Inactive Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside (specific to Department of Veterans Affairs)

Description This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products and commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 12.6, Stream... Description This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products and commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 12.6, Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Products and Commercial Services, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested, and a written solicitation document will not be issued. This solicitation is issued as an RFQ. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular from 2023-04 to 2024-01. This solicitation is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) set aside. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 337214 with a small business size standard of 1,100 Employees. The FSC/PSC is 7125. The Memphis VAMC Pharmacy is seeking to purchase below items. All interested companies shall provide quotations for the following: Item: This requirement is for brand name or equal Metro Super Erecta Shelving System. MFR # ITEM DESCRIPTION QTY 1872FS Metro 1872FS Super Erecta Solid Shelf, Standard Stainless Steel, 18" x 72" 77 each 74UPS Metro Super Erecta SiteSelect Mobile-Ready Industrial WireMetro Super Erecta 74UPS SiteSelect Mobile-Ready Industrial Wire Shelving Post, Polished Stainless Steel, 74" H 44 each 5MB Metro 5MB 5" Resilient Rubber Swivel/Brake Stem Caster for Super Erecta Industrial Wire Shelving Racks 44 each This requirement is for brand name or equal" to the Metro Super Erecta Shelving System for the pharmacy. The shelves material type is Type 304 stainless steel with epoxy-coated aluminum corners that helps keep storage area sanitary. This requirement is erecta shelves that are at least 18 x 72 , shelf post of polished stainless steel at least 74 high, and erecta industrial wire shelving racks. All proposed equal-to items must be fully compatible with this request. Are you the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)? If not, please provide the authorized distributor letter. 1) Essential/significant physical, functional, or performance characteristics. Salient characteristics are those characteristics that make an item equal to the brand name item we specify. Specifically, salient characteristics are those characteristics of the brand name item that the VA needs. Brand name: Metro Super Erecta Shelving System, brand name or equal". Metro Super Erecta Solid Shelf, Standard Stainless Steel, 18" x 72", Metro Super Erecta Site-Select Mobile-Ready Industrial Wire-Metro Super Erecta Site-Select Mobile-Ready Industrial Wire Shelving Post, Polished Stainless Steel, 74" H, and Metro 5" Resilient Rubber Swivel/Brake Stem Caster for Super Erecta Industrial Wire Shelving Racks Specifications Brand: Metro Color: Silver Finish: Stainless Steel Height: 1.5", 33.75 Length: 72" Material: Type 304 Stainless Steel Shelf with Epoxy-coated Aluminum Corners Width: 18" Load Capacity: 600Lbs. Place of Performance/Place of Delivery Memphis VAMC Address: 116 N. Pauline Street Memphis, TN Postal Code: 38105 Country: UNITED STATES The full text of FAR provisions or clauses may be accessed electronically at http://acquisition.gov/comp/far/index.html. The following solicitation provisions apply to this acquisition: 1. FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors Commercial Products and Commercial Services March 2023 2. FAR 52.212-3, Offerors Representations and Certifications Commercial Products and Commercial Services December 2022 Offerors must complete annual representations and certifications electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM) website located at https://www.sam.gov/portal in accordance with FAR 52.212-3, Offerors Representations and Certifications Commercial Products and Commercial Services. If paragraph (j) of the provision is applicable, a written submission is required. The following contract clauses apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Products and Commercial Services December 2022 FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Products and Commercial Services March 2023 The following subparagraphs of FAR 52.212-5 are applicable: [X] (4) 52.204 10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (JUN 2020) (Pub. L. 109 282) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note). [X] (8) 52.204 27, Prohibition on a ByteDance Covered Application (JUN 2023) (Section 102 of Division R of Pub. L. 117 328). [X] (9) 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). [X] (13) 52.219 4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (OCT 2022) (if the offeror elects to waive the preference, it shall so indicate in its offer) (15 U.S.C. 657a). [X] (23) (i) 52.219 28, Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (MAR 2023) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)). [X] (29) 52.222 19, Child Labor Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (DEC 2022) (E.O. 13126). [X] (30) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (APR 2015). [X] (31)(i) 52.222 26, Equal Opportunity (SEP 2016) (E.O. 11246). [X] (33)(i) 52.222 36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (JUN 2020) (29 U.S.C. 793). [X] (36)(i) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (NOV 2021) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627). [X] (45) 52.223 18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (JUN 2020) (E.O. 13513). [X] (iv) Alternate III (JAN 2021) of 52.225-3. [X] (52) 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (FEB 2021) (E.O.'s, proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury). [X] (52) 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (FEB 2021) (E.O.'s, proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury). [X] (59) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer System for Award Management (OCT 2018) (31 U.S.C. 3332). [X] (61) 52.232-36, Payment by Third Party (MAY 2014) (31 U.S.C. 3332). All quoters shall submit the below items. Non-compliance to the below items with