Attachment 8 - Responses to Questions.pdf

Responses to Questions (Draft Solicitation # 1333ND23QNB770030)

Question Attachment Page Section Question/Comment Response

1 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 1 General Is this a new requirement or existing? If existing, who is the incumbent?

This is a recompete or follow‐on to an existing contract. The existing contract number is SB134118CQ0004, which was awarded to G2, Inc. in March 2018.

2 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) N/A General Clarification: May a single company submit more than one proposal, e.g., one as an Offeror (prime contractor) and another as a subcontractor?

Yes.

3 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) General Will the Government be changing the Solicitation Number upon final RFP release?

No, we anticipate the solicitation number will remain unchanged.

4 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) General When does the Government plan to release the final RFP?

The official solicitation is anticipated to be released on SAM.gov during the 1st quarter of the Calendar Year 2023.

5 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) General Will the final RFP be posted under Small Business set aside (8a, HUBZone, EDWOSB, etc.)?

It is anticipated that the official solicitation will be released as a 100% small business set aside.

6 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 2 Performance Work Statement

Clarification re: task area 3.2 "Technical inputs into and support the development of, Standards, Guidelines, NIST lnteragency Reports (NISTIRs), Models, Measures, Derived Test Requirements (DTRs), and Standard Reference Material(s)."

Will work under this task order preclude the contractor from assessing government and commercial entity compliance with NIST standards, guidelines, etc. under separate contracts?

NIST does not anticipate that work under the task order would preclude the contractor from assessing government and commercial entity compliance with NIST standards, guidelines, etc. under separate contracts. However, NIST cannot confirm/predict the effects that working under this task order may have for a given contractor.

7 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 34 Performance Work Statement

Section 8.3‐ Required IDIQ Labor Categories states: Note that the “Program Manager 3 – Contract Level” is the only position/labor category that also requires an actual candidate to be proposed as key personnel for the IDIQ contract itself.

The Government is NOT requesting that Offerors propose actual candidates for the remaining IDIQ labor categories for the IDIQ contract itself." Since this is the ONLY position that requires an actual candidate to be proposed as key personnel, and this candidate is not identified in any Mock Task Order, when does the Government require the resume for the proposed Program Manager 3?

See Section L‐ Instructions to Offerors, specifically under Phase Two proposals, Factor B (Management Approach), Sub‐Factor 2 (Contract Management Plan).

8 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 34 Performance Work Statement

Would the government please align the language in PWS section 8.3 with the requirement of section L B.4 to place the LCAT descriptions in the management approach requirements Volume II?

NIST will take this comment under consideration in finalizing the official solicitation.

9 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 86 Performance Work Statement

Due to the complexity of each mock task order, would the government please validate that at least 1 relevant past performance experience per mock task order is required?

It is not a requirement for offerors to submit one relevant past performance questionnaire for each mock task order. See Section L‐ Instructions to Offerors, section D (Past Performance Requirements) for instructions.

10 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) General Will future Task Orders be similar to those awarded to the current prime contractor?

Future task orders issued under the anticipated IDIQ contract will be within the scope of the anticipated contract. NIST cannot affirm the level of similarity between past task orders and future task orders.

11 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 79 Section L‐ Instructions

Formatting ‐ Sections states that "Graphic presentations, including tables, while not subject to the same font size and spacing requirements, shall have spacing and text that is easily readable" what are the font size and spacing requirements for Graphic Presentations and tables?

There are no specific font size and spacing requirements for graphic presentations and tables, except that they should be easily readable.

12 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 80 Section L‐ Instructions

If the government would like the prime and all subcontractors described in the Specialized Experience Requirements section, would the government exclude this from the page count?

NIST will take this comment under consideration in finalizing the official solicitation.

13 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 80 Section L‐ Instructions

Phase One (a) Tranmittal and Cover Letter. Section (a) asked for DUNS number and TIN. Should DUNS be replaced with Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)?

Section L of the solicitation will be corrected.

14 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 81 Section L‐ Instructions

The last sentence of A.2. Specialized Experience Requirements states:

"To the maximum extent practicable, offerors shall identify prime offeror or major subcontractor/team member corporate experience performed within the past five years that are traceable to the information provided in Volume IV, Past Performance."

But per the Phase One requirements, a Volume IV Past Performance is not required for Phase One. We believe that the last sentence of A.2 should be removed.

NIST will take this comment under consideration in finalizing the official solicitation.

