Attachment H Questions.Responses_0003.docx

RFP 140G0120R0040 - Questions.Responses Government response is in italics Amend 0001

1. Factor B: Past Performance directs vendors to submit PPQ to their client. Vendors with current CPARS, can we please request a PPQ waiver?

A past performance evaluation report from CPARS will be considered in lieu of a completed Past Performance Questionnaire submitted by the offeror’s client. To be considered, the offeror must complete the first section (items 1 – 12) of the Past Performance Questionnaire at Attachment F and submit this completed section and the applicable CPARS report. The offeror shall combine the completed first section of the Past Performance Questionnaire and the CPARS report into one file. The file name of each CPARS report file shall be: Vol II CPARS (insert 1, 2, 3 etc) (insert offeror name).

Example file name: Vol II CPARS 1 John Doe LLC

2. What Labor Categories fall under the SCA Wage Requirements?

In the pricing spreadsheet at Attachment A, column B indicates which categories are subject to the SCA wage requirements.

3. The Attachment A Excel file for pricing shows a Black Box that prevents pricing to be added. Can this be replaced?

Any cell with black shading should not be priced.

4. Is there an estimate on the number of hours that this effort is budgeted for?

No, there is no estimate of the quantity of hours budgeted for this effort.

5. Is subcontract work acceptable as past performance?

An offeror’s past performance of work they performed as a subcontractor is acceptable. The offeror’s responsibility under the former contract must be clear. Also, it must be clear on the PPQ which offeror the questionnaire applies to.

6. Who are the incumbents, if any?

The incumbent information is provided on page 2 of the RFP.

7. Do you have a burn rate history or forecast for the different locations?

There is no usage history or predictions available for any of the locations or labor categories.

8. Page 6, F.4 Hours of Work. The RFP states that personnel should be available between 6:00am and 7:30pm. Does this mean on-call support, or are there actual personnel who remain onsite during these hours?

The intent of this statement is that personnel employed under individual task orders may be needed to work during these hours, as required within the task order. If work times are critical, such hours would typically be stipulated within the task order statement of work.

9. Page 12, Page 48 H.6 Key Personnel, L.10 Submission of Offer. Please verify that the only key personnel required for submission with the bid is the IDIQ Program Manager?

The number and titles of key personnel are determined by the contractor. Key personnel are those personnel responsible for the overall and daily management/administration of the IDIQ contract and its task orders.

10. Page 32 Section K. Does the government require a copy of our completed Section K Representations and Certifications with our proposal response?

The government will obtain the offeror’s representations and certifications from SAM.

11. Page 47 L.8 Joint Venture Agreements. The RFP states that the JV agreement must be received prior to the proposal due date and approved before award, however the new SBA regulations that went into effect on November 14th state that SBA is no longer approving JV agreements prior to award. Would the government consider removing this language?

The language requiring the JV agreement to be submitted prior to the proposal due date and approved before award is removed from the clause.

12. Page 48 L.10 Submission of Offer. Can the government confirm that it intends to receive 3 files directly from the offeror (Volume I, Volume III, and the Attachment A worksheet)?

Separate files for the documents within each volume, labeled as shown on pages 48-49, are preferred.

13. Page 48 L.10 Submission of Offer. Given the fact that we are sending via email, is there a limitation on the size of files we are able to send in one email?

Email size limitations for USGS should not be an issue when submitting an offer. If so, offer may be submitted in multiple emails.

14. Page 48 L.10 Submission of Offer. In order to more easily combine the SF 1449 with the other required material in Volume III, may our files be submitted as PDFs?

Any file may be submitted as PDF with the exception of Attachment A for Factor C Price Labor Categories (should be submitted as Excel file).

15. Page 48 L.10 Submission of Offer, Volume I, Subfactor A-3. Please confirm, is the 1-page limitation for the signed statement of availability only, or is there a 1-page limitation on the resume as well?

There is a 1-page limit for the resume.

16. Page 48 L.10 Submission of Offer, Volume III, Factor D. Given the number of professional employee positions that must be addressed within the PECP, and to provide a description of our full benefits, would the government consider increasing the page limitation from 3 to 10?

The page limit for the plan is increased to 10 pages.

