Attachment 1.pdf

Question Attachment Page # Section Question/Comment Response

1 Solicitation (SF-33) 36 of 133 Performance Work Statement Will NIST facilitate NEHRI research facility and use access at the NSF-member rate, or is the contractor expected to secure this access and contract usage themselves?

This will be dependent on the task order. If NSF permits this for a given task order, NIST will address this in the task order request for proposals as an option (for example, when NSF permits based on congressional legislation for conducting time sensitive-research).

2 Solicitation (SF-33) 7 of 133 Key Personnel What percentage of time does NIST anticipate having key personnel (Program Manager and Principal) on-site?

No requirement to be onsite for key personnel on the IDIQ. If a meeting is needed to update leadership on IDIQ progress or status, NIST will use virtual meetings. Task orders may require something from the key personnel.

3 Solicitation (SF-33) Overall Performance Work Statement Would NIST consider adding routine (quarterly or monthly) meetings to the overall scope of work? We find that routine contractual meetings with all contract holders is the best way to prepare for new work and better serve our clients.

At this time, NIST does not require IDIQ-level routine meetings. The task orders when issued will have update meetings and reports, quarterly or monthly will depend on the task order. Specific deliverables and due dates will be specified in each individual task order when they are issued. Each task order awarded under this IDIQ will have a quarterly written progress review procedure documenting outputs, outcomes, and impacts. Each task order awarded under this IDIQ will identify task order specific meeting requirements.

4 Other Overall Section L-Instructions Do names of Key Personnel need to be identified for Phase 1? If so, would NIST like resumes to be provided in the Phase 1 submittal as well? The solicitation has been updated to include IDIQ key personnel instructions.

5 Other Overall Section L-Instructions Is an organizational chart of staff required to be provided during Phase 1? An organizational chart of staff is not a solicitation requirement. It is up to the offeror on which Volume is the most appropriate to provide this information.

6 Solicitation (SF-33) 1 Performance Work Statement Item 9 states that sealed offers in original and 1 copies must be delivered. However, Section L states that it should be submitted electronically. Can you confirm that only electronic submission is required?

All offers must be submitted electronically.

7 Solicitation (SF-33) 34 Performance Work Statement

The background mentions that NIST is responsible for conducting disaster and failure studies. In the past there has been a separate Disaster and Failure Studies ID/IQ. Is the Disaster and Failure Studies ID/IQ being replaced by this ID/IQ or will it remain as a separate ID/IQ?

This IDIQ does not replace any other IDIQ. There is no DFS IDIQ for research. The Community Resilience IDIQ currently in place ends in 2025. This IDIQ can be used by Community Resileince Groupf if needed research fits within the scope of this IDIQ.

8 Solicitation (SF-33) 45 Performance Work Statement

Under Item 10 , it states " The Government has provided historical information on task orders completed in past acquisitions of the same type of work expected to be completed under this contract, as well as labor hours used in support of these orders. See Section J of the solicitation." However, there is no historical information on task orders provided in Section J or anywhere else in the solicitation. Can you provide historical information on task orders completed in past acquisitions?

The item has been removed.

9 Solicitation (SF-33) 117 Section L-Instructions

Section L states "In the event that a proposal is lost, deleted, or destroyed due to the offeror's failure to conform to the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) above, such proposal will be considered to have never been delivered to the Government".

However, paragraphs (a) and (b) do not appear to be labelled. Can you please provide clarification as to what paragraphs you are referencing.

The statement references the paragraph directly above. Please see the revised SF-33.

10 Solicitation (SF-33) 118 Section L-Instructions

Section L states "Key Personnel Resumes and Letters of Commitment do not count towards the page limitations." However, there does not appear to be a requirement for resumes or letters of commitment listed in the RFP. Can you please clarify whether resumes and letter of commitment are required?

See the SF-33 revised Section L/M.

