Neurohistological Staining Services

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. The solicitation number is 75D301-24-Q-78120 being issued as a Request for Quotations (RFQ). This notice incorporates provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-05. This solicitation is a small business set-aside. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541690 Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services with a business size standard of $19.0 million. Description: The Government desires to obtain neurohistology services (silver degeneration staining, tyrosine hydroxylase staining, and GFAP staining) as part of an on-going project investigating the potential for prior pesticide exposure to cause a lower threshold for parkinsonism level neurotoxicity damage. The Performance Work Statement (PWS) is included as Attachment 1 to this RFQ. The acquisition includes seven line items for neurohistological staining services included in Attachment 2 to this RFQ. The period of performance for this requirement is 9/16/2024 through 9/15/2025. Attachments: Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement (PWS) Attachment 2 - Line Items The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Products and Commercial Services, applies to this acquisition with no addenda. The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Products and Commercial Services does not apply. Quotations will be evaluated using the following factors: Technical Evaluation - This criterion will be evaluated according to the soundness, practicality, and feasibility of the Offeror's technical approach for providing the services required for this acquisition. Quality Control The Offeror shall clearly indicate their experience and specialization in neurohistological staining, particularly silver degeneration, glial acidic fibrillary protein, and tyrosine hydroxylase stains. The Offeror shall clearly describe how they will provide sections that will be able to be reexamined, which is of critical importance for reproduction of results, maintaining historical controls, and audit of published results. Similar Work. The Offeror shall provide a description of three (3) projects completed within the past three (3) years that clearly demonstrates the Offeror's experience in performing projects of similar scope, size and complexity to the requirements described in the PWS. The Government will evaluate the suitability of the Offeror's similar experience descriptions to determine whether this experience exhibits the ability to successfully support the requirements of the RFQ. The following information shall be provided for each project reference: Contract number, customer/agency name and contract title; Brief narrative description of the work performed for each of those contracts, including a discussion of any problems encountered/corrective actions and significant accomplishments; Dollar value, contract type, period of performance, place of performance, and the number and types of personnel used in the performance of the contract; and Name, address, and phone number of at least three (3) customer contacts (e.g., COR, Contracting Officer, Program POC, Project Officer) for each of the identified projects. Price Evaluation - Offeror's price quotation will be evaluated to determine whether it is complete and reasonable. Normally, price reasonableness is established through adequate price competition, but may also be determined through use of commercial published data, same or similar CDC contracts, Government estimates, industry standards, or other information as deemed appropriate by the Government. Offerors should submit a completed copy of the representations and certifications at FAR 52.212-3 (see FAR 52.212-3(b) for those representations and certifications that the offeror shall complete electronically). An offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the offeror has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically at www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. All Offerors shall be registered and current in the System for Award Management (SAM) database. The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Products and Commercial Services, applies to this acquisition with no addenda. The clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Products and Commercial Services, applies to this acquisition with the following clauses applicable: 52.204-10 Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (Jun 2020) 52.209-6 Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (Nov 2021) 52.219-6 Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2020) 52.219-28 Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (Mar 2023) 52.222-3 Convict Labor (Jun 2003) 52.222-19 Child Labor'Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Dec 2022) 52.222-21 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015) 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity (Sep 2016) 52.222-36 Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jun 2020) 52.222-50 Combatting Trafficking in Persons (Nov 2021) 52.225-13 Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (Feb 2021) 52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-System for Award Management Oct 2018) Due Date: All quotes shall be submitted by 5:00PM EDT 8/13/2024 via e-mail to Jillian Martinez at uhs0@cdc.gov Questions: Submit technical questions via e-mail to Jillian Martinez at uhs0@cdc.gov on or before 5:00 PM EDT 8/8/2024. Telephonic (verbal) questions will not be addressed. All responses to questions, which may affect offers, will be incorporated into a written amendment to the RFQ. Quote Submission: Quotes shall be sent electronically via e-mail to Jillian Martinez at uhs0@cdc.gov All quotes shall include one (1) separate copy of each of the items listed below. Submission of a quote that does not contain all items requested below may result in elimination from consideration of award. Offerors must submit each item of quote in a separate electronic attachment clearly identified as described below. Offerors are responsible for including sufficient details to permit a complete and accurate evaluation of each quote. VOLUME 1 Section A Schedule of Services: pricing for each of the seven line items detailed in Attachment 2 to include a total price. Section B Offerors Representations and Certifications: A completed copy of the representations and certifications at FAR 52.212-3 (see FAR 52.212-3(b) for those representations and certifications that the offeror shall complete electronically). An offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the offeror has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically at www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. All Offerors shall be registered and current in the System for Award Management (SAM) database. VOLUME 2 Section A Technical Proposal: Offeror shall submit company's detailed technical approach and methodology for completing all requirements of the Performance Work Statement (PWS). Offerors should provide necessary information for Government evaluation under the factors listed above. The Technical Volume