Q A_for_RFP_2016-N-17867__080516.pdf

Questions and answers in response to RFP 2016-N-17867

1. Who is the current incumbent?

Answer – There is a similar requirement with an expanded scope of work that is currently being performed under Contract #200-2015-63025 by Avram Corporation.

2. What is the current value of the contract?

Answer – This information cannot be provided at this time.

3. In the technical requirements section (Section C.4) it says “The Contractor shall provide personnel, facilities, supplies, equipment and services”. Do we have to provide different CLINS for facilities, supplies and equipment?

Answer – Your cost proposal should list these costs separately.

4. What is the ceiling amount of funds that will be awarded over the lifetime of the contract?

Answer – There is no ceiling amount of funds.

5. Will task orders be issued through this contract?

Answer – No. This is a definitive contract that will be awarded to 1 contractor.

6. Can you provide more information about training modules, to be developed, for WHO staff?

How many modules does CDC anticipate need to be developed? What is the timeline for the module development?

Answer - While we know training will have to be done, the specifics about numbers and timing have not yet been decided. We do know that it will be on the topics listed in the PWS, and that countries/regions not yet certified as polio-free will require the training.

7. Can you provide more information about training modules, to be developed, for WHO staff?

module development?

Answer – See the answer to question 6.

8. Page 90, Section 1(c), requires information regarding our Financial Capabilities. Please confirm that this should be included in our Business Volume and not the Technical Volume.

Answer – The Contractor’s Financial Capabilities should be included in Volume 2 Business

Proposal.

9. Can you provide us with a Microsoft Word version of Attachments 2 and 3?

Answer – See attachment to this document.

10. Provide a list of the last five (5) contracts, grants, and/or cooperative agreements completed during the past three years, and all contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements currently in process for work similar in size and complexity to this acquisition.

a. May we provide this information in an Appendix?

Answer – Please refer to the attached amendment for Section L.

b. In the 5 completed contracts, may we include those contracts that have not been fully completed, but with major chunks of activities completed, or base year completed?

Answer – Please refer to the attached amendment for Section L.

11. Section B. Will the government consider non-travel ODCs as cost reimbursable items?

Answer – No – ODCs are part of the fully loaded labor rates. Travel is cost reimbursable and in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulations. Refer the site.

12. Will the government issues task orders to address changing Division requirements, resource and research needs in response to immediate, urgent and surge requirements?

Answer – No

13. Can the government extend the due date?

Answer – The due date will not be extended.

14. Is there a limitation on subcontracting?

Answer – Yes. Please see Section H.15

15. Will vendors be reimbursed for security and transportation expenditures in hazardous countries or while transporting stool samples? If so, how should vendors incorporate reimbursement for security and transportation expenditures in hazardous countries?

Answer – No. – ODCs are part of the fully loaded labor rates..

16. Reference: L.5 Written Technical Proposal Instructions, (c) Past Performance, page 90 states

“Provide a list of the last five (5) contracts, grants, and/or cooperative agreements completed process for work similar in size and complexity to this acquisition.”

Question: Given the requirements of the SOW, how are we to ascertain what the size of the acquisition entails?

Answer – “for work similar in size and complexity to this acquisition”, Contractors should provide examples of past performance based on your understanding of this requirement.

17. Reference: L.5 Written Technical Proposal Instructions, (c) (1) Past Performance Information

Survey Form, page 91 states “Each offeror shall send out the Past Performance Information

Survey Form located in Attachment J.3 to each of five offeror’s past performance references

Points of Contact (POC) identified in the contracts listed in the Past Performance Information above.”

Question: The instructions given in L.5 Written Technical Proposal Instructions, (c) Past

Performance, page 90 states “Provide a list of the last five (5) contracts, grants, and/or cooperative agreements completed during the past three years, and all contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements currently in process for work similar in size and complexity to this acquisition.” The instructions for the Information Survey Form requests they be sent to the 5 past performance references POCs. The 5 contracts, grants, and/or cooperative agreements references are for a list of the last five completed during the past three years, whether or not they have anything that resembles work that is similar in size and complexity to this acquisition.

Do you want the references from the last five completed during the past three years, or do you want them from POCs involved with contracts that are similar in size and complexity to this acquisition?

Answer – Please refer to the attached amendment of Section L.

18. Reference: L.6 Business Proposal Instructions (a) (5)

Question: Will salary surveys or salary commitment letters suffice as supporting documentation?

Answer – This item has been removed from Section L.6. Please refer to the attached amendment of Section L.

19. Reference: Attachment 3: Past Performance Survey

Question: Please state where the following information should be inserted on the survey:

solicitation number, Offeror/Subcontractor Name, Team Name

Answer – This information may be listed at the top of the form.

20. Reference: Estimated Level of Effort:

Question: Please confirm the expected level of effort for contractor staff providing support for ongoing activities is not to exceed 1,800 per year.

Answer – This estimate of 1800 hours per year is provided for purposes of example only. At this time, we cannot confirm a not to exceed of 1,800 hours per year.

