2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice.  The solicitation for commercial services is being conducted in conjunction with FAR Part 13. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.  Solicitation NBRS-EMS2020-0001 is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ).  The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2020-04.  The NAICS Code is 721110, Hotels (Not Casino) and Motels, and small business size standard is $35.0M.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has a requirement to obtain hotel guest room accommodations, meeting space and related conference support services for the 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools (NBRS) Award Ceremony.  ED intends to hold the ceremony in November 2020.  In addition, ED has similar needs for an optional event, “The National Summit on School Leadership” (the Summit).   The Summit, with includes attendees from State and Local Legislatures and other nationally recognized members of the education community, would start the day of NBRS load-in and continue for a half-day on Day 1 of the NBRS ceremony.  The Summit  and NBRS share constituencies and many participants attend both events.  Therefore, ED requires Summit dates immediately before the NBRS ceremony.  Note that, in 2019, ED exercised the option for the Summit at NBRS contract award.   The preferred dates for 2020 are:

November 3 - 6, 2020

November 7 - 10, 2020

November 16 - 19, 2020

AREA OF CONSIDERATION:  The Washington, DC Metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia hotels with ready access to public transportation options offered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.  Large hotels capable of blocking 600 or more sleeping rooms, plus meeting space that can accommodate 1000 - 1200 attendees in rounds, will be considered.  The majority of lodging and conference rooms must be at the same general location.  The Department will consider hotel partnering arrangements where sleeping room accommodations within close proximity of each other are proposed.  At this time, there is no flexibility with the area of consideration.

The firm selected to receive an offer from the Department is required to register in the System for Award Management (SAM) and to maintain active registration during the life of the purchase order.  SAM can be accessed at https://www.sam.gov.  Firms shall include their DUNS number in their quote.  If the firm does not have a DUNS number, it should contact Dun and Bradstreet directly to obtain one.  The firm selected for an offer from the Department will need to provide Offeror Representations and Certifications prior to any award.

All interested, responsible sources may submit a quote directly to the U.S. Department of Education.  Any quote from a source other than the hotel or lodging venue itself must include written evidence that the quoter is currently authorized to submit binding quotes on behalf of the venue whose accommodations and/or facility are being offered.  Evidence shall include a signed agreement between the vendor and the quoter.  Quotes that fail to provide such evidence shall be deemed technically unacceptable and will not be considered for award.  The Department’s preference is that all lodging and meeting space be in one general location. 

CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS:

Submit all clarification questions concerning this solicitation in writing via E-Mail to Gary Weaver, Contracting Officer, at Gary.Weaver@ed.gov.  ED will accept clarification questions until 12:00 pm EST Thursday, February 14, 2020.  After this date ED does not guarantee that a response will be given.

QUOTE DUE DATE:

Quotes are due by 10:00 am EST, Friday, February 21, 2020 to Gary Weaver, Contracting Officer, at Gary.Weaver@ed.gov.  The Department will make an award decision as soon as possible after the quote due date so that a room block, space, etc. can be locked in.

PLEASE SEE THE COMPLETE RFQ UPLOADED AS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT FOR COMPLETE REQUIREMENTS, BASIS FOR AWARD, AND COMPLETE QUOTE INSTRUCTIONS.