Request_for_Quote_(RFQ)_COU_Answering_Service_PC-18-Q-112.pdf

December 11, 2017 Request for Quote (RFQ) PC-18-Q-112, COU Answering Service

Dear Offerors:

The Peace Corps in Washington, DC, invites contractors to submit a quote for services described in the attached statement of work. This RFQ is a 100% small business set aside under NAICS code 561421.

The government intends to award one Fixed-Price Purchase Order for Answering Services to the offeror that provides the best value, technical capability, past performance, and price considered in descending order of importance. This acquisition is conducted utilizing FAR Part 13 procedures. This RFQ does not obligate the U.S. Government to award a contract; the U.S. Government will not pay any costs incurred in preparing and submitting your quote.

Please submit any questions regarding this RFQ to tedwards@peacecorps.gov by December 20, 2017 at 11am EST. Quotes in response to this request must be submitted to Peace Corps no later than December 28, 2017, 11:00AM (EST) to tedwards@peacecorps.gov. Emails relating to this RFQ must include in the subject line of your e-mail the label “PC-18-Q-112, COU Answering Service” Quotations must be received by the closing date and time stated above to be considered for award. Quotes must follow all instructions provided within and will be assessed against the evaluation criteria outlined in this RFQ.

Please ensure you list your DUNS number on your quote and all other relevant information to identify you. Quotes must be submitted in 2 separate volumes:

Volume One shall address technical capability and past Performance. Offeror must address how it proposes to meet all the technical requirements described in the SOW and provide sufficient information to demonstrate that it possesses the required capabilities to successfully perform. The offeror must provide past performance information of at least 3 similar projects and provide past performance questionnaires to previous clients

Volume Two: shall be a separate volume and provide a complete price quote with any optional items.

Volume two must include the pricing template provided.

The anticipated period of performance for this procurement is a 12 months base and 4 optional periods of 12 months each.

Trevor R. Edwards, Contracting Officer Office of Acquisitions and Contract Management (OACM) Peace Corps mailto:cmejiasalamanca@peacecorps.gov

RFQ# PC-18-Q-112

SECTION B – SCHEDULE

B.1 SUPPLIES OR SERVICES: PRICE SCHEDULE

See Attachment C “Pricing Template”.

Offeror shall submit a quotation utilizing the government discounts applicable and prices must not include tax. Offeror is welcome to propose alternate CLIN structures.

Contract Type

This solicitation will result in a firm fixed-price purchase order.

B.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Inspection/Acceptance will be done at destination in accordance with FAR 52.212-4(a).

B.4 DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

B.4.1 Period of Performance

The performance shall commence on effective date of the purchase order. This purchase order will have a period of performance of a base of 12 months and 4 optional periods of 12 months each.

B.4.2 Place of Performance

All services shall be performed at the contractor site.

B.5 CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

CONTRACTING OFFICER (CO)

Trevor R. Edwards Contracting Officer 1111 20th Street NW/OACM Washington DC 20526 tedwards@peacecorps.gov

CONTRACTING OFFICERS REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

TBD

CONTRACTING OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES

The Contracting Officer (CO) is the only person authorized to approve changes or modify any of the requirements under this contract. In the event the Contractor effects any change at the direction of any person other than the CO, the change will be considered to have been made without authority and no adjustment will be made in the contract price to cover any increase in costs incurred as a result.

Contractual problems of any nature that may arise during the life of this contract must be handled in conformance with very specific public laws and regulations (e.g., Federal Acquisition Regulations). Only the CO is authorized to formally resolve such problems. Therefore, the COR and the Contractor are hereby directed to bring all such contractual problems to the immediate attention of the CO.

INTERPRETATION OF MODIFICATION

No oral or written statement of any person and no written statement of anyone other than the CO shall modify or otherwise affect the terms or meaning of this contract. Requests for interpretations, modifications or changes must be made in writing to the CO. The COR can only respond (verbally or in writing) to technical matters.

INVOICING INSTRUCTIONS

Proper electronic invoice shall be submitted to the following email address:

GAPdomesticinvoice@peacecorps.gov.

Each invoice shall include as a minimum the following information:

(a) Name and address of the Contractor

(b) Invoice date and invoice number

(c) Peace Corps contract/order number

(d) Period of performance covered by the invoice

(e) Description, quantity, unit of measure, unit price, and extended price of supplies delivered or services performed

(f) Prompt payment discount offered, if applicable

(g) Electronic funds transfer banking information

(h) Total invoice amount

For questions regarding payments, please send an email inquiry, including the invoice number, contract/purchase order number, billed amount and date sent to GAPpayment@peacecorps.gov or GAPdomesticinvoice@peacecorps.gov.

