Responses_to_Questions_6_12_18_FINAL.pdf

Responses to Questions on Request for Proposal 18-250-SOL-00106

Project Title: Public Health Nutrition Workforce and Integration of Nutrition in State Title V Programs

(MCHB 60 C 889)

Below is a list of questions received before the deadline of 6/4/18 at 11:00 am ET Contract Specialist: Anne Stephan

# Question Sectio n of

RFP

Page # Government Response

Regarding cost, is there a floor or ceiling amount or an average award level or an expected amount?

What is the estimated level of effort for the base period of the study?

B.3 6 &7

The Government does not provide a cost estimate or an estimated level of effort. These factors will depend on each offeror’s technical approach.

Please provide your most competitive cost.

2 How do we finalize/agree on a contract price B.3 6

This contract competition is using procedures set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 15 and the Request for Proposal.

The list of deliverables varies considerably from year to year.

Would the base amount of cost be based on the deliverables that are consistent each year?

F.4 14-17

Cost proposals shall be based on the technical approach needed to fulfill the tasks in the Statement of Work and provide quality deliverables in a timely manner for each contract year.

The list of deliverables varies considerably from year to year.

There are several deliverables that are consistent each year, but there are some deliverables that are due only one year, for example Task 9 is almost exclusively in the Base year, and other deliverables only in specific option years. Does Volume III need to have an estimated cost/price per year (base year plus four option years)?

Yes, Volume II shall have the estimated cost customized for each contract year as well as the total contract price for all years.

What’s the significance to items that are highlighted throughout the proposal?

Many 7, 8, etc. Please ignore the highlights.

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6 Is there an incumbent for the proposed study?

Yes, there is an incumbent contractor for this requirement, Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors.

7 What is the estimated start date? C.2 8

The estimated start date is September 2018.

Sub task 9.7 seems to be due after all other sub tasks of Task #9. Why?

F.4 17 and on 83

The due date for bulleted outline of a manuscript follows the other subtasks as it should be reflective of the work related to the development of the toolkit and potential impact of the CoP.

Can we list a few (3-4) key personnel, with only 1 as the Project Director

G.4 20 Yes.

If needed, could the Contractor extend the term of a contract year?

Par tII, I.1 A. 34 No. Only a Contracting Officer can change the terms of a contract.

What do the “Number of Pages” stand for – estimate number of pages for the associated attachment, or a maximum/page limit for the associated attachment, or something else?

Part

III, J 36

The number of pages in the attachments. For example, the Statement of Work is 11 pages long.

The page limits for the technical proposal is in section L.5.4 Technical Proposal – Volume II Page Limitation on page 56.

I see that Section K needs to be included in Volume II. Are the pages of Section K included in the page limit for Volume II?

Sectio n K

37 and

No, Section K shall be included in the Business Proposal, Volume II.

There is no page limit Volume II, Business Proposal (see L.6).

Is there a Word version of the sections required in the proposal?

Sectio n K 37-49

No. Section K can be printed, signed and scanned into proposals. It should correspond with Reps and Certs on SAM.gov.

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We are a virtual operations organization. We have a headquarters address, but the work in this contract would be completed by consultants who work in different places across the United States. How do we complete K.7 regarding Place of Performance? Would we list the addresses of the key consultants?

K.7 46

Reps and Certs shall be completed in accordance Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirements and in accordance with SAM.gov.

Can we list more than one official in K.8? (Note there are two different sections labeled K.8 – this question refers to the second K.8: “Responsible Official(s) Who Can Negotiate and Receive Notification of an Improper Invoice and Answer Questions Regarding the Invoice”)

K.8 49

Reps and Certs shall be completed in accordance Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirements and in accordance with SAM.gov.

Please clarify about submission of Volume I – is it submitted online separately or as part of the email to send to astephan@hrsa.gov?

L.1.1, L.1.2, and L.1.3

50 and

Both. Please submit according to the online instructions and then include it in your email.

If we operate with consultants who have agreements, do we include final, negotiated consultant agreements as part of the Business Proposal, or can we submit a list of contract deliverables with a proposed consultant?

