SAMHSA IDIQ QA response.docx

Note to Offerors:

Duplicate/similar questions/comments have been removed from the below.

In reviewing these questions, we want to ensure offerors understand that they are given a wide range to be innovative and creative under these scenarios.

Questions:

1. The RFP States “C.6. GENERAL LANGUAGE (WILL BE INSERTED and REQUIRED in ALL Task Order Awards) A. SAMHSA Division of Technology (DTM) REQUIREMENTS. See Attachment 1b General Requirements.” The Attachment 1b states “The Contractor shall prepare an IT Plan that addresses and describes the Design, Development, Implementation, and Maintenance for all IT Systems in the contract/ task order.” and “A draft IT plan shall be included as part of the proposal. The final IT Plan (Electronic Version) shall be submitted as a deliverable to the COR and DTM (through the COR) for review and approval 60 calendar days after award. Please confirm that the draft IT Plan submission is not part of this RFP 283-22-1000 proposal submission and is only part of the response to a Request for Task Order Proposals (RFTOP). If required should it be provided as part of the Technical IDIQ or as an attachment and confirm if draft IT plans will be excluded from any page limit restrictions.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The draft IT Plan will be part of the individual RFTOPs.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Section 508 applies to the RFTOP not required for the IDIQ proposals.

3. Please clarify to whom proposals and Contractor Performance Information forms should be addressed? Both Lynn Tantardini and Craig Sager are listed as “Contracting Officer” in different locations within the solicitation and attachment documents.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The documents can be submitted to both.

4. RFP states that “Resumes should be placed in alphabetical order.”

Please clarify if the Resumes should be in alphabetical order by Position or by First Name, or Last Name of the Key/Non-Key Personnel.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: By last name.

5. RFP states “ See … and Section M.2, paragraph b., “Evaluation Factor 2: Section 508 Compliance.”” There is no section “M.2, paragraph b., “Evaluation Factor 2: Section 508 Compliance.” in the RFP.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The evaluation Factors for Section 508 will be applicable and specified at the task order level. For the submission under this RFP, offeror shall as a minimum document in the proposal the following information:

• Identify the offeror’s point of contact responsible for implementing and monitoring the firm’s compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act;

• Describe any Section 508-related training the offeror’s point of contact has completed and/or intends to complete in the next year; and

• Include a detailed Section 508 Implementation Plan describing the specific steps the offeror intends to take over the next year to implement and maintain compliance with the provisions of Section 508.

6. Attachment 12. Contractor Performance Information. Where on this form should the offeror include for our client the SAMHSA IDIQ Domain I-VI the offeror is bidding as well as if the offeror is a Large Business or Small Business bid in the Domain?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The offeror can list this anywhere on the Contactor Performance Information or as an attachment to the document.

7. eCPS-Cover letter and Attachment 8-Packaging. The cover letter specifies using NIAID eCPS portal but attachment 8 -Packaging and Delivery specifies using the NIH eCPS portal. Please clarify that the correct agency’s eCPS portal to use is NIH.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Yes, NIH/NIAID eCPS is the correct portal.

8. Attachment 1b. General Requirements IT Plan (6) Iterative development approach for software development. If the vendor doesn’t specialize in that area, can the vendor place “NA” for that specific question without being penalized?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Specific IT requirements will be defined at the task order level.

9. Attachment 1b. The General Requirements provided are a wide- ranging set of requirements that may or may not apply for individual task order execution. Is it SAMHSA’s intention to identify which of the general requirements apply for each Task Order instead of including all the general requirements for each Request for Task Order? For example, a task order under Domain III may not require a Security Assessment and Authorization (SA&A) or Authority to Operate (ATO) as required in General Requirements.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Specific IT requirements will be defined at the task order level.

10. Attachment 1b. The requirement states, “The security categories and risk level shall be documented in the designated System Security Plan (SSP) for all systems within the proposal and must obtain Authorization to Operate (ATO) from SAMHSA CIO and CISO prior to system goes live into the production or becomes operational.” Is this language applicable to Task Order execution after award, or is the offeror required to provide an SSP as part of their response to the specific Domain to which the offeror is proposing?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: This is applicable to the individual task orders and required as part of the IDIQ.

11. H.18 FAR 52.234-4, EARNED VALUE. Are small businesses required to have an EVMS system?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: If EVMS applicable under Task Order Award it will be added to the Task Order Award and EVMS requirements will be applied to subcontractors using the same rules as applied to the prime contractor.

12. Since the RFP states the use of established rates such as a GSA rates are acceptable, is it safe to assume using established rates would result in a fixed price or T&M contract rather than cost plus?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The task order may be cost plus, fixed or T&M.

13. The cover letter indicates that the government anticipates making ten awards for each Domain, which includes large and small companies with the exceptions of Domain VI. For the other Domains, does the government anticipate 10 total awards per domain, or 10 awards for small businesses and 10 awards for large businesses per domain?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The Government anticipates awarding 10 awards per domain for small and 10 awards per domain for large (excluding domain 6).

