19GE5021R0017 Q and A.pdf

Legal Services US Embassy Tokyo, Japan

Solicitation Number 19GE5021R0017

Questions and Answers

Q1: If our local partnership is registered with SAM and other entities in our global firm represent clients that are adverse to the US government in ongoing litigation or other proceedings, will we need to seek waivers or disclose these potential conflicts as part of our technical proposal?

A1: An offeror only needs to investigate and disclose conflicts of interests by entities other than the local Partnership if the other global firm entities will perform work under the contract or will be provided confidential attorney-client information.

Q2: For the technical proposal, are we permitted to use our own format (i.e., PPT or other pitch material format) or must we insert all relevant information regarding prior work and credentials in the “Attachment 1 – Information – Experience List” form you have provided?

A2: It is permissible to use another format, as long as all the information required in

Attachment 1 is provided withing the technical proposal.

Q3: Mr. Ottalini mentioned that we should not be too concerned about investigating our technology supply chain for purposes of the SAM representations. The IT infrastructure for our firm is spread across many different jurisdictions and a deep dive into IT procurement to identify forbidden equipment would be an extensive undertaking. Can you kindly confirm that no such inspection is necessary and that we should give the representation “to the best of our knowledge”?

A3: See the opening paragraph of provision 52.204-24 (on page 36 of the RFP). This solicitation requires only legal services. It can be assumed that a law firm likely does not provide telecommunications services, nor is it required of in this solicitation. Note, the provision 52.204-26, referenced in 52.204-24, is part of the SAM registration process and is answered there.

Q4: You mentioned that you would like us to include prior experience “of similar magnitude” in order for the technical committee to determine if we are sufficiently experienced to undertake the work. Is the “magnitude” here in relation to the overall legal expenses, the scope of the underlying real estate / construction project, or both?

A4: It is the scope of the underlying real estate project.

Q5: “An Excel spreadsheet shall be included in the offeror’s price proposal, in order to demonstrate where the offeror derived their total costs.” (Page 59: Volume 1.2.3)

Does it simply need to be an Excel version of the tables at 1.4 of the RFP (pages 5 – 8)?

A5: This requirement for a spreadsheet is removed.

Q6: It looks like we cannot add rows to blocks 19 -24 in the SF-1449 provided in the RFP and we see that there is an editable PDF version of SF-1449 which can be downloaded from the below link.

• Can we download SF-1449 from the link below and reflect the information included in the SF-1449 in the RFP (pages 1-2)? We would like to ask you this because the SF-1449 from the below link doesn’t have block 7c. https://www.gsa.gov/forms-library/solicitationcontractorder-commercial-items

• or can we have an editable PDF version of the SF-1449 included in the RFP?

A6: It is not necessary to complete blocks 19-24. Offerors shall place their pricing into table

1.4.2.1 thru 1.4.2.3, and fill-in the Grand Total table at page 8.

Note, the price tables at 1.4.2.1 thru 1.4.2.3 were written with the assumption that offers would be in Japanese Yen. Should an offeror wish to use a different currency for the offer, the pre-filled amounts for Other Direct Costs and for Consulting Services will be converted to the desired currency using the exchange rate in effect on the proposal due date, in accordance with provision 52.225-17.

Q7: What do we need to put in the Code and Facility Code sections in block 17a of the SF-

1449?

A7: Leave these blank. The Government will insert these codes at time of award.

Q8: “The offeror shall acknowledge all amendments by signing and returning the SF-30”

(Page 59: Volume 1.1) · Is this relevant to this solicitation? · We didn’t see SF-30 attached to the RFP or as a separate attachment. Are we supposed to download SF-30 from the below link if necessary?

A8: Up to this point, there were no amendments. With the publication of amendment 0001, offers have an SF-30 to include.

Q9: Are we supposed to use “Attachment 1: Contract Information Sheet/ Experience Listing” to provide our past performance information? If yes, can we have a word version or an editable PDF version of “Attachment 1: Contract Information Sheet/ Experience

Listing”?.

A9: See A2. A Word version or editable PDF is acceptable.