H166--Pharmaceutical Aseptic and Environmental Testing & Analysis

See Block 14

?.## INSTRUCTIONS TO QUOTERS

Note that FAR Subpart 13 Simplified Acquisitions Procedures will be used. The purpose of simplified procedures is to vest contracting officers with additional procedural discretion and flexibility, so that commercial item acquisitions in this dollar range may be solicited, quoted, evaluated, and awarded in a simplified manner that maximizes efficiency and economy and minimizes burden and administrative costs for both the Government and industry (10 U.S.C. 2304(g) and 2305 and 41 U.S.C. 3305, 3306, and chapter 37, Awarding of Contracts.

SITE VISIT

Quoters are urged and expected to inspect the site where services are to be performed and to satisfy themselves regarding all general and local conditions that may affect the cost and/or the contract performance, to the extent that the information is reasonably obtainable. In no event shall failure to inspect the site constitute grounds for a claim after contract award. The site visits will be conducted on a mutually agreeable date as requested.

QUOTE SUBMISSION

Quoters shall submit their quote via email to Serina Black at serina.black1@va.gov by 15:00PM, EST, February 08, 2023. Quotes shall be assembled by the following Sections; each section shall be easily identified.

Section A - Quote Form (Standard Form 1449)

Signed and dated, include the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and small business size standard in Block 10. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number shall be entered in the block with the Quoters name and address.

Section B Pricing

Pricing shall be submitted as requested in the Schedule of Services. Total price will be evaluated by the Government. Proposed price should reflect a clear understanding of the requirements and is consistent with the various elements of the quote.

Section C Quoters Representations and Certifications

A completed copy of the representations and certifications at FAR 52.212-3 (see FAR 52.212-3(b) for those representations and certifications that the quoter shall complete electronically). A quoter shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the quoter has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically at www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.

All Quoters shall be registered and current in the System for Award Management (SAM) database at time of award.

Section D Technical/Management Approach

Quoters shall submit a quote that addresses all aspects of the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

The quoter shall identify any subcontractors proposed under this solicitation. All technical elements applicable to the utilization of subcontractors must be addressed in the technical quote and detail provided.

The technical quote should be as detailed as necessary to fully explain the proposed methods and rationale; it should reflect a clear understanding of the nature of the work being undertaken. The technical quote shall include information on how the project is to be organized, staffed, and managed.

The Technical Volume shall not exceed twenty-five (25) pages in length (minimum 12-point font and no less than ½ inch margins). Page limitation includes any drawings, charts, images, etc., and excludes section dividers, table of contents, glossary of terms, cross-referencing indices, and resumes. If more than 25 pages (not counting excluded pages) are submitted, only the first 25 pages will be considered.

Section E Past Performance

Identify all federal, state, and local government contracts as well as any private/commercial contracts of similar scope, size, complexity that are ongoing or have been completed within the last three years. List the following information for each contract:

Company Name and Address

Description of Services Performed

Name, Telephone Number and Email Address of Responsible individuals who have first-hand knowledge of performance relative to similar type of services

Dates of Contract Performance

Contract Type (e.g. fixed-price, cost reimbursable) and total contract value

Failure to submit a complete proposal may result in an unacceptable determination.

3.0 AWARD BASIS

The Government will select the quote that represents the best benefit to the Government at a price that can be determined reasonable. The Government will evaluate technical capabilities, past performance, and price.

Following receipt of quotes, the Government will perform an evaluation using a comparative analysis of the services quoted in accordance with FAR 13.106-2(b)(3). The Government will compare quotes to one another to select the service that best benefits the Government by fulfilling the requirement. The evaluation of Government requirements outlined in this request for quote will determine suitability. Contractors may submit more than one quote; however, contractors are strongly encouraged to submit their best technical solutions and prices in response to this request for quote. Once the Government determines there is/are a contractor(s) that can provide a service that meet(s) the requirements of this request for quote, the Government reserves the right to communicate with only those contractors quoting the best-suited service to address any remaining issues.

The Government will evaluate quotes for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that a quote is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

Factor 1: Technical/Management Approach

The evaluation process will consider whether the quote demonstrates a clear understanding of the technical features involved in meeting the requirements of the solicitation.

Factor 2: Past Performance

Past performance information will be utilized to determine the quality of the contractor s past performance as it relates to the probability of success of the required effort. The Government will evaluate customer satisfaction, responsiveness to customer needs, and past demonstration of meeting delivery schedules and the delivery of quality services. Emphasis will be on recent, relevant past performance in the previous 3 years. Recent is defined as work performed within the last three years. Relevant is defined as work similar in size and scope of the work described in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

Past performance information is one indicator of a quoter s ability to perform the contract successfully. Current and relevant information, source of information, context of data, and general trends in Contractor s performance shall be considered as it pertains to the performance of work described in this solicitation. Quoters may provide information on problems encountered on identified contracts and the quoter s corrective action. The Government shall consider this information as well as information obtained from any other sources when evaluating the quoter s past performance.

Since the Government may not necessarily interview all of the sources provided by the quoters, it is incumbent upon the quoter to explain the relevance of the data provided. Quoters are reminded that the Government may elect to consider data obtained from other sources.

Quoters with no relevant past performance or whom information is not available, shall not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance, but may be considered less favorably than a quoter with favorable performance history.

Factor 3: Price

Prices shall be submitted in accordance with the Price Schedule contained in the Solicitation. Total price will be evaluated by the Government. In evaluating the quoter s proposed price for this project, the Government concern includes determining price reasonableness.

Reasonableness determinations will be made by determining if competition exists, by comparing proposed cost/price with established commercial prices, other contract vehicles, and/or by comparing proposed cost/price with the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE). The IGCE is not releasable to the public.

For evaluation purposes the Government will evaluate quotes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the base requirement. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

4.0 TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

Quoters should submit all technical questions regarding this solicitation to the Contracting Officer in writing, via email, to Serina Black at serina.black1@va.gov on or before 15:00PM, EST, February 1, 2023.

Address Subject Line: Pharmaceutical Aseptic and Environmental Testing and Analysis | Salisbury

Telephonic (verbal) questions Will Not be addressed.

All responses to questions, which may affect quotes, will be incorporated into a written amendment to the Request for Quote.