DRAFT SOLICITATION -- Expert Financial Advisory Services (U.S. Information Technology Sector)

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an industry feedback form designed to gather input from potential bidders regarding the "Expert Financial Advisory Services" opportunity (Solicitation Number: 16PBGC26Q0023). It provides a structured way for companies to ask questions or make recommendations related to the solicitation.

• The form includes fields for Company Name, Contact Name, UEI #, and Contact Information.
• It has columns for TOPIC, ATTACHMENT TITLE, PAGE & SECTION #, QUESTION OR RECOMMENDATION, and GOVERNMENT RESPONSE.
• The primary purpose is to collect specific questions or recommendations from industry experts.

Bidders should use this form to submit any questions or feedback they have about the "Expert Financial Advisory Services" opportunity. This is a crucial step for clarifying requirements, understanding the scope, and potentially influencing the final solicitation details before proposals are due. The "Government Response" section, once populated, will provide official answers to submitted questions.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document contains an "Intent to Compete" form and a "Non-Disclosure Agreement" (NDA). The "Intent to Compete" form allows a respondent to express interest in the solicitation without committing to a bid. The NDA is a prerequisite for receiving the Performance Work Statement (PWS) and other solicitation documents. It outlines the terms under which confidential information related to the Request for Quotations (RFQ) will be shared and protected.

Intent to Compete Form:

• Requires certification of genuine interest, expertise, and eligibility to do business with the U.S. Government.
• Collects Firm Name, Unique Entity Identification, Authorized Representative Name and Title, and Signature.

Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA):

• Defines "Confidential Information" to include the PWS and other PBGC-disclosed information related to the RFQ.

• Outlines Respondent's obligations to protect confidential information, limit access to "need-to-know" personnel, and not disclose it to third parties.

• Specifies conditions under which disclosure is permitted (e.g., legally required).

• Details remedies for breach, including potential referral to the Suspending and Debarring Official.

• Bidders must complete and submit the "Intent to Compete" form to signal their interest.

• Signing the NDA is mandatory to receive the full solicitation package, including the PWS.

• Understanding the NDA terms is crucial for handling any confidential information provided during the solicitation process.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides instructions for respondents submitting quotations for Expert Financial Advisory Services to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). It supplements provision 52.212-1 and outlines specific requirements for quotation organization, formatting, and submission to ensure fairness and efficiency.

• Adherence to Instructions: Strict compliance with this addendum and provision 52.212-1 is mandatory; non-compliance may lead to disqualification.
• Quotation Due Dates: Volume 1 (Cover Letter and Qualifications) is due by the solicitation closing date. Volume 2 (Price Quotation) is due by a date to be announced by PBGC to qualifying firms. Oral presentations will be scheduled for qualifying respondents.
• Industry Questions: Questions are due by a date to be determined upon final solicitation release.
• Submission Method: Quotations must be submitted via email to designated points of contact.
• Quotation Organization and Formatting (Table 1):
  • Phase 1 (Pass/Fail): Volume 1 requires a Cover Letter and specific Attachment 6 forms (if not previously submitted). Documents must be in PDF, using a sans-serif font (11-point minimum). Oral presentations (PPT or PDF) have no page limits but must be deliverable within 10 minutes.
  • Phase 2 (Technical/Price): Oral presentations require a slide deck (submitted 24 hours prior), Microsoft Teams connectivity, reliable audio/visual, and participation of a Team Lead and Expert Witness.
  • Volume 2: Includes a Cover Letter, completed EFAS Pricing Template, and an OCI Risk Mitigation Plan (if applicable).
• Cover Letter Requirements: Must include specific information per 52.212-1, a statement on restructuring advisory services provided, names of presenters, agreement to hold prices for 60 days, OCI certification or explanation, a leadership certification statement, and authorized signature.
• Oral Presentation Details: 10-minute prepared presentation, slide deck submission 24 hours prior, participation of Team Lead and Expert Witness (no substitutions), and presentations conducted via Microsoft Teams.
• OCI Risk Mitigation Plan: Required only if OCI absence cannot be certified, detailing the OCI issue, origin, and mitigation plan.
• Price Quotation: Must use the Attachment 5 – EFAS Income Pricing Template.

This document is critical for understanding the specific submission requirements, deadlines, formatting, and evaluation process for the Expert Financial Advisory Services opportunity. Bidders must carefully review and adhere to all instructions regarding quotation content, organization, and submission to ensure their proposal is considered compliant and competitive.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet serving as a pricing template for the EFAS opportunity. Bidders are instructed to use this template to provide their pricing for the services outlined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

• Instructions: Complete the "Price per Unit" fields for each contract year. Do not alter the "plug figure" for CLIN 0004 (Travel). CLIN 0005 represents the price for the first month of service only.
• CLINs: The template includes CLINs for Monitoring Support Services (0001/1001), Active Engagement Services (0002/1002), Expert Testimony Services (0003/1003), Travel (0004/1004), and Monitoring Support Services with Initial Deliverables (0005).
• Contract Years: Pricing is requested for five ordering periods (contract years).
• Units of Measure: Units include Month and Hour for services, and Year for Travel.
• Travel Pricing: A fixed estimated price of $1,000 per year is provided for CLIN 0004 for price evaluation purposes only.

This template is critical for bidders to accurately submit their pricing proposal. It outlines the specific services and contract periods for which pricing is required and provides instructions on how to complete the pricing schedule. Failure to adhere to the template's format and instructions may impact proposal evaluation.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the evaluation criteria and methodology that the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) will use to assess quotations for Expert Financial Advisory Services.

• Basis for Award: Contracts will be awarded to responsible respondents whose quotations are most advantageous to the Government, considering price and other factors. PBGC may select technically superior quotations even if not the lowest priced, or better value quotations with lower prices.
• Evaluation Factors:
  • Respondent Qualifications (Pass/Fail)
  • Contractor Experience (Qualitative Assessment)
  • Personnel Experience (Qualitative Assessment)
  • Past Performance (Qualitative Assessment)
  • Price (Price Analysis)
• Evaluation Phases:
  • Phase 1: Pass/Fail assessment of Respondent Qualifications. Failure to meet minimum criteria results in elimination.
  • Phase 2: Technical and Price Quotation Assessments for respondents passing Phase 1. Oral presentations may be invited.
• Factor 1 - Respondent Qualifications: Requires compliance with submission requirements, provision of specific restructuring advisory services to debtors with at least $4 billion in funded debt, and timely submission of Attachment 6 – Intent to Compete and Non-Disclosure Agreement.
• Factor 2 - Contractor Experience: Assesses relevant work experience within the last 10 years, with prime contract experience and PBGC pension termination process experience being particularly important.
• Factor 3 - Personnel Experience: Evaluates the experience of proposed personnel within the last 10 years, with relevant expert testimony experience being particularly important.
• Factor 4 - Past Performance: Reviews performance on relevant work within the last 3 years, using sources like CPARS and client references.
• Factor 5 - Price: Evaluated using price analysis for specific task orders (Task Order 0001 for Monitoring Support Services and Task Order 0002 for Active Engagement Services, Expert Testimony, and travel). Annual escalation rates will also be examined.

This document is critical for bidders as it details the specific criteria and process by which their quotations will be evaluated. Understanding these factors will allow bidders to tailor their proposals to meet PBGC's requirements, emphasizing relevant experience, qualifications, and competitive pricing to maximize their chances of award.