NIOEOS RFQ Draft.docx

First Responder Network Authority Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) Investment, Oversight, Engagement, and Outreach Services- Request for Quote

First Responder Network Authority Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) Investment, Oversight, Engagement, and Outreach Services

Request for Quote

1.0 Overview

1.1 Purpose

The objective of this acquisition is to award a minimum two Blanket Purchase Agreement(s) (BPA(s)) against the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405-2, for the services described in this Request for Quote (RFQ) and its attachments.

This requirement is a small business set-aside, with a NAICS code of 541611-Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services, with a size standard of 24.5 million dollars determined to represent the principal purpose of this requirement. The Offeror must show as a small business under its MAS Contract in eLibrary to be eligible for award.

No teaming arrangements will be accepted as part of this of this RFQ.

It is anticipated that the ordering period of the BPA will be 09/01/2025-08/31/2030 and not exceed 60 months.

1.2 Required Special Item Numbers (SINs)

In order to be considered for award, a vendor will be required to cover SIN 541611 on their Schedule contract. Any quotes received from a contractor that does not cover the required SIN will be ineligible for award.

1.3 Commitment of Public Funds

This BPA does not obligate any funds. Each individual order placed against this BPA will obligate funds.

1.4 Questions

Questions concerning this RFQ must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on May 16, 2025, via GSA EBuy. Email questions will not be accepted by the Government.

The Government is not obligated to provide responses to any questions submitted after that date.

1.5 Quotation Due Date

This RFQ is being issued via FAR 8.405-2 and shall be submitted via email only. All submissions in response to the RFQ shall be submitted to the email address Alejandra.loyet@firstnet.gov. In order to be considered for award, quotations conforming to the requirements of the RFQ must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on June 2, 2025.

Proprietary information submitted in response to this solicitation shall be clearly marked as such and will be protected from unauthorized disclosure as required by Subsection 27 of the Office of Procurement Policy Act as amended (41 U.S.C.423) as implemented in the FAR. Any unmarked proprietary information will be considered releasable under the restrictions of the Freedom of Information Act.

1.6 BPA Ordering Procedures

BPA Calls will establish contract types and be dependent upon the nature of the work required (e.g., Firm Fixed Price, Time-and-Materials (T&M), and/or Labor-Hour (LH)). BPA Calls may also include a Not-to-Exceed (NTE) CLIN for travel and other direct costs (ODCs).

BPA Calls may be issued at any time during the ordering period. The performance period will be specified in the BPA Call and may include option periods which extend the BPA Call up to 60 months beyond the expiration date of this BPA.

The order-level Contracting Officer shall award and administer orders in accordance with the ordering procedures and ordering guidelines set forth in this BPA and the procedures outlined in FAR 8.405-3(c) Ordering from BPAs.

BPA Calls shall be within the scope of the BPA. Only the Contracting Officer for the BPA may modify the BPA.

Order of Precedence: The terms and conditions included in this BPA apply to all Calls pursuant to it. In the event of an inconsistency between the provisions of this BPA and the terms and conditions of the Contractor's Schedule contract, the GSA contract will take precedence.

Annual Review of the BPA: In accordance with FAR 8.405-3(e), the Government will conduct an annual review to determine whether the underlying Schedule contract is still in effect, whether the BPA still represents best value, and whether the estimated quantities/amounts have been exceeded and additional price reductions can be obtained. A Contractor Performance Assessment Report will be completed via the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) at the BPA level. Depending on the dollar amount of the Call Order, a CPARS Report will also be completed at the Call Order level.

Nonconformance: The Government will remedy nonconformance in accordance with FAR 8.406-3 Remedies for Nonconformance, 8.406-4 Termination for Cause, 8.406-5 Termination for the Government's Convenience, and 8.406-6 Disputes.

At no time shall order prices exceed awarded prices on the Contractor's GSA Schedule contract or the BPA. The discount pricing relationship established for the BPA Holder shall be maintained throughout the life of the BPA unless modified by the Contracting Officer.