14. The government has indicated that the appendix cannot be more than 45 pages long; however, the required resumes will utilize more than 30 pages. Do the resumes and letters of commitment count against the appendix page count?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Resumes and letters of commitment are not included in the page count for either the technical proposal or appendix.

15. In the RFP document, it indicates that the Technical section shall not exceed 75 pages. In Attachment 8 it indicates that the Technical Section shall not exceed 60 pages. Can the government please clarify the page count for the Technical section for each Domain?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The correct technical page number per domain is 75 pages.

16. The RFP states on page 71 that the Appendices for the Technical proposal should be submitted as one, separate PDF document that is separate from the Technical document. On page 1 of Attachment 8, the directions indicate that there should only be one Technical document, including all attachments. Can the government please clarify if the Appendix should be a separate document or attached to the Technical document?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The Appendix should be attached to the technical document and can’t exceed 45 pages.

17. Attachment 1a. In the second paragraph under “Acquisition and Development of Data,” the third sentence states “the Contractor shall acquire and process them.” If there is a cost/fee associated with acquiring data, will the government be responsible for the cost/fee or is there an expectation the vendor will be responsible for acquiring the data?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The contractor would propose on any costs/fees and the Government would reimburse the vendor.

18. Please clarify what the Business Proposal for the IDIQ needs to contain. Will the Domain specific labor categories and the supporting documentation for the rates be adequate for both the Prime and Subs?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Yes.

19. Is Attachment 13 Breakdown Estimated Costs required for submission for the IDIQ Business Proposal?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Yes, this format may be used to provide labor categories and supporting rates. An estimated cost breakdown is not required for the individual scenario(s).

20. In section L.2, it states that Letters of Commitment are required for consultants and contingent personnel. In evaluation criteria, it states that Letter of Commitment/Statements of Availability are required for all personnel. Please clarify for which personnel Letters of Commitment are required?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The submission of resumes and statement of availability/letters of commitment for all proposed personnel, who are not currently members of the offeror's staff, including consultants and subcontractors are required. Points will be deducted for missing resumes OR statement of availability/letters of commitment for proposed personnel, including consultants and subcontractors.

21. M.2.DomainI I.I. Please clarify what documentation would be required for a Statement of Availability? Is the government asking the contractor to provide a percentage of availability for each resource, or a Letter of Commitment for each resource, or both?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: A Statement of Availability and Letters of commitment are the same. The statement of availability/letter of commitment is required for all proposed personnel who are not currently members of the offeror's staff, a letter of commitment or other evidence of availability is required. A resume does not meet this requirement. Commitment letters for use of consultants and other personnel to be hired must include: -The specific items or expertise they will provide.

-Their availability to the project and the amount of time anticipated.

-Willingness to act as a consultant.

-How rights to publications and patents will be handled (if appropriate).

22. The evaluation criteria on page 88 of the RFP states "NOTE TO OFFERORS: Under Management - The staff loading chart should have 2 parts - the first is responding to the scenario and then the second is addressing the overall SAMHSA IDIQ". Can the Government please clarify whether a loading chart is needed at the overall IDIQ level? Contractors cannot provide an accurate loading chart at the IDIQ level since we do not know the scope of potential future task orders. Per Amendment 5 of the prior 2016 solicitation, SAMHSA decided to eliminate the requirement to provide a loading chart at the IDIQ level.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: A loading chart is not required at the IDIQ level.

23. The Note to Offerors at the top of page 27 in the RFP states "There are NO scenario budgets, however, the offerors will submit cost information for the overall SAMHSA IDIQ". Please confirm (1) that budgets are not required for the scenarios, and (2) contractors should not complete Attachment 13.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Correct, there are no cost scenario budgets. Attachment 13 is not being completed, but is used as a template to provide labor categories and supporting rates.

24. In the Past Performance Information Part (b) the instructions state sending Attachment 11 and Attachment 12 for each referenced client to complete and send back to SAMHSA. In lieu of contractors asking clients to complete and send in Attachment 12, would SAMHSA accept a completed CPAR evaluation for the project reference instead?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The offeror may submit completed CPARs evaluations as part of the past performance information in the Business proposal.

25. Section L requires Past Performance Information to be submitted in the Business Proposal volume. The sentence preceding Section M.2.V states “Past Performance will be reviewed only after a determination of technical acceptability of the offeror's proposal,” which implies that Past Performance is a Technical evaluation criteria. Is it SAMHSA’s intent for offerors to submit Past Performance Information in the Technical or Business Proposal volume? Please confirm.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Past Performance Information is submitted in the Business Proposal volume.

26. May Offerors include a cover/transmittal letter with its proposal that is not included in page limits?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Cover page and table of contents are not included in the page count for the technical proposal.

