A22 - W912EK21R0017 Amend 0001.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

30-105-04EXCEPTION TO SF 30

APPROVED BY OIRM 11-84

STANDARD FORM 30 (Rev. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

The purpose of this amendment is to update the Solicitation w ith Questions and Answ ers and updates based on the answ ers.

1. CONTRACT ID CODE PAGE OF PAGES

1 15

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

16C. DATE SIGNED

BY 05-Aug-2021

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA15C. DATE SIGNED15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of Contracting Officer)(Signature of person authorized to sign)

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., Street, County, State and Zip Code) X W912EK21R0017

X 9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

13-Jul-2021

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

X The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offer is extended, X is not extended.

Offer must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE

RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN

REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE

CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(B).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

10A. MOD. OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO.(If applicable)

6. ISSUED BY

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

05-Aug-2021

CODE

CONTRACTING DIVISION

US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS 1500 ROCK ISLAND D

ROCK ISLAND IL 61201

W912EK 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than item 6)

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.

CODE

See Item 6

FACILITY CODECODE

EMAIL:TEL:

W912EK21R0017

SECTION SF 30 BLOCK 14 CONTINUATION PAGE

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

SECTION A - SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

The following have been added by full text:

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Questions and Answers

W912EK21-R-0017 – Biological Services IDIQ

Q1. Page 119 0f 125 states: “…The Contractor shall sign the first two (2) pages of the Standard Form 33...”

However, there is only one page to the FS33 for signature. Please clarify the number of and which pages of the SF33 require signature.

A1. Page 1 of SF33; please fill in the area “OFFER (must be fully completed by offeror)”. There is no page 2 of the

SF33.

Q2. Page 119 of 125 states: “…Volume IV SOLICITATION, OFFER, & AWARD (SF33), · Schedule of

Prices…”. Please confirm that Schedule of Prices should only be included in Volume III.

A2. Schedule of prices should only be included in Volume III.

Q3. Page 120 of 125 states: “…Offerors shall submit all Government and/or commercial contracts for the prime

Offeror and each major subcontractor in performance or awarded during the past three (3) years, from the issue date of this RFP…” Please clarify if the government requires a list of contracts (as in IDIQ contracts) or a list of individual task orders warded under IDIQ contracts? Otherwise this affects Question 6 below.

A3. List of contracts regardless of type but relevant to the efforts required by this solicitation.

Q4. Page 120 of 125 states: “…The offeror shall submit up to five (5) Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) Forms

(located in Section J of the SF33) which shall identify if the contract is active or complete…”. However, Page 124 of 125 states: “…The offeror shall provide information on past performance for a minimum of five (5) projects, but no more than ten (10) projects. Please clarify if more than 5 PPQs are permissible to include in the response submittal. Otherwise, this affects Question 6 below.

A4. The Solicitation has been reworded Page 120 of 125 to read, “…The offeror shall submit a minimum of five

(5) projects, but no more than ten (10) Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) Forms (located in Section J of the

SF33) which shall identify if the contract is active or complete…”

Q5. Page 121 of 125 states: “..Contracts shall be at least six (6) months old to be considered. Contracts with expiration dates prior to ten (10) years ago shall not be considered…” Please clarify that the government intends the term “contract” to represent in this particular sense, “task order” projects. Also on page 124 it contradicts the above by stating “all projects shall be completed within the five (5) years.

A5. The Solicitation has been updated to read Contracts or task orders and all projects shall be completed within the last ten (10) years.

Q6. Page 120 of 125 states: (a) “…Offerors shall submit all Government and/or commercial contracts for the prime

Offeror and each major subcontractor in performance or awarded during the past three (3) years…” and (b) “….The

Offeror shall also submit the written consent of its major subcontractors to allow the disclosure of its subcontractor’s past performance information to the Offeror…” as well as (c) “…The offeror shall submit up to five (5) to ten (10)

Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) Forms…” It is anticipated that this response for Volume II would require up to 36 pages; 1 for (a), 20 – 25 for (b), and 5 for (c). Page 119 of 125 states that the maximum pages for Volume II is 20 pages. Please clarify if the government will extend the maximum page length of Volume II to at least 36 – 40 pages.

