RQ-09-0089.pdf

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

1. REQUISITION NUMBER PAGE 1 OF

2. CONTRACT NO. 3. AWARD/EFFECTIVE

DATE

4. ORDER NUMBER 5. SOLICITATION NUMBER 6. SOLICITATION ISSUE

DATE

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL:

a. NAME b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (No collect calls)

8. OFFER DUE DATE/

LOCAL TIME

9. ISSUED BY

13b. RATING

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

CODE

15. DELIVER TO 16. ADMINISTERED BY CODE

18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE 17a. CONTRACTOR/

OFFEROR

CODE

FACILITY

CODE

CODE

TELEPHONE NO.

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN

OFFER

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK

BELOW IS CHECKED

RFQ IFB RFP

SEE ADDENDUM

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA 26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only)

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN

DELIVER ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY

ADDITIONAL SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REF.

DATED . YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION

(BLOCK 5), INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE

SET FORTH HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 30c. DATE SIGNED

31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print) 31c. DATE SIGNED

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 3/2005)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

10. THIS ACQUISITON IS

UNRESTRICTED OR

NAICS:

SIZE STANDARD:

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND

OFFER

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

SET ASIDE: % FOR:

SMALL BUSINESS

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

SERVICE-DISABLED VETERAN-

OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

EMERGING SMALL

BUSINESS

8(A)

11. DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINA-

TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

SEE SCHEDULE

12. DISCOUNT TERMS

ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED

ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 3/2005) BACK

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED:

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT

32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE

41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERTIFYING OFFICER 41c. DATE

42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

42b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42c. DATE REC'D (YY/MM/DD) 42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS

40. PAID BY

32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 32f. TELPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

33. SHIP NUMBER 34. VOUCHER NUMBER 35. AMOUNT VERIFIED

CORRECT FOR

PARTIAL FINAL

37. CHECK NUMBER

38. S/R ACCOUNT NO. 39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER

36. PAYMENT

COMPLETE PARTIAL FINAL

This is a Request for Quotations for non-personal services of a Contractor to conduct up to four (4) focus groups of 10-12 participants each. The feedback will be used to identify customer expectations and requirements for a new visitor's web page and other pages on PBGC.gov. A Statement of Work is attached.

Proposals will be evaluated based on the criteria outlined in the Statement of Work. Award will be based on technical capability, past performance, and price, which is deemed to be in the best interest of the government.

Along with cost, proposal must include corporate experience within the last three years performing this type of service. Resumes of key staff that will be working on the project, and two references that PBGC can contact to evaluate the offerors past performance.

PROVIDE QUOTATION AND OTHER MATERIALS BY:

3:00 PM EST June 3, 2009

SEND QUOTES VIA EMAIL TO:

Miller.Mark@pbgc.gov

Quotations must reference PBGC01-RQ-09-0089 0001 Non-personal services to conduct up to four (4) focus groups of 10-12 participants each.

The Period of Performance will be the Date of the Award through twelve Months.

1.00 EA

SCHEDULE Continued

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

SECTION

. 1 PBGC-03-001 CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION (OCT 2004)

. 2 PBGC-04-004 PBGC INFORMATION SECURITY (JUN 2007)

. 3 PBGC-39-001 ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (OCT 2004)

. 4 PBGC-32-004 (Alt 1) INVOICE SUBMISSION INFORMATION (SAP) (MAR 2008)

. 5 52.247-34 F.O.B. DESTINATION (NOV 1991)

. 6 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

. 7 PBGC 12-005 FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or

Executive Orders -- Commercial Items. (JUN 2008)

. 8 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

. 9 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JUN 2008)

. 10 52.212-4 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (OCT 2008)

Table of Contents

SECTION

. 1 PBGC-03-001 CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION (OCT 2004)

(a) To the extent that the work under this contract requires that the Contractor be given access to confidential or proprietary business, technical, or financial information belonging to the Government or other companies, the Contractor shall, after receipt thereof, treat such information as confidential and agree not to appropriate such information to its own use or to disclose such information to third parties unless specifically authorized by the Contracting Officer in writing. The foregoing obligations, however, shall not apply to:

(1) Information which, at the time of receipt by the Contractor, is in the public domain;

(2) Information which is published after receipt thereof by the Contractor or otherwise becomes part of the public domain through no fault of the Contractor;

(3) Information which the Contractor can demonstrate was already in his possession at the time of receipt from PBGC and was not acquired directly or indirectly from the Government or other companies;

(4) Information which the Contractor can demonstrate was received by it from a third party who did not require the Contractor to hold it in confidence.

