Yellow Ribbon Event Multiple Award Blanket Purchase Agreement

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services 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.

The solicitation is being issued as a Request for Quote; the solicitation number is W912SV-24-Q-0001. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular FAC 2024-02.

The Massachusetts Army National Guard (MARNG) has a requirement to establish multiple Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA) for Yellow Ribbon Event Services. The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program is a congressionally mandated initiative established under the National Defense Authorization Act (Section 582 of Public Law 110-183). It requires information events and activities for all deploying units. Various units in the deployment cycle will participate in these events, which may be combined based on necessity. It is essential that each event is tailored to accommodate the size and needs of both the deploying group and their families.

A BPA is an agreement, not a contract or purchase order. The BPA Master Agreements shall set forth the terms and conditions prior to an actual purchase. The Government is not obligated to purchase any definite amount under this BPA. If a need arises, an authorized representative of the Government may issue an order following the procedures outlined in the BPA. If the BPA holder accepts the order, then a binding contract between the Government and BPA holder will exist for that specific order.

This requirement is issued under a Total Small Business set-aside using Simplified Acquisition Procedures IAW Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13.5 under NAICS code 722310 Food Service Contractors. The small business size standard is $47,000,000. Interested vendors must add the applicable NAICS to their System for Award Management (SAM) Representations and Certifications prior to submitting their responses.

Description of Requirement:

1. The Contractor shall deliver meals and food items as further described in attachment – Performance Work Statement (PWS).

2. Additional terms and conditions are contained in the following documents:

a) Blanket Purchase Agreement Terms and Conditions; W912SV24Q0001 Yellow Ribbon Master BPA

b) Attached Provisions and Clauses incorporated by reference or by full text below

3. Contract Line Item Numbers (CLIN) will be dependent on individual Calls and/or orders issued under the resultant BPA. Delivery quantities, locations, and types will vary according to need and will be determined for each order or call placed under a Master Blanket Purchase Agreement. CLIN format should be as follows:

CLIN No         Item                            QTY            Price

CLIN 0001      Meeting Space

CLIN 0002      AV Equipment

CLIN 0003      Catered Meals

4. The Government intends to award up to approximately ten (10) BPAs to responsible vendors that demonstrate a capability to provide event services under the conditions and safety requirements as described in the PD. The Government reserves the right to award additional BPAs beyond the estimated number, or award no BPAs, from this combined synopsis/solicitation as determined to be in the Government's best interest. BPAs do not obligate any funds and are not binding contracts. The Government will be obligated only to the extent that authorized BPA calls or orders are made under these agreements.

5. BPAs will be evaluated annually and are anticipated to remain in place for five (5) years. The total maximum order limit for ALL Master BPAs (combined) awarded under this solicitation is $865,390.00. Individual orders or calls will not exceed $250,000. The establishment of a BPA does not imply any agreement on the part of the Government to place future calls or orders with the BPA holder. The Government makes no representation as to the number or dollar amount of orders that may be placed.

6. Calls/orders will be competed among Master BPA holders for the applicable request for quotes via oral solicitation or by e-mail. Failure to submit a complete and timely response to a Request for Quote (RFQ) may result in it being determined non-responsive.

a) The Government reserves the right to set aside any Call/Order to any specific socioeconomic category of small business BPA Holder(s) (i.e., 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or WOSB, etc. concerns).

b) The Government reserves the right, at the Government's discretion, to directly award a Call or issue an order to any BPA Holder that has not yet received a Call/Order under their Master BPA or where a justification is made for exception to fair opportunity.

c) The Government reserves the right to not request quotes from any BPA Holder due to lack of satisfactory performance or a documented history of poor-quality items on prior BPA orders/Calls.

