TIRNO-09-R-00012_A0014_Addendum.doc

Addendum to Solicitation TIRNO-09-R-00012 – Amendment 0014

1. Amendment 11 Section M.4, Factor 6 states that:

Price analysis will be used to determine the competitive range.

If Price Analysis determines the competitive range, then Cost/Price becomes the most important factor, which is in conflict with Section M.3. Your answer means that IRS will review price/cost and determine the competitive range, and then review Factors 1-4, and then make awards. If a company has an excellent technical proposal but a high price, they will not be considered because they would not make it to the competitive range. We had expected IRS to review the Factors 1-4, determine a competitive range, then review price, possibly do a BAFO/negotiate, then award, as is implied in Section M.3.

Section M.3 states “Although technical factors combined are significantly more important than cost/price, the Government will not automatically award to an offeror that submits a proposal receiving the highest technical rating.” This implies that the technical factors will be evaluated regardless of cost. But if the competitive range is only determined by pricing, offerors may not even get evaluated if they get thrown out because of price.

Please clarify ASAP if Factors 1-4 will be used to determine the competitive range. If not, please update Section M to state Price as the most important factor.

Response: Price and non-price factors will be used to determine the competitive range.