Web_Support_Questions_and_Responses_Released_14_June_17.docx

Web Suppot Questions and Responses – 17-236-SOL-00007

1.Could you please confirm the set aside for this requirement?

Response: The set aside is Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE).

2.. Whether companies from Outside USA can apply for this?

(like,from India or Canada)

Response: Any qualified vendor that feels it can fuflill the services outlined in the RFP is welcomed to submit a proposal.

3. Whether we need to come over there for meetings?

Response: Meetings are flexible, may be in-person, webinars, and phone are acceptable.

4. Can we perform the tasks (related to RFP) outside USA?

(like, from India or Canada)

Response: Please see response to #2.

5. Can we submit the proposals via email?

Response: Please review the RFP, Section L specifies the proposals are to be submitted electronically.

6. What is the Place of Performance? FBO states:

Indian Health Services 5600 Fisher's Lane Rockville, North Carolina 20850 United States In proposal/RFP document, the section C.5.3 has listed as:

Place of Performance : The work shall be performed at space provided by the contractor or via telework.

Response: FBO is referring to IHS Headquarters in Rockville, Maryland; however, RFP document is correct. The work shall be performed at space provided by contractor or via telework.

7. Please confirm the correct place of performance.

Response: See response to #6.

8. If work will be done on both sides then how much work will be done on each location?

Response: See response to #6.

9. What labor or contract roles will work at each location?

Response: See response to #6.

10. If contract is expecting meetings at Agency’s locations and work from contractor facility, then how many monthly and biweekly meetings are expected at IHS locations?

Response: See response to #3.

11. Is there any measurable factor that applied when non-ISBEE offeror offered lower cost and better technical proposal response?

Response:

12.“Contractor shall provide full supplementary security services that provide IHS with a professional level staff of security specialists experienced in conducting, researching, documenting, and implementing information security related processes in accordance to SOW”- Should we provide resumes of security specialists in the proposal? If so, what are the specific requirements for security personnel?

Response: This is not applicable to Web Support requirement; and has been deleted from the RFP.

13.Section 18 states that term will begin on September 1st, 2013- should this be September 1st, 2017?

Response: Yes.

14.“All concerns shall submit a short narrative that describes experience working with communities and organizations that represent a broad range of American Indian and Alaska Native people”- we have significant experience working with organizations in establishing and enhancing their Supplier Diversity programs, will this be sufficient to meet this requirement, or does IHS require direct experience working with Alaskan native and American Indian organizations?

Response: Direct experience working with Alaskan native and American Indian organizations

15.CPARS is used to evaluate past performance- If a company has no experience in the Federal space, would this negatively impact their score?

Response: Past performance is rated neutral if a vendor does not have any.

16.Page 56, Section I.12, What volume/section should this content fall under and is there a page limit? Does it count against the already allotted page limits for the respective volume?

Response: This is a supplemental information to the Technical Capability and no, this will not count as part of the page limit.

17.Page 62, Section K, Should offerors include the Reps and Certs as an appendix in the Management volume or as a separate attachment in the overall submission package?

Response: Yes.

18.Page 71, Section L.4, The instructions between sections L & M are unclear on submission requirements. Are the individual files to be submitted as follows:

1. Technical and Management Approach/Key Personnel

1. Relevant Past Performance

1. Price

Response: Yes

19.Section L, Are Cover Pages, Table of Contents, and Acronym lists excluded from page count.

Response: Yes.

20. RFP, C.2.11The MCSD for SharePoint Applications and MCSE for SharePoint 2013 certifications for the SharePoint Developer Lead/Architect position have been retired by Microsoft. The certifications no longer exist and few individuals have both the certifications the Government is requesting. Would the government please consider removing these two certifications?

Response: Yes; however, there must be a mix of certifications, trainings, and/or experience to adequately meet the requirements.

21. RFP, C.2.11, Does the government maintain a preference as to whether the Cold Fusion Application developers are considered key?

Response: See C.2.11.b

22. RFP, L.1.2.

Can the government please clarify whether key personnel resumes are excluded from the 7 page limit in the Management Section?

Response: Resumes are excluded.

23. Please clarify the intention of the note "the contractor shall provide a full supplementary security services that provides IHS with a professional level staff of security specialists."

Response: The reference has been deleted. See response to #12.

24. Icon Library - Does IHS currently utilize an icon library? Does "Develop and maintain" refer to an icon library for use by the Web Team only, or does the requirement include content and access control considerations for other development teams outside of the Web Team?

