Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

AMENDMENT 0001 - 7/15/2025: Added Attachment A3, Parts List. AMENDMENT 0002 - 8/13/2025: Reopened RFQ and Amended description of cables as Attachment A3, Part List, had obsolete parts. Changes are in ... AMENDMENT 0001 - 7/15/2025: Added Attachment A3, Parts List. AMENDMENT 0002 - 8/13/2025: Reopened RFQ and Amended description of cables as Attachment A3, Part List, had obsolete parts. Changes are in Bold Text below. AMENDMENT 0003 - 8/20/2025: Clause FAR 52.229-3, Federal, State, and Local Taxes, has been incorporated into the soliciation. AMENDMENT 0004 - 8/22/2025: Extended RFQ close till 8/29/2025. GENERAL INFORMATION 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; quotes are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. The RFQ number for this acquisition is 1305M225Q0176 and shall be used to reference any quote provided under this RFQ. The Government intends to issue a single-award firm-fixed-price Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. The IDIQ lifecycle shall consist of a five year ordering period. The North American Industry Classification System code for this acquisition is 335921, Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing, with a size standard of 1,000 employees. This acquisition is set-aside 100% for small business. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT This requirement is for fiber optic cables as specified in this RFQ via Attachment A1, Specification Sheet, and Attachment A2, Technical Drawing, and Attachment A3, Parts List. Note, Attachment A2 and A3 are provided as a reference as the Parts List is now obsolete. An updated description has been provided in Amendment 0001 as such. Note: The anticipated IDIQ, as a result of this RFQ, does not obligate any funds. The Government is obligated only to the extent specified in the individual delivery orders issued after the establishment of the IDIQ, while otherwise meeting the minimum ordering value specified in clause Commerce Acquisition Regulation (CAR) 1352.216-75, Minimum and Maximum Contract Amounts. Shipping for individual orders shall be to the following address, to include free on board (FOB) destination pricing: National Logistics Support Center, 14200 Merritt Road, Grandview MO, 64030 QUOTE INSTRUCTIONS The quote submitted in response to this RFQ must be in compliance with the terms and conditions stated in the RFQ and attachments. All claimed capabilities to meet the requirements shall be fully documented and are subject to verification by the Government. Non-conformance with these instructions may result in rejection of the quote, an unfavorable quote evaluation, or being deemed ineligible for award. The Contracting Officer (CO) will select the best value submission which conforms to the RFQ requirements (to include all stated terms, conditions, representations, certifications, and all other information required by the submission instructions). The contractor shall state in their quote that the quote is valid until an award is made and that unit pricing for each ordering period is valid throughout the lifecycle of the IDIQ. The quote shall consist of the following: (1) COVER PAGE: The contractor shall submit the following for the cover page: i. A filled in and signed cover page by an individual authorized to contractually obligate the contractor proposing. The cover page shall also include the title of the quote, the RFQ number, name and address of contractor, CAGE code, UEI, Business Size, and Tax ID number. The signature of the RFQ constitutes an understanding that the contractor understands the requirement specified within this RFQ and will meet the standards and requirement(s) therein and has no exceptions other than any clearly stated within the contractor’s quote. Contractors must clearly identify any exception to RFQ terms and conditions and must provide complete supporting rationale. The Government reserves the right to determine any such unacceptable exceptions. Any exception determined unacceptable by the Government may result in the contractor’s quote being determined unacceptable and ineligible for award. In addition, if a contractor believes that the requirement(s) in these instructions contain an error, omission, or are otherwise unsound, the contractor shall immediately notify the CO in writing with supporting rationale as well as the remedies the contractor is asking the CO to consider as related to the omission or error. This notification shall be before the solicitation question submission closing date. ii. An acknowledgment to all RFQ amendments, as applicable. iii. Any provisions and clauses that are not already completed on the System for Award Management (SAM) must be provided by the contractor at time of submission of their quote package. It is required that all contractors register on SAM and maintain an active registration during the life of the IDIQ and subsequent Delivery Orders. SAM can be accessed at SAM.gov. SAM registration is required for award. If the contractor has already completed the provisions and/or clauses in SAM.gov, the contractor shall state as such and is not required to submit the applicable provision and/or clause within the quote. (2) TECHNICAL CAPABILITY: The contractor shall submit the following for Technical Capability, that shall be evaluated against evaluation Factor I, Technical Capability: The contractor shall include specific measurable characteristics for each technical characteristic stated in RFQ Attachment A1, Specification Sheet. The technical characteristics of the fiber optic cables quoted shall be specific, detailed, and complete to adequately describe how the fiber optic cables quoted complies with the requirements of the Specification Sheet. The contractor shall assume that the Government has no prior knowledge of their items/products. This can be accomplished by providing documents such as a manufacture