Procurement of F5-BIG-IP 2000 Series Appliances

(i) 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; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (ii) The solicitation number is AHR156070 (iii) This solicitation and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-82 (iv) The corresponding NAICS code is 423430 (v) List of contract line item number(s) and items, quantities and units of measure Description of the F5 Networks Units Unit Price Total Price Local Traffic Manager 2000s 8gb Mem F5-BIG-LTM-2000S 2 BIG-IP Service Premium Cat Hw53 F5-SVC-BIG-PRE-HW53 2 BIG-IP Add-On Access Policy Mgr Lics 2000S Base 100 ccu: F5-ADDBIGAPM-2000S-B 2 BIG-IP Service: Premium CAT SW12 F5-SVC-BIG-PRE-SW12-EDI 2 Phone Support Standard Hourly (M-F 8AM-6PM): F5-CST-S 32 BIG-IP TRAINING: Edge Gateway And Access F5-TRG-BIG-EGWAPM 1 Total Price (vi) Description of Requirement - The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Agency of Healthcare for Research and Quality (AHRQ), requires F5-BIG-IP 2000 Series Appliances. AHRQ uses these appliances to build secure, dynamic infrastructures that meet the increasing demands of mobile workers, applications, and network traffic while addressing evolving compliance requirements, and enhancing security of the Enterprise Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). (vii) Delivery of these services is from 9/01/2015 through 8/31/2016. (viii) The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items (APR 2014), applies to this acquisition. (ix) The provision at FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items (OCT 2014), applies to this acquisition. The Government will award a contract resulting from this synopsis/solicitation to the responsible offeror who provides the lowest price and is technically acceptable (LPTA). (x) Offerors are to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items (DEC 2014), with its offer or acknowledge its listing in the System for Award Management (SAM) website. **Contractor Shall Fill out the Attached Deviation and Return it with any Subsequent Quotes ** Class Deviation to Implement Appropriations Provisions Related to Suspension and Debarment and Tax Delinquencies. ALTERNATE PROVISION: Contractor Tax Liability or Felony Conviction The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 Pub. L 113-235, Division E, Sections 744 and 745 prohibits covered agencies from using funds to enter into contracts with corporations that have unpaid federal tax delinquencies or certain felony convictions unless certain conditions are met. a. The Offeror represents that - 1. It is [ ] is not [ ] a corporation that was convicted of a felony criminal violation under a Federal or State law within the preceding 24 months. 2. 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 agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability. (xi) The clause at FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items (DEC 2014), applies to this acquisition. (xii) The clause at FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items (May 2015), applies to this acquisition. The Contracting Officer has indicated the following clauses listed in paragraph (b) as applicable and are hereby incorporated by reference: (4) 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (JUL 2013); (8) 52.209-6, Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (AUG 2013); (25) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (JUN 2003); (27) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (FEB 1999); (28) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (MAR 2007); (30) 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities; (39) 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (AUG 2011); (43) 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (JUN 2008); and (49) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer - System for Award Management (JUL 2013). (xiii) Full Text Clause and Provision (i) FAR 52.203-98, Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements - Representation (FEB 2015) (DEVIATION 2015-02) (a) In accordance with section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Resolution Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235), Government agencies are not permitted to use funds appropriated (or otherwise made available) under that or any other Act for contracts with an entity that requires employees or subcontractors of such entity seeking to report fraud, waste, or abuse to sign internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting such employees or subcontractors from lawfully reporting such waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information. (b) The prohibition in paragraph (a) of this provision does not contravene requirements applicable to Standard Form 312, Form 4414, or any other form issued by a Federal department or agency governing the nondisclosure of classified information. (c) Representation. By submission of its offer, the Offeror represents that it does not require employees or subcontractors of such entity seeking to report fraud, waste or abuse to sign internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting such employees or subcontractors from lawfully reporting such waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information. (ii) FAR 52.203-99, Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements (FEB 2015) (DEVIATION 2015-02) (a) The Contractor shall not require employees or subcontractors seeking to report fraud, waste, or abuse to sign or comply with internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting such employees or subcontractors from lawfully reporting such waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information. (b) The contractor shall notify employees that the prohibitions and restrictions of any internal confidentiality agreements covered by this clause are no longer in effect. (c) The prohibition in paragraph (a) of this clause does not contravene requirements applicable to Standard Form 312, Form 4414, or any other form issued by a Federal department or agency governing the nondisclosure of classified information. (d)(1) In accordance with section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Resolution Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235), use of funds appropriated (or otherwise made available) under that or any other Act may be prohibited, if the Government determines that the Contractor is not in compliance with the provisions of this clause. (2) The Government may seek any available remedies in the event the contractor fails to comply with the provisions of this clause. (xiv) Brand Name Justification The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Agency of Healthcare for Research and Quality (AHRQ), uses the F5 BIG IP product to build secure, dynamic infrastructures that meet the increasing demands of mobile workers, applications, and network traffic while addressing evolving compliance requirements, and enhancing security of the Enterprise Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) F5 BIG IP products and their protection is the preferred solution for Load Balancing and Traffic Management for VMware Horizon View VDI solution that AHRQ using. F5 BIG IP provides continuous updates for product's defenses with the latest software version. The maintenance software is required to update the existing software for bug and security fixes, upgrade, hardware repair, and tech support for existing hardware and software installations. F5 BIG IP provides intelligent load balancing and traffic management as well as advanced application security, acceleration, and optimization. BIG IP consolidates services in one easy to manage device that helps AHRQ simplify system management, scale without disruption, and significantly reduce infrastructure. Utilizing other non-F5 BIG IP brands would create an undue burden and an increased risk on AHRQ and the ability to support the environment. (xv) DPAS - N/A (xvi) Quotes are due on July 27, 2015 at 12:00 PM ET, electronically to the attention of Zipora Chepkoit at contact@example.gov. (xvii) Contact Zipora Chepkoit, Contract Specialist at contact@example.gov or +1 (555) 000-0000 regarding the solicitation. Any inquiries must be emailed to the Contract Specialist, with "AHR156070- Inquiries" in the subject line no later than July 24, 2015 at 12:00 P.M ET.