Request for Quote - 49100421Q0074.pdf

Request for Quote - 49100421Q0074

The solicitation number is 49100421Q0074 and this solicitation is issued as a Small business set a side request for quotation (RFQ).

In accordance with the attached statement of work, please provide a quote for IE Center-Level Onboarding Consulting and

ILO Mentor Program Management, see Attachment I - Statement of Work (SOW) for details.

This requirement will be awarded as a Time & Material order.

The Quoter shall identify the labor categories with the actual title of the labor category to be utilized in the performance of this effort. If applicable, the quoter shall provide any proposed ODC material handling charge (MHC) (e.g., G&A) for each year of performance.

The total not-to-exceed (NTE) Contract ceiling amount is $TBD.

Price/Cost Schedule

CLIN Description QTY Unit Amount

0001 Task 1 - Build consulting teams

POP: 12 months from Date of Award

1 NTE

0002 Task 2 - Onboarding new Gen-4 ERCs through evaluation of Innovation Ecosystem strategy

POP: 24 months from Date of Award

1 NTE

0003 Task 3 - ad hoc ILO training and consultancy visits of current ERCs

POP: 24 months from Date of Award

1 NTE

0004 Optional CLIN – Task 4 - Support workshop to define core competencies of the stakeholder function

POP: May be exercised during the period of performance

1 NTE

0005 Task 5 - Manage opportunities for Mentor-Mentee interactions

POP: 24 months from Date of Award

1 NTE

0006 Task 6 - Manage ILO Working Group meetings

POP: 24 months from Date of Award

1 NTE

TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1984)

The Government contemplates award of a Time & Material order resulting from this solicitation.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

The Government anticipates a twenty-four (24) month period of performance.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The primary place of performance is at the quoters location. The Quoter will be required to meet onsite at the listed locations in Attachment II – List of Locations.

INCREMENTAL FUNDING

This task order shall be subject to incremental funding with TBD presently made available for performance under this task order. It is estimated that funds presently available are sufficient to permit the Contractor’s performance through TBD. In accordance with this clause, no legal liability on the part of the Government for payment of money in excess of TBD shall arise unless and until additional funds are made available by the Contracting Officer through a modification to this contract.

The remaining unfunded amount of TBD may be funded incrementally via unilateral modification. The ceiling price referred to in FAR 52.212-4 shall mean the lesser of the “ceiling” referenced in Item TBD, above, or the amount identified in this clause available for performance under this contract.

Supplemental Terms and Conditions

NSF 020 - AUTHORITY OF GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL (APR 2013)

Contracting Officer

The Contracting Officer (CO) is the only person authorized to approve changes in any of the requirements under this contract. Notwithstanding any clause contained elsewhere in this contract, the said authority remains solely with the CO.

In the event the Contractor effects any change at the direction of any person other than the CO, including any change beyond the scope of authority given to the duly authorized Contracting Officer's Representative identified in the contract, 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 charges incurred as a result thereof. The CO has the authority to perform any and all post-award functions in administering and enforcing this contract in accordance with its terms and conditions.

Contracting Officer’s Representative

The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), TBD, TBD@nsf.gov, is responsible for administering the performance of work under this contract. IN NO EVENT, however, will any understanding, agreement, modification, change order, or other matter deviating from the terms of this contract be effective or binding upon the Government unless formalized by proper contractual documents executed by the CO prior to completion of the contract.

The COR may give technical direction to the Contractor that fills in details, requires pursuit of certain lines of inquiry, or otherwise serves to facilitate the Contractor's compliance with the contract. To be valid, technical direction by the COR must be consistent with the general scope of work set forth in this contract; may not constitute new assignment of work nor change be expressed terms, conditions or specifications of this contract; and shall not constitute a basis for any increase in the contract estimated cost, or extension to the contract delivery schedule.

NSF 110 - SUBMISSION OF PROPER INVOICE (APR 2013)

In order to initiate payment, the Contractor shall submit proper invoices for reimbursement in the manner and format described herein.

Contractors that are small businesses under the appropriate NAICs code for this contract are permitted to request accelerated payments in accordance with the OMB Memorandum, Accelerating Payments to Small Businesses for Goods and Services, dated September 14, 2011. Requests for accelerated payments shall be made through designating in bold lettering or other prominent display on or near the top of the invoice “Small Business Invoice”. Per the OMB Memorandum, Accelerating Payments to Small Businesses for Goods and Services, dated September 14, 2011, the accomplishment of accelerated payments to small businesses is a goal and not a guarantee.

