33330223RF0010033 Amendment 3.pdf

(x)

33330223RF0010033

x x copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 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.

x

OCON

Washington DC 20013-7012 PO Box 37012

MRC 1200

OCON

OCON

Washington DC 20013-7012 PO Box 37012

MRC 1200

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

07/17/20230003

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The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

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Thomas Dempsey

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

This is Amendment Number Three to Solicitation 333302-23RF-0010033 Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract (IDIQ) for Consulting Services

1. Final Responses to RFI's 122- - 138 ( attached)

2. Proposals will be evaluated and ranked pursuant to the evaluation factors with a selection being made of the most highly qualified offerors that will benefit SI by providing a service. Cost will be negotiated per each individual work order.

Proposals are to be submitted to DropBox.com by Thursday, August 24, 2023, by 3:00PM using the link: https://www.dropbox.com/request/hNvfRqTyGteKJVmLBOEs

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

Smithsonian Institution Solicitation No. 333302-23RF-0010033 Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract (“IDIQ) for Consulting Service

Request for Information

1. We know that the Smithsonian is not obligated and almost never reports contracts to fpds.gov?

Answer: All federal contract awards over $10,000.00 must be reported in FPDS. All IDIQ contracts must be reported in FPDS in order that Task Orders can be reported against them.

2. Can you share the incumbent's name and previous contract number on this oppty?

Answer: Attain – F13CC10363 Deloitte Consulting LLP – F13CC10365 Ernst & Young LLP – F13CC10367 Pricewarehouse Coopers LLC – F13CC10361

3. The NAICS code 541611 is referenced in the pre-solicitation announcement. The NAICS is limited to $24.5 Million. The next paragraph informs this procurement “is open to all business regardless of size”.

Does the government intend for this to be a small business opportunity?

Answer: This announcement is open to all businesses regardless of size. The contract awarded will be firm-fixed-price IDIQ contract—with no Minimum Contracting Work/Amount Guarantee. This is not going to be set aside for small business but they are welcome to apply.

4. The scope of this work falls directly in line with our capabilities and experience. Would the government consider putting this opportunity out on the STARSIII vehicle to be able to take advantage of the streamlined acquisition process of this vehicle while gathering 8(a) credit?

Answer: STARSiii is for IT only.

5. If this IDIQ a follow on to an existing contract? If so, can you share the incumbent information?

Answer: See response to question 2.

6. Is this a merger or consolidation of existing contracts?

Answer: No

7. I do not see a PWS unless other documents reside somewhere else. I do not see anything under Sect L, other than administrative, that tells me what/how the Gov is requesting relative to what Sect M is evaluating – unless I am missing something.

Answer: The PWS for each project shall be determined by individual Work Orders issued against the IDIQ Contract.

8. In Section M on page 36 of the solicitation, the Plan of Accomplishment evaluation criteria states:

“Offerors should clearly relay their approach to providing the professional consulting services for the business area of their choosing, from the initial planning stages through implementation.” Can the Government clarify this requirement? Is the expectation for offerors to provide an approach for all areas of discipline in Section C, or shall offerors pick one area as a representative example and provide a plan for this example only?

Answer: Provide a plan for each of the areas you are bidding for.

9. Can the Government clarify if there are any proposal requirements aside from what is outlined in Section L and Section M? For example, are there page limitations or font requirements?

10. Is the Schedule of Labor Rates to be included in the proposal response, or as a separate attachment?

Answer: It can be submitted as an attachment.

11. Can instructions for completing the Schedule of Labor Rates spreadsheet be provided, including the definitions of headings for all columns in the table on the “Base” tab?

Answer: The Schedule of Labor Rates Template is an example; your company can submit your own forms with the required information. Provide your loaded hourly rates. Rates shall include all direct labor, indirect costs [e.g., overhead, general and administrative services ].

12. Will there be an opportunity to revise the Schedule of Labor Rates if the IDIQ is extended for option years?

If revisions are allowed, will constraints be imposed (e.g. no more than a certain percentage uplift)?

