The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), the Department of Defense Medical School and Health Sciences University, Bethesda, MD has a requirement for the rental of medical school, nursing school, dental school and graduate program cap and gown units with hoods, and guest speaker and honorary degree hoods; for the purchase of diplomas, diploma covers, program covers and invitations (invitations not included in the base year period) for the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine and the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing. The Description/Statement of Work/Specifications, below, describes the performance requirements for the supplier of these items.

1. GENERAL STATEMENT

It is the intention of this Statement of Work (SOW), to obtain the rental of medical school, nursing school, dental school and graduate program cap and gown units with hoods; and the purchase of diplomas, diploma covers, program covers and invitations for the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine and the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU).

Receipt of the completed invitations must be no later than 1 February of each contract year (except for the base year) in order to address and mail to VIPs. Receipt of completed diplomas must be no later than 15 April of each contract year. Rental caps, gowns, and hoods must be received at USU no later than 1 May of each contract year. Commencement is held each year on Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May. The 2014 Graduation will be held on 17 May 2014.

All required supplies and services shall be subject to all Federal Acquisition Regulations, Federal, State, and Local requirements. All items shall fully meet industry standards. All quantities are estimates and are subject to change as requirement changes.

2. MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

    2.1 Offerors shall provide the type and quality of materials and workmanship specified.

    2.2 Offerors shall provide a representative in the area who will make periodic calls on the end user within USUHS as frequently as required.

    2.3 Proofs shall be provided for any items requiring printing prior to the final production run. Proofs shall be approved by the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) before the final production run.

    2.4 Offerors shall provide a sample of the product required under each contract line item (CLIN) at the time of the offer.

    2.5 The University shall require different delivery dates for each line item for the May graduation.

    2.6 All orders may be paid via EFT through DFAS.

3. SPECIFICATIONS- CAPS & GOWNS

    3.1 Caps: the mortarboards are to be covered in black polyester and cotton blend fabric, 65% polyester and 35% cotton. Caps must be one size fits all.

    3.2 The button in the center of the cap is to be covered in the same fabric as the cap; plastic or metal buttons are not acceptable.

    3.3 Tassels: for all USUHS graduates, tassels are to be fastened to the middle of the top of the cap. Tassel colors are as follows:

        3.3.1 For all students, the color matches the velvet on the degree hood.

        3.3.2 For all Faculty MDs & PhDs, the tassel is old gold.

        3.3.3 For all Faculties with a Master's Degree, the tassel is black.

    3.4 Mortar boards of the caps are to measure 9 3/8 inches square.

    3.5 The caps are to be lined with a non-woven pillion fabric to assure clean appearance and non-bulky fit.

    3.6 Gowns: the fabric will be black polyester and cotton blend of 65% polyester and 35% cotton.

    3.7 Fluting across the shoulder and back of gown will be heavily pleated.

    3.8 Yoke will contain a non-woven inner pillion lining.

    3.9 Sleeves are to be double-lined in order to give a full body appearance.

    3.10 Front velvet panels will extend around and join behind the neck.

    3.11 Front panels and sleeve bars will be made from plush woven black cotton velvet.

    3.12 Zipper will be black and self-healing.

    3.13 Velcro closures on sleeves of all MD graduate gowns.

    3.14 Gowns will conform to the most current Academic Code of the American Council on Education.

    3.15 All caps and gowns are to be individually packed and sorted in alphabetical order.

4. HOODS

    4.1 Outside of hood shall be black in color and made of fabric matching the gown, 65% polyester and 35% cotton.

    4.2 The lining of the hood for all USUHS graduates shall be made from luster satin, in the colors of purple and gold.

    4.3 The lining of the hoods for all USUHS faculty shall be made from luster satin in the colors of the institution that awarded the degree.

    4.4 The degree bands on all hoods are to be made from the same quality plush woven cotton velvet used on the gown. The colors are as follows:

        4.4.1 For M.D. graduates the velvet trim is green.

        4.4.2 For Ph.D. graduates the velvet trim is dark blue.

        4.4.3 For M.S. graduates the velvet trim is yellow gold.

        4.4.4 For Master of Public Health graduates the velvet trim is salmon pink.

        4.4.5 For Master of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene graduates the velvet trim is salmon pink.

        4.4.6 For Master of Science in Nursing the velvet trim is apricot.

        4.4.7 For Doctor of Public Health the velvet trim is salmon pink.

    4.5 The degree bands shall conform in size and color to the most current Academic Code of the American Council on Education.

    4.6 All M.D. and Ph.D. hoods will be 4 feet in length with a 5 inch width of velvet edging.

    4.7 All Master hoods will be 3 1/2 feet in length with a 3 inch width of velvet edging.

    4.8 Shapes, dimensions, and patterns shall conform to the most current Academic Code of the American Council on Education.

5. DIPLOMAS

    5.1 Paper stock shall be Ivory 100 diploma parchment, white weave, and 100% cotton count. Basis weight 48#.

    5.2 Seal shall be the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Seal, to be embossed and engraved from steel dies in the following eight, true Pantone colors:

        Gold: 457 U, 873 C
        Light blue: 291 U, 297 C (or 291 C)
        Maroon: 222 U, 222 C (or 506 C)
        Navy: 282 U, 282 C (or 539 C)
        Green: 349 U, 349 C
        Red: warm red U or C
        Yellow: 122 U, 123 C
        White

    5.3 Diploma size shall be 14 inches x 11 inches.

**Lithography printing will not be accepted**

    5.4 Text shall be printed with rich non-fading black ink with all impressions to be sharp and clear.

    5.5 The names, degrees, areas of specialization, datelines, title lines, and signatures will be embossed in rich, non-fading black ink. Each diploma will have three title lines and signatures.

