PART VI EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS, CONTRACT AWARD AND CONTRACT EXECUTION SECTION TITLE N Evaluation of Proposals O Contract Award P Contract Execution RFP No. 016-020 Risk and Security Assessment of VRE’s Bandwidth and Network Infrastructure Virginia Railway Express 50 SECTION N EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS N.1 GENERAL Proposals will be evaluated based on the evaluation criteria as stated below. A l000point scale will be used to create the final evaluation recommendation. When assessing points, a 1-10 scale will be utilized and multiplied by the weight assigned. N.2 SCORING METHODOLOGY The Technical Evaluation Team will review and evaluate the Proposals using the following scale: Points 9 - 10 Guidance Outstanding: Meets all of the requirements / exceeds expectations / excellent probability of success in achieving all objectives / very innovative. 6-8 Above Average: Exceeds minimum requirement / sound response / very good probability of success. 4-5 Average: Meets minimum requirement / has a reasonable probability of success. 2-3 Fair: Partially responsive / falls short of meeting basic expectations / has a low probability of success. 1 0 RFP No. 016-020 Risk and Security Assessment of VRE’s Bandwidth and Network Infrastructure Virginia Railway Express Poor: Inadequate / fails to meet the requirement. Failure: No response / the information is missing altogether. 51 N.3 EVALUATION CRITERIA The following criteria and weighting scheme will be utilized to evaluate Proposals: Evaluation Criteria Maximum Points Weight Maximum Score A. Project approach including methods proposed for satisfying the requirements and goals of VRE. 10 20 200 B. Management plan to properly perform the work outlined in the Scope of Work. 10 10 100 C. Capability and expertise of the proposed firm(s) to include ability to perform a risk and security assessment of bandwidth and network infrastructure. 10 10 100 D. Knowledge and qualifications of the proposed Project Manager. 10 10 100 E. Knowledge and qualifications of the proposed key personnel. 10 10 100 F. Effectiveness of the project schedule. 10 10 100 G. Plan to perform data collection and analysis and plan to perform strategic recommendations, implementation and remediation. 10 10 100 H. Plan to develop an effective cyber security training and education program for VRE staff. 10 10 100 I. Cost for services. 10 10 100 TOTAL POINTS RFP No. 016-020 Risk and Security Assessment of VRE’s Bandwidth and Network Infrastructure Virginia Railway Express 1000 52 SECTION O CONTRACT AWARD O.1 GENERAL VRE may cancel this RFP or reject Proposals at any time prior to an award and is not required to furnish a statement of the reason why a particular Proposal was not deemed to be the most advantageous (Code of Virginia, § 2.2-4359D). O.2 AWARD SELECTION A Technical Evaluation Team (TET) will review the Proposals using written score sheets. Offerors will be in ranked order according to the scores of the TET. Selection shall be made of one (1) Offeror deemed to be the best for the project on the basis of the evaluation factors. O.3 O.4 INTERVIEWS (OPTIONAL) A. As the TET may require a personal interview with the highest ranked Offerors, the date and time specified in SECTION B – PROCUREMENT SCHEDULE of this RFP shall be reserved for possible interviews. Interviews will be held at the VRE Offices, 1500 King Street, Suite 202, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. B. The interview will provide an opportunity for the Offeror to clarify their Proposal in response to questions from the TET. This is a fact-finding and explanation session only and does not include negotiations. C. As interviews are optional for VRE, Offerors must treat their Proposals as a final product. NEGOTIATIONS A. Selection shall be made of two (2) or more Offerors deemed to be fully qualified and best suited among those submitting Proposals, on the basis of the factors specified in the evaluation criteria. B. Negotiations shall be conducted with each of the selected Offerors to achieve a binding price and agreement on the Contract terms. Price shall be considered, but need not be the sole or primary determining factor. RFP No. 016-020 Risk and Security Assessment of VRE’s Bandwidth and Network Infrastructure Virginia Railway Express 53 C. O.5 Following negotiations, VRE will request each of the selected Offerors to submit a binding Cost Proposal. AWARD DOCUMENTS The award document will be a Contract incorporating by reference the Request for Proposals, Terms and Conditions, Contract Provisions, Scope of Work/Services and/or Technical Specifications, and the Contractor’s Proposal as negotiated. O.6 NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD In addition to any verbal notice that VRE may make to Offerors, Proposal results will be posted on VRE’s website at www.vre.org. VRE will post the “Notice of Intent to Award” on its website for a minimum of ten (10) calendar days. The “Notice of Intent to Award” shall not be construed as a “Notice-To-Proceed (NTP).” O.7 NOTICE OF AWARD A “Notice of Award” will be posted on VRE’s website at www.vre.org. The successful Offeror will be notified in writing by VRE. RFP No. 016-020 Risk and Security Assessment of VRE’s Bandwidth and Network Infrastructure Virginia Railway Express 54 SECTION P CONTRACT EXECUTION P.1 CONTRACT DOCUMENTS A. P.2 The successful Offeror shall deliver the following Contract documents to VRE: 1. Signed Contract 2. Payment Bond or Irrevocable Letters of Credit (if applicable) 3. Insurance Certificates 4. Form W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification B. The aforementioned documents must be submitted to VRE not later than ten (10) calendar days after receipt of the Contract and “Notice of Intent to Award.” C. The Contract shall be in writing. The Contractor shall execute the Contract in the number of copies required by VRE. One (1) fully executed original shall be delivered to the Contractor. FAILURE TO EXECUTE CONTRACT Should the successful Offeror fail to execute the Contract within ten (10) calendar days after receipt and submit the required bond and Insurance Certificates, VRE may at its option, determine that the Offeror has abandoned the Contract, and thereupon, the Proposal and acceptance shall be null and void. VRE may also seek all available remedies at law and equity. P.3 NOTICE-TO-PROCEED (NTP) A “Notice-To-Proceed” (NTP) will be issued separately upon execution of the Contract. Contract performance shall begin on the date set forth in the written NTP. The NTP shall start the time for which the Contractor is responsible for completion of the project. RFP No. 016-020 Risk and Security Assessment of VRE’s Bandwidth and Network Infrastructure Virginia Railway Express 55