QA for 123A9424R0007 for OCFO Team Building.pdf

Q&A for 123A9424R0007 for Team Building for FSC and APMB Leadership

Q1. We would like to know if this is a brand new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services. If not brand new, could you please provide the current / previous contract number?

answer. There was a previous incumbent performing these services. The Government will not disclose the previous vendor or related information. You are encouraged to submit a FOIA request if you require this information.

Q2. I have served as a subcontractor for one client and supported multiple clients as a subcontractor. How should I reference the subcontracted clients within the proposal to demonstrate the experience?

answer. Please follow the instructions listed in the solicitation in Section L, Volume I Section 4 – Team Building Experience.

Q3. Have the participants completed the Workplace and/or Agile Catalyst DiSC previously?

answer. Some have completed DiSC.

Q4. What assessments have they completed if any?

answer. The leadership team has taken many assessments through the years including 360, DiSC, and Myers-Briggs.

Q5. Can FSIS commit to holding the sessions in the same week to save on travel expenses?

answer. Section 3.3.A of the Statement of Work has been updated to reflect the training should take place within 3 consecutive days.

Q6. Should there be introductory sessions for each engagement or a single introductory session to cover both engagements?

answer. A single introductory session to cover both engagements.

Q7. Is there an incumbent?

answer. There was a previous incumbent performing these services. The Government will not disclose the previous vendor or related information. You are encouraged to submit a FOIA request if you require this information.

Q8. What is the intended start and end time for a full day? What is the intended start and end time for a half day?

answer. The intended start and end times are as follows: Full day 8am to 4:30pm CST, Half day 8am-12pm or 1:30-4:30pm CST.

Q9. Our tentative schedule will include a 1-hour lunch break, so will lunch be provided on-site or will the attendees leave and return?

answer. Lunch is not provided. Attendees may bring their lunch or leave and return.

Q10. Audio-Visual Needs: Will a projector and WiFi be provided in addition to an assigned on-site tech support person?

answer. There is projector available and WiFi on-site. There is not an on-site tech support person, however, the Admin team usually assists vendors with presentations.

Q11. What is the type of room that will be used, and is this room in the same building that the attendees work in daily?

answer. There is a large conference room available located in the same building the attendees work in.

Q12. Is it allowable to submit our three courses we offer for team building for the end user to choose from?

answer. Yes, it is allowable to submit the three courses you offer for us to choose from.

Q13. Section B of the Solicitation states this is a Firm Fix Price (FFP) contract, but the Statement of Work (SOW) 6.0 Travel states the following:

PREPARE TRIP REPORTS -The Contractor shall provide the Government with a Trip Report five (5) days after the travel is completed. The contractor shall identify the travel, to include: the name of the employee, location of travel, duration of trip, POC at travel location, benefit to the Government, accomplishments/lessons learned, and itemized listing of expenses, both planned and actual.

Question #1: is this contract a mixture of FFP and Time & Material?

answer. This contract will be FFP with a Travel CLIN as Time & Material.

Q14. Question #2: is travel Firm Fixed Price? If yes, why are we submitting an itemized listing of travel expenses?

answer. No, travel is not a Firm Fixed Price. An itemized listing of travel expenses should be submitted as indicated in Section 6 of the Statement of Work.

Q15. The contractor may invoice monthly on the basis of cost incurred for cost of travel comparable with the Joint Travel Regulations/Federal Travel Regulations (JTR/FTR).

Long distance travel is defined as travel over 75 miles. The invoice shall include the period of performance covered by the invoice, the CLIN number and title, and the IA Account number. Separate worksheets, in MS Excel format, shall be submitted for travel.

CLIN Total Travel: This invoice information shall identify all cumulative travel costs billed by CLIN. The current invoice period’s travel detail shall include separate columns and totals and include the following:

• Travel Authorization Request number or identifier

• Current invoice period

• Name of person traveling

• Number of travel days

• Dates of travel

• Number of days per diem charged

• Per diem rate used

• Total per diem charged

• Transportation costs

• Total charges

All cost presentations provided by the contractor shall also include Overhead Charges and General and Administrative Charges.

Question #3: Under Line Items and Pricing Table, is Items 0001 and 0002 Firm Fixed Price?

answer. Line Items 0001 and 0002 are Firm Fixed Priced.

Q16. Question #4: Is line Item 0003 Time and Material or FFP?

answer. Line Item 0003 is Time and Material.

Q17. If on-site, what are the available facilities (e.g., conference rooms, outdoor areas)?

answer. Available facilities include: a large conference room (projection ability), a small conference room (no projection ability), and an outdoor area with no tables or seating.

Q18. Can the two sessions (APMB and FSC Leadership) be scheduled consecutively, or do they need to be separated?

answer. The two sessions need to be scheduled consecutively.

Q19. Is there a specific budget allocated for this team building initiative?

answer. A budget will not be provided.

