Amendment_0001.pdf

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

15A. Name and Title of Signer (Type or Print) 16A. Name and title of Contracting Officer (Type or Print)

15B. Contractor/Offeror 15C. Date Signed 16B. United States of America

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

16C. Date Signed

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

NSN 7540-01-152-8070 30-105 STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

PREVIOUS EDITIONS UNUSABLE Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

1. Contract ID Code Page of Pages

1 7

2. Amendment/Modification No. 3. Effective Date 4. Requisition/Purchase Req. No. 5. Project No. (if applicable)

0001 August 21, 2019

6. Issued By Code AJ930073 7. Administered By (If other than Item 6) Code SEE BLOCK 6

NOAA/EASTERN REGION ACQUISITION

200 GRANBY STREET

SUITE 815

NORFOLK, VA 23510

8. Name and Address of Contractor (No., Street, County, and Zip Code) (X) 9A. Amendment of Solicitation No.

X

1305M219QNMAN0321

9B. Date (See Item 11)

August 12, 2019

10A. Modification of Contract/Order No.

10B. Date (See Item 13)

Code Facility Code

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

X The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended x is not extended.

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 items 8 and 15, and returning 1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDG-

MENT 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 telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. Accounting and Appropriation Data (if required)

1. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACT/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

A. This change order is issued pursuant to: (Specify authority) The changes set forth in item 14 are made in the Contract Order No. in item 10A.

B. The above numbered Contract/Order is modified to reflect the administrative changes (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

Set fourth item 14, pursuant to the authority of FAR 43.103 (b)

C. This supplemental agreement is entered into pursuant to authority of:

D. Other (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, X is required to sign this document and return 1 copy to the issuing office.

14. Description of Amendment/Modification (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

A. Amendment 0001 to Request for Quote (RFQ) 1305M219QNMAN0321 is hereby issued to answer questions from prospective quoters and make changes to the RFQ as a result of the questions received.

**NOTE: The Government reserves the right not to answer all questions or those deemed not appropriate.**

1. Question: Is there an incumbent contract provider?

a. If so, what is the amount of the current contract?

b. How long is the current contract, including the base year?

1305M219QNMAN0321

Answer: This is a new requirement and a current contract does not exist.

2. Question: The Price Schedule is set up with an estimated quantity of hours for each of the three PWS requirements. Can

NOAA confirm that all direct labor hours, including activities such as: management, coordination, design, development, preparation, reporting, mobilization and delivery, should be invoiced against this total number of hours? Alternatively, if the stated estimated quantity applies only to delivery contact hours, how would the contractor be compensated for other direct labor, including activities such as: management, coordination, design, development, preparation, mobilization and reporting?

Answer: Provide pricing based on the CLIN structure identified in the price schedule. This rate will be used in the resultant Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to identify a maximum rate for each CLIN as provided by the awardee. It is anticipated that the rates will be negotiated based on the complexity and the number of people required for each individual task order placed against the IDIQ.

3. Question: Can the government please confirm if it would be acceptable to provide an hourly rate for each anticipated labor category associated with each PWS requirement? It appears this would be a fairer way to invoice NOAA because not all positions will be involved in each PWS requirement Task. If yes, how should the estimated quantity be divided among the labor categories?

Answer: Provide pricing based on the CLIN structure identified in the price schedule. This rate will be used in the resultant Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to identify a maximum rate for each CLIN as provided by the awardee. It is anticipated that the rates will be negotiated based on the complexity and the number of people required for each individual task order placed against the IDIQ.

4. Question: Can the government please confirm that providing the following statement in the response will suffice, if the contractor is current in SAM:

“The offeror has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically in SAM accessed through http://www.sam.gov. After reviewing SAM information, the Offeror verifies by submission of this offer that the representations and certifications currently posted electronically at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and

Certifications-Commercial Items, have been entered or updated in the last 12 months, are current, accurate, complete, and applicable to this solicitation (including the business size standard applicable to the NAICS code referenced for this solicitation), at the time this offer is submitted and are incorporated in this offer by reference (see FAR 4.1201), except for paragraphs ______________.

