1352.215-70_Proposal_Preparation_(updated_30_May_2014).pdf

1352.215-70 Proposal Preparation.

L–1 SPECIAL NOTICE TO OFFERORS

The Government may evaluate proposals and award a contract without discussions. Therefore, the offeror’s initial proposal should contain the offeror’s best terms from a technical and price standpoint.

The Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if the Contracting Officer later determines them to be necessary.

L–1.1 Failure to submit any of the information requested by this solicitation may be cause for unfavorable consideration.

L–1.2 Upon receipt, all proposals become Government property. After contract award, the unsuccessful offerors will be required to return to the Government all information, data, drawings, specifications, etc., provided to the offerors by the Government.

L–1.3 Pre-Bid / Pre-Proposal Conference and Site Visit. The Government is planning a pre-proposal conference during which potential contractors may obtain a better understanding of the work required.

Offerors are strongly urged to visit this site during the conference to fully inform themselves about the location and conditions under which the work is to be performed.

Offerors are encouraged to submit all questions in writing at least 5 calendar days prior to the conference.

Questions will be considered at any time prior to, or during, the conference; however, offerors will be asked to confirm verbal questions in writing. All questions shall be submitted within 5 business days of the Pre-Bid / Pre-Proposal Conference and Site Visit. Questions submitted after the deadline may be answered if determined to be in the Government’s best interest. Subsequent to the conference an amendment containing an abstract of the questions and answers, and a list of attendees, will be posted on FedBizOpps.gov.

In order to facilitate conference preparations and be permitted access to the NIST Gaithersburg Campus, it is requested that the Government POC Timothy Karol be contacted at timothy.karol@nist.gov and advised of the following for each person attending.

1. Name (First and Last)

2. Country of Citizenship

3. If not a U.S. citizen, if they are a U.S. Permanent Resident

Offerors are cautioned that, notwithstanding any remarks, clarifications, or responses given at the conference, all terms and conditions of the solicitation remain unchanged unless they are changed by amendment. It is the responsibility of each offeror, prior to proposing, to seek clarification of any ambiguity created by amendment of the solicitation.

The conference will be held:

Date: April 29th 2014 Time: 09:00am Eastern time Location: Meet at Building 101 Room Red Auditorium

After the initial description of the services required and a review of the solicitation, the offerors will be shown a representative sample of buildings on the NIST campus. Please note that the site visit will NOT include all of the buildings included in the SOW.

L–2 SOLICITATION RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS

L–2.1 GENERAL

The offeror shall submit documentation illustrating their approach for satisfying the requirements of this solicitation. Proposals must be clear, coherent, and prepared in sufficient detail for effective evaluation of the offeror’s proposal against the evaluation criteria. Also, this documentation shall cover all aspects of this solicitation and include the offeror’s approach for integration and program management activities.

Proposals must clearly demonstrate how the offeror intends to accomplish the project and must include convincing rationale and substantiation of all claims. Unnecessarily elaborate brochures or other presentations beyond those sufficient to present a complete effective response to the solicitation are not desired.

The offerors shall describe their proposals, through the use of graphs, charts, diagrams and narrative, in sufficient detail for the Government to understand and evaluate the nature of the approach. In its evaluation, the Government will consider the degree of substantiation of the proposed approaches in the proposal volumes and in response to any discussions if held.

All correspondence in conjunction with this solicitation should be directed to the Government POC identified below:

Contract Specialist: Timothy Karol Phone Number: 301-975-8249 E-mail address: timothy.karol@nist.gov

L–2.2 PROPOSAL VOLUME REQUIREMENTS

The proposal shall be accompanied by a cover letter (letter of transmittal) prepared on the company’s letterhead stationery. The cover letter (letter of transmittal) shall identify all enclosures being transmitted and shall be used only to transmit the proposal and shall include no other information. The first or title page shall be in accordance with FAR 52.215-1, paragraph (c)(2). The following are further descriptions of the information that shall be provided with the proposal.