WITHHOLDING OF CONTRACT PAYMENTS

Notwithstanding any other payment provision of this contract, failure of the Contractor to submit required reports when due, or failure to perform or deliver required services/supplies may result in the withholding of payments under this contract. Payments may be withheld unless such failure arises out of circumstances beyond the Contractor’s control and without fault or negligence on the part of the Contractor, as provided for the relevant contract clauses. The Peace Corps shall promptly notify the Contractor of its intention to withhold payment of any voucher or invoice in full; however, if only a portion(s) of the invoice are being withheld, then the voucher may be processed without notification to the Contractor to prevent delay in payment.

mailto:GAPdomesticinvoice@peacecorps.gov mailto:GAPpayment@peacecorps.gov mailto:GAPdomesticinvoice@peacecorps.gov

B.6 SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

Use of Peace Corps’ Relationship and Logo (May 2003).

Under the Peace Corps Act, no party is allowed to use the Peace Corps name or logo unless one is referring to official Peace Corps programs and activities. The Contractor shall make no publicity announcements or issue other public relations material mentioning the Contractor's connection with Peace Corps and or use of the Peace Corps logo without the advance written concurrence of the Contracting Officer. Under no circumstances shall the Peace Corps name or logo be used for personal or other non-official correspondence or e-mails.

Insurance

Departments of the United States Government are self-insured.

Tax and Taxation

The United States Government is exempt from taxation for the performance of supplies/services under this contract.

Prohibition against Soliciting and Performing Personal Services

a. The performance of personal services under this contract is strictly prohibited.

b. Personal service contracting is described in Section 37.104 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). There are a number of factors, when taken individually or collectively, which may constitute personal services. Each contract arrangement must be judged in light of its own facts and circumstances, but the question relative to personal services is: Will the Government exercise relatively continuous supervision and control over the contractor personnel performing this contract?

c. The Government and the Contractor understand and agree that the support services to be delivered under this contract are non-personal services in nature, that is, no employer-employee relationships exist or will exist under the contract between the Government and the Contractor or between the Government and the Contractor’s employees.

d. Contractor personnel under this contract shall not:

(1) Be placed in a position where they are appointed or employed by a Federal employee, or are under the supervision, direction, or evaluation of a Federal employee.

(2) Be placed in a Federal staff or policy making position.

(3) Be placed in a position of supervision, direction, or evaluation over Peace Corps personnel, or personnel of other contractors, or become a part of a government organization.

e. Employee Relationship:

(1) The services to be performed under this contract do not require the contractor or its employees to exercise personal judgment and discretion on behalf of the Government.

(2) Rules, regulations, direction, and requirements which are issued by Peace Corps management under their responsibility for good order, administration, and security are applicable to all personnel who enter a Government installation. This is not to be construed or interpreted to establish any degree of Government control which is inconsistent with a non-personal services contract.

(3) The Contractor shall immediately advise the Contracting Officer if the contractor or its employees are directed by any Government employee to perform work that the Contractor believes constitutes personal services.

f. Contractor Management Responsibility. The Contractor shall appoint a supervisor/manager who will be the Contractor’s authorized representative for technical and administrative performance of all services required hereunder. The supervisor shall provide the single point of contact through which all Contractor/Government communications, work, and technical direction shall flow. The supervisor shall receive and execute, on behalf of the Contractor, such technical direction as the COR may issue within the terms and conditions of the contract. All administrative support of Contractor technical personnel required to fulfill the tasks assigned under this contract shall be the responsibility of the contractor.

Organizational Conflict of Interest

a. The Contractor will be required to warrant that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, and except as otherwise set forth in the contract, it does not have any organizational conflict of interest as defined below.

The term "organizational conflict of interest" means a situation where a Contractor has interests, either due to its other activities or its relationships with other organizations, which place it in a position that may be unsatisfactory or unfavorable (a) from the Government's standpoint in being able to secure impartial, technically sound, objective assistance and advice from the Contractor, or in securing the advantages of adequate competition in its procurement; or (b) from industry's standpoint in that unfair competitive advantages may accrue to the Contractor in question.

b. The Contractor agrees that, if after award of the contract it discovers an organizational conflict of interest the Contractor shall make an immediate and full disclosure in writing to the Contracting Officer that shall include a description of the action that the Contractor has taken or proposes to take to avoid, eliminate or neutralize the conflict. The Peace Corps may, however, terminate the contract for the convenience of the Government if it would be in the best interest of the Government.

c. If the Contractor was aware of organizational conflict of interest before award and intentionally did not disclose the conflict to the Contracting Officer, the Peace Corps may terminate the contract at no cost to the Government.

d. Contractors are reminded that certain existing contractual arrangements may preclude, restrict or limit participation, in whole or in part, as either a subcontractor or as a prime contractor under this competitive procurement. Of primary concern are those contractual arrangements in which the Contractor provides support to the Peace Corps Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) or Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), in support of operation of the office or any of its programs. General guidance may be found in FAR 9.505.

