HSCG40-13-Q-P30861 ANT BALTIMORE 2013 DRYDOCK

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation, HSCG40-13-Q- P30861, for a commercial item prepared in accordance with the format outlined in FAR Subpart 12.6, FAC 2005-63 (December 2012), and as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The NAICS code for this solicitation is 336611 and the Small Business Size Standard is 1000. This is a 100% Total Small Business Set-aside procurement; all responsible sources may submit proposals that will be considered by the agency. The contract will be awarded on a firm-fixed-price basis using simplified acquisition procedures. The requirement is for the dry-docking and repair of USCG ANT BALTIMORE (49428) NOTICE FOR FILING AGENCY PROTESTS - United States Coast Guard Ombudsman Program It is the policy of the Coast Guard to issue solicitations and make contract awards in a fair and timely manner. The Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests (OPAP) was established to investigate agency protest issues and resolve them without expensive and time-consuming litigation. OPAP is an independent reviewing authority that is empowered to grant a prevailing protester essentially the same relief as the General Accounting Office (GAO). Interested parties are encouraged to seek resolution of their concerns within the Coast Guard as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) forum, rather filing a protest with the GAO or some external forum. Interested Parties may seek resolution of their concerns informally or opt to file a formal agency protest with the contracting officer or Ombudsman. INFORMAL FORUM WITH THE OMBUDSMAN: Interested parties who believe that a Coast Guard procurement is unfair or otherwise defective should first direct their concerns to the cognizant contracting officer. If the contracting officer is unable to satisfy the concerns, the interested party is encouraged to contact the coast Guard Ombudsman for Agency Protests. Under this informal process, the agency is not required to suspend contract award performance. Use of an informal forum does not suspend any time requirement for filing a protest with the agency or other forum. In order to ensure a timely response, interested parties should provide the following information to the Ombudsman: solicitation/contract number, contracting officer, and solicitation closing date (if applicable). FORMAL AGENCY PROTEST WITH THE OMBUDSMAN: Prior to submitting a formal agency protest, protesters must first use their best efforts to resolve their concerns with the contracting officer through open and frank discussions. If the protester's concerns are unresolved, an independent review is available by the Ombudsman. The protester may file a formal agency protest to either the contracting officer or as an alternative to that, the Ombudsman under the OPAP program. Contract award or performance will be suspended during the protest period unless contract award or performance is justified, in writing, for urgent and compelling reasons or is determined in writing to be in the best interest of the Government. The agency's goal is to resolve protests in less than 35 calendar days from the date of filing. Protests shall include the information set forth at FAR 33.103(d)(2). If the protester fails to submit the required information, resolution of the protest may be delayed or the protest may be dismissed. This will not preclude re-filing of the protests to meet the requirement. To be timely, protests must be filed within the period specified in FAR 33.103(e). Formal protests filed under the OPAP program should be forwarded to the address below: Commandant (GG-913) U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Procurement Planning & Oversight Division 1900 Half Street, SW, JR11-0203 Washington, DC 20593-0001 Telephone: (202) 372-3692 FAX: (202) 475-3904 DESCRIPTION OF WORK: (a) The Contractor shall furnish all necessary labor, material, services, equipment, supplies, power, accessories, facilities and such other things as are necessary, except as otherwise specified, to perform dry-docking repairs and alterations to the vessel, in accordance with this solicitation and attached specifications. (b) Failure to read the specifications in their entirety will not relieve the quoter from the responsibility for properly estimating the difficulty or price of successfully performing the work. Failure to do so will be at the quoter's risk. (c) All responsible sources may submit a quotation, which if timely received, shall be considered by the Agency. Companies must have valid DUNS numbers and be registered with System for Award Management (SAM) www.acquisition.gov and shall provide the company Tax Information Number (TIN) with their offer. Any Contractor's Requests for Clarifications shall be answered via amendment to the solicitation and shall be received no later than 4 March 2013 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The closing date and time for receipt of quote is 8 March 2013 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Offerors may contact Genine Davis 410-762-6883 or via email Genine.M.Davis@uscg.mil for information regarding this solicitation. Please email Genine.M.Davis@uscg.mil to request CD drawings referenced in specification. Please indicate where you