Q20. Is federal past performance needed or will commercial suffice?

answer. Federal past performance and commercial will both be accepted.

Q21. Has the agency awarded a similar contract recently? If so, could you please provide the contract award value?

answer. There was a previous incumbent performing these services. The Government will not disclose the previous vendor or related information. You are encouraged to submit a FOIA request if you require this information.

Q22. Is this solicitation set aside for all small business concerns, or is it specifically targeted towards a certain category, such as women-owned small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, etc.?

answer. This solicitation is set aside for all small business concerns.

Q23. What is the designated place of performance? Should we propose a location for the team-building exercise, or will it be determined by the agency?

answer. The designated place of performance is a conference room space at the facility in Urbandale, IA.

Q24. In regard to the solicitation for Team Building for FSC & APMB Leadership, what specific purposes or outcomes are desired from this team building? For example is this to: Increase psychological safety and inclusion in the teams? Help move from a lower to a higher functioning team? Improve communication and collaboration? Address and resolve conflicts? Other?

answer. The purpose of the team building is to increase psychological safety and inclusion in the teams, and improve communication, collaboration, and trust.

Q25. What are short/long term outcomes anticipated of the teambuilding?

answer. The anticipated short/long term outcomes are improving communication and collaboration and trust.

Q26. What is the preferred format of the RFP?

answer. Please follow the instructions stated in Section L of the solicitation.

Q27. What are the years of service of the staff that will be participating?

answer. The staff has various years of service, but all have 10+ years of service with the federal government.

Q28. Was this team building precipitated by any specific events?

answer. Management observation of the need to improve communication and collaboration and trust.

Q29. Clarification on Evaluation Criteria: Are there specific aspects of the team building sessions that are prioritized over others?

answer. Please see Section M of the solicitation.

Q30. Objectives and Expectations: Can you elaborate on the specific goals and outcomes you hope to achieve through these team building sessions?

answer. Improve communication and collaboration and trust.

Q31. Are there any particular challenges or issues the FSC and APMB teams are currently facing that the team building sessions should address?

answer. Improve communication and collaboration and trust.

Q32. Session Details: Can you provide more information on the preferred structure and format of the team building sessions (e.g., workshops, activities, lectures)?

answer. We expect the offeror to provide structure.

Q33. Background: Could you provide a brief overview of the roles and responsibilities of the employees participating in the sessions?

answer. Their roles are supervisors of staff and supervisors of supervisors.

Q34. Are there any particular skills or areas of development that the participants need to focus on?

answer. Improve communication and collaboration and trust.

Q35. Logistics and Support: What resources and support will be provided by the government during the team building sessions (e.g., venue, AV equipment)?

answer. Provided resources and support include venue, projector, and white boards.

Q36. Are there any specific security or access protocols we need to be aware of for the facility in Urbandale, IA?

answer. You will need a valid photo id.

Q37. Follow-Up and Evaluation: How will the success of the team building sessions be measured and evaluated?

answer. Success will be determined after contract award.

Q38. Is there a preferred format for the final report and post-session evaluations?

answer. No, there is not a preferred format for the final report and post-session evaluations.

Q39. Budget and Pricing: Can you provide any guidance on the budget range for this project to help us align our proposal accordingly?

answer. A budget range will not be provided.

Q40. Are there any specific cost considerations or restrictions we should be aware of?

answer. The Government is not aware any specific cost considerations or restrictions.

Q41. Contractual and Administrative Details: Are there any specific contractual terms or conditions we should be particularly aware of?

answer. All contractual terms and conditions are set forth in the solicitation.

Q42. Can you clarify the process for contract amendments or modifications, if necessary?

answer. If a modification or amendment is needed, the vendor will be notified.

Q43. Past Experiences and Preferences: Are there any particular team building approaches or methodologies that you have found effective in the past?

answer. Nothing specific.

Q44. Is there currently an incumbent contractor providing these services under an existing or previous contract? If so, could you kindly provide the name of the contractor, the contract number, and the value of the current contract?

answer. There was a previous incumbent performing these services. The Government will not disclose the previous vendor or related information. You are encouraged to submit a FOIA request if you require this information.

Q45. I understand it is 3 days total but can you confirm the training days are consecutive?

answer. Training dates are 3 consecutive days. .

Q46. General Is there a target date to award the contract after the 6/21/24 response deadline given the goal for the team building to take place prior to 09/16/24?

answer. A target date has not been set.

Q47. General Will participants within both team building training sessions have access to laptops?

answer. Yes, participants within both team building training sessions have access to laptops.

Q48. General Will there be an IT individual onsite during the teambuilding trainings?

answer. No, there will not be an IT individual onsite during the teambuilding trainings.

Q49. General Is the training room equipped with internet access?

answer. Yes, the training room equipped with internet access.

