Attachment_03_Questions _Answers_Updated_As_Of_18Feb22.pdf

USDA-FS Eastern Zone Staffing Support Services Solicitation #12445022Q0005

Questions & Answers 1 thru 31 issued with solicitation on 2 Feb 22

1. Can you please provide some clarification information for these positions? These positions include Drafter/CAD Operator II, Maintenance Trades Helper, Admin. Assistant, Media Specialist III, Technical Writer III, Drafter/CAD Operator IV, Timber Sales Forester, Receptionist, Switchboard Operator, Janitorial, Engineering Technician VI, Forestry Technician, Grounds Maintenance Laborer, Environmental Technician, and Data Entry Operator I, and Customer Service Representative II. Are these positions individualized locations or does each location require these positions?

Answer: These are just examples of positions that have been placed under the current contract across many locations. There are a large number of potential locations. No single location uses all the listed contracted positions.

2. Is this a new or follow-on contract? If a follow-on, who is/are the incumbent(s) and what is/are the contract #(s)?

Answer: This is a follow-on contract in which Leading Solutions is the incumbent. The contract number is AG-4568-C-17-0019.

3. Can you provide the previous/current contract value?

Answer: The current maximum contract ceiling is $5,250,000. $5M for the base + 4 option years, and $250K allocated to the current extension period from 1 Jan – 31 Mar 2022.

4. To efficiently provide staffing support to the USDA we would also like to request the contract length of each position and specific details of them allowed time to fill each position?

Answer: Specific positions/locations are unknown. Examples were provided based on historical data, but this follow-on contract is greatly expanding in scope (dollar value and geographic areas supported).

5. Will this be a single award or multiple awards?

Answer: This is to establish a single-award IDIQ contract

6. Are there any staffing job titles that will require a drug test?

Answer: Drug testing has not been a requirement in previous Task Orders. Most services require personnel to undergo background checks and a security screening process before allowed unsorted routine access to USDA facilities or information systems.

7. For the Special Contract Requirements Section on page 25 of 39, can the Government provide an estimate of how many personnel may require the personal protective equipment each year? Such as: chain saw chaps, foot protection, hard hat, eye protection, and hearing protection.

Answer: Any required PPE would normally be provided by the Government. If there is an instance where contractors are required to provide PPE, that would be included in the Task Order as an additional cost. This section will be revised prior to issuance of the solicitation.

8. Will applicable area wage determinations be provided with the final solicitation?

Answer: Wage determinations will not be established at the IDIQ level. Each TO will be issued with the applicable wage determination based on TO issuance date and location of performance.

9. In order to provide the most accurate fringe/markup rate, we would need to price out each specific labor category by location?

Answer: Labor categories are not priced at the IDIQ level. Mark-up rates do not include base wage rates or H&W rates. Mark-up rates are a multiplier onto labor category minimum wage rates/H&W rates that apply to each TO.

10. The Wrap-Rate Detail table in the draft solicitation file, Volume II – Price, has each of the pricing elements except the holiday, vacation and sick hours. Should that be included with the buildup?

Answer: Holiday, vacation and sick hours needs to be part of the wrap-rate. The term, “all leave allowances” in the Pricing Exhibit is meant to address this.

11. Can you provide historical hours ordered under any predecessor contract(s)?

Answer: Information not readily available/verifiable.

12. Can you provide historical contract values for the previous 5 years?

Answer: Between 25 Jul 2017 and 31 Dec 2021, 127 TOs have been issued against the current IDIQ. Total current obligation value of all TOs is $4,300,789.84. Note that the geographic areas/locations supported is increasing under the current solicitation.

13. Is this contract for existing Full Time Equivalent (FTE) contract positions that the new contractor will be taking over or is it for project-specific positions that will be used on an as-needed basis?

Answer: Many of the Task orders are expected to continue under the new IDIQ but that is not definite until a requirement is submitted by the requiring activities.

14. In the Pricing Exhibit, can you elaborate the purpose of the Base Value? Can the dollar amount be changed, or should the vendors leave those intact and only fill out the All- Inclusive Wrap Rate column?

Answer: Base Value is not to be changed. It is unknown dollar amount of task orders that would eb issued in any given state/territory for any given contract year. This is used as an estimate for evaluation purposes only and is to ensure vendor proposed wrap-rates are evaluated consistently.

15. What are the rates of the current vendors providing Staffing Support?

Answer: Current contract wrap-rates are not being provided.

16. Can we get copies of current contracts the USDA has with vendors currently providing

Staffing Support services?

Answer: We are not planning to publicly release a copy of the current contract or task orders issued against this contract. Offerors are welcome to search for contract information (AG-4568-C-17-0019) available at https://www.usaspending.gov/

17. It occurred to me that we may be sending signed teaming agreements, surveys, and possibly other documents as part of our past performance submission. Right now, it appears only CPARs reviews may be exempt from the 2-page limit for each contract citation. Can you please make the additional documents exempt from the page limitation as well?

