Questions and Responses - 9-3-21.pdf

Questions and Responses #1 – September 3, 2021

1. Given that questions are due on a Federal holiday (9/6) and only two (2) days before the current proposal deadline, will the Government please reconsider an extension to the proposal deadline? Adequate time is needed to prepare a comprehensive proposal based on the requirements of the RFQ, and to digest and respond to the Government’s responses to questions. Due to time constraints for this procurement, we are unable to extend the solicitation.

2. Is there a historical average of the number of students tested yearly or the number of tests per content area given annually? Depending on the size and security level of each institution, there may be 50-150 inmates administered the achievement test (reading, math, and language arts) per year. This is an estimate.

3. NRS-approved assessments for Basic Skills are not allowed in Spanish under the WIOA

Regulations. The NRS has separate approved assessments based on language acquisition for non-native English speakers versus basic academic skills for native English Speakers. Please confirm that a Spanish version of the NRS-approved assessments is not a requirement. The Spanish version of the NRS approved assessments is not a requirement.

4. Section F - #3 Requires a monthly itemized invoice of startup costs but all the requirements for trainings are listed as "at no additional cost" so what would the vendor be invoicing for beyond the initial purchase of testing materials? The solicitation addresses the initial (base year) purchase by Central Office. Each institution will be responsible for replenishing test materials, after the initial bulk purchase. The vendor will invoice each institution as respective orders are placed in the following option years.

5. Alternate Testing versions - one section mentions the need for Large Print test books only and another section mentions Braille, Audio but not Large Print. Please confirm the alternate testing versions being requested for this RFQ. Alternate test versions must be available to order by institutions as needed and requested during the option years. The initial purchase includes large print test books.

6. Evaluation Factors Document—Factor 2: Past Performance, pages 3–4, references a document called “Past Performance Questionnaire,” but this document was not included with the RFQ documents. If PPQs are required, an extension to the proposal deadline would be needed to give clients adequate time to complete the PPQs. The interested offeror can list and identify 3 of the most recent contracts occurring during the past five years. The identified contracts must be similar and relevant in nature to the services required in the Statement of Work. The offeror must address any instances of past performance problems in the referenced contracts and explain how these problems were resolved. There is no need to submit a ‘Past Performance Questionnaire’ due to the impending deadline for this RFQ.

7. Evaluation Factors Document—Factor 3: Price, page 4, references a document called

“Schedule of Items (Attachment I),” but this document was not included with the RFQ documents. There is a section within the RFQ (called “Section 2 – Commodity or Services Schedule” on page 4). Is this document to be used as the “Schedule of Items (Attachment I)”? Yes.