(b) The Contractor shall obtain the written agreement, in a form satisfactory to the Contracting Officer or his designee, of each employee permitted access, whereby the employee agrees that he will not discuss, divulge or disclose any such information or data to any person or entity except those persons within the Contractor's organization directly concerned with the performance of the contract.

(c) The Contractor agrees, if requested by the Government, to sign an agreement identical, in all material respects, to the provisions of this clause, with each company supplying information to the Contractor under this contract, and to supply a copy of such agreement to the Contracting Officer. From time to time upon request of the Contracting Officer, the Contractor shall supply the Government with reports itemizing information received as confidential or proprietary and setting forth the company or companies from which the Contractor received such information.

(d) The Contractor agrees that upon request by PBGC it will execute a

PBGC-approved agreement with any party whose proprietary data it is given access to or is furnished, restricting use and disclosure of the data.

Upon request by PBGC, such an agreement shall also be signed by Contractor personnel.

(e) This clause shall flow down to all subcontracts.

. 2 PBGC-04-004 PBGC INFORMATION SECURITY (JUN 2007)

The provider of information technology shall adhere to:

1)Federal statutes, 2)Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance, 3)National Institute of Standards and Technology Federal Information Processing Standards and PBGC implementation of Security Guidelines (800 Series), (See 5a -- IM 05-2 below.)

4)Federal Information Systems Controls and Audit Manual (FISCAM), and 5)PBGC Orders relating to information security including:

a)IM 05-2 Information Assurance Handbook (IAH), http://www.pbgc.gov/docs/im_05_2.pdf b)IM 05-7 Information Technology Solutions Life Cycle Methodology (ITSLCM), http://www.pbgc.gov/docs/im_05_7.pdf and c)IM 05-4 Use of Information Technology Resources.

http://www.pbgc.gov/docs/Im_05_4.pdf

The provider of information technology shall comply with PBGC?s implementation of the following control frameworks including the:

a)Capability Maturity Model - Integrated (CMMI), b)Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies (COBIT), and c)Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL); and

In addition, the provider of information technology shall certify the following:

1)Applications are fully functional and operate correctly as intended on systems using the Federal

Desktop Core Configuration (FDCC). Once PBGC approves for implementation, this also includes Internet Explorer 7 configured to operate on Windows XP and Vista (in Protected Mode on Vista).

a)For the Windows XP settings, see: http://csrc.nist.gov/itsec/guidance_WinXP.html, and b)for the Windows Vista settings, see:

http://csrc.nist.gov/itsec/guidance_vista.html.

2)The standard installation, operation, maintenance, updates, and/or patching of software shall not alter the configuration settings from the approved FDCC configuration. The information technology should also use the Windows Installer Service for installation to the default ?program files? directory and should be able to silently install and uninstall.

Applications designed for normal end users shall run in the standard user context without elevated system administration privileges.

. 3 PBGC-39-001 ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (OCT 2004)

The contractor shall ensure that all electronic and information technology (EIT) procured, developed, maintained, used or delivered under this contract meet the applicable accessibility standards at 36 CFR 1194, unless an agency exception to this requirement exists. 36 CFR 1194 implements Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and is viewable at http://www.section508.gov and http://www.access-board.gov/508.htm

. 4 PBGC-32-004 (Alt 1) INVOICE SUBMISSION INFORMATION (SAP) (MAR 2008)

The Contractor shall submit invoices for items and/or services rendered to:

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Controller Operations Div/General Accounting Branch 1200 K Street, N.W., Suite 640 Washington, D.C. 20005-4026

All inquiries concerning payment should be directed to the General Accounting Branch at (202) 326-4062 #0 or by e-mail: InvoiceManager@pbgc.gov

The Contractor must include the following information and/or attached documentation for the invoice to be considered proper. Invoices, which do not contain all the required information, may be returned to the vendor unpaid for correction and resubmission.

- Name and address of Contractor

- Invoice date and invoice number

- Purchase/Delivery Order Number

- Shipping and payment terms

- Name and address for Contractor official to whom payment is to be sent (must be same as that in the order or in a proper notice of assignment)

- Name (where practicable), title, phone number and mailing address of person to notify in the event of a defective invoice

- Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)

- Description, quantity, unit of measure, unit price and extended price of supplies delivered or services performed

- Expenditures and hours of effort expended by individual during the reporting period (if applicable).