27. Would the Government please confirm that it is permissible to cross-reference between sections of the Technical Discussion?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Offerors may cross- reference portions of the technical proposal in a specific domain in responding to the scenario. Offerors must respond to the technical evaluation criteria for each domain separately and may not cross-reference domains.

28. Would the Government consider allowing Offerors to include a compliance matrix outside the page limit and following the Table of Contents? This would make it easier for evaluators to locate responses to both evaluation criteria and additional Section L requirements.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: A compliance matrix is not required and will be counted as part of the page limit.

29. Would the Government please confirm that footnotes may use Times Roman 10 point font?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: For footnotes, the size of the font should be NO smaller than the size of Times Roman 10pt for the Technical Proposal

30. May Offerors use a foldout page for the required schedule to accommodate the detailed "by month" requirement for ease of readability for the evaluators?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: It is unclear how a foldout page is done in pdf; however the detailed schedule may be done in landscape format.

31. Would the Government confirm that Offerors may use landscape pages for exhibits and graphics?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Landscape or portrait may be used.

32. Page 72 of the RFP specifies that in the Technical Proposal, tables can be considered exhibits for the purpose of font requirements. However, the instruction for the Technical Appendices and the Business Proposal are silent on this issue. Would the Government please confirm that tables can be considered exhibits in the Technical Appendices and the Business Proposal?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Tables can be considered exhibits.

33. The instructions state: "Those Labor Categories marked with * are “Key Personnel” and must be proposed regardless of the Domain." In the table listed on page 7, there are approximately 15 LCATS denoted with an asterisk *. However, when reading the evaluation criteria (section M.2) for each domain, several of those listed 15 Key Personnel from B.4 are not included in the key and other personnel specific to certain domains. Please confirm that vendors should include key personnel as specified only in the evaluation criteria for each domain and not others that may have asterisks found in B.4?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: SAMHSA has revised the key personnel requirement. Those Labor Categories marked with * are “Key Personnel” must be proposed if they are specific to the Domain being proposed.

34. The instructions regarding limitation of size state the Appendix can be no more than 45 pages and is to be no more than 1 PDF document. Please confirm that the Appendix is a separate volume from the Technical Volume and the Business/Price Volume? Please confirm vendors should/could submit 3 volumes?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The Appendix is attachment to the technical volume. Two volumes, Technical and Business, will be submitted.

35. Letters of commitment are currently required in both the technical volume and the price volume (page 73 and 77). Can the Government confirm that, to reduce redundancy, letters of commitment should only be included in the technical volume, following the resume.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Yes, the letters of commitments should be including in the technical volume. SAMHSA is amending the RFP.

36. On page 78 the instructions state that "for each subcontract over $750,000" subcontract support must be shown. On page 81, it states that "for the purpose of this solicitation, a "major subcontract" is defined as a subcontract in excess of $700,000." And on page 83, it refers to the $750,000 level again. Can the Government clarify the correct dollar value for a subcontract to be considered major.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: A “major subcontract” is defined as a subcontract in excess of $750,000.

37. The PWS makes reference to the audience being multiple languages. Can we receive clarity on how many languages and which ones?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: At this time we anticipate Spanish; however, the task order will define which languages.

38. Is there a preferred or required eLearning software for creation of self-paced online training courses?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: No.

39. The government states, “products produced under this contract/task order shall be developed for electronic and web-based distribution only, in accordance with the Executive Order on Promoting Efficient Spending (EO 13589)." However, print materials are referenced several times in the requirements for Domain IV. Please confirm the contractor shall not provide print materials as suggested in requirements listed in 1b?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Unless SAMHSA exercises the right to produce/print hard copies, products produced under this contract/task order shall be developed for electronic and web-based distribution only, in accordance with the Executive Order on Promoting Efficient Spending (EO 13589). This will be defined at the task order level.

40. Is there a size limitation for proposal submission within eCPS? (i.e. 200MB) SAMHSA RESPONSE: The maximum upload size for all proposal document(s) together is 387.19 MB.

41. Attachment 8. Can the Government confirm that a separate technical and business volume is required for EACH domain an offeror responds to?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Yes, each domain will have a separate technical and business proposal.

42. Attachment 8. Can the Government confirm that the naming convention should be company name_SAMSHA283221000_technical (rather than SAMSHA17XXXX)?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: File naming convention: It is requested that the filenames for your Technical Proposal, Business Proposal, and Excel Workbook include the name of the offeror, the solicitation number and the type of proposal (i.e., Technical, Business, or Excel Workbook).

43. The Instructions for the subcontractor sealed bids includes instructions to submit their information to SAMHSAContracts@samhsa.hhs.gov. However, Attachment 8: Packaging and Delivery of Proposal states that SAMHSA will be using eCPS for submission. Please confirm if subcontractors should submit their sealed bid via eCPS and provide instructions accordingly.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Any subcontractor proposal that is not submitted as an attachment to the Prime contractors proposal via eCPS must submit their proposals to the SAMHSA email listed in Attachment 8.