2.0 General Instructions to Contractors

2.1 General Submission Instructions

Multi-Phase Procurement

The Government intends to conduct this procurement through a multi-phase submission and evaluation process.

The estimated schedule for this procurement is below:

Submission Page Limits:

Phase I Submission:

Phase II Submission:

Phase I:

Factor 1 Prior Experience:

The offeror shall provide a written summary of relevant prior experience related to the requirements specified in Section 2.0 of the PWS for up to three (3) prior contracts or task orders. The total Prior Experience summary shall not exceed 10 pages total. Each summary shall describe the offeror’s relevant prior experience and how that experience reduces risk and/or increases likelihood of success for this acquisition. The summary shall include descriptions of up to three (3) contracts/task orders performed within the last five (5) years that demonstrate this experience. For each description, the offeror shall point out ways in which the experience is similar to size, scope, and complexity of the PWS requirements of this acquisition. The summary shall describe how the offeror’s relevant experience in being able to meet all the requirements of the Performance Work Statement (PWS) provides confidence to the Government of success for this requirement. A Prime Contractor is defined as an offeror who is listed as a vendor on the contract.

If the offeror is utilizing a subcontractor in its submission, no more than one (1) of the three (3) examples of the relevant prior experience provided can be of a subcontractor. If the Prime Offeror does not intend to use any subcontractor in the performance of this task order, it should indicate this in its summary submission.

If demonstrated, relevant prior experience of a subcontractor is submitted, the offeror shall clearly identify the owner of the relevant prior experience demonstrated. A letter of commitment from the subcontractor shall be submitted as part of the submission with the offeror, the letter shall be signed by an individual of the subcontractor’s firm authorized to make such a commitment. This commitment shall be on the subcontractor’s letterhead, and confirm a subcontracting agreement is in place and explain the role of the subcontractor for the current FirstNet Authority requirement. These letters of commitment from the subcontractor shall not count against the page limitation and will be part of the Phase I submission. The subcontractor shall only propose with one Prime Offeror in response to this submission.

The offeror may include examples of on-going projects as demonstrated relevant prior experience (for itself or subcontractors) providing that 12 months of performance, at a minimum, under the on-going contracts/task orders has been completed. The offeror shall clearly describe the current stage of the project and what has been completed under the performance to date. The Government reserves the right to contact the identified representative of the Government agency or company as part of the reference checks to confirm the information presented in the demonstrated relevant prior experience quote submission.

The summary of each contract/task order must also include the following data:

· Name of Customer Agency for whom work was performed

· Point of Contact Information and a Secondary Point of Contact

· Contract/Task Order Type

· Prime/Subcontractor Percentage

· Period of Performance

· Total Contract/Task Order Dollar Value

· Total Full Time Employees (FTEs)

· A summary of the scope/work performed for the contract/task order.

Factor 2: Key Personnel Resume

The Offeror shall provide a resume for the Program Manager in accordance with the requirements in sections 2.0 and 14.0 of the Performance Work Statement. The resume shall clearly demonstrate how the proposed Key Personnel meets the requirements for education and experience for the specified labor category proposed. The proposed Key Personnel will apply to the entire BPA. The resume shall identify the proposed Key Personnel as either an existing employee of the Prime Contractor or if not an existing employee the resume shall clearly state that the proposed key personnel has confirmed placement for the proposed position if an award is received and a Tentative/Contingent Offer letter shall also be provided which documents that the proposed key personnel has accepted the proposed position if an award is received.

The Program Manager is responsible for the entire BPA and associated BPA Calls, shall ensure that all work under the BPA and BPA Calls comply with the BPA and BPA Call order terms and conditions, and shall have access to contractor corporate senior leadership when necessary. The Program Manager shall be the primary interface with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and the Contracting Officer (CO) and shall attend status meetings and ad hoc meetings with stakeholders as required, accompanied by other proposed Key Personnel as necessary. The Program Manager shall be a single point of contact for resolution of BPA and Call Order issues.

