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THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN FAR SUBPART 12.6-STREAMLINED PROCEDURES FOR EVALUATION AND SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS-AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; QUOTATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED, AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED. THE SOLICITATION IS BEING ISSUED USING SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES UNFER FAR PART 13.

This solicitation is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-60.

The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541690 with a small business size standard of 7.0M. This acquisition is 100% set-aside for small business.

1352.215-72 INQUIRIES (APR 2010)

Offerors must submit all questions concerning this solicitation in writing to both the Contract Specialist (joni.laster@nist.gov) and the Contracting Officer (patrick.staines@nist.gov). Questions should be received no later than 7 calendar days after the issuance date of this solicitation. Any responses to questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner, and will be included in an amendment to the solicitation. Even if provided in other form, only the question responses included in the amendment to the solicitation will govern performance of the contract. (End of Provision)

BACKGROUND:

The development of the Smart Grid is a top National priority that will save infrastructure investment cost, reduce dependence on foreign oil by integrating renewable resources to the grid on a wide scale, and give the consumer greater control over their electrical energy costs. It will accommodate future electricity demand by optimizing the operation of the power grid for much greater efficiency, resilience to disturbances due to natural effects such as lightning, simplifying and reducing the cost of new technologies such as wind farms, and large photovoltaic arrays to transmission systems including a large number of smaller energy resources in distribution systems. The 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) gave NIST the responsibility for coordinating the development of Smart Grid standards. Also, NIST’s mission is to provide for the Nation’s measurement needs.

To ensure that the grid is robust requires better monitoring and control of the electric power grid over wide geographical areas. There is a need for improved measurement capabilities and sensors to monitor equipment performance in the field and to monitor grid operating conditions to ensure that the deployment of the many new generation technologies and variable loads do not introduce instabilities that degrade reliability. This work will support the further development of the NIST Smart Grid effort in response to the 2007 EISA mandate and help guide NIST’s research activities to support present and future measurement needs for the Smart Grid. It will support the development of a NIST laboratory for Smart Grid sensors.

All interested Contractors shall provide a quote for the following:

Line Item 0001: Quantity One (1) Job, Study of Smart Grid Sensors and Measurement Needs in accordance with the attached Statement of Work.

ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS – COMMERCIAL ITEMS (ADDENDUM)

(1) GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

A. Period for Acceptance of Offers. Quotations shall remain valid for acceptance for a minimum of 60 days from receipt of quotation.

B. Quotations are expected to conform to solicitation provisions and be prepared in accordance with this section. To aid in evaluation, a quotation 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. A one page transmittal letter signed by an individual authorized to commit the organization shall be transmitted with the quotation to the Government. Each quotation shall be on 8 and ½-inch x 11-inch paper, in a commercially standard font, not smaller than 12 point font. Each page in the quotation shall be separately numbered. The quotation shall be limited to fifteen (15) single-sided pages, single-spaced (excluding letter of transmittal, resumes, representations, certifications, cover letter and letters of commitment)

C. All quotes shall be received not later than 3:00 PM local time, on August 31, 2012; at the National Institute of Standards & Technology, Acquisition Management Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Building 301, Room B129, Mail Stop 1640, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1640, Attn: Joni Laster.

Emailed quotes are acceptable and shall be addressed to: joni.laster@nist.gov. Faxed quotes will NOT be accepted. Quotations shall not be deemed received by the Government until the entire quotation is entered into the e-mail address inbox set forth above.

(2) QUOTATION CONTENT:

Each quotation shall consist of two separate electronic files: (a) Technical Quotation and (b) Business/Price Quotation. The contents of each shall be as follows:

A. Volume I Technical Quotation: No pricing information shall be included in the technical quotation. The technical quotation shall include the following:

Technical Approach – the Contractor shall provide sufficient information to demonstrate its understanding of the requirements, providing a concise, detailed, and thorough discussion of its technical approach to successfully provide the services required. Fully describe a technical approach to each of the task areas in the quotation, indicating how the work of the project will be performed. The technical approach shall include the objectives to be accomplished, methods for achieving these objectives, and allocation of personnel and other resources proposed to accomplish the required tasks.

Qualifications / Experience – the Contractor shall describe its experience in performing the same or similar services AND demonstrate its key personnel have the qualifications as described the Statement of Work.

