Sources Sought - Instructions to Respondents.docx

1. DISCLAIMER: In accordance with (IAW) FAR 15.201(c)(7), “agencies are encouraged to promote early exchanges of information about future acquisitions”. IAW FAR 15.201(f) “[g]eneral information about agency mission needs and future requirements may be disclosed at any time. After the release of a solicitation, the contracting officer must be the focal point of any exchange with potential offerors”.

This notice is issued solely for the information and planning purposes of the Program Office and does not constitute a solicitation. Neither unsolicited proposals nor any other kind of offers will be considered in response to this notice. There are no expenses associated with responding to this notice.

A review and cursory understanding of the Program Office’s mission is ENCOURAGED of all respondents. Program Office mission information is publicly available for all to review at https://www.va.gov/osdbu/.

2. GOVERNMENT ASSURANCE OF PRIVACY: All information received in response to this notice, whether the Respondent has marked it as "proprietary" or not, will be handled accordingly and all parts thereof counted as non-severable. No portions of information or material provided in response to this notice will be distributed for commercial, news media, educational, scientific or any other public requester use.

3. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PERIOD: The Acquisition Planner (hereafter referred to as the Planner) of the requirements represented in this notice WILL NOT entertain any questions associated with these requirements at this time.

4. BACKGROUND: The Planner is seeking information necessary to identify potential offerors to fulfill the service capabilities represented in this notice.

To assist in the preparation of responses to this notice, the following information is included for review IAW FAR 5.205(c):

· DRAFT ITSI Performance Work Statement (For Review Only)

· Procurement History Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) Public Record

· Industry Questionnaire Response Submission Form (Completed by respondents)

5. RULE OF TWO DETERMINATION SUPPORT: See Kingdomware Techs., Inc. v. United States, No. 14-916, 2016 WL 3317563 (U.S. June 16, 2016). The Planner shall exercise discretion in choosing to rely solely on responses to this notice, or the lack thereof, as being representative of the actual potential for making a “Rule of Two” determination. Potential respondents should assume that responses to this notice could be the only opportunity for industry to provide meaningful influence in the planning phase and the ultimate development of an acquisition strategy. The Planner shall rely on both the quantity and quality of the responses garnered from this market research, in determining the likelihood for set-aside opportunities going forward.

6. REQUESTED INFORMATION: Respondents must furnish ONLY the information requested in, or otherwise pertinent to, the questionnaire provided with this notice.

IAW FAR 10.001(b) “[w]hen conducting market research, agencies should not request potential sources to submit more than the minimum information necessary.”

DO NOT SUBMIT any price proposals/quotes in response to this notice. DO NOT SUBMIT any technical proposals in response to this notice. COMPLETE AND ACCURATE RESPONSES TO THE ATTACHED QUESTIONNAIRE IS THE ONLY REQUIRED INFORMATION. If the respondent elects to submit a capability statement in addition to the required questionnaire response, such information will be considered, only to the extent that it is necessary to enhance interpretation of the information specifically requested in the questionnaire.

7. CONTACT INFORMATION: Responses must be provided using the included Excel spreadsheet ONLY and forwarded via email using the following naming convention as the title of the email:

YOUR COMPANY NAME – SOLICITATION NUMBER

8. LATE SUBMISSIONS: Failure to respond to this notice will not preclude participation in any future competition nor will information provided in response to this notice be used in any way to exclude anyone from responding to any future requests for proposals/quotes. Communications with the Planner with regard to this notice will only be permitted in writing during the notice response period.

Responses to the notice received by the Planner after the submittal deadline and time indicated may be considered for acceptance on a case by case basis if such consideration is requested by the respondent prior to the response due date.

9. OWNERSHIP OF RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE: All informational material submitted in response to this notice becomes the property of the Planner.

10. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: The Organizer of this notice utilizes a third-party Government contractor affiliate, to assist with data collection and analysis. The third-party affiliate is bound and controlled by the terms and conditions of a governing contract, an approved conflict of interest mitigation plan as well as active non-disclosure agreements.

11. RELEASE OF CLAIMS, LIABILITY, AND PREPARATION EXPENSES: Under no circumstances shall the Planner or ANY of its affiliates be responsible for any response preparation expenses, submission costs, or any other expenses, costs, or damages, of whatever nature incurred as a result of the Respondent's participation in this exchange of information process. The respondent understands and agrees that it submits its response at its own risk and expense, and releases the Planner or ANY of its affiliates from any claim for damages or other liability arising out of this notice.

12. ERRORS IN RESPONSE: The Planner shall not be responsible for correcting any errors in the Respondent's responses. The Respondent is responsible for the careful review of its entire response to ensure that all information is correct and complete. Respondents are responsible for correcting all errors or omissions contained in their responses prior to submission.

13. ADDENDA: The Planner reserves the right to issue an addendum to this notice, by means of amendment, at any time for any reason; to include extending the associated due dates.