Newspaper Subscriptions

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is issuing a combined synopsis/solicitation for a commercial item prepared in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (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 solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-37. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is 424920 and the Business Size Standard is $100M. This solicitation will be set-aside for small business concerns only. This will be a firm-fixed price contract with economic price adjustment for the purchase of a single source distribution and on-site bulk delivery of annual newspaper & magazine subscriptions for the following sources and quantities for a base period (Oct, 2009 - Sept, 2010) and two (2) one year option periods: Newspapers (Mon - Fri) - New York Daily News: Qty 1; New York Post: Qty 11; New York Times: Qty 34; USA Today: Qty 44; Washington Journal: Qty 6; Washington Times: Qty 20; Washington Post: Qty 57; China Daily: Qty 1; Chicago Tribune: Qty 1; Financial Times: Qty 3; Financial Times London: Qty 1; International Herald Tribune: Qty 2; Wall Street Journal: Qty 21; (Sat & Sun) - New York Times: Qty 1 (both days); Washington Post: Qty 1 (both days); Magazines - Economist: Qty 7; Newsweek: Qty 1; People: Qty 1; Time: Qty 1; US News & World Report: Qty 1. The following requirements apply to the delivery and administration of these subscriptions: 1) newspapers and magazines must be sorted, bundled and labeled in accordance with instructions provided by the Government; 2) Daily deliveries must occur by 6:00AM. Any delivery of Sat & Sun papers will occur the following Mon (deliveries for Federal holidays will occur on the next regular business day); 3) Contractor must establish and maintain a designated point-of-contact for delivery and administration information; 4) Missed, defective or mutilated newspapers or magazines will be reported and replacement expected (preferably the same day or the next business day). Terms and conditions: economic price adjustments - the Government will make adjustments in the FFP of these subscriptions due to substantiated publisher increases experienced by the distributor. It will be the responsibility of the distributor of providing notification within ten (10) business days after receiving notification from publishing companies so that the Government can properly obtain funding to satisfy the increase. Should funds not be available, subscription(s) will be canceled at the end of the fully paid period or when the funding currently available is exhausted. Destination-FOB. Responses to this solicitation must price all of the requirements listed above. Partial offerings will not be accepted or considered. Instructions to Offerors: Offerors are to submit proposals that, at a minimum, address the following: 1) ability to meet delivery and administration requirements included within thin synopsis/solicitation (maximum of two (2) 8.5X11 sheets of paper); 2) provide two (2) current or previous customers (within the last two years) with similar sized requirements (company/organization name, address, POC email and telephone number, brief description of requirement [number of newspaper/magazines physically delivered and any special delivery instructions or conditions]; and, 3) pricing for base year period (10/1/2009 - 9/30/2010) and two (2) option periods (10/1/2010 - 9/30/2011 & 10/1/2011 - 9/30/2012), with line item pricing for each individual newspaper and magazine listed above for each period referenced. Proposals will only be accepted in an MS (.doc) or Adobe (.pdf) format only. Evaluation Criteria: The Government will use the following criteria, listed in descending order of importance, in selecting a proposal for award - 1) Past performance: history of satisfactory performance; 2) ability to meet stated delivery and administration requirements - validation and confirmation of offeror's ability to meet minimum requirements as stated within this solicitation; and, 3) lowest overall price (inclusive of option pricing). Evaluation factors other than price, when combined, are significantly more important than price. The following FAR clauses and provisions are applicable and can be obtained by using the internet, http://www.acquisition.gov or by a written request to Government POC at facsimile number (202) 324-8031 or e-mail, [email protected]. FAR provisions 52,212-1 Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items (JUN 2008); 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications (AUG 2009); 52-212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (MAR 2009); 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statues or Executive Orders-Commercial Items (DEC 2009) - applicable clauses: 52.203-13, 52.219-8, 52.222-3, 52.222-19, 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37, 52.232-29, and 52.232-33. FBI specific clause - Release of Information - Publications by Contractor Personnel: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) specifically requires that Contractors shall not divulge, publish, or disclose information or produce material acquired as or derived from the performance of their duties. For purposes of this Clause, "Information" shall include but not be limited to: in any Media or all media including on the web or web sites; publications, studies, books, theses, photographs, films or public announcements, press releases describing any part of the subject matter of this contract or any phase of any program hereunder, except to the extent such is: 1. already known to the Contractor prior to the commencement of the contract; and, 2. required by law, regulation, subpoena or government or judicial order to be disclosed, including the Freedom of Information Act. No release of information shall be made without the prior written consent of the Office of Public Affairs and the Contracting Officer. The contractor and author are warned that disclosure is not without potential consequences. The FBI will make every effort to review proposed publications in a timely manner to accommodate these and other publications. These obligations do not cease upon completion of the contract. Proposals are to be delivered electronically to the Government POC listed above by COB, 3/10/2010. No telephone inquires will be accepted.