SOW Saddle IDIQ v31 July.docx

Statement of Work (SOW)

Caisson Ceremonial Saddles

PART 1

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. General: This is a non-personal services contract to provide Ceremonial Saddles to The Old Guard’s Provisional Caisson Detachment. The government shall not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such contract service providers shall be accountable solely to the contractor who, in turn, is responsible to the government.

1.1 Description of Services/Introduction: The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to manufacture ceremonial saddles as defined in this statement of work. The contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract.

1.2 Background: The U.S. Army Caisson Detachment conducts memorial affairs operations in support of all Joint Services in Arlington National Cemetery to honor our Nation’s fallen service members and their families. On order, the Caisson Detachment provides assets in support of State Funeral missions and key strategic engagement ceremonies in and beyond the National Capitol Region. Ceremonial tack supplies are required for the Detachment horses to have durable, dependable, and fitting tack to wear through the completion of their daily duties. The U.S. Army Caisson Detachment consists of approximately 62 Horses and continually growing.

1.3 Objectives: To provide ceremonial saddles for the Detachment Horse Teams to have durable, dependable, and fitting tack to wear through the completion of their daily duties.

1.4 Scope: The contractor shall provide ceremonial saddles for the Detachment Horse Teams to have durable, dependable, and fitting tack to wear through the completion of their daily duties.

1.5 Period of Performance: The period of performance shall be for one (1) base year of 12 months and four (4) 12-month option years.

1.6 General Information

1.6.1 Quality Control: Quality control is the responsibility of the contractor. The contractor is responsible for the delivery of quality services/supplies to the government (see FAR 52.246-1, Contractor Inspection Requirements).

The contractor shall develop, implement and maintain an effective quality control system that includes a written quality control plan (QCP). The QCP shall implement standardized procedure/methodology for monitoring and documenting contract performance to ensure all contract requirements are met. The contractors’ QCP must contain a systematic approach to monitor operations to ensure acceptable services/products are provided to the government. The QCP, as a minimum, shall address continuous process improvement; procedures for scheduling, conducting and documentation of inspection; discrepancy identification and correction; corrective action procedures to include procedures for addressing government discovered non-conformances; procedures for root cause analysis to identify the root cause and root cause corrective action to prevent re-occurrence of discrepancies; procedures for trend analysis; and procedures for collecting and addressing customer feedback/complaints. The contractor shall upon request provide to the government its quality control documentation. QCP is to be delivered within 30 days after contract award. After acceptance of the quality control plan the contractor shall receive the contracting officer’s acceptance in writing of any proposed change to its QC system.

1.6.2 Quality Assurance: The government shall evaluate the contractor’s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan. This plan is a government only document primarily focused on what the government must do to assure that the contractor has performed in accordance with the requirements of the contract.

1.6.3 Federal Government Holidays: The contractor is not required to perform services on federal holidays.

1.6.4 Hours of Operation: The contractor is responsible for conducting business, between the hours of 0900 and 1700 EST, Monday through Friday except federal holidays or when the government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar government directed facility closings. For other than firm fixed price contracts, the contractor will not be reimbursed when the government facility is closed for the above reasons. The contractor must at all times maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this SOW when the government facility is not closed for the above reasons. When hiring personnel, the contractor shall keep in mind that the stability and continuity of the workforce are essential.

1.6.5 Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract will be performed at contractor’s facility.

1.6.6 Type of Contract: The government will award a Firm Fixed Price, Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity Contract.

1.6.7 Special Qualifications: N/A

1.6.8 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings: The contractor agrees to attend any post award conference convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5, Post Award Orientation. The contracting officer, COR, and other government personnel, as appropriate, will meet periodically, quarterly as a minimum, with the contractor to review the contractor's performance. At these meetings the contracting officer will apprise the contractor of how the government views the contractor's performance and the contractor will apprise the government of problems, if any, being experienced. Appropriate action shall be taken to resolve outstanding issues. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the government.

1.6.9 Contracting Officer Representative (COR): The COR will be identified by separate letter. The COR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration. The COR is authorized to perform the following functions: assure that the contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract; perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance; maintain written and oral communications with the contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract; issue written interpretations of technical requirements, including government drawings, designs, and specifications; monitor contractor's performance and notify both the contracting officer and contractor of any deficiencies; coordinate availability of government furnished property; and provide site entry of contractor personnel. A letter of designation issued to the COR, a copy of which is sent to the contractor, states the responsibilities and limitations of the COR, especially with regard to changes in cost or price, estimates or changes in delivery dates. The COR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of the resulting order.

