B08_SOL_Amendment_2_Exhibit_1_Final_0002.pdf

No. Reference RFQ Section Section Page No. Question Answer

Addendum to FAR 52.212- 1 Instruction to Offerors- Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Mar 2023)

5. Volume 1: Technical Proposal (Small Business Set- Aside Portion), H.5.III.d

We suspect a typo error here in the instructions language. When this particular section is about SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE PORTION, should n’t it be Section 2.5 of the PWS?

Request to revisit this Para 5, sub-para III, point (d).

Yes, that is correct. The correct reference should be to Section 2.5 of the PWS.

Addendum to FAR 52.212- 1 Instruction to Offerors- Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Mar 2023)

H.2 41-42

Referring to the page limits set for the “Technical Proposal Volume” from Phase-II Proposal Instructions. Cover Page and Resume of Key personnel – are however given to be exempted from the page count. In addition, requesting to exclude Commitment Letter; Copies of Certifications, Cover Letter; Table of Contents, Table of Exhibits (Index)

– from the page count of 50 pages / 30 pages set for the volume.

The RFP will be amended to exclude Commitment Letter; Copies of Certifications, Cover Letter; Table of Contents, Table of Exhibits (Index) – from the page count.

Will the government consider amending the solicitation for the Small Business portion, specific to the preferred intention of engaging ISBEE’s, in one of the two possible ways below? 1. The government will accept for the Small Business ISBEE Phase 1 and Phase 2 proposals either a CMMI Level 3 Services certification or ISO 9001 certification. a. This would change from the current requirement that the ISBEE must have both certifications as a prime offeror and that teammates and subcontractors' certifications are currently not accepted.

No, the requirements for CMMI and ISO remain unchanged as of Amendment 1 to the solicitation.

This is the second part of the above question. The government will accept from the Small Business ISBEE Phase 1 and Phase 2 proposals, that one (1) of the certifications may be held by a subcontracto/teammate in the proposal of an Small Business ISBEE prime. a. This would be a change from the current requirement that the ISBEE must have both certifications as a prime offeror and that teammates and subcontractors' certifications are currently not accepted.

Refer to answer 3 above.

We are going to be submitting a proposal response for the subject-referenced DOI FMD PMO requirement and would appreciate if you could please confirm that SF1449s, Reps & Certs, etc. are due in Phase 2.

Yes a signed copy of the SF1449s, amendmnts to the RFP, and completed Reps & Certs are due in Phase 2.

H. Phase II Proposal Instructions, 5. Volume 1:

Tech Prop (Small Biz)

II. Staffing Plan, item (b) 44 Please confirm that this requirement relates only to the Key Personnel, as providing the request information for all labor categories of proposed staff is not necessary at this time, as no Task Orders have been issued.

No. The referenced section requires: "Staff experience in Project Management or related discipline as prescribed in the specified labor category for the assignment, especially in working with the government and/or federal projects." The reference to "staff experience" indicates the Government is interested in the relevant experience of the staff expected to fulfill the labor categories described in the Performance Work Statement.

7 H. Phase II Proposal Instructions, II. Staffing Plan, item (c) 44 Please confirm that this requirement relates only to the Key Personnel, as providing certifications for all labor categories of proposed staff is not necessary at this time, as no Task Orders have been issued.

No. The referenced section states: "Commitment letters for potential key personnel and copies of certifications required by the PWS for the offeror’s personnel and any vendor personnel proposed to work on the contract." The reference to "potential key personnel . . . and any vendor personnel proposed to work on the contract" indicates the government is interested in assessing the availability of the proposed staffing team.

8 H. Phase II Proposal Instructions, II. Staffing Plan, item (d) 45 This requirement states "Project Management Professional (PMP) 'and' Certified SCRUM Master certifications". Please confirm that it is a PMP "OR" Certified SCRUM Master certification.

This paragraph is being amended to read: "The proposed personnel to be assigned to this requirement possess the various required certifications described in Section 4.0 of the PWS."