- If applicable, for each invoice covering travel expenses incurred, mileage records and copies of receipts from actual transportation costs and accommodations shall be included as supportive material for each invoice.

- NOTE: PBGC authorization must be obtained prior to incurring any travel expenses for which the Contractor requests reimbursement.

. 5 52.247-34 F.O.B. DESTINATION (NOV 1991)

(a) The term "f.o.b. destination," as used in this clause, means--

(1) Free of expense to the Government, on board the carrier''s conveyance, at a specified delivery point where the consignee''s facility (plant, warehouse, store, lot, or other location to which shipment can be made) is located; and

(2) Supplies shall be delivered to the destination consignee''s wharf (if destination is a port city and supplies are for export), warehouse unloading platform, or receiving dock, at the expense of the Contractor. The Government shall not be liable for any delivery, storage, demurrage, accessorial, or other charges involved before the actual delivery (or "constructive placement" as defined in carrier tariffs) of the supplies to the destination, unless such charges are caused by an act or order of the Government acting in its contractual capacity. If rail carrier is used, supplies shall be delivered to the specified unloading platform of the consignee. If motor carrier (including "piggyback") is used, supplies shall be delivered to truck tailgate at the unloading platform of the consignee, except when the supplies delivered meet the requirements of Item 568 of the National Motor Freight Classification for "heavy or bulky freight." When supplies meeting the requirements of the referenced Item 568 are delivered, unloading (including movement to the tailgate) shall be performed by the consignee, with assistance from the truck driver, if requested. If the contractor uses rail carrier or freight forwarded for less than carload shipments, the contractor shall ensure that the carrier will furnish tailgate delivery, when required, if transfer to truck is required to complete delivery to consignee.

(b) The Contractor shall-- (1)

(i) Pack and mark the shipment to comply with contract specifications; or

(ii) In the absence of specifications, prepare the shipment in conformance with carrier requirements;

(2) Prepare and distribute commercial bills of lading;

(3) Deliver the shipment in good order and condition to the point of delivery specified in the contract;

(4) Be responsible for any loss of and/or damage to the goods occurring before receipt of the shipment by the consignee at the delivery point specified in the contract;

(5) Furnish a delivery schedule and designate the mode of delivering carrier; and

(6) Pay and bear all charges to the specified point of delivery.

(End of Clause)

. 6 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

http://www.acquisition.gov/far/farqueryframe.html

(End of Clause)

. 7 PBGC 12-005 FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items. (JUN 2008)

(a) The Contractor shall comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause, which is incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: (1) 52.233-3, Protest after Award (Aug 1996) (31 U.S.C. 3553). (2) 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (Oct 2004) (Pub. L. 108-77, 108-78).

(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 items:

n/a (1) 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (Sep 2006), with Alternate I (Oct 1995)(41 U.S.C. 253g and 10 U.S.C. 2402).

n/a (2) 52.219-3, Notice of Total HUBZone Set-Aside (Jan 1999) (15 U.S.C. 657a).

n/a (3) 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (July 2005) (if the offeror elects to waive the preference, it shall so indicate in its offer) (15 U.S.C. 657a).

n/a (4) [Reserved] n/a (5) (i) 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (June 2003) (15 U.S.C. 644). n/a (ii) Alternate I (Oct 1995) of 52.219-6.

n/a (iii) Alternate II (Mar 2004) of 52.219-6. (6) n/a (i) 52.219-7, Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside (June 2003) (15 U.S.C. 644).

n/a (ii) Alternate I (Oct 1995) of 52.219-7.

n/a (iii) Alternate II (Mar 2004) of 52.219-7.

n/a (7) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (May 2004) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)).

n/a (8) (i) 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Apr 2008) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(4). n/a (ii) Alternate I (Oct 2001) of 52.219-9.

n/a (iii) Alternate II (Oct 2001) of 52.219-9. (9) 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting (Dec 1996) (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(14)).

n/a (10) 52.219-16, Liquidated Damages--Subcontracting Plan (Jan 1999) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(4)(F)(i)).

n/a (11) (i) 52.219-23, Notice of Price Evaluation Adjustment for Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns (Sept 2005) (10 U.S.C. 2323) (if the offeror elects to waive the adjustment, it shall so indicate in its offer).

n/a (ii) Alternate I (June 2003) of 52.219-23.

n/a (12) 52.219-25, Small Disadvantaged Business Participation Program- Disadvantaged Status and Reporting (Apr 2008) (Pub. L. 103-355, section 7102, and 10 U.S.C. 2323).

n/a (13) 52.219-26, Small Disadvantaged Business Participation Program- Incentive Subcontracting (Oct 2000) (Pub. L. 103-355, section 7102, and 10 U.S.C. 2323).

n/a (14) 52.219-27, Notice of Total Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside (May 2004) (15 U.S.C. 657 f).

n/a (15) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (June 2007) (15 U.S.C.