Q50. General What times will each 1 ½ team building training session start and end daily (timeline)?

answer. The intended start and end times are as follows: Full day 8am to 4:30pm CST, Half day 8am-12pm or 1:30-4:30pm CST.

Q51. General Is this the location of the Financial Service Center (FSC) for the team building training? A. 4520 114th Street, Urbandale, IA 50322 B. If there is another address, please provide and include the zip code.

answer. The location is 4520 114th Street, Urbandale, IA 50322.

Q52. General Is there a designated lunch time for participates of the training?

answer. No, there is not a designated lunch time for participates of the training.

Q53. General Is the teambuilding training to focus on the participants (leaders) or prepare the participants for meeting the strategic goals with subordinates (employees)?

answer. The team building training is to focus on the participants.

Q54. General Are participants able to complete pre-training readings (online) prior to the actual teambuilding training? Note: This would require the complete name and email address of each participant (ideally 15-20 days prior to training). If not, can participants complete pre-training readings (hard copy mail) prior to the actual team building training? Note: This would require someone willing to receive the pre-training readings and distribute to each participant (ideally 15-30 days prior).

answer. Yes, participants are able to complete pre-training readings (online) prior to the actual teambuilding training.

Q55. General Is the response to the solicitation based solely on what the contractor believes would be appropriate for areas linked directly to the strategic goal for the team building training and limited time allowed of 1 ½ days per session?

answer. Yes, the response to the solicitation based solely on what the contractor believes would be appropriate for areas linked directly to the strategic goal for the team building training and limited time allowed of 1 ½ days per session.

Q56. General Does leadership in either session work remote or hybrid?

answer. All of the leadership teleworks 4 days a week, but will adjust that schedule to accommodate the training.

Q57. Genera Has this RFP been awarded previously? If so, what was the solicitation number?

answer. There was a previous incumbent performing these services. The Government will not disclose the previous vendor or related information. You are encouraged to submit a FOIA request if you require this information.

Q58. General Information 1.0 Scope of Work OCFO is seeking two team building sessions for FSC Leadership. One session for the Accounts Payable Management Branch

(APMB) up to 4 employees and one session for the FSC Leadership Team, up to 10 employees. Totaling up to 14 employees in need of team building. A. Is there an expectation that each team building session would be exactly the same or different for each leadership team? In other words, is the contractor expected to provide a different experience for each group of leaders?

answer. We expect the offeror to discuss with us what they feel is the best approach. The overarching goal is to focus on communication and collaboration and trust.

Q59. B. Will leaders from the APMB session also be included in the 10 employees for the FSC session?

answer. Everyone is a leader that is participating in these sessions.

Q60. B.1 DELIVERABLES/MILESTONES (JAN 2014) •Within two weeks after the kickoff, the contractor shall provide a project plan with a proposed schedule for an hour-long introductory virtual session with COR, FMD Director, and FSC and APMB Leadership to introduce themselves and determine dates for upcoming team building sessions and expectations. The introductory session will act as a preliminary intake process to assess and identify the cultural backgrounds and preferences of each participating employee. A. Does the introductory virtual session include the individuals that will be a part of the actual team building training (FSC Leadership Team – up to 10 participants and APMB Leadership Team – up to 4 participants) ?

answer. Yes, the introductory virtual session includes the individuals that will be a part of the actual team building training (FSC Leadership Team – up to 10 participants and APMB Leadership Team – up to 4 participants).

Q61. B. Is it possible that a portion of the entire awarded proposal submission could/would change as a result of the introductory session preliminary process to assess and identify the cultural backgrounds and preferences of each participating employee?

answer. No.

Q62. 4.0 Travel 6. The contractor shall use only the minimum number of travelers and rental cars needed to accomplish the task(s). Travel shall be scheduled during normal duty hours whenever possible. Is the team building training expected to take place Monday – Thursday for both groups (1 ½ days each)? If so, the contractor would then need to travel on Sunday and depending on the airline, return to the contractor’s location on Friday. Is that correct?

answer. We anticipate the training take place Tue-Thurs, with Monday and Friday being travel days.

Q63. Or Is the team building training expected to take place Tuesday – Friday for both groups (1 ½ days each)? If so, the contractor would then need to travel on Monday and depending on the airline, return to the contractor’s location on Saturday. Is that correct?

answer. We anticipate the training take place Tue-Thurs, with Monday and Friday being travel days.

Q64. Should we submit pricing for the option to extend services in accordance with

FAR 52.217-8?

answer. No.

Q65. We travel costs be evaluated, or will there be a not-to-exceed price to cover travel, as needed?

answer. Travel costs will be evaluated as part of the Price Factor stated in Section M.

Q66. Is there a requirement to provide hardcopy or electronic resources for the team building sessions?

answer. No, there is not a requirement to provide hardcopy or electronic resources for the team building sessions.