OPERATIONS/MAINTENANCE SUPERINTENDENT & OPERATORS FOR BARC’S WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS

Solicitation Number: 12305B24Q0074 This is a Request For Quotation (RFQ) for commercial Services prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, and is being conducted according to FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. It is the intention of the Government to award a single Fixed Price Contract from this solicitation. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) North East Area (NEA) issues this Request for Quotes (RFQ) and incorporates provisions and clauses that are in effect through FAC 202403. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 221320 Waste Water Treatment Plants; small business size standard is $22.0 Mill. DELIVERY TO: USDA-ARS-BARC, Beltsville MD IMPORTANT NOTICE: All contractors submitting bids, proposals, or quotes on USDA solicitations must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM)

database. Failure to register in the SAM database will make an Offeror ineligible for award. The SAM website can be accessed at www.sam.gov/portal/SAM The Government intends to post all notices/amendments related to this solicitation on Sam.gov. Any additional amendments and/or documents related to this procurement will be available electronically only. Potential Quoters will be responsible for downloading their own copy of those documents related to this procurement, if any. Offerors are encouraged to check the Sam.Gov web site frequently in order to be notified of any changes to this solicitation. Interested vendors should reference the solicitation documents for all terms and conditions, evaluation factors and submission requirements. The Government intends to award one Firm fixed price Contract. This Solicitation does not commit the Government to pay for any cost for the preparation and submission of a Quote. Further more the Government is under no obligation to procure and Supplies or Services relative to this request. SELECTION PROCESS: The government anticipates selecting the best-suited contractor from initial responses, without engaging in exchanges with contractors. Contractors are strongly encouraged to submit their best technical solutions and price in response to this RFQ. 52.212-2 EVALUATION — COMMERCIAL ITEMS (NOV 2021) (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. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: (i) Technical capability of the offer to meet the Government requirement (ii) Past performance (see FAR 15.304) (iii) Price Award shall be made based on “best value” to the Government, price and all other factors considered. Definitions • Significant Strength is an aspect of an offeror's proposal that has appreciable merit or appreciably exceeds specified performance or capability requirements in a way that will be appreciably advantageous to the Government during contract performance • Strength is an aspect of an offeror's proposal that has merit or exceeds specified performance or capability requirements in a way that will be advantageous to the Government during contract performance • Weakness means a flaw in the proposal that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance • Significant Weakness in the proposal is a flaw that appreciably increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance. • Deficiency is a material failure of a proposal to meet a requirement or a combination of significant weaknesses in a proposal that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance to an unacceptable level Evaluation Criteria Factor 1 Technical • The evaluation will assess the technical merits and relative risk associated with the likelihood of success in executing the minimum requirements of the SOW. o Sub.factor 1 Professional Qualifications: The evaluation will assess professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required services o Sub.factor 2 Specialized Experience: The evaluation will assess the specialized experience and technical competence in the type of work required o Sub.factor 3 Location: Location in the general geographical area of the project and knowledge of the locality of the project. Factor 2 Past Performance • Past performance on contracts with Government agencies and private industry in terms of cost control, quality of work, and compliance with performance schedules Vendors without relevant past performance will be evaluated as "Neutral” Factor 3 Price - For evaluation purposes, the evaluated price will be the total combination of the base, and options. The Government will evaluate the Offerors proposed price for reasonableness and realism. Relative Importance of Evaluation Factors and Sub-factors - Technical is more important than Past Performance. Past Performance and Technical are more important than Price. - Technical Sub-factors 1 and 2 are approximately equal, but more important than Sub- factor 3 - Price is less important than Past Performance and Technical combined. Price may play an additional role since considerations of cost in terms of overall total program evaluated costs, best value, and affordability may be controlling in circumstances where two or more proposals are otherwise adjudged equal or when a technically superior proposal is at a cost that the Government cannot afford. In order to be considered for award OFFERORS SHALL SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING: Submit documentation showing technical capability to meet or exceed Performance Elements and Benchmarks in the SOW. Submit Firm Fixed Price quotation (Quote on company letterhead) detailing the description, total price and valid for at least 60 days after receipt of quote. Delivered FOB Destination inclusive of all costs. Submit UEI # with quotation. Submit two separate Past Performance References with contact information for recent contracts of similar scope to this requirement. A completed copy of the provisions FAR 52-212.3, OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS-COMMERCIAL ITEMS. REJECTION OF QUOTATION: Failure to demonstrate compliance will be cause to reject the quote without further discussions. All responsible sources may submit an offer which will be considered. All questions regarding this announcement must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer, via email to Mark.Volk@usda.gov. Telephone requests for information will not be accepted or returned. Furnish Quotes by email to Mark O. Volk, Contracting Officer, USDA, ARS, NEA, Contracting Office, no later than 2:00 p.m. EST, April 18, 2024. DISCUSSIONS: The Government intends to award without discussions, but reserves the right to conduct discussions should it be deemed in the Government's best interest. Biobased Products: This procurement requires the use of Biobased products to the extent that such products are reasonably available, meet agency or relevant industry performance standards, and are reasonably priced. The products should first be acquired from the USDA designated product categories. All supplies and materials shall be of a type and quantity that conform to applicable Federal specifications and standards, and to the extent feasible and reasonable, include the exclusive use of biobased and recycled products. Please visit www.biopreferred.gov for more information on the USDA Biobased Program and to reference the catalog of mandatory biobased products.