Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - Essay Example

A 15-month base period and four (4) (1) year options are considered on Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) and Performance-Based Service Contract (PBSC). More than one award is set aside for small businesses, subject to the submission of a standard technical and cost proposal. The Government established such an award to be in their best interests. The standard required for small businesses was $7 million.

Contract
The offerors are required to produce the following items;
a) An original, 1 electronic copy/CD, and 11 copies of the technical proposal
b) 3 copies and original of past performance information
c) 3 copies, an original and 1 electronic copy of the business proposal
d) Original participation plan of small disadvantaged business

The technical proposal required brief writing limited to 75 pages typewritten with single-space and single side. In addition, the appendices are limited only to single-sided 75 pages. It consisted of resumes, references, attachments, and exhibits. This constraint was for administrative intentions only, and whenever the limitation was exceeded, it formed a ground proposal rejection. Except for small businesses, the offerors were required to provide a subcontracting plan that complied with the small business subcontracting plan (FAR 52.219-9) which was included in the solicitation. A subcontracting plan in the form of an attachment to the solicitation is availed through a web link. The proposal required giving the full name of the institution, address, county, Bradstreet No., Tax Identification Number (TIN), and DUN. The address was essential for mailing purposes. Moreover, discretion is provided to capture applicants’ attention concerning late proposals, and technical proposal instructions all provided in the solicitation.

Any applicant to submit the proposal in reaction to the solicitation is required to notify the Contract Specialist of the intention, through completion of the attached Proposal Intent Response Form. The form was to be submitted before May 22, 2009. Alternatively, it was to be sent to a specific address given below or faxed. The telephone number 301-427-1740 is contacted to reach the Contracts Management Division of the agency in Rockville, Maryland. Queries concerning the solicitation were received before May 18, 2009. All questions got posted electronically through the e-mail to the Contract Specialist. The subject matter on the mail was “Proposal Queries RFP No: AHRQ-2009-10021”.

Answers to queries are provided through an amendment to the solicitation and posted on the web pages of AHRQs as funding opportunities and contracts/solicitations. Others are provided on the web page of Federal Business Opportunities. The applicant was vested with the responsibility of monitoring the websites and obtaining RFP postings regarding amendments to the solicitation. Applicants were warned not to discuss the contract details with other persons external to the contract management division or else risked their documents being rejected.
The proposal is signed by sanctioned official bound applicants. Hand-delivered proposals dropped off at the contract management offices. Proposals were to be scrutinized by security thus requiring ample time. The company was not to be held liable for any delays incurred while running the proposals through security.

Besides, packages delivered by hand got held at a local post office ready for pick-up. In addition, the Government was not liable for picking up mail from local post offices. A late proposal is considered one that may not have been received at the location time and date specified. RFP could not tie the Government to refund any preparation and proposal submission cost. The attention was brought to the fact that the Contracting Officer is mandated by a legal commitment to the Government on public funds expenditure regarding the proposed acquisition. Subject to the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2001-16, conducting any business with government contractors should ensure registration with the central contractor registration (CCR) database. A request for information regarding the RFP was referred to the Contract Specialist. Read More