SectionMAmend5.pdf

Connections II Solicitation #: QTA010ABA0023

M-i (8/05/10)

Table of Contents

Section M: Evaluation Factors for Award

Section Page

M.1 General Evaluation and Award Considerations

M.1.1 Award Basis

1. Sample Tasks

2. Corporate Experience

3. Management

4. Past Performance

5. Price

M.1.2 Eligibility for Award

M.2 Technical Evaluation

M.2.1 Sample Tasks

M.2.2 Corporate Experience

M.2.3 Management Approach

M.2.4 Past Performance

M.3 Price Evaluation

M.4 515.305-70 Use of Outside Evaluators

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M.1 General Evaluation and Award Considerations

M.1.1 Award Basis

The government intends to make multiple awards for the Connections II contract.

Awards will be made to responsible offerors based on a best value with trade off evaluation of the following factors and elements.

The government’s selection will include evaluation of all option periods.

The following are the factors and elements:

1. Sample Tasks

a) Communications and Networking

b) Building/Campus Facility Preparation

c) Operations, Administration, and Management (OA&M)

d) Customer Service and Technical Support

2. Corporate Experience

a) Communications and Networking

b) Building/Campus Facility Preparation

c) Operations, Administration, and Management (OA&M)

d) Customer Service and Technical Support

3. Management

a) Corporate Capabilities

b) Program Management

c) Customer Support System

d) Small and Small Disadvantaged Business Subcontracting Plan

4. Past Performance

a) Technical Risk

b) Cost Risk

c) Schedule Risk

The quality factors listed above are in descending order of importance.

5. Price

a) Labor Rates

b) Equipment (from sample tasks)

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All evaluation factors other than price, when combined, are significantly more important than price.

M.1.2 Eligibility for Award

Proposals shall be prepared in accordance with the instructions set out in RFP Section L.

To be eligible for an award, the offeror must agree to all solicitation requirements – including terms and conditions, representations and certifications, and technical requirements – must be determined responsible, and must not receive a rating of not-acceptable for any evaluation factor.

The determination of offeror responsibility will be made by the Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO) and will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. The government will make determinations of responsibility in accordance with FAR 9.1 [Responsible Prospective Contractors] using information provided in the Business Proposal Volume 5 and information available from other sources.

The government envisions adjectival ratings for each factor as follows:

Outstanding Good Acceptable Not Acceptable

M.2 Technical Evaluation

The Technical Evaluation comprises four factors: Sample Tasks, Corporate Experience, Management Approach, and Past Performance. These factors and their associated sub-factors are summarized in the accompanying table and described in the subsections below.

Offerors receiving a not-acceptable rating in a single factor will be eliminated from further consideration.

M.2.1 Sample Tasks

The Sample Tasks factor comprises four underlying elements that map to the four Connections II solution types:

Element 1: Communications and Networking

Element 2: Building/Campus Facility Preparation

Element 3: Operations Administration and Management

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Element 4: Customer Service and Technical Support

Each element will be evaluated based on the degree to which the offeror’s solution to the sample task demonstrates the technical and management capabilities to successfully perform. This evaluation will include the proposed technical and management approach to the sample task and will consider the appropriateness of the mix of labor categories, level of effort; and equipment.

M.2.2 Corporate Experience

The Corporate Experience factor comprises four underlying elements that map to the four Connections II solution types:

Element 1: Communications and Networking

Element 2: Building/Campus Facility Preparation

Element 3: Operations Administration and Management

Element 4: Customer Service and Technical Support

The Government will evaluate the offeror based on the degree to which the proposal demonstrates reasonable corporate experience for each Connections II solution types.

M.2.3 Management Approach

The Management Approach factor will be evaluated based on the following elements:

1. Corporate Capabilities

a) The degree to which the proposal demonstrates that the offeror is in the business of furnishing telecommunications solutions aligned with the objectives of the Connections II solution areas.

b) The degree to which the proposal demonstrates corporate resources with the ability to deliver labor and equipment, through internal or subcontracted means, to meet contract requirements.

2. Program Management

a) Subcontracting Arrangements. The degree to which the offeror has assembled and has the ability to manage an experienced and capable team of subcontractors with well defined roles and responsibilities that build on the strengths of the team members.

b) Key Personnel. The degree to which the qualifications and experience of the proposed program manager and other key personnel are appropriate and will lead to success of the Connections II program.

c) Business Development. The degree to which the offeror’s marketing plan demonstrates a sound approach and the capability to effectively develop and manage business relationships with both new and existing customers.

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d) Program Management Organization. The degree to which the program management systems and organization enable effective lines of communication and authority that allows appropriate access to upper management and corporate resources and facilitates problem resolution.

e) Quality Assurance/Control. The degree to which the offeror demonstrates the ability to employ processes and procedures that ensure adherence to best practices, established quality goals, and government standards.

f) Supply Chain Risk Management. The degree to which the offeror demonstrates the ability to manage supply chain risks.

g) Sustainable Equipment, Services and Solutions. The degree to which the offeror demonstrates the ability to provide telecommunications and networking assets that will reduce negative impacts on the environment.

3. Customer Support Systems. The degree to which the offeror proposes a sound approach and demonstrates the capability to provide compliant support systems to meet the requirements of C.3.

4. Subcontracting Plan (for Large Business Offerors only)

a) Compliance. The offeror’s subcontracting plan complies with the requirements of 15 U.S.C. 637 d(8) and Subpart 19.7 of the FAR

b) Participation. The degree to which the offeror proposes a sound approach and demonstrates a commitment to meet the government’s goals for participation of small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns. (Refer to Table H-1 [Small Business Subcontracting Goals].)

M.2.4 Past Performance

a) The offeror will be evaluated with respect to their past performance. This assessment will reflect the consideration of all relevant information that is readily available to the government, including both the information received from the offeror and information obtained from other sources (e.g.

questionnaires given to references). The Past Performance factor will be evaluated based on the degree to which the offeror has satisfied customers with respect to cost, technical, and schedule performance as evidenced by ratings from references. The evaluation will include, references provided by offerors, an independent query of the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), and other sources of information as appropriate.

b) With regard to the government’s evaluation of Past Performance, offerors should note that in accordance with FAR 15.305 (2)(iv):

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“In the case of an offeror without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available, the offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance.”

M.3 Price Evaluation

The Price Evaluation consists of an assessment of the reasonableness of proposed labor and equipment pricing. The government will perform price analyses in accordance with FAR Part 15.404 to ensure fair and reasonable prices. As part of this assessment, proposed labor rates will be compared with an Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) and assessing the extent to which proposed rates and prices fall into a reasonable range around the midpoint for each item. Prices that are determined to be not fair and reasonable will not be accepted by the government. The government will also examine offers for unbalanced pricing. The government may reject any offer that is materially unbalanced, in accordance with FAR 15.404-1(g).

M.4 515.305-70 Use of Outside Evaluators

Notice About Releasing Proposals

1. The Government intends to disclose proposals received in response to this solicitation to nongovernment evaluators.

2. Each evaluator will sign and provide to GSA a “Conflict of Interest

Acknowledgment and Nondisclosure Agreement.”