Request for Quote (RFQ) No. 2024020028.pdf

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation;

proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

Notification of a Pre-Solicitation and Full and Open Competitive Solicitation, Request for Quote (RFQ) Number 2024020028

“High Voltage Probe station”

Posting on System for Award Management (SAM)

REQUEST FOR RFQ

READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY

This combined synopses/solicitation is being conducted under the procedures for competitive purchase orders (PO) established by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC who has entered into Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308 with the Department of Energy (DOE), an agency of the U.S. Government, for the management and operation of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (hereinafter called “NREL”). All references to “NREL” in this solicitation shall mean the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC. NREL will award a PO based on the following:

LOWEST PRICE (COST), TECHNICALLY ACCEPTABLE SELECTION

All Specification (SPECS) requirements being met and with the lowest evaluated price

Issue Date: 4/15/2024 Due Date:4/25/2024 Time Due: 5:00PM Mountain Time

Technical questions must be received in writing no later than 4/19/24.

Written questions concerning this solicitation document and its requirements will be answered in writing. In response to technical questions, NREL will issue an amendment to this solicitation document that will formally provide all the questions and answers. All recipients of the solicitation document will receive responses to questions.

1. SOLICITATION TYPE Lowest Price (Cost), Technically Acceptable Selection Firm Fixed Price, Purchase Order

SUBMIT OFFERS TO AND REQUEST INFORMATION FROM THE NREL RFQ CONTACT

BELOW

2. NREL RFQ Contact Janelle DiGregorio, Subcontract Administrator National Renewable Energy Laboratory 15013 Denver West Parkway, MS: RSF041 Golden, CO 80401

Email: Janelle.DiGregorio@nrel.gov

Electronic copies of forms and appendices can be found at:

http://www.nrel.gov/workingwithus/standard-terms.html

Procurement Forms | NREL -https://www.nrel.gov/workingwithus/forms.html

3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

As specified in Attachment 1 – Technical Specifications and Attachment 2 -

SOLICITATION- PROJECT OVERVIEW & TECHNICAL ACCEPTABILITY

REQUIREMENTS.

5. PROPOSED PO AWARD AND DELIVERY DATE:

This combined synopses/solicitation is being conducted under the procedures for competitive purchase orders (PO) established by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC has entered into Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308 with the Department of Energy (DOE), an agency of the U.S. Government, for the management and operation of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (hereinafter called “NREL”). All references to “NREL” in this solicitation shall mean the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

It is the intent of NREL to award one Firm Fixed Price Purchase Order under this solicitation for what is outlined in Attachment 1 – Technical Specifications and Attachment

2 - SOLICITATION- PROJECT OVERVIEW & TECHNICAL ACCEPTABILITY

REQUIREMENTS. It is the intent of NREL to award one Firm Fixed Price PO under this solicitation.

Delivery/Lead Time NREL is requesting a delivery date of no later than September 30, 2024. In addition to the lowest evaluated price, an acceptable lead time will also be evaluated. Therefore, award will be based on LPTA and acceptable lead time.

Delivery Terms of FOB Destination Acceptance of these terms is required to be deemed technically acceptable.

Payment Terms:

100% upon Receipt and Acceptance of the entire order.

Shipping:

Offerors must provide a separate line item on the quote. Shipping may be considered in the calculation of the total offer in determining the Lowest Technically Acceptable Offer.

6. Competitive negotiated PO using Lowest Price (Cost), Technically Acceptable Selection

This solicitation shall be conducted using Lowest Price (Cost), Technically Acceptable Selection that results in an award based on the lowest evaluated price (cost) of all technically acceptable offers.

Lowest Price (Cost), Technically Acceptable Selection is based on the premise that value is expected to result from award based on a technically acceptable offer with the lowest evaluated price (cost).

The Specifications (SPECS) in this Request for Quote serves as NREL’s baseline requirements that must be met by each offer.

Selection will be made on the basis of the lowest evaluated price (cost) of offers meeting or exceeding the baseline requirements of the statement of work.

NREL may discuss price with offerors, especially when more than one technically acceptable approach is received that may satisfy NREL’s needs.

Offer should note that NREL will evaluate Offers in accordance with the policies and procedures of Part 25 of the FAR. In accordance with the Buy American Act, preference will be given to domestic offers, and foreign offers will be adjusted for evaluation purposes in accordance with FAR 25.106 and Subpart 25.5 (as such terms are defined in FAR 25.003).

7. Evaluation process

NREL will evaluate offers in three general steps:

Step One—Initial Evaluation An initial evaluation will be performed to determine if all required information has been provided and the offer is technically acceptable to meet the basic requirements as outlined in the specifications. At NREL’s discretion, discussions with offerors will be held as necessary. Offerors shall be notified if their offer is determined to be technically unacceptable and the reasons for rejection will be provided. Technically unacceptable offers will be excluded from further consideration.

Step Two—Price (Cost) Evaluation After an offer is evaluated as technically acceptable to meet the baseline requirements, NREL will evaluate the price to determine the reasonableness and award to the lowest price offer.

Step Three—Selection

Based on the technical acceptability and price suitability of the offers, NREL will exercise one of the following options:

(a) Select an offer and award the PO to the lowest price (cost), technically acceptable offer without discussion;

(b) after discussion, select an offer, and award the PO;

(c) make no award.

