RFQ Combined Synopsis and Solicitation.pdf

BUSINESS

ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN-OWNED

IS

BUSINESS PROGRAM

RQ-23-24-000035

16PBGC24Q0014

Mary Skaggs

12:00 PM ET

PD

PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORP

PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT

445 12th St. SW

WASHINGTON DC 20024-2101 541611

See Schedule see continuation page for line item details.

See Schedule

Mar 11, 2024

Please

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

(i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and no other written solicitation will be issued. The Government intends to award a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) using FAR Part 13. NOTE: This serves as notice that the Government intends to negotiate a firm fixed price sole source purchase order with CEM Benchmarking, Inc., 372 Bay Street, Suite 1000, M5H 2W9, Toronto, ON, CAN.

(ii) The solicitation reference number is 16PBGC24Q0014. This requirement is issued as a Request for Quote (RFQ).

(iii) This RFQ and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through the latest applicable Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) available at acquisition.gov as of the date of this document’s issuance.

(iv) This solicitation is not set aside for small business. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541611 – Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services.

(v) The Contract Line-Item Numbers, Items, Quantities, and Units of Measure (including options) are listed in Section 1, Price Schedule.

(vi) Description of requirements for the services. The PBGC seeks to procure a benchmarking survey from a qualified provider to allow the PBGC to assess its costs with regards to managing the PBGC investment portfolio relative to its peers. Please see Section 2, Performance Work Statement.

(vii) PBGC anticipates a contract period of 12 months, from March 18, 2024 to March 17, 2025.

(viii) The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

Offeror shall submit pricing by inserting price for each line item directly into the Price Schedule set forth in Section 1.

(ix) FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation Criteria, will not be utilized for this effort. Refer to Section 6, Evaluation and Method of Award.

(x) FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The Offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the Offeror has completed the annual representations and certification electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM) website located at https://www.sam.gov/portal. If the Offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically, the Offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (u) of this provision.

(xi) The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

(xii) The provision at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following clauses/provisions are included:

52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract 52.203-19, Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements (JAN 2017) 52.204-23, Prohibition on contracting for Hardware, Software, and Services Developed or Provided by Kaspersky Lab Covered Entities (DEC 2023) 52.204-25, Prohibition on contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (NOV 2021) 52.204-26, Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services-Representation (OCT 2020) 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (NOV 2015) 52.222-3, Convict Labor 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities 52.222-25, Affirmative Action Compliance 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving

(JUN 2020)

52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (FEB 2021) 52.232-40, Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (MAR 2023) 52.233-3, Protest After Award (AUG 1996) 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (OCT 2004)

(xiii) FAR 52.212-5(b): The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b) that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial products and commercial services:

52.203-17, Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights (NOV 2023) 52.204-27, Prohibitions on a ByteDance Covered Application (JUN 2023) 52.204-28, Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act Orders – Prohibition (DEC 2023) 52.204-6, Unique Entity Identifier 52.204-7, System for Award Management 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (APR 2015)

(xiv) The following FAR provisions and clauses are incorporated by full text:

52.204-29, Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act Orders – Representation and Disclosures (DEC 2023)

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision, Covered article, FASCSA order, Intelligence community, National security system, Reasonable inquiry, Sensitive compartmented information, Sensitive compartmented information system, and Source have the meaning provided in the clause 52.204-30, Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act Orders—Prohibition.

(b) Prohibition. Contractors are prohibited from providing or using as part of the performance of the contract any covered article, or any products or services produced or provided by a source, if the prohibition is set out in an applicable Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act (FASCSA) order, as described in paragraph (b)(1) of FAR 52.204-30, Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act Orders—Prohibition.

(c) Procedures.

(1) The Offeror shall search for the phrase “FASCSA order” in the System for Award Management (SAM)( https://www.sam.gov) for any covered article, or any products or services produced or provided by a source, if there is an applicable FASCSA order described in paragraph (b)(1) of FAR 52.204-30, Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act Orders—Prohibition.

(2) The Offeror shall review the solicitation for any FASCSA orders that are not in SAM, but are effective and do apply to the solicitation and resultant contract (see FAR 4.2303(c)(2)).

(3) FASCSA orders issued after the date of solicitation do not apply unless added by an amendment to the solicitation.

(d) Representation. By submission of this offer, the offeror represents that it has conducted a reasonable inquiry, and that the offeror does not propose to provide or use in response to this solicitation any covered article, or any products or services produced or provided by a source, if the covered article or the source is prohibited by an applicable FASCSA order in effect on the date the solicitation was issued, except as waived by the solicitation, or as disclosed in paragraph (e).

