IHS_Web_Support_Services_Solicitation_Questions_Amend_002_0002.pdf

IHS Web Support Services Solicitation Q&A

Q1. Would the Government consider a significant extension for the solicitation date?

A1. Unfortunately, with the current contract expiring soon, the Government cannot support an extension to the solicitation due to the Government’s need for the continuance of these services.

Q2. Can the Government please confirm the solicitation due date of 12/6/2022 at 2:00 PM EST and that this is a 100% ISBEE set-aside.

A2. This information is correct.

Q3. 2.1 Volume I – Introductory, Part d. only requires the first page of the SF 1449. Therefore, please confirm that we are not to fill out the pricing blocks #21, 22, 23, and 24 on pages 1 and 2 of the form and that we are to just fill out blocks 17 and 30.

A3. That is correct. All pricing will be completed utilizing Attachment 3, Pricing Sheet.

Q4. First page of the SF1449 Block #8 states the proposals are due by 2:00pm EST on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, on Page 46 of the RFP Section 2.0 Submission Details, it states that the proposals are due by 2:00pm CST on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. Please clarify the time that proposals are due.

A4. Proposals are due 2:00 EST on 6 December 2022. The updated solicitation is posted with Amendment 002.

Q5. Page 46 of the RFP, Section 1 Table states Volume II Technical is allocated 15 pages, on Page 47 of the RFP Section 2.2 Volume II Technical is allocated 10 pages. Please clarify the page count for Volume II.

A5. Volume II Technical is allocated 15 pages. The updated solicitation is posted with Amendment 002.

Q6. The subject solicitation states 6 December 2022 as the proposal due date; however, does not list a due date for submitting questions. Can the Government please confirm the due date for submitting questions relating to the subject solicitation? Please note that answer number 18 in the pre-solicitation Q&A document confirmed vendors would have the opportunity to submit questions in writing and answers would be posted in SAM.gov.

A6. Questions are due by 2:00 PM EST on November 22, 2022. The updated solicitation is posted with Amendment 002.

Q7. Draft Solicitation, Proposal Preparation Instructions (1.0), are PPQ and CPAR information excluded from the 5-page limit for Volume IV – Past Performance?

A7. The PPQs and CPARS are not included in the 5-page limit. This has been updated on the solicitation to read as such and is posted with Amendment 002.

Q8. Draft PWS, Appendix A, can the Government provide context on what this document is? Is the “Business Associate” the contracted company or its individual employees? Section 18 – Term includes a 2013 date which appears may be an error?

A8. Please refer to the HHSAR 324.70. Due to the functions associated with this contract, the Contractors will have access to PHI and PII since work will be conducted within the IHS system databases. As such, the contractor who is awarded the contract is entered into a “Business Associate Agreement” and is bound by the requirements set within.

Q9. In question 14’s answer you state that the RFP response will be evaluated based on a “best value” criteria, can you please tell us what are the key areas of value that you will focus on?

A9. The solicitation has posted and the instructions to offerors and evaluation criteria are posted within which includes the key areas that will be evaluated. Please review that and if you still have questions, let us know.

Q10. The RFP states that the Proposal includes a plan indicating how the Contractor will conduct quality assurance/quality control to ensure all requirements will be completed…This implies (especially given the 10-page limit) that the Government is requesting a description of the plan and an overview of how we will manage quality. However, the PWS (4.4) requires a complete draft of the QA/QC plan to be provided with the proposal. It is impossible to prepare a QA/QC draft within the 10 pages allowed, since we will also be providing a staffing and 508 compliance plan within those pages. Please consider changing this to all for the complete draft QA/QC plan to be provided with 10 days of contract award. This should give time for review. Otherwise, we request the government remove the page limit from the QA/QC draft requirement.

A10. The PWS has been updated to reflect that the draft QA/QC plan be provided 10 days after award and is posted with Amendment 002.

Q11. Will the government consider giving a preference for tribal resident employment levels?

For example, if a firm commits to a certain percentage of staff on this contract be official members of a tribe, would the government consider giving additional preference, to include subcontractors.

A11. There are no preferences established, as employment opportunities for Indians is required under this contract IAW the HHSAR clauses incorporated within the solicitation and resulting contract.

Q12. The spreadsheet lacks columns to calculate Fringe & Overhead costs; the formula in column F does not appear to take G&A in consideration to calculate profit; and the formal in Column J appears to be intended as the yearly cost, but the calculation actually adds 12 years.

We would like to request a new spreadsheet.

A12. Thank you for catching the pricing sheet mistakes. The calculations have been adjusted and the updated document is posted with Amendment 002.

Q13. What is the timeframe of the Observation period for the incoming Contractor?

A13. Upon award of the contract, the incoming Contractor will be able to begin hiring, submitting for clearances, obtaining PIV cards and other activities required to be ready to begin performance 1 February 2023. We anticipate at least two weeks between contract award and beginning performance.

Q14. The PWS states: "Place of Performance - The work shall be performed at the space provided by the contractor or via telework. No work will be accomplished at the IHS facilities, and all meetings will be held virtually. The only travel that may be required will be to obtain the required Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Card” Will any preference be given to contractors who set up a work location or locations near IHS offices in Oklahoma City or Albuquerque, NM?

A14. No preference will be provided based on location.

Q15. Can the government confirm that CPARS / PPQs are not part of Volume IV page count?

A15. The PPQs and CPARS are not included in the 5-page limit. This has been updated on the solicitation to read as such and is posted with Amendment 002.

Q16. Attachment 4, Paragraph K. Government Point of Contact requests Offeror to identify the Government Point of Contact. If a past performance is for a Public or Private sectors, what information do we enter in this section of the PPQ?

A16. The PPQ has been updated to reference Contract Point of Contact instead of Government Point of Contact to alleviate confusion. The updated document is posted with Amendment 002.

Q17. Clarification Request for Proposal Preparation Instructions - On page 46 for Volume II – Technical has a page limitation of 15 pages while on page 47 of Section 2.2 has a page limitation of 10 pages. What are the maximum pages for Volume II – Technical – Factor 1?

A17. The solicitation has been updated to reflect the 15-page allocation for the technical volume.

Q18. Section 2.3 Volume IV – Factor 3 – Past Performance - If past performance reference has a CPAR rating, is the Offeror required to submit that most interim or final CPAR record with our proposal submission?

A18. The Offeror is not required to submit CPARS as a part of their past performance submission, only the list of references as requested.

Q19. The table on page 46 list Volume IV with a page limit of 5; however, Attachment 4 (if no CPARS) is 4 pages. Can the Government confirm that the PPQ pages do not count toward the page count?

A19. The PPQs and CPARS are not included in the 5-page limit. This has been updated on the solicitation to read as such and is posted with Amendment 002.

Q20. PWS states “The only travel that may be required will be to obtain the required Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Card.” Can the Government please clarify if Contractor will have a reimbursable Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) on the resulting contract to invoice for this type of travel?

A20. There will not be any travel including within this contract. PIV cards can be obtained from a multitude of locations.

Q21. This section has the following statement “The term of this Agreement shall begin on September 1, 2013, and end with the termination of the Contract, except as provided in Section 14.” Can the Government please confirm this Section will be updated accordingly?

A21. The date has been updated in the PWS and is posted with Amendment 002.

Q22. Will the government consider a direct 8(a) award?

A22. The acquisition strategy has already been determined and solicited. This acquisition is being procured under the guidance of the Buy Indian Act as a 100% ISBEE set-aside.