L.1.2 51 The consultant agreements may be included in the business proposal.

As mention in question ## above, we are a virtual operations organization with key consultants working on this project in different locations in the United States.

How would you suggest we answer item L.5.2 in the Volume II proposal?

L.5 56

The technical proposal shall include a discussion of the present or proposal facilities and equipment that will be used in the performance of this contract. This include consultant locations, equipment, security measures, etc.

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Page # Government Response

The last sentence of the first paragraph in Section L.6.1 Cost and Pricing Data refers to Section J – Attachment G, but Attachment G is not on the list of attachments on page 36.

Where do we find Attachment G?

L.6.1 57 and 36 See revised RFP.

I don’t understand the logical thinking in the section M.3 Award Criteria – can you explain how the last sentence connects to the first sentence?

M.3 63

The Award Criteria state the significance of the award criteria when weighed individually and in combination. This is a best value trade off requirement.

Technical is more important than cost; cost is more important than past performance. Technical and past performance combined are significantly more important than cost.

What’s the difference between the Statement of Work and the Technical Proposal?

Attach -ment A

74 and

Please see Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) located at acquisition.gov for definitions and information on Federal acquisition procedures.

Why is the Annual Project Report due one month before the end of the year? Is the work to be completed in 11 months of a contract year?

Attach -ment

A, IV,

3.3

A contractor cannot work beyond the period of performance of each contract year. To allow time for edits, the annual report is due 11 months EDOC of each contract year.

Are the “TECHNICAL

ASSISTANCE SESSIONS”

described in sub task 4.3 the same as the “Training Webinars” in sub task 5.3?

IV

Tasks, 4.3 and 5.3

78 and 79 They are different tasks.

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In what ways does MCHB envision that the work under this solicitation will support and coordinate with the ongoing work currently being done by the MCH Nutrition Training Programs Grantees that are funded to train public health nutritionists/the nutrition workforce?

Gener al n/a

Coordination and collaboration with MCHB-supported nutrition training investments, including the MCH Nutrition training program grantees is expected to strengthen the MCH and public health nutrition workforce.

Specific tasks including subtasks in task 7, subtask 8.1, and task 9 describe the expected coordination and collaboration.

On page 56, the RFP instructs the offeror to organize the technical proposal into four sections, and does not include a Management and Staffing Plan. On page 65, however, the evaluation criteria include a Management and Staffing Plan. Should the Management and Staffing Plan be its own section in the technical proposal?

L.5.3

M.5.2

Please see revised RFP.

The RFP references Table 15-2 on page 62, but does not include Table 15-2 as an attachment. Where can the contractor find Table 15-2?

L.12 62 Please see revised RFP.

Is there a requirement for past performance documentation to be submitted from prior funded projects or will this be automatically determined via PPIRS or CPARS?

M5.2 Past Perfor mance

70-71

Past Performance will be determined using PPIRS and CPARS. However, The RFP requires offerors to provide Organizational Experience (RFP p.69)

Under Task 3.2, quarterly progress reports are required in January, April, and July of each contract year. Are progress reports also required in October?

SOW

Task 3.2

77 The Annual Report will act as the final quarterly report.

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Does MCHB have the expectation of certain topic areas for the brief and informational products? Can the purpose of the brief and informational products be clarified? Who is the target audience of the informational products and how does MCHB anticipate that they will use them?

SOW

Task 4.1 and 4.2

77-78

The brief/resource is developed by the field and will be disseminated by the contractor; MCHB does not have expected topic area but the brief must highlight evidence-based and evidence-informed policies and practices in Title V MCH Nutrition programs. The purpose of the brief and informational products is to to enhance the implementation of evidence-based and evidence-informed policies and practices in Title V MCH Nutrition programs;

promote the role of state public health nutritionists in order to strengthen nutrition programs and systems for MCH populations, especially those served by MCH Title V programs. The audience is the public health nutrition workforce including Title V MCH Nutrition programs.

Will the contractor be expected to develop presentations for the Title V Nutrition Professionals in State/Territorial Health Departments/MCHB Staff Calls, or is the contractor role limited to logistics only?

