Attachment_12_Ordering_Instructions.docx

Operation of the Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET) SOL-DC-15-00079

ATTACHMENT 12

Ordering Instructions

(a) The CO will initiate a new task order by submitting a request for a task order technical proposal and cost estimate to the Contractor via email. The request will include: the task order statement of work (SOW), attachments or supplemental information (if any), task order terms and conditions (if any), wage determination (if applicable), submission instructions, and the due date for the task order proposal. Requesting a task order proposal does not commit the Government to awarding a task order.

(b) The Contractor shall submit a task order technical proposal and cost estimate within ten (10) calendar days and in accordance with the submission instructions. Longer proposal preparation times are solely at the Government’s discretion. Preparation of proposals and proposal revisions are not direct charges to this contract. The Government will evaluate the task order proposal and cost estimate received. The Government may negotiate and/or request revisions to the task order proposal if deemed necessary. Once the Government has accepted the task order proposal and cost estimate, the CO will issue a task order by sending a funded (fully or incrementally funded) task order on Optional Form 347 with the task order SOW and if applicable, task order specific terms and conditions to the Contractor. The Contractor shall acknowledge receipt of each task order request to the CO within two (2) business days of receipt. The Government reserves the right to accept parts of an acceptable proposal in order to commence work activities on those definitized/accepted areas while negotiations are conducted to reach agreement on the unacceptable areas of the proposal.

(c) For purpose of this contract, proposal staffing plan stated under the Ordering—By Designated Ordering Officers clause shall mean a technical proposal and cost estimate and estimated labor hours mentioned under the same clause will not be provided by the Government to the Contractor.

(d) Task Orders may include their own special terms and conditions including clauses to which the contractor shall adhere. Task orders may include optional periods and/or optional quantities with the applicable clauses to be incorporated. All special terms and conditions will be included in the CO’s request for task order proposal and in the awarded task order. The proposal shall indicate the Contractor’s acceptance of the task order level terms and conditions.

(e) Task orders may be placed at any point during the ordering period of the contract. Individual orders will have unique periods of performance which may include optional periods. No task order may have a period of performance that goes longer than expiration of the contract or as authorized under the Indefinite Quantity clause in Section I of this contract.

(f) Task Orders will be requested and awarded as a time-and-materials (T&M) order with ceiling price which the Contractor is not authorized to exceed and the Contractor exceeds at its own risk.

(g) Electronic and verbal ordering by an EPA Contracting Officer is authorized under this contract as well as methods mentioned under FAR 52.216-18 Ordering clause.

(h) The Contractor is permitted to propose discounts off the Schedule rates which are exclusive and binding to the task order.

(j) The Contractor shall submit all analyses, options, recommendations, reports and training materials required under these task orders in draft for critical review by the Contracting Officer or the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The Government will make all final regulatory, policy, and interpretive decisions resulting from contractor-provided technical support under this contract and make the final decision on all contractor-provided recommendations. The contractor shall not publish or otherwise release, distribute, or disclose any work product generated under this contract without obtaining EPA’s express written approval.