Attachment_2_Proposal_Instructions_and_Evaluation_Factors.pdf

UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Attachment 2- Proposal Instructions and Evaluation Factors

RFQ- SFSIAQ17R0005

AV

Notices and Proposal Instructions

FAR 52.216-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT. (APR 1984)

The government contemplates award of Labor Hour type task order resulting from this solicitation.

(End of provision)

FAR 52.217-5 EVALUATION OF OPTIONS. (JULY 1990)

Except when it is determined in accordance with FAR 17.206(b) not to be in the government’s best interests, the government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. Evaluation of options will not obligate the government to exercise the option(s).

FAR 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (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 shall 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 quotation or offer. 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 quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

http://acquisition.gov http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vfdosara.htm

DOSAR 652.206-70 ADVOCATE FOR COMPETITION/OMBUDSMAN (FEB 2015)

(a) The Department of State’s Advocate for Competition is responsible for assisting industry in removing restrictive requirements from Department of State solicitations and removing barriers to full and open competition and use of commercial items. If such a solicitation is considered competitively restrictive or does not appear properly conducive to competition and commercial practices, potential offerors are encouraged first to contact the contracting office for the solicitation. If concerns remain unresolved, contact:

(1) For solicitations issued by the Office of Acquisition Management (A/LM/AQM) or a Regional

Procurement Support Office, the A/LM/AQM Advocate for Competition, at

AQMCompetitionAdvocate@state.gov.

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/html/Subpart%2017_2.html#wp1078150 http://acquisition.gov/ http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vfdosara.htm mailto:AQMCompetitionAdvocate@state.gov

(2) For all others, the Department of State Advocate for Competition at cat@state.gov.

(b) The Department of State’s Acquisition Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from potential offerors and contractors during the pre-award and post-award phases of this acquisition. The role of the ombudsman is not to diminish the authority of the contracting officer, the Technical Evaluation

Panel or Source Evaluation Board, or the selection official. The purpose of the ombudsman is to facilitate the communication of concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations of interested parties to the appropriate Government personnel, and work to resolve them. When requested and appropriate, the ombudsman shall maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals, the source selection process, or the adjudication of formal contract disputes. Interested parties are invited to contact the contracting activity ombudsman, Raymond

Bouford, at 703-875-5429 or fax 703-875-6155. For an American Embassy or overseas post, refer to the numbers below for the Department Acquisition Ombudsman. Concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations which cannot be resolved at a contracting activity level may be referred to the

Department of State Acquisition Ombudsman at (703) 516-1696 or write to: Department of State, Acquisition Ombudsman, Office of the Procurement Executive (A/OPE), Suite 1060, SA-15, Washington, DC 20520.

(End of provision)

QUESTIONS REGARDING SOLICIATION

(a) Prospective offerors should submit any questions regarding this solicitation in writing to the

Contracting Officer via email to ElsasserJA@state.gov. Questions should be received by May 26, 2017 by 4:00 p.m. ET to ensure a timely response. Questions received after that date shall not be answered prior to the date established for the receipt of proposals.

(b) The Department of State does not plan to hold a pre-proposal conference for prospective offerors. If, after a review of questions submitted by offerors, the DOS believes a pre-proposal conference is necessary, one shall be scheduled and all prospective offerors shall be advised.

Additional Instructions

1. PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

(a) Offeror.

The term "offeror," as used in this section refers to the single entity submitting the proposal. The offeror may be a single corporation or a "contractor team arrangement" as defined in FAR 9.601, for example, a limited liability company, limited liability partnership, joint venture, or similar entity or arrangement. The offeror may be an existing or newly-formed business entity for the purposes of competing for any task order resulting from this solicitation. If the offeror is a newly formed entity, it must be legally established on or before the date for submission of proposals.

mailto:cat@state.gov mailto:ElsasserJA@state.gov

(b) Submission of Electronic Proposals.

Receipt of electronic proposals shall only be accepted via email to ElsasserJA@state.gov and must be received on June 16, 2017 by 4:00 p.m. ET. See FAR 15.208 "Submission, modification, revision, and withdrawal of proposals." for treatment of late proposals. Offerors must submit its proposal in accordance with the Proposal Preparation Instruction contained herein.