END SECTION B

SECTION C – CLAUSES

C.1 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/index.html

NUMBER TITLE DATE

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS

52.212-4 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS—

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

January

C.2 52.212-5 -- Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive

Orders -- Commercial Items. (Nov 2017)

(a) The Contractor shall comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses, which are incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

(1) 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (Nov 2015)

(2) 52.233-3, Protest After Award (AUG 1996) (31 U.S.C. 3553).

(3) 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (OCT 2004) (Public Laws 108-77, 108-78 (19 U.S.C. 3805 note)).

(b) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b) that the contracting officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

___ (1) 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (Sept 2006), with Alternate I (Oct 1995) (41 U.S.C. 4704 and 10 U.S.C. 2402).

___ (2) 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (Oct 2015) (41 U.S.C. 3509).

___ (3) 52.203-15, Whistleblower Protections under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Jun 2010) (Section 1553 of Pub L. 111-5) (Applies to contracts funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009).

_X__ (4) 52.204-10, Reporting Executive compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (Oct 2016) (Pub. L. 109-282) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

___ (5) [Reserved]

___ (6) 52.204-14, Service Contract Reporting Requirements (Oct 2016) (Pub. L. 111-117, section 743 of Div. C).

___ (7) 52.204-15, Service Contract Reporting Requirements for Indefinite-Delivery Contracts (Oct 2016) (Pub. L. 111-117, section 743 of Div. C).

___ (8) 52.209-6, Protecting the Government’s Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (Oct 2015) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

___ (9) 52.209-9, Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters (Jul 2013) (41 U.S.C. 2313).

___ (10) [Reserved]

___ (11) (i) 52.219-3, Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole-Source Award (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C.

657a).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Nov 2011) of 52.219-3.

___ (12) (i) 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (Oct 2014) (if the offeror elects to waive the preference, it shall so indicate in its offer)(15 U.S.C.

657a).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Jan 2011) of 52.219-4.

___ (13) [Reserved]

_X_ (14) (i) 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Aside (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Nov 2011).

___ (iii) Alternate II (Nov 2011).

___ (15) (i) 52.219-7, Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside (June 2003) (15 U.S.C. 644).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Oct 1995) of 52.219-7.

___ (iii) Alternate II (Mar 2004) of 52.219-7.

_X__ (16) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Nov 2016) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)).

___ (17) (i) 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Jan 2017) (15 U.S.C. 637 (d)(4)).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9.

___ (iii) Alternate II (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9.

___ (iv) Alternate III (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9.

___ (v) Alternate IV (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9.

___ (18) 52.219-13, Notice of Set-Aside of Orders (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644(r)).

___ (19) 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting (Jan 2017) (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(14)).

___ (20) 52.219-16, Liquidated Damages—Subcontracting Plan (Jan 1999) (15 U.S.C.

637(d)(4)(F)(i)).

___ (21) 52.219-27, Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 657f).

_X__ (22) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (Jul 2013) (15 U.S.C.

632(a)(2)).

__X_ (23) 52.219-29, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns (Dec 2015) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).

___ (24) 52.219-30, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Women-Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under the Women-Owned Small Business Program (Dec 2015) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).

_X__ (25) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (June 2003) (E.O. 11755).

_X__ (26) 52.222-19, Child Labor—Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Oct 2016) (E.O.

13126).

_X__ (27) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015).

_X_ (28) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Sep 2016) (E.O. 11246).

___ (29) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Oct 2015) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

___ (30) 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jul 2014) (29 U.S.C. 793).

___ (31) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (Feb 2016) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

___ (32) 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (Dec 2010) (E.O. 13496).

_X__ (33) (i) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Mar 2015) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Mar 2015) of 52.222-50, (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627).

___ (34) 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (Oct 2015). (E. O. 12989). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items or certain other types of commercial items as prescribed in 22.1803.)

___ (35) (i) 52.223-9, Estimate of Percentage of Recovered Material Content for EPA-Designated Items (May 2008) (42 U.S.C. 6962(c)(3)(A)(ii)). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items.)

___ (ii) Alternate I (May 2008) of 52.223-9 (42 U.S.C. 6962(i)(2)(C)). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items.)

___ (36) 52.223-11, Ozone-Depleting Substances and High Global Warming Potential Hydrofluorocarbons (Jun 2016) (E.O.13693).

___ (37) 52.223-12, Maintenance, Service, Repair, or Disposal of Refrigeration Equipment and Air Conditioners (Jun 2016) (E.O. 13693).

