B26_SQA_Respoonse_to_Bidder_Questions_0002.pdf

Bidder Questions Question# Reference Question 1 Combined

Solicitation-

CPARS

Section

Can the contractor provide past performance as part of the technical response? While the solicitation indicates the use of CPARS, the actual proposal submission does not indicate the evaluation of past performance references. Please provide clarification on the use of past performance.

1 Response The Government intends to utilize CPARS to evaluate Past Performance. If the Bidder does not have CPARS data available, then it may include past performance information as part of the technical response. (Also see response to questions 2 and 11)

2 Combined Solicitation-

CPARS

Section

If the contractor is providing past performances, could IHS indicate whether they are looking for contract validity over 3 or 5 years, or both?

Please provide clarification on acceptable past performance relevancy.

2 Response The Government intends to evaluate all CPARS data for the past four years. (Also see response to questions 1 and 11)

3 Solicitation – Page 1, #7

This requirement is marked as a set aside 100% for Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise, however, the Unrestricted box is marked under Standard Form 1449. Please confirm competition type.

3 Response This requirement is set aside 100% for Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise.

4 General Is there another contractor supplying IHS with statistical data for demographic analysis? We understand that IHS currently uses county level data received from CDC, NIH and NCHS, but are there any contractors reviewing the data coming in?

4 Response No

5 B08_SOL_

Addendum The instructions to offerors (52.212-1) does not identify requirements for a narrative and/or a page count for Volume II – Price. Please confirm whether there is a price narrative required and if so whether there is a page limit.

5 Response There is no requirement for a price narrative; only Attachment 2 Pricing Schedule.

6 SOW Section 5.1.1 (Specific Tasks)

Can the Government provide more information on 5.1.1 Work with the Windows Secure Server, such as the types of statistical platforms/software available on the server and the file types and data elements present for analysis with “SAS or R, or another similar tool which both the Government and the Contractor can read, write, and interpret?” Please provide clarification on the systems or platforms that the vendor will be responsible for interfacing with.

6 Response There is only SAS on the statistical server currently. R and SPSS can be used, but it is not set up to be used now. The files will be county-level so that the server can be used chiefly as secure mass storage and a place to store intermediate or final files for the Government. Once a business associate agreement is in place and the data use agreement is updated with the data source, the contractor could work with the data on their computing equipment, storing final or reference copies on the statistical server.

7 General Is there a clearance requirement for the key personnel that will be performing this work? Please provide clarification on clearance requirements.

7 Response A business associate agreement must be signed and kept current with the Government. As part of that agreement, any process needed by the Government to allow the user of the Government-furnished equipment to access the secure server by possessing a PIV (Government-supplied ID card) will also need to be followed, such as a background check. Secure physical media exchange through an encrypted thumb drive to be supplied by the Government can be used immediately following the business associate agreement being finalized.

8 Solicitation – Page 2-6

The solicitation lists CLIN 00070 (Natality Rate Misclassification) on page 2, but the option year CLINs do not have this CLIN. The attachment B08_SOL_Attachment_Pricing_Schedule includes this CLIN in the option years. Please confirm if this CLIN (Natality Rate Misclassification) is required in the option years.

8 Response CLIN 00070 is not required for the option periods and will be removed from the pricing schedule. CLIN 00070 is a requirement only for the base period of performance IAW SOW Technical Exhibit 1 – Deliverables Schedule

9 General Could the Government please release the time frame in which data is collected (quarterly, bi-annually, annually)? Knowing the frequency will help us better understand the current gaps and/or misrepresentation trends to ensure we develop a better and more consistent analysis.

9 Response Annually 10 Att1-

Addendum 52.212-1

Can writing in graphics, captions, and tables be in a smaller font size than the required 11pt (e.g., 9pt)?

10 Response Yes, but all submissions must be clear and legible 11 Provision

52.212-2 We understand that the Government will review CPARS to validate offerors' past performance. Can the contractor also submit brief descriptions of past performance as well? If so, can the past performance descriptions be submitted in an appendix to the technical volume, or will they count against the 25-page limit?

11 Response The contractor may submit brief descriptions of past performance as part of their technical volume. This text will not count against the 25-page limit. (Also see response to questions 1 and 2)

12 SOW 1.6.8 Will equivalent experience be considered for the key personnel roles described (e.g., Sr. Demographer/PH Demographer, Sr. Statistical Analyst/Demographic Statistical Programmer-Analyst, Admin Assistant/Jr. Research Analyst? If so, is there specific coursework or years’ experience that will be considered equivalent? For example, a PhD in Epidemiology will have completed courses in demography and statistical methods beyond the MPH level.

12 Response This will be assessed on a case-by-case basis consistent with OPM guidelines.

13 General What data sources will be provided for analysis, such as a linked IHS-NDI data set? Please confirm whether or not the contractor will be responsible for any data linkage (which was previously included in the

RFI)?

13 Response The contractor will not perform any data linkage. A need to associate or correlate data may be needed to produce a racial misclassification-corrected data set for natality. Adjustment factors for mortality will be provided.

14 General Since the work will be completed on government-furnished laptops, will software be provided (i.e., SAS, R), or will that need to be provided and installed by the contractor?

14 Response There is a SAS server license in the secure server. The Government furnished laptop combined with a background check for using a PIV (Government identity card) will enable the laptop to be used with the server. SAS can also be installed on the laptop along with another tool, such as R Studio, before its distribution from the Government to the contractor.

15 SOW 1.6.5.1 Are contractors required to have PIV cards prior beginning the work if awarded?

15 Response Yes 16 SOW 1.6.8 Is it expected that only one person fills each key personnel role

(especially for the Sr. Demographer/PH Demographer, Sr. Statistical Analyst/Demographic Statistical Programmer-Analyst, and Admin Assistant/Jr. Research Analyst), or can the contractor assign two people to share the roles?

16 Response This will be addressed on a case by case basis. One role per person is expected, but contingencies that occur will be discussed.

17 SOW 1.6.8 The Attachment Pricing Schedule lists 4 labor categories—Project Manager, Sr. Demographer, Sr. Statistical Analyst, and Admin Assistant.

If the contractor has more labor categories to propose, do we add rows to the tables in each year? For example, the SOW mentions needing an alternate PM but there is no line for that role in the pricing schedule.

17 Response Contractor may propose additional categories as Alternative Line Items as necessary. However, it is not intended that the Alternate Project Manager and the Primary Project Manager will work concurrently, but rather the Alternate may work in lieu of the Primary. The Government assumes these two individuals will bill at the same rate unless otherwise specified.

18 SOW 1.6.3 Where on the Attachment Pricing Schedule should the travel costs for staff to obtain PIV cards at IHS designated centers be included?

18 Response Travel is not considered a substantial expense for this project. As a firm fixed price contract, all proposed hours and rates should be fully burdened with anticipated overhead costs.