NASA Acquisition Internet Service (NAIS) Agencywide suite of web-based apps enabling electronic commerce among all 800 NASA buyers and industry 4 BizOpps (all competitive >$25K; many competitive <$25K; some directed sources) –Electronic Posting System (EPS) –Solicitation indexing, search, and notification 4 Request For Quote System (RFQS) 4 Electronic Procurement (EPRO) 4 Active contracts summary database (FACS) 4 Reference library and reg search 4 Consolidated Contracting Initiative (CCI) 4 Past Performance Database System (PPDB) 4 Procurement Data Warehouse System (PDWS) 4 Virtual Procurement Office (VPO)

Electronic Procurement (EPRO) 4 Bi-directional exchange for contract acquisitions requiring legally-binding offers 4 Required Tools –Internet browser –Word processor –Informed Filler (forms)* –Entrust (digital signature)* –3rd party secure vendor upload when not suitable 4 Experience to date –Strong infrastructure required; NASA not yet there –New tools require lots of hand holding *Agency-professed standards

Request For Quote System (RFQS) 4 Web-based application enabling bi- directional exchange between Gov buyer and vendors –Generate Request For Quotes –Enable vendor submission of quotes 4 Required tools –Internet browser –Word processor

Request For Quote System (RFQS) 4 Applies to acquisitions for commercial items conducted under FAR Part 13 (up to $5,000,000). –FAR 13.5 authorizes use of simplified procedures for the acquisition of supplies and services in amounts greater than the simplified acquisition threshold but not exceeding $5,000,000

Request For Quote System (RFQS) Commercial Item Procedures 4 Congressional Mandate - FAR (d)(1) –Shall use Commercial Item Procedures if Government's need is an item or service customarily available in the commercial marketplace 4 Definition of Commercial Item is Very Broad –majority of purchases should fall within definition of commercial item 4 Solicitation Response Time - FAR –allows Contracting Officer to establish a solicitation response time 4 Combined synopsis/solicitation process allowed 4 Simple Best Value Evaluation allowed –More flexibility in evaluation and selection –Greatest overall benefit to the Government

Request For Quote System (RFQS) Commercial Item Procedures (Continued) SAMPLE BEST VALUE EVALUATION –Selection and award will be based upon overall Best Value to the Government, with consideration given to the factors of proposed technical merit, price, and past performance. The specific value characteristics are as follows: Delivery schedule, frame rate, image quality, image storage and retrieval features. –For selection purposes, technical, price and past performance are essentially equal in importance. Offerors MUST provide adequate detail to allow evaluation of each offer (See FAR ).

Request For Quote System (RFQS) How Does RFQS Work Currently in Production –Buyer/Contract Specialist creates synopsis and RFQ using EPS –Synopsis and RFQ Posted to NAIS BizOpps, FedBizOpps, and CBD –Vendor reviews requirements then submits quote and reps and certs electronically via RFQS –Buyer/Contract Specialist reviews electronic quotes - bid abstract is automatically created –Buyer finalizes purchase order using vendor-provided data

Request For Quote System (RFQS) Future Enhancements 4 Single-screen input for vendors 4 Increased size of description field Upload capability for vendor submittals 4 Produce purchase order (SF 1449) and bid abstract in rich- text format 4 Electronic exchange of purchase order 4 Certification by Performance –Eliminate detailed reps and certs from solicitation; reserve for successful vendor