Questions_Answers_for_HRSA_Evaluation_IDIQ_19-250-SOL-00046.pdf

HRSA Evaluation Studies Questions and Answers Attachment No. 1

# Question Section of RFP Page # Government Response (To Be Provided)

1 Do font (i.e., 12 point, Times New Roman) restrictions apply to tables and graphics? L.1. General Information 44

Tables and graphs must be developed using not less than 10 point font. The font type used for tables and graphs may be determined by the Offeror

Can we submit past performance references for grants and cooperative agreements awarded in addition to references for contracts awarded?

L.6. Past Performance 47

No, past performance shall be recent and relevent to contracts.

Do subcontractors also need to complete Section K‐Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offeror?

L.5.3 Representations and

Certifications 47 No

Can the CPARS provided in L.6.2 be for different contracts than the ones described in section L.6.1 past performance?

L.6 Past Performance 47 No, they should be the same.

It is stated that the subcontracting plan should express definitive commitments to subcontract with SB, SDB etc. on future task order awards. The subcontracting plan template states “goals” and not “commitments”. Please clarify which is correct, "goals" or "commitments".

Section L – Instructions, Conditions and Notices to

Offerors, L.7.4

Subcontracting Plan

71 See revised L.13.

It is required that we submit SB subcontractor names and letters of commitment. Can you please provide guidance on what information should be included in the commitment letters?

Section L – Instructions, Conditions and Notices to

Offerors, L.7.4

Subcontracting Plan

71 No, we cannot provide you guidance.

How can one have firm commitments from Subcontractors if the nature of the work to be awarded through task orders is uncertain?

Section L – Instructions, Conditions and Notices to

Offerors, L.7.4

Subcontracting Plan

Offeror shall submit letters from subcontractors demonstrating their commitment to your organization.

Because no bidder can estimate the dollar value of awards under this IDIQ, is it acceptable for the Subcontracting Plan to include percentage goals only?

Section L – Instructions, Conditions and Notices to

Offerors, L.7.4

Subcontracting Plan

71 Yes

Is the clause found in section E.4, FAR 52.246‐Inspection Time‐and‐Material and Labor‐

Hour (May 2001), applicable given that the Government only intends to issue cost‐ reimbursement or firm‐fixed‐price task orders under the resulting IDIQ?

Section E ‐ Inspection and

Acceptance, E.4, FAR

52.246‐6 Inspection Time‐ and‐Material and Labor‐

11 Yes

Section B.3, Allowable Costs, references FAR Subpart 31.2 which are allowable costs applicable to Contracts with Commercial Organizations. Could the Government please confirm that in the event of a contract with a non‐profit organization, will the applicable allowable cost and payment principles found in FAR 52.216‐7, Alt IV apply?

Section B ‐ Supplies or

Services and Prices/Costs, B.3, Allowable Costs

5 Yes

In reviewing the solicitation we did not see any requirements specific to data security such as FISMA, is FISMA compliance required under this IDIQ and any resulting task orders?

Section I ‐ Contract Clauses 26 Specific data security requirements will be at the Task Order level.

For contracts in their first year of operation where we have no CPARS yet, can we list them in our Past Performance?

L.6 Past Performance 47

See L.6 pertaining to Offerors who do not have CPARS.

Is there a page limit for the business proposal (Volume II) and if so, can it be generous considering that we have to include presumable budgets and budget justifications for all four hypothetical proposals, along with other needed documentation?

L.5 Business Prposal

Instructions ‐ Volume II 45‐47

There is no page limit on the Business

Proposal.

Because the value of the contract is not known, can we use TBD for total contract value on the Subcontracting Plan?

L.13 Subcontracting Plan 49 Yes

Will the Government allow 10pt font for tables, graphics, flow charts, organizational charts, drawings, etc.?

Section L ‐ Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to

Offerors

44 See question and answer Number 1.

For Past Performance References where there is an existing CPARS rating, do we also need to include a PPQ?

L.6 Past Performance 47 No

Will the Government evaluate federal Past Performance References for which there is not a CPARS rating?

L.6 Past Performance 47 Please see Section L.6

Are Letters of Commitment required from the Subcontracting organization, the

Subcontractors’ individual personnel, or both?

L.6 Past Performance 49 See question and answer Number 6.

Would HRSA consider granting an extension to May 31? Responding by the due date of

May 13, 2019, is prohibitive for small businesses capable of offering on each requested hypothetical project.

Cover letter 1 The proposal due date has been changed to May 20, 2019.

The general instructions reference a transmittal letter should be included with the proposal to state any exceptions to the terms and conditions. Are there any other requirements regarding what should be included in the letter? Will this letter count against any page limitations for the IDIQ technical volume? Can you confirm the letter should be included in Volume 1?

L.1 43

Are there no other requirements regarding what should be included in the letter. Cover letter and transmittal letters do not count towards the page count limits.

21 Is the cover letter mentioned the same as the transmittal letter? L.4 45 Yes

The Administrative and Management Data section point 4 & 5 refer to “record of past performance” and “organizational experience and technical skills to perform the work.” Can the government confirm that they would like this information in the

Business volume? Can the offeror use the same projects listed here in Volume 3 – Past performance? Can the offeror also refer back to language in the technical proposal

(Volume 1) for the organizational experience section?

L.5.2 46 Please follow the instructions in Section

L

23 Are there any page limitations for Volume 2 – Business Proposal? L.5 45 See question and answer Number 13.

Can proposed subcontractors use pre‐approved government rates, such as a GSA schedule?

L.5.1 45

Subcontractor shall use their approved rate agreement.