Files documents are to be submitted as Adobe PDF (except for Volume III) in response to the solicitation shall be identified as follows:

Volume I - SFSIAQ17R0005 offer

Volume II - SFSIAQ17R0005 technical information

Volume III - SFSIAQ17R0005 pricing

Proposals are to include the following information:

*Name of company.

*Company point of contact name, a telephone number and an email address.

*Dun and Bradstreet Number.

(c) Offerors must complete the following blocks on the Standard Form 1449:

* Block 17A: Place a duly appointed individual’s name, address, telephone number including area code, and DUNS number in this block.

* Block 30A: Place the duly appointed individual’s signature in this block.

* Block 30B: Place the duly appointed individual’s name is this block.

* Block 30C: Place the date of the signature in this block.

(d) Solicitation instructions and proposal information.

(1) Proposals are expected to conform to all solicitation requirements and the instructions contained in this section. The government will evaluate proposals on the basis of the information provided in the proposal. The government will not assume that an offeror possesses any capability unless set forth in the proposal.

(2) These instructions are not evaluation factors. However, failure to provide the requested information may make an offeror ineligible for award or adversely affect the government's evaluation of an offeror's proposal. In addition, a proposal may be eliminated from further consideration before the initial rating if the proposal is so grossly and obviously deficient as to be totally unacceptable on its face. For example, a proposal may be deemed unacceptable if it does not represent a reasonable initial effort to address the essential requirements of the solicitation, or if it clearly demonstrates that the offeror does not understand the requirements of the solicitation.

(e) Proposal volumes and page limitations.

The overall proposal shall consist of separate volumes, organized and individually entitled as stated below, with the following page limitations:

(i) Volume I, Offer and Other Documents - No page limit.

(ii) Volume II, Technical Proposal. Page limit is 35 pages.

(iii) Volume III Pricing Proposal. Offerors are to complete Attachment 5.

*Individual volume file size shall not exceed 5 MB.

(f) Proposal specifications.

(1) Table of contents. Each volume shall contain a table of contents and a glossary of abbreviations and acronyms. The table of contents in each volume shall identify the section, subsection, paragraph titles, and page numbers, as well as all spreadsheets, charts, tables, figures, diagrams, design drawings, and graphs.

(2) Page size. Page size shall be 8½ x 11 inches for text pages, excluding foldouts. Page size for foldouts shall not exceed 11 x 17 inches; foldouts may be used for large tables, charts, graphs, diagrams, design drawings, or other schematics. Foldout pages shall fold entirely within the volume in which it appears.

(3) Print type. Text shall be 12 point or larger, double-spaced, using Times New Roman font type.

Headers and footers, spreadsheets, charts, tables, diagrams or design drawings, and graphs must be 10 point or larger using Times New Roman font type.

(4) Page margins. Page margins for text pages and foldouts shall be a minimum of one inch at the top, bottom, and each side. Each page shall, within the one inch top or bottom margins, set forth the solicitation number; and name of the offeror.

(5) Page numbering. All pages shall be sequentially numbered by volume.

(6) This solicitation is considered complete and adequately describes the government's requirements. If an offeror believes that there is an error in the solicitation, or an omission, the offeror shall submit a question to the Contracting Officer via email to ElsasserJA@state.gov.

(g) False Statements. Proposals must set forth full, accurate, and complete information as required by this solicitation (including attachments). The penalty for making false statements in proposals is prescribed in

18 U.S.C. 1001.

(h) Examination of data. By submission of a proposal, the offeror grants to the Contracting Officer, or an authorized representative of the Contracting Officer, the right to examine, for purposes of verifying the data submitted, those books, records, documents, and other supporting data (regardless of form) which shall permit an adequate evaluation of the proposal. This right may be exercised in connection with any reviews deemed necessary by the Contracting Officer prior to award.

(i) Commitment of Public Funds. The Contracting Officer is the only individual who can legally award a contract and commit the government to the expenditure of public funds in connection with the proposed acquisition. Any other commitment, either explicit or implied, is invalid.

(j) This requirement will be conducted in accordance with FAR subpart 12 and policies and procedures from FAR subpart 15 as a single awarded IDIQ will result from this solicitation. As such, debriefing as described in FAR 15.506 is applicable in this instance. Offerors must follow procedures specified in FAR subpart 15.5 for all pre-award, award, post-award notifications, protests and mistakes. Based on the written request from the offeror, only that information which is required to be provided in accordance with FAR subpart 15.5 will be provided to the offeror.