1.6.10 Key Personnel: The follow personnel are considered key personnel by the government: contract manager/alternate contract manager. The contractor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate who shall act for the contractor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the contracting officer. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. The contract manager or alternate shall be available between 0900 and 1700, Monday through Friday except federal holidays or when the government facility is closed for administrative reasons.

1.6.11 Anti-Terrorism and Operations Security Requirements: N/A

1.6.12 Other Direct Costs: The contractor is responsible for all costs associated with the production and delivery of the ceremonial saddles. Additional costs to government must be preapproved by the contracting officer. This category includes travel, reproduction, and shipping expenses associated with training activities and visits to contractor facilities. It could also entail the renting of suitable training venues.

1.6.13 Organizational Conflict of Interest:

a. Purpose. The primary purpose of this clause is to aid in ensuring that:

(1) The Contractor does not obtain an unfair competitive advantage by establishing the ground rules for a future competition;

(2) The Contractor's objectivity and judgment are not biased because of its present or future interests (financial, contractual, organizational, or otherwise) which relate to work performed under this contract; and

(3) The Contractor does not obtain an unfair competitive advantage by virtue of its access to non-public or proprietary information belonging to others.

b. Definitions.

(1) The term “Contractor” herein used means: (a) the organization (hereinafter referred to as "it" or "its") entering into this agreement with the Government; (b) all business organizations with which it may merge, join or affiliate now or in the future and in any manner whatsoever, or which hold or may obtain, by purchase or otherwise, direct or indirect control of it; (c) its parent organization if any and any of its present or future subsidiaries, associates, affiliates, or holding companies, and; (d) any organization or enterprise over which it has direct or indirect control now or in the future.

(2) The term "proprietary information" for purposes of this clause means any information considered so valuable by its owners that it is held secret by them and their licensees. Information furnished voluntarily by the owner without limitations on its use, or which is available without restrictions from other sources, is not considered proprietary.

c. Organizational Conflicts of Interest Examples. The following examples illustrate situations in which organizational conflicts of interest may arise. These examples are not all inclusive.

(1) Biased Ground Rules. This type of conflict may arise in situations where a company sets the ground rules for a future competition. For example, when a Contractor develops requirements then competes to provide products or services to satisfy those requirements, thus obtaining a competitive advantage.

(2) Impaired Objectivity. This type of conflict may exist where a Contractor’s obligations under a contract require objectivity, but another role of the Contractor casts doubt on its ability to be truly objective. An example of this type of conflict is where a Contractor’s work under one contract entails evaluating itself, its affiliates, or its competitors under a separate contract.

(3) Unequal Access to Information. This type of conflict may arise when a Contractor has access to nonpublic or proprietary information as part of its performance under a contract that gives it an unfair advantage in a competition for a later contract.

d. General Constraints. The provisions of FAR Subpart 9.5, Organizational and Consultant Conflicts of Interest, concerning organizational conflicts of interest govern this contract. Potential conflicts may exist in accordance with FAR 9.505-1, Providing Systems Engineering and Technical Direction, through 9.505-

4, Obtaining Access to Proprietary Information. In this regard, the Contractor is responsible for identifying any actual or potential organizational conflicts of interest to the Contracting Officer that arise as the result of performance under this contract. To avoid or mitigate a potential conflict related to performance under this contract, the Contracting Officer will impose appropriate constraints such as the constraints discussed below. Since it is impossible to foresee all of the circumstances that might give rise to organizational conflicts of interest, the constraints discussed below are not all inclusive and the Contracting Officer may impose constraints other than, or in addition to, the constraints listed below.

(1) The Contractor agrees that if it provides, under a contract or task order or delivery order, systems engineering and technical guidance for systems and programs, but does not have overall contractual responsibility, it will not be allowed to be awarded a contract or task or delivery order to supply the system or any of its major components or be a Subcontractor or consultant to a supplier of the system or any of its major components

(2) The Contractor agrees that if it prepares complete specifications for non-developmental items or assists in the preparation of work statements for a system or services under a contract or task order or delivery order, it shall not be allowed to furnish these items, either as a prime Contractor, a Subcontractor or as a consultant.

(3) The Contractor agrees that it shall neither evaluate nor advise the Government with regard to its own products or activities. The Contractor shall objectively evaluate or advise the Government concerning products or activities of any prospective competitors.

(4) The Contractor agrees that if it gains access to proprietary information of other companies, it shall exercise diligent effort to protect such proprietary information from unauthorized use or disclosure. In addition, the Contractor agrees to protect the proprietary information of other organizations disclosed to the Contractor during performance of this contract with the same caution that a reasonably prudent Contractor would use to safeguard highly valuable property. The Contractor also agrees that if it gains access to the proprietary information of other companies it shall enter into written agreements with the other companies to protect their information from unauthorized use or disclosure for as long as it remains proprietary and to refrain from using the information for any purpose other than that for which it was furnished. The Contractor shall provide copies of such agreements to the Contracting Officer.

