Questions_and_Answers_0001.pdf

1. PWS II.B Task A (Training Module): Does the 3-5-hour length refer to total learner seat-time for a single session or to the cumulative runtime of all multimedia elements combined?

Answer: Total seat time. However, as it states in the PWS, depending on the situation, the 3-5 total seat time (i.e. direct instruction by facilitators) can be divided into smaller sessions as is described in the PWS Task A (section below Goal #4).

The 3-5 hours does not include any pre- or post- work that the learner may choose to engage in.

2. PWS II.B Task C(a) (Videos): Please confirm the final resolution acceptable for hosting on ShakeAlert.org.

Answer: All videos produced for this project should be available in 480p, 720p, and 1080p in order to maximize the ways that the resources can be used.

3. PWS III.A (Place of Performance): Just in case in-person workshops are elected, does the Government have a preferred amount for onsite sessions the pricing model assume per state (CA, OR, WA)?

Answer: The deliverables produced for this project must be designed so they can be delivered in virtual or live formats. Additionally the content of the deliverables will be the same for all three states in the ShakeAlert System. All workshops will be delivered/facilitated by members of the ShakeAlert Communication, Education, Outreach, and Technical Engagement (CEO&TE) team only. The deliverable described in Task B will serve as a resource to train co-instructors (e.g. ShakeAlert volunteers). The only instance(s) the contractor will be involved in instructional activities is during the development and testing of the materials. The testing will be done in-house and with members of the CEO&TE leadership team, USGS, and other selected observer/participants.

4. ITO p. 2 (Quote Submission): Are separate PDF volumes requested for Technical, Past Performance, and Price, or may they be combined into a single file so long as bookmarks clearly divide sections?

Answer: No preference.

5. ITO p. 10 (FAR 52.212-1): Are page limits or margin/font specifications imposed on the capability narrative or résumés?

Answer: No preference.

6. Eval p. 10 (Factors): What recency window (e.g., past three or five years) defines “recent” for corporate experience and past performance?

Answer: Three years.

7. Eval p. 10 (Factors): How will the Government weight Capability vs.

Corporate/Key-Personnel Experience vs. Past Performance when determining “more important factors combined” relative to Price—qualitative narrative only or an ordinal scale?

Answer: This will be based on the below:

1) Does not meet (no relevant experience or not enough detail or enough to determine it can meet requirements.

2) Meets (meets minimum of three years’ experience and requirements stated)

3) Exceeds (demonstrates exceptional understanding of the project with detailed experience exceeding the minimum requirements).

8. Eval p. 11 (Past Performance): Is CPARS data older than the recency window acceptable if the contract is still active and continues to receive ratings?

Answer: Yes, CPARS will be reviewed to review contractor’s history with Government contracts.

9. Eval p. 10 & 11 (Options): The clause states that options will be evaluated, yet the CLIN schedule lists only one base period; please clarify whether any option periods exist for pricing purposes.

Answer: There are no option years for this project, therefore there will only be a base period. That verbiage is standard in FAR and no options are included.

10. PWS II.B Task A (Training Module): Can the Government share any existing course outlines that illustrate depth and slide-deck length expectations?

Answer: No

11. PWS II.B Task A: Approximately how many emergency-management professionals does USGS expect to enroll in the initial delivery cohort so we can scale LMS user-support hours and any per-seat licensing costs?

Answer: All workshops will be facilitated by members of the ShakeAlert Communication, Education, Outreach, and Technical Engagement (CEO&TE team).

12. PWS II.B Task B (Toolkit Manual) – Is there a benchmark USGS field guide or manual (page or word count) that represents the desired depth for this Toolkit, enabling us to size writing, layout, and 508-remediation effort accurately?

Answer: All deliverables must have the same look, feel, and branding as other materials found on ShakeAlert.org. Please see our trademark guide for more information: https://www.shakealert.org/system-information/shakealert-trademark-guidelines/

13. PWS II.B Task B – Will the Government require hard-copy Toolkit manuals; if so, can you share an approximate copy count per West-Coast state to inform print and shipping estimates?

Answer: No hard-copy Toolkit manuals will be needed, however, all resources developed must be optimized for printing and distribution via ShakeAlert.org. This could include (but not limited to) instructional resources that minimize the use of color to reduce printing cost by end-users and other means to facilitate their ease of use.

14. PWS II.B Task C(b) (Graphics Collection) – Does USGS have a target number of original graphics (icons, diagrams, infographics) it wishes to add to the shared asset library, or should we budget one bespoke graphic per earthquake-information tool plus generic branding elements?

