NOTICE FOR FILING AGENCY PROTESTS It is the policy of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to issue solicitations and make contract awards in a fair and timely manner. The Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests (OPAP) was established to investigate agency protest issues and resolve them without expensive and time-consuming litigation. OPAP is an independent reviewing authority that is empowered to grant a prevailing protester essentially the same relief as the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Interested parties are encouraged to seek resolution of their concerns within the USCG as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) forum, rather than filing a protest with the GAO or some external forum. Interested parties may seek resolution of their concerns informally or opt to file a formal agency protest with the contracting officer or Ombudsman. Informal forum with the Ombudsman. Interested parties who believe a specific USCG procurement is unfair or otherwise defective should first direct their concerns to the cognizant contracting officer. If the contracting officer is unable to satisfy the concerns, the interested party is encouraged to contact the USCG Ombudsman for Agency Protests. Under this informal process, the agency is not required to suspend contract award performance. Use of an informal forum does not suspend any time requirement for filing a protest with the agency or other forum. In order to ensure a timely response, interested parties should provide the following information to the Ombudsman: solicitation/contract number, contracting office, contracting officer, and solicitation closing date (if applicable). Formal Agency Protest with the Ombudsman. Prior to submitting a formal agency protest, protesters must first use their best efforts to resolve their concerns with the contracting officer through open and frank discussions. If the protester's concerns are unresolved, an independent review is available by the Ombudsman. The protester may file a formal agency protest to either the contracting officer or as an alternative to that, the Ombudsman under the OPAP program. Contract award or performance will be suspended during the protest period unless contract award or performance is justified, in writing, for urgent and compelling reasons or is determined in writing to be in the best interest of the Government. The agency's goal is to resolve protests in less than 35 calendar days from the date of filing. Protests shall include the information set forth in FAR 33.103. If the protester fails to submit the required information, resolution of the protest may be delayed or the protest may be dismissed. This will not preclude re-filing of the protest to meet the requirement. To be timely, protests must be filed within the period specified in FAR 33.103(e). Formal protests filed under the OPAP program should be submitted to: Department of Homeland Security United States Coast Guard (CG-91) Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests Email:
[email protected] Fax: 202-372-8447 Phone: 202-475-5786 Alternative Point of Contact: Contracting Officer USCG Aviation Logistics Center 1060 Consolidated Road Elizabeth City, NC 27909 252-335-6291 More information about the Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests (OPAP) can be found at http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/business/ombudsman.asp This notice is prepared in accordance with (IAW) FAR 5.207 and is not a request for quote (RFQ). RFQ number HSCG38-17-Q-301303 is assigned for tracking purposes only. This is a notice of the Government’s intent to award one (1) contract with firm-fixed prices to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Northrup Grumman Guidance & Electronics Company, Inc., Woodland Hills CA, for the following avionics equipment to maintain an inventory of RFI components to supply depot level maintenance and the field units. Nomenclature National Stock Number Part Number LN-100 Inertial Navigation Unit (INU) 6605-01-464-5485 804950-3 Repair of Inertial Navigation Units (INU) is a commercial item IAW FAR 2.101. They are used on the Coast Guard’s HC-130H aircraft. The NAICS code is 811219 Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance. Period of Performance will begin at award through final delivery. Set Aside: Pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements, under the authority of the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA), 41 U.S.C 2304(d)(1)(B). The Contracting Officer has determined that there is not a reasonable expectation of obtaining offers from two or more responsible small business concerns; therefore the small business set-aside is dissolved. This requirement is unrestricted. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement or quotation which will be considered by the agency. Interested parties are advised that the minimum qualifying standard for technical acceptability is the possession of an OEM license to perform the work. Anticipated date of award: On or about January 30, 2017.