Amendment 01 - 1605C2-23-R-00004 - Request for Clarification (RFC) Reponses.pdf

(x)

1605C2-23-R-00004 x x copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT

THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted , such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

x

Washington DC 20210

CAS

S-4307 200 Constitution Ave, NW Customer Acquisition Services US Department of Labor

04/19/20230001

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended , by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

04/19/2023

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

The purpose of amendment 01 is to:

- Submit the Request for Clarification (RFC) Reponses.

- Extend the proposal due date to 05/26/2023 @ 11:00 AM

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

Karoline E. Duffy

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

TEL: EMAIL: 202-693-3722 duffy.karoline.e@dol.gov

Request for Clarification (RFC) Reponses for RFP 1605C2-23-R-00004

1. We are an existing DOL-funded Industry Intermediary. Will we be eligible for future option years on our existing DOL-funded Industry Intermediary contract if we do not submit a response to RFP #1605C2-23-R-00004?

Response: Yes, existing DOL-funded Industry Intermediaries who do not submit a response to RFP #1605C2-23-R-00004, or are not awarded a contract under this RFP after submitting a proposal, are eligible for future Option Years. According to page 11 of the RFP Background section, if an award is made to a Vendor under an existing DOL-funded Industry Intermediary contract in Transportation, Hospitality, or Cybersecurity, the new contract award will replace the existing, resulting in the termination of the existing contract.

2. We are an DOL-funded existing Industry Intermediary. If we submit a response to RFP 1605C2-23-R-00004 and are not awarded a contract, will we still be eligible for future Option Years on our existing DOL-funded Industry Intermediary contract?

Response: Yes. If an award is not made to an existing Intermediary who submits a proposal, the Intermediary will be eligible for future Option Years and their existing contract will not be cancelled.

3. Clarification on the number of Option Years: On Page 2 it states that “the period of performance shall be for one (1) Base Period of 12 months with three (3) 12-month option periods.” However, page 14 references one (1) Base Period and four (4) option years. Which is correct – three (3) or four (4) option years?

Response: The period of performance is one (1) Base Period and four (4) option years.

4. Clarification on Key Personnel - Page 4: Can we submit more than one (1) person for each Direct Labor Category?

Response: Yes, more than one individual may be submitted for each position within the Labor Categories.

5. Clarification on Estimated hours per each Direct Labor Category. May we increase/decrease the number of estimated hours per each Direct Labor Category provided on pages 4-8 of the RFP so long as the submitted number of total hours for the 1-year Base equals 13,740 hours, and for each of the four (4) Option years equal 13,540 hours?

Response: Yes. However, the Department, based on previous Industry Intermediary contract experience and identified baseline Direct Labor Category hours, may require adjustments to the proposed hours to ensure Direct Labor Categories are sufficient to meet the needs of the contract. If a modification request is needed to accommodate Direct Labor Category and/or Other Direct Costs, a modification (upon Contracting Officer approval) to contract budget is common.

6. Clarification on Task 5: On Page 28, the RFP states that “Funding and TA will be used to register a minimum of two (2) RA sponsors in the development of competency-based (or hybrid) programs in line with existing SAA and/or OA efforts in this area” – is this two (2) or more RA sponsors per year or two (2) or more RA sponsors across the total Period of Performance?

Response: The requirement “Promote competency-based RA programs. Funding and TA will be used to register a minimum of two

(2) RA sponsors in the development of competency-based (or hybrid) programs in line with existing SAA and/or OA efforts in this area” is for each period of performance.

7. Clarification on Task 9: On page 32, the RFP states that the vendor must “provide one-time “incentive” funds to a minimum of 15 new employers, Unions and Joint Labor-Management organizations, or Industry Associations (or other partners included in a multi-employer partnership) via a sub-contract to directly fund new RA programs in targeted industries” - is this 15 or more new employers, Unions and Joint Labor-Management organizations, or Industry Associations (or other partners included in a multi-employer partnership) per year or 15 or more new employers across the contract Period of Performance?

Response: This requirement to “Provide one-time “incentive” funds to a minimum of 15 new employers, Unions, Joint Labor-Management organizations, worker centers, or Industry Associations (or other stakeholders included in a multi-employer partnership) via a sub-contract to directly fund new RA programs in targeted industries” is for each period of performance.

8. Clarification on use of Incentive Funds: On page 32, “Classroom education or online training for Apprentices in new RA programs registered during the contract PoP” is included as an allowable activity that direct funding may be used to support RA development, launch, and sustainability. Can incentive funding be used for a new apprentice in PoP Base year and continue to use PoP Option Year #1 Incentive Funds for this same apprentice (knowing that we cannot go over a specific dollar amount that was identified in our Incentive Plan)? We currently pay for RTI courses as they go and not all at one time.

Response: Incentive funding must be used within the period of performance of contract. If incentive funding is provided to support an apprentice, the funding must be used from the current Contract year. An apprentice may only be counted once for purposes of total new apprentices, regardless of whether incentive funding was provided over multiple Periods of Performance (i.e., Base Year and Option Years).