would like the drawings sent to in your email. ANTICIPATED AWARD DATE: The contract is expected to be awarded on or about 15 March 2013. Work covered by this solicitation shall be completed within Thirty (30) calendar days from the date the vessel becomes available to the contractor. The availability is scheduled to start on or about 22 March 2013. An arrival conference normally will be held within 48 hours of the scheduled start date. Vessels being drydocked shall be in drydock within seventy-two (72) hours of delivery. GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTION: Per U. S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Instruction 3100.1C, the vessel is restricted to an area no greater than 140 nautical miles from the BUSL's home station, on navigable waterways and no more than 30 nautical miles offshore. Home Station: USCG ANT BALTIMORE, CURTIS BAY, MD 21226 SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES: See Attached Schedule of Supplies and Services. (1) ACCESSIBILITY OF CONTRACTOR'S FACILITY The contractor shall provide a facility accessible from a navigable waterway at which a ship of the characteristics described in the attached specification can, using its own propulsion, safely arrive, lie afloat and depart at all states of the tide and at any time day or night. The facility and its approaches shall have a minimum water depth of 5'7" and a minimum vertical clearance of 15' . The facility shall insure 2 (two) additional feet below minimum water depth at the pier per SFLC Standard Specification 0000 section 3.3.2.1.1. (2) ACCESS TO VESSEL (a) A reasonable number of officers, employees, and associates of the Government, or other prime Contractors with the Government, and their subcontractors, shall, as authorized by the Contracting Officer, have, at all reasonable times, admission to the plant, and access to vessel(s) to perform and fulfill their respective obligations to the Government on a noninterference basis. The Contractor shall make reasonable arrangements with the Government or Contractors of the Government, as shall have been identified and authorized by the Contracting Officer, to be given admission to the Contractor's facilities and access to the vessel(s) and to office space, work areas, storage or shop areas, or other facilities and services, necessary for the performance of their respective responsibilities and reasonable to their performance. All such above personnel shall be required to comply with all Contractor rules and regulations governing personnel at its shipyard, including those relative to safety and security. (b) The Contractor further agrees, as authorized by the Contracting Officer, to afford to a reasonable number of officers, employees, and associates of bidders on other contemplated work, the same privileges of admission to the Contractor's plant and access to the vessel(s) on a noninterference basis subject to all Contractor rules and regulations governing personnel in its shipyard, including those relative to safety and security. (3) INDEMNIFICATION FOR ACCESS TO VESSELS Notwithstanding any provision in the "Access to Vessels" clause, or any other clause of the contract, the Contractor agrees to allow officers, employees, and associates of the Government, or other prime contractors with the Government and their subcontractors, and officers, employees, and associates of quoters on other contemplated work, admission to the Contractor's facilities and access to the vessel without any further request for indemnification from any party, which has not been previously included in the contract price. (4) CONTRACTING OFFICER'S AUTHORITY No oral or written statement of any person other than the Contracting Officer will in any manner or degree modify or otherwise affect the terms of this contract. The Contracting Officer is the only person authorized to approve changes in any of the requirements under this contract, and, notwithstanding any provisions contained elsewhere in this contract, said authority remains solely with the Contracting Officer. In the event the Contractor effects any such change at the direction of any person other than the Contracting Officer, the change will be considered to have been made without authority and no adjustment will be made in the contract price to cover any increase in cost incurred as a result thereof. (5) INSPECTIONS Except as specified elsewhere, the U.S. Coast Guard shall rely on the contractor to accomplish all inspection and testing needed to ensure that the work conforms to contract quality requirements. Records of all inspection work by the contractor shall be kept complete and available to the Government during the term of this contract and for such longer period as may be specified elsewhere in this contract. The name and telephone number of the U.S. Coast Guard Inspector will be provided after the award of a contract resulting from this solicitation. (6) MAINTAINING, REPORTING, AND DISPOSING OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY IN THE PERFORMANCE OF A SHIP REPAIR CONTRACT 1. The Government Property Clause incorporated by reference delineates the contractor's overall responsibility when taking possession of government property in performance of a contract. In performance of this contract the contractor will be required to properly identify, track and control property within its possession. This includes, a) property furnished by the government (GFP) to the contractor in conjunction with specific CLIN Items. These items and their values are listed in the specification, b) property that is pre-existing in a location that during the course of performance will be replaced or renewed. 