Diving Research Cruises for the Southeast Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and U.S. Caribbean

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 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. This solicitation is issued as a request for quote. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-66. This procurement is set-aside 100% for small business and the associated NAICS code is 483112 with a size standard of 500 employees. The government intends on establishing a new Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract(s) for diving research cruises for the Southeast Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and U.S. Caribbean for the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)- Miami Laboratory under the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (See Attachment A, B, and C for additional details on the requirement). NMFS is a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Department of Commerce. The contract will be for a period of up to five (5) years and shall not exceed $2,000,000.00. The resulting orders from this IDIQ will be firm-fixed price. A Performance Work Statement (PWS) is attached which lays out the specific technical requirements. All services under this contract shall be FOB Destination and the place of acceptance is NMFS/SEFSC/Operations, Management, and Information Division (OMID), 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149-1003. The government shall evaluate quotes received on the basis of the lowest evaluated price of quotes meeting or exceeding the acceptability standards for non-cost factors (Lowest Price Technically Acceptable). A checklist of items to be reviewed for technical acceptability is provided as Attachment 1. For purposes of evaluating lowest price, the government is providing Attachment 2 to be completed and be incorporated into the resulting contract. The government shall compare the rates for a 10 day trip (with embarkation and disembarkation from Florida) for year 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 to develop a total average price of a ten day trip. The government may take into consideration all trip durations and years in reviewing whether the quote presents unbalanced pricing. If unbalanced, the government may reject the offer due to it presenting an unacceptable risk to the government. The Government may elect to award a single IDIQ task order contract or multiple IDIQ task order contracts for the same or similar services to two sources under this solicitation. When submitting a quote to the government, the offeror shall provide the following so the government can evaluate the quotes received: ? Technical Quote - The technical quote should be returned and address the following items in order and with this heading (for consistency during the review process): 1. Captain - Provide documentation or explain what processes the firm has to ensure compliance with the PWS for Sections 3.1.1, 3.1.6, 3.1.7, 3.1.8 and 4.3.4.5. If a specific person(s) is in mind, send a copy of resume/list of similar cruises in the past five years and a copy of their license(s). Specifically discuss experience in piloting vessels in accordance with PWS 3.1.7 and 3.1.8. If you anticipate utilizing a service for captains, what service provider? How does it work for sending qualified individuals? What process will your firm use to ensure that a qualified captain is located for the required cruise dates? [Questions 1 - 4 of the Attachment 1 Checklist] 2. Quality Control Plan - Submit a Quality Control Plan (QCP) for review in accordance with PWS 3.4. 3. Insurance - What insurance company does your firm utilize? Provide confirmation that your firm can provide the types of insurance type and amounts of required for this project (PWS 3.7, 4.3.4.3.3, and 4.3.4.5). If your firm already has insurance, provide a copy of the insurance certificates and confirm how your firm will ensure timely renewal under the contract. [Question 6 of Attachment 1] 4. Embarkation/Disembarkation - Where, in Florida, does your firm propose the embarkation/disembarkation for this contract? Provide confirmation that the vessel will be available for embarkation and disembarkation in accordance with Paragraph 4.3.2 [Question 7 and 8 of the Attachment 1 Checklist] . 5. Work Days and Arrival Times - Provide a statement confirming that workdays schedules shall be met (in accordance with PWS 4.3.3) while on the cruise with NOAA. Provide a statement confirming that the vessel shall depart (in accordance with PWS 4.2) [Question 9 & 10 - Attachment 1]. 6. Vessel Specifications and Mission Critical Items - Provide information regarding your firm's ability to meet the requirements in the PWS. Information regarding specifics of the length, maximum draft and propulsion, and minimum cruise speed of the vessel shall be specifically noted. Additional information should be provided, as appropriate, to ensure that the reviewers can ascertain the vessel's ability to meet the government's requirements. Examples of additional information that may be helpful to the government are pictures of the vessel, berthing, other common spaces, dive ladder, anticipated open deck space, Nitrox compressor, and other important equipment (e.g. VHF radio, Control Room, etc.). [Questions 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 of Attachment 1] Certify your firm's ability to meet the minimum requirements such as: * Accommodations and linens for a minimum of 24 science personnel, not