(5) If the Contractor, in the performance of this contract, obtains access to plans, policies, reports, studies, financial plans, data or other information of any nature which has not been released or otherwise made available to the public, the Contractor agrees that without prior written approval of the Contracting Officer, it shall not: (a) use such information for any private purpose unless the information has been released or otherwise made available to the public, or (b) release such information unless release is otherwise authorized under the contract or such information has previously been released or otherwise made available to the public by the Government.

e. Non-Disclosure Agreements. The Contractor shall obtain from each employee who has access to proprietary information under this contract, a written agreement which shall in substance provide that such employee shall not, during his/her employment by the Contractor or thereafter, disclose to others or use for their benefit, proprietary information received in connection with the work under this contract. The Contractor shall educate its employees regarding the restrictions so that they shall not use or disclose proprietary information or data generated or acquired in the performance of this contract except as provided herein.

f. Training. The Contractor shall effectively educate its employees, through formal training, company policy, information directives and procedures, in an awareness of the legal issues so that each employee shall know and understand the bsolute necessity of safeguarding information from anyone other than the Contractor's employees who have a need to know, and the U.S. Government.

g. Subcontracts. The Contractor agrees that it shall include the provisions in paragraphs d., e., and f. above and this paragraph in consulting agreements, teaming agreements, and subcontracts of all tiers which involve access to information or the performance of services described in paragraph d. above. The use of this clause in such agreements shall be read by substituting the word "consultant" or "Subcontractor" for the word "Contractor" whenever the latter appears.

h. Additional Constraints. If this contract provides for the issuance of task or delivery orders, such orders may impose additional requirements and restrictions relating to this clause to include the requirement for the Contractor and its Subcontractors and employees to furnish the Government with written non-disclosure agreements or statements of no conflict of interest. With regard to any proposal submitted by the Contractor in response to a Request for Task or Delivery Order Proposal, by submitting its proposal the Contractor represents that it has disclosed to the Contracting Officer, prior to the issuance of the task or delivery order, all facts relevant to the existence or potential existence of organizational conflict of interest.

i. Conflicts Involving Future Procurements. The award of this contract, task or delivery orders issued under this contract, Government taskings, or acquiescence in the Contractor’s performance of services hereunder shall not constitute or be interpreted as a determination that the Contractor is eligible to participate in future procurements, developmental efforts, implementation efforts, or related activities. Only the Contracting Officers for such efforts, applying the rules, principles, and procedures have the authority to determine whether a conflict exists in connection with such procurements.

j. Representations and Disclosures.

(1) The Contractor represents that it has disclosed to the Contracting Officer, prior to award of this contract, all facts relevant to the existence or potential existence of organizational conflict of interest.

(2) The Contractor represents that if it discovers an organizational conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest after award of this contract, a prompt and full disclosure shall be made in writing to the Contracting Officer. This disclosure shall include a description of the action the Contractor has taken or proposes to take in order to avoid or mitigate such conflict.

k. Remedies and Waiver.

(1) For breach of any of the above restrictions or for non-disclosure or misrepresentation of any relevant facts required to be disclosed concerning this contract, the Government may terminate this contract for default, disqualify the Contractor for subsequent related contractual efforts, and pursue such other remedies as may be permitted by law or this contract. If, however, in compliance with this clause, the Contractor discovers and promptly reports an organizational conflict of interest (or the potential thereof) subsequent to contract award, the Contracting Officer may terminate this Contract or any task or delivery order issued under this Contract for convenience if such termination is deemed to be in the best interest of the Government.

(2) The parties recognize that this clause has potential effects which will survive the performance of this contract and that it is impossible to foresee each circumstance to which it might be applied in the future. Accordingly, the Contractor may at any time seek a waiver from the cognizant Contracting Officer by submitting a full written description of the requested waiver and the reasons.

1.6.14 COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSON.

IAW FAR 52-222-50. Contractor Requirements.

The Contractor shall –

(1) Notify its employees of

(i) The U.S. Government's zero tolerance policy.

(ii) Actions that will be taken against employees for violations of this policy.

(2) Take appropriate action.

Part II, Trafficking in Persons (TIP)

1. The Contractor has a procedure for notifying employees of TIP and proof of such notification on file via:

i. Training records or

ii. Employee signature

2. Has documented actions on file citing appropriate action to TIP violations.

3. Record of documented violations to date (if any).

4. The Contractor has a procedure for notifying the Contracting Officer if information is received or actions related to TIP are observed.

