Section M - Basis for Award and Evaluation Phases.docx

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

GLOBAL CANINE SERVICES (GSC) IDIQ

SECTION M

BASIS FOR AWARD AND EVALUATION PHASES

Version: 04/26/2022

Contents

a) The Government will evaluate each compliant Offerors’ (as defined by FAR 9.601, Contractor Team Arrangement) proposal that meets the mandatory minimum requirements, adheres to instructions provided in Section L, and is received before the closing date/time established in this solicitation. The evaluation results will be used in the source selection decision. The source selection process will determine the overall merits of each proposal in terms of its potential to satisfy the Government’s requirements.

b) A single-award IDIQ contract and the Global Canine Services Center (GCSC) Task Order will be awarded using formal source selection procedures in accordance with FAR Subpart 15.1. This acquisition will be conducted using the Best Value Cost-Technical Trade-Off Process. The Government intends to award an IDIQ contract and the GCSC Task Order based on initial offers received, without discussions. Therefore, each initial offer should contain the Offeror's best terms from both a price and technical standpoint. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if it determines that discussions are necessary. If discussions are deemed necessary, the Government reserves the right to limit the competitive range for the purpose of economy and efficiency (FAR See FAR 15.306 (c)(1) and (2).

c) Following the Pass/Fail assessment in meeting Mandatory Minimum Requirements, the evaluation factors for this solicitation are (1) Past Performance Confidence, (2) Past Performance Relevancy, (3) Global Canine Services Center (GCSC) Task Order - Technical, (4) Global Canine Services Center (GCSC) Task Order - Pricing, and (5) IDIQ Pricing. When determining best value, Past Performance Relevancy, GCSC Task Order Technical, GSCS Task Order Pricing, and IDIQ Pricing are of equal importance.

Past Performance Relevancy is more important than Past Performance Confidence.

The Government reserves the right to make award(s) to the offeror(s) whose proposal provides the best overall value to the Government.

M.1.2 EVALUATION PHASES

The Government will evaluate proposals in the following two phases:

1. Phase 1 - Mandatory Minimum Requirement: During this phase, the Government will determine whether a proposal satisfies all of the Mandatory Minimum Requirements stated in Section L.13.1.1 and provided below in paragraph M.2. All of the Mandatory Minimum Requirements listed in Section M.2 must be satisfied in order for the offeror’s proposal to enter Phase 2. Proposals that do not meet the mandatory minimum requirements shall be eliminated from the competition. (Pass/Fail)

2. Phase 2 – Evaluated Factors

a. Past Performance Confidence: During Phase 2, the Government will evaluate and rate the past performance of the remaining offerors for Confidence. In order to do so, the Government will avail itself of the information in Mandatory Minimum Matrix as well as other means and methods set forth in Section L. This assessment of past performance information is separate from the responsibility determination required under FAR subpart 9.1.

b. Past Performance Relevancy: During Phase 2, the Government will evaluate and rate the past performance of the remaining offerors for Relevancy. In order to do so, the Government will avail itself of the information in Mandatory Minimum Matrix as well as other means and methods set forth in Section L. This assessment of past performance information is separate from the responsibility determination required under FAR subpart 9.1.

c. GCSC Task Order Technical: The Government will evaluate the information provided in the GCSC task order technical proposal response.

d. GCSC Task Order Pricing: The Government will evaluate the information provided in the GCSC task order pricing proposal response.

e. IDIQ Price: The Government will evaluate the IDIQ price proposal and supporting information for price reasonableness.

M.2 PHASE 1 - MANDATORY MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Offeror (as defined by FAR 9.601, Contractor Team Arrangement) shall provide a sufficient number of contracts listed in the Mandatory Minimum Matrix Form substantiating that within the last five (5) years, (and for the minimum duration of at least two (2) years combined within the those five (5) years) Offeror has performed contract(s) (Federal, State or Private Sector) as a contractor (prime or sub) within and outside the U.S. providing canine imprint, handler training, canine transportation and logistics and canine wellness services. In doing so, the Offeror shall ensure the following is met:

A. Offeror must have performed at least one (1) canine services contract valued at least $10 million annually; and B. Offeror must have performed at least one (1) canine services contract where its services were rendered in multiple locations; and C. Offeror must have performed at least one (1) canine services contract where it employed at least 75 personnel providing direct services under the contract.

In addition to the Mandatory Minimum Matrix Form requirement, Offerors shall provide a typed narration, not to exceed five (5) pages, outlining how they have met the mandatory minimum requirements listed above under L.13.1.1.1. a., b., and c. above, providing canine services while performing under the contracts listed in the Mandatory Minimum Matrix. Offerors shall ensure all dates, numbers, locations, etc. match with the Mandatory Minimum Matrix and do not conflict.

