Q and A - 19GE5020R0030.pdf

Interpreting and Translating Services – IDIQ Contract Embassy of the United States of America

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Solicitation Number 19GE5020R0030

Questions and Answers

Q1: What does the Unit Quantity code “LT” stand for?

A1: LT stands for Lot. This is often used for line items where it is not logical to use “each”, for example VAT.

Q2: Is there a specific gender requirement for Translators/Interpreters?

A2: The United States does not have specific gender requirements, however, we do expect culturally appropriate solutions for performing work at Saudi Government facilities. There are instances when only male interpreters may enter certain Saudi facilities and other instances when only females may enter Saudi facilities.

Q3: Can translation price be given per word (not per sheet)…too much ambiguity in a sheet…what if it’s more or less than 250 words?

A3: One full page equals 250 words as defined in the RFP. On any given task, any remainder after counting all the even 250 word-blocks may be billed as one additional page.

Q4: How much notice will be given ahead of interpreting needs?

A4: The Government will make every effort to provide at least one-week notice for new task orders, however, this will not always be possible.

Q5: How many interpreting sessions do you anticipate? Everyday? Once / week? A few times per month?

A5: Course schedules are generally determined up to one year in advance, however, schedules change and there are often last-minute requirements. Courses typically run daily and can last from a few days to many weeks. Ad hoc interpreting assignments may be for as little as a couple of hours of consecutive interpretation, but on occasion may last daily for the duration of a particular requirement up to a week or more.

Q6: How long will the average (typical) interpreting job last?

A6: There is no typical task order. They can vary from less than a day to multiple weeks.

Q7: If you need simultaneous interpreting, may we assume that if the job lasts more than 1 hour, you will require at least 2 interpreters per session (simultaneous interpreters usually work in tandem, replacing each other every 15 minutes?

A7: We will generally request at least two interpreters for tasks requiring simultaneous interpretation. Interpretation requirements for short durations would not generally need to be simultaneous.

Q8: Can the Government provide the historical level of effort?

A8: The requirement for these services is forecasted to increase substantially, therefore the historical level of effort can in no way be reflective of the level effort to be expected during this contract’s period of performance.

Q9: Is the additional insurance required potentially reimbursable?

A9: The prices proposed should cover the costs of doing business, therefore they should reflect both direct and indirect costs as well as anticipated profit. Defense Base Act Insurance is a separate CLIN and shall be billed accordingly.

Q10: CLIN 0004, 1004, 2004, 3004, 4004 - Can the client please provide more information about what should the offeror insert for this line item or what is acceptable for a reimbursable, as needed item? This is a reimbursable item as needed and C.5 and C.18 just provide rules and regulations. There is no information on approximate travel that may occur so it quite hard to insert a price. This is subject to as needed and restricted to per diem rates.?

A10: $50,000 has been inserted as an amount in the Travel CLINs. All offerors shall use this amount in their price proposals.

Q11: C.5.1 last sentence states "at designated locations only". Can the client confirm that

"designated locations only" will be somewhere within the place of performance ie.

Riyadh area?

A11: Yes.

Q12: C.5.3 - Can the client provide coordinates or a landmark of the "center of Riyadh" to better understand the 50 miles boundary.?

A12: The 50-mile figure is notional in that the size of Riyadh is approximately 25-30 miles in diameter, and then the city is surrounded by desert. Designating a specific “center of Riyadh” is not necessary.

Q13: For Section V - FAR 52.212-3 The Offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the Offeror has completed the annual representations and certification electronically in the System for Award Management (SAM) accessed through https://www.sam.gov.

Can the client please provide a template, instructions, or more information about Section V 52.212-3 correct requirements. Our company has an active SAM account. We spoke with Federal Service Desk about contracting assistant regards to Section V FAR 52.212-3 and to provide for proposals to meet this FAR. They responded to speak to the COR on exactly what is requested/expected.

A13: All reps and certs are now accomplished on-line through SAM, but there are rare circumstances whereby the annual “sign-off” on the reps and certs through SAM may not be representative to a specific solicitation. FAR 52.212-3 (b) in short instructs offerors to review their inputs provided through SAM, and should there be exceptions, provide those exceptions in the offer.

Q14: Vol. 1 Section 4 SAM Registration - Can the client provide a template, instruction, or more information on what is acceptable for this requirement.

A14: A simple screenshot of your company’s information in SAM. The government will perform a more thorough review of the SAM registration prior to award.

Q15: Although the acquisition does not specify a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small

Business (SDVOSB), would such a classification weigh more in the evaluation?

A15: No. The solicitation is not set aside for small business, and the award will be made on a lowest price, technically acceptable basis, so there is no weighing of evaluation factors.

Q16: C.4.1 mentions that there may be a possibility for the need of security clearances, should an amount be built into the base year? Or would this be provided at no additional cost?

A16: There is no charge to offerors for any background checks the U.S. Government may perform on offeror staff. The offeror will have to absorb costs associated with preparing information the Government may require for background checks.

Similarly, the Saudi Government will not charge the offeror for background checks but may require completion of forms and submission of relevant data.

Q17: Where is the expectation for the site manager to be located?

A17: To properly manage the day-to-day operations and to maintain open communications with the COR, it is the government’s estimation that this would be best performed from Riyadh. This is not to say that it would be impossible to perform from another location. Please take into consideration that the work week in Saudi Arabia (and the US Embassy Riyadh) is Sunday through Thursday.

https://www.sam.gov/

Q18: Is there any further guidance on the number of training courses and events/conferences, how often will they occur and how much notice will be given to provide support?

A18: see answers #4 and #5.