9 H. Phase II Proposal Instructions, II. Staffing Plan, item (d) 45 Should our reponse provide the requested information for only Key Personnel or one for every Labor Category? Providing requested information for all labor categories of proposed staff is not necessary at this time, as no Task Orders have been issued. Resumes are only required for key personnel.

H. Phase II Proposal Instructions, 5. Volume 1:

Tech Prop (Small Biz)

III. Management Plan, items

(a) and (b)

III. Management Plan, bullets (a) and (b) are asking for qualifications of "key and supporting personnel", whereas II. Staffing Plan, bullet (b) is asking for "staff experience" . Is "staff experience" considered the same as "Key and supporting personnel"? Can the government clarify the differences between what is request for III.

Management Plan (a) and (b) and II. Staffing Plan (b)? Subparagraph (b) is begin removed through this amendment.

H. Phase II Proposal Instructions, 5. Volume 1:

Tech Prop (Small Biz)

III. Management Plan, item (b) 45

III. Management Plan (b). This requirements states "The qualifications of the 'proposed supporting' in meeting the required education, training, knowledge, skill, and experience identified in Section 4.0 to successfully carry out required objectives of the PWS ." Can the government include the missing word between "proposed" and "supporting"?

The RFP has been amended to state "The qualifications of the 'proposed staff supporting' in meeting the required education, training, knowledge, skill, and experience identified in Section 4.0 to successfully carry out required objectives of the PWS."

H. Phase II Proposal Instructions, 5. Volume 1:

Tech Prop (Small Biz)

III. Management Plan, item (d) 45 This section references … "to accomplish task assignments described in Sections 2.3 and 2.4 of the PWS". As this is the Small Business portion, please revise, replacing "2.3 and 2.4" with "2.5". See response to question 1.

H. Phase II Proposal Instructions, 4. Volume 1:

Tech Prop (Unrestricted)

IV. Organization Experience, item (f)

This item references PWS section 2.4.1 only, and not PWS section 2.3.1. Should we only address the PWS Section 2.4.1 requirements?

Subfactor (b) addresses the requirements to provide "Demonstrated organizational experience performing the functions described in PWS sections 2.3 and 2.4."

Consequently, no change is being made.

H. Phase II Proposal Instructions, 5. Volume 1:

Tech Prop (Small Biz)

IV. Organization Experience, item (b)

This item references PWS section "2.54". Should this be changed to PWS Section "2.5", as 2.54 does not exist? The RFP will be amended to update this reference to "2.5".

15 RFP Section 7 47 Does DOI intend to base the small business goal achievement on percentage of workshare? Please refer to the instructions at "Volume III – Small Business Participation

Proposal."

16 RFP Section 7 47 Did DOI intend to propose the unrestricted offerors to meet the prime contract small business goals instead of the subcontract small business goals? Please refer to the answer for question 15 above.

17 RFP Section 4 43 Are copies of PMP and CSM Certifications to be included in 50 page limit or can offerors include in the appendix? Can be included but not count against the page limit.

18 RFP Section 4 43 Is a PMP certification required for the organizational lead/project coordinator?

A PMP certication, while preferred, is not required for the overall organizational coordinator.

19 RFP Section 4 43 Does the government require only copies of PMP and CSM certifications or the others required in section 4.0? Copies of all cited certifications should be included.

20 PWS Section 4 13 Can the offeror propose additional labor categories to provide DOI additional staffing flexibility? If so, would they be included in the price evaluation?

Offerors may propose other labor categories; however, must understand that the price evaluation will be based on fulfilling and meeting the requirements of Attachment B, Contract Price Excel Spreadsheet.

21 RFP Section 6 46 Can the government confirm that the labor category names and descriptions in PWS Section 4.0 are those intended for the pricing attachment E and the offeror does not need to provide a equivalent name and description unless new categories are proposed?

See response to question 20. Only those cited in PWS Section 4.0 are intended at the time of this proposal. If additional LCAT pricing is necessary at the time of Task Order, they will be requested.

