Solicitation 12C0BA25R0001 17SEP2025.pdf

Solicitation No. 12C0BA25R0001

Solicitation for Lender-Placed Insurance Services

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation;

proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

The Government is conducting this acquisition in accordance with FAR Part 13 - Simplified Acquisition Procedures and FAR Part 12 - Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services. The Government intends to award a single award stand-alone firm-fixed-price commercial contract.

1. Action Code: Solicitation

2. Date: September 17, 2025

3. Year: 2025

4. Contracting Office ZIP Code: 20250

5. Product or Service Code: G008 Social – Government Insurance Programs:

Other

6. NAICS Code 524210 - Insurance Agencies and Brokerage

7. Contracting Office Address: 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C.

20250

8. Solicitation Number 12C0BA25R0001

9. Closing Response Date: October 15, 2025

10. Contracting Officer: Sora Jung – sora.jung@usda.gov

11. Contract Award Number: TBD

12. Contract Award Amount: TBD

13. Line-Item Number: CLINs 0001 (Base Year); 1001 (Option Year 1), 2001 (Option Year 2), 3001 (Option Year 3), 4001 (Option Year 4); 4002 (FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services)

14. Estimated Contract Award Date:

December 30, 2025; Contract Start Date to begin December 30, 2025

15. Description: Lender Placed Insurance Services

16. Place of Contract

Performance:

United States of America and U.S. Territories

17. Set-aside Status: Unrestricted mailto:sora.jung@usda.gov

1 SECTION 1. SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

2 SECTION 2. SUPPLIES / SERVICES AND PRICES/ COSTS

3 SECTION 3. DESCRTION OF REQUIREMENT

4 SECTION 4. PACKAGING AND MARKING

5 SECTION 5. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

6 SECTION 6. DEVLIERIES OR PERFORMANCE

7 SECTION 7. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

8 SECTION 8. SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

9 SECTION 9. CONTRACT CLAUSES

10 SECTION 10. LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

11 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS AND EVALUATION METHODOLOGY

1 SECTION 1. SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

1.1 Standard Form (SF) 1449 – Contract

1.1.1 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Development (RD)’s contract is for Lender-Placed Insurance Services.

1.1.2 This solicitation and resultant award incorporates provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-03. It is the responsibility of the Offeror to be familiar with the applicable clauses and provisions. These clauses may be accessed in full text at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

2 SECTION 2. SUPPLIES / SERVICES AND PRICES/ COSTS

2.1 Price / Cost Schedule

2.1.1 The Offeror agrees under this contract award exclusively with U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development to provide the services described in this solicitation and Attachment J-1 - Performance Work Statement (PWS) at the prices submitted in Attachment J-2 – Price Schedule.

2.1.2 A single contract award will be issued as a Firm Fixed Price.

2.1.3 The ultimate completion date of the contract award, if all option periods are exercised, is five (5) years from date of award; one (1) base year and four (4) option years. There is also a possible six (6) month extension of services in accordance with FAR clause 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services.

2.1.4 Travel is not anticipated for this requirement.

2.1.5 During contract performance, the Government may utilize the 52.217-8 extension(s) unilaterally at the end of any option period based on the Government’s need for continued support. The awardee agrees to continue with the pricing from the last option exercised. The 52.217-8 extension will not exceed 6 additional months in total. No increase to pricing during the extension will be considered or accepted.

2.1.6 The Contractor agrees that this is a non-personal services contract and must not represent itself as an agent or partner of, or in joint venture with the Government; and that it will neither supervise nor accept supervision from Government employees.

3 SECTION 3. DESCRTION OF REQUIREMENT

3.1 Attachment J-1- Performance Work Statement

https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far

3.1.1 The Contractor must provide all resources (except as may be expressly stated in the contract as furnished by the Government) necessary to deliver and/or perform the requirements in accordance with the PWS.