The following data must be included in an invoice for it to constitute a proper invoice:

a. Name of Contractor and invoice date;

b. Contract number, or other authorization for delivery of property or services;

c. Description, price, fee (if applicable), and quantity of property and services actually delivered or rendered;

d. Shipping and payment terms;

e. Name (where practicable), title, phone number, and complete mailing address of responsible official to whom payment is to be sent;

f. Other substantiating documentation or information as required by the contract;

g. Period of performance.

Form: The Contractor may use its own form, providing all the above information is on the invoice. However, it is preferred that invoices be submitted on the Government Standard Form 1034, “Public Voucher for Purchases and Services Other Than Personal-Continuation Sheet.” These forms are available from the Government Printing Office, 710 N.

Capitol Street, Washington, DC 20801.

Address: Submit all proper invoices as follows:

a. One complete invoice (Original) without attachments to the National Science Foundation, Division of Financial

Management, Commercial Cash Management Section, Room II-605, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230.

b. One invoice copy with all attachments to the National Science Foundation, COR, Room 1245N, 4201 Wilson

Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230.

Final Invoice: Upon completion of the required work, the Contractor shall submit a completion invoice in compliance with the clause entitled, “(insert applicable clause name)”. This completion invoice must be clearly marked as such and be submitted promptly upon completion of the work, but no later than one year from the completion date of this contract.

The Contractor shall submit the original completion invoice to the Contracting Officer for approval and copies of the completion invoice to DFM and (insert Program Office).

Payment Due Date: Payment under this contract will be due on the 30th calendar day following acceptance of each properly submitted invoice.

If any contract deliverables are rejected for failure to conform to the technical requirements of the contract or are otherwise unacceptable, the provisions of the paragraph immediately preceding will apply to delivery of acceptable contract deliverables, unless otherwise determined by the Contracting Officer.

All payments for proper invoices will be made via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT).

NSF 130 - KEY PERSONNEL FOR SOLICITATION (AUG 2010)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/memoranda/2011/m11-32.pdf

The offeror will specify in the proposal those employees considered to be essential to the work to be performed. Up-to-date resumes are to be included in the proposal. Prior to diverting any of the specified individuals to other activities or programs, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer reasonably in advance and shall submit justification (including proposed substitutions) in sufficient detail to permit evaluation of the impact of such substitution upon the contract. No diversion shall be made by the Contractor without the written consent of the Contracting Officer. Positions may be added or deleted from this clause during performance of the contract by mutual agreement of both parties.

Name Title

NSF 150 - NSF SYSTEMS SUBJECT TO PRIVACY ACT RESTRICTIONS (AUG 2013)

Performance of work by the Contractor may require access to and operation of the following NSF system of records:

Visitor Access Control System Conference Room Reservation System Microsoft Outlook

This system of records is subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) and applicable NSF regulations governing their use. Violation of the Act may involve the imposition of criminal penalties and/or civil sanctions.

NSF 250 - RESTRICTIONS AGAINST DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION (JAN 2014)

(a) The Contractor agrees that it will take such measures as are necessary to restrict access to applicant and panel records, as well as any other information related to work pursuant to this contract (including, but not limited to, any information relating to legal, policy, program, operational or other issues, whether concerning existing, proposed or contemplated legislation, regulations, policy issuances or similar matters or otherwise) to those employees and/or subcontractors of the Contractor needing such information to perform the work required there under, i.e., on a "need-to-know" basis. This Clause does not apply to information which has been released to the public by NSF or which is available to the public other than by the Contractor's breach of this Agreement.

(b) The Contractor agrees to keep the restricted information in the strictest confidence. The Contractor also agrees not to publish, reproduce or otherwise divulge the Information in whole or in part, in any manner or form, nor to authorize or permit others to do so, taking such reasonable measures as are necessary to restrict access to the Information, to those employees and/or subcontractors needing such information to perform the work required under the contract, i.e., on a "need-to-know" basis. The obligation to maintain confidentiality continues after completion, termination, or expiration of this contract. The Information must be made available only at the discretion of the NSF and subject to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. Sec. 552), as amended, The Privacy Act, (5 U.S.C. Sec. 552a), as amended, The Trade Secrets Act, (18 U.S.C. Sec. 1905, as amended), and any other applicable laws or regulations. Further, the Contractor must notify the Contracting Officer of the transfer to subcontractors of any information prior to any such transfer. Upon completion of the Contractor's obligations, the Contractor must return or destroy all copies of restricted information, whether furnished by NSF or created by the Contractor and any subcontractor.

(c) The Contractor agrees to immediately notify the Contracting Officer, in writing, in the event that the Contractor determines or has reason to suspect a breach of any part of this clause.

