15 Amendment 3 2032H8-24-R-00019 DOE College Scorecard Responses_Due Date.pdf

Previous edition unusable STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016) Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

PAGE OF PAGES

1 7

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing items 8 and 15, and returning or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUISITION NUMBER 5. PROJECT NUMBER (If applicable)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE

FACILITY CODE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended. is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER

NUMBER IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

6. ISSUED BY CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (X)

CODE

See Attached Schedule(s)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

2032H8-24-R-00019

Office of Procurement Operations-Support Contracts Branch 1003 Bishop St. Suite 1000 Honolulu, HI 96813 Attn: Rovella Malasa Email rovella.l.malasa@irs.gov

15C. DATE SIGNED

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

16C. DATE SIGNED

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

Steven Collum Contracting Officer

Amenment P0003

X

X X

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

The purpose of this amendment is to:

A. Extend the submission due date and provide responses to vendor questions received on DOE College Scorecard. for Request for

Proposals for 2023H8-24-R-00019 B. Provide potential offerors Government responses to all questions received in response to the RFP.

C. Inform potential offerors that the submission due date is hereby changed from August 16, 2024 to August 23, 2024 at 12pm est.

8/23/2024, 12pm, (EST)

08/20/2024

Kimberlee R. Brown signing for

08/20/2024

Questions & Answers for RFP 5000187145

Q1. Given the inherent variability and complexity in estimating the Level of Effort (LOE) for tasks such as Python code development, interactive Excel macro tool creation, and comprehensive data analysis and processing, could the government please provide a basis of estimate for the required hours to allow for alignment with project expectations and to facilitate the submission of a more accurate and competitive proposal?

A1. An estimate of required hours is difficult to estimate, but we can state that the project requires ingesting a total of approximately 50 million records resulting in a total output of approximately 4.9 million cells.

Q2. To allow for the formulation of proposals that are both thoughtful and fully compliant with the latest standards, could the government please provide additional information on the specific differential privacy algorithms and methods to be used?

A2.For breakouts noted above, we require “noisy” medians that meet the formal privacy guarantee.

Q3. To allow for the most effective and modern solution, would the government be open to considering alternatives to Excel Macro tools, such as Python with Jupyter Notebooks, R with Shiny, Tableau, Power BI, or Apache Spark with Databricks, for the development of the interactive evaluation tool?

A3. In order to be useful to non-technical users Excel is preferred but other applications will be considered.

Q4. To allow offerors to fully integrate the insights provided by the government in response to our questions, would the government consider granting an extension of to the proposal submission deadline?

A4. This amendment extends the proposal submission deadline.

Q5. Attachment 3 requires the inclusion of overheads and G&A rates. Could the government please authorize contractors to modify the pricing sheet to accommodate other indirect rates, such as fringes and materials handling? Or alternatively, could the government provide a revised pricing sheet that includes these additional indirect rates?

A5. A revised Attachment 3, Pricing Sheet is provided in this amendment.

Q6. Section IV of the RFQ requires the submission of completed provisions and a completed pricing sheet only. Could the government please confirm that contractors are not required to submit a cost volume or any additional supporting information, such as DCAA-approved direct and indirect rates?

A6. Attachment 3, Pricing sheet has been revised and attached in this amendment. Offerors are not required to submit a cost volume or any additional information, such as DCAA-approved direct and indirect rates.

Q7. What are the technical environment requirements for developing and deploying the calculator tool?

A7. In order to be useful to non-technical users an Excel-based tool is preferred but other applications will be considered.

Q8. Will the contractor have access to DOE or IRS systems, or is a separate environment expected to be created?

A8. The data, application, and source code must reside on the IRS system. Development of the source code can take place in the vendors environment.

Q9. Is this a new contract or is there an incumbent currently performing this work?

A9. This is a new contract with recurring services. The current contract is 2032H8-23-C-00020, Differential Privacy.

Q10. If there is an incumbent, can you provide the name of the incumbent contractor and details on their performance?

