Attachment_0008_ASSIST_Information_and_General_Instructions.docx

In the event discussion are opened on this acquisition, the Government intends to use the Acquisition Source Selection Interactive Support Tool (ASSIST). This document provides an overview of the tool and general instructions on use of ASSIST.

a. During the conduct of this acquisition, ASSIST will be used by the Government to support the proposal evaluation and source selection process. A separate tool, 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 ENs in a secure online environment.

b. In order to initiate the use of ASSIST2Industry, the Government requires the names, company titles, telephone numbers, and email addresses of two individuals that the offeror has designated as responsible for receiving and responding to Government ENs through ASSIST2Industry. The required information regarding these two individuals must be submitted with the offeror’s proposal and included in the cover letter. The cover letter shall be submitted with Volume V – Contractual Documents. The cover letter will not be evaluated.

c. After the solicitation’s closing date, the Government will establish an account in ASSIST2Industry for each offeror that submitted a proposal in response to the 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 individuals 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.

d. 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.

e. 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/ENs, 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 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.

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.

f. Offerors can contact the ASSIST2Industry Helpdesk via e-mail at usarmy.jbmdl.acc.list.vce-helpdesk@mail.mil or by telephone at (609) 562-5988 or (609) 562-7050 for any technical assistance that may be needed.

g. 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.