2. QUOTE PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS: VOLUME I—QUOTE AND OTHER

DOCUMENTS

I. General: Volume I, Quote and Other Documents consists of the actual offer to enter into an IDIQ to perform the desired work.

II. Format and Content - Volume I, Offer and Other Documents includes the following information:

a. The proposal form

i. Use of the form. The Standard Form 1449 shall be fully executed by an authorized representative of the offeror. This form shall be used as the cover sheet of Volume I, Quote and Other Documents. Offerors shall complete the following blocks on the SF1449: 12, 17 and 30.

ii. Acceptance Period

iii. The offeror must identify any exceptions, deviations or conditional assumptions to the terms and conditions of the RFQ. The offeror is hereby advised that any exceptions, deviations or conditional assumptions may render the offeror’s quote ineligible for an award.

iv. Offeror shall provide a statement indicating whether or not it anticipates organizational or individual conflicts of interest in performance of the work.

v. Offeror shall provide a copy of its applicable GSA Schedule.

QUOTE PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS: VOLUME II—TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Note: No pricing information should appear in this section. Instead all pricing data should only appear in Volume III.

Note: An offeror must not simply state that it is willing to perform the PWS requirements. Offerors must show they are capable of performing the work described in the PWS.

Note: Contractor Teaming Arrangements (CTA): If a CTA is quoted, the offeror must provide a breakout of what work will be performed by the prime and each teaming partner. Past experience will be evaluated on the total solution offered.

I. General: Volume II – Technical Information shall consist of the technical proposal and a discussion of the offeror’s depth and relevant experience in relation to the PWS. Volume II shall not exceed thirty-five

(35) one-sided pages excluding the Key Personnel Resumes. The offeror shall propose based on the

Performance Work Statement (PWS) (Attachment 3) and proposal criteria described on the next page.

Criterion 1: Technical Capability The offeror shall demonstrate its ability to accomplish the work described in the PWS, specifically, to include but not limited to, the ability to perform audio visual technical support, audio visual project services, eLearning and blended learning development, and program/contract management services and support to include its understanding of the required support described in the PWS.

Furthermore, the offeror shall provide its ability to address anticipated potential problem areas, and creativity and feasibility of solutions to problems and future integration of new processes and technology enhancements, which would come to bear particularly in expert consultation sessions, as well as any other issues the Government should be aware of.

Criterion 2: Management Approach The offeror shall provide the government with a detailed Management and Communication Plan, Staffing

Plan and Transition Plan that addresses this requirement.

The offeror shall submit an effective Management and Communication Plan that will optimize the accomplishment of the PWS as part of its proposal. The administrative approach and activities of managing the contractor staff located onsite (whether management resides onsite or offsite) shall be stated in the Management and Communication Plan. If partially staffed by a subcontractor or CTA, the plan shall detail how the task order shall be managed vis-à-vis the subcontractor and/or CTA. The plan shall specify process for communicating with program personnel and deliverable status.

The contractor shall submit a Staffing Plan developed as part of its proposal. The approach for hiring and retaining staff shall be stated in the Staffing Plan.

Offerors must also provide a detailed orientation program in which the offeror develops a process to prepare each contractor for working at FSI, in accordance with the PWS.

The offeror shall submit a Transition Plan at proposal submission. The offeror shall address Transition-In

Plan (TIP) and a Transition-Out Plan (TOP). The offeror shall describe the transition methods, budget management, issues, resolutions, and communication plans. The offeror shall assign an experienced

Transition Project Manager(s) to manage all aspects of the TIP and TOP to transfer knowledge, tools, documentation, equipment, processes and methodology from the current contractor(s) to the new contractor and its team.

The TIP shall include, at minimum:

• A detailed work break-down structure with intermediate and major milestones;

• A list of all major milestones and deliverables;

• A list of costs associated with each major milestone;

• Processes and standards used to ensure meeting the objective of the PWS during the transition;

• Testing Contractor operational processes for verification of full operational capability; and

• Governance methods, to include regular reporting to FSI/EX/AV.