SOW

Task 5.1

78-79 Contractor role is limited to logistics/planning. The contractor will not develop presentations.

Can MCHB clarify the extent of the evaluation of activities in Task 5?

SOW

Task 5.5

The evaluation of task 5 activities will include a summary of the plans, progress, and outcomes for tasks 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.5 as well as challenges and lessons learned to inform the planning and operationalization of these tasks in the option years.

Please clarify the intent of the leadership/training opportunity. Is it intended for a large group of professionals or targeted to one single individual within a group of professionals?

SOW

Task 7, 7.1

80 It is intended for one trainee or professional.

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Page # Government Response

For the purposes of budgeting, should the contractor plan for travel for Task 7.1?

SOW

Task 7.1

As written in the SOW, this can be done in various modalities including virtual, in person or other methods agreed upon by contractor and approved by the COR.

Task 7.2 is not included in the Schedule of Deliverables for All Years Matrix. What is the expected timing of that task?

SOW

Task 7.2

Monthly calls to be determined with MCH Nutrition Training program grantees.

Does MCHB have a number of ECE settings in mind for the environmental scan? Will these settings include a variety of types of ECE providers or be focused primarily on centers and/or Head Start sites? Will Early Head Start sites be included?

SOW

Task 9.1

MCHB does not have a number of settings in mind; the purpose of the environmental scan is to provide background information to inform the direction of the CoP project.

In addition to the environmental scan, does MCHB anticipate that the 5 case studies will focus on rural settings or include a broader range of ECE settings?

SOW

Task 9.2

81 Focus on ECE settings that would be most applicable to the CoP project.

Does MCHB anticipate that OMB will be required for the participant evaluations outlined in Task 9.4?

SOW

Task 9.4

Further guidance will be provided after award. HRSA will follow required protocol.

Does MCHB anticipate that the obesity prevention toolkit will be targeted to childcare providers or will be used by the MCH nutrition workforce/leaders to implement activities in ECE settings?

SOW

Task 9.5

82 Targeted to ECE providers.

Task 9.6 requires measuring the dissemination and uptake of the toolkit. What is the level of effort expected to follow-up with the rural Head Starts and Early Head Starts in order to systematically measure the toolkit’s uptake?

SOW

Task 9.6

Each offeror shall provide the level of effort necessary to successfully complete each task according to their technical approach.

The contractor shall propose a plan for dissemination via HRSA website and propose possible metrics for measuring dissemination and uptake of the online toolkit.

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The instructions state that each page is to be numbered and each volume is to be tabbed to correspond to the table of contents. Since the proposals are to be emailed in PDF format, how do we “tab” the sections in each volume? If the table of contents includes page numbers is that sufficient?

L.1.4 51 Please use headers/footers to identify each section.

41 What does L.3 mean? L.3 52

L.3 Alternative Line Item Proposal allows an offeror to submit alternative approaches to complete the work in the Statement of Work.

Please see FAR 4.10.

Should Volume II include an Executive Summary? If so, where are the instructions for that section?

N/A N/A

An executive summary is not requirement in the Technical Proposal (Volume II). However, L.5.1 states that the offeror must submit proposals and data comprehensive enough to provide the basis for a sound evaluation.

Are the QASP and Staff Loading Chart included in the page limit or are they appendices?

L.5.5 and L.5.6

56 Yes the QASP and Staff Loading Chart are included in the page limit.

How is the QASP different from addressing the guidance in section 4. Management and Staffing Plan?

M.5.2 68

The Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) will be used throughout the life of the contract to assist in surveillance oversite of the Contractor’s achievement of the objectives, deliverables and quality control efforts (p. 54) The technical criterion for Management and Staffing Plan instructs offerors on the evaluation of their technical proposal

(p. 68).

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Does the Offeror include any information in the Volume II proposal addressing M.5.2 Past Performance?

M.5.2 70

No, offerors do not need to include past performance information for M.5.2 however, the evaluation criterion #5, Organizational Experience requires offerors to address and document their expertise and experience.