Vendor_Questions_0001.pdf

Vendor Questions

1. Please confirm the deliverable quantity the firm-fixed price for Task Order 1 should cover. Is the Task Order 1 firm-fixed price for the 18 illustrations identified in the SOW as a one-time deliverable set, or for a recurring annual quantity (for example, 18 illustrations per year for five years)? (a) If recurring, what is the Government’s best estimate of the number of illustrations (and any infographics or printable materials) per 12-month period? (b) This drives the firm-fixed price and ensures all offers are evaluated on a comparable basis.

The 18 illustrations reference examples of illustrations provided by the US government.

For the IDIQ task orders will vary, and will be for unique products. The cap will be $15k with the total aggregate being $200k over the 5-yr period. There are no set or recurring orders associated with the IDIQ.

2. How should offerors reconcile a single Task Order 1 that spans the full fiveyear period of performance (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2031) with the $15,000 maximum-order limitation?

(a) Is Task Order 1 intended to be capped at $15,000? (b) Or will SHIRA illustration work over five years be issued as multiple separate orders (each at or below $15,000) up to the $200,000 ceiling, with Task Order 1 representing only the initial deliverable set?

Task order 1 as referred to in the RFQ is an hourly cost estimate for the 5-yr period.

Vendors need to provide a base hourly rate based on the B.2 Prices. Ultimately, separate orders will be issued with a cap of $15k up to $200k.

3. For Task Order 1 specifically, is the Government seeking a firm-fixed price for a defined set of deliverables, or a labor-hour / not-to-exceed price based on estimated hours? (a) If firm-fixed, please confirm offerors should price to the 18-illustration deliverable set described in the SOW.

No

4. Does the Government consider the graphic designer/illustrator performing this work to be a non-exempt position subject to the Service Contract Act under WD 2015-4281 (e.g., Occupation Code 15080 – Graphic Artist), or an FLSA-exempt creative professional? (a) This determination sets the applicable rate floor and the table (exempt vs. non-exempt) in which the position is priced.

It is our determination that the Vendor needs to ensure that they are compliant with the

FLSA.

5. Because performance is virtual and WD 2015-4281 is the Washington, DC metropolitan-area determination, please confirm that the rates in Attachment D govern the non-exempt labor category regardless of the contractor employee’s physical work location. (a) Please also confirm the Health & Welfare fringe rate in Revision 36 that offerors should include in the loaded non-exempt rate.

The wages of the vendor’s employees should comply with FLSA. It is the responsibility of the vendor to ensure this compliance.

6. Does the Government require a specific format or template for the cost breakdown of the loaded labor rates and the Task Order 1 firm-fixed price, or is an offeror-prepared breakdown acceptable? (a) Adigeni intends to show base wage, Health & Welfare/fringe, overhead, G&A, profit, and hours-by-deliverable unless the Government prefers a particular format.

Please use the table provided in B.1 Prices.

7. The deliverables are custom-created static illustrations rather than commercially available ICT products. What ACR/VPAT documentation does the Government expect for custom illustration deliverables? (a) Would a conformance statement addressing the applicable WCAG 2.0 Level A/AA criteria and documented color-contrast results per deliverable satisfy this requirement, given that a product-level VPAT would not apply to bespoke artwork?

It is a requirement that all products are 508 compliant.

8. Beyond the items listed (quotation package, business size classification, SAM UEI, and signed SF-18 with amendments), does the Government require or desire a separate technical volume, sample illustrations, and/or past-performance references? (a) Are there any page limits or formatting requirements for the quotation package?

Yes, the government would like to see sample illustrations by the vendor to assess whether or not they will be acceptable to suit the needs. Past performance references are also welcome. The package should comply with the guidance provided in the RFQ.

9. Can the Government provide historical usage information, if available, regarding the approximate number of task orders, deliverables, labor hours, or annual expenditures ordered under similar contracts during previous years?

No

10. The solicitation references a not-to-exceed ceiling of $200,000. Is this ceiling applicable to the entire ordering period of the contract, including all option years, or is it an annual ceiling amount?

The $200k ceiling is for the entire 5-year IDIQ contract period.

11. Will award be made on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis, or will technical capability, past performance, and overall best value also be considered during evaluation?

