1297023R0007 National Geospatial Services QA 6.docx

1297023R0007 National Geospatial Services Q&A #6

1. On QA3 document, Q&A response 2 & 3 removed total compensation plan requirement on Page 1 of D.2. We note that Page 5 of D.2 still includes "The price proposal will be evaluated using one or more proposal analysis techniques listed at FAR 15.404(b) and the compensation plan to determine fair and reasonable pricing." In addition, page 23-24 of the original solicitation (SF1449) cites "52.222-46 Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees." Please provide guidance if this is an oversight or where and response format required to allow the Government to evaluate cost realism per FAR 15.404-1(d) among other parts of FAR 15.404(b).

A: This was an oversight, amendment #2 addresses this by requesting the compensation plan in line with FAR 52.222-46 Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees as originally stated. D.2 Instructions to offers, Page 2 Section C was updated to the following.”

“Price: The Price Proposal shall include the following: 1) the completed, signed SF-1449; 2) acknowledgement of any amendments to this solicitation by following the instructions that accompany the amendment(s); 3) the completed Schedule of Items contained in Attachment “D.4 Schedule of Items and Labor Category Descriptions” submitted in Microsoft Excel; and 4) a total compensation plan in line with FAR 52.222-46 Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees, limited to five (5) pages.

*D.4 Price Cost Spreadsheet not to be included in page count of 5-page limit of pricing volume.”

2. Will the contractor be required to maintain an existing/legacy website or provide a new website for this requirement? If so, will the offeror be required to supply contractor furnished software?

A: Attachment D.1 PWS Section 3.2.2.2 Data Publication experience, capability, and skill is a technical requirement. Specific services will be identified and detailed in individual task orders.

3. D.1 (PWS), 3.6 Additional Technical and Performance Requirements, Page 8- This section refers to contractor maintaining a Training and Certification program with initial and refresher training and training curriculum. For pricing purposes, can the Government please provide the training that would be required for each functional area? Additionally, can the Government please clarify the frequency that refresher training would need to be provided to contractor employees?

A: Please refer to attachment D.4 Schedule of items “Labor Categories and Description” Tab for and all encompassing list of required training, certifications, experience and education per position.

4. Will the Government permit the use of the same resume for multiple positions?

A: Yes, provided you explain in your offer that you are doing so.

5. Will the Government allow the use of the Calibri or Arial in a point larger than 11 for titles, sections, headers, etc.?

A: Please adhere to font and size instructions listed in D.2 Instructions to Offers.

6. Are Key Personnel required to be 100% dedicated to this contract?

A: No, as long as the work stated in PWS is being completed, contractor shall allot their time as seen fit.

7. Can the Government please provide the historical data of the estimated number of yearly task orders, typical period of performance of a task order, and typical number of task orders that are performed consecutively by a contractor?

A: There were 53 task orders awarded over the course of the last 5-year MATOC. Task order periods of performance vary but most are a year or more. There is a growing need for these services within the USFS with an anticipation of more task orders to be awarded over the upcoming MATOC. Provided that a contractor (IDIQ Holder) continues to perform in a satisfactory manner and provide competitive offers amongst its IDIQ counterparts then they could expect to have a full workload throughout the lifecycle of the acquisition.

8. Can the government provide an average estimate of each task order's volume? Number of FTEs?

A: Around 1-8 FTE as a rough average, ranges can vary substantially per task order as is the nature of an indefinite delivery indefinite quantity type contract. FTE needs will be described in task order proposal requests to all IDIQ holders.

9. Does the Government anticipate any periods without an active task order? Have there been any historical periods without an active Task Order?

A: While idle periods may happen as the indefinite delivery indefinite quantity style contract type suggests, it is anticipated there will be plenty of work to go around to all IDIQ holders.

10. Can the government please confirm the page limit for Technical Subfactors 1-4 is twenty (20) pages and that Subfactor 5 is a separate twelve (12) pages as per the following language included in the instructions to offerers: "The response to Technical Subfactors 1 – 4 shall be limited to twenty (20) pages total" and "The response to Technical Subfactor 5 shall be placed in a Technical Proposal Appendix and may not exceed a total of twelve (12) pages" Therefore, please confirm that the Technical Volume does not have a page limitation. Only Subfactors 1-4 (20pg) and Subfactor 5 (12pg) within the Technical Volume are limited.

A: Technical Volume has a page limitation of 20 pages. Appendix allows for 12 pages of organizational charts and resumes. 5 pages for your compensation plan in line with FAR 52.222-46 Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees. NGS Rates tab of pricing from D.4 Schedule of items.

11. Are there existing incumbent contractor(s) performing these services? If so, can the government provide the incumbent name(s) and contract number(s)?

A: 1284JC18D0002 (ASRC Federal Data Network) & 1284JC18D0003 (Xentity, Inc)

12. From the Q&A#1, Question 4 indicates that Past Performance should be included in the Technical Volume. Will the Government detail what is needed since the PPQ templates are required to be completed and returned by a third-party.

A: A written narrative for past performance is not required, however, offerors may choose to include this information in their 20-page limit, grouped with the technical. Not a requirement.

The only requirement for past performance is 3 completed PPQs from previous employers, gov reps, business partners, etc. for similar work, sent to the contract specialist Blaine Greenwalt at blaine.greenwalt@usda.gov

13. D.1 (PWS), 3.6 Additional Technical and Performance Requirements, Page 8 - This section refers to certifications and professional licenses to perform duties. Can the Government please provide the necessary certifications or professional licenses that may be required per labor category/position?

A: Please refer to Attachment D.4 “Labor Categories and Description” Tab included is an all-encompassing list of required certifications and licenses.

14. D.1 (PWS), 3.6 Additional Technical and Performance Requirements P.9 Item 4 - This section refers to contractor uploading newly awarded task order documents into a centralized, digital repository for access by federal employees throughout the Forest Service. Can the Government please clarify if the example provided of Pinyon Public will be available for contractor’s use?

A: The Government will supply laptops and a database for uploading required documents upon contract award.

15. D.1 (PWS), 6.3 Field Project Support P.19 - This section refers to contractor being responsible for ensuring that all employees receive safety training. Can the Government please clarify if this safety training is provided by the Government or the contractor?

A: Contractor will be responsible for providing this training unless stated otherwise in task order PWS.

It’s worth noting that the vast majority of projects required will not require field support.

16. D.1 (PWS), 7.1 Government Furnished Property P.21 - This section refers to contractor establishing, maintaining, and implementing a property management and control program. Can the Government please clarify what information should be contained within the property management and control program?

A: This will mainly be laptops provided after contract award.

17. D.1 (PWS), 7.2 Operation of Government Owned Vehicles P.22 - This section refers to upon availability the Government may provide vehicles for shared use under the contract/task order. In the event that the Government does not provide vehicles for shared use, will that likewise be identified under the contract/task order?

A: It is unlikely, should that need arise it would be identified on the individual project/task order.

18. Does the government anticipate making a multi-vendor award or a single contract award?

A: The current plan is to award 3-5 IDIQs.