Amendment 1 - 11.23.2022.pdf

Amendment 1: RFP NO. 75N93022R00007

Amendment No.1: RFP No. 75N93022R00007

“NIAID Logistical Meeting and Conference Support Services (MACSS)”

Solicitation Number:

Amendment Number:

Amendment Issue Date:

75N93022R00007

One (1)

November 23, 2022

Proposal Due Date/Time: Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 3:00 pm, Local Time (Unchanged)

Issued By: Sevag Kasparian, Contracting Officer

OA/DEA/NIAID/NIH/DHHS

Point of Contact PRIMARY:

Sevag.Kasparian@nih.gov

Sevag, Contracting Officer Phone: 240-669-5177

Please note that we do NOT intend to extend the due date for submission of proposals as a result of this Amendment. The date specified for receipt of proposals remains unchanged.

The purpose of this Amendment is to:

1) Answer questions from potential offerors regarding the solicitation

Offerors must acknowledge receipt of this Amendment by identifying this amendment number and date of the amendment on each copy of the proposal submitted. Failure to receive your acknowledgement may result in the rejection of your proposal. Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the solicitation remain unchanged and in full force and effect.

Question 1: Please confirm the Government’s intent to award a single award IDIQ as stated on page 5, Article B.2. If so, does the language need to be edited on page 10 Article G.3. Task Order Procedure where it references multiple eligible contractors and a competitive ordering process? As well, does the language on page 43 (f) Contract Award that references multiple contract awards need to be edited or removed?

mailto:Sevag.Kasparian@nih.gov

Response 1: Yes, it is the Government’s intent to award a single award IDIQ contract. See revised RFP language below starting on Page 3 for Article G.3. No, RFP page 43 does not need to be edited.

Question 2: Page 98, Business Proposal Table of Contents, Section 2 Cost or Price Support indicates that “an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity type contract is anticipated with Time and Materials (T&M) and/or Firm Fixed Price (FFP) task orders under both task areas. Offerors shall submit a complete and independent T&M Proposal for both Task Orders 1 and 2.” We agree that T&M proposals are appropriate for Task Orders 1 and 2, and presume that the language on cost reimbursement in the RFP may have erroneously been included, perhaps from a prior research-related RFP. Please confirm that all anticipated IDIQ Task Orders will be T&M or FFP. If so, then page 45: Type of Contract sub section 2;

page 46: 1. Contract Type and General Clauses; will need to be updated or removed so that the RFP reads that Task Orders will be T&M or FFP.

Response 2: Correct, all anticipated Task Orders for this IDIQ contract will be T&M or FFP. See revised RFP language starting on Page 5 below. RFP page 45, paragraph “d. ESTIMATE OF EFFORT”, is removed in its entirety.

Changes to RFP specific language from Question/Response 1:

(RFP Page 10)

ARTICLE G.3. TASK ORDER PROCEDURE

This contract provides for the issuance of Task Orders on a negotiated basis as follows:

a. General

Only the Contracting Officer may issue Task Orders to the Contractor, providing specific authorization or direction to perform work within the scope of the contract and as specified in the Statement of Work. Unless specifically authorized by the Contracting Officer, the Contractor shall not commence work until a fully executed Task Order has been awarded. The Contractor may incur costs under this contract in performance of task orders and task order modifications issued in accordance with this ARTICLE.

No other costs are authorized unless otherwise specified in the contract or expressly authorized by the Contracting Officer.

b. Requesting Task Order Proposals.

The Contracting Officer or a designated individual may solicit responses to requirements from Contractors within a technical area covered by a task order requirement in writing. A Task Order Request for Proposals (TORFP) will be prepared and issued for each task order requirement.

