RFQ 75N98020Q00040 Warehouse Storage Solicitation.doc

RFQ 75N98022Q00040

Warehouse Storage Contract

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6 "Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items," as applicable, and 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. This solicitation is being issued using Simplified Acquisition Procedures under the Authority of FAR Subpart 13.5.

This solicitation is a request for quotes (RFQ) under RFQ Number 75N98020Q00040. The solicitation documents and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2022-06, dated May 26, 2022. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 493110-General Warehousing and Storage. This RFQ is full and open competition.

Article 1. SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Contract TYPE A. NIH anticipates one award will be made from this solicitation.

B. It is anticipated that the award from this solicitation will be a Firm Fixed Price Contract.

C. The period of performance shall be (1) one base year with four (4) option periods.

ARTICLE 2. SCOPE/PURPOSE:

The Building 49 Central Animal Facility (CAF), located on the Bethesda campus of the National Institutes of Health, contributes to the advancement of biomedical research by providing professional and technical support services related to laboratory animal care and use and housing laboratory animals in support of eight Institute's intramural research program. The animal research facility is a specially designed building type that accommodates exquisitely controlled environments for the care and maintenance of experimental animals. Animal research facilities are related to but distinct from research laboratories. The facilities are complex and expensive to build and operate, but they are vital to supporting a proper, safe, and humane research effort. It is far more cost-effective to store equipment offsite than take up valuable space within the animal facility. To support our animals and their critical research programs, we must ensure consistent equipment and supply storage, even during emergencies and disasters. Due to the essential nature of storing both supplies and equipment, our program requirements have been incorporated into our Facility and Institute disaster preparedness plans. Warehouse Services include transportation to and from the warehouse and storage of laboratory animal equipment (racks, caging, and miscellaneous items) which shall be sorted and inventoried.

The Government intends to award a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Warehouse Storage Contract. The NIH requests the contractor to provide pricing of rental space for 6,000 square feet of warehouse space. The cost of rental space shall include all transportation and personnel costs within the rental price. Please refer to Attachment 1 to complete the pricing table.

ARTICLE 3. - STATEMENT OF WORK

1. Scope of Work: Warehouse Storage

1.1. The selected Contractor shall provide covered warehouse storage of approximately 6,000 square feet of secured space within the local commuting area within 40 miles of the main NIH campus, located at Building 49 Central Animal Facility, 49 Convent Drive, Bethesda MD, 20892, to support storage of laboratory animal equipment and miscellaneous supplies.

1.2. The selected Contractor, if not the incumbent, will be responsible for all the movement of the equipment from the current storage location located at 1120 Whistler Ave, Baltimore, MD 21223 to the contractor storage facility.

1.2.1. The movement of the equipment shall include coordination with the current warehouse in all arrangements and activities, including staffing to move stored equipment/supplies into the Contractor's proposed warehouse.

1.2.2. It will be the Contractor's responsibility to ensure they have the workforce and equipment to move current storage to the new location.

The Contractor will be responsible for moving equipment back and forth from their location to the Building 49 Central Animal Facility. Below are examples of the equipment and supplies transported to and from storage: NHP racks, rodent racks, rabbit racks, animal transport cages, pans, feeders, water bottles, and PPE supplies. The total amount of trips is dependent on the current research needs. Currently, we average 2-3 pick-ups/deliveries a month.

1.3. Delivery/Pickup services from/to the Building 49 Central Animal Facility to/from the Contractor's warehouse of equipment/racks will be required during the duration of this requirement. Hours of operation are from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm EST, Monday through Friday, except for.

1.4. The Contractor shall provide ventilation, pest control, and secure dedicated space. With delivery/pick up services from Contractor's warehouse to Building 49 Central Animal Facility loading miscellaneous equipment/racks to support the Building 49 Central Animal Facility operations.

1.4.1. Ventilation requirements are set by the ANSI/ASHRAE 62. ASHRAE 62.2 Aims to provide ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality standards. Ensure the ability to control the ventilation under any operating condition, such as the heat in the summer or the cold in the winter.

1.4.2. Pest control: The Guide for the Care of and Use of Laboratory Animals, ILAR, NAS, Eight Edition 2011, pg 109 states "all measures taken to identify, contain, prevent and eradicate known or unknown infections that may cause clinical disease or alter physiologic and behavioral responses or otherwise make the animals unsuitable for research." The National Animal Health Emergency Management System Guidelines define biosecurity for animal production facilities similarly as "a series of management practices designed to prevent the introduction of and spread of disease agents." A biosecurity program is like an insurance policy for the health and productivity of the Building 49 Central Animal Facility. The facility’s management must decide the risk tolerance level they will accept based on the chances of a disease occurring and the expected economic losses from the disease and research being conducted. When the risk tolerance level is determined, appropriate risk management measures can be initiated. Therefore, as part of our programs’ "Biosecurity Program," we must ensure the provision of stored supplies/ equipment; this program is a shared responsibility between the Government and the selected Contractor to ensure the consistency and safeguards are in place to protect both the supplies and equipment being stored by the contractor.