Answer: The Government believes that the maximum page count of 25 pages for the Past Performnce volume is sufficient. 2 pages per each of the 5 past performance references still allows for an additional 15 pages than can be used for information such as teaming agreements.

18. What should be included in the term "OVERHEAD” in the Wrap-Rate Detail table on page

31 of 40 under Volume II Price? Please clarify whether or not "OVERHEAD" includes our Fringe Benefit (i.e., Sick, Vacation, Holiday, Health & Welfare) and our other Overhead.

Or is it only for other overhead.

https://www.usaspending.gov/

Answer: This contract has established fully burdened “wrap-rates” for each ordering period (inclusive of all labor burden other than applicable SCLS wage determination base rate and health & welfare costs, overhead, G&A, and profit), and for each state/territory supported under the contract.

These fully burdened “wrap-rates” are added to the applicable area SCLS wage determination base rate and health & welfare rates in effect at the time each task order is placed.

(SCLS WD Base Rate + H&W rate) x Wrap-Rate = Task Order Hourly Rate used in calculation of Task Order amount.

19. Section 1.3 states the prospective offerors shall concurrently submit four separate documents:

a) Volume I - Past Performance

b) Volume II – Price

c) Completed SECTION F - REPRESENTATIONS & CERTIFICATIONS

Question a) What is the fourth document that the government requires bidders to submit?

Answer: Solicitation when issued will instruct Offerors to submit 3 attachments and not 4.

Question b) The government makes no mention of a technical proposal. Is one required for this procurement?

Answer: No.

20. Section 1.5 states the past performance volume shall not exceed more than 25 pages;

section 2.1.2.1 states that each past performance shall not exceed 2 pages for a total of 5 past performance citations. Is the government able to clarify whether each citation can be no more than 5 pages long, or if the total number of pages cannot be more than 10?

Answer: There can be up to 5 past performance citations, and each cannot exceed 2 pages in length. The total Past Performance volume cannot exceed 25 pages. This allows additional pages for teaming agreements or other relevant information determined by each offeror.

21. Section 2.1.2.1 states to provide a list of no more than five (5) of the most relevant contracts performed for Federal agencies or other customers, having performance within three (3) years of the solicitation issuance date. Is there a minimum number of past performance citations that the government will accept for this proposal?

Answer: There is no minimum requirement.

22. Request the Government to confirm that whether we can have an Executive Summary/Cover Letter exclusive of the page count. If yes, Would the Government agree that the same be included in the Past Performance volume?

Answer: Executive Summary/Cover Letter could be included with the Past Performnce volume but will be included as part of the 25-page count.

23. Request the Government to please confirm that whether in the Wrap-Rate Detail table: the column 'OVERHEAD' includes our Fringe Benefit (i.e., Sick, Vacation, Holiday, Health & Welfare) and our other Overhead costs? OR it refers to only other overhead costs?

Answer: OVERHEAD was not intended to include sick, vacation, or holiday pay requirements for staffed positions under this contract. Some companies may be accounting for home office and contract management expenses as overhead while other account for expenses as G&A. A separate category has been added for sick, vacation, or holiday pay expenses for positions staffed under TOs. Minimum Health & Welfare costs identified in each TO wage determination are included in the TO pricing, in addition to minimum hourly rates identified in each TO.

24. OFFEROR SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS - SECTION 1.3. Per Section 1.3 para b (iii), it states that "Schedule of Items/Price Schedule" is located on pages 4 thru 8. However, we are not able to find such detail in this Draft Solicitation released on Jan 03, 2022.

Answer: Will be revised/clarified when solicitation is issued.

25. Please clarify whether "Schedule of Items/Price Schedule" is the table, which is present on

Page 33 of 39, the one containing FICA, FUTA, SUTA, etc.?

26. OFFEROR SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS - SECTION 1.3. The Solicitation document does not list "Offer Submission Package" anywhere. Recommend paragraph 1.3 - b (ii) be removed.

27. Would the Government confirm that an offeror is required to submit 4 separate files

(mentioned in para 1.3) including:

Volume I - Past Performance (Word/PDF), Volume II - Price (Word/PDF - this one contains SF1449, Schedule of Items/Price Schedule), Volume III - Attachment 2 - Pricing Exhibit (Excel file), and Volume IV - Reps & Certs (Word/PDF)?

Answer: Only 3 attachments will be required. Attachment 2 Pricing Exhibit will be included as a Volume II required item.

28. Section 1.1 states: "Emails should contain 3 separate attachments (Past Performance Volume, Price Volume, and Completed Representations and Certifications) in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format." Would the Government specify that whether the given Attachment 2 - Pricing Exhibit needs to be submitted as PDF and not Excel document?

Answer: Solicitation will read, “Past Performance and Representations and Certifications attachments shall be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format. Price Volume submission may be in Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF, or Microsoft Excel format.”

