AMENDMENT 0001.pdf

(x)

1232SA24Q0041

x x copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE

RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR

OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted , such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

x

ARS-1232SA

BELTSVILLE MD 20705

RM 3-2102

5601 SUNNYSIDE AVENUE

USDA ARS ACQUISITION AND PROPERTY D

02/27/20240001

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended , by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

02/20/2024

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

AMENDMENT 0001 IS ISSUED FOR THE FOLLOWING:

1. QUOTES ARE NOW DUE AT 4:30 P.M. ON 03/01/2024.

2. UPLOAD QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

Period of Performance: 04/01/2024 to 03/31/2029

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

LORRIE A. LEEDY

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

SOLICITATION NO. 1232SA24Q0041 – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. QUESTION: Is this a brand new contract or is there an incumbent performing these services?

RESPONSE: No, this is not a brand new contract. There is an incumbent currently performing these services.

2. QUESTION: What is the current Contract Number?

RESPONSE: The current Contract Number is 1232SA19C0009.

3. QUESTION: Is there a designated �me frame during which the contractor should be available to provide immediate phone and email support to employees and childcare providers?

RESPONSE: Standard Business hours, 8-5 M-F ET.

4. QUESTION: Do you recommend any specific system for securely storing Sensi�ve-But- Unclassified informa�on for this program?

RESPONSE: No.

5. QUESTION: Are there obliga�ons for the contractor to maintain both physical and electronic records?

RESPONSE: No, electronic records only, are required.

6. QUESTION: Can the contractor expect the ini�al mee�ng to serve as a training session where they will be guided on specific preferences and requirements?

RESPONSE: Yes.

7. QUESTION: Please clarify if the place of performance is the contractor's site or onsite at the government facility.

RESPONSE: The Place of Performance is the Contractor’s site.

8. QUESTION: How many childcare providers have been serviced in the past?

RESPONSE: Approximately 20 per year.

9. QUESTION: Please provide the total amount of annual subsidies provided over the past 3 years.

RESPONSE: $90,000 per year

10. QUESTION: Terms & Conditions states "Vendors shall provide a completed Price Schedule Template (attachment 2). The price volume shall also include the information required in evaluation factor 4." Please provide Evaluation Factor 4 as this is missing.

RESPONSE: Price will be considered as well.

11. QUESTION: What is the Subsidy Allotment for Base Period – April 1, 2024 through March 31, RESPONSE: $90,000 per year.

12. QUESTION: What is the Subsidy Allotment for Op�on Year I – April 1, 2025 through March 31,

13. QUESTION: What is the Subsidy Allotment for Op�on Year II – April 1, 2026 through March 31,

14. QUESTION: What is the Subsidy Allotment for Op�on Year III – April 1, 2027 through March 31,

15. QUESTION: What is the Subsidy Allotment for Op�on Year IV – April 1, 2028 through March 31,

16. QUESTION: How many current par�cipants are there in the program?

RESPONSE: approximately 25 employees

17. QUESTION: How many Provider Establishments (Childcare Providers) are there currently in the program?

RESPONSE: 19

18. QUESTION: What is the Income eligibility scale established for USDA Employees to receive the Program Support Benefit?

RESPONSE: The cap is $70,000.

19. QUESTION: Is this the first issue of this solicita�on (is this a re-compete of an exis�ng USDA | ARS requirement or a new requirement)?

RESPONSE: This is a new solicita�on for contract services that are currently ongoing.

20. QUESTION: Has US Department Of Agriculture (USDA | ARS) held preliminary mee�ngs with specific contractors interested in responding to this solicita�on?

RESPONSE: No, no mee�ngs will be held with specific contractors. This is a compe��ve requirement, with Fair Opportunity given to everyone.

21. QUETSTION: Is it es�mated that full/total funding exists for this solicita�on? If so, is there an intended Maximum/Minimum funding threshold?

RESPONSE: The Federal Government is currently under a Con�nuing Resolu�on.

Funding amounts will depend on whether the full budget is passed by the �me of award.

22. QUESTION: If there is an incumbent, is there a reason the known incumbent may be precluded from bidding on this new or exis�ng requirement?

RESPONSE: See previous ques�on regarding current contract number. The incumbent will have the same opportuni�es as everyone else.

23. QUESTION: Would the an�cipated Key Personnel Posi�on(s) require reloca�ng to the Beltsville, MD area, or does the PWS for this USDA | ARS requirement allow for a mix of working remotely and in the Beltsville, MD area combined with travel to USDA | ARS offices/worksites?