The Contractor's warehouse must have adequate, vermin-free space for storage. The supplies will be stored in an area that is protected from the risk of contamination from animal pathogens, toxins, and or hazardous substances. Ideally, the product shall also be protected from dust which may carry or harbor pathogens. The warehouse shall have a pest control program designed to prevent, control, or eliminate the presence of or infestation by pests. The Contractor must provide the name of the firm that provides vermin and pest control services a description of their pest control program. A regularly scheduled and documented program of control and monitoring should exist. The Contractor also must provide documentation about their quality assurance practices. The Contractor must provide information on quality assurance results monthly. All products supplied shall be free of chemical or pathologic contaminants and the presence of natural toxicants. Areas used for storage shall not be subject to elevated temperatures or relative humidity for prolonged periods. As part of our program's responsibility, we will inspect the site(s) annually to ensure that they meet the above requirements.

1.4.3. Security matters such as gates, fencing, monitoring, locking of the doors, alarming, etc., must be managed so that the cargo stored in the warehouse will remain intact from intruders during the whole warehousing period. The The contractor shall include in their quote each requirement of the security plan. The warehouse shall provide a detailed security plan with its quote that consists of the following components:

1.4.3.1. Physical Security

1.4.3.1.1. Alarms systems and or Video Surveillance Cameras

1.4.3.1.2. Building Structure--Buildings must be constructed of materials that resist unlawful entry and protect from outside intrusions.

1.4.3.1.3. Yard Security

1.4.3.1.4. Gates and GateHouse

1.4.3.2. Access Controls the Security Plan should provide a process to positively identify and control the movement of all persons on site. It is a Best Practice to employ Security Guards.

1.4.4. It is our intent to incorporate within the contract the ability to secure space within the Contractor's warehouse(s) that meets the biosecurity requirements listed above. As part of the agreement, we would meet with the Contractor prior to award and once a year thereafter for a site visit of the warehouse to ensure that the stated requirements outlined in this statement of work are met or exceeded. The awarded Contractor shall be required to provide a detailed inventory list at least monthly or more often if needed. These visits and detailed inventory lists will ensure that the facility can maintain supplies/ and equipment at the respective location and the Contractor's ability to meet or exceed the requirement of this SOW.

1.5. In the event of an emergency and or disaster situation, equipment/racks may be needed to normalize operations. The Contractor shall provide delivery of equipment/racks to the Building 49 Central Animal Facility within a 4 to 6-hour response time.

1.5.1. The value of disaster preparedness to laboratory animal facilities has been highlighted in recent years because of several large-scale disasters that have impacted U.S. research investment. Disaster preparedness in the workplace seeks to reduce direct and indirect losses resulting from disasters. Losses are diminished when the disruptions to animal care and research are minimized. During emergency/disaster events, the regular supply and distribution channels will most likely be unavailable and protracted due to the impact of the emergency and the rush of immediate orders. Our program's disaster plan takes these factors into account. Therefore, we intend to establish an offsite source of critical supplies with an established storage Contractor with a proven track record of providing quality storage services. As outlined in our emergency plan, our program intends to contact our storage Contractor to move the equipment within a 4 to 6-hour window within a 40-mile radius of NIH in Bethesda, Maryland. The ideal Contractor will need a sound disaster plan and have arrangements made with the state and federal agencies in the event of an emergency and/or disaster to be able to arrange deliveries to the NIH. As a secondary backup, if the Contractor cannot transport the required supplies/equipment, we will work with the local Contractor to pick up the required items.

2. Technical Requirements

2.1. Contiguous 6,000 square feet dry storage/warehouse; items for storage are not all standard pallet size, and some items have footprints as large as 72" L x 32" W x 84" H.

2.2. Secured Commercial Overhead Door (accommodate a forklift); the door height should accommodate direct loading/unloading of a commercial semi-truck.

2.3. Secured facility as outlined above.

2.4. Pallet Jack and forklift

2.5. Ventilation – as outlined above.

2.6. Access 7 days a week, 7:00 am – 4:30 pm; 24/7 access and deliveries are required for the warehouse for emergencies within a 4–6-hour window.