(e) Disclosures. The purpose for this disclosure is so the Government may decide whether to issue a waiver. For any covered article, or any products or services produced or provided by a source, if the covered article or the source is subject to an applicable FASCSA order, and the Offeror is unable to represent compliance, then the Offeror shall provide the following information as part of the offer:

(1) Name of the product or service provided to the Government;

(2) Name of the covered article or source subject to a FASCSA order;

(3) If applicable, name of the vendor, including the Commercial and Government Entity code and unique entity identifier (if known), that supplied the covered article or the product or service to the Offeror;

(4) Brand;

(5) Model number (original equipment manufacturer number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number);

(6) Item description;

(7) Reason why the applicable covered article or the product or service is being provided or used;

(f) Executive agency review of disclosures. The contracting officer will review disclosures provided in paragraph (e) to determine if any waiver may be sought. A contracting officer may choose not to pursue a waiver for covered articles or sources otherwise subject to a FASCSA order and may instead make an award to an offeror that does not require a waiver.

52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (MAR 2000)

(a) The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor within 30 days; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 30 days. 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 60 months.

(xv) The following PBGC specific clauses are hereby incorporated by full text, as follows:

PBGC 52.201-7000, Contracting Officer’s Representative (JAN 2012)

The Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) is TBD, who may be reached at TBD@pbgc.gov. The COR is authorized to assist in monitoring the work under this contract. The COR is responsible for the technical administration of the contract and technical liaison with the contractor.

The COR IS NOT authorized to change the scope of work or specifications as stated in the contract, to make any commitments or otherwise obligate the Government or authorize any changes which affect the contract price, delivery schedule, period of performance or other terms or conditions.

The Contracting Officer is the only individual who can legally commit or obligate the Government for the expenditure of public funds. The technical administration of this contract shall not be construed to authorize the revision of the terms and conditions of this contract. Any such revision shall be authorized in writing by the Contracting Officer.

The COR is authorized to review and recommend approval of:

(a) Technical matters not involving a change in scope, price, terms and conditions of the contract

(b) Progress reports

(c) Inspection and acceptance of services and deliverable products and

(d) Invoices.

The COR is not authorized to sign any contractual instruments or to direct any action that results in a change in the scope, price, terms or condition of the contract.

PBGC 52.2232-7009, Submission of Electronic Invoicing Using Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) for Time and Material, Labor Hours, and Fixed Price (FEB 2023)

(a) The contractor shall submit invoices for supplies and/or services provided under this contract using the Government's Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) web-based service application. The IPP application is available at www.ipp.gov. This website includes general IPP instructions and training materials. Questions about the IPP application should be directed to the IPP Customer Support team at the e-mail address or phone number shown on the IPP website under the "Contacts" tab.

(b) Inquiries concerning IPP enrollment or PBGCs specific processing requirements within IPP should be directed to PBGCs General Accounting Branch (GAB) by e-mail at invoicemanager@pbgc.gov or by phone at (202)229-4062.

(c) To constitute a proper invoice, the invoice must include the information listed below

(1) Name and address of the contractor

(2) Invoice date and number

(3) Contract number, line item number, and, if applicable, the order number

(4) Description, quantity, unit of measure, unit price, and extended price of services performed and any supplies delivered, including: (i) The labor hours by labor category billed, the hourly rate for each labor category billed, and the total dollars billed by labor category for the billing period (meal periods and other labor-hours not directly supporting the contract are not billable) (not applicable to Fixed Price contracts), and (ii) The cumulative hours expended and dollars billed from contract inception through the current billing period (not applicable to Fixed Price contracts).

(5)(a) Shipping number and date of shipment, including the bill of lading number and weight of shipment if shipped on a Government bill of lading (not applicable to TIME and MATERIAL and LABOR HOURS contracts).

(5)(b) Dollar amount withheld unless the contract is for commercial products or services awarded under FAR Part 8 or Part 12. Five percent of the total direct labor billed must be withheld after $1,000,000 has been billed to the contract, up to a ceiling amount of $50,000, unless other terms have been negotiated. If other terms have been negotiated, they must be included in the contract (not applicable to Fixed Price contracts).

(6) Terms of any discount for prompt payment offered.

(7) Name, title, phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address of official to whom payment is to be sent.

(8) Name, title, phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address of official to be contacted in the event of an improper invoice.

(9) Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), only if required to be on the invoice elsewhere in the contract.

10) Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) banking information.

(i) The contractor shall include EFT banking information on the invoice only if required elsewhere in this contract.