The volume 2 breakdown lists consulting agreements as an attachment in the business volume. Can you confirm that offerors should include signed consulting agreements, or can we provide templates?

L.1 43 Please provide your signed consulting agreement.

Can the government confirm that past performance and organizational experience information should be included in the Business Volume’s Administrative and

Management Data section? Can we cross‐reference the other two proposal volumes that contain this information instead?

L.5.2 46

Past Performance and Organizational experience are not the same. Please follow the instructions outline in L.5.2 and L.6

Should the offeror submit a separate subcontracting plan for each hypothetical proposal/budget, or is only one subcontracting plan required for the overall IDIQ effort? If yes, should we just include percentages, since we won’t know the overall value of the projects until the task orders are issued? Should all plans be included in the single business volume?

L.13 49

Offerors shall submit a separate subcontacting plan for each hypothetical if applicable.

The personnel section of the evaluation criteria states that a copy of all subcontractor agreements shall be provided for approval. Can the offeror provide a template in lieu of an signed agreement?

M.5 57

This question is unclear. The agreement format shall be in accordance with the

Offeror's policy and processes.

Can past performance questionnaires be provided by our references in Word rather than PDF?

L.6 47

Please submit your completed past performance questionnaires in pdf.

Can the contractor propose its published GSA rates (where appropriate) to minimize the burden placed on both the contractor and government of obtaining, reviewing and securing payroll records?

L. 5. 1 45 Please following instructions outlined in

L.5.1.

Is the Offeror required to complete and submit with its offer OMB Standard Form LLL only if any registrants have made a lobbying contact on behalf of the offeror with respect to this contract, or should the Offeror submit a form marked "N/A" even if that has not happened?

RFP, Section K.9 40 Please complete as required by 52.203‐

11(b).

32 Is there a file size limit associated with the Government’s email system? RFP, Section L.1 43 100 MB

33 Is there a page limit for the Business Proposal? RFP, Section L.5 45 See question and answer Number 13.

Please can you confirm that the cover page, table of contents, title page, and cover letter in the Past Performance volume will also be excluded from the page count?

RFP, Section L.6 47

Cover page(s) are excluded from the page counts. Table of content are included in the page count.

Please will the Government confirm whether the Time‐and‐Material and Labor‐Hour

FAR clauses are necessary for this procurement?

RFP, Section E.4 11 Yes

Can the font size for tables, figures,graphics, headers and footers be smaller than

Times Roman 12‐point font?

RFP, Section L.4 Page 45 See question and answer Number 1.

Will the cover page, table of contents, title page, and cover letter be excluded from the page count in the Technical volume?

RFP, Section L.4 Page 45

Cover page, cover letter, and table of contests are not included in the 125‐ page limit for the Technical Proposal.

38 Can the Government clarify whether there should be two or three separate volumes? RFP, Section L.1 Page 43 Three separate volumes

For contracts that have past performance information available through PPIRS, can we provide a copy of the PPIRS report in our past performance volume instead of copies of our CPARSs ratings?

RFP, Section L.6.2 Page 47 Yes

The RFP states that contractors shall submit copies of their CPARS ratings for contracts with federal agencies and that the Past Performance Questionnaire should be used by contractors who have not previously held federal contracts. If a contractor plans to utilize a past performance example for a federal contract that is not included in

CPARS, is it acceptable for the contractor to provide a Past Performance

Questionnaire for this contract?

M.6.3 Past Performance

Evaluation

Please follow the instructions outline in

L.6 and M.6.3.

41 Could HRSA provide an anticipated start date for the IDIQ? F.5 Period of Performance 14 End of Fiscal Year 2019

For future task order proposals, would a subcontractor be limited by the maximum unloaded hourly rates that the prime has established with HRSA?

B.2 Compensation

Cost/Price 3 Yes

The instructions in section B.2 of the RFP indicate that offerors should propose maximum unloaded hourly rates; however, section L.5.1 indicates that offerors shall provide a breakdown of their fully loaded rates for each labor category. Could HRSA provide clarification on what cost information it expects offerors to provide?

B.2 Compensation

Cost/Price & L.5.1 Cost or

Pricing Data

3, 45‐46

The Offeror is expected to complete the unloaded table in Section B.2 and follow instructions outlined in L.5.1.

Is it permissible for offerors to submit more than three past performance examples as long as they do not exceed the 25 page limitation?

L.6 Past Performance 47

Please following instructions outlined in

L.6.

This section references FAR 52.219‐9 Small Disadvantaged Business Participation

Program and Plan (JAN 2017), however the section I clause reference is 52.219‐9 Small

Business Subcontracting Plan (AUG 2018). As the current Aug 2018 clause does not include any SDB Participation requirement or targets please provide clarification whether G14‐b.(2) and (3) are applicable to this request.

G.14 Subcontracting Plan

Provisions 21‐22 G.14 is correct.

Do proposed subcontractors need to submit Cost or Pricing Data required of the

Offeror (i.e., unburdened wage rate, fringe, overhead rates, G&A, and profit)?

L.5.1 Cost or Pricing Data 45 Yes

Can proposed subcontractors submit proprietary information directly to the

Government (ie: NICRA)? If so, can you provide instructions for this submission?

L.5.1 Cost or Pricing Data &

C. Personnel (10 points) 45, 57 Yes

M.6.2 mentions the Offeror submitting three past performance references while M.6.3 mentions Offerors submitting copies of their CPARS ratings for contracts with Federal agencies. Is M.6.3 referring to CPARS ratings just for those three past performance references, or for any/all Federal contracts the Offeror holds?

Section M.6 Past

Performance

M.6.3 refers to past performance that is recent and relevent.