NOTE: It may be possible that an offeror provide in its proposal package reference to only (1) one contract meeting all requirements stated in the paragraph above. An offeror may have performed canine imprint, handler training, canine transportation and logistics and canine wellness services in a $10 million annual contract in multiple locations, employing 75 personnel providing direct services in both CONUS and OCONUS environments for two (2) years combined within the past five years. If these component requirements are contained in one contract, then that one contract would be sufficient in addressing the mandatory minimum requirements.

Additional Company Requirements

1. Foreign Ownership, Control or Influence (FOCI)

a. Offeror (as defined by FAR 9.601, Contractor Team Arrangement) shall provide evidence that it is a U.S. company without any unmitigated foreign ownership, control or influence (FOCI); if the offeror is under FOCI, the FOCI mitigation must have been approved by Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA).

b. If the Offeror is a joint venture (see FAR 9.601), then it must demonstrate that its participants making up the contractor joint venture are all U.S. companies, without any unmitigated FOCI; if the offeror is under FOCI, the FOCI mitigation must have been approved by DCSA.

c. Example of evidence may include completion and submission of SF 328 Certificate Pertaining to Foreign Interest or possession of a facility clearance issued by the DCSA.

2. INTERNATIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PRIVATE SECURITY SERVICE PROVIDERS’ ASSOCIATION (ICOCA)

a. Offerors (as defined by FAR 9.601, Contractor Team Arrangement) shall be required to submit evidence of current membership of ICoCA, or demonstrate that they will be able to obtain within 60 days after contract award and before any performance on a task order issued under the IDIQ contract, a letter from the ICoCA indicating that the Offeror is a member or transitional member in good standing (and not suspended or terminated from the ICoCA). The Offeror will be required to confirm in writing compliance with the requirements set forth in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard entitled PSC-1-2012. If the Offeror is a contractor team arrangement formed to act as the prime contractor (see FAR 9.601) the letter shall indicate that all members of the team are members of the ICoCA, in good standing and confirm compliance with the requirements set forth in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard entitled PSC-1-2012.

b. If the Offeror uses subcontractors to provide any security services authorized under the contract, the subcontractors must also be members of the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers’ Association (ICoCA) and in good standing.

3. Companies Providing Canine Handler Services to Department Contracts

a. Companies (wholly owned, parent companies and its subdivisions, subsidiaries, and/or subcontractors) who specifically provide canine handler services under Department of State contracts are ineligible to participate in submitting a proposal for award or perform as a subcontractor, as a result of any award, under this solicitation for GCS.

b. Offerors must provide a statement attesting to the above as part of the Volume I – Mandatory Minimum Requirements and Past Performance.

M.3 PHASE 2 – EVALUATED FACTORS

M.3.1 PAST PERFORMANCE

Past Performance information is one indicator of an offeror’s ability to perform the contract successfully.

INFORMATION GOVERNMENT WILL USE TO EVALUATE OFFEROR’S PAST PERFORMANCE

1. The government will use past performance information provided in Volume 1 Mandatory Minimum Requirements and Past Performance, to evaluate Offeror’s past performance. The government may use information obtained from this proposal Volume to conduct electronic or telephonic interviews, using categories and assessments ratings provided on Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPAR) documents.

2. Past performance will also be assessed from data obtained from other sources including but not limited to: the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS); similar systems of other Government departments and agencies; Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) data; interviews with program managers and contracting officers; and any other documented source.

M.3.1.1 FACTOR 1 - PAST PERFORMANCE CONFIDENCE

1. The Past Performance Confidence factor reflects the subjective assessment of the level of confidence in an offeror’s ability to perform that the government could reasonably anticipate based on the evaluated ratings of the past performance efforts.

2. Performance that is more relevant shall have a greater impact on the Past Performance Confidence assessment than less recent or relevant efforts.

3. Offerors without a record of strong evaluations within its recent/relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is so sparse that no meaningful confidence assessment rating can be reasonably assigned will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably in past performance confidence assessment and, as a result, will receive an "Neutral Confidence" rating for this Past Performance factor.

4. The five levels of Confidence are as shown below:

M.3.1.2 FACTOR 2 - PAST PERFORMANCE RELEVANCY

1. The Past Performance Relevancy factor rating reflects the subjective assessment in measuring the similarities in the scope and magnitude of the past performance information to GCS IDIQ and GCSC Task Order.

2. Common aspects of relevancy include, but are not limited to, the following: similarity of product/ service/ support, dollar value of current GCS requirements, contract type, use of key personnel, and extent of subcontracting. Additional weight will be given to similarity of services performed in hostile, austere and remote locations; complexity; and magnitude of effort.

3. The government will assess the relevancy description provided in Volume I as provided by the offeror, and other resources obtained by the government.

4. Past performance relevancy will be assessed using the following adjectival ratings:

M.3.2 GCSC TASK ORDER

1. The Offeror’s GCSC Task Order technical and price response must provide the information requested in Section L – Proposal Instructions and Attachments A – F, of the GCSC Task Order, and demonstrate the ability to perform the prospective contract successfully. The government will consider the sub-factors listed below in determining the acceptability and quality of the technical response. Pricing will be evaluated with a fair and reasonable assessment.