[Offeror to identify the applicable paragraphs at (c) through (u) of this provision that the offeror has completed for the purposes of this solicitation only, if any.

These amended representation(s) and/or certification(s) are also incorporated in this offer and are current, accurate, and complete as of the date of this offer.

Any changes provided by the offeror are applicable to this solicitation only, and do not result in an update to the representations and certifications posted electronically on SAM.]”

Answer: Quoters are required to be registered in the SAM database to be considered for award. A statement is not required. However, the RFQ requires that quoters include a completed copy of FAR 52.212-3 with their quote.

5. Question: In regards to the anticipated hours for Requirement 1: Respectful Workplace Training, will the 280 include all training sessions and curriculum development for the first year of the contract? Is this estimation flexible?

Answer: Yes, it includes all training hours and curriculum development. The hours identified in the price schedule are an estimate based on the current needs of the Government.

6. Question: In regards to Requirement 1, does the Government have a preferred format for the training (Power Point, Word, PDF, etc.)?

Answer: Power Point or Google Slides are the preferred method.

7. Question: In regards to Requirement 1, approximately how long does the Government expect each training session to be

(half days, full days, multiple days, etc.)?

Answer: The length of each training session may vary and will be negotiated at the task order level.

8. Question: In regards to Requirement 1, approximately how many participants will attend each training session?

Answer: The number of participants may vary and will be negotiated at the task order level.

9. Question: In regards to Requirement 1, the tailoring of each course that will require coordination with OMAO leadership, can this be done virtually and/or telephonically?

Answer: Yes.

10. Question: In Requirement 1, the government outlines 11 topics to be covered during the training sessions. Although these topics will evolve, will a selected topic be chosen monthly based upon the need of the OMAO, or will one selected topic be covered per month until all 11 topics are completed by the end of each 12 month ordering period?

Answer: Each of the 11 topics should be addressed at each training session.

11. Question: Does the government anticipate providing advanced notice or an outline of the meeting locations once awarded, aside from the on-call mediation requirement?

Answer: Notification and meeting location will be provided by each task order placed against the resultant Single

Award IDIQ contract.

12. Question: In reference to Requirement 3, what is the estimated length of each meeting? Will the meetings differ in length? What will the subject matter of these meetings be?

Answer: The length of each meeting and the meeting subject matter may vary and will be negotiated at the task order level.

13. Question: In regards to Requirement 3, approximately how many meetings per year will there be? Will there be more meetings some years than others, despite the anticipated number of hours remaining the same each year?

Answer: The number of meetings will vary. The number of hours provided are estimated quantities.

14. Question: Is this requirement part of a Multiple Award Schedule/Contract or a Single Award Schedule/Contract?

Answer: The resultant contract will be a stand alone Single Award IDIQ contract vehicle.

15. Question: Has National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration held preliminary meetings with specific contractors interested in responding to this solicitation?

Answer: No.

16. Question: Is it estimated that full funding exists for this solicitation? If so, is there an intended Maximum/Minimum funding threshold?

Answer: Please see solicitation clause CAR 1352.216-75 Minimum and Maximum Contract Amounts (APR 2010).

17. Question: Is the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) Wage Determination in force with this RFQ? If so, can you advise a) What SCA/Wage numbers are applicable? And b) What City and State SCA Wage Determination takes precedence?

Answer: The Service Contract Act is not applicable to this RFQ.

18. Question: Does this requirement stipulate that the proposed bidder must hold an active Form DD254 Facility Clearance

"Before BEING AWARDED” this contract?

Answer: No.

19. Question: If an active Form DD254 Facility Clearance is required will arrangements be made to assist and provide adequate time to process the required paperwork or are bidders without DD254 Facility Clearance not advised to participate?

Answer: An active Form DD254 is not required.