2. The items listed in the specification, as government furnished property will be provided in the quantities designated. Government furnished property may be provided in person by an official Coast Guard employee, shipment via commercial carrier, etc. The contractor shall sign for all government furnished property using either a DD Form 1149, entitled, "Requisition and Invoice/Shipping Document" or a DD Form 1348, entitled, "Issue Release/Receipt Document". A copy of the DD 1149 or DD 1348 must be sent within 48 hours of receipt of property, to the designated Government Property Administrator. The name of the individual assigned as Property Administrator will be furnished to the contractor at time of award. The contractor shall not take receipt of property that is not listed in the specification, has not been previously identified as becoming part of the contract (via contract modification) or which otherwise cannot be identified. Such irregularities shall be immediately reported to the Property Administrator. 3. The contractor shall complete the report provided herein, entitled, "Government Property Report". This report is intended as a living document whereby relevant fields shall be filled in, maintained and kept current at all times. All property described in paragraph 1 (a, and b) above shall be reported on the report. At contract completion the contractor and the Property Administrator shall ensure that all fields are appropriately completed. A signature block is provided at the end of the report for both parties to attest to the report's accuracy and completeness. The Government Property Report shall clearly delineate the complete track that all government property took over the course of the contract. This completed report must accompany the contractor's final invoice. Final payment may be delayed, without penalty of interest, until such time as the report is received. A separate copy of the completed report and any final DD 1149s or DD 1348s executed, as a result of carrying out disposition instructions shall be provided to the Property Administrator. 4. Pursuant to the Government Property Clause the authority to render disposition instructions of Government property associated with this contract is delegated to the Property Administrator. The contractor shall comply with all instructions in the contract for the return of government property to the Coast Guard. This includes government property taken off the vessel (shafts, propellers, etc.), government property returned to the vessel (special tools, etc.) or surplus government property not used during performance of the contract. (7) GROWTH WORK (a) The Contractor shall not perform growth work without the Contracting Officer's authorization. Growth work is work within the scope of the contract, which has not been previously priced as a pre-priced CLIN. The Contracting Officer reserves the right to contract for growth work on the basis of a negotiated, firm, fixed price, when it is in the best interest of the Government. If a firm-fixed price contract is awarded, and during the performance period a repair within scope is identified but the Contracting Officer and Contractor are unable to agree on the cost of the work, a bilateral modification may be incorporated into the contract using a Time and Materials modification for this specific repair. In this situation, FAR 52.212-4, Alternate I, will be incorporated. (b) The Contractor shall furnish a price breakdown directly to the Contracting Officer, itemized as required by the Contracting Officer, of any proposal submitted for a contract modification. Unless otherwise directed, the breakdown shall be submitted on an MLCA 002 proposal form provided at the arrival conference permitting an analysis of all materials, labor, equipment, subcontract, overhead costs, and profit covering all work involved in the change/modification whether such work was deleted, added or changed. Any amount claimed for subcontracts shall be supported by a separate, similar price breakdown. If the proposal includes a request for a time extension, justification shall be furnished with the proposal. (c) This clause is to be used in conjunction with the clause COMPOSITE LABOR RATE incorporated into this solicitation. The Contractor is required to have and/or furnish all tools and equipment incidental to each bench trade. Supplies such as wiping rags, hacksaw blades, sandpaper, welding wire, helium, etc., are also to be furnished by the contractor. Other materials are to be charged at regular rates and prices currently in effect and as agreed to by the Contracting Officer. Material shall be best commercial quality available except where a precise specification is indicated in which case the specification shall apply, e.g., MILSPEC, FEDERAL SPEC. (8) COMPOSITE LABOR RATE: The composite labor rate offered shall be the sole labor hour rate used to price the prime contractor's direct labor hours for contract