2.7. Consistent lighting as outlined above.

2.8. Fire protection- in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Report (nfpa.org). Other fire safety requirements namely mean of escape, structural fire precautions, external firefighting provisions, rising mains, hose reel system, electrical fire alarm, exit lighting, exit signs, emergency voice communication system, fire command center, fireman lift and emergency power supplies etc. shall be provided as stipulated in the Fire Code.

2.9. One electrical 120vac access point from within the secured space.

3. Customer Support Transportation Services – Contractor Shall furnish all required personnel (labor) and supplies for packaging, crating, and transporting equipment for the Building 49 Central Animal Facility. This includes but is not limited to; shipping crates, dollies, moving equipment and packing materials, tools, crate delivery/pick-up, supervision and expertise, fuel surcharges, labor, transporting, unloading, uncrating, and placement of items at the various delivery locations.

The Contractor is responsible for ensuring that its company and personnel maintain any generally required professional certification, accreditation, license, bond, and proficiency relative to their area of expertise and have operating authority in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The contractor shall retain documentation of such records. The Government will not pay for expenses to meet this requirement.

5.1 Transportation Coordination Pick-up and Delivery. Respond promptly to requests for transportation and delivery of requested furniture, equipment, or other stored items:

5.1.1 Deliver requested goods within two (2) business days.

5.1.2 Supply all necessary tools, dollies, lifters, labels, cartons, bins, and other materials that may be required to perform specified delivery and storage tasks.

5.1.3 Provide required personnel to transport specified equipment as necessary safely.

5.1.4 Provide full palletizing and shrink wrapping of all goods, pallets, equipment, and packaged freight being transferred/ relocated. All goods should be on pallets and packaged freight with a labeling method that specifies (Building #, Room #, size, quantity, and brief description). The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will provide detailed instructions for the labeling method.

5.1.5 Provide personnel and supplies for minor wood and metal furniture repairs – all such repairs which are necessary due to damage caused in the move are to be at the Selected Move Contractor's expense, and no charge for labor or materials will be allowed; additionally, in the interest of safety and prevention of damage, Contractor shall ensure that no dollies are loaded more than six (6) feet high, either before loading or on the truck.

5.1.6 Movement and de-installation with potential for re-installation of equipment that the Building 49 Central Animal Facility has slated for relocation to a location (or locations) designated by the COR. There is potential for older equipment to be slated for "Excess," in which the COR will direct the Contractor to relocate pieces to the GDC Warehouse for disposal. The location of the warehouse is 6050 Industrial Drive. Personal Property Branch, Dock 12. Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877.

5.1.7 Provide a comprehensive, up-to-date Inventory Catalogue detailing the Building 49 Central Animal Facility property placed into storage at the offsite warehouse facility for the COR. The Inventory Catalogue should be in an Excel Spreadsheet format or other agreed-upon formats.

5.1.8 Provide at least one supervisor and/or lead foreman, meeting the qualifications for the respective job title listed in the employee sections below for the duration of each shift's work.

5.1.9 The Contractor is responsible for identifying a project’s completion, per plans and specifications, and reporting to the COR for inspection when required. The Contractor shall notify the COR regarding any schedule implications (if work is taking longer or is completed quicker than scheduled). The Contractor is only to take instruction from the designated Contract Technical Representative during any assignment.

5.2. The Contractor will be required to facilitate pick up, deliveries, or a combination of both as requested by the Building 49 Central Animal Facility. The pick-up and delivery will be at 49 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 Backloading dock.

5.3. Coordinate pick-up and delivery of items with a minimum of 48-hour notice. Except in an emergency where there is a 4 to 6-hour response requirement. Provide resolutions to customer problems and complaints with a compliant response within 24 hours of notice.

5.4. Notify the Contracting Officer Representative listed above or designated representative of any discrepancies or damage to items in inventory within 24 hours.

5.5. Contractor employees will be expected to furnish a sufficient staff of supervisory and labor personnel to perform all phases of any work resulting from this document in an orderly, timely, and efficient manner. Work will be completed within agreed-upon timelines between the contractor and the Government.

5.5.1. The vendor will ensure adequate staffing to meet agreed-upon timelines and completion dates/ times. The Contractor will make every reasonable effort to ensure the continuity of supervisors and staff throughout work projects. Supervisory staff will be specified by name.

5.5.2. Contractor Employee Experience. The contractor is responsible for ensuring that the company and its' personnel maintain required professional certification(s), accreditation, licensure, bond, and proficiency relative to their area of expertise and have operating authority in the state of Maryland. The Contractor shall retain and provide any documentation of such records (certifications and safety) upon demand. The Government will not pay for expenses to meet this requirement.

