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 2

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

0001 7/15/2021 1305M221BNWWG0004

6. Issued By Code AJF10001 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.

1305M221BNWWG0004

9B. Date (See Item 11) 07/9/2021 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 restated 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 restated, 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)

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

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

(x) 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 copies to the issuing office.

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

See the attached Continuation Sheet for a Complete Description of Changes

7/15/2021

Carrie L. Perry

1305M221BNWWG0004 Amendment P21001 Page 2 of 4

1) Amendment 0001 to Solicitation 1305M221BNWWG0004 is hereby issued to provide government responses to questions submitted by interested vendors.

Question 1: Why are some of the values filled into some of the CLINS?

Answer 1: These are Not To Exceed (NTE) CLINS, for Other Direct Costs (ODC’s) provided in the event that additional sites or frequency are required throughout performance.

Question 2: The solicitation lists information regarding cost-reimbursable and also fixed-fee contracts. We would like to submit a proposal for a cost-reimbursable plus fixed-fee (CPFF) contract. A CPFF contract with a NTE will save the Government costs, due to contingency costs being unnecessary in the bid.

Answer 2: The government has determined that the required services are customarily available in the commercial marketplace; therefore, this is a commercial requirement. The combined synopsis solicitation has been updated to reflect the contract type as Firm Fixed Price (FFP) for CLINS 0001, 0002, 0003, 0004, and 0005 in Table 1 – Section B – Pricing Schedule of Supplies.

Question 3: NOAA has issued a RFQ, rather than a RFP, such as was done for a similar solicitation Number EA- 133W-16-RP-4162 in 2016. The RFQ has vendor terms and conditions, which would mischaracterize our organization as a commercial company, under a buyer-supplier relationship.

Would NOAA consider providing a different contracting vehicle rather than the commercial RFQ for us to reply to the current solicitation?

Answer 3: No. This is a commercial requirement and the Government has determined that an RFQ is the most appropriate method to solicit the required services.

Question 4: The response time is very short -- would NOAA be able to extend the due date by one-week to July 27th, 2021?

Answer 4: No. The closing date for this solicitation remains Tuesday July 20th, at 2:00pm Eastern.

Question 5: We only do work under NAICS Code 541715 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology). (Size standard is 1,000 employees.)

This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in conducting research and experimental development (except nanotechnology and biotechnology). Can NOAA amend the solicitation to include our NAICS type?

Answer 5: The acquisition office, in conjunction with the client has determined that this is the most appropriate NAICS code of 518210 with a size standard of $35M.

During the Sources Sought process a respondent proposed that the NAICS code should be changed to 741715 – ‘Research and Development in the Physical and Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechology and Biotechnology)’. The program office evaluated this NAICS code to determine if this was a more appropriate code. The determination was made that NAICS code 541715 was not appropriate as no research and development is to be performed under this requirement, therefore no change was made to the selected NAICS code.

Question 6: RFQ, Volume I, Part II, Factor 2, Past Performance, Attachment 3, Past Performance Questionnaire.

For our client references, would NOAA accept a recently completed Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) report in lieu of a completed Past Performance Questionnaire?

Answer 6: CPARS is sufficient per the Attachment II – Past Performance Information Form, which allows a Past Performance Questionnaire or CPARS as a method for obtaining Past Performance information. .

Question 7: Please confirm there is no FISMA or NIST 800-171 IT security requirement for this contract?

1305M221BNWWG0004 Amendment P21001 Page 3 of 4

Answer 7: There are no FISMA or NIST 800-171 IT security requirements.

Question 8: Upon review, we noted a lack of subcontracting opportunities available under the scope. Will NOAA grant a waiver of the subcontracting management plan requirement?

Answer 8: Bidders shall submit a Subcontracting Plan in accordance with FAR 19.704(a). Bidders are permitted to submit a master subcontracting plan so long as it is created in accordance with FAR 19.701 and FAR 19.704(b). Small Business Subcontracting is ONLY REQUIRED OF LARGE BUSINESSES. The Small Business Subcontracting Plan shall address the elements identified in FAR 19.704(a)(1) through FAR 19.704(a)(11) and minimum goals.