The program Manager must also participate in the oral presentations in Phase II if the Offeror advances to Phase II.

Phase II

Factor 3: Oral Presentation (Overall Technical Approach which includes Management Approach, Staffing Plan, and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan)

As part of its Phase II submission, Offerors shall submit a slide deck with the following instructions:

· The slide deck must contain no more than 20 slides.

· The Offeror’s proposed Key Personnel must participate in the oral presentation.

· The slide deck must include the following:

· Executive Summary: A high-level overview of the proposed approach(es) and solution(s), Offeror contact information, a list of their subcontractors, and what portion of the work those subcontractors will be doing, and information about the vendor that seems necessary to showcase their overall capabilities.

· Management Approach

· Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)

· Staffing Approach

· Technical Approach

Offerors shall adhere to the format for oral presentation guidance in addition to the rules of engagement (described below) for oral presentations. The Offeror is in charge of the Oral Presentation and is encouraged to respond to all questions.

Oral Presentation Rules of Engagement

Location:

Oral presentations will be held virtually. The order in which Offerors are scheduled for oral presentations will be randomly selected by the Government.

Offeror Participants:

The Offeror’s participants in the oral presentations shall be limited to the personnel proposed by the Offeror in the quote submission and shall include all key personnel. No more than five (5) total Offeror participants shall attend the oral presentation. Offerors shall provide the Contracting Officer with the name, employer/company, and emails of the Offeror’s participants for the oral presentation as part of its Phase II submission.

Exchanges during Oral Presentations:

The Government intends for the oral presentation to be an interactive dialogue between the Offeror and the Government. These exchanges are viewed as a component of the oral presentation itself and do not constitute discussions.

Oral Presentation Rules of Engagement:

1. Presentations will have a 75-minute time limit, which will encompass responses to questions provided as part of the solicitation and the requirements of the Performance Work Statement.

The Government intends for the oral presentation to proceed as follows:

2. The Government does not intend to ask questions about information contained in an Offeror’s Phase I submission during the oral presentation.

3. The Government intends for the oral presentation to be an interactive exchange between the Offeror and the Government. These exchanges are viewed as a component of the oral presentation itself and do not constitute discussions. The Government will not ask questions that will invite or allow the Offeror to change its offer. The Offeror shall not volunteer any information that might be construed as changing its offer. Oral presentations are distinct from the Government’s reserved right to conduct discussions.

4. The Offeror is in control of its presentation and may choose not to present or respond to any question provided by the Government.

5. The Offeror participants shall not reach back, by telephone, e-mail or any other means, to any other personnel or persons for assistance during the oral presentation.

Factor 4: Price

There are no page limits on the Pricing submission. The Offeror shall provide pricing with pertinent corporate information. It is anticipated that pricing and award of this procurement will be based on adequate pricing competition. The Government will review pricing based on a complete pricing volume which includes the labor categories in Attachment B-Pricing Sheet, fixed labor rate, GSA labor rate, and discount percentage. The successful Offeror’s GSA schedule labor categories will be incorporated into the BPA award and can be used to substitute any labor category at any point throughout the life of the BPA upon approval of the Government. Offerors must also provide on-site and off-site labor rates. Failure to provide both will result in the quote being not compliant with the solicitation requirements and will be deemed unacceptable and removed from further consideration.

3.0 Evaluation Factors

3.1 Basis of Award

The Government intends to award multiple (at minimum 2) Blanket Purchase Agreement(s) against an existing GSA MAS contract using the procedures in FAR 8.405, to the responsible Offeror(s) whose offeror conforms to this Request for Quote (RFQ) and will be the most advantageous to the Government, price and non-price factors considered.

Offerors shall be evaluated against the following non-price evaluation factors and price. Non-price evaluation factors are in descending order of importance:

1. Prior Experience

2. Oral Presentation (Overall Technical Approach which includes Management Approach, Staffing Plans, and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan)

3. Capability of Key Personnel All non-price factors, when combined, are significantly more important than Factor 4: Price.

