18-233-SOL-00347_-_Questions_and_Answers_(2018-10-18).pdf

# Question Section Page No. Answer 1 Would the Government please revise the double-spaced pages requirement to single as this does not truly allow for a 25 page response?

L.9 88/102 No

2 What sort of proof does the Gov’t require Offerors to submit to demonstrate the Offeror possess the required facilities/Place of Performance?

L.9.1 89/102 Facilities Desctption; Location: F.2 Criteria

3 Should the Past Performance information be including in the Technical volume or in a separate volume?

L.8 94/102 L.8

4 Is there an incumbent. N/A N/A C.1

5 What is the government looking for as far as “Size Information” re: past performance?

L.8 94/102, bullet 7 Similar Size, Scope, and Complexity

6 Is font for tables/graphics allowed to be smaller, but legible?

Possible a 10 point font?

L.9 88/102 #25

7 What is the percentage split of the current incumbent contractor workforce between onsite (Govt.site) and Offsite (contractor site)

C.1 8/ 102 100% - Offsite

8 Section C.2 says the current staffing level of the incumbent contractor is 18 FTEs and this solicitation requirement (FTEs mentioned in Section B.4) is 28. What are the ten (10) additional resources(labor categories) that are needed to fulfil the requirements of this efforts? Kindly name the labor categories

C.1 8/102 No

PSC Acquisitions Support for Assisted Acquisitions Solicitation Number: 18-233-SOL-00347

Questions and Answers

9 What is the current percentage of the Level of Effort (LOW) for each of the task areas mentioned in the Performance Work Statement

C.2 8/102 Government can't estimate at this time.

10 Would the Government please provide extension to submit the proposal till October 31, 2018, please

SF 1449 1/102 Revised Proposal Due date: November 2, 2018 at 5:00pm EST

11 Section C.2 says the current staffing level of the incumbent contractor is 18 FTEs and the present value is $10,858,006.16. Is this dollar value for a 5 years contract - Base one + four(4) option years?

C.1` 8/102 No; 3.5 years

12 Factor 1- Contractor Facility- What documentation are required from the Offeror to demonstrate the facility meets the necessary requirements at the time of proposal submission

L.9.1 89/102 #2

13 Key Personnel: Team Lead. Is the Offeror required to provide resume of one Team Lead, correct? Please confirm

L.9.1 89/102 #50

14 Does the current contract/ incumbent's statement of work, in particular the standards and measures provided in page 39 of 102 similar to this new solicitation performance standards and measures?`

C.5 39 / 102 and 40 /102

No

15 Will PSC allow contractor employees to take time from regular duties to attend classes, since it is a contract requirement? If so, will PSC allow those hours to be billed to the contract?

C.2.2 9 Yes; PSC will allow contractor employees to take time from regular duties to attend classes.

No; PSC will not allow those hours to billed to the contract.

16 Under Staffing levels, there are 4 Senior Contract Specialists which we understand include the roles of 1 Project Manager and 3 Task Lead positions. The RFP states the Team Lead Model ratio to require a Team Lead for every 5-6 Contract Specialists and the current number does not cover the 20 Contract Specialists. Should there be another Senior Contract Specialist/Team Lead? Will PSC modify the pricing tables to include the Project Manager and Team Lead labor categories?

C.2.5.1 10 There should be 3 Team Leads and a PM/Team Lead.

17 If the transition period is 15 days, should not the contract be fully staffed at that time, rather than the noted “60 calendar days after award”? Should these timeframes match?

C.2.5.1 10 No; these timeframes should not match.

18 What labor category does PSC anticipate the Business Development personnel to fall under? How many positions are anticipated for these roles? Will these labor categories be added to the price template in Section B?

C.2.6.2 13 C.2.5.1

19 If the offeror does not have a negotiated forward price agreement yet, what information can they provide that shows the indirect rates are “fully justified”?

L.10.4(2) 92 The offeror should provide a detailed schedule of indirect cost expenditures by indirect cost pool, i.e., fringe benefits, overhead, G&A, etc. The schedule should show all of the costs in the pool, the base used for the calculation, and the anticipated indirect cost rate. Further, the offeror must provide their audited financial statements for the most recently completed full accounting period (one year). The audited financial statements must be detailed and show the actual individual indirect cost pool items to provide verification for the schedule of indirect cost expenditures.

20 FACTOR ONE: For lease expansion planning and pricing purposes, please confirm the intended contract start date to be October 29, 2018?

M.5 97 Intended award date is November 27, 2018.