21. Reference: Section L.2 - Instructions to Offerors (2)

The first page of the proposal must show:

The solicitation number;

The name, address, and telephone and facsimile numbers of the offeror (and electronic address if available);

A statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation and agreement to furnish any or all items upon which prices are offered at the price set opposite each item;

Names, titles, and telephone and facsimile numbers (and electronic addresses if available) of persons authorized to negotiate on the offeror’s behalf with the Government in connection with this solicitation; and

Name, title, and signature of person authorized to sign the proposal. Proposals signed by an agent shall be accompanied by evidence of that agent’s authority, unless that evidence has been previously furnished to the issuing office.

Question: Can this information be placed on the page after the proposal cover?

Answer – No.

22. Reference: L.4 Proposal Format

Your proposal must be prepared and submitted as follows: Volume 1 Technical – 1 original and

4 copies (5 total) and 2 cd’s (1 editable and 1 non-editable), Volume 2 Business - – 1 original and

4 copies (5 total) and 2 cd’s (1 editable and 1 non-editable) and Volume 3 Past Performance

Information – 1 original and 4 copies (5 total) via regular mail to:

Question: Please confirm that no CD’s are required for Volume 3 Past Performance

Answer – No. CD’s are not required for Volume 3 Past Performance.

23. Reference: L.4 Proposal Format (c) Your proposal must be prepared in separate parts as instructed herein. Each part shall be separate and complete in itself so that evaluation of one may be accomplished independently of evaluation of the other(s).

Question: Can all Volumes be in one binder separated by tabs or three separate binders?

24. Reference: L.5 Written Technical Proposal Instructions (b) Specific Instructions

“The written technical proposal is limited to 50 pages with 1.5 line spacing, 12 point font, and

1” margin(excluding the cover page, table of contents and appendices). Graphics, tables, and call-out boxes may be single spaced and up 10 point font as long as they are legible. Resumes shall be placed in an appendix to the technical proposal and shall not be included in the 50 page limitation. All pages in the written technical proposal must be sequentially numbered excluding the cover page and table of contents. Any pages beyond the first 50 pages will not be evaluated.”

Question: To conserve paper, can the 50 pages be double sided as long as we ensure that it remains 50 pages total?

Answer – Yes.

25. Question: The RFP uses PWS and SOW interchangeably, please confirm that these sections are referring to Section C of the RFP.

Answer – Yes, PWS and SOW are being used interchangeably and both are referencing Section

C.

26. Question: Please confirm that all past performance information including the following should be placed in Volume 3 Past Performance.

(c) Past Performance, page 90

Attachment J2

(iv) Corporate/Relevant Experience and Capabilities (20 points):

(v) Past Performance (risk rating)

Answer – Please refer to the attached amended Section L.

27. Reference: L.6 Business Proposal Instructions, (a) (3) The contract form found in Part I, Section

A, a completed copy of Section B (Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs).

Question: Please confirm that pages 1-5 are Section B as the Section is not labeled as such.

Answer – Yes, pages 1-5 are Section B.

28. Reference: (5) Detailed Estimated Cost and Supporting Documentation.

“Include all supporting costs (fringe, overhead rate, G&A, profit). Supporting Documentation for each proposed cost must be included (payroll records, indirect rate agreement, vendor quotes, etc.).”

Question: Please confirm that you can use audited financials to support this requirement.

Answer – This item has been removed from Section L.6. Please refer to the attached amendment of Section L.

29. Is there an incumbent contractor? If so, who? Is the contractor eligible to recompete for this contract?

Answer- See question #1 . They are eligible to recompete for this contract.

30. If there is an incumbent contractor, will the “first right of refusal” provisions under 29 CFR, Part 541, Subpart D (Professional Employees) apply to the incumbent contractor’s employees?

Answer – The current similar contract is exempt from the Service Contract Act so right of refusal is not applicable to this acquisition.

31. Is this solicitation new, or has it been competed and awarded in the past either in part or in whole?

Answer – See question #1.

32. May an 8a prime rely upon or use its subcontractor’s past performance to meet the requirements?

Answer- They should show both.

a. If the prime and the primary sub still do not meet all of the past performance requirements but can meet some, will the response still be evaluated neither favorably nor unfavorably on past performance?

Answer – In accordance to FAR 15.305 (2)(iv) “In the case of an offeror without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available, the offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance.”

33. Section B specifies a FFP-LOE type contract. Per 16.207-2 Application. A firm-fixed-price, level-of-effort term contract is suitable for investigation or study in a specific research and development area. Per 16.207-3 Limitations. This contract type may be used only when— (b) The required level of effort is identified and agreed upon in advance.

Question: Since this is not an R&D effort and the level of effort has not been identified or agreed upon in advance, is a FFP-LOE type contract the most applicable type for this effort?

Answer – The Government has determined that FFP-LOE is best suited for this acquisition.

34. Paragraph L.4 Proposal Format specifies three volumes: Technical, Business, and Past Performance Information. Paragraphs L.5 and M.5 specify two volumes: Technical and Business.

Both paragraphs L.5 and M.5 include Past Performance as part of the Technical Volume.