including crew. * Three meals daily plus additional snacks and drinks. * Docking, harbor, pilot fees, etc. * Taxes, duties, etc. * All crew expenses. * Fuel and oil charges. * All other expenses arising from operations considered being routine in the operation of a research vessel. * Any and all expenses associated with upgrading the vessel or any other equipment required to comply with these specifications. * Berthing is climate controlled (72'F - 5) (PWS 4.3.4.4) for 24 mission personnel (not including the crew). * Nitrox compressor shall be available (and in good working order) for filling scuba cylinders at 36% for a minimum of one hundred and ten (110) aluminum 80 cu ft cylinders each day. [Quoter should discuss process for ensuring it meets CGA Type 1 Grade E or better within six months of beginning the mission.] * The vessel shall provide twenty-four aluminum, 80 cu ft cylinders for nitrox usage with standard "K" valves. * Dive Ladder/Platform shall be available * 800 square feet of open deck space shall be provided for storage and work area. * Standard equipment is available and in good working order (compass, radar, GPS and Fathometer of a sounding depth of 50 meters). * VHF radios are to be available and capable of accessing the US Coast Guard (USCG) from all research sites. * Access to support simultaneous operation of 9 desktop/laptop computers, 2 portable printers, and charging stations for 12 small battery chargers (e.g. AA batteries, digital camera, and video camera batteries). * Vessel Certification Documentation - Provide Copies either a USCG, University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS), or NOAA Office of Marine Operations Safety Inspection or other third party equivalent to Subchapter U, 46 CFR 188. ? Pricing Quote - The contractor shall provide items: 1. Submit the items required under 52.212-1(b). 2. Complete Certifications and Representations for FAR 52.212-3 and Representation by Corporations Regarding an Unpaid Delinquent Tax Liability or a Federal Conviction under Any Federal Law [Provided below]. 3. Submit a completed pricing schedule for all items listed (Attachment 2). Quoters proposing major subcontracts (subcontracts exceeding 10%) shall submit signed letters of commitment from the subcontractors which define the contractual relationship and identify the contribution to the planned arrangement in terms of the type and proportion of the work to be performed. The following clauses and provisions are incorporated into this solicitation: ? FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial (Feb 2012) ? FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications (Dec 2012) ? FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -Commercial Items (Feb 2012) ? FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items (Jan 2013) with the following clauses included: (b)(1) 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (Sep 2006) Alt I (Aug 2007) (b)(4) 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (Aug 2012) (b)(6) 52.209-6, Protecting the Government' Interest when Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (Dec 2010) (b)(7) 52.209-9, Updates of Publically Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters (Feb 2012) (b)(12)(i) 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2011) (b)(14) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Jan 2011) (b)(17) 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting (Nov 2011) (b)(23) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (Apr 2012) (b)(26) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (Jun 2003) (b)(28) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Feb 1999) (b)(29) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Mar 2007) (b)(30) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Sep 2010) (b)(31) 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (Oct 2010) (b)(32) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (Sep 2010) (b)(33) 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (Dec 2010)(E.O. 13496) (b)(34) 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (Jul 2012) (b)(38) 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging while Driving (Aug 2011) (b)(39) 52.225-1, Buy American Act - Supplies (Feb 2009) (b)(42) 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (Jun 2008) (b)(47) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer - Central Contractor Registration (Oct 2003) (c)(1) 52.222-41, Service Contract Act of 1965 (Nov 2007) (c)(3) 52.222-43, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Act - Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts)(Sep 2009) (c)(7) 52.222-17, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers (Jan 2013) ? FAR 52.203-3, Gratuities (Apr 1984) ? FAR 52.204-4, Printed or Copied Double-Sided on Postconsumer Fiber Content Paper (May 2011) ? FAR 52.204-7, Central Contractor Registration (Dec 2012) ? FAR 52.204-12, Data Universal Numbering System Number Maintenance (Dec 2012) ? FAR 52.204-13, Central Contractor Registration Maintenance (Dec 2012) ? FAR 52.216-1, Type of Contract (Apr 1984)- Fill in "Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Firm-Fixed Price" ? FAR 52.216-18, Ordering (Oct 1995) - Fill-in "date of award through five years." ? FAR 52.216-19, Order Limitations (Oct 1995) - Fill-in (a) "$15,000.00", (b)(1) "$140,000.00", (b)(2) "$450,000.00", (b)(3) "seven (7)", (d) "fourteen (14) calendar" ? FAR 52.216-22, Indefinite Quantity (Oct 1995) - Fill-in (d) " Five years and