___QandA_responses_RFI-SSN_CTEP_Industry_Day_2025-04-01.pdf

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# Q&A posted Question(s) Answer(s) 0 2025-04-01 Will EXIM extend the RFI-SSN response date? No. The RFI-SSN remains unchanged as Apr 07, 2025 05:00 pm EDT (Monday).

1.1 2025-04-01 Is there an incumbent currently providing the requested services? If so, would EXIM divulge who the inclumbet is?

Yes, Ernst & Young LLP

2.1 2025-04-01 Will this be a multiple award contract? A multiple award is unknown at a time prior to the receipt of the RFI-SSN responses.

3.1 2025-04-01 Is this considered a new or follow on? This is considered market research under this RFI-SSN.

4.1 2025-04-01 Wil this contract leverage a specific contract vehicle (e.g., GSA MAS, OASIS, SEWP)? This unknown at a time prior to the receipt of the RFI-SSN responses.

4.2 2025-04-01 Is EXIM planning to create Vendor Pools based on the Specific Requirements/Tasks? This unknown at a time prior to the receipt of the RFI-SSN responses. This would be unlikely based on the price range stated in the RFI-SSN.

5.1 2025-04-01 Will there be a multi-phase evaluation? This unknown at a time prior to the receipt of the RFI-SSN responses.

6.1 2025-04-01 PWS Task 1 and Task 3 boh indicate that there are 10 TEAs. The EXIM Deliverables List contains more than 10 TEAs and the Slide 3 of the CTEP RFI SSN Examples slide deck lists 12 TEAs. What is the minimum number of TEAs the awardee will need to deliver analysis on?

Slide 3 of the CTEP RFI-SSN is for illustrative purposes only.

The minimum number of Transformational Export Areas (TEA), is an ever changing environment. In the Federal Register [FR Doc. 2021-08418 Filed 4-22-21; 8:45 am], there are eleven (10) TEAs, plus associated services, identified.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/04/23/2021-08418/information-request-on-us-and-foreign-content-in-transformational-exports

7.1 2025-04-01 Will analysis deliverables need to be updated periodically within the period of performance?

Yes.

8.1 2025-04-01 Does the customer envision relying on the contractor to plan and facilitate alignment sessions for internal and / or external stakeholders?

Relying on the contractor could be a possibility. As this is not a current requirement in the PWS, a vendor response may make this an option within their RFI-SSN response.

9.1 2025-04-01 Does the customer envision the contractor attending, preparing the customer for, and / or leading and facilitating regular meetings with leadership, partners, any vendor partners, and / or staff?

Not at this time. As this is not a current requirement in the PWS, a vendor response may make this an option within their RFI-SSN response.

10.1 2025-04-01 Is the “Comparative Leadership methodology” referenced in the RFI something that is publicly available and beyond what is outlined on page 2 of the Performance Work Statement (PWS)? Is there a specifically defined and previously used methodology that should be applied in this instance, or is there leeway to develop or refine a methodology to address the areas of interest?

No. This is the expertise the government is looking to industry to provide as part of their solution in response to the RFI-SSN. As the needs of the program office evolves, there may be times when it is appropriate to tweak the methodology to be appropriately responsive to the mission.

11.1 2025-04-01 Slide 11 of the “examples” presentation file references “case studies and reports”. Case studies are not otherwise referenced in the performance work statement (PWS). How do prospective case studies fit into the deliverables envisioned?

Slide 3 of the CTEP RFI-SSN is for illustrative purposes only.

Case studies is the expertise the government is looking to industry to provide as part of their solution in response to the RFI-SSN.

12.1 2025-04-01 The RFI indicates several dozen specific rare earth mineral markets for which a comprehensive market and geopolitical analysis is requested. Is the customer looking for the winning bidder to have deep substance-area expertise about each of these rare earth mineral markets, or would a comprehensive analysis informed by public, private, and informed geopolitical analysis be sufficient?

Comprehensive analysis informed by public, private, and informed geopolitical analysis may be sufficient for the expertise the government is looking to industry to provide as part of their solution in response to the RFI-SSN.

A deep substance-area expertise about each of these rare earth mineral markets may be better than sufficient for the expertise the government is looking to industry to provide as part of their solution in response to the RFI-SSN.

QandA_Request for Information (RFI) / Sources Sought Notice (SSN) --- RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS APRIL 1, 2025 (Tuesday)

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13.1 2025-04-01 Will the team selected to respond to this proposal be primarily responsible for identifying primary industries or markets under each TEA and determining the competitive position of U.S. companies vis-a-vis the PRC within these industries? Likewise, is there the expectation that the selected team will drill down further to identify key supporting industries and access resources essential to support the primary industries?

RFI-SSN responder would be identifying primary industries or markets under each TEA and determining the competitive position of U.S. companies vis-a-vis the PRC within these industries.

The expectation is the RFI-SSN responder would be able to drill down further to identify key supporting industries and access resources essential to support the primary industries as requested.

14.1 2025-04-01 Does the customer envision approaching this work as a Time and Materials contract or as a firm, fixed-price contract, or some combination of pricing approach?

Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract is preferred.

A combined pricing approach would be reviewed to see if such an arrangement would be most advantageous to the government.

Reference 52.212-1(e) Multiple offers. Offerors are encouraged to submit multiple offers presenting alternative terms and conditions, including alternative line items (provided that the alternative line items are consistent with FAR subpart 4.10), or alternative commercial products or commercial services for satisfying the requirements of this solicitation. Each offer submitted will be evaluated separately.

15.1 2025-04-01 Who is EXIM, CTEP trying to reach with this RFI-SSN? The EXIM CTEP Industry Day specific audience is for the vendors that may be able to provide services as outlined in the EXIM PWS PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL AND ANALYTIC SERVICES.docx.

However, if you wish to contribute to the dialogue and insights regarding aggressive Chinese government-backed competition with the United States, you are welcome.

You must register for this event by sending an email to patricia.ludlow@exim.gov whether you chose to, or not to, submit a RFI-SSN response. It is requested that each group have no more than two (2) people in attendance.

QandA