Experimental Power Integration Design Support

Amendment 0001 The purpose of this amendment is to extend the due date for quotations to 5:00pm ET on Monday, August 29, 2022. In addition, an answer is provided for a question received in response to the solicitation. INDUSTRY QUESTION: Can you please send us the part numbers or serial numbers for Experimental Power Integration Design Support that needs to be quoted for? NIST RESPONSE: The AC power generation system of concern for power integration is the Pacific Power 360-AMXT-UPC32 AC Power Source. The system is composed of 3 cabinets of 3 rows of smart power sources of 6kW (a total installed power of 54kW) associated each one with its transformer. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged. **************************************************************************************************** This is a Combined Synopsis / Solicitation for Commercial Items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6 - Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation of Commercial Items - as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. The solicitation is issued using simplified acquisition procedures under the authority of FAR Part 13. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION. QUOTATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION DOCUMENT (i.e. STANDARD FORM) WILL NOT BE ISSUED. This solicitation is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2022-04 dated 01-30-2022. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541690 Other Scientific and Technical Professional Services. The small business size standard is $16.5 million. This acquisition is 100% set aside for small businesses. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENTS Background The smart grid is a system in which computational (i.e., hardware and software) and physical components must seamlessly integrate to achieve maximal function. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) within the U.S. Department of Commerce has a mandated role in this area under Title XIII, Section 1305 of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, wherein NIST is designated as having - primary responsibility to coordinate development of a framework that includes protocols and model standards for information management to achieve interoperability of Smart Grid devices and systems This role provides a catalyst for a timely deployment of a secure and reliable smart grid and associated technologies that upgrade our Nation's aging electrical power grid infrastructure. The NIST Smart Grid Testbed facility is located on NIST's Gaithersburg, Maryland campus. The facility consists of a series of contiguous and interconnected modules, which include: Power Conditioning System Measurement and smart sensor module Timing and synchronization facility Cybersecurity component Distributed Energy Resource (DER)/Microgrid facility The goal of the power-conditioning capabilities of the testbed is to accelerate the development of smart grid interoperability standards, by providing a combined testbed platform for system measurements, characterization of smart grid protocols, and validation of smart grid standards, with an emphasis on microgrids. The power conditioning system has 480 V / 600 A service from the building that provides energy within the power measurement and power generation rooms. The rooms also have laboratory energy sources such as batteries and grid/source emulators. In addition, the power generation room can provide experimental power for smart grid loads, sensors, and intelligent electronic devices (IED) and networks under test. Objectives The purpose of this requirement is to acquire contractor support for the building of a conceptual design for transporting experimental power within the NIST's Smart Grid Testbed. The integration is to be used for experimental research activities dealing with sensors and intelligent electronic devices. The desired voltages required for integration are 120 VAC, 240 VAC, and 208 VAC. Required Specifications Please see the attached Performance Work Statement for details. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance shall be October 1, 2022 through April 30, 2023. PAYMENT TERMS The Contractor shall be paid, in accordance with Net 30-day payment terms, upon receipt and acceptance of a proper invoice, in accordance with the firm fixed price payment schedule established at time of award. APPLICABLE PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES Please see the attached document for applicable provisions and clauses. QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD CAR 1352.215-73 INQUIRIES (APR 2010): Quoters must submit all questions concerning this solicitation in writing electronically to Ms. January Magyar, Contract Specialist, at january.magyar@nist.gov. Questions must be received by or before August 14, 2022 at 5:00 PM ET. Any responses to questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner, and will be included in an amendment to the solicitation. Even if provided in other form, only the question responses included in the amendment to the solicitation will govern performance of the contract. (End