SECTION M - Evaluation Factors for Award.pdf

RFP No. 70RDA225R00000021

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

(Section M will be removed in the resulting IDIQ Contract award).

M.1 Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (FAR 52.252-1) (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 proposal. 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 proposal. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at the following addresses:

https://www.acquisition.gov/

FAR Provision No. Title Date 52.217-5 Evaluation of Options. JUL 1990

M.2 Basis for Awards

M.2.1 Highest Technically Rated Offerors with a Fair and Reasonable Price (HTRO-FRP)

The C-UAS acquisition and source selection are being conducted in accordance with the guidelines of FAR Parts 12 and 15. The source selection process for C-UAS will neither be based on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis nor Tradeoffs. For this effort, the Highest Technically Rated Offerors with a Fair and Reasonable Price will determine the best value basis for the award of contracts under this solicitation.

The following price and non-price factors will be considered when evaluating proposals:

Track 1: Hardware/Software and Ancillary Services

1. Factor I: Business Approach

2. Factor II: Technical Capability

3. Factor III: Price

Track 2: Comprehensive Services

1. Factor I: Staffing Plan

2. Factor II: Technical Capability

3. Factor III: Price

M.2.2 Relative Order of Importance for Each Non-Price Factor

The evaluation factors for this solicitation are listed in descending order of importance as follows:

https://www.acquisition.gov/

Track 1: Hardware/ Software and Ancillary Services

1. Business Approach: This factor is the most important and will be evaluated based on the offeror’s ability to provide a complete solution encompassing the full range of required capabilities and broad technology coverage through effective teaming or authorized reseller arrangements.

2. Technical Capability: This factor is the second most important and will be evaluated based on the offeror’s prior experience their capabilities to deliver solutions that meet the functional requirements of Detection, Tracking, Identification, and Mitigation across the specified use cases of fixed location, fixed location/aviation, fixed location/maritime, mobile, mobile/aviation, and mobile/maritime.

Track 2: Comprehensive Services

1. Staffing Plan: This factor is the most important and will be evaluated based on the offeror’s ability to provide a detailed and effective plan for recruiting, retaining, managing, and scaling personnel to deliver the required services under Track 2: c-UAS as a Service.

2. Technical Capability: This factor is the second most important and will be evaluated based on the offeror’s prior experience their capabilities to deliver solutions that meet the functional requirements of Detection, Tracking, Identification, and Mitigation across the specified use cases of fixed location, fixed location/aviation, fixed location/maritime, mobile, mobile/aviation, and mobile/maritime.

As there will be no tradeoff between any of the Technical Factors and Price, there is no relative weighting between the non-Price Factors and the Price Factor. This is because the methodology will evaluate pricing of only those Offerors which achieve the highest technical ratings within a Track. To be selected for award, an Offeror must be among the highest technically rated offerors within a Track and must have prices that are determined to be fair and reasonable.

The Government will first assign a confidence rating, as detailed in sections M.4 through M.9 of this RFP, for each non-price factor for each offeror. If an Offeror receives a “No Confidence” for any factor, the Offeror’s proposal will be deemed unawardable and will automatically be removed from further consideration for award. The Government will then rank all offerors by highest to lowest rated for each Track. It is possible that there may not be an equal number of IDIQ awardees in each category. After the Government determines the number of IDIQ awards for a category, those firms with the highest overall merit for that Technical Category with fair and reasonable prices will receive awards for that category. After the top approximate 4 to 6 firms are identified, the evaluation team will analyze the pricing of these approximately 4 to 6 offerors for fairness and reasonableness. If any of the top approximately 4 to 6 offerors’ prices are found to be fair and reasonable, those firms will be awarded a contract. If any of the top approximately 4 to 6 offerors’ prices are found not to be fair and reasonable, those firms will be excluded from the competition and will not be further considered. For example, the fairness and reasonableness of those excluded firms’ prices will not be further considered based upon any new comparison with the prices of the next firms (i.e., the firms that were not in the first group of approximately 4 to 6, and therefore whose prices were not originally compared in the first fair and reasonable price determination). Once excluded, that firms’ prices will not be further considered in comparison to any other firms’ prices, even if the excluded firms’ prices were not previously compared against a new firm in the top 4 to 6. The process will continue until approximately 4 to 6 awardees have been identified. At the end of the evaluation process, the Government will have awarded approximately 4 to 6 contracts to the firms with the highest technical merit that have fair and reasonable pricing.