General instructions #2 references a transmittal letter should be included with Volume

1 of the proposal to state any exceptions to the terms and conditions.

Section L.4 also requests a cover letter with point of contact information, as well as a table of contents.

Will the transmittal/cover letter and the table of contents be included within the 125‐ page limitation for the volume?

L.1.2 General Information

L.4 Technical Proposal

Instructions – Vol I

43, 45 See question and answer Number 37.

Is it acceptable to use a smaller font than the required Times Roman 12 point for the matrix format of all personnel organized by task area and labor category?

M.5.1.2, C. Personnel 56 See question and answer Number 1.

51 Please confirm that tables, charts and graphics be included at a reduced font size? L.1.4. 44 See question and answer Number 1.

The title for Volume II, Business Proposal, includes a reference to “Key Personnel and

Point of Contact”, although there is no instruction for this item in the detailed instructions in L.5. Can HRSA kindly clarify what is required to fulfill this requirement?

L.1 43 Please refer to Section K of the RFP, and

G.5

Is payroll documentation required for the IDIQ Maximum Unloaded Rates in section

B.2?

L.5.1, B.2 46, 3

Yes, it may be requested to determine fair and resonableness.

The instructions regarding submission of a Small Business Subcontracting Plan states that if a task order proposal is over $700,000, a subcontracting plan must be submitted with the proposal. Given that this is an IDIQ with unknown dollar amounts, should offerors submit a plan using estimated percentages only?

L.13 49

Offerors shall submit an HHS Small

Business Subcontracting Plan (Section J, Attachment G) as part of its business proposal for any proposals, including proposal for hpotheticals where the proposal exceeds $700,000.

Offerors are to provide a “discussion on the extent of proposed subcontracting” with small businesses in the Administrative and Management Data Section – does the Small

Business Subcontracting Plan fulfill this requirement, if a plan is required based on either the IDIQ or the hypotheticals?

L.5.2 46 No

The solicitation requires budgets for the hypothetical projects. For budgeting purposes, can HRSA kindly provide the contract type and period of performance for each hypothetical project?

L.14 49‐50

Hypothetical projects should be cost reimbursement.

Hypothetical No. 1 PoP is 3 years, Hypothetical No. 2 PoP is 2 yrs, Hypothetical No. 3 PoP is 3 yrs.

Hypothetical No. 4 PoP is 2 yrs.

Should offerors submit past performance questionnaires to pmauro@hrsa.gov as noted in the past performance letter template or to jhupalar@hrsa.gov as noted in the

RFQ, Section L.6.2, page 47?

Section_J_Attachment E 1 and 2 jhupalar@hrsa.gov, see revised RFP.

58 Do font (i.e., 12 point, Times New Roman) restrictions apply to tables and graphics? L.1. General Information 44 See question and answer Number 1.

Can we submit past performance references for grants and cooperative agreements awarded in addition to references for contracts awarded?

L.6. Past Performance 47 No, see L.6

For the period of performance for the hypotheticals, are we submitting one 12‐month budget, or are we submitting a multi‐year budget?

F. Approach to the

Hypothetical Projects

Multi‐year cost proposals should be submitted as per period of performance.

See question and answer No. 56 for each hypothetical project.

Do subcontractors also need to complete Section K‐Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offeror?

L.5.3 Representations and

Certifications 47 Yes

Can the CPARS provided in L.6.2 be for different contracts than the ones described in section L.6.1 past performance?

L.6 Past Performance 47 No

It is stated that the subcontracting plan should express definitive commitments to subcontract with SB, SDB etc. on future task order awards. The subcontracting plan template states “goals” and not “commitments”. Please clarify which is correct, "goals" or "commitments".

Section L – Instructions, Conditions and Notices to

Offerors, L.7.4

Subcontracting Plan

71 See question and answer Number 5.

It is required that we submit SB subcontractor names and letters of commitment. Can you please provide guidance on what information should be included in the commitment letters?

Section L – Instructions, Conditions and Notices to

Offerors, L.7.4

Subcontracting Plan

Please follow the instructions outlined in

Section L.

How can one have firm commitments from Subcontractors if the nature of the work to be awarded through task orders is uncertain?

Section L – Instructions, Conditions and Notices to

Offerors, L.7.4

Subcontracting Plan

Please follow the instructions outlined in

Section L.

Because no bidder can estimage the dollar value of awards under this IDIQ, is it acceptable for the Subcontracting Plan to include percentage goals only?

Section L – Instructions, Conditions and Notices to

Offerors, L.7.4

Subcontracting Plan

71 Yes

Is the clause found in section E.4, FAR 52.246‐Inspection Time‐and‐Material and Labor‐

Hour (May 2001), applicable given that the Government only intends to issue cost‐ reimbursement or firm‐fixed‐price task orders under the resulting IDIQ?

Section E ‐ Inspection and

Acceptance, E.4, FAR

52.246‐6 Inspection Time‐ and‐Material and Labor‐

Hour (May 2001)

11 See question and answer Number 35.

Section B.3, Allowable Costs, references FAR Subpart 31.2 which are allowable costs applicable to Contracts with Commercial Organizations. Could the Government please confirm that in the event of a contract with a non‐profit organization, will the applicable allowable cost and payment principles found in FAR 52.216‐7, Alt IV apply?

Section B ‐ Supplies or

Services and Prices/Costs, B.3, Allowable Costs

5 See question and answer Number 10.

In reviewing the solicitation we did not see any requirements specific to data security such as FISMA, is FISMA compliance required under this IDIQ and any resulting task orders?

Section I ‐ Contract Clauses 26 See question and answer Number 11.

For contracts in their first year of operation where we have no CPARS yet, can we list them in our Past Performance?

