SOLICITATION NOTICE
T -- Environmental News and Public Policy Services
- Notice Date
- 6/27/2003
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Environmental Protection Agency, Information Resources Management Procurement Service Center, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, Nw, Washington, DC 20460
- ZIP Code
- 20460
- Solicitation Number
- RFQ-DC-03-00270
- Response Due
- 7/11/2003
- Archive Date
- 8/11/2003
- Point of Contact
- Point of Contact, Maureen Power, Purchasing Agent, Phone (202) 564-6730
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(power.maureen@epa.gov)
- Description
- NAICS Code: 514191 This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products/services prepared in accordance with FAR Part 12.6, as supplemented with information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The Request for Proposal (RFP) number is RFQ-DC-03-00270 and incorporates provisions and clauses that are in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-03. The EPA intends to award a Purchase Order ("contract") on the basis of "brand name or equal" for on-line environmental news and public policy subscription services for a period of four (4) months (commencing August 1, 2003) with two (2) four month options. The term "brand name" includes identification of products/services by descriptive name. Such identification is intended to be descriptive, not restrictive, and to indicate the quality and characteristics of products/services that will be satisfactory to the EPA. Any proposal offering "equal" products/services will be considered if such products/services are clearly identified in the proposal and are determined by the EPA to meet fully the salient characteristic requirements listed in this combined synopsis/solicitation. If the offeror proposes to furnish an "equal" product, the brand name, if any, of the product to be furnished shall be provided in the proposal. If a vendor proposes to modify a product to make it conform to the requirements of this synopsis/solicitation, it must include a clear description of such proposed modifications in its proposal and must clearly mark any descriptive material to show the proposed modifications. All proposals will be considered and the EPA reserves the right to request samples or tests of the products/services. The brand name product/services desired by the EPA is an on-line subscription to the "Greenwire" and "Environment and Energy Daily" services published by E&E Publishing, LLC. The particular characteristics of these brand name products/services, which meet all EPA requirements, can be ascertained by visiting www.eenews.net, the website for E&E Publishing, LLC. The salient characteristics of the products/services and EPA requirements are: on-line current awareness services in both environment and public policy; on-line subscription service available through Internet-Protocol (IP) recognition to all EPA staff (18,000 employees with approximately 4,000 primary users); summaries and analysis of the national media coverage on environmental topics and issues of the day (summaries and analyses must be comprehensive and include information from all major news outlets including national and regional newspapers as well as other publications providing coverage of the environment); summaries and analyses of national political news and issues of the day (summaries and analyses must be timely and comprehensive and include information from all the major political bodies including the federal executive, legislative and judicial branches as well as major campaign events and state actions); website must reflect events and developments from the preceding 24-hour period and include, where appropriate, original reporting and analysis of the implications of both proposed and completed actions. The following FAR Clauses apply to this acquisition: 52.212-1; 52.212-3 with its Alternate III (each offer shall include a completed copy of 52.212-3); 52.212-4, and 52.212-5 (incorporating by reference Subparagraphs (a1, a2, b1, b13, b14, b15 and b16). In addition, FAR Clause 52.212-2 is incorporated by reference and applies to this combined synopsis/solicitation. Subpart (a) of FAR Clause 52.212-2 is amended to read: The Government will award a contract resulting from this combined synopsis/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: Technical (frequency of updates to the site, number of media outlets reviewed for relevant materials, availability of original reporting and analysis of issues, number of sources and areas covered for relevant materials, usability of the site and user feedback on its value to the daily work of EPA staff, availability of customizable features including e-mail updates and notifications, vendor technical support and assistance, availability of usage statistics, ability of the vendor to sign multi-year agreements, compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (for accessibility by the disabled), Past Performance and Price. Technical and Past Performance (listed in descending order of precedence) is more important than price. For the sake of clarity, subpart (b) and (c) of 52.212-2 remain as written. In addition, FAR Clause 52.217-9 will be included in the contract. For purposes of this combined synopsis/solicitation and the resulting Purchase Order, the Government may extend the term of this contract within 15 days of expiration of the contract; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 30 days before the contract expires. The preliminary notice does not commit the government to an extension. If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause. The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause shall not exceed one (1) year. (End of FAR Clauses for purposes of this combined synopsis/solicitation). Additional requirements: Warranty: The contractor shall extend to the EPA full coverage of any standard commercial warranty normally offered in a similar commercial sale, provided such warranties are available at no additional cost to the EPA. Acceptance of the standard commercial warranty does not waive EPA rights under the "Inspection" clause nor does it limit the EPA's rights with regard to the other terms and conditions of this contract. In the event of a conflict, the terms and conditions of the contract shall take precedence over the standard commercial warranty. The standard commercial warranty period shall begin upon final acceptance of the applicable product listed in the synopsis/solicitation. An original and one (1) copy of the proposal are due by 3:00 P.M., EST, July 11, 2003. Proposals are acceptable in the following format: e-mail, mail or hand delivery. No fax offers will be accepted. Offers must be timely delivered to Maureen Power at the physical or e-mail addresses listed above. For the sake of good order, questions, comments or concerns should be submitted in writing, preferably by e-mail.
- Record
- SN00359236-W 20030629/030627213856 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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