Privacy Shield Arbitral Administrator and Fund Manager

This is a COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6, 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 RFQ solicitation number is: SB1350-17-Q-00123A and is solicited for full and open competition. This solicitation document incorporates all mandatory commercial item provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 05-72; effective January 30, 2014. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code is 541211, Offices of Certified Public Accountants and the small business size standard is $20.5 million. This requirement is being solicited for full and open competition. The Department of Commerce's (DOC), International Trade Administration (ITA) is facilitating the establishment of an administrator of these arbitrations and a manager of the arbitral fund in support of the Privacy Shield Framework and for the benefit of the voluntary Privacy Shield program. The purpose of the administrator role and the development of arbitral rules and procedures is to enable efficient, well-organized arbitrations. The purpose of the fund is solely to provide Privacy Shield organizations with a consolidated mechanism to fund arbitrations. DoC shall not participate in these arbitrations or receive, manage, or control Privacy Shield arbitral funds. ITA will select a contractor to provide administrative services for arbitrations and establish a fund into which Privacy Shield organizations will be required to pay and which will cover the arbitral cost, including arbitrator fees, up to maximum amounts ("Fund"). The contractor will develop arbitral rules and procedures and administer the arbitrations, including facilitating the initiation of proceedings, appointment of arbitrators, adherence to procedures, and handling of arbitrator fees. The contractor shall also manage the Fund, including collecting fees from Privacy Shield organizations and paying from the Fund valid submissions for covered arbitral costs. ITA seeks to engage a contractor in a no-cost contract for the establishment and management of an arbitral administrator and the Fund ("Contractor"). The Offeror shall provide the services specified above in accordance with the Statement of Work (SOW) attached herein. The purchase order contract line items (CLINs) are: 0001: BASE YEAR: Establishing and Managing an Arbitral fund Pursuant to Annex 1 to the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Principles in accordance with the SOW for 12 months. 1001: OPTION YEAR 1: Establishing and Managing an Arbitral fund Pursuant to Annex 1 to the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Principles in accordance with the SOW for 12 months. 2001: OPTION YEAR 2: Establishing and Managing an Arbitral fund Pursuant to Annex 1 to the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Principles in accordance with the SOW for 12 months. 3001: OPTION YEAR 3: Establishing and Managing an Arbitral fund Pursuant to Annex 1 to the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Principles in accordance with the SOW for 12 months. 4001: OPTION YEAR 4: Establishing and Managing an Arbitral fund Pursuant to Annex 1 to the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Principles in accordance with the SOW for 12 months. Quotation Preparation Instructions: Questions: Questions shall be submitted by Wednesday, March 1, 2017 no later than (NLT) 12:00 p.m./EST. NOTE: Communication with any officials other than the contracting officer, may compromise the integrity and competitiveness of this acquisition, which could result in the cancellation of the solicitation and/or exclusion of your quotation. Solicitation Provisions / Clauses: This solicitation document incorporates all mandatory commercial item provisions and clauses that are in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular FAC 05-72, effective January 30, 2014. The following FAR provisions/clauses apply to this acquisition: OFFEROR MUST COMPLETE AND SUBMIT WITH ITS PROPOSAL, FAR 52.212-3 OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS--COMMERCIAL ITEMS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY AT: http://farsite.hill.af.mil and http://www.acquisition.gov/far/ Contractors not registered in the System for Award Management at the time the requirement is anticipated to be awarded will not be considered. Contractors may register with SAM by accessing www.sam.gov or by calling +1 (555) 000-0000.