L.6 Past Performance 47 See question and answer Number 12.

Is there a page limit for the business proposal (Volume II) and if so, can it be generous considering that we have to include presumable budgets and budget justifications for all four hypothetical proposals, along with other needed documentation?

L.5 Business Prposal

Instructions ‐ Volume II 45‐47 See question and answer Number 13.

Because the value of the contract is not known, can we use TBD for total contract value on the Subcontracting Plan?

L.13 Subcontracting Plan 49 No

The Past Performance volume requests projects “completed within the past three (3) years.” Will the Government allow offerors to include projects that are currently ongoing, as long as there has been sufficient performance to be evaluated?

L.6 47 No, Please follow the instructions outlined in L.6.

Under the past performance reference instructions, the third sentence states, “The

Offeror must clarify the percentage of work, dollar allocation and personnel roles as it relates to the IDIQ key labor category requirements.” Can the government please clarify what information is requested in this statement for “percentage of work” and

“dollar allocation”?

L.6.1 47

As instructed in L.6, Offerors should clarify the percentage of work, dollar allocation, and personnel roles as it relate to the labor categories for past performance that is submitted.

In the instructions for Volume III – Past Performance, we are asked to submit copies of our CPARS ratings as part of our proposal volume. Because FAR 42.1503(4)(d) deems

CPARS ratings as being Source Selection Sensitive, yet our proposals could be subject to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, is it allowable for us to submit our

CPARS ratings forms separately from Volume III and directly to Jimmy Hupalar at jhupalar@hrsa.gov by the deadline of 5:00 PM EST on May 13, 2019?

L.6.2 47 No, any FOIA information release will be appropriately redated.

Will the Government extend the submission deadline by 2 weeks to allow Offerors sufficient time to review answers to questions and prepare comprehensive proposals?

Cover Letter 1 No

Can the Government clarify that there is no page limit for Volume II: Business

Proposal?

L.5 45 See question and answer Number 13.

Do CPARS count in the page limit of Volume III‐Past Performance, or can CPARS be included in an Appendix?

L.6.2 47 Yes

It is indicated that the proposal shall be submitted in “two (3) volumes,” please confirm that the proposal will be submitted in three volumes.

L.1 43 It was a typo, three volumes.

Would the government provide a Past Performance Questionnaire PDF with a signature line field and date field?

J 1 No

Is it correct that a Past Performance Questionnaire is not required if our reference is a

Federal contract with a CPARS rating?

L.6.2 47 Yes

Please clarify the RFP requirements on past performance as follows:

Section L.6.1 on page 47 asks for "three (3) past performance references where the

Offeror was the prime contractor or subcontractor for relevant work completed within the past three (3) years..." as part of Volume III.

Section M.5.1.E.8 on page 61 asks for "synopses of 4 past projects... an attempt should be made to provide projects completed within the last three years." as part of Volume

I ‐ Technical Proposal.

Questions:

Please confirm the interpretation above is correct in that both Volumes I and III will contain content on past projects. If true, may the 3 projects cited in Volume III and 4 projects cited in Volume I differ? Can the projects cited be the same in both Volumes?

L.6.1./M.5.1.E.8 47/61

No, Volume No. 1 and Volume No. 3 are have different requirements. L.6.1 deals with Past Performance.

M.5.1 deals with Technical Proposal and

E.8 deals with your Organizational

Experience.

This section of the Business Volume section “Administrative and Management Data” includes a “Record of past performance”. However, section L.6. is Past Performance, which is its own volume. What information should be included in L.5.2?

L.5.2/L.6 46

L.6 deals with the Offeror's Past

Performance. L.5.2 deals with the

Offeror"s's Management Capabilties and

Responsibility.

Section L.6.1 states that "The Offeror may include one (1) past performance reference for the Subcontractor if a portion of the work is going to be subcontracted.” Does this mean that past performance work of only one subcontractor will be allowed? Or may we include past performance projects for more than one subcontractor? And, if we may include more than one past performance project for subcontractors, how many may we include?

L.6.1 47 No more than 3, see revised L.6.5.

Are subcontractors requires to submit a breakdown of estimated unburdened wage rates, fringe, overhead rates, G&A rates, and profit for each labor category?

L.5.1 45 See question and answer Number 46.

Is SF LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form required to be completed if the offeror has no lobbying activities to disclose? If yes, where should the completed form be included in the proposal?

Section J, Attachment F

Yes, the completed SF LLL can be submitted when submitted your proposal.

Is the Subcontracting Plan to be submitted and reported at the IDIQ level or at the individual task order level? If at the IDIQ level, should TBD dollar values be used since dollars are unknown?

Section J, Attachment G Yes, Offerors should include goals.

The pdf version of the subcontracting plan template is space restricted. Will HRSA provide an editable version of the subcontracting plan so offerors can properly address each section of the plan?

Section J, Attachment G If additional space is needed you can use addendum to the subcontracting plan.

The solicitation requires offerors to submit "a cover letter with point of contact information, telephone number and email address".

Can the government please clarify if the cover letter is exempt from the 125‐page limit for the Technical Proposal?

L.4 45 See question and answer Number 20.

The solicitation requires proposals to be submitted in "Times Roman 12 point font".

Can the font used in tables and graphics be smaller than 12 point font?

L.1.4 44 See question and answer Number 1.

Can the government please clarify which Volume of the proposal should contain the

Subcontracting Plan?