44. Would SAMHSA consider extending the proposal due date given that there are two federal holidays in January, as well as Lunar New Year on February 1, 2022 for which staff may be traveling early?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The due date has been revised to January 31, 2022 at 3:00 pm EST.

45. Is the Contractor Performance Form due January 26, 2022, per Attachment 11, or due 10 calendar days after the date proposals are due, per RFP, Section L?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The RFP has been revised. The due date is Monday February 10, 2022.

46. Should we include past performance information for our major subcontractors? What does comparable information mean?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Yes, the offeror should also submit past performance information on all subcontractors that the offeror proposes to perform a major subcontract under this effort. Comparable information in relation to the past performance requirements submitted by the Prime.

47. Do our major subcontractors need to submit Attachment 12s for their projects?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Major subcontractors may submit Attachment 12 or comparable information.

48. Should we include the Quality Assurance Plan in the body of the proposal or would reviewers prefer to see the Plan in an Appendix?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The QASP is at the task order level and not part of the IDIQ proposal.

49. Does the signed agreement mentioned on page 74, last paragraph, refer to the letters of commitment?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Yes.

50. On page 72, the RFP says that resumes and letters of commitment do not need to be numbered but it also says that all pages must be numbered. Please clarify.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Resumes and letters of commitment do not count towards the page limit and are not required to be numbered.

51. Page 77 of the RFP says that mention of supplies and equipment and travel only applies to the RFTOP not the SAMHSA IDIQ. Does this mean we do not fill out these rows on the template on page 2 of attachment 13?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Attachment 13 is not being completed, but is used as a template to provide labor categories and supporting rates.

52. On page 13 of Attachment 1a, under Task 3, the instructions say: "one annual national meeting for all grantees and no more than 50 non-grantees (meeting will be two-days, held in Rockville, MD and there will be 60 total attendees)." However, there are 20 grantees, so those participants plus 50 non-grantees would total 70 attendees - please clarify which is the correct number of total attendees.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Correct, the total is 70

53. Please clarify the cost information requirements for the IDIQ business proposal. On Page 6, note to offerors sitipulates that offerors who don't submit GSA rates need to complete attachment 13. Per the pages 77 through 79, attachment 13 should include the following budget line items: (1) Direct Labor, (2) Fringe, (3) Indirect Costs. At the same time, the note on page 77 states that "In the initial proposal submission, offerors shall propose labor categories and their average labor hour costs specific to the domain". At the IDIQ level, do we need to populate the above listed budget lines items of the attachment 13? Or does a labor categories chart with labor hour rates satisfy the cost information requirement? Or should the offerors submit both attachment 13 (with direct labor, fringe and indirect cost budget line items) and labor categories chart?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Attachment 13 is used as a template to provide labor categories and supporting rates

54. On page 4, the RFP indicates in Provisions Applicable to Direct Costs: "Notwithstanding the 'Allowable Cost and Payment' clause incorporated in this contract, unless authorized in writing by the Contracting Officer, the costs of the following items or activities shall be unallowable as direct costs: . . . 10) Consultant fees in excess of $500/day." SAMHSA has used this ceiling rate for almost two decades now and this rate is currently substantially below market value for most consultant categories. To avoid multiple requests to pay more than this ceiling, would SAMHSA be amenable to increasing this rate to that which HRSA currently uses, i.e., $750/day?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: SAMHSA will increase the rate to $600/day. The RFTOPs will define any additional considerations in the rates.

55. Page 78 of the RFP titled 'For Offerors with subcontractors that are requesting to submit their proposal separately' outlines instructions for subcontractors requesting to submit their proposals separately. However, page 80 of the RFP, section 9, 'Proposals from Subcontractors of Other Collaborative Partners', notes that separate submission of proposals by subcontractors..is not permitted. Which is allowable?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Subcontractors may submit their proposals separately.

56. Page 81 of the RFP requests that prime offerors provide comparable past performance information for "major subcontractors". Given that we are at the IDIQ stage and we do not yet know which subcontractors may exceed $700K (as defined on page 81 of the RFP), please confirm this requirement applies to RFTOP submissions and not to the IDIQ.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Major subcontractors is revised to read $750,000. Past performance is required for any known subcontractors being proposed that meet the definition of major subcontractor.

57. Page 6 of the RFP. If a prime offeror is awarded SAMHSA IDIQ contract rates based on proposed and accepted GSA rates, what would the basis of award be for a prime offeror under Cost-Plus-Award-Fee task orders? GSA rates are loaded and include offerror's indirects. How would associated labor costs for a prime offeror with GSA rates be proposed and awarded under Cost-Plus-Award-Fee task orders?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: If in an awardee uses GSA rates, then the task order award would be modified to accommodate.

