitor contract activities

· Ability and discussion of utilizing Defense Health Agency data use/sharing agreements as outlined in the PWS.

· Ability and discussion of the Offeror’s on-site computing facilities/systems and ability to safeguard de-identified data.

· Ability and discussion of data analytic software used in the conduct of epidemiological and psychological health data analyses and graphic design capabilities.

· Subcontract management, if applicable.

· Strategies / processes to identify and manage / mitigate risk.

· Approach to managing cost, schedule, and performance.

· Approach to continuity of services (systems, recruiting, and retention).

· Resume(s) of designated key personnel (as identified in the PWS): Resumes shall be submitted for key personnel identified in the PWS. Resumes shall include the individual’s name (additional identifiable information shall be removed or redacted), descriptions of past/current responsibilities, relevant work experience, and any certification in the main program areas. Proposed personnel shall demonstrate sufficiently to the Government evaluators that the individual proposed has the knowledge and experience relevant to accomplish the required tasks. Resume(s) are limited to two pages per individual and are excluded from the overall page limit of Volume I.

The Government estimates that this contract will require an approximate level of effort as outlined in the PWS. This estimate is provided for the purposes of allowing Offerors to ascertain an approximate level of effort as well as an understanding of the general scope of this effort. Offerors are encouraged and expected to submit a level of effort consistent with their technical approach.

L.7.2.B. Required Attachments/Appendices to Volume I: Subpart II: Technical Approach/ Risk:

Attachment A: Liability Insurance (IAW Section H –“Standard Liability Insurance” and FAR 52.228-7): The supporting documentation shall prove that the Offeror possesses current insurance and shall show the expiration date of the policies as well as the including individual and aggregate limits for each of the required areas of coverage.

Attachment B: Federalwide Assurance: The Offeror, and any subcontractor who may perform human subject research, shall provide the Entity Name as it appears on the FWA, full FWA number and FWA expiration date for the prime and any subcontractor who may perform human subject research. Each subcontractor who may perform human subject research, shall have their own active (i.e., not expired) FWA. In no instance shall any subcontractor provide human subject research under the prime contractor’s FWA. The Offeror shall state clearly if a subcontractor employee will not be performing human subject research and that is why proof of an active FWA for the subcontractor(s) is absent.

Attachment C: Government Furnished Equipment: Offers shall specify any Government Furnished Equipment / Information / Property necessary to perform this effort. This shall include any Contractor purchased or acquired/ Government-owned items. This attachment should include the following information: item description, quantity, and current location. Detailed Bills of Materials shall be submitted along with the proposal; noting part numbers, prices, and need dates for all required GFE. If the offeror does not require GFE, the offeror shall provide a statement affirming this fact in their proposal. Responses regarding GFE are limited to 5 pages and do not count towards the overall page limit.

Attachment D: Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) Mitigation Plan: The Offeror must present its OCI Mitigation Plan in response to a potential conflict of interest associated with performance of this requirement. The OCI Mitigation Plan is limited to 10 pages.

Attachments A-D do not count towards the overall page count of Volume I.

L.7.3. VOLUME I, SUBPART III: PAST PERFORMANCE:

All information required pertains to all proposed first-tier subcontractors with whom the Offeror is teaming, as well as the Prime Offeror. The Offeror shall submit with its proposal the first tier subcontractor’s letter(s) of consent allowing the Government to disclose the subcontractors' past performance to the Offeror during negotiations. Letters of consent do not count against the overall page limit.

L.7.3.1. Past Performance Information Sheets (PPIS).

Past Performance has a page limit of six pages (to include three past performance information sheets (PPIS)).

The first three pages will be the submission of a maximum of three PPIS (Section J, Attachment II: Past Performance Information Sheet). If more than three PPISs are provided, only the first three will be considered. If a PPIS contains more than one page (inclusive of narrative), only the first page will be considered.

The second three pages afford the Offeror three pages to cover the items highlighted under the paragraph below titled “Additional Three Pages”.