L.13 49 Volume 2

In Section L.1.2 the solicitation lists the title of Volume II as "Business Proposal

Administrative & Proposed Contractual Documents–Section K of this Solicitation

(Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offeror), Rate Agreements, Salary Documentation, Labor Categories and unloaded rates for each contract year, consultant agreements, Key Personnel and point of contact, certificate of current cost or pricing data, etc.", whereas elsewhere in the solicitation Volume II is referred to as simply "Business Proposal". Can the government please clarify the preferred title for

Volume II?

L.1.2 43 Business Proposal

In Section L.1.2 the solicitation refers to "consultant agreements" in the title for

Volume II, however, no reference is made to "consultant agreements" in the detailed instructions for Volume II in Section L.5. Can the government please clarify if

"consultant agreements" are required in Volume II? If so, can the government please confirm our understanding that such a requirement would only agreements made with consultants (as opposed to subcontractor teaming agreements)?

L.1.2 43

Please provide the agreement between the offeror and the subcontractor and/or consultant.

In Section L.5.2.4.a. the solicitation refers to "Record of past performance” as a requirement for the Volume II submission. Can the government please clarify if

"Record of past performance" is a requirement for Volume II? This material would seem to be covered in Volume III; can the government please clarify what information in addition to the Volume III submission is required in Volume II to meet this requirement?

L.5.2.4.a. 46 Yes

The solicitation requires offerors to submit "a copy of the subcontractor's current negotiated rate agreement". Can the government please clarify the preferred submission method for subcontractor's negotiated rate agreements?

M.5.1.C.A. 57 Offerors should submit as part of your proposal submission.

The solicitation requires offerors to submit "CPARSs ratings for contracts with Federal agencies in Volume III – Past Performance". Can the government please clarify whether or not the CPARSs ratings are excluded from the 25‐page limit for Volume III?

L.6.2 47 NO, it is part of Volume III. See revised

L.6.5

Can the government please confirm that the Section L.6 heading should read "Past

Performance Instructions – Volume III"?

L.6 47

Section L ‐ Instructions, Conditions, and

Notices to Offerors.

What type of contract should be assumed (firm fixed price, cost plus fixed fee) for each of the hypothetical Task Orders?

M 67

Cost reimbursement type for each of the hypotheticals.

What Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) and/or systems to access and store data will be provided as part of this IDIQ or associated Task Orders?

RFP Section H.2 24

It will be determined at the Task Order level.

To enhance the quality of proposal presentation, please confirm that offerors are permitted to use 9 or 10‐point font for graphics, tables, exhibits, figures, and other visual elements presented in all three volumes.

Amendment No. 1

Section L.4

Section M.5.1

See question and answer Number 1.

Please confirm that the three past performance references can include currently ongoing as well as completed work within the past three (3) years.

Amendment No. 1

Section M.6.2 66 Please see revised M.6.2

Please confirm that the cover letter and table of contents are not included in the page limit for Volume 1, Technical Proposal.

Amendment No. 1, Section L.4 45 See question and answer Number 37.

If an Offeror has a CPAR rating for a past performance, are they required to also provide a past performance questionnaire (Attachment E) for that same project?

L.6.2 Past Performance

Questionnaires 47 No

Is the same level of administrative detail required by subcontractors as the Prime for

Volume 2 Business Proposal? Such as Section K, Labor Categories, Rates, Certificate of

Current Cost & Price Data, salary documentation, etc

L.5 45 Yes

In Section K it references HRSA Technical Assistance IDIQ; 19‐250‐SOL‐00046 – The

Letter states HRSA Evaluation Studies for 19‐250‐SOL‐00046. Which one is it?

Section K.6 52.230‐7

Proposal Disclosure – Cost

Accounting Practice

Changes

39 See corrected Section K.6

Last sentence in #2 – The proposal shall be submitted in two (3) volumes as outlined – is it 2 or 3 volumes?

Section L.1 General

Information #2 43 See questions and answer Number 79.

107 The submission date stated May 13, 2018, please confirm submission date.

Section L.1 General

Information #2 43 See question and answer Number 19.

108 The submission date by May XX, 2018, please correct.

Section L.2

Questions/Inquires 44 See question and answer Number 19.

The Past Performance Questionnaire Letter contains a different RFP # and title, Please confirm the correct reference and correct email address for the completed questionnaires to be returned to.

Section J, Attachment E –

Past Performance

Questionnaire Letter

1 See question and answer Number 105

If contractor has an approved Commercial Small Business Subcontracting Plan, will this be accepted in place of an individual plan?

L.13 Subcontracting Plan 49 No

Is the subcontracting plan to be submitted at the IDIQ level or with the individual task order submissions?

L.13 Subcontracting Plan 49 Both

112 Will the maximum unloaded hourly rates be specified? The table is blank. Section B.2 3, 4 Please see B.2 Number 2

113 Will the Key Personnel be specified by HRSA? Section G.5 18

Yes, Program Director shall be named

Key Personnel at the Parent IDIQ level.

Individual Task Order. For individual

Task Orders, Key Personnel can be indentified at the Task Order level.

Please confirm that there should be Volumes 1, 2, and 3 should be submitted as separate PDF files.

Section L.1 43‐44 Yes

When does HRSA plan on posting responses to questions, and if posting the responses within 7 business days of the due date, will HRSA be extending the proposal due date?

L.2, Questions/Inquiries 44 See question and answer Number 19.

Can tables, graphics, flow charts, organizational charts, drawings, or other displays be in less than 12 font? Can these visual displays be in a font other than Times New

Roman?

Section L.4, Technical

Proposal Instructions‐

Volume I

45 See question and answer Number 1.

Please confirm that the cover page, table of contents, cover/transmittal letter, and letters of commitment are not included in the page limits for Volumes I and III.

Section L.4, Technical

Proposal Instructions‐

Volume I & L.6, Past

Performance

45 & 47 See question and answer Number 37.