Question: How many volumes do you require, two or three?

Answer – Three volumes are required with Past Performance as a separate volume 3.

35. Page 6 - C.1. Background and Need:

Will the government please confirm the requirement is a follow-on contract and name of incumbent contractor currently supporting this effort?

Answer – See question #1.

36. Page 1 - Estimated Level of Effort:

Can the government provide the current Level of Effort (LOE) or Independent Government Cost

Estimate (IGCE) in terms of an anticipated LOE?

Answer – The contractor will need to propose an estimated LOE based on their understanding of the requirement. The Government will not provide the IGCE.

37. Page 88 - L.4 Proposal Format “a) Your proposal must be prepared and submitted as follows:

Volume 1 Technical – 1 original and 4 copies (5 total) and 2 cd’s (1 editable and 1 non-editable), Volume 2 Business - – 1 original and 4 copies (5 total) and 2 cd’s (1 editable and 1 non-editable) and Volume 3 Past Performance Information – 1 original and 4 copies (5 total) via regular mail to:”

Please confirm the definition of regular mail is United States Postal Service (USPS) and whether any other means of delivery are acceptable (e.g. FedEx, Hand-carried).

Answer – Regular mail is United States Postal Service (USPS). However, other means of delivery

(e.g. FedEx, United Parcel Service, Hand-carried, ) are acceptable except for facsimile.

38. Page 91 - L.5(b)(1)(c)(iv) where the Government establishes "Financial Capabilities" as an evaluation criterion, but it isn't elaborated on further as the other evaluation criteria are.

Can the Government provide instructions and evaluation factors for Financial Capabilities, along with a statement on how it applies to the page count restriction?

Answer - Refer to the amendment for section L.

39. Page 89 - Section L.4 past performance information is a proposal volume separate from the technical volume. However, under L.5(b)(1)(c)(v) on pg. 91, it shows past performance information as being part of the written technical proposal.

Please confirm that the past performance information requested in the proposal should be included as Volume 3, and is therefore outside the page count for the technical volume.

Answer- See answer to question #34 and reference amendment for section L for page count on past performance.

40. Kindly provide us with a Microsoft Word version of the Past Performance Survey for our clients to complete.

Answer – See attached.

41. In order to assist the government in its evaluation and to provide a concise response to the

SOW, please indicate if we should organize our technical proposal to address the 8 identified services (Section C.3, Scope of Work) or the Task Requirements (Section C.4, Technical

Requirements). Further, is Section C.4.1 the list of things that are required for the monthly and quarterly summaries? Section L was unclear as to which we should address our approach to.

Answer – In accordance with the amended section L, the technical proposal should be in as much detail as you consider necessary to reflect a clear understanding of the nature of the work being undertaken. (See attached amendment)

In regards to C.4.1 see section F.2 Deliverables schedule.

42. Are hand deliveries of the proposal or delivery via courier service acceptable so that a receipt may be obtained?

Answer – See answer to question # 37.

43. Page 60 states, “The Contractor shall maintain during the term of this contract liability insurance issued by a responsible insurance carrier of not less than the following amount(s) per specialty per occurrence: *. There was no amount specified.

. Section L.5(b)(1)(c) (Page 90) specifies that we address our response to the Evaluation Criteria:

(i) Technical Approach and Understanding of Requirements

(ii) Personnel Expertise and Management Plan

(iii) Corporate/Relevant Experience and Capabilities

(iv) Financial Capabilities

(v) Past Performance Discussion

Section L (starting on page 91, section (i)) and M require different sections and are in a different order:

(i) Technical Approach and Understanding of Requirements (30 points):

(ii) Management Plan (30 points):

(iii) Personnel/Staff Expertise and Experience (20 points):

(iv) Corporate/Relevant Experience and Capabilities (20 points):

(v) Past Performance (risk rating) Please confirm that requirements starting on Page 91 for the Technical Approach is the required content and order.

Answer- See attached amendment for section L.

44. The following questions address page constraints for the Technical Proposal:

* Please confirm that a Table of Acronyms and the Title Page are not included in the page count.

Answer- Table of Acronyms and the Title Page are not included in the page count.

* Would the government consider increasing the page count to 70 pages to accommodate all of the requirements?

* Page 93, (iv) Corporate/Relevant Experience and Capabilities, requires a list of all contracts previously/currently performed that are similar in scope, magnitude and complexity—along with a description for the prime and the sub. This can amount to many pages. Would the government consider not including this in the page count or allowing Offerors to provide it an

Appendix?

* Would the government please consider a 3-page Executive Summary—not included in the page count?

45. Can you please tell me if this is a new requirement? If not, who is the incumbent, and what is the contract number?

Answer – Please see answer to question #1.

46. L.5, pg 90- L.5.(b)(c) lists 5 criteria for evaluation. However, this criteria does not match L.5 (i-v) or M.5. (for instance, "Financial Capabilties" has been omitted). Please clarify the structure of the Technical Volume.

Answer- See attached amendment for section L and M.

