Questions_and_Responses_final.pdf

Request for Quote 16-ASAM-BOC-NAT-0186: Negotiations Training Questions and Answers

1. RFQ requires one 2-day training session for up to 84 employees. Is it DOL's intent to have all 84 attend only one session, or will there be two groups of 42 in concurrent sessions? One session for 84 people is not consistent with industry standards for instructor led "hands on" training that allows for ample practical exercises and application of learning. Please confirm intent.

DOL Response:

There will be two sessions of approximately 42 participants.

2. Technical factor 1, paragraph 3 states that training should support "ILAB's learning objectives." Please clarify what these learning objectives are.

References to OCFT/ILAB are not applicable to this solicitation.

3. Paragraph 2 references FAC-C certification, which implies that the intended audience for this training is acquisition workforce personnel (contracting and program representatives). However, the evaluation factors imply that the intended course will train international negotiators supporting OCFT/ILAB interagency and intergovernmental efforts. Please clarify who the intended audience is.

The training is intended for acquisition workforce professionals only. Any and all references to international negotiators and OCFT/ILAB have been removed from the solicitation.

4. Are the dates of 13-14 December 2016 set in stone? Will alternative dates be considered?

The December 13-14 date is set in stone. An additional class (second session) must be held on November 1-2.

5. The Solicitation says that the response is due tomorrow -September 24, 2016 at 3 pm

ET. Is this correct? Is the response due on a Saturday? (seems unusual to have 1 day to respond and the due date is a Saturday)

The quote submission date has been extended until September 26th at 12:00PM EST.

6. Is the intent to train all 84 participants in the same room on December 13-14? Or are you asking us to bid on training the 84 participants split into 3 rooms?

See response to question #1.

7. Are LCD projectors, screens and flip charts available from the Government, or is the intent that the contractor provide the AV as part of “equipment and supplies?”

DOL Response:

DOL will provide a/v equipment as necessary (laptop & overhead LCD projector). Other equipment items, if needed, must be coordinated with the Contracting Officer at least one week prior to the date the training is being held.

8. The Solicitation says this is for contracting professionals. What are the job functions — COs, CORs, Procurement Officer, etc? What are the participants’ level of experience?

The job function is contract specialist from the grades of GS-09 to GS-15. The level of experience is a minimum of four (4) years to approximately thirty (30) years.

9. If awarded the contract, will the contractor be able to interview the leaders so that we can appropriately tailor the examples and curriculum to match the goals, needs and skill levels of the group?

Yes.

10. In the Performance Work Statement (PWS), points 1 through 8 describe providing an onsite two-day negotiation training course for approximately 84 Department of Labor employees who are contracting professionals (see points 2 and 3 in particular). However, in the section of the PWS that describes evaluation factors for this solicitation ( viii.

FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items (OCT 2014), it states that the contractor must receive an acceptable rating on technical factors that are geared to a two-day program for DOL’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking focused on international negotiation skills. The training program briefly described in points 1 through 8 and the one described in the evaluation factors section appear to be different. Could you clarify which one we are to bid on for this solicitation?

Please refer to questions 2 and 3.

11. In Negotiations training, it is important to have a high degree of interaction, use of role-plays, and class debrief discussion for it to be of most value to the participants. For a class size of 84, it would be difficult to provide these types of interactive role-play exercises for so large a group to ensure they get the most value from the training. Is it possible to deliver the training multiple times so that each class would be smaller?

See question #1.

12. What type of cost information are you seeking in the quote for this solicitation?

Provide the total price to train 84 people. There will be two sessions with approximately 42 participants in each sessions (you may break the cost out by session). Also provide the unit price (per class/per student, as applicable) and any discounts.

13. What contractor has provided similar negotiation training in the past for DOL? When was the last time the contractor provided such training?

No historical data is available for this training.