18-233-SOL-00287_Q&As.pdf

18-233-SOL-00287

Q&A’s

1. When does the gov’t expect to make the decision for the down select?

The Government anticipates making award on or about October 15, 2018.

2. Will the gov't allow at least 2 weeks from the time of decision of the down select to enable offers to submit volumes II and III?

The Due Date for submission of Volumes II and III has been extended to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, September 14, 2018,

3. Would the government please clarify when Past Performance Questionnaires and Volume I Proposal are due?

Reference:

Table 2 Section B: Past Performance Questionnaire via E-mail to Ms. Sheryl Sanders at sheryl.sanders@psc.hhs.gov not later than the date due for Volume I, (12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 20, 2018).

L.7 Page 69: An electronic (PDF or Word document) of Volume I and all related material(s) for the Advisory Down-Select must be submitted no later than August 21, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time to Contract Specialist, Sheryl Sanders at sheryl.sanders@psc.hhs.gov.

Reference Table 2, Section B, Past Performance Questionnaire has been extended to August 21, 2018, 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Section L.7 due date remains unchanged.

4. The HHS ACF Head Start annual conference is being held this week and therefore some of our CORs & RPMs will be out of office in Washington, DC. As a result, they may not respond to Past Performance Questionnaire requests in a timely fashion. In an effort to avoid this resulting in a non-compliance, will the government please considering the deadline for submission of completed past performances by 3-5 business days?

The date for Past Performance Questionnaire submission has been extended to August 21, 2018, 3:00 p.m., Easter Time.

5. Pages 71-72 read, “Submit completed Past Performance questionnaires (Attachment J.4) for each of the projects listed under relevant experience. Note: Past Performance Questionnaires require a two-step process. Offerors shall (1) complete sections 1 - 6 of the Questionnaire and (2) provide the Past Performance Questionnaire to the reference in question. The Past Performance Reference shall complete the remaining section 7 of the Past Performance Questionnaire and submit the entire Past Performance Questionnaire via E-mail to Ms. Sheryl Sanders at sheryl.sanders@psc.hhs.gov not later than the date mailto:sheryl.sanders@psc.hhs.gov mailto:sheryl.sanders@psc.hhs.gov due for Volume I, (12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 20, 2018).” The sections of the past performance questionnaire are not numbered so please clarify what is meant be “sections 1-6” and “section 7.”

Section L.9 Section B, Past Performance is revised as follows:

Offerors will be evaluated on performance under existing contracts and performance on prior contracts. Offerors should note the difference between past performance and past experience.

Past performance relates to quality and how well a contractor performed, while past experience is about the type and amount of work previously performed by a contractor.

Past performance information is available to Federal agencies through a system called the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS). The government will be considering past performance information contained in PPIRS to the greatest extent possible.

A maximum of up to five performance references shall be submitted for contracts within the past three years. Past Performance evaluations from the Office of Head Start, if applicable, must be included. One past performance summary may be from a proposed subcontractor if they will be completing major or critical aspects of the requirement. Past performance references can be for the offeror, predecessor companies, key personnel who have relevant experience and/or subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement when such information is relevant to the acquisition.

Each performance reference is limited to five (5) pages and shall include the following information:

• Several points of contact (Contracting Officer, Contracting Officer's Representative and any other pertinent officials that can verify performance) - name, agency/company, address, phone number and email address

• For contracts with the Federal Government, indicate whether the government has evaluated the contractor and past performance information is available through PPIRS or whether the reference will be providing information via the past performance questionnaire (see Attachment J.4)

• Contract title

• Contract number (and task order number when applicable)

• Contract type

• Total contract value (including base & all options)

• Project description and size information

• If the past performance reference is for a subcontractor, identify the major or critical aspects of the requirement that they will perform

• Relevancy to the statement of work for the subject solicitation

• Did the contract include small business subcontract goals for small disadvantaged business concerns? If so, were the goals met?

• Provide an explanation of problems, delays, cost overruns and corrective actions taken.

For contracts that do not have performance information available through PPIRS, offerors are requested to provide the Past Performance Questionnaire (Attachment J.4) directly to their reference. The reference should complete the questionnaire and submit information directly back to the Government via email to sheryl.sanders@psc.hhs.gov not later than the date due for Volume 1, (3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 21, 2018. The subject line of the email should read “Region 5 Customer Service Past Performance Questionnaire submission for Company X”.

Past performance information is proprietary source selection information. The Government will only discuss past performance information directly with the entity or person that is being reviewed. If there is a problem with the proposed subcontractor's past performance, the prime can be notified of a problem, but no details may be discussed without the subcontractor's permission.

6. The solicitation states that all graphics must include 11 point Arial font. Will the government consider altering this to 9 point for graphics at least?

No, the Government requires all graphics and tables font be no less than 10 point Arial font.

7. When will offerors be advised that they have advanced past the Volume I, Advisory Down-Select Phase?

The Government anticipates issuing notices to offerors of their standing on or about August 31, 2018.

8. Is there any incumbent on this contract? If so, please provide the incumbent’s name, current contract number, length, value of the contract and Level of effort?

Task Order HHSP233201500132I/HHSP23337007T was awarded with a one (1) 12 month base period with four (4) 12 month option periods to Booz Allen Hamilton in the amount of $7,929,951.84.