(d) The Contractor agrees to immediately notify the Contracting Officer in writing, of any request received from any individual who is not a party to this contract, for access to information related to this contract. Those requests will be directed to NSF's FOIA/Disclosure Officer for processing under the provision of the Freedom of Information Act. This paragraph does not apply to a request by an individual for access to information contained in records pertaining to that particular individual. However, if the individual wants copies of the actual records pertaining to him/her, he/she must first contact NSF's FOIA/Disclosure Officer.

(e) The Contractor agrees that it will not knowingly violate any statutory or regulatory restrictions against the disclosure of government records, including 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552a, as amended, 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552, as amended, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1905, as amended, and implementing regulations. The Contractor also agrees that it will take steps to ensure that any subcontractor will also adhere to these restrictions.

(f) The Contractor is bound by Section (m) of the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552a(m) and as such is considered under the act to be an employee of the agency. Accordingly, the Contractor and any of its employees are subject to the criminal penalties of the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. Sec.552a(i).

(g) The Contractor will designate and identify an individual who must be responsible for the notifications required under sections (b), (c) and (d) of this agreement and who must receive all appropriate responses from the Contracting Officer (CO) or from NSF's FOIA/Disclosure Officer. The Contractor must take those steps necessary to ensure that the provisions of paragraphs a-g, inclusive, are adhered to by all directors, officers, agents and employees of the Contractor.

(h) The Contractor must place the provisions contained at Paragraphs a-g, above, in all subcontracts entered into pursuant to the contract where the subcontractor will have or may gain access to NSF information and, further, the Contractor agrees to enforce the provisions of this Clause against any and all subcontractors under this contract.

NSF 310 - NOTICE OF REGISTERING IN RESEARCH.GOV (MAY 2018)

The prospective awardee shall, upon notification from the Contracting Officer, register in Research.gov prior to award.

Instructions on how to register in Research.gov are as follows:

1. Sign in to Research.gov. (If you do not have a NSF account, first go to Research.gov and select Register from the menu to create one.)

2. Select the My Profile link located on the top right hand of the screen.

3. Select the Add a New Role option from the left navigation bar.

4. Select Add Organizational Role.

Note: The organization is required to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). Please go to Sam.gov to register your organization with SAM prior to registering with NSF. Note that completion of the SAM registration process may take up to two weeks. A DUNS number is also required to register your organization with NSF.

For instructions on the registration process, go to https://www.research.gov/common/attachment/Desktop/Single_ID_Help.pdf#page=11.

The prospective awardee shall follow the instructions and inform the Contracting Officer when registration has been completed.

52.217-7 - OPTION FOR INCREASED QUANTITY—SEPARATELY PRICED LINE ITEM (MAR 1989)

The Government may require the delivery of the numbered line item, identified in the Schedule as an option item, in the quantity and at the price stated in the Schedule. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor within any time during contract performance. Delivery of added items shall continue at the same rate that like items are called for under the contract unless the parties otherwise agree.

52.217-8 - OPTION TO EXTEND SERVICES (NOV 1999)

The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor within any time during contract performance.

52.217-9 - OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT (MAR 2000)

(a) The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor within any time during contract performance; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 15 days before the contract expires. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an extension.

(b) If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause.

(c) The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed 24 months.

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):

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

FAR

Number

Title Date

52.204-10 REPORTING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND FIRST-

TIER SUBCONTRACT AWARDS

OCT 2016

52.204-13 SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT MAINTENANCE OCT 2018

52.204-21 BASIC SAFEGUARDING OF COVERED CONTRACTOR

INFORMATION SYSTEMS

JUN 2016

52.216-31 TIME-AND-MATERIALS/LABOR-HOUR PROPOSAL

REQUIREMENTS—COMMERCIAL ITEM ACQUISITION

FEB 2007

52.224-1 PRIVACY ACT NOTIFICATION APR 1984

52.224-2 PRIVACY ACT APR 1984

52.225-13 RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN FOREIGN PURCHASES JUN 2008

52.227-14 RIGHTS IN DATA—GENERAL MAY 2014

52.232-7 PAYMENTS UNDER TIME-AND-MATERIALS AND LABOR-

HOUR CONTRACTS

AUG 2012

52.232-18 AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS APR 1984

52.232-40 PROVIDING ACCELERATED PAYMENTS TO SMALL

BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTORS

DEC 2013

52.233-1 DISPUTES MAY 2014

52.251-1 GOVERNMENT SUPPLY SOURCES APR 2012

Instructions to Offerors

The Government contemplates award of a Time & Material type as a result of this Request for Quotations.