Answer: All requests for increases in Contract Pricing, shall be requested in advance in accordance with paragraph 52.217-S0093; based upon the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Urban Consumers, https://www.bls.gov/data/ ; and shall be set forth as part of a separate written modification to the Contract mutually agreed upon by the parties.

13. How many IDIQ awards are expected to be made?

Answer: We estimate 5 firms, depending on qualifications.

14. What is the estimated value of this contract vehicle?

Answer: Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity—with no Minimum Contracting Work/Amount Guarantee.

15. When evaluating “similar size and scope” would this map back to the incumbent contractual amount Per USA Spending? I.e.:

Attain (now Maximus)– F13CC10363: $649,487 $724,486.72 Deloitte Consulting LLP – F13CC10365: $1,353,342 $1,578,489.43 Ernst & Young LLP – F13CC10367: $0 $49,463.94 $62,063.94 PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLC– F13CC10361: $0

16. Will this IDIQ be available across the institution to meet individual institutes requirements?

Answer: Yes

17. Does the government have a pipeline of Tasks that it intends to run through this acquisition vehicle?

Answer: No.

18. Due to the broad areas listed and lack of PWS or clarity on exactly what individual task orders will require, it is difficult to establish what roles should be designated as Key Personnel. For consistency, we recommend the government require a Project Manager as Key Personnel at the IDIQ level.

Answer: Please refer to pdf page 36, Section M2.1 – “Each Offeror shall provide resumes of key personnel, such as the project managers, directors, and other key team members. Resumes should state each individual’s experience as it relates to this project. Please include the same information for all key staff.

Submit a staffing plan describing your method of working on this project and a way to retain staff through the duration of the contract.”

19. How does the government plan to evaluate Key Personnel across offerors if the Key Personnel designations are established by each vendor and would vary widely?

Answer: Please refer to pdf page 36, Section M2.1.3 - Experience & Qualifications of Key Personnel.

Each Offeror shall be evaluated on performance under existing and prior contracts/subcontracts for work similar in nature and complexity to this requirement. The SI will focus on information that demonstrates quality of performance relative to the size and complexity of this project. A statement of the key personnel to be assigned to this project, with the name, title, role, and relevant experience of each person. Please also identify portions of the Services (if any) you will be subcontracting to third parties; and Page 36 of 37 Solicitation 333302-23RF-0010033 IDIQ for Consulting Services a. Offerors shall provide three (3) examples of relevant experience and demonstrate technical competence in providing or performing services of similar size, scope, complexity, and type of client that indicates your firm’s suitability for this project within the last five (5) years.

20. The scope of work lists 14 different domains and the RFP states “Offerors may propose on one or more of the business areas listed below.” Is there a minimum number of business areas that each vendor must bid?

Answer: no limit

21. Does the government expect the successful bidder to bid all 14 areas?

Answer: No

22. Can vendors use a BPA or IDIQ as a past performance to show ability to meet board areas of requirements across an organizations division/bureaus/ or groups?

Answer: Yes

23. Would the government consider answering partial questions to give vendors a clearer understanding of the goals of the program prior to the current Question Due date of 7/31? Answers will affect teaming as well as Bid/No bid decisions.

Answer: After SI receives a significant number of questions they will be posted.

24. Could you please provide me with the specific details for environmental services for this solicitation.

Answer: Environmental management services related to facilities management, industrial hygiene, fire protection, and life safety.

25. Can the Smithsonian please provide a sample Work Order/Scope of Work or further descriptive for the Business Process Improvement Analysis and Inventory Management work areas requested under C.2.0 Scope of Work?

Answer: Below are two sample summaries from previous projects:

Business Process Improvement:

The contractor will provide specialized professional consultation services to assist in developing recommendations to streamline three specific business operations processes within OUSA, described below. The contractor will provide analytical techniques, such as lean six sigma, to review current administrative processes, identifying challenges, and developed alternative approaches to streamline business processes. Each project below should be approached sequentially, and each should take no longer than 6 weeks to complete.