Volume Section L Reference Paper Copies Page Limit

I. Business Proposal L-3 None (electronic submissions only) No limit

a. Proposal Form

b. Attachment 3 Pricing Worksheet for SB1341-14-RP-0017

II. Technical Proposal L-4 None (electronic submissions only) See below

a. Bonding Capacity 2

b. Experience Modification Rating

(EMR) 2

Volume Section L Reference Paper Copies Page Limit

c. Experience One (1) page per project

d. Key Personnel Two (2) pages for each Key Personnel

L–2.2.1 Page Limitations. The cover letter, title page, table of contents, table of figures, list of tables and glossary of abbreviations & acronyms do not count against page count limitations. Proposal contents that exceed the stated page limitations will be removed from the proposal by the Contracting Officer, prior to turning the proposal over to the Government evaluation teams, and will not be considered in the evaluation. Failure of the offeror to comply with the page limitations, resulting in the excess pages not being evaluated, shall not constitute grounds for a protest.

L–2.2.2 Format. To the maximum extent possible, proposals shall be submitted in PDF format. Text shall be single-spaced, on 8½” x 11” paper (except as specifically noted), with a minimum one-inch margin all around. Pages shall be numbered consecutively. Offerors may use 11” x 17” sized fold-out pages for tables, charts, graphs, or pictures that cannot be legibly presented on 8½” x 11” paper. An 11” x 17” is a two-sheet equivalent (with regards to the page count limitations). Print shall be of a minimum 12-point font size or a maximum 10 characters per inch spacing. Bolding, underlining, and italics may be used to identify topic demarcations or points of emphasis. Graphic presentations, including tables, while not subject to the same font size and spacing requirements, shall have spacing and text that is easily readable.

Each volume in the proposal shall include a copy of the cover letter (letter of transmittal), title page and table of contents. The table of contents shall list sections, subsections and page numbers. Each volume shall contain a glossary of all abbreviations and acronyms used. Each acronym used shall be spelled out in the text the first time it appears in each proposal volume.

L–2.2.3 Submission. The proposals shall be submitted through the FedBizOpps “Bid Module” by the due date and time specified in the FedBizOpps announcement. Email, postal, or hand-delivery submissions will NOT be accepted.

L–2.2.4 Submission Due Dates. Offers must be received prior by the due date and time specified in the FedBizOpps announcement. Proposals received after this date and time are late and will not be accepted.

L–2.2.5 Restriction of Disclosure/Proprietary Information. If the offeror wishes to restrict the disclosure or use of its proposal, use the legend permitted by FAR 52.215-1(e). Individual subcontractor/vendor proprietary information may be submitted via separate binders. The information contained in these binders must be referenced (by binder title, page and section number as appropriate) within the main proposal where the information would have been included if it were not subcontractor/vendor proprietary.

The information in these separate binders is subject to all other requirements of the RFP and must be well-marked to clearly indicate any special handling instructions.

L–2.2.6 Cross Referencing. Each volume, other than the Price volume, shall be written to the greatest extent possible on a stand-alone basis so that its content may be evaluated with a minimum of cross-referencing to other volumes of the proposal. Cross-referencing within a proposal volume is permitted where its use would conserve space without impairing clarity. Information required for proposal evaluation, which is not found in its designated volume or cross-referenced, is assumed omitted from the proposal.

(a) General Instructions. Proposals are expected to conform to solicitation provisions and be prepared in accordance with this section. To aid in evaluation, the proposal shall be clearly and concisely written, neatly presented, 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 of the offer, and the solicitation number. Each volume shall be clearly marked by volume number and title.

(b) Overall Arrangement of Proposal.

L–3 BUSINESS PROPOSAL (VOLUME I)

(i) Volume I, Business Proposal, consists of the actual offer to enter into a contract to perform the desired work. It also includes required representations, certifications, and acknowledgments, if applicable;

justifications for noncompetitive proposed subcontracts; identification of technical data to be withheld;

and any other required administrative information.

(ii) Format and Content. Volume I, Business Proposal, shall include the following documents (in the order listed):

(A) Proposal Form:

(1) Use of the Form--The SF 1442, is to be executed fully and used as the cover sheet (or first page) of Volume I.

(2) Price—The offeror shall submit prices for each CLIN by completing Attachment 3 Pricing Worksheet for SB1341-14-RP-0017 only. The Pricing Worksheet is the only pricing that will be evaluated. Pricing written on the SF 1442 will NOT be evaluated or considered.