This is a “best value” procurement using the tradeoff process. The Government will make an award to the responsible Offeror(s), whose submission/oral presentation is/are the most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The Government may or may not award to the lowest price Offeror(s). The Government reserves the right to make an award to other than the lowest price Offeror if the non-price factors warrant a premium. The Government's objective is to obtain the highest technical quality considered necessary to achieve the requirements of the PWS, with a fair and reasonable price. Each vendor should recognize that its initial price and technical quote may be used as the sole and final basis for award and should quote accordingly. Please provide pricing discounts as requested within this RFQ.

3.2 Best Suited for Negotiations

Following the completion of Phase II evaluations, the Government will come to consensus and select the quoter that is best suited to fulfill the requirements, based on the quoters’ responses to the factors outlined in this RFQ and their relative importance.

The Government anticipates selecting the best-suited Offeror(s) from initial responses, without engaging in exchanges with quoters. Offerors are strongly encouraged to submit their best technical solutions and price in response to this RFQ. Once the Government determines the Offeror(s) that is the best-suited (i.e., the apparent successful quoter(s)), the Government reserves the right to communicate with only that Offeror(s) to address any remaining issues, if necessary, and finalize an award with that Offeror(s). These issues may include non-price and price. If the parties cannot successfully address any remaining issues, as determined pertinent at the sole discretion of the Government, the Government reserves the right to communicate with the next best-suited Offeror based on the original analysis and address any remaining issues. Once the Government has begun communications with the next best-suited Offeror, no further communications with the previous Offeror will be entertained until after the BPA(s) have been awarded. This process shall continue until an agreement is successfully reached and an award is made.

3.3 Evaluation Factors

3.3.1 Evaluation Factor Summary

The following evaluation factors will be used:

Phase I:

Factor 1- Prior Experience Factor 2- Capability of Key Personnel

Phase II:

Factor 3- Oral Presentations (Overall Technical Approach which includes Management Approach, Staffing Plans, and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan) Factor 4-Price

3.3.2 Evaluation Criteria

Factor 1 Prior Experience:

The Government will asses its level of confidence that the contractor will successfully perform the requirements based on the their Phase I written submission. Prior experience will be evaluated to assess the expectation of successful outcomes based on the extent to which the contractor has previously performed work similar in size, scope and complexity.

Factor 2: Key Personnel Resume

The Government will assess the extent to which the Offeror identifies and commits Key Personnel with the appropriate experience and qualifications and will be assigned a confidence rating.

Critical evaluation elements for the Key Personnel shall be assessed as follows:

· Minimum of 10+ years of experience.

· Demonstration of educational qualifications of proposed Key Personnel.

· Demonstration of relevant experience for large scale program support services contracts.

· Demonstration of relevant knowledge and experience with a multi-state and/or national public safety communications program or project.

Factor 3: Oral Presentation (Overall Technical Approach which includes Management Approach, Staffing Plan and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan)

The offeror’s oral presentation shall provide the Government with an understanding of the offeror’s proposed approach and ability to fulfill all the requirements of the PWS. The oral presentation shall address the offeror’s technical approach, staffing plans, quality assurance plan, and resources necessary to satisfy all PWS requirements. Oral presentations will be assigned a confidence rating in accordance with the Confidence Rating Table below.

Factor 4: Price

Price will be evaluated separately and will not be given a confidence rating. Each labor category’s quoted rate will be evaluated to determine if they are fair and reasonable, accurate in comparison to the Offeror’s GSA schedule rates, whether a discount was provided, and complete in relation to this solicitation.

Additional discounts on GSA rates for use under this RFQ are requested and encouraged. On-site and Off-site labor rates must be provided. Any price quotation that is not compliant with the solicitation requirements will be deemed unacceptable and removed from further consideration.