118 What is the anticipated award date for the IDIQ?

Section M.3

Basis for Contract Award 51 See question and answer Number 41.

119 How many IDIQ contracts does HRSA plan on awarding?

Section M.3

Basis for Contract Award

It is unable to project how many contract the Government plans to award at this time.

Is it acceptable for a subcontractor to submit a copy of their business documents (e.g, subcontractor's current negotiated rate agreement) directly to HRSA with clear labeling indicating which prime the subcontractor is bidding with?

Section M.5, C. Personnel 57 Yes

Is there a font type and size limit on the 3‐page resumes ‐ can we submit 11 font resumes, for example?

Section M.5, C. Personnel 57 See L.4

For Volume II, is the official proposal label/title: Business Proposal Administrative &

Proposed Contractual Documents–Section K of this Solicitation (Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offeror), Rate Agreements, Salary

Documentation, Labor Categories and unloaded rates for each contract year, consultant agreements, Key Personnel and point of contact, certificate of current cost or pricing data, etc. as specified on page 42 or some other shorter/brief title (e.g., Business Proposal)?

L.1. General Information 42 Business Proposal

123 Is there a page limit for the business proposal?

L.5 Business Proposal

Instructions – Volume II 44 See question and answer Number 13.

Does the cover letter need to include a table of contents or may the proposal include a table of contents (that does not count towards the page count)

L.4 Technical Proposal

Instructions – Volume I 43 See question and answer Number 37.

The Offeror is required to “stipulate that it [the proposal] is predicated upon all the terms and conditions of this RFP.” Can this statement be revised to reflect any exceptions taken by the Offeror?

L.4 Technical Proposal

Instructions, and L.5.2

Administrative and

Management Data

45; 46 See L.1

Should a Small Business Subcontracting Plan be submitted for the IDIQ proposal, only for a Hypothetical task order over $700,000, or both?

G.14 Subcontracting Plan

Provisions, and L.13

Subcontracting Plan

21; 49 both

Other than the information in an SBSP, which elements of the Business Proposal must also be submitted for subcontractors (including consultants) for the IDIQ excluding

Hypotheticals?

L.5 Business Proposal

Instructions 45‐47 See L.13

The RFP contains FAR 52.222‐41 Service Contract Labor Standards (MAY 2014) and other SCA‐related clauses. However, this is a professional services IDIQ in which the use of SCA‐covered labor will be incidental or nonexistent. Therefore, will HRSA waive the SCA requirements/clauses on the basis of the professional services exception?

Section I, Contract Clauses 27 No, it may be necessary per Task Order.

129 Do subcontractors need to submit their own labor category? B.2 3 Yes

130 Do subcontractors need to submit a breakdown of their cost structure? L.5.1 a 46 Yes

Is the breakdown of cost structure to be presented in a table format or within the hypothetical budgets?

L.5.1 a 46 See B.2

132 Are the 'hourly rates' referenced unloaded or loaded? L.5.1 B 46 Unloaded

133 Do the hourly rates with escalation need to be submitted as a table? L.5.1 B 46 Yes

If the period of performance overlaps with merit increases, do you want to see rates for each year or 1 weighted rate?

L.5.1 B 46 each year

Do you need payroll support for max ceiling rate personnel for Prime &

Subcontractor?

L.5.1 B 46 Yes

Do you need payroll support for each personnel listed in the Hypothetical for Prime &

Subcontractor?

L.5.1 B 46 Yes

If sealed bid is applicable for subcontractors, what is the method you would like us to submit sealed bids.

L.5 45

Sealed Bids are not applicable for this solicitation.

Period of Performance is 1 base year with 4 option years. Is there a start month/date/year to begin the task orders so that we can include the appropriate provisional rate inflation?

F.5 14 No

139 Is the budget submission in Excel, PDF or both? L.5 45 Both,editable Excel

The RFP states in pertinent part that “A copy of all subcontractor agreements shall be provided for approval in accordance with FAR Clause 52.244‐2 Subcontracts (OCT

2010).” If there are no such agreements yet in place, is the Offeror required to submit a sample agreement?

M.5.1 Technical Proposal

Evaluation‐‐Personnel 57 See M.5.1

Does HRSA want the following documentation (specified in the personnel section) in the appendix section of the technical proposal?: The Offeror shall also provide a copy of the subcontractor's current negotiated rate agreement. A copy of all subcontractor agreements shall be provided for approval in accordance with FAR Clause 52.244‐2

Subcontracts (OCT 2010).

M.5 Evaluation Criteria; C.

Personnel

The Offeror will decide how they plan format their proposal in this regard.

Two sections of the proposal (the Technical and Business Volumes) refer to providing

“letters of commitment.” Would you/HRSA like letters of commitment provided in both of these sections as specified? OR are the letters of commitment referred to in the Technical and Business sections referring to two different types of letters of commitment? If so, please explain the differences.

L.13 Subcontracting Plan (Section J, Attachment G);

C. Personnel 49; 57

The letters of commitment refers to subcontractor and/or consultant.

Proposals shall be submitted single‐spaced, printed on 8.5 x 11 inch paper, Times

Roman 12 point font, 1‐inch margins, with a searchable copy of the technical proposal and business proposal.

The business proposal is comprised of various formats and document types ‐‐ Can business proposal be exempt from 12pt Times New Roman font specification?

Section L‐ Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to

Offerors; No. 4

44 No, see question and answer Number 1.

On page 43, this text is found: The proposal must be signed by an official authorized to bind your organization and must be submitted by May 13, 2018 no later than 5:00 p.m.