29. On page 20 of the solicitation, insurance coverage is required for Aircraft Public and

Passenger Liability. Please advise how often and under what circumstances contract employees would be subject to this provision.

Answer: No known instances. The following language has been added in the solicitation:

“(This can be priced as an Other Direct Cost (ODC) for any Task Order where aircraft are used in connection with performing the contract. There are no currently known instances where this would apply.)”

30. We advise issuing all task orders on a labor-hour basis. It is generally the most cost-effective approach for the government and can be easier to manage from the contractor and COR perspective.

Answer: Labor Hour task orders should be by exception, not the standard. The Contracting Officer must prepare a determination and findings that no other contract type is suitable when issuing a Labor Hour task order. This is not practical at the IDIQ contract level due to the wide variety of task order requirements this contract would support.

31. Please advise if HUBZone certified firms can receive a pricing preference.

Answer: No.

Revised Answers to Questions 17 and 20, and Questions & Answers 32 thru 52 posted 15 Feb 22

Updated Answers for Questions #17 and #20

17. It occurred to me that we may be sending signed teaming agreements, surveys, and possibly other documents as part of our past performance submission. Right now, it appears only CPARs reviews may be exempt from the 2-page limit for each contract citation. Can you please make the additional documents exempt from the page limitation as well?

Revised Answer: Forthcoming amendment will indicate a separate volume for Teaming Information with no page limitation. Completed CPARS should not be submitted, these will be pulled by the Government as warranted. Surveys and/or past performance questionnaires should not be collected by Offerors and submitted specific to this solicitation. Past Performnce questionnaires will be collected by the Government, from Past Performance POCs provided and as warranted during past performance evaluation of the ten (10) lowest priced offerors. Solicitation amendment will include the following language, “Provide any previously existing, and independently verifiable performance information other than completed CPARS”. Page count for the Past Performance volume will also being increased from 25 to 30 pages in forthcoming amendment.

20. Section 1.5 states the past performance volume shall not exceed more than 25 pages;

section 2.1.2.1 states that each past performance shall not exceed 2 pages for a total of 5 past performance citations. Is the government able to clarify whether each citation can be no more than 5 pages long, or if the total number of pages cannot be more than 10?

Revised Answer: There can be up to 5 past performance citations, and each cannot exceed 2 pages in length. A forthcoming amendment will increase the total page limitation for the Past Performance volume to 30 pages. The amendment will also clarify that pages of an executed JV or Teaming Agreement will not be considered against the page count and requested in a separate volume. Please also see the answer to question 52.

32. Does the Government have a required font size and additionally for tables and graphics?

I.e., 12-point for proposal text and 10-point for tables and graphics.

Answer: 8.5 x 11-inch document size; 10 pitch or larger, Arial or Times New Roman Font. Instructions will be updated in forthcoming amendment.

33. Per RFP section 2.1.2.1, can the Government please describe major subcontractor/teaming partner for past performance references?

Answer: Any proposed major subcontractor, JV, or other teaming partner that is proposed to perform at least 25% of the contract dollar value in any contract ordering period.

Instructions will be updated in forthcoming amendment. This will be clarified in forthcoming amendment.

34. After reviewing the solicitation, we understand that each position will be considered SCA services where the SCLS Wage Determination apply. We have located all of the job classes for each position, except Timber Sales Forester and Forestry Technician. Can you please advise which SCA Labor Category these two job classes will fall under?

Answer: Please see answer to question 1. Additionally, after further review, the Timber Sales Forester position referenced will be removed in a forthcoming amendment, for the listing of typical staffing needs at PWS section 3.3. Please note that there is a non-standard SCLS Wage Determination (Forestry and Land Management Services) with positions that could be utilized under this contract. Positions identified under that non-standard wage determination are as follows:

08010 - Brush/Precommercial Thinner

08040 - Choker Setter

08070 - Faller/Bucker

08100 - Fire Lookout

08130 - Forestry Equipment Operator

08160 - Forestry/Logging Heavy Equipment Operator

08190 - Forestry Technician

08200 - Forestry Truck Driver

08250 - General Forestry Laborer

08280 - Nursery Specialist

08310 - Slash Piler/Burner

08340 - Tree Climber

08370 - Tree Planter

08400 - Tree Planter Mechanical

35. In regard to the pricing Wrap-Rate Detail table listed on page 29, are the offerors required to fill out the table for each state in addition to the Attachment 2 Pricing Exhibit?

Answer : Yes, however all states/territories that have identical information can be consolidated on a single Wrap-Rate Detail table.

36. Per RFP section 2.1.2.1, where companies have IDIQs and multiple task orders and CPARS is provided by task order for every period of performance it creates a massive number of CPARS per the RFP. Can we provide one CPARS by task order and the Government can then go in and find all the other CPARS by task order?

Answer: CPARS do not need to be provided and will be retrieved by the Government during evaluations as warranted. Instructions will be updated in forthcoming amendment.

