Vessel services for Research Dive Survey's

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATIONVessel services for Performing Research Dive Survey Cruises in the Florida Keys*SIMILAR SERVICES PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED UNDER PO 1333MF22PNFFN0067 FPDS SHOULD BE CONSULTED FOR ADDITIONAL VENDOR AND PRICING INFORMATION NOT THE CO/POC.(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; quotes 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.(iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2024-03 (Feb 2024).(iv) This solicitation is being issued as a total Small Business set aside. The

associated NAICS code is 483114. The small business size standard is 550 EMPLOYEES.(v) This combined solicitation/synopsis is for the purchase of the following commercial item(s)/services:CLIN 0001 – Base YearServices, non-personal, to provide all labor, equipment and materials (unless otherwise provided herein) necessary for Vessel services for Research live-aboard dive cruises to complete reef visual census (fish), coral demographic, and benthic assessment surveys in accordance with the Statement of Work.(vi) Description of requirements is as follows: See attached Statement of Work which applies to Base YearINVOICES TO BE BILLED AFTER EACH RESEARCH CRUISE SET IS COMPLETED OR ONCE ALL SERVICES ARE COMPLETED.PROVIDE PER UNIT AND AGGREGATE PRICING FOR THE QUOTE. QUOTE PRICING MAY BE PROVIDED ON THE ATTACHED SF18 FORM OR ON COMPANY LETTERHEAD.(vii) Date(s) and place(s) of delivery and acceptance: Date of Award through 12/31/24. Cruises are expected to occur between June 1st and December 31st during this 2024 survey year.Place of performance is aboard the contracted vessel and at port while loading/unloading the vessel. In and around the Florida Keys along Florida’s Coral Reef Tract. The Florida Keys extend from Key West to Key Biscayne, Florida(viii) FAR provision 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Sept 2023), applies to this acquisition and can be found on the Request for Quote form SF18 attachment.(ix) FAR provision 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2021), applies to this acquisition and can be found on the Request for Quote form SF18 attachment.(x) FAR provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Feb 2024), applies to this acquisition and can be found on the Request for Quote form SF18 attachment. Offerors are advised to include a completed copy of the provision with its offer.(xi) FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2023), applies to this acquisition and can be found on the Request for Quote form SF18 attachment.(xii) FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Feb 2024), applies to this acquisition apply can be found in full text on the Request for Quote form SF18 attachment.(xiii) Any additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions that apply can be found on the Request for Quote form SF18 attachment.(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 the time and date stated in sam.gov. All quotes must be submitted electronically via email to shawana.randolph@noaa.gov.(xvi) Any questions regarding this solicitation should be submitted electronically via email to shawana.randolph@noaa.gov.1352.215-72 Inquiries (Apr 2010)OFFERORS MUST SUBMIT ALL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS SOLICITATION IN WRITING VIA EMAIL TO Shawana.Randolph@noaa.gov QUESTIONS SHOULD BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 3 days before offerors are due. 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)FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Sep 2023)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. Submit PDF or Microsoft Word format quotations to the office specified in this solicitation at or before the time specified in the solicitation. Email quotes are required and can be sent to Shawana.Randolph@noaa.gov2. Offeror shall have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM found at https://sam.gov/content/home) in order to provide a quote and be eligible for award. Must provide their UEID/CAGE CODE with their quote.3. Offerors shall assume that the Government has no prior knowledge of them or their capability.4. PRICING MUST BE PROVIDED ON A SEPARATE DOCUMENT FROM OTHER EVALUATION CRITERIA RESPONSES4. Offerors must provide all evaluation criteria in accordance with FAR 52.212-2. Offerors who do not provide all evaluation criteria will not be accepted.TECHNICAL APPROACHEXPERIENCECOST/PRICE“THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR NON-RECEIPT OF QUOTES. IT IS THE CONTRACTOR’S RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUEST AND RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION OF THE QUOTE RECEIPT”.FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation- Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2021)Offers will be evaluated based on price and the factors set forth in paragraph (a).The evaluation will consider the Non-Price Technical Solution (Technical Approach and Past Performance) to be significantly more important than price. However, as quotes are determined to be more equal in the non-price evaluation factor, price becomes more important and may become the determining factor for award. If, at any stage of the evaluation, all vendors are determined to have submitted equal, or virtually equal, Non-Price Technical Solutions, price could become the factor in determining which vendor will receive the award.The Government intends to evaluate the quotes and award a purchase order based on the Offeror’s initial quote; therefore, the Offeror’s initial quote should contain the Offeror’s best terms from a Non-Price Technical Solution and price standpoint.The Government reserves the right not to award a purchase order depending on the quality of the quote(s) submitted and the availability of funds. Furthermore, the Government may waive informalities and minor irregularities or omissions in quotes received.The Government may make award to other than the lowest-priced Offeror or the Offeror with the highest technical rating if the Contracting Officer determines that to do so would result in the best value to the Government. The Government will not make an award at a significantly higher overall price to achieve only slightly superior performance capability.(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 the following:Factor 1--TECHNICAL APPROACH. The quotation will be evaluated on how the offeror intends to organize, staff and manage the contract, the Vessel and means that will be used to accomplish the contract requirements. The degree to which the quotation demonstrates an understanding of the requirements will be evaluated, as well as the offeror's planned management of consultants and subcontractors, if applicable. As applicable, the contractor shall submit with their package:USCG Letter of Designation (LODUSCG Certificate of Inspection (COI)Copies of all Merchant Mariner Credentials for the Master as well as credentials for an additional operator for voyages longer than 12 hours (personal data such as address can be blanked out)USCG Uninspected Passenger Vessel Examinations (UPV)Factor 2--EXPERIENCE. The offeror's background, experience, and qualifications will be assessed to determine the likelihood that that offeror can successfully perform the contract requirements and the degree of the risk of non-performance. Required Knowledge and Experience:Dive Master experience: International or Professional Divemaster certification with experience in vessel operations and emergency plans.Boat Captain experience: Captain must have appropriate US Coast guard certifications and 2 or more years of experience “live boatingFactor 3--COST/PRICE. The proposed prices/costs will be evaluated. The cost evaluation will determine whether the proposed costs are realistic, complete, and reasonable in relation to the solicitation requirements. Proposed costs must be entirely compatible with the technical approach.The Government intends to award a trade-off, single 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)UTILIZATION OF FEDCONNECT® FOR CONTRACT ADMINISTRATIONThe Department of Commerce will utilize the FedConnect® web portal in administering this award. The contractor must be registered in FedConnect® and have access to the FedConnect® website located at https://www.fedconnect.net/Fedconnect/. For assistance in registering or for other FedConnect® questions please call the FedConnect® Help Desk at (800) 899-6665 or email at support@fedconnect.net. There is no charge for registration in or use of FedConnect®.(End)