58. Page 81 of the RFP requires that offerors list past performance information for "all contracts currently in process that are similar in nature to the solicitation work scope". This requirement is quite extensive for large contractors. Please limit this requirement to, for example, five contracts and/or subcontracts.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: SAMHSA has revised the RFP to limit in process contracts to five (5).

59. Page 5 of the RFP provides anticipated labor categories for the domains and notes key personnel with "*". For categories that include both a Senior and Junior role and are noted as key personnel, can you clarify if only the Senior position is considered key personnel or is the Junior position considered key personnel as well. For instance, "Evaluator (Sr. & Jr.)*" SAMHSA RESPONSE: SAMHSA has revised the key personnel requirement. Those Labor Categories marked with * are “Key Personnel” must be proposed if they are specific to the Domain being proposed.

60. For the Past Performance requirement, along with contracts, can we also provide grants or cooperative agreements that are similar in nature to the solicitation work scope?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Yes.

61. On page 77 the RFP states, "In the initial IDIQ proposal submission, Offerors shall propose labor categories and their average labor hour costs specific to the domain in which the offeror is submitting proposals." Can you confirm that offerors should propose a ceiling rate by labor category rather than an average rate?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Offerors do not need to propose a ceiling rate at this time. If a ceiling rate is needed, it will be specified at the RFTOP.

62. On page 27 the RFP states, "There are NO Scenario budgets, however, the offerors will submit cost information for the overall SAMHSA IDIQ." Should responses to the scenario examples be limited to the technical proposal?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Technically you are responding to the scenario in the technical proposal.

63. On page 69, under General Instructions, when discussing what is needed for the cover page, it states we need to indicate if the proposal is an original or copy. Can you remove this requirement since we are submitting electronic files and therefore are only providing original versions?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Proposals do not need to specify original or copy.

64. Since we are submitting electronic files as our submission, will SAMHSA allow electronic PDF signatures where signatures are requested/required, such as on the cover page, or elsewhere?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Yes, electronic signatures are acceptable.

65. Please confirm we can use the appendix section to house tables that are an extension to the technical and management sections, such as organizational chart, labor loading charts, staff qualifications, work plan, etc.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: No.

66. Please specify what is meant with the "subcontractor agreements" on page 85. Does it refer to the teaming agreements with the subcontractors? If it does, are the teaming agreements required at the IDIQ level? Or will the teaming agreements be required for the RFTOPs released under this IDIQ?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Subcontractor agreements are between the prime and the subcontractor. Contracting Teaming Agreements (CTA) in which all parties are equal will not be accepted.

67. In no instance shall two or more IDIQ contract awardees form a “team” or “joint venture” to bid upon any task order, whether or not the awardees are approved for the same or different domains.Are partners collaborating as a Joint Venture prohibited from submitting proposals as both the Joint Venture and as constitute companies for task orders only or prohibited from submitting proposals for the entire IDIQ?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: If two companies have formed a legal joint venture, then that joint venture may submit a proposal.

68. Does separate submission of proposals restriction apply only within domains or does it encompass all domains? For example, could a Joint Venture submit a proposal for only Domain I and a member of the Joint Venture submit a proposal only for Domain VI?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: A Joint Venture may submit a proposal for any Domain and a member of the Joint Venture may submit for any Domain as long as it is under their own Organization name.

69. Direct Labor For unpopulated Joint Ventures, are GSA published rate cards of JV members acceptable for direct labor rates?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: GSA rates that have been accepted as a legal joint venture may be used.

70. Direct Labor For unpopulated Joint Ventures, may JV members use the published GSA schedule rates for either/any JV member?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: GSA rates that have been accepted as a legal joint venture may be used.

71. NOTE: In the initial IDIQ proposal submission, Offerors shall propose labor categories and their average labor hour costs specific to the domain in which the offeror is submitting proposals. Any labor categories not fixed at the time of the contract award may only be added through approval of the Contracting Officer. Are there restrictions on how unpopulated Joint Ventures construct their average labor hour costs specific to the domain in which the offeror is submitting proposals? Or may unpopulated Joint Ventures propose any blending of JV member company direct labor rates provided those labor rates are substantiated by published rate cards.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Legal joint ventures determine the best approach.

72. A complete cost proposal in the same format as the offeror's cost proposal. For bids from unpopulated JVs, is this required from each JV member company? Or only from subcontractors to the JV?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: A legal joint venture submits one proposal per domain.

73. Indirect Costs For unpopulated Joint Ventures with no indirect costs, is a statement that the JV is unpopulated with no indirect costs sufficient?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: A legal joint venture will be required to obtain an indirect rate agreement.

74. Financial Capacity For unpopulated JVs is this required for the JV, for one JV member, or for all JV members?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: A legal joint venture provides the necessary financial capacity documentation.