5.5.3. Each person assigned to work under this contract shall be certified and trained in the services and operation of any equipment used. All certifications held by the personnel working on this contract shall be complete and unrestricted. The qualifications of such personnel shall also be subject to review by the COR.

5.5.4. The Contractor shall provide sufficient and consistent personnel and crews based on workload as required to accomplish assigned tasks in the time frame stated per a project timeline.

5.5.5. The contractor shall provide, operate, manage, and maintain a trained, uniformed team of personnel to provide the services. The contractor's personnel shall be able to meet and communicate with the public, read English, understand and apply printed rules, detailed orders, and instructions.

6. Security – Security is integral to ensuring the integrity of warehousing operation access control, yard management, and inventory management to reduce loss prevention. Contractor Shall:

6.2. Safeguard all Government property and materials from theft, misuse, and damage through warehouse management and logistics to safely and securely facilitate supplies and equipment movement.

6.3. Permit only allowed authorized personnel access to the equipment; maintain a daily sign-in log. The Contractor will proactively monitor and control who has access to the warehouse, buildings, assets, and other facilities.

6.4. Provide access for annual inventory officers.

6.5. Inventory Control-Establish proper security measures to safeguard inventory.

6.6. Respond to reports of missing, damaged by negligence, or stolen items. Take actions to manage the resolution of the missing, damaged, or stolen items, including taking steps to cause the replacement of items at replacement cost when required due to negligence or lack of physical control.

7. UTILITIES AND SERVICES: The Contractor shall provide the following services and utilities during the contract period. All services will be inspected quarterly by designated COR(s), and discrepancies reported to the Contracting Officer (CO) for correction and repair.

7.2. Utilities shall include:

7.2.1. Ventilation- as defined above

7.2.2. Lights Adequate lighting with a minimum illumination of 200 candelas is required. Fluorescent tube lamps and gas-discharge/luminous discharge lamps (HQL, NVA-T, HQI-T, HQI-BT types) are allowed. All lamps must have protective glass. The safety margin from the highest point of the cargo stored to the lamps is one meter. Skylights and light colors for walls are highly recommended. (minimum of 30 FC at the finished floor)

7.2.3. Water

7.2.4. Electrical power for at least one 120 vac receptacle power

7.2.5. Janitorial Service

7.2.5.1. The Contractor shall provide trash services for the warehouse space to facilitate crating/ uncrating equipment at the warehouse. The Contractor shall be responsible for maintenance of all areas in and around the secured facility. All areas shall be maintained in a clean and safe condition.

7.2.6. Established Pest Control Program as described above

8. Deliverables:

8.2. Warehouse Storage Inventory is emailed to the COR by the 10th of each month.

8.3. Storage Invoices are emailed to the COR by the 10th of each month with all supporting documentation.

8.4. Access Logs emailed to the COR once quarter (January, May, September) logs are due by the 10th of the month.

· End of SOW ARTICLE 4. - Packaging, marking and shipping

All deliverables required under this contract shall be packaged, marked and shipped in accordance with Government specifications. At a minimum, all deliverables shall be marked with the contract number and Contractor name. The Contractor shall guarantee that all required materials shall be delivered in immediate usable and acceptable condition.

ARTICLE 5.- InSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

a. The Contracting Officer or the duly authorized representative will perform inspection and acceptance of materials and services to be provided.

b. For the purpose of this SECTION, the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) is determined as the authorized representative of the Contracting Officer.

c. Inspection and acceptance will be performed at:

National Institutes of Health/National Eye Institute Central Animal Facility 49 Convent Drive Bethesda MD, 20812 ARTICLE 6. - Period of Performance

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1

a. The base period of performance of this contract shall be from September 01, 2022 through August 31, 2023.

b. If the Government exercises its option(s) pursuant to FAR 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract, of this contract, the period of performance will be extended as indicated below:

ARTICLE 7. - DELIVERIES AND ACCEPTANCE

Satisfactory performance of the final contract shall be deemed to occur upon the performance of the work described in the Statement of Work Article in SECTION C of this contract and upon delivery and acceptance by the Contracting Officer, or the duly authorized representative, of the following items in accordance with the stated delivery schedule:

DELIVERY SCHEDULE

Item

ARTICLE 8. - PRIMARY PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Work will be performed at the contractor’s facility.

ARTICLE 9. - ON-SITE CONTRACTOR ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT PROPERTY

The Contractor shall be held responsible for Government Property, regardless of dollar value, when:

· The contract requires contractor personnel to be located on a Government site or installation;

· The property utilized by contractor personnel is incidental to the place of performance; and,

· The property used by the contractor remains accountable to the Government

Responsibility includes physical presence, proper use and handling, routine maintenance, and reporting loss, damage or destruction.

