Questions_for_Solicitation_14-00013.pdf

Questions (with answers in Red) for Solicitation 14-161-SOL-00013

1. In the solicitation, Section 5: Item C identifies the Evaluation Factors that will be used to assess respondent proposals. Normally, these Evaluation Factors would provide the overarching structure of our response to be included in SF330 Part I, Section H. Aside from the Capacity factor, the information to be included is what fits in SF330 Part I, Sections E (Resumes of Key Personnel) and F (Example Projects).

Should the information from Sections E and F be repeated in Section H? It seems unclear how to reconcile the information as requested in the solicitation with the prescriptive format established with the SF330 forms. Any clarification on how to organize our response (specifically regarding the Section H narrative) would be appreciated. Use the format shown on the SF330 (the Sections appropriate for Past Performance and Résumés of Key Personnel information that must be provided), rather than the format listed in the second paragraph of Section 5.C. in the original FedBizOpps Notice, and, for supplemental pages for each Section, identify each data element with the same block numbers as listed on the SF330.

Section H should address the Capability Evaluation Factor and continue on to blank 8.5”x11” pages if needed. Note: the second paragraph of Section 5.C. has been revised. Please refer to the amended FedBizOpps Notice.

2. Section 5: Item C – Factor 1 specifies a format for the project descriptions, prescribing the information to be included as items a – i, as well as how to layout the information on the page. Neither the requested information nor the format, however, aligns with SF330 Section F for Example Projects (http://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/download/116486). Are respondents to compile our responses in the SF330 Section F format, or do you want respondents to include project descriptions in your specified format in Section H of the SF330 format? If the latter is the case, do you want respondents to include separate, different projects for SF330 Section F? The respondent should follow the format indicated in the SF330 for Section F; the specified format has been revised.

3. Section 5: Item C – Factor 2 instructs respondents to include qualifications, certifications, etc. of "Key Personnel including the staff, principals, and project managers." Additionally, beyond these résumés, no more than three additional résumés are permitted for "other Key Personnel." Is there any limit to the number of Key Personnel whose résumés are to be included? Only the Response page length limit affects the number of resumes for Key Personnel that may be submitted; that and whether the Respondent has a large number of individuals considered as truly Key Personnel. The respondent should not include individuals that will not be classified by the respondent as key personnel for project work.

Could you clarify who might qualify as an "other Key Personnel" team member but would not be a staff member, principal, or project manager? Examples are irrelevant; whether an individual is key for the project would be a judgment call to be made by the Respondent.

4. With Part II forms being required for each office of each team firm that may work on the contract, these forms will consume a significant number of the allotted pages and may not be equally utilized by submitting firms. As an example: a national firm may have the majority of services in house and thus only need 5 pages of the Part II forms; in contrast, a smaller, regional firm may build a team that includes more subconsultant firms and thus need 10 pages of Part IIs. This introduces a significant discrepancy in the amount of "real estate" that can be used to provide information about the team's qualifications and experience. Please consider revising the page limit requirements so that the Part II forms are not included in the page count (this could likewise include revising the specified page-count limit accordingly) to provide all submitters the opportunity to have equal space to provide information of substance for your consideration. Where the Respondent proposes multiple joint-venture partners or has multiple branch offices that are seeking work under any resultant contract, the response may http://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/download/116486 contain an additional 4 pages for each such partner or branch, whether those pages are used for the Part I or Part II response. However, while the SF330 contemplates including any branch offices of the company that may seek work under the contract, the Scope of Work requires the awardee to have a home office within the Contract Area with sufficient staffing to perform the preponderance of the work under the contract. Further, please be advised that small-business respondents must comply with the requirements of FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting, if awarded a contract, which requires the small business Prime Contractor to perform work including at least 50% of the total labor costs for work performed under the contract each contract year.

5. Is a PPQ to be requested and submitted for every project example included in our response? A PPQ form shall be sent to each of the five (5) to seven (7) references included in your response for Evaluation of Factor 1, Past Performance.

6. While we will communicate with our clients who submit PPQs for projects to do our best to ensure that the questionnaires are transmitted to the IHS, it will be a little unnerving not knowing for sure that the PPQs have arrived on time. What method is in place to enable respondents to verify that you are in possession of all PPQ forms prior to the due date? The respondent will not be penalized for late submission of PPQ forms by references. Plus, contracting office staff will contact each delinquent reference by email or phone to seek submittal of the PPQ form.

7. Our team has provided services to the IHS on past contracts that are relevant to the solicitation scope;

our IHS contacts for these projects would be good candidates for submitting PPQs. Can we contact IHS staff to serve as our references for projects? Yes, you may include IHS staff as project references for PPQ responses.

8. Will 11" x 17" pages be permitted in the submittal to accommodate oversized graphics, like the organization chart and detailed qualifications matrices? Yes, but each 11” x 17” sheet will count as two pages towards the total response page count.

9. Can one firm put in for all three contract areas if they have a branch office in each location? Yes; the Response should demonstrate that each branch office meets the requirements of the Home Office defined in the Scope of Work. However, please see the revised FebBizzOpps Notice that now contains four Contract Areas.

10. Is there a contract maximum?

The Requests for Proposal, which will end in a contract award, issued to the highly qualified A-E firms selected to submit a rate proposal will list a contract maximum amount for each contract year, but that amount has not been firmly established at this time. The contract maximum is expected to be $1,000,000.00, but may be a different amount.

11. Is there a task order maximum?

The Requests for Proposal, which will end in a contract award, issued to the highly qualified A-E firms selected to submit a rate proposal will list a task order maximum amount, but that amount has not been firmly established at this time. The task order maximum is contemplated to be $500,000.00, but may be a different amount.