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 36C24E24Q0090. The government anticipates awarding a firm-fixed price Indefinite-Delivery/ Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract will be awarded resulting from this combined synopsis/ solicitation. This solicitation is issued as a 100% set aside for small business concerns. This solicitation and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2024-05. 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.

The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541990, with a small business size standard of $19.5M. The FSC/PSC is AJ14.

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 Salt Lake City and VA Minneapolis Medical Centers. A firm-fixed price Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) 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.

Please submit quote in the format provided below. This is only an example of how task order will be submitted and does not constitute an actual order at this time.

Line Item

Gift Card Type

Quantity

Unit

Price

Extended Amount

0001

Amazon

351

EA

$ 25.00

$ 8,775.00

0002

Amazon

125

EA

$ 30.00

$ 3,750.00

0003

Amazon

60

EA

$ 35.00

$ 2,100.00

0004

Amazon

12

EA

$ 50.00

$ 600.00

0005

Walmart

20

EA

$ 20.00

$ 400.00

0006

Walmart

140

EA

$ 50.00

$ 7,000.00

0007

Target

225

EA

$ 20.00

$ 4,500.00

0008

Target

30

EA

$ 25.00

$ 750.00

0009

Target

50

EA

$ 20.00

$ 1,000.00

Â

Â

Â

Â

Â

$ 28,875.00

1010

Processing Fee

1013

EA

Â

Â

TOTAL

Â

Complete the highlighted areas. Provide the processing fee per gift card, extended amount, and provide the final total for the gift cards ordered plus the processing fee total.

1.2 GENERAL INFORMATION

Objective: Gift Card Services to obtain gift cards for VA Funded-Research Participant Payment Incentives

Background:

The Research Services of the VA Salt Lake City and VA Minneapolis Medical Centers request gift cards for participant reimbursement incentives for clinical research grants. Funding has been acquired and set aside for Veterans who participate in research activities by answering survey questions and open-ended qualitative questions or engaging in clinical research studies.

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

The vendor shall supply and activate gift cards in the required denomination and quantity requested

Gift cards:

To be ordered by vendor of choice: Amazon, CVS, Walmart, or Target, in denominations between $5 - $100.

Shall not have an expiration date.

Shall not be limited to one use.

Shall not include a fee on the card.

Processing fee (to include shipping and handling) should be paid separately and should not exceed $1.50 per card.

Physical gift cards shall be delivered within 14 days of task order placed.

Tracking shall be provided upon shipment of requested cards.

Digital gift cards shall have email delivery capabilities from Study Team to Study Participants.

Contract Type:

Firm-Fixed Price, Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ)

Vendor shall have the capability to satisfy all new/future Research Study Task Order submissions throughout the life of the contract. Minimum order per year is estimated at $2,000 and maximum is estimated at $250,000.

Task orders will be requested as needed, defining the amount per card, and selection of company per gift card(s) will be identified within order.

Period of Performance:

5 - year contract (no options) 60 months from date of award

Delivery Address(es):

SLC VAMC Minneapolis VAHCS VA MED CTR

WHSE 7/Research/Liz Weld Research Service 151

500 S Foothill Dr. 1 Veterans Drive

Salt Lake City, UT 84148 Minneapolis, MN 55417

Delivery of gifts cards shall be provided no later than 14 days after receipt of task order.

Invoice/Payment:

Vendor shall submit invoice within 30 days of Task Order shipment via http://www.tungsten-network.com/US/en/veterans-affairs/

Additional Information:

This is a new contract for services. There is no incumbent for this solicitation.

Estimated number of cards required for the bid year is unknown. The list provided for quote format (see below) is a minimum requirement example for VA SLC s Base Year requirement.

The contractor/source may be located outside of the states of Utah and Minnesota as long as there no extra charges for shipping or other surcharges are added.

Cards may be purchase 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 specific location s Research Team.

Instructions to the Offeror

Award will be based upon a comparative evaluation of quotes in accordance with the Simplified Acquisition Procedures of FAR 13. Comparative evaluation is the side by side pairwise comparison of quotes based on factors resulting in a Contracting Officer decision for the quote most favorable to the Government.

Comparative Evaluation of Quotes will be used, in accordance with FAR 13.106-2. The following are the decision factors:

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 CPARS Report. A lack of relevant past performance will be graded as neutral during evaluation.

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) 2024-05, Effective May 22, 2024. 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**

(SAM registration is required to be complete at time of submission of response) Offerors must complete annual representations and certifications electronically via thein accordance with FAR 52.212-3, Offerors Representations and Certifications Commercial Products and Commercial Services. If paragraph (j) of the provision is applicable, a written submission is required)

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 2020)

FAR 52.219-8 Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Feb 2024)

FAR 52.233-3 Protest After Award (Aug 1996)

FAR 52.233-2 Service of Protest

The award will be made to the response most advantageous to the Government. Responses should contain your best terms, conditions.

To facilitate the award process, all quotes must include a statement regarding the terms and conditions herein as follows:

"The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document without modification, deletion, or addition."

OR

"The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:"

Quoters shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s), if any.

Quotes shall be submitted via email to millicent.covert@va.gov and Offerors must reference Solicitation 36C24E24Q0090 in the subject line of the email. Cut off for questions is Thursday, August 29, 2024, no later than 4:00 PM, EST. No telephone request for information will be considered. Incomplete or late submissions will be considered nonresponsive. All offers must be received by the closing date of Tuesday, September 3, 2024, no later than 11:59 AM, EST.