A6. Updated with minimum of 5 but no more than 10. Also, the maximum page length is 40 pages.

Q7. Page C-2 states: “…The resulting contract will have one-year base period and up to four (4) one-year ordering periods, for a total contract IDIQ amount not to exceed $1,700,000.00…” Please clarify that the government intends for this 5-year, IDIQ contract to not exceed $1,700,000.00.

A7. The Government intends for this contract not to exceed $1,700,000.00.

Q8. Please confirm solicitation is Woman-Owned Small Business set aside and contractor must perform at least 50% of cost incurred for personnel with its own employees (FAR 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontract Section c.2).

The Sources Sought referenced the lower performance threshold (15%) for general construction contracts, which may erroneously lead some firms to believe they can perform.

A8. FAR 52.219-14 is accurate.

Q9. EM385-1-1 requires a dive team comprised of one (1) dive supervisor, two (2) divers, and one (1) dive tender/dive assistant for the type of services requested. Suggest that labor categories in Schedule of Prices be modified to reflect requirements of EM385-1-1.

A9. For the purposes of this contract, the Malacologist shall assume the roll of dive supervisor. The labor categories do not need to be changed.

Q10. Travel costs are defined as “per diem, mileage, transportation” (Section 4.1 Travel). Please confirm labor hours is not included in definition of travel costs and therefore allowed. If included, please provide basis for disallowing labor hours, which contractor is obligated to pay in the course of normal business.

A10. Labor hours are not included as part of travel costs as established in the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) but are allowed during travel.

Q11. 4. The RFP does not list pricing for any equipment such as boats, SCUBA gear, etc. however these items are commonly charged separately on other USACE projects of similar scope. If these costs are not included in a company’s standard overhead, how should these costs be expressed?

A11. Equipment costs should be part of the company’s standard overhead. No additional equipment costs shall be added to any task order.

Q12. Can Past Performance Questionnaires used to respond to other solicitations be reused for this effort? If so, are there any restrictions, e.g., length of time from when original questionnaire was completed.

A12. Reference Section L of the solicitation for requirements regarding past performance questionnaires.

Q13. Can Past Performance Questionnaires be requested from the Rock Island District? If so, who is allowed to complete, e.g., contracting officer or biologist?

A13. Yes. There is no restriction on which Government individual is allowed to complete a past performance questionnaire.

Q14. In which volume should the Schedule of Prices (SF 33 Section B) be submitted? Instructions indicate Volume

4 in the table on page 119 and Volume 3 on page 121.

A14. Volume 3.

Q15. Should RFP include FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items?

A15. No, however FAR Clauses 52.204-7 and 52.204-8 are added to the solicitation.

Q16. The sample labor categories of no cover all of the technical skills that may be needed to meet the requirements in the Statement of Services listed on pages C-8 and C-9. For example, a hydrologist and/or NEPA specialist may be required. We understand that the sample pricing provides USACE with a method to ensure comparability between submittals. If needed, would these positions/services be negotiated later?

A16. The current requirement is for the stated positions in Section B of the solicitation.

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

The following have been added by full text:

52.204-7 SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (OCT 2018)

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision--

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) indicator means a four-character suffix to the unique entity identifier. The suffix is assigned at the discretion of the commercial, nonprofit, or Government entity to establish additional System for

Award Management records for identifying alternative EFT accounts (see subpart 32.11) for the same entity.

Registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) means that--

(1) The Offeror has entered all mandatory information, including the unique entity identifier and the EFT indicator, if applicable, the Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, as well as data required by the Federal Funding

Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (see subpart 4.14) into SAM;

(2) The offeror has completed the Core, Assertions, and Representations and Certifications, and Points of Contact sections of the registration in SAM;

(3) The Government has validated all mandatory data fields, to include validation of the Taxpayer Identification

Number (TIN) with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The offeror will be required to provide consent for TIN validation to the Government as a part of the SAM registration process; and

(4) The Government has marked the record ``Active''.

Unique entity identifier means a number or other identifier used to identify a specific commercial, nonprofit, or

Government entity. See www.sam.gov for the designated entity for establishing unique entity identifiers.