Responsibility for government property shared by two or more contractors or located in space shared by two or more contractors, shall be determined and documented by the contractors involved. In cases where the parties cannot agree on shared responsibility, the matter will be referred to the NIH Property Officer for resolution.

ARTICLE 10. - GOVERNMENT PROPERTY

In the event this RFP results in the acquisition or use of Government Property provided by the contracting agency or if the Contracting Officer authorizes in the pre-award negotiation process, the acquisition of property (other than real property), this ARTICLE will include applicable provisions and incorporate the HHS Publication, entitled, “HHS Contracting Guide for Contract of Government Property, which can be found at:

http://www.hhs.gov/hhsmanuals/logisticsmanual/Appendix Q_HHS Contracting Guide.pdf

ARTICLE 11. - POST AWARD EVALUATION OF CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE

a.

Contractor Performance Evaluations Interim and final evaluations of contractor performance will be prepared on this contract in accordance with FAR 42.15. The final performance evaluation will be prepared at the time of completion of work. In addition to the final evaluation, interim evaluations will be prepared annually to coincide with the anniversary date of the contract.

Interim and final evaluations will be provided to the Contractor as soon as practicable after completion of the evaluation. The Contractor will be permitted thirty days to review the document and to submit additional information or a rebutting statement. If agreement cannot be reached between the parties, the matter will be referred to an individual one level above the Contracting Officer, whose decision will be final.

Copies of the evaluations, contractor responses, and review comments, if any, will be retained as part of the contract file, and may be used to support future award decisions.

b.

Electronic Access to Contractor Performance Evaluations Contractors that have Internet capability may access evaluations through a secure Web site for review and comment at the following address: https://www.cpars.gov/ The registration process requires the contractor to identify an individual that will serve as a primary contact and who will be authorized access to the evaluation for review and comment. In addition, the contractor will be required to identify an alternate contact that will be responsible for notifying the contracting official in the event the primary contact is unavailable to process the evaluation within the required 30-day time frame.

Please notify the CO in writing (email: worshamz@od.nih.gov ) along with the CS, angela.moultry@nih.gov ) who shall be the primary contact within 30 days of award, exercise of any options, or changes.

ARTICLE 12. - CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

The following Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will represent the Government for the purpose of this Contract:

TBD

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 the performance.

The Contracting Officer is the only person with authority to act as an agent of the Government under this Contract. Only the Contracting Officer has authority to: (1) direct or negotiate any changes in the statement of work; (2) modify or extend the period of performance; (3) change the delivery schedule; (4) authorize reimbursement to the Contractor for any costs incurred during the performance of this Contract; (5) otherwise change any terms and conditions of this Contract; or (6) sign written licensing agreements. Any signed agreement shall be incorporated by reference. The Government may unilaterally change its COR designation.

ARTICLE 13. - INVOICING INSTRUCTION SUBMISSION

The following clause is applicable to all Purchase Orders, Task or Delivery Orders, and Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Calls: Prompt Payment (Jan 2017) FAR 52.232-25. Highlights of this clause and NIH implementation requirements follow:

I. Invoice Requirements

A. An invoice is the Contractor's bill or written request for payment under the contract for supplies delivered or services performed. A proper invoice is an "Original" which must include the items listed in subdivisions 1 through 12 below, in addition to the requirements of FAR 32.9. If the invoice does not comply with these requirements, the Contractor will be notified of the defect within 7 days after the date the designated billing office received the invoice (3 days for meat, meat food products, or fish, and 5 days for perishable agricultural commodities, dairy products, edible fats, or oils) with a statement of the reasons why it is not a proper invoice. (See exceptions under II., below.) Untimely notification will be considered in the computation of any interest penalty owed to the Contractor.

1. Vendor/Contractor: Name, Address, Point of Contact for the invoice (Name, title, telephone number, e-mail and mailing address of the point of contact).

2. Remit-to address (Name and complete mailing address to send payment).

3. Remittance name must match exactly with the name on original order/contract. If the Remittance name differs from the Legal Business Name, then both names must appear on the invoice.

4. Invoice date.

5. Unique invoice #s for all invoices per vendor regardless of site.

6. NBS document number formats must be included for awards created in the NBS: Contract Number; Purchase Order Number; Task or Delivery Order Number and Source Award Number (e.g., Indefinite Delivery Contract number; General Services Administration number); or, BPA Call Number and BPA Parent Award Number.

7. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) which is in the System for Award Management (SAM) and replaces the Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number.

8. Federal Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). In those rare cases where a contractor does not have a UEI number or TIN, a Vendor Identification Number (VIN) must be referenced on the invoice. The VIN is the number that appears after the contractor’s name on the face page of the award document.

9. Identify that payment is to be made using a three-way match.

10. Description of supplies/services that match the description on the award, by line billed.*

11. Freight or delivery charge must be billed as shown on the award. If it is included in the item price do not bill it separately. If identified in the award as a separate line item, it must be billed separately.

12. Quantity, Unit of Measure, Unit Price, Extended Price of supplies delivered or services performed, as applicable, and that match the line items specified in the award.*

NOTE: If your invoice must differ from the line items on the award, please contact the Contracting Officer before submitting the invoice. A modification to the order or contract may be needed before the invoice can be submitted and paid.

Shipping costs will be reimbursed only if authorized by the Contract/Purchase Order. If authorized, shipping costs must be itemized. Where shipping costs exceed $100, the invoice must be supported by a bill of lading or a paid carrier's receipt.

B. NIH is using a phased transition approach from the NIH Office of Financial Management (OFM) Electronic Invoice Submission instructions to the Department of Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). The Contractor shall submit invoices to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/Office of Financial Management (OFM) via email at invoicing@nih.gov with a copy to the approving official, as directed below until the Contractor has been notified of its transition to IPP. The Contractor must follow step-by-step instructions as stated in the NIH/OFM Electronic Invoicing Instructions for NIH Contractors/Vendors, which is included as an attachment on the website at https://oamp.od.nih.gov/DGS/DGS-workform- information/attachment-files. The invoice shall be transmitted as an attachment via email to the address listed above in one of the following formats: Word, or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). The Contractor must submit only one invoice per email. Do not submit supporting documentation (e.g., receipts, time sheets, vendor invoices, etc.) with your invoice unless specified elsewhere in the contract or requested by the Contracting Officer.

C. The Contractor shall submit a copy of the electronic invoice to the Contracting Officer’s Representative with the Contract Specialist CC’dd:

Contracting Officer’s Representative

Name-TBD Email Address- Contract Specialist

Name- Angela Moultry Email Address- angela.moultry@nih.gov For inquiries regarding the status of invoices, contact OFM Customer Service via email at ofm_customer_service@incontactemail.com or via phone at 301-496-6088. To send your inquiries via other available communication methods refer to the OFM Customer Service website at https://ofm.od.nih.gov/Pages/Customer-Service.aspx.

Note: The OFM Customer Service is open Eastern Standard Time Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is closed between 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

II. Invoice Payment

A. Except as indicated in paragraph B., below, the due date for making invoice payments by the designated payment office shall be the later of the following two events:

1. The 30th day after the designated billing office has received a proper invoice.

2. The 30th day after Government acceptance of supplies delivered or services performed.

B. The due date for making invoice payments for meat and meat food products, perishable agricultural commodities, dairy products, and edible fats or oils, shall be in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act, as amended.

III. Interest Penalties

A. An interest penalty shall be paid automatically, if payment is not made by the due date and the conditions listed below are met, if applicable.

1. A proper invoice was received by the designated billing office.

2. A receiving report or other Government documentation authorizing payment was processed and there was no disagreement over quantity, quality, or contractor compliance with a term or condition.

3. In the case of a final invoice for any balance of funds due the contractor for supplies delivered or services performed, the amount was not subject to further settlement actions between the Government and the Contractor.

B. Determination of interest and penalties due will be made in accordance with the provisions of the Prompt Payment Act, as amended, the Contract Disputes Act, and regulations issued by the Office of Management and Budget.

IV. PROVIDING ACCELERATED PAYMENT TO SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTORS, FAR 52.232-40 (November 2021)

(a) Upon receipt of accelerated payments from the Government, the Contractor shall make accelerated payments to its small business subcontractors under this contract, to the maximum extent practicable and prior to when such payment is otherwise required under the applicable contract or subcontract, after receipt of a proper invoice and all other required documentation from the small business subcontractor.

(b) The acceleration of payments under this clause does not provide any new rights under the Prompt Payment Act.

(c) Include the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (c), in all subcontracts with small business concerns, including subcontracts with small business concerns for the acquisition of commercial products or commercial services.

(End of Clause)

V. HHSAR 352.232-71 Electronic Submission of Payment Requests (February 2, 2022)

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause—

Payment request means a bill, voucher, invoice, or request for contract financing payment with associated supporting documentation. The payment request must comply with the requirements identified in FAR 32.905(b), ‘‘Content of Invoices’’ and the applicable Payment clause included in this contract.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this clause, the Contractor shall submit payment requests electronically using the Department of Treasury Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) or successor system. Information regarding IPP, including IPP Customer Support contact information, is available at www.ipp.gov or any successor site.