11 Solicitation (SF-33) 119-120 Section L-Instructions

Section L states that Executive Summary has a limit of 5 pages, the Technical Volume has a limit of 30 pages which also includes the Executive Summary, but Factor A also has a limit of 30 pages. We think the intent is that the entirety of Volume I has a 30-page limt, plus 5-pages for the Executive Summary resulting in a total of 35 pages. Can you please confirm or clarify?

Transmittal and Cover Letter (2 Pages), Executive Summary (5 Pages), Voume 1 (30 Pages) = 37 Pages Toatl

12 Solicitation (SF-33) 124 Section L-Instructions

Section L states that "The past performance questionnaires and Small Business Subcontracting Plan are to be provided as attachments to Volume I – Technical Proposal, and will not count towards the page limit." However, it is listed as a requirement of the Phase two proposal. Can you please clarify whether the past performance questionnaires and Small Business Subcontracting Plan should be submitted as part of Phase 1 or Phase 2?

The documents are required to be submitted in Phase Two.

13 Other This question form indicates that there are mock task orders. However, there are not any mock task orders in the solicitation. Should mock task orders have been included in the solicitiation or is that just a generic option in this form?

There is no mock task order for this requrement.

14 IDIQ Labor Categories 1 Performance Work Statement No section titled "Performance Work Statement" was included, however, Section B.2 on page 7 lists IDIQ labor categories. Can you please confirm these are the same?

The IDIQ Labor Categories documet outline the types of categories required for the IDIQ. There is no performance Work Statement for the this requirement. The Stament of Work begins on Page 33 of the SF-33 and ends on Page 46.

15 Solicitation (SF-33) Performance Work Statement Not provided The Stament of Work begins on Page 33 of the SF-33 and ends on Page 46.

16 Solicitation (SF-33) Key Personnel Not provided Key Personnel requirements are located on page 7 and 8 of the SF-33.

17 Solicitation (SF-33) 41 Performance Work Statement

Section C, Statement of Work, includes minimum specifications for video-conferencing systems. Examples of acceptable systems provided on page 41 are not available. Are use of consumer-grade video confrencing technologies, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, coupled with high-definition video features acceptable?

Zoom and Teams can be used. However, not all agencies can use some of the other software. A common software will be determined based on the individual task orders. Note that if the govnerment is hosting a meeting, Teams or Zoomgov (does not impact people joining the meeting) will be used.

18 Solicitation (SF-33) 119 Section L-Instructions Paragraph on Submission Due Dates states that Phase One proposals must be received electronically prior to the response due date on SAM.gov. Can you confirm that this is for submittal of Volume I, addressing Factors A and B, only?

The due date Aug 19, 2024 12:00 pm EDT is for submittal of Volume I, addressing Factors A and B, only.

19 Solicitation (SF-33) 119 Section L-Instructions

This page lists the page limit on Volume I at 30 pages; next page (pg.120) sets the page limit for Factor A, which is a subsection of Volume I, at 30 pages. Can you please clarify the individual page limits for Factor A and B, not including Key Personnel resumes?

Factor A &B = Volume I (30 Page Limit)

20 Solicitation (SF-33) 124 Section L-Instructions

Last paragraph on this page states "Past Performance Questionnaires and Small Business Subcontracting Plan are to be provided as attachments to Volume I (Technical Approach)...." Is this correct or should this be Volume II (Management Approach) and Volume III (Past performance), both to be submitted as part of Phase Two?

Past Performance Questionnaires and Small Business Subcontracting Plan are to be provided as attachments to Volume II (Management Approach) and Volume III (Past performance). Both requiremnts are to be submitted as part of Phase Two?

22 Mock Task Order 1 Performance Work Statement Not provided - will this and following be provided for Phase Two? There is no mock task order for this requrement.

