USDA-Wide Multiple Award Deaf and Hard of Hearing Interpreting Services

Amendment 3 provides answers to relevant questions, an updated Request for Quote document and pricing tables. - Amends the RFQ to: a. Add note regarding local parking not being reimbursed b. Changes the addressee of quote toAkioWatson/Jason Kattman c. Adds Key Personnel evaluationprocedure information d. Removes paragraph regarding technical responsibility from the evaluation section. This was eliminated because it was confusing consdering no technical volume is requested. Technical responsibility will be determined via the past performance evaluation procedures already stipulated. e. Addslanguage stating that the Goverment maymake an award without discussions. f. Updates the CLIN structure requested - Amends the pricing tables to: a. Split two regions i. Great Lakes and Southeat ii. Pacific and Alaska/Hawaii b. Differentiates between Short Notice (Formerly Emergency) and Weekend/Night - Provides answers to received questions. Amendment 2 provides answers to relevant questions, and updated Performance Work Statement (PWS) and Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ). - The PWS is changed to include standards for transcript to be provided within 1 business day of the event. - The PPQ is updated to include questions 19 and 20 regarding CART and TypeWell services. If you have already provided the last questionnaire to your clients and they have completed them, please only request an update if CART and TypeWell were part of that engagement's scope. - Questions not answered in this amendment are noted and will be answered as soon as the research is complete to answer them accurately. Amendment 1 provides answers to relevant questions and an updated pricing table providing for additional service category breakdowns. 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; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), (USDA) requires USDA-Wide Deaf and Hard of Hearing Interpreting Services on an as-required basis nation-wide. The majority of initial services are estimated to be performed in the Washington, DC metro area at USDA facilities. This solicitation will result in multiple, but no more than three (3), USDA-Wide Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Interpreting Services. This solicitation is being issued as a small-business set-aside under NAICS 541930 - Sign language services. The size standard is $7 million. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-72 effective January 30, 2014. The evaluation for this award will be based on Price and Past Performance ONLY. Both factors have equal weight. It is the USDA's goal to ensure evaluations are as streamlined as possible so a complete quote responsive to the evaluation criteria is paramount. If you have questions about the past performance/price trade-off process, how to submit your quote, or other areas regarding the solicitation and quotation processes please send your questions in writing to the Contracting Officer via e-mail. Past performance volumes should be carefully developed and contain all potential performance summaries demonstrating how the offeror has provided relevant high quality services for other organizations with requirements similar to USDA's within the past 3 years (Past Performance). It is incumbent on the vendor to present the past performance most applicable to the USDA environment and describe it sufficiently for the USDA to have confidence that the vendor will successfully fulfill each requirement requested for this effort. These descriptions will be verified through customer provided questionnaires and other direct follow-up methods. Please send questions regarding the solicitation to [email protected]. All written questions must be received no later than 4:30PM, Eastern Standard Time April 9, 2014 and use the attached format (Attachment 3). There will be a pre-proposal conference on March 28, 2014 in Washington DC. Please contact the Contracting Officer if your firm wishes to attend in person or via teleconference and limit attendance to 2 representatives. Additional details will follow regarding address, call-in in number, agenda, etc and will be provided upon RSVP. The closing date for receipt of all volume submissions is to 4:30PM Eastern Standard Time, April 17, 2014.