    5.6 All Offerors shall reprint diplomas found to contain typographical errors in sufficient time to be received prior to graduation at no additional cost to the Government.

6. DIPLOMA COVERS

    6.1 Diploma cover stock shall be black flexoid, .030 inches with calf grain.

    6.2 Diploma cover fold shall be up-fold. When folded, cover shall be 14 ¾ inches x 11 ½ inches. When diploma cover is flat it shall be 29 ½ inches x 11 ½ inches.

    6.3 Seal: the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Seal shall be stamped in gold, centered on the front of the cover.

    6.4 Lining: the cover lining shall be one piece craft paper with hour white corner pocket ribbons.

    6.5 Protector: a clear acetate diploma protector shall be supplied with each cover.

7. PROGRAM COVERS

    7.1 Program covers shall be seashell in color.

    7.2 When flat it shall be 12 inches x 9 inches. Program covers shall be scored for folding to 6 inches by 9 inches, but shipped "flat."

    7.3 Program covers stock shall be a basis weight of 62#.

    7.4 The University Seal is to be engraved and deeply embossed in gold and double burnished.

8. PROGRAM COVER TASSELS

    8.1 Tassel Style shall be #1 program cord of red, white and blue with a length of 12 inches.

9. INVITATIONS WITH ENVELOPE

    9.1 Paper stock color shall be seashell, and Basis weight 40#.

    9.2 Text (Zaph Chancery Font): Script shall have date line and be in 30 and 36 point. Wording is to be engraved from steel plates in rich non-fading black ink.

    9.3 Fold: French Fold, folded: 4 ½ inches x 5 15/16 inches, flat: 9 inches x 11 7/8 inches).

    9.4 Front: deeply blind embossed double panel, ellipse interior, rectangle exterior.

    9.5 Seal: University Seal is to be engraved and deeply embossed in gold and double burnished.

    9.6 Envelopes: Inside envelope 4 5/8 inches x 6 1/8 inches. Basis weight 28#, seashell color, gummed. Outside envelope, 4 3/4 x 6 3/8 inches, basis weight 28#, seashell color, gummed.

    9.7 R.S.V.P. card: same paper stock and font as invitation, 3 inches x 4 inches.

    9.8 Packaging-Graduation invitations, inside and outside shall be bundled in clear plastic in lots of 10 for easy distribution.

This requirement is subject to the availability of funds, in accordance with FAR 52.232-18.

The Government intends to award a single firm-fixed priced (FFP) option year purchase order to the offeror representing the best value to the Government based on the evaluation factors listed below. Evaluation factors are listed in order of importance, with most important listed first. The Government will conduct a trade-off between price and non-price factors. The Government is not required to award to the lowest priced offeror or the highest technically rated offeror.

The Government reserves the right to award without discussions.

Evaluation Factors (listed in order of importance):

1. Price: Offerors must include all applicable costs (example: shipping & handling, etc.) in their quote. The total quoted price for all applicable costs will be the evaluated price.

2. Past Performance: The Government shall evaluate the offeror's present and past performance on similar tasks within the past three years. Offerors must provide three (3) customer references for similar work performed. The Government reserves the right to select which reference(s) to contact. The following must be provided for each listed reference:

    a. Name of client and address
    b. Name of current point of contact including telephone number, e-mail address and title
    c. Contract number
    d. Contract value
    e. Contract period of performance
    f. A clear description of the supplies/services provided

USU may request additional information at any time.

Offerors will have an opportunity to address any adverse past performance history. Offerors who do not have any past performance history will not be rated favorably or unfavorably, but will instead receive a Neutral/Unknown rating for past performance. Offerors must clearly state in their quote if they do not have at least two (2) past performance references. Failure to provide this information may render an offeror's quote non-responsive and may not be considered for award.

A strong history of relevant past performance may be more advantageous to the Government than a less relevant record of favorable performance. The Government reserves the right to use data provided by the offeror and data provided by alternative sources in conducting its assessment of past performance history.

3. Technical: Offerors are required to submit a sample of each product required under each CLIN at the time of the offer. Offerors must also include estimated delivery lead time.

Note - All sample items will be returned upon request after the contract is awarded. Also, it is not required to send a sample of the USU symbol with the sample.

Offerors must submit the following with their quote:

• Completed copy of DFARS Provision 252.209-7994 Representation by Corporations Regarding an Unpaid Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction under any Federal Law - Fiscal Year 2014
• Completed copy of DFARS Provision 252.225-7000 Buy American Statute - Balance of Payments Program Certificate

See attached list for applicable provisions and clauses for this requirement.

Questions/clarifications regarding this solicitation must be submitted via email to [email protected] by 3 January 2014. Any question received after 3 January 2014 will not be answered. Questions will not be answered over the phone or submitted by any other means. All questions will be answered in an amendment to the RFQ emailed on or around 6 January 2014.

Quote packages are due by 10:00pm EST on 10 January 2014. Quotes must be submitted via email to [email protected]. Quotes will not be accepted by any other means. Samples must be sent to the following address:

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Acquisitions Directorate
Attention: Melissa T. Marcellus, Contracting Officer
4301 Jones Bridge Road, Room A1040C
Bethesda, MD 20814-4799

Late quotes will not be considered. Quote packages should include a cover sheet that provides the following information:

• Company Name
• Point of Contact, to include email and phone number
• DUNS Number
• Statement that includes acknowledgement of latest amendment number

Attachments:

CLIN Structure
Applicable Provisions & Clauses