75. Business Proposal Instructions A list of the last three (3) contracts and subcontracts completed during the past THREE (3) years and ALL CONTRACTS currently in process that are similar in nature to the solicitation work scope. Could you please clarify what would qualify as 'similar in nature' for this request? E.g., work related to SAMSHA's five key priority areas, or work using approaches similar to those described within each domain?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Similar in nature refers to the solicitation work scope.

76. Technical Proposal Instructions Other Personnel (KEY PERSONNEL): List all other professional personnel who will be participating in the DOMAIN. Within a domain, can a single person be chosen for more than one different key personnel category (e.g., data analyst / modeler, database manager)? Can a single person be proposed across domains, either for the same or different key personnel categories?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The offerors may determine the best approach when proposing key personnel.

77. Technical Proposal Instructions This evaluation criteria requires the submission of resumes and statement of availability/letters of commitment for all proposed personnel, including consultants and subcontractors. Could you please clarify what specifically should be expressed in this statement to indicate the person is 'available'? I.e., for personnel currently hired and assigned to other work, is it sufficient to state they they would commit to a SAMHSA TO if it were awarded? Also, is the statement of availability submitted from each personnel individually or submitted on their behalf by the offeror?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: yes, it is sufficient. Statements of availability are not required for employees. The offeror submits the statements of availability as part of the proposal.

78. Labor "Evaluator (Sr. & Jr.)*, Technical Assistance Specialist (Sr. & Jr)*, Logistics Coordinator (Sr. & Jr)* Those Labor Categories marked with * are “Key Personnel” and must be proposed regardless of the Domain. Further, for those positions, a resume and an actual labor rate (with supporting payroll documentation) must be proposed. Can an offerer use their GSA categories with less that 10+ years of experience, but commit to ensuring a person with 10+ yrs to fill a senior role?"

SAMHSA RESPONSE: SAMHSA has revised the key personnel requirement. Those Labor Categories marked with * are “Key Personnel” must be proposed if they are specific to the Domain being proposed. The offerors may determine the best approach when proposing key personnel

79. Can SAMHSA confirm that the Indirect Cost Rates requirements and Note to Offerors in section G.4 of the RFP do not apply to offerors who submit GSA rates and GSA schedule information?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Correct.

80. Can SAMHSA confirm that the invoice line items required for cost plus award fee task orders (section G.5) will not be required for offerors whose rates are based on GSA rates and GSA schedule information?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Not at this time.

81. "The RFP states, ""Special note - Please provide budget as follows: A 12-Month Budget for each year of the contract (including options), BY TASK and a cumalative budget.""Question - Will the government please confirm if Prime Offerors or Subcontractors exceeding $750,000.00 in total contract value must provide a full disclosure buildup by task and also a completed Attachment 13?"

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Yes, at the task order level not at the IDIQ level.

82. "The RFP states, ""Prime Contractors and Subcontractors may use their own GSA Rates, or others established rates, such as CIOSP3, etc. Offerors who submit GSA rates and their GSA schedule information do not need to complete Attachment 13, but instead may submit an excel sheet with labor category, name, title, and rate for five years for all proposed staff. If an offeror chooses to uses their GSA rate then they need to provide documentation to support that these rates have been approved by GSA. That could be their schedule with GSA or other documentation to show rates. If prime offerors and/or subcontractors submit GSA rates in lieu of providing a cost build up, the backup documentation will be the GSA schedule rather than NICRAs and payroll information and the excel file will not contain the indirect rate information. GSA schedules could be used as supporting payroll documentation. GSA schedules will support the rates and can be used in lieu of payroll documentation. If using GSA rates the Industrial Funding Fee is not required. A PRIME can have unburdened rates and an indirect rate agreement while the subcontractor proposes fully-burdened rates (which are supported by their GSA rates). GSA rates are only used to help establish the reasonableness of the rates proposed by the Prime or Sub. So if a Prime or Sub proposes rates for labor categories which are not on its GSA schedule, then the offeror must provide supporting documentation to support those proposed rates.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: That is correct.

83. The rates established will be limits the offeror is still permitted to provide discounts under the RFTOPS. While a Prime or Sub can propose its “GSA rates,” those rates will become SAMHSA IDIQ contract rates if/when an award is made. Contracting Teaming Agreements (CTA) in which all parties are equal will not be accepted. For SAMHSA one organization in the CTA needs to be the PRIME contractor and the others are considered subcontractors. Question - Will the government please confirm what instruction offerors should follow for submission and evaluation purposes, as Section B.4 and Section L.C.1 provide conflicting results."

SAMHSA RESPONSE: This is unclear; however, SAMHSA has amended B.4.