20. Question: For areas where strict requirements exist for an active Secret/Top-Secret Facility Clearance would government accept a Contractor Teaming Agreements (CTA) under The GSA Construct that fulfills Facility Clearance requirement?

Answer: Not applicable.

21. 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 Agreements (CTA) under The GSA Construct that fulfills Past

Performance requirements?

Answer: Not applicable.

22. Question: Can you give us an estimate of how often NOAA uses the mediation portion of this contract and in what locations?

Answer: It is estimated at 40 hours per ordering period. Performance may occur at any location where a NOAA facility exists which includes ship and aircraft temporary locations.

23. Question: Can you give us an estimate of how often services are required aboard NOAA’s fleet?

Answer: No, the requirements will vary between the different operational centers for NOAA.

24. Question: Regarding meeting facilitation: Is NOAA more likely to use the contractor to facilitate discussion or as a logistical manager of the meetings? Can you give us an example of the way NOAA has used a contractor for this part of the contract?

Answer: The contractor will be required to facilitate the discussions.

25. Question: Workforce Training states “For Future Training Classes: Contractor shall expect to evolve the training to include:

a. Train the trainer component. This portion could be expected to a minimum of 2 personnel and a maximum of 10 personnel within 1 year. The contractor could stipulate that this occur as a separate training session or could occur alongside a requested training class based on the best value to the government and best training environment.

c. Work with the government to develop new training materials that meet workforce within the theme of workplace improvements, behavior understanding and improvements, understanding bias, prevention of sexual harassment and sexual assault, bullying, intimidation and other similar material

Contractor shall serve as a subject matter expert for the government. Contractor shall utilize their expertise in both training materials, most well recognized methods of learning and workplace behavioral traits to assist the government in future training planning, objectives, and materials.”

Based on the requirements above the vendor may need to also provide Instructional Systems Design expertise to design new training (Train the Trainer) and provide Respectful Workplace consulting. The volume of these future services is unknown and therefore should be quoted as an hourly rate. The present pricing model does not include these Hourly Rate costs. Will the government please provide an Hourly Rate for Instructional Systems Design and Respectful Workplace consulting for each ordering period to the pricing model?

Answer: Provide pricing based on the CLIN structure identified in the price schedule. This rate will be used in the resultant Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to identify a maximum rate for each CLIN as provided by the awardee. It is anticipated that the rates will be negotiated based on the complexity and the number of people required for each individual task order placed against the IDIQ.

26. Question: Mediation Services for Conflict Resolution states-

“1. The mediator shall be on call and available within three (3) business days of notification of a case.

2. Mediations must take place in-person. And Travel can be expected to any location at which NOAA has a facility to include ships and aircraft temporary locations while operational.”

How will the vendor be notified? Does the requirements above mean if the vendor is notified on Monday then the vendor must be onsite by Wednesday or by Thursday?

Answer: A task order against the IDIQ contract vehicle will serve as the notification. The mediator shall be on-site within five business days of notification of a case. For example, if the mediator is notified on Monday, then they shall be on-site with five business days (by the following Monday) Please see the appropriate changes to the

RFQ within this amendment.

27. Question: When mediation services are requested on Operational Platforms, “Additionally, scientists, students, teachers, media and political visitors are often aboard vessels, aircraft” It may not be possible to be onsite within 3 business days.

Will the government consider an exception to the 3 business days requirement, if necessary, when Operational Platforms are the location for the mediation services?

Answer: The requirement is five business days. Please see the appropriate changes to the RFQ within this amendment.

28. Question: Are the 15 pages inclusive of the title page, cover letter and any resumes?

Answer: The 15 page limit does not include the title page, cover letter or resumes.

29. Question: Does the government anticipate selecting multiple IDIQ WOSB-holders?

Answer: The Government anticipates a single award IDIQ contract as a result of this RFQ.