changes, i.e. growth work. The contractor shall not receive any compensation in addition to this rate for the prime contractor's direct labor associated with such changes under this contract. (a) The composite labor hour rate shall represent total compensation for the following: (1) direct labor wages and salaries; (2) all employee benefits including, but not limited to, paid leave, supplemental pay, insurance, retirement, savings, and legally required benefits; (3) other direct costs associated with transit time, delay, disruption, expendable supplies, and equipment; (4) all indirect costs such as overhead and general and administrative expense; (5) any port or association fees, rents, or other levies; (6) profit (fee); and (7) all direct and indirect costs and profit associated with the following support functions: Supervision and Management Planning and Estimating Material Handling Housekeeping Engineering Security Transportation/Drivers Contract Administration Quality Assurance Testing (b) The composite labor hour rate will be applied to production labor hours only. Production labor hours include only those hours necessary and reasonable to perform direct production functions and do not include the hours expended on the support functions listed above. This exclusion of support function hours applies whether such support functions are normally charged directly or indirectly by the contractor's accounting system. These support functions are to be priced into the composite labor rate quoted and shall not be separately compensated. (c) The Quantity of Composite Labor hours indicated in the Schedule of Supplies/Services, is only an estimate and is an Optional Item pursuant to this solicitation. The Estimated Quantity represents the Government's best estimate of the total number of additional hours that may be required throughout the contract. The Government may elect to exceed this value at the prices stated in the schedule and its discretion during performance of the contract. The inclusion of this item does not obligate the Government to exercise the item nor entitle the contractor to compensation if not exercised. (9) METHOD OF PAYMENT AND INVOICING INSTRUCTIONS FOR SHIP REPAIR The Government will make payment under this contract based on a percentage or stage of completion. The contractor may invoice each contract line item/CLIN as work progresses. The amount invoiced shall be calculated based on those prices stipulated in the contract Schedule of Supplies/Services as follows: An item/CLIN may not be invoiced until the percentage complete reaches 25 percent. Future invoices for that item/CLIN have no limitation as to the percentage of completion required before invoicing. (The minimum percentage of completion (25%) to be reached prior to billing each item/CLIN may be waived by the Contracting Officer on a case by case basis for large dollar items/CLINS.) Invoices submitted by the contractor which are deemed not proper, in accordance with FAR clause, 52.212-4 will be returned. (a) Each invoice shall contain the following information: (1) Name and Address of the contractor (2) Contract or Delivery/Task Order Number/Modification No. (3) Vessel name (4) Name of the Contract Specialist or Contracting Officer (5) Description, quantity, unit of measure, unit price and extended price (6) Percentage of completion for each CLIN identified (7) Shipping and Payment Terms (8) Invoice Routing Code (IRC) assigned by the Coast Guard (9) Annotate on the invoice indicating that the contractor represents a small business for accelerated payment purposes. (10) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is the primary identifier in the System for Award Management (SAM), Contractors are located and identified in SAM by their Duns number. Therefore, to facilitate payment, the DUNS number shall be recorded on every invoice submitted to the US Coast Guard. All payments for partial performance rendered by the Government under this contract are based on the assumption that the contractor will, in good faith, execute and honor all payment terms entered into between it, the prime contractor, and any subcontractor thereof in the performance of this contract. The contractor hereby acknowledges the Government's right to reduce or suspend progress payments based on non-payment in accordance with any payment terms of the subsequent agreement. All items of work invoiced under this contract will be verified by the designated billing office and confirmed by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) as accurate and complete. Any amount deemed not payable will be deducted from the contractor's invoice. Deducted amounts may be resubmitted on the next invoice for reconsideration. The contractor's final invoice submitted under the contract must be marked as follows: "THIS INVOICE CONSTITUTES THE FINAL INVOICE - UPON PAYMENT OF THIS INVOICE NO OTHER MONIES ARE DUE UNDER CONTRACT NUMBER (To be assigned upon contract award). NOTE: 10% OF THE TOTAL CONTRACT PRICE WILL BE WITHELD UNTIL ALL DELIVERABLES, REQUIRED BY THE CONTRACT, ARE RECEIVED AND ACCEPTED. (b) The Coast Guard unique Invoice Routing Code (IRC) for this contract or delivery/task order is: SFLC-3 (c) Each invoice must be submitted to the designated billing office via one of the following modes, listed in descending