22 RFP Section H 39, 41, 46 Requirements from section E.8 are referenced throughout the soliciation (pages 39, 41, 46), but it is unclear where this section is. Can the governement please confirm where these requirements are?

The proper reference to Section E.8 on p. 39 should be Section G. The proper reference to Section E.8.4 on p. 41 should be Section G.4. The proper reference to Section E.8 on p. 46 should be Section G.4.

23 Attachment B N/A Does the maximum order limitation of 49,000,000.00 include the 6-Month Extention after Option Year 4? Yes.

24 Attachment B N/A In Attachment B, the Materials amount for the 6-Month Extension is $1,000,000, while the Materials amount for the previous Option Years is $200,000. Can the government please clarify?

The correct amount should be $100,000.00. The RFP will be amended to update this figure.

25 Attachment B N/A

Attachment B includes hours per labor category. Please clarify whether these are informational only, or whether the Government will use those hours to calculate a Total Evaluated Price to use in their comparison of offerors’ prices during the evaluation and source selection decision.

The hours are to be used by offerors to arrive at the total price for each period and for the total for the overall requirement. The Government will evaluate price proposals to ensure they conform to the labor hour requirements of the RFQ.

26 Attachment C 110 Does DOI intend for the QASP plan, metrics, and measurements to be updated and addressed at the task order level? Task orders may include requirement specific QASP plan, metrics, and measurements.

Section 4, II. Staffing Plan

Will the Government allow copies of employee certifications and letters of commitment to be excluded from the 30 page limitation? Yes.

Attachment A Amendment 2 to RFQ 140D0423R0006

Answers to Solicitation Questions

Section 4, III. Management Plan (b)

"(b) The qualifications of the proposed supporting in meeting the required education training, knowledge…." - Can the Government please clarify if the "proposed supporting" statement is speaking to the proposed non-key personnel?

The phrase should properly read "proposed support staff". "Staff" is the missing word.

What resumes are required for Phase I submission? The due date for submission of Phase I proposals has elapsed.

30 It refers to Section 4.0 containing a list of Labor Categories; however it does not contain a list of Labor Categories.

Section 4.0 of Attachment A, Performance Work Statement does list the labor categories along with their description on p. 13 - 24.

31 Could the Government please clarify what is meant by “demonstrated utilization of Project Management Professional (PMP) and certified SCRUM Master certifications."

Offerors should demonstrate experience where personnel were required to or placed into business or work practice, the knowledge, skills, processes, and/or procedures associated with PMP, SCRUM, or other earned credentials.

I wanted to reach out to understand why the due date for this solicitation was accelerated on Aug 29th? The original due date was Sep 29th and then pull left on the 29th of Aug to Sep didn't give my organization enough time to adjust.

The dates were not changed. The phase 1 responses were due on 9/1 with the full proposal due on 9/29.

In the Description section of this opportunity on SAM.gov it mentions that there will potentially be 2 - 4 awards for this set-aside. Can you confirm that this remains the case, or has this been updated recently? This remains the objective and no change has occurred.

34 Section 2.6.20 43

RFP section III(a) Management Plan (Page 43) states that "Offerors are to demonstrate the qualifications of the proposed key personnel in meeting the required education, training, knowledge, skill, and experience identified in Section 4.0 of the PWS to successfully carry out required objectives of the PWS. No requirements for key personnel (Program Coordinator) can be found at PWS section 4.0. Please provide these requirements.

The description is provided in Section 2.6.20.a (p. 33) which Amendment 1 changed the term "Program Manager" to read "Program Coordinator."

35 Section 4.H.2 The Table at Section 4.H.2 lists “resumes” in the Content requirements for Volume 1.

Will the government please specify which resumes offerors are required to provide?

Only resumes of Key Personnel are required at this time. Additional information will be requesite at the time of Task Order issuance.

36 Section 4.H.4.III.b:

RFP Section 4.H.4.III.b requires: “The qualifications of the proposed supporting in meeting the required education, training, knowledge, skill, and experience identified in Section 4.0 to successfully carry out required objectives of the PWS.” Will the government please confirm that any personnel discussed in the proposal for positions other than the Program Coordinator are merely illustrative and indicative of the caliber of personnel available from the offeror?