4 SECTION 4. PACKAGING AND MARKING

4.1 Deliverables

4.1.1 The deliverables under this solicitation must be submitted through electronic mail to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), Contract Specialist (CS) and Contracting Officer (CO) identified upon contract award and as described in the Attachment J-1 – PWS.

4.2 USDA Rural Development Visual Identity Guidelines

4.2.1 Additionally, all visual materials intended for release to the public, both electronic and printed, delivered in the performance of this contract, must wholly conform to the current USDA Rural Development Visual Identity Guidelines. Such materials include the following, and any other products agreed to in advance between the COR and the vendor (please see Attachment J-8 - USDA Rural Development Visual Identity Guidelines):

4.2.1.1 Reports and other documents.

4.2.1.2 Handouts.

4.2.1.3 Advertisements intended for both printed and electronic media.

4.2.1.4 Still visual presentations.

4.2.1.5 Video presentations.

4.2.1.6 Banners.

4.2.1.7 Infographics.

4.2.1.8 Posters.

4.2.1.9 Folders.

4.2.1.10 Cards and Envelopes.

4.2.1.11 Photographs.

4.2.1.12 Visual themes.

4.2.1.13 Logos.

4.2.1.14 Layout.

4.2.1.15 Graphic design.

4.2.1.16 Graphics.

4.2.1.17 Graphs and charts.

4.2.1.18 Illustrations.

4.2.1.19 Drawings.

5 SECTION 5. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

5.1

5.2 Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)

5.2.1 A Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) will be proposed by the Offeror and submitted with the proposal submission. The QASP aids in monitoring performance.

All findings of unsatisfactory or non-performed work will be administered in accordance with the FAR clauses noted above for Inspection of Services Fixed Price. All costs associated with rework are the responsibility of the Contractor. The Government reserves the right to choose the inspection methods to be used in implementing its QASP and to vary the inspection methods utilized during the work, without notice to the Contractor.

The QASP is a “living document” and as such, will not be incorporated into the contract.

6 SECTION 6. DEVLIERIES OR PERFORMANCE

6.1 Clauses incorporated by Reference

Clause # Title Date 52.242-15 Stop Work Order AUG 1989 52.242-17 Government Delay of Work APR 1984

6.2 Period of Performance

6.2.1 The Period of Performance for the contract award, if all options are exercised, is a total of five (5) years; plus a possible extension under FAR clause 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services at the end of any option period. Options will be exercised at the Government’s sole discretion and as authorized by FAR Subpart 17.2.

6.2.2 Each of the four option terms will only be granted upon a favorable review of the Contractor’s performance and validation of continued need and available funding. The following chart details the anticipated performance periods.

6.2.2.1 Base Year: December 30, 2025 – December 29, 2026

6.2.2.2 Option Year 1: December 30, 2026 – December 29, 2027

6.2.2.3 Option Year 2: December 30, 2027 – December 29, 2028

6.2.2.4 Option Year 3: December 30, 2028 – December 29, 2029

6.2.2.5 Option Year 4: December 30, 2029 – December 29, 2030

6.3 Observance of Legal Holidays and Excused Absences

6.3.1 The Government hereby provides notice and contractor hereby acknowledges receipt that Government personnel observe the listed days as holidays:

