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; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number HSSCCG-17-Q-00161 is issued as a Request for quote (RFQ). This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-95. This is an open market solicitation with a total small business set aside. The associated NAICS code is 424120 – Stationery and Office Supplies Merchant Wholesalers with size standard of 150 employees. This solicitation is for file folders. The attached Excel spreadsheet lists the item description, quantities, units of measure and options. A sample of each item from the vendor with the lowest priced quote at no cost will be requested. A sample of each quoted product shall be delivered to the National Benefits Center in Lee’s Summit, MO to determine technical acceptability. Please fill out the Excel spreadsheet and return as part of your submission by email to Amy Rotax,
[email protected] by Monday, April 17, 2017 1:00PM EST. FAR 52.203-98 Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements- Representation (JULY 2016) (FAR DEVIATION 16-02) (a) In accordance with 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), Government agencies are not permitted to use funds appropriated (or otherwise made available) for contracts with an entity that requires employees or subcontractors of such entity seeking to report waste, fraud, or abuse to sign internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting such employees or subcontractors from lawfully reporting such waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information. (b) The prohibition in paragraph (a) of this provision does not contravene requirements applicable to Standard Form 312, (Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement), Form 4414 (Sensitive Compartmented Information Nondisclosure Agreement), or any other form issued by a Federal department or agency governing the nondisclosure of classified information. (c) Representation. By submission of its offer, the Offeror represents that it will not require its employees or subcontractors to sign or comply with internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting such employees or subcontractors from lawfully reporting waste, fraud, or abuse related to the execution of a Government contract to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information (e.g., agency Office of the Inspector General). (End of provision) FAR 52.203-99, Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements (JUL 2016) (FAR DEVIATION 16-02) (a) The Contractor shall not require its employees or subcontractors seeking to report fraud, waste, or abuse to sign or comply with internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting such employees or subcontractors from lawfully reporting waste, fraud, or abuse related to the execution of a Government contract to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information (e.g., agency Office of the Inspector General). (b) The Contractor shall notify current employees and subcontractors that prohibitions and restrictions of any internal confidentiality agreements covered by this clause, to the extent that such prohibitions and restrictions are inconsistent with the prohibitions of this clause, are no longer in effect. (c) The prohibition in paragraph (a) of this clause does not contravene requirements applicable to Standard Form 312 (Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement), Form 4414 (Sensitive Compartmented Information Nondisclosure Agreement), or any other form issued by a Federal department or agency governing the nondisclosure of classified information. (d) In accordance with Section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, (Pub. L. 113-235) use of funds appropriated (or otherwise made available) under that or any other Act may be prohibited, if the Government determines that the Contractor is not in compliance with the provisions of this clause. (e) The Contractor shall include the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (f), in subcontracts under such contracts. (f) The Government may seek any available remedies in the event the contractor fails to comply with the provisions of this clause. (End of clause) FAR 52.211-6 Brand Name or Equal (AUG 1999) FAR 52.212-1 (JAN 2017), Instructions to Offerors – Commercial, applies to this acquisition FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items (OCT 2014) (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 following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: 1. Technical Acceptability 2. Price USCIS intends to award a contract in accordance with the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA). Best value is expected to result from selection of the technically acceptable quote with the lowest evaluated price. Offers will be evaluated for Technical Acceptability in order based on their total evaluated price and only the lowest priced offer will be evaluated until it is determined the lowest priced offer does not meet Technical Acceptability criteria; at that point, the next lowest priced offer will be evaluated for Technical Acceptability. This process will continue until a technically acceptable offer is identified. If no proposal is technically acceptable upon evaluation of initial proposals or if the Government determines them necessary, the Government reserves the right to enter into discussions. Technical acceptability is comprised of meeting the requirements as outlined in the pricing spreadsheet, adherence to the delivery schedule in the solicitation. Award will be made on the basis of the lowest evaluated price of quotes meeting the Technical Acceptability for non-cost factors. (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. (End of provision) FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items (JAN 2017); Offerors shall include a completed copy of the provision FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items (JAN 2017), applies to this acquisition. The following clauses in FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items (JAN 2017), apply to this acquisition: _X_ (4) 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (Oct 2016) (Pub. L. 109-282) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note). _X_ (8) 52.209-6, Protecting the Government’s Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment. (Oct 2015) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note). _X_ (12) 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (OCT 2014) (if the offeror elects to waive the preference, it shall so indicate in its offer) (15 U.S.C. 657a). _X_ (14)(i) 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644). _X_ (16) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Nov 2016) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)). _X_ (22) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (Jul 2013) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)). _X_ (25) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (June 2003) (E.O. 11755). _X_ (26) 52.222-19, Child Labor—Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Oct 2016) (E.O. 13126). _X_ (27) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015). _X_ (28) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Sept 2016) (E.O. 11246). _X_ (29) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Oct 2015)(38 U.S.C. 4212). _X_ (30) 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jul 2014) (29 U.S.C. 793). _X_ (31) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (Feb 2016) (38 U.S.C. 4212). _X_ (32) 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (Dec 2010) (E.O. 13496). _X_ (33) (i) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (MAR 2015) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627). _X_ (44) 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (AUG 2011) (E.O. 13513). _X_ (57) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer—System for Award Management (Jul 2013) (31 U.S.C. 3332). FAR 52.217-7 Option for Increased Quantity – Separately Priced Line Item (MAR 1989) The Government may require the delivery of the numbered line item, identified in the Schedule as an option item, in the quantity and at the price stated in the Schedule. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor within15 days. Delivery of added items shall continue at the same rate that like items are called for under the contract, unless the parties otherwise agree. (End of clause) ADDITIONAL INVOICING INSTRUCTIONS: (a) In accordance with FAR Part 32.905, all invoices submitted to USCIS for payment shall include the following: (1) Name and address of the contractor. (2) Invoice date and invoice number. (3) Contract number, contract line item number and, if applicable, the order number (4) Description, quantity, unit of measure, period of performance, unit price, and extended price of supplies delivered or services performed. (5) Shipping and payment terms. (6) Name and address of contractor official to whom payment is to be sent. (7) Name (where practicable), title, phone number, and mailing address of person to notify in the event of a defective invoice. (8) Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). (b) Invoices not meeting these requirements will be rejected and not paid until a corrected invoice meeting the requirements is received. (c) USCIS’ preferred method for invoice submission is electronically. Invoices shall be submitted in Adobe pdf format with each pdf file containing only one invoice. The pdf files shall be submitted electronically using the “To” line in the e-mail address to
[email protected] with each email conforming to a size limit of 500 KB. (d) If a paper invoice is submitted, mail the invoice to: USCIS Invoice Consolidation PO Box 1000 Williston, VT 05495