Data Science of Creating a Pilot Algorithm

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION Data Science of Creating a Pilot Algorithm (I) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice and in accordance with the simplified acquisition procedures authorized in FAR Part 13. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (II) This solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). Submit written quotes on RFQ Number RA133F17RQ0806DR. (III) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-95. (IV) This solicitation is unrestricted and open to all sources. The associated NAICS code is 518210. The small business size standard is $32.5M. (V) This combined solicitation/synopsis is for purchase of the following commercial services: Line Item 0001 - Services, non-personal, to provide all equipment, labor and materials (unless otherwise provided herein) necessary to provide data science of creating a pilot algorithm in accordance with the statement of work., which is attached to the Standard Form SF-18, Request for Quote. (VI) Description of requirements is as follows: See attached Statement of Work which is attached to the SF-18 Request for Quote. (VII) Date(s) and place(s) of delivery and acceptance: Period of performance: September 18, 2017 - April 01, 2018 (VIII) FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items (JAN 2017)(Reference) NOTICE TO OFFERORS: Instructions for submitting quotations under this request for quote must be followed. Failure to provide all information to aid in the evaluation may be considered non-responsive. Offers that are non-responsive may be excluded from further evaluation and rejected without further notification to the offeror. 1. Quotes shall be fully executed and returned on the Standard Form (SF) 18 and any acknowledgements of solicitation amendments on the SF 30. 2. Submit quotations to the office specified in this solicitation at or before the time specified in the solicitation. E-mail quotes are acceptable and can be sent to contact@example.gov. 3. At a minimum the contractor shall provide the following information: a) Point of contact name, telephone and E-mail address. b) DUNS Number 4. Provide all evaluation criteria in accordance with 52.212-2 in this package. 5. Vendor shall complete and return Representation by Corporations Regarding an Unpaid Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction Under Any Federal Law 52.209-11 with quote, if not completed in SAM. 6. Vendor shall have an active registration in System for Award Management (SAM) found at https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/#1 in order to be eligible for contract award. Vendor shall also complete Representations and Certifications electronically in SAM. (IX) FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items (Oct 2014), applies to this acquisition. Offers will be evaluated based on price and the factors set forth in paragraph (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) Past Performance - quote shall include at least two references for similar services including the phone number, full address and E-mail address (if available). Government will use its discretion to determine the sources of past performance information used in the evaluation, and the information may be obtained from references provided by the offeror, the agency's knowledge of contractor performance, other government agencies or commercial entities, or past performance databases, and will be based on responsiveness, quality, and customer services, and 2) Price. The government intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order. Government intends to award a best value, firm fixed-price purchase order with payment terms of Net 30. (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) (X) 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (JAN 2017)(DEVIATION 2017-01), applies to this acquisition and is in full text in the RFQ SF-18. The offeror shall complete the annual representations and certifications electronically in System for Award Management at https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/#1. (XI) The clause at FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items (Jan 2017), applies to this acquisition and is in full text in the RFQ SF-18. (XII) The clause at FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items (JAN 2017) applies to this acquisition and is in full text in the RFQ SF-18. (XIII) The following clauses are also applicable to this acquisition: 52.252-1 Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998) 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 this/these address(es): https://www.acquisition.gov/far/ (End of provision) 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): https://www.acquisition.gov/far/ (End of clause) 52.252-5 Authorized Deviations in Provisions. (APR 1984) (a) The use in this solicitation of any Federal Acquisition Regulation (48 CFR Chapter 1) provision with an authorized deviation is indicated by the addition of "(DEVIATION)" after the date of the provision. (b) The use in this solicitation of any Commerce Acquisition Regulation (48 CFR Chapter 1352) provision with an authorized deviation is indicated by the addition of "(DEVIATION)" after the name of the regulation. (End of provision) 52.203-18 Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements-Representation. (Jan 2017)(Reference) 52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (Dec 2013)(Reference) Department of Commerce (DOC) CAR Clauses FOR FULL TEXT OF COMMERCE ACQUISITION CLAUSE OR PROVISIONS YOU MAY TO GO THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=0ff3b424806038599b185d9296e7950e&ty=HTML&h=L&mc=true&n=pt48.5.1352&r=PART 1352.201-70, Contracting Officer's Authority (Apr 2010) (Reference) 1352.209-73 Compliance With the Laws (Apr 2010) (Reference) 1352.209-74 Organizational Conflict of Interest (Apr 2010) (Reference) 1352.233-70 Agency Protests (Apr 2010) (a) An agency protest may be filed with either: (1) the contracting officer, or (2) at a level above the contracting officer, with the appropriate agency Protest Decision Authority. See 64 Fed. Reg. 16,651 (April 6, 1999) (b) Agency protests filed with the Contracting Officer shall be sent to the following address: Clifford Edwards Contracting Officer Western Acquisitions Division 325 Broadway, SOU6 Boulder, CO 80305-3328 FAX: +1 (555) 000-0000 (c) Agency protests filed with the agency Protest Decision Authority shall be sent to the following address: Barry Berkowitz Senior Procurement Executive and Director, Office of Acquisition Management U.S. Department of Commerce Room 6422 Herbert C. Hoover Building 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington DC 20230 FAX: +1 (555) 000-0000 (d) A complete copy of all agency protests, including all attachments, shall be served upon the Contract Law Division of the Office of the General Counsel within one day of filing a protest with either the Contracting Officer or the Protest Decision Authority. (e) Service upon the Contract Law Division shall be made as follows: U.S. Department of Commerce Office of the General Counsel Chief, Contract Law Division Room 5893 Herbert C. Hoover Building 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20230. FAX: +1 (555) 000-0000 (End of clause) 1352.233-71 GAO and Court of Federal Claims protests (Apr 2010) (a) A protest may be filed with either the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or the Court of Federal Claims unless an agency protest has been filed. (b) A complete copy of all GAO or Court of Federal Claims protests, including all attachments, shall be served upon (i) the Contracting Officer, and (ii) the Contract Law Division of the Office of the General Counsel, within one day of filing a protest with either GAO or the Court of Federal Claims. (c) Service upon the Contract Law Division shall be made as follows: U.S. Department of Commerce Office of the General Counsel Chief, Contract Law Division Room 5893 Herbert C. Hoover Building 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20230. FAX: +1 (555) 000-0000 (End of clause) 1330-52.237-70 Contractor Communications (a) A contractor employee shall be identified both by the individual's name and the contractor's name when: 1. Included in NOAA's locator, and 2. When submitting any type of electronic correspondence to any NOAA employee or stakeholder. (b) Any written correspondence from a contractor or any contractor employee shall be printed on company/organization letterhead or otherwise clearly identify the sender as an employee of the company or organization and shall identify the contract number. (c) Contractors and/or contractor employees shall clearly identify themselves as such in any verbal communications, whether in informal discussion or a formal meeting. (End of clause) Scientific and Research Misconduct (a) Definitions. As used in this provision - Scientific activities mean activities that involve inventorying, monitoring, observations, experimentation, study, research, integration, modeling, and scientific assessment. Scientific integrity means the condition resulting from adherence to professional values and practices when conducting and applying the results of science that ensures objectivity, clarity, and reproducibility, and that provides insulation from bias, fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, interference, censorship, and inadequate procedural and information security. Presentation of scientific activities results includes the analysis, synthesis, compilation, or translation of scientific information and data into formats for the use of the Department of Commerce or the United States of America. Scientific and Research Misconduct means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing scientific and research activities, or in the products or reporting of the results of these activities. It specifically includes intentional circumvention of the integrity of the scientific and research process and actions that compromise that process, but does not include honest error or differences of opinion. Investigation is formal collection and evaluation of information and facts to determine if scientific or research misconduct can be established, to assess its extent and consequences, and to recommend appropriate action. (b) General Guidelines 1. Maintaining Integrity. The Contractor shall maintain the scientific integrity of research performed pursuant to this contract award including the prevention, detection, and remediation of research misconduct, and the conduct of inquiries, investigations and adjudications of allegations of research misconduct. 2. In performing or presenting the results of scientific activities under the contract, and in responding to allegations of scientific and research misconduct, the Contractor shall comply with the provisions herein and NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 202-735D, Scientific Integrity, and its Procedural Handbook, including any amendments thereto. That Order can be found at http://www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/ames/administrative_orders/chapter_202/202-735-D.html 3. Primary Responsibility. The Contractor shall have the primary responsibility to prevent, detect, and investigate allegations of scientific and research misconduct. Unless otherwise instructed by the Contracting Officer, the Contractor shall promptly conduct an initial inquiry into any allegation of such misconduct and may rely on its internal policies and procedures, as appropriate, to do so. 4. By executing this contract, the Contractor provides its assurance that it has established an administrative process for performing an inquiry, investigating, and reporting allegations of scientific and research misconduct; and that it will comply with its own administrative process for performing an inquiry, investigation and reporting of such misconduct. 5. The Contractor shall insert the substance of this provision in subcontracts at all tiers that involve research being performed under this contract. (c) Investigating Misconduct Research 1. Initiating Investigation. If the Contractor determines that there is sufficient evidence to proceed to an investigation, it shall notify the Contracting Officer and, unless otherwise instructed, the Contractor shall: a. Promptly conduct an investigation to develop a complete factual record and an examination of such record leading to either a finding of scientific and research misconduct and an identification of appropriate remedies or a determination that no further action is warranted. b. If the investigation leads to a finding of scientific and research misconduct, obtain adjudication by a neutral third party adjudicator. The adjudication must include a review of the investigative record and, as warranted, a determination of appropriate corrective actions and sanctions. 