Clause # Title Date 52.246-4 Inspection of Services – Fixed Price AUG 1996

6.3.1.1 New Year's Day

6.3.1.2 Martin Luther King's Birthday

6.3.1.3 Inauguration Day (Contractors reporting to D.C. Government Site only)

6.3.1.4 President's Day (Washington’s Birthday)

6.3.1.5 Memorial Day

6.3.1.6 Juneteenth

6.3.1.7 Independence Day

6.3.1.8 Labor Day

6.3.1.9 Columbus Day

6.3.1.10 Election Day (Contractors reporting to D.C. Government Site only)

6.3.1.11 Veterans Day

6.3.1.12 Thanksgiving Day

6.3.1.13 Christmas Day

6.3.2 In addition to the days designated as holidays, the Government observes the following days:

6.3.2.1 Any other day designated by Federal Statute

6.3.2.2 Any other day designated by Executive Order

6.3.2.3 Any other day designated by Presidential Proclamation

6.3.3 It is understood and agreed between the Government and the contractor that observance of such days by Government personnel will not otherwise be a reason for an additional period of performance, or entitlement to compensation. In the event the contractor's personnel work during the holiday, they may be reimbursed by the contractor, however, no form of holiday or other premium compensation will be reimbursed either as a direct or indirect cost, other than their normal compensation for the time worked. This provision does not preclude reimbursement for authorized premium pay.

6.4 Place of Performance

6.4.1 The primary place of performance for these efforts will be at the offeror’s place of business.

6.5 Delivery Schedule

6.5.1 The contractor must deliver all deliverables in accordance with the specifications in the PWS.

7 SECTION 7. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

7.1 Contract Administration

7.1.1 Contracting Officer (CO) - The CO holds the contractual authority for the resulting contract. The CO alone, without delegation, is authorized to take actions on behalf of the Government to amend, modify or deviate from the contract terms and conditions and requirements. The CO may delegate certain other responsibilities to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Procurement Management Office warranted contracting officers are the only individuals who can legally commit or obligate the Government or authorize any changes that affect the contract price, delivery schedule, period of performance or other terms and conditions.

7.1.2 Notwithstanding the contractor’s responsibility for total management during the performance of this contract, the administration of the contract requires maximum coordination between the Government and the contractor.

7.1.3 Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) - Upon the award of the contract, the COR will be designated by the CO. In addition, a COR will be designated on individual task orders. The COR has the authority to monitor the technical progress of services that are required under the resulting contracts. This includes visits to the contractor’s place of performance, meetings and telephone conferences with the contractor’s personnel, inspection and acceptance or rejection of the contracted services and other duties that may be authorized by the Contracting Officer. The COR cannot authorize a stop work order nor delete, change or waive any of the technical requirements or other terms and conditions of the resulting contracts. If a change (monetary or otherwise) to the contract is desired, the contractor will submit a written request to both the Procuring Contracting Officer and the Administrative Contracting Officer for consideration. If approved, the change will be made by a contract modification, after discussions and/or negotiations.

Whenever a difference of opinion between the contractor and the COR occurs, the Contracting Officer and Administrative Contracting Officer should be contacted immediately for resolution or on any other matters where the COR is not available.

7.1.4 Contractor’s Representative Responsibilities - The Contractor's representative (as designated by Contractor, i.e., Program Manager, Contract Administrator, etc.) will be responsible for all contract administration issues for this IDIQ contract and all subsequent task orders. The Contractor’s Representative will act as the central point of contact with the Government for all contractual matters. The Contractor’s representative must have full authority to act on behalf of the contractor in all contractual matters. The representative must be able to fluently read, write, and speak the English language.

7.1.5 The contractor representative for all contract administration matters is Contractor Responsibilities - The Contractor must not accept any instructions issued by any person employed by the Government or otherwise, other than the CO for time, scope, and monetary instructions or the COR acting within the limits of his or her authority. The Contractor must not in any way represent that they are a part of the U. S. Government or that they have the authority to contract or procure supplies for the account of the United States of America.

7.2 Post-Award Orientation / Kick Off Meeting

7.2.1 The Contractor is expected to participate in a Post-Award Orientation/Kick Off Meeting to clarify or seek to ensure a mutual understanding of the contract terms, conditions, and overall expectations. The post award orientation may be executed as an in-office conference, video conference, or in writing as determined by the Contracting Officer under the contracting authority in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5.

7.3 Invoice and Payment Provisions

7.3.1 Invoices shall be submitted to the following individuals and in the order listed:

7.3.1.1 The CO, COR;

7.3.1.2 https://www.ipp.gov/vendors in accordance with the "Authorized Payment Schedule" for the contract.