technical sheet, showing the cable specs and the connector type. (3) PRICE: The contractor shall submit the following Price, that shall be evaluated against evaluation Factor II, Price: The contractor shall submit complete and reasonable pricing utilizing the format of table in Attachment B – Price Exhibit. All prices shall be in U.S. dollar(s). All price(s) quoted shall be in U.S. dollars. Shipping will not be priced separately. The price of shipping shall be included in the overall unit price(s) of the quoted fiber optic cables and documented as one price when quoted. The unit price(s) shall include all costs and shall not be broken down in any form. Unit Price(s) quoted in shall be incorporated into the resultant contract for the respective Ordering Period. The Quantities used in RFQ are estimates. Any orders placed off the resultant contract, regardless of quantities ordered, shall utilize the quoted Unit Price of the Ordering Period that the Order is placed. The ordering frequency (how often a Delivery Order is estimated to be placed) is estimated at one to three times an ordering period, as a need is established and funding becomes available. Furthermore, for RFQ purposes only, within Attachment B – Price Exhibit, the Government projects the estimated ordering quantity per ordering periods. This estimates are not an obligation and can be less, more, or none than the amount indicated. EVALUATION OF QUOTES Following receipt of quotes in response to this RFQ, the Government will perform an evaluation of all timely and complete quotations in order to select an awardee that is considered the best value (lowest price technically acceptable) to the Government that fulfills the requirements of this RFQ. i. Initially, the Government will ensure the contractor has submitted all required information as stipulated in the RFQ quote instructions. Failure to comply with RFQ quote instructions may result in being immediately removed from consideration for award. Then the Government shall evaluate the following: (1) COVER PAGE: The cover page shall then be reviewed to ensure the complete and signed by an authorized representative of the contractor; all amendments, as applicable, have been acknowledged; and all provisions and clauses such-as Representations, Certifications, and/or any other statements from the contractor have been completed and submitted or otherwise a statement that they are completed in SAM.gov. (2) TECHNICAL CAPABILITY: Technical Capability shall be evaluated against evaluation Factor I, Technical Capability. Technical Capability shall be evaluated using the quoted fiber optic cable’s specifications via the contractor’s technical volume for each technical characteristic identified in Attachment A1, Specification Sheet and the contractor’s supporting documentation. Supporting documentation used as part of the contractor’s quote shall support all statements made by the contractor. The salient technical characteristics of the submitted fiber optic cables shall be evaluated to determine if they are technically acceptable against the technical Attachment A1, Specification Sheet, and Attachment A2, Technical Drawing, and Attachment A3, Parts List. (3) PRICE: Price shall be evaluated against evaluation Factor II, Price. Price will be evaluated for completeness and reasonableness. Contractors whose price is determined to be incomplete or unreasonable will not be considered for award. Completeness is defined as all prices inserted for all unit price(s) and extended amount(s) for each ordering period specified within the Attachment B – Price Exhibit. Reasonableness is defined as a price not exceeding that which would be incurred by a prudent person in the conduct of competitive business. The Government must be able to determine the quoted price is fair and reasonable to be able to award to a contractor. Price realism analysis will not be conducted. Price shall also be evaluated by total evaluated price (TEP). TEP shall be calculated by multiplying the unit prices provided by the contractor and multiplying by the estimated ordering quantity to derive an extended amount for each cable. Each cable extended amount shall be summed for each ordering period to determine the TEP. Failure for all prices to be in U.S. dollar(s) shall result in the contractor being immediately removed from further consideration. Failure for the price of shipping and all other contractor cost factors to be included in the overall unit price(s) of each fiber optic cables may result in the contractor being immediately removed from further consideration. ii. The Government will make an award resulting from this RFQ to the responsible contractor whose quote, conforming to the solicitation, has been evaluated to be the best value (lowest price technically acceptable) to the Government. RFQ QUESTIONS All questions related to this solicitation are due no later than 1500 hours Eastern Standard Time (EST) on August 20, 2025. Contractors shall email Paul Thomas at paul.thomas@noaa.gov and Jennifer Roesner at Jennifer.roesner@noaa.gov with all questions related to this RFQ. Responses to the any questions will be answered and published to SAM.gov. RFQ DUE DATE Quotes shall be emailed to Paul Thomas at paul.thomas@noaa.gov and Jennifer Roesner at Jennifer.roesner@noaa.gov and be received no later than the quote closing date of 1500 hours EST on August 27, 2025. It is highly recommended that the contractor confirms that their quote and associated attachments has been received by the Government. Late quotes will be processed in accordance with FAR 52.212-1(f), Late submission, modifications, revisions, and withdrawals of offers. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A1 – Specification Sheet Attachment A2 – Technical Drawing (for reference) Attachment A3, Parts List (for reference, part numbers are obsolete) Attachment B – Price Exhibit Attachment C – Provisions and Clauses