The TOP shall include at minimum:

• A detailed TOP to be conducted at the time of non-renewal or termination of services that shall not exceed 45-calendar days in length. The TOP shall be adjusted to align with the follow-on provider TIP.

This plan shall identify, track and coordinate resolution of transition-related issues.

• A detailed work break-down structure.

• Deliverables and description of deliverables.

• A related-staffing plan that shows the staffing requirements by milestone and skill and the status of the staffing plan.

• Identification of the contractor’s staffing requirements by skill set and related hours/days.

• Identification of contractor-required-transition tools and equipment;

• All transition-related contractor personnel as needed to meet the milestones of the Transition Plan.

• A weekly status report to FSI/EX/AV on the progress of the TOP, highlighting:

o Milestones completed per TOP;

o Milestones missed or forecasted to be missed per TOP;

o Latest Forecast Completion Date of TOP; and o Escalated Issues and Up-to-the-Minute Status.

• Conduct the transition by cooperatively working with the follow-on provider to plan and conduct a coordinated transition-out without disruption or degradation of current service performance.

Criterion 3: Key Personnel Capability and Experience The personnel capabilities of the key personnel proposed by offerors must, at minimum, meet the qualifications identified in Attachment 4 Position Descriptions and to the extent to which the proposed personnel ability to provide the work required in the PWS.

In particular, the proposed Key Personnel – TechLab Manager and Senior Audiovisual Engineer – technical and analytical capabilities must be proven in terms of quality of educational background, work experience and professional development to perform under this task order.

Resumes must be submitted for proposed key personnel. Offerors must use Attachment 3 Resume

Format. Each key personnel resume is limited to 5 pages, which does not contribute to the maximum page limit for Volume II.

Criterion 4: Relevant Corporate Experience

The Offeror shall specifically describe experience with the full scope of activities relevant to performing

Audiovisual Support services requirement.

The Offeror shall describe its experience:

• Providing Audio Visual Technical Support;

• Audio Visual Project Services;

• eLearning and Blended Learning Development;

• Program/Contract Management Services and Support;

For experience acquired as a subcontractor or teaming partner, identify the prime contractor and describe the depth and extent of the work performed, to include the percentage of the total contract dollar value performed by the Offeror’s company.

Offeror Experience: The Offeror shall describe its relevant experience in the disciplines described in the preceding paragraphs in performing work of a similar size, scope, and complexity. Size is defined as dollar value and contract duration; scope is defined as type of work; and complexity is defined as performance challenges and risk.

Subcontractor and Other Performing Entities Experience: In addition to the Offeror's relevant experience, then Offeror shall provide the relevant experience of any proposed subcontractors and any other entities that are proposed to perform work under the contract. The Offeror shall describe the relevant experience, similar in size, scope, and complexity, in relation to that portion of the PWS proposed to be performed by the subcontractor or other entity. Other entities may include members of a joint venture, LLC or other similar entity.

Relevant Contracts: The Offeror shall provide experience information on up to three (3) contracts performed by the Offeror and up to three (3) contracts performed by each proposed subcontractor or other performing entity.

If the Offeror is a newly formed entity, the Offeror shall provide experience information on up to three (3) contracts for each parent organization(s) or each member organization if the Offeror is a joint venture, LLC, or similar entity. These contracts shall have been completed within the last three (3) years or currently ongoing. In addition, the Offeror shall provide the contract number; issuing entity; contract price; contract type; contact name, address, and phone number; and duration of the contract. Contracts may be with Federal, state, and local Governments and/or with commercial customers. The experience information shall identify the portion of the work (as both a percentage and the types of work activities) under each of the referenced contracts performed by the Offeror, subcontractor, or other entity. For example, if the Offeror was a partner company in an LLC or a subcontractor during the performance of the referenced contract, the Offeror shall identify that portion of the work (as both a percentage and the types of work activities) the Offeror/subcontractor/other entity performed during the referenced contract.

Criterion 5: Past Performance The offeror shall demonstrate the basis of the firm’s ability to successfully provide services related to the

PWS within the past five (5) years, sufficient to determine the offeror’s ability to perform required tasks.

The offeror shall provide information concerning its largest three contracts as they relate to the PWS, within the past five (5) years. If unable to provide 3 federal sources, commercial clients shall suffice.