2. Finalizing Investigation. When the investigation is complete, the Contractor shall forward to the Contracting Officer a copy of the evidentiary record, the investigative report, any recommendations made to the Contractor's adjudicating official, the adjudicating official's decision and notification of any corrective action taken or planned, and the subject's written response (if any). (d) Findings and Corrective Actions 1. If the Contractor finds that scientific and research misconduct has occurred, it shall assess the seriousness of the misconduct and its impact on the research completed or in process and shall: a. Take all necessary corrective actions, which includes, but are not limited to, correcting the research record, and, as appropriate, imposing restrictions, controls, or other parameters on research in process or to be conducted in the future, and b. Coordinate remedial action with the Contracting Officer. (e) Department of Commerce Actions 1. The Department of Commerce may accept the Contractor's findings or proceed with its own investigation, in which case the Contractor shall fully cooperate with the investigation. The Contracting Officer will inform the Contractor of the Department's final determination. 2. The Department of Commerce reserves the right to pursue such remedies and other actions as it deems appropriate, consistent with the terms and conditions of the contract and applicable laws and regulations. Such remedies and actions may include, but are not limited to, disallowance of costs, recoupment of contract payments, and suspension or debarment. (End of provision) NOAA ACQUISITION AND GRANTS OFFICE OMBUDSMAN (OCT 2016) a. The NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO) Ombudsman is available to organizations to promote responsible and meaningful exchanges of information. Generally, the purpose of these exchanges will be to: 1. Allow contractors to better prepare for and propose on business opportunities. 2. Advise as to technologies and solutions within the marketplace that the Government may not be aware of, or is not fully benefiting from. 3. Identify constraints in transparency and process. b. The AGO Ombudsman will objectively, reasonably, and responsibly collaborate with parties and recommend fair, impartial, and constructive solutions to the matters presented to him/her. Further, the AGO Ombudsman will maintain the reasonable and responsible confidentiality of the source of a concern, when such a request has been formally made by an authorized officer of an organization seeking to do business with, or already doing business with NOAA. c. Before consulting with the AGO Ombudsman, interested parties must first address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations with the respective contracting officer for resolution. However, direct access to the AGO Ombudsman may be sought when an interested party questions the objectivity or equity of a contracting officer's decision, or when there is a bona fide reason to believe that reasonable, responsible, and objective consideration will not be received from an assigned contracting officer. d. There are several constraints to the scope of the AGO Ombudsman's authority, for instance: 1. Consulting with the AGO Ombudsman does not alter or postpone the timelines of any formal process (e.g., protests, claims, debriefings, employee employer actions, activities involving A-76 competition performance decisions, judicial or congressional hearings, or proposal, amendment, modification or deliverable due dates, etc.). 2. The AGO Ombudsman cannot participate in the evaluation of proposals, source selection processes, or the adjudication of protests or formal contract disputes. 3. The AGO Ombudsman is not authorized to generate or alter laws, judicial decisions, rules, policies, or formal guidance. 4. The AGO Ombudsman is not authorized to develop or alter opportunity announcements, solicitations, contracts, or their terms or conditions. 5. The AGO Ombudsman cannot overrule the authorized decisions or determinations of the contracting officer. 6. The AGO Ombudsman has no authority to render a decision that binds AGO, NOAA, the Department of Commerce, or the U.S. Government. 7. The AGO Ombudsman is not NOAA's agent relative to the service of magistrate or judicial process and cannot be used to extend service of process to another party (whether federal, public, or a private entity). e. After review and analysis of a filed concern or recommendation, the AGO Ombudsman may refer the interested party to another more suitable federal official for consideration. Moreover, concerns, disagreements, and/or recommendations that cannot be resolved by the AGO Ombudsman will need to be pursued through more formal venues. f. The AGO Ombudsman is not to be contacted to request copies of forms and/or documents under the purview of a contracting officer. Such documents include Requests for Information, solicitations, amendments, contracts, modifications, or conference materials. g. Questions regarding this solicitation and contract language shall be directed to Rafael Roman, NOAA AGO Ombudsman, at contact@example.gov. (End of solicitation and contract language) (XIV) Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and assigned rating does not apply. (XV) Quotes are required to be received in the contracting office no later than 4:00 P.M. MDT on September 08, 2017. All quotes must be faxed or emailed to the attention of Diana Romero. The E-mail address is contact@example.gov and the fax number is +1 (555) 000-0000. (XVI) Any questions regarding this solicitation should be directed to Diana Romero, +1 (555) 000-0000, E-email address is contact@example.gov . THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR NON-RECEIPT OF QUOTES. IT IS THE CONTRACTOR'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUEST AND RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION OF THE QUOTE RECEIPT.