Time Scale Transfer and Synchronization Support

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in 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 DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED. This solicitation is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). This solicitation document and incorporated clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-72. Offerors will be responsible for obtaining related amendments to this solicitation, if any, from www.fbo.gov. It is the responsibility of each potential offeror to monitor www.fbo.gov for any amendments or other information related to this solicitation. Any communications regarding this acquisition must be made in writing and forwarded via email to Patricia Bullington, patricia.bullington@nist.gov and shall identify the solicitation number, company name, company address, as well as point of contact email address and phone number. This requirement is being competed as a Set-Aside 100% for Small Business concerns. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541690 with a size standard of $14 Million. The Government anticipates the award of a firm-fixed-price purchase order to the offeror whom offers the Best Value/Trade Off quote for 12 months of service. To be technically acceptable, quote shall meet all of the required service actions listed in this RFQ and any attached corresponding attached documents. Apparent successful awardee shall also have satisfactory past performance and will be evaluated using the attached list of Evaluation Factors listed in this RFQ. The Government intends to make a single award for this requirement. A. BACKGROUND INFORMATION The Atomic Standards group maintains the primary frequency standard, the time scale, and the transfer operations for the U.S. contribution to the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). Time and frequency transfer using measurements of Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) is the back-up method for comparing our clocks with standards around the world for our participation in the generation of international atomic time (TAI and UTC). GPS time transfer is also a method for disseminating UTC (NIST) at state-of-the-art accuracies. In addition, NIST's mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. The Atomic Standards group contributes to technology development for US industry through a number of activities in support of synchronization in telecommunication networks. Along with this, the group participates through US government activities to limit vulnerability of GPS timing in critical infrastructure. Purpose 1. To continue to contribute GPS data for TAI 2. To enhance methods of disseminating UTC(NIST) using GPS time transfer 3. To participate in government committees exploring options for limiting vulnerabilities of US critical infrastructure dependent on GPS for timing 4. To host an annual industry workshop on synchronization in telecommunications systems 5. To support the role of synchronization in the NIST-NTIA Center for Advanced Communications Systems 6. To develop applications of the theory of relativity for GPS and for primary frequency standards *SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW) * B. BID SCHEDULE / AWARD STRUCTURE LINE ITEM 0001: Provide research support for the NIST programs per the listed tasks spelled out in the Statement of Work (SOW). Support will include in- time-and-transfer and synchronization, particularly with GPS timing and synchronization in telecommunications, in accordance with the attached statement of work. TASK 1 - NIST GPS Receivers TASK 2 - Synchronization in Communications Systems TASK 3 - US Critical Infrastructure GPS Timing Vulnerability TASK 4 - Center for Advanced Communications (TAACCS) TASK 5 - Scientific Research and Publications 12 Months From Contract Award C. SOLICITATION SPECIFICS ***INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS *** Interested offerors shall provide firm-fixed-pricing for the above in accordance with the deliverable schedule as well as the Line Item structure in this solicitation. The offeror shall hold the prices in its offer firm for 60 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers. ***Please note that this procurement is not being conducted under the GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program or another Government-Wide Area Contract (GWAC). If an Offeror submits a quotation based upon an FSS or GWAC contract, the Government will accept the quoted price but will deem it as open market pricing and be subject to terms and conditions of this RFQ and subsequent purchase order award. ***The due date and time for receipt of quotations is 18 February, 2014 no later than 11:59PM Mountain Standard Time ***Offerors shall e-mail their quotation to Patricia.Bullington@nist.gov so that it is received by the response date/time for this solicitation. It is the responsibility of the offeror to confirm NIST's receipt of its quotation. Each quotation shall include sufficient data to allow the Government to determine the amount, realism and consistency of the quoted fixed price. NIST reserves the right to award a purchase order without discussions, based solely on the submission of the Contractor. EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD: The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. Award determination shall be Best Value/Trade Off with the following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: (i) Technical capability and approach of information offered to meet the Government requirement; (ii) (ii) past performance; (iii) (iii) price. Technical and past performance (non-price factors), when combined are greater when compared to price. A minimum of Two (2) past performance references that clearly reflect applicable relevant experience to the contents of this requirement must be submitted. Contractor is also required to submit supporting documentation to explain in detail how quoted costs were determined/derived. (i.e. Labor Category of personnel performing work, Number of Hours worked, Action Performed, etc.) APPLICABLE PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES FOR THIS SOLICITATION: The following FAR provisions and clauses apply to this solicitation: FAR 52.212-1; FAR 52.212-2; FAR 52.212-3; FAR 52.212-4; FAR 52.212-5, including: 52.222-50, 52.233-3, and 52.233-4 in paragraph (a)(1), and the following fill-ins in paragraph (b): 52.222-3; 52.222-19; 52.222-21; 52.222-26; 52.222-36; 52.225-13; 52.232-33. All provisions and clauses viewed at http://acquisition.gov/comp/far/index.html. All interested offerors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management website at the www.sam.gov and must complete annual representations and certifications on-line at http://orca.bpn.gov in accordance with FAR 52.212-3 Offerors Representations and Certifications- Commercial Items. If paragraph (j) of the provision is applicable, a written submission is required. A current registration is REQUIRED for award consideration. All Offerors Representation and Certifications must be completed and submitted as applicable. Addendum to Provision 52.212-1- Quotation Preparation and Submission Instructions All quotations shall be submitted electronically so that they are received at Patricia.bullington@nist.gov no later than 18 February 2014 no later than 11:59PM Mountain Standard Time. All questions regarding this solicitation shall be submitted electronically to patricia.bullington@nist.gov , referencing Solicitation number NB688000-14-00854 and must be received by 13 February 2014. 4:00 pm MST to be addressed and allow ample time for analysis. Paragraph (b) below replaces paragraph (b) in provision 52.212-1. (b) Submission of quotations. Submit dated quotations to the office specified in this solicitation at or before the exact time specified in this solicitation. Quotations may be submitted on company letterhead stationery, or as otherwise specified in the solicitation. As a minimum, quotations must include: (1) The solicitation number; (2) The name, address, and telephone number of the offeror; (3) Technical description of the items being offered in sufficient detail to evaluate compliance with requirements in the solicitation. Item MUST meet exact specifications as laid out in the description attached. This may include product literature, or other documents, if necessary; (4) Terms of any expressed warranty; (5) Firm-fixed price for each CLIN and discount terms; (6) Any applicable shipping costs (7) Acknowledgement of solicitation amendment(s); (8) Include a statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. Quotations that fail to furnish required representations or information, or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration. (9) Completed paragraph (J) of FAR 52.212-3 if information in www.SAM.gov is current, OR manually complete FAR 52.212-3. (10) Technical Capabilities (11) Technical Approach (12) Firm-Fixed Price quote in accordance with LINE ITEM structure listed in this solicitation. Labor should be quoted as a monthly amount x 12 months to include all tasks and deliverables as Firm-Fixed Price. (13) Back up documentation as to how Firm-Fixed priced was derived. (14) Two Past Performances