Request for Quote.docx

Technical Rescue Training in MEXICO Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

IAW FAR 12.603

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services is prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) subpart 12.6 and as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ) in accordance with FAR parts 12 & 13 under solicitation number FA2518-23-Q-0016. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2023-04, effective 2 June 2023 found at www.acquisition.gov.

This solicitation is set aside for small businesses under the associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is 611430 Professional Development Training and the Product Service Code (PSC) U008 Education/Training. The business size standard is $15M. All responsible sources may submit a quote, which if received timely, will be considered by the Space Acquisition and Integration Office (SAIO).

The Government bears no legal liability for the costs associated with preparing a quote. Vendors should not submit a quote unless they are willing to absorb all costs associated with the quote.

Before submitting a quote, please read the instructions in the addenda to FAR 52.212-1 and the evaluation process in FAR 52.212-2 (below). It is the quoter’s responsibility to ensure their quote meets all the requirements identified herein.

Please submit your quote to Susan Hashemi at susan.hashemi@spaceforce.mil before NOON (MST) on 14 Sep 2023.

This Solicitation is being issued in accordance with (IAW) FAR Parts 12 and 13 as a Request for Quote. IAW FAR 13.004, in all instances throughout this solicitation any use of the word "proposal" should be understood as "quote". All instances of the word "offeror" should be understood as "quoter". All instances of the word "award" should be understood as "order". Quotes supplied in response to this solicitation are not binding. Award of this requirement will be offered to the Quoter IAW 52.212-2, found herein.

Late submissions:

Quoters are responsible for submitting quotations 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 quotations are due.

Any quotation received at the Government office designated in the solicitation after the exact time specified for receipt of quotations is late and will not be considered unless it is received before award is made and the Contracting Officer determines that accepting the late quotation would not unduly delay the acquisition.

If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal Government processes so that quotations cannot be received at the Government office designated for receipt of quotations 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 quotations 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.

Description of Services:

The NORAD & USNORTHCOM J49 Foreign Humanitarian Assistance (FHA) Program requires Technician Level training, in Spanish, in Mexico, for twenty-five student/instructors in each of four technical rescue areas; Water Rescue, Trench Rescue, Rope Rescue, and Vehicular Extrication. The intent is to produce trainers who will then teach national-level trainings through Mexico’s National Civil Protection School (ENAPROC) in these topic areas. Please see the attached Performance Work Statement dated 3 Apr 2023 for the specific requirements.

Contract Type:

The Government intends to award a commercial, firm-fixed price contract with six (6) line items. The trainings shall occur within 12 months of contract award. Exact dates will depend on ENAPROC’s and the quoter’s schedules.

Quote:

Please submit a quote in this format, rounding all cents to the nearest dollar.

NOTE 1: Any applicable shipping costs must be factored into the unit price(s) of each item. Do not include a separate line item for shipping charges.

NOTE 2: Any educational consumables, printing, training aids, etc. shall be factored into the price of each of the 4 trainings. Do not include a separate line item for these costs.

NOTE 3: All quoters shall use the given total of $60,000.00 for travel. This travel CLIN will cover travel from the U.S. to Mexico for 4 travelers for 8 days for each class. Included in this price are lodging, meals, car rental and airfare for each of the four personnel. The Government has used the State Department’s lodging and per diem rates for the four sites in Mexico (Monterrey, Durango, Guanajuato and Campeche). This travel price is given to level the playing field and to focus the quoter’s attention on price preparation for each class.

The quote shall address ONLY pricing for each of the line items above and responses to the technical capability subfactors found in FAR Provision 52.212-2 (below). All other information (i.e. company’s history, explanation of vision, description of hierarchy, etc.) will be disregarded.

The quote shall include a cover letter with the following:

a. Company Name, Address and Phone

b. Signed statement by a person authorized to obligate the company contractually, stating that the quote and prices submitted will remain in effect for 60 calendar days after the solicitation closing.

c. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) as issued in the System for Award Management (SAM)

d. Primary POC or persons authorized to negotiate for the company.

e. Company’s Small Business designation(s) for the NAICS 611430 NOTE: The successful awardee SHALL be registered in SAM.