The Offeror shall submit up to three (3) PPIS for contracts over the past three (3) years that are similar to the size and scope of the PWS in this solicitation. A maximum of two contracts can be held by the prime offeror’s proposed subcontractors.

For the purposes of Past Performance/Past Performance Evaluation Section(s)/PPISs, a “contract” is defined as (1) a single contract*; (2) a single task order awarded under a Multiple Award contract (as defined below); (3) a single task order awarded under a master Single-Award Indefinite Delivery task order contract (Definite Quantity, Requirements, or Indefinite Quantity) (FAR 16.5); (4) a single task order placed under a Federal Supply Schedule contract (FAR 8.405-2); or (5) a single call order placed under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)(FAR 8.405-3).

*A single contract does not include an Indefinite Delivery task order contract (Definite Quantity, Requirements, or Indefinite Quantity) (FAR 16.5) or a BPA (FAR 8.405-3); an Indefinite Delivery task order contract and/or BPA that is identified by itself and does not have a corresponding task/call order listed will determined to be non-compliant.

Contracts cited must be current, or have ended not more than three years prior to the closing date of the solicitation. If the contract performance ended more than three years prior to the closing date of the Solicitation it will be determined to not be recent and not evaluated further.

Each PPIS shall include only one contract per sheet. Each PPIS shall identify no more than one Point of Contact (POC) and if more than one POC is provided for any PPIS, only the first POC will be considered. The Government may contact the POC listed on the PPIS. The POC must be either Government personnel (civil service or military) or employees of private sector clients for whom the Offeror provided services. Information provided by or for a POC who works directly for the Offeror, or indirectly (i.e., in a prime/ subcontractor or mentor/protégé relationship, etc.), will be determined not relevant. The POC must have firsthand knowledge of performance provided under the contract provided on the PPIS.

Each PPIS shall be completed in its entirety. The past performance information listed on each PPIS shall be for services related to the services required under this solicitation. For each of the PPIS submitted, the Offeror shall describe the objectives achieved and detail how the effort is similar to the requirements of this solicitation (referencing the PWS in Section C). The Offeror may include contracts that demonstrate the prior experience of key personnel or subcontractors/teaming partners who will be performing in support of the contract resulting from this solicitation; such contracts shall be clearly identified to show the relationship of the past performance entry to the Offeror.

The PPIS shall be clear as to the company that is the awardee, the company that performed the services (if different than the awardee) and the relationship of both to the Offeror or their proposed subcontractor. The name and Cage Code shall be provided for all parties. Offerors that are proposing past performance where the awardee or performer does not match their name and Cage Code (or the name and Cage Code of a proposed subcontractor) because the awardee or performer is a subsidiary/separate division within their company or “Doing Business As” (DBA), shall clearly describe the connection of all listed parties (along with Cage Codes). If the submission does not clearly detail the specific relationship under a contract, it will be determined not relevant.

Additional Three Pages: If necessary, the remaining three pages afford the Offeror a venue to include any contract or contracts listed on a PPIS terminated for cause or default (in whole or in part) during the past three (3) years (to include those currently in the process of such termination). These pages shall provide a brief background, issues with contract performance, any cure notices or show cause letters received and description of any corrective action taken. If the additional pages are not necessary or applicable, such pages shall not be utilized for a different purpose.

Additionally, the Government reserves the right to use alternative resources to gather past performance information.

L.7.3.2. Subcontracting Concerns

If Past Performance is submitted for a contract under which the Offeror (or proposed subcontractor, partner, mentor, protégé, parent company, sister company, etc.) provided services as a subcontractor, partner, mentor, protégé, parent company, sister company, etc., the PPIS shall clearly describe the corporate relationships among those who provided the services. If applicable, this description shall cite key responsibilities and corporate relationship for each entity, to include identifying the specific services provided (in terms of numbers and types of personnel, locations, etc.) and nature of services provided (e.g., consulting services, subject matter expertise). If the submission does not clearly detail the specific responsibilities and relationship under a contract, it will be determined not relevant.