Evaluation of options (Option Period I-Option IV and FAR 52.217-8-Option to Extend Services) will be conducted. The objective of the evaluation of options is to determine that the price of each quoted labor category rate for each of the options is fair and reasonable. The evaluation of FAR 52.217-8 shall mirror Option Period IV pricing. The evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to any exercise of options.

3.3.3 Evaluation Factor Ratings

Upon the completion of each Phase, an on-the-spot consensus will occur, and each factor will be given a Confidence Rating. Confidence Ratings will be used to rate each of the non-price factors.

The Government will use the following ratings to evaluate non-price factors.

Confidence Ratings:

3.3.4 Advisory Down Select

The Government will evaluate Phase I submissions and provide advisory notifications to vendors upon the completion of the Phase I evaluation. This notification will advise the Offeror’s of the Government’s advisory recommendation to proceed or not to proceed with Phase II submission. Offerors who are rated highly for Phase I will be advised to proceed to Phase II of the quote submission process. Offerors who were not amongst the highest rated will be advised that they are unlikely to be viable competitors, along with the general basis for the Government’s advisory recommendation. The intent of this advice is to minimize quote development costs for those Offerors with little to no chance of receiving award. However, the Government’s advice will be a recommendation only, and those Offerors who are advised to proceed may elect to continue their participation in the procurement. Offerors will be advised that their Phase I evaluation results will carry forward to Phase II and will be considered in the best value award decision.

Phase II submissions will not be accepted from Offerors who have not submitted Phase I quotes by the due date and time stated in the solicitation. For those Offerors that are rated highly and advised to proceed to Phase II of the quote submission process, the Contracting Officer will include Phase II submission instructions on the advisory notification, including the due date for the Pricing quote and the scheduled date of the Oral Presentation. The Government recommends Offerors begin preparation of Phase II quotes only after receipt of the Phase I advisory down-select notice.

4.0 RFQ Provisions

FAR 52.203-18 Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements-Representation (Jan 2017)

(a) Definition. As used in this provision-

Internal confidentiality agreement or statement, subcontract, and subcontractor , are defined in the clause at 52.203-19, Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements.

(b) In accordance with section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235) and its successor provisions in subsequent appropriations acts (and as extended in continuing resolutions), Government agencies are not permitted to use funds appropriated (or otherwise made available) for contracts with an entity that requires employees or subcontractors of such entity seeking to report waste, fraud, or abuse to sign internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting such employees or subcontractors from lawfully reporting such waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information.

(c) The prohibition in paragraph (b) of this provision does not contravene requirements applicable to Standard Form 312, (Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement), Form 4414 (Sensitive Compartmented Information Nondisclosure Agreement), or any other form issued by a Federal department or agency governing the nondisclosure of classified information.

(d) Representation. By submission of its offer, the Offeror represents that it will not require its employees or subcontractors to sign or comply with internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting such employees or subcontractors from lawfully reporting waste, fraud, or abuse related to the performance of a Government contract to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information (e.g., agency Office of the Inspector General).

(End of provision)

FAR 52.217-5 Evaluation of Options (July 1990)

Except when it is determined in accordance with FAR 17.206(b) not to be in the Government’s best interests, the Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. Evaluation of options will not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

(End of provision)

FAR 52.233-2 Service of Protest (Sept 2006)

(a) Protests, as defined in section 33.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, that are filed directly with an agency, and copies of any protests that are filed with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), shall be served on the Contracting Officer (addressed as follows) by obtaining written and dated acknowledgment of receipt from Alejandra Loyet, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 201902

(b) The copy of any protest shall be received in the office designated above within one day of filing a protest with the GAO.

(End of provision)

5.0 Attachments-The below attachments will be incorporated into the resultant BPA.

Attachment A- Performance Work Statement (PWS) Attachment B- Pricing Spreadsheet Attachment C- BPA Clauses, Terms, and Conditions Attachment D-Budget-Expenditure Reporting Template