(i) Each offeror's price must be based on the offeror's own technical proposal, the Government's specifications, and other contractual requirements. If the prices to be used are based on a published price list or catalog, the offeror shall so state, and provide a copy of the document with its business proposal. If the prices are to be based on established market prices, not otherwise published, or are prices applicable only to the proposed contract, the offeror shall so state.

(ii) The Government expects that this contract will be awarded based upon adequate price competition.

However, in order to determine that offered prices are fair and reasonable, the Government reserves the right to request that the offeror provide cost breakdowns to support proposed prices. Information requested to support unit prices may include, but not be limited to, the following:

(A) Salary/wage information with associated payroll expenses, for personnel to be used in performance of the contract;

(B) Cost for equipment, supplies, and consumable materials;

(C) A breakout of related support costs, such as equipment maintenance, rental, transportation, etc.;

(D) Overhead costs;

(E) General Administrative expenses; and

(F) Profit

(2) Acceptance Period--The acceptance period entered on the Proposal Form by the offeror shall not be less than that prescribed in the solicitation, which shall apply if no other period is offered.

(3) Signature Authority--The person signing the Proposal Form must have the authority to commit the offeror to all of the provisions of the proposal, fully recognizing that the Government has the right, by terms of the Solicitation, to make an award without discussion if it so elects.

This volume will also include: bid bond, surety letter, and any other information required to complete the contract. Each offeror shall also complete and submit the following documentation, which must be submitted by the date and time specified for receipt of offers:

Annual Representations and Certifications: Offerors should complete Section K-Representations, Certifications, and the Submission of Other Information via System for Award Management (SAM) website: https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.

(B) Attachment 3 Pricing Worksheet for SB1341-14-RP-0017:

(1) The offeror shall submit the Attachment 3 Pricing Worksheet for SB1341-14-RP-0017 as a separate Excel document.

L–4 TECHNICAL FACTOR REQUIREMENTS (VOLUME II)

(i) Volume II, technical proposal, consists of the offeror's proposal delineating its capabilities and how it intends to perform contract requirements. The Technical proposal will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria contained in CAR 1352.215-75.(B) In order that the technical proposal may be evaluated strictly on the merit of the material submitted, no contractual price information is to be included in Volume II.

(ii) Format and Content. Volume II, Technical Proposal, shall include the following contents:

(A) Table of Contents

(B) List of Tables and Figures

(C) Summary of Technical Proposal

(D) Technical Proposal

(E) Exceptions and Deviations. These major headings may be subdivided or supplemented by the offeror as appropriate.

(1) Summary. This section shall provide a summary that addresses each of the technical evaluation factors set out in 1352.215-75.

(2) Technical Proposal. The offeror shall clearly address each of the technical evaluation criteria in CAR 1352.215-75.

(3) Exceptions and Deviations. This section shall identify and explain any exceptions or deviations taken to any part of the solicitation or conditional assumptions made with respect to the technical requirements of the solicitation. Offerors should note that taking exceptions to the Government's requirements may indicate an unwillingness or inability to perform the contract, and the proposal may be evaluated as such.

(iii) Specific areas to be addressed:

(A) Evaluation Factor 1 – Bonding Capacity The offeror shall provide a Bonding Capacity Letter from the surety or bonding agent showing the maximum bonding amount.

(B) Evaluation Factor 2 – EMR The offeror shall provide proof to demonstrate its CURRENT insurance Experience Modification Rating (EMR) of 1.0 or less from the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) or its calculating State Agency. An offeror that is a Joint Venture shall provide proof to demonstrate that the CURRENT https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/

EMR of each of its constituent members are 1.0 or less. If not eligible for NCCI rating, then the offeror must explain why and present other proof from their insurance company.