(b)(1) An Offeror is required to be registered in SAM when submitting an offer or quotation, and shall continue to be registered until time of award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchasing agreement resulting from this solicitation.

(2) The Offeror shall enter, in the block with its name and address on the cover page of its offer, the annotation

``Unique Entity Identifier'' followed by the unique entity identifier that identifies the Offeror's name and address exactly as stated in the offer. The Offeror also shall enter its EFT indicator, if applicable. The unique entity identifier will be used by the Contracting Officer to verify that the Offeror is registered in SAM.

(c) If the Offeror does not have a unique entity identifier, it should contact the entity designated at www.sam.gov for establishment of the unique entity identifier directly to obtain one. The Offeror should be prepared to provide the following information:

(1) Company legal business name.

(2) Tradestyle, doing business, or other name by which your entity is commonly recognized.

(3) Company physical street address, city, state, and Zip Code.

(4) Company mailing address, city, state and Zip Code (if separate from physical).

http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/

(5) Company telephone number.

(6) Date the company was started.

(7) Number of employees at your location.

(8) Chief executive officer/key manager.

(9) Line of business (industry).

(10) Company headquarters name and address (reporting relationship within your entity).

(d) Processing time should be taken into consideration when registering. Offerors who are not registered in SAM should consider applying for registration immediately upon receipt of this solicitation. See https://www.sam.gov for information on registration.

(End of Provision)

52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (MAR 2020)

(a)(1) The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541690.

(2) The small business size standard is $16,500,000.

(3) The small business size standard for a concern which submits an offer in its own name, other than on a construction or service contract, but which proposes to furnish a product which it did not itself manufacture, is 500 employees.

(b)(1) If the provision at 52.204-7, System for Award Management, is included in this solicitation, paragraph (d) of this provision applies.

(2) If the provision at 52.204-7, System for Award Management, is not included in this solicitation, and the Offeror has an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM), the Offeror may choose to use paragraph (d) of this provision instead of completing the corresponding individual representations and certifications in the solicitation. The Offeror shall indicate which option applies by checking one of the following boxes:

( ) Paragraph (d) applies.

( ) Paragraph (d) does not apply and the offeror has completed the individual representations and certifications in the solicitation.

(c) (1) The following representations or certifications in SAM are applicable to this solicitation as indicated:

(i) 52.203-2, Certificate of Independent Price Determination. This provision applies to solicitations when a firm-fixed-price contract or fixed-price contract with economic price adjustment is contemplated, unless—

(A) The acquisition is to be made under the simplified acquisition procedures in Part 13;

(B) The solicitation is a request for technical proposals under two-step sealed bidding procedures; or

(C) The solicitation is for utility services for which rates are set by law or regulation.

https://www.sam.gov/

(ii) 52.203-11, Certification and Disclosure Regarding Payments to Influence Certain Federal Transactions. This provision applies to solicitations expected to exceed $150,000.

(iii) 52.203-18, Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or

Statements--Representation. This provision applies to all solicitations.

(iv) 52.204-3, Taxpayer Identification. This provision applies to solicitations that do not include the provision at

52.204-7, System for Award Management.

(v) 52.204-5, Women-Owned Business (Other Than Small Business). This provision applies to solicitations that—

(A) Are not set aside for small business concerns;

(B) Exceed the simplified acquisition threshold; and

(C) Are for contracts that will be performed in the United States or its outlying areas.

(vi) 52.204-26, Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services--Representation. This provision applies to all solicitations.

(vii) 52.209-2, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations--Representation.

(viii) 52.209-5, Certification Regarding Responsibility Matters. This provision applies to solicitations where the contract value is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.

(ix) 52.209-11, Representation by Corporations Regarding Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction under any Federal Law. This provision applies to all solicitations.

(x) 52.214-14, Place of Performance--Sealed Bidding. This provision applies to invitations for bids except those in which the place of performance is specified by the Government.

(xi) 52.215-6, Place of Performance. This provision applies to solicitations unless the place of performance is specified by the Government.