47. L.4, pg 88 - Is the past performance to be contained in Volume 1 - Technical, as demonstrated on Page 90 (C.5), or is there content guidance for Volume 3 - Past Performance, referenced on

Page 88 (L.4)?

Answer- Please see answer to question #34.

48. L.4(b), pg 90 - If Past Performance is required as Volume 3, please indicate the page limitations above and beyond the 50 page limit specified for Volume 1.

Answer – See attached amendment for section L.

49. C.4, pg 9 - Is en-route travel time billable?

Answer: Travel is reimbursed from origin to destination.

50. Is the Past Performance summary required on page 93 per L.5, (v) Past Performance (for the 5 international projects) the same as the Past Performance (similar in size and complexity) required per the instructions on page 90? The elements required in each instruction are similar, yet different. Please advise.

51. "Provide a list of the last five (5) contracts, grants, and/or cooperative agreements completed process for work similar in size and complexity to this acquisition."

Please confirm that the list of 5 contracts maps to L.5(v) (page 93) and the complete list of contracts/grants/cooperative agreements maps to L.5(iv) (page 93).

52. L.4.(c) , pg 89 -"Contractors shall include a subcontracting agreement between the prime and subcontractor for any subcontracting proposed"

Please confirm that this is requiring the Teaming Agreement for submission with the proposal, as the Subcontractor follows the execution of the prime contract to ensure proper flow-downs are included.

Answer- In accordance with L.4 (c) Contractors shall include a subcontracting agreement between the prime and subcontractor for any subcontracting proposed.

53. L.4(a), pg 89 - "Your proposal must be prepared and submitted as follows….via regular mail"

May submissions be hand-delivered to the specified address?

Answer - See answer to question # 37.

54. L.4.(a) pg 88 - "Your proposal must be prepared and submitted as follows….via regular mail"

May submissions be delivered via UPS or FedEx?

Answer - See answer to question # 37

55. L.5.(c), pg 90 - Will the Government allow past performance references that are currently active provided that enough work has been accomplished to demonstrate our ability to perform?

Some of our current engagements span several years with renewals indicating quality performance. Providing only completed projects does not allow us to fully demonstrate our capabilities.

56. L.5.(c), pg 90 - To ensure a fully detailed explanation of our experience, will the Government consider allowing offerors to place their past performance references in an appendix?

57. L.5, pg 93 - Is there a "not to exceed" number of relevant experience references? If there is no limit, can we provide a list of our relevant experience references in an appendix?

Answer – See attached amendment for section L.

58. What are the labor categories in the current contract?

Answer: administrative, field officers and epidemiologists

59. In the Background and need (Section C.1) it has the below

- Workforce and information systems development;

- Improving the quality of immunization data collection;

- Implementation of vaccine preventable disease (VPD) surveillance in developing countries.

Are these systems in place, need improvements (or) implement new systems?

Answer: all of the above.

60. Should vendors propose staff in the proposal to support the ongoing activities described in the technical requirements?

Answer: Yes

61. Please define what is meant by "Discuss" the evaluation criteria in the evaluation instructions.

Answer: Write about it in detail.

62. Several languages are identified in the RFP. Which languages should the staff proposed in the current proposal to support on-going activities be conversant in?

Answer: French, Arabic and English

63. Can you provide an estimate of the average length of an international trip? How many trips per country and what countries should we use for budgetary purposes?

Answer: No, there is no average.

64. Can you provide more information about the Legacy Management Task Force? When and how often does the task force meet?

Answer: The “weekly CDC LMTF” was recently formed and meets weekly, but may change to monthly meetings in the near future. It was recently renamed to Polio (Legacy) Transition Task

Force. They typically meet in person in Atlanta, with some attendees calling in via conference bridge lines. There is also a Skype account used to share documents.

65. Can you provide more information about the training delivered to CDC Cooperative Agreement recipients (see page 8 of RFP)? How many days is the training? How many trainings does CDC anticipate will be delivered? Where will the trainings take place? What is the timeline for the training?

Answer: See the answer to question 6.

66. Can you provide more information about training modules, to be developed, for WHO staff?

module development?

Answer: See the answer to question 6.

67. May we include the following in Appendices?

a. Staffing matrix – Answer: Yes

b. Organizational chart - Answer: Yes

c. Key Personnel Resumes - Answer: Yes

d. Deliverables schedule- Answer: No

e. Other Supporting materials (such as examples of previously developed products or additional detail of proposed technical solutions) – Answer: Yes to examples of previously developed products; No to any additional detail of proposed technical solutions.

68. Does this contract require the collection of field samples such as blood and stool?

Answer: No sample collection is required.

69. Can the government clarify headquarter (on or offsite) support needs outside of the FSO’s that will primarily provide support in-country?

Answer: The government expects all services in country to be provided by field support officers.

Services provided at HQ are not field support.

70. How does the government require offerors to budget for surge requirements?

Answer: Provide your billable hourly rate; we don’t have a requirement for budgeting these hours.

71. Will the government provide a travel ceiling for both non-surge and surge travel? If not, can the government provide details regarding planned travel for the FSO’s such that accurate budget estimates can be developed?