of Provision). DUE DATE FOR QUOTATIONS All quotations must be submitted via email to Ms. January Magyar, Contract Specialist, at January.magyar@nist.gov. Submission must be received not later than August 18, 2022 at 5:00 PM ET. REQUIRED SUBMISSIONS The Quoter's quotation shall consist of two (2) volumes as detailed below. Each quotation volume shall include the Quoter's name, UEI number, and CAGE code in the cover page, header/footer, or other easily identified location. The Contracting Officer intends to award a purchase order without discussions but reserves the right to enter into discussions if in the best interest of the Government. Volume 1: Technical Response This volume shall contain the Quoter's cover letter and technical response. Cover letter and technical response (not including cover page, table of contents, or key personnel resumes) shall not exceed twenty (20) single sided pages. Text shall be no less than 12-point Arial font, or otherwise legible font, in read-only Microsoft Word or searchable Adobe PDF format. The cover letter shall include the name, title, phone number, and email address of the Quoter's primary solicitation point of contact and the individual authorized to negotiate on behalf of the Quoter (if negotiations are determined to be necessary). The technical response shall include the resume of the proposed key personnel and a narrative description of the Quoter's technical approach, clearly demonstrating the Quoter's understanding of the requirements and its ability to manage schedule, logistics and staffing effectively in accordance with the PWS. Volume 2: Business Response This volume shall contain the Quoter's business response/quotation in read-only Microsoft Excel format or in searchable PDF format. All figures must be rounded to the nearest hundredth. Quotations shall be submitted on a firm fixed price basis in accordance with the contract line item structure listed below. However, the quoter shall provide a further breakdown of the proposed firm fixed price that provides, for each of the Tasks 4.1 - 4.3 from the PWS, the proposed labor categories to be used, estimated hours per labor category, and total price. The breakdown shall clearly show that the sum of the total prices for each of PWS Tasks 4.1 - 4.3 equal the total proposed firm fixed price for CLIN 0001. For CLIN 0002 (Travel) all quoters shall propose a Not to Exceed (NTE) price of $1,500.00. Additionally, quoters shall include a proposed fixed price payment schedule. The proposed payment schedule shall be tied to the acceptance of individual deliverables to the maximum extent possible. The following must also be included: Contractor UEI UEI shall be used to verify the quoter's active System for Award Management (SAM) registration. Quoters must have an active registration at www.SAM.Gov to be considered for award. Completed Provisions Please complete the highlighted areas in the applicable provisions and clauses documents and return with submissions. CONTRACT LINE ITEM STRUCTURE: Responsible quoters shall provide pricing for the following line item: LINE ITEM 0001: Support services in accordance with the Performance Work Statement (PWS) titled - Experimental Power Integration Design Support. Includes performance of all Tasks 4.1 - 4.3 in accordance with the PWS. LINE ITEM 0002: Travel costs to be reimbursed in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation in the not-to-exceed (NTE) amount of $1,500.00. EVALUATION CRITERIA AND BASIS FOR AWARD In accordance with FAR 52.212-2: Evaluation - Commercial Items as included in the attached Applicable Provisions and Clauses document, the Government intends to award a purchase order resulting from this solicitation to the responsible quoter whose quotation, conforming to the solicitation, represents the best value to the Agency. Best value shall be determined using the trade-off evaluation method. Quotations shall be evaluated against the following non-price evaluation factors and price. Non-price evaluation factors include the following in descending order of importance: 1) Technical Approach and 2) Key Personnel. Non-price factors when combined are more important than price for this requirement. The Government anticipates making an award without discussions. Technical Approach: The Government will evaluate the quoter's technical approach for performing each task in the PWS. The technical approach proposed shall be evaluated for overall understanding of Government requirements, realism, and expected effectiveness. The technical approach shall also be evaluated for realism and reasonableness in managing schedule, logistics, and staffing effectively. Key Personnel: The Government will evaluate the extent to which the resume submitted for the quoter's proposed key personnel demonstrates the proposed individual meets or exceeds the minimum qualifications detailed in the PWS and has the appropriate education, qualifications, and experience to efficiently and effectively address requirements in accordance with the PWS. Price: Pricing will be evaluated but not scored. Price evaluation will determine whether the proposed prices are complete and reasonable in relation to the RFQ requirements.