17. Page 47, Page 50 L.5 Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees, L.11 FACTOR D. In section (a) of section L.5 it says that there must be a Total Compensation Plan provided with our response, however in section L.11 FACTOR D it requires a Professional Employee Compensation Plan. Does the Government intend for the Total Compensation Plan and the Professional Employee Compensation Plan to be the same document, which is required as a part of FACTOR D?

The plans referenced in these locations is the same plan.

18. Page 49 L.11 Subfactor A-3 Key Personnel. The RFP requires that we provide the name and resume for the person(s) proposed to fulfill each key personnel position. At this point, as there are only requirements for the IDIQ program management, is the government only asking us to name key personnel proposed to manage the IDIQ as requirements for on-site program management would be defined in future task orders against the IDIQ?

Yes

19. Page 50 L.11 Subfactor B Past Performance. Can the government confirm that where it refers to Section A on the questionnaire, it means items 1-12 of the questionnaire?

Yes, Section A refers to items 1-12 of the questionnaire.

20. Attachment A, Labor Categories Attachment A, Labor Categories. Contract Labor categories for Writer/Editor I, II & III are all mapping to SCA Code 29480 which we believe to be in error as they don’t exist in the WD provided schedules. Should the SCA code mappings instead be 30461, 30462, and 30463 respectively?

Yes, the SCA codes for Writer/Editor I, II, and III are revised to 30461, 30462, and 30463 respectively.

21. Attachment A, Labor Categories Attachment A, Labor Categories. Should we assume that if labor category, or family of labor categories are blocked off within the pricing sheet, that there is no intention of using this labor cat for the duration of the contract for those individual sites?

Yes, any labor category blocked off within the Attachment A pricing sheet is not intended to be used under the contract. If that changes after contract award, pricing for individual labor categories/locations would be negotiated and added to the pricing sheet by contract modification.

22. What is the current incumbent contractor’s name, contract number, and contract expiration date?

The incumbent information is provided on page 2 of the RFP. The contract number is G16PS00005. It expires on 03/31/2021.

23. RFP 1449, Page 1, Block 10. NAICS Code. Please consider assigning NAICS Code 541519 to this USGS procurement. NAICS Code 541990 is a mismatch to the PWS core requirements of computer-related and scientific services.

After analyzing the RFP PWS, SFI strongly believes the NAICS Code 541990 is inappropriately assigned to the USGS procurement based on the solicitations primary purpose. NAICS Code 541990 specifically excludes computer systems design and related services; management, scientific, and technical consulting services; and scientific research and development services. The USGS RFP Attachment B PWS identifies the following PWS tasking areas for the prospective contract.

Review of the PWS Tasks 1-8 indicates the USCG PWS specifically includes computer systems design and related services (Tasks 4-7), management (Tasks 2 and 8), and scientific/scientific research (Task 4) services. That is, 7 of 8 of the USGS PWS Tasks are specifically excluded from the NAICS Code 541990 which is currently assigned.

More detailed review of the RFP Attachment B PWS reveals the description of Task 4-7 (computer related services) takes up 4 of the 6 pages, or two thirds, of the PWS total narrative description. In addition, RFP Attachment A indicates the preponderance of labor categories are computer systems/services or scientific/engineering in discipline.

Given the mismatch of NAICS Code 541990 and the preponderance of computer systems and related services, we respectfully request USGS assign NAICS Code 541519 which more appropriately represents the core requirements of the USGS PWS requirement.

A general review of the labor categories most often ordered indicates that science and research labor categories are required over administrative and computer-related services. Therefore, the NAICS code is changed to 541690 Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services. The small business size standard remains $16.5 million.

24. RFP L.10 Instructions, Page 48 – Page Limits Subfactor A-1, Management Plan. Subfactor A-1 Technical Approach, Management Plan requires a discussion of multiple, layered management processes, relevant experience implementing those processes on similar contracts, and demonstration of success implementing the same processes. We do not believe the 8 pages allowed is sufficient to provide more than generalizations of these topics. Please allow 16 pages so that offerors can provide the details needed to support an appropriate evaluation of capabilities and experience by the government.

The page count limit remains 8 pages.

25. RFP L.10 Instructions, Page 48 – Page Limits Subfactor A-3, Key Personnel. At L.10 Instructions – the page limits for Subfactor A-3 Technical Approach, Key Personnel is stated as “4 pages (page limitation does not apply to resume(s) or signed statement(s) of availability, which are limited to 1 page each)” is confusing.

a) Please clarify if the 4 page limit is for the narrative portion of the section, with the resume(s) and statement(s) of availability having a separate page limits.

b) Please allow up to 3 pages for the resume(s) to allow offerors to provide sufficient detail that government evaluators may thoroughly evaluate the key personnel qualifications.