2. The Government will review each Offeror’s relative capability and assess its ability to perform the prospective contract based on the Offeror’s task order proposal, including the breadth and depth of the information provided. The Government will consider demonstrated knowledge and experience and the extent to which the Offeror’s proposal effectively demonstrates the offeror’s clear understanding of and ability to perform the services required by the solicitation. The Government will also consider the proposal price and its determination of fair and reasonable.

M.3.2.1 FACTOR 3 - GCSC TASK ORDER – TECHNICAL

1. Review of the Offeror’s Technical Approach shall address each sub-factor as it applies to the GCSC Task Order Attachment A - Performance Work Statement (PWS). The government will also evaluate risks inherent in the Offeror’s technical approach as a component of each sub-factor.

2. The government will review the Offeror’s approach to each of the following sub-factors.

a. Subfactor 1: Mobilization, Transition, and Demobilization Plan

b. Subfactor 2: Staffing Plan

c. Subfactor 3: Logistics and Property Management and Accountability Plan

d. Subfactor 4: Management Approach

e. Subfactor 5: Quality Control Plan and Risk Management Plan

3. The GCSC Task Order Technical sub-factors are of equal importance.

4. The GCSC Task Order Technical Factor will be assessed using the following adjectival ratings:

M.3.2.2 FACTOR 4 - GCSC TASK ORDER PRICING

1. The principal basis for evaluating price as a factor for award under this solicitation will be an evaluation of the reasonableness (as stipulated in FAR 15.404) of the Offeror’s resulting GCSC Task Order Total Proposed Price, as reflected in GCSC Task Order - Attachment F, Pricing Table 1, row 53.

2. Refer to GCSC TO Attachments A – F and GCSC TO Section L – Proposal Instructions.

M.3.3 FACTOR 5 - IDIQ PRICE EVALUATION

The principal basis for evaluating price as a factor for award under this solicitation will be an evaluation of the reasonableness of the offerors’ respective Overall Proposed Prices in Section L, Attachment 17, IDIQ Pricing Spreadsheet, Pricing Table 6, row 43.

The Government will use one or more of the proposal analysis techniques stipulated in FAR 15.404 to conduct the price reasonableness evaluation. However, the principle means of establishing price reasonableness will be competition.

The Government will use the RFP-specified estimates for staffing numbers per labor category and the quantity of hours in Pricing Table 6 for price evaluation purposes only and will be used in the Best Value Tradeoff analysis. The Government does not commit to order or payment of these estimates.

All proposed pricing information contained in Section L, Attachment 17 – IDIQ Pricing Spreadsheet, will be the awarded Schedule B pricing.

M.4 RESPONSIBILITY

The Government will make its determination of Offeror responsibility in accordance with FAR Subpart 9.1 (Responsible Prospective Contractors) by using information provided in the Business Socioeconomic section of Volume 5 as well as information available from other sources. The Government also reserves the right to determine the responsibility of prospective subcontractors.

The Government will reject any proposal whose Offeror is determined not responsible. The determination of Offeror responsibility will be made by the Contracting Officer and will be assessed on a pass/fail basis.

The Government reserves the right to conduct (at Government expense) a Pre-Award Survey of the Offeror or its subcontractor Offeror(s) to assist in the Contracting Officer’s responsibility determination.

M.5 EVALUATION OF OPTIONS FAR 52.2175 (JUL 1990)

Evaluation of Options will be conducted in accordance with FAR 52.217-5, Evaluation of Options. The Government will evaluate offers for task order award purposes by adding the total price for all option periods and extension to the total price for the base period. Evaluation of options and extension will not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s) or extension, respectively.

M.6 SEPARATE CHARGES

Separate charges, in any form, are not solicited. For example, the Government will reject proposals containing any charges for failure of the Government to exercise any options.

M.7 ORAL PRESENTATIONS

The Government reserves the right to conduct Oral Presentations in accordance with FAR 15.102 with those offerors who are in the competitive range. If the Government exercises this right, offerors in the competitive range will be required to travel to the Washington, DC Metropolitan area at no cost to the Government on the date and location set by the Government to give an oral presentation to augment their proposal.

M.8 PRE-AWARD SURVEY COST ACCOUNTING

The Government reserves the right to conduct a Pre-Award Survey of the prospective contractor’s (or its subcontractor’s) capability to perform a proposed contract in accordance with FAR 9.104-1. The contractor (or its subcontractor) shall allow the Government to conduct this is Pre-Award Survey of its capability on the date set by the Government at no cost to the Government.

M.9 USE OF SUPPORTING INFORMATION

In conducting its evaluation of proposals, the Government reserves the right to utilize all information available at the time of evaluation. The Government may rely on information contained in its own records (such as Government audit agencies), commercial sources, and information publicly available (such as articles contained in periodicals). If information obtained through other sources substantially disagrees with what was provided in the offeror’s proposal, the offeror will be given an opportunity to address the inconsistencies.

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