The Contractor shall submit a list of names and proposed duties of the key personnel that shall be assigned to the project to include consultants, and any key sub-contractor employees. Their resumes should be included and should contain information on education, background, recent experience, and specific scientific or technical accomplishments.

For each of the proposed key personnel, the Contractor shall indicate whether the person is:

(a) currently employed by the Contractor;

(b) planning to join the company;

(c) a proposed sub-contractor’s employee; or

(d) to be obtained through other arrangements.

Past Performance - Past performance will be evaluated to determine the overall quality of the product & service provided and the Contractor’s history of meeting delivery schedules for prior deliverables. Evaluation of past performance shall be based on the references provided and/or the quoters recent and relevant procurement history with NIST or its’ affiliates. The Contractor must provide a list of references (name, contact person, contact information) to whom the same equipment and or services has been provided.

B. Volume II Business/Price Quotation: Price Quotation shall include the following:

1. A price quotation which addresses Line Item 0001. The Government intends to award of a firm, fixed-price purchase order as a result of this solicitation. The quotation should include a firm fixed price. The quotation should also include a proposed payment schedule;

2. Signed amendments to the solicitation, if any are issued and,

3. Acceptance of Terms (Addendum to FAR 52.212-1(b)(11):

This is an Open-Market Combined Synopsis/Solicitation for equipment as defined herein. The Government intends to award a Purchase Order as a result of this Combined Synopsis/Solicitation that will include the terms and conditions that are set forth herein. In order to facilitate the award process, ALL quotes shall include a statement regarding the terms and conditions herein as follows:

The offeror shall state “The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document without modification, deletion, or addition.”

OR

The offeror shall state “The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:

Offeror shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s) Please note that this procurement is not being conducted under the GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program or another Government-Wide Area Contract (GWAC). If an offeror submits a quotation based upon an FSS or GWAC contract, the Government will accept the quoted price. However, the terms and conditions stated herein will be included in any resultant Purchase Order, not the terms and conditions of the offeror’s FSS or GWAC contract, and the statement required above shall be included in the quotation.

Evaluation Criteria:

The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered.

The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: 1) Technical Approach, 2) Qualifications/Experience, 3) Past Performance and 4) Price.

Technical Approach, Past Performance, and Qualifications/Experience, when combined, shall be more important than price. If Technical Approach, Past Performance, and Qualifications/Experience are equivalent, price shall be the determining factor.

1. Technical Approach:

Evaluation of Technical Approach will be based on the information provided in the quotation. Documentation submitted in the quotation shall be evaluated to determine the likelihood of effectively meeting the requirements.

The Contractor must fully describe a technical approach to each of the task areas, indicating how the work of the project will be performed. The Contractor must provide a detailed work plan for affecting the tasks described in the Statement of Work. This plan shall portray the objectives to be accomplished, methods for achieving these objectives, allocation of personnel and other resources, and depict significant milestones. Contractor shall demonstrate an understanding of the roles of NIST in Smart Grid, NIST metrology research and mission.

2. Qualifications/Experience:

Quoters will be evaluated to determine if their past experience includes work of similar nature to the requirements of this job and that the proposed key personnel have experience with power grid operations and technology, smart grid, sensors and measurements as needed for the completion of this work.

The Contractor must have at least five (5) years of expert knowledge of electric power grid operations and technologies, the Smart Grid, sensors and measurements.

3. Past Performance:

The Government will evaluate the Offeror's past performance information and, if appropriate, its proposed subcontractors' past performance to determine its relevance to the current requirement and the extent to which it demonstrates that the offeror has successfully completed relevant contracts in the past five years. In assessing the offeror's past performance information, NIST will evaluate the quality, timeliness, and ability to control cost and schedule of the past work. The Government will evaluate past performance information by contacting appropriate references, including NIST references, if applicable. The Government may also consider other available information in evaluating the Offeror’s past performance. The Government will assign a neutral rating if the offeror has no relevant past performance information.

4. Price:

Price shall be evaluated for reasonableness, consistent with the Contractor's technical approach.

Past Performance, Qualifications/Experience and Price shall not be evaluated on quotes that are determined technically unacceptable in accordance with the Technical Approach evaluation factor. A technically unacceptable quote is defined as quotation which is determined to be unlikely to effectively meet the requirements of the Statement of Work.

The full text of a FAR provision or clause may be accessed electronically at http://acquisition.gov/comp/far/index.html.