37. Reference Volume 2 (a). Can the Government please provide the data for 15, 16, and 18 on the 1449 as offerors do not have that information?

Answer: Solicitation will be amended to indicate blocks 17a, 30a, 30b, and 30c.

38. Reference Volume 2 Price Wrap rate detail table – If a company uses pool costs in accordance with an acceptable / approved accounting system according to DCAA, we would only have one fringe, Overhead, G&A and Profit. Where the fringe precent would include all taxes, holiday, PTO, and WCI. Will the Government consider one table regardless of state since most contractors use a pool cost where we would show only Fringe, Overhead, G&A and Profit to arrive at our wrap rate?

Answer: Only one table is required if a single total wrap rate is being proposed for use in all states/territories. Offerors should provide information in accordance with their approved accounting system. If modifications to the table are needed, make those adjustments as needed when submitting the offer and provide a supporting narrative as needed.

39. Reference Volume 2 Price Wrap rate detail table. Since every county in every state on a wage determination can have difference numbers of required holidays, will the Government please provide guidance on how to price that since the RFP and Attachment 2 only gives you a state? I.e., Illinois has multiple counties with 14 holidays. Should Offerors price the highest number of holidays in a county in the state?

Answer: Offerors should propose wrap-rates that account for highest possible costs (# of holidays, etc.…) within that state/territory since only a single wrap-rate will be used for the entire state/territory when issuing task orders.

40. Can the Government confirm that Section F contains provisions 52.204-24, 52.209-7, and 52.212-3?

Answer: Correct

41. Will the Government accept Times New Roman as the font type?

Answer: Yes

42. In reference to Q&A 3: $5M is for the Base year+4 options or is that amount for a single year?

Answer: $5M was for the maximum for the combined amount of the base and all option years.

43. Minimum and Maximum Contract Award Clarification Page 17/37 of Solicitation: The Government shall place orders totaling a minimum of $25,000.00, but not in excess of $7M. Is the $7M ceiling per year or over the course of base + 4 options years?

Answer: $7M is the ceiling over the course of 5, 1-yr ordering periods, maximum for the entire 5 yrs.

44. How many of the 127 TOs on the current contract are less than a 6-month duration and how many are more than 6+ month duration?

Answer: 29 of the 127 TOs were less than 6 months in duration.

45. If research is showing that the market rate is above WD, will the contractor be able to request an additional amount to include in the base rate for the employee to be more current with the market demands?

Answer: Allowance for this is not so much based on the market rate, but rather there needs to sufficient justification to show a qualified candidate cannot be recruited at the base WD rate. With minimum wages increasing to $15 per hour this should rare, given that professional services are not authorized under the contract. In limited instances, it would be allowable for some specialized services with unique certification or experience requirements.

46. What is the required response rate for task orders by the awarded contractor?

Answer: Awardee must respond to all Task Orders Requests within scope of the contract. Even for short duration/low dollar requirements. Will be clarified in SOW with forthcoming amendment.

47. Will the Government please provide the validity period for pricing, i.e. at least 90 days?

Answer: Forthcoming amendment will indicate offers shall remain valid for 90 calendar days after the established offer due date.

48. Can all the extra info that offerors can submit, i.e., CPARs, Letters, etc. be submitted in a separate document as this can turn into a very large document?

Answer: Forthcoming amendment will indicate CPARS should not be submitted, these will be pulled by the Government as warranted. Page count for the Past Performance volume will also being increased from 25 to 30 pages.

49. Can the government please identify the intended phase-in time period length for each task order?

Answer: There is no specific phase-in. It is unknown if there will be follow-on task order requirements. Task Orders are allowed to be issued under the current contract until March 31st, 2022 and may continue under the current contract until November 30th, 2022.

50. Will the government allow an entry on duty (EOD) determination of new hire personnel to ensure they can immediately work and do not fall outside of the government's determined phase-in period timeline, for which the contractor may be penalized?

Answer: There is no specific phase-in.

51. Question 9 (follow-up) Offeror's wrap rates include the cost of workers compensation and general liability insurance. These costs are directly determined by the occupational code and value of each workers wages in a given year. Because of the potential for extreme variance in the cost between positions in terms of wages and risk class codes will the government allow for an equitable adjustment at the TO level to right size for those WC/GL costs factors?

Answer: Wrap-Rates will need to account for maximum contractor costs. There has not been a need for equitable adjustments at the Task Order level related to WC/GL costs over the last 3 contracts of the type being solicited.

52. The Government is limiting the PP Volume to 25 total pages and that includes Teaming Agreements with proposed subcontractors. Our standard teaming agreement is 16 pages long and we are proposing 3 subs. That's 48 pages of teaming agreements not counting the actual past performance. Would Government consider excluding Teaming Agreements from the overall page count and then limiting PP page count to not more than 10 pages?

