Q&A_KittrellJCC_1630J3-19-R-00001_A4.pdf

Kittrell Job Corps Center Operations with OA/CTS Solicitation # 1630J3-19-R-00001 Amendment 4

Questions & Answers

1. Q: J-12 Utility & Fuel Use Regarding an active 10,000 gallon underground heating oil tank

Oil use is not quantified in the J-12 Utility & Fuel Use Survey. Will the government provide the data on oil use?

A: Heating oil is not utilized on Center.

2. Q: RFP Section B.2 Pricing Schedule The Base Period of Performance is shown as June 1, 2019 to July 31, 2021, which is 26 months. CLIN 0002 is shown as Center Operations (24 months). This would leave 2 months for the Phase-In period. Will the government confirm the Base Period of Performance and the length of the Phase-In Period?

A: The estimated POP in the RFP is correct. The Phase-In is subject to change based on the awarding of the contract.

3. Q: Please confirm that the WIOA high performing operator of the Kittrell Center is allowed to compete for the Center operations including the Outreach & Admissions and Career Transition Services for the state of North Carolina.

A: Please refer to page 2 of the RFP, SF33.

4. Q: Please confirm the OA/CTS portion of Attachment J-3 need not be completed due to the Firm-Fixed Price nature of the OA/CTS portion of the contract.

A: A J-3 will need to be completed for the OA/CTS portion of the contract. The attachment has been provided with this amendment.

5. Q: Section B.2: Please confirm the period of performance for the Base Period is July 1, 2019 to July 31, 2021, including phase-in.

A. See response to #2.

6. Q: Section B2 call for 1,290 arrivals/year and 1,290 placements/year. This implies that 100% of arrivals will become eligible for placement services. The current North Carolina OA/CTS provider received 773 students for placement during PY 2017. The expectation of 1,290 students, attaining a 100% placement rate, and also a 100% Q2 rate is unrealistic. We recommend the government revise the quantities of this solicitation to better match historical placement numbers.

A: The new requirement is as stated within the RFP.

7. Q: G.3.2: Please confirm the contractor may bill the average cost incentive fee on the monthly invoices.

A: Please refer to G.3.2 of the RFP.

8. Q: For G.12: Please confirm that in order to maintain critical staff coverage, student safety and contract obligations, contractors may utilize Center based substitute, on-call, and acting staff plus acting Corporate management to cover vacancies.

Questions & Answers

A: Please refer to and follow the instructions of the RFP.

9. Q: The H6C table identifies 10 positions requiring prevailing wage/minimums. Salaries for certain positions (Counselors, Residential Counselors & Security Guard) appear to be significantly higher than the local labor market. The USDOL BLS survey data cited is the average “mean” or midpoints for position titles. May offerors utilize this data to develop, minimum, and maximum salary ranges using the “mean” salaries cited as midpoint of the labor grade?

10. Q: For the Organization of Proposals: Please confirm that it is acceptable to tab the

Factors (Technical Approach, Staff Resources & Relevant Experience) and Subfactors, but not include separate tabs for Elements, as long as the Elements are clearly identified within the text.

11. Q: For Factor 5d: Please confirm a Narrative Cost Detail is not required for the Firm

Fixed Price OA/CTS portions of this contract.

12. Q: Will the small businesses who compete for this contract receive any additional credit--either in cost (10% rule) or additional points in the overall analysis since Adams (a large business) is allowed to also compete?

A: Please refer to the RFP; M.4 BASIS FOR AWARD (BEST VALUE) – TRADEOFF.

13. Q: Within the RFP, it states, "OA/CTS 10 pages each." Does this mean a total of 20 pages for OA/CTS and a grand total of 85 pages for the technical? Within the Technical, are Center Ops, OA and CTS each to be separately tabbed?

A: Please refer to and follow the instructions on Page 84 of the RFP.

14. Q: Is it acceptable to put all electronic versions on a single USB?

A: Yes

15. Q: Are we allowed to submit a single hardcopy transmittal letter in the first copy of the Technical Approach or does the transmittal letter need to be in all versions?

A: Please follow the instructions of the RFP.

16. Q: The RFP states “The Technical Approach, Relevant Experience, and Staff Resources narrative sections shall be bound separately.” Will you confirm that the Technical Approach is to be submitted in a separate bound volume, Relevant Experience in a separate bound volume, and so on?

A: Yes

Questions & Answers

17. Q: Past Performance is missing from the instructions, but page 84 (now pg. 83) states that two hard copies and one electronic version must be submitted. Should Past Performance also be submitted separately?

A: Yes, as applicable.

