Finite Element Analysis and Evaluation of Splitting/Bursting Performance of Pretensioned Concrete Prisms

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation No. DTRT5716Q80111 is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). This solicitation is being conducted under FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items and FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-89, effective July 14, 2016. The NAICS Code is 541690; the Small Business size standard is $15 million.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), Cambridge, MA, is seeking a contractor to provide services to perform finite element analysis (FEA) and evaluate the splitting/bursting performance of pretensioned concrete prisms, in accordance with the attached Statement of Work (SOW) (Attachment No. 2).

DELIVERABLES AND PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Project deliverables will be required according to the format and dates outlined in SOW. All work will begin upon date of award and be completed June 30, 2017.

REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS

The Offeror shall provide a firm fixed price proposal for all labor and materials for each CLIN listed below in accordance with the attached SOW and proposal instructions described in the attached Instructions, Conditions, and Notice to Offerors (Attachment No. 1):

CLIN 0100 - Determination of concrete splitting performance
measure(s), including meeting with FRA, Volpe and KSU to reach consensus 

$____________________

CLIN 0101 - Web meeting with FRA, Volpe and KSU to reach consensus on concrete splitting performance measure(s)

$_____________________

CLIN0200 - Determination of prism length, including meeting with FRA, Volpe and KSU to reach consensus

$_____________________

CLIN 0201 - Web meeting with FRA, Volpe and KSU to reach consensus on prism length (can be combined with CLIN 0101)

$_____________________

CLIN 0300 - (Optional) FEA models and results, comparison with
experimental data

$_____________________

CLIN 0400 - FEA Models and results

$_____________________

CLIN 0500 - FEA models and results

$_____________________

CLIN 0600 - FEA models and results

$_____________________

CLIN 0700 - Summary of critical variable combinations

$_____________________

CLIN 0800 - Progress update meetings, including monthly meetings
in July and August, 2016 and final meeting in December 2016

$_____________________

CLIN 0801 - Reports/publications,

$_____________________

CLIN 0802 - (TRAVEL) Travel to make conference presentation, conference
venue TBD

$_____________________

Please provide a total price for all CLINS $_______________________

INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS:

FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items - The offer should be addressed to the following: U.S. Department of Transportation, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Attn: Karen Marino, V-222, 55 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02142. The signed offer must be submitted via e-mail to Karen.Marino@dot.gov. The time for receipt of offers is 3:00 PM Eastern Time on July 29, 2016. See Attachment No. 1 for additional Instruction to Offerors. When submitting a proposal please submit a separate cost proposal and a separate technical proposal, the cost should not be part of the technical proposal. All Offerors must include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items. An Offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the Offeror has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically using the System for Award Management (SAM) accessible via http://www.sam.gov. If the Offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically in SAM, the Offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (o) of this provision. The Offeror is reminded that if it completes its annual representations and certifications electronically in SAM it must update its representations and certifications as necessary, but at least annually, to ensure they are kept current, accurate, and complete. All Contractors must be registered in SAM in order to receive an award from a DOT Agency.

FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, is hereby incorporated by reference. FAR Clause 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, is hereby incorporated by reference Additional clauses cited in 52.212-5 that apply to this acquisition are: 52-209-6, 52.217-3, 52.217-5, 52.217-7, 52.222-3, 52.222-19, 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37, 52.222-40, 52.222-50, 52.223-15, 52.223-18, 52.225-1, and 52.232-33. These references may be viewed at www.acquisition.gov/far. No telephone requests will be honored. The Government will not pay for any information received.

The following FAR Clauses and Deviations also apply:

FAR 52.203-98, Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal

Confidentiality Agreements-Representation (DEVIATION 2015-02)

PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES THAT REQUIRE CERTAIN INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS-REPRESENTATION (APR 2015)

(a) In accordance with section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Resolution Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235), Government agencies are not permitted to use funds appropriated (or otherwise made available)
under that or any other Act for contracts with an entity that requires employees or subcontractors of such entity seeking to report fraud, waste, or abuse to sign internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting such employees or subcontractors from lawfully reporting such waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information.

(b) The prohibition in paragraph (a) of this provision does not contravene
requirements applicable to Standard Form 312, Form 4414, or any other form issued by a Federal department or agency governing the nondisclosure of classified information.

(c) Representation. By submission of its offer, the Offeror represents that it does not require employees or subcontractors of such entity seeking to report fraud, waste, or abuse to sign internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting such employees or subcontractors from lawfully reporting such waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information.

(End of provision)

FAR Clause 52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors

PROVIDING ACCELERATED PAYMENTS TO SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTORS (DEC 2013)

(a) Upon receipt of accelerated payments from the Government, the Contractor shall make accelerated payments to its small business subcontractors under this contract, to the maximum extent practicable and prior to when such payment is otherwise required under the applicable contract or subcontract, after receipt of a proper invoice and all other required documentation from the small business subcontractor.
(b) The acceleration of payments under this clause does not provide any new rights under the Prompt Payment Act.
(c) Include the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (c), in all subcontracts with small business concerns, including subcontracts with small business concerns for the acquisition of commercial items.