Response to Questions -19AQMM20R0142 - 06-03-2020 (JAS).doc

June 02, 2020

19AQMM20R0142

RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS

19AQMM20R0142

QUESTION:

1. On page 11 of the PWS, the Periods of Performance are listed as follows:

Base year: June 1, 2020 – May 31, 2021

Option Year One: June 1, 2021—May 31, 2022

Option Year Two: June 1, 2022—May 31, 2023

Option Year Three: June 1, 2023—November 30, 2024

Option Year Four: June 1, 2024—November 30, 2025

Given the current contract extension through November 30, 2020, should upcoming periods of performance read as follows?

Base Year: December 1, 2020 – November 30, 2021

Option Year One: December 1, 2021 – November 30, 2022

Option Year Two: December 1, 2022 – November 30, 2023

Option Year Three: December 1, 2023 – November 30, 2024

Option Year Four: December 1, 2024 – November 30, 2025

RESPONSE: The dates are subject to change and will conform to the date pattern necessitated by the contract effective date. Once the contract is awarded, the dates will be adjusted. The solicitation has been revised to reflect the base and option years only.

QUESTION:

2. Do the requirements under C.4 HR Standard Contractor Owned, Contractor Operated (COCO) Contract Security Requirements apply to the Test Development contract? As stated on pages 20-25, these appear to apply only to Test Delivery. Please confirm that these requirements are not relevant for the Test Development contract as there is no IT compliance task.

RESPONSE: No, it is a separate contractor who will be responsible to administer the tests. The Test Development contractor will be required to work closely with the Test Administrator to share information needed for Reports.

QUESTION:

3. Can …., the current COR, serve as one of the references for the Past Performance Questionnaire?

RESPONSE: The current COR can serve as one of the references.

QUESTION:

4. On page 16, under C.3.7 Task 7, the description mentions, “A travel expenses CLIN is included in the table for travel expenses.” We did not find an amount listed nor did we find a table?

RESPONSE: Yes. This information will be provided.

QUESTION:

5. We note that the most recent version of the RFP (page 65) states, “The entire proposal submission shall not exceed a length of 20 pages, 8.5-inch by 11-inch paper size with 1-inch margins and printing double sided. Minimum type font size will be 12-point Times New Roman, excluding text embedded in figures or tables.” Does the 20-page limit include the Standard Form 33, Technical Approach, resumes, the Cost Proposal, and appendices or just the Technical Approach?

RESPONSE: The 20-page limitation does not include resumes, cost proposal, appendices, or Past Performance reviews. Actual page count by section will vary according to your own organization.

QUESTION:

6. Attachment 1, on page 52 provides a Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ). Could the government provide instructions on the number of PPQs that should be submitted? Are these PPQs to be for the same projects that vendors are to describe for Factor 3: Past Performance (page 65)?

RESPONSE: Yes. It is helpful to have at least three PPQs.

QUESTION:

7. Can the government provide the name of the incumbent contractor?

RESPONSE: The incumbent is Human Resources Research Organization.

QUESTION:

8. The Solicitation Covering letter references RFP No: SAQMMA0BR0B3, dated January 8, 2020. Can the government provide the correct covering letter?

RESPONSE: The revised covering letter has been corrected.

QUESTION:

9. Referencing Page 16, Solicitation No: 19AQMM20R0142, C.3.7 TASK 7: Travel Description – A travel expenses CLIN is included in the table for travel expenses. This CLIN contains a not-to-exceed amount established by DOS. The contractor shall not change this amount. The amount may be adjusted, if needed, during the performance of the contract. Can the government provide the CLIN 0007 Task 7 not-to-exceed amount established by DOS for each the Base and Option years of the contract?

RESPONSE: Yes. This information will be provided.

QUESTION:

10. Referencing Page 54, Solicitation No: 19AQMM20R0142, includes (a)(1) The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541910, and (2) The small business size standard is $15.0 million. Is Solicitation No: 19AQMM20R0142, a small business set-aside?

RESPONSE: This is not a small business set-aside.

QUESTION:

11. Referencing Page 65, Solicitation No: 19AQMM20R0142, L.10 FORMAT AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS, states the entire proposal submission shall not exceed a length of 20 pages. Can the government provide a page count breakout in Volume I Technical to include a page count for each of the following areas Technical/Management, Organization Experience, Transition In, Transition Out, and Past Performance; Volume II Cost/Price Proposal page count? Are the contractor's Cover Letter, Executive Summary, and Key Personnel Resumes included in the page count?

RESPONSE: The 20-page limitation does not include resumes, cost proposal, appendices, or Past Performance reviews. Actual page count by section will vary according to your own organization.

QUESTION:

12. List of Items, Schedule of Requirements Scope of Work, Terms of Reference, Bill of Materials require.

RESPONSE: The information is contained in Sections B and C of the solicitation.

QUESTION:

13. Soft Copy of the Tender Document through email.

RESPONSE: There is no soft copy available.

QUESTION:

14. Names of countries that will be eligible to participate in this tender.

RESPONSE: There is no list of countries.

QUESTION:

15. Information about the Tendering Procedures and Guidelines

RESPONSE: This information is under Referencing Page 65, Solicitation No: 19AQMM20R0142, L.10 FORMAT AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS.

QUESTION:

16. Estimated Budget for this Purchase?

RESPONSE: We do not provide this information to offerors.

QUESTION:

17. Any Extension of Bidding Deadline?

RESPONSE: No extension is contemplated.

QUESTION:

18. Any Addendum or Pre Bid meeting Minutes?

RESPONSE: There was no pre-bid meeting minutes.

QUESTION:

19. Is the Price Proposal (SF33, Section B, Section K) included in the 20-page limit? Is the Transition Plan (C.6) included in the page count?

RESPONSE: The 20-page limitation does not include resumes, cost proposal, appendices, or Past Performance reviews. Actual page count by section will vary according to your own organization.

QUESTION:

20. Does this work require delivery of assessments using an assessment platform?

RESPONSE: No, it does not.

a. Under C.3.12 Task 12, the RFP states, “On-demand specialist tests administered by the contractor will also use the contractor-developed EE forms to be randomly administered, i.e. OMST and HROT” and “On-demand specialist tests administered by the contractor will also use the contractor-developed SJT items to be randomly administered, i.e. IMST, OMST, and HROT.” Is the Contractor responsible for administering on-demand specialist tests?

RESPONSE: No, it is a separate contractor who will be responsible to administer the tests. The Test Development contractor will be required to work closely with the Test Administrator.

b. Under C.3.13 Task 13 the RFP states, “Description - create Job Knowledge items for the OMS and HRO on-demand tests to be administered by the contractor”. Is the Contractor responsible for administering on-demand OMST and HROT?

RESPONSE: No, it is a separate contractor who will be responsible to administer the tests. The Test Development contractor will be required to work closely with the Test Administrator.

QUESTION:

21. In section C.3.3 (page 14), the RFP states the Contractor shall, “Document all test development and administration activities in an annual technical report, including content

a. validation, item pre-testing, linkages with the job analysis, item development review, examination assembly and review, and examination administration and scoring…” Are test administration activities included in the scope of work? Or, is the Contractor expected to coordinate with the test administrator to describe test administration activities and scoring?

RESPONSE: No, it is a separate contractor who will be responsible to administer the tests. The Test Development contractor will be required to work closely with the Test Administrator.

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