Amendment 0001/Title Insurance, Title Search, and Closing Service

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial service prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 12.603 Streamlined solicitation for commercial products or commercial services, and FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, 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.

The solicitation number is 12405B22Q0068 and is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ).  This requirement is a 100% Total Small Business Set-Aside.  The associated NAICS Code is 541191 Title Abstract and Settlement Offices, and the Small Business Size Standard is $12.0 million.  This solicitation document incorporates those provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2022-04.

Description of Work:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Soil Dynamics Research Unit, Auburn, AL location has a requirement  to obtain a title search, title insurance commitment, title insurance policy, and closing services for two parcels of land the United States of America (“United States”) will acquire pursuant to a land exchange (“Exchange”).  The Exchange is between the United States, acting by and through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) Agricultural Research Service (“ARS”), and Auburn University (“Auburn”) (collectively the “Parties”).  To be performed in strict accordance with attached detailed Statement of Work (“SOW”).     

Offer submission documents:

1. One (1) original fully completed and signed SF-18 (complete Blocks 13, 14, 15, and 16); include unit price and total amount for each CLIN listed, quotation should be valid for at least 60 days after receipt of quotation.  Acknowledgment of any and all amendments by completing Blocks 15a, b, and c of the Amendment SF-30.
2. Quotation on company letterhead providing point of contact, phone number, and email address. 
3. All Offerors shall submit all current State of Alabama Insurance Commissioner license/certifications required by law with the quotation.  Quotations absent State of Alabama Insurance Commissioner license/certifciation documents will result in the offeror not being eligible for award. 
4. An offeror shall have an active DUNS and SAM.gov registration when submitting an offer or quotation, and shall continue to be registered until time of award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchasing agreement resulting from this solicitation.  DUNS number should be provided.  Complete the Representations in FAR 52.204-24 prior to submission of quotation; the Representation and Certification section should also be completed electronically in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.beta.sam.gov.   

Failure to provide the required information in the requested format may result in quotations not being considered for award.

FAR clauses 52.212-1, 52.212-2, 52.212-3, 52.212-4 and 52.212-5 (and any addenda to those clauses) are included in the attached clauses and provisions document.  Additionally, other contract requirements and terms/conditions can be located in the same document.

All interested firms wishing to furnish a quotation shall furnish a quotation by Wednesday, April 6, 2022, no later than 3:00 p.m. Central Time (CT).  Quotations are to be sent via email only to Monte Jordan @ monte.jordan@usda.gov.  Only Email submissions of quotations will be accepted. 

All questions pertaining to this solicitation must contain reference to the solicitation number and must be submitted, in writing only via e-mail to monte.jordan@usda.gov no later than Monday, April 4, 2022.  NO telephone inquiries will be accepted.

Any amendment and documents related to this procurement will be available electronically at the Government Point of Entry (beta.sam.gov).

AMENDMENT 0001 issued to provide answers to questions submitted by interested contractors.

Q1.  I would like to know if we were to subcontract the work to one of our affiliates insurance companies and supplied with the bid submittance they're  Alabama insurance License would that suffice for the licensing requirement? Because we are not an issuance company, but we do help to connect and provide business with services.

A1.  Work may by subcontracted but subcontractor must be licensed/certified by State of Alabama Insurance Commissioner as stated in solicitation.  Services (except construction), it will not pay more than 50 percent of the amount paid by the Government for contract performance to subcontractors that are not similarly situated entities.  Similarly situated entity means a first-tier subcontractor, including an independent contractor, that— (1) Has the same small business program status as that which qualified the prime contractor for the award (e.g., for a small business set-aside contract, any small business concern, without regard to socioeconomic status); and (2) Is considered small for the size standard under the NAICS code the prime contractor assigned to the subcontract.

Q2.  We are hoping to find out if there is (was) an incumbent contractor performing these services, or if this is a brand-new contract.

A2.  New contract.