___ (38) (i) 52.223-13, Acquisition of EPEAT® -Registered Imaging Equipment (Jun 2014) (E.O.s 13423 and 13514

___ (ii) Alternate I (Oct 2015) of 52.223-13.

___ (39) (i) 52.223-14, Acquisition of EPEAT® -Registered Television (Jun 2014) (E.O.s 13423 and 13514).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Jun 2014) of 52.223-14.

___ (40) 52.223-15, Energy Efficiency in Energy-Consuming Products (Dec 2007) (42 U.S.C.

8259b).

___ (41) (i) 52.223-16, Acquisition of EPEAT® -Registered Personal Computer Products (Oct 2015) (E.O.s 13423 and 13514).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Jun 2014) of 52.223-16.

_X__ (42) 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging while Driving (Aug 2011) (E.O. 13513).

___ (43) 52.223-20, Aerosols (Jun 2016) (E.O. 13693).

___ (44) 52.223-21, Foams (Jun 2016) (E.O. 13696).

___ (45) (i) 52.224-3, Privacy Training (Jan 2017) (5 U.S.C. 552a).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Jan 2017) of 52.224-3.

___ (46) 52.225-1, Buy American--Supplies (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 83).

___ (47) (i) 52.225-3, Buy American--Free Trade Agreements--Israeli Trade Act (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 83, 19 U.S.C. 3301 note, 19 U.S.C. 2112 note, 19 U.S.C. 3805 note, 19 U.S.C. 4001 note, Pub. L. 103-182, 108-77, 108-78, 108-286, 108-302, 109-53, 109-169, 109-283, 110-138, 112- 41, 112-42, and 112-43).

___ (ii) Alternate I (May 2014) of 52.225-3.

___ (iii) Alternate II (May 2014) of 52.225-3.

___ (iv) Alternate III (May 2014) of 52.225-3.

___ (48) 52.225-5, Trade Agreements (Oct 2016) (19 U.S.C. 2501, et seq., 19 U.S.C. 3301 note).

___ (49) 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (Jun 2008) (E.O.’s, proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury).

___ (50) 52.225-26, Contractors Performing Private Security Functions Outside the United States (Oct 2016) (Section 862, as amended, of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008; 10 U.S.C. 2302 Note).

___ (51) 52.226-4, Notice of Disaster or Emergency Area Set-Aside (Nov 2007) (42 U.S.C. 5150).

___ (52) 52.226-5, Restrictions on Subcontracting Outside Disaster or Emergency Area (Nov 2007) (42 U.S.C. 5150).

___ (53) 52.232-29, Terms for Financing of Purchases of Commercial Items (Feb 2002) (41 U.S.C.

4505), 10 U.S.C. 2307(f)).

___ (54) 52.232-30, Installment Payments for Commercial Items (Jan 2017) (41 U.S.C. 4505, 10 U.S.C. 2307(f)).

_X__ (55) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer— System for Award Management (Jul 2013) (31 U.S.C. 3332).

___ (56) 52.232-34, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer—Other Than System for Award Management (Jul 2013) (31 U.S.C. 3332).

___ (57) 52.232-36, Payment by Third Party (May 2014) (31 U.S.C. 3332).

___ (58) 52.239-1, Privacy or Security Safeguards (Aug 1996) (5 U.S.C. 552a).

___ (59) 52.242-5, Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (Jan 2017) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(12)).

___ (60) (i) 52.247-64, Preference for Privately Owned U.S.-Flag Commercial Vessels (Feb 2006) (46 U.S.C. Appx 1241(b) and 10 U.S.C. 2631).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Apr 2003) of 52.247-64.

(End of Clause)

END SECTION C

SECTION D – ATTACHMENTS

Attachment A: Statement of Work

Attachment B: Domestic Vendor Request Form

Attachment C: Pricing Template

Attachment D: Call Volumes

END SECTION D

SECTION E – SOLICITATION PROVISIONS

E.1 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

NUMBER TITLE

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS

DATE

52.225-25 Prohibition on Contracting with Entities Engaging In Certain Activities or Transactions Relating to Iran— Representation and Certifications

OCT 2015

52.204-7 System for Award Management JUL 2013

E.2 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Items (OCT 2015)

(a) North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and small business size standard. The NAICS code and small business size standard for this acquisition appear in Block 10 of the solicitation cover sheet (SF 1449). However, the small business size standard for a concern which submits an offer in its own name, but which proposes to furnish an item which it did not itself manufacture, is 500 employees.