this requirement may result in disqualification of the quote. a. Only one quote. Quote shall be on offeror s company letterhead, in PDF format and emailed to larry.olive@va.gov NLT 01/09/2024at 10:00 AM CT. The solicitation number, 36C24924Q0091 must be referenced in the subject line. b. Product information brochure with specifications and user manual shall accompany quote. c. Offeror must submit certification that equipment meets the salient characteristics of listed above. d. Quote must reflect the Statement of Work in this solicitation. Award will be based upon a comparative evaluation of quotes in accordance with the Simplified Acquisition Procedures of FAR 13. Comparative evaluation is the side by side pairwise comparison of quotes based on factors resulting in a Contracting Officer decision for the quote most favorable to the Government. The following are the decision factors: (1) Technical or Quality (2) Delivery (After receipt of Order) (3) Price The award will be made to the response most advantageous to the Government. Responses should contain your best terms and conditions. Any questions or concerns regarding this solicitation should be forwarded in writing via e-mail to the Point of Contact listed below. A.1 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998) 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 this/these address(es): http://www.acquisition.gov/far/index.html http://www.va.gov/oal/library/vaar/ FAR Number Title Date 52.204-13 SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT MAINTENANCE OCT 2018 52.204-18 COMMERCIAL AND OVERMENT ENTITY CODE MAINTENANCE AUG 2020 52.217-6 OPTION FOR INCREASED QUANTITY MAR 1989 52.217-7 OPTION FOR INCREASED QUANTITY-SEPARATELY PRICED LINE-ITEM MAR 1989 852.203-70 COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING MAY 2018 852.215-70 SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS-OWNED AND VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS EVALUATION FACTORS (DEVIATION) JAN 2023 852.215-71 EVALUATION FACTOR COMMITEMENTS OCT 2019 852.232-72 ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF PAYMENT REQUESTS NOV 2018 852.246-71 REJECTED GOODS OCT 2018 852.247-73 PACKING FOR DOMESTIC SHIPMENT OCT 2018 A.2 52.225-1 BUY AMERICAN SUPPLIES (OCT 2022) (a) Definitions. As used in this clause Commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) item (1) Means any item of supply (including construction material) that is (i) A commercial product (as defined in paragraph (1) of the definition of commercial product at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 2.101; (ii) Sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace; and (iii) Offered to the Government, under a contract or subcontract at any tier, without modification, in the same form in which it is sold in the commercial marketplace; and (2) Does not include bulk cargo, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 40102(4), such as agricultural products and petroleum products. Component means an article, material, or supply incorporated directly into an end product. Cost of components means (1) For components purchased by the Contractor, the acquisition cost, including transportation costs to the place of incorporation into the end product (whether or not such costs are paid to a domestic firm), and any applicable duty (whether or not a duty-free entry certificate is issued); or (2) For components manufactured by the Contractor, all costs associated with the manufacture of the component, including transportation costs as described in paragraph (1) of this definition, plus allocable overhead costs, but excluding profit. Cost of components does not include any costs associated with the manufacture of the end product. Critical component means a component that is mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States and deemed critical to the U.S. supply chain. The list of critical components is at FAR 25.105. Domestic end product means (1) For an end product that does not consist wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both (i) An unmanufactured end product mined or produced in the United States; (ii) An end product manufactured in the United States, if (A) The cost of its components mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States exceeds 60 percent of the cost of all its components, except that the percentage will be 65 percent for items delivered in calendar years 2024 through 2028 and 75 percent for items delivered starting in calendar year 2029. Components of foreign origin of the same class or kind as those that the agency determines are not mined, produced, or manufactured in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities of a satisfactory quality are treated as domestic. Components of unknown origin are treated as foreign. Scrap generated, collected, and prepared for processing in the United States is considered domestic; or (B) The end product is a COTS item; or (2) For an end product that consists wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both, an end product manufactured in the United States, if the cost of foreign iron and steel constitutes less than 5 percent of the cost of all the components used in the end product. The cost of foreign iron and steel includes but is not limited to the cost of foreign iron or steel mill products (such as bar, billet, slab, wire, plate, or sheet), castings, or forgings utilized in the manufacture of the end product and a good faith estimate of the cost of all foreign iron or steel components excluding COTS fasteners. Iron or steel components of unknown origin are treated as foreign. If the end product contains multiple components, the cost of all the materials used in such end product is calculated in accordance with the definition of cost of components . End product means those articles, materials, and supplies to be acquired under the contract for public use. Fastener means a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. Examples of fasteners are nuts, bolts, pins, rivets, nails, clips, and screws. Foreign end product means an end product other than a domestic end product. Foreign iron and