Inactive Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Set-Aside (FAR 19.14)

Amendment 0003: The Request for Proposal due date has been updated from July 15th to July18th at 8:00 AM (EST). ________________________________________________________________________ Amendment 0002:... Amendment 0003: The Request for Proposal due date has been updated from July 15th to July18th at 8:00 AM (EST). ________________________________________________________________________ Amendment 0002: An updated Questions and Answers document attachment has been added. ________________________________________________________________________ Amendment 0001: Questions and Answers document has been added as an attachment. ________________________________________________________________________ Online Nurse Training Services i. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordancewith the format in Subpart 12.6, Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitationfor Commercial Items, as supplemented with additional information included in thisnotice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are beingrequested and a written solicitation will not be issued. ii. Solicitation (75H70424R00003A) is issued as a combined synopsis/solicitation Request forProposal (RFP). iii. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effectthrough Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-05. iv. This requirement is being solicited as a 100% Service Disabled Veteran Owned SmallBusiness set-aside under NAICS code 611430 (Professional and ManagementDevelopment Training) with small business size standard of $15.0 million. v. The below CLINs, which are reflected within the included price matrix template, will be utilized under this resulting contract. *See RPF attachment. Formatting does not transfer well to SAM. vi. The purpose of this fixed price contract is to provide appropriate web-based interactivedistance learning management system and coordinating the logistics of the accreditedtrainings courses that meet national certification and recertification requirements andtraining competency-based standards of accrediting/certifying organizations as applicable. vii. The contract period of performance will include a one-year base period and four (4) one-year option periods. The Government also be evaluating the potential six-month extensionof services under FAR 52.217-8 and this clause is included in the solicitation and will beincluded in the final award. viii. The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items (NOV 2021), applies to thissolicitation. The clause at FAR 52.217-5 , Evaluation of Options (JUL 1990) also applies. a) Basis for Award. The Government will issue a contract to the responsible offerorwhose proposal conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to theGovernment, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall beused to evaluate quotations: (1) Technical Capability, (2) Relevant PastPerformance and (3) Price. See the attached Evaluation Factors and Criteria fordetails. b) Evaluation Approach. The Government will evaluate quotations using thecomparative evaluation process outlined in FAR 13.106-2 (b) (3), wherequotations will be compared to one another to determine which provides the bestbenefit to the Government. The Government reserves the right to consider aquotation other than the lowest price that provides additional benefit(s).Quotations may exceed minimum requirements of the solicitation. TheGovernment reserves the right to select a quotation that provides benefit to theGovernment that exceeds the minimum requirements of the solicitation but is notrequired to do so. Each response must meet the minimum requirements of thesolicitation. The Government is not requesting or accepting alternate proposalssubmissions. c) Options. The Government will evaluate quotations for award purposes by addingthe total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement; FAR52.217-5. This includes the potential six month extension of services underFAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, which applies to this solicitation. d) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, emailed to the successfulofferor within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in abinding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’sspecified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of anoffer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a writtennotice of withdrawal is received before award. ix. Offerors shall include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, OfferorRepresentations and Certifications-Commercial Items (MAY 2024), with its offer. TheOfferor shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the Offeror has completedthe annual representations and certification electronically in the System for AwardManagement (SAM). Online Nurse Training Services x. The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (NOV 2023), applies to this acquisition and the additional FAR clauses cited in the clause are applicable to the acquisition. a) The following addendum applies: 1. Only electronically submitted invoices to the Invoice Processing Platform will be accepted. Submission instructions will be provided to the successful Offeror. A copy of the invoice shall also be provided to the following: Brendon.Moran@ihs.gov and COR’s email. 2. 52.217-8 Option to Extend the Services (NOV 1999) The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor within 30 days of the end of the current period of performance. 3. 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (MAR 2000) (a)The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor prior to the expiration date of the executed contract period; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 7 days before the contract expires. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an extension. (b)If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause. (c)The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed five (5) years. xi. The clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items (MAY 2024), and the additional FAR clauses cited in the clause are applicable to the acquisition. a) The Contractor shall comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses, which are incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: 1. 52.203-19, Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements (JAN 2017) (section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235) and its successor provisions in subsequent appropriations acts (and as extended in continuing resolutions)). 2. 52.204-23, Prohibition on Contracting for Hardware, Software, and Services Developed or Provided by Kaspersky Lab and Other Covered Entities (DEC 2023) (Section 1634 of Pub. L. 115-91). 3. 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment. (NOV 2021) (Section 889(a)(1)(A) of Pub. L. 115-232). 4. 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (Nov 2015) 5. 52.233-3, Protest After Award (AUG 1996) (31 U.S.C. 3553). 6. 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (OCT 2004) (Public Laws 108-77, 108-78 (19 U.S.C. 3805 note)). b) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b) that the contracting officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: 1. 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (JUN 2020), with Alternate I (Oct 1995) (41 U.S.C. 4704 and 10 U.S.C. 2402). 2. 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (JUN 2020) (Pub. L. 109-282) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note). 3. 52.209-6, Protecting the Government’s Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (NOV 2021) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note). 4. 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (NOV 2020) (15 U.S.C. 644). 5. 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (FEB 2024) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)). 6. 52.219-28, Post-Award Small Business Program Re-representation (FEB 2024) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)). 7. 52.219-27, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole-Source Award to, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Concerns Eligible Under the SDVOSB Program (FEB 2024) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)). 8. 52.222-3, Convict Labor (JUN 2003) (E.O. 11755). 9. 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (APR 2015). 10. 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (SEP 2016) (E.O. 11246). 11. 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (JUN 2020) (38 U.S.C. 4212). 12. 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (JUN 2020) (29 U.S.C. 793). 13. 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (JUN 2020) (38 U.S.C. 4212). 14. 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (DEC 2010) (E.O. 13496). 15. 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (NOV 2021) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627). 16. 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (MAY 2022). (E. O. 12989). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items or certain other types of commercial items as prescribed in 22.1803.) 17. 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (JUN 2008) (E.O.’s, proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury). 18. 52.226-8, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (MAY 2024) (E.O. 13513). 19. 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer— System for Award Management (OCT 2018) (31 U.S.C. 3332). c) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (c), applicable to commercial services, that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: 1. 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (AUG 2018) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67.). 2. 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires (MAY 2014) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67). 3. 52.222-43, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards -- Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts) (AUG 2018) (29 U.S.C.206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67). 4. 52.222-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (JAN 2022). 5. 52.222-62, Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 (JAN 2022) (E.O. 13706). xii. The following additional contract requirement(s) and terms and conditions are determined by the contracting officer to be necessary for this acquisition and consistent with customary commercial practices: a) 52.252-1, Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998) & 52.252-2 -- Clauses Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998) applies to solicitation 75H70424R00003. This solicitation incorporates solicitation provisions and clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at this address: www.acquisition.gov/far/. xiii. Proposals are due on July 18, 2024 by 11:59 PM (EST). Questions are due July 01, 2024 by 11:59 PM (EST). Email questions and final proposal to the Contract Specialist, Brendon Moran, at Brendon.Moran@ihs.gov. Offerors are responsible for confirming the IHS receipt of their questions (if applicable) and proposal submissions. As exceptions taken to the terms and conditions of the solicitation or assumptions made may impact the acceptability of submitted proposals, the offeror is encouraged to submit questions on any issues/concerns identified following the review of the solicitation. The contractor shall include the below items on the cover page of their proposal submission. a. Offeror Name (Include Doing Business As name if applicable) b. UEI and CAGE Code c. Name, e-mail, and phone number of the offerors authorized representative d. Tax ID Number (TIN) – This is required to be entered into the contract writing system of the eventual awardee e. Their proposal submission is valid 30 days from the closing date of the solicitation. xiv. POCs for this action are: a. Brendon Moran, Contract Specialist, Brendon.Moran@ihs.gov b. Valerie Heart Broker, Contracting Officer, Valerie.HeartBroker@ihs.gov