The missing word in the first sentence is "staff". So the phrase "proposed suporting in" should read "proposed supporting staff in". The labor category descriptions provided in Section 4.0 of Attachment A, Performance Work Statement, are expected to be provided by the offeror. Offerors should indicate which of their labor categories that may have differing titles, fulfills the requirements of each of those identified in Section 4.0.

37 Section 4.H.5.II.c

The RFP requires: “Commitment letters for potential key personnel and copies of current certifications required by the PWS for the offeror’s personnel and any vendor personnel proposed to work on the contract.” Will the government confirm that Commitment letters are required for Key Personnel only and not “any vendor personnel proposed to work on the contract.”?

The Government's intention is for offerors to demonstrate that all of their anticipated staffing will be available to work on the contract.

38 Section 4.H.5.II.c

The RFP requires: “Commitment letters for potential key personnel and copies of current certifications required by the PWS for the offeror’s personnel and any vendor personnel proposed to work on the contract.”May the offeror provide these Commitment letters and copies of current certifications as an appendix with the proposed personnel resumes and excluded from the page limitations? Yes.

39 Section 4.H.5.III.b The RFP states: “The qualifications of the proposed supporting in meeting the required education…” Please confirm 4.H.5.III.b refers to supporting staff. Yes, that is correct.

40 Section 4.H.6

RFP Section 4.H.6 states: “The Price Proposal shall consist of a Cover Page, described in Section E.8.4…” However, Section E does not include a subsection 8.4 or instructions for a Phase II Cover Page. Will the government please confirm that the Phase II Cover Page requirements are the same as the Phase I Cover Page requirements and that H.6 should refer to the Cover Page requirements listed at G.4. That is correct. Also, see the response to question 22.

41 Section 4.H.6 and Attachment B

RFP Section 4.H.6 states: “Attachment B provides suggested labor categories taken from those identified in Attachment A; however, these suggestions are subject to the approach of the contractor in fulfilling the required work and can be changed accordingly. Any changes should be explained in detail in the Price Proposal.” Will the government please confirm that the Qty and Hours Columns of Attachment B are also subject to the contractor’s approach and therefore those columns of the Contract Price Excel Spreadsheet can be adjusted based the offeror’s approach with explanation of changes provided in the Price Proposal?

The quantity of hours indicated in Attachment B are not subject to change. If an offeror proposes alternate labor categories, the Price Proposal must indicate which equivalent labor category(s) identified in Attachment B and Section 4.0 of Attachment A they fulfill along with how the hours provided in Attachment B will be fulfilled by which proposed alternate labor categories.

42 Section 4.H.6 and Answers to Questions (Aug 25, 2023)

In answers released on (Aug. 25, 2023), the government stated, “SF 1449 will be required with Phase II proposals, Representations and Certifications, and any amendments.” However, the RFP Instructions to not specify how these items should be submitted. Will the government please confirm that the completed SF 1449, Representations and Certifications, and acknowledgement of any amendments should be included in the Volume II Price Proposal? Yes, that is correct.

43 Section 4.H.7

Section 4.H.7 states: “Small business offerors self-certified in SAM.gov will receive the maximum credit for this evaluation factor and do not need to submit any documentation supporting this evaluation factor.” Will the government please confirm the statement “do not need to submit any documentation” exempts Small Business Offerors from submitting any version of a Volume III Small Business Participation Proposal? Yes, that is correct.

44 52.212-2(a)(3)i

RFP 52.212-2(a)(3)i states: “Volume II, Price Proposal, contains all of the required elements identified in Section E.9.5 including clearly identifiable separate Contract Price Excel Spreadsheets for the overall contract and for the Task Order.” However, there is no Task Order Proposal Requirement. Additionally, Section E does not have a subsection 9.5 and does not address Volume II required elements. Will the government please consider amending this evaluation criteria to read “Volume II, Price Proposal, contains all of the required elements identified in Section H.6 including a clearly identifiable Contract Price Excel Spreadsheet.”