shall not exceed twenty-five (25) pages in length, minimum 12-point font. Page limitation includes any drawings, charts, pictures, etc., and excludes section dividers, table of contents, figures/tables, glossary of terms and cross-referencing indices and resumes - all of which are not considered content pages. Basis for Award: The Government will award a firm-fixed-priced purchase order to the responsible offeror whose offer, conforming to the requirements in this Request for Quotation (RFQ) will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. In accordance with FAR 2.101, best value is defined as the expected outcome of an acquisition that, in the Government's estimation, provides the greatest overall benefit in response to the requirement. While the evaluation of no single aspect of an Offerors integrated proposal is expected to be the controlling factor in the selection of a successful Offeror, the technical evaluation factors are more important than price. Provisions and Clauses: 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): www.acquisition.gov/far/index.html 52.204-7 System for Award Management (Oct 2018) 52.204-16 Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting (Aug 2020) 52.204-24 Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (Nov 2021) 52.204-26 Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services-Representation (Oct 2020) 52.204-29 Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act Orders'Representation and Disclosures (Dec 2023) 352.239-78 Information and Communication Technology Accessibility Notice (Feb 2024) (Deviation) 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): http://www.acquisition.gov/far/index.html FAR 52.204-13 System For Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2018) FAR 52.204-18 Commercial And Government Entity Code Maintenance (Aug 2020) FAR 52.204-25 Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment. (Nov 2021) FAR 52.204-27 Prohibition on a ByteDance Covered Application (Jun 2023) FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions'Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2023) FAR 52.232-39 Unenforceability Of Unauthorized Obligations. (Jun 2013) FAR 52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments To Small Business Subcontractors. (Mar 2023) 352.222-70 Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations. (Dec 2015) 352.232-71 Electronic Submission of Payment Requests (Feb 2022) 352.239-79 Information and Communication Technology Accessibility (Feb 2024) (Deviation) CDCP_G009 Contracting Officer (Jul 1999) a. The Contracting Officer is the only individual who can legally commit the Government to the expenditure of public funds. No person other than the Contracting Officer can make any changes to the terms, conditions, general provisions, or other stipulations of this contract. b. No information, other than that which may be contained in an authorized modification to this contract, duly issued by the Contracting Officer, which may be received from any person employed by the United States Government, or otherwise, shall be considered grounds for deviation from any stipulation of this contract. CDC0_G018 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer (Feb 2018) (a) The Government shall use electronic funds transfer to the maximum extent possible when making payments under this contract. FAR 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer - System for Award Management, in Section I, requires the contractor to designate in writing a financial institution for receipt of electronic funds transfer payments. (b) In the case that EFT information is not within the System of Award Management, FAR 52.232-34 requires mandatory submission of Contractor's EFT information directly to the office designated in this contract to receive that information (hereafter: - designated office); see below. The contractor shall submit the EFT information within the form titled - ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form to the address indicated below. Note: The form is either attached to this contract (see Section J, List of Attachments) or may be obtained by contacting the Contracting Officer or the CDC Office of Financial Resources at 678-475-4510. (c) In cases where the contractor has previously provided such information, i.e., pursuant to a prior contract/order, and been enrolled in the program, the form is not required unless the designated financial institution has changed. (d) The completed form shall be mailed after award, but no later than 14 calendar days before an invoice is submitted, to the following address: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Financial Resources (OFR) P.O. Box 15580 Atlanta, GA 30333 Or - Fax copy to: 404-638-5342 CDC37.0001 Non-Personal Services (Jun 2020) (a) Personal services shall not be performed under this contract. Although the Government may provide sporadic or occasional instructions within the scope of the contract, the Contractor is responsible for control and supervision of its employees. If the Contractor (including its employees) believes any Government action or communication has been given that would create a personal services relationship between the Government and any Contractor employee, the Contractor shall promptly notify the Contracting Officer of this communication or action. (b) The contractor shall comply with, and ensure their employees and subcontractors comply with, CDC Policy titled "Contractor Identification and Safeguarding of Non-Public Information". No Contractor employee shall hold him or herself out to be a Government employee, agent, or representative. No Contractor employee shall state orally or in writing at any time that he or she is acting on behalf of the Government. In all communications with third parties in connection with this contract, Contractor employees shall identify themselves as Contractor employees and specify the name of the company for which they work. The contractor is limited to performing the services identified in the contract statement of work and shall not interpret any communication with anyone as a permissible change in contract scope or as authorization to perform work not described in the contract. All contract changes will be incorporated by a modification signed by the Contracting Officer. (c) The Contractor shall ensure that all of its employees and subcontractor employees working on this contract are informed of the terms and conditions herein. The Contractor agrees that this is a non-personal services contract; and that for all the purposes of the contract, the Contractor is not, nor shall it hold itself out to be an agent or partner of, or joint venture with, the Government. The Contractor shall notify its employees that they shall neither supervise nor accept supervision from Government employees. The substance of the terms herein shall be included in all subcontracts at any tier. (d) The terms and conditions above do not limit the Government's rights under other terms of the contract, including those related to the Government's right to inspect and accept or reject the services performed under this contract.