AMENDMENT A001 to SSB1341-10-RQ-0531.docx

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

9B. Date (See Item 11)

JUL 27, 2010

10A. Modification of Contract/Order No.

10B. Date (See Item 13)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDG-

MENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT

IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. Accounting and Appropriation Data (if required)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACT/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

A. This change order is issued pursuant to: (Specify authority) The changes set forth in item 14 are made in the Contract Order No. in item 10A.

Set fourth item 14, pursuant to the authority of FAR 43.103 (b)

14. Description of Amendment/Modification (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

The purpose of this Amendment is to:

1) Provide the Government response to industry inquiries pursuant to solicitation provision Addendum 52.212-1 Instruction to Offerors-Commercial- Items (JUN 2008).

2) Replace solicitation Addendum 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (JUN 2008) with the following modified Addendum 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (JUN 2008). Page limitations in the RFQ Quote Organization Table stated in the modified Addendum 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (JUN 2008) are applicable to this procurement. All page limitations outside of the Quote Organization Table are removed.

AMENDMENT A001, SB1341-10-RQ-0531

3) Extend the time and date quotes are due. Quotes are due no later than 12:00PM on August 23, 2010.

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

(Signature of Contracting Officer) 16C. Date Signed

_____________________________________________(Signature of person authorized to sign)

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

PREVIOUS EDITIONS UNUSABLE

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

ATTACHMENT I

Government Response to Industry Inquiries

QUESTION 1. Section II.B Scope of Work, III.B Specific Tasks 2 and throughout: Several sections throughout the Performance Work Statement refer to “harmonization” of DNP3 and IEC 61850 and of “harmonization” of IEEE C37.118 with IEC 61850; for example, section II.B and III.B. To our knowledge, the PAP12 work does not actually “harmonize” DNP3 and IEC61850, but provides a “mapping” between them. Similarly, in our understanding, PAP13 lays out plans for a “migration” from C37.118 to IEC 61850. Please confirm the term “harmonization” is used loosely in the work statement and includes these two concepts.

RESPONSE: The goals of PAPs 12 and 13 are not to strictly harmonize the standards (DNP3/ IEEE 1815 and IEC 61850, and IEEE C37.118 and IEC 61850, respectively) so that systems are directly interoperable , and the term “harmonize “ is being used loosely here. Rather, the purpose is to ensure that DNP3/IEEE 1815 systems, particularly existing ones, can communicate with IEC 61850 systems. This is why PAP 12 is performing a mapping between the two. PAP13 also is not strictly working to harmonize IEEE C37.118 and IEC 61850, but rather to move them closer to achieving interoperability by producing a guideline for the IEC 61850 to transport synchrophasor (C37.118) data. The wording of “sufficient to complete PAP12 tasks” and “sufficient to complete PAP13 tasks” is meant to limit the scope of the work to less than complete harmonization of the standards

QUESTION 2. Section II.A Scope of Work, IV Deliverables & Deliverable Due Date: Section A of the Scope of Work refers to “development of the synchrometrology testbed -…..support of synchrometrology standards and development of interoperability tests.” Please confirm that this wording indicates that development of interoperability tests or actual testing is NOT part of the scope of work.

RESPONSE: This is correct. The scope of this work includes providing recommendations for extending the capability of the NIST synchrometrology testbed to support the development of interoperability tests and the further development of the IEC 61850 and IEEE C37.118 standards. It is not expected that the contractor will develop specific interoperability tests or actually perform interoperability testing.

Question 3. Section IV.1(a), 1st bullet;IV.1(b), 4th bullet: What is the distinction between “Recommendations for harmonization” with respect to PAP13 listed in IV.1(a) 1st bullet, and “Recommendations for harmonization” listed in IV.1(b), 4th bullet? The latter mentions IEC 61850-90-5 but other than that the wording seems very similar. What is the difference?

