14-00002-TechproposalInst.docx

Attachment #5

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF TECHNICAL PROPOSALS

I. General Instructions

(a) The offeror shall submit a cover letter indicating that the proposal is its official offer to the Government. The letter must be signed by an official authorized to bind the offeror. The proposal shall be considered to be firm for a period of not less than one hundred eighty (180) days from the due date of the solicitation.

(b) The offeror shall submit an electronic copy (in Microsoft Word or .pdf) via www.FedConnect.net of the Technical Proposal, the Quality Management Plan, the Security Plan, and the Small Business Subcontracting Plan.

(c) All submitted materials shall be submitted electronically, and the document must be single spaced, no less than 1" margins. Pages must be numbered consecutively. A page is defined as one side of a piece of paper. Type size shall not be less than 10 point. Any page over the page limit provided below (see Section II. Technical Proposal Instructions) as well as any page not conforming to the specifications above will not be reviewed.

II. Technical Proposal Instructions

The technical proposal shall be submitted as a separate part of the proposal package. All cost or pricing information shall be excluded from the technical proposal. The technical proposal is limited to 100 pages exclusive of the required resumes, letters of intent, past performance questionnaires, Quality Management Plan, Security Plan, and Small Business Subcontracting Plan. Any page exceeding the maximum limit will not be reviewed.

(a) Technical Approach and Understanding

The offeror shall provide a technical approach with sufficient information to successfully perform each of the following task areas of the SOW: Task 1 – Collection of Data; Task 2 – Data Analysis; Task 3 – Technical Program Support – General Support; Task 4 – Technical Program Support – Program Specific; and Task 5 – Physical Testing.

(b) Qualifications and Availability of Personnel

The offeror shall provide sufficient information to demonstrate its qualifications (i.e., experience, education, and expertise) and availability of the key, and other than key, personnel in providing services similar in nature to those described in the SOW.

For Key Personnel, the offeror shall include resumes which include sufficient information to demonstrate the qualifications necessary to successfully perform the requirements of the SOW. Resumes should include examples of work similar in nature to this contract that have been performed in similar roles by the Key Personnel. Each resume shall not exceed four (4) pages. Any page exceeding the maximum limit will not be reviewed.

The offeror shall submit a Staffing Plan which illustrates its understanding of the requirement, as well as availability of qualified employees to contribute to this requirement. This plan shall outline the key and other personnel to be assigned to perform this contract. The information shall include present employment status, proportion of time available for this contract, as well as the nature and extent of commitment to other projects. For Key Personnel, the offeror shall disclose the ability to replace individuals with equally qualified personnel if the Key Personnel need to be replaced. If Key Personnel are not presently employed by the company, include letters of intent. Offerors shall specifically address the economic, scientific (i.e., chemistry, toxicology, computer programming, computer modeling) expertise and/or experience of proposed individuals for both key and non-key personnel.

The offeror will be evaluated on its demonstrated experience with large, complex projects requiring extensive coordination both within and outside the organization; and the demonstrated ability and experience in working with those on the proposed contracting team including other groups of the same organization as demonstrated in the Staffing Plan and in the resumes of Key Personnel. The offeror shall also provide a mix of professional labor levels demonstrating the capability of the offeror to provide qualified personnel with an appropriate mix of labor levels to staff the contract (e.g., Professional Level (PL) 1, PL2, PL3, and PL4). Offerors shall use the following labor classifications in preparing their technical and cost proposals:

PROFESSIONAL:

(1) Level 4 - Plans, conducts and supervises projects of major significance, necessitating advanced knowledge and the ability to originate and apply new and unique methods and procedures. Supplies technical advice and counsel to other professionals. Generally operates with wide latitude for unreviewed action.

Typical Title: Project Leader, Senior Agricultural Economist, Senior Resource and Environmental Economist, Senior Toxicologist, and/or Senior Chemist Typical qualifications: Ph.D. Degree or equivalent; and Experience: 10 years or more

(2) Level 3 - Under general supervision of project leader, plans, conducts and supervises assignments normally involving smaller or less important projects. Estimates and schedules work to meet completion dates. Directs assistance, reviews progress and evaluates results; makes changes in method where necessary. Operates with some latitude for unreviewed action or decision.

Typical Title: Task Manager, Senior Agricultural Economist, Senior Resource and Environmental Economist, Senior Statistician, Senior Agronomist, Senior Toxicologist, Senior Chemist, Senior Chemical Engineer, Senior Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, or Senior Programmer Typical Qualifications: Ph.D. Degree, Masters Degree, or equivalent to either; and Experience: 6 years or more

(3) Level 2 - Under supervision of a senior or project leader, carries out assignment associate with projects. Translates technical guidance received from supervisor into usable information applicable to the particular assignment. Coordinates the activities or research assistants. Assignments are varied and require some originality and ingenuity.

Typical Title: Agricultural Economist, Resource and Environmental Economist, Statistician, Agronomist, Toxicologist, Chemist, Chemical Engineer, Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, Programmer, or Communications Specialist Typical Qualifications: B.A. or B.S. Degree or equivalent to either; and Experience: 3 years or more

(4) Level 1 - Lowest or entering classification. Works under close supervision of senior or project leader. Gathers and correlates basic data and performs routine analyses. Works on less complicated assignments where little evaluation is required.

Typical Title: Agricultural Economist, Resource and Environmental Economist, Statistician, Agronomist, Research Assistant, Analyst, Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, Programmer, or Communication Specialist Typical Qualifications: B.A. or B.S. Degree or equivalent; and Experience: no previous experience required

*NOTE: The sections titled, “Typical Title”, “Typical Qualifications”, and “Experience”, as listed above, are not necessarily required to be met for this contract; instead the examples should be used by offerors to gauge the qualifications the Government is seeking for each professional level.

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS SUBSTITUTIONS:

Any combination of additional years of experience in the proposed field of expertise plus full time college level study in the particular field totaling four (4) years will be an acceptable substitute for a B.A. or B.S. Degree.

A B.A. or B.S. Degree plus any combination or additional years of experience and graduate level study in the proposed field of expertise totaling two (2) years will be an acceptable substitute for a Master’s Degree.

A B.A. or B.S. Degree plus any combination of additional years of experience and graduate level study in the proposed field of expertise totaling four (4) years or a Master Degree plus two (2) years of either additional experience or graduate level study in the proposed field of expertise will be an acceptable substitute for a Ph.D. Degree.

Additional years of graduate level study in an appropriate field will be considered equal to years of experience on a one-for-one basis.

*NOTE: For labor positions other than required Key Personnel, the contractor may propose their own labor levels and mix in order to complete the work.

(c) Past Performance

The offeror shall submit the past performance information requested in Section L, Clause L-14, entitled, PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION (EPAAR 1552.215-75).

(d) Written Plans

(2) Security Plan (see section H clause, EPAAR 1552.235-75, Access to Toxic Substances Control Act Confidential Business Information as well as the requirements for Security Plans outlined at the following website: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/pubs/tsca-cbi-protection-manual.pdf)

(3) Small Business Subcontracting Plan (see Section I clause, FAR 52.219-9 SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTING PLAN)