Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

COMPETITIVE COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION Title: iNDI-Plus (iNDI+), additional alleles for the iPSC NeuroDegeneration Initiative project (i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial ... COMPETITIVE COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION Title: iNDI-Plus (iNDI+), additional alleles for the iPSC NeuroDegeneration Initiative project (i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; technical and price quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (ii) The solicitation number is 75N95020Q00265 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures; FAR Subpart 13.5— Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items; and FAR Part 12—Acquisition of Commercial Items, and is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. (iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) Number 2020-08, with effective date 08-13-2020. (iv) The associated NAICS code 541714 and the small business size standard is 1000. This requirement is full and open with no set-aside restrictions. (v) This requirement is for the following: Please see attached document titled “75N95020Q00265_SOW” Small Business Subcontracting Plan – If the Offeror is an “Other Than Small Business”, and if the proposed contract exceeds a total estimated cost of $700,000 for the entire period of performance, the offeror shall be required to submit an acceptable subcontracting plan in accordance with the terms of the clause entitled "Small Business Subcontracting Plan," FAR Clause No. 52.219-9, incorporated herein by reference in the solicitation as an attachment titled, “75N95020Q00265_Small Business Subcontracting Plan Template". PLEASE NOTE THIS PROVISION DOES NOT APPLY TO SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS. The term "subcontract" means any agreement (other than one involving an employer employee relationship) entered into by a Federal Government prime Contractor or subcontractor calling for supplies or services required for the performance of the original contract or subcontract. This includes, but is not limited to, agreements/purchase orders for supplies and services such as equipment purchase, copying services, and travel services. The offeror understands that: i. No contract will be awarded unless and until an acceptable plan is negotiated with the Contracting Officer which plan will be incorporated into the contract, as a material part thereof. ii. An acceptable plan must, in the determination of the Contracting Officer, provide the maximum practicable opportunity for Small Businesses, Small Disadvantaged Businesses, Women-Owned Small businesses, HUBZone Small Businesses, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses to participate in the performance of the contract. iii. If a subcontracting plan acceptable to the Contracting Officer is not negotiated within the time limits prescribed by the contracting activity and such failure arises out of causes within the control and with the fault or negligence of the offeror, the offeror shall be ineligible for an award. The Contracting Officer shall notify the Contractor in writing of the reasons for determining a subcontracting plan unacceptable early enough in the negotiation process to allow the Contractor to modify the plan within the time limits prescribed. iv. Prior compliance of the offeror with other such subcontracting plans under previous contracts will be considered by the Contracting Officer in determining the responsibility of the offeror for award of the contract. v. It is the offeror's responsibility to develop a satisfactory subcontracting plan with respect to Small Business Concerns, Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns, Women-Owned Small Business Concerns, HUBZone Small Business Concerns, Veteran-Owned Small Business Concerns, and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concerns that each such aspect of the offeror's plan will be judged independent of the other. vi. The offeror will submit, as required by the Contracting Officer, subcontracting reports in accordance with the instructions thereon, and as further directed by the Contracting Officer. Subcontractors will also submit these reports to the Government's Contracting Officer or as otherwise directed, with a copy to the prime Contractor's designated small and disadvantaged business liaison. Each plan must contain the following: i. Goals, expressed in terms of percentages of total planned subcontracting dollars, for the use of Small, Small Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, HUBZone, Veteran-Owned, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concerns as subcontractors. ii. A statement of total dollars planned to be subcontracted. A statement of total dollars to be subcontracted to each of the following type of small business concerns: Small, Small Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, HUBZone, Veteran-Owned, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. iii. A description of the principal types of supplies and services to be subcontracted with an identification of which supplies, and services are expected to be subcontracted to Small, Small Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, HUBZone, Veteran-Owned and/or Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concerns. iv. A description of the method used to develop the subcontracting goals. v. A description of the method used to identify potential sources for solicitation purposes. vi. A statement as to whether or not indirect costs were included in establishing subcontracting goals. If they were, a description of the method used to determine the proportionate share of indirect costs to be incurred with Small, Small Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, HUBZone, Veteran-Owned, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. vii. The name of the individual employed by the offeror who will administer the offeror's subcontracting program and a description of his/her duties. viii. A description of the efforts the offeror will make to assure that Small, Small Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, HUBZone, Veteran-Owned, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses have an equitable chance to compete for subcontracts. ix. Assurances that the offeror will include in all subcontracts the contract clause "Utilization of Small Business Concerns." Assure that all subcontractors, other than small businesses, in excess of $700,000 adopt a plan like the plan agreed upon by the offeror. x. Assurances that the offeror (and any required subcontractors) will cooperate in studies or surveys as required and submit required reports (Individual Subcontract Reports (ISRs) and Summary Subcontract Reports (SSRs) to the Government). xi. List the types of records the offeror will maintain to demonstrate procedures that have been adopted to comply with the requirement and goals in the plan, including establishing source lists. Also, the offeror shall describe its efforts to locate Small, Small Disadvantaged, Women-Owned, HUBZone, Veteran-Owned, and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and award subcontracts to them. For additional information about each of the above elements required to be contained in the subcontracting plan, see FAR Clause 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan, and the Subcontracting Plan template which is provided as an attachment to this RFQ (see “75N95020Q00265_Small Business Subcontracting Plan Template”). HHS expects each procuring activity to establish minimum subcontracting goals for all procurements. The anticipated minimum goals for this RFQ are as follows: 22.50% for Small Business; 5% for Small Disadvantaged Business; 5% for Women-Owned Small Business; 3% for HUBZone Small Business; and 3% for Veteran-Owned Small Business and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business. (vi) The Government anticipates a firm fixed-price purchase order for this acquisition, and the anticipated period of performance is September 2020 through September 2021 with two (2) additional twelve (12) month Option Periods. (vii) The provision at FAR 52.252-1, Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998), applies to this acquisition. This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions 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 these addresses: https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/contract-policies-regulations/hhsar/index.html (End of provision) The following provisions apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference: FAR 52.204-7, System for Award Management (Oct 2018) FAR 52.204-16, Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting (Jul 2016) FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (Oct 2018) FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (Oct 2018) HHSAR 352.239-73, Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Notice (December 18, 2015) (viii) The clause at FAR 52.252-2, Clauses Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998), applies to this acquisition. This contract incorporates one or more 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. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at these addresses: https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/contract-policies-regulations/hhsar/index.html (End of clause) The following clauses apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference: FAR 52.204-13, System for Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2018) FAR 52.204-18, Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance (Jul 2016) FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions--Commercial Items (Oct 2018). Addendum to this FAR clause applies to this acquisition and is attached. FAR 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (Mar 2000). HHSAR 352.222-70, Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations (December 18, 2015) The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition and are attached in full text: FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders--Commercial Items (Aug 2020) NIH Invoice and Payment Provisions (2/2014) (ix) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. (a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The factors used to evaluate offers are provided in the attachment titled, “75N95020Q00265_Evaluation_Criteria”. Technical and past performance, when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price. (b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). (c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.” (x) The Offeror is to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with its offer. Offerors must include the representations at 52.204-24 an 52.204-26, if it is not in in their completed FAR Representations and Certifications. A copy of the 52.204-24 Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment is attached (see document titled, “75N95020Q00265_52.204-24_Telecom_Provision”). And a copy of 52.204-26 Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services-Representation is attached as “75N95020Q00265_52.204-26_Covered_Telecom_Provision”). (xi) The clause at FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. Addendum to this FAR clause applies to this acquisition and is attached. (xii) The clause at FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and is attached in full text. (xiii) The following additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions as determined by the contracting officer are necessary for this acquisition and consistent with customary commercial practices. There are no additional contract requirements or terms and conditions applicable to this acquisition. (xiv) The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) are not applicable to this requirement. (xv) Responses to this solicitation must include clear and convincing evidence of the offeror’s capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the technical evaluation criteria. The price quotation must include the labor categories, an estimate of the number of hours required for each labor category, fully loaded fixed hourly rate or each labor category, breakdown and rationale for other direct costs or materials, and the total amount. The Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. All quotations must be received by 2:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on Thursday, September 3, 2020, and reference solicitation number 75N95020Q00265. Responses must be submitted electronically to Renee Dougherty, Contracting Officer, renee.dougherty@nih.gov. Fax responses will not be accepted. Questions and requests for clarification should be submitted electronically to the Contracting Officer, Renee Dougherty at renee.dougherty@nih.gov before 3:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, Wednesday, August 26, 2020. Any questions or request for clarification must include the solicitation number 75N95020Q00265 in the subject line. (xvi) The name and telephone number of the individual to contact for information regarding the solicitation: Renee Dougherty, Contracting Officer, 301-827-8453, renee.dougherty@nih.gov