52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

As prescribed in 12.301(b)(1), insert the following provision:

Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Mar 2023)

(a) North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and small business size standard. The NAICS code(s) and small business size standard(s) for this acquisition appear elsewhere in the solicitation. However, the small business size standard for a concern that submits an offer, other than on a construction or service acquisition, but proposes to furnish an end item that it did not itself manufacture, process, or produce is 500 employees, or 150 employees for information technology value-added resellers under NAICS code 541519, if the acquisition— (1)Is set aside for small business and has a value above the simplified acquisition threshold;

(2)Uses the HUBZone price evaluation preference regardless of dollar value, unless the offeror waives the price evaluation preference; or (3)Is an 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, economically disadvantaged women-owned, or women-owned small business set-aside or sole-source award regardless of dollar value.

(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 electronically in Word, PDF, Excel or any combination thereof. As a minimum, offers must show—

(1) Cover Page

(2) Pass-Fail – Technical Capabilities – Provide Evidence, Information for Point of Contact and Signed Statement for Subfactors 1-3.

(3) Rated – Technical Capabilities – 2 narratives addressing the prompts in Subfactors 1-2.

(4) Spreadsheet of Line Item pricing as captured in table above. List total price at the bottom of the spreadsheet.

(5) Copy of certifications and representations found at FAR 52.212-3 (www.acquisition.gov) ONLY IF your entity’s representations are not available in SAM. The successful awardee SHALL be found in SAM by the time of award.

(6) Acknowledgment of Solicitation Amendments if any amendments are issued.

(c) Period for acceptance of offers. The offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 60 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers, unless another time period is specified in an addendum to the solicitation.

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

(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 the 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 the rationale for award;

(5) For acquisitions of commercial products, the make and model of the product 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)

52.212-2 Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

As prescribed in 12.301(c), the Contracting Officer may insert a provision substantially as follows:

Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2021)

1. 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 BEST VALUE decision will be based on Technical Capabilities, Price and Past Performance.

1. Technical capabilities are of greater value to the Government than price and past performance.

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

A. TECHNICAL

1) PASS/FAIL – TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

Subfactor 1: ROPE RESCUE, WATER RESCUE, TRENCH RESCUE AND VEHICULE EXTRICATION Training Capability in Spanish. Demonstrate/provide evidence of a training you have conducted in each of the four required techniques. Potential evidence might include training certificate, published invitation for training, proof of contract, and/or invoice. Identify your customer and his/her contact information for verification of delivery of training.

Subfactor 2: Provide the technical rescue certificates for rope rescue, water rescue, trench rescue and vehicle extrication - Technician Level for the Spanish-speaking trainer(s) who will train the technicians in Mexico.

Subfactor 3: Provide a signed statement similar to the one below.

“I understand that all courses shall be taught in Spanish. The trainer(s) has full professional or primary spoken fluency and full professional or primary written fluency in Spanish.”

2) RATED – TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

Subfactor 1: Training Capability. Demonstrate your expertise in lesson planning for a technician level course. Select one of the four technical rescue courses (rope rescue, water rescue, trench rescue, vehicle extrication). Provide an outline of the topics to be covered each of the five days of the course. Explain how each topic will be taught (lesson plan). Include a description of ancillary equipment that will be used in class to emphasize the concepts. Explain where practical application applies.

Subfactor 2: Cultural Sensitivity. Describe in no more than one-typed page a course where the hands-on training was adapted to meet the expectations/needs of your international students. Consider examples in which the trainees did not use standard equipment or the customary response to a situation. Explain how this was addressed. The Government is looking for cultural sensitivity and integration of non-standard American processes into your training. Greater value will be given to the narrative that speaks specifically to integration of Mexican processes.

B. PRICE

Quotes will be evaluated in accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a) for price fair and reasonable.