7.3.1.3 To constitute a proper invoice, the invoice must include the following information and/or attached documentation:

7.3.1.3.1 Name and address of the business concern,

7.3.1.3.2 Invoice number and invoice date,

7.3.1.3.3 Contract number, Delivery Order number, Purchase Order number, Task Order number, or other authorization for delivery of property or services delivered or rendered,

7.3.1.3.4 Description, unit price, extended price, and quantity of property and services delivered or rendered documentation (i.e. travel receipts, etc.),

7.3.1.3.5 Shipping and payment terms,

7.3.1.3.6 Name, title, phone number, and complete mailing address of responsible official to whom payment is to be sent,

7.3.1.3.7 A certification statement saying that the funds have only been used for work for this contract,

7.3.1.3.8 Name, title, phone number, and mailing address of person to notify in the event of a defective invoice,

7.3.1.3.9 Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and SAM UI Number; and

7.3.1.3.10 Contractors MUST note FINAL INVOICE on the final invoice when submitted upon final delivery of all supplies/equipment/services or completion of the contract.

7.3.2 USDA and the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP)

7.3.2.1 https://www.ipp.gov/vendors

7.3.2.2 IPP is a government-wide secure web-based payment information service offered free of charge to government agencies and their suppliers by the U.S.

Department of Treasury's Financial Management Service (FMS). One-time enrollment in IPP means that you will receive a series of e-mails from Treasury services. The first email will have the IPP Logon ID and link to the IPP application. A second email, containing the password will be sent. Once you receive these emails, please login to the IPP application and complete the registration process. Benefits of registering with IPP include the ability for your company to create invoices directly from a contract award and submit them electronically, as well as:

7.3.2.3 e-mail notification when invoice(s) are paid

7.3.2.4 online payment history

7.3.2.5 remittance download

7.3.2.6 The e-mail notification of payment is sent when a payment is distributed to the COR when payment is sent. The Contracting Officer is the only person authorized to approve changes in any of the requirements of this contract. This authority remains solely with the Contracting Officer. In the event the Contractor effects any change at the direction of any person other than the Contracting Officer, the change will be considered to have been made without authority and NO adjustment will be made in the contract price to cover any INCREASE in costs incurred as a result thereof.

7.3.2.7 Invoice Discrepancies - The COR will complete a preliminary review of invoices and the Contracting Officer will notify the contractor of any discrepancies within seven (7) calendar days after receipt. If an invoice has discrepancies, it will be rejected and sent back to the contractor. Payment terms will start over when a correct invoice is provided.

8 SECTION 8. SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

8.1 Critical Contractor Support Services

8.1.1 This requirement has been reviewed and determined that this procurement is not considered mission critical contractor support services.

8.2 Essential Contractor Support Services

8.2.1 During emergency and disaster contingency, some services listed within the PWS may be designated as “essential support” subject to the rules, regulations, laws, standards, and conventions, executive declarations, as identified by USDA. In the event of a national disaster or emergency, USDA may request the contractor to provide a written plan describing details of how they plan to support the requirements and continue to perform the essential contractor services for coverage of services.

8.2.2 The contractor’s plan will:

8.2.2.1 Identify provisions made for the acquisition of essential personnel and resources, if necessary, for continuity of operations for up to 30 days or until normal operations can be resumed.

8.2.2.2 Address in the plan, at a minimum –

8.2.2.2.1 Challenges associated with maintaining essential contractor services during an extended event, such as a pandemic that occurs in repeated waves.

8.2.2.2.2 The time-lapse associated with the initiation of the acquisition of essential personnel and resources and their actual availability on site(s).

8.2.2.2.3 Any established alert and notification procedures for mobilizing identified “essential contractor service” and personnel; and

8.2.2.2.4 The approach for communicating expectations to contractor employees regarding their roles and responsibilities during a crisis.