If a subcontracting, teaming, partnering, mentoring or other relationship is proposed, the Offeror shall submit written consent from the subcontractor, partner, etc. to disclose their Past Performance information to the contractor. If such consent is not provided as part of the submission, the Past Performance of the subcontractor, partner, etc., will be determined “Not Relevant”.

If neither the Offeror nor its subcontractor(s), teaming partner(s), etc. possess relevant past performance, the Offeror shall submit a statement affirming that they possess no relevant Past Performance.

L.7.4.A. VOLUME I: SUBPART IV: SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION COMMITMENT DOCUMENT

L.7.4.1. Small Business Participation Commitment Document has a page limit of 20 pages excluding attachments. All Offerors (small and other than small business concerns under NAICS 541715) shall submit a small business participation commitment document.

L.7.4.B. VOLUME I: SUBPART V: SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTING PLAN

L.7.4.2. If applicable (for other than small business concern Offerors under NAICS 541715), Offerors shall submit a subcontracting plan in accordance with FAR Clause 52.219-9 DEV and DFARS Clause 252.219-7003. The subcontracting plan requirement is not applicable to small business concerns qualified as such under the NAICS code assigned to this Solicitation. Master subcontracting plans can be included as an attachment to the subcontracting plan and will not count towards the page count. If an Offeror fails to negotiate a subcontracting plan acceptable to the Contracting Officer within the time specified by the Contracting Officer*, the Offeror will be ineligible for award. If the Offeror believes there are no subcontracting possibilities, the Offeror shall submit documentaiotn with their proposal sufficient to justify its position.

*Time specified by the Contracting Officer equals prior to submission of proposal or established time specified by the Contracting Officer if negotiation is required.

L. 7.5. VOLUME II: COST

Volume II pertains to Evaluation Factor V: Cost.

L. 7.5.1. VOLUME II, SUBPART I: SOLICITATION DOCUMENTATION; REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

L.7.5.1.1. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS

Offeror(s) shall complete the OFFER portion (blocks 12-18) of the Standard Form (SF) 33 (cover page). An official having the authority to bind the firm contractually must sign the cover page. If this individual is not an officer of the company, the proposal shall be accompanied by some form of written evidence of the individual's authority to bind the company, under contract, to a particular course of action. This might include such evidence as a written delegation of said authority, signed by an officer of the company.

The Offeror(s) shall acknowledge all amendments either in block 14 of the SF33 or by signing the cover sheet of each amendment and returning them as part of this Volume.

Offeror(s) shall complete Section B of the Solicitation (CLIN information) and include it as part of this Volume.

L.7.5.1.2. REPS AND CERTS (SECTION K)

Offeror(s) shall complete the annual representations and certifications electronically through the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. Offeror(s) shall verify their annual representations and certifications are current, accurate, complete, and applicable to this solicitation as of the date of this offer and are incorporated in this offer by reference. (Refer to SAM Annual Representations and Certifications Certification Sheet in Section K.)

The applicable NAICS code for this solicitation is 541715, with a small business size standard of 1000 employees.

In addition to submission to SAM the Offeror shall complete the SAM Annual Representations and Certifications Sheet and the fill-ins required by the full text clauses in Section K, and submit an electronic copy of each in Subpart I of Volume II.

Offeror(s) shall complete and submit FAR and DFARS Provisions: 52.204-7 (52.204-7 in this context refers to SAM), 52.204-8, 52.204-24, 52.209-7, 52.209-11(SAM), 52.219-28 (SAM), 52.222-22 (SAM), 52.222-25 (SAM), 52.227-15 (SAM), 52.230-1 (DEVIATION 2018-O0015), and the “SAM Certification” in Section K.