Answer: Pages of an executed JV or Teaming Agreement will not be considered against the page count and requested in a separate volume. This will be clarified in a future amendment. Page count for the Past Performance volume is also being increased from 25 to 30 pages. Please also see Revised Answers to questions 17 and 20.

Questions & Answers 53 thru 18 Feb 22 and posted 22 Feb 22

Updated Answer for Question #7

7. For the Special Contract Requirements Section on page 25 of 39, can the Government provide an estimate of how many personnel may require the personal protective equipment each year? Such as: chain saw chaps, foot protection, hard hat, eye protection, and hearing protection.

Revised Answer: The Special Contract Requirements Section has been removed in it’s entirety in forthcoming amendment. The following revised language has been included at PWS Section 7.0:

“The Contractor will ensure that all personnel performing under this contract accomplish all required safety training, participate in all-employee meetings, comply with all safety protocols, and wear required government furnished Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). If there is an instance where contractors are required to provide PPE, that will be included in the Task Order as an additional cost. The training and PPE requirements applicable to contracted staff will be commensurate to FS employees performing similar tasks at identical locations.”

53. Can the COR provide the detailed position description for each labor category listed in the Performance Work Statement (pages 5-6)? This is critically important for the recruiting process. Please include duties, minimum years of experience, and any tools required, including specific software knowledge.

Answer: See answers to Q1 and Q4 posted with the solicitation.

54. Based on PWS 3.2 RTOP Procedures paragraph 2, is there a possibility that the RTOP can be issued with labor categories not included in TO SOWs?

Answer: See answers to Q1 and Q4 posted with the solicitation.

55. Please identify historic data on the labor categories utilized in each of the geographic locations for the previous 5 ordering periods.

Answer: See answer to Q4 posted with the solicitation.

56. Is it a requirement for the Administrative Assistant to be a current of former employee/contractor of USDA?

Answer: No and see answer to Q1 posted with the solicitation.

57. Section 4.2 Monthly Reports states “The Government does not waive its right to request deliverable under the order/call, even if such requirements are not specifically listed in the tables. Deliverables will vary by individual TO.” Does this statement contradict Section

3.2 paragraph 2 that states “Contractor is required to verify labor categories identified in the RTOP are consistent with TO SOW”?

Answer: No and see answers to Q1and Q4 posted with the solicitation.

58. Please provide historical data on where travel was required for contractors? What was the maximum number of days where travel was required?

Answer: Information not readily available/verifiable. Also see answers to Q1and Q4 posted with the solicitation.

59. Can the COR provide the actual work hours performed at each location? The PWS states the hours 7-5 which constitutes a 9-hour day with a one hour lunch for a total of 10 hours per day. However, Regular time is also listed as 40 hours per week. Please advise the actual work hours for each site so contractors will know the actual hours they are expected to be available.

Answer: See answers to Q1 and Q4 posted with the solicitation. PWS will also be revised to include the following in reference to Task Order requirements, “TOs will specify work hours/duty schedule requirements.”

60. What is the actual address for each of the 30 locations or at a minimum the City/State for each location?

Answer: The solicitation if for award of a single award, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract, that will be used to place Task Orders as needed. States/Territories identified are where USDA or Forest Service units are located that could receive support under a Task order. See answers to Q1 and Q4 posted with the solicitation.

61. Will new background checks be required for incumbent contractors currently working at the facilities?

Answer: No. If follow-on Task Orders are issued and incumbent personnel continue under the new contract, new background checks will not be required.

62. How many personnel required PPE in order to perform their duties over the past 5 years’ performance period? For which labor categories? At which locations (city/state)? Which labor category?

Answer: See answer to Q7 posted with the solicitation.

63. How many employees were required to utilize chain saws in order to perform their duties over the past 5 year performance period? At which locations (city/state)? Which labor category?

Answer: Information not readily available/verifiable. Also see answers to Q1and Q4 posted with the solicitation.

64. How many employees were required to utilize foot protection in order to perform their duties over the past 5 year performance period? At which locations (city/state)? Which labor category?

Answer: Information not readily available/verifiable. Also see answers to Q1and Q4 posted with the solicitation.

65. How many employees were required to utilize eye protection in order to perform their duties over the past 5 year performance period? At which locations (city/state)? Which labor category?

Answer: Information not readily available/verifiable. Also see answers to Q1and Q4 posted with the solicitation.

66. On page 23 of the solicitation, the Current Contract Seniority Dates are shown. Please provide which labor category corresponds with each name and the location of performance.

Answer: Additional information has been provided and uploaded to SAM.gov with current contract seniority date information and will be included in a forthcoming amendment.

Note, there is no guarantee these positions will be continued under new contract Task Orders and only represent personnel under contract on Jan 28th. The scope of the follow-on contract is changing significantly.

67. We are asked to complete blocks 13, 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the SF 1449. Many of these blocks are historically completed by the CO. Please confirm which blocks we need to complete on the SF 1449.

Answer: See answer to Q37 posted with the solicitation.