Inventory Management:

The contractor will provide professional commercial real estate consultation services to assist the SI in improving the management of its current leased space portfolio and ensuring that the SI is getting the best value from its most expensive and high-risk lease agreements.

26. Can the Smithsonian please provide further context as to the level of effort and complexity of the Work orders for each of the functional areas requested?

Request for Information Answer: Each work order will be unique. The level of effort and complexity will be described in the work order and the contractor will have opportunity to ask questions.

27. For guidance, can the Institution please provide the successful proposals from the prior iteration of this contract?

Answer: we cannot divulge contractors information.

28. Has the Smithsonian Institution entered or planning to enter into any Public/Private Partnership (P-3) arrangements?

Answer: No

29. Are there any Security Requirements required with this Solicitation? If so, what level of requirements will be required?

30. Does the Smithsonian Institution have any current audit exceptions/qualifications for any tasks?

31. Could you please provide more detail/descriptive information as to requirements/work effort associated with the following tasks:

Business Process Improvement Analysis Financial Controls Financial Management Governance Best Practices Health and Environmental Management Human Resource Management Information Technology Management Inventory Management Internal and Operational Controls Personal Property Asset Management Policy Development Research and Benchmarking Strategic Planning Supply Management

Answer: These are general topics of future task orders that we anticipate. The details and descriptions will be part of individual, future task orders.

32. Section C.2.0, pg. 3: What is the estimated period for issuance of Task Orders for the tasks above?

Answer: ?

33. Section C.2.0, pg. 3: While not identified above, is the Real Property Asset Classification to be included in the Scope of Work? If so, please provide additional details on what a Scope of Work might include.

Answer: Please refer to response to item 25, above.

34. Section C.1.0, pg. 2: Given the Institution’s facilities across eight states, DC, and Panama, there may be a need for travel expenditures. Please confirm that those expenditures and their reimbursement will be addressed in negotiations around a specific task order. Therefore, they do not need to be factored into pricing rates for this RFP.

Answer: Yes, that is correct. If travel is required for a task order, it will be specified in the scope of work and does not need to be address in this RFP.

Request for Information

35. Section 52.216-25(a)3, pg. 17: Given the unknown requirements and breadth of potential engagements, please confirm that successful contractors under this RFP will a) have the opportunity to negotiate “other mutually agreeable clauses, terms, and conditions” before accepting a work order or b) retain the ability to decline a work order should mutually agreeable terms not be achievable.

Answer: The clauses in the RFP will be the clauses int eh IDIQ and included by reference in work orders.

the terms, conditions and scope of work is negotiable.

36. Section J, pg. 26: Section J indicates that documents marked by an asterisk (*) are required “after award”.

The Offeror’s proposal is marked * as after award. Please clarify which of the four documents are required with the proposal submission in response to this RFP.

Answer:? These documents will be attached after award to the successful bidders. Section L and Section M describes what must be submitted for award of contract.

37. Section M2.3.a, pg. 36: We understand the need to “provide three examples of relevant experience…” Please confirm that this experience is at the firm level and not for each specific individual for whom resumes are provided.

Answer: yes

38. Section M2.3.a, pg. 36: Are three examples of relevant experience required for each service area we are proposing, or are we to provide a total of three examples regardless of the number of service areas proposed?

Answer: Please provide three relevant experiences for each service area that you are proposing.

39. Amendment 1: The answer to Question #22 affirmed that “vendors can use a BPA or IDIQ as past performance to show the ability to meet broad areas across an organization’s division…”. For experience not through a BPA or IDIQ, please provide the specific information, e.g., do you require reference contact information?

40. Key Personnel - does SI have an overall desire for specific Key Personnel throughout the entirety of the Contract or for each individual Business Area that the Vendor decides to include in their bid? Is that what is meant on page 7? ie. Program Director Answer: Key personnel for the firm

41. How will Work Orders be administered and alerted to Vendors?

Answer: The Smithsonian unit that requires services will contact the firm directly with a request for a quote.