(xii) 52.219-1, Small Business Program Representations (Basic, Alternates I, and II). This provision applies to solicitations when the contract will be performed in the United States or its outlying areas.

(A) The basic provision applies when the solicitations are issued by other than DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard.

(B) The provision with its Alternate I applies to solicitations issued by DoD, NASA, or the Coast Guard.

(C) The provision with its Alternate II applies to solicitations that will result in a multiple-award contract with more than one NAICS code assigned.

(xiii) 52.219-2, Equal Low Bids. This provision applies to solicitations when contracting by sealed bidding and the contract will be performed in the United States or its outlying areas.

(xiv) 52.222-22, Previous Contracts and Compliance Reports. This provision applies to solicitations that include the clause at 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity.

(xv) 52.222-25, Affirmative Action Compliance. This provision applies to solicitations, other than those for construction, when the solicitation includes the clause at 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity.

(xvi) 52.222-38, Compliance with Veterans' Employment Reporting Requirements. This provision applies to solicitations when it is anticipated the contract award will exceed the simplified acquisition threshold and the contract is not for acquisition of commercial items.

(xvii) 52.223-1, Biobased Product Certification. This provision applies to solicitations that require the delivery or specify the use of USDA-designated items; or include the clause at 52.223-2, Affirmative Procurement of Biobased

Products Under Service and Construction Contracts.

(xviii) 52.223-4, Recovered Material Certification. This provision applies to solicitations that are for, or specify the use of, EPA- designated items.

(xix) 52.223-22, Public Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Reduction Goals--Representation. This provision applies to solicitations that include the clause at 52.204-7.)

(xx) 52.225-2, Buy American Certificate. This provision applies to solicitations containing the clause at 52.225-1.

(xxi) 52.225-4, Buy American--Free Trade Agreements--Israeli Trade Act Certificate. (Basic, Alternates I, II, and

III.) This provision applies to solicitations containing the clause at 52.225- 3.

(A) If the acquisition value is less than $25,000, the basic provision applies.

(B) If the acquisition value is $25,000 or more but is less than $50,000, the provision with its Alternate I applies.

(C) If the acquisition value is $50,000 or more but is less than $83,099, the provision with its Alternate II applies.

(D) If the acquisition value is $83,099 or more but is less than $100,000, the provision with its Alternate III applies.

(xxii) 52.225-6, Trade Agreements Certificate. This provision applies to solicitations containing the clause at

52.225-5.

(xxiii) 52.225-20, Prohibition on Conducting Restricted Business Operations in Sudan--Certification. This provision applies to all solicitations.

(xxiv) 52.225-25, Prohibition on Contracting with Entities Engaging in Certain Activities or Transactions Relating to Iran—Representation and Certification. This provision applies to all solicitations.

(xxv) 52.226-2, Historically Black College or University and Minority Institution Representation. This provision applies to solicitations for research, studies, supplies, or services of the type normally acquired from higher educational institutions.

(2) The following representations or certifications are applicable as indicated by the Contracting Officer:

[Contracting Officer check as appropriate.]

(i) 52.204-17, Ownership or Control of Offeror.

(ii) 52.204-20, Predecessor of Offeror.

(iii) 52.222-18, Certification Regarding Knowledge of Child Labor for Listed End Products.

(iv) 52.222-48, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for

Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment--Certification.

(v) 52.222-52 Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Certain

Services--Certification.

(vi) 52.223-9, with its Alternate I, Estimate of Percentage of Recovered Material Content for EPA-

Designated Products (Alternate I only).

(vii) 52.227-6, Royalty Information.

(A) Basic.

(B) Alternate I.

(viii) 52.227-15, Representation of Limited Rights Data and Restricted Computer Software.

(d) The Offeror has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically in SAM accessed through https://www.sam.gov. After reviewing the SAM information, the Offeror verifies by submission of the offer that the representations and certifications currently posted electronically that apply to this solicitation as indicated in paragraph (c) of this provision have been entered or updated within the last 12 months, are current, accurate, complete, and applicable to this solicitation (including the business size standard applicable to the NAICS code referenced for this solicitation), as of the date of this offer and are incorporated in this offer by reference (see FAR

4.1201); except for the changes identified below [ offeror to insert changes, identifying change by clause number, title, date]. These amended representation(s) and/or certification(s) are also incorporated in this offer and are current, accurate, and complete as of the date of this offer.

