Questions from Responders.docx
DOCX document 41 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- 12905B22Q0114
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| CSS Prov Clauses Terms Conditions with SOW and WD Rv1.docx | DOCX document | |
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| CSS Prov Clauses Terms Conditions with SOW and WD.docx | DOCX document |
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Questions from Responders – Solicitation 12905B22Q0114
| 1 |
| The period of performance is August 9, 2022 – September 30, 2022 and the scope of Work mentions, a fully functional mobile app will be completed by March 1, 2023. Please confirm the period of performance. |
The correct completion date for all deliverables is March 1, 2023.
| 2 |
| Should we be using SF 1449 to submit our quote, or is a different format preferred? |
Per the Instructions provided in the solicitation, you will be responding to the contact directly via email to shelley.steen@usda.gov
Submit your quote per the instructions in the solicitation via email to
| 3 |
| Does any contract redlining happen after we submit our quote? or should any redlines we want to include be part of our submission? |
Sending us a quote indicates that you are willing and able to provide the services as per Statement of Work
| 4 |
| Does this work require contractors to be on-site, or may they work remotely from within the United States? |
There is not information in the solicitation saying any work must be performed on-site. An onsite visit may be required to present the prototype and full functional app. That is something that can be managed/negotiated after award.
| 5 |
| Is this a fixed price contract, or a cost-reimbursement contract? |
This will be a firm fixed price contract.
| 6 |
| We are a team of high-skill engineering talent. As a result, we are able to complete work in far fewer hours than normal, but our rate is likely a bit higher by the hour. If this is a cost-reimbursement contract, what is the best way to communicate that while the hourly rate is high, the expected number of hours is far lower than normal? |
This is a firm fixed price contract.
| 7 |
| Is this a brand new contract or was tn incumbent performing these services. If not brand new, could you please provide the current/previous contract number. |
This is a new requirement.
| 8 |
| Will all the information captured and sent back to ARS via email and not connecting to some sort of backend database? …"will" we want to format the message in such a way so the information can be added to a database for tracking and research as well? (RE: allowing ranchers to provide posoning information back to the ARS - via native emailing on the device and will send message once back online...") |
This is not a requirement at this time.
| 9 |
| In total, how many Federal compliances (environmental, agricultural, etc.) do we have to comply with as a software development vendor for submitting our quote to design, develop and deliver the Mobile App for Bulletin 415? |
Please read the statement of work regarding relevant compliances.
| 10 |
| What is the estimated size of the total data that will be downloaded on the app's mobile device? |
The bulletin 415 and the link provided would be reflective of the total data.
| 11 |
| As it is stated in Bulletin 415: "Prevention of loss from poisonous plants, in general, is a problem of range and livestock management", there wouldn't it be a good idea to track the current location of the livestock via a mobile app to keep them approaching the areas where poisonous plants are present? |
This is not a requirement at this time.
| 12 |
| According to Bulletin 415 toxic Plants are of 2 types: Please confirm our understanding. |
i. Poisonous plants that are toxic at all times
ii. Poisonous plants that are toxic only under certain conditions
The toxicity of any plant is a complex issue that relates to several issues.
| 13 |
| As it is stated in Bulletin 415: "Help in identifying these plants can usually be obtained from the local county agricultural agent or by mailing a sample to the USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory (PPRL) for identification.", so shall we assume that besides Ranchers the mobile app will also be used by the staff of USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory (PPRL)? |
This App may be used by an relevant party including but not limited to a rancher, PPRL employee, extension agents, and other government employees.
| 14 |
| It is stated in Bulletin 415 that: "Help with poisonous plant problems can also be obtained from local veterinarians.", so shall we assume that Veterinarians will also be using this mobile app to connect and communicate with Ranchers? Would it be a good idea to furnish and deliver a Mobile App for Ranchers, PPRL staff, and Veterinarians to collaborate, communicate with each other, and share critical information about poisonous plants and livestock poisoning? |
This is not a requirement at this time
| 15 |
| According to Bulletin 415, one of the objectives is to facilitate ranchers to learn to identify the poisonous plants that grow in their respective ranges. So does the expectation to achieve the objective via means of tracking the location and monitoring the location of livestock through the Mobile App? |
This is not a requirement at this time. We are not intending to track and monitor the location of livestock through the mobile app.
| 16 |
| As per our review of Bulletin 415: The Mobile app will also assist Ranchers to follow a Grazing Plan Management to carry out preventive and corrective measures to mitigate risks of livestock poisoning as much as possible. This feature will be incorporated into the Mobile App by means of providing a "checklist", alerts, and tracking and monitoring grazing locations. |
This is not a requirement at this time.