PART 2

DEFINITIONS & ACRONYMS

2. DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS:

2.1. DEFINITIONS:

2.1.1. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATOR. The official government representative delegated authority by the contracting officer to administer a contract. This individual is normally a member of the appropriate contracting/procurement career field and advises on all technical contractual matters.

2.1.2. CONTRACTOR. A supplier or vendor awarded a contract to provide specific supplies or services to the government. The term used in this contract refers to the prime.

2.1.3. CONTRACTING OFFICER. A person with authority to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts, and make related determinations and findings on behalf of the government. Note: The only individual who can legally bind the government.

2.1.4. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR). An employee of the U.S. government appointed by the contracting officer to administer the contract. Such appointment shall be in writing and shall state the scope of authority and limitations. This individual has authority to provide technical direction to the contractor as long as that direction is within the scope of the contract, does not constitute a change, and has no funding implications. This individual does not have authority to change the terms and conditions of the contract.

2.1.5. DEFECTIVE SERVICE. A service output that does not meet the standard of performance associated with the performance work statement.

2.1.6. DELIVERABLE. Anything that can be physically delivered, but may include non-manufactured things such as meeting minutes or reports.

2.1.7. GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY (GFP) OR GOVERNMENT PROPERTY (GP). Property in the possession of, or directly acquired by, the government and subsequently made available to the contractor.

2.1.8. KEY PERSONNEL. Contractor personnel that are evaluated in a source selection process and that may be required to be used in the performance of a contract by the key personnel listed in the PWS. When key personnel are used as an evaluation factor in best value procurement, an offer can be rejected if it does not have a firm commitment from the persons that are listed in the proposal.

2.1.9. PHYSICAL SECURITY. Actions that prevent the loss or damage of government property.

2.1.10. QUALITY ASSURANCE. The government procedures to verify that services being performed by the contractor are acceptable in accordance with established standards and requirements of this contract.

2.1.11. QUALITY ASSURANCE SPECIALIST. An official government representative concerned with matters pertaining to the contract administration process and quality assurance/quality control. Acts as technical advisor to the contracting officer in these areas.

2.1.12. QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP). An organized written document specifying the surveillance methodology to be used for surveillance of contractor performance.

2.1.13. QUALITY CONTROL. All necessary measures taken by the contractor to assure that the quality of an end product or service shall meet contract requirements.

2.1.14. SUBCONTRACTOR. One that enters into a contract with a prime contractor. The government does not have privity of contract with the subcontractor.

2.1.15. WORK DAY. The number of hours per day the contractor provides services in accordance with the contract.

2.1.16. WORK WEEK. Monday through Friday, except for federal holidays unless specified otherwise.

2.2. ACRONYMS:

PART 3

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES

3. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES: N/A

PART 4

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES

4. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

4.1 General: The contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, facilities and services required to perform work under this contract that are not listed under Section 3 of this SOW.

4.2. Materials. The contractor shall furnish all materials, supplies, and equipment necessary to meet the requirements under this SOW.

4.3. Equipment. The contractor shall furnish all equipment necessary to meet the requirements under this SOW.

PART 5

SPECIFICATIONS

5. Specifications:

5.1. Basic Services. The contractor shall provide Julie Goodnight Cascade Crossover ceremonial saddles with Caisson Detachment customizations for use by the U.S. Army Caisson Detachment, saddle pads, and saddle fitting.

5.2. Description.

· Saddle build shall reflect specifications listed in attached Purchase Description document.

· Sizes: Sizes shall be available in wide and extra-wide. Seat sizes shall be available in sizes 14”-17”

· Saddle Pads as described in the purchase description

· Custom saddle fittings for horses

5.3. Quantities. Sizes will be ordered by task order. The government agrees to purchase the following minimum and maximum total saddles, pads, and fitting per year.

· Base Year: Minimum 10, Maximum 40 saddles

· Option Year 1: Minimum 1, Maximum 40 saddles

· Option Year 2: Minimum 1, Maximum 40 saddles

· Option Year 3: Minimum 1, Maximum 40 saddles

· Option Year 4: Minimum 1, Maximum 40 saddles

5.4. Delivery timeline. All saddles shall be delivered within 60 days of task order award date.

5.5. Warranty. Saddles shall follow the following warranty standards:

Tree:

· 10-year warranty within the intended use.

· XP models (roping tree style) have a lifetime warranty within intended use.

· Saddles built before 2006 have a 5-year tree warranty from the date of original purchase.

Silver:

· 1-year warranty within the intended use.

Workmanship:

· 1-year warranty within the intended use.