632(a)(2)).

APPLICABLE (16) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (June 2003) (E.O. 11755).

APPLICABLE (17) 52.222-19, Child Labor--Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Feb 2008) (E.O.

13126).

APPLICABLE (18) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Feb 1999).

APPLICABLE (19) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Apr 2002) (E.O. 11246).

n/a (20) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (Sept 2006) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

APPLICABLE (21) 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (Jun 1998) (29 U.S.C. 793).

n/a (22) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (Sept 2006) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

n/a (23) 52.222-39, Notification of Employee Rights Concerning Payment of Union Dues or Fees (Dec 2004)

(E.O. 13201).

APPLICABLE (24) (i) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Aug 2007) (Applies to all contracts).

n/a (ii) Alternate I (Aug 2007) of 52.222-50.

n/a (25) (i) 52.223-9, Estimate of Percentage of Recovered Material Content for EPA-Designated Items (May 2008) (42 U.S.C. 6962(c)(3)(A)(ii)).

n/a (ii) Alternate I (May 2008) of 52.223-9 (42 U.S.C. 6962(i)(2)(C)).

n/a (26) 52.223-15, Energy Efficiency in Energy-Consuming Products (Dec 2007) (42 U.S.C. 8259b).

APPLICABLE (27) (i) 52.223-16, IEEE 1680 Standard for the Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products (Dec 2007) (E.O. 13423).

n/a (ii) Alternate I (Dec 2007) of 52.223-16.

APPLICABLE (28) 52.225-1, Buy American Act-Supplies (June 2003)(41 U.S.C. 10a-10d). APPLICABLE (29) (i) 52.225-3, Buy American Act-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act (Aug 2007) (41 U.S.C. 10a-10d, 19 U.S.C. 3301 note, 19 U.S.C. 2112 note, Pub. L. 108-77, 108-78, 108-286, 109-53 and 109-169.

APPLICABLE (ii) Alternate I (Jan 2004) of 52.225-3.

APPLICABLE (iii) Alternate II (Jan 2004) of 52.225-3.

n/a (30) 52.225-5, Trade Agreements (Nov 2007) (19 U.S.C. 2501, et seq., 19 U.S.C. 3301 note).

n/a (31) 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (Jun 2008) (E.O.??s, proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury).

n/a (32) 52.226-4, Notice of Disaster or Emergency Area Set-Aside (Nov 2007) (42 U.S.C. 5150).

n/a (33) 52.226-5, Restrictions on Subcontracting Outside Disaster or Emergency Area (Nov 2007) (42 U.S.C. 5150).

n/a (34) 52.232-29, Terms for Financing of Purchases of Commercial Items (Feb 2002) (41 U.S.C. 255(f), 10 U.S.C. 2307(f)).

n/a (35) 52.232-30, Installment Payments for Commercial Items (Oct 1995) (41 U.S.C. 255(f), 10 U.S.C.

2307(f)).

APPLICABLE (36) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration (Oct 2003) (31 U.S.C. 3332).

n/a (37) 52.232-34, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Other than Central Contractor Registration (May 1999) (31 U.S.C. 3332).

n/a (38) 52.232-36, Payment by Third Party (May 1999)(31 U.S.C. 3332). (39) 52.239-1, Privacy or Security Safeguards (Aug 1996) (5 U.S.C. 552a).

n/a (40) (i) 52.247-64, Preference for Privately Owned U.S.-Flag Commercial Vessels (Feb 2006) (46 U.S.C. Appx 1241(b) and 10 U.S.C. 2631).

n/a (ii) Alternate I (Apr 1984) of 52.247-64.

(c) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (c), applicable to commercial services, 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 items:

APPLICABLE (1) 52.222-41, Service Contract Act of 1965 (Nov 2007) (41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.).

APPLICABLE (2) 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires (May 1989) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.).

n/a (3) 52.222-43, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Act- Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts) (May 1989) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.). n/a (4) 52.222-44, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Act- Price Adjustment (Feb 2002) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C.

