Urban Forestry Instructor Services

(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; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (ii) The solicitation number for this requirement is AG-82A7-S-14-0084, and is issued as a Request for Proposal (RFQ) under the authority of FAR 13.5. (iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-76. (iv) This acquisition is not subject to a small business set-aside. The associated NAICS code is 611710 and 611513. The small business size standard for NAICS code 611710 is $15M, and for NAICS code 611513 is $7.5M. (v) The Schedule of Services applicable to this acquisition provides a list of contract line item numbers, items, quantities, and units of measure, including contract options, for the services required. The pricing portions of this Schedule of Services should be filled out and submitted as part of any quote submitted in response to this combined synopsis/solicitation. See Exhibits 1 & 2, Pricing Template, and Attachment 6 for the Schedule of Services applicable to this acquisition. (vi) This requirement is for Urban Forestry Instruction Services for students at multiple USDA Forest Service Job Corps Centers. The Government seeks to establish an Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) type contract with one or more contractors. The Contractor shall provide all management, supervision, labor, supplies, materials, and equipment (except as otherwise specified herein); to plan, schedule, and coordinate as necessary; and to ensure effective performance of all services as specified in the attached Performance Work Statement (PWS). See Attachment 1, Performance Work Statement, for a detailed description of requirements. (vii) Urban Forestry Instruction Services will be required on-site at multiple USDA Forest Service Job Corps Centers. Contractor personnel will perform all work required in the Performance Work Statement (PWS), Monday - Friday, excluding Federal holidays and student break periods. Specific days and hours of duty shall be agreed to through coordination with Center personnel. See Attachment 1, Performance Work Statement, for a detailed listing of locations and number of instructors. (viii) The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial, applies to this acquisition. The following addendum applies to the provision: See Request for Proposal (RFP) for additional information and required quotation submittals. (ix) The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following is the specific evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph a: A. Technical Capability: - Conformance to the requirements in the Offeror Questionnaire located in Attachment 5; - Ability to provide services to all Job Corps Centers; - A resume's and applicable state licensure for key personnel; - Ability to provide substitute personnel; - Ability to manage contracts of a similar size, scope, and complexity. B. Past Performance: Evaluation of this criterion will include, but may not be limited to: past performance information provided by each Offeror's professional references, and any other past performance information available to the Contracting Officer. C. Price. Relative Importance of Factors: If Technical Capability and Past Performance are approximately equal, best value will be determined by price. (x) Offerors must electronically complete FAR provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, at www.SAM.gov before submitting the quote. Offer must confirm in the Offeror Questionnaire (see Attachment 5) that offeror has electronically completed the provision FAR 52.212-3, the annual representations and certifications, at www.SAM.gov. The complete provision can be found at https://www.acquisition.gov/far/loadmainre.html. (xi) The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following addendum to the clause will be included in any contract awarded for this requirement: "In accordance with FAR 12.302, the following paragraphs of this clause have been tailored, all other paragraphs remain unchanged: (c) Changes (tailored). Changes in the terms and conditions of this contract may be made only by written agreement of the parties. NOTE: The Government has sole discretion to exercise contract options on a unilateral basis in accordance with clauses 52.217-8 and 52.217-9." (xii) The clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following additional FAR clauses cited in the clause are applicable to the acquisition: 52.203-6, 52.204-10, 52.204-15, 52.209-6, 52.209-9, 52.209-10, 52.216-22, 52.216-27, 52.219-4, 52.219-8, 52.219-9, 52.219-28, 52.222-3, 52.222-17, 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222.37, 52.222-40, 52.222-54, 52.223-18, 52.225-3, 52.225-13, 52.232-33, 52.232-39, 52.222-41, 52.222-42, 52.222-43,52.222-17, 52.227-14. (xiii) The following additional contract requirements and terms and conditions apply to this acquisition: -- FAR 52.204-9 Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel (Jan 2011) -- FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services - The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor within 30 days. -- FAR 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (Mar 2000) (a) The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor within 30 days; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 60 days before the contract expires. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an extension. (b) If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause. (c) The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed 5 years and 6 months. -- FAR 52.228-5 Insurance - Work on a Government Installation (Jan 1997) -- AGAR 452.224-70 Confidentiality of Information (Feb 1988) -- AGAR 452.228-71 Insurance Coverage (Nov 1996) -- AGAR 452.237-74 Key Personnel (Feb 1988) (a) The Contractor shall assign to this contract the following key personnel: Urban Forestry Instructor(s) (b) During the first ninety (90) days of performance, the Contractor shall make no substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death, or termination of employment. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer within 15 calendar days after the occurrence of any of these events and provide the information required by paragraph (c) below. After the initial 90-day period, the Contractor shall submit the information required by paragraph (c) to the Contracting Officer at least 15 days prior to making any permanent substitutions. (c) The Contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitutions, complete resumes for the proposed substitutes, and any additional information requested by the Contracting Officer. Proposed substitutes should have comparable qualifications to those of the persons being replaced. The Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor within 15 calendar days after receipt of all required information of the decision on substitutions. The contract will be modified to reflect any approved changes of key personnel. -- AGAR 452.237-75 Restrictions Against Disclosure (Feb 1988) (a) The Contractor agrees, in the performance of this contract, to keep all information contained in source documents or other media furnished by the Government in the strictest confidence. The Contractor also agrees not to publish or otherwise divulge such information in whole or in part in any manner or form, or to authorize or permit others to do so, taking such reasonable measures as are necessary to restrict access to such information while in the Contractor's possession, to those employees needing such information to perform the work provided herein, i.e., on a "need to know" basis. The Contractor agrees to immediately notify in writing, the Contracting Officer, named herein, in the event that the Contractor determines or has reason to suspect a breach of this requirement. (b) The Contractor agrees not to disclose any information concerning the work under this contract to any persons or individual unless prior written approval is obtained from the Contracting Officer. The Contractor agrees to insert the substance of this clause in any consultant agreement or subcontract hereunder. --Special Clauses: Reporting Alleged Child Abuse Pursuant to the spirit and requirements of P.L. 101-647, Section 225 and 226, the following applies: Any employee or representative of the Contractor who becomes aware of allegations that a child in the program covered by this contract is (a) a victim of a crime of physical abuse, sex abuse, or exploitation; or (b) a witness to a crime committed against another person; shall make a report of the suspected abuse to the Contracting Officer's Representative within 24 hours. The initial report shall be made by phone and shall be followed-up in writing, providing salient points of the allegations. When such allegations about a contractor employee occur as covered by this clause, the Contractor employee who is the subject of the allegations will immediately be required to vacate the work site and will be replaced by another contactor employee. The subject employee will remain away from the work site until an investigation is completed. The Government will not incur additional costs by the Contractor who must provide a replacement employee. The Contractor shall limit disclosure of documents concerning alleged child abuse to the persons who by reason of their participation in the proceeding have reason to know such information. Any conviction of a sex crime, an offense involving a child victim or drug felony, will be grounds for denying employment or for dismissal of an employee in any position-serving children. Conviction of a crime other than a sex crime may be considered if it bears on an individual's fitness to have responsibility for the safety and well being of children. The consideration of another crime bearing on an individual's fitness will be mutually agreed upon between the NTC and agency involved. (xiv) All questions regarding this solicitation must be received via email to contact@example.gov no later than October 9, 2014, 12:00 P.M. (MST). No phone calls will be accepted. (xv) Quotes must be delivered by November 12, 2014, 12:00 P.M. (MST) via email to Chendra Conklin, Contracting Officer, at contact@example.gov . (xvi) All correspondence regarding this solicitation must be sent via email to: contact@example.gov .