Inactive

Amendment 002: The purpose of this amendment is as follows: 1. Answers to anonymized Contractor questions are provided, as attached. 2. The solicitation response deadline remains unchanged for August ... Amendment 002: The purpose of this amendment is as follows: 1. Answers to anonymized Contractor questions are provided, as attached. 2. The solicitation response deadline remains unchanged for August 15, 2022 at 11:00 AM. 3. All other terms remain unchanged. _______________________ Amendment 001: The purpose of this amendment is as follows: 1. The solicitation question deadline is changed from July 22, 2022 at 11:00 AM to August 3, 2022 at 11:00 AM. 2. The solicitation response deadline is changed from August 4, 2022 at 11:00 AM to August 15, 2022 at 11:00 AM. 3. All other terms remain unchanged. ________________ BASE NOTICE: This is a Combined Synopsis / Solicitation for Commercial Items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6 – Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation of Commercial Items – as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. The solicitation is issued using simplified acquisition procedures under the authority of FAR Part 13.5. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION. QUOTATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION DOCUMENT (i.e. STANDARD FORM) WILL NOT BE ISSUED. This solicitation is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2022-06 dated May 26, 2022. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 611710 – Educational Support Services. The small business size standard is $16.5 Million. This competition is unrestricted. Contractors of all business sizes are eligible to respond. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENTS Background The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) promotes the U.S. economy and public welfare by providing technical leadership for the nation’s measurement and standards infrastructure. The Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP) was developed to support the federal user communities for strong, independently tested, and commercially available cryptographic modules. Through this program, the CMVP works with international government, public and private sectors as a part of the cryptographic community to achieve standards-based security and assurance of correct implementation. Federal agencies are required to use validated cryptographic modules for the protection of sensitive unclassified information. The goal is to provide those agencies, as well as other users, with a security metric list to use in procuring and deploying validated cryptographic modules. In other words, all non-DOD Federal Agencies must use software that has been validated by the CMVP when it comes to security related to cryptographic modules. In advancing its mission objectives, NIST must validate cryptographic modules and cryptographic algorithms, and ensure independent, National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) accredited laboratories meet competence and performance criteria for conducting algorithm and module testing. Cryptographic and Security Testing (CST) Laboratories are independent laboratories accredited by NVLAP. CST Labs verify each module meets a set of testable cryptographic and security requirements, with each CST laboratory submission reviewed and validated by CMVP. These labs are located around the world, including North America, Asia, Australia, and Europe. To maintain quality in the CMVP an exam is given to all testers. They must pass this exam to evaluate and test the modules. Currently the exam is 100 questions which the CMVP has developed over many years. The exam cannot be copied or removed from the test site so the questions will not become public knowledge. In addition, strict identity verification must be conducted to ensure the test takers are who they say they are. Objectives NIST’s Computer Security Division’s (CSD) objective for this tasking includes: administering computer-based competency exams to NVLAP accredited laboratory testers for the Security Testing, Validation and Measurement (STVM) Group’s cryptographic validation programs. • A secure location for taking the exam • Identity (ID) verification capabilities • On-line registration capabilities • Administering in-person computer-based competency exams to NVLAP accredited laboratory testers for the Security Testing, Validation and Measurement (STVM) Group’s cryptographic validation programs • Test centers to be located within a reasonable distance from the labs • The capability to add new testing locations as new CST Labs come online Scope of Work & Specific Tasks The contractor shall develop, publish, update, and administer computer-based competency tests to testing centers near NVLAP accredited laboratories. Please see the attached Performance Work Statement of for details. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The award shall have a 12-month base period of performance as well as two (2) 12-month option periods which may or may not be exercised by the Government in accordance with FAR 52.217-9: Option to Extend the Term of the Contract. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE All tasks shall be performed at the contractor’s facilities and meetings will be scheduled virtually as needed. CONTRACT TYPE & PAYMENT TERMS A firm fixed price purchase order is anticipated. Payment shall be made on a NET30 basis using milestone payments following inspection and acceptance of individual deliverables. APPLICABLE PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES Please see the attached document for applicable provisions and clauses. QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD CAR 1352.215-73 INQUIRIES (APR 2010): Quoters must submit all questions concerning this solicitation in writing electronically to Ms. Lauren Roller, Contract Specialist, at lauren.roller@nist.gov. Questions must be received by or before August 3, 2022 at 11:00 AM ET. Any responses to questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner, and will be included in an amendment to the solicitation. Even if provided in other form, only the question responses included in the amendment to the solicitation will govern performance of the contract. (End of Provision). DUE DATE FOR QUOTATIONS All quotations must be submitted via email to Ms. Lauren Roller, Contract Specialist, at Lauren.Roller@nist.gov. Submission must be received not later than August 15, 2022 at 11:00 AM ET. Note: Quoters must have an active registration at www.SAM.gov at time of quote submission to be considered for award. INSTRUCTIONS TO QUOTERS (Addendum to FAR 52.212-1) The Quoter’s quotation shall be submitted electronically via email and shall consist of two volumes as detailed below. Each quotation volume shall include the Quoter’s name, UEI number, and point of contact information in a cover page, header/footer, or other easily identified location. The Contracting Officer intends to award a purchase order without discussions but reserves the right to enter into discussions if in the best interest of the Government. Volume 1: Technical Response This volume shall contain the Quoter’s technical response. The technical response (not including table of contents, figures, schematics, key personnel resume(s), cut sheets, or past performance information) shall not exceed ten (10) single-spaced, single sided pages or twenty (20) double-spaced, single sided pages. Text shall be no less than 12-point Arial or otherwise reasonably legible font in read-only Microsoft Word or searchable Adobe PDF format. The technical