RESPONSE: The intent is that an outline and description of the recommendations would be submitted in the first quarter report that covers what text, what diagrams, and what models will be recommended. The second quarter report would include the fully developed text, diagrams, and models suitable for inclusion in the DNP3 standard. The wording of the IV.1 (a), first bullet is changed as follows: Outline and description of recommendations for harmonization of DNP3 (IEEE 1815) and IEC 61850, covering text, diagrams, and models as input to DNP3 Technical Committee and IEEE Power and Energy Society Substations Working Group C12 sufficient for the completion of PAP12 tasks; and for the harmonization of IEEE C37.118 with IEC 61850 as input to IEC TC57/WG 10 sufficient to complete PAP13 tasks. (Task 2)”

QUESTION 4. Section IV.1(a), 1st bullet;IV.1(b) 2nd and 3rd bullets: What is the distinction between “Recommendations for harmonization” with respect to PAP12 listed in IV.1(a) 1st bullet, and the “Recommended changes as input to IEC WG10” listed in IV.1(b) 2nd bullet? Are the former simply a list of the measures to be undertaken, while the latter are the actual documents to be submitted to the IEC?

RESPONSE: The distinction is similar to the response given to Comment 3. For requirement IV.1 (a), 1st bullet, the first quarter report would contain only an outline and description of the recommended changes, and the second quarter report would contain the actual text, diagrams, and models to be submitted to IEC. In short, the former is a list of the measures to be undertaken, with some description of them, and the latter are the actual documents to be submitted.

QUESTION 5. Section IV.1(b) 2nd and 3rd bullets: These two bullets appear to be inadvertent duplicates. Please confirm whether this is true.

RESPONSE: Delete the third bullet.

QUESTION 6. Section IV.1(b): What is the distinction between IEC 61850-90-5 and the “recommendations for PMU-PDC/PDC-PDC communications” both listed in 1(b)?

RESPONSE: The distinction is similar to the response given to Comment 3. For requirement IV.1 (a), 1st bullet, the first quarter report would contain only an outline and description of the recommended changes, and the second quarter report would contain the actual text, diagrams, and models to be submitted to IEC. In short, the former is a list of the measures to be undertaken, with some description of them, and the latter are the actual documents to be submitted. e deleted.

QUESTION 7. Section III.A: Is it the intent to expand the scope of the synchrometrology testbed to perform testing of DNP3/IEC 61850 gateways? If so, perhaps the name needs to change. Would you agree?

RESPONSE: This is a longer-range goal for the NIST testbed and recommendations for extending its capability to support the development of interoperability tests for DNP3/IEC 61850 gateways will be considered. If these recommendations are adopted, the name may be changed, but the nearer-term focus is on synchrometrology, PMUs, and PDCs

QUESTION 8. Section III.C: Do the testing and certification approaches to be delivered only apply to PMUs and PDCs, or do they also apply to the standards being developed as part of the PAP12 and PAP13 work? What is the distinction between PMU-PDC communications and the PAP13 work, as described in this work performance statement?

RESPONSE: The immediate focus is on supporting development of testing and certification for PMUs and PDCs. Longer range goals are to support testing and certification approaches for standards that emerge from the PAPs. See the response to Comment 6 for the distinction between PMU-PDC communications and the PAP13 work.

QUESTION 9. B. Quote Documents B –Volume II Technical Portion: Page 15 states that page limit for Past Performance information will be a 2 page limit per contract reference. Page 16, section 4) Past Performance states that the description of each contract described in this section shall not exceed a half page. Please clarify whether 2-page limit or half page limit, per project description.

RESPONSE: Replace solicitation Addendum 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (JUN 2008) with the following modified Addendum 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (JUN 2008). Page limitations in the RFQ Quote Organization Table stated in the modified Addendum 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (JUN 2008) are applicable to this procurement. All page limitations outside of the Quote Organization Table are removed.

QUESTION 10. B. Quote Documents: Page 16, para 2, beginning with ‘The methodology… Please clarify the number of response pages in this section – 20 pages or 15 pages.

RESPONSE: Replace solicitation Addendum 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (JUN 2008) with the following modified Addendum 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (JUN 2008). Page limitations in the RFQ Quote Organization Table provided in the modified Addendum 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (JUN 2008) are hereby incorporated. All page limitations outside of the Quote Organization Table are removed.

Amendment A001: Response to Questions 9 and 10.