The quote shall clearly and fully demonstrate the offeror's capability, knowledge, and experience in regard to the technical requirements described herein. Stating that you understand and will comply or paraphrasing our requirements is not adequate. The offeror’s attention is drawn to the aforementioned “Staffing Qualifications” to ensure that all requested documentation is submitted for technical evaluation purposes.

The offeror shall confine quote submissions to essential matters, sufficient to define the offer details, in a concise manner, necessary to permit a complete and accurate evaluation of each quotation. Proprietary information shall be clearly marked.

The Government reserves the right to award on initial quotations, without exchanges, if considered to be in the best interest of the Government. All offerors should submit their best price and technical capabilities to perform in accordance with the SOW in their initial submission.

NOTE: Failure to furnish all information required above may result in your quotation being considered non-responsive and eliminated from further consideration.

Quotes shall include the following:

1. Key Personnel Qualification:

The ERC program requires that the people contracted to provide the ILO consulting and mentoring services to have been previously trained by the ERC program for the ILO function. A complete understanding of the ERC program is required.

This limits the consultants to be either current or former ERC ILO individuals. The offeror shall submit resumes of the key personnel staff proposed and must include the professional education, relevant experience, and capabilities of key personnel managing similar projects identified in the SOW.

a. Principal Investigator (PI)

b. Relevant contractors, currently working with PI, who could meet the above staffing qualifications and thus could be consultants on this proposal. (However, the assumption is that most of the consultants are not known at the time of proposing, but will be recruited under Task 1).

This section shall not exceed 3 pages including cover letter, table of contents and cover sheet. Resumes may not be longer than 3 pages and do not count against the page count.

2. Technical Approach to Sample Tasks:

The offeror shall submit in writing and describe the implementation approach for each task.

Task 1 should include:

a. Documentation of the proposing team’s ERC pedigree

b. List of former ILOs that they plan to contact when recruiting consultants. (all on the list should have ERC pedigree)

c. Recruited consultants orientation—Outline of what will be covered in the orientation

d. Web-conference of recruited ILOs

Task 2 description should include:

a. An outline of the proposed 2-day site visit agenda/protocol for new ERC

b. Outline of the proposed topics to be covered during site visit discussions and subsequently summarized in the report.

Task 3 descriptions should include:

a. An outline of the proposed 1.5-to-2-day site visit agenda/protocol for the ad hoc site visit

b. Outline of the proposed topics to be covered during site visit discussions and subsequently summarized in the report.

Task 4 OPTIONAL descriptions should include:

a. List of proposed speakers & topics for an ILO SUMMIT panel discussion focused on ERC Stakeholders.

Task 5 descriptions should include:

a. Outline a minimum of 3 Mentor call event topics relevant to the ILO Core Competencies that would be covered in the first 12 months.

Task 6 descriptions should include:

a. Outline a minimum of 3 topics relevant to ILO Working Group meetings that would be held in the first 12 months.

This section shall not exceed 5 pages including cover letter, table of contents and cover sheet.

3. Price Quotation

The offeror shall provide pricing for each contract line items (CLINs) in accordance with the Statement of Work (SOW) and apply the fully loaded rates for the Contract’s period of performance. The price submission shall include the DUNS number and the primary point of contact for the offeror.

This section shall not exceed two pages.

Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation criteria for this RFQ are:

Factor 1: Key Personnel Qualification:

The Government will evaluate the resumes of the key personnel staff proposed, for the relevant experience, and capabilities of managing similar projects identified in the SOW.

Factor 2: Technical Approach to Sample Tasks:

The Government will evaluate the (a) pedigree of prospective consultants and (b) the quality of the orientation program planned to train consultants; For Task 2 and 3, the Government will evaluate the quality of the standardized consultation protocol. For Task 4, the Government will evaluate the relevance of the selected speakers and topics to growing a healthy role for stakeholders in the Gen-4 ERCs. For Task 5 and 6, the Government will evaluate the quality of the topic’s relevance to the ILO Core Competencies and the ILO Working Group Meetings.

Factor 3: Price Evaluation:

The Government will evaluate overall price reasonableness of the total price for period of performance.

The National Science Foundation will use a best value trade off processes in evaluating quotes.

When combined, the Non-Price Factors are significantly more important than the Price. The Government reserves the right to make award based on initial quotes received; vendors are encouraged to provide their best pricing.

In order to be considered for award, Quotations must be submitted by 12:00 Noon (EST) on Tuesday, June 1st, 2021.

Submit quotations electronically via email to Angela Johnson, Contract Specialist at anjohnso@nsf.gov. It is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure that the Contracting Officer receives their quotation by the date and time specified.

No alternate quotations shall be accepted and no quotation costs shall be reimbursed.

mailto:anjohnso@nsf.gov