351, et seq.).

n/a (5) 52.222-51, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Act to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment--Requirements (Nov 2007) (41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.).

n/a (6) 52.222-53, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Act Contracts fro Certain Services--Requirements (Nov 2007) (41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.).

n/a (7) 52.237-11, Accepting and Dispensing of $1 Coin (Aug 2007) (31 U.S.C. 5112(p)(1)).

(d) Comptroller General Examination of Record. The Contractor shall comply with the provisions of this paragraph (d) if this contract was awarded using other than sealed bid, is in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold, and does not contain the clause at 52.215-2, Audit and Records-Negotiation. (1) The Comptroller General of the United States, or an authorized representative of the Comptroller General, shall have access to and right to examine any of the Contractor??s directly pertinent records involving transactions related to this contract. (2) The Contractor shall make available at its offices at all reasonable times the records, materials, and other evidence for examination, audit, or reproduction, until 3 years after final payment under this contract or for any shorter period specified in FAR Subpart 4.7, Contractor Records Retention, of the other clauses of this contract. If this contract is completely or partially terminated, the records relating to the work terminated shall be made available for 3 years after any resulting final termination settlement. Records relating to appeals under the disputes clause or to litigation or the settlement of claims arising under or relating to this contract shall be made available until such appeals, litigation, or claims are finally resolved. (3) As used in this clause, records include books, documents, accounting procedures and practices, and other data, regardless of type and regardless of form. This does not require the Contractor to create or maintain any record that the Contractor does not maintain in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to a provision of law. (e) (1) Notwithstanding the requirements of the clauses in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this clause, the Contractor is not required to flow down any FAR clause, other than those in paragraphs (i) through (vii of this paragraph in a subcontract for commercial items. Unless otherwise indicated below, the extent of the flow down shall be as required by the clause-- (i) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (May 2004) (15 U.S.C.

637(d)(2) and (3)), in all subcontracts that offer further subcontracting opportunities. If the subcontract (except subcontracts to small business concerns) exceeds $550,000 ($1,000,000 for construction of any public facility), the subcontractor must include 52.219-8 in lower tier subcontracts that offer subcontracting opportunities. (ii) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Mar 2007) (E.O. 11246). (iii) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam

Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (Sept 2006) (38 U.S.C. 4212). (iv) 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (June 1998) (29 U.S.C. 793). (v) 52.222-39, Notification of Employee Rights Concerning Payment of Union Dues or Fees (DEC 2004) (E.O. 13201). (vi) 52.222-41, Service Contract Act of 1965 (Nov 2007) (41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.). (vii) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Aug 2007) (22 U.S.C. 7104(g)). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (f) of FAR clause 52.222-50.

(viii) 52.222-51, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Act to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment--Requirements (Nov 2007) (41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.). (ix) 52.222-53, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Act to Contracts for Certain Services--Requirements (Nov 2007) (41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.). (x) 52.247-64, Preference for Privately Owned U.S.-Flag Commercial Vessels (Feb 2006) (46 U.S.C. Appx 1241 (b) and 10 U.S.C. 2631). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (d) of FAR clause 52.247-64. (2) While not required, the contractor may include in its subcontracts for commercial items a minimal number of additional clauses necessary to satisfy its contractual obligations.

(End of Clause)

. 8 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

(End of Provision)

. 9 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JUN 2008)

(Reference 52.212-1)

. 10 52.212-4 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (OCT 2008)

(Reference 52.212-4)

PBGC.gov Focus Groups

Background

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation is a federal corporation created under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to guarantee payment of basic pension benefits earned by nearly 44 million American workers and retirees participating in more than 29,000 privatesector defined benefit pension plans.

PBGC.gov is the Corporation’s main Web site. Last fiscal year the site had over 2 million visitors, of which 48% were firsttime visitors.

Scope of Work

PBGC seeks a consultant to conduct up to four (4) focus groups of 1012 participants each. The feedback will be used to identify customer expectations and requirements for a new visitor’s web page and other pages on PBGC.gov. This feedback will be gathered through discussion with focus group participants and observation of participant’s behavior using the current PBGC.gov.

