R--External Review Support Services

The contract solicitation for External Review Support Services is a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) acquisition issued by the Office of Acquisition Grants—National within the Department of the Interior, specifically managed by the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, Virginia. It is a total small business set-aside under FAR 19.5 with a NAICS code of 541690, targeting professional support services related to external reviews. The base period of performance runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, with a one-time option period extending through June 30, 2028, expected to be exercised on June 30, 2027. Offerors must submit technical and pricing proposals as separate electronic files via email by the deadline of May 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The solicitation mandates inclusion of Attachment A, the Experience Project Data Sheet, and Attachment B, the Past Performance Questionnaire, with a strict requirement to submit between three and five recent projects completed within the last five years, each limited to two single-sided pages. Past performance evaluations may incorporate government-issued questionnaires directly submitted by clients to the contracting officer. The technical proposal must include a narrative on key personnel not exceeding fifteen single-sided pages, supported by resumes, staffing plans, and evidence of current resources aligned with the performance work statement. The evaluation will use trade-off procedures with non-price factors—Technical Approach, Key Personnel, Experience, and Past Performance—considered significantly more important than price, though price remains a critical component. Proposals must pass two mandatory gates: a complete and accurate statement of assumptions, conditions, and exceptions, and full compliance with SAM.gov representations including FAR 52.212-3, FAR 52.209-11, and DIAR 1452.280-4, which must be submitted within the proposal package and maintained active throughout contract performance. The contractor is responsible for all administrative and technical management, including delivery to the designated USGS address, adherence to commercial packaging standards, and clear labeling of all containers with contract and task order numbers, descriptions, and contractor name. Final inspections will occur on-site by the Contracting Officer’s Representative with the contractor present, and delivered work must meet strict criteria for accuracy, clarity, consistency with requirements, file editability, and format compliance. Payment is