response shall include the name, title, phone number, and email address of the Quoter’s primary point of contact and the individual authorized to negotiate on behalf of the Quoter (if negotiations are determined to be necessary). The technical response shall include: A narrative of the Quoter’s technical approach to executing requirements. If subcontractors will be used, the Quoter shall provide the names of the companies and their expected roles. The technical approach shall describe the methods proposed to provide secure exam locations, exam locations within 50 miles of 85% or more of NVLAP laboratories, and ability to bring on new exam locations. The technical approach shall describe the proposed method of providing test development, publishing, administration, maintenance, and test security. The technical approach shall describe the proposed plans for project reporting and communication between the Contractor and Government. Resume(s) of proposed key personnel. Quoters shall identify and provide the resume of key personnel (including those of subcontractors, if any) to demonstrate their qualifications and expertise. Past performance information to include information on at least three (3) purchase orders or contracts in which the Quoter performed work similar to the scope of this requirement. Past performance information provided shall be for work completed or substantially completed within the past five (5) years. Past performance shall include the following information: Name of the Organization Supported Organization Point of Contact with Current Phone Number and Email Address Contract Number Period of Performance Dollar Value of the Contract Narrative describing the services performed. The narrative should make clear similarities to the scope of work outlined in this solicitation. Completed provision responses, from the provisions attached to this solicitation. Provisions requiring response are highlighted in yellow. Volume 2: Price Quotation This volume shall contain the Quoter’s price quotation in read-only Microsoft Excel format, or in searchable PDF format. All figures must be rounded to the nearest hundredth. Price quotations shall be submitted on a firm fixed price basis in accordance with the contract line item numbering structure identified in this solicitation. Quotations shall be valid for 90 days after solicitation close. To assist the Government in evaluating firm fixed price quotations, the Quoter shall provide a breakdown of the proposed materials costs and labor costs. Quoters shall also include a proposed fixed price payment schedule based on requirement milestones/deliverables in relation to the deliverables table in the Statement of Work. Quoters may propose alternate payment schedules. CONTRACT LINE ITEM STRUCTURE: Responsible Quoters shall provide pricing for the following line item: LINE ITEM 001: Base Period: Computer-Based Testing for the Cryptographic Validation Program in accordance with the requirements of the attached Performance Work Statement LINE ITEM 002: Option Period 1: Computer-Based Testing for the Cryptographic Validation Program in accordance with the requirements of the attached Performance Work Statement LINE ITEM 003: Option Period 2: Computer-Based Testing for the Cryptographic Validation Program in accordance with the requirements of the attached Performance Work Statement EVALUATION CRITERIA AND BASIS FOR AWARD (Addendum to FAR 52.212-2) The Government intends to award a purchase order resulting from this solicitation to the responsible contractor whose quotation conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous and represents the best value to the Government, price and other factors considered. Best value will be determined using the trade-off evaluation method. The Government will use the simplified acquisition procedures of FAR Part 13 and will evaluate quotations utilizing the procedures of FAR 13.106-2 Evaluation of quotations or offers. The Government will consider price and other technical non-price factors described in this solicitation and will conduct a comparative evaluation of the benefits between price and the other technical non-price factors of each quotation as well as a comparative evaluation between quotations in order to determine the quotation that is most advantageous and represents the best value. Therefore, the Government may award to other than the lowest priced quoter or the highest technically rated quoter. The Government intends to evaluate quotations and issue a purchase order based on the initial quotations received. Therefore, the quoter’s initial quotation should contain the quoter’s best terms from a price and technical standpoint. The Government reserves the right to request revised quotations from, or negotiate final purchase order terms with one or more, but not all, quoters if later determined by the Contracting Officer to be necessary. The Government may reject any or all quotations if the quotation fails to comply with the requirements of this solicitation. The factors identified below will be used to evaluate offers. Factor A (Technical Factor): Technical Approach Factor B (Technical Factor): Past Performance Factor C (Technical Factor): Key Personnel Factor D (Non-Technical Factor): Price Technical / non-price factors are listed in descending order of importance. Technical / non-price factors, when combined, are more important than price. However, price will become more important as the degree of equality among technical non-price evaluations increases. A. Technical Approach The Government will evaluate the quoter’s technical approach for performing each task in the Statement of Work. The Government will evaluate the proposed plan for providing secure exam locations, exam locations within 50 miles of 85% or more of NVLAP laboratories, and ability to bring on new exam locations if needed. The Government will also evaluate ability to provide test development, publishing, administration, and maintenance, as well as test security. The Government will evaluate the approach to project reporting and communication between the Contractor and Government as well. The technical approach proposed will be evaluated for overall understanding of Government requirements, realism, and expected effectiveness. B. Past Performance The Quoter’s past performance will be evaluated to determine the extent to which the quoter has successfully performed work that is relevant to the work described in the Statement of Work. Relevancy shall be considered similarity to the current requirement in scope of work, period of performance, and total dollar value. The government will consider past performance on efforts completed or substantially completed within the past five (5) years. The Government may consider past performance information from other sources such as the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). In the event that a quoter has no record of relevant past performance, the Government will not evaluate the quoter favorably or unfavorably on past performance. C. Key Personnel The Government will evaluate the extent to which the resume submitted for the quoter’s proposed key personnel demonstrates that the proposed individual(s) meets or exceeds the minimum qualifications detailed in the Statement of Work, and has the appropriate education, qualifications, and experience to efficiently and effectively address requirements in accordance with the Statement of Work. D. Price Quoted pricing will be evaluated but not scored. Price evaluation will determine whether the quoted price is complete, fair, and reasonable in relation to the RFQ requirements.