Furniture Lease in Support of DR-4482-CA

NOTICE OF FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR AGENCY PROTESTS NOTICE OF FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR AGENCY PROTESTS Prior to submission of an agency protest, all parties must use their best efforts to resolve concerns raised by an interested party. FEMA offers, as an option for disputes resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). ADR is an informal, expeditious and inexpensive way to resolve contract issues and is designed to promote satisfying solutions and fair procedures.

For more information on FEMA’s ADR services, please contact FEMA’s ADR office at the following address: Federal Emergency Management Agency Alternative Dispute Resolution Division FEMA Office of Chief Counsel 400 Virginia Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20472-3400 If concerns cannot be resolved, protesters may use these procedures when a resolution is requested from the agency.

These procedures have been designed to create an avenue for resolving third-party grievances in connection with the acquisition process outside of formal processes through the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the United States Court of Federal Claims (CFC). Filing an agency protest is not a prerequisite to filing at the GAO or CFC. If the protester files a protest through the GAO or CFC while their protest is pending at the agency level, FEMA may dismiss the agency protest.

Pursuing an agency protest does not extend the time for obtaining a stay at GAO. These procedures are in addition to the existing protest procedures contained in FAR Subpart 33.103. A. Definitions.

1. “Agency protest” is one that may be filed with either the contracting officer or the officer responsible for the resolution of all agency protests filed at the level above the contracting officer.

2. “Ombudsman” is the agency official above the level of the contacting officer designated by the Director of Acquisitions Operations to handle and issue the formal agency decision resolving the protest. Protesters using these procedures may protest directly to the ombudsman.

3. “Day” is a calendar day. In computing a period of time for the purpose of these procedures, the day from which the period begins to run is not counted. When the last day of the period is Saturday, Sunday, or a Federal holiday, the period extends to the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a Federal holiday. Similarly, when the Washington, DC offices of FEMA are closed for all or part of the last day, the period extends to the next day on which the Agency is open. B. Submission Guidelines.

1. Agency protests may be filed through the contracting officer or, at a level above the contracting officer, through the ombudsman either by facsimile transmission or by “Certified Mail” (Return Receipt Requested) as follows:

FEMA Stephanie R. Lindner, Contracting Officer 11224 Holmes Road Kansas City, MO 64131 816-809-1596 or FEMA David J. Orris, Agency Protest Ombudsman OCPO OHS FEMA Building D, Room 123 16825 South Seton Ave Emmitsburg, MD 21727 2. The outside of the envelope or beginning of the FAX transmission must be marked “Agency Protest”.

If the protester submits the protest directly through the ombudsman, the protester must also, within one (1) day of submitting the protest to the ombudsman, submit a copy of the protest to the responsible contracting officer either by FAX transmission or by “Certified Mail” (Return Receipt Requested). 3. To be filed on a given day, protests and any subsequent appeals must be received by 4:30 p.m., current-local time. Any protests received after that time will be considered to be filed on the next day. 4. Protest submission will not be considered filed until all of the following information is provided:

a. The protester’s name, address, telephone number and fax number;

b. The solicitation or contract number;

c. A detailed statement of all factual and legal grounds for protests, to include an explanation of how the protester was prejudiced;

d. Copies of relevant documents;

e. A request for ruling by the agency;

f. A statement detailing the form of relief requested;

g. All information establishing that the protester is an interested party for the purposes of filings a protest; and h. All information establishing the timeliness of the protest. 5. All protests must be signed by an authorized representative of the protester; and must be addressed to the contracting officer or the ombudsman. C. Timeliness/Resolution of Protests.

1. Protests based upon alleged improprieties in a solicitation which are apparent prior to bid opening or the time set for receipt of initial proposals shall be filed prior to bid opening or the time set for receipt of initial proposals. In procurements where proposals are requested, alleged improprieties which are subsequently incorporated into the solicitation must be protested not later than the next closing time for receipt of proposals following the incorporation.

2. Protests other than those covered by paragraph (1) of this section shall be filed not later than 10 days after the basis of protest is known or should have been known (whichever is earlier), with the exception of protests challenging a procurement conducted on the basis of competitive proposals under which a debriefing is requested and, when requested, is required. In such cases, with respect to any protest basis which is known or should have been known either before or as a result of the debriefing, the initial protest shall not be filed before the debriefing date offered to the protester, but shall be filed not later than 10 days after the date on which the debriefing is held.

3. Protests filed through the contracting officer within 20 days after the protest is filed through the contracting officer, the contracting officer will send a written ruling and a summary of the reasons supporting the ruling to the protester by “Certified Mail (Return Receipt Requested)”. D. Appeals.

1. Protesters who filed protests through the contracting officer may, within five days of receipt of the contracting officer’s written ruling, appeal to the ombudsman.

2. Requests for appellate review must be submitted to the ombudsman by facsimile transmission or by “Certified Mail” (Return Receipt Requested).

3. The ombudsman will send a written ruling and a summary of the reasons supporting the ruling to the protester by “Certified Mail (Return Receipt Requested)” within 10 days of receipt of the request for appellate review of the contracting officer’s decision.

4. In accordance with FAR 33.103(d)(4) and 4 C.F.R. 21.2(a)(3), if there is an agency appellate review of the contracting officer’s decision on the protest, it will not extend GAO’s timeliness requirements. Therefore, any subsequent protest to the GAO must be filed within 10 days of knowledge of initial adverse agency action. E. Protests filed through the ombudsman:

1. If the protester protests directly through the ombudsman, the ombudsman will send a written ruling and a summary of the reasons supporting the ruling to the protester by “Certified Mail (Return Receipt Requested)” within 35 days after the protest was filed.

2. Protests filed directly through the ombudsman cannot be appealed within the agency. F. Dismissal of Protests. The agency may dismiss protests when protesters file protests through the GAO or CFC while their protests are pending at the agency level; and for failure to comply with any of the requirements of these agency protest procedures. For example, the agency may dismiss protests that are procedurally or substantively defective (e.g., the protest is untimely or the protest fails to clearly state legally sufficient grounds of protests).