42. Can the same Key Personnel be utilized across multiple Business Areas if the Work Orders aren't running concurrently?

43. How should the Vendor account for materials and equipment costs for each Business Area if we don't know the full Scope of Work in a specific Work Order?

Answer: Please quote only labor costs for this proposal.

Request for Information

44. Can you provide a breakdown of the Business Areas that had Work Orders performed by the previous

Incumbents? How many Work Orders were allocated to Business Process Improvement Analysis, Financial Controls, and Financial Management, etc?

Answer: This is difficult to provide since the contracts had a duration of 10 years.

45. Can you provide examples of the type of Work Orders performed by the incumbents in the past?

Answer: This is difficult to provide since the contracts had a duration of 10 years. In the last year we have focused on administrative business process improvements.

46. To ease proposal evaluation, would Smithsonian consider setting a page limit? Such as “technical proposals of up to 30 pages should address those requirements bid, key personnel, and three experience/past performance narratives.”

Answer: No page limit

47. How many awardees does Smithsonian anticipate?

Answer: Answer: We estimate 5 firms, depending on qualifications.

48. Will awards be made on an all-or-nothing basis, that is, may an offeror bidding multiple areas be awarded only certain of those areas?

Answer: ?

49. SECTION M – Evaluation Factors for Award states: 1. Plan of Accomplishment Offerors shall provide a narrative strategy that fully address their interest and ability to support specific business areas within their proposal of the required services set forth in the RFP above. Offerors should clearly relay their approach to providing the professional consulting services for the business area of their choosing, from the initial planning stages through implementation.

Can the Smithsonian please provide a sample Work Order/Scope of Work or further descriptive for the Business Process Improvement Analysis and Inventory Management work areas requested under C.2.0 Scope of Work?

Answer: Please refer to answer 25

50. Can the Smithsonian please provide further context as to the level of effort and complexity of the Work orders for each of the functional areas requested?

Answer: Please refer to answer 26

51. May a company bid on the performance of certain parts of the list of services sought? Or are you looking to award this to a single source?

Answer: Yes, bid only for the services your company can provide.

52. Currently how are the business consulting services outlined in the Scope of Work (section C.2.0) being managed and performed. Are there various consultants advising or has this been done with internal staff?

Answer: Yes, we currently have consultants providing business consulting services.

53. Is there currently an ERP solution in place that manages the functionality of the business consultant services outlined? If so, which ERP solution is currently being utilized? Is the ERP solution an on premise solution, cloud solution or in a hybrid environment?

Answer: Peoplesoft

54. Will the consulting team have access to the existing ERP solution in place to review the Operational/Financial/HR/Supply Management processes, workflows and functionality or will documentation be provided upon request?

Answer: Only if required in the scope of work.

Request for Information

55. Have any deficiencies or process improvements been identified in each business consultant area outlined in the Scope of Work?

Answer: No, not all.

56. If there is no ERP solution in place or if you are not using it in an Enterprise capacity, will you indicate what you are using for Financial/Budgeting Management, HR Management, Supply Chain Management, Asset Management.

Answer: We do have an ERP solution in place.

57. Has a list of stakeholders been identified to assist in the change management that will be produced by the business consultant services?

Answer: yes

58. Can you clarify whether suppliers are expected to provide three examples of experience for each service area, or three examples for the entire bid, irrespective of the number of services being bid for?

Answer: See response to question 38

59. Can you please expand on the type of work and services for the Policy Development category?

Answer: supporting an SI unit in the development or implementation of a Smithsonian policy.

60. Can you please expand on the type of work and services for the Human Resources Management category?

Answer: Supporting an SI unit in a task related to human resources.

61. Will the government please provide information on how they plan to evaluate price?

Answer: hourly rate in each labor category within the proposal

62. RFP Section C.2.0 Scope of Work This section states that “Offerors may propose on one or more of the business areas set forth below.”

Answer: what is the question?