Answer: No travel ceiling will be provided

72. What countries must legal documentation be provided prior to award? What types of documentation will be required?

Answer: Typically this requirement is satisfied by providing the name and contact information of your agent (attorney or accountant) who can certify that you are compliant, and the countries where that is true.

73. Can the government confirm that FSO support at this time (non-surge) is only needed for

African (Nigeria), Asian (southeast countries) and the Middle Eastern (Afghanistan, Pakistan) regions? For each region, how many FSO’s are presently engaged. Does this contract expand the scope within any of three regions? If so, can the government provide a list of the countries being added within each region?

Answer: Work is currently being performed in Cameroon, Jordan, Iraq Chad, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Laos. There are currently nine FSOs in Africa, six in the Eastern

Mediterranean region and one in Asia. This contract allows work to expand into countries beyond where current services are being used, however, there is no current plan for expansion, as these services are in response to Polio spread, containment, certification and eradiation efforts.

74. Page 7, Section C.4. Technical Requirement # 1 states, “ongoing services, which will require a monthly activity summary from each field support officer…”

a. Is it CDC’s expectation to have a FSO assigned to every country or will FSOs be assigned to regional areas?

Answer: Each country where services are required will have at least one FSO.

b. If by region, will CDC provide the number of regions or regional geographic boundaries?

Answer: Not by region

75. Considering the level of administrative support required by the FSOs, will the government provide the number of FSOs each Administrative Support personnel currently supports?

Answer: This is not managed by the government, so we do not have access to this information.

76. Page 93, Personnel/Staff Expertise and Experience states, “the contractor shall demonstrate the ability to speak English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic.”

a. Is this an expectation for FSOs? Answer: Yes

b. Is it an expectation of training staff? Answer: Yes

c. Are there specific languages with higher demand than others?

Answer: Arabic, French and English

77. Page 8, Section C.4 of the PWS states there is a need for the vendor “to conduct training for

CDC Cooperative Agreement recipients on the topics of evaluation and documentation of outbreaks.”

a. Can the government provide the anticipated number of trainings per year?

Answer: see the answer to question 6.

b. What type(s) of trainings are expected?

Answer: see the answer to question 6.

c. Can the vendor do remote trainings vie web-ex or online?

Answer: see the answer to question 6.

d. What is the expected length of training, (i.e., completed within 1 day, half-day, more than 1 day)?

Answer: see the answer to question 6.

e. Will the trainings be performed in Atlanta or in specified countries?

Answer: see the answer to question 6.

f. If trainings are conducted in specific countries, can the government please specify in which countries the trainings will occur?

Answer: see the answer to question 6.

g. Are vendors responsible for securing lodging, airfare, per diem, etc. for training attendees? Answer: No

i. If so, how many attendees are expected to participate?

Answer: refer to 77.g.

ii. What cities/countries should be used to estimate airfare?

Answer: refer to 77.g.

h. Can the government provide more information on the participant registration process and any expectations for pre-training communications and promotions?

Answer: see the answer to question 6.

i. Are there any materials associated such trainings that will require reproduction?

Answer: see the answer to question 6.

i. If so, please provide the type of materials and the associated quantities (i.e., 5 facilitator books, PowerPoint Presentations, handouts)?

Answer: see the answer to question 6.

j. If materials are warranted, are the materials already developed or will vendors need to develop materials?

Answer: see the answer to question 6.

k. If materials are to be reproduced for trainings, does the government expect this to be performed in the host country or at the vendor headquarters and shipped?

Answer: see the answer to question 6.

l. If new materials are produced, will materials be cleared through CDC Atlanta headquarters or at the warranted country level?

Answer: Training materials will be cleared through WHO

m. Given the need for personnel with demonstrated ability to speak French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic, will training materials developed in English need to be translated in host country languages? If so, which languages should vendors focus on as top priority?

Answer: Arabic, French and English

78. As part of the vendor’s support of the Legacy Management Task Force, page 8, Section c.4.1.ii states, “Collect and assemble recommendations from CDC LMTF to develop a proposed regional and country work plan and update budget tracking Excel tool (created in C.4.1.k.ii).”

Should the vendor assume it is to prepare a workplan for all 20 countries or by regions?

Answer: TBD at task force meetings

a. If by regions, how many should be assumed for resourcing estimates?

79. As part of the vendor’s support of the Legacy Management Task Force, page 8, Section c.4.1.k.xi states, “Develop the training module and associated materials in order for WHO staff to perform legacy execution activities (human resource planning, capacity building, communications, M&E, budget execution) in support of the WHO/CDC cooperative agreement.

a. To confirm with the government, this training module is considered separate and unique to the training performed for CDC Cooperative Agreement recipients, described in C.4.1.e.?

Answer: Yes

b. Can the government describe the format or provide further details on the WHO mode of delivery for this module?

Answer: TBD by the task force

c. Will this training module be required in multiple languages? If so, will the government provide the required languages?

Answer: Yes, most likely French and English

d. Is there a special platform or system that should be considered for accessing trainings?