order of preference: (1) FINCEN Website invoice receipt form: http://www.fincen.uscg.mil/centralinv/central_inv_contr.cfm (2) Fax: (757-523-6900) (3) Mailed to: Commercial Invoices U.S. Coast Guard Finance Center 1430A Kristina Way Chesapeake, VA 23326 (d) To facilitate processing, all proper invoices and any supporting information submitted electronically using the FINCEN web based invoice submission capability must be submitted as a single Adobe.pdf formatted file, or as otherwise specified in the contract. (a) Supporting documentation along with a courtesy copy of the invoice may also be e-mailed to the Contract Specialist at the following address: Genine.M.Davis@uscg.mil. (f) In accordance with the Prompt Payment Act, for the purposes of determining a payment due date and the date on which interest will begin to accrue if a payment is late, a proper invoice shall be deemed to have been received: (1) On the later of: (i) For invoices that are mailed or transmitted via facsimile, the date a proper invoice is actually received by the designated billing office and annotates the invoice with date of receipt at the time of receipt. (ii) For invoices electronically transmitted by the contractor via web based submission, the date a transmission is received by the designated billing office, and receipt confirmation is provided to the designated recipient; or (ii) The seventh day after the date on which the property is actually delivered or performance of the services is actually completed; unless- a) The agency has actually accepted the property or services before the seventh day in which case the acceptance date shall substitute for the seventh day after the delivery date; or b) A longer acceptance period is specified in the contract, in which case the date of actual acceptance or the date on which such longer acceptance period ends shall substitute for the seventh day after the delivery date; (2) On the date placed on the invoice by the contractor, when the agency fails to annotate the invoice with date of receipt of the invoice at the time of receipt (such invoice must be a proper invoice); or (3) On the date of delivery, when the contract specifies that the delivery ticket may serve as an invoice. (4) Web based submission by the contractor and receipt confirmation does not reflect Government review or acceptance of the invoice. (5) Payment inquiries and status may be obtained - at the following website: https://www.fincen.uscg.mil/secure/payment.htm. RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL(S) WHO CAN RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF AN IMPROPER INVOICE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS REGARDING THE INVOICE For use in the event your firm receives a contract as a result of this solicitation, designate below the responsible official(s) who can receive notification of an improper invoice and answer questions regarding the invoice. NAME: _______________________________ TITLE: _______________________________ ADDRESS: _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ TELEPHONE NUMBER: _____________________ EMAIL ADDRESS: __________________________ CONTRACT CLAUSES (10) FAR 52.212-4 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS - COMMERCIAL ITEMS (FEB 2012) ADDENDUM FAR 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 address: http://www.acquisition.gov/far/index.html FAR 52.211-15 Defense Priority and Allocation Requirements (APR 2008) DO A3 Rating FAR 52.215-5 Facsimile Proposal (Oct 1997) FAR 52.223-3 Hazardous Material Identification and Material Safety Data (JAN 1997) Alternate I (JUL 1995) FAR 52.228-5 Insurance - Work on a Government Installation (JAN 1997) FAR 52.242-2 Production Progress Reports (APR 1991) FAR 52.245-1 Government Property (APR 2012) FAR 52.245-9 Use and Charges (APR 2012) HSAR 3052.211-70 Index for Specifications (DEC 2003) HSAR 3052.217-90 Delivery and Shifting of Vessel (DEC 2003) HSAR 3052.217-91 Performance (DEC 2003) HSAR 3052.217-92 Inspection and Manner of Doing Work (DEC 2003) HSAR 3052.217-93 Subcontracts (DEC 2003) HSAR 3052.217-94 Lay Days (DEC 2003) HSAR 3052.217-95 Liability and Insurance (DEC 2003) HSAR 3052.217-96 Title (DEC 2003) HSAR 3052.217-97 Discharge of liens (DEC 2003) HSAR 3052.217-98 Delays (DEC 2003) HSAR 3052.217-99 Department of Labor Safety and Health Regulations for Ship Repair (DEC 2003) HSAR 3052.217-100 Guarantee (JUN 2006) HSAR 3052.222-70 Strikes or Picketing Affecting Timely Completion of the Contract Work (DEC 2003) HSAR 3052.222-71 Strikes or Picketing Affecting Access to a DHS Facility (DEC 2003) HSAR 3052.223-90 Accident and Fire Reporting (DEC 2003) HSAR 3052.242-71 Dissemination of Contract Information (DEC 2003) HSAR 3052.242-72 Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (DEC 2003) HSAR 3052.245-70 Government Property Reports (AUG 2008) "Deviation" FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (FEB 2012) FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms & Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items (DEC 2012). The following clauses listed within FAR 52.212-5 are applicable: 52.204-10, Reporting Executive compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (Aug 2012) 52.209-6, Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (Dec 