L.7.5.2. VOLUME II, SUBPART II: COST

Please note that although the contract will be awarded for a single 60 month POP, the Offeror shall divide their cost proposal into five twelve month “cost periods” for ease of conducting the cost evaluation (example: Cost for Period 1-12 Months, Cost for Period 13-24 Months, Cost for Period 25-36 Months, Cost for Period 37-48 Months, and Cost for Period 49-60 Months).

Offerors are cautioned that proposed costs shall be consistent with the proposed technical approach and reflective of the effort required by the solicitation. Unrealistically low proposed costs may be grounds for eliminating a proposal from the competition on the basis that the Offeror does not understand the requirement.

The PWS contains the Government’s estimated amounts for ODCs and travel. The amounts are unburdened and may be burdened by the Offeror in accordance with their accounting system. The Offeror shall use these amounts in the construction of their cost proposal.

L.7.5.3. Cost Breakdown

The proposed cost-plus-fixed-fee amount for each Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) shall be adequately supported in order for the Contracting Officer to make the determination that the proposed costs are fair and reasonable. Therefore, Offerors are required to provide a breakdown for each cost element, such as direct labor hours, direct labor rates, overhead and other indirect cost rates, subcontract costs, other direct costs, and fixed fee. The Offeror shall prepare and submit the cost support in accordance with “Table 15-2-Instructions for Submitting Cost/Price Proposals When Certified Cost or Pricing Data Are Required”, located in FAR 15.408. Certification of the cost support is not required.

If an Offeror proposes a blended rates (e.g., indirect rates vary from provided forward pricing rate agreements (FPRA) or recommendations (FPRR)), a narrative shall explain the calculation of the blended rate. Indirect rates shall be easily identifiable.

If subcontractors are unwilling to submit their direct labor rates to the prime contractor, they shall submit those rates directly to the Government utilizing the same proposal submission instructions and due date and time located in this section.

The information shall be provided on an MS Excel spreadsheet showing all cost elements, amounts, and the application of direct and indirect rates.

All cells shall allow the Government to view calculations and formulas or shall link to cells in the same spreadsheet that allow the Government to view the values. Spreadsheets shall not link to external sources and shall not include updates to external sources. Offeror’s shall not lock out spreadsheets; all formulas shall be visible. Links to other spreadsheets where the Government cannot access the underlying value are not acceptable.

Offerors are responsible for determining which of their proposed labor categories are covered by the Service Contract Labor Standards (SCLS). Offerors shall identify in their cost proposal the labor categories covered by the SCLS and provide the applicable wage determination schedule and revision number. If the successful Offeror identifies that any of their proposed labor categories are covered by the SCLS, the Government will incorporate the appropriate clauses and applicable wage determination into the award.

L.7.5.4. Required Cost Support

The Offeror shall also include in their Cost Volume (in addition to the Excel spreadsheet) the following information:

a. A narrative along with the MS Excel Cost Sheet that describes how indirect rates are applied, which includes the cost base applicable to each cost element, and the methodology used to determine proposed indirect rates, if different from the submitted forward pricing rates. The narrative shall also include any assumptions used to determine the proposed costs.

b. Accounting System – Accounting System –All Offerors shall possess an adequate accounting system as defined in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Clause 252.242-7006(a)(1), entitled, “Accounting System Administration” AND meet the system criteria at DFARS 252.242-7006(c) in order to be eligible for an award. Additionally, in accordance with DFARS 252.242-7006(b), “all Offerors shall establish and maintain an acceptable accounting system. All Offerors may be required to provide evidence of its accounting system adequacy (reference DFARS 252.242-7006(c), FAR 16.3 and FAR 31). Examples of evidence include, but not limited to: (a) Third party audited financial statements to include audit of accounting system and methods, and/or (b) Current Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) cost accounting system audit report, and/or (c) Current certification from DCAA/Standard Form 1408.