Answer: No

80. Which technical activities are currently being performed by the current incumbent?

Answer: Most of the activities described are currently being performed; the exceptions are the legacy activities.

81. Would the government need fulltime support for all proposed activities?

Answer: The government estimates full-time services.

82. On page 93/102, under corporate/relevant experience and capabilities, the government is requesting a list of previous or ongoing government or non-government contracts, subcontracts, or grants, similar in scope, magnitude, and complexity. Do the relevant experience projects need to be the same projects for the international past performance or can they be different?

Answer: They can be the same or different.

83. Can the government provide an estimate on the turnaround time to fill surge positions?

Answer: Depending on the urgency, 48-72 hours

84. What labor categories would the government expect to come out of the surge-position?

a. Do historical surge trends support the assumption that most labor categories will be epidemiologists and/or laboratorians that meet additional language requirements, as opposed to administrative support personnel?

Answer: We don’t have any historical surge labor trends for VPDs.

b. Section C.4.2 states that surge positions will be needed to go above and beyond on-going activities. How many surge positions does the government anticipate needing?

Answer: It depends on the severity of the outbreak.

c. Are surge positions on-going or on a temporary bases? If they are on a temporary bases, what is the estimated level of effort?

Answer: They are anticipated to be temporary since the surge is only for travel and will send qualified staff to control the spread of VPDs. The cost of surge travel will be estimated at the time of the need.

85. What level of security clearance will be required?

Answer: Security clearance is not required unless the staff member will be accessing CDC facilities or networks; this should be an issue only for those working in Atlanta at CDC HQ; in those cases it is a level 3, NACI clearance.

86. What type of labor categories for key personnel are the incumbent currently providing in support of this contract?

Answer: No key personnel are identified on the current contracts.

87. The PWS does not designate any position as Key. Which positions does the government consider to be Key Personnel?

Answer: see the answer to question 86

88. Section M.3 outlines the minimum qualifications of technical experts that the contractor must have experience providing. Is related-work experience an acceptable substitute for education requirements when appropriate at the discretion of the contractor?

89. Under technical requirements, it states the contractor shall provide services to CDC

Headquarters and CDC and WHO field offices in various international locations. Can the government provide the number and type of staff they expect to be stationed at these locations?

Answer: We approximate 1-2 staff members at CDC HQ and the number of field staff varies by country and region in response to the VPDs. All staff are expected to be experienced in the areas detailed in section M3.

90. Can the government detail how many current staff are performing services and the labor mix of the current resources?

Answer: Currently there are 16 field support officers. They are administrative, field officers and epidemiologists.

91. It states that the contractor shall demonstrate the ability to speak English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic. Is this requirement for the key personnel only or for the proposed staff mix who are providing services?

Answer: Field support officers

92. How many technical experts are currently providing subject matter expertise under the current incumbent and in what functional/topical areas?

Answer: Currently there are 15 funded contractors. They are administrative, field officers and epidemiologists.

93. Can the government provide a mix/percentage for US-based positions versus in-country staffing positions?

Answer: All will be overseas except for 2-3 at most.

94. Will vendors be reimbursed for Insurance for staff in hazardous countries?

Answer: No – ODCs are part of the fully loaded labor rates.

If so, how should vendors incorporate insurance reimbursements?

95. In absence of knowing which countries will host FSO offices, how should vendors estimate the need for office equipment; telephone/communications needs; internet; and office spacing when performing services internationally?

Answer: There is no formal need for office equipment; each FSO may or may not have a mobile phone or laptop, depending on the corporate policy and approach to performing the work.

Incumbents work in their hotel rooms and use business centers in the hotels if they do not carry a laptop.

96. Pages 9 and 102 states travel is likely to be significant requiring up to 75%. Can the government provide the cities/countries where travelers are most likely to depart from?

Answer: It depends on where the staff member lives and what country they will be working in.

97. What is the TDY vendors should use when estimating travel duration for meetings in Geneva, NY, or Atlanta?

Answer: Vendors can use whatever number of days they would consider reasonable for attending a meeting.

98. What is the TDY vendors should use when estimating travel days for international trips?

Answer: The number of travel days varies depending on the purpose of the trip.

99. Will the government consider including a NTE for travel?

100. Under Technical Requirement G., it states “analyze epidemiologic data as it relates to

VPD surveillance, disease transmission and outbreaks for use by CDC in documentation, data management and legacy planning.”

a. Is there specific software that is being used across each country to analyze data?

Answer: No

If so, can such software be included as an ODC?

b. Do all listed countries utilize the same statistical software program(s) or is the vendor expected to purchase more than 1 software program?

Answer: No they do not; some use no software. It is not expected that a vendor would purchase multiple software programs for this requirement.

101. It is expected that the contractor shall provide personnel, facilities, supplies, equipment and services to perform various tasks. How should pricing for facilities, supplies, and equipment be estimated in the absence of knowing which countries the PWS activities will be executed in immediately after contract award?

Answer: Vendors should use their experience and reasonable estimation techniques.

102. Will the government allow contractors to invoice for international telephone calls?

Answer: See answer to question #94.