68. On page 29 of the solicitation, a Wrap-Rate Detail table is shown. Do we need to provide a Wrap-Rate details page for all 30 locations on 30 separate pages or should they all be included in one chart? In order to be as accurate as possible in the pricing, please provide the both the city and state for each of the locations. Prices vary widely within states depending upon the cost of living (i.e. NYC vs Albany, NY).

Answer: See answers to Q1, Q4, Q8, Q9, Q35, Q38, and Q39.

69. Please provide a breakdown of each specialty working at each site listed on the chart?

Please include the city for each state in the breakdown?

Answer: See answers to Q1, Q4, and Q14.

70. Can the government provide a breakdown of the hours worked per state and per labor category?

Answer: Information not readily available/verifiable. Most states/territories in the current solicitation were also not included under the previous contract.

71. Is there a requirement for including resumes in the contractor’s response?

Answer: No.

72. Will the entry of resumes in the contractor’s response apply to the page count?

Answer: Resumes are not to be submitted.

73. Are resumes required or is it advantageous to submit resumes for the requirement?

Answer: Resumes are not to be submitted.

74. Will the government provide the exact city/state location of each facility for cost of living adjustments?

Answer: See answers to Q1, Q4, and Q14.

75. Will the Government accept GS or Wage Grade equivalent rates?

Answer: All staffed positions must be included on a SCA Wage Determination.

76. Of the 29 states/territories which states/territories have had work under the current contract?

Answer: Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas, South Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida. However, the currently solicitation has greatly increased the number of states/territories supported under the contract. When the current contract was awarded, it only covered southeastern states and did not include any territories.

77. Of the 29 states/territories which states/territories have current work under the current contract that is expected to continue with the new contract?

Answer: See answer to Q4 posted with the solicitation.

78. Invoicing section of the PWS indicates, “Positions shall be vacant no more than 5 consecutive duty days, or 20 total duty days within a 12-month period (including annual and sick leave).” Given the tenure of at least 4 of the listed employees by seniority date on page 23 the employees PTO and sick leave equates to 27 total duty days the employee is allowed for annual for and sick leave within a 12 month period. Given the tenure will the Government change this to 27 total duty days within a 12-month period?

Answer: This will be revised from 20, to 30 days in a forthcoming amendment.

79. Invoicing section of the PWS indicates, “Absences exceeding these limitations will result in 100% reduction in monthly invoices”. Can the Government clarify this sentence? Does it mean that the task order will be terminated for future months to be worked?

Answer: This means that charges/invoicing would no longer be allowed on FFP LOE TOs, once the vacancy limitations are reached. Unlike Labor Hours TOs, FFP LOE Task Orders are invoiced at a pre-determined monthly amount vs. actual hours worked each month.

80. PWS Section 7.0 states, “The contractor shall train workers in the safe operation and use of equipment that the worker may use before the worker begins using such equipment.” What training is recognized as acceptable by the Government?

Answer: PWS Section 7.0 has been re-written for clarity and mentions “appropriate safety, health and environmental training in accordance with Federal, state and local requirement” and “all personnel performing under this contract accomplish all required safety training, participate in all-employee meetings, comply with all safety protocols”. It is not practical to be more specific at the IDIQ contract level based on the wide range of services that could be executed via TOs.

81. What is the average length of months for all task order under the current contract?

Answer: 29 of the 127 TOs were less than 6 months in duration. 83 of the 127 were between 9 and 12 months in length. No TO is authorized to last longer than 12 months unless there were periods of time that a Stop Work order was in-place.

82. Are there labor categories that may be considered seasonal? If so which ones are seasonal?

Answer: It is possible that there have been or could be TO requirements for seasonal work.

However, there are none this office is immediately aware of.

83. How many task orders under the current contract have been Firm Fixed Price?

Answer: Unable to state with certainty based on lack of readily available information and conflicting data. It is believed the majority have been issued as FFP LOE or LH with very few issued as FFP.

84. How many task orders under the current contract have been Firm Fixed Price Level of Effort?

Answer: Answer: Unable to state with certainty based on lack of readily available information and conflicting data. It is believed the majority have been issued as FFP LOE or LH with very few issued as FFP.

85. How many task orders have been Labor Hours?

Answer: Unable to state with certainty based on lack of readily available information and conflicting data. It is believed the majority have been issued as FFP LOE or LH with very few issued as FFP.

86. How many FTEs are under each task order? Are there more than one FTE per task order?

Answer: The majority of TOs have had one individual. 17 TOs that have had between 2 and 4 personnel.

87. Are task orders issued as Full Time task orders or are any part time (meaning less than 40 hours a week)?

Answer: Many TOs have part time personnel but information is not readily available to provided specifics for historical data.

88. In reference to the Revised Answer to Q17, our Government client has endured internal turnover of Contracting Officer’s with oversight of our support program. As such, it has, in the past, been a challenge to receive completion of Past Performance Questionnaires; in some cases, our client denying to complete PPQs. Due to the anticipated amendment release, and not having the PPQ forms for distribution at the given time, will the Government reconsider the recent change in requirements for Vol I – Past Performance, where as they continue to allow the submission of CPARS in lieu of Past Performance Questionnaires?