23 Mock Task Order 1 Key Personnel Not provided There is no mock task order for this requrement.

24 Mock Task Order 2 Performance Work Statement Not provided There is no mock task order for this requrement.

25 Mock Task Order 2 Key Personnel Not provided There is no mock task order for this requrement.

26 Mock Task Order 3 Performance Work Statement Not provided There is no mock task order for this requrement.

27 Mock Task Order 3 Key Personnel Not provided There is no mock task order for this requrement.

28 Mock Task Order 4 Performance Work Statement Not provided There is no mock task order for this requrement.

29 Mock Task Order 4 Key Personnel Not provided There is no mock task order for this requrement.

30 Mock Task Order 5 Performance Work Statement Not provided There is no mock task order for this requrement.

31 Mock Task Order 5 Key Personnel Not provided There is no mock task order for this requrement.

32 Solicitation (SF-33) 7

Section B.2 Schedule of Labor Categories lists labor categories that are “required” for the contract. Since the contract may be awarded as a multiple-award contract, does the offerer need to supply all services/categories list in the solicitation or is it acceptable to only provide a subset of them?

See Section 15 of the SOW.

33 Solicitation (SF-33) 7, 60, 118 Key Personnel

The solicitation uses the term “key personnel” at several points throughout the document, but this term does not appear to ever be defined. Is the Program Manager the only "key personnel"? What is the definition of “key personnel” and who counts as "key personnel"?

See Section 15, Base IDIQ Contract Key Personnel, of the SOW.

34 Solicitation (SF-33) 118 Section L-Instructions

Section L states that Key Personnel Resumes don’t count towards the page limitations. However, there do not appear to be any additional instructions about for whom resumes need to be submitted. Should resumes only be submitted for "key personnel" or do resumes need to be submitted for all labor categories and technical levels? Also, should resumes be submitted as part of the Corporate Experience section of Factor B or should they be submitted in another section?

See Section 15 of the SOW.

35 Solicitation (SF-33) 118 Section L-Instructions

If resumes need only to be submitted for "key personnel", do names of individuals providing services for each labor category and technical level need to be submitted?

Or, is it acceptable to identify only the firm name (prime contractor or subcontractor) who will be providing these services?

See Section 15 of the SOW.

35 Solicitation (SF-33) 118 Section M-Evaluation Factors

Section L states that Letters of Commitment don’t count towards the page limitations. However, there do not appear to be any additional instructions regarding requirements for submitting Letters of Commitment. Is there a requirement for submitting letters of commitment for subcontractors?

Letters of commitment for subcontractors are not required.

37 Solicitation (SF-33) 124 Section L-Instructions

In Section L Factor E, there is a small business subcontracting plan attachment required for Phase 2. In this section, there is a table that lists business categories and participation goals. Is this table just an example of what the Offerer is supposed to provide? Or, does this table list the participation goals for the contract?

Please reference 52.219-9 Small Business Subcontracting Plan for plan instructions.

38 Solicitation (SF-33) 131,132 Section M-Evaluation Factors The small business subcontracting plan identified in Section L Factor E for Phase 2 does not appear to be evaluated as part of the Evaluation Factors for Award in Section M. Is this correct?

The plan will be review and evaluated under the management approach factor. Section M has been revised accordingly.

39 Mock Task Order 1 N/A This question submission sheet implies that there might have been mock task orders intended to be attached to the solicitation. There appear to be none. Were mock task orders intended to be attached?

There is no mock task order for this requrement.

40 Solicitation (SF-33) 7, 9, 119

In several locations thoughout the solicitation it makes reference to having experience with "similar work" or "similar programs". Since no mock task orders are provided, it is unclear precisely what is meant by "similar work". Is the Section C Description/Specifications/Work Statement the only portion of the document that describes the nature of the work? Or, is there additional information that can be provided regarding what is meant by "similar work"?

The Stament of Work is the only document that describes the nature of the work.

41 Solicitation (SF-33) 7 Section B.2 Schedule of Labor Categories does not appear to list Geotechnical Engineer or Blast/Explosion Expert. Were these labor categories intentionally left off the list? Or, are these labor categories also expected to be provided?

The labor categories are provided are cateories historically used for similar requirements. All offerors are allowed to submit additional categories based of technical experience.

Questions