c. Purchasing System – All Offerors shall possess an acceptable Purchasing System as defined in the DFARS clause 252.244-7001(a) and meet the system criteria at DFARS 252.244-7001(c) in order to be eligible for an award.

d. Rate Agreements – Provide a copy of the current rate agreement or forward pricing rate agreement that supports the proposed contract rates. Copy in this context is defined as a direct and full copy of the actual applicable pages from your FPRA/FPRR (to include cover sheet) and not Offeror created tables or excerpts. These agreements may be with the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), or other Federal Government contracting offices.

e. Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) Audit – Provide a copy of any DCAA audit that supports the proposed contract rates or costs.

f. DCAA Office – Provide the Offeror’s cognizant DCAA office, including telephone number for points of contact and the DCAA DoDAAC number.

g. DCMA Office - Provide the Offeror’s cognizant DCMA office, including telephone number for points of contact.

Note: Clauses concerning certified cost or pricing data included in this solicitation are applicable only if one proposal is received.

L.8. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

a. Offerors are invited to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation via email and in accordance with the instructions below. No paper copies or electronic copies submitted outside of email will be accepted.

b. The proposal due date is 1:00 PM Eastern Time, 7 November 2019.

c. Proposals shall be submitted by the due date and time outlined herein and shall be submitted electronically via e-mail to cheryl.r.vendemia.civ@mail.mil. RFP number N6264520R0002 shall be included in the email subject line.

d. Emails shall not contain files that total over 5 megabytes. If multiple emails are required to submit an Offeror’s complete proposal, they shall submit them on multiple emails. If multiple emails are submitted they shall be numbered (1 of 2, 2 of 2 etc.). The first email sent shall contain a complete list of all files being submitted.

e. Upon submission of the complete proposal, via a single or multiple emails, the Offeror shall send a separate confirmation email to cheryl.r.vendemia.civ@mail.mil which provides the Offeror’s company name and contact information as well stating that they have submitted a complete proposal to NMLC in response to solicitation N6264520R0002. Additional documents will not be accepted after submission of the confirmation email.

g. Any data previously submitted in response to another solicitation, whether submitted to the Naval Medical Logistics Command or another agency, should be assumed unavailable during this proposal evaluation and source selection process. The proposal submitted in response to this solicitation shall be a standalone document. Proposal data shall not be incorporated into the proposal by referring to another proposal or other source.

h. The Government reserves the right to request additional information after receipt of the Offeror’s proposal. The proposal shall be valid for not less than 180 calendar days from the proposal due date. The Offeror shall make a clear statement in their proposal that the proposal is valid until such date.

i. Offerors are cautioned that in order for their proposal to be eligible for award, the proposal shall comply with all of the terms and conditions set forth in the Solicitation.

j. A company with multiple Divisions (and each division registered separately in SAM) is permitted to submit a separate proposal by Division for award consideration. However, Offerors are cautioned that if one company submits separate proposals from multiple Divisions, each Division’s proposal is required to address the full Solicitation requirements uniquely based on their particular Division’s capabilities. For example, management processes, small business participation commitment, and/or past performance submissions of a different Division may not be used in support of the Division submitting the proposal. The proposal must be specific to the Division submitting the proposal.

L.9. SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

The Government will employ source selection techniques to evaluate proposals, conduct negotiations and determine the successful Offeror in this acquisition. "Offer," for the purposes of this solicitation, shall be defined as a response to the solicitation that, if accepted, would bind the Offeror to perform the resultant contract.