8. Submission Requirements: All interested Offerors must submit a quote that shall include the following:

a. Official Quote: Responsive quotes will be based on Attachment No. 1 - Tech Specifications. The quote must be valid for 180 days from the date of the offer. The quote shall identify any proposed changes to the technical specifications as a stand-alone attachment to the quote.

Cover Letter: Letter indicating acceptance of Attachment No. 1 – Technical Specifications, Attachment 2 - SOLICITATION- PROJECT OVERVIEW & TECHNICAL ACCEPTABILITY REQUIREMENTS, and NREL standard terms and conditions, Appendix B-8, Standard Terms and Conditions for Subcontracts and Purchase Orders for Commercial Items, dated 1/23/23, found at:

https://www.nrel.gov/workingwithus/standard-terms.html will be applicable to the purchase order. State any changes with reason to the terms and conditions. The letter shall include a statement declaring ether the product being delivered is a domestic end-product (as such term in defined in FAR 25.003.)

If your company has a GSA Schedule Contract which product is listed, please provide in the letter. The applicable GSA terms and conditions will apply.

b. A completed “Representations & Certifications for Subcontracts/Purchase Orders” form. Please download from the NREL general access website link below:

http://www.nrel.gov/workingwithus/forms.html

c. Confirmation of your Company’s registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). NREL requires all vendors to be registered under SAM at https://sam.gov/content/home.

d. This solicitation requires the submittal of electronic quotes.

9. Solicitation Provisions—full text provided

a) Late submissions, modifications, and withdrawals of offers Offers, or modifications to them, received from qualified organizations after the latest date specified for receipt may be considered if received prior to award, and NREL determines that there is a potential price (cost), technical, or other advantage, as compared to the other offers received. However, depending on the circumstances surrounding the late submission or modification, NREL may consider a late offer to be an indication of the offeror’s performance capabilities, resulting in downgrading of the offer in the technical evaluation process. Offers may be withdrawn by written notice received at any time before award.

b) Restrictions on disclosure of sensitive financial information in the price/cost proposal Offerors who include in their price/cost proposals sensitive financial information (e.g., labor rates, indirect rates, etc.) they do not want disclosed to the public for any purpose or used by the government or NREL, except for evaluation and execution of the subcontract, if awarded, shall, in addition to including the “Notice for Handling Proposals” required in Paragraph #.b. above, mark the title page of the price/cost proposal with the following legend:

“This offer includes Sensitive Financial Information.”

c) Disclaimer

NEITHER THE UNITED STATES; NOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY; NOR

ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC; NOR ANY OF THEIR

CONTRACTORS, SUBCONTRACTORS, OR THEIR EMPLOYEES MAKE ANY

WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OR ASSUME ANY LEGAL LIABILITY OR

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR USEFULNESS

FOR ANY PURPOSE OF ANY OF THE TECHNICAL INFORMATION OR DATA

ATTACHED OR OTHERWISE PROVIDED HEREIN AS REFERENCE MATERIAL.

d) Solicitation disputes The General Accountability Office and the Department of Energy do not accept or rule on disputes for solicitations for Requests for Proposals issued by Management and Operating Contractors for the Department of Energy (operators of Department of Energy National Laboratories). Should an offeror have any concerns regarding the NREL solicitation process or selection determination, the offeror may contact Paul White, Advocate for Commercial Practices, at (303) 384-7575. NREL will address each concern received from an offeror on an individual basis.

e) Prohibition on use of certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment per the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act Section 889(a)(1)(B)

In accordance with the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act Section 889(a)(1)(B), NREL is prohibited from contracting with any offeror that uses, and/or whose lower-tier subcontractor(s) use, covered telecommunication equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as a critical technology of any system, on or after 08/13/2020, unless an exception applies or a waiver is granted. This includes such equipment or services from five Chinese companies: Huawei, ZTE Corporation, Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision, and Dahua Technology.

f) Compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (found at 29 U.S.C. 794d) The requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act apply to NREL’s procurement of all electronic and information technology (EIT) and any development, maintenance, or use of EIT.

10. Solicitation provisions—incorporated by reference—general access

This combined synopses/solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. The following documents can be downloaded from http://www.nrel.gov/workingwithus/standard-terms.html and http://www.nrel.gov/workingwithus/forms.html or the NREL Contact (see item 2) will make available upon request.

The documents and forms that are listed below are applicable to this solicitation and resulting award:

Appendix/Form

- NREL Standard Terms and Conditions: Appendix B-8 (1/23/23);

- Attachment 1, Technical Specifications dated 4/15/24

- Attachment 2 - SOLICITATION- PROJECT OVERVIEW &

TECHNICAL ACCEPTABILITY REQUIREMENTS

- NREL Representations and Certifications (07/14/2022) for Subcontracts and Purchase Orders for Commercial Items and Services

11. Notice Regarding NREL Payments to Subcontractors

It is NREL’s standard practice to make all payments to domestic subcontractors via electronic (ACH) payments or to international subcontractors via wire transfers. Any Offeror receiving notification of an award under this solicitation must complete and submit a “Request for ACH/Wire Banking Information” form to the applicable NREL Subcontract Administrator. Payments to subcontractors will be deposited directly into the subcontractor’s designated bank account in accordance with the banking account/wire transfer information provided on the form by an authorized company representative. An electronic (PDF) copy of the form will be provided by the NREL Subcontract Administrator upon notification of award. Please do not include an ACH form with your response to this notice.