FAR 52.212-1 Tailored for SAP (Final Version)
In a earlier blog entry, I posted a draft version of the provision at FAR 52.212-1 tailored for simplified acquisition procedures and requested comments. First, I'd like to thank everyone who provided comments. I believe the final version (below) is an improvement over the draft. Second, Carl Culham suggested that I include instructions on how to incorporate a tailored version of FAR 52.212-1 into a solicitation. I thought that was a good idea, so I will include instructions in this entry. Third, Vern Edwards tailored FAR 52.212-1 for SAP using plain language. His version is clear and easy to read, which may cause some of your lawyers and policy folks to balk at using it. If that's the case, you may want to refer them to plainlanguage.gov so they can familiarize themselves with the Federal Government's policy on the use of plain language to communicate with the public. Vern's plain language version is also posted below.
Incorporating a Tailored Version of FAR 52.212-1
FAR 12.302(d) contains the following guidance regarding tailoring:
Tailoring shall be by addenda to the solicitation and contract. The contracting officer shall indicate in Block 27a of the SF 1449 if addenda are attached. These addenda may include, for example, a continuation of the schedule of supplies/services to be acquired from blocks 18 through 21 of the SF 1449; a continuation of the description of the supplies/services being acquired; further elaboration of any other item(s) on the SF 1449; any other terms or conditions necessary for the performance of the proposed contract (such as options, ordering procedures for indefinite-delivery type contracts, warranties, contract financing arrangements, etc.).
According to the format prescribed at FAR 12.303(e)(2), the addendum to FAR 52.212-1 should be located with the solicitation provisions. The addendum should be clearly identified as such (e.g., "Addendum to FAR 52.212-1"). Carl Culham suggested, and I agree, that there should also be some kind of lead in statement that indicates that the version of FAR 52.212-1 in the addendum supersedes the version of FAR 52.212-1 contained in the FAR (e.g., "FAR 52.212-1 is replaced in its entirety by this addendum"). If using the streamlined solicitation for commercial items discussed at FAR 12.603, then you must include a statement that the provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial, applies to the acquisition and a statement regarding any addenda to the provision. The addendum should then be included in full text.
FAR 52.212-1 Tailored for SAP
Here's the final version of the provision at FAR 52.212-1 tailored for SAP:
Instructions to Quoters—Commercial Items
(a) North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and small business size standard. The NAICS code and small business size standard for this acquisition appear in Block 10 of the solicitation cover sheet (SF 1449). However, the small business size standard for a concern which submits a quotation in its own name, but which proposes to furnish an item which it did not itself manufacture, is 500 employees.
( b ) Submission of quotations. Submit quotations to the office specified in this solicitation at or before the exact time specified in this solicitation. Quotations may be submitted on the SF 1449, letterhead stationery, or as otherwise specified in the solicitation. As a minimum, quotations must show-
(1) The solicitation number;
(2) The time specified in the solicitation for receipt of quotations;
(3) The name, address, and telephone number of the quoter;
(4) A technical description of the items being quoted in sufficient detail to evaluate compliance with the requirements in the solicitation. This may include product literature, or other documents, if necessary;
(5) Terms of any express warranty;
(6) Price and any discount terms;
(7) “Remit to” address, if different than mailing address;
(8) A completed copy of the representations and certifications at FAR 52.212-3 (see FAR 52.212-3( b ) for those representations and certifications that the quoter shall complete electronically);
(9) Acknowledgment of Solicitation Amendments;
(10) Past performance information, when included as an evaluation factor, to include recent and relevant contracts for the same or similar items and other references (including contract numbers, points of contact with telephone numbers and other relevant information); and
(11) If the quotation is not submitted on the SF 1449, include a statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. Quotations that fail to furnish required representations or information, or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration.
( c ) Reserved.
(d) Product samples. When required by the solicitation, product samples shall be submitted at or prior to the time specified for receipt of quotations. Unless otherwise specified in this solicitation, these samples shall be submitted at no expense to the Government, and returned at the sender’s request and expense, unless they are destroyed during testing.
(e) Multiple quotations. Quoters are encouraged to submit multiple quotations presenting alternative terms and conditions or commercial items for satisfying the requirements of this solicitation. Each quotation submitted will be evaluated separately.
(f) Late submissions.
(1) Quoters are responsible for submitting quotations so as to reach the Government office designated in the solicitation by the time specified in the solicitation. If no time is specified in the solicitation, the time for receipt is 4:30 p.m., local time, for the designated Government office on the date that quotations are due.