21 Can the government clarify that the Project Manager and the Team Lead Key personnel positions are the same positions identified the Table under Section L. 10.4., (2) Price Proposal as “Senior Contract Specialists”

H.2 50 #16

22 Paragraph C.2.6.1, states, “Team Structure. The Contractor shall organize the procurement support staff in a Team Lead model. For every 5-6 Contract Specialists, the Contractor shall have a Team Leader to help organize, supervise, and review the work. Team Leaders shall possess the knowledge and skills commensurate with the position necessary to manage and assign work to a team as well as regularly review the work products of other support staff for quality.”

C.2.6 11 #16

23 Can the government please clarify if there is more than one Team Lead required other than the Key Personnel Team Lead?

#16

24 Can the government please clarify if they want the entire document to be double spaced (i.e., paragraphs are double spaced).

L.9 88 Yes

25 Will the Government accept 10 point font and single space for charts, tables and graphics?

L.9 88 Yes

26 Can the government please clarify what the Government Furnished Equipment will be, specifically will laptops be furnished?

G.1 17 Laptops; monitors;keyboard;mouse;software

27 How many awards does the government plan to make in response to this RFP?

N/A N/A L.3

28 How does this opportunity relate to the similar opportunity RFQ # 18-233-SOL-00749 that was posted to eBuy? Will the contractor awarded this contract interact with the contractor awarded opportunity RFQ # 18-233-SOL-00749? If so, how does HHS envision this interaction will look?

N/A N/A Separate customer base: No interaction is anticipated.

29 Could you please clarify the difference between the roles and responsibilities for the Project Manager and Team Lead?

H.2 Key Personnel

Page 50 of 102 Project Manager will oversee the project and work as a Team Lead. Team Lead will work and review other team members' work.

30 Will laptop computers be provided to contractor personnel? If not, will the purchase of new laptops be allowable costs?

#26

31 Please provide Attachment J.1. See Section L.8 on Page 94 of 102.

J.1 Attatchment will be provided at award.

32 3. On Page 42 of 102, Section F.2, it states in paragraph 1 that telework can be authorized on a regular basis and in paragraph 3 it states it is not prohibited. Is telework allowed for contractor personnel?

Yes

33 4. Will the Government consider allowing the Contractor to have a secured facility at time of award?

No

34 Given the nature of the work and the fact that there is existing support, would the government consider changing this to a FFP contract.

B.4 3 No

35 Will the government provide the current level of support it is receiving (e.g. # FTE)

General N/A C.1

36 Will the government provide estimated levels of support it anticipates to accomplish the work outlined in the PWS?

General N/A B.4

37 Will the government provide estimated workload (e.g. volume of pre-award, post award, value, and complexity?

General N/A FY18 - 300 funded actions; $900 million dollars

38 Will the government consider changing the set-aside status to “small business” as there are numerous socio-economic categories that can meet this need and enhance competition?

General N/A No

39 Each Performance reference is limited to six (6) pages. These pages supposed to be double or single spaced?

L.8 Past Performance Instruction

94 Double

40 Technical proposal should be limited to 25 pages. Is it possible to increase the page count to 30 pages?

L.9 Technical Proposal Instructions

88 Yes

41 Confirm that word “pre-ward” is a typo and is intended to be “pre-award.”

Section B-1 3 pre-award

42 Confirm that word “pre-ward” is a typo and is intended to be “pre-award”.

Section C-1 8 pre-award

43 RFP states performance is to support external HHS/AMS customers. Will the Government provide a list of the current external customers?

Section C-1 8 Incomplete list: All DOD subcomponents;

Most Federal Agencies

44 RFP states performance will include Business Development activities. Will the Government state what organization/entity is currently performing these activities (i.e. performed inhouse by GOV or by incumbent contractor)?

Section C.2.6.2

13 Support federal positions

45 RFP states contractor will have an opportunity to earn as much as 3.0% over invoices for outstanding rated performance via the QASP. Will the Government be creating and funding an incentive pool CLIN at the time of award and will that incentive pool value be included in the contract ceiling price?

Section C.5 40 Funding an incentive pool CLIN at the time of award; incentive pool value will be included in the contract ceiling price.

46 RFP currently states no funding is committed to the procurement at this time. Will the Government share the expected planned award date/quarter?