six months of date of award" ? FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services (Nov 1999) - Fill-In "ten (10) calendar days of expiration of the contract." ? FAR 52.233-2, Service of Protest (Sep 2006) ? FAR 52.247-34, F.O.B - Destination (Nov 1991) ? FAR 52.252-1, Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998) - Fill ins - http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vffara.htm for the FAR and http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vfcara.htm for the CAR ? FAR 52.252-2, Clauses Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1988) - Fill-ins are the same as 52.252-1. ? FAR 52.252-5, Authorized Deviations in Provisions (Apr 1984) - Fill in (b) "Department of Commerce Regulations" and "48 CFR 13". ? FAR 52.252-6, Authorized Deviations in Clauses (Apr 1984) - Fill in is the same as 52.252-5 ? CAR 1352.209-73, Compliance with the Laws (Apr 2010) ? CAR 1352.201-70, Contracting Officer's Authority (Apr 2010) ? CAR 1352.209-74, Organizational Conflict of Interest (Apr 2010) ? CAR 1352.216-75, Minimum and Maximum (Apr 2010) - Fill in is minimum of "$15,000.00" and total amount of orders shall not exceed "$2,000,000.00." ? CAR 1352.216-76, Placement of Orders (Apr 2010) - Fill-ins (b) Any Contracting Officer within NOAA. ? CAR 1352.237-75, Key Personnel (Apr 2010) - Fill-Ins (a) Captain and Alternate (to be specified in each Order) ? CAR 1352.242-70, Post Award Conference (Apr 2010) ? CAR 1352.246-70, Place of Acceptance (Apr 2010) ? CAR 1352.228-72, Deductibles under Required Insurance Coverage - Fixed Price (Apr 2010) ? CAR 1352.270-70, Period of Performance (Apr 2010) - Fill-ins (a) July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2018. (b) Option I through IV are N/A ? CAR 1352.201-72, Contracting Officer's Representative (Apr 2010), Fill-Ins (a) TBD, NMFS/SEFSC/OMID, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149-1003, Phone Number: TBD, Email: TBD ? Representation by Corporations Regarding an Unpaid Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction Under Any Federal Law (Class Deviation) (March 2012) (1) In accordance with Sections 543 and 544 of Public Law 112-55 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 2012, Title V (General Provisions) none of the funds made available by that Act may be used to enter into a contract with any corporation that- (a) Was convicted of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the preceding 24 months, unless the agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government. (b) Has any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, unless the agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government. (2) The Offeror represents that, as of the date of this offer - (a) It is [ ] is not [ ] a corporation that was convicted of a felony criminal violation under a Federal law within the preceding 24 months. (b) It is [ ] is not [ ] a corporation that has any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreements with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability. (End of provision) ? CAR 52.232-99, PROVIDING ACCELERATED PAYMENT TO SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTORS (DEVIATION)(AUG 2012) This clause implements the temporary policy provided by OMB Policy Memorandum M-12-16, Providing Prompt Payment to Small Business Subcontractors, dated July 11, 2012. (a) Upon receipt of accelerated payments from the Government, the contractor is required to make accelerated payments to small business subcontractors to the maximum extent practicable after receipt of a proper invoice and all proper documentation from the small business subcontractor. (b) Include the substance of this clause, including paragraph (b), in all subcontracts with small business concerns. (c) The acceleration of payments under this clause does not provide any new rights under the Prompt Payment Act. ? CAR 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 FR 16,651 (April 6, 1999). (b) Agency protests filed with the Contracting Officer shall be sent to the following address: Joan Clarkston, NOAA, EAD-KC 601 East 12th Street Kansas City, MO 64106 (c) Agency protests filed with the agency Protest Decision Authority shall be sent to the following address: 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 (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, NW. Washington, DC 20230 FAX: +1 (555) 000-0000. (End of clause) ? CAR 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, NW. Washington, DC 20230 FAX: +1 (555) 000-0000. (End of clause) To access a copy of the above clauses and provisions, you can visit http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vffara.htm for the FAR and http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vfcara.htm for the CAR. Any questions or requests for information pertaining to this request for quotes shall be submitted to Joan Clarkston via email no later than May 10, 2013 at 2:30PM (Central Time). Offerors must submit their quotes no later than 12:00 PM (Central) on Wednesday May 22, 2013 to Joan Clarkston via email or fax. Joan Clarkston's email address is contact@example.gov and fax is +1 (555) 000-0000. In order to be eligible for award, the offeror must be registered in the SAM.gov database and complete the "Core Data," "Assertions," "Representations and Certifications," and "Points of Contact." For more information on SAM.gov please view http://www.acquisition.gov/SAM_Guides/Quick%20Guide%20for%20Contract%20Registrations%20v1.pdf