RESPONSE: Key Personnel will not be required to relocate.

24. QUESTION: Does this requirement s�pulate that the proposed bidder (Prime Contractor – ProSidian [CAGE: 5CAP1]) must hold an ac�ve Form DD254 (Top Secret) Facility Clearance "Before BEING AWARDED" this contract?

RESPONSE: N/A. See SOW.

25. QUESTION: If an ac�ve Form DD254 (Top Secret) Facility Clearance (or other agency specific Clearance) is required, will arrangements be made to assist and provide adequate �me to process the required paperwork (i.e., Leter of Authoriza�on), or are bidders without DD254 (Top Secret) Facility Clearance not advised to par�cipate?

26. QUESTION: For areas where strict requirements exist for an ac�ve Secret/Top-Secret Facility Clearance, would The Government accept a Contractor Teaming Agreement (CTA) under The GSA Construct that fulfills the Facility Clearance requirement?

27. QUESTION: Can this requirement be facilitated on the GSA PSS (00CORP PSS) 874-1 SIN (541611) Schedule as a Small Business GRADUATED 8(a) Set-Aside? If so, will the USDA | ARS add this contract vehicle to allow small businesses an adequate opportunity to compete and support this requirement?

RESPONSE: This requirement is solicited as a Total Small Business set aside.

28. QUESTION: Can you guide the level of effort expected (Total Labor Hours, Labor Hours by Key Team Members, etc.) to complete the Performance Work Statement (PWS)?

RESPONSE: No. See SOW.

29. QUESTION: Does The US Department Of Agriculture (USDA | ARS) an�cipate that required personnel (Key & Non-Key) suppor�ng 1232SA24Q0041 work remotely or on client site at USDA | ARS offices in Beltsville MD?

RESPONSE: Both. See SOW.

30. QUESTION: What are the Workers' Comp Codes and Na�onal Council on Compensa�on Insurance (NCCI) Classifica�ons for the posi�ons required under? 1232SA24Q0041? A Workers' Comp Codes and NCCI Classifica�on Code is a three- or four-digit numerical code assigned by NCCI. Class codes are posted to differen�ate between the various job du�es (such as 8810 - Clerical or 8292 - Warehousing) or the scope of work performed by employees. The designa�on for specific workman’s comp code impacts cos�ng for workman’s comp insurance.

RESPONSE: Various, unable to give specific codes.

31. QUESTION: In calcula�ng annual work hours for this project (1232SA24Q0041), does USDA | ARS use 2,080 (i.e., 40 hours/week * 52 weeks) for employees/contractors according to the U.S.

Office of Personnel Management Federal Standard? If NO, Please advise on how many hours per year are established for a full �me under this contract.

RESPONSE: We follow OPM standards.

32. QUESTION: Does the USDA | ARS calculate annual work hours based on 2,080, 1920, 1860, or “other” please state.

RESPONSE: We follow OPM standards.

33. QUESTION: Can USDA | ARS provide specific guidance on proposal forma�ng for each required volume (Technical, Past Performance, Price, etc.), including font size, graphics/tables font size, margins, and page limita�ons?

RESPONSE: The solicita�on outlines any specifics for the quotes. There are no page limita�ons either.

34. QUESTION: Should/Can Past Performance/Relevant Experience informa�on be included in the Technical Proposal Volume, or should Offerors provide a separate Past Performance/Relevant Experience Volume for the response to 1232SA24Q0041?

RESPONSE: Past Performance is included in the Technical Informa�on.

35. QUESTION: Are bidders required to provide a price es�mate for Travel and ODC Costs related to The 1232SA24Q0041 Contract? If not, Does the government require that bidders provide a separate "best es�mate" of Travel and ODC to accompany the proposal?

RESPONSE: Travel is not applicable.

36. QUESTION: In such an instance, please provide guidance on which specific proposal volume to include: Travel and ODC Cost Es�mates.

RESPONSE: Travel is not applicable.

37. QUESTION: Is this requirement part of a Mul�ple Award Schedule/Contract or a Single Award Schedule/Contract?

RESPONSE: This will be a Single Award Contract.

38. QUESTION: For areas where strict requirements exist for the number and types of past performance as a PRIME Vendor, would the government accept a Contractor Teaming Agreement (CTA) under The GSA Construct that fulfills Past Performance requirements?

RESPONSE: Not applicable.