Q301--VISN 5 Reference Lab Testing

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EVALUATION METHODOLOGY

This procurement utilizes Best Value-Tradeoff Source Selection Procedures where non-price factors are significantly more important than price. The "Best Value" is the most advantageous offer, previous experience, the range of clinical and anatomic pathology diagnostic testing, data management system, transportation services, turnaround time, customer service and price considered and consistent with the Government's stated importance of evaluation criteria. This may result in an award(s) being made to a higher-rated, higher-percentage mark-up offeror(s) where the Contracting Officer determines that an offeror's proposal offers a "Best Value" that outweighs the percentage mark-up difference.

A. The award decision will be based on the following:

Technical. The technical evaluation team will assess whether the offeror satisfies the Government s minimum requirements as required by the solicitation. Technical components 1-7 shall be rated either exceeds, acceptable susceptible to being made acceptable or unacceptable.

Subcontracting Plan. The subcontracting plan is only required for Large Business prime contractors and shall meet the requirements of FAR 19.704 for Subcontracting Plans. Component 8 shall be rated either exceeds, acceptable susceptible to being made acceptable or unacceptable.

To be determined if offeror exceeds the technical requirements, the proposal must meet all requirements and exceeds the requirements in some way that benefits the Government.

For an offer to be determined acceptable in regard to the technical requirements, proposal must include all required submissions unless exempt. If exempt from a technical requirement i.e. the subcontracting plan will be marked acceptable.

In the event the offeror s technical proposal is determined to be unacceptable for any of the requirements below, the entire proposal will be considered unacceptable .

If in the judgment of the evaluation team, an unacceptable proposal can be made acceptable by the contractor with moderate revisions after discussions are held, proposal will be susceptible to being made acceptable .

On the other hand, if it appears that an unacceptable proposal would require major revisions or a complete rewrite in order to be made acceptable, the proposal is unacceptable.

Price. All line items in the Price Schedule must include a price for the base and all option periods. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Price analysis may be conducted by the Contracting Officer to whether pricing is fair and reasonable.

Past performance will not be evaluated under this acquisition. Past performance will only be reviewed in determining responsibility.

B. If, during evaluation, it is determined that discussions are necessary, offerors Final Proposal Revisions (FPR) after discussions will be considered in making the source selection decision.

Note: Offerors will be required to submit a proposal per region, so it is possible for offerors to submit two proposals.

In addition to the solicitation, contractor(s) are to provide a technical proposal that includes the following:

Offeror explains company history and background and demonstrates that offeror has at least 3 years in providing laboratory testing services and at least 1 year in transporting biomedical materials.

Offeror possesses all relevant licenses or certifications (CLIA or FDA) in addition to malpractice insurance to provide laboratory testing services and does not have any sanctions current or pending in the USA. CLIAs or FDA licenses, whether a prime contractor or a subcontractor must list specialties and list specialties within the SOW.

BPG/ISA/MOU is nationally approved by VA OIT and is current or Implementation strategy/ plan demonstrates how offeror will achieve operational interface and test data validation within the required timeframe of 180 days.

Offerors shall submit a plan to meet TAT and STAT times.

Offerors shall submit resumes for sufficient staff to function as an onsite processor for each of the medical center(s)

Offerors shall submit resumes for sufficient staff to function as an onsite processor for each of the medical center(s)

Offeror shall outline how the firm provides 24/7 serv

If offeror is a large firm provide a subcontracting plan that includes the following: Separate percentage goals for using small business (including ANCs and Indian tribes), veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small-disadvantaged business (including ANCs and Indian tribes) and women-owned small business concerns as subcontractors.

A statement of the total dollars planned to be subcontracted and a statement of the total dollars planned to be subcontracted to small business (including ANCs and Indian tribes), veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business (including ANCs and Indian tribes) and women-owned small business concerns, as a percentage of total subcontract dollars. For individual subcontracting plans only, a contracting officer may require the goals referenced in paragraph (a)(1) of this section to be calculated as a percentage of total contract dollars, in addition to the goals established as a percentage of total subcontract dollars.

A description of the principal types of supplies and services to be subcontracted and an identification of types of supplies or services planned for subcontracting to small business (including ANCs and Indian tribes), veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small-disadvantaged business (including ANCs and Indian tribes), and women-owned small business concerns.

A description of the method used to develop the subcontracting goals.

A description of the method used to identify potential sources for solicitation purposes.

A statement as to whether or not the offeror included indirect costs in establishing subcontracting goals (for commercial plans, see paragraph (d) of this section), and a description of the method used to determine the proportionate share of indirect costs to be incurred with small business (including ANCs and Indian tribes), veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business (including ANCs and Indian tribes), and women-owned small business concerns.

The name of an individual employed by the offeror who will administer the offeror s subcontracting program, and a description of the duties of the individual.

A description of the efforts the offeror will make to ensure that small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small-disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns have an equitable opportunity to compete for subcontracts.

Assurances that the offeror will include the clause at 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (see 19.708(a)), in all subcontracts that offer further subcontracting opportunities, and that the offeror will require all subcontractors (except small business concerns) that receive subcontracts in excess of $750,000 ($1.5 million for construction) to adopt a plan that complies with the requirements of the clause at 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan (see 19.708(b));

Assurances that the offeror will-

(i) Cooperate in any studies or surveys as may be required.

(ii) Submit periodic reports so that the Government can determine the extent of

compliance by the offeror with the subcontracting plan.

(iii) After November 30, 2017, include subcontracting data for each order when reporting

subcontracting achievements for indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts with

individual subcontracting plans where the contract is intended for use by multiple

agencies.

