RFQ_75N95021Q00152.doc

Solicitation No. 75N95021Q00152 Title: Maintenance Agreement for ZEISS SigmaVP System and GATAN 3View System This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items 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 separate written solicitation will not be issued.

The solicitation number is 75N95021Q00152 and the solicitation is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) on unrestricted basis, as a full and open competition.

This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures; and FAR Part 12—Acquisition of Commercial Items, and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. A fixed-price type of purchase order is contemplated for this requirement.

The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2021-03 / 01/14/21.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 811219: OTHER ELECTRONIC AND PRECISION EQUIPMENT REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE.

Background:

The NIDA-IRP Confocal and Electron Microscopy Core (CEMC) serves NIDA-IRP researchers by providing access to existing and emerging techniques for neuronal ultrastructural analysis. The NIDA-IRP CEMC offers the following services: (1) EM services that are tailored to the needs of individual IRP researchers. Services include sectioning, immunostaining and counterstaining, and EM imaging; and (2) training and access to an ultrathin microtome and a transmission electron microscope, and data interpretation. Close cooperation and participation with NIDA investigators are critical to the success the EM Core.

Project Requirements:

The Contractor shall provide preventative maintenance and on-demand repair services for the ZEISS SigmaVP System and GATAN 3View System to include a base period of (1) year with one (1) option year. Requirements include:

· One (1) preventative maintenance inspection per agreement year. This includes all labor and travel associated with conducting the PM inspection visit. The technician providing PM should be trained on both the Sigma VP and 3View2 systems.

· All labor and travel related charges associated with any service visit in addition to the PM visit as may be required during the contract year, is included.

· All covered replacement parts.

· Software version upgrades when available for LSM, EM and XRM service agreements (excludes platform upgrades). The software installation shall be covered under the service agreement.

· Technical telephone consulting available during normal business hours by factory trained Customer Support Engineers.

· Scheduled and emergency service performed between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM Monday through Friday excluding Federal holidays.

Contractor shall have access to proprietary parts and test instrumentation for effective repair in case of malfunction. Technical performance requirements include system coverage on the subject equipment by Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) factory-trained, authorized technicians and providers of any required parts and software or proprietary diagnostic software and software enhancements must be OEM certified (new or like-new) and compatible with the subject equipment.

Contractor shall be required to provide written progress reports in achieving this statement of work during the period of performance. The original documentation shall be provided by the vendor to show they completed service on the instrument and should document technical progress with the POC.

Service shall include labor and parts coverage, on-site labor response, technical telephone response (call-back to schedule), planned maintenance, and preferred labor rate.

Key Personnel Requirements:

All personnel must be original equipment manufacturer (OEM) factory-trained, manufacturer-authorized technicians.

Anticipated Period of Performance: The contract start date is anticipated in June 2021.

Government Responsibilities:

The government owns the scientific instrumentation. The field service technician will be required to notify the POC from the NIDA/IRP for access to the subject equipment.

Place of Performance:

All efforts for this requirement will take place at the following location:

National Institute on Drug Abuse/ Biomedical Research Center 251 Bayview Blvd

Baltimore, MD, 21224

Contracting Officer’s Representative:

The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will represent the Government for the purpose of this contract and will be specified at time of award.

The COR is responsible for: (1) monitoring the Contractor's technical progress, including the surveillance and assessment of performance and recommending to the Contracting Officer changes in requirements; (2) interpreting the statement of work and any other technical performance requirements; (3) performing technical evaluation as required; (4) performing technical inspections and acceptances required by this contract; and (5) assisting in the resolution of technical problems encountered during performance.

The Government may unilaterally change the COR designation at any time throughout the performance period of this contract.

DELIVERY OR DELIVERABLES

Documentation shall be provided by the vendor to show they completed the preventative service on the equipment and left with the COR or POC. The service technician is to present a service ticket that briefly details the work performed during the service visit to the POC for signature and a copy of the ticket is to be left with the POC.

A detailed written report of any service is to be submitted to the Contracting Officer’s Representative, or a delegated entity, within 24 hours of service being performed.

EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

The Government plans to award a FFP contract resulting from this solicitation. The resulting award will be made to the responsible offeror whose offer will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate quotations: Technical Capability, Past Performance, and Price. Comparative evaluations will be conducted if multiple quotations are received.

