RFP QA - Solicitation_1605C2-21-R-00006 final.pdf

RFP QA - Solicitation_1605C2-21-R-00006 final Sheet

Question Title RFQ Section Number/Page Number Vendor Questions Government Comment

1 General Can current intermediaries also apply for additional funding to expand their work? We currently have an intermediary contract for cybersecurity and tech and we would like to be able to build on our momentum and expand further if we are able to secure additional funding.

No. Per Part 1. Section C General Information:

Current Apprenticeship Intermediaries under contract with the Department cannot apply as the prime contractor, but may be included as a partner organization.

Regional Requirment Page 12 Can the three or more states be done within the contract or are operations required to be established before contract award?

The Department’s overall goal under this contract opportunity is for Registered Apprenticeship Intermediaries to launch, promote, and expand multi-employer Registered Apprenticeship models regionally (3 or more states) or nationally with employers and/or other sponsors. ETA highly encourage contractors to have partnerships established in order to expand the Registered Apprenticeship model regionally or nationally.

Participant Location Requirement Page 12 750 participants are required in those three or more states will count?

Each Intermediary shall recruit and place at least 600 new apprentices over the 12-month base period of performance with a focus on enrollment in NTOs; over the first 24 months of the contract, each intermediary will be expected to facilitate the recruitment and placement of a minimum of 1,500 apprentices. Each intermediary will be expected to facilitate the recruitment and placement of an average of a minimum of 750 Registered Apprentices in each additional Option Year (up to 4 Option Years). This can be accomplished nationally or regionally.

Potential Awardee Number Page 8 How many awards will be made for this contract? ETA intends to award up to four contracts through this solicitation.

Previous Awardee(s) Page 8 Who is the incumbent?

There are no current incumbents for this soliciation. For a list of current Registered Apprenticeship Industry Intermediaries, visit https://www.apprenticeship.gov/investments-tax-credits-and-tuition-support/active-grants-and-contracts.

Previous Awarded Amount Page 8 How much was the award?

All Office of Apprenticeship awards are available via https://www.apprenticeship.gov/investments-tax-credits-and-tuition-support/active-grants-and-contracts.

Expansion of Registered Apprenticeship Programs through Industry Intermediaries Question and Answer Spreadsheet Solicitation Number - 1605C2-21-R-00006

Security Clearance Sponsorship Page 15 Will the government sponsor security clearance? No.

Teaching Method Page 15 Will the government consider hyper style of teaching?

The Department expectation is that both in person and virtual engagements and teachings be utilized as a means of expanding Registered Apprenticeship.

Physical Location(s) Page 23 Will the government assist with working areas if needed?

Both Labor and Supplies, Materials, Travel, Conference Fee, Industry Fees, Incentive Funding, and Other Allowable Direct Cost activities are inclusive is the total contract cost at the time of award. DOL does not intend to provide additioinal cost outside of the awarded amount.

Eligible parties General. Page 1. Can you please confirm that for-profit companies are eligible for this contract? The cover sheet classifies the procurement as "unrestricted" but is not explicit on this issue.

Yes, for-profit companies are eligible for contract award.

Eligible parties General. Page 1. Please clarify what, if any, pre-requisites (other than SAM enrollment) are required to respond to this solicitation.

The RFP defines all of the requirements for the solicitation.

Indirect costs Section B, Pricing Tables, Page 5 Please confirm that there are no restrictions or requirements around a firm’s indirect costs. There are no restrictions or requirements

Hourly rate inclusions Section B, Pricing Tables, Page 5 Please confirm that any overhead or fringe costs and profit should be included in the per hour rates provided in Section B cost form.

Please submit fully burdened per hour rates.

Discounts are highly enoucraged

Required staff Section B, Pricing Tables, Page 5

Given that the Senior SME is not a key position, has substantial qualification barriers, and an SME is already mandatory, will the Department please allow a bidder to propose meeting the operational requirements through one or more qualified SME rather than be required to propose (and price) a Senior

SME?

Yes. PWS activities shall be performed by qualified contratual staff. The contractor shall propose how it indeed to carry out activities within the PWS and it plans to staff those activities appropriately.

Target budget Section B, Pricing Tables, Page 5 Is there a target annual or total budget for these services? Other than the required $400k for incentives, there is no guidance on expected annual cost for these services in the solicitation.

Please propose the level of effort required to meet the Government's need in accordance with the Performance Work Statement

Pre-apprenticeships Page 11

Pre-apprenticeships are recognized as an important strategy in developing and promoting Registered Apprenticeships. In recognition of that, will the Department consider either counting pre-apprenticeships one-for-one in the count of enrollees (for the first or all contract years) or otherwise establishing a ratio that provides credit towards the enrollment goals for pre-apprenticeship achievements?

No.

SF1449, Block E Will the government consider providing an extension to proposal submission due date to allow industry to update their proposals based on responses to questions? Yes

Section E.1.4 Instructions for Past Performance, Pricing Response, and Reps and

Certs, pg. 64

Section E.1.4 Instructions for Past Performance, Pricing Response, and Reps and Certs, pg. 64 states: the RFP states Past Performance Questionnaires must be received by the due date of the RFP, October 4 at 12pm EST. However, the due date is currently October 18 at 5p. Please clarify when Past Performance Questionnaires are due.

Past Performance Questionnaires are due no later than 10/25/21. After that date, no PPQs will be accepted.

Section E.1.4 Instructions for Past Performance, Pricing Response, and Reps and

Certs, pg. 64

Please confirm that Past Performance Questionnaires are not required if the past performance submitted has a CPARS. The RFP includes conflicting information regarding submission of PPQs .

Please submit Past Performance in addition to CPARS as applicable

Part 5: Specific Tasks, pg. 26 For Task 2, what Salesforce license (if any) is needed to report the data required under Task 2?

All awardees will work with his or her Contracting Officer Representative to procure the required Salesforce licenses. Salesforce license are an allowable contract cost.

Section B: Supplies or Services and Prices. Pg

For the pricing volume, should subcontractors labor hours be allocated as an ODC? If so, should offerors keep subcontractor hours under the total LOE hours regardless if they appear as labor or as an ODC? No

Section E.1.4 Instructions for Past Performance, Pricing Response, and Reps and

Certs, pg. 65, paragraph C

If offerors are registered in SAM.gov, are they still required to complete and submit Section E.2.7 Reps and Certs? Yes