103. What is the estimated ceiling value?

Answer: There is currently no ceiling

104. Under special considerations C5, the PWS states it is mandatory for the contractor to demonstrate the legal authorization and capability to work in countries other than the US prior to award. Should contractors demonstrate legal authorization to work in all of the countries listed or are there specific countries of priority that contractors should focus on immediately after contract award?

Answer: See the answer to question 72.

105. The PWS requires a minimum of 5 international requirements that have been completed within the last 3 years. Can teammates experience be counted to satisfy this requirement?

106. Reference: SOW/PWS, C.4 Technical Requirements, page 7 states that “As outbreaks occur and as countries become certified Polio-free and transition away from polio eradication, services in additional countries may be required.”

Question: Can the government provide insight on where the additional countries are located?

Answer: Not at this time

107. Reference: SOW/PWS, C.4 Technical Requirements, page 7 states that “On-going services, which require a monthly activity summary from each Field Support Officer (FSO)…”

Question: Which services are ongoing? Answer: Field support services

108. Question: Please identify the corresponding countries for the ongoing activities. Answer:

See the answer to question 114.

109. Reference: SOW/PWS, C.4 Technical Requirements, 1.e) page 8 states “Conduct training for CDC Cooperative Agreement recipients on the topics of evaluation and documentation of outbreak response activities to ensure that all lessons learned are effectively incorporated into current best practices.

Question: How many training sessions are anticipated? Answer: See the answer to question 6.

110. What are the locations for the training? Answer: Overseas, Africa and Asia

111. Reference: SOW/PWS, C.4 Technical Requirements, 2.d) page 9 states “Provide advice to the CDC field offices on polio response strategies, which may occur after traditional working hours, especially during outbreak response.”

Question: Should activities occur after traditional working hours, what compensatory arrangements would be exercised to ensure commensurate payment is made to those providing services after traditional working hours?

Answer: This is a firm-fixed price contract; overtime is not authorized via this contract.

112. Reference: SOW/PWS, C.4 Technical Requirements, 2, TRAVEL page 9 states “Non-surge travel for the Field Support Officers will be variable by country and region according to program needs. Such travel is likely to be significant, requiring travel up to 75%.”

Question: Can the government anticipate how many contractors will be in travel status and will that travel be simultaneous, successive, or both?

Answer: It will depend on the number and locations of outbreaks, so it is impossible to determine.

113. Will the government share how many resources are required to achieve the requirements?

Answer: No, submit your proposal based on your understanding of the requirement.

114. In what countries are they providing support?

Answer: The services are currently in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and

Laos.

115. How long they’re expected to provide that support?

Answer: for as long as the need for services continues, up to 5 years.

116. Reference: C.4. Technical Requirements, 1. C "Includes travel to remote locations to conduct surveillance activities..."

Question: How many trips does the government anticipate?

Answer: such trips would be in reaction to the need for surveillance, so it is impossible to determine at this time.

117. What is the duration of each anticipated trip?

Answer: varies with purpose and timing

118. Reference: SOW, Task 3, page 7 states that the contractor is required to secure meeting sites.

Question: Can the government approximate the number of meetings, workshops, and/or forums, the duration of each and if they will be local or out of the immediate region?

Answer: There is no such reference in the subject PWS. There is no Task 3 in the PWS.

119. Reference: SOW, C.4. Special Considerations, page 9 states Contractor shall provide all the necessary… facilities, supplies, equipment.”

Question: In order to accurately price facilities and supplies, it is necessary to know which countries will require on-going activities. Can the government provide a list of these countries?

Answer: See the answer to question 114.

120. Reference: SOW, Travel, page 9 states domestic (in-country) travel will not require advance approval.

Question: Does domestic refer to travel within CONUS or within a foreign country?

Answer: within a country’s borders

121. Reference: Technical Requirements, Page 8, item f states “participate in … routine immunization”

Question: What will the level of effort be for participating in routine immunizations in countries with endemic polio as well as those declared polio-free?

Answer: Level of effort in countries with endemic polio compared to those polio-free is the same.

122. Reference: Section L page 93 lists the following languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic

Question: Of these languages, which are required for on-going activities and which are required only for surge?

Answer: English, French and Arabic are on-going. All may be required for surge.

123. Reference: L.5 Written Technical Proposal Instructions (c) Past Performance

Provide a list of the last five (5) contracts, grants, and/or cooperative agreements completed process for work similar in size and complexity to this acquisition.

Reference: (v) Past Performance (risk rating)

Provide a summary of international past performance working with HHS, CDC, or the United

States Government (USG). Provide a minimum of 5 international requirements that have been completed within the last 3 years.

Question: Can an offeror include contracts currently in progress as part of the 5 past performance examples?

Answer: yes See attached amendment for section L

Question: Can an offeror include past performance examples from subcontractors?

Answer: yes if there was a relationship (subcontractor agreement) and it was relevant.

Question: If the answer to the prior question is yes, please state the number of examples that must be provided by the prime.

Answer: Please see attached amendment for section L.

