Department of the Treasury (DY) -- US Customs Services, Field Procurement Svcs. Group, 6026 Lakeside Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46278

88 -- CANINES SOL CS-I-97-013 DUE 071497 POC Contract Specialist, Patricia Startzman 317-298-1180 x1120 This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation that will be released. Proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number CS-I-97-013 is issued as a request for proposal (RFP) and incorporates provisions and clauses that are in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 90-46. The standard industrial size classification code (SIC) is 5199. The small business size standard is 100 employees or less. This requirement will result in a Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract with firm fixed prices. The contract will contain the base year plus two options of one year each. The minimum for the base year and the two option years is $35,000.00. The maximum total for the base year and each of the two option years is $1,186,000. Thisrequirement includes three contract line item numbers (CLIN ) for the purchase of dogs. This requirement includes three contract line numbers (CLIN) for the purchase of canines, as follows: CLIN 0001, Canines, 23 each; this is the base period from date of award through September 30, 1997. CLIN 0002, 23 each; first option period, October 1, 1997 through September 30, 1998. CLIN 0003, 23 each; second option period, October 1, 1998 through September 30, 1999. The canines are to be delivered and accepted FOB destination at the U.S. Customs Canine Enforcement Training Center, Front Royal, Virginia. The Government will award contract(s) resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror(s) whose proposal(s) conforming to the solicitation demonstrates the ability to perform delivery of technical requirements within the time period required while providing reasonable prices. Paragraph (a) of the clause at FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation- Commercial Items, is supplemented to add the following evaluating factors, indescending order of importance: (1) Technical Capability of the contractor to meet the Government's technical specification and acceptance criteria, (2) Contractor Past Performance, and (3) Ability to deliver canines timely, and (4) Price. Contractor past performance and the ability to deliver canines timely are of equal importance, while price is of less importance. Contractor past performance will be evaluated as follows: compliance with contract requirements, technical excellence, timely delivery of canines, and overall customer satisfaction. Technical specifications for the canines are as follows: (a) recognized working or sporting breed canines such as the Belgian Malinois, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever or Springier Spaniel. To propose other breeds, the offeror must demonstrate how the breed will meet the government's minimal needs. (b) The canine shall have a documented age between 12 and 36 months; (c) be male or female, as long as the female is not in heat at time of evaluation; (d) weigh between 45 to 90 lbs; (e) height measured from the ground surface to the point of the shoulder blades (withers) to be 22 inches or greater for German Shepherds, 21 inches or greater for Belgian Malinois, or proportional to their height for retrievers. (f) The canines must be able to pass acceptance tests for fitness and the ability to be trained to perform inspectional/search work. Acceptance criteria: Within 15-20 days after delivery, the government will test the canines by putting them through exercises. The canines' temperament must test to be a happy social one and illustrate no signs of being scared, timid, nervous, or over aggressive while walking on smooth tile floors to test sure-footness and being taken into tight places, etc. Retrieval drive tests will be conducted to determine if the canine will hunt and play with a rolled terry cloth while being physically stressed to determine if the ideal behavior is exhibited for performing Customs inspectional work. The canines' perseverance trait will be tested to determine whether or not the canines possesses a sufficient desire to bite or scratch and whether or not its natural indication behavior is passive or aggressive. The following documentation is required for each canine to determine acceptance at time of delivery: current vaccination records; current health certificate administered by a board certified veterinarian; current x-rays (within 60 days) of the pelvis, hip area, and elbow of each forequarter; pedigrees, registration certificates, score books, breed surveys and other related applicable paperwork. All canines must pass a medical examination that will determine if the canine is in excellent health with no acute or chronic disease or condition and medically able to enter training. Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) quality diagnostic radiographs and the completed physical examination must be received by U.S.Customs Service before the canine(s) are shipped. USCS requires 15-20 working days after delivery for inspection and acceptance tests to be performed. If the canine fails to pass the requirements/ physical testing performed by U.S. Customs Service Canine Enforcement Team, the canine will not be accepted and the Contractor will bear all expenses associated with the return of the canine to the contractor's site within seven days after receiving notification. It will be the contractor's responsibility within 30 days from receipt of notification of nonacceptance to furnish a canine replacement. The contractor will retrieve the canine from Customs within seven working days after notification has been received. It will be the contractor's responsibility to make alternative arrangements if unable to retrieve the canine within specified time frame. The contractor is responsible for all shipping charges, including retrieval and shipping crate. Only acceptable canines will be approved for payment. . Cost to return shipping crates