Terms and Conditions.docx

Research Subscription Services 70SBUR26Q00000029

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Refugee, Asylum, International Operations, Research Division (RAIO) Resource Management Branch (RMB)

Research Subscription Services

Request for Quote: 70SBUR26Q00000029

PART I – SCHEDULE

The period of performance is for a one (1) base year period. The Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) structure is identified on the Standard Form ‐1449 (SF‐1449), as well as in Attachment 1 of this solicitation.

PART II – TASK ORDER CLAUSES

This Purchase order NAICS code 513120 Periodical Publishers.

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

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 these addresses: http://www.acquisition.gov/far.

(End of clause)

FAR CLAUSE DEVIATIONS

FAR CLAUSES INCORPORATED IN FULL TEXT

52.252-4 Alterations in Contract (Apr 1984)

Portions of this contract are altered as follows:

Use of the word “contract” is understood to mean “task order” wherever such application is appropriate. Use of the word “solicitation” is understood to mean “request for quotation” wherever such application is appropriate.

(End of clause)

52.252-6 Authorized Deviations in Clauses (Nov 2020)

(a) The use in this solicitation or contract of any Federal Acquisition Regulation (48 CFR Chapter 1) clause with an authorized deviation is indicated by the addition of "(DEVIATION)" after the date of the clause.

(b) The use in this solicitation or contract of any Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation (48 CFR 3003 clause with an authorized deviation is indicated by the addition of "(DEVIATION)" after the name of the regulation.

(End of clause)

HOMELAND SECURITY ACQUISITION REGULATION (HSAR) CLAUSES INCORPORATED IN FULL TEXT

3052.212-70 Contract Terms and Conditions Applicable to DHS Acquisition of Commercial Items (Jul 2023)

The Contractor agrees to comply with any provision or clause that is incorporated herein by reference to implement agency policy applicable to acquisition of commercial items or components. The provision or clause in effect based on the applicable regulation cited on the date the solicitation is issued applies unless otherwise stated herein. The following provisions and clauses are incorporated by reference:

(b) Clauses.

X 3052.203-70 Instructions for Contractor Disclosure of Violations.

X 3052.204-71 Contractor Employee Access.

X Alternate I X 3052.204-72 Safeguarding of Controlled Unclassified Information.

X Alternate I X 3052.204-73 Notification and Credit Monitoring Requirements for Personally Identifiable Information Incidents.

X 3052.205-70 Advertisement, Publicizing Awards, and Releases.

X 3052.242-72 Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative.

(End of clause)

PART III – TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND OTHER TASK ORDER REQUIREMENTS

1. Period of Performance

The projected period of performance for this task order is 04/01/2026 through 03/31/2027; with one (1) 12-month base period.

Base Period: 12 Months 04/01/2026 - 03/30/2027

2. Place of Performance

Department of Homeland Security

3. Invoicing Instructions

(a) In accordance with FAR Part 52.212-4(g), all invoices submitted to USCIS for payment shall include the following:

(b) Invoices not meeting these requirements will be rejected and not paid until a corrected invoice meeting the requirements is received.

(c) USCIS’ preferred method for invoice submission is electronically. Invoices shall be submitted in Adobe pdf format with each pdf file containing only one invoice. The pdf files shall be submitted electronically using the “To” line in the e-mail address to USCISInvoice.Consolidation@ice.dhs.gov with each email conforming to a size limit of 500 KB.

(d) If a paper invoice is submitted, mail the invoice to:

USCIS Invoice Consolidation PO Box 1000 Williston, VT 05495

(e) Direct payment inquiries to I.C.E. Financial Operations, (877) 491-6521.

4. Final Payment

As a condition precedent to final payment, a release discharging the government, its officers, agents and employees of and from all liabilities, obligations, and claims arising out of or under this order shall be completed. A release of claims will be forwarded to the contractor at the end of each performance period for contractor completion, within thirty (30) days of final invoice submission.

5. Posting of Contract/Order in FOIA Reading Room

Within 30 days of award, the Contractor shall submit a redacted copy of the executed contract/order (including all attachments) suitable for public posting under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552. The Contractor shall submit both a redacted and unredacted copy of the documents, along with the name of a point of contact and that individual’s contact information, to the USCIS FOIA Office via email at err.uscis@uscis.dhs.gov, with a courtesy copy to the USCIS Contracting Officer (CO). With regards to the redacted copy of the executed contract/order, the Contractor will only propose redactions that it, in good faith, believes are exempt from public release pursuant to an applicable FOIA exemption(s). The USCIS FOIA Office will notify the contractor, via the provided point of contact, of any disagreements with the contractor’s redactions before public posting of the contract/order in a public FOIA reading room. Such notice by the USCIS FOIA Office will be consistent with the provisions set forth in 6 C.F.R. § 5.7

PART IV – TASK ORDER SCHEDULE OF ATTACHMENTS

PART V– SOLICITATION PROVISIONS/INSTRUCTIONS/EVALUATION

(Section will be removed upon award)

FAR PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

52.252-1 Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998)

This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions 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. The quoting contractor is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the quoting contractor and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the quoting contractor may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at this/these address (es): http://www.acquisition.gov/far.