The Government intends to issue IDIQ contracts to a maximum total of 4 to 6 offerors for each Track; however, the Government retains the right to award fewer or more than this should it be determined in its best interest. Offerors will be ranked from highest to lowest merit in each Track. In the event of a tie in the overall merit for a Track, all Offerors tied at the minimum position will receive an award for that Track.

The Government will make an award only if an award is in the best interest of the Government.

The Government intends to strictly enforce all of the proposal submission requirements outlined in Section L. In other words, every proposal submission instruction in Section L is material.

The Contracting Team shall conduct a compliance check of all timely submitted proposals, ensuring each proposal conforms to the instructions set forth in Section L of the RFP. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in an Offeror’s proposal being rejected, except for excess pages it will result in excess pages being removed and not evaluated. The Government intends to evaluate proposals and award an IDIQ contract without discussions; therefore, initial proposals shall contain the Offeror’s best terms from a price and non-price perspective.

The Government reserves the right to request clarifications, as prescribed in FAR Paragraph 15.306(a), from any Offeror to resolve minor or clerical errors. If the Government requests clarifications, the Offeror shall only clarify the Government’s request(s) and is prohibited from revising any portion of its proposal.

The Government reserves the right to communicate with Offerors, as prescribed in FAR Paragraph 15.306(b), to establish a competitive range. The Government reserves the right to communicate with Offerors regarding any factor and concerning any section of their proposal.

The Government intends to make award decisions without conducting discussions, but the Government reserves the right to conduct discussions, as prescribed in FAR Paragraph 15.306(d), with all Offerors within the competitive range. If the Government determines the number of proposals that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the Government may limit the number of proposals in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated proposals.

Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

M.3 RESPONSIBILITY DETERMINATION

RESERVED

M.4 TRACK 1: HARDWARE/SOFTWARE AND ANCILLARY SERVICES

M.4.1 BUSINESS APPROACH (FACTOR I)

The Offeror’s Business Approach submission, as proposed in accordance with Section L.5.1, will be evaluated and rated as follows.

The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s Business Approach submission and the extent to which the Offeror demonstrates ability to provide a complete solution encompassing the full range of required capabilities and broad technology coverage through effective teaming or authorized reseller arrangements. Preference will be given to Offerors who demonstrate:

1. Clear and enforceable contractual relationships with teaming partners or resellers, supported by letters of commitment that detail the scope of involvement.

2. An efficient management structure that ensures seamless coordination and an explanation of how these relationships will be effectively managed to ensure timely delivery, accountability, and alignment with the Government’s objectives.

The Government will assign one of the following confidence ratings and associated numerical rating to the Offeror’s proposal in response to Factor I (Business Approach).

CONFIDENCE

RATING

RATING DESCRIPTION

High Confidence The Government has high confidence that the Offeror demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the requirements.

Some Confidence The Government has some confidence that the Offeror demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the requirements.

Low Confidence The Government has low confidence that the Offeror demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the requirements.

No Confidence The Government has no confidence that the Offeror demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the requirements.

M.4.2 TECHNICAL CAPABILITY (FACTOR II)

The Offeror’s Technical Capability submission, as proposed in accordance with Section L.5.2, will be evaluated and rated as follows.

The Government will evaluate the breadth and depth of the Offeror’s ability to deliver solutions across the functional capabilities for Detection, Tracking, Identification, and Mitigation and th3eir applicability across the specified use cases (fixed location, fixed location/aviation, fixed location/maritime, mobile, mobile/aviation, and mobile/maritime). The evaluation will not be based solely on the completeness of the matrix but rather on the extent to which the Offeror demonstrates their ability to address the wide range of capabilities and use cases. Offerors who provide broader coverage across the matrix will receive higher consideration.

rating to the Offeror’s proposal in response to Factor II (Technical Capability).

RATING DESCRIPTION

High Confidence The Government has high confidence that the Offeror demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the requirements.