Yes, the 4-page limit is for the narrative portion of the section, with the resume(s) and statement(s) of availability having separate page limits.

The page limit for each resume remains 1 page.

26. RFP L.11. Instructions, Page 49-50 - Subfactor A-3, Key Personnel. Page 49 of the RFP requests offerors to, “Provide brief position descriptions including major duties, authorities, qualifications and experience requirements for the key personnel who will be responsible for the overall AND daily management and administration of the IDIQ contract and its task orders. Provide the name and resume for the person(s) proposed to fulfill each key personnel position. Attach a signed statement of availability for each person.”

a) Please clarify if offerors are to identify a Program Manager (as identified in the Attachments A Labor Categories) for the IDIQ contract as Key Personnel.

b) Please clarify if and how offerors are expected to identify specific individuals as Project Managers (as identified in the Attachments A Labor Categories) for Task Orders issued under the IDIQ contract as Key personnel. We don’t understand how we can do this before the Task Orders are issued and the management requirements of the TOs are known to the offeror.

c) If we have misunderstood this Key Personnel RFP requirement, please clarify so we may be responsive.

For Key Personnel, offerors are to identify the contractor representative(s) responsible for the overall and daily management and administration of the contract and its task orders. This person(s) operate outside of the labor categories on Attachment A, which are intended to provide services under specific task orders.

Contract management costs, including those related to management and administration of the contract and its task orders, should be built into the overhead of the labor categories. USGS does not intend to order Contract Manager or Project Manager services separately for management and administration of the contract and/or its task orders.

27. RFP L.11. Instructions Page 50 – Factor B-Past Performance Questionnaires. Please allow offerors to submit valid CPRAs in place of the requested Past Performance Questionnaires. We request this because CPARs are a recognized valid source of contractor past performance information and it is mid-December. Many government employees will be taking paid time off during the coming holidays between now and the USGS proposal response deadline, increasing the likelihood that some responsible for completing Past Performance Questionnaires may miss them in their email or be unavailable to complete them timely to proposal submission.

A past performance evaluation report from CPARS will be considered in lieu of a completed Past Performance Questionnaire submitted by the offeror’s client. To be considered, the offeror must complete the first section (items 1 – 12) of the Past Performance Questionnaire at Attachment F and submit this completed section and the applicable CPARS report. The offeror shall combine the completed first section of the Past Performance Questionnaire and the CPARS report into one file. The file name of each CPARS report file shall be: Vol II CPARS (insert 1, 2, 3 etc) (insert offeror name).

Example file name: Vol II CPARS 1 John Doe LLC

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28. RFP L.11, Subfactor A-2. Can the Government please provide the length of the transition period?

Although not guaranteed, the Government intends a 45-day transition period.

29. RFP L.11. Can the Government please provide information on how COVID-19 has impacted staffing and telework options for the USGS and if there are processes in place concerning telework related to COVID-19?

USGS contractors, like USGS employees, are on maximum telework for office type work due to COVID-19. The offices are open, but everyone is encouraged to telework. Employees and contractors who work in the field are still doing field work in accordance with USGS field protocols for COVID-19. If teleworking, in order to access the buildings/office contractorsy must complete COVID training, sign up prior to coming to the office, and complete a daily log/diary after being in the office.

30. Attch A and PWS Attch A – all PWS – c.2. The Attch A labor category locations do not appear to match what is stated in PWS Section C.2. We understand the labor categories in Attch 2 are by location, however, PWS Section C.2 calls out Charleston, WV as a location, but Attch A does not contain a column for Kanawha County nor is an AWD provided. Can the Govt please clarify the work locations and whether Attch A covers all required locations?

The work locations named or inferred in PWS Section C.2 include any USGS office or location within the Northeast servicing area shown on the Attachment D map. The pricing spreadsheet at Attachment A does not include all potential locations or labor categories to be included in the contract. During the contract period, modifications may be necessary to add locations and/or labor categories as needed. Pricing will be negotiated at time of modification.