84. "The RFP uses Program Manager in some places and Project Manager in others. Does SAMHSA define these roles differently?""In section B.4, the Government states, that ""The Contractor must propose labor rates for all categories that they determine are applicable to the Domains that they are proposing for. Those Labor Categories marked with * are “Key Personnel” and must be proposed regardless of the Domain. Further, for those positions, a resume and an actual labor rate (with supporting payroll documentation) must be proposed."" The list of designated Key Personnel in section B.4 are in conflict with the requriements in Domain-specific Evaluation Criteria (pages 90-106 of the RFP) and reflects labor categories that may not be applicable for an offeror's Domain response. Can the Government remove the requirements for Key Personnel LCATs in Section B.4 (asterisks), and providing offerors with the required flexibility in delivery. For instance, we do not anticipate that a Senior Economist will be required to support Communication Projects in Domain IV. Our suggestion is to remove the asterisked positions in B.4 and retain the tailored list of Key and Other anticipated LCATs that is defined in Section M of the RFP for submission."

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Program Manager and Project Manager are interchangeable. B.4 has been amended to address Key Personnel requirements.

85. Page 71 of 104 In the box regarding limitation on size it states exhibits used (placed) in the technical proposal discussion will count as a page and should be numbered as such. Please confirm that this would only apply to full page drawings and graphics that are in the proposal and not partial diagrams or drawings.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: This applies to any exhibit placed in the technical proposal section.

86. RFP Page 24 of 104 Section C.7.Domain VI. Planning states that the contractor shall provide an online registration process, technical support, and session facilitation. Will SAMSHA define session facilitation?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: A facilitator for the event.

87. Attachment 1a Page 14-16 Will SAMSHA confirm that the scenario should include onsite support as a hypothetical scenario given the COVID Pandemic and that on-site support may be required at the task order level as we move put of this pandemic in the out years of this program?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Yes, for this scenario.

88. Page 77 of the RFP the instructions state, contractors are to include direct labor rates along with specific fringe benefit expenses per each employee. Our accounting system and our rate agreement with NIH, our Cognizant Audit Agency, properly identifies fringe benefits as an indirect expense. In fact, fringe benefits, overhead and G&A are all identified as indirect expenses in that rate agreement and recoverable via separate indirect rates. Consequently, to include the fringe benefits as a direct labor cost is not in compliance with our approved accounting system nor our approved NIH rate agreement. To further complicate the matter, Attachment 3, Billing Instructions require that fringe benefits that are identified as indirect cost should not be included as direct cost. Will SAMSHA provide direction and clarify so that offerors will properly present costing in accordance with the government approved accounting system and standards?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Offerors should provide the unloaded rates and indirect rates.

89. Anticipated value. Is the Department able to provide an anticipated award value for Domain I and Domain V?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: No. The maximum value of the IDIQ is specified in the RFP.

90. Level of effort Does the Department have an anticipated level of effort in terms of labor hours for the scenarios in Domain I and the scenario in Domain V?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: No.

91. If a single organization wishes to submit to be approved on more than one Domain, should the entity submit a separate technical and business proposal in response to each Domain or should they submit a single proposal that includes responses to both Domains?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Separate technical and business proposals for each domain must be submitted.

92. In the submission system, https://ecps.nih.gov, does the Authorized Organizational Representative for the organization need to have an account in order to submit on behalf of the organization, or can anyone within the organization with an https://ecps.nih.gov account submit a proposal?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Anyone can submit; however, the proposal must be signed by an authorized representative.

93. Can the Department please clarify whether the technical proposal should be double or single spaced?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The offerors may determine whether the proposal is double or single spaced.

94. Is it required to submit resumes for non-key personnel from subcontractors and if so, where should they be placed?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: No.

95. Can the Department please confirm that the past performance should be included in the business quote, and not the technical quote? Page 80 references them in the Business Quote, and page 87 under I. GENERAL section A, references them as a part of the Technical Quote.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Past Performance is part of the Business Quote.

96. Although some labor categories on page 5 of the RFP differentiate between junior, mid-level, and senior, others do not. Can we assume that for every labor category listed, contractors can propose a junior, mid-level, and senior personnel as appropriate?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Yes.

97. Please confirm if a prime or sub submits its cost build up with supporting payroll documentation and NICRA, those loaded cost rates will NOT be used to form SAMHSA IDIQ ceiling rates.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Correct.

98. Please confirm the loaded labor rates should NOT include any fee which will be determined later at the task order level.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Correct.

99. Please confirm only loaded cost rates by labor categories are required for the IDIQ proposal submission. The breakout of individual direct labor and each indirect cost build-up is NOT needed.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Correct.

100. Please confirm that the page limit for Technical Proposal is 75 pages, including the executive summary and technical discussion; and excluding appendices, resumes, letters of commitment.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Correct, the Technical Proposal page limit is 75 pages per domain submission.

101. Please clarify that the structure of each proposal section, including the Technical Approach, Personnel, Management, and Facilities, should begin with specific information pertaining to the scenario, followed by the domain-level aspects of the IDIQ (non-scenario specific). For example, for the Personnel section, is the intent to first focus on the scenario specific key/additional labor categories identified in Section M and then discuss required/additional labor categories required for the IDIQ that are not included in the scenario (described on RFP p.5)?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Only discuss the scenario in the technical proposal.