Response: Yes.

25. Pattern Library - Does the IHS Web Team currently utilize a Pattern Library? Does the "Establish and maintain" requirement include content and access control considerations for other development teams outside of the Web Team?

Response: Yes.

26. Regarding the requirement to "Create SharePoint sites for employees within 3-5 business days…", are there exceptions made for 'non-standard' requests that might include extensive customizations or otherwise lengthy development requirements?

Response: Requirement is in regard to standard SharePoint site request.

27. Is the preference to have structured, pre-scheduled, instructor led training such that only a few are required yearly, or will trainings be of a user-requested ad-hoc nature? Are CBT's currently utilized for training?

Response: Assumed that training refers to training for IHS customers. Training is on an ad hoc basis.

28. This section reads: "the Business Associate will terminate the Agreement, as provided in the Alliant Small Business GWAC contract". Was the reference to the ASB GWAC an inadvertent remnant that does not apply to this procurement?

Response: This contract is not being procured under the Alliant Small Business GWAC contract.

29. Section I.12 states that Offerors must include a Sustainable Acquisition Plan in their proposals, however Section L does not mention the plan. For this contract there are no products that will be purchased on behalf of the government and for Services, we will not be providing any services where this clause would apply. Please confirm that Offerors indeed must provide a Sustainable Acquisition Plan and if so, please clarify where the plan should be located in the proposal as well as dedicated page count.

Response: Yes, offerors must provide a sustainable acquisition plan and the evaluation of the plan will be incorporated into the technical capability rating. See Element 12.

30. The Base Notice requests that Offerors only complete paragraphs (b) of the representations and certifications if the Offeror has completed the annual representations and certificates electronically. Please clarify where paragraph (b) should be located within the proposal and if it will count towards page limitations.

Response: No, it does not count against page limit.

31. Please confirm that the Cover Page, Table of Contents, and Glossary of Acronyms and Terns will not be included in the page limitations.

Response: No, it does not count against page limit.

32. Section L.12 does not state specific instructions for file formats in submission. Please confirm that Adobe PDF files are acceptable for submission.

Response: Abode is an acceptable format.

34. Section L.2 states “Assumptions will not be accepted as part of the proposal”. Please clarify where pricing assumptions would be included.

Response: Assumptions will not be accepted as part of the proposal

35. Please clarify where Offerors should include their Minimum Acceptance Period within the proposal and if it will count towards page limitations.

Response: It does not count against page limit.

36. Will IHS allow vendors to propose a slightly different staffing mix, while utilizing the same "ASB Labor Categories", in order to better support the requirements?

Response: Yes; however, must provide information on why a proposed mix better supports requirements.

37. Is the Offeror required to submit as part of the proposal Indian Economic Enterprise Requirement confirming requirements are met as defined in HHSAR subpart 326.602? Is it the Government's intention to incorporate this clause as well?

Response:

38. Page 3, Section B: Can the Government clarify whether it expects additional security professionals, per the note, “NOTE: The contractor shall provide a full supplementary security services that provides IHS with a professional level staff of security specialists experienced in conducting, researching, documenting and implementing information security related processes in accordance with SOW and all other terms and conditions set forth in this solicitation package.”

Response: No, all labor categories required by the Government are identified in the Schedule of Prices.

39. Page 67, L.1. May tables and graphics be at a smaller font size than 11?

Response: Please assure all content is legible.

40. Page 68, L1.2. Please confirm that offerors are required to decide which 3-7 roles are Key (in addition to the ones denoted in G.4), and not that 3-7 names PER role are required in the proposal.

Response: The total of 3-7 key personnel are required for the requirement.

41. Page 72, Section M: Please define “a hybrid contract”

Response: Please disregard the hybrid comment. The RFP has been amended to correct the sentence.

42. Page 10, C.2.4. Which version of SharePoint and Cold Fusion is currently being used at IHS.

Response: SharePoint 2013 and CF11

43. Page 14, C.2.11.b,c, d: Which software /tool is being used for content management system.

Response: MURA

44. Page 9, C.2.1. Would the Govt. provide more information on the 80 web applications which the contractor is expected to maintain and enhance?

Response: Web applications vary greatly. From small (training application) to large (agency communications tracker).

45. Will IHS allow vendors to propose a different LOE "Hours" than indicated in the PWS, in order to better support the requirements?

Response: Yes; however, vendors must provide detailed response on how different hours would better support the requirements.