(b) Submission of offers. Submit signed and dated offers to the office specified in this solicitation at or before the exact time specified in this solicitation. Offers may be submitted on the SF 1449, letterhead stationery, or as otherwise specified in the solicitation. As a minimum, offers must show --

(1) The solicitation number;

(2) The time specified in the solicitation for receipt of offers;

(3) The name, address, and telephone number of the offeror;

(4) A technical description of the items being offered in sufficient detail to evaluate compliance with the requirements in the solicitation. This may include product literature, or other documents, if necessary;

(5) Terms of any express warranty;

(6) Price and any discount terms;

(7) “Remit to” address, if different than mailing address;

(8) A completed copy of the representations and certifications at FAR 52.212-3 (see FAR 52.212-3(b) for those representations and certifications that the offeror shall complete electronically);

(9) Acknowledgment of Solicitation Amendments;

(10) Past performance information, when included as an evaluation factor, to include recent and relevant contracts for the same or similar items and other references (including contract numbers, points of contact with telephone numbers and other relevant information); and

(11) If the offer is not submitted on the SF 1449, include a statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. Offers that fail to furnish required representations or information, or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration.

(c) Period for acceptance of offers. The offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 30 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers, unless another time period is specified in an addendum to the solicitation.

(d) Product samples. When required by the solicitation, product samples shall be submitted at or prior to the time specified for receipt of offers. Unless otherwise specified in this solicitation, these samples shall be submitted at no expense to the Government, and returned at the sender’s request and expense, unless they are destroyed during preaward testing.

(e) Multiple offers. Offerors are encouraged to submit multiple offers presenting alternative terms and conditions or commercial items for satisfying the requirements of this solicitation. Each offer submitted will be evaluated separately.

(f) Late submissions, modifications, revisions, and withdrawals of offers.

(1) Offerors are responsible for submitting offers, and any modifications, revisions, or withdrawals, so as to reach the Government office designated in the solicitation by the time specified in the solicitation. If no time is specified in the solicitation, the time for receipt is 4:30 p.m., local time, for the designated Government office on the date that offers or revisions are due.

(2)

(i) Any offer, modification, revision, or withdrawal of an offer received at the Government office designated in the solicitation after the exact time specified for receipt of offers is “late” and will not be considered unless it is received before award is made, the Contracting Officer determines that accepting the late offer would not unduly delay the acquisition; and—

(A) If it was transmitted through an electronic commerce method authorized by the solicitation, it was received at the initial point of entry to the Government infrastructure not later than 5:00 p.m. one working day prior to the date specified for receipt of offers; or

(B) There is acceptable evidence to establish that it was received at the Government installation designated for receipt of offers and was under the Government’s control prior to the time set for receipt of offers; or

(C) If this solicitation is a request for proposals, it was the only proposal received.

(ii) However, a late modification of an otherwise successful offer, that makes its terms more favorable to the Government, will be considered at any time it is received and may be accepted.

(3) Acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at the Government installation includes the time/date stamp of that installation on the offer wrapper, other documentary evidence of receipt maintained by the installation, or oral testimony or statements of Government personnel.

(4) If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal Government processes so that offers cannot be received at the Government office designated for receipt of offers by the exact time specified in the solicitation, and urgent Government requirements preclude amendment of the solicitation or other notice of an extension of the closing date, the time specified for receipt of offers will be deemed to be extended to the same time of day specified in the solicitation on the first work day on which normal Government processes resume.

(5) Offers may be withdrawn by written notice received at any time before the exact time set for receipt of offers. Oral offers in response to oral solicitations may be withdrawn orally. If the solicitation authorizes facsimile offers, offers may be withdrawn via facsimile received at any time before the exact time set for receipt of offers, subject to the conditions specified in the solicitation concerning facsimile offers. An offer may be withdrawn in person by an offeror or its authorized representative if, before the exact time set for receipt of offers, the identity of the person requesting withdrawal is established and the person signs a receipt for the offer.

(g) Contract award (not applicable to Invitation for Bids). The Government intends to evaluate offers and award a contract without discussions with offerors. Therefore, the offeror’s initial offer should contain the offeror’s best terms from a price and technical standpoint. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if later determined by the Contracting Officer to be necessary. The Government may reject any or all offers if such action is in the public interest; accept other than the lowest offer; and waive informalities and minor irregularities in offers received.

(h) Multiple awards. The Government may accept any item or group of items of an offer, unless the offeror qualifies the offer by specific limitations. Unless otherwise provided in the Schedule, offers may not be submitted for quantities less than those specified. The Government reserves the right to make an award on any item for a quantity less than the quantity offered, at the unit prices offered, unless the offeror specifies otherwise in the offer.

(i) Availability of requirements documents cited in the solicitation.

