Final Questions and Answers .docx

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Solicitation Number: 1333ND24QNB730505 Title: NIST WORKSHOPS ON CLIMATE SCIENCE FOR USE IN CODES AND STANDARDS FOR BUILDINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS Questions and Answers Document

1. Introduction This document provides responses to questions submitted by potential offerors regarding Solicitation No. 1333ND24QNB730505, titled “NIST WORKSHOPS ON CLIMATE SCIENCE FOR USE IN CODES AND STANDARDS FOR BUILDINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS.” The information provided in this document is intended to clarify the solicitation requirements and assist in the preparation of offers.

2. General Instructions

· Offerors are reminded that all questions submitted and responses provided become a part of the solicitation.

· In case of any discrepancies between the solicitation and this document, the solicitation takes precedence unless amended.

· Offerors must comply with all solicitation requirements, as stated in the original solicitation document and any amendments issued thereafter.

3. Questions and Answers Question 1: Are we required to subcontract some of the work and do the Small Business Subcontracting Plan?

Answer 1: FAR 19.702(a) outlines the statutory requirements for when subcontracting plans are necessary. Specifically, these plans are required for contracts with an anticipated value exceeding $750,000.00 that offer subcontracting opportunities. Given the estimated contract value and the specific nature of this acquisition, a subcontracting plan is presumed to be necessary. Therefore, the contractor is expected to make a good faith effort to ensure the maximum practicable utilization of small businesses, including veteran-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and others.

Please review the indicators of a “good faith effort” as outlined in FAR 19.705-7(b)(1) and (2), along with the requirements for a subcontracting plan. A template has been provided for the convenience of prospective offerors.

Question 2: Is the award period for 2 years or 18 months?

Answer 2: The period of performance for this contract is October 1, 2024 – March 27, 2026; which is approximately 18 months.

Question 3: Does the 10-page limit for the technical approach section includes the past experience?

Answer 3: The 10-page limitation does not include information to be submitted for past performance.

Question 4: How many past experience examples should be included?

Answer 4: The government does not intend to set a limit on the number of past performance examples required. This approach allows contractors the flexibility to submit multiple examples that demonstrate their ability to provide high-quality service that meets the government’s needs. However, it is crucial for contractors to submit examples of relevant performance within the past three years, as only work performed within this timeframe will be considered.

Please note that offerors without a record of relevant past performance, or for whom past performance information is not available, will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance and will be assigned a "Neutral" rating.

Question 5: Volume II – Pricing Volume – should this be formatted on an excel spreadsheet? And send it as an attachment when submitting the RFQ?

Answer 5: Excel is acceptable; as are other formats that delineates the total firm fixed price per specific task as detailed in the Statement of Work and provides a breakdown of how the firm fixed price for each task was derived.

Question 6: I am hoping to learn the relation of the NIST Grant/Contractor Report: NIST GCR 24-056 with IFC that appears to be related to Notice # 1333ND24QNB730505 and the correct Award ID that this may have been reported through? Is this correctly related to this Notice?

Answer 6: The mentioned NIST GCR 24-056 provides a summary of the workshops conducted, of which was aimed at identifying challenges associated with incorporating climate projections into infrastructure guidelines. Whereas this requirement aims to address an urgent demand to advance design practice.

Question 7: I have been unable to locate a correct incumbent contract number for what appears to be the previous iteration. Could you confirm this is the previous iteration of these services and if the services were performed through a contract?

Answer 7: There is no contract to reference as the perceived previous iteration was a Grant whose principal purpose is to provide financial assistance to the recipient to carry out a public purpose authorized by federal law. Not unlike a contract’s principle purpose.

Therefore, this is a new contract action.

Question 8: We would like to know if this is a brand new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services.

Answer 8: See answer provided for question (7).

Question 9: If not brand new, could you please provide the current / previous contract number?

Answer 9: See answer provided for question (7).

Question 10: If we need to submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan, is there a specific threshold for the amount or percentage of funds that must allocate for subcontracting?

Answer 10: The FAR does not specify an amount or percentage, nor does NIST, which is intentional as it provides the contractor the flexibility of meeting the intent of “maximum practicable utilization of small business” while minimizing burden on the contractor as well as significant increase in cost to the Government.

Question 11: Should each of the four workshops cover the same technical content and presentations but drawing different stakeholders in different geographical locations? Or alternatively, are each of the four workshops envisioned to solicit inputs on different subject areas?

Answer 11: The four workshops must address the urgent need for consensus guidance on how to address climate effects on the built environment (buildings and infrastructure systems) for design practice, including codes and standards. Four subject areas have been identified to advance this goal, where each will consider climate-affected hazards and social/economic impacts and consequences: (1) climate projections for use in the design of the built environment, (2) engineering design guidance and criteria for climate projections, (3) climate effects on the built environment, and (4) adaptation and resilience of the built environment and building materials. This is expected to be more effective than defining workshops by hazard types. Stakeholders for each workshop should be selected based on each workshop’s scope and goals, including geographic representation relative to climate-affected hazards; there may be an overlap of stakeholders between workshops.

Question 12: Will there an opportunity for the Contractor to identify “highest impact” subject areas with NIST Project Manager in order to develop concise workshop materials?

Answer 12: Yes, the SOW includes NIST participation and approval for workshop planning in Tasks 1 and 2. Highest impact subjects should focus on advancing engineering design practice, and identifying critical gaps that need to be addressed for adoption in codes and standards.

4. Amendments Based on the questions received and answers provided, no changes will be made to the RFQ or any associated documents.

5. Conclusion All offerors are encouraged to thoroughly review the solicitation and this Questions and Answers document. If further clarification is needed, please contact Marvin Jean at marvin.jean@nist.gov. All responses provided herein are intended to assist in the preparation of your offer but do not supersede the terms and conditions set forth in the original solicitation or any subsequent amendments.