steel means iron or steel products not produced in the United States. Produced in the United States means that all manufacturing processes of the iron or steel must take place in the United States, from the initial melting stage through the application of coatings, except metallurgical processes involving refinement of steel additives. The origin of the elements of the iron or steel is not relevant to the determination of whether it is domestic or foreign. Predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both means that the cost of the iron and steel content exceeds 50 percent of the total cost of all its components. The cost of iron and steel is the cost of the iron or steel mill products (such as bar, billet, slab, wire, plate, or sheet), castings, or forgings utilized in the manufacture of the product and a good faith estimate of the cost of iron or steel components excluding COTS fasteners. Steel means an alloy that includes at least 50 percent iron, between 0.02 and 2 percent carbon, and may include other elements. United States means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and outlying areas. (b) 41 U.S.C. chapter 83, Buy American, provides a preference for domestic end products for supplies acquired for use in the United States. In accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1907, the domestic content test of the Buy American statute is waived for an end product that is a COTS item (see 12.505(a)(1)), except that for an end product that consists wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both, the domestic content test is applied only to the iron and steel content of the end product, excluding COTS fasteners. (c) Offerors may obtain from the Contracting Officer a list of foreign articles that the Contracting Officer will treat as domestic for this contract. (d) The Contractor shall deliver only domestic end products except to the extent that it specified delivery of foreign end products in the provision of the solicitation entitled "Buy American Certificate." Alternate I (OCT 2022). As prescribed in 25.1101(a)(1)(ii) substitute the following sentence for the first sentence of paragraph (1)(ii)(A) of the definition of domestic end product in paragraph (a): (A) The cost of its components mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States exceeds percent of the cost of all its components. (End of Clause) A.3 52.225-2 BUY AMERICAN CERTIFICATE (OCT 2022) (a)(1) The Offeror certifies that each end product, except those listed in paragraph (b) of this provision, is a domestic end product and that each domestic end product listed in paragraph (c) of this provision contains a critical component. (2) The Offeror shall list as foreign end products those end products manufactured in the United States that do not qualify as domestic end products. For those foreign end products that do not consist wholly or predominantly of iron or steel or a combination of both, the Offeror shall also indicate whether these foreign end products exceed 55 percent domestic content, except for those that are COTS items. If the percentage of the domestic content is unknown, select no . (3) The Offeror shall separately list the line-item numbers of domestic end products that contain a critical component (see FAR 25.105). (4) The terms commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) item, critical component, domestic end product, end product, and foreign end product are defined in the clause of this solicitation entitled Buy American Supplies. (b) Foreign End Products: Line-item No. Country of origin Exceeds 55% domestic content (yes/no) [List as necessary] (c) Domestic end products containing a critical component: Line-item No. [List as necessary] (d) The Government will evaluate offers in accordance with the policies and procedures of part 25 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. (End of Provision) A.4 52.225-5 TRADE AGREEMENTS (DEC 2022) (a) Definitions. As used in this clause. "Caribbean Basin country end product" (1) Means an article that (i)(A) Is wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of a Caribbean Basin country; or (B) In the case of an article that consists in whole or in part of materials from another country, has been substantially transformed in a Caribbean Basin country into a new and different article of commerce with a name, character, or use distinct from that of the article or articles from which it was transformed; and (ii) Is not excluded from duty-free treatment for Caribbean countries under 19 U.S.C. 2703(b). (A) For this reason, the following articles are not Caribbean Basin country end products: (1) Tuna, prepared or preserved in any manner in airtight containers; (2) Petroleum, or any product derived from petroleum; (3) Watches and watch parts (including cases, bracelets, and straps) of whatever type including, but not limited to, mechanical, quartz digital, or quartz analog, if such watches or watch parts contain any material that is the product of any country to which the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) column 2 rates of duty apply (i.e., Afghanistan, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam); and (4) Certain of the following: textiles and apparel articles; footwear, handbags, luggage, flat goods, work gloves, and leather wearing apparel; or handloomed, handmade, and folklore articles; (B) Access to the HTSUS to determine duty-free status of articles of these types is available at https://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/index.htm. In particular, see the following: (1) General Note 3(c), Products Eligible for Special Tariff treatment. (2) General Note 17, Products of Countries Designated as Beneficiary Countries under the United States Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act of 2000. (3) Section XXII, Chapter 98, Subchapter II, Articles Exported and Returned, Advanced or Improved Abroad, U.S. Note 7(b). (4) Section XXII, Chapter 98, Subchapter XX, Goods Eligible for Special Tariff Benefits under the United States Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act; and (2) Refers to a product offered