Generally, the Task Order Request for Proposal (TORFP) will include but is not limited to the following:

1. Statement of Work;

2. Reporting Requirements and Deliverables;

3. Proposal Due Date and Delivery Instructions;

4. Period of Performance of Task Order;

5. Anticipated type of Task Order;

6. Technical Proposal Instructions;

7. Business proposal Instructions; and

8. Evaluation Factors for Award

All contract clauses contained in the resultant contract award shall be incorporated in the TORFP and the resultant task order. If conflicts exist between the contract clauses and the information outlined in the task order, the contract language takes precedence over the information in the task order.

c. Ordering Process.

1. The Contractor(s) will receive e-mail notification advising of the availability of each proposed task order requirement. All proposed task orders will incorporate all terms of this contract unless otherwise specified in the proposed task order.

2. Contractor(s) will be provided an adequate time to prepare and submit responses based on the Contracting Officer's consideration of the estimated dollar value and complexity of proposed task order. Responses will not be considered a proposal as defined in FAR Part 15. However, the Contractor shall provide information sufficient for consideration in accordance with FAR Part 16.

Each TORFP will indicate the criteria for the evaluation of proposals. The responses shall demonstrate capability for each criterion to be evaluated. Generally, the Contractor will be asked to demonstrate the following as appropriate:

• Understanding of the requirements;

• Experience and capability on similar tasks;

• Technical approach, methods and procedures for satisfying the requirements with a discussion of potential problems to be encountered and proposed solutions and/or risk mitigation strategies.

• Procedures for assuring quality of work, products, and deliverables;

• Plan for managing the task order, including meeting requirements and schedules, and performance measures (if applicable);

• Staffing plan with skill levels and level of effort for each individual proposed. Generally, resumes will be required for proposed personnel (if not previously submitted);

• References to evaluate past performance; and

• Cost/Price to perform the task order.

d. Evaluation and Award of Task Order Proposals

The Government will evaluate the Task Order proposals against the requirements of the TORFP. Specifically, the technical evaluation factors, cost/price, past performance and any other factor specifically identified in the TORFP will be used for evaluation of each proposal.

In addition, the TORFP will identify the basis for selecting a contractor for award. Generally, technical factors will be significantly more important than cost or price However, each TORFP will specify how the award decision will be made.

Upon completion of evaluations, the Contracting Officer will issue a task order to the Contractor whose proposal is most advantageous to the government

The Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor(s) of the selection decision in writing.

Changes to RFP specific language from Question/Response 2:

(RFP Page 45)

c. TYPE OF CONTRACT AND NUMBER OF AWARDS

1. It is anticipated that one award will be made from this solicitation and that the award will be made on/about March 19, 2023.

2. It is anticipated that the award from this solicitation will be a multiple-year IDIQ contract with an ordering period of 5 Years, with Time-and-Materials or Fixed Price type Task Orders.

3. FAR 16.301-3 limits use of any contract type, other than firm-fixed price, to a Contractor whose accounting system is adequate for determining costs applicable to the contract. To be considered for an award under this solicitation, the Offeror is required to certify, in its Business Proposal, the adequacy of its accounting system. See the paragraph entitled, Adequate Accounting System in Section L.2. Business Proposal Instructions in this solicitation for additional information about this certification.

(Deleted):

d. ESTIMATE OF EFFORT

It is expected that a completion type contract will be awarded as a result of this SOLICITATION.

To assist you in the preparation of your proposal, the Government considers the effort to be approximately labor hours. This information is furnished for the offeror's information only and is not to be considered restrictive for proposal purposes.

(RFP Page 46)

2. INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

a. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

INTRODUCTION

The following instructions will establish the acceptable minimum requirements for the format and contents of proposals. Special attention is directed to the requirements for technical and business proposals to be submitted in accordance with these instructions.

1. Contract Type and General Clauses

It is contemplated that a single award IDIQ contract type will be awarded with T&M and FFP type Task Orders. (See General Information) Any resultant contract shall include the clauses applicable to the selected offeror's organization and type of contract awarded as required by Public Law, Executive Order, or acquisition regulations in effect at the time of execution of the proposed contract.

End of Amendment No. 1