(End of Provision)

52.252-5 Authorized Deviations in Provisions (Nov 2020)

(a) The use in this solicitation of any Federal Acquisition Regulation (48 CFR Chapter 1) provision with an authorized deviation is indicated by the addition of "(DEVIATION)" after the date of the provision.

(b) The use in this solicitation of any Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation (48 Chapter 30) provision with an authorized deviation is indicated by the addition of "(DEVIATION)" after the name of the regulation.

(End of provision)

52.212-2 - Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Aug 2025) (DEVIATION 25-21)

(a) Evaluation factors. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible Offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors will be used to evaluate offers:

The Government will select the Offeror who is in the best interest of the Government using trade-off analysis. When combined past performance and technical is more important than price. The Government will fairly consider all offers received in response to this solicitation. The Government intends to make a contract award without negotiations with offering contractors. Therefore, an offering contractor’s initial offer should contain its best terms.

The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

1. Technical Approach - The Government will evaluate the offeror’s understanding of the requirement and the soundness, feasibility, and effectiveness of the proposed technical approach for providing periodical subscription services. This includes, but is not limited to:

a. Ability to provide uninterrupted access to required periodicals and publications.

b. Access methods (e.g., online, digital platforms, user authentication);

c. Customer service and technical support.

d. Transition and continuity of service, including any proposed extension or month-to-month coverage.

e. Overall approach to ensuring timely delivery and access consistent with the Government’s mission needs.

1. Past Performance The Government will evaluate the offeror’s past performance to assess the probability of successful performance of the required effort. Past performance will be evaluated based on the recency, relevance, and quality of prior contracts for similar periodical or subscription services.

The Government may use information obtained from references provided by the offeror, Government records, and other sources available to the Government. Offerors with no relevant past performance history will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably.

1. Price Price will be evaluated for reasonableness and completeness. The Government will evaluate whether the proposed price reflects a clear understanding of the requirements and is consistent with the offeror’s technical approach.

Pricing must distinguish between the price of each periodical/subscription and the labor rate and amount of hours estimated for performance.

1. Example: Subscription Annual/Monthly Price: $XX.XX + (Management Rate: $XX.XX and XX Hours) = Total Price $XXX.XX.

(b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

(c) Notice of award. A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer furnished to the successful Offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

(End of provision)

52.216-1 Type of Contract (OCT 2025) DEVIATION 26-04

The Government contemplates award of a Firm-Fixed Price Task Order resulting from this solicitation.

(End of Provision)

HSAR PROVISIONS BY FULL TEXT

3052.209-70 - Prohibition on Contracts With Corporate Expatriates (JUN 2006)

(a) Prohibitions. Section 835 of the Homeland Security Act, 6 U.S.C. 395, prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from entering into any contract with a foreign incorporated entity which is treated as an inverted domestic corporation as defined in this provision, or with any subsidiary of such an entity. The Secretary shall waive the prohibition with respect to any specific contract if the Secretary determines that the waiver is required in the interest of national security.

(b) Definitions. As used in this provision:

Expanded Affiliated Group means an affiliated group as defined in section 1504(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (without regard to section 1504(b) of such Code), except that section 1504 of such Code shall be applied by substituting ‘more than 50 percent’ for ‘at least 80 percent’ each place it appears.

Foreign Incorporated Entity means any entity which is, or but for subsection (b) of section 835 of the Homeland Security Act, 6 U.S.C. 395, would be, treated as a foreign corporation for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Inverted Domestic Corporation. A foreign incorporated entity shall be treated as an inverted domestic corporation if, pursuant to a plan (or a series of related transactions)—

(1) The entity completes the direct or indirect acquisition of substantially all of the properties held directly or indirectly by a domestic corporation or substantially all of the properties constituting a trade or business of a domestic partnership;

(2) After the acquisition at least 80 percent of the stock (by vote or value) of the entity is held—

(i) In the case of an acquisition with respect to a domestic corporation, by former shareholders of the domestic corporation by reason of holding stock in the domestic corporation; or

(ii) In the case of an acquisition with respect to a domestic partnership, by former partners of the domestic partnership by reason of holding a capital or profits interest in the domestic partnership; and

(3) The expanded affiliated group which after the acquisition includes the entity does not have substantial business activities in the foreign country in which or under the law of which the entity is created or organized when compared to the total business activities of such expanded affiliated group.

Person, domestic, and foreign have the meanings given such terms by paragraphs (1), (4), and (5) of section 7701(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, respectively.

(c) Special rules. The following definitions and special rules shall apply when determining whether a foreign incorporated entity should be treated as an inverted domestic corporation.

(1) Certain stock disregarded. For the purpose of treating a foreign incorporated entity as an inverted domestic corporation these shall not be taken into account in determining ownership:

(i) stock held by members of the expanded affiliated group which includes the foreign incorporated entity; or

(ii) Stock of such entity which is sold in a public offering related to an acquisition described in section 835(b)(1) of the Homeland Security Act, 6 U.S.C. 395(b)(1).