for purchase under a supply contract, but for purposes of calculating the value of the acquisition, includes services (except transportation services) incidental to the article, provided that the value of those incidental services does not exceed that of the article itself. "Designated country" means any of the following countries: (1) A World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement (WTO GPA) country (Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (known in the World Trade Organization as "the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (Chinese Taipei) ), Ukraine, or United Kingdom); (2) A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) country (Australia, Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Korea (Republic of), Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Peru, or Singapore); (3) A least developed country (Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, or Zambia); or (4) A Caribbean Basin country (Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saba, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, or Trinidad and Tobago). "Designated country end product" means a WTO GPA country end product, an FTA country end product, a least developed country end product, or a Caribbean Basin country end product. "End product" means those articles, materials, and supplies to be acquired under the contract for public use. "Free Trade Agreement country end product" means an article that (1) Is wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) country; or (2) In the case of an article that consists in whole or in part of materials from another country, has been substantially transformed in an FTA country into a new and different article of commerce with a name, character, or use distinct from that of the article or articles from which it was transformed. The term refers to a product offered for purchase under a supply contract, but for purposes of calculating the value of the end product includes services, (except transportation services) incidental to the article, provided that the value of those incidental services does not exceed that of the article itself. "Least developed country end product" means an article that (1) Is wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of a least developed country; or (2) In the case of an article that consists in whole or in part of materials from another country, has been substantially transformed in a least developed country into a new and different article of commerce with a name, character, or use distinct from that of the article or articles from which it was transformed. The term refers to a product offered for purchase under a supply contract, but for purposes of calculating the value of the end product, includes services (except transportation services) incidental to the article, provided that the value of those incidental services does not exceed that of the article itself. "United States" means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and outlying areas. "U.S.-made end product" means an article that is mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States or that is substantially transformed in the United States into a new and different article of commerce with a name, character, or use distinct from that of the article or articles from which it was transformed. "WTO GPA country end product" means an article that (1) Is wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of a WTO GPA country; or (2) In the case of an article that consists in whole or in part of materials from another country, has been substantially transformed in a WTO GPA country into a new and different article of commerce with a name, character, or use distinct from that of the article or articles from which it was transformed. The term refers to a product offered for purchase under a supply contract, but for purposes of calculating the value of the end product includes services, (except transportation services) incidental to the article, provided that the value of those incidental services does not exceed that of the article itself. (b) Delivery of end products. The Contracting Officer has determined that the WTO GPA and FTAs apply to this acquisition. Unless otherwise specified, these trade agreements apply to all items in the Schedule. The Contractor shall deliver under this contract only U.S.-made or designated country end products except to the extent that, in its offer, it specified delivery of other end products in the provision entitled "Trade Agreements Certificate." (End of Clause) A.5 52.225-6 TRADE AGREEMENTS CERTIFICATE (FEB 2021) (a) The offeror certifies that each end product, except those listed in paragraph (b) of this provision, is a U.S.-made or designated country end product, as defined in the clause of this solicitation entitled "Trade Agreements." (b) The offeror shall list as other end products those supplies that are not U.S.-made or designated country end products. Other End Products Line-item No. Country of origin [List as necessary] (c) The Government will evaluate offers in accordance with the policies and procedures of Part 25 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. For line items covered by the WTO GPA, the Government will evaluate offers of U.S.-made or designated country end products without regard to the restrictions of the Buy American statute. The Government will consider for award only offers of U.S.