08_DIR_ORC_Questions_PreProConf.doc

Questions for Pre-Proposal Conference – submitted prior to Dec. 7, 2007

1. Who is the incumbent on this contract?

ANSWER: Two contactors working on the current contracts are Professional and Scientific Associates (Face to Face Meetings) and Humanitas, Inc. (Teleconference and Field). The new contracts are somewhat different from the current contracts; therefore there is no incumbent.

2. What is the contract number and dollar value (including all contract modifications) for the current contract? What is the expiration date?

ANSWER:

Face to Face Meetings: HHSH25056145; expiration date is March 27, 2008.

Teleconference and Field: HHSH25056148; expiration date is March 31, 2008.

Dollar amounts will be provided later.

3. Is the incumbent a small business and therefore eligible to bid?

ANSWER: The current contractors are small businesses; also see response to #1.

4. Are these services currently being performed by a contractor?

ANSWER: See response to #1.

5. Please provide the HRSA Freedom of Information Officer's name and contact information, to facilitate our requesting copies of relevant documents (such as copies of monthly and/or annual reports filed by the incumbent, which are available under FOIA).

ANSWER: Mona Finch, phone: 301.443.5630, email: Mona.Finch@hrsa.hhs.gov

6. The notice for this solicitation states that this pre-proposal conference is also for face-to-face meetings. Has the solicitation been issued for face-to-face meetings? We have not been able to find it on fedbizopps. If not, when do you anticipate that that solicitation will be issued?

ANSWER: The solicitation was issued Wed. December 5, 2007.

7. Will HRSA be issuing a transcript or some other form of meeting summary to capture the presentations and discussion at the pre-proposal conference? (We ask that you consider doing so, if possible, since the number of staff who can attend the event has been limited, for understandable reasons.)

ANSWER: The conference is being recorded and the entire transcript will be provided at a later date on the Federal Business Opportunities website.

8. When do you expect work to start?

ANSWER: Five days after award; approximately March 2008.

9. Will this be onsite work?

ANSWER: There is no need for any contractor staff to be on-site full time or on a regular part-time schedule.

10. If not, what percentage is onsite and what percentage offsite?

ANSWER: Web-Assisted are conducted exclusively in HRSA facilities in Rockville at the present time. At HRSA’s discretion, small face to face reviews may be conducted at HRSA facilities in Rockville. Meetings between DIR and contractors will be conducted at HRSA facilities in Rockville at HRSA’s discretion. The Rank Order List and any updates to reviewer records must be completed on-site.

11. What type of clearance do you require to fulfill this work?

ANSWER: Refer to pages 3 and 4 of the Statement of Work and to Section H in the RFP.

12. What type of contract will this be? CPIF, CPFF, CPAF, T&M?

ANSWER: Cost reimbursement, firm-fixed-price basis, or a combination of both.

13. What is the anticipated award date?

ANSWER: Refer to #8.

14. How much further past the RFP date do you usually award?

ANSWER: Refer to #8.

15. Is the performance location going to be in Maryland?

ANSWER: Web-Assisted are conducted exclusively in HRSA facilities in Rockville at the present time. At HRSA’s discretion, small face to face reviews may be conducted at HRSA facilities in Rockville. Other face to face meetings will usually be held in Montgomery County, MD but at HRSA’s discretion may be held in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

16. Is this new work or a recompete of previous work?

ANSWER: This is similar work to the previous contracts, but both procurements are new contracts.

17. Does the government intend the contractor to supply equipment at no cost to government? If so, how does the government propose the contractor apply these costs? The SOW provides conflicting guidance on this point as outlined below.

pg 55:

Additionally, the cost proposal must include equipment costs as stated in Attachment A, Statement of Work, Task 2, Typical Equipment list for each panel. But Page 49, D (b) states Information Technology infrastructure, equipment (mobile and fixed), hardware and software support for this contract. HRSA will not provide funds to purchase or lease equipment for the performance of this contract. The contractor shall have or have access to all the necessary equipment for each meeting.

ANSWER: HRSA does not intend to authorize or provide funds for the purchase, lease, rental or maintenance of any equipment. The typical equipment list for each panel listed on page 15 of the Face-to-Face Statement of Work is to be provided by the contractor. The contractor shall have access to all the necessary equipment for each meeting.

18. Resumes: Are they to be an appendix or incorporated in the Personnel section?

ANSWER: Resumes should be included as an appendix to the proposal.