102. For the Technical Approach, please confirm that one technical approach should be submitted that integrates our scenario specific response and the IDIQ response, starting with the scenario information.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The RFP has been amended.

103. Please confirm the only cost information required is a list of loaded cost rates by labor categories for the overall SAMHSA IDIQ and NOT for the scenario of each domain.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Yes, labor categories are being proposed at the IDIQ level which will incorporate the staff for each domain proposed.

104. For past performance, if a single project is used as a reference for multiple domains or for both prime and sub roles, should the client fill out a contractor performance information form for each of those proposal submissions or can 1 evaluation form be submitted for multiple domains?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: One evaluation can be used for multiple domains.

105. The RFP states on page 81 that for the purpose of this solicitation, a "major subcontract" is defined as a subcontract in excess of $700,000., Since there is no dollar value associated with the scenarios or the IDIQ, what please clarify what other metrics should be used to determine whether subcontractors are major/minor?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Major subcontractors is revised to read $750,000. Past performance is required for any known subcontractors being proposed that meet the definition of major subcontractor.

106. Please clarify if the Chief of Evaluation/Epidemiology (as referenced in RFP Section M.2, page 98) and the Senior Evaluator (as referenced in RFP Section B.4, page 5) is the same labor category and can be used interchangeably.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Yes, these may be used interchangeably.

107. The scenarios appear to build from one domain to another. For example, in Domain 1 the scenario ends with “Based on the positive results of the pilot study in Task 2, SAMHSA awards 30 new grants to community-based organizations (across 20 States) to use the new behavioral health intervention..." In Domain 2, the scenario begins with "After the first year of the grant program..." Please clarify whether it is appropriate to use the information presented in the scenarios from other domains to form a technical response (i.e.,, use information from the scenario in Domain 1 to inform our technical approach in Domain 2), or if the scenario text is mutually exclusive for each domain.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Offerors are not required to propose on each domain. Offerors may use the information presented in other domains to form a technical response.

108. """Evaluation Study"" appears twice at the end of the following questions:

Approach to identifying, developing and/or designing a preliminary evaluation design, evaluation instruments, data collection Plan, data dictionary, data analysis plan, questions to be addressed by the evaluation study and evaluation study."" Could the Government please clarify its intent?"

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The RFP has been revised to remove the extra “and evaluation study.”

109. Will offerors be penalized if they are unable to provide all three (3) completed references within the last three years?"

SAMHSA RESPONSE: If offerors to do not have refences they will not be negatively affected.

110. Is the contractor to recruit meeting speakers, presenters, facilitators, trainers, consultants, and/or writer or notetaker; or are they being provided a list of these individuals?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The offeror will provide the necessary personnel based on the individual task orders.

111. If FAR 52.222-41 is included, will specific Wage Determinations also be included?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: Depends on the individual task order.

112. Will there be a requirement for documentation of COVID vaccines?

SAMAHSA RESPONSE: Per the latest guidance, The Government will take no action to enforce the clause implementing requirements of Executive Order 14042, absent further written notice from the agency, where the place of performance identified in the contract is in a U.S. state or outlying area subject to a court order prohibiting the application of requirements pursuant to the Executive Order (hereinafter, “Excluded State or Outlying Area”). In all other circumstances, the Government will enforce the clause, except for contractor employees who perform substantial work on or in connection with a covered contract in an Excluded State or Outlying Area, or in a covered contractor workplace located in an Excluded State or Outlying Area. A current list of such Excluded States and Outlying Areas is maintained at https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.

113. Will Juneteenth be included as a holiday?

SAMHSA Response: Yes, this is a federal holiday.

114. Travel/ODC’s – Will the Government provide an estimate/plug-in/NOE amount for Supplies/Equipment, travel and ODC’s SAMHSA RESPONSE: No.

115. In the initial IDIQ can the Government confirm if 1,920 or 1,880 hours should be used as the basis.

SAMHSA RESPONSE: The number of hours is based on the company’s equivalency.

116. Can the Government list the "uniform pricing assumptions" for this solicitation?

SAMAHSA RESPONSE: NO

117. states, “For the majority of the labor categories, off site indirect rates will be needed”. Can the Government confirm if there are particular labor categories where the bidder would use onsite rates SAMHSA RESPONSE: This would depend on the individual task order.

118. Page 6 of the solicitation states, “Junior positions are considered to be under three years of experience. Senior positions are considered to be over ten years of experience.”

a. Are the years of experience required to be in relation to the work expectations or the field?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: A combination of both.

b. For personnel with years of experience between 3 and 10, how should those positions be classified – as Junior, Senior, or something else?

SAMHSA RESPONSE: These can be either Junior or mid-level.

119. RFP states “The Contractor shall develop effective partnerships with professional and non-profit and civic organizations, and garner support and collaboration from them, private industry, and other governmental agencies.