Section L.6 87 F.1

47 Please clarify the number of required key personnel, is it two

(2) or more than two (2) to account for the multiple requested team leaders. Section H.2 states the “Project Manager and Team Lead are two separate positions” (e.g., Project Manager

Section C.2.6.1

13 #16

48 Please clarify what is required from the contractor to substantiate physical security and IT networks/system security. Section F2 states, “The Contractor’s facility (including physical security and IT networks/systems) shall be secure to prevent the unauthorized release or disclosure of procurement sensitive information handled in performance of this contract.” Section M states, “Contractor Facility will be evaluated on whether the Offeror possesses the required facilities with all the necessary requirements stated in Section F – Place of Performance.”

Section F.2 Place of Performance

42 #2

49 J tables: Please provide the tables / attachments listed in section J.1 and J.2.

Section J – List of Attachments

67 At award

50 Are offerors required to name all proposed personnel or just those designated as key?

L.9.1, Factor 3, Bullet #1

89 Only Key Personnel

51 Is it the Government's intent to issue standard hardware and software in support of this effort (i.e., laptop with standard software build?)

G.5 Government Furnished Property

46 #26

52 The Solicitation simply lists GS Equivalents for each of the Labor Categories. Are there additional training, education or certification requirements e.g. DAWIA?

C.2.5 Personnel Requirements, C.2.5.1 St ffi

10 No

53 The Solicitation includes a level of effort of 28 FTEs from Base through Option Year 4. Under Background, the incumbent is listed with a current staffing level of 18 FTEs.

Does the Government plan to fund all 28 FTEs proposed?

C.2.5.1 Staffing Levels, C.1 Background.

10, 8 Yes

54 Under Team Structure, the Solicitation states “For every 5-6 Contract Specialists, the Contractor shall have a Team Leader to help organize, supervise and review the work.” Is it implied that the four (4) Senior Contract Specialists, GS 1102- 14 Equivalents would perform this task?

C.2.6.1 Procurement Support

12 #16

55 Under Key Personnel, two Position Titles are listed; Project Manager and Team Lead. C.2.6.1 Procurement Support states that there must be a “Team Leader: for every 5-6 Contract Specialists. Should each of these 4 (+/-) Team Leads be considered “Key Personnel”?

H.2 Key Personnel

50 #16

56 The transition-in period is fifteen (15) calendar days. Full staff is sixty (60) calendar days. Would the Government please consider requiring offerors to submit a Transition Plan, including strategies to mitigate transition risk?

C.2.5.1 10 of 102 No

57 “Technical proposals shall be limited to 25 double-spaced pages, with 1-inch margins, and using not less than 12 point font. “

L.9 88 of 102 #26; #40

58 Please confirm that tables, charts, and graphs can be less than 12 point font.

#25

59 Please confirm that Resumes and Letters of Commitment do not need to be double-spaced.

Double-space

60 Section L.9.1 indicates that, “Resumes and Letters of Commitment for proposed personnel shall be provided in the Technical Appendices section (see below).” However, Section L.9.2 indicates to include resumes, letters of commitment, and other commitments for only key personnel.

Please confirm that the Government requires resumes for ALL 28 proposed personnel (not just the 2 key personnel) in the Technical Appendices.

L.9 .1 Factor 3 – Staffing Plan and L.9.2 Technical Appendices

89 of 102 #50

61 Given the high level of acuity required to provide assisted acquisition support to fee-for-service customers across civilian and defense agencies, would the government consider adding LCATS that elevate at least one FTE to SES-level equivalent for the Team Lead and evaluate the Team Lead positions to a GS-15 equivalent?

L.10 a. Labor 91 of 102 No

62 It doesn't appear to us that the size standard is in line with the size of the effort. Can the size standard be increased to any 8(a) without size limitation?.

No

63 In order to respond to “each of the factors identified in Section M” and “each Task in Section C” (per the instructions in L.9), would the Government consider removing the double-spaced page requirement, to allow industry ample room to demonstrate “a clear understanding of the nature of the work being undertaken”?

L.9 88 No

64 Typically, the Government allows for 8-point font size for proposal graphics, tables and figures, “as long as they are clearly legible.” Please confirm that this is acceptable.

L.9 88 #25

65 Could the Government please clarify if the required Cover Page for each volume counts against the page limitations?

L.9 88 Cover page does not count against the page limitations.

66 For evaluation purposes, could the Government please provide the estimated hours to be used in the Section B Pricing Tables?

B.4 4 L.10.4.2(a)

67 What is the required education and years of experience for each of the labor categories?

C.2.5 10 C.2.5.1

68 For evaluation purposes, could the Government please provide the estimated travel costs to be used in the Section B.5 Material (Non-Labor) Indirect Cost Rates table?