FAR Clause Title Date Change

Any changes provided by the offeror are applicable to this solicitation only, and do not result in an update to the representations and certifications posted on SAM.

(End of provision)

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS AND NOTICES TO BIDDERS

The following have been modified:

INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

Section L - Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Bidders https://www.sam.gov/

INSTRUCTION TO OFFERORS

II. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

1. Introduction

The offeror’s proposal shall be submitted via electronic version to the Contract Specialist, Mr. Joseph Porter, at joseph.e.porter@usace.army.mil.

The offeror’s proposal shall consist of four (4) volumes. The Volumes are:

I -Technical

II - Past Performance

III - Price

IV - Solicitation, Offer and Award Documents and Certifications/Representations.

Files shall not contain classified data. The use of hyperlinks in proposals is prohibited.

Offerors are cautioned that “parroting” of the Technical requirements or the Performance Work Statement (PWS) with a statement of intent to perform does not reflect an understanding of the requirement or capability to perform.

Proprietary information shall be clearly marked.

2. Proposal Submission Requirements

A. Each volume shall be submitted electronically. Each document within the file shall be clearly labeled with its title. The Contractor shall sign the first page of the Standard Form 33.

B. All documents shall be single spaced. Each paragraph shall be separated by at least one (1) blank line. A standard, 12-point minimum font size applies. Arial or New Times Roman fonts are required. Tables and illustrations may use a reduced font size no less than 8-point and may be landscape.

C. The following volumes of material shall be submitted:

Digital Copies Max Pages

I

TECHNICAL

• Personnel Qualifications and

Experience

• Regional Expertise

• Organizational Capabilities

1 150 total

II PAST PERFORMANCE 1 40

III

PRICE

• For Evaluation Only – Sample

Schedule of Prices

1 N/A

IV

SOLICITATION, OFFER, &

AWARD (SF33)

1 N/A

NOTE: Pages that exceed the page limitations will not be evaluated. Additional pages over the maximum allowed will be removed or not read and will not be evaluated by the Government.

3. Proposal Files

a. Format. The submission shall be clearly indexed and logically assembled. Each volume shall be clearly identified and shall begin at the top of a page. All pages of each volume shall be appropriately numbered and identified by the complete company name, date and RFP number in the header and/or footer. A Table of Contents should be created using the Table of Content feature in MS Word. MS Word (doc) files shall use the following page setup parameters:

Margins – Top, Bottom, Left, Right – 1”

Gutter – 0”

From Edge – Header, Footer 0.5”

Page Size, Width – 8.5”

Page Size, Height – 11”

NOTE: 11X17 folded pages are acceptable for tables/graphic representations; however, each 11X17 page counts as two (2) pages.

b. File Packaging. Files shall be searchable in read-only format, using PDF files. **Please note – Self extracting exe files are not acceptable.

c. Content Requirement. All information shall be confined to the appropriate volume. Each volume of the proposal shall consist of a Table of Contents, along with the detailed information provided below:

Volume I – Technical Approach - No technical information shall be contained in any other volume of this proposal.

The volume shall be organized into the following sections:

1. Personnel Qualifications and Experience: this section only contains the resumes and certifications of the following:

a. Principal Investigator, Key Personnel, and Consultants or Subcontractors Experience

b. Principal or Co-Principal Investigator Qualifications

2. Regional Expertise: this section contains the offeror’s proposed Regional Expertise of water resource management activities within the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.

3. Organizational Capabilities: this section contains the offeror’s proposed Organizational Capabilities.

Volume II – Past Performance - This section shall contain past performance information regarding similar contracts as the prime contractor.

Offerors shall submit all Government and/or commercial contracts for the prime Offeror and each major subcontractor in performance or awarded during the past three (3) years, from the issue date of this RFP, which are relevant to the efforts required by this solicitation. Data concerning the offeror shall be provided first, followed by each proposed major subcontractor, in alphabetical order. The Offeror shall also submit the written consent of its major subcontractors to allow the disclosure of its subcontractor’s past performance information to the Offeror. No past performance information shall be contained in any other volume of this proposal.