| 17 |
| As the rancher will be able to enter various information including plant name, "location", time of year, "elevation", and symptoms associated with poisoning therefore the intended Mobile App could also be used to track and monitor the grazing location of livestock. Please discuss whether this feature adds substantial value to address the problem under consideration. |
This is not a requirement at this time
| 18 |
| As per Bulletin 415, "Herbicides are avoided to be sprayed in windy conditions.: Therefore, would it be a good feature to alert the rancher/farmer to abstain from spraying herbicides when the weather is windy? Please comment whether this feature adds substantial value. Also, please discuss how much information about the weather can help in addressing the problem under consideration. |
This is not a requirement at this time
| 19 |
| The Mobile App will facilitate the farmer to ensure best practices to use Herbicides by means of information and following a checklist. Please comment whether this feature adds substantial value. |
This is not a requirement at this time
| 20 |
| The Mobile App will facilitate the farmer to ensure best practices to carry out First Aid treatment for their poisoned livestock by means of information and following a checklist. Please comment whether this feature adds substantial value. |
This is not a requirement at this time
| 21 |
| Bulletin 415 contains images of poisonous plants, diseased livestock animals, and the regions of the states where specific poisonous plants are situated. Therefore, we propose an alert feature to prompt the ranchers to carry out best practices, rules, and regulations to keep their livestock from being poisoned by the specified poisonous plants in their respective regions and areas. |
This is not a requirement at this time
| 22 |
| The Mobile App may also contain quizzes and surveys to educate the ranchers to carry out best practices, rules, and regulations from keeping their livestock from being poisoned by the specified poisonous plants in their respective regions and areas. Please discuss whether this feature adds substantial value to address the problem under consideration. |
This is not a requirement at this time
| 23 |
| Are there any integrations with external systems or social media platforms? Social Media platforms would definitely be great means of promoting the Mobile App among the required end users. |
This is not a requirement at this time
| 24 |
| Can we provide Two Quotations (two pricing with different options) so you have multiple options to consider? |
Please provide one quote with the relevant items outlined in the current statement of work
| 25 |
| What was the consideration to select Flutter as the programming language? Was this an internal USDA recommendation? |
The programming language selection was made at our discretion.
| 26 |
| How will the information in the Bulletin be entered in the App for Future Bulletins (not for Bulletin 415)? Do you plan to make changes programmatically and release a new version of the App to App Store and Google Play for every new Bulletin? |
We will address this when the time arises. Not relevant to the current statement of work
| 27 |
| How often does USDA ARS release new Bulletins? How will the information from Bulletin be entered in the App for current bulletin and new bulletins (who will enter and manage this information? will they have Flutter programming skills/knowledge?) |
We will address this when the time arises. Not relevant to the current statement of work
| 28 |
| "Users of the App will be able to enter various information including plant name, location, time of year, elevation, and symptoms associated with poisoning.” - Who are these users? Are these the ranchers or is there a need for separate login for Admin users? |
The app is meant for multiple users including ranchers, extension agents, veterinarians, etc. We have not asked for multiple login options for each type of user in the statement of work. This is not a requirement at this time.
| 29 |
| Do you have internal team or developer with Flutter experience to manage this App going forward? |
This question is not relevant to the current statement of work. We will address this when the need arises.
| 30 |
| Can the deadline be extended by a week as we still don’t have answers to some of the questions and need to update the proposal based on answers to questions in this email? |
The deadline has been extended to Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 5pm EDT.
| 31 |
| Is the proposal required only for interactive prototype or the entire application? |
The solicitation is for the prototype AND the fully functioning app.
| 32 |
| What is the budget set aside for the interactive prototype? |
We cannot share budgetary information.
| 33 |
| What is the timeline for the interactive prototype? |
This will be decided with the vendor once an award is made with the intent that a fully functional app be available by March 1 of 2023.
| 34 |
| What is the budget set aside for the complete mobile application development? |
We cannot share budgetary information.
| 35 |
| Has there been any amendment been issued so far? |
We haven’t posted any amendments yet.
| 36 |
| Has there been any questions asked on this so far? |
The questions and responses are posted in this amendment.
| 37 |
| Can work be performed overseas in India? or does it have to be performed only in the US? |
An onsite visit may be required to present the prototype and full functional app.
| 38 |
| Do the developers have to be US Citizens or Residents? or can one of our consultants in India develop this app? |
The standard is that we don’t approve of software developed outside of the US for security reasons.
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