The focus group project has 3 primary objectives or expected outcomes:

1. To identify what new users expect from PBGC.gov in terms of

a. Information

b. Functionality (i.e., what actions do users expect to be able to take)

c. Communications with PBGC through the Web site i.Online chat ii.Email iii.Access to phone numbers iv.List serve (i.e., would users be interested in signing up for automatic information emails) v.Social media (e.g., blogs, Web 2.0) vi.Multimedia (e.g., videos)

d. Personalization (i.e., do users expect us to know who they are upon arriving at the Web site)

e. Navigation

2. To gather data/feedback on frequently used areas of PBGC.gov:

a. Missing participant search

b. Plan search

c. Workers & Retirees Page

05/20/2009

The data should be gathered via handson experience with the Web site and should focus on functionality and search.

3. Recommendations on the design for a new user’s Web page

Requirements:

The contractor will:

• Develop a focus group work plan that includes execution of the following:

o recruitment o selection of a location with guidance from PBGC. The selection will be based on proximity to participants in recently terminated plans on the east coast of the United States.

o scheduling o materials development (recruiting scripts, focus group agendas, focus group scripts and project schedules) o execution of the focus groups o paying stipends not to exceed $25, which will be reimbursed by PBGC o analysis of focus group feedback o report of findings and recommendation.

• Recruit for the focus groups using lists of participants provided by PBGC. The focus groups will consist of the following customer groups:

o Retirees currently receiving pension payments from PBGC o Participants who are due to receive a benefit in the future (deferred vested) o Beneficiaries either receiving benefits currently or due to receive benefit in the future o Status Unknown are not receiving benefits and PBGC has not determined if they are entitled to any benefit in the future

• Develop a recruitment script including screening questions and present it to

PBGC for review and approval within 20 business days of award. The contractor will account for providing backup participants in the event of noshow or cancellation, and will make confirmation/reminder calls to scheduled primary and backup participants no more than 72 hours prior to their scheduled time.

• Conduct the focus groups, including o arranging for the facilities, o preparing materials, and o videotaping o personal computers with access to Internet and the PBGC.gov Web site will be required.

• PBGC reserves the right to have several staff members attend any of the focus groups. The contractor will have materials prepared for the focus group events one week in advance and a list for any items required from PBGC must be provided to the PBGC POC no less than five business days in advance. In addition, vendor will provide PBGC with a detailed agenda of the focus group locations including but not limited to: directions to focus group location(s) from major airport, and a list of times with corresponding group information, e.g., 6:30 PM, with a list of participants name and plan name.

• Analyze the focus group feedback and provide PBGC o a written report of findings and recommendations, o one videotape of each focus group session.

• Planning will also include development of the scripts for the different focus groups. Plan and scripts must be presented to PBGC for review and approval.

PBGC will submit the approved scripts to OMB to obtain approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This process takes two to three weeks. All documents submitted to PBGC during the course of the project must be proofread for accuracy and marked as such by the vendor.

• Vendors are invited to submit individual pricing for 1, 2, 3 or 4 focus groups.

DELIVERABLES SCHEDULE

DELIVERABLE Due Date for Draft Due Date for Final Project Work plan Due 20 business days after award of contract

Recruitment Script Due 20 business days after award of contract

Due 20 business days after award of contract

Focus Group Materials Due 20 business days prior to event

Due 5 days prior to event

Focus Group Scripts Due 30 business days prior to event

Due 5 days prior to event

1 videotape of each session Due 10 business days after final focus group is held

Written report of findings and First Draft due 10 Final document due 5 recommendation business days after final focus group is held business days after comments on first draft are delivered

Evaluation Criteria/Basis of Award:

Proposals must be thorough and detailed and will be evaluated based on the criteria outlined below. Failure to provide the required information may result in the rejection of that proposal without further consideration. Award will be based upon the combination of the technical capability, past performance, and price, which is deemed to be in the best interest of the government. Technical factors are equally rated and are more important than cost/price.

1. Technical Capability

Management Plan/Proposal Describes how the contractor proposes to implement the project (e.g. work plan with scheduled milestones and costs estimates).

2. Experience/Key Personnel

The proposal overview of the offeror must include corporate experience within the last three years performing this type of service as outlined in the scope of work. It should also include resumes’ of the staff that will be working on the project.

3. Past Performance

Each offeror must submit a list of two references that PBGC can contact to evaluate the offeror’s past performance. The list must include the following information:

a. Name of reference

b. Point of contact

c. Telephone number

d. Contract number

e. Total price of contract

miller.mark@pbgc.gov

1200 K STREET, NW

WASHINGTON DC 20005-4026

1200 K ST NW (alley entrance)

WASHINGTON DC 20005-4026