15 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 81 Section L‐ Instructions

A.2 Sub‐Factor 2 ‐ Specialized Experience ‐ Can the Government confirm that offerors are to "identify the specific PWS functional areas requirements" of both the IDIQ and Mock Task Order PWS" within the 8 Page limit?

The referenced instructions are referring to the specific functional area requirements of the IDIQ

PWS .

16 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 81 Section L‐ Instructions

A.2 Sub‐Factor 2 ‐ Specialized Experience ‐Section states "experience performed within the past five years that are traceable to the information provided in Volume IV, Past Performance" but Volume IV, Past Performance on Page 85 only references instructions on submitting Past Performance Questionnaires. Can the Government clarify what is intended to be traceable to the information provided in Volume IV Past Performance?

NIST anticipates that the referenced language will be clarified in the official solicitation.

17 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 81 Section L‐ Instructions

A. Technical Approach Requirements. References to Sub‐Factor 3 are inconsistent. Should it be Sub‐Factor 3: Technical Approach and Key Personnel for Mock Task Order 1 or Sub‐ Factor 3 ‐ Mock Task Order 1?

The "title" of Sub‐Factor 3 under Factor A is "Mock Task Order 1." Sub‐factor 3 includes the evaluation of technical approach and key personnel for Mock Task Order 1.

18 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 82 Section L‐ Instructions

Must change re: Volumes I and II (subsections A.3.1 and C.2):

Offerors are required to provide the resumes for the key personnel proposed for each mock task order. As these are mock (not funded) task orders, will the Government allow offerors to submit sample resumes or sample job descriptions in lieu of resumes for currently available staff? Additionally, may the offeror provide the same resume for key personnel positions in more than one task order, assuming that the offeror would not necessarily be awarded contracts for both task orders?

As stated in the Draft Solicitation, the Government retains the right to convert all, some or none of the Mock Task Orders to real/funded task orders. The offeror may propose the same key personnel for multiple MTOs. However, NIST anticipates that the instructions/evaluation in the official solicitation will be revised and that letters of commitment for proposed key personnel will be requested to demonstrate the availability of the proposed key personnel for the MTOs. Thus, offerors will need to make business decisions surrounding the candidates to propose as key personnel under each MTO.

19 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 86 Section L‐ Instructions

Will the government accept reports from the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) in lieu of Past Performance Questionnaires?

Yes, the contractor may submit CPARS in lieu of Past Performance Questionnaires.

20 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 86 Section L‐ Instructions

RFP Section L and the Past Performance questionnaire seem to conflict. RFP Section L reads "Offerors shall have their references complete the questionnaire for individual contracts under which the offeror previously performed. The offeror shall then submit the questionnaires (completed by their references) as attachments to the proposal." However, the Questionaire itself reads "...should return the completed and signed form electronically to the Requester and not the Contractor being evaluated." Would the government update the questionaire in alignment with Section L?

NIST will take this comment under consideration in finalizing the official solicitation.

21 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 86 Section L‐ Instructions

Would the government please clarify the required number of protégé past performance(s) for a Mentor‐Protégé prime?

The solicitation does not have a required number of past performance references specifically for the protégé of a Mentor‐Protégé prime.

22 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 86 Section L‐ Instructions

Clarification re: Instructions for Volume IV (D. Past Performance Requirements): "Provide completed Past Performance Questionnaires... for services similar in scope to those of this requirement, for work completed or substantially completed within the last five (5) years." Please define "similar in scope" (e.g. dollar value of contract, number of FTEs) as the Government intends it.

NIST will take this comment under consideration in finalizing the official solicitation.

23 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 86 Section L‐ Instructions

Clarification re: Instructions for Volume V (Price Requirements):

"The Proposal Form (Standard Form 33) must be executed fully and used as the cover sheet (or first page) of this volume."

Please advise which specific pages from the Proposal Form should be included, i.e. page 1, Section K, Section L.6, Section L.7, etc.

Page 1 of the SF33.

24 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 87 Section L‐ Instructions

Clarification re: Instructions for Volume V (A. Base Contract Pricing): "submit ceiling fully burdened hourly labor rates for each proposed labor category detailed in the Offeror’s Technical Volume." Please confirm offerors must only submit rates for labor categories they propose to use for each mock task order, with any remaining categories being left blank or marked "n/a".

That is incorrect. The offeror must submit proposed ceiling fully burdened hourly labor rates for each and every one of the 36 Required IDIQ labor categories within/using attachment 7, IDIQ Labor Rates Spreadsheet, regardless of whether the offeror has proposed the use of a given required labor category on any of the mock task orders.

