Contracting Officer (90C), VA Medical Center, 150 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130

R -- VETERANS SURVEY SOL RFP 523-17-99 DUE 090399 POC Ann Hannan, 617-232-9500 extension 5530 WEB: ERROR --, www.arnet.gov/far and www.va.gov/oa&mm/vaar. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contracting Officer by e-mail, michael.kennison@med.va.gov. This is a Request for Proposal, for which it and all incorporated provisions are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-12. The procurement is 100% Set-Aside for small business. The Standard Industrial Classification Code is (SIC) 8732. The Small Business Size Standard for this procurement is $5 million. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for a commercial service prepared in accordance with the format in FAR subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The VA Boston Health Care System, VA Medical Center, 150 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02130-4893, seeks the services of a Research Survey Organization to locate and subsequently conduct telephone interviews of Somali Peacekeeping U.S. Veterans living in the United States. The VA will provide minimal information from a 1995 survey to assist in this project and it is anticipated that approximately 300 interviews will be conducted. The following provisions apply to this acquisition: 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (Jun 1999); 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items (Jan 1999); 52.212-3 Offer Representation and Certifications-Commercial Items (May 1999); 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (MAY 1999); 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions to Implement Statutes of Executive Orders-Commercial Items (MAY 1999), including clauses incorporated by reference under Section (b) 5,12, 13,22 and section (c)(1). 52.204-6 Data Universal Numbering System (Duns) Number (Apr 1998); 52.232-33 Mandatory Information for Electronic funds Transfer Payment; 52.215-1 Instructions to Offerors-competitive Acquisition; 52.222-26; Equal Opportunity (Feb 1999); 52.222-35 Affirmative Action for Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era (Apr 1998); 52.222-37 Employment Reports on Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era (Jan 1999); 52.232-18, Availability of Funds (Apr 1984); 52.233-2, Service of Protest (Aug 1996); 52.233-3, Protest After Award (Aug 1996) and; 52.224-2 Privacy Act (APR 1984). In addition, incorporated herein by reference are the following VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) clauses and provisions: 852.219-70 Veteran-Owned Small Business Dec (1990); 852.233-70, Protest Content (Jan 1998); 852.233-71, Alternate Protest Procedure (Jan 1998); 852.237-70, Contractor Responsibilities (Apr 1984); 852.270-1, Representatives of Contracting Officers (Apr 1984); and 852.270-4, Commercial Advertising (Nov 1984). Contractor shall submit a completed copy of representations and certifications at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certification-Commercial Items (Jun 1999). The full text of clauses identified herein may be accessed electronically at these addresses: http://www.arnet.gov/far and http://www.va.gov/oa&;mm/vaar. Offerors responding to this announcement shall submit separate technical and cost proposals. The technicalproposal shall address the following evaluation factors in descending order of importance and are more important than price. 1) Experience and methods in conducting interview with the veteran population. 2) Experience and methods in location techniques. 3) Experience and methods for assembling and presenting the information collected. The technical proposal shall also identify proposed interviewers and shall include their experience, expertise, education, background and any unique skills or qualifications. The cost proposal shall include all projected labor costs and identify the number of hours and hourly rate for each proposed discipline; all anticipated direct and indirect costs; general & administrative costs/overhead; fringe benefits, travel costs; miscellaneous costs and profit. The time frame for the interviews to be completed is approximately 45 days from contract award. Along with the technical proposal provide at least three sources for past performance verification. The Government contemplatesaward of a firm fixed-price contract for this procurement. Proposals shall be submitted no later than 2:00 p.m., local time, September 3, 1999, to the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Boston Health Care System, Attn: Contracting Officer (523/90C), Building Nine, Room 424, 150 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02130-4893. Facsimile offers are accepted at 617-278-4546. FAR Provision 52.215-5, Facsimile Proposals (Oct 1997), is hereby included. Contact Ann Hannan at (617) 232-9500-5530 for information regarding this notice. Offerors are hereby on notice that the Government may elect to award a contract without presentations or discussions. Posted 08/18/99 (W-SN369434). (0230)

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