63. Can the government confirm that offerors will only be evaluated against the specific business areas that they propose against and will not be negatively evaluated for not proposing against one or more of the business areas listed in this section?

64. RFP, Section 3.0, Labor Categories This section identifies the preferred level of progression for labor categories within the contract. Since labor categories are not defined within this RFP, can the government confirm that each offeror should define the mix of labor categories necessary for the business areas it proposes against?

65. For example, an offeror may choose to propose the following labor categories: Consultant (entry, mid, senior-levels), project manager (entry, mid, senior levels), analyst (entry, mid, and senior-levels), and so on and so forth as it deems necessary.

66. RFP, Section L, Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Bidders The instructions do not provide any specifications around the page length and formatting requirements of the offeror’s proposal. Can the government define these requirements for all offerors (i.e., number of pages, font, font size, margins, etc.)?

Answer: No Page Limit

Request for Information

67. If the government defines page length can the government confirm that cover pages, cover letters, table of contents, and resumes do not count against the page length?

Answer: No Page Limit

68. RFP, Section M2.1.2, Staffing. The evaluation criteria requires the “resumes of key personnel, such as the project managers, directors, and other key team members.” Given the broad nature of the IDIQ scope, uncertainty around the timing of any work orders associated with this IDIQ, and the fact that no work orders have been identified at this time, would the government consider limiting the key personnel at the IDIQ level to the company’s designated program manager for this contract and allow for more specific key personnel to be defined at the work order level where the scope of the actual tasking will be more clear?

Answer: Key personnel refer to the firm leadership team and any relevant personnel currently on-board

69. RFP Section M, Evaluation Factors for Award, M.3 Section M.3. states, “Award of a contract shall be made to the responsive, responsible Offeror, whose combined cost and technical proposal is, in the opinion of the Contracting Officer, determined to be the most advantageous and in the best interest of the Smithsonian Institution.”

Answer: what is the question?

70. Section M defines how the technical aspects of an offeror’s proposal will be evaluated but does not specify how price will be evaluated at the IDIQ level. Can the government provide offeror’s details with how it intends to evaluate each offeror’s price given the potential for variation in LCATs proposed by each offeror?

Answer: Please see response to question 61

71. Template – Schedule of Labor Rates, “Base” Tab Can the government confirm that the number of rows in the table can be adjusted to fit the number of labor categories (and levels) the offeror intends to propose?

72. Template – Schedule of Labor Rates, “Base” Tab Can the government confirm that the “salary” and “base rate” columns should be populated with the highest expected salary and base rate for that labor category and level combination?

73. Template – Schedule of Labor Rates, “Base” Tab Can the government confirm that offerors can submit a narrative description of their price proposal to augment the information found within the provided template?

74. Would the Smithsonian Institution (Smithsonian) confirm that offerors are not required to return a completed copy of the SF 33 as part of their proposal?

Answer: SF 33 and all Amendments must be signed and submitted with your proposal

75. Would the Smithsonian provide a more detailed description of each task area listed in section C.2.0 Scope of Work so that offerors can better understand and respond to the desired outcomes?

Answer: please see response to question 31

76. Would the Smithsonian confirm the offeror’s understanding that offerors are to provide Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)-level résumés only based on each task area listed in section C.2.0 Scope of Work proposed in their Technical Proposal?

Request for Information Answer: For this proposal we are expecting to see resumes of key personnel, such as the firm’s leadership team and any relevant personnel currently on-board

77. Would the Smithsonian clarify if it will allow offerors to provide representative résumés for each task area listed in section C.2.0 Scope of Work (no more than five résumés in total), in addition to the key personnel résumés for the IDIQ-level?

Answer: For this proposal we are expecting to see resumes of key personnel, such as the firm’s leadership team and any relevant personnel currently on-board

78. Would the Smithsonian clarify if it expects any work to be performed at the Government’s site?

Answer: There is a possibility of on-site work. It will depend on the specific scope of work.

79. Clauses 52.204-24 and 52.204-26 require fill-ins. Would the Smithsonian confirm that offerors are to include required fill-ins in an appendix to the Technical Proposal?