18. Q: Staff Resources - Are the letters of commitment excluded from the page count as well?

A: Please refer to the RFP for all applicable exclusions for page limitations.

19. Q: Since all factors, subfactors, and elements have to have a tab, can subfactors and/or elements that fall on the same page just have one tab indicating all on a single page? For Example, if Subfactor 2A, 2B, and 2C are all on the same page, would it be acceptable just to include one tab that says Subfactor 2A – Subfactor 2C?

A: Please adhere to the instructions of the RFP.

20. Q: Block 9 is not complete with the shipping address, and the RFP refers back to Block 9 for shipping instructions. Can you please confirm where the proposal should be shipped?

A: The shipping address is located on the front page at Block 7 of the RFP, SF 33.

21. Q: Attachments - How many vehicles are assigned to the OA/CTS portion of the project?

A: N/A

22. Q: We did not see the Sewage Treatment Plant. Is it still operating?

A: Kittrell has a Waste Water Treatment Plant that is operational.

23. Will DOL provide the subcontracted service information as in past proposals?

A: No

24. Q: Please confirm that based on the WIOA requirements the incumbent as a large business is not eligible to bid on this procurement. Although the incumbent’s ranking in the OMS report is high and appears to satisfy (A) in the law as of PY17, are the other requirements for “high performance” identified in (B) satisfied as well?

A: See response to question #3.

25. Q: The OA arrival qty are overstated considering the contracted OBS at the centers cited.

a. Will the government consider revising the OA arrival quantities?

No.

Questions & Answers

b. Were the arrival numbers calculated using the recently reduced OBS levels for the Conservation Centers?

The arrival numbers are based on the Government’s requirement.

26. Q: Please confirm the Equipment CLIN 0006 and similar CLINs in the option years will fund all center equipment needs including center operations, OA and CTS.

A: Each Equipment CLIN 0006 (now 0007) and similar CLINs will have a not-to-exceed amount as provided by the Government.

27. Q: Please confirm the CTT trades.

A: The trades are as stated within the RFP.

28. Q: Please explain where the Welding (OCT) trade is taught.

A: Vance Granville Community College

29. Q: The fee section is missing two important factors that must be identified at the time of procurement.

a. What is the percentage rate for the technical performance excellence bonus? Is this rate 0.5% as listed in other similar RFP’s?

Please refer to Section G3 (Fees) of the Solicitation.

b. What is the adjustment factor for the cost incentive fees? We acknowledge the Cost Incentive Min to Max range is 0%-4%, but how are the actual fees adjusted up to the Max or down to the Min level from the target fee level?

Please refer to Section G.3 (Fees) of the Solicitation. Cost Incentive fee adjustments not stated in the solicitation will be determined post award on an annual basis, if applicable.

30. Q: G3 (Fees) The RFP does not meet the WIOA requirement to offer contractors a 1% management fee. Reference Section 158 (e): “MANAGEMENT FEE.—The Secretary shall provide each operator and (in an appropriate case, as determined by the Secretary) service provider with an equitable and negotiated management fee of not less than 1 percent of the amount of the funding provided under the appropriate agreement specified in section 147.” Please confirm the RFP will be revised to include the 1% management fee for center operations, OA and CTS.

A: Please refer to Section G.3 (Fees) of the Solicitation.

The Schedule has also been revised to include a CLIN for management fee for Center Operations, OA and CTS.

Questions & Answers

31. Q: G.5.h Please confirm the Fixed Price section “h” is irrelevant to this procurement as section “i” describes the billing for the fixed price OA and CTS services.

A: H is relevant. H and I refer to different aspects for billing.

32. Q: G.5.i.5 Please confirm the 6-Month Survey is applicable to the Graduate and Former Enrollee placements, consistent with the Pricing Schedule that includes Q2 for both types of students.

A: Please refer to the RFP for billing instructions.

33. Q: G. 10 Please confirm the charge for an invalid placement is only applicable to the initial placement and will only be assessed if the contractor has been compensated for the initial placement. Please confirm the language in this section will be revised to reference the amount billed for the initial placement, instead of a fixed rate of $750.

A: The amount reflected within the RFP is correct.

34. Q: G. 11 Please confirm the assessment for the misreported CTT completion should be revised to $500. According to the PRH, Exhibit 6-2, the payment to students for CTT completions is $500, not $750 as referenced in the RFP.

A: The amount reflected within the RFP is correct.

35. Q: The RFP states that the contractor agrees to have a maximum vacancy rating not exceeding 4%. Please define the financial or liquidated damages assessment for exceeding the 4%?

A: Please refer to the instructions and information outlined at G.12 of the RFP for the basic contract administration details.

