qPCR Assay Service for VRC603

This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6 "Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items," as applicable, and as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes/proposals are being requested. Submit offers on NIAID-RFQ18-1878371. This solicitation is a request for quotes (RFQ).The solicitation documents and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-96, dated November 6, 2017. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541711 which has a size standard of 1,000 employees. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Vaccine Research Center (VRC) has a requirement to procure qPCR Assay Service for VRC603. Requirements are included in the attached Statement of Work (SOW). Period of Performance: One (1) 12 month base year with four (4) 12-month option periods The following Federal Acquisition Regulations provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation - Commercial Item In accordance to FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation - Commercial Item, the Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforms to the Statement of Work (SOW) requirements. EVALUATION CRITERIA NIAID will evaluate all quotes to determine the best value to the government. NIAID will make a Best Value Determination based on the capability of each offeror's quote/proposal to meet the specifications listed in the SOW/requirements in this solicitation. The Government's objective is to obtain the highest technical quality considered necessary to achieve the project requirements, with a realistic and reasonable cost. Technical factors outweigh price factors. In the event quotes are evaluated as technically equal in quality, price or cost will become a major consideration in selecting the successful Offeror. Please see attached evaluation factors. The evaluation criteria are used by the technical evaluation committee when reviewing the technical proposals. Adjectival ratings will be assigned for each criterion. The criteria and sub-criteria below are listed in ascending order of relative importance unless specifically identified otherwise. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers as referenced in the Evaluation attachment: (1) Time, (2) Experience, (3) Facilities, (4) Professional Personnel. The Government will issue a firm-fixed price purchase order to the responsible contractor. By submission of an offer, the Offeror acknowledges the requirement that a prospective awardee shall be registered and viewable in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to award, during performance, and through final payment resulting from this solicitation (www.sam.gov). By submission of an Offeror acknowledges the requirement that a prospective awardee shall have posted their FAR 52.212-3 Offerors Representative and Certifications Commercial items and services in the SAM database. The following FAR provisions apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items (Jan 2017) FAR 52.212-3 Offerors Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items (Nov 2017) Offerors must complete annual representations and certifications on-line at http://www.sam.gov in accordance with FAR 52.212-3 Offerors Representations and Certifications- Commercial Items The following contract clauses apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.203-17, Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights and Requirement to Inform Employees of Whistleblower Rights (Apr 2014) FAR 52.203-18 Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements-Representation (Jan 2017) 52.203-19 Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements. (Jan 2017) FAR 52.204-7 System for Award Management (OCT 2016) FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items (Jan 2017) 52.212-5 -- Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items. (Nov 2017) As prescribed in 12.301(b)(4), insert the following clause: Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items (Nov 2017) (a) The Contractor shall comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses, which are incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: (1) 52.203-19, Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements (Jan 2017) (section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235) and its successor provisions in subsequent appropriations acts (and as extended in continuing resolutions)). (2) 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (Nov 2015) (3) 52.233-3, Protest After Award (AUG 1996) (31 U.S.C. 3553). (4) 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (OCT 2004) (Public Laws 108-77, 108-78 (19 U.S.C. 3805 note)). (b) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b) that the contracting officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: [Contracting Officer check as appropriate.] x__ (1) 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (Sept 2006), with Alternate I (Oct 1995) (41 U.S.C. 4704 and 10 U.S.C. 2402). ___ (2) 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (Oct 2015) (41 U.S.C. 3509). ___ (3) 52.203-15, Whistleblower Protections under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Jun 2010) (Section 1553 of Pub L. 111-5) (Applies to contracts funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009). x__ (4) 52.204-10, Reporting Executive compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (Oct 2016) (Pub. L. 109-282) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note). ___ (5) [Reserved] ___ (6) 52.204-14, Service Contract Reporting Requirements (Oct 2016) (Pub. L. 111-117, section 743 of Div. C). ___ (7) 52.204-15, Service Contract Reporting Requirements for Indefinite-Delivery Contracts (Oct 2016) (Pub. L. 111-117, section 743 of Div. C). x__ (8) 52.209-6, Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (Oct 2015) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note). ___ (9) 52.209-9, Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters (Jul 2013) (41 U.S.C. 2313). ___ (10) [Reserved] ___ (11) (i) 52.219-3, Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole-Source Award (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 657a). ___ (ii) Alternate I (Nov 2011) of 52.219-3. x__ (12) (i) 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (Oct 2014) (if the offeror elects to waive the preference, it shall so indicate in its offer)(15 U.S.C. 657a). ___ (ii) Alternate I (Jan 2011) of 52.219-4. ___ (13) [Reserved] ___ (14) (i) 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Aside (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644). ___ (ii) Alternate I (Nov 2011). ___ (iii) Alternate II (Nov 2011). ___ (15) (i) 52.219-7, Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside (June 2003) (15 U.S.C. 644). ___ (ii) Alternate I (Oct 1995) of 52.219-7. ___ (iii) Alternate II (Mar 2004) of 52.219-7. ___ (16) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Nov 2016) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)). ___ (17) (i) 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Jan 2017) (15 U.S.C. 637 (d)(4)). ___ (ii) Alternate I (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9. ___ (iii) Alternate II (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9. ___ (iv) Alternate III (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9. ___ (v) Alternate IV (Nov 2016) of 52.219-9. ___ (18) 52.219-13, Notice of Set-Aside of Orders (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644(r)). ___ (19) 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting (Jan 2017) (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(14)). ___ (20) 52.219-16, Liquidated Damages-Subcontracting Plan (Jan 1999) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(4)(F)(i)). ___ (21) 52.219-27, Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 657f). x__ (22) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (Jul 2013) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)). ___ (23) 52.219-29, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns (Dec 2015) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)). ___ (24) 52.219-30, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Women-Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under the Women-Owned Small Business Program (Dec 2015) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)). x__ (25) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (June 2003) (E.O. 11755). x__ (26) 52.222-19, Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Oct 2016) (E.O. 13126). x__ (27) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015). x__ (28) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Sep 2016) (E.O. 11246). x__ (29) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Oct 2015) (38 U.S.C. 4212). x__ (30) 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jul 2014) (29 U.S.C. 793). ___ (31) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (Feb 2016) (38 U.S.C. 4212). x__ (32) 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (Dec 2010) (E.O. 13496). x__ (33) (i) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Mar 2015) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627). ___ (ii) Alternate I (Mar 2015) of 52.222-50, (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627). ___ (34) 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (Oct 2015). (E. O. 12989). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items or certain other types of commercial items as prescribed in 22.1803.) ___ (35) (i) 52.223-9, Estimate of Percentage of Recovered Material Content for EPA-Designated Items (May 2008) (42 U.S.C. 6962(c)(3)(A)(ii)). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items.) ___ (ii) Alternate I (May 2008) of 52.223-9 (42 U.S.C. 6962(i)(2)(C)). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items.) ___ (36) 52.223-11, Ozone-Depleting Substances and High Global Warming Potential Hydrofluorocarbons (Jun 2016) (E.O.13693). ___ (37) 52.223-12, Maintenance, Service, Repair, or Disposal of Refrigeration Equipment and Air Conditioners (Jun 2016) (E.O. 13693). ___ (38) (i) 52.223-13, Acquisition of EPEAT -Registered Imaging Equipment (Jun 2014) (E.O.s 13423 and 13514 ___ (ii) Alternate I (Oct 2015) of 52.223-13. ___ (39) (i) 52.223-14, Acquisition of EPEAT -Registered Television (Jun 2014) (E.O.s 13423 and 13514). ___ (ii) Alternate I (Jun 2014) of 52.223-14. ___ (40) 52.223-15, Energy Efficiency in Energy-Consuming Products (Dec 2007) (42 U.S.C. 8259b). ___ (41) (i) 52.223-16, Acquisition of EPEAT -Registered Personal Computer Products (Oct 2015) (E.O.s 13423 and 13514). ___ (ii) Alternate I (Jun 2014) of 52.223-16. x__ (42) 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging while Driving (Aug 2011) (E.O. 13513). ___ (43) 52.223-20, Aerosols (Jun 2016) (E.O. 13693). ___ (44) 52.223-21, Foams (Jun 2016) (E.O. 13696). ___ (45) (i) 52.224-3, Privacy Training (Jan 2017) (5 U.S.C. 552a). ___ (ii) Alternate I (Jan 2017) of 52.224-3. x__ (46) 52.225-1, Buy American--Supplies (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 83). ___ (47) (i) 52.225-3, Buy American--Free Trade Agreements--Israeli Trade Act (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 83, 19 U.S.C. 3301 note, 19 U.S.C. 2112 note, 19 U.S.C. 3805 note, 19 U.S.C. 4001 note, Pub. L. 103-182, 108-77, 108-78, 108-286, 108-302, 109-53, 109-169, 109-283, 110-138, 112-41, 112-42, and 112-43). ___ (ii) Alternate I (May 2014) of 52.225-3. ___ (iii) Alternate II (May 2014) of 52.225-3. ___ (iv) Alternate III (May 2014) of 52.225-3. ___ (48) 52.225-5, Trade Agreements (Oct 2016) (19 U.S.C. 2501, et seq., 19 U.S.C. 3301 note). x__ (49) 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (Jun 2008) (E.O.'s, proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury). ___ (50) 52.225-26, Contractors Performing Private Security Functions Outside the United States (Oct 2016) (Section 862, as amended, of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008; 10 U.S.C. 2302 Note). ___ (51) 52.226-4, Notice of Disaster or Emergency Area Set-Aside (Nov 2007) (42 U.S.C. 5150). ___ (52) 52.226-5, Restrictions on Subcontracting Outside Disaster or Emergency Area (Nov 2007) (42 U.S.C. 5150). ___ (53) 52.232-29, Terms for Financing of Purchases of Commercial Items (Feb 2002) (41 U.S.C. 4505), 10 U.S.C. 2307(f)). ___ (54) 52.232-30, Installment Payments for Commercial Items (Jan 2017) (41 U.S.C. 4505, 10 U.S.C. 2307(f)). x__ (55) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer- System for Award Management (Jul 2013) (31 U.S.C. 3332). ___ (56) 52.232-34, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Other Than System for Award Management (Jul 2013) (31 U.S.C. 3332). ___ (57) 52.232-36, Payment by Third Party (May 2014) (31 U.S.C. 3332). ___ (58) 52.239-1, Privacy or Security Safeguards (Aug 1996) (5 U.S.C. 552a). ___ (59) 52.242-5, Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (Jan 2017) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(12)). ___ (60) (i) 52.247-64, Preference for Privately Owned U.S.-Flag Commercial Vessels (Feb 2006) (46 U.S.C. Appx 1241(b) and 10 U.S.C. 2631). ___ (ii) Alternate I (Apr 2003) of 52.247-64. (c) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (c), applicable to commercial services, that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: [Contracting Officer check as appropriate.] ___ (1) 52.222-17, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers (May 2014) (E.O. 13495) ___ (2) 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67.). ___ (3) 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires (May 2014) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67). ___ (4) 52.222-43, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards -- Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts) (May 2014) (29 U.S.C.206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67). ___ (5) 52.222-44, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards -- Price Adjustment (May 2014) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67). ___ (6) 52.222-51, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment--Requirements (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67). ___ (7) 52.222-53, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Certain Services--Requirements (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67). ___ (8) 52.222-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (Dec 2015) (E.O. 13658). ___ (9) 52.222-62, Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 (JAN 2017) (E.O. 13706). ___ (10) 52.226-6, Promoting Excess Food Donation to Nonprofit Organizations. (May 2014) (42 U.S.C. 1792). ___ (11) 52.237-11, Accepting and Dispensing of $1 Coin (Sep 2008) (31 U.S.C. 5112(p)(1)). (d) Comptroller General Examination of Record The Contractor shall comply with the provisions of this paragraph (d) if this contract was awarded using other than sealed bid, is in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold, and does not contain the clause at 52.215-2, Audit and Records -- Negotiation. (1) The Comptroller General of the United States, or an authorized representative of the Comptroller General, shall have access to and right to examine any of the Contractor's directly pertinent records involving transactions related to this contract. (2) The Contractor shall make available at its offices at all reasonable times the records, materials, and other evidence for examination, audit, or reproduction, until 3 years after final payment under this contract or for any shorter period specified in FAR Subpart 4.7, Contractor Records Retention, of the other clauses of this contract. If this contract is completely or partially terminated, the records relating to the work terminated shall be made available for 3 years after any resulting final termination settlement. Records relating to appeals under the disputes clause or to litigation or the settlement of claims arising under or relating to this contract shall be made available until such appeals, litigation, or claims are finally resolved. (3) As used in this clause, records include books, documents, accounting procedures and practices, and other data, regardless of type and regardless of form. This does not require the Contractor to create or maintain any record that the Contractor does not maintain in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to a provision of law. (e) (1) Notwithstanding the requirements of the clauses