(1)

(i) The GSA Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions, FPMR Part 101-29, and copies of specifications, standards, and commercial item descriptions cited in this solicitation may be obtained for a fee by submitting a request to--

GSA Federal Supply Service Specifications Section Suite 8100 470 L’Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC 20407 Telephone (202) 619-8925) Facsimile (202 619-8978).

(ii) If the General Services Administration, Department of Agriculture, or Department of Veterans Affairs issued this solicitation, a single copy of specifications, standards, and commercial item descriptions cited in this solicitation may be obtained free of charge by submitting a request to the addressee in paragraph (i)(1)(i) of this provision. Additional copies will be issued for a fee.

(2) Most unclassified Defense specifications and standards may be downloaded from the following ASSIST websites--

(i) ASSIST (https://assist.dla.mil/online/start/ ).

(ii) Quick Search (http://quicksearch.dla.mil/).

(iii) ASSISTdocs.com (http://assistdocs.com).

(3) Documents not available from ASSIST may be ordered from the Department of Defense Single Stock Point (DoDSSP) by—

(i) Using the ASSIST Shopping Wizard ( https://assist.dla.mil/wizard/index.cfm );

(ii) Phoning the DoDSSP Customer Service Desk (215) 697-2179, Mon-Fri, 0730 to 1600 EST; or

(iii) Ordering from DoDSSP, Building 4 Section D, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Telephone (215) 697/2197, Facsimile (215) 697-1462.

(4) Nongovernment (voluntary) standards must be obtained from the organization responsible for their preparation, publication, or maintenance.

(j) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number. (Applies to offers exceeding $3,500, and offers of $3,500 or less if the solicitation requires the Contractor to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database. The offeror shall enter, in the block with its name and address on the cover page of its offer, the annotation “DUNS” or “DUNS+4” followed by the DUNS or DUNS+4 number that identifies the offeror’s name and address. The DUNS+4 is the DUNS number plus a 4-character suffix that may be assigned at the discretion of the offeror to establish additional SAM records for identifying alternative Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) accounts (see FAR Subpart 32.11) for the same concern. If the offeror does not have a DUNS number, it should contact Dun and Bradstreet directly to obtain one.

An offeror within the United States may contact Dun and Bradstreet by calling 1-866-705-5711 or via the Internet at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. An offeror located outside the United States must contact the local Dun and Bradstreet office for DUNS number. The offeror should indicate that it is an offeror for a Government contract when contacting the local Dun and Bradstreet office.

(k) System for Award Management. Unless exempted by an addendum to this solicitation, by submission of an offer, the offeror acknowledges the requirement that a prospective awardee shall be registered in the SAM database prior to award, during performance and through final payment of any contract resulting from this solicitation. If the Offeror does not become registered in the SAM database in the time prescribed by the Contracting Officer, the Contracting Officer will proceed to award to the next otherwise successful registered Offeror. Offerors may obtain information on registration and annual confirmation requirements via the SAM database accessed through https://www.acquisition.gov.

(l) Debriefing. If a post-award debriefing is given to requesting offerors, the Government shall disclose the following information, if applicable:

http://quicksearch.dla.mil/) http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://www.acquisition.gov/

(1) The agency’s evaluation of the significant weak or deficient factors in the debriefed offeror’s offer.

(2) The overall evaluated cost or price and technical rating of the successful and debriefed offeror and past performance information on the debriefed offeror.

(3) The overall ranking of all offerors, when any ranking was developed by the agency during source selection.

(4) A summary of rationale for award;

(5) For acquisitions of commercial items, the make and model of the item to be delivered by the successful offeror.

(6) Reasonable responses to relevant questions posed by the debriefed offeror as to whether source-selection procedures set forth in the solicitation, applicable regulations, and other applicable authorities were followed by the agency.

(End of Provision)

E.3 52.212-2 Evaluation—Commercial Items

EVALUATION—COMMERCIAL ITEMS (OCT

2014)

(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

Technical Capability and Management

Past Performance

Price

Technical Capability and Management

The technical factor will be evaluated to ensure the proposal meets all task requirements as listed in the SOW. Proposal must demonstrate the ability to manage operators and maintain staff up to date on training with Peace Corps’ guidelines and procedures. Proposed average call-waiting time for callers must meets or exceeds minimum requirements. Proposal must provide detailed operating procedures to ensure communication and phone lines are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and demonstrated a clear and comprehensive back-up plan if equipment or software experience failure.

Proposal must detail adequate electronic options and formats for receipt of daily and monthly reports.

Contractor’s timeline to meet transition period into contract must be is realistic and effective. Optional CLINS will be evaluated if proposed for adherence to the requirements.