Information should include contract number and customer names/contact numbers, contract scope, and complexity. Information should be limited to relevant contracts/projects of a similar nature.

In addition, the offeror shall provide the past performance questionnaire (Attachment 13 to this solicitation and posted at fbo.gov) to each of the references listed in the offeror’s proposal and ask each reference to complete it and return it directly to ElsasserJA@state.gov as indicated in the instructions on the questionnaire. Surveys submitted by the offeror directly to the Government will not be accepted or considered when evaluating

4. QUOTE PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS: VOLUME III – PRICE QUOTE INSTRUCTIONS

NOTE: Volume III must be submitted in MS Excel file format

Offerors shall use the Attachment 12 Pricing Matrix when submitting the price quote. The offeror shall provide rates for the DOS line items outlined in the Pricing Matrix. If proposing a subcontractor(s) or

CTA, the offeror must identify which company will support the each line item.

1. Travel. The Offeror shall provide pricing for travel to support FSI on campus, when required.

2. Discounts. In an effort to receive the highest quality solution at the lowest possible price the government requests all available discounts on all services offered by the contractor for this requirement.

The contractor is encouraged to offer discounts below contract rates. When offering discounts, quotes must clearly identify both the contract and the discount price for each discounted labor rate.

3. Each price set for each position shall be a fully burdened rate to include fringe benefits and all overhead costs.

5. EVALUATION FACTORS

I. DOS will evaluate all quotes to determine the best value to the government. DOS will make that determination based on each contractor’s quote using the following evaluation factors: Technical

Capability; Management Approach; Key Personnel Capability, Relevant Corporate Experience;

Past Performance; and Price.

II. Basis for Award

The government intends to select an offeror for award of a task order that represents the best value to the government. In determining the best value to the government, the evaluation factors for the technical proposal, when combined, are significantly more important than the evaluated price. All technical factors are equal in importance. The government is more concerned with obtaining a superior technical proposal than making award at the lowest evaluated price.

However, the government shall not make an award at a price premium it considers disproportionate to the benefits associated with the evaluated superiority of one offeror's technical proposal over another.

The government will assess what the strengths and weaknesses among competing technical proposals indicate from the standpoint of: (1) what the difference might mean in terms of anticipated performance, and (2) what the evaluated price to the government would be to take advantage of the difference. The more similar in merit that offerors' technical proposals are evaluated to be, the more likely the evaluated price may be the determining factor in selection for award.

III. Relative Importance of Evaluation Criteria

(a) The relative importance of the evaluation factors for the Technical Proposal are listed below:

CRITERION 1 – Technical Capability, Less Important

CRITERION 2 – Management Approach, More Important

CRITERION 3 – Key Personnel Capability and Experience, Critical Importance

Less Important: Means that this evaluation factor is less important that all other evaluation factors marked at

“critical”, “more”, or “moderate”.

More Important: Means that this evaluation factor is more important than those marked “less important” but not as important as “critical importance”.

CRITERION 4 – Relevant Corporate Experience, More Important; and

CRITERION 5 – Past Performance, Moderately Important

Each evaluation factor applicable to this solicitation is identified and described in this and other provisions of this Attachment.

(b) The evaluation factors for the Technical Proposal, when combined, are significantly more important than the evaluated price. Additionally, each evaluation factor within the Technical

Proposal will be given a Risk evaluation in order to assess the potential for disruption of schedule, degradation for performance, the need for increased Government oversight or the likelihood of unsuccessful contract performance.

IV. Technical Proposal\Criterion 1: Technical Capability Evaluation

The government will evaluate the offeror’s technical approach to accomplishing the work described in the PWS. Specifically, the government will evaluate offeror’s ability of performing audio visual technical support, audio visual project services, eLearning and blended learning development, and program/contract management services. The government will evaluate the offeror’s understanding of the required support described in the PWS. Evaluation shall include how well the offeror demonstrates understanding of the depth and complexity of the work to be performed and the preparation involved for required tasks.

V. Technical Proposal\Criterion 2: Management Approach Evaluation

The government will evaluate the offeror’s management approach based on the offeror’s

Management and Communication Plan, Staffing Plan and Transition Plan. All plans will be evaluated with respect to the plan’s feasibility, comprehensiveness, efficiency and effectiveness.