31. RFP L.10.Vol I. Does a 1-page introduction count against page count?

A 1-page introduction (or cover page) does not count against page count. It will not be evaluated by the Government.

32. The solicitation states that Factor C Price it appears that the government is only asking for Attachment A Labor Categories (Government Pricing Formats) Excel File. Are offerors permitted to submit a Pricing Narrative (Word Document) in the submittal to detail the methodologies used in the proposed price?

Offerors are not encouraged to submit details or methodologies for proposed pricing. Such information will not be evaluated.

33. RFP L.11, Subfactor A-2. The solicitation requests that bidders “Explain your intent for employment of service employees under the predecessor contract whose employment will be terminated as a result of award of this contract or the expiration of the contract under which the service employees were hired. Describe your experience and successes in using these processes in similar contracts.” Can the Government please clarify the intent of the question? Are you referring to the contractor’s intent for hiring incumbents as task orders end on the current contract, or our intent for employees who are left with no position to transition to due to reduced government requirements or employment issues?

The intent of this request is for contractors to explain their intent for hiring incumbents as task orders end under the current expiring contract.

34. PWS C.1. Section C.1 states that the requirement is primarily to be performed on-site but off-site maybe included as needed. Section L and M do not specify whether rates proposed are to be on-site or off-site. Are the rates proposed in Attachment A Labor Categories for on-site? If off-site rates are also required to be proposed will the off-site rates be proposed separately? If off-site rates are not to be proposed at this time does the government plan on having any future off-site requirements be priced as new and separate rates at the task order level?

The rates proposed in the pricing sheet are for work performed on-site. At the task order level, if performance is primarily required off-site for which no pricing is established in the pricing sheet, the labor category will be negotiated for the required location and added to the pricing sheet by contract modification.

35. L.4. 52.216-31 TIME-AND-MATERIALS/LABOR-HOUR PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS—COMMERCIAL ITEM ACQUISITION Item (b) states that the offeror must specify whether the fixed hourly rate for each labor category applies to labor performed by— (1) The offeror; (2) Subcontractors; and/or (3) Divisions, subsidiaries, or affiliates of the offeror under a common control.”

Question: Attachment A Labor Categories does not have a place to comply with this requirement. Where are we to delineate who will be performing the labor? Can the contractor make a blanket statement in the proposal that both Prime and Subcontractor are assumed to be eligible to perform on all labor categories?

Yes, the contractor may make a blanket statement in the proposal that both Prime and Subcontractor are assumed to be eligible to perform on all labor categories, if applicable. The appropriate location to address this is Subfactor A-1 Management Plan.

36. L.11. Factor D. FAR 52.222-46 requirements for a Compensation Plan requires a significant amount of data that cannot be contained in the 10-page limit for the Total Compensation Plan. The FAR states that failure to include the required data may constitute sufficient cause to justify rejection of a proposal. For example: The FAR requires that Supporting information will include data, such as recognized national and regional compensation surveys and studies of professional, public and private organizations, used in establishing the total compensation structure. Given the magnitude of labor categories the adjusted 10-page limit will not be enough to accommodate Benefits, Salaries, and the required supporting information. Request the government consider there be no page limit for the Total Compensation Plan to ensure all required data can be included in the plan?

The page limit for this Plan remains 10 pages.

Amend 0003

37. Is the use of Times New Roman font size 12 point for text and a reduced legible font size not less than 8 point for tables and graphics acceptable?

Yes, this is acceptable.

38. Please confirm that a Table of Contents may be provided as part of each Volume and is excluded from the page count?

This is correct.

39. Could the Government provide historical estimates of the number of labor hours required at each of the USGS Location for each requested labor category.

This information is not readily available.

40. Sol_140G0120R0040 L.5. (b): Government states “Additionally, proposals envisioning compensation levels lower than those of predecessor contractors for the same work will be evaluated on the basis of maintaining program continuity, uninterrupted high-quality work, and availability of required competent professional service employees.” Will government provide updated education and years of experience information missing from Attachment A to ensure a level field for all bidders? Attachment A is missing education and/or years of experience for the following professional service labor categories:

Where the labor category description on Attachment A does not provide education and/or experience criteria, the government has not established a minimum education and/or experience criteria.

41. Attachment A. Could the government please clarify if the loaded hourly labor rate for each LCAT should be based on 1920 hours or 2080 hours?