(c) The Contractor may submit payment requests using other than IPP only when the Contracting Officer authorizes alternate procedures in writing in accordance with HHS procedures.

(d) If alternate payment procedures are authorized, the Contractor shall include a copy of the Contracting Officer’s written authorization with each payment request.

(End of Clause)

ARTICLE 14. - RESTRICTION ON PORNOGRAPHY ON COMPUTER NETWORKS

The Contractor shall not use contract funds to maintain or establish a computer network unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography.

ARTICLE 15. - GUN CONTROL

The Contractor shall not use the contract funds in whole or in part, to advocate or promote gun control.

ARTICLE 16. - NON-PERSONAL SERVICES STATEMENT

Contractor employees performing services under this Contract will be controlled, directed and supervised at all times by management personnel of the contractor. Contractor employees will perform independent of and without the supervision of any Government official. Actions of contractor employees may not be interpreted or implemented in any manner that results in any contractor employee creating or modifying Federal policy, obligating the appropriated funds of the U.S. Government, overseeing the work of Federal employees, providing direct personal services to any Federal employee or otherwise violating the prohibitions set forth in Parts 7.5 and 37.1 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The Government will control access to the facility and will perform the inspection and acceptance of the completed work.

ARTICLE 17. - ACKNOWLEGEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDING

The Contractor shall clearly state, when issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations and other documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with Federal money: (1) the percentage of the total costs of the program or project which will be financed with Federal money; (2) the dollar amount of Federal funds for the project or program; and (3) the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the project or program that will be financed by nongovernmental sources.

ArTICLE 18. - SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1 RePORTING MATTERS INVOLVING FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE Anyone who becomes aware of the existence or apparent existence of fraud, waste and abuse in NIH funded programs is encouraged to report such matters to the HHS Inspector General's Office in writing or on the Inspector General's Hotline. The toll-free number is 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). All telephone calls will be handled confidentially. The website to file a complaint on-line is: http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/hotline/ and the mailing address is:

US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General

ATTN: OIG HOTLINE OPERATIONS

P.O. Box 23489 Washington, D.C. 20026 ARTICLE 19. - FAR and HHSAR Provisions/Clauses Incorporated by Reference:

· FAR Provision 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Items (Nov 2021)

· FAR Clause 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Items (Nov 2021)

· FAR Clause 52.242-15 Stop-Work Order (Aug 1989)

· HHSAR Clause 352.203-70 Anti-Lobbying (December 18, 2015)

· HHSAR Clause 352.208-70 Printing and Duplication (December 18, 2015)

· HHSAR Clause 352.222-70 Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations (December 18, 2015)

· HHSAR Clause 352.223-70 Safety and Health (December 18, 2015)

· HHSAR Clause 352.224-71 Confidential Information (December 18, 2015)

· HHSAR Clause 352.239-73 Electronic Information and Technology Accessibility Notice (December 18, 2015)

ARTICLE 20. - FAR and HHSAR Provisions/Clauses Provided in Full

· FAR Provision 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Items (May 2022)-Quoters are required to include a completed copy of the provision in their quote. See Attachment #2

· FAR Clause 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Items (May 2022)-See Attachment #3 ARTICLE 21. - FAR 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 before contract expiration; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 15 calendar 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 Five years.

(End of clause)

ARTICLE 22. - FAR 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 calendar days prior to the expiration date.

(End of clause) ARTICLE 23. - Availability of FUNDS (Apr 1984) (FAR 52.232-19) Funds are not presently available for performance under this contract beyond the Government’s current fiscal year. The Government’s obligation for performance of this contract beyond that date is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise for performance under this contract beyond Government’s current fiscal year, until funds are made available to the Contracting Officer for performance and until the Contractor receives notice of availability, to be confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer.

(End of clause)

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Award will be made, subject to available funding and contractor responsibility, to that with an acceptable quote. The principal evaluation factors for this solicitation include technical factors (which encompasses project management, technical capability,) past performance and price factors. Although technical factors are of paramount consideration in the award of the contract, price is also important to the overall contract award decision. All evaluation factors other than price, when combined, are significantly more important than price. In any case, the Government reserves the right to make award(s) to that contractor whose quote provides the best overall value to the Government.