36. Q: Please clarify how the allowable maximum vacancy rating of 4% or less is calculated

(based on vacant FTE’s or salary amounts). The calculation must be standardized and defined in the contract.

37. Q: In the 4% maximum vacancy limitation, how will considerations/adjustments be made for the following:

i. Coverage provided by other positions, substitutes, overtime, etc. Contractors propose coverage for vacancies in critical areas, such as security, residential living, etc.

ii. Proposed float savings - With the expectation that turnover and vacancies will occur, it has been standard practice to propose float/vacancy savings and reduce the proposed costing accordingly.

Questions & Answers

38. Q: Please detail what is meant by the “value specified for the vacant position”.

Assessments at 50% or 100% of a specified position rate after 30 or 60 days seems punitive.

A: The value specified are the salaries per position in G.12 proposed by the offeror.

39. Q: G. 12 Please confirm the assessments for vacancies only pertain to the position titles identified in the chart, not to other vacant positions.

A: Please refer to G.12 for positions.

40. Q: G.12 Please confirm the liquidated damages will be executed via contract modification by the Government before the contractor is to subtract the amount from a subsequent voucher; otherwise, the contract will not reconcile.

A: Any changes to the contract terms and conditions are performed via modification.

41. Q: How will the government determine the 30-day vacancy window? How will this be reported to the government? The current vacancy report in FMS is not adequate for this type of reporting.

A: Contract administration information is provided to the awardee post award during the post award conference.

42. Q: Would the government reconsider the 30-day requirement to fill vacancies for the Center Director, Senior Residential Counselor, Security Personnel and the Academic Supervisor?

A: No.

43. Q: The chart of positions includes Security Personnel. As the other positions in this listing are management or senior staff, please confirm the reference of “Security Personnel” should be revised to “Security Supervisor.”

A: The position descriptions are as described within the Solicitation.

44. Q: G.13 Will the government consider other methods to adjust the contract OBS instead of using per student price?

A: Offerors are to propose in accordance with the Solicitation.

45. Q: H.6 Please confirm the Prevailing Wage/Minimum Required chart applies to the prime and subcontractors. The narrative language below the chart explains the minimum wages apply only to subcontractor employees.

A: It applies to all contractors when hiring identified occupations in accordance with the language.

Questions & Answers

46. Q: H:30 Please confirm this section does not apply to OA and CTS as these CLINs are Firm-Fixed-Price sections and not under the same FAR restrictions as cost reimbursable-type contracts.

A: OA & CTS is Firm Fixed Priced and rates are fully burdened.

47. Q: H. 31 Please confirm this training section applies only to the center operations CLINs as this is the cost reimbursable portion of the contract.

A: Please refer to Section H.31 of the Solicitation.

48. Q: The DOL 2014-04 contract clause varies from the requirements in the Limitation of Funds FAR clause 52.232-22. Does the DOL clause take precedence over the FAR clause?

A: No. These are separate clauses.

49. Q: FAR 52.222-62, Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 is not included in Section I. Please clarify whether this clause is applicable to this solicitation.

A: Refer to H.7. When applicable, it will be the responsibility of the Prime Contractor to include this clause within the Subcontract(s).

50. Q: Please confirm the Attachment J-1 is required only for the cost-reimbursable Center Operations portion of the proposal as the OA/CTS section is firm-fixed-price and will be identified only in the Section B pricing schedule. This approach is consistent with the Attachment J-3, which is required only for the center operations section.

51. Q: The Attachment J-1 does not include Section E. Is this correct? Should the following sections be re-lettered?

A: The attachment has been revised and is uploaded with this amendment.

52. Q: The facility survey released with the RFP was completed in October of 2014. Is there a more recent survey than four years ago? If not, please provide updated information on the completed and planned projects for the center.

A: October 2014, is the most recent facility survey.

53. Q: Has the heating oil underground storage tank been replaced? Is it still used to heat Building 1? If so, please provide the annual cost for the heating oil.

A: Heating oil is not utilized on Center.

54. Q: Please provide information about the center sewer treatment plant. What are the historical costs to operate the plant? Has the generator been replaced?

A: This information is not currently available.

Questions & Answers

55. Q: Please provide a vehicle listing for insurance costing purposes. Is the center furnished with a vehicle equipped for driver’s education training?

A: The Vehicle Listing has been provided as an attachment to this amendment. Yes, one of the vehicles is a driver’s education vehicle.

56. Q: Are the washers and dryers at the Kittrell center government property or are they leased? If they are government-owned, are they all operable?

A: They are the property of the Government. Yes, they are operable.

57. Q: Please provide annual estimates for the utilities. The history provided is for only 10 months. Please identify the dates of the history provided.

