UPGRADES AND SUPPORT FOR MARINE STRATUS FORECAST SYSTEM

(I) 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 and in accordance with the simplified acquisition procedures authorized in FAR Part 13. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (II) This solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). Submit written quotes on RFQ Number NWWT9933-13-01892DT (III) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-69. (IV) This solicitation is being issued as a Total Small Business Set-Aside. The associated NAICS code is 541511. The small business size standard is $25.5 million. (V) This combined solicitation/synopsis is for purchase of the following commercial services: Line Item 0001 - Base Year; Services, non-personal, to provide all equipment, labor and materials (unless otherwise provided herein) necessary for Stratus Initiative software upgrades and support in accordance with the statement of work for the period of ten (10) months. Line Item 1001 - Option Year 1; Services, non-personal, to provide all equipment, labor and materials (unless otherwise provided herein) necessary for Stratus Initiative software upgrades and support in accordance with the statement of work for the period of twelve (12) months. Line Item 2001 - Option Year 2; Services, non-personal, to provide all equipment, labor and materials (unless otherwise provided herein) necessary for Stratus Initiative software upgrades and support in accordance with the statement of work for the period of twelve (12) months. (VI) Description of requirements is as follows: The National Weather Service (NWS) currently uses the Marine Stratus Forecast System (MSFS) software which provides monitoring and maintaining the model forecast system, data stream, and Central Weather Service Unit (CWSU) web interface. The Government owns intellectual property rights to this software which was developed for the Government in 2005. This solicitation requires revisions and upgrades to the MSFS software and to provide technical support assistance on the software, and to provide training for NWS personnel on the software as specified in the attached Statement of Work. This is a - brand name or equal' requirement. Salient characterists are shown as Key componenets in the statement of work. (VII) Period of performance shall be: Base Year for a ten month period September 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014. Option Period 1 for a twelve month period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. Option Period 2 for a twelve month period July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2014. (VIII) FAR 52.212-1, INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JUL 2013), APPLIES TO THIS ACQUISITION. This is a Best Value Acquisition. NOTICE TO OFFERORS: Instructions for submitting quotations under this request for quote must be followed. Failure to provide all information to aid in the evaluation may be considered non-responsive. Offers that are non-responsive may be excluded from further evaluation and rejected without further notification to the offeror. 1. Quotes shall be fully executed and returned on the Standard Form (SF) 18 and any acknowledgements of solicitation amendments on the SF 30. 2. Submit quotations to the office specified in this solicitation at or before the time specified in the solicitation. Email quotes are preferred and can be sent to contact@example.gov 3. Provide all evaluation criteria in accordance with 52.212-2 in this package. - Technical - Meet all the requirements specified in the statement of work with supporting documentation. - Past Performance - quote shall include at least two references that can provide information pertaining to the offeror's performance of relevant work. Provide current contact information including name, phone number, and email address. - Price. 1352.215-72 INQUIRIES (APR 2010) Offerors must submit all questions concerning this solicitation in writing to contact@example.gov. Questions should be received no later than 4:00 P.M. MDT/MST, August 28, 2013. Any responses to questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner, and will be included in an amendment to the solicitation. Even if provided in other form, only the question responses included in the amendment to the solicitation will govern performance of the contract. (End of clause) (IX) FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items (Jan 1999), applies to this acquisition. Offers will be evaluated based on price and the factors set forth in paragraph (a). 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. Paragraph (a) is hereby completed as follows: Evaluation will be based on: TECHNICAL CAPABILITY EVALUATION: Offerors will be evaluated on their proposed technical approach and how they plan to meet the specified requirements. PAST PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: The Government will conduct a performance assessment based on the quality of the past performance of the Contractor on similar contracts as it relates to the probability of successful accomplishment of the required effort. Information utilized may be obtained from the references listed in the proposal, other customers known to the Government, and/or others who may have useful and relevant information. The Offeror's past performance on related contracts will be evaluated to determine, as appropriate, successful performance of contract requirements, quality and timeliness of delivery of goods and services and customer satisfaction. The Government reserves the right to assess the past performance of proposed subcontractors, if applicable. The Government will use its discretion to determine the sources of past performance information used in the evaluation, and the information may be obtained from references provided by the Offeror, the agency's knowledge of contractor performance, other Government agencies or commercial entities, or past performance databases. BASIS FOR PRICE EVALAUTION Pricing will be reviewed for fairness and reasonableness. Evaluation of offer(s) will be in accordance with FAR Part 12.602, FAR Part 13.106, and as prescribed in FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation - Commercial Items. The Government intends to award a best value, firm fixed-price purchase order on an all or none basis with payment terms of Net 30. (b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). (c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer's specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. (End of provision) (X) The offeror must submit a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items (Aug 2013), with its quote. SEE ATTACHMENT. An offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the offeror has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically at SAM.GOV. Please note that the System for Award Management (SAM) is now the official U.S. Government system that consolidated the capabilities of CCR/RedReg, ORCA, and EPLS. The offeror shall complete the annual representations and certifications electronically in System for Award Management at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. (XI) The clause at FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items (Jul 2013), 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 (Aug 2013) applies to this acquisition (see attached) (XIII) The following clauses are also applicable to this acquisition: see attached (XIV) Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and assigned rating does not apply. (XV) Quotes are required to be received in the contracting office no later than 4:00 P.M. MST/MDT on August 29, 2013. All quotes must be emailed (preferred) or faxed to the attention of Doris Turner. The email address is contact@example.gov and the fax number is +1 (555) 000-0000. (XVI) Any questions regarding this solicitation should be directed to Doris Turner, Email address: contact@example.gov (preferred) or by phone at +1 (555) 000-0000.