AJ14--Gift Card Services for Research Incentive

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This is a Request for Quote (RFQ) and the solicitation number is 36C24E23Q0073. The government anticipates awarding a firm-fixed price contract resulting from this combined synopsis/solicitation. This solicitation is issued as a 100% set aside for small business concerns. It is the responsibility of the contractor to be familiar with the applicable clauses and provisions. The clauses may be accessed in full text at www.acquisition.gov.

ATTENTION: This solicitation is a replacement for Solicitation 36C24E23Q0060 and 36C24E23Q0060 is hereby canceled.

STATEMENT OF NEED (SON)

CONTRACT DESCRIPTION AND REQUIREMENTS

The Regional Procurement Office (RPO) - East has a requirement to purchase gift card services. The gift cards will be given as participant incentives in VA health services and clinical research grants at the VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System. A firm-fixed price contract will be awarded for the purchase of services in accordance with all terms, conditions, provisions, specifications, and schedule of this solicitation herein. Quotes shall contain the Offeror s best terms for cost/price and technical capabilities of the requirement. The government reserves the right to award without discussions.

1.1 PRICING

The Offeror shall submit price quotes for the required services to the specifications listed in Section 1.2 below. Please enclose the established price list and description of capabilities and product specifications for the requirement. Items offered that are brand name or equal shall identify items as being on GSA schedule and reference the contract number.

Note: The Offeror should include a description of any support services in the technical quote.

1.2 GENERAL INFORMATION

Gift Card Services

Interested parties must be able to provide gift cards with the following conditions:

Gift cards shall:

Have no expiration date

Not be limited to any one store, an exception must be approved by project manager

Not to be limited to one use

Have a 5-year contract so that gift cards can be ordered in smaller batches (indefinite delivery)

Not include a fee on the card, fee shall be listed separately, and not exceed $1.50 per card

Each task order will need a minimum requirement with a mix of different stores and increments. Please provide a quote utilizing the following list as an example:

ITEM INFORMATION

ITEM NUMBER

DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

QUANTITY

UNIT

UNIT PRICE

AMOUNT

0001

$50 Amazon Gift Card

12.00

EA

$50.000000

$600.00

0002

$75 Amazon Gift Card

30.00

EA

$75.000000

$2,250.00

0003

$25 CVS Gift Card

5.00

EA

$25.000000

$125.00

0004

$40 CVS Gift Card

60.00

EA

$40.000000

$2,400.00

0005

$10 Target Gift Card

200.00

EA

$10.000000

$2,000.00

0006

$25 Target Gift Card

125.00

EA

$25.000000

$3,125.00

0007

$50 Target Gift Card

250.00

EA

$50.000000

$12,500.00

0008

Processing Fee

682.00

EA

GRAND TOTAL

Additional Information:

There is no incumbent for this solicitation.

Estimated number of cards required for the bid year is unknown. The list provided is a minimum requirement. Please provide a quote utilizing the following list as an example.

Visa or MasterCard gift cards may be acceptable as opposed to individual store cards.

The contractor/source may be located outside of California as long as there is no extra charges for shipping or other surcharge.

Handling charge shall not be a percentage of the total value/cost of the gift cards.

Cards may be purchased in bulk. Cards will be provided at the project level to avoid change in IRB protocols.

Data regarding disbursed gift cards will be handled by research team.

The product capabilities and salient characteristics identified above by a brand name or equal" description are intended to be descriptive, not restrictive, and to indicate the quality and characteristics of the product that will be satisfactory. Quotes offering "equal" products (including products of the brand name manufacturer other than the one described by the brand name) will be considered if such product is clearly identified in the quote and is determined by the VA to meet fully the salient characteristics on above products. If offering an equivalent product, the brand name of the equivalent product shall be clearly identified in the quote. Unless visibly identified as an equivalent product, offered items shall be considered as the brand name product referenced in this announcement.

The evaluation of quotes and the determination as to the equality of the products shall be the responsibility of the Government and shall be based on information provided by the Offeror. The Government is not responsible for locating or securing any information not provided in the quotation by the Offeror. To ensure that sufficient information is available, the Offeror must furnish, as a part of the quote, all descriptive material necessary for the purchasing activity to determine whether the products meet the salient characteristics of this requirement. Vendors proposing to modify a product to make it conform to the requirements of this announcement shall include a clear description of the proposed modification and clearly mark any descriptive material to show the proposed modification. Offers that do not have descriptive material will not be considered for award.

Instructions to the Offeror

Basis for award resulting from this RFQ will made to the Best Value Offer that provides a complete package pursuant to the preparation requirements set forth in 52.212-1. FAR 52.212-2 (Evaluation - Commercial Items) will be incorporated in full text into the RFQ and will be evaluated on the following factors. Evaluations will be in accordance with FAR 13 Simplified procedures.

Evaluation Factors for Award:

Factor 1 - Technical Capabilities

All offerors must meet or exceed all requirements and salient features as listed in the Statement of Need.

Factor 2 - Past Performance - Past Performance will be based on the most current PPIPRS

Report.

Factor 3 - Price

The following FAR provision and clauses apply to this solicitation and are incorporated by reference. The solicitation document, incorporated provision and clauses are those in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-89, Effective July 2, 2015. It is the responsibility of the contractor to be familiar with the applicable clauses and provisions. The clauses may be accessed in full text at www.acquistion.gov. This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available.

FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors Commercial

FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation- Commercial Items

FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications

FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions

FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes Or Executive Orders Commercial Item

FAR 52.219-6 Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2011)

FAR 52.219-8 Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Oct 2014)

FAR 52.233-3 Protest After Award (Aug 1996)

FAR 52.211-6 Brand Name or Equal

FAR 52.233-2 Service of Protest

Quotes shall be submitted via email to millicent.covert@va.gov and Offerors must reference Solicitation 36C24E23Q0073 in the subject line of the email. Cut off for questions is Wednesday, February 1, 2023, no later than 4:00 PM, EST. No telephone request for information will be considered. Incomplete packages will be considered nonresponsive. All offers must be received by the closing date Monday, February 6, 2023, no later than 11:59 AM, EST.