(2) Plan deemed in certain cases. If a foreign incorporated entity acquires directly or indirectly substantially all of the properties of a domestic corporation or partnership during the 4-year period beginning on the date which is 2 years before the ownership requirements of subsection (b)(2) are met, such actions shall be treated as pursuant to a plan.

(3) Certain transfers disregarded. The transfer of properties or liabilities (including by contribution or distribution) shall be disregarded if such transfers are part of a plan a principal purpose of which is to avoid the purposes of this section.

(d) Special rule for related partnerships. For purposes of applying section 835(b) of the Homeland Security Act, 6 U.S.C. 395(b) to the acquisition of a domestic partnership, except as provided in regulations, all domestic partnerships which are under common control (within the meaning of section 482 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) shall be treated as a partnership.

(e) Treatment of Certain Rights.

(1) Certain rights shall be treated as stocks to the extent necessary to reflect the present value of all equitable interests incident to the transaction, as follows:

(i) Warrants;

(ii) Options;

(iii) Contracts to acquire stock;

(iv) Convertible debt instruments;

(v) Others similar interests.

(2) Rights labeled as stocks shall not be treated as stocks whenever it is deemed appropriate to do so to reflect the present value of the transaction or to disregard transactions whose recognition would defeat the purpose of section 835.

(f) Disclosure. The offeror under this solicitation represents that [Check one]:

___ it is not a foreign incorporated entity that should be treated as an inverted domestic corporation pursuant to the criteria of (HSAR) 48 CFR 3009.108–7000 through 3009.108–7003;

___ it is a foreign incorporated entity that should be treated as an inverted domestic corporation pursuant to the criteria of (HSAR) 48 CFR 3009.108–7000 through 3009.108–7003, but it has submitted a request for waiver pursuant to 3009.108–7004, which has not been denied; or ___ it is a foreign incorporated entity that should be treated as an inverted domestic corporation pursuant to the criteria of (HSAR) 48 CFR 3009.108–7000 through 3009.108–7003, but it plans to submit a request for waiver pursuant to 3009.108–7004.

(g) A copy of the approved waiver, if a waiver has already been granted, or the waiver request, if a waiver has been applied for, shall be attached to the bid or proposal.

(End of Provision)

Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 -- Instructions to Offerors

1. Any questions regarding this RFQ should be sent to the point of contacts;

a. Points of Contact Andre Stuart, Contract Specialist (CS): Andre.B.Stewart@uscis.dhs.gov Alexis James, Contracting Officer (CO): Alexis.D.James@uscis.dhs.gov

2. Date and Time for Quote Submission A. Quote submission is due by 14:00 pm ET on January 22, 2026.

B. Failure to submit by the required date and time will be considered late in accordance with FAR 52.212-1(f) and shall result in a non-responsive quote and it shall not be evaluated, and the quoter shall no longer be considered for award.

C. Quotes shall be valid for a minimum of 60 days from the date of the deadline.

3. Electronic File Submissions A. The quote and all applicable attachments shall be submitted via email to the CO and CS.

B. Unless specifically allowed elsewhere in this solicitation, each file shall be formatted for portrait orientation, letter-size paper, front-and-back printing, and one-inch margins all around. Landscape orientation is acceptable for pricing spreadsheets and tables. A standard Times New Roman twelve-point or larger font shall be used for normal text, but tables and figures may use a nine-point or larger font. Text spacing and line spacing shall not be compressed. All pages shall be numbered.

C. The first or cover page or sheet of each electronic file shall include the quoting contractors name and contact information for the individual authorized to negotiate on behalf of the prime contractor, NAICS 516120 contract number, and Unique Entity ID (UEI) number. It shall also include the name and title of the quoting contractor’s point of contact for all matters relating to the quote along with his/her mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address.

4. Evaluation and Selection A. The government intends to award one (1) task order and will fairly consider all quotes received in response to this RFQ on a trade-off basis. The Government will place the order with the schedule contractor whose quote represents the best value and results in the lowest overall cost alternative to the Government based upon Factor 1 – Technical Approach, Factor 2 – Past Performance and Factor 3 – Price. However, the agency reserves the right to make award to a higher priced quote to achieve a superior solution in meeting the requirements of the task order. The non-price Factors (Factor 1, and Factor 2) are in descending order of importance. Factor 1, and Factor 2 when combined, are significantly more important than Factor 3 Price. The selected awardee will be the quoting contractor whose quote gives the Government the greatest confidence that its requirements will be met in the most advantageous manner, price and other factors considered. Using the trade-off process, the Government will compare the differences in the value of the non-price factors with the differences in the price quoted. In making this comparison, the Government is more concerned with obtaining performance capability superiority rather than the lowest overall price. However, the Government will not issue an award to a quoting contractor who presents a significantly higher overall price to achieve only slightly superior performance capabilities.

Overall, the Government will fairly consider all quotes and will make award in accordance with the evaluation scheme detailed in this RFQ pursuant to FAR 8.405-2(c)(3).

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