Attachment_9_-_ASSISTv8_Instructions_to_Offerors.doc

During the conduct of this acquisition, the Acquisition Source Selection Interactive Support Tool (ASSIST) will be used by the Government to support the proposal evaluation and source selection process. A separate tool, the ASSIST2Industry, will be used in conjunction with ASSIST to accomplish all exchanges with Offerors after receipt of proposals pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.306. ASSIST2Industry provides the ability for the Government to issue, and the Offerors to receive and respond to, all Evaluation Notices (ENs) in a secure online environment.

In order to initiate the use of ASSIST2Industry, the Government requires the names, company titles, telephone numbers, and email addresses of two (2) individuals that the Offeror has designated as responsible for receiving and responding to Government ENs through ASSIST2Industry. The designation of two (2) individuals is for the purpose of insuring availability of one individual if the other individual is not available. The required information regarding these two (2) individuals must be submitted with the Offeror’s proposal and included in the cover letter.

After the solicitation’s closing date, the Government will establish an account in ASSIST2Industry for each individual identified by the Offeror that has submitted a proposal in response to this solicitation. The two individuals named by the Offeror will be authorized access to that account. Two (2) separate system generated emails will be sent to each individual. One of the emails will contain the individual’s ASSIST2Industry username. The other email will contain the individual’s temporary password. Using the provided username and temporary password, each individual can then go to https://ASSIST2Industry.army.mil to access the account. NOTE: The first time a user logs in, the user will be required to change the temporary password before the user can proceed to use the site.

Whenever the Government issues ENs to the Offeror through ASSIST2Industry, the Government’s Contracting Officer will notify the Offeror through a medium independent of ASSIST2Industry ( e.g., e-mail) that the Offeror has ENs in ASSIST2Industry waiting for a response. There will be no ENs in ASSIST2Industry until such notice is issued by the Contracting Officer.

All Offerors are advised that ASSIST2Industry has been updated and it is now the responsibility of PRIME Contractors to establish accounts for their SUBCONTRACTORS to respond to Government ENs. A separate area within ASSIST2Industry has been created to allow authorized Subcontractor POCs to upload proposal files only. Subcontractors will not be able to access any other information on the ASSIST2Industry website (e.g. Questions/Evaluation Notices, Responses, etc.). Once a Subcontractor has been added, they will receive a user ID (e.g. subcontractor0001) and password (an initial password) that will be sent via two separate system generated e-mails. A Subcontractor will have one user ID for all PRIMES and solicitation responses, i.e. if you are a Subcontractor to multiple Prime Contractors and multiple solicitation responses, you will only have one user ID. Once an account has been established for the Subcontractor, go to https://ASSIST2Industry.army.mil to access the account. Prime Contractors will only be able to see the number of files submitted by their Subcontractors; but, will be UNABLE TO VIEW the Subcontractor’s files.

ACCESSING ASSIST2INDUSTRY PRIME/SUBCONTRACTORS

Access to ASSIST2Industry will require a two factor authentication for each Prime and Subcontractor user. All ASSIST2Industry users are required to have a username/password (first authentication) and may select one of the following three methods for implementing the second authentication to access the site:

1) use an authenticator application on your cell phone (e.g. Google or Microsoft Authenticator) to receive a QR Code;

2) receive a code via an SMS Text Message to your cell phone; or

3) receive a code via e-mail.

If you have any other problems accessing your account, contact the Army Enterprise Service Desk (AESD) at the number listed below:

Phone: 1-866-335-2769 (ARMY), # Option 7

Please be prepared to provide the following:

· Contractor POC Name;

· Telephone Number;

· Email Address;

· Procuring Contracting Officer and/or Contract Specialist Name and Telephone Number;

· ASSIST Source Selection/Program Name; and

· Solicitation Number.

Contractor POCs should not provide any additional information than what is noted above.

NOTE: Both Prime Contractors and Subcontractors are instructed to review the ASSIST2Industry User’s Guide, located under the “Getting Started” tab on the website. The guide has been updated and provides step by step instructions on how to perform functions and navigate the website.

Contractor POCs should not provide any additional information than what is noted above.

THE OFFERORS ARE CAUTIONED THAT THE SYSTEM GENERATED EMAILS REFERRED TO ABOVE ARE INTENDED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. RECEIPT OF THESE EMAILS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE COMMENCEMENT OF ANY TYPE OF EXCHANGE WITH THE OFFEROR IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 15.306(A), (B), OR (D) (I.E., CLARIFICATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, OR DISCUSSIONS). ALSO, RECEIPT OF THESE EMAILS DOES NOT SIGNIFY THAT A COMPETITIVE RANGE DETERMINATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 15.306(C) HAS BEEN MADE OR THAT THE OFFEROR’S PROPOSAL WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE COMPETITIVE RANGE WHEN THAT DETERMINATION IS MADE. ALL NOTIFICATIONS THAT ANY TYPE OF EXCHANGE WITH THE OFFEROR HAS COMMENCED AND THE OFFEROR HAS EVALUATION NOTICES (ENS) AVAILABLE TO RESPOND TO, OR ANY NOTIFICATION THAT THE OFFEROR’S PROPOSAL HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN OR EXCLUDED FROM THE COMPETITIVE RANGE, WILL BE SENT TO THE OFFEROR BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER INDEPENDENTLY OF THE ASSIST2INDUSTRY.