Response to Questions -19AQMM20R0167 - 06-12-2020 (JAS).doc

June 12, 2020

19AQMM20R0167

RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS

19AQMM20R0167

QUESTION:

1. 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:

2. Soft Copy of the Tender Document through email.

RESPONSE: There is no soft copy available.

QUESTION:

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

RESPONSE: There is no list of countries.

QUESTION:

4. Information about the Tendering Procedures and Guidelines

RESPONSE: This information is under Referencing Page 65, Solicitation No: 19AQMM20R0167, L.10 FORMAT AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS.

QUESTION:

5. Estimated Budget for this Purchase?

RESPONSE: We do not provide this information to offerors.

QUESTION:

6. Any Extension of Bidding Deadline?

RESPONSE: No extension is contemplated.

QUESTION:

7. Any Addendum or Pre-Bid meeting Minutes?

RESPONSE: There was no pre-bid meeting minutes.

QUESTION:

8. 9) FedRAMP – COCO Cloud Service Provider (CSP) shall have a Provisional Authority to Operate (P-ATO).

What does that mean exactly? That the CSP must already have a provisional authority to operate with the State Department?

RESPONSE: We are requiring that the company has a P-ATO with FedRAMP. Provisional Authority to Operate (P-ATO) with FedRAMP. The provider can be sponsored by another agency and/or DOD; and there is a provision for a company to go through the P-ATO path and obtain a FedRAMP certification without a sponsor.

QUESTION:

9. Regarding RFP C.3.9, Task 9, Services for Administration of the Consular Fellows Program (CFP and Information Management Specialist (IMS) Online Tests, could DOS clarify what amount of time is allowed for taking each of these exams? Also, could DOS clarify the annual volume of exams for each program? The RFP states 4,000 exams per year, but could you clarify whether that is the total volume expected for both programs or is that the volume for each program, so that the total would be 8,000?

RESPONSE: Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT): 3 hours; 60 Job Knowledge items 40 minutes; 65 English Expression items 50 minutes; 28 Situational Judgement items in 42 minutes; essay prompt is 30 minutes.

Consular Fellows Program Test (CFPT): 90 minutes; 18 Comprehending Regulations items 27 minutes; 50 Job Knowledge items 18 minutes; 50 English Expression items 18 minutes; 23 Situational Judgement items 18 minutes.

Specialist tests (IMST, HROT, OMST): 90 minutes; 35 Job Knowledge items—25 minutes; 50 English Expression items—25 minutes; 35 Situational Judgement items—approx. 31 minutes.

The 4,000 estimated number of tests administered under this contract includes the three types of tests listed above. Once the OMST is introduced, the number would increase by 1,500 to 2,000. When the HROT is introduced in calendar year 2021, the number would again increase by 500 to 800.

QUESTION:

10. Regarding RFP C.3.10, Task 10, Services for Administration of the OMST and HROT, could DOS clarify what amount of time is allowed for taking each of the exams? Also, could DOS clarify the number of exams expected to be delivered for each of the exam programs annually?

RESPONSE: See response to question 9 above.

QUESTION:

11. Regarding C 4.2, Subsection 10, High Value Asset (HVA), does DOS consider the nature of the services to be provided under the solicitation to involve a High Value Asset or require a Controls overlay on Contractors systems?

RESPONSE: To an extent, yes. The test questions are sensitive, but unclassified, and should be protected against disclosure. The Personal Identifiable Information (PII) as well must be kept secure with limited access. Contractors are expected to comply with certain online security requirements outlined by the Department ISSO.

QUESTION:

12. Regarding J-1 Past Performance Questionnaire, there are no instructions in the RFP related to the questionnaire. The instructions under L.10 Format and Instructions for Submission of Proposals, Factor 3: Past Performance state to "provide detailed summaries of similar work accomplished, these summaries shall not include two pages each." Should vendors follow the instructions under Factor 3: Past Performance in submitting descriptions of their past performance?

RESPONSE: Three PPQs are required. The solicitation has been revised to include this information.

QUESTION:

13. Regarding L.10 Format and Instructions for Submission of Proposals, could DOS clarify the page length limit requirement for the entire proposal not exceeding a length of 20 pages printed double-sided?

QUESTION:

14. Does 20 pages of paper printed double-sided result in 40 pages allowed for the proposal? Or does the double-sided printing requirement mean 10 pages of paper printed double sided, resulting in 20 pages allowed?

RESPONSE: 20 pages double-sided equates to 40 single printed pages. The 40-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:

a. Does double-sided printing apply to this RFP since proposals are to be emailed?

RESPONSE: The double-sided requirement has been removed. The page limitation of 40 pages will remain.

QUESTION:

b. The page limit of 20 pages, and even 40, seems limited for vendors to provide DOS with the amount of material requested in the RFP. Since there are 10 Tasks to be addressed in the Technical Proposal plus the COCO Contract Security Requirements and Terms and Conditions, vendors will require at least 25-30 pages to provide DOS with a detailed Technical Response. Then, there are 2-4 pages required for References, and at least 6 pages for the Cost Proposal. Appendices will require another 25-30 pages. To ensure vendors will be able to provide DOS with adequate detailed responses to the RFP requirements and other materials requested, could DOS extend the proposal page length limit to 70 pages?

RESPONSE: The 40-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.

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