2010) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program representation (Apr 2012) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (Jun 2003) 52.222-19 Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Mar 2012) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Feb 1999) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Mar 2007) 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (Oct 2010) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (Sep 2010) 52.222-40, Notifications of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (Dec 2010) 52.223-18, Contractor Policy to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (Aug 2011) 52.225-1, Buy American Act-Supplies (Feb 2009) 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (Jun 2008) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration (Oct 2003) DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ACQUISITION REGULATION (48 CFR Chapters 30) CLAUSES: 3052.211-70, Index for Specifications (Dec 2003) 3052.217-90, Delivery and Shifting of Vessel (Dec 2003) 3052.217-91, Performance (Dec 2003) 3052.217-93, Subcontracts (Dec 2003) 3052.217-94, Lay Days (Dec 2003) 3052.217-95, Liability and Insurance (Dec 2003) 3052.217-96, Title (Dec 2003) 3052.217-97, Discharge of Liens (Dec 2003) 3052.217-98, Delays (Dec 2003) 3052.217-100, Guarantee (60 Days) (Jun 2006) 3052.222-70, Strikes or Picketing Affecting Timely Completion of the Contract Work (Dec 2003) 3052.223-90, Accident and Fire Reporting (Dec 2003) 3052.228-70, Insurance (Dec 2003) 3052.242-71, Dissemination of Contract Information (Dec 2003) 3052.242-72, Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (Dec 2003) 3052.245-70, Government Property Reports (Aug 2008) "Deviation" (End of Clause) CLASS DEVIATION- 2012-O0015, SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM). THIS CLAUSE DEVIATION IS EFFECTIVE ON AUG 21, 2012, AND REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL RESCINDED. (a) Definitions. As used in this clause- "Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database" means the retired primary Government repository for Contractor information required for the conduct of business with the Government. "Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code" means- (1) A code assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Logistics Information Service to identify a commercial or Government entity; or (2) A code assigned by a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization that DLA records and maintains in the CAGE master file. This type of code is known as an "NCAGE code." "Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number" means the 9-digit number assigned by Dun and Bradstreet, Inc. (D&B) to identify unique business entities. "Data Universal Numbering System+4 (DUNS+4) number" means the DUNS number means the number assigned by D&B plus a 4-character suffix that may be assigned by a business concern. (D&B has no affiliation with this 4-character suffix.) This 4-character suffix may be assigned at the discretion of the business concern to establish additional SAM records for identifying alternative Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) accounts (see the FAR at Subpart 32.11) for the same concern. "Registered in the SAM database" means that- (1) The Contractor has entered all mandatory information, including the DUNS number or the DUNS+4 number, into the SAM database; (2) The Contractor's CAGE code is in the SAM database; and (3) The Government has validated all mandatory data fields, to include validation of the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and has marked the record "Active". The Contractor will be required to provide consent for TIN Attachment, Page 1 of 4 validation to the Government as a part of the SAM registration process. "System for Award Management (SAM)" means the primary Government repository for prospective federal awardee information and the centralized Government system for certain contracting, grants, and other assistance related processes. It includes- (1) Data collected from prospective federal awardees required for the conduct of business with the Government; (2) Prospective contractor submitted annual representations and certifications in accordance with FAR Subpart 4.12; and (3) The list of all parties suspended, proposed for debarment, debarred, declared ineligible, or excluded or disqualified under the nonprocurement common rule by agencies, Government corporations , or by the Government Accountability Office. (b)(1) The Contractor shall be registered in the SAM database prior to submitting an invoice and through final payment of any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchasing agreement resulting from this solicitation. (2) The SAM registration shall be for the same name and address identified on the contract, with its associated CAGE code and DUNS or DUNS+4. (3) If indicated by the Government during performance, registration in an alternate system may be required in lieu of SAM. (c) If the Contractor does not have a DUNS number, it should contact Dun and Bradstreet directly to obtain one. (1) A contractor may obtain a DUNS number- (i) Via the internet at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform or if the contractor does not have internet access, it may call Dun and Bradstreet at 1-86...