C. PAST PERFORMANCE

Pass/Fail. The Government will consider past performance in accordance with FAR 12.206 and FAR 13.106-2(b)(3)(ii). The Contracting Officer will consider data located in SAM.gov, the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), and/or the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) to establish passing Past Performance. No information is considered to receive a rating of “Pass”. Only derogatory information identified will receive a rating of “Fail”.

EVALUATION METHOD:

Step 1: The Pass/Fail – Technical Capabilities (3 Subfactors above) of all quotes received by the close of the solicitation will be evaluated.

Step 2: The Rated – Technical Capabilities (3 Subfactors above) of the quotes earning a “Pass” for all subfactors in the pass/fail- technical capabilities category will be rated using the following metrics.

EXCELLENT: Narratives demonstrate a thorough and sound understanding and usage of practical teaching applications and a high degree of cultural sensitivity.

VERY GOOD: Narratives illustrate a sound understanding and high usage of practical teaching and a moderate degree of cultural sensitivity.

GOOD: Narratives contain an instance of a practical teaching application and medium usage of practical teaching application and some cultural sensitivity.

SATISFACTORY: Narratives demonstrate a novice understanding of practical teaching applications and minimum usage and very little cultural sensitivity.

UNSATISFACTORY: Narratives do not demonstrate an understanding or usage of practical applications or cultural sensitivity.

Step 3: Past Performance will be considered (pass/fail) for the quote that has passed the 3 pass/fail subfactors and is rated the most highly for the rated technical capabilities. If the apparent awardee receives a “Pass” for Past Performance, then that offeror’s price will be evaluated for fairness and reasonableness. If the apparent awardee receives a “Fail” for Past Performance, then the Government will not give further consideration of the quote. The Government will consider the Past Performance of the next offeror that has passed the 3 pass/fail subfactors and rated the most highly for the rated technical capabilities.

Step 4: Price will be evaluated for fairness and reasonableness. If the price is found to be fair and reasonable, the apparent awardee will be awarded the contract. If the price is found to be unfair and unreasonable, the next quote meeting the above standards will be evaluated for price fair and reasonable.

Step 5: Award will be made to the offeror whose quote:

a. “passes” the three pass/fail subfactors;

b. is rated the highest for their rated subfactors;

c. “passes” the past performance check;

d. is priced fairly and reasonably.

(End of provision) PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES found at www.acquisition.gov.

FAR

DFARS

5352.201-9101 Ombudsman As prescribed in DAFFARS 5301.9103, insert the following clause:

OMBUDSMAN (JUL 2023)

(a) An ombudsman has been appointed to hear and facilitate the resolution of concerns from offerors, potential offerors, and others for this acquisition. When requested, the ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The existence of the ombudsman does not affect the authority of the program manager, contracting officer, or source selection official. Further, the ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals, the source selection process, or the adjudication of protests or formal contract disputes. The ombudsman may refer the interested party to another official who can resolve the concern.

(b) Before consulting with an ombudsman, interested parties must first address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the contracting officer for resolution. Consulting an ombudsman does not alter or postpone the timelines for any other processes (e.g., agency level bid protests, GAO bid protests, requests for debriefings, employee-employer actions, contests of OMB Circular A-76 competition performance decisions).

(c) If resolution cannot be made by the contracting officer, the interested party may contact the ombudsman, [Insert names, addresses, telephone numbers, facsimile numbers, and e-mail addresses of Center/MAJCOM/FLDCOM/DRU/DAFRCO ombudsman/ombudsmen]. Concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations that cannot be resolved at the Center/MAJCOM/FLDCOM/DRU ombudsman level, may be brought by the interested party for further consideration to the Department of the Air Force ombudsman, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary (ADAS) (Contracting), SAF/AQC, 1060 Air Force Pentagon, Washington DC 20330-1060, phone number (571) 256-2395, facsimile number (571) 256-2431.

(d) The ombudsman has no authority to render a decision that binds the agency.

(e) Do not contact the ombudsman to request copies of the solicitation, verify offer due date, or clarify technical requirements. Such inquiries shall be directed to the contracting officer.

(End of clause)