Question 9: In addition to the question below relative to dollar values already filled in on the CLIN table, also noticed that the same period of performance is listed for each CLIN, whereas the anticipated POP is specified on page 9 of the solicitation…please clarify.

Answer 9: The Period of Performance for the Base Period will be September 28, 2021 – September 27, 2022.

Each subsequent Option period has been updated and revised in the solicitation.

Question 10: Past Performance – If contractor performance for those contracts listed on the Past Performance Information Form are available via CPARS must Past Performance Questionnaires still be sent to those contacts listed or will the existing CPAR evaluations suffice for this requirement? The Attachment III information form seems to indicate that evaluation via CPARS is sufficient.

Answer 10: See question and answer to #6.

Question 11: Are data from 4 sites (solicitation page 4) or 5 sites (SOW Table 10-1)

Answer 11: As only 4 regions (Western Region, Central Region, Southern Region, and Eastern Region) are listed, 4 sites with one site from each region is sufficient.

Question 12: The solicitation indicates that information identified in Table 10-1 must be provided for the 4 or 5 chosen sites. Table 10-2 appears to require summary data for each site for a 1-year period of time. The solicitation also mentions provision of a spreadsheet. Is the requirement to more simply complete Table 10-1 with the identified summary information or does the government require an actual separate spreadsheet(s) with 1 year of raw data?

Answer 12: Table 10-1 is asking for 2 spreadsheets. The Data Reliability section is asking for a minimum of 48 hours of sample data, which would be raw data from some sites (sites number not specified there in SOW, therefore vendors have some discretion). The TPW Data Accuracy section is asking for summary data in a spreadsheet that contains information defined in Table 10-2 from at least 4 sites with at least one site from each of the listed regions.

Question 13: Is this considered a contract for "nonregulated communication services" (FAR 52.232-1)?

Answer 13: This clause is applicable in solicitation and the resultant contract, as a hybrid FFP and cost reimbursement service contract is contemplated.

Question 14: Can NOAA waive CAR 1352.231-71, which states:

"(contractor) certifies and agrees that any and all work performed under this contract shall be directly and exclusively for the use and benefit of the Government, and not incidental to any other work, pursuit, research, or purpose of the contractor, whose responsibility it will be to account for it accordingly."

Answer 14: Since a hybrid FFP and cost reimbursement contract is anticipated, this clause is applicable.

Question 15: Should the expenses related to a postaward conference be added into our proposal (ref:

CAR 1352.242-70 Postaward conference)?

1305M221BNWWG0004 Amendment P21001 Page 4 of 4

Answer 15: No, post award conference expenses shall not be included.

Question 16: Does NOAA believe that 48 CFR 52.227-17, Rights in Data - Special Works is applicable to this work? We prefer FAR 52-227.14 Alt IV-Rights in Data General because the point is to share this data freely with the University community, per our mission.

Answer 16: FAR 52.227-14 Alt IV is not applicable as this contract is not for basic or applied research to be performed solely by University’s or colleges. FAR 52.227-17 Rights in Data – Special Works; FAR 52.227-17 is not applicable.

Question 17: Does NOAA consider the work under this solicitation to be a service contract under the Services Contract Act? (ref: CAR 1352.237-74-Progress Reports)?

Answer 17: The Services Contract Act does not apply to this requirement.

Question 18: Must key personnel be identified in the proposal?

Answer 18: Key personnel is not a requirement.

Question 19: Which Access Board accessibility standards does NOAA anticipate are applicable for this proposal? Please provide more definition around any exact requirements? (ref: CAR 1352.239-71)

Answer 19: This provision is required for solicitations for electronic information, however, there are no requirements for access to systems of sensitive data.

Question 20: Please provide specific guidance for requirements anticipated under CAR 1352.239-72-Security Requirements for Information Technology Resources. We should not need access to systems as listed in the clause.

Answer 20: This provision is required for solicitations for electronic information, however, there are no requirements for access to systems of sensitive data.

Question 21: What provisions for termination will be included in the contract?

Answer 21: The termination clause is included within FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items. The termination conditions are included in FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items.

2) The combined synopsis solicitation has been updated and replaced in tis entirety and is attached.

3) Except for the changes made herin all toher terms, conditions and provisions remain unchanged.

END AMENDMENT 0001 TO TORFP #1305M221BNWWG0004.

S