30. Question: Requirement 1, Deliverable 1: Case Study Development and Future Training Classes – The hourly rate for the delivery of training could be much higher than the hourly rate that is charged for the development of the case study training and future trainings. May the Contractor provide a separate hourly rate for training development of training based on NOAA case studies and for the future training classes NOAA is requesting to be developed?

Answer: Provide pricing based on the CLIN structure identified in the price schedule. This rate will be used in the resultant Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to identify a maximum rate for each CLIN as provided by the awardee. It is anticipated that the rates will be negotiated based on the complexity and the number of people required for each individual task order placed against the IDIQ.

31. Question: Requirement 3, Deliverable 1: Contractor must be available within 3 business days once requested to begin preparation work with the government appointed representative. Is that being on-site within 3 days to do meeting preparation, or could this include being available via conference call to begin preparation?

Answer: The contractor is required to be on-site within five business days. Please see the appropriate changes to the RFQ within this amendment.

32. Question: Requirement 3, Deliverable 2: Government will ensure the Contractor is notified of the meeting within 2 weeks of the expected meeting where facilitation is requested. Both facilitator availability and effective meeting preparation, depending on the nature of the meeting and client expected outcomes, may require significantly longer lead time than 2 weeks. Can the government provide additional information on the level of complexity or the type of facilitations the government is anticipating that would only allow for two weeks of preparation and lead time?

Answer: Two weeks is the minimum and the complexity would be in proportion to the lead time provided – minimum lead time would equate to a requirement with minimum complexity.

33. Question: Requirement 3, Deliverable 3: Facilitator is required to be onsite during facilitation. Can the hourly rate provided take into consideration of providing a note-taker/administrative assistant to accompany the facilitator onsite?

Also, can the travel budget provided also cover this additional cost?

Answer: Yes, the hourly rate can take into consideration a note taker. The travel budget will cover this additional cost.

34. Question: The PWS Scope states that "Each case study utilized must be NOAA-specific" Will NOAA provide the awarded contractor with background materials and/or content related to previous cases that can be presented for the case studies?

Answer: Yes.

35. Question: Are mediation services for conflict resolution expected to take place in person or can they be provided via a

Virtual Conference Platform, ie. WEBEX, ZOOM, SKYPE, etc?

Answer: The mediation services are expected to take place in person.

36. Question: What is the expected start date for services to begin?

Answer: An award is expected by September 6, 2019.

B. Attachment 1- PWS, II. Requirement 2: Mediation Services for Conflict Resolution, B. Deliverables, is hereby changed-

FROM:

1. The mediator shall be on call and available within three (3) business days of notification of a case.

2. Mediations must take place in-person.

3. A summary report shall be provided within one week of a mediation. The report shall include, but is not limited to; list of parties present, summary of discussion, recommendations for actions and any follow-up.

TO:

1. The mediator shall be on call and available within five (5) business days of notification of a case.

2. Mediations must take place in-person.

3. A summary report shall be provided within one week of a mediation. The report shall include, but is not limited to; list of parties present, summary of discussion, recommendations for actions and any follow-up.

C. Attachment 1- PWS, III. Requirement 3: Meeting Facilitation, B. Deliverables, is hereby changed-

FROM:

1. Contractor must be available within 3 business days once requested to begin preparation work with the government appointed representative.

2. Government will ensure the Contractor is notified of the meeting within 2 weeks of the expected meeting where facilitation is requested.

3. Facilitator is required to be onsite during facilitation.

Produce a reports of meeting findings and agreements and follow up actions within one week of meetings.

4. Provide observations and recommendations to the government appointed representative, post meetings.

TO:

1. Contractor must be available within 5 business days once requested to begin preparation work with the government appointed representative.

2. Government will ensure the Contractor is notified of the meeting within 2 weeks of the expected meeting where facilitation is requested.

3. Facilitator is required to be onsite during facilitation.

Produce a report of meeting findings and agreements and follow up actions within one week of meetings.

4. Provide observations and recommendations to the government appointed representative, post meetings.