The following provisions apply to this acquisition:

52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items;

52.212-3 Offerors Representations and Certifications- Commercial Items.

Offerors must complete annual representations and certifications on-line at http://orca.bpn.gov in accordance with FAR 52.212-3 Offerors Representations and Certifications- Commercial Items. If paragraph (j) of the provision is applicable, a written submission is required.

Representation by Corporations Regarding an Unpaid Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction Under Any Federal Law (Class Deviation) (March 2012)

(1) In accordance with Sections 543 and 544 of Public Law 112-55 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 2012, Title V (General Provisions) none of the funds made available by that Act may be used to enter into a contract with any corporation that-

(a) Was convicted of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the preceding 24 months, unless the agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government.

(b) Has any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, unless the agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government.

(End of provision) The following clauses apply to this acquisition:

52.204-9 Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel;

52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Items;

52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Items including subparagraphs:

52.204-10, Reporting Executive compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards;

52.209-6, Protecting the Governments Interest when Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment;

52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations;

52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside;

52.219-28 Post-Award Small Business Program Representation;

52.222-3, Convict Labor;

52.222-19 Child Labor – Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies;

52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities;

52-222-26, Equal Opportunity;

52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities;

52.223-18, Contractor policy to ban text messaging while driving;

52.225-13 Restriction on Certain Foreign Purchases;

52.227-14 Rights In Data--General;

52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration;

52.237-2 Protection of Government Buildings, Equipment, and Vegetation;

52.237-3 Continuity of Services 52.245-1 Government Property Department of Commerce Agency-Level Protest Procedures Level above the Contracting Officer is also incorporated. It can be downloaded at www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/agency.htm.

The full text of a CAR provision or clause may be accessed electronically at http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vfcara.htm 1352.201-70 Contracting Officer's Authority;

1352.208-70 Restrictions on Printing and Duplicating;

1352.209-72 Restrictions against Disclosure;

1352.209-73 Compliance with the laws;

1352.209-74 Organizational conflict of interest;

1352.237-71 Security Processing Requirements - Low Risk Contracts;

1352.271-83 Government Review, Comment, Acceptance and Approval

1352.246-70 PLACE OF ACCEPTANCE (APR 2010)

(a) The Contracting Officer or the duly authorized representative will accept supplies and services to be provided under this contract.

(b) The place of acceptance will be:

100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD. 20899

1352.233-70 AGENCY PROTESTS (APR 2010)

(a) An agency protest may be filed with either: (1) the contracting officer, or (2) at a level above the contracting officer, with the appropriate agency Protest Decision Authority. See 64 Fed. Reg. 16,651 (April 6, 1999)

(b) Agency protests filed with the Contracting Officer shall be sent to the following address:

NIST/ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT DIVISION

ATTN: PATRICK STAINES, CONTRACTING OFFICER

100 Bureau Drive, MS 1640 Gaithersburg, MD 20899

(c) Agency protests filed with the agency Protest Decision Authority shall be sent to the following address:

NIST/ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT DIVISION

ATTN: HEAD OF THE CONTRACTING OFFICE (HCO)

100 Bureau Drive, MS 1640 Gaithersburg, MD 20899

(d) A complete copy of all agency protests, including all attachments, shall be served upon the Contract Law Division of the Office of the General Counsel within one day of filing a protest with either the Contracting Officer or the Protest Decision Authority.

(e) Service upon the Contract Law Division shall be made as follows:

U.S. Department of Commerce Office of the General Counsel Chief, Contract Law Division Room 5893 Herbert C. Hoover Building 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20230.

FAX: (202) 482-5858

(End of clause)

1352.233-71 GAO AND COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS PROTESTS (APR 2010)

(a) A protest may be filed with either the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or the Court of Federal Claims unless an agency protest has been filed.

(b) A complete copy of all GAO or Court of Federal Claims protests, including all attachments, shall be served upon (i) the Contracting Officer, and (ii) the Contract Law Division of the Office of the General Counsel, within one day of filing a protest with either GAO or the Court of Federal Claims.

(c) Service upon the Contract Law Division shall be made as follows:

U.S. Department of Commerce Office of the General Counsel Chief, Contract Law Division Room 5893 Herbert C. Hoover Building 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20230.

FAX: (202) 482-5858

(End of clause)