Office of Acquisition and Grants, 1710 GWYNN OAK AVENUE, BALTIMORE, MD, 21207-5279

V -- PACKAGE DELIVERY SERVICE NATIONWIDE SOL SSA-RFQ-00-3966 DUE 090899 POC KATHLEEN SPANGLER, 410-965-9511 WEB: Download Solicitation when/if available, http://www.ssa.gov/oag. E-MAIL: Contracting Officer, SSA/OAG, KATHLEEN.SPANGLER@ssa.gov. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This is a simplified acquisition being completed under the Test Program For Certain Commercial Items (FAR 13.5), issued as a request for quotation (RFQ), number SSA-RFQ-00-3966. This request for quotation and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-12. This is a non-set aside. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. The standard industrial classification codes (SIC) for this acquisition is 4213. REQUIREMENT: The Social Security Administration (SSA) would like to establish a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) to provide delivery services of SSA materials from Woodlawn, Maryland, to over 3,100 points through out the United States (US). SCOPE OF WORK: The carrier shall furnish the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to provide small package pick-up and delivery services to various points nationwide These distribution points can include any ZIP code address in the 50 United States, as well as Puerto Rico. Almost all orders will be for ground service and most packages will not exceed 70 pounds. It is estimated that most packages are between 25 to 35 pounds and the estimated quantity shipped in the past year is approximately 125,000 small packages. The number of packages picked up on each order will generally range from one to 300 with most going to different addresses. Pick-up of packages shall be from the following locations: SSA, Supply Building, Shipping Dock, 6301 Security Blvd., and SSA, Shipping Dock, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, Maryland 21235. The contractor shall furnish/provide the following: 1. Parcels will be picked up as required, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., except as mutually agreed upon with the contractor for unusual situations. 2. Delivery of Ground Service packages will be made no later than 7 days after pick-up. 3. Delivery of packages will be made directly to the premises of the addressee and a signature will be obtained at the time of delivery. 4. In cases where the carrier is unable to make a delivery of a package, a non-delivery notice will be left at the address stating that delivery has been attempted. Thereafter, a second and if necessary, a third attempt to deliver the package will be made without additional charge. 5. Packages refused by consignees or which for any other reason cannot be delivered will be promptly returned to the SSA receiving clerk, Supply Building, 6301 Security Blvd., Baltimore, Maryland 21235 without additional charge. 6. If the carrier is unable to deliver any package because of an incorrect address, it will make every reasonable effort to secure the correct address. If the correct address is secured, the carrier will make another attempt at delivery and the shipper will be notified of the correct address. An additional charge will be assessed for delivery or attempted delivery to the correct address. 7. When requested by SSA, the carrier must furnish tracer information which would include delivery address and date of delivery. In addition, services generally offered to the public will be available to SSA subject to the same generally applicable weight, size, and service area limitations. PROCESS FOR PLACING ORDERS: SSA personnel will prepare a pick-up record to accompany packages being picked up by the carrier. The pick-up record contains the following information: SSA's shipper number, shipper address, pickup record number, date the material is to be picked up, number of packages, and total charges. The carrier's representative shall compare entries on the pick-up record with items to be shipped and sign both copies of the record. RATES AND CHARGES: Except as otherwise provided for in this agreement, shipments made under this agreement are entitled to the same services and privileges as are provided in separately published tariffs or tenders, and agreements to which the carrier participates, including additional charges not to exceed those applicable to such services. INVOICING: A delivery service bill (invoice), in duplicate, shall be submitted weekly for all deliveries made during the preceding week. The invoice shall include: invoice week ending date, shipper number, blanket purchase agreement order number, common accounting number when applicable, GPO jacket number, SSA's requisition and print order numbers, pickup record number, total amount of packages delivered, and the total amount of bill equal to the total of each pickup record. The contractor shall submit the original delivery service bill to SSA's division of finance and a duplicate delivery service bill shall be submitted to the project officer. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The period of performance shall be for a base year plus four one year options if exercised, beginning October 1, 1999 through September 30, 2000. FAR Clause 52.212-1, "Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items" is incorporated by reference on page 1 of the Solicitation/Contract Order for Commercial Items, Form SF- 1449. There are no addendum to these provisions. The provisions at FAR Part 52.212-2, Evaluation -- Commercial Items apply to this acquisition. The Government will award a BPA resulting from this request for quotation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation, will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. To be considered for award under this solicitation, offers must submit a copy of their Commercial Ground Rates and offer an incentive discount to the Government for a base year and four option years. EXPERIENCE AND PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION: The offeror shall include three citations/references that adequately and conclusively demonstrate its relevant experience and record of past performance. Past performance information includes recent and relevant contracts for the same or similar items/services. Citation/references must have either been completed within, or awarded within and currently active, the last three years. For each citation/reference provided, the offeror shall provide the following information: A. Client's name, address; B. Name of the contracting officer/point of contact, telephone number including area code and extension if appropriate; C. Brief description of the services rendered; D. Show the type of contract, dollar value of contract at time of award, cumulative dollar value of contract to date, and period of performance; Indicate whether or not contract renewal options were exercised; E. Indicate and describe the extent to which the work required under the cited/referenced effort is applicable to the requirements set forth in this solicitation. Include any additional information, which will further describe the activities/functions performed and demonstrate the relationship of such experience to the requirements of this solicitation. F. Indicate whether or not the contract was successfully completed, discussing success in terms of cost, schedule and technical performance factors. G. Describe any significant problems that arose and explain how they were resolved. EVALUATION CRITERIA: The offers will be evaluated to assess compliance with the requirements set forth in this solicitation and to determine the reasonableness of the offered pricing for both the base year and option years. Evaluation of options will not obligate the Government to exercise the options. The Government will take radom samplings of certain weight packages and certain zones and will apply the incentive discount offered to these rates. BASIS FOR AWARD: Award will be made to the offeror who represents the best overall value to the Government. Meeting the requirements of the solicitation, experience and past performance when combined are the most important factors for award. Price is secondary. The Government anticipates making only one award. Offerors are advised to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR Part 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items, with their quote. The provisions at FAR Part 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items apply to this acquisition. There are no addendum to these provisions. The following provisions at FAR Part 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or executive Orders -- Commercial Items apply to the acquisition: (a) (1) and (2), (b) (1), (b) (8), (b) (11) through (15), (b) (23). Offers in response to the RFQ shall be submitted by September 8, 1999, 3:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, addressed to the Social Security Administration, Office of Acquisition and Grants, Attention: Kathleen Spangler, 1710 Gwynn Oak Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21207-5279. Posted 08/11/99 (D-SN366419). (0223)

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