Submission Requirements:

1. The Government will evaluate all responses in accordance with the submission requirements and evaluation criteria described herein. Responses should be prepared simply and provide a concise description of capabilities to satisfactorily perform all requirements. Responses to this announcement shall include:

a) Capability Statement showing how the vendor can meet all requirements of this solicitation. Including Cage Code, DUNS Number, TIN, business size and type (i.e., small, small and disadvantaged, 8(a) Certified, woman-owned small, HUB Zone certified small, or service-disabled veteran-owned small business) for the applicable NAICS code, and Point of Contact information. The letter shall also include acknowledgement of amendments, if any, to this solicitation.

b) Current price list(s) for event space and prepared foods that may be selected by the Government to meet the requirements of the PWS. Please note that the Massachusetts National Guard is exempt from tax, therefore rates should not include tax.

c) Quality Control outline IAW PD section 8(a). IAW PD paragraph 8(a), responses to this solicitation shall include a synopsis of the quality control plan. Plans must be in accordance with the requirements defined in the QASP.

2. The responses to this combined synopsis/solicitation shall be submitted VIA E-MAIL ONLY. Ensure that the e-mail is clearly marked to indicate its contents, the solicitation number, and the identity of the firm submitting. Responses may be submitted in Word or PDF format only. Do not include links to websites in lieu of incorporating information into your response.

3. As prescribed in DFARS 252.204-7007, interested parties must be registered with System for Award Management (SAM) under the NAICS 722310. Representations and certifications must also be on record. These registrations can be done through the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://sam.gov/SAM/

SOLICITATION EVALUATION CRITERIA:

Contractors shall be evaluated and selected for a BPA Master Agreement based upon the following factors: Price and Past Performance

BASIS FOR AGREEMENT: Price Only

The following be added "The Government will evaluate the price list provided and will calculate the median and average price of meals. From there the responsible vendors will be ranked from lowest price to highest price and the lowest 10 quotes will receive a BPA. If there are quotes that total the same price the government may award more than 10 BPA's as seen fit.

BPAs will be established with responsible vendors that can successfully meet the submission requirements stated above. The Government intends to evaluate responses and award BPAs without discussions. The Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if the Contracting Officer later determines them to be necessary. IAW FAR 13.106-2(b)(3), formal evaluation plans and establishing a competitive range, conducting discussions, and scoring quotations or offers are not required.

NOTE: THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT AWARD TO THIRD PARTY ENTITIES.

SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES:

Offerors shall provide:

1. A quote in accordance with the CLINs contained in Section 3 above.
2. Past performance information shall be limited to one page of comparable hospitality or booking agent federal contracts.

Responses shall be submitted electronically to Melissa Melcher via Melissa.L.Melcher2.civ@army.mil and Lars Bernard via Jeffrey.L.Bernard6.civ@army.mil. All responses shall be submitted by the time indicated on this notice.

**Responses will only be accepted electronically via the e-mail addresses provided above. It is the vendors' responsibility to confirm that their responses have been received.

QUESTIONS:

Questions regarding this acquisition may be addressed to Melissa Melcher and Lars Bernard at the above listed email addresses.

Questions must be received no later than five (5) business days prior to date for receipt of responses.

NG Agency Protest Program is intended to encourage interested parties to seek resolution of their concerns with the National Guard (NG) as an Alternative Dispute Resolution forum, rather than filing a protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or other external forum.

Contract award or performance is suspended during the protest to the same extent, and within the same time periods as if filed at the GAO. The NG protest decision goal is to resolve protests within 35 calendar days from filing. An agency protest may be filed with either the Contracting Officer or the NG Agency's Protest Decision Authority, but not both, in accordance with NG protest procedures.

To be timely, the protests must be filed with the periods specified in FAR 33.103. To file a protest under the NG Agency Protest Program, the protest must request resolution under that program and be sent to the address below:

National Guard Bureau

Office of the Director of Acquisitions/ Head of Contracting Activity

ATTN: NGB-AQ-0

111 S. George Mason Dr.

Arlington, VA 22204

Email: ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mbx.ngb-task-order-ombudsman@mail.mil   

All other agency-level protests should be sent to the Contracting Officer for resolution at the address in the solicitation. See FAR clause 52.233-2.  

NG Public-facing, general Protest information is found at:

https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/Special-Staff/Director-of-Acquisitions/  

Directorate of Acquisitions information for the contracting enterprise is found at https://gko.portal.ng.mil/ngb/STAFF/D01/D01/OI/Protests%20and%20Complaints/Forms/Allltems.asp