Past Performance Questionnaire. The offeror shall submit a minimum of five (5) Past Performance

Questionnaire (PPQ) Forms, but no more than ten (10) PPQ Forms (located in Section J of the SF33) which shall identify if the contract is active or complete, the contract was for the Government (Federal, state, local, etc.) or commercial, if the offeror was the prime contractor, a teaming partner, and/or joint venture. Clearly link the past performance information to the Technical Approach factor/sub-factors/elements stated in the solicitation.

Additionally, as applicable, offerors are to include a discussion of efforts to resolve problems encountered as well as efforts to identify and manage project risk. Where problems existed, clearly demonstrate management actions employed in overcoming these problems and the effects of those actions, in terms of improvements achieved or problems rectified. Contracts or task orders shall be at least six (6) months old to be considered. Contracts or task orders with expiration dates prior to ten (10) years ago shall not be considered.

In addition to the above, the Government may review any other sources of information for evaluating past performance. Other sources may include, but are not limited to, past performance information retrieved through the

Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), including Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting

System (CPARS), using all CAGE/DUNS numbers of team members (partnership, joint venture, teaming arrangement, or parent company/subsidiary/affiliate) identified in the Offeror’s proposal, inquiries of owner representative(s), Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), Electronic Subcontract

Reporting System (eSRS), and any other known sources not provided by the Offeror. While the Government may elect to consider data from other sources, the burden of providing detailed, current, accurate and complete past performance information rests with the Offeror.

Offerors should follow-up with clients/references to ensure timely submittal of questionnaires. If the client requests, questionnaires may be submitted directly to the Government’s point of contact, Joseph Porter via email at joseph.e.porter@usace.army.mil prior to proposal to the closing date.

Volume III – Price: F o r Evaluation Only – Sample Schedule of Prices (located in Section J of the SF33) and

Schedule of Prices (located in Section B of the SF33) must be completed and returned. Failure to provide may result in your proposal not being considered for award.

Certified cost and pricing data are not currently required; however, the Government reserves the right to request such data prior to award. No pricing information shall be contained in any other volume of this proposal.

Volume IV – Solicitations, Offer And Award Documents And Certifications/Representations: Certifications and

Representations – Each offeror shall complete (fill-ins and signatures) the solicitation sections indicated below:

Standard Form 33 (SF 33), Solicitation, Offer and Award and all amendments, Representations, Certification and Other Statements of Offerors

E. DISCUSSIONS

1. GENERAL INFORMATION In accordance with FAR 15.306(d), discussion sessions with each offeror may be held. Should discussions take place, all offerors in the competitive range will be allowed a minimum of seven (7) calendar days to submit Final Proposal Revisions.

2. DISCUSSION SCHEDULING If discussions are conducted, the Contracting Officer will schedule the discussion sessions, and each offeror will be notified of the time and place at least three (3) business days prior to their discussion session. Appropriate security clearances should be provided by the offerors in sufficient time to process the requests. The Contracting Officer will provide additional instructions with the notification. The discussion sessions will take place by the method of the Government’s choosing and provided to the contractor in writing.

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

The following have been modified:

SECTION M

Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award

Overview mailto:joseph.e.porter@usace.army.mil

This Source Selection Plan (SSP) defines the criteria to be used in selecting a contractor to provide Natural Resource

Investigations in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Rock Island District. The award will be made based on the best overall (i.e., best value) proposal that is determined to be the most advantageous to the

Government, with appropriate consideration given to three (3) evaluation factors: Technical Approach, Past

Performance, and Price. The evaluation factors are listed in descending order of importance. The non-price factors, when combined are significantly more important than price. Technical approach is the most important factor. Past performance is more important than price.

I. Basis for Award

The Government will select for award the proposal that is most advantageous and represents the best overall value to the Government, considering the Technical Approach, Past Performance, and Price, along with their respective sub-factors (as applicable). As a result, the Government may select for award the Offeror whose proposed prices are not the lowest, but whose technical approach, and past performance proposals are more complete as to justify the payment of a higher price. Conversely, the Government may select for award the Offeror whose proposed prices are lower than other proposals that are not sufficiently more advantageous to justify the payment of a higher price.