Some Confidence The Government has some confidence that the Offeror demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the requirements.

Low Confidence The Government has low confidence that the Offeror demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the requirements.

M.5 TRACK 2: COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES

M.5.1 STAFFING PLAN (FACTOR I)

The Offeror’s Staffing Plan submission, as proposed in accordance with Section L.5.1, will be evaluated and rated as follows.

The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s Staffing Plan submission to determine its effectiveness, feasibility, and ability to provide a clear, detailed, and well-supported staffing plan that address recruitment and retention, management and oversight, flexibility and scalability, and comprehensiveness.

rating to the Offeror’s proposal in response to Factor I (Business Approach).

RATING DESCRIPTION

High Confidence The Government has high confidence that the Offeror demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the requirements.

Some Confidence The Government has some confidence that the Offeror demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the requirements.

Low Confidence The Government has low confidence that the Offeror demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the requirements.

M.5.2 TECHNICAL CAPABILITY (FACTOR II)

The Offeror’s Technical Capability submission, as proposed in accordance with Section L.5.2, will be evaluated and rated as follows.

The Government will evaluate the breadth and depth of the Offeror’s ability to deliver solutions across the functional capabilities for Detection, Tracking, Identification, and Mitigation and thir applicability across the specified use cases (fixed location, fixed location/aviation, fixed location/maritime, mobile, mobile/aviation, and mobile/maritime). The evaluation will not be based solely on the completeness of the matrix but rather on the extent to which the Offeror demonstrates their ability to address the wide range of capabilities and use cases. Offerors who provide broader coverage across the matrix will receive higher consideration.

rating to the Offeror’s proposal in response to Factor II (Technical Capability).

RATING DESCRIPTION

High Confidence The Government has high confidence that the Offeror demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the requirements.

Some Confidence The Government has some confidence that the Offeror demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the requirements.

Low Confidence The Government has low confidence that the Offeror demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the requirements.

M.6 PRICE PROPOSAL (FACTOR III)

M.6.1 PRICING TEMPLATE (Attachment 1 – Track 1 Pricing Schedule for Use Case Scenario and Attachment 2 – Pricing Schedule for Track 2 – Comprehensive Services)

Proposed prices will only be evaluated to determine if the proposed rates are fair and reasonable.

Additionally, only Offerors determined to be the highest technically ranked will have their price proposals evaluated.

The Government will evaluate the Highest Technically Rated Offeror’s pricing submitted for each track for completeness, as well as fair and reasonableness. Completeness means that the Offeror supplied all information requested for each Technical Track the Offeror is proposing and adhered to the instructions in Section L.6. The Government intends to strictly enforce all of the proposal submission requirements outlined in Section L. In other words, every proposal submission instruction in Section L is material. Incomplete information in Attachment 1 – Track 1 Pricing Schedule for Use Case Scenario and Attachment 2 – Pricing Schedule for Track 2 – Comprehensive Services will result in the Offeror’s proposal being rejected.

Fair and reasonableness will be evaluated in accordance with the techniques contained in FAR 15.404-1(b)(2).

In the event it is determined that the proposed pricing is not fair and reasonable for a particular Technical Category/CLIN, the Offeror shall be eliminated from further consideration for award for that Technical Category/CLIN unless discussions are conducted. The fair and reasonable evaluation of rates will be used to establish Maximum Rates on awarded contracts.

M.10.2 Evaluation of FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services

The Government will consider the option at FAR 52.217-8 to have been evaluated through the evaluation of rates proposed for contract periods included within Attachment 1 – Track 1 Pricing Schedule for Use Case Scenario and Attachment 2 – Pricing Schedule for Track 2 – Comprehensive Services to this solicitation, as well as those future rates established through technical refresh and formally established within an Ordering Period. Offerors should assume that if the Government exercises clause FAR 52.217-8 to extend performance, that the option will be priced at the rates in effect when the option is exercised.

M.10.3 Assumptions/Exceptions/Deviations

The Offeror is prohibited from proposing deviations/exceptions/ assumptions. If deviations/exceptions/assumptions are included in the proposal, the Offeror will be ineligible for an award.

(End of Section M)