(C) Evaluation Factor 3- Experience The offeror shall submit and fully describe in sufficient detail to enable a thorough evaluation the following:

For Subfactor A: At least two (2) contracts completed or currently underway over the past six years, each for at least $50,000, that involved installation of native BacNet compatible meters and integrating it with existing Alerton ® BAS system. Demonstrated ability to install DDC controls including but not limited to actuators, sensors, controllers and control panels tie-into building Alerton® BAS system. Demonstrated ability to add or modify program logics for controls integration. Provide the following information:

a. Owner’s name (not a general contractor’s name)

b. Address of the owner

c. Email address of the owner

d. Telephone of the owner

e. Description of the contract

f. Date the contract was completed

g. Dollar Value of the contract.

For Subfactor B: At least two (2) contracts completed or currently underway over the past six years, each for at least $50,000, that involved “hot tap”, installing or replacing steam insertion vortex meters in pipes of a greater diameter of 4 inches in multiple buildings. The number of insertion vortex meters installed on each contract shall be at a least four. Provide the following information:

h. Owner’s name (not a general contractor’s name)

i. Address of the owner

j. Email address of the owner

k. Telephone of the owner

l. Description of the contract

m. Date the contract was completed

n. Dollar Value contract

o. The number of buildings that had the insertion vortex meters installed

p. The diameter of the pipes that had the vortex meters installed

Indicate if a new or replacement of existing meters

For Subfctor C: At least (2) contracts completed or currently underway over the past four years, each at least $50,000, that involved a “wet tap” of pressurized chilled waters lines in excess of four inches – carbon steel pipe. The contractor shall have completed at least three wet taps on each contract. Provide the following information:

a. Owner’s name (not a general contractor’s name)

b. Address of the owner

c. Email address of the owner

d. Telephone of the owner

e. Description of the contract

f. Date the contract was completed

g. The diameter of the pipes taped

h. The number of hot taps completed on each contract

All contact information (names, telephone numbers, email addresses, and fax numbers) shall be current and verified by the offeror prior to submission.

(D) Evaluation Factor 4- Project Personnel Provide information for the proposed project personnel demonstrating at least two contract employees are ASME certified welders with experiencing welding on steam lines with pressures up to 150 PSI. The welders shall have at least 8 years’ experience as certified welders. Provide resumes of the welders. Clearly note in the resume the period the employee was certified with beginning and end dates of certification. ASME certificates shall be submitted for each certified welder.

(E) Evaluation Factor 5- Past Performance Information for this factor will be obtained from points-of-contact provided under the past experience portion of the proposal. The Government may use other information that is readily available to determine an offeror’s past performance.

(F) Evaluation Factor 6 – Price The offeror shall complete the Pricing Worksheet for SB1341-14-RP-0017 in its entirety. The offeror shall complete cells D4:D29 and H9:14, H17:19, H24, H26, and H28 only. The evaluated price will calculate automatically. The offeror is responsible to ensure that their submitted prices are calculated corrected by the Excel Pricing Worksheet.

The Pricing Worksheet contains one CLIN for the base requirement and one option CLIN for each building the Government anticipates exercising in Fiscal Year 2014. The Pricing Worksheet contains two CLINs for each building the Government has not yet determined which fiscal year it may exercise the options. This permits the Government to exercise options in the fiscal year in which funding is sufficient and to permit the offeror to submit pricing based on the fiscal year the Government would exercise the option. As there are CLINs with identical work and only different fiscal years in which they may be exercised, the Government may exercise only one CLIN per building.

The Evaluated Price used in the source selection is the sum of CLIN 0001 (base requirement), CLIN 0002 (Health & Safety Plan), CLINs 0003, 0004, 0005, 0006, 0007, 0008, 0009, and the averages of CLIN 0010 & 0024, CLIN 0011 & 0025, CLIN 0012 & 0026, CLIN 0013 & 0027, CLIN 0014 & 0028, CLIN 0015 & 0029, CLIN 0016 & 0030, CLIN 0017 & 0031, CLIN 0018 & 0032, CLIN 0019 & 0033, CLIN 0020 & 0034, CLIN 0021 & 0035, CLIN 0022 & 0036, and CLIN 0023 & 0037.

Please note that for buildings in which there are two CLINs, one for each fiscal year, the evaluated prices are the average of those two fiscal year prices. This is done so as to not overweight the importance of the buildings which have two prices, one for each fiscal year, in comparison to the buildings which have only one price.

No pricing other than the Pricing Worksheet shall be submitted.

(End of provision)