Question: Does international include work performed at the CDC which supports international work, with some travel to OCONUS locations?

124. Reference: Corporate/Relevant Capabilities and Experience

This portion of the proposal will be evaluated to see how well the Contractor demonstrates their relevant experience within the last 5 years in performing projects of similar scope, size, and complexity to this requirement. This includes the location and nature of work, project start date and end dates, dollar amount of contract/task order/cooperative-agreement/grant, etc., how the work was relevant to the same, and any other additional information requested in section L.3. At least 3 references are required.

Question: The past performance references state experience must be within the last three years. The reference above states experience must be within the last 5 years. Please clarify whether the period for corporate experience section is 5 years or 3 years.

Answer: 5 years

125. The Corporate Experience section states 3 references are required, and the Past

Performance section states 5 reference are required. Please clarify the number of references required for the Corporate Experience section.

Answer: 3

126. Reference: 2. Surge Labor:

Question: Should Offerors identify staff available to provide surge support?

127. Reference: C.5 Special Considerations

Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all the necessary personnel, facilities, supplies, equipment and travel required to provide these services in accordance with international labor and tax laws. It is mandatory for the Contractor to demonstrate the legal authorization and capability to work in countries other than the

United States prior to award.

Question: What countries should the Contractor demonstrate the legal authorization and capability to work in for the current proposal?

128. Reference: (iii) Personnel/Staff Expertise and Experience.

The contractor shall demonstrate the ability to speak English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic.

Question: Please clarify which languages above are required for the current statement of work and which languages are required for future or surge support?

Answer: Current: French, English and Arabic. Future for surge is unknown, as it depends on the places where VPD outbreaks occur.

129. Reference: L.4 Proposal Format, (C), “Contractors shall include a subcontracting agreement between the prime and subcontractor for any subcontracting proposed.”

Question: Typically subcontract agreements are finalized after award. Is it permissible to include a draft subcontract agreement or a teaming agreement?

130. Reference: L.5 Written Technical Proposal Instructions, (b) Specific Instructions, (1)(c)

Discussion of Evaluation Criteria for the following evaluation criteria:

Question 1: Please explain what you require in the discussion of the evaluation criteria?

Answer: These are the criteria that must be included in the technical proposal. See attached amendment for revisions to section L.

Question 2: Is this a statement of understanding of the evaluation criteria for all sections? Or

Question 3: Is this your technical proposal in response to the requirements outlined in the evaluation criteria?

Answer – See answer to question 1 in #130.

131. Reference: L.5 Written Technical Proposal Instructions (iii) Personnel/Staff Expertise and

Experience (20 points):

“The Offeror shall include a description of their ability to provide qualified technical labor resources in numbers adequate to address the technical and administrative requirements and deliverable schedules outlined in the PWS.”

Question: Should we use the estimated level of effort outlined on pages 1 – 5 of the RFP or should we propose something different from this level of effort?

Answer- You should propose base on your understand of the requirement in the RFP.

132. Is this solicitation new, or has it been competed and awarded in the past either in part or in whole?

Answer: See question #1.

133. Section (v) –Past Performance (risk rating) –What exactly is meant by “a minimum of 5 international requirements”? Does “requirements” refer to individual tasks, completed contracts, option years, etc.?

Answer: Requirements means contracts, task orders, cooperative agreements or projects.

134. Can the work be completed by part-time employees? For example, could requirements of a FTE traveling 75% of the time be fulfilled by 2 Part-time employees with similar qualifications splitting that travel?

135. Is the expectation that all tasks can be performed by three FTE positions as listed on page 2?

Answer: The table on page 2 is provided for estimating purposes. This table may be amended to include as many positions as deemed necessary by the Contractor’s understanding of the requirement.

136. Paragraph C1. Does CDC anticipate that one of the consultants will be stationed on-site more or less permanently?

Answer: the majority of the FSOs will travel in the countries and regions. One or two may be working at CDC HQ in Atlanta to support ongoing VPD operations.

If so, what specific duties fall under the heading of “technical support?”

137. If the FSOs are to spend 75% of their time on travel, will the remaining 25% of their time be spent at CDC headquarters or may they spend that time remotely? Answer: the remaining time would be spent working on activities that do not require travel. There may or may not be a need to work at CDC.

a. If one or more FSOs are not located in the Atlanta area, will there be any requirement that they travel to Atlanta for meetings or other activities at CDC? Answer: Yes

b. If so, how much time will they be expected to spend in Atlanta and how often? Answer:

TBD

138. Understanding that there is an incumbent, are the positions described in the RFP already filled – are there actual people working in these positions now?

Answer: Yes

139. Paragraph C4, Item e. Does CDC anticipate a formal training program (development of a curriculum, development of training materials etc.) or simply presentation of findings from the evaluations conducted by the FSOs?

Answer: GPEI and WHO published guidance/protocols for these topics along with experiential anecdotal info.

a. How large an audience will be included in the training?

Answer: TBD may vary between countries or if regional trainings are offered

b. How often will the training be presented?

Answer: unknown; to be decided in consultation with WHO based on need and location

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