-made or designated country end products unless the Contracting Officer determines that there are no offers for such products or that the offers for those products are insufficient to fulfill the requirements of this solicitation. (End of Provision) A.6 VAAR 852.242-71 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTING OFFICER (OCT 2020) The Contracting Officer reserves the right to designate an Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO) for the purpose of performing certain tasks/duties in the administration of the contract. Such designation will be in writing through an ACO Letter of Delegation and will identify the responsibilities and limitations of the ACO. A copy of the ACO Letter of Delegation will be furnished to the Contractor. (End of Clause) (End of Addendum to 52.212-4) A.7 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (MAR 2023) (a) North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and small business size standard. The NAICS code(s) and small business size standard(s) for this acquisition appear elsewhere in the solicitation. However, the small business size standard for a concern that submits an offer, other than on a construction or service acquisition, but proposes to furnish an end item that it did not itself manufacture, process, or produce is 500 employees, or 150 employees for information technology value-added resellers under NAICS code 541519, if the acquisition (1) Is set aside for small business and has a value above the simplified acquisition threshold; (2) Uses the HUBZone price evaluation preference regardless of dollar value, unless the offeror waives the price evaluation preference; or (3) Is an 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, economically disadvantaged women-owned, or women-owned small business set-aside or sole-source award regardless of dollar value. (b) Submission of offers. Submit signed and dated offers to the office specified in this solicitation at or before the exact time specified in this solicitation. Offers may be submitted on the SF 1449, letterhead stationery, or as otherwise specified in the solicitation. As a minimum, offers must show (1) The solicitation number; (2) The time specified in the solicitation for receipt of offers; (3) The name, address, and telephone number of the offeror; (4) A technical description of the items being offered in sufficient detail to evaluate compliance with the requirements in the solicitation. This may include product literature, or other documents, if necessary; (5) Terms of any express warranty; (6) Price and any discount terms; (7) "Remit to" address, if different than mailing address; (8) A completed copy of the representations and certifications at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.212-3 (see FAR 52.212-3(b) for those representations and certifications that the offeror shall complete electronically); (9) Acknowledgment of Solicitation Amendments; (10) Past performance information, when included as an evaluation factor, to include recent and relevant contracts for the same or similar items and other references (including contract numbers, points of contact with telephone numbers and other relevant information); and (11) If the offer is not submitted on the SF 1449, include a statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. Offers that fail to furnish required representations or information, or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration. (c) Period for acceptance of offers. The offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 30 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers, unless another time period is specified in an addendum to the solicitation. (d) Product samples. When required by the solicitation, product samples shall be submitted at or prior to the time specified for receipt of offers. Unless otherwise specified in this solicitation, these samples shall be submitted at no expense to the Government, and returned at the sender's request and expense, unless they are destroyed during preaward testing. (e) Multiple offers. Offerors are encouraged to submit multiple offers presenting alternative terms and conditions, including alternative line items (provided that the alternative line items are consistent with FAR subpart 4.10), or alternative commercial products or commercial services for satisfying the requirements of this solicitation. Each offer submitted will be evaluated separately. (f) Late submissions, modifications, revisions, and withdrawals of offers. (1) Offerors are responsible for submitting offers, and any modifications, revisions, or withdrawals, so as to reach the Government office designated in the solicitation by the time specified in the solicitation. If no time is specified in the solicitation, the time for receipt is 4:30 p.m., local time, for the designated Government office on the date that offers or revisions are due. (2)(i) Any offer, modification, revision, or withdrawal of an offer received at the Government office designated in the solicitation after the exact time specified for receipt of offers is "late" and will not be considered unless it is received before award is made, the Contracting Officer determines that accepting the late offer would not unduly delay the acquisition; and (A) If it was transmitted through an electronic commerce method authorized by the solicitation, it was received at the initial point of entry to the Government infrastructure not later than 5:00 p.m. one working day prior to the date specified for receipt of offers; or (B) There is acceptable evidence to establish that it was received at the Government installation designated for receipt of offers and was under the Government's control prior to the time set for receipt of offers; or (C) If this solicitation is a request for proposals, it was the only proposal received. (ii) However, a late modification of an otherwise successful offer, that makes its terms more favorable to the Government, will be considered at any time it is received and may be accepted. (3) Acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at the Government installation includes the time/date stamp of that installation on the offer wrapper, other documentary evidence of receipt maintained by the installation, or oral testimony or statements of Government personnel. (4) If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal Government processes so that offers cannot be received at the Government office designated for receipt of offers by the exact time specified in the solicitation, and urgent Government requirements preclude amendment of the solicitation or other notice of an extension of the closing date, the time specified for receipt of offers will be deemed to be extended to the same time of day specified in the solicitation on the first work day on which normal Government processes res...