The following describes the sequence of events Offerors can expect during proposal evaluation and negotiation:

a. The Offeror's proposal shall be submitted in accordance with Section L.7., Proposal Preparation, and L.8., Proposal Submission.

b. Upon receipt, the proposals will be reviewed for completeness and compliance with RFP requirements. If a proposal is incomplete or received late (in part or in full) the Contracting Officer does not have to evaluate the proposal. The proposals will receive a detailed evaluation employing the process and criteria identified in Section M of this Solicitation.

c. In accordance with FAR 15.306, the Government may conduct exchanges with Offerors after receipt of proposals leading to the establishment of the competitive range (if established) and any subsequent competitive range determination that may be made.

d. The Government intends to evaluate proposals and award a contract without discussions. Clarifications may be conducted as described in FAR 15.306(a)(2). Therefore, the Offeror’s initial proposal should contain the Offeror’s best terms from a price and technical standpoint. The Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if the Contracting Officer later determines them to be necessary (FAR 52.215-1(f)(4)). If the Contracting Officer determines that the number of proposals that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the Contracting Officer may limit the number of proposals in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated proposals.

e. The Government will incorporate into the resultant contract any and/or all commitments made in the Offeror’s proposal.

L.10. ESTIMATED AWARD: The estimated award date is 03 January 2020. Offerors proposals shall be valid for a period of 180 days. The Contracting Officer reserves the right to adjust the Period of Performance based on the award date.

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

The following have been modified:

EVALUATION CRITERIA

M.1. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

This acquisition will be conducted as a full and open competition using the policies and procedures in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation. Proposals will be evaluated using the criteria in this section and an Offeror will be selected using the tradeoff process described in this Section.

The instructions set forth in Section L provide direction to the Offeror concerning documentation format and content for its proposal.

M.1.1. In accordance with L.9.b.of the solicitation, if a proposal is incomplete or received late (in part or in full) the Contracting Officer does not have to evaluate the proposal. All complete and timely proposals will be evaluated by the Government. The Government will evaluate each proposal strictly in accordance with its content and any past performance issues shall only be evaluated in the Past Performance Factor.

M.2. BASIS FOR AWARD

The Government will award a single contract through the issuance of this requirement’s solicitation. The Government will conduct a tradeoff process in order to determine which Offeror represents the best value to the Government. Award will be made to the Offeror that is determined to provide the best value to the Government considering cost and non-cost factors. Best Value means the expected outcome of an acquisition that, in the Government’s estimation, provides the greatest overall benefit in response to the requirement. Evaluations shall be an assessment of the proposal and the Offeror’s ability to perform the perspective contract successfully. In this assessment, all Offerors will be evaluated solely on the factors specified in the Solicitation. The Government may decide to award to an Offeror who did not propose the lowest price. The Contracting Officer has broad discretion in determining which Offeror should receive the award.

To receive consideration for award, for non-cost evaluation factors (I – III), Offerors must achieve a minimum rating of “Acceptable (Green)” for Evaluation Factor I (Technical Approach/Risk), a minimum rating of “Satisfactory Confidence” or “Unknown Confidence (Neutral)” for Evaluation Factor II (Past Performance) and a minimum rating of “Acceptable” for Evaluation Factor III (Small Business Participation Commitment Document and for Small Business Subcontracting Plan). For Evaluation Factor IV – Cost, in addition to meeting the minimum non-cost ratings, the Offeror’s cost proposal must be complete (in accordance with Section M), the price must be determined fair and reasonable, and the cost realism analysis must determine the proposed cost is realistic for the work to be performed; reflects a clear understanding of the requirements; and is consistent with the method of performance described in the Offeror’s technical approach.

M.3. EVALUATION APPROACH - The Government will evaluate these factors from the Offeror’s proposal:

Evaluation Factor I: Technical Approach/Risk Evaluation Factor II: Past Performance Evaluation Factor III: Small Business Participation Commitment Documents and Small Business Subcontracting Plan Evaluation Factor IV: Cost

The Government will evaluate the factors independently of each other and each factor listed above is in descending order of importance. Non-cost factors when combined are significantly more important than cost.

M.3.1. EVALUATION FACTOR I: TECHNICAL APPROACH/RISK

A. The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s technical approach to determine the degree to which the Offeror’s methodologies, processes, and capabilities reflect an ability to effectively and efficiently manage and execute this requirement/contract.