All references to a "task order" in this section are to be deleted. Yes, the incorrect reference to "subsection 9.5" should read

45 52.212-2(a)(3)i

RFP 52.212-2(a)(3)i states: “Volume II, Price Proposal, contains all of the required elements identified in Section E.9.5.” However, Section E does not include a subsection

9.5. Will the government please confirm that 52.212-2(a)(3)i should refer to “required elements identified in Section H.6”?

That is correct. The proper reference should be "Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 Instruction to Offerors-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Mar 2023), paragraph H.6."

46 Attachment B Is the $49,000,000 limitation on the order inclusive of the 6-month extension? Yes.

In volume 1- Technical proposal (Small Business) under (III) Management Plan it is given that (d) A description of the Offeror’s existing procedures to ensure the required availability and allocation of staff and resources to accomplish task assignments described in Sections 2.3 and 2.4 of the PWS at the task order level, or the ability to acquire such personnel”. I seek clarification on whether this requirement is accurate for Small Business proposals, as Sections 2.3 and 2.4 appear to pertain to Levels 1 and 2.

However, for Small Business proposals, we are instructed to respond to Level 3, Section

2.5. Kindly confirm if the requirement in item (d) aligns with Section 2.5 of the PWS for Small Business proposals, as per the provided instructions. Your clarification on this matter is crucial as it will ensure our Phase II submission complies with the correct criteria. Yes, the proper reference should be to Section 2.5 of the PWS.

Section 4 - Solicitation Provisions, H. Phase II Proposal Instructions,

5. Volume 1: Technical Proposal (Small Business Set-Aside Portion)

Section 4, H, 5, III.

Management Plan, d

45 The solicitation instructions state that vendors are "to ensure the required availability and allocation of staff and resources to accomplish task assignments described in Sections 2.3 and 2.4 of the PWS at the task order level, or the ability to acquire such personnel." Since the small business set-aside portion only pertains to the tasks listed in Section 2.5, should the reference to Sections 2.3 and 2.4 be amended to read 'Section 2.5'?

The RFP will be amended to update this reference to "2.5".

Section 4 - Solicitation Provisions, H. Phase II Proposal Instructions,

5. Volume 1: Technical Proposal (Small Business Set-Aside Portion)

Section 4, H, 5, IV.

Organization Experience, b

45 The solicitation references 'functions described in PWS Sections 2.54; however, we were unable to locate this section. Could the government please clarify?

The RFP will be amended to update this reference to "2.5".

Section 4 - Solicitation Provisions, H. Phase II Proposal Instructions,

5. Volume 1: Technical Proposal (Small Business Set-Aside Portion)

Section 4, H, 5, II. Staffing Plan, c

44 The solicitation states that commitment letters and copies of certifications be provided. Can this information be included in an appendix? If yes, will it count against the 30 page limit?

The referenced documents will not be counted against the page limit.

Section 4 - Solicitation Provisions, H. Phase II Proposal Instructions,

5. Volume 1: Technical Proposal (Small Business Set-Aside Portion)

Section 5, H, 5, II. Staffing Plan, d

45 The solicitation states that vendors are to demonstrate that proposed personnel possess the requisite certifications (i.e., PMP, CSM). Can this information(e.g., copies of certifications) be included in an appendix? If yes, will it count against the 30 page limit?

The referenced documents will not be counted against the page limit.

52.212-2 Evaluation—Commerci al Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2021)

52.212-2, a, (2) Phase I Evaluation (Small Business Set-Aside Portion), Subfactor 3 - Management Plan

48 The solicitation states that the management plan will be evaluated based on the time commitment of the anticipated Program Coordinator and other proposed staff; however, as this is to be a Task Order-based IDIQ-type contract, it is not possible to anticipate the time commitment of these individuals at this time.

Would the government consider removing the evaluation of personnel time commitment from the evaluation criteria at the IDIQ level?

The Phase I period has expired.

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