25 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 87 Section L‐ Instructions

Clarification re: Instructions for Volume V (B. Task Orders 1 through 5 Pricing): "clearly divided [this section] among the price proposals for each the 5 separate task orders." Please advise if this information may be provided in additional worksheets in Attachment 7 IDIQ Labor Rates spreadsheet, or must be provided in a separate document.

The Government anticipates that it will update the pricing spreadsheet to include templates for the mock task orders in the official solicitation.

26 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 79‐80 Section L‐ Instructions

Section L.1 includes a table indicating the page limit for each required section of Volume I. Given the extent of the areas noted in IDIQ SOW and the evaluation critera that needs to be covered for this volume, will the Government consider increasing the page limitation for the Project Plan to 16 pages and the Technical Approach for Mock TO #1 to 17 pages?

NIST will take this comment under consideration in finalizing the official solicitation.

27 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) N/A Section L‐ Instructions

In the Mock Task Order Key Personnel sections, "Labor Category titles are not necessarily required, they are examples of potentially relevant Labor Categories." To ensure that this critical set of requirements is apropriately addressed, is the government willing to limit labor categories of key personnel to be equal or greater to the minimum requirements of the listed Labor Categories?

The meaning of this question is not quite understood.

However, the minimum qualifications listed for a given labor category are just that ‐‐ minimum qualifications. Therefore, where the RFP states that key personnel must meet the minimum qualifications stated in the RFP, the personnel proposed must meet or exceed those qualifications.

28 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) N/A Section L‐ Instructions

How many days will contractors have to submit Phase 1 and Phase 2 responses?

The official solicitation will provide this information as required.

29 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 1 Section M‐ Evaluation Factors

Would the Government consider making CMMI Level 3 for Services and Development a Phase 1 requirement to ensure successful software and project delivery?

NIST does not anticipate CMMI Level 3 for Services and Development being a minimum requirement for offerors, as this would present an unnecessary restriction.

30 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 1 Section M‐ Evaluation Factors

How many awards is the Government planning to make?

The Government intends to make up to 3 IDIQ awards but reserves the right to only issue a single IDIQ award if in the best interests of the Government, based on the evaluation of proposals received.

31 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 1 Section M‐ Evaluation Factors

Will any of the MTOs be awarded and funded at ID/IQ award?

The Government reserves the right to convert none, some or all of the mock task orders to “real” funded task orders at the time of IDIQ contract award.

32 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 94 Section M‐ Evaluation Factors

Subsection A starts with content and goes straight to subsection A.2. Would the government please clarify that the Technical Approach 'Project Plan for IDIQ Contract' section is meant to be section A.1.

This will be corrected in the official solicitation.

33 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 94 Section M‐ Evaluation Factors

Clarification re: Phase One Evaluation Factors (A.2 Project Plan for IDIQ Contract): "The Government will evaluate… [t]he feasibility and suitability of the approach and plan for accomplishing the seven topical task areas described in the IDIQ PWS." Will the Government consider allowing offerors to submit proposals for one or more, but less than all seven, task areas consistent with their past performance and core capabilities?

No, the Government is seeking offerors with capabilities in all 7 IDIQ task areas.

34 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 95 Section M‐ Evaluation Factors

Section L requires the Technical Approach Requirements Specialized Experience section to address the prime and all subcontractors, while Section M says only the prime and key/major subcontractors will be evaluated. Please clarify what must be described in the Specialized Experience section ‐ the prime and all subcontractors, or the prime and key subcontractors.

This will be corrected in the official solicitation.

35 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 96 Section M‐ Evaluation Factors

This section states the relative order of importance for several categories of evaluation factors. Is the government able to share a more concrete weighting for each category?

The Government does not anticipate providing any further concrete weighting for each evaluation criteria. However, this comment will be taken into consideration.

36 Draft Solicitation (SF‐33) 99 Section M‐ Evaluation Factors

Clarification re: "Potential Award of Mock Task Orders 1 through 5", discussesing evaluation of RFP proposal factors "In determining the awardee for each of the task orders the Government decides to award as a result of this RFP." Please confirm this refers only to mock task orders that are converted to "real" funded task orders. Please confirm additional task orders (not linked to RFP mock task orders) are anticipated under this IDIQ and will be evaluated using criteria outlined in corresponding requests for proposals.

The referenced language is indeed referring to the Mock Task Orders 1 through 5, should the Government decide to convert one or more of them to real/funded task orders.

37 IDIQ Labor Categories 1 N/A Clarification: The spreadsheet shows Year 1 ends on "June 31, 2024". Please confirm Year 1 ends on May 31, 2024, as indicated in the Draft Solicitation (SF‐33), page 87.