Stated in the Instructions to the vendor. The award will be based on LPTA.

12. Does the Government anticipate ordering services primarily on an hourly labor basis, or through fixed-price deliverables/task orders?

Firm fixed price deliverables via task orders.

13. For pricing purposes, is the Government requesting fully burdened labor rates (inclusive of overhead, management, profit, and indirect costs), or should pricing be proposed using another methodology?

Please use the table B.1 Pricing that is available in the RFQ.

14. Attachment A references Volume II for pricing quotation, but I do not see a reference to Volume I (page 3 of the document). Does the government want Volume I to be capabilities? And would you like both Volumes in one document. And is there a page restriction?

15. The reference to "Volume II" in Attachment A pertains to the pricing quotation. "Volume I" shall consist of the vendor's technical/capability response demonstrating its ability to meet the requirements of the solicitation and Attachment A. Vendors shall submit both Volume I (Technical/Capabilities) and Volume II (Pricing) as a single consolidated PDF document. There is no page limitation; however, vendors should ensure that all information necessary for the Government to evaluate the quotation is included. All supporting documentation, certifications, and responses to solicitation requirements shall be incorporated into the single PDF submission.

16. Attachment A RFQ - Section B states a ceiling of $200,000 for the award. Is this $200,000 max per year or $200,000 max for the full 5 years?

The $200k ceiling is for the entire 5-year IDIQ contract period.

17. Will timelines/deadlines be assigned on a per project basis, or do you have a set standard?

Each task order will have a period of performance.

18. Do you have limitations on subcontracting?

Yes. Limitations on subcontracting apply. Contractors shall comply with the requirements of FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting, as applicable to this acquisition.

19. If all personnel proposed by the contractor are classified as exempt professional employees under the FLSA and are not subject to the Department of Labor Wage Determination, should the table for non-exempt personnel be left blank, or should offerors also provide DOL wage determination labor categories and rates for potential future task order support?

If all proposed personnel are classified as exempt professional employees and are not subject to the Service Contract Labor Standards (formerly the Service Contract Act), offerors may indicate "Not Applicable" in the table for non-exempt personnel. Offerors are not required to provide Department of Labor wage determination labor categories and rates for positions that are exempt from SCLS coverage. In accordance with FAR 22.1003-4 and FAR 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards apply only to covered service employees. Should future task orders require non-exempt labor subject to SCLS, the applicable wage determination and labor categories will be incorporated into the task order at that time.

20. Is there any incumbent/recompete or this is a brand-new project? If yes, could you please provide us with their award number or even if the customer bought similar services in the past.

USGS ID/IQ 140G0121D0014

21. Will the Government provide software licenses for ARCGIS and Tableau?

No

22. Evaluation criteria are mentioned. Where can we find those?

Award will be made on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis. The evaluation criteria are identified within the solicitation and will be conducted in accordance with FAR 15.101-2, Lowest Price Technically Acceptable Source Selection Process. Under this methodology, quotations will first be evaluated for technical acceptability. Award will be made to the responsible offeror whose quotation is determined technically acceptable and offers the lowest evaluated price.

23. Section 508 Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) / VPAT The solicitation requests an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) for each commercially available Information and Communication Technology (ICT) item offered through the contract.

Since Lista Design Studio is proposing professional graphic design and illustration services and is not offering a commercially available ICT product, software application, or platform, please confirm whether an ACR/VPAT is required as part of the quotation.

It is a requirement that all products are 508 compliant.

24. IPv6 Requirements The solicitation includes IPv6 requirements applicable to system hardware, software, firmware, and networked components. Since Lista is proposing professional graphic design and illustration services and is not providing software, hardware, firmware, or networked products under this contract, please confirm whether these requirements are applicable to this procurement.

No

25. NAICS code. Could you confirm the NAICS code and associated small-business size standard assigned to this set-aside?

NAICS Code: 541430 – Graphic Design Services Small Business Size Standard: $9.0 million average annual receipts.