In addition, the Transition Plan will be evaluated on the extent that it provides for a smooth and orderly transition, identifies key issues and milestones, identifies potential barriers to a smooth transition, proposes solutions to the barriers identified, and minimizes impacts on continuity of operations. The government will consider the feasibility and completeness of the offeror’s schedule of transition activities and plan to interact with incumbent contractor and DOS personnel.

VI. Technical Proposal\Criterion 3: Key Personnel Capability and Experience Evaluation

The personnel capabilities of the key personnel proposed by the offeror shall be evaluated based on the extent to which the offeror demonstrates the proposed personnel’s ability to provide the work required in the PWS.

Critical Importance: Means that this evaluation factor is more important that all other evaluation factors marked at

“more”, “moderate”, or “less”.

Moderately Important: Means that this evaluation factor is more important than those termed “less important” but not as high as “critical” or “more” important.

VII. Technical Proposal\Criterion 4: Relevant Corporate Experience

FSI will evaluate experience of activities listed in Attachment 3 (Scope) of this solicitation relevant to performing audio visual support services as it applies to performing audio visual technical support, audio visual project services, eLearning and blended learning development, and program/contract management services.

VIII. Technical Proposal/Criterion 5: Past Performance

(a) Offeror. The Offeror will be evaluated on the currency, relevancy, and quality of its past performance, in performing work similar in scope, size, and complexity to that described in the

PWS to assess the Offeror's potential success in performing the work required by the contract.

Similar scope, size, and complexity are defined as follows: scope - type of work in language proficiency testing support services; size - dollar value and contract duration; and complexity -performance challenges and risk.

In its evaluation the Government will consider past performance in the following areas:

Quality of Product or Service

The Offeror will be evaluated on: compliance with contract requirements, quality of deliverables, and technical excellence to include Quality awards/certifications.

Timeliness of Performance

The Offeror will be evaluated on: how well the Offeror met milestones, reliability, responsiveness to technical direction, deliverables completed/submitted on time and adherence to contract schedules.

Cost Control

The Offeror will be evaluated on: the ability to operate at or below budget/ceiling for the contract or task order, the use of cost efficiencies, currency, accuracy and completeness of invoices, submission of reasonably priced proposals for changes, REA's and/or claims, and overall cost performance.

Business Practices

The Offeror will be evaluated on its ability to provide: effective management, reasonable/cooperative behavior with the technical representative(s) and Contracting Officer, management and retention of key personnel, flexibility, responsiveness to inquiries, and business-like concern for the Government's interests.

Customer Satisfaction

The Offeror shall be evaluated on overall customer satisfaction.

Project Management

The Offeror will be evaluated on how effective its project management system is at: planning, monitoring, budgeting and reporting.

(b) Subcontractors. In addition to evaluation of the Offeror's relevant past performance, the

Offeror's major proposed subcontractors over a $1 million in proposed contract work and any other entities that are proposed to perform work over a $1 million under the contract will be evaluated on the quality of their recent respective past performance in performing work similar in scope, size, and complexity to that proposed to be performed by that individual entity.

(c) Newly formed entity. If the Offeror, subcontractors, or other performing entities are a newly formed entity with no record of relevant past performance, the evaluation of past performance may be based on the past performance of any parent organization(s) or member organizations in a joint venture, LLC, or other similar entity consistent with the evaluation described in paragraphs

(a) and (b) above. Past performance of predecessor companies resulting from mergers and acquisitions may also be considered.

(d) No record of past performance. If the Offeror, subcontractors, or other performing entities do not have a record of relevant past performance or if information is not available, the Offeror will be evaluated neither favorably nor unfavorably.

(e) Sources of past performance information. The Government will evaluate past performance information provided by the Offeror and other available information. The Government may contact any or all of the references provided by the Offeror and will consider such information obtained in its evaluation. The Government may also consider past performance information from sources other than those provided by the Offeror, such as commercial and government clients, government records, regulatory agencies, and government databases such as the Government's

Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System.

Note: The government may review past performance information beyond the information provided by the offeror.

VIIII. Price Evaluation Criteria

Price will be evaluated to determine the fairness and reasonableness of proposed pricing. Price will be evaluated separate from all non-price elements of the quote. A rating will not be assigned to the evaluation of price.