The Government will assess the approach in the following areas:

· Approach to successfully accomplish the work identified in the PWS.

· Management oversight and personnel structure with regard to roles and responsibilities, lines of authority, span of control, flow of information, and communication strategies amongst the Offeror' team, subcontractors (if applicable), NHRC and DoD entities, and external organizations.

· Ability to perform and monitor contract activities

· Ability and discussion of utilizing Defense Health Agency data use/sharing agreements as outlined in the PWS.

· Ability and discussion of the Offeror’s on-site computing facilities/systems and ability to safeguard de-identified data.

· Ability and discussion of data analytic software used in the conduct of epidemiological and psychological health data analyses and graphic design capabilities.

· Subcontract management, if applicable.

· Management oversight and personnel structure with regard to roles and responsibilities, lines of authority, span of control, flow of information, and communication strategies amongst the Offeror' team, subcontractors (if applicable), NHRC and DoD entities, and external organizations.

· Ability to perform and monitor contract activities

· Ability to utilize Defense Health Agency data use/sharing agreements as outlined in the PWS.

· Ability and discussion of the Offeror’s on-site computing facilities/systems and ability to safeguard de-identified data.

· Ability and discussion of data analytic software used in the conduct of epidemiological and psychological health data analyses and graphic design capabilities.

· The thoroughness and effectiveness of the Offerors’ strategies and processes to identify, manage, and mitigate risk.

· The capability and realism of the Offeror’s approach to managing cost, schedule, and performance.

· The capability and realism of the Offeror’s approach to continuity of services (systems, recruiting, and retention).

· The Government will evaluate the degree to which the Offeror demonstrates an ability to provide the required Key Personnel with the experience and capabilities required to successfully perform the work outlined in the PWS through the review of proposed resume(s).

The Government will evaluate risk as it relates to the Offeror’s technical approach. Risk assesses the degree to which the Offeror’s proposed approach may cause disruption of schedule, increased cost, degradation of performance, the need for increased Government oversight, or the likelihood of unsuccessful contract performance.

The Government shall assign a rating to the contractor’s proposal as found in this section under the table titled “M.4.1 Rating Standards for Technical Approach/Risk”.

B. The Technical Approach will also be evaluated for completeness in compliance with Section L Attachments A-D consisting of the following:

· The Offeror provided evidence of active insurance in accordance with Section L.

· The Offeror provided proof of active FWAs* for the Offeror and all subcontractors and / or teaming partners, if applicable.

· The Offeror specified what (if any) Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) / Information / Property, is necessary to perform this requirement OR the Offeror specified that it does not require GFE / Information / Property.

· The Offeror submitted an adequate OCI mitigation plan.

*If Volume I does not contain the Entity Name as it appears on the FWA, full FWA number and the FWA expiration date for the Offeror or any proposed subcontractor that may perform human subject research or if a search of the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) Database does not result in confirmation that the prime and subcontractor(s) possess an active FWA; then the Offeror’s technical approach may be found to contain a deficiency.

C. A deficiency in the Technical Approach / Risk factor is assigned an Unacceptable rating and will be considered unawardable.

M.3.2. EVALUATION FACTOR II: PAST PERFORMANCE

First, the Government will evaluate each Past Performance Information Sheet (PPIS) to determine whether the services listed are recent. Contracts cited must be current, or have ended not more than three years prior to the closing date of the solicitation. If the contract performance ended more than three years prior to the closing date of the solicitation it will be determined not to be recent and will not be evaluated further.

Second, the Government will evaluate each recent PPIS to determine whether the services listed are “Relevant” or “Not Relevant.” A determination of “Not Relevant” may be made based solely on the information provided on the Past Performance Information Sheet. Offerors shall insure that information provided on each PPIS is complete and detailed enough to allow the Government to make a relevancy determination solely based on the information provided on the Past Performance Information Sheet. The Government may obtain additional information from the POC named on the Past Performance Information Sheet to assist in making a relevancy determination.