B.5 6 L.10.4.2(b)

69 This section reflects that there are only 2 Key Personnel positions, Project Manager and Team Lead. Would the government consider adding a CLIN for the Team Lead position?

H.2 38 No

70 With only 7 business days to recruit 28 people with commitment letters, in order to provide industry ample time to recruit high quality candidates for this requirement, would the Government consider issuing a 1-week extension?

B.4 4 #10

71 The support required is professional in nature and, in accordance with the CFR, is Service Contract Act-exempt.

Additionally, there are not any wage determination occupational codes that match the support being requested within the solicitation. Will the Government please re-evaluate the requirement of SCA and the applicable wage determination? If not, what occupational code would the government like us to use?

H.8.2 53 The Government will not determine.

72 Is this a successor contract? If so, who is the incumbent contractor and what is the applicable contract number?

H.8.2 53 C.1

73 If this is a successor contract, is the current work being performed under SCA? If so, will HHS please provide the contract anniversary dates, Wage Determination Occupation Code, Contract Labor category for any current contractor employees?

H.8.2 53 #71

74 Reference paragraph L.9, page 88 of 102 states in part ' The technical proposal must not contain references to cost;

however, resource information, such as data concerning labor hours and categories, materials, subcontracts, etc., must be contained in the technical proposal so that your understanding of the scope of work may be evaluated.'

Will the government please provide more specific instructions on this requirement, specifically identify what the elements of the 'etc.' are? Will the government please provide exact evaluation criteria on this part of L.9 since paragraph M.5 starting on page 97 of 102 does not provide what is to be evaluated for this requirement?

L.9 88 Please remove the word, "etc".

75 Reference PWS paragraph C.2.5.1 which states in part: 'The transition-in period is fifteen (15) calendar days. Full staff is sixty (60) calendar days.' Will the government please clarify what staffing level must be met at the end of the 15-day transition?

C.2.5.1 10 Propose is staff plan.

76 If there is an incumbent contractor, and part of our staffing approach will be to hire some of the incumbent staff, does the offeror have to provide resumes and commitment letters for all proposed staff members?

L.9.1 Pages 75 and 76 #51

77 The Key Personnel are identified as Project Manager and Team Lead. Are these two separate positions/individuals or one position/individual? Are these positions to be included as one of the positions in the labor categories set forth in Section B or are they to be separately priced or are these position(s) to be included in the offeror’s indirect cost? Will these positions/individuals be on site with the selected contractor’s staff?

H.2 Page 38 of 94 #16

78 The RFP indicates that the SCLS is applicable. Since all the labor categories call for senior contracting professionals, please clarify which LCAT(s) the SCLS would apply to.

H.8.1 #71

79 Section 52.222-17 (Non- displacement of Qualified Workers) is checked. Having tenure dates impacts the pricing since Wage Determination and required benefits vary once an incumbent reaches 4 years supporting the same effort. Are there any incumbents currently supporting this requirement?

If so, whom, and what is the contract number(s)? How many FTEs are they currently providing, and is their labor mix the same as that being requested by the RFP? Will HHS be providing the list of incumbent staff with their contact information?

52.222-17 C.1; Only the service contractors

80 Are we correct in assuming that completing the pricing table found in Section B.4 will satisfy this requirement?

L.10.4.1 78 Yes

81 Would an updated and current SAM registration satisfy this requirement, or do we need to submit a completed Section K Reps and Certs as part of our proposal?

L.10.7 80 No

82 Please clarify resumes for all 28 positions are required or if they are only required for the 2 positions labeled as “Key” (i.e. Project Manager and Team Lead stated in section H.2)

L.9.2 77 #50

83 Can the government clarify the personnel requirements (education and experience) for proposed personnel by labor category?

#67

84 Would the government consider a one-week extension to the published proposal due date?

#10

85 Is there any page limitation(s) to the Technical Appendices? L.9

86 Business Proposal – are there any page limits to the Business Proposal Volume?

L.9.2 77 L.10.1

87 Are cover, table of contents, tables etc. included from page count in the technical volume?

Section C Page 8 #65; L.9

88 Please confirm that the required “Pricing Data” spreadsheet should be provided as an attachment to the Business Proposal.

L.10.4 Pricing Data

L.10.4

89 Given the amount of information that must beincluded within the 2-page limit for each performance reference, please confirm that the performance references can be single-spaced.

L.11 Past Performance Information

L.11 Each performance reference is limited to 6 pages and shall include the following information.