8.3 Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest Affecting Award and Performance

8.3.1 It is the Government’s policy to award contracts to only those offerors whose objectivity is not impaired because of any related past, present, or planned interest, financial or otherwise, in organizations regulated by an Agency or in organizations whose interests may be substantially affected by Departmental activities, based on this policy.

8.3.2 The offerors must provide a statement in its proposal which describes in a concise manner all past, present or planned organizational, financial, contractual or other interest(s) which do or may result in any real or potential bias or conflict of interest on its part in performing its obligations under any contract which may result from this solicitation. The interest(s) described must include those of the offeror, its affiliates, proposed consultants, proposed subcontractors and key personnel of technical quote. Key personnel, if proposed, must include any person owning more than 20% interest in the offeror, and the offeror’s corporate officers, its senior managers and any employee who is responsible for deciding or taking an action on such contract where the decision or action can have an economic or other impact on the interests of an affected organization or individual.

8.3.3 The offeror must describe in detail why it believes that performance of the proposed contract can be accomplished in an impartial and objective manner.

8.3.4 In the absence of any relevant interest identified in this section, the offeror must submit in its proposal a statement certifying that to its best knowledge and belief no affiliation exists relevant to possible conflicts of interest. The offeror must obtain the same information from potential subcontractors prior to award of a subcontract.

8.3.5 The Contracting Officer will review the statement submitted and may require additional relevant information from the offeror. All such information, and any other relevant information known by the Contracting Officer, will be used to determine whether an award to the offeror may create a conflict of interest. If any such conflict of interest is found to exist, the Contracting Officer may (1) disqualify the offeror, or (2) determine that it is otherwise in the best interest of the United States to contract with the offeror and include appropriate provisions to mitigate or avoid such conflict in the contract award.

8.3.6 The refusal to provide the disclosure or representation, or any additional information required may result in disqualification of the offeror for award. If nondisclosure or misrepresentation is discovered after award, the resulting contract may be terminated. If, after award, the Contractor discovers a conflict of interest with respect to the contract awarded because of this solicitation, which such conflict could not reasonably have been known prior to award, an immediate and full disclosure will be made in writing to the Contracting Officer. The disclosure will include a full description of the conflict, a description of the action the contractor has taken, or proposes to take, to avoid or mitigate such conflict. The Contracting Officer may, however, terminate the contract for convenience if he or she deems that termination is in the best interest of the Government.

8.4 Notification of Conflict of Interest Regarding Personnel

8.4.1 In addition to the requirements in Section 11 – Instructions To Offerors, the following conditions regarding employees performing under this contract, will apply until the earlier of the following two dates: the termination date of the affected employee(s) or the expiration date of the contract Period of Performance (PoP).

8.4.2 The contractor agrees to immediately notify the Contracting Officer of (1) any actual or potential personal conflict of interest with any of its employees working on or having access to information regarding this contract, or (2) any such conflicts concerning subcontractor employees or consultants working on or having access to information regarding this contract.

8.4.3 The Contractor agrees to notify the Contracting Officer, when it becomes known, if an employee may have a personal conflict of interest. If the conflict of interest does not become known until after performance of the contract begins, the Contractor will immediately notify the Contracting Officer of the personal conflict of interest and the employee will removed from performance of the contract until a determination has been made by the CO on the conflict of interest.

8.5 Contractor Performance Evaluations

8.5.1 Contractor performance evaluations will be prepared on this contract in accordance with FAR 42.1501 through 42.1503. The Government uses the Contractor Performance Assessment Review System (CPARS) as the primary method to complete evaluations. The contractor is required to register in CPARS at https://www.cpars.gov.

Free online training is available. Performance evaluations will be conducted on contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) and annually at the base level.