Past Performance

The Government evaluators will consider the performance quality of recent and relevant efforts. Recent past performance is hereby defined as a project for which its period of performance ended within the past three years of the quote submission date. Relevant past performance is hereby defined as a project for which is similar in size, scope, and complexity of this requirement. All aspects of performance that relate to this procurement may be considered. The Offeror’s past performance may be evaluated based an in-depth evaluation of information obtain from interviews with sources known to the Government, Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), and/or any information which may be obtained by the Government from sources other than those identified by the respondent. A strong record of relevant past performance may be considered more advantageous to the Government than a "Neutral" rating.

Likewise, a more relevant past performance record of favorable performance may receive a higher Past Performance Factor Rating and be considered more favorably than a less relevant record of favorable performance. Also, the recent and relevant performance of the prime Offeror will have greater weight than that of the prime’s teaming partners / subcontractor(s).

Price

Price will be evaluated using the pricing template provided. Price will be evaluated for fairness and reasonableness.

Factors are listed in descending order of importance. Technical Capability and past performance, when combined, are more important than Price

(b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

(c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

(End of provision)

E.4 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items (NOV 2017)

The offeror shall complete only paragraphs (b) of this provision if the Offeror has completed the annual representations and certification electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM) Web site accessed through http://www.acquisition.gov . If the Offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically, the Offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (p) of this provision.

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision--

“Economically disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB) concern” means a small business concern that is at least 51 percent directly and unconditionally owned by, and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by, one or more women who are citizens of the

United States and who are economically disadvantaged in accordance with 13 CFR part 127. It automatically qualifies as a women-owned small business eligible under the WOSB Program.

“Forced or indentured child labor” means all work or service—

(1) Exacted from any person under the age of 18 under the menace of any penalty for its nonperformance and for which the worker does not offer himself voluntarily; or

(2) Performed by any person under the age of 18 pursuant to a contract the enforcement of which can be accomplished by process or penalties.

“Highest-level owner” means the entity that owns or controls an immediate owner of the offeror, or that owns or controls one or more entities that control an immediate owner of the offeror. No entity owns or exercises control of the highest level owner.

“Immediate owner” means an entity, other than the offeror, that has direct control of the offeror.

Indicators of control include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: Ownership or interlocking management, identity of interests among family members, shared facilities and equipment, and the common use of employees.

“Inverted domestic corporation,” means a foreign incorporated entity that meets the definition of an inverted domestic corporation under 6 U.S.C. 395(b), applied in accordance with the rules and definitions of 6 U.S.C. 395(c).

“Manufactured end product” means any end product in product and service codes (PSCs) 1000-9999, except—

(1) PSC 5510, Lumber and Related Basic Wood Materials;

(2) Product or Service Group (PSG) 87, Agricultural Supplies;

(3) PSG 88, Live Animals;

(4) PSG 89, Subsistence;

(5) PSC 9410, Crude Grades of Plant Materials;

(6) PSC 9430, Miscellaneous Crude Animal Products, Inedible;

(7) PSC 9440, Miscellaneous Crude Agricultural and Forestry Products;

(8) PSC 9610, Ores;

(9) PSC 9620, Minerals, Natural and Synthetic; and

(10) PSC 9630, Additive Metal Materials.

“Place of manufacture” means the place where an end product is assembled out of components, or otherwise made or processed from raw materials into the finished product that is to be provided to the

Government. If a product is disassembled and reassembled, the place of reassembly is not the place of manufacture.

“Restricted business operations” means business operations in Sudan that include power production activities, mineral extraction activities, oil-related activities, or the production of military equipment, as those terms are defined in the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-174).

Restricted business operations do not include business operations that the person (as that term is defined in Section 2 of the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007) conducting the business can demonstrate—

(1) Are conducted under contract directly and exclusively with the regional government of southern Sudan;

(2) Are conducted pursuant to specific authorization from the Office of Foreign Assets Control in the Department of the Treasury, or are expressly exempted under Federal law from the requirement to be conducted under such authorization;

(3) Consist of providing goods or services to marginalized populations of Sudan;

(4) Consist of providing goods or services to an internationally recognized peacekeeping force or humanitarian organization;

(5) Consist of providing goods or services that are used only to promote health or education; or

(6) Have been voluntarily suspended.

Sensitive technology—

(1) Means hardware, software, telecommunications equipment, or any other technology that is to be used specifically—

(i) To restrict the free flow of unbiased information in Iran; or

(ii) To disrupt, monitor, or otherwise restrict speech of the people of Iran; and

(2) Does not include information or informational materials the export of which the President does not have the authority to regulate or prohibit pursuant to section 203(b)(3) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(3)).

“Service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern”—

(1) Means a small business concern—

(i) Not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one or more service-disabled veterans or, in the case of any publicly owned business, not less than 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more service-disabled veterans; and

(ii) The management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans or, in the case of a service-disabled veteran with permanent and severe disability, the spouse or permanent caregiver of such veteran.