ADDENDUM 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JUN 2008) QUOTATION PREPARATION. This clause is tailored as follows:

Paragraph (a) "North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and small business size standard." The following is hereby added: The subject requirement under this solicitation is set-aside to small business concerns. The NAICS code for this requirement is 541690 with a size standard of $7.0 million.

Paragraph (b) Submission of Quotes. The following amends this paragraph with respect to the information and documents required for submission in response to this solicitation.

A. General Instructions:

(1) Quotes are expected to conform to solicitation provisions and be prepared in accordance with this section. To aid in evaluation, the technical quotes shall be clearly and concisely written as well as being neat, indexed (cross-indexed as appropriate) and logically assembled. All pages of each part shall be appropriately numbered and identified with the name of the offeror, the date, and the solicitation number.

(2) Quotes shall be submitted no later than 12:00pm Eastern on August 23, 2010. It is the responsibility of the offeror to confirm and maintain receipt of quote, delivery date, and time and ensure delivery is on time.

(3) Three separate volumes: Volume I, Business Portion; Volume II Technical Portion; and Volume III, Prices Portion; of your quote shall be prepared in accordance with the following Table and all instructions set forth herein. Each volume shall be written or presented on a stand-alone basis. Information required for evaluation of the quote that is not found in its designated volume or presentation will be assumed to have been omitted from the quote.

B. Quote Documents:

(1) Volumes and Organization The Contractor Offeror shall prepare the quote as set forth in the Quote Organization Table below. The titles and contents of the volumes shall be as defined in this table and instructions, all of which shall be within the required page limits and with the number of copies as specified in the table. The volumes identified in the table should be separately bound in three-ring, loose-leaf binders, as necessary. The completion and submission to the Government of documents identified in the Quote Organization Table shall constitute an offer and shall indicate the Offeror’s unconditional consent to the terms and conditions of the RFQ.

QUOTE ORGANIZATION TABLE

Pages that exceed the page limitation count will be disregarded and will not be evaluated.

Hard copy: Original plus 3 copies 3 page cover letter limit. Completed 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications, and Acknowledgement Amendments. Contractor’s DUNS and TIN, and point of contact information providing name, telephone number and email address.

Hard copy: Original plus 3 copies 25 one-sided pages with single spacing and a minimum font size of 10.

Hard copy: Original plus 3 copies 20 one-sided pages with single spacing and a minimum font size of 10.*

Hard copy:

Original plus 3 copies 15 one-sided pages with single spacing and a minimum font size of 10.*

Hard copy:

Original plus 3 copies 20 one-sided pages with single spacing and a minimum font size of 10. **

Hard copy:

Original plus 3 copies No page limit. SF 1449 with continuation pages. One-sided pages with single spacing and a minimum font size of 10.

*Page limits do not include the table of contents. There is no page limit for the table of contents.

**Page limit for the Past Performance information will be a 2 page limit per contract reference and a 10 contract limit for all relevant contracts for the PAST 3 YEARS (6 references for Prime and no more than 4 for subcontractors).

(2) Overall Arrangement of Quotation The following information and documents are required for submission in response to this solicitation, in accordance with the guidelines outlined below.

Quotation Content: The Contractor shall submit the completed SF 1449, along with any other documentation displaying the following information. The Contractor shall demonstrate its understanding of the requirements and provide a concise, detailed, and thorough discussion of its technical approach to successfully providing the services described in the PWS. Technical Proposal consists of the Contractor’s outline addressing the technical and management aspects of the acquisition. It should indicate your company's capabilities and the means to be used to satisfy the requirements CLINs 0001 through CLIN 0004. It will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria contained in provision 52.212-2 EVALUATION--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JAN 1999) and it should be specific and complete in every detail. The proposal should be practical and be prepared simply and economically, providing straightforward, concise delineation of what it is the Contractor will do to satisfy the requirements.

Under no circumstances are price/cost quotes to be shown in the technical proposal so that the technical proposal may be evaluated strictly on the merit of the material submitted.

A. Volume I Business Portion: Shall include the following:

Completed FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications. Offerors shall complete the annual representations and certifications on-line at http://orca.bpn.gov in accordance with FAR 212-3- Offerors Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items. If paragraph (j) of the provision is applicable, a written submission is required. Failure to be actively registered will result in disqualification.