(ii) If EFT banking information is not required to be on the invoice, in order for the invoice to be a proper invoice, the contractor shall have submitted correct EFT banking information in accordance with the applicable solicitation provision or contract clause (e.g., 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer - System for Award Management, or 52.232-34, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer - Other Than System for Award Management).

(iii) EFT banking information is not required if the Government waived the requirement to pay by EFT.

(d) Supporting documentation to be submitted with the invoice must include the items listed below:

(i) Copies of time sheets indicating start and stop times of the personnel performing services under this contract (at PBGC's request, the contractor shall make available copies of any of the materials relevant to substantiating the hours billed) (not applicable to Fixed Price contracts).

(xvi) The date, time and place quotes are due: Quotes shall be submitted via email to the Contracting Officer (CO), Au Nguyen, at nguyen.au@pbgc.gov, and the Contract Specialist, Mary Skaggs at skaggs.mary@pbgc.gov no later than 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) on Mar.

11, 2024.

(xvii) Questions regarding this solicitation shall be submitted via email to the Contracting Officer (CO), Au Nguyen, at nguyen.au@pbgc.gov, and the Contract Specialist, Mary Skaggs at skaggs.mary@pbgc.gov not later than 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) on 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) on Mar 7, 2024.

Responses to all inquiries/questions will be published by amendment to the solicitation. No information concerning this solicitation will be provided in response to telephone calls.

Section 1 – Price Schedule

Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price

The Government anticipates award of a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract for Commercial Services.

Propose unit and extended prices for each line item below:

Line Item Services QTY UNIT OF

ISSUE

UNIT PRICE

0001 Base Year: Annual Report and Presentation(s)

1 LOT $

1001 Option Year 1 – Annual Report and Presentation(s)

1 LOT $

2001 Option Year 2 – Annual Report and Presentation(s)

1 LOT $

3001 Option Year 3 – Annual Report and Presentation(s)

1 LOT $

4001 Option Year 4 – Annual Report and Presentation(s)

1 LOT $

Total $

The Contractor shall provide all personnel, material, travel, and services in accordance with the Performance Work Statement set forth in Section 2. Invoices shall be submitted following Government acceptance and paid in arrears.

Section 2 – Performance Work Statement

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

FOR

BENCHMARKING SURVEY

FOR

CORPORATE INVESTMENTS DEPARTMENT

1.0 GENERAL

1.1 BACKGROUND:

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC or the Corporation) is a federal corporation created by Congress to administer the pension plan termination insurance program under Title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). PBGC assumes the role of statutory trustee for defined benefit plans that terminate without sufficient assets to pay benefits and maintains certain commingled trust funds to hold and invest such assets upon becoming statutory trustee.

The PBGC seeks to procure a benchmarking survey from a qualified provider to allow the PBGC to assess its costs with regards to managing the PBGC investment portfolio relative to its peers.

The Corporate Investment Department (CID) currently utilizes a benchmarking survey to compare its costs against other entities, however the current contract ends in 2024 and CID seeks to recompete the contract. This reporting is imperative for CID, the PBGC, the PBGC Advisory Committee and the Board, as well as all those dependent on the PBGC to achieve each of its strategic goals mentioned above. It is imperative for the PBGC to be competitive in terms of its costs to manage the PBGC investment portfolio relative to its peers.

1.2 SCOPE:

CID is tasked with overseeing the PBGC investment portfolio, which is integral to each of the PBGC's missions including (1) preserving plans and protecting pensioners; (2) pay pension benefits on time and accurately; and (3) stewardship and accountability. The objective of the procurement is to determine the cost effectiveness relative to its peers of managing the PBGC investment portfolio.

The expected deliverable should consist of an independent detailed cost comparison of the PBGC relative to its peers with respect to fees paid to investment managers, consultants, custodian, as well as various internal costs such employee compensation. Additionally, the successful offeror will be asked to present the results virtually to the CID staff and perhaps other groups such as the PBGC Advisory Committee and the PBGC Board. No more than two virtual presentations are expected during each period of performance. The PBGC recognizes that there are few global entities closely resembling it, however, it is expected that the survey would consist of peers in the U.S. corporate and state defined benefit community as well as U.S. based insurers, and to a lesser extent inclusive of the international defined benefit area, in addition to international and domestic endowments and any other non-defined benefit providers. The breadth of the responses, both in quality and in number, is critical to establishing comparative benchmarks relative to the PBGC.

1.3 OBJECTIVE:

The objective for this requirement is for the Government to obtain a provider who shall produce an annual survey based on calendar year end data. As such, the expectation is that the PBGC will be provided with five separate annual reports.

