Writing and Editing Support

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; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number is OS-FCSS-2018-01 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ) being conducted under FAR Part 12 in conjunction with FAR Part 13. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-97. This requirement is set-aside for small businesses. The NAICS Code is 711510, Independent Writers, and small business size standard is $7.5M. Requirement / Scope of Work: The U.S. Department of Education (the Department), Office of the Secretary (OS), in conjunction with the Federal Commission on School Safety (the Commission), has a requirement for writing support. Please note that the bulk of the writing will be done by the commission and this writing contractor will generally be compiling and editing drafts with less original research and new writing. See attached Performance Work Statement (PWS) for complete requirements. The contractor shall provide all personnel, labor, equipment, materials, supplies, supervision, staff, training, and other items and services necessary to perform the requirement. The contractor shall be responsible for performing the requirements in the contractor's facility and, on occasion, at Department headquarters in Washington, DC. Quotation Requirements: The quote must contain all information necessary to determine that the organization can meet the technical requirements. The quote shall include: 1. a brief capabilities/experience section which demonstrates understanding of, and the capability to, meet the requirements, and a short list of client or organization references 2. a link(s) to samples of completed writing projects/work the contractor has produced that are similar to the PWS requirements 3. a brief explanation of the management approach the contractor will use to receive work requests and produce work products 4. a list of staff that will be doing the work and their experience/resume The cost quote should include a firm-fixed-price for completing all of the work in the PWS. All pricing details should be available for verification. The contractor shall propose a payment schedule if interim payments are required prior to completion of all work. Evaluation Criteria: The Department will negotiate with the contractor providing the quote determined to offer the best value based on technical quality, corporate experience and price. Technical quality will be evaluated based on 1) demonstrated expertise writing, editing, proofreading and copywriting ; 2) contractor approach to meeting the work requirements described, including the demonstrated ability to deliver goods and services under tight deadlines; 3) experience and quality of individual or personnel assigned; and 4) price. Quality of writing samples is especially important. The Contracting officer shall determine whether any difference in technical evaluation is worth any differences in price. The Department will consider award to other than the lowest price quote or other than the highest technically rated quote. Provisions and Clauses: The following FAR and Education Department Acquisition Regulations (EDAR) clauses shall apply to the solicitation and to any resulting order: 1. 52.252.-2 Clauses Incorporated By Reference (Feb 1998) This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): Education Department Acquisition Regulation (EDAR) provisions can be reviewed at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/pdf/2011-4660.pdf. Federal Acquisition Regulation provisions and clauses can be reviewed at: http://www.acquisition.gov/far/loadmainre.html 2. FAR 52.212-4-- Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items (Jan 2017) 3. FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items. (Jan 2018) Under 52.212-5, the Contracting Officer has indicated the following clauses as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: X (22) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Representation (Jul 2013) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)). X (25) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (June 2003) (E.O. 11755). X (27) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Feb 1999). X (28) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Mar 2007) (E.O. 11246). X (30) 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jul 2014) (29 U.S.C. 793). X (40) 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (AUG 2011) (E.O. 13513). X (44) 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (June 2008) (E.O.'s, proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury). X (50) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-System for Award Management (Jul 2013) (31 U.S.C. 3332). 4. EDAR 3452.224-70 Release of Information Under the Freedom of Information Act (MAY 2011) 5. EDAR 3452.237-71 Observance of Administrative Closures (MAY 2011) 6. EDAR 3452.242-73 Accessibility of Meetings, Conferences, and Seminars to Persons with Disabilities (MAY 2011) 7. FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services (NOV 1999) 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 before contract expiration. 8. 52.227-14 Rights in Data.General. (MAY 2014) 9. 306-1b INVOICE AND CONTRACT FINANCING REQUESTS SUBMISSION - IPP (DECEMBER 2013) (a) Payments shall be rendered in accordance with the identified payment schedule(s), and any other incorporated payment clause(s), specified rates, and/or fixed price amounts. (b) The contractor shall submit invoices electronically by means of the web-based system, Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) that can be accessed at: http://www.ipp.gov/. All submitted invoices must be accompanied by supporting documentation in accordance with the contract's terms and conditions. The supporting documentation shall be submitted in the following formats: Adobe Acrobat (pdf), Microsoft Word (doc), Pictures (jpeg), Microsoft Excel (excel), and Microsoft Outlook message (msg). (c) Invoice Number Format - The format for the invoice shall be the contract number followed by the invoice number. The invoice number shall have no spaces, dashes, or other special characters. The invoice number cannot exceed 21 characters. Examples of acceptable invoice number formats are as follows: Example 1, Definitive Contract: Contract Number: ED-ABC-13-C-1234 Contractor's Invoice No.: 15897126341 IPP Invoice No.: EDABC13C1234158971263 (Note that the "-" characters were removed due to the requirement of not having special characters and the last two digits ["41"] from the contractor's invoice number were removed due to the 21 character limitation) Example 2, Task/Delivery Order Contract: Contract Number: ED-CDE-13-A-4567/0001 Contractor's Invoice No.: 158971263 IPP Invoice No.: EDCDE13A4567000115897 (Note that the "/" and "-" characters were removed due to the requirement of not having special characters and the last four digits ["1263"] from the contractor's invoice number were removed due to the 21 character limitation) (d) If the Contractor has not already established an IPP account that is active, an IPP account will be automatically created on behalf of the Contractor. The automatically created IPP account will be issued to the Designated Primary Administrator, which will be the individual that has been identified in the "Accounts Receivable POC" Section of the Contractor's System for Award Management (SAM) registration located at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. (e) Within ten (10) business days of the Contractor entering or updating the Accounts Receivable POC information within the Contractor's SAM registration, the Designated Primary Administrator will receive an email from the IPP Customer Support Team containing the Designated Primary Administrator's IPP username. Within 24 hours of receiving the initial email, the Designated Primary Administrator will receive a second email containing their IPP password. Once both emails have been received, the Designated Primary Administrator must log into IPP and complete the registration process. (f) The Contractor's Designated Primary Administrator will be authorized to further designate other administrators under the Contractor's IPP account who may submit invoices on behalf of the Contractor. (g) The Contractor must ensure that the "Accounts Receivable POC" Section of its SAM registration is accurate and up to date. (h) In the event that an invoice is rejected, the contractor shall make the necessary corrections and resubmit the invoice by means of IPP. Any questions, concerns, or issues regarding the use of IPP should be directed to IPP Customer Support Team, as identified at http://www.ipp.gov/ CLOSING DATE FOR QUOTATIONS: Please email questions regarding these requirements to Gary Weaver at contact@example.gov as soon as possible. Quotes shall be received by 10:00am Eastern Standard Time on May 25, 2018. Quotes shall be submitted by e-mail to Gary Weaver at contact@example.gov and must be received by the closing date.