8.5.2 The final performance evaluation will be prepared within 15 calendar days of the completion of work. At the discretion of the Contracting Officer, interim evaluations (completion of option periods - annual) will be performed. A copy of all evaluations will be provided to the Contractor through CPARS as soon as practicable after completion of the annual and final evaluation. The Contractor will be permitted thirty (30) days to review the document and to submit additional information or a rebutting statement.

8.5.3 The Government will consider any comments provided by the contractor before finalizing a Performance Evaluation Report and the contractor’s comments will be attached to the report. Any disagreement between the parties regarding an evaluation will be referred to the CO for review. If there are disagreements between the Contracting Officer’s performance rating review and the contractor, then the evaluation will be reviewed by the “Reviewing Official”. The Reviewing Official’s decision will be final.

8.5.4 Unless the contractor provides a different POC to the Contracting Officer after award, the Contracting Officer will use the Past Performance Point of Contact (POC) listed on the Contractors, System for Award Management (SAM) profile as the default Past Performance POC. This person will receive the CPARS email alerts. The contractor is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the data within the SAM database.

Copies of the evaluations, contractor responses, and review comments, if any, will be retained as part of the contract file and may be used by Federal Agencies to support future award decisions.

8.6 Information Technology Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities- Section 508 Compliance

8.6.1 All services and Electronic Information Technology (EIT) delivered as result of deliverables placed under this contract must comply with accessibility standards in accordance with Federal Information Technology Accessibility as required by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended.

8.6.2 Requirements for accessibility based on Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d) are determined to be relevant for the following program need:

"Deliverables – Various electronic transmittal of report documents and program management interfacing as stated in the PWS). EIT Information Content includes topics that address EIT products and EIT related services. Section 508 must be considered as a requirement on the delivered content to ensure that it includes data and/or knowledge appropriate to specific Section 508 accessibility requirements. The specific requirements that apply depend upon the specific type of EIT referred to in the information content as well as the functional performance criteria detailed in the solicitation/contract.

9 SECTION 9. CONTRACT CLAUSES

9.1 Contract Clauses Incorporated by Reference This contract incorporates by reference the following:

9.1.1 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses 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. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): For Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses, see https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

9.1.2

CLAUSE DATE TITLE

52.203-3 APR 1984 Gratuities 52.203-12 OCT 2010 Limitation on Payments to Influence Certain Federal

Transactions 52.203-16 JUN 2020 Preventing Personal Conflicts of Interest 52.204-9 JAN 2011 Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel 52.204-12 OCT 2016 Unique Entity Identifier Maintenance 52.204-13 OCT 2018 System for Award Management Maintenance 52.204-18 AUG 2020 Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance 52.204-21 NOV 2021 Basic Safeguarding of Covered Contractor Information

Systems 52.212-3 FEB 2024 Offeror Representation and Certifications – Commercial

Products and Commercial Services 52.212-4 NOV 2023 Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Products and Commercial Services

CLAUSE DATE TITLE

52.224-1 APR 1984 Privacy Act Notification 52.224-2 APR 1984 Privacy Act 52.227-14 MAY 2014 Rights in Data-General 52.232-18 APR 1984 Availability of Funds 52.232-40 MAR 2023 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business

Subcontractors 52.237-3 JAN 1991 Continuity of Services

9.2 FAR Clauses in Full Text

9.2.1 See Attachment J-3 for full text of the following clauses:

9.2.1.1 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders— Commercial Products and Commercial Services (JAN 2025)

9.2.2 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services. (NOV 1999)

The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor within 30 days. (End of clause)

9.2.3 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (MAR 2000)

(a) The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor within 15 days provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 30 days before the contract expires. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an extension.

(b) If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause.

(c) The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed 66 (months). (End of clause).