The evaluation factors are as follows: technical approach, past performance, and price. The non-price factors, when combined are significantly more important than price. Technical approach is the most important factor. Past performance is more important than price

Proposed prices will be evaluated but not scored or otherwise combined with the other aspects of the proposal evaluation. An Offeror must be considered “Acceptable” with no greater than a moderate risk in all factors and sub-factors to be considered for award. Any sub-factor rated as “unacceptable” will render the entire factor “unacceptable”.

Factors to be Evaluated

Factor 1 - Technical Approach: This factor consists of three (3) sub-factors:

a. Sub-factor 1: Personnel Qualifications and Experience

b. Sub-factor 2: Regional Expertise

c. Sub-factor 3: Organizational Capabilities

Factor 2 - Past Performance: Each offeror’s past performance will be reviewed to determine recency, relevancy

(including context of data) and quality (including general trends in contractor performance and source of information).

Factor 3 - Price: The resulting award will be a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. Price reasonableness will be utilized in the evaluation of this effort in accordance with FAR Part 15 procedures.

II. Evaluation Approach

All proposals shall be subject to evaluation by the Source Selection Team (SST) according to the following evaluation factors.

Evaluation of Factor 1: Technical Approach

Sub-Factor 1: Personnel Qualifications and Experience: This sub-factor evaluates the offeror’s proposed qualifications and experience of the Principal Investigator(s) and Key Personnel as well as consultants or subcontractors for the basic contract period and all option years. Proposals shall provide a resume for each individual of previous experience on projects of similar scope as those that would be performed under this contract. The

Government will evaluate the quality and extent of related experience and determine if the offeror has the required experience, education, training, and ability to manage simultaneous multi-disciplined, professional service projects, comparable to the work required in this solicitation.

Principal or Co-Principal Investigator Qualifications

• Biologist/Ecologist with a Ph.D. or M.S.

• Minimum of five (5) years professional experience within the last ten (10) years relating directly to the fields of biology or ecology. Experience prior to last the ten (10) years will not be given consideration.

Sub-Factor 2: Regional Expertise: A minimum of five (5) projects demonstrating regional expertise that have been executed by offeror and its team members as either a prime contractor or a subcontractor. This experience must include the following specific areas of expertise:

• Demonstrated experience performing mussel surveys that include diving in the UMR basin.

• Demonstrated experience conducting surveys for bat species in the UMR basin, to include surveys for northern long eared bat and/or Indiana bat.

• The remaining projects should demonstrate pertinent expertise, such as species surveys, environmental resource inventories, or habitat evaluation and assessment methodologies, in the UMR basin with particular emphasis upon work in the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.

• Each project should include a project name and location. Each project should include a narrative overview of the project including a project description, major accomplishments, and use of innovation.

Sub-Factor 3: Organizational Capabilities: This sub-factor evaluates the offeror’s management and organizational team (all subcontractors should be included in this organizational structure). The offeror shall provide a narrative and diagrammed organizational chart.

• The relationships of the offeror’s proposed team should be described, i.e. owned, sub-contracted effort, joint venture, member of consortium, etc.

• The corporate/organizational narrative shall include a brief list of the projects, which have been executed under this organizational structure and the length of time the sub-organization(s) not owned by the offeror has been part of the organizational structure (or the team).

• Clearly define the organizational roles/responsibilities and the contractual/legal responsibilities of the team or joint venture units and demonstrated capabilities to provide: GIS, field, and standard equipment sufficient to undertake the work relative to the requirements in the Scope of Work.

• The Offeror shall have office/field/laboratory facilities and standard equipment sufficient to undertake the work relative to the requirements in the Scope of Work and to the Performance Standards found in this solicitation.

Technical Approach, which reflects the Government’s confidence in each offeror’s ability as demonstrated in its proposal, to perform the requirements stated in the RFP, shall be evaluated and assigned a rating based on the following:

Technical Approach Ratings

Rating Description

Outstanding Proposal indicates an exceptional approach and understanding of the requirements and contains multiple strengths, and risk of unsuccessful performance is low.