A: Currently available data is provided within the Solicitation.

58. Q: Some of the questions listed in the RFP have minor grammatical errors, should we correct these errors in our response to the questions or keep them as stated? Should Subfactor 1H element 2 state “former employees or former enrollees”?

A: Do not make changes to the RFP. SUBFACTOR 1H Element 2 should refer to former enrollees and it has been updated accordingly.

59. Q: The RFP is unclear about the required Excel forms. Please confirm the following Excel forms should be provided on the flash drive:

a. Attachment J-1

b. Attachment J-3

c. Attachment J-4

A: Please follow the instructions for submission as stated within the RFP on Page 84.

60. Q: Please confirm the Narrative Cost Detail is only required for Center Operations as the OA/CTS is firm-fixed-price. Other RFPs of this type have not required narrative detail for OA/CTS.

61. Q: Factor 4 Past Performance subsection (a.) states “The Government will use the PPIRS-RC system to retrieve qualitative assessments for the prime Offeror” and “For purposes of this solicitation contractor past performance will be based on data from PPPIRS-RC.” Does this mean that contractors with the requisite number of references in PPIRS-RC need not submit the two hard copies and an electronic version of the Past Performance section?

A: Please follow the instructions of the RFP for submission requirements.

62. Q: NTC is not indicated for any CTT classes. Is that correct?

A: Please refer to the Solicitation for applicability.

Questions & Answers

63. Q: Please clarify if the Bricklaying and Facility Maintenance CTT programs are Center Operated or NTC Operated.

A: Center Operated.

64. Q: Solicitation pg. 17. Please confirm that an Oral Narrative is not required.

A: Please note there is no reference to an “Oral Narrative” on Page 17 the Solicitation.

65. Q: Solicitation, Sec. L.7. A table of contents is not mentioned. Should one be included?

A: Please refer to the organization of proposals stated within the RFP.

66. Q: Solicitation, Sec. L.6.I. Table, page limitation column lists "OA/CTS Written 10 pages each." Are we to interpret that to mean 10 pages each for Subfactors 1E Outreach, 1F Admissions, and 1G CTS?

A: See response for #13.

67. Q: Solicitation, L6.I Table, row titled Page Numbering: "Pages consecutively numbered within each section." Are we to interpret section as meaning the separate volumes or the separate Factors within a volume?

A: Please refer to the instructions of the Solicitation.

68. Q: Solicitation, pg. 19, Under number 6. Procurement and Property Management: "The Contractor shall establish and maintain the Job Corps vehicle fleet…" Question: Will the Government please provide all center owned/GSA owned vehicle inventory list?

A: The Vehicle Listing has been provided as an attachment to this amendment.

69. Q: MOU. Other than Vance Community College, can the Government confirm other existing MOUs?

A: MOUs are between the Contractor and an entity and not with the Government.

70. Q: Solicitation, pg. 18. Welding is one of the listed CTT offerings. However, the OCT Welding CTT Program is not shown on the CTT-10 Report, as of 6/30/18 or 7/31/18. Is this a new CTT program? If so, who provides this OCT training?

A: Welding is not one of the Center’s CTT programs.

71. Q: Section H.6 – Wage Comparability Chart. Please confirm the accuracy of the listed Prevailing Wage/Minimum Required amounts for Academic Instructors ($40,710) and CTT Instructors ($39,270) due to the fact these DOL required minimums are unusually lower than the listed Counselor, Residential Counselor, and even those non-degreed Security positions not listed in PRH Exhibit 5-3.

A: Please refer to the Solicitation for instructions regarding the wages.

Questions & Answers

72. Q: What, if any, programs were effected by recent hurricane damage? Are any related classes being relocated during maintenance activities? Is there a time frame for when maintenance activities will be completed?

A: The Culinary Arts classes are currently being taught in the CPP Building and the cooking tasks are being taught in the cafeteria. The Culinary Arts classroom should be operational by May 2019.

73. Q: Please provide the current OA and CTS office locations currently located throughout the state of North Carolina and all locations which involve Infrastructure Funding Agreements (IFA).

A: Vance County (Kerr-Tar). The attachment has been provided with this amendment.

74. Q: Please clarify the current status of the OCT Welding CTT Program. Is this program closed or is it a new CTT change being implemented, as the PY17 and the most recent PY18 CTT-10 Reports do not indicate any student activity in this program. If it is a new OCT program, who is the DOL approved training provider?

A: See the response to #70.

75. Q: Should the Offeror expect ELL (English Language Learner) students? If so, can the stats be provided?

A: Please refer to the RFP for specifics. Stats will not be provided.