10 SECTION 10. LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

10.1 Attachments(s) incorporated into contract award: J-1 Performance Work Statement

ATTACHMENT # TITLE

J-1 Performance Work Statement J-2 Pricing Worksheet

ATTACHMENT # TITLE

J-3 FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial

Products and Commercial Services J-4 FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications

Commercial Products and Commercial Services J-5 Solicitation Provisions, Representations, Certifications and

Other Statements of Offerors or Respondents J-6 Non-Disclosure Agreement (required upon contract award) J-7 Consent and Certification to Disclose Resume and Personal

Data J-8 USDA Rural Development Visual Identity Guidelines

11 SECTION 11. INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS AND EVALUATION

METHODOLOGY

11.1 Instruction to Offerors

11.1.1 The Contracting Officer (CO) is the sole point of contact for this acquisition.

Address any questions you may have to the CO as listed below.

11.1.2 The Government intends to award a firm-fixed-price contract to one responsible offeror utilizing FAR Parts12 and 13.

11.1.3 Offer Expiration date shall be designated in the proposal as valid for up to 180 days from the solicitation closing date.

11.2 Clauses and Provisions Incorporated in Full Text

11.2.1 FAR 52.216-1, Type of Contract (APR 1984): The Government contemplates award of a Firm-Fixed Priced contract resulting from this solicitation.

11.3 Solicitation Questions

11.3.1 Questions pertaining to this solicitation may be submitted to the Contracting Officer, Sora Jung, at sora.jung@usda.gov. Questions must reference the specific section of the solicitation.

11.3.2 Questions are due by Wednesday, September 24, 2025 by 4:00 PM ET.

11.3.3 Questions will be answered via an amendment to this solicitation and posted on the Sam.gov.

11.4 Proposal Submission

11.4.1 Please email proposals to Contracting Officer, Sora Jung, at sora.jung@usda.gov no later than Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM ET.

11.4.2 As part of the proposal submission, offeror(s) must submit the following:

11.4.2.1 Volume I - Technical Proposal

11.4.2.1.1 Information Management System (IMS). The offeror must provide an online system capable of interfacing with LoanServ specifications with the ability to integrate data automatically from source input to online dashboards. Reports and dashboards shall have the ability to automatically update based on source data by the borrower, contractor, or USDA RD. Refer to further detailed IMS requirements in PWS Section 5.7. Page limitation is 3 pages.

11.4.2.1.2 Corporate Experience. The offeror must describe past performance (commercial, federal, state, or local) that is similar and/or relevant to the PWS. The offeror must identify no less than three (3) comparable efforts performed during the last three (3) years. This data is to be presented by client, date completed, type of work, client contact (with telephone number and email, client address, contract number), contract type, and total contract value. The Offeror shall also identify any performance problems with presented reference contracts and the corrective action(s) taken to resolve any issue(s). Page limitation is 3 pages.

11.4.2.1.3 Staffing Approach. Provide a detailed and effective staffing plan, as reflected in a personnel matrix, which identifies the necessary personnel resources given the approach to perform the PWS tasks.

Identify the key personnel IAW PWS 4.2 and position descriptions which demonstrate requisite education, experience, or special skills needed to perform PWS tasks. Provide evidence of ability to successfully recruit, train, and replace personnel throughout the life of the contract who have adequate education, experience or special skills to perform PWS tasks. Proposed key personnel must sign Attachment J-7, Consent and Certification to Disclose Resume Personal Data and submit it with the proposal. Page limitation is 2 pages (not including Attachment J-7).

11.4.2.1.4 Technical Approach. Provide a detailed plan that demonstrates the ability to apply industry practices in Lender-Placed Insurance coverage to the case load volume provided by USDA. Demonstrate the ability to provide technical support for insurance coverage, loss processing, property inspections, flood determination and check printing. Provide a quality control plan which outlines procedures for meeting contract requirements. Provide a detailed Continuity of Services/Transition Plan in accordance with PWS Section 1.7 ensuring necessary skill sets will be in place prior to contract start date. Page limitation is 2 pages.