Good Proposal indicates a thorough approach and understanding of the requirements and contains at least one strength, and risk of unsuccessful performance is low to moderate.

Acceptable Proposal meets requirements and indicates an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements and risk of unsuccessful performance is no worse than moderate.

Marginal Proposal has not demonstrated an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements, and/or risk of unsuccessful performance is high.

Unacceptable

Proposal does not meet requirements of the solicitation, and thus, contains one or more deficiencies, and/or risk of unsuccessful performance is unacceptable. Proposal is un-awardable.

Evaluation of Factor 2: Past Performance & Quality of Work

Past performance will be evaluated to determine the overall quality of the offeror’s past performance. The past performance evaluation performed in support of a current source selection does not establish, create, or change the existing record and history of the offeror’s past performance on contracts. Rather, the past performance evaluation process gathers information from customers on how well the offeror performed those past contracts.

While the Government may elect to consider data from other sources, the burden in providing detailed, current accurate and complete past performance information rests on the offeror. The Contractor Performance Assessment

Reporting System (CPARS) is a required system and the preferred source for past performance information (when available).

The offeror shall provide information on past performance for a minimum of five (5) projects, but no more than ten (10) projects. All projects shall be completed within the last ten (10) years.

The Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) included in the solicitation is provided for the offeror to submit to the client for each project the offeror includes in its proposal for determining the overall quality of the offeror’s past performance. If the client requests, questionnaires may be submitted directly to the Government (Mr.

Joseph Porter) prior to proposal closing date. Offerors shall not incorporate by reference into their proposal

PPQs previously submitted for other RFPs. However, this does not preclude the Government from utilizing previously submitted PPQ information in the past performance evaluation.

Past performance information may be obtained from any other sources available to the Government, to include, but not limited to, the CPARS, the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS), the Federal

Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), or other databases.

A performance assessment rating will be assigned for each offeror after evaluating the offeror’s recent past performance, focusing on performance that is relevant to the current procurement. Past performance information in conjunction with the performance relevancy rating will be reviewed and evaluated to determine the quality and usefulness as it applies to performance confidence assessment.

PERFORMANCE CONFIDENCE ASSESSMENTS RATING

Assessment Description

Substantial Confidence Based on the offeror’s recent/relevant performance record, the Government has a high expectation that the offeror will successfully perform the required effort.

Satisfactory Confidence Based on the offeror’s recent/relevant performance record, the Government has a reasonable expectation that the offeror will successfully perform the required effort.

Neutral Confidence

No recent/relevant performance record is available, or the offeror’s performance record is so sparse that no meaningful confidence assessment rating can be reasonably assigned. The offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on the factor of Past Performance.

Limited Confidence Based on the offeror’s recent/relevant performance record, the Government has a low expectation that the offeror will successfully perform the required effort.

No Confidence

Based on the offeror’s recent/relevant performance record, the Government has no expectation that the offeror will be able to successfully perform the required effort.

Evaluation of Factor 3: Price: Price will be evaluated for reasonableness in accordance with FAR Part 15.

Contract Line Item prices will be evaluated to determine whether the estimated proposed prices are reasonable for the work to be performed; reflect a clear understanding of the requirements; and are consistent with the offeror’s technical proposal.

1) The offeror shall ensure the information submitted in this volume is consistent with and fully supports the dollar values set forth in the For Evaluation Only – Sample Schedule of Prices and SF33 Schedule of Prices.

2) In accordance with FAR 15.304(e), all evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price (10 U.S.C. 2305 (a)(3)(A)(iii) and 41 U.S.C. 253a(c)(1)(C)).

However, the Government will not make an award to significantly higher overall price to achieve slightly superior technical features.

3) The Government may reject any proposal that is evaluated and determined to be unrealistic in terms of project commitments, including contract terms and conditions, or unreasonably high or low in cost when compared to the Government Estimate, such that the proposal is deemed to reflect an inherent lack of competence or failure to comprehend the complexity and risks of the project.

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