CRITERIA

Quotes will be evaluated against the evaluation factors identified below. Offerors must submit information sufficient to evaluate their quote-proposal based on the detailed evaluation factors.

1.

Technical Capabilities:

The Offeror will be evaluated on its ability to provide all of the technical aspects specified in the Project Requirements above. NIDA will evaluate the offeror's quote in terms of whether or not the offeror is authorized to provide the Service Maintenance Agreement for the requested equipment by Factory trained Customer Support Engineers.

2.

Past Performance

Offerors must demonstrate relevant and recent performance of the offeror and any proposed subcontractors on current and past contracts of similar size, scope for the requested equipment. The evaluation will be based on information provided by the offeror, as well as other relevant past performance information obtained from other sources known to the Government.

3.

Price.

Quotes must include all applicable costs, including options. The total quoted price will be the evaluated price.

APPLICABLE CLAUSES AND PROVISIONS

i. The provision at FAR Clause 52.204-24 Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment is applicable to this solicitation. Offerors MUST include a completed copy of this provision with their offer, OR provide a copy of the valid certifications from the System of Award Management (SAM) applications at www.SAM.gov, which may be indicated on the Offeror’s cover sheet. See attachment # 1.

ii. The provision at FAR Clause 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Items is applicable to this solicitation.

iii. The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following is provided as an addendum to clause 52.212-2: (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. This RFQ will be evaluated on the “trade-off” basis. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: technical factors, cost and past performance. Technical and past performance, when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price. Offeror’s submitting a response must provide a completed Price Quote to be evaluated and considered for award. Price quotes must indicate fixed unit pricing and total cost, including warranty and training considerations.

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.

Responses to this solicitation must include clear and convincing evidence of the Offeror’s capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the technical evaluation criteria.

Offerors may respond with a proposal indicating their ability to provide the technical specifications stated in this solicitation. Responses will be evaluated based on the contractor’s ability to meet the government’s requirements.

iv. The provision at FAR Clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

v. The provision at FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

vi. The provision of FAR Clause 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. See attachment # 2.

Option Provisions

vii. Pursuant to clauses 52.217-7 and 52.217-9 set forth below of this solicitation, the Government may, by unilateral task order modification, require the Contractor to perform additional options. If the Government exercises this option, notice must be given at least 30 days prior to the expiration date of this order.

viii. FAR 52.217-5 Evaluation of Options (July 1990). Except when it is determined in accordance with FAR 17.206(b) not to be in the Government’s best interests, the Government will evaluate quotes-proposals for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. Evaluation of options will not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). (End of provision)

ix. 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 15 days. (End of clause)

x. 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (Mar 2000).

The Government may extend the term of this order by written notice to the Contractor any time prior to order expiration; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 30 days before the order expires. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an extension.

If the Government exercises this option, the extended task order shall be considered to include this option clause.

The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed 2.5 years. (End of clause)

xi. Invoice Instructions for NIH Contracts is attached and made part of this RFQ. See attachment # 3.

There are no additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions applicable to this acquisition.

The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) are not applicable to this requirement.

Responses to this solicitation must include sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities of providing the product or service. Responses to this solicitation must include clear and convincing evidence of the Offeror’s capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the government requirements stated in this solicitation.

Basic cost and price information in the Offeror’s proposal must contain sufficient information to allow the Government to perform a basic analysis of the reasonableness of the Offeror to supply the required goods/services. Any other information or factors that may be considered in the award decision may include such factors as: past performance; special features required for effective service coverage; trade-in considerations; warranty considerations; maintenance and service coverage availability; serial, product or catalog number(s); product description; delivery terms, and prompt payment discount terms.

The Contractor shall submit its quote electronically.

Offerors MUST include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items, with their offer, OR provide a copy of the valid certifications registrations and Representation and Certifications from the System of Award Management (SAM) applications at www.SAM.gov, which may be indicated on the Offeror’s cover sheet.

In addition, the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All Offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.

All responses must be received no later than June 1st, 2021, 12:00 PM EST. Late responses will not be accepted. All responses must reference solicitation number 75N95021Q00152. Responses must be submitted electronically to polina.klimenkova@nih.gov. For information regarding this solicitation, please contact Polina Klimenkova by email at polina.klimenkova@nih.gov or by phone at 301-443-6677.