B09_SA_Attachment_8_Questions_and_Answers_0001.pdf

Q# Document Page Section Question Government Response 1 Solicitation 4 B.2 (c ) Anticipated

Award Type Does DOI expect that each individual mediation TO will require a quote submission and approval, prior to assigning the work? If so, would you please provide information about how many mediations cases are anticipated in a year?

Yes, all work will require a quote submission and approval, and the issuance of a task order before any work can begin. Work can begin upon the issuance of a task order.

Approximiately 35-50 per fiscal year.

2 Solicitation 6 B.4. Place of Performace

The chart in Section B.4. indicates that 5% of the work will be virtual. Over recent years due to COVID and other travel restrictions, our clients have often preferred higher percentages of virtual mediation and other services. Is 5% based on recent experience or an overall historical percentage? If the latter, could you provide an estimate of usage of virtually delivered mediation cases, based on the most current year available?

The 5% is based on recent experience.

3 Solicitation 12 C.2.1 Considerations Applicable to Entire Contract #8

Contractor shall submit all draft significant deliverables to the CADR COR and the CADR Technical Liaison with sufficient time to review prior to submitting as a final deliverable to the requesting bureau or office point(s) of contact. Does this provision apply to a DOI prereview and approval of mediation agreements?

There is not a requirement for a DOI Prereview and approval of mediation agreements.

4 Solicitation 12, 14-16 C.3.1 Specific Tasks

Administering task assignments requires considerable administrative time and expertise in the nature of the work and their complexities. Would DOI consider adding or assigning a specific labor category to Case or Task administration?

This needs to be considered in the fully loaded labor rates, a separate labor category will not be added for this.

5 Solicitation 13 C.3.2.1 Administrative Assistance

#1. Obtain meeting room facilities and the use of appropriate equipment for a meeting. Please provide a typical example of when the DOI would require the Contractor to provide non-government facilities. How often would this support be expected? When required, which Labor Category would apply?

For example, booking a conference room for use of two parties, the Contractor would be required to book the conference room and required audio visual equipment.

Room rental fees and A/V equipment fees would need to be preapproved as ODC's in accordance with the contract terms and conditions and invoiced appropriately.

Approximately 2-5 task orders per fiscal year will require meeting space coordination.

The coordination of this space would be considered part of meeting preperation and would be accounted for in the overall number of labor hours for the task order. There is not a seperate labor category for this.

6 Solicitation 13 C.3.3.1 Labor Category Requirements and Tasks

What considerations are given to the complexities of a TO in deciding on the appropriate Labor Category, and/or the need for SMEs (Section: C.3.3.5)? Who assigns the CMP Labor Category Level? Is the Labor Category specified in the TO or by the Contractor?

As stated in the Solicitation, please see G.6.2

7 Solicitation 13 C.3.3.1 Labor Category Requirements and Tasks

All service providers shall have a minimum of 40 hours of training in the discipline in which they are to provide service and have an understanding and knowledge of the theories, concepts, and practices in the discipline. Does the reference to “the discipline,” refer to mediation, facilitation, training, etc? If not, would you provide examples of the subject matter that would be covered in this requirement?

As stated in paragraph C.3.3.1 "All service providers shall have a minimum of 40 hours of training in the discipline in which they are to provide service and have an understanding and knowledge of the theories, concepts, and practices in the discipline."

8 Solicitation 13-14 C.3.3.2 Mediation

How many requests do you anticipate for mediation in a given year? Of those, how may will be EEO related?

Approximately 35-50 mediations per fiscal year; Within that figure, approximately 25 are EEO related.

9 Solicitation 15 C.3.3.4 Training

Needs Assessment. Does DOI have an established assessment tool or process for training needs assessments, or does the contractor provide assessment design or tool(s)?

DOI does not have an established assessment tool or process for training needs assessment. This solicitation is not requesting an assessment tool or process for training needs assessment.

10 Solicitation 16 C.3.3.5 Subject Matter Experts

Please provide examples of specialized fields, experience or expertise that might be required for this contract?

The specialized fields, experience or expertise required for this labor category would be based on the specific need from DOI/CADR and would be identified at the time of request. Experts in all fields could be needed based on the identified need.

11 Solicitation 22 G.6.2.(d) Contractor's Price Proposal

Consultation, scoping and developing detailed proposals for individual TOs can require considerable time. How if at all will this time be compensated?

If the time for consultation and TO quote responses are not billable, can you provide guidance for gauging a level of effort over the course of a year so that it can be included in a fully loaded hourly rate?

Time is not billable nor compensated; this should be considered with the fully burdened labor rates.

Level of effort over the course of a year could not be estimated as it would depend on many varying circumstances; however, the Contractor could estimate a level of effort of 2 hours for quote submission.

12 Solicitation 96 Volume II Past Performance

Bidders may provide either required information about past performance OR a completed Past Performance Questionnaire. Is there a preference or additional consideration for evaluating a bid given to one or the other?

There is no preference nor additional consideration given to either the past performance or a completed PPQ. All documents will be evaluated in accordance with the solicitation.

13 Solicitation 105 Section M (b) Options Please provide an example of when or how “options prices” would be significantly unbalanced? Unbalanced pricing exists where the prices of one or more line items are significantly overstated or understated, despite an acceptable total evaluated price. The only option pricing being evaluated is the FAR 52.217-8 pricing.

14 Is there an incumbent for these services? Collaborent, LLC

15 If a firm has not submitted a reply by Februar 2025, are we not able to submit a proposal?

Any firm who meets the set aside requirement and who can accomplish the work as requested in the solicitation can submit a proposal, the submission deadline is published in the solicitation.

16 Solicitation Section B.7 Travel and other direct costs

Can you clarify whether travel will be reimbursed strictly per FAR 31.205-46 with pre-approval, or if there is a capped travel budget with a TO. Also, how will travel time be treated for Labor-Hour TOs?

Travel is strictly reimbursed per FAR 31.205-46 with pre-approval.

Travel time is explained in paragraph B.7 (d).

17 Solicitation Section B.4 Place of Performance,; B.5 Hours of Work

Will the government provide workspace and meeting facilities (e.g. office, conference rooms, AV equipment) for on-site CMPs and mediations, or must the contractor supply all facilities? Are there limits on concurrent on-site personnel per location?

See paragraph B.7 - TO's will identify the place of performance, if performance is at a government facility, then some faciliites may be available, however, workspace is not typically provided. Contractor may need to supply facilities and equipment based on requirements of the TO.

This solicitation does not reference any limits on concurrent on-site personnel per location.

18 I am reaching out to inquire about the protocol for submitting the necessary paperwork for the aforementioned contract. Would it be acceptable to forward it via email, or is there a different procedure in place?

Submission instructions are provided within the Solicitation, specifically see Section L.

140D0425R0029 Internal CADR Recompete

All Questions recevied before deadline

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