Answer: Check the box on the RFP.

80. Would the Smithsonian explain the inclusion of 52.216-25 Contract Definitization (OCT 2010)? Is the Smithsonian anticipating the issuance of a letter contract?

Answer: No, the terms and conditions of the IDIQ are defined in each individual work order.

81. Since the procurement is not for architect / engineering, building, or construction services, will the Government please remove this provision that requires Builders All-Risk insurance coverage as N/A?

Answer: Omit

82. Would the Smithsonian confirm that offerors are not required to include Attachment #2 Service Contract Act of 1965 and SAM Record as a part of their proposal?

83. Of the 14 business areas identified in the solicitation, can the Smithsonian please provide the specific business areas that are attributable to the majority of the 15% of work outside the Washington DC metropolitan area?

Answer: The 14 business areas could be applied to any Smithsonian location. It will depend on the specific scope of work.

84. Since eighty-five (85) percent of Smithsonian’s work is anticipated to be in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, and the remaining fifteen (15) percent of the work is to be other geographical locations.

Is the offeror’s travel cost reimbursed by the Smithsonian for work-related travel?

Answer: See response to question 34.

85. Since eighty-five (85) percent of Smithsonian’s work is anticipated to be in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, and the remaining fifteen (15) percent of the work is to be in other geographical locations, what telework options are available, if any, in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and other geographical locations?

Answer: Telework options, if any, will be identified in the specific scope of work.

86. As part of the Smithsonian’s answers to previous Request for Information (RFI) questions, the Smithsonian provided specific details, under question #24, related to the following business area: Environmental Services. To understand the remaining 13 business areas identified in the solicitation as well as the subtle differences between certain business areas (i.e., Financial Management versus Financial Controls), can the Smithsonian please provide some specific details for the remaining 13 business areas?

Request for Information Answer: The business areas are general terms. The specifics would be described more clearly in the task order scope of work.

87. How will the Smithsonian award contracts for other business areas, not listed in the 14 business areas, when it states “…for all business areas which may include, but are not limited to, those areas set forth below.”?

Answer: The Smithsonian has other means to award contracts outside of this RFP.

88. Per the solicitation, “proposals are to be submitted to DropBox.com using the link:

https://www.dropbox.com/request/hNvfRqTyGteKJVmLBOEs.“ TFC clicked on the link to learn more about DropBox.com. We learned that if the Smithsonian is considered a “Dropbox Basic, Plus, or Family User, you can only upload files up to 2GB.” However, if the Smithsonian were considered a “Dropbox Business Team member or a Professional user, files would be accepted up to 50 GB in size.” What type of Dropbox user is the Smithsonian to prevent any issues with offerors uploading their proposal files Answer: Dropbox Business Advanced 10,000 TB

89. As part of the Smithsonian’s answers to previous RFI questions, the Smithsonian provided the amounts in red (below), under question #15. What is the span of time for those accumulated amounts?

Attain (now Maximus)– F13CC10363: $649,487 $724,486.72 Deloitte Consulting LLP – F13CC10365: $1,353,342 $1,578,489.43 Ernst & Young LLP – F13CC10367: $0 $49,463.94 $62,063.94 Answer: 10 years

90. Would the Smithsonian be amenable to extend the proposal submission due date (currently August 17, 2023) to at least 21 calendar days after the Smithsonian’s official release of answers back to offerors?

Answer: no

91. What is the anticipated period of performance?

Answer: 1 year, plus 9 option years

92. Section C.3.0 states the 3 levels of qualifications. Will the Smithsonian provide a list of labor categories?

How will the pricing response be evaluated?

Answer: the offeror should provide the labor categories for each business area in their proposal

93. In terms of the pricing response, should the offeror delineate each of the areas the labor categories and rates which are applicable?

94. Can experience be substituted by years of education in the Labor Category descriptions? For instance Mid- Level requires 3-10 years of experience, can contractors propose BA/BS + 1 through 6 years of experience forming a family of labor categories