Throughout the solicitation and its attachments, any reference to the quantity of hours that represent a Full Time Equivalent (FTE) is 1920.

42. PWS C.2, page 2. The third paragraph of C.2 indicate that “limited work may be performed off-site…depending on the requirements of the task order.” Could the government provide an estimate percentage of the amount of work performed off-site under previous contracts/task orders?

The government does not have this information readily available. It is anticipated that offsite performance is the exception, not the rule, in task orders under this contract.

43. PWS C.2, page 2. If work is performed off-site, would the government negotiate alternative labor categories rates that included work performed at a contractor site (as opposed to the government-site rates requested in the RFP)?

As it applies to offsite task order performance, the government will negotiate additional labor category rates at alternative locations prior to task order issuance.

44. Attachment A. No level of effort has been provided associated with any of the labor categories. Can the offeror assume all positions would be full time?

The government has no information on whether all positions would be full time.

45. Upon award, will the government provide a list of incumbent names of contractors on task orders to assist in the successful awardees’ transition?

After contract award, the contractor will have access to the names of contractors performing on incumbent task orders.

46. Could the government provide a list of average labor rates currently on task orders?

The government does not have this information readily available.

47. What is the total number of task orders awarded on the current contract?

This information is not readily available. Typically, task orders do not exceed 1 year in duration (projects requiring work spanning more than 1 year typically are issued as separate task orders per FY). During FY20, there were approximately 45 task orders issued.

48. What was the total task order value awarded on the current contract?

There has been approximately $20M obligated over the course of the current contract.

49. Section L.11 Factor D requires a compensation plan IAW 52.222-46. In order to comply with providing; “Supporting information will include data, such as recognized national and regional compensation surveys and studies of professional, public and private organizations, used in establishing the total compensation structure.” Will the government allow for supporting data to be provided as attachments that do not count against the 10-page count limit?

Yes, supporting data may be provided as attachments that do not count against the 10-page limit.

50. Section L.11 Factor D states, “The plan is required for both key and non-key professional (exempt) employees.” We want to confirm that within the Professional Employee Compensation Plan the salary ranges by labor categories are not required for any position labeled SCA within Attachment A Labor Categories, only the positions labeled PS.

This is correct. Salary ranges are not required for positions labeled SCA within Attachment A.

51. Attachment H, Response #s 1 and 27. Government response numbers 1 and 27 provide an example file name (Example file name: Vol II CPARS 1 John Doe LLC) which includes the Offeror name in the title of the file; the prompt for an Offeror's name does not appear in the table at RFP section L.10. Does the Government prefer that Offerors' provide their company name in all files submitted?

Although not mandatory, inclusion of the offeror’s name in the title of all past performance submissions is preferred. For other files not related to past performance, inclusion of the offeror’s name in the file title is not necessary.

52. Section L.11 Factor D states, "The plan is required for both key and non-key professional (exempt) employees." The Attachment A IDIQ rate card does not allow for the billing/pricing of contractor Key personnel at the IDIQ level. Please clarify that because contractor program management personnel are unbilled to the contract, these salaries/ positions should not be included in the Professional Employee Compensation Plan.

This is correct, the contractor’s program management personnel should not be included in the Professional Employee Compensation Plan.

53. Attachment A – Labor Categories. The SCA Labor Categories for different skill levels are all mapped to the same SCA Occupational Code & Title, resulting in a single wage basis (SEE TABLE BELOW). Is it the government’s intent to have all these Contract Labor categories mapped to the same SCA Occupational Code & Title? The risk/result is that each of these Contract labor categories will have the same SCA Rate Structure as defined in the U.S. Department Wage Determination schedule(s) and do not adequately differentiate the varying Contract Labor Cat skill levels.

Would the government consider mapping any of these Labor Categories to other Occupation Code Titles (i.e. Secretary I, II, III)? We as the offeror are trying to avoid any perception of technical deficiencies as referenced in M.3. GS2330 Competitive Range Determination – Major Technical Deficiency (Section (a)) RFP pg. 53 if each of these Business Support Labor Categories (III-VII) are mapped to General Clerk III.

The SCA designations for these labor categories remain unchanged. Where multiple labor category levels map to the same SCA rate, it is the responsibility of the contractor to structure the rates to allow equitable compensation for each corresponding level.

140G0120R0040 Attachment H Questions.Responses