B. Volume II Technical Portion: The technical portion shall include the following:

1) Key Personnel. The technical quote must include a list of names and proposed duties of the professional personnel, consultants, and key subcontractor employees assigned to the project that will materially contribute to the leadership, planning, and advancement of this effort. List the expected level of participation of each individual expressed in hours. Their resumes should be included and should contain information on education, background, recent work experience, and specific scientific or technical accomplishments. Consideration will be given in those cases that demonstrate expertise for contributions to the Smart Grid interoperability standards specifications/etc, contributions to Smart Grid consensus-based activities that furthered Smart Grid interoperability, and other efforts related to Smart Grid testing, , certification, or other areas relevant to NIST Smart Grid efforts For each of the proposed personnel, the Contractor must indicate whether the person is:

A proposed subcontractor’s employee; or to be obtained through other arrangements.

Letters of commitment shall be provided for persons not currently employed by the Contractor or proposed subcontractor

2) Methodology (Technical Approach). The Contractor must fully describe a technical approach to each capability and sub-capability area in the proposal indicating the methodology and how the work proposed for the project will be performed. The Contractor shall provide a detailed narrative that demonstrates its understanding of the objectives to be accomplished, methods for achieving these objectives allocation of personnel and other resources. Include a description of the approach to be used; organizational assets to be deployed; access to other subject matter experts as needed; ability to leverage experience and knowledge of Smart Meter technology, public and private sector and strategies, tools, and techniques proposed to ensure objective, credible, timely, and high quality work.

The Contractor must demonstrate an understanding of the role of NIST in Smart Grid, such as development, dissemination, and promotion of smart grid infrastructure and standards needs to support plug-in electrical vehicles.

3) Organizational Experience. The technical quote must provide the general background, experience, and qualifications of the organization as it relates to projects of a similar nature. The technical quote must contain a discussion of present or proposed facilities and equipment which will be used in the performance of the contract. If subcontracting, the contractor shall also describe the relevant experience of any proposed subcontractor.

4) Past Performance. The Contractor shall provide past performance information regarding all relevant contracts for the PAST 3 YEARS with federal, state or local governments and commercial customers. The information should describe contracts of a similar type and scope as the current requirement. If the Contractor intends to subcontract part of this requirement, the subcontractor(s) past performance information shall also be provided. If the Contractor has no relevant past performance it should include a statement to that effect in its proposal. The government reserves the right to consider data obtained from sources other than those described by the Contractor in its proposal.

The description of each contract described in this section shall not exceed a half page. For each of the above listed contracts, the offeror shall provide the following information, if applicable:

Contract Number;

Dollar Amount Type of Contract Description and relevance to solicitation requirements;

Period of Performance - Indicate by month and year the start and completion (or "ongoing") dates for the contract;

Name and address of the client with current telephone number and email address of a point of contact of the client responsible for this contract.

Contracting Office - If a Government contract (federal or state), identify the Procuring Contracting Officer, Administrative Contracting Officer, and Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), and their names and current telephone numbers and email address;

Contract Performance - A brief summary of performance provided;

Contractors shall include information regarding any problems encountered on the contracts described above and corrective actions taken to resolve those problems.

The Government reserves the right to assess the past performance of proposed subcontractors.

The Government will use its discretion to determine the sources of past performance information used in the evaluation, and the information may be obtained from references provided by the Contractor, the agency's knowledge of contractor performance, other government agencies or commercial entities, or past performance databases.

If a Contractor does not have a history of relevant contract experience, or if past performance information is not available, the Contractor will receive a neutral past performance rating; however, a Contractor without a history of relevant experience may receive a lowered rating for the experience evaluation factor.

C. Volume III Price Portion:

The Contractor shall provide a completed SF 1449. Completed SF1449 includes Pricing schedule continuation sheets, The person signing the 1449 Form shall have the authority to commit the offeror to all of the provisions of the quotation fully recognizing that the Government has the right, by the terms of the Solicitation, to make an award without further discussion if it so elects.

(End of Addendum to Clause 52.212-1)