(iv) Submit the Individual Subcontract Report (ISR), and the Summary Subcontract

Report (SSR) using the Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS)

(http://www.esrs.gov), following the instructions in the eSRS.

The ISR shall be submitted semi-annually during contract performance for the periods ending March 31 and September 30. A report is also required for each contract within 30 days of contract completion. Reports are due 30 days after the close of each reporting period, unless otherwise directed by the contracting officer. Reports are required when due, regardless of whether there has been any subcontracting activity since the inception of the contract or the previous reporting period. When a contracting officer rejects an ISR, the contractor is required to submit a revised ISR within 30 days of receiving the notice of the ISR rejection.

The SSR shall be submitted annually by October 30 for the twelve-month period ending September 30. When an SSR is rejected, the contractor is required to submit a revised SSR within 30 days of receiving the notice of SSR rejection.

(v) Ensure that its subcontractors with subcontracting plans agree to submit the ISR

and/or the SSR using the eSRS.

(vi) Provide its prime contract number, its unique entity identifier, and the e-mail address of the offeror s official responsible for acknowledging receipt of or rejecting the ISRs to all first-tier subcontractors with subcontracting plans so they can enter this information into the eSRS when submitting their ISRs; and

(vii) Require that each subcontractor with a subcontracting plan provide the prime contract number, its own unique entity identifier, and the e-mail address of the subcontractor s official responsible for acknowledging receipt of or rejecting the ISRs, to its subcontractors with subcontracting plans.

A description of the types of records that will be maintained concerning procedures adopted to comply with the requirements and goals in the plan, including establishing source lists; and a description of the offeror s efforts to locate small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns and to award subcontracts to them.

Assurances that the offeror will make a good faith effort to acquire articles, equipment, supplies, services, or materials, or obtain the performance of construction work from the small business concerns that the offeror used in preparing the bid or proposal, in the same or greater scope, amount, and quality used in preparing and submitting the bid or proposal. Responding to a request for a quote does not constitute use in preparing a bid or proposal. An offeror used a small business concern in preparing the bid or proposal if

The offeror identifies the small business concern as a subcontractor in the bid or proposal or associated small business subcontracting plan, to furnish certain supplies or perform a portion of the contract; or

ii. The offeror used the small business concern's pricing or cost information or technical expertise in preparing the bid or proposal, where there is written evidence of an intent or understanding that the small business concern will be awarded a subcontract for the related work if the offeror is awarded the contract.

Assurances that the contractor will provide the contracting officer with a written explanation if the contractor fails to acquire articles, equipment, supplies, services or materials or obtain the performance of construction work as described in (a)(12) of this section. This written explanation will be submitted to the contracting officer within 30 days of contract completion.

Assurances that the contractor will not prohibit a subcontractor from discussing with the contracting officer any material matter pertaining to payment to or utilization of a subcontractor; and

Assurances that the offeror will pay its small business subcontractors on time and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the subcontract, and notify the contracting officer if the offeror pays a reduced or an untimely payment to a small business subcontractor (see 52.242-5).

Contractors may establish, on a plant or division-wide basis, a master plan (see 19.701) that contains all the elements required by the clause at 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan, except goals. Master plans shall be effective for a 3-year period after approval by the contracting officer; however, it is incumbent upon contractors to maintain and update master plans. Changes required to update master plans are not effective until approved by the contracting officer. A master plan, when incorporated in an individual plan, shall apply to that contract throughout the life of the contract.

For multiyear contracts or contracts containing options, the cumulative value of the basic contract and all options is considered in determining whether a subcontracting plan is necessary. If a subcontracting plan is necessary and the offeror is submitting an individual subcontracting plan, the individual subcontracting plan shall contain all the elements required by paragraph (a) of this section and shall contain separate statements and goals based on total subcontract dollars for the basic contract and for each option.

A commercial plan (as defined in 19.701) is the preferred type of subcontracting plan for contractors furnishing commercial products and commercial services. The subcontracting goals established for a commercial plan shall include all indirect costs with the exception of those such as the following: Employee salaries and benefits; payments for petty cash; depreciation; interest; income taxes; property taxes; lease payments; bank fees; fines, claims, and dues; original equipment manufacturer relationships during warranty periods (negotiated up front with the product); utilities and other services purchased from a municipality or an entity solely authorized by the municipality to provide those services in a particular geographical region; and philanthropic contributions. Once a contractor's commercial plan has been approved, the Government shall not require another subcontracting plan from the same contractor while the plan remains in effect, as long as the product or service being provided by the contractor continues to meet the definition of a commercial product or commercial service. The contractor shall

Submit the commercial plan to either the first contracting officer awarding a contract subject to the plan during the contractor s fiscal year, or, if the contractor has ongoing contracts with commercial plans, to the contracting officer responsible for the contract with the latest completion date. The contracting officer shall negotiate the commercial plan for the Government. The approved commercial plan shall remain in effect during the contractor s fiscal year for all Government contracts in effect during that period;

Submit a new commercial plan, 30 working days before the end of the Contractor s fiscal year, to the contracting officer responsible for the uncompleted Government contract with the latest completion date. The contractor must provide to each contracting officer responsible for an ongoing contract subject to the plan, the identity of the contracting officer that will be negotiating the new plan.

When the new commercial plan is approved, provide a copy of the approved plan to each contracting officer responsible for an ongoing contract that is subject to the plan; and

Comply with the reporting requirements stated in paragraph (a)(10) of this section by submitting one SSR that includes all indirect costs, except as described in paragraph (d) of this section, in eSRS, for all contracts covered by its commercial plan. This report will be acknowledged or rejected in eSRS by the contracting officer who approved the plan. The report shall be submitted within 30 days after the end of the Government s fiscal year.

If contractor is a small business, the proposal is exempt from providing a subcontracting plan.