A10. Tumult Labs, Inc. 3003 Tasman Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054. Performance details will not be provided as the incumbent is still performing this contract.

Q11. Is there a specific differential privacy budget (epsilon value) that the department is targeting, or should we propose this based on our expertise?

A11. We anticipate a collaboration between the vendor and IRS subject matter experts to determine the epsilon values.

Q12. Can you clarify the specific security forms and related materials required for submission to comply with the Treasury Security Manual (TD P 15-71)?

A12. See Amendment 02 posted on SAM.gov on August 8, 2024.

Q13. What is the process and timeline for obtaining staff-like access approval from IRS Personnel Security for contractor and subcontractor personnel?

A13. Contractors are required to undergo a full background investigation. The timeline to obtain staff-like access varies depending on each individual’s current clearance status, their role on the contract, and what data or system access is necessary.

Q14. What are the security control standards and requirements for remote staff-like access to IRS IT systems, information, or assets?

A14. Any remote staff-like access to IRS IT systems, information, or assets must be performed from an IRS-issued laptop. All work containing FTI must be completed on IRS-issued equipment.

All access to FTI, SBI, or PII must be done on IRS-issued laptops.

Q15. Can you provide the date, time, and location for the pre-proposal conference, and will there be an opportunity to ask additional questions during the conference?

A15. There is not pre-proposal conference for this requirement.

Q16. Can you clarify the roles and responsibilities of government personnel versus contractor personnel in managing and coordinating project tasks?

A16. It is at the potential vendors’ discretion to determine the particular roles and responsibilities necessary to meet the requirements in the PWS.

Q17. Are there any specific outcomes or deliverables that the agency prioritizes?

A17. Yes, in collaboration between IRS and customer, certain deliverables may be prioritized.

Q18. What is the allocated budget for this contract?

A18. The Government declines to answer this question.

Q19. Is the funding for this project secured, and are there any potential budget constraints we should be aware of?

A19: Funding is secured for this requirement. This will be a firm fixed-price award. There are no additional budget constraints.

Q20. Are there any identified risks or challenges associated with this project, and what mitigation strategies are expected from the contractor?

A20. No identified risks

Q21.How will stakeholders be engaged throughout the project?

A21. Vendor will work directly with IRS subject-matter experts to discuss deliverables and privacy budget. Vendor may be asked to brief Dept of Education subject-matter experts if needed.

Q22. What is the expected level of interaction with agency personnel and other stakeholders?

A22. Weekly meetings to discuss expectations, progress and milestones would be expected. The frequency may be greater or less depending on the point in the project cycle.

Q23. Will the government consider an extension to the deadline to allow for Q&A to be reviewed and posted and vendors to complete an accurate response?

A23. This amendment extends the quote due date.

Q24. Please clarify if there are specific roles or positions that the IRS considers critical for this project.

A24. It is at the potential vendors’ discretion to determine the particular roles and responsibilities necessary to meet the requirements in the PWS.

Q25. Are there specific training programs or certifications that the IRS recommends or requires for staff involved in this project?

A25. All vendor staff assigned to this project must complete all IRS-assigned annual mandatory briefings timely.

Q26. Are the resumes included in the 14-page limit of the Technical Proposal?

A26. Yes

Q27. Please clarify if Past Performance is to be submitted as a stand-alone document or with the technical volume.

A27. Past performance is part of Volume 1, Technical Proposal. The limit is one past performance reference form, found in Attachment 2 for each contract of past performance.

Q28. Is there an incumbent on this contract? If so, please provide the incumbent name, current contract number, Period of performance, and value of the contract.

A28. The incumbent on the current contract is Tumult Labs, Inc. for contract number 2032H8-23-C-00020, September 15, 2023 – September 15, 2024 for $174,942.00.

RFP 2023H8-24-R-00019

Attachment 3 - Pricing Sheet

CLIN # Description Unit of Issue Unit Price Total Price 0001 DOE College Scorecard