(2) Any quotation received at the Government office designated in the solicitation after the exact time specified for receipt of quotations is late and will not be considered unless it is received before purchase order issuance and the Contracting Officer determines that accepting the late quotation would not unduly delay the acquisition.
(3) If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal Government processes so that quotations cannot be received at the Government office designated for receipt of quotations by the exact time specified in the solicitation, and urgent Government requirements preclude amendment of the solicitation or other notice of an extension of the closing date, the time specified for receipt of quotations will be deemed to be extended to the same time of day specified in the solicitation on the first work day on which normal Government processes resume.
(g) Issuance of purchase order. Quotations should contain the quoter’s best technical and price terms. The Contracting Officer may reject any or all quotations. The Contracting Officer may issue a purchase order to other than the quoter with the lowest priced quotation. After the evaluation of quotations, the Contracting Officer may negotiate final terms with one or more quoters of the Government’s choice before issuing any purchase order. The Contracting Officer will not negotiate with any quoters other than those of the Government’s choice and will not use the formal source selection procedures described in FAR part 15.
(h) Multiple purchase orders. The Government may issue a purchase order for any item or group of items of a quotation, unless the quoter qualifies the quotation by specific limitations. Unless otherwise provided in the Schedule, quotations may not be submitted for quantities less than those specified. The Government reserves the right to issue a purchase order for a quantity less than the quantity quoted, at the unit prices quoted, unless the quoter specifies otherwise in the quotation.
(i) Availability of requirements documents cited in the solicitation.
(1)(i) The GSA Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions, FPMR Part 101-29, and copies of specifications, standards, and commercial item descriptions cited in this solicitation may be obtained for a fee by submitting a request to-
GSA Federal Supply Service Specifications Section
Suite 8100
470 East L’Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20407
Telephone (202) 619-8925
Facsimile (202) 619-8978.(ii) If the General Services Administration, Department of Agriculture, or Department of Veterans Affairs issued this solicitation, a single copy of specifications, standards, and commercial item descriptions cited in this solicitation may be obtained free of charge by submitting a request to the addressee in paragraph (i)(1)(i) of this provision. Additional copies will be issued for a fee.(2) Most unclassified Defense specifications and standards may be downloaded from the following ASSIST websites:
(i) ASSIST (https://assist.dla.mil/online/start/).
(ii) Quick Search (http://quicksearch.dla.mil/).
(iii) ASSISTdocs.com (http://assistdocs.com).
(3) Documents not available from ASSIST may be ordered from the Department of Defense Single Stock Point (DoDSSP) by-
(i) Using the ASSIST Shopping Wizard (https://assist.dla.mil/wizard/index.cfm);
(ii) Phoning the DoDSSP Customer Service Desk (215) 697-2179, Mon-Fri, 0730 to 1600 EST; or
(iii) Ordering from DoDSSP, Building 4, Section D, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Telephone (215) 697-2667/2179, Facsimile (215) 697-1462.
(4) Nongovernment (voluntary) standards must be obtained from the organization responsible for their preparation, publication, or maintenance.
(j) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number. (Applies to all quotations exceeding $3,000, and quotations of $3,000 or less if the solicitation requires the Contractor to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database.) The quoter shall enter, in the block with its name and address on the cover page of its quotation, the annotation “DUNS” or “DUNS+4” followed by the DUNS or DUNS+4 number that identifies the quoter’s name and address. The DUNS+4 is the DUNS number plus a 4-character suffix that may be assigned at the discretion of the quoter to establish additional SAM records for identifying alternative Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) accounts (see FAR Subpart 32.11) for the same concern. If the quoter does not have a DUNS number, it should contact Dun and Bradstreet directly to obtain one. A quoter within the United States may contact Dun and Bradstreet by calling 1-866-705-5711 or via the internet at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. A quoter located outside the United States must contact the local Dun and Bradstreet office for a DUNS number. The quoter should indicate that it is a quoter for a Government contract when contacting the local Dun and Bradstreet office.
(k) System for Award Management. Unless exempted by an addendum to this solicitation, by submission of a quotation, the quoter acknowledges the requirement that a prospective contractor shall be registered in the SAM database prior to purchase order issuance, during performance and through final payment of any contract resulting from this solicitation. If the quoter does not become registered in the SAM database in the time prescribed by the Contracting Officer, the Contracting Officer will proceed to issue the purchase order to the next otherwise successful registered quoter. Quoters may obtain information on registration and annual confirmation requirements via the SAM database accessed through https://www.acquisition.gov.