(2) Service-disabled veteran means a veteran, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(2), with a disability that is service- connected, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(16).

“Small business concern” means a concern, including its affiliates, that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in the field of operation in which it is bidding on Government contracts, and qualified as a small business under the criteria in 13 CFR Part 121 and size standards in this solicitation.

“Small disadvantaged business concern, consistent with 13 CFR 124.1002,” means a small business concern under the size standard applicable to the acquisition, that--

(1) Is at least 51 percent unconditionally and directly owned (as defined at 13 CFR 124.105) by--

(i) One or more socially disadvantaged (as defined at 13 CFR 124.103) and economically disadvantaged (as defined at 13 CFR 124.104) individuals who are citizens of the United States; and

(ii) Each individual claiming economic disadvantage has a net worth not exceeding $750,000 after taking into account the applicable exclusions set forth at 13 CFR 124.104(c)(2); and

(2) The management and daily business operations of which are controlled (as defined at 13.CFR 124.106) by individuals, who meet the criteria in paragraphs (1)(i) and (ii) of this definition.

“Subsidiary” means an entity in which more than 50 percent of the entity is owned—

(1) Directly by a parent corporation; or

(2) Through another subsidiary of a parent corporation.

“Veteran-owned small business concern” means a small business concern—

(1) Not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one or more veterans(as defined at 38 U.S.C. 101(2)) or, in the case of any publicly owned business, not less than 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more veterans; and

(2) The management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more veterans.

“Women-owned business concern” means a concern which is at least 51 percent owned by one or more women; or in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the its stock is owned by one or more women; and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women.

“Women-owned small business concern” means a small business concern --

(1) That is at least 51 percent owned by one or more women or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more women; and

(2) Whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women.

“Women-owned small business (WOSB) concern eligible under the WOSB Program (in accordance with 13 CFR part 127),” means a small business concern that is at least 51 percent directly and unconditionally owned by, and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by, one or more women who are citizens of the United States.

(b)

(1) Annual Representations and Certifications. Any changes provided by the offeror in paragraph (b)(2) of this provision do not automatically change the representations and certifications posted on the SAMwebsite.

(2) The offeror has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically via the SAM website accessed through https://www.acquisition.gov. After reviewing the SAM database information, the offeror verifies by submission of this offer that the representation and certifications currently posted electronically at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Items, have been entered or updated in the last 12 months, are current, accurate, complete, and applicable to this solicitation (including the business size standard applicable to the NAICS code referenced for this solicitation), as of the date of this offer and are incorporated in this offer by reference (see FAR 4.1201), except for paragraphs . [Offeror to identify the applicable paragraphs at

(c) through (p) of this provision that the offeror has completed for the purposes of this solicitation only,if any. These amended representation(s) and/or certification(s) are also incorporated in this offer and are current, accurate, and complete as of the date of this offer. Any changes provided by the offeror are applicable to this solicitation only, and do not result in an update to the representations and certifications posted electronically on SAM.]

(c) Offerors must complete the following representations when the resulting contract is to be performed in the United States or its outlying areas. Check all that apply.

(1) Small business concern. The offeror represents as part of its offer that it [_] is, [_] is not a small business concern.

(2) Veteran-owned small business concern. [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a small business concern in paragraph (c)(1) of this provision.] The offeror represents as part of its offer that it [_] is, [_] is not a veteran-owned small business concern.

(3) Service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern. [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a veteran-owned small business concern in paragraph (c)(2) of this provision.] The offeror represents as part of its offer that it [_] is, [_] is not a service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern.

(4) Small disadvantaged business concern. [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a small business concern in paragraph (c)(1) of this provision.] The offeror represents that it [_] is, [_] is not, a small disadvantaged business concern as defined in 13 CFR 124.1002.

(5) Women-owned small business concern. [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a small business concern in paragraph (c)(1) of this provision.] The offeror represents that it [_] is, [_] is not a women-owned small business concern.

Note: Complete paragraphs (c)(8) and (c)(9) only if this solicitation is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.

(6) WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program. [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a women- owned small business concern in paragraph (c)(5) of this provision.] The offeror represents that—

(i) It [_] is, [_] is not a WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program, has provided all the required documents to the WOSB Repository, and no change in circumstances or adverse decisions have been issued that affects its eligibility; and

(ii) It [_] is, [_] is not a joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR part 127, and the representation in paragraph (c)(6)(i) of this provision is accurate for each WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program participating in the joint venture. [The offeror shall enter the name or names of the WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program and other small businesses that are participating in the joint venture: _ .] Each WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program participating in the joint venture shall submit a separate signed copy of the WOSB…