1.4 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

The Government anticipates awarding a contract with a 12-month Base Period with and four one- Option Periods. For pricing purposes, the Government anticipates a start date of March 18, 2024.

1.5 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

The Government anticipates that all work will be performed at the contractor’s site.

1.6 TRAVEL:

The Government does not anticipate any travel for this requirement.

1.7 OTHER DIRECT COSTS (ODCs):

The Government does not anticipate any ODCs being utilized for this requirement.

2.0 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS:

The successful Offeror shall provide the following services for the duration of the contract:

(1) Annually solicit certain data from the PBGC via a questionnaire to enable it to provide an annual calendar year ending benchmark survey that provides the ability of the PBGC to assess investment returns and other cost data relative to benchmarks against a peer group applicable to the PBGC.

i. The contractor shall ensure PBGC’s data remains confidential in its reporting to other clients, such that other clients will not be able to determine that it is PBGC data.

(2) Provide an initial draft of the report by the due date listed in in Section 3.0 – Deliverables.

(3) Provide the final report no later than March 31st or 15 months after the end of the calendar year the survey is assessing. The final report shall incorporate all necessary changes resulting from PBGC’s review of the initial draft.

(4) Provide up to two (2) virtual presentations per year to the PBGC, which can be at any time after the final report is provided. It is anticipated that PBGC will request a meeting after the initial draft to discuss PBGC comments and another meeting to a wider group to present the final report.

(5) Data within the report shall include the following with comparative data relative to a peer group:

i. An evaluation of PBGC’s actual investment returns, benchmark returns, policy returns, and investment management fees across multiple asset classes.

ii. Investment return analysis including comparative data down to the sub asset class level for equity and fixed income allocations and distinguish between internally and externally managed investment mandates for each of these allocations.

iii. An analysis related to a liability driven management investment policy.

iv. An assessment of other non-investment related expenses, such as third-party consultants, custodial costs, and staffing costs.

3.0 DELIVERABLES:

4.0 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY (PRS)

The contractor service requirements are summarized into performance objectives that relate directly to mission essential items. The performance threshold briefly describes the minimum acceptable levels of service required for each requirement. These thresholds are critical to mission success.

Service Output Performance Objectives Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs)

Methods of Surveillance

Draft Report Provide a benchmarking survey assessing PBGC vs. a peer group within the specified time requirements.

Report includes at least 90% of relevant data and is 90% accurate

Review of Draft Report

Annual Benchmarking Survey Report

Provide a benchmarking survey assessing PBGC vs. a peer group within the specified time requirements.

Report contains 100% relevant date and is 100% accurate. All comments have been resolved from the Draft Report

Review of Annual Benchmarking Survey Report

Presentation Provides up to two presentations before April 30th of the calendar year the survey is assessing.

Presentation covers the key findings from the report and addresses questions and concerns from the Program Office

Program Office's participation in the presentations

Item No. Deliverable Name

PWS Reference Deliver to Format Deliverable Due Date

1 Draft Report 2.0.2 COR In Microsoft Word or PDF

No later than December 31st or 12 months after the end of the calendar year the survey is assessing.

2 Annual Benchmarking Analysis Report

2.0.4 COR In Microsoft

Word or PDF

No later than March 31st or 15 months after the end of the calendar year the survey is assessing.

3 Presentations 2.0.5 COR PowerPoint No later than April 30th or 16 months after the end of the calendar year the survey is assessing.

5.0 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

The offeror shall submit pricing by inserting price for each line item directly into the Price Schedule set forth in Section 1.

6.0 EVALUATION AND BASIS OF AWARD

The Government will make an award on the basis of technical acceptability, responsiveness to the RFQ, and Contracting Officer determination that the price awarded is fair and reasonable. The following apply to this acquisition:

Technical Acceptability: The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s quote to determine whether or not it meets all technical criteria set forth in the Section 2 – Performance Work Statement.

Price: The Government will evaluate the proposed price to determine whether or not it is adequate and reasonable to perform the technical requirements. The Government will also review the price quote for completeness and accuracy. The Contracting Officer will make a final determination regarding price reasonableness.

Responsiveness: The Offeror must comply with all requirements, terms, and conditions set forth in the RFQ. The Government will review the offeror’s quote to ensure it responds to the RFQ in its entirety. If the Offeror takes exception to any requirement, term, or condition, those exceptions must be stated clearly in the Offeror’s quote. Additionally, the Offeror shall identify technical and/or pricing assumptions in its quote, if applicable.

7.0 ATTACHMENT(S)

1. Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan