Questions_and_Answers_-_2014-N-15787.docx

RFP 2014-N-15787 Questions and Answers IDIQ Questions:

1. How many awardees are expected?

Two awardees are expected.

2. How many task orders are expected over the life of the IDIQ contract?

Two to four task orders are expected; however, additional task orders may be required if public health emergencies arise.

3. Can the solicitation due date be extended?

Yes, the deadline is extended to April 9, 2014 at 2:00 pm EDT.

4. Will the sample task orders be awarded as part of the initial IDIQ award?

Yes it is expected that sample task orders 1 and 2 will be awarded as part of the initial IDIQ award.

5. Are joint venture 8(a) arrangements, as defined by the Small Business Administration, eligible to compete for this award?

Yes, joint venture 8(a) arrangements are eligible to compete for this award if they meet the restrictions provided by the laws and regulations governing joint venture 8(a) arrangements. Notably, 13 CFR §124.513 Under what circumstances can a joint venture be awarded an 8(a) contract?, details requirements for awards to 8(a) joint venture arrangements.

6. Section C.2.3.3 Paragraph 1 states, “the contractor shall provide for employees during designated Government non-work days or other periods where Government offices are closed due to weather or security conditions.” Can the Government please clarify this requirement; particularly with respect to expectations related to the verbiage “contractor share provide for”?

This sentence is removed.

7. Section C.2.4, Subcontract Management states, “cross teaming may or may not be permitted.” Please define cross-teaming.

This sentence is removed; however, the contract will incorporate FAR 52.219-14 Limitation on Subcontracting.

8. The Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) on page 15 of the solicitation references requirement C.3.1.2 for the contractor to provide responses for services as defined in the Task Orders for communication, training, education and collaboration. No paragraph C.3.1.2 exists.

Paragraph C.3.1.2 was inadvertently deleted and has been added in this amendment.

9. Is the Data Entry Center referenced at C.3.1.3 located at the Government site, or would the contractor be expected to provide facilities and equipment for the center?

The Data Entry Center referenced at C.3.1.3 will be located at an Atlanta-based Government site in one of the locations listed below.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Global Migration & Quarantine 1600 Clifton Rd NE Building 16 Atlanta, GA 30329

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 602 Webb Ginn House Road, Building A Lawrenceville, GA 30045

10. C.2.5 Contractor Personnel, Disciplines, and Specialties requires that “the Contractor shall provide the necessary resources and infrastructure to manage perform, and administer the contract.” Will CDC provide Government-furnished Equipment for all on-site contractor staff, including those at field quarantine stations?

Yes

11. C.3.4, Management of Task orders references “valid complaints.” What constitutes a “valid complaint?”

All complaints regarding contract performance will be directed through appropriate internal CDC channels to the COR. Complaints pertaining to any Task or Requirement in the PWS, can include observances of unacceptable services or services that are incomplete or not performed. To be considered valid, complaints must:

1. Be provided in writing to the COR (including the detailed nature of the complaint and a CDC FTE’s signature);

2. Deemed appropriate and valid based on review by the COR; and

3. Be provided in writing to the Contractor (including a COR signature).

12. Section C.6, Information Systems Security requires the offeror to demonstrate understanding of security requirements by attaching a Draft Data System Security Plan or Information System Security Plan (SSP). Is this included in the technical proposal as an appendix? Will this appendix be included in the page limit?

The SSP should be included as an appendix to the technical proposal that would not count against the page limit.

13. In relation to the SSP, will the CDC install, operate, and maintain T-1/DS-3 connectivity into CDC’s network to facilitate integration?

All performance conducted in Government space will have T-1/DS-3 connectivity into CDC’s network facility integration. In addition, key fobs will be provided for work that will be conducted off-site of government facilities (e.g., telework or remote performance).

14. Section F.1 of the solicitation indicates the ordering period of the contract shall be 60 months, while the corresponding dates provided (September 26, 2014 – August 31, 2019 do not constitute a 60 month ordering period. Please advise.

The amendment will revise the ordering period to be date of award through 60 months from the date of award.

15. Will there be option periods?

The IDIQ contract will have a single ordering period of 60 months, and there will be no option periods. However, task orders are expected to have option periods.

16. Will international travel be required?

Yes

17. Are there international work locations or sites?

At this time it is not anticipated that there will be international work locations or sites, but there may be international work locations or sites in the future.

18. Eight different locations are listed, but the task orders do not map the tasks to locations. Which tasks are performed in each location?

Sample Task 1: Specific sample 1 requirements will be performed at the locations as specified below.

Requirement 1.3.1.1.8.3 CDC Atlanta Quarantine Station Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Inter’l Airport, Concourse F 2600 Maynard H. Jackson Blvd., Suite 2425J Atlanta, GA 30354

Requirement 1.3.1.1.8.3 CDC Detroit Quarantine Station 2613 World Gateway Place, McNamara Terminal, Bldg. 830 Detroit Metro Airport Detroit, MI 48242

Requirement 1.3.1.1.5.1 CDC EL PASO Quarantine Station 601 Sunland Park Drive, Ste. 200 El Paso, TX 79912

Requirement 1.3.1.2.1.2 CDC Miami Quarantine Station Miami International Airport Miami, FL 33126 Terminal Bldg., 3rd Floor Concourse D Miami, FL 33122

Requirements 1.3.1.1.8.1 and 1.3.1.1.8.3 Minneapolis St Paul International Airport Lindbergh Terminal 4300 Glumack Drive, Suite G-2256 St Paul, MN 55111-3010

Requirements 1.3.1.1.5.2 and 1.3.1.1.5.3 CDC San Diego Quarantine Station 3851 Rosecrans St., Suite #715 San Diego, CA 92110-3115

All other sample 1 tasks will be performed at the following Government facility:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Global Migration & Quarantine 1600 Clifton Rd NE Building 16 Atlanta, GA 30329

Sample Task 2: All tasks under sample task 2 will be completed in one of the following Atlanta-based Government facilities

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Global Migration & Quarantine 1600 Clifton Rd NE Building 16 Atlanta, GA 30329

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 602 Webb Ginn House Road, Building A Lawrenceville, GA 30045

19. Can the offeror utilize its own template for monthly status reports or will a specific template be provided?

Offerors can utilize their own templates for monthly status reports.

20. Will the majority of the work be performed at CDC headquarters? How much of the work is located at the quarantine stations, CDC headquarters, and contractors’ sites.

Yes, please see specific task breakout below.

Sample Task 1: Specific sample 1 requirements will be performed at the locations as specified below.

Requirement 1.3.1.1.8.3 CDC Atlanta Quarantine Station Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Inter’l Airport, Concourse F 2600 Maynard H. Jackson Blvd., Suite 2425J Atlanta, GA 30354

Requirement 1.3.1.1.8.3 CDC Detroit Quarantine Station 2613 World Gateway Place, McNamara Terminal, Bldg. 830 Detroit Metro Airport Detroit, MI 48242

Requirement 1.3.1.1.5.1 CDC EL PASO Quarantine Station 601 Sunland Park Drive, Ste. 200 El Paso, TX 79912

Requirement 1.3.1.2.1.2 CDC Miami Quarantine Station Miami International Airport Miami, FL 33126 Terminal Bldg., 3rd Floor Concourse D Miami, FL 33122

Requirements 1.3.1.1.8.1 and 1.3.1.1.8.3 Minneapolis St Paul International Airport Lindbergh Terminal 4300 Glumack Drive, Suite G-2256 St Paul, MN 55111-3010

Requirements 1.3.1.1.5.2 and 1.3.1.1.5.3 CDC San Diego Quarantine Station 3851 Rosecrans St., Suite #715 San Diego, CA 92110-3115

All other sample 1 requirements will be performed or at the following Government facility:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Global Migration & Quarantine 1600 Clifton Rd NE Building 16 Atlanta, GA 30329

Sample Task 2: All requirements under sample task 2 will be completed in one of the following Atlanta-based Government facilities

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Global Migration & Quarantine 1600 Clifton Rd NE Building 16 Atlanta, GA 30329

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 602 Webb Ginn House Road, Building A Lawrenceville, GA 30045

21. Will the Program Management Labor Categories, e.g. Executive Manager, Senior Program Manager, Program Manager, and Deputy Manager be required to be at the Government or Contractor site? How much time would be split between the sites? Would any of these labor categories be labor categories in any subsequent task orders?

No. If these labor categories are included in the proposal, please include time allocations based on previous experience and management expertise. As specified in the pricing table instructions, Program Management are expected to be indirect costs and should be embedded in the cost of other direct billable labor categories (Executive Manager, Senior Program Manager, Program Manager, and Deputy Program Manager).

22. The experience requirements for Program Management Labor Categories appear overly restrictive, could the requirements be reduced?

The descriptions are removed in the amendment.

23. Should resumes be provided for all labor categories or only key personnel?

Resumes should only be provided for key personnel.

24. What are the expectations for key personnel? Should the contractor identify key personnel at its discretion, or should certain labor categories be considered key personnel? Is there a certain number of key personnel required? Are key personnel designated at the IDIQ level or at the task order level or both?

Key personnel include the Executive Manager and the Senior Program Manager, and they are designated at the IDIQ level.

25. Which labor categories are covered by the Service Contract Act, and which labor categories are exempt?

The Admin I-V and Data Entry I and II are covered by the Service Contract Act. All other categories are exempt.

26. The SCA wage determination has only one level for Administrative Assistant, but the solicitation provides for five levels. How do these different levels relate to the wage determination?

All Admin categories will be bound by the Administrative Assistant labor category on the Service Contract Act wage determination. The different levels will relate to differing levels of complexity in the tasks performed.

27. Since this is a follow-on requirement, can the offeror assume incumbent capture and will the government include the Non-Displacement of Qualified workers clause 52.222-17?

Yes, this clause will be incorporated in the amendment.

28. In Section I.11 FAR 52.222-42 Statement of Equivalent Rates, the equivalent rate for Data Entry Analyst I is higher than Data Entry Analyst II? Is this intentional? Will a revised table be provided?

This error will be corrected in the amendment.

29. Are the rates in Section I.11 FAR 52.222-42 Statement of Equivalent Rates inclusive of fringe benefits or wages only.

Wages only are included in this figure. Per OMB memorandum M-08-13 fringe benefits are estimated to be 36.25% of wages.

30. Is it acceptable to map to the Federal Equivalent Rates provided at I.11?

It will be acceptable to map to Federal Equivalent Rates, however please note that the rates provided are for informational purposes only and this is not a wage determination.

31. On page 66, L.5 CDCA.L011 General instructions requires that “all proposal documents must be in MS Office 2003 Word, Excel, or PDF…” Are documents required to be in 2003 formats?

No, 2003 formats will not be required, this will be removed in the amendment.

32. Section L.5.d requires one original paper copy and five sets of CD copies. Does this require five CD copies for each volume for a total of 15 CD copies?

Yes each of the five sets should include one CD for each volume for a total of 15 CDs.

33. On page 66, L.5 paragraph (e)(1) lists the volumes of the proposal as “Technical Proposal, Business Proposal, and Past Performance Information” The table on page 67 lists the volumes as “Technical Proposal, Price Proposal, and Past Performance.” Should the second volume be designated as “Business Proposal” or “Price Proposal?”

The volume should be designated as “Business Proposal.” This is corrected in the amendment.

34. On page 67, L.6 Technical Proposal Instructions, are the following items included in the 100 page limitation for the technical proposal:

a. Technical Proposal Cross-Walk Not included

b. Technical proposals for sample task orders Included

c. Cover Letter Not included

d. Draft Systems Security Plan (SSP) Not included

35. Do individual sections within the technical proposals have page limits?

No, individual sections within the proposal do not have specific page limits.

36. What is the Government expecting in the Technical Cross-Walk Table?

The proposal must be accompanied by a cross-reference table that relates the technical evaluation criteria and sub-criteria sections to proposal page numbers. This is to ensure that the Government technical evaluators can readily locate, evaluate, and relate proposal contents to the appropriate sections of the technical evaluation criteria.

37. Can sample task order proposals reference information in the core IDIQ sections, or does each sample task order need to be developed as an independent task order response?

Sample task orders may reference information in the core IDIQ sections; however, each sample task order should have a distinct proposal.

38. Section L.7 Business Proposal Instructions item (f)(4) requires submission of financial statements. Is the most recent financial statement sufficient? Is there a requirement for reviewed or audited financial statements?

Financial statements from the most recent year will be adequate, and there is no requirement for audited financial statements if they are not available.

39. How will labor category prices required in L.7(c) be used following award? Can offerors propose additional labor categories?

Labor category pricing will represent maximum prices for those labor categories in future task orders, although pricing may be discounted from the stated rates.

40. Section L.8(b) states that Past Performance will be included in the business proposal, while the table on page 67 shows Past Performance as a separate volume. Please confirm how past performance should be presented.

Past Performance should be presented in Volume III. The inconsistency will be corrected in the amendment.

41. Section L.8(b) requires the offeror to include the last three contracts completed during the past three years and all contracts currently in process to be included in past performance information. May current contracts, rather than completed contracts, be used as Past Performance, presuming they have been active long enough to provide sufficient evidence of successful performance?

Yes, current contracts may be used.

42. Section L.8(b) requires past performance information for the last three contracts completed and all contracts currently in process for both the offeror and all proposed major subcontractors. This could be very voluminous considering a large business subcontractor could have hundreds of current contracts. Should the total number of past performance references be limited to three? Should past performance be limited to relevant contracts? What would be considered a major subcontractor?

Yes, past performance should be limited to three relevant contracts. A major subcontractor would be a subcontractor performing major or critical aspects of the requirement.

43. Will subcontractor past performance be considered in past performance evaluation?

Yes.

44. Section L.8(b) states, "...Offerors that are newly formed entities without prior contracts should list contracts and subcontracts as required above for predecessor companies, corporate officers, proposed key personnel who have relevant experience, or subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement."

Also, M. 5 Past Performance Evaluation - "...offeror’s record of forecasting and controlling costs; the offeror’s adherence to contract schedules and terms, including the administrative aspects of performance; the offeror’s reputation for reasonable and cooperative behaviors and commitment to customer satisfaction; and generally the offeror’s business-like concern for the interest of the customer and the degree of quality of deliverables and performance."

We respectfully submit that satisfaction of the evaluation criteria for the prime offeror as expressed in section M.5 cannot be meaningfully established by any means other than to have the prime offeror provide their own past performance evidence reflecting their actual performance, management, and execution track record. The "...offeror’s record of forecasting and controlling costs; the offeror’s adherence to contract schedules and terms, including the administrative aspects of performance; the offeror’s reputation for reasonable and cooperative behaviors and commitment to customer satisfaction; and generally the offeror’s business-like concern for the interest of the customer and the degree of quality of deliverables and performance..."

FAR 15.305(a)(2)(iii) specifically requires that, “the evaluation should take into account past performance information regarding predecessor companies, key personnel who have relevant experience, or subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement when such information is relevant to the instant acquisition.” Accordingly, this kind of information will be used in past performance evaluation.

45. How will offerors be evaluated that do not have relevant past performance or do not have information on past performance available?

These offerors would be evaluated neither positively nor negatively.

46. Section M.5 Past Performance Evaluation item (d) references a “Customer/Client Survey Letter and Past Performance Survey Document included as attachments under Section J.” Could you please provide these documents?

Yes, this document will be added as an attachment in the amendment.

47. Is there a specific format for Past Performance Information?

No, there is no specific format; however, the instructions at L.8 detail the required information.

Sample Task Order 1 Questions

48. The numbering does not follow a logical sequence, will this be corrected?

Yes, this is corrected in the amendment.

49. Section 1.3 Scope on page 6 references Data Entry Center Management and Operations, but there is no further detail in the Performance Work Statement. Could details be provided or could the reference be removed if it is not required in the task order?

This is removed in the amendment.

50. Is the travel amount provided in the line items for proposal preparation purposes only?

Yes.

51. Will office space be provided for the contractor staff at all places of performance?

Yes, office space will be available for the contractor staff at all places of performance listed in the IDIQ and sample tasks (please see below).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Global Migration & Quarantine 1600 Clifton Rd NE Building 16 Atlanta, GA 30329

CDC Atlanta Quarantine Station Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Inter’l Airport, Concourse F 2600 Maynard H. Jackson Blvd., Suite 2425J Atlanta, GA 30354

CDC Detroit Quarantine Station 2613 World Gateway Place, McNamara Terminal, Bldg. 830 Detroit Metro Airport Detroit, MI 48242

CDC EL PASO Quarantine Station 601 Sunland Park Drive, Ste. 200 El Paso, TX 79912

CDC Miami Quarantine Station Miami International Airport Miami, FL 33126 Terminal Bldg., 3rd Floor Concourse D Miami, FL 33122

Minneapolis St Paul International Airport Lindbergh Terminal 4300 Glumack Drive, Suite G-2256 St Paul, MN 55111-3010

CDC San Diego Quarantine Station 3851 Rosecrans St., Suite #715 San Diego, CA 92110-3115

52. Item 1.3.1.1.3.5, page 9 references an IFMS System. Please clarify the meaning of IFMS System.

Integrated Facility Management System (IFMS) is an internal CDC system used to create, review, authorize, or track the progress of changes to CDC-owned facilities.

Sample Task Order 2 Questions

53. How many contractor employees currently provide these services?

54. Can the Government provide a breakdown of labor categories at each location?

Yes, please see specific task breakout below.

Sample Task 2: All requirements under sample task 2 will be completed in one of the following Atlanta-based Government facilities

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Global Migration & Quarantine 1600 Clifton Rd NE Building 16 Atlanta, GA 30329

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 602 Webb Ginn House Road, Building A Lawrenceville, GA 30045

55. Is the Data Entry Center Manager considered “Key Personnel?”

Key personnel are only identified at the IDIQ level and as specified in the pricing table, key personnel include the Executive Manager and the Senior Program Manager

56. Since the Data Entry labor categories are SCA categories, can the government provide incumbent seniority for the individuals in the labor category?

Yes

57. In the event surge capacity is required, will additional individuals be required to perform the services, or will the surge services be performed by the same individuals as the base services?

Both could occur, depending on the scope of the need of the event additional hours may be required by the same individuals and/or additional individuals may be required to increase capacity.

58. At Item 1.1 Background on page 5, what other modules are planned, targeting which conditions, and how many modules can be accommodated at this time?

There are two modules currently in use within EDN, a TB module and a Hansen’s Disease module. There are no specific plans at this time for other disease modules. Other disease modules would require development work outside the scope of this solicitation.

59. Item 1.3, Scope, states that “the contractor will provide highly motivated, dedicated, professional staff to perform non-professional services.” Should this be non-personal services?

Yes, this should read “non-personal services.”

60. Item 1.3.1.4.4, Management of Help Desk, page 8, requires that the contractor “contact IOM NY regarding missing electronic records.” Is IOM NY the only International Organization for Migration (IOM) that adjudicates missing electronic records?

IoM NY is the only IoM office that EDN staff contact for missing records.

61. Will work be performed at CDC facilities or Contractor facilities?

Yes, the work will be performed at an Atlanta-based Government site in one of the locations listed below.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Global Migration & Quarantine 1600 Clifton Rd NE Building 16 Atlanta, GA 30329

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 602 Webb Ginn House Road, Building A Lawrenceville, GA 30045

62. What is the level of effort required for each subtask ?

i. Management of the EDN Data Entry Center

ii. Data Entry, Scanning and Processing

iii. Shipping Requirements/Forms Management

iv. Management of the EDN Help Desk The estimated level of effort for Sample Task 2 is included in section 3.0. Please use previous experience and management expertise to propose specific levels of efforts for each subtask. Performance