will be the responsibility of the contractor. The contractor shall warrant the canines for six (6) months after date of acceptance.Within 30 days after receipt of notification that a canine is unacceptable for inspectional work, the contractor shall replace any canine that is found to have a pre-existing medical problem, chronic disease, or heredity deficiency that could render a canine unacceptable for inspectional work during the warranty period. The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition, with the following addenda: The offeror, as a minimum, shall provide information to demonstrate that they have the capability to meet the Government's technical specification and criteria. In responding to this evaluation factor, it is more important to explain how an offeror will meet the requirements, instead of indicating that the requirements will be met. The offeror has wide latitude in meeting this requirement.The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items, is supplemented by addenda, requiring each offeror to describe how they intend to meet the technical requirements of the Government's technical specification, acceptance criteria, and ability to deliver canines on time. For contractor past performance, the offeror and major subcontractors, if any, must list four contracts and subcontracts completed and/or currently in progress during the past three years that are similar to the statement of work requirements in this solicitation. Offerors who are newly formed entities without prior contracts should list contracts and subcontracts performed by key personnel. The projects shall be identified with the name(s) of the individual(s) who worked on them. The Government may use past performance information obtained from sources other than those obtained from the offeror. Information will be used for both the responsibility determination and best value. References listed by the offeror may or may not be contacted by the Government. Information on past or current contracts must be submitted according to the following format: (a) Project or contract title, Contract number, (c) Contract type, (d) Contract period of performance, (e) Total contract value, (f) Brief description of contract work, including number of locations served, and overall workload per location. (G) Two contract references, by name, title, address and telephone number. (h) List of major problems, if any, and corrective action, and (i) Quality certifications and awards. (Identify the appropriate person or office receiving the award.) The contract clause at FAR 52.212-4, Commercial Terms and Conditions Commercial Items is supplemented by addenda as follows: (1) this contract is subject to a performance evaluation. Thirty days after the end of each contract period, and at the end of contract completion, an initial Government evaluation will be forwarded to the contractor. The contractor will be requested to provide written comments, if any, within a minimum of 30 days after the date of the letter. The contractor's comments will be considered in the issuance of the final evaluation document. Any disagreement between the parties regarding the evaluation will be forwarded to the Director, Procurement Division. The ultimate conclusion of the performance evaluation is a decision of the Customs Service. A copy of the final performance evaluation report will be sent to the contractor. (2) The following FAR clauses are added: (a) 52.216-18, Ordering (Oct 1995), with the ordering period being date of contract award through September 30, 1997, and including all option years. (b) 52.216-19, Order Limitations (Oct 1995), with $5,000 entered paragraph (a) $50,000 in paragraph (b) (1) and (2), and 60 days entered in paragraph (b) (3). (c) 52.216-22, Indefinite Quantity (Oct 1995), with paragraph (d) revised to show a date of December 31, 1999; (e) 52.216-27, Single or Multiple Awards (Oct 1995); 52.217-5, (f) Evaluation of Options (Jul 1990); (g) 52.217-9, Option to Extend The Term of The Contract, (Mar 1989). Paragraph (c) of the clause is supplemented to show `... shall not exceed five years." The FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders- Commercial Items applies to the solicitation and contract, with the following appropriate clauses: (1) 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government, with Alternate I,; (2) 52.203-10, Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity; (3) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns and Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns; (4 52.219-14, Limitation on Subcontracting; (6) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity; (7) 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires, (8) 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans, (9) 52.222-37 Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era, (10) 52.225-3 Buy American Act -- Supplies, and (11) 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the government to exercise the option(s). The proposal should include the cost for the base period and each option period. Offerors should include a completed copy of the provisions at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certification -- Commercial Items, with their proposals. The government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all option periods to the total price for the base period. The government will make a contract award to offeror(s) who provide the best value to the government at reasonable prices. The contractors responsibility will be pursuant to FAR 9.104-1. The offerer may fax requests for complete Statement of Work to 317-298-1344. The government may evaluate proposals and make award without discussions. Proposals are due July 14, 1997 by 3:30 P.M local time. Late proposals will not be considered. Proposals shall be addressed as follows: U.S. Customs Service, Field Procurement Services Group, Attention: Patricia Startzman, 6026 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46278.***** (0178)

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