in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this clause, the Contractor is not required to flow down any FAR clause, other than those in this paragraph (e)(1) in a subcontract for commercial items. Unless otherwise indicated below, the extent of the flow down shall be as required by the clause- (i) 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (Oct 2015) (41 U.S.C. 3509). (ii) 52.203-19, Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements (Jan 2017) (section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235) and its successor provisions in subsequent appropriations acts (and as extended in continuing resolutions)). (iii) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Nov 2016) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)), in all subcontracts that offer further subcontracting opportunities. If the subcontract (except subcontracts to small business concerns) exceeds $700,000 ($1.5 million for construction of any public facility), the subcontractor must include 52.219-8 in lower tier subcontracts that offer subcontracting opportunities. (iv) 52.222-17, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers (May 2014) (E.O. 13495). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (1) of FAR clause 52.222-17. (v) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015). (vi) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Sep 2016) (E.O. 11246). (vii) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Oct 2015) (38 U.S.C. 4212). (viii) 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jul 2014) (29 U.S.C. 793). (ix) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (Feb 2016) (38 U.S.C. 4212). (x) 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (Dec 2010) (E.O. 13496). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (f) of FAR clause 52.222-40. (xi) 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (May 2014), (41 U.S.C. chapter 67). (xii) (A) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Mar 2015) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627). (B) Alternate I (Mar 2015) of 52.222-50 (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 E.O. 13627). (xiii) 52.222-51, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment--Requirements (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67.) (xiv) 52.222-53, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Certain Services--Requirements (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67) (xv) 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (Oct 2015) (E. O. 12989). (xvi) 52.222-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (Dec 2015). (xvii) 52.222-62, Paid sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 (JAN 2017) (E.O. 13706). (xviii) (A) 52.224-3, Privacy Training (Jan 2017) (5 U.S.C. 552a). (B) Alternate I (Jan 2017) of 52.224-3. (xix) 52.225-26, Contractors Performing Private Security Functions Outside the United States (Oct 2016) (Section 862, as amended, of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008; 10 U.S.C. 2302 Note). (xx) 52.226-6, Promoting Excess Food Donation to Nonprofit Organizations. (May 2014) (42 U.S.C. 1792). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (e) of FAR clause 52.226-6. (xxi) 52.247-64, Preference for Privately-Owned U.S. Flag Commercial Vessels (Feb 2006) (46 U.S.C. Appx 1241(b) and 10 U.S.C. 2631). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (d) of FAR clause 52.247-64. (2) While not required, the Contractor may include in its subcontracts for commercial items a minimal number of additional clauses necessary to satisfy its contractual obligations. (End of Clause) Additional Clauses FAR 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (Mar 2000) FAR 52.222-43 Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards -- Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts) (May 2014) FAR 52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (Dec 2013) FAR 52.222-48 -Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment -- Certification. (May 2014) HHSAR 352.222-70 Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations (Dec 2015) This is an open-market combined synopsis/solicitation for support for clinical trial efforts through performance of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) on clinical samples as defined herein. The government intends to award a purchase order as a result of this combined synopsis/solicitation that will include the terms and conditions set forth herein. To facilitate the award process, all quote/proposals should include a statement regarding the terms and conditions herein as follows: "The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document without modification, deletion or addition." OR "The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:" (Quoter shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s).) Special Note to Offerors** Quotes/Proposals shall include documentation showing that their personnel have experience with qPCR of AAV vectors and/or qPCR of similar products derived from clinical trial participant's samples. If you have questions regarding this requirement, please submit your inquires immediately. Question and Answer session ends 12/08/2017 1 P.M. (EST). Submission shall be received not later than December 13, 2017, 10 A.M. (EST) Offers may be e-mailed to contact@example.gov, (subject line to reference: NIAID-RFQ18-1878371). Late submissions shall be treated in accordance with the solicitation provision at FAR 52.212-1(f).