Contractors are advised that an award will be made to that contractor whose quote provides the combination of features that offers the best or greatest overall value to the Government. The Government is more concerned with obtaining performance capability superiority than the lowest overall cost. However, the Government will not make an award at a significantly higher overall cost to achieve only slightly superior performance. The overall cost to the Government may become the ultimate factor for an award of a contract as quotes become equal based on other factors.

The merits of each quote will be evaluated carefully. The evaluation will be based on the demonstrated capabilities of the prospective Contractors in relation to the needs as set forth in the Request for Quotes (RFQ). Contractors must submit information sufficient to evaluate their quotes based on the detailed criteria below.

The quote shall be sufficiently specific, detailed, and complete to demonstrate clearly and fully that the contractor has a thorough understanding of the requirements for and technical problems inherent in the solicitation requirements. It is equally essential for the offerors that organization, clarity, accuracy, relevance, and completeness are of prime importance. Statements such as “will comply” or “noted and understood” or responses that merely reiterate solicitation language, without “supporting narrative to define compliance,” will not satisfy the RFQ requirements. The quote must address the full scope of requirements set forth in the Statement of Work listed in the solicitation. Quotes that fail to address the stated requirements will be considered unacceptable. Furthermore, a quote that receives a rating of unacceptable in any non-price factor will result in the entire quote being evaluated as unacceptable and thus ineligible for award.

Mandatory Criteria – Storage Location shall be within 40 miles of the NIH

The Storage Location shall be within 40 miles of the NIH (49 Convent Drive Bethesda, MD 20892) as outline in the SOW. If the warehouse exceeds the 40-mile radius, the contractor will not be considered. Anyone who does not meet this requirement their quote will not be reviewed. Failure to respond to these criteria will result in non-eligibility of the quote.

Past Performance Factor

Vendors' past performance information will be evaluated for the vendor most likely to receive the award.

The evaluation will be based on information obtained from references provided by the vendor, other relevant past performance information obtained from other sources known to the Government, and any information supplied by the vendor concerning problems encountered on the identified contracts and corrective action taken.

The government will assess the relative risks associated with the vendor. Performance risks are those associated with a vendor's likelihood of success in performing the acquisition requirements as indicated by that vendor's record of past performance.

The assessment of performance risk is not intended to be a product of a mechanical or mathematical analysis of a vendor's performance on a list of contracts but rather the product of subjective judgment by the Government after it considers relevant information.

When assessing performance risks, the Government will focus on the past performance of the vendor as it relates to all acquisition requirements, such as the vendor's record of performing according to specifications, including standards of good workmanship; the vendor's record of controlling and forecasting costs; the vendor's adherence to contract schedules, including the administrative aspects of performance; the vendor's reputation for reasonable and cooperative behavior and commitment to customer satisfaction; and generally, the vendor's business-like concern for the interest of the customer.

The Government will consider the currency and relevance of the information, source of the information, context of the data, and general trends in the vendor's performance.

The lack of a relevant performance record may result in an unknown performance risk assessment, which will neither be used to the advantage nor disadvantage of the vendor.

Technical Factors The technical factors below are listed in the relative order of importance.

Technical Factor 1: Customer Support Transportation Services

· Contractor Shall furnish all required personnel (labor) and supplies for packaging, crating, and transportation of equipment and supplies for the Building 49 Central Animal Facility.

· This includes but is not limited to; shipping crates, dollies, moving equipment and packing materials, tools, crate delivery/pickup, supervision and expertise, fuel surcharges, labor, transporting, unloading, uncrating, and placement of items at the various delivery locations.

Technical Factor 2: Management of Warehouse The Contractor’s organizational structure and management of the warehouse to include security, Inventory control, HVAC, lighting, fire protection, electrical and pest control should be addressed in the contractor’s quote.

· Facility Security -The contractor shall have, a minimum of two layers of physical security (i.e. gated access to the compound, locked access to the storage facility), and physical. Security cameras and intrusion detection devices must be in place. Contractor to submit a security plan.

· Facility Staging Area-- A staging area needs to be present for delivery and pick up.

· Facilities ability to accommodate equipment and supplies Maximum size for one pallet will be: length: 72”, width:32”, height: 84”. Pallets shall fit through an entrance door without breaking the pallet down, all pallets must remain in the same configuration as they are delivered to the facility.

· Inventory Management- The contractor shall have a proposed inventory management system in place to include processes and policies for when equipment is damaged, lost or missing.

· Disaster Plan

Technical Factor 3: Technical Capability

The appropriateness of the technical approach includes personnel to management equipment and materials, including pickup and delivery, the ability to access the facility, and their emergency response.

Adjectival Ratings The Government will evaluate the Technical Factors using the following adjectival rating.