11.4.2.1.5 Premium Rate Formula. Submit a premium rate formula. The premiums for the lender-placed coverage shall follow a recognized regional rate or established state rates. Page limitation is 2 pages.

11.4.2.1.6 QASP. A Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) will be proposed by the Offeror and submitted with the proposal submission. The QASP aids the Government’s understanding in how the performance will be monitored. No page limitation.

11.4.2.1.7 Page limitation is provided for each evaluation factor above. If exceeded, the excess pages will not be read or considered in the evaluation of the proposal.

11.4.2.2 Volume II – Price Proposal

11.4.2.2.1 Completed Attachment J-2 Pricing Worksheet; completed

Attachment J-3 Representations and Certifications; and Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest Affecting Award and Performance; No page limitation.

11.4.2.2.2 Pricing assumptions. No page limitation.

11.5 Evaluation Methodology / Basis for Award

11.5.1 General Information

11.5.1.1 The Government is conducting this acquisition in accordance with FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items in conjunction with FAR Part 13, Simplified.

The Government intends to award a single award firm-fixed-price contract.

11.5.1.2 Basis for Award. Lowest Price Technically Acceptable. After receipt of proposals, the Government will calculate the evaluated price of all offerors. The total proposed price equals the base and all option periods. Evaluation of options will not obligate the Government to exercise the options. The technical evaluation will begin with the proposal calculated to have the lowest total evaluated price.

11.5.1.3 All non-price evaluation factors, when combined, are significantly less important than price.

11.5.1.4 Price Reasonableness and Balance. The Offeror will be evaluated based on completeness and reasonableness of the total pricing. The determination that the “total price” is fair and reasonable will be based on information submitted with the offeror’s proposal. A Price analysis will be conducted in accordance with the Price Analysis methodologies IAW FAR 15.404, and any other Federal Acquisition Regulation-related price analysis tools and methods.

11.5.1.5 The premium rates (see PWS 5.1.4) will be assessed to determine that the premiums charged for the Lender-Placed Insurance (LPI) coverage are fair and reasonable. The premium costs will be cost reimbursable expenses, paid directly from FMMI and are not obligated on the contract. The funds utilized to pay the “premium” for insurance coverage are borrower funds managed in Escrow and transferred directly to the contractor. The contract uses taxpayer dollars to pay for contractor performance (the CLINs provided on the Pricing Worksheet) and are obligated with the award. The insurance premiums are paid from borrower funds (escrow) and are not obligated through the contract. But, the Government is responsible to the borrowers to prudently apply the escrow funds to fairly priced insurance.

11.5.2 Evaluation of Offerors

11.5.2.1 Volume 1 - Technical - The Government will evaluate the following elements of the offeror’s technical volume: a) Information Management System, b) Corporate Experience, c) Staffing Approach, d) Technical Approach, e) Premium Rate Formula, and f) QASP for acceptability. In order to be considered eligible for award, there must be an “acceptable” rating in every non-price subfactors. The proposal will be evaluated by the Government using the ratings and descriptions outlined in the following Rating Table.

Technical Proposal – Volume I Rating Description

Acceptable Proposal clearly demonstrates the minimum requirement of the solicitation

Unacceptable Proposal does not clearly demonstrate the minimum requirement of the solicitation.

11.5.2.2 Volume 2 - Price - A quote may be rejected if the Contracting Officer determines that the lack of reasonable price and lack of pricing assumptions pose an unacceptable risk to the Government. The Offeror’s total evaluated price will be determined by completing the pricing sheet in its entirety and will be based upon the total of the base and all option years. The quantity provided in the Pricing Worksheet are representative of the amounts that may be realized in the LPI program, providing offerors insight in developing their pricing strategy for the firm fixed price elements and overall strategy.

END OF SOLICITATION

6.3.3 It is understood and agreed between the Government and the contractor that observance of such days by Government personnel will not otherwise be a reason for an additional period of performance, or entitlement to compensation. In the event the c...