(l) Requests for information. The contracting officer will not notify unsuccessful quoters that responded to this solicitation. Quoters may request information on purchase order(s) resulting from this solicitation from the contracting officer.
FAR 52.212-1 Tailored for SAP (Plain Language Version)
Here's Vern's plain language version of FAR 52.212-1 tailored for SAP:
INSTRUCTIONS TO QUOTERS
Submitting your quote. Submit your company’s quote in writing and on paper to the address specified in Block __ of this Request For Quotes (RFQ). You may submit more than one quote. If you do, we will evaluate each separately.
Submission deadline. We must receive your quote at the address specified in Block __ by the deadline specified in Block __. We will not consider any quote that we receive after the deadline unless we receive it before we issue a purchase order and considering it will not delay our purchase. In case of an emergency that delays our operations and makes submission or receipt of your quote impossible, we will extend the deadline by one working day.
Terms and content of your quote. Your quote must be based on the terms of this RFQ. We might reject any quote that is not based on these terms in every respect. Your quote must contain all of the information described below.
Small Business Status. In order to submit a quote, you must know whether your company is a small business. The small business size standard that applies to this purchase is stated in Block __ of the cover sheet of this RFQ, along with the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code on which it is based. Regardless of the information in Block __, the small business size standard is 500 employees if you are submitting your quote in your own name but intend to provide a product that you did not manufacture yourself.
Issuance of purchase order. Your quote should contain your best terms. The Contracting Officer may reject any or all quotes. After the evaluation of quotes, the Contracting Officer may negotiate final terms with one or more quoters of the Government’s choice before issuing a purchase order. The Contracting Officer will not negotiate with any quoters other than those of the Government’s choice and will not use the formal source selection procedures described in FAR Part 15.
The Contracting Officer may issue a purchase order to other than the quoter with the lowest price. We might issue multiple orders, purchasing various items or groups of items from different quoters. We might issue an order for less than the quantity on which your quote is based, at the quoted price, unless you tell us that you will not accept an order on that basis.
Information to be submitted. Put the following information on the first page of your quote:
1. the number of this RFQ;
2. your company name, address, DUNS number (see below) and telephone number;
3. your price and any discount terms;
4. acknowledgement of any amendments to this RFQ; and
5. a statement that you assent to all terms of this RFQ.
Beginning on the second page of your quote, provide the following information in the following order:
1. a detailed description of the product or service that you will provide, including any product or service literature that you wish to give us;
2. the terms of any express warranty;
3. your payment address;
4. references to current or former customers who will attest to the quality of your product or service in the within the past three years, including (i) customer name, (ii) customer address, (iii) contract or purchase order numbers, (iv) persons to contact, and (v) telephone numbers.
Product samples. If this RFQ requires that you submit product samples, you must deliver them to us at the location specified for our receipt on or before the deadline for submission of your quote. We will not pay for the samples, and we will return them to you only upon request and at your expense, unless they are destroyed during testing.
Availability of Government Documents. If the descriptions in this RFQ of the products or services we want to buy refer to any Government specification, standard, or commercial item description, you may obtain a copy of any such documents from the places listed in Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.212-1, paragraph (i).
System for Award Management (SAM). Unless exempted by the Contracting Officer, you must register in SAM before we will issue a purchase order to you. If you do not register by the date set by the Contracting Officer, the Contracting Officer might issue the order to a different quoter. Once registered, you must remain registered throughout performance until final payment. Go tohttps://www.acquisition.gov for information on SAM registration and annual confirmation.
DUNS Number (Data Universal Numbering System Number). [This applies to all quote if the solicitation requires that you be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).] Place the annotation “DUNS” or “DUNS+4” next to your name and address on the first page of your quote followed by the DUNS or DUNS+4 number that identifies the quoter’s name and address.
If you do not have a DUNS number, contact Dun and Bradstreet to obtain one. If you are located within the United States, you may contact Dun and Bradstreet by calling 1-866-705-5711 or via the internet at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
If you are located outside the United States, you must contact the local Dun and Bradstreet office for a DUNS number. Tell Dun and Bradstreet that you are a quoter for a Government contract when contacting the local Dun and Bradstreet office.
The DUNS+4 is the DUNS number plus a 4-character suffix that you may use at your discretion to establish additional SAM records for identifying alternative Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) accounts (see FAR Subpart 32.11) for your company.
I hope some of you will try these provisions. If you do, let us know how it goes.
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