Attachment 7 ‐ IDIQ Labor Rates Spreadsheet will be corrected.

38 IDIQ Labor Categories 1 Performance Work Statement

Is the Offeror able to create additional labor categories beyond current Section B ID/IQ ones for the MTO key personnel?

Offerors shall use the listed 36 IDIQ labor categories when proposing candidates for key personnel under the MTOs.

39 IDIQ Labor Categories N/A Section M‐ Evaluation Factors

How is the government evaluating the pricing, relative to the government's suggested LCATs or is it relative to the offeror's suggested LCATs?

The Government will evaluate whether the proposed fully burdened hourly labor rates for each of the required IDIQ labor categories (onsite and offsite rates) are fair and reasonable in relation to the solicitation requirements and consistent with the Offeror’s proposed Technical Approach

40 Mock Task Order 1 General Will all Mock Task Orders be awarded to one contractor or multiple contractors?

See the section titled "Potential Award of Mock Task Orders 1 through 5" at the end of Section M‐ Evaluation Factors for Award. Should the Government decide to award/fund one or more of the Mock Task Orders at the time of the IDIQ contract award, each such task order would be awarded to a single offeror (one per task order awarded), but each task order awarded could go to a different offeror. In order to be awarded one or more of the 5 Mock Task Orders, an offeror must be selected as an awardee of an IDIQ contract.

41 Mock Task Order 1 1 Performance Work Statement

Can the Government provide historical labor categories, levels, and hours for MTO 1‐5?

No, this information will not be provided.

42 Mock Task Order 1 7 Performance Work Statement

Mock TO1 PWS on Page 7, Figure 1, Title of Task 3 Identiy Standards and Title of Task 4 Reporting and Management do not match the narrative on pages 4 (Task 3 is titled National and International Identity Managment Standards and Development and Advancement) and 6 (Task 4 is titled Planning and Reporting).

MTO 1, Work Break Down Structure, will be updated.

43 Mock Task Order 2 12 8.0 Key Personnel

Clarification: The task order lists two labor categories. Does this mean the Government expects this work will require at least two key personnel? If not, will the Government provide information about incumbent or expected FTEs, so offerors can reasonably estimate level of effort in the pricing volume? Also, please confirm this task order does not require a Program Manager as key personnel.

The positions listed are minimum key personnel requirements, but not necessarily the complete level of effort that may be required to successfully complete the requirement. The offeror may propose the level of personnel they believe aligns with their proposed technical approach to successfully fulfill the requirement, while meeting any minimum key personnel requirements included in the MTO PWS in the official solicitation.

44 Mock Task Order 3 11, 12 7.0 Key Personnel

Clarification: The task order lists two labor categories including a Program Manager. Does this mean the Government expects this work will require at least two key personnel? If not, will the Government provide information about incumbent or expected FTEs, so offerors can reasonably estimate level of effort in the pricing volume?

The positions listed are minimum key personnel requirements, but not necessarily the complete level of effort that may be required to successfully complete the requirement. The offeror may propose the level of personnel they believe aligns with their proposed technical approach to successfully fulfill the requirement, while meeting any minimum key personnel requirements included in the MTO PWS in the official solicitation.

45 Mock Task Order 4 11, 12 8.0 Key Personnel

Clarification: The task order lists three labor categories including a Program Manager. Does this mean the Government expects this work will require at least two key personnel? If not, will the Government provide information about incumbent or expected FTEs, so offerors can reasonably estimate level of effort in the pricing volume?

The positions listed are minimum key personnel requirements, but not necessarily the complete level of effort that may be required to successfully complete the requirement. The offeror may propose the level of personnel they believe aligns with their proposed technical approach to successfully fulfill the requirement, while meeting any minimum key personnel requirements included in the MTO PWS in the official solicitation.

46 Mock Task Order 5 11 7.0 Key Personnel

Clarification: The task order lists three labor categories. Does this mean the Government expects this work will require at least three key personnel? If not, will the Government provide information about incumbent or expected FTEs, so offerors can reasonably estimate level of effort in the pricing volume? Also, please confirm this task order does not require a Program Manager as key personnel.

The positions listed are minimum key personnel requirements, but not necessarily the complete level of effort that may be required to successfully complete the requirement. The offeror may propose the level of personnel they believe aligns with their proposed technical approach to successfully fulfill the requirement, while meeting any minimum key personnel requirements included in the MTO PWS in the official solicitation.