EST to Jimmy Hupalar by email in PDF format at jhupalar@hrsa.gov. Submit one (1)

Volume I ‐ Technical Proposal, Volume II ‐ Business Proposal and any attachments, and

Volume III Past Performance. The technical and business proposals and any attachments separated in a searchable PDF format to:

The instructional text that would come after the colon that ends the last sentence has been omitted. Can the government supply this text?

Section L‐ Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to

Offerors

43 jhupalar@hrsa.gov

If a sufficient number of Small Businesses are awarded this Contracting Mechanism, will HRSA potentially allow Small Business set‐aside Task Orders under this mechanism?

SECTION I – CONTRACT

CLAUSES 26–27 Yes

Can HRSA please confirm that the CPARS ratings apply to only the three (3) past performance references as defined by L.6.1?

L.6.2 47 Yes, see L.6.2

Could HRSA please clarify what is to be included in “4. Record of past performance” in section L.5.2 and how this “4. Record of Past Performance” is different from Volume

III—Past Performance found in Section L.6?

L.5.2/L.6

46–47

Section L ‐ Instructions, Conditions, and

Notices to Offerors and Section M is the evaluation factors.

Could HRSA please clarify how “7. Copy of the current agreement on indirect cost rates” in section L.5.2 differs from the requirement in Section L.5.1 “c. Organizations shall provide a copy of their current negotiated indirect rate agreement with the

Federal Government.”?

L.5.1/L.5.2

46 They are the same.

Could HRSA please provide the missing instructions under numeral 3 under L.1.

General Information. Last paragraph on page 43 reads: “The proposal must be signed by an official authorized to bind your organization and must be submitted by May 13, 2018 no later than 5:00 p.m. EST to Jimmy Hupalar by email in PDF format at jhupalar@hrsa.gov. Submit one (1) Volume I ‐ Technical Proposal, Volume II ‐ Business

Proposal and any attachments, and Volume III Past Performance. The technical and business proposals and any attachments separated in a searchable PDF format to:”

L.1. General Information

43 See question and answer Number 44.

Could HRSA please clarify numeral 4 under L.1. and confirm that the proposal must be submitted electronically and that all references to printing instructions/requirements should be ignored? Text reads: “Proposals shall be submitted single‐spaced, printed on

8.5 x 11 inch paper, Times Roman 12 point font, 1‐inch margins, with a searchable copy of the technical proposal and business proposal. Each page shall be numbered and each volume shall be tabbed to correspond to the table of contents. The Offeror may include 11 x 17 inch foldouts only to display graphics, flow charts, organizational charts, or drawings.”

L.1. General Information

44 Please follow Section L.

HRSA’s table of “Maximum Unloaded Hourly Rates by Labor Classification” does not state any rates. Could HRSA please clarify if the table was left empty on purpose and whether the only maximum rate is the “Executive Level II annual salary” as stated prior to the table?

B.2.2

Offeror is expected to complete the table in accordance with B.2.2.

Item 1 requests that the Offeror submit a completed and signed SF30. The purpose of the SF30 is to make all the offerors aware of an amendment to the original solicitation and typically the Offeror would not sign this. Is there a requirement to provide a signed copy of the SF30 in our Proposal Submission?

L.5.2

46 Yes

If during the life of the contract, our Indirect Rates are adjusted upward and approved by a Cognizant Officer, will HRSA allow a submission for the adjustment to the ceiling rates on an annual basis?

B.4.D.2

No, the indirect rates negotiated becomes the ceiling rates for the life the contract.

154 Would the Government extend the proposal submission deadline by two weeks? Cover letter, Section L 1, 43 See question and anwer Number 19.

Given the confidential nature of the cost information requested for subcontractors, may subs submit the confidential business information under separate cover as long as they identify the prime?

M.5.C

57 Yes

Section B.2.1 of the RFP states that the Government intends to award Task Orders on a Cost Reimbursement or Firm Fixed Price basis. However, sections B.4.B., B.4.E., and

FAR clause 52.216‐8 included in Section I reference Fixed Fee, which implies a Cost

Plus Fixed Fee arrangement. Further, Section E.4 references Time & Materials based inspection activities. Please clarify the types of Task Orders contemplated under the resulting award.

B.2.1

Contract types for future Task Order cannot be determind at this time.

Section L.6.2. indicates that “Offerors shall submit copies of their CPARS ratings for contracts with Federal agencies in Volume III – Past Performance. If the Offeror has not held any Federal contracts, then the Offeror may submit references from state, local, or private contracts using the Past Performance Questionnaire (Attachment E).

Offerors shall forward a copy of the entire Past Performance Questionnaire to their clients to complete.” Are Offerors limited to 3 CPARS that correspond to their past performance references?

L.6.2.

47 Yes

Section M.6.3 indicates that “Offerors shall submit copies of their CPARS ratings for contracts with Federal agencies in Volume III‐Past Performance. If the Offeror has not held any Federal contracts, then the Offeror may submit references from state, local, or private contracts using the Past Performance Questionnaire. Offerors shall forward a copy of the entire Past Performance Questionnaire to their clients to complete.” To clarify, would Volume III be compliant only with a table of CPARS ratings, and information identifying the contract for reference? Or would Volume III be compliant only if the CPARS in their entirety are included? If complete CPARS are included, would the pages in the CPARS document count against the maximum 25 pages for Volume III

(L.6.5, page 47)?

M.6.3

47,66 Yes

Page 57 of the Solicitation asks that Subcontractor “negotiated rate agreements” be submitted to support subcontractor pricing. If a subcontractor is a small business entity, or otherwise does not have a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement with the

Government, may offerors propose engaging those Subcontractors on a Time &

Materials or Firm Fixed Price basis?

M.5.1.C.A.

No, the type of contracts for future Task

Orders cannot be determined at this time.

Page 57 of the Solicitation asks that Subcontractor Agreements be provided for approval in accordance with FAR 52.244‐2, however copies of agreements are not required by this clause. Further, Subcontract Agreements will not be drafted, negotiated, or awarded until a Prime Contract has been awarded. Is HRSA looking for copies of Teaming Agreements between the Prime and Subcontractor to confirm commitment, or should Offerors provide the information required by FAR 52.244(e)(1) for Subcontractors proposed on Hypothetical Task Orders?

M.5.1.C.A.

Draft agreement between the Prime and their subcontractor is acceptable at this time. Subcontractor Agreement are required as stated for each hypothetical.

Should the Business Volume be submitted with Excel‐compatible formatted content with formulas preserved as an appendix? If so, would this content be subject to font, margin, or paper requirements?

General

See question and answer Number 139.

162 Will HRSA consider a deadline extension? General See questions and answer Number 19.

Can the Contractor propose fully loaded labor rates for Fixed Price Task Orders?

General

This requirement will be decided at the

Task Order level.

Please confirm if attachments should be included at the end of each respective

Volume, or if all attachments should be one separate PDF document?

L.1.3

Offeror will decided if attachments are needed. Attachment shall be in searchable PDF format with the exception of Excel spreadsheets attachments.

Section L.5.2.4 requires Offerors to submit the record of past performance which is under Volume II (Business Proposal). However, Volume III is Past Performance. Please clarify what information is to be included in section L.5.2.4 of the business proposal.

L.5.2.4

Please follow the instructions in Section

L

Please confirm whether CPARs ra ngs are only required for the three past performance references, or if CPARs ratings are required for all relevant federal contracts within the past three years.

L.6.2

47 See revised L.6.1

Please confirm whether only the “ratings” section of the CPARs is required or if the entire CPAR report should be submitted.

L.6.2

Please submit the complete CPAR report that is relevent and receont. Only 3‐ reports.

Due to page limitations, if the entire CPAR report is required, can the CPAR report be included as an attachment to Volume III?

L.6.2 47 See question and answer Number 96.

Can the due date be delayed until June 13, 2019? When officials from HRSA’s contracting office discussed the expected RFP earlier this year, they said that they anticipated 60 days to respond. Instead, the RFP was delayed within HRSA for months and the response time has been cut in half. This RFP is much more difficult and time‐ consuming to respond to than the last because of the requirement to address four hypothetical projects, including budgets.

Cover Letter; L.1.3

1; 43 See question and answer Number 19.

We are required to comply with the HHS salary rate limitation (HHSAR 352.231‐70) for higher level staff. Can we project an inflation factor for the HHS salary rate limitation in our five‐year budgeting? We realize that we will need to comply with the actual

Executive Level II rate in any given year, but this allows us to project expected changes in a more reasonable fashion.

B.2.2

3 Yes

Section B.3 Allowable Costs states that the costs will be in accordance with FAR

Subpart 31.2; however, FAR Subpart 31.2 is for contracts with commercial organizations. We are an institution of higher education and are subject to FAR

Subpart 31.3. Can HRSA update this language to reflect non‐commercial offerors?

B.3

5 See question and answer Number 10.

172 L.5.2.1 mentions a signed SF‐30. Should this be a signed SF‐33? L.5.2.1 46 L.5.2 is correct.

The contact information and solicitation number on pages 1‐2 of Attachment E Past

Performance Questionnaire do not match L.6.2.

Attach. E; L.6.2 1‐2; 47 See question and answer Number 57.

Can offerors include a list of acronyms, bibliography/references cited and/or a compliance matrix in the technical proposal? And if so, will these count against the

Technical Volume page limit?

L.4

45 Yes

Do offerors have to submit actual CPARS evaluations or can we submit the

CPARS/PPIRS information so that HRSA can locate the record (e.g., contract number, order number, period of performance)?

L.6.2

Please following instructions outlined in

L.6.2.

If the offeror has Federal contracts, but no CPARS evaluation for those relevant contracts, do we still need to submit references using the Past Performance

Questionnaire (Attachment E)?

L.6.2

47 Yes

The description, that begins on p.45, of what to include in the Cost and Pricing Data

(L.5.1) of the Business Proposal (L.5), does not reference budgets for the four hypothetical projects; however, the evaluation criteria for the Business Proposal, M.7, on page 67 indicates that the cost evaluation will consist of two parts: 1) evaluation of the cost proposals associated with the 4 hypothetical projects, and 2) comparison of hourly rates proposed/submitted for each labor category to current market rates.

Could you please confirm that the Business Proposal, in the Cost and Pricing Data section, should include a budget for each of the four hypothetical projects, in addition to the requirements laid out, starting on page 45: Cost or Pricing Data must include:

• Each labor category contains a breakdown of estimated unburdened wage rate, fringe, overhead rates, general and administration rate, profit, and other costs

• Show hourly rates and the dates and periods where rate increases should apply for labor estimates o Explain policy towards merit or cost‐of‐living increases o Provide copies of actual payroll records for those identified as direct labor

• Provide copy of negotiated indirect rate agreement with Federal Government. If there is not an indirect cost rate, provide a description of cost allocation methodology used and justify with supporting documents

L.5.1; M.7

45; 67 Yes

The description, that begins on page 66, of what to include in the Past Performance section, states:

M.6.2 Offerors shall submit three (3) past performance references…

M.6.3 Offerors shall submit copies of their CPARSs ratings for contracts with Federal agencies in Volume III‐Past Performance.