Answer: Existing ShakeAlert graphics will be integrated into the deliverables for this project and do not need to be recreated. As this project is planned we will discuss what new graphics will be required to meet the specific needs for this project.

https://www.shakealert.org/system-information/shakealert-trademark-guidelines/ https://www.shakealert.org/system-information/shakealert-trademark-guidelines/

15. PWS II.B Task C(a) (Videos) – For the six short tool videos and the overview piece, will footage be limited to motion graphics/B-roll provided by USGS, or should we plan for new on-location or studio shoots? This determines videography travel and stock-media costs.

Answer: All videos for this project will be narrated motion-graphics. USGS will not be providing any B-roll. However, USGS will provide key graphics that will help maintain the look, feel, and consistency across the ShakeAlert brand.

16. PWS II.B Task C(a) – Beyond English captions required for Section 508, does USGS anticipate Spanish or other language subtitles or voice-overs for the videos given the tri-state audience?

Answer: All resources will be English only. Do not provide or quote on any other languages.

17. PWS II.B Task C(c) (Web Presence) – How many standalone WordPress pages (e.g., landing page, individual tool pages, resource downloads) does USGS expect for this microsite so we can estimate web-development hours and staging-host duration?

Answer: See the approach that is used for other products on ShakeAlert.org. The materials developed for this project will initially reside with the contractor but will be transferred to USGS and integrated into ShakeAlert.org. The web contractor for ShakeAlert.org will integrate the WordPress pages into the structure of the website.

It is difficult to determine the final menu of pages. This is one reason we are hiring a contractor so they can help us make these decisions! At minimum, there will be landing page, a page with learner materials, a page with instructor materials, and a page with the multimedia resources (graphics, videos, slide template, etc.).

18. PWS II.A.2 (Deliverable Review & Feedback) – Should bidders assume a maximum of two consolidated Government review cycles per deliverable, or does USGS foresee additional iterative reviews that we need to schedule into the LOE?

Answer: Please see the introductory section of this PWS and the role of the project Focus Team comprised of subject matter experts. Members of this group will provide feedback and input to the USGS for all deliverables. The workflow for iterative reviews and how those reviews will be determined in the PMP.

19. PWS III.A (Place of Performance) – If USGS opts for in-person gatherings, are there preferred meeting hubs (e.g., Sacramento CA, Portland OR, Seattle WA) that we should use for travel-cost modeling?

Answer: Undetermined. Resources developed will be capable of being delivered in person and virtually. All workshops will be facilitated by members of the ShakeAlert Communication, Education, Outreach, and Technical Engagement (CEO&TE) Team.

Therefore, there will be no need for contractor travel to facilitate workshops.

However, there may be a very limited need for the contractor to have an in person meeting with members of the project staff from the ShakeAlert CEO&TE community (e.g. USGS and CEO&TE stakeholders).

20. Clause 52.219-14: Please confirm that all offerors must demonstrate in their price narrative that at least 50% of the cost of contract performance (labor + overhead) will be incurred by the prime’s employees, per FAR 52.219-14, to be deemed responsive.

Answer: Please provide a firm fixed price quote for the requirement. FAR 52.219-14 is not check marked on these clauses.

21. 5. FAR 52.212-5(c): Please confirm that Service Contract Labor Standards (FAR 52.222-41 et al.) are not applicable to this procurement and will not be added after award.

Answer: Please provide a firm fixed price quote for the requirement. Service Contactor Labor Standards does not apply for this contract.

22. Is there an incumbent contractor? If so, what is its name and contract number?

Answer: No

23. If there is an incumbent contractor, has the scope or size of the contract changed in any nontrivial way between the incumbent contract and the present solicitation?

Answer: No

24. If there is no incumbent contractor, then are there existing contractor(s) that are doing some of the work of this PWS? If so, what are their name(s) and contract number(s)?

Answer: No

25. If there are no contractors doing any of the work currently, then how is the work of the PWS being done? Or is it not being done at all?

Answer: Not being done at all.

26. If the work of the PWS is not being done at all right now, then is there a backlog that the incoming contractor will have to handle? If so, please explain and describe how much of a backlog there is.

Answer: No

27. If there is an incumbent contract, is the scope and estimated workload for the present solicitation approximately the same as for the incumbent contract?

Answer: No

28. Where the unit will physically be located

Answer: All deliverables will be located on ShakeAlert.org.

29. How is it expected to be integrated into their systems? Audion jack? Dry contact closure?

Answer: This project involves the development of an education module (curriculum materials) for emergency managers. There is no aspect of this project that involves access to ShakeAlert system data and alert delivery.

30. Name of the receiving system?

Answer: This project involves the development of an education module (curriculum materials) for emergency managers. There is no aspect of this project that involves access to ShakeAlert system data and alert delivery.