9. I see the listed sectors as Hospitality, Trucking and Cybersecurity. Are those the only three sectors to be served through this opportunity or could an organization with experience in healthcare apply to further its work in that sector?

Response: As stated in the RFP, Hospitality, Trucking and Cybersecurity are the only Industries to be served under this contract.

According to page 11 of the RFP Background section, This RFP will target industries and occupations with existing RA, but with further opportunities to scale by adopting proven models, such as the Hospitality Industry (to include Hotels, Lodging, Restaurants, and Tourism), Trucking Industry, and Cybersecurity Occupations.

10. Is the RFP is open to vendors with an active DOL funded RA Industry Intermediary contract in the Information Technology sector.

Response: The Department seeks a Vendor with expertise to work within industries (See Figure 1 of the RFP) with an established RA presence and the demand/capacity to accelerate further growth and expansion to quality, sustainable RA programs for all workers.

Also, see response to Question 1.

11. Can Vendors with an active DOL funded RA Industry Intermediary contract in the Information Technology sector be a sub-recipient on this contract. (refers to p. 10-11)

Response: This RFP is open to the following Vendors 1) Vendors currently serving as a DOL-funded Industry Intermediary in the Transportation, Hospitality, and Cybersecurity sectors; and 2) All other Vendors not currently serving as a DOL-funded Industry Intermediary. Vendors under contract with the Department as an Industry Intermediary working outside of the Transportation, Hospitality, and Cybersecurity sectors cannot apply as the prime or sub-recipient of the contract award.

12. Is the RFP open to vendors who are workforce intermediaries and support national RA program sponsors, but who are not now, nor intend to become, national RA program sponsors themselves (refers to page 9, 1.2, and page 13).

Response: Per page 13 (1.4. Scope), the Department seeks a Vendor with the expertise, knowledge, and ability to serve as a national RA program sponsor to expand RA on a national or regional scale.

13. OCI Question – Can the government confirm that current Technical Assistance providers operating within the Office of Apprenticeship are not conflicted out of this opportunity?

Response: Yes. This RFP is open to the following Vendors 1) Vendors currently serving as a DOL-funded Industry Intermediary in the Transportation, Hospitality, and Cybersecurity sectors; and 2) All other Vendors not currently serving as a DOL-funded Industry Intermediary. Please see response to Question 11.

14. Page 26 – “For purposes of this project, “new” apprentices are considered any apprentice that is enrolled in a program that is registered as a result of work done under this award, and/or is recruited into an existing program that is expanded under this award as described above. The purpose of these funds is to support new apprentices, new opportunities, retention of registered apprentices, and apprentice completion of an RA program.” Can the government confirm that apprentices enrolled in exiting programs/occupations developed or expanded by net.America in the current intermediary contract are not eligible to count towards performance measures under this contract?

Response: Please refer to Task 3 of the RFP.

15. Page 26 – “Vendor shall ensure enrollment of new registered apprentices regionally [3 or more States] or nationally, and at least 50% of new registered apprentices must be from underrepresented populations, and comprised of at least two target populations” Can the government confirm that Veterans are considered underrepresented populations? The RFP lists Veterans as Underserved

Communities.

Response: The RFP recognizes that expanding access, equity, and career awareness to increase participation of underrepresented populations (which may include women, people of color, and individuals with disabilities, as established in §29 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Part 30, where that population’s participation in RAPs is significantly less than would be reasonably expected given the availability of such individuals for Apprenticeship in the relevant industry, occupation, or recruitment area), and underserved communities (including veterans, justice-impacted individuals, youth, and those in rural communities), will be critical in advancing the RA model.

16. Section 1.2. Background, Page 10: This RFP is open to the following Vendors: Vendors currently serving as a DOL-funded Industry Intermediary in the Transportation, Hospitality, and Cybersecurity sectors. Question: According to DOL.gov we do not see any cybersecurity intermediaries, but rather intermediaries that focus on Information Technology as the broader industry. Is this RFP limited to just those companies providing cybersecurity occupations within their information technology focused intermediary role or some other group?

Response: See response to Question 13.

17. Section 1.2. Background, Page 11: If an award is made to a Vendor under an existing DOL-funded Industry Intermediary contract in Transportation, Hospitality, or Cybersecurity, the new contract award will replace the existing, resulting in the termination of the existing contract. Question: There are no current cybersecurity intermediaries, so what is this in reference to?

Response: Please see https://www.apprenticeship.gov/sites/default/files/dol-industryfactsheet-ra-industryintermediaries-updated.pdf.

Also, see response to Question 1.

18. Is the RFP is open to vendors with an active DOL funded RA Industry Intermediary contract in the Information Technology sector.

Response: See response to Questions 10 and 11.

19. Can Vendors with an active DOL funded RA Industry Intermediary contract in the Information Technology sector be a sub-recipient on this contract. (refers to p. 10-11).

Response: See response to Question 11.

20. Is the RFP open to vendors who are workforce intermediaries and support national RA program sponsors, but who are not now, nor intend to become, national RA program sponsors themselves (refers to page 9, 1.2, and page 13)

Response: See response to Question 12.

https://www.apprenticeship.gov/sites/default/files/dol-industryfactsheet-ra-industryintermediaries-updated.pdf