26. Labor classification. Section B includes separate rate tables for FLSA-exempt personnel and for DOL wage-determination non-exempt personnel under WD 2015-4281. For the graphic-illustration work under this requirement, does the Government expect the labor to be treated as FLSA-exempt professional labor, or to map to a specific non-exempt SCA labor category under the incorporated wage determination? If non-exempt, which category?

It is our determination that the Vendor needs to ensure that they are compliant with the

FLSA

27. Cost breakdown. The solicitation requires a cost breakdown of the proposed burdened rates and the Task Order 1 firm-fixed price. Could you clarify the level of detail expected (e.g., a labor/overhead/profit buildup versus a specific cost element format) and whether a particular template should be used?

The vendor decides how much detail to provide.

28. Task Order 1 scope. Regarding Task Order One (SHIRA Illustration), could you provide the anticipated quantity of deliverables, expected revision rounds, and any estimated level of effort to support accurate firm-fixed pricing?

We cannot estimate the quantity of deliverables. Typically, there are 2-6 revision rounds.

29. Place of performance. Is on-site presence required for any portion of the work, or may all services be performed remotely?

The work will be entirely remote.

30. Section 508 deliverables. For the illustration deliverables, is a VPAT/Accessibility Conformance Report required, or is Section 508/WCAG 2.0 AA compliance with color-contrast testing of the delivered files sufficient?

All deliverables must be 508 compliant.

31. After reviewing the solicitation documents, it appears that the submission requirements may be limited to pricing information. Could you please confirm whether the Government is requesting only a price quotation, or if offerors are also expected to submit any additional materials?

To make a selection we would like to see example illustrations from the vendor.

32. On average, how many hours are expected to be worked on a weekly basis? (20 hours a week?)

The hours worked would be dependent on the time needed to develop the deliverable. For a firm fixed price, the vendor would estimate the time needed to develop the requested deliverable

33. Will there be big projects that go on for a long span of time?

The hours worked would be dependent on the time needed to develop the deliverable. For a firm fixed price, the vendor would estimate the time needed to develop the requested deliverable.

34. What is the turnaround time to have a project completed?

The period of performance will be stated in the task order/statement of work.

35. Does the accessibility compliance documentation requirement (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) apply to static image files such as JPEG, PNG, and TIFF illustrations? If so, what level of documentation is required for image-only deliverables that do not contain interactive elements?

All products must be 508 compliant.

36. Does the fixed price submitted for Task Order 1 cover only the initial approximately 18 illustrations described in the solicitation, or is it intended to cover all illustration work to be performed across the full five-year period of performance from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031?

The 18 illustrations reference examples of illustrations provided by the US government.

For the IDIQ task orders will vary, and will be for unique products. The cap will be $15k with the total aggregate being $200k over the 5-yr period. There are no set or recurring orders associated with the IDIQ.

37. Can we request an extension to the RFQ submission deadline of June 10?

Yes

38. Section B references “Task Order One (1) – SHIRA Illustration” with a period of performance spanning July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031. Are you intending for Task Order 1 to remain open throughout the entire contract period, or will individual task orders be issued as needs arise?

Individual task orders will be issued as needs arise.

39. Are the 18 example illustrations intended to represent the entirety of Task Order 1, or merely examples of the type of work anticipated under the IDIQ?

The 18 illustrations reference examples of illustrations provided by the US government.

For the IDIQ task orders will vary, and will be for unique products. The cap will be $15k with the total aggregate being $200k over the 5-yr period. There are no set or recurring orders associated with the IDIQ.

40. Is the $200,000 ceiling based on a forecasted need, historical spending, or simply a not to-exceed administrative ceiling?

This is the ceiling selected by the government for this contract.

41. The Instructions to Vendors reference a “discounted firm-fixed-price quotation.” Is the Government requesting a discounted rate structure relative to an offeror’s standard commercial pricing, or is this reference limited to any prompt payment discounts identified on Standard Form 18?

The reference to a "discounted firm-fixed-price quotation" is intended to encourage offerors to provide their most favorable pricing to the Government. It is not limited solely to prompt payment discounts identified on Standard Form 18. Offerors may propose pricing that reflects discounts from their standard commercial rates; however, the Government does not require a specific discount structure. The Government will evaluate the total proposed firm-fixed-price quotation in accordance with the solicitation's evaluation criteria and award methodology.