Answer: Revised Answer to Question 17 remains. However, if there are completed CPARS, these will be retrieved by the Government during evaluation from CPARS.gov as necessary. Past Performance will only be assessed on the 10 lowest priced Offerors. When there is a completed CPAR available in CPARS.gov, a Past Performance Questionnaire is not necessary.

89. In reference to Clause 52.236-7 Permits and Responsibilities, can USDA provide insight into how many Licenses and Permits have been needed? Are these needed per task order?

What licenses and permits are needed for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands?

Answer: Are not aware of any. This clause was also included in error and will be removed in forthcoming amendment.

90. Regarding the past performance requirements - i. Company/Division name and iii.

Contracting Agency/Customer. If the contract reference is a government client are i. and iii.

the same?

Answer: Company/Division name would be the Offeror or Teaming Partner, never the Government.

91. What would you all like to have included in the cover letter?

Answer: Cover Letter is optional. All required information has been addressed to be included elsewhere.

92. Will the government kindly confirm that all of the job positions are full-time (2080 or 1920) labor hours?

Answer: Incorrect. This is for award of an IDIQ contract to support unknown requirements. Many TOs have part time personnel but information is not readily available to provided specifics for historical data. See answers to Q1, Q4, and Q5 which have been posted.

93. Will the Government please confirm that loaded labor category rates maybe renegotiated if key personnel must be substituted for any unforeseen reason?

Answer: Wrap-rates are not re-negotiable.

94. When is the final solicitation expected to be released? We need access to Wage Determinations for pricing purposes.

Answer: Solicitation was issued Feb 2nd. See answer to Q8 which has been posted.

95. Vendors wrap rates change constantly throughout a year period. Will vendors be allowed to modify their wrap rates when task orders are issued since they will be more definitive at that time?

Answer: Wrap-rates are binding and are not re-negotiable.

96. Since the solicitation indicates that orders can be FFP, from USDA's perspective does this meant that a period will be divided by the number of months within that period (i.e. 12) or will adjustments be made based upon when employees start and how many hours are worked in that period?

Answer: The question describes FFP-LOE, not FFP. FFP TOs are a set price to execute requirements as outlined in the TO and not subject to adjustments for more or less hours that are actually worked.

97. Will task orders have option periods or only be for a 12-month basis?

Answer: TOs are not authorized exceed 12 months unless there were periods of time that a Stop Work order was in-place.

98. Can the government provide the locations for each of these employees?

Answer: States and associated position information for current TOs has been provided

99. What fixed prices/rates will the government use for evaluation purposes since vendors are not providing any fixed rates?

Answer: Total Evaluated Price for each Offeror will be based on the completed Pricing Exhibit which is Attachment 2 of the solicitation.

100. What is the page limit for the Reps and Certs Volume?

Answer: There is no page limit. Only solicitation pages 35 to 37 need to be submitted with offer. All other reps & certs will be verified in SAM.gov.

101. What positions are considered key for evaluation purposes?

Answer: There are no key personnel identified or key personnel qualification requirements.

102. If using a subcontractor, is a teaming agreement still required for inclusion in the proposal submittal or is a "teaming agreement' referring to equal prime vendors?

Answer: Formal JV or Teaming Agreements must be submitted when 25% or more of the contract value will be performed by someone other than the prime contractor. This would apply to a subcontractor that would perform 25% or more of the total contract value.

103. Are pricing for all option years required? Is pricing required for each location/state separately?

Answer: Pricing (wrap-rates) for all ordering periods is required. A Wrap-Rate Detail table, listed on solicitation page 29, must be completed for each state in addition to the Attachment 2 Pricing Exhibit. However, all states/territories that have identical information can be consolidated on a single Wrap-Rate Detail table.

104. FAR 13.5 is not applicable to IDIQ contracts - so is this a BPA?

Answer: FAR 13.5 procedures can be used to establish IDIQ contracts for commercial items up to $7.5M.

105. Is this a best value or LPTA requirement since not all vendor's PP will be evaluated -only the 10 lowest priced vendors?

Answer: This is considered a Best Value procurement since there may be a trade-off decision among the 10 lowest priced offerors, between Past Performance and Price. FAR 13.106-2(b)(1) states the contracting officer has broad discretion in fashioning suitable evaluation procedures.

106. How can the government determinate price reasonableness on wrap rates when no pricing is being provided at the IDIQ level?

Answer: Price reasonableness of wrap-rates is expected to be made based on adequate competition. Total Evaluated Price for each Offeror will be based on the completed Pricing Exhibit which is Attachment 2 of the solicitation.

107. What tools, materials and equipment will be needed and how should vendors price it out?

Answer: In rare cases, tools, materials and equipment may be required at the TO level. In these situations, the associated costs would be priced as an Other Direct Cost at the TO level.

108. Can the government provide an extension for submission of offerors since another version (Final) of the solicitation and attachments are expected to be released - date TBD?

Answer: An extension is not planned. Draft documents were provided with a pre-solicitation notice, questions have been turned around within 48hrs in most cases, and updated to Q&A repeatedly posted on SAM.gov. A solicitation amendment resulting from all Q&A is planned to be issued no later than Feb 22nd.

109. If the labor category list is a representative list, how can vendors ensure that all RTOP requirements meeting minimum requirements if they are not listed now?

Answer: The intent of establishing an IDIQ is to support unknow requirements that are within the scope of the IDIQ PWS.

110. Since there are a variety of labor categories, how can vendors ensure that all training is covered per the solicitation requirements? Will the government provide a list of training that is required? This affects our ability to price and meet contractual obligations.

Answer: Personnel meeting industry standard qualifications for each particular labor category as described in the DOL SCA Directory of Occupations guide will normally meet TO requirements. Additional specific training, experience, or qualification requirements may be addressed at the TO level and would be taken into consideration during the recruiting process. Training and/or certification that is not an industry standard, and required by USDA or Forest Service policy, will be provided at Government expense and any costs included as billable expenses under applicable TOs.

111. Will the government provide a separate CLIN for Overtime?

Answer: If TO requirements allow for the use of overtime, those costs will be accounted for on an Overtime line item at the TO level.

112. What is the Basis of award? Without a technical, is the past performance pass/fail and then award based solely on combined wrap rate pricing?

Answer: Per solicitation clause FAR 52.212-2:

(b) BASIS FOR CONTRACT AWARD.

This is a competitive best value acquisition utilizing simplified acquisition procedures in accordance with FAR Part 13.5. To be eligible for award, offeror must have an active registration in www.sam.gov.

Comparative Evaluation. The Government may perform a comparative evaluation (comparing offers to each other) to select the contractor that is best suited and provides the best value, considering the evaluation factors in this solicitation.

Only Offerors ranked among the ten (10) lowest priced offerors based on calculated total evaluated price will have past performance evaluated and further considered for award.

The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

• PAST PERFORMANCE

• PRICE

This is considered a Best Value procurement since there may be a trade-off decision among the 10 lowest priced offerors, between Past Performance and Price. Price reasonableness of wrap-rates is expected to be made based on adequate competition.

Total Evaluated Price for each Offeror will be based on the completed Pricing Exhibit which is Attachment 2 of the solicitation…

2) Price…

Total evaluated price will be calculated based on All Inclusive Wrap Rate %’s, multiplied by the base value for each state/territory, for all ordering periods. See Pricing Exhibit at Solicitation Attachment 2 for detailed explanation and sample information.

Past Performance evaluation is not a pass/fail, please see Confidence Rating for Past Performnce as addressed within FAR Clause 52.212-2:

http://www.sam.gov/

113. Will fuel, travel, management, Safety, QC, etc. costs by corporate staff to administer the contract be accounted for at the task order level since they do not currently appear to be covered in the wrap rate calculation?

Answer: All indirect costs stated above must be included within the wrap-rates proposed, with exception of travel cost by the contract individual executing direct work under the task order. If the contract requires travel (historically rare), then that would be included as an additional Cost Reimbursable line item within the TO.

114. Q&A #12 states that 127 TOs have been issued for $4.3M. At this rate the average TO is only worth a total of $33K. Short term efforts make recruiting and retention, particularly in today’s market, very difficult. Is the government’s intent with this new expanded effort to increase the support presence to make the TOs more tenable for bidders?

Answer: The Government still anticipates about the same dollar amounts per TO, just more TOs executed for more locations, and more TO Contracting Officer’s executing those.

Keep in mind that some TOs are recurring with the same personnel remaining in place for the follow-on TO. This is evident when reviewing the list of current incumbered positions and their seniority dates.

115. In past experience, there have been instances where the successful contract recruits, hires, and trains an employee and the government ends the TO to hire the individual as a government employee. Are there provisions in place, to compensate the contractor if this becomes a common occurrence?

Rating Description

High Confidence Based on the offeror’s performance record, the government has high confidence the offeror will successfully perform the required effort.

Satisfactory Confidence Based on the offeror’s performance record, the government has confidence the offeror will successfully perform the required effort.

Low Confidence Based on the offeror’s performance record, there is substantial doubt that the offeror will successfully perform the required effort.

Unknown Confidence No performance record is identifiable, or the offeror’s performance record is so sparse that no confidence assessment rating can be reasonably assigned.

Answer: There are not. This has historically occurred on a limited basis. Additionally, personnel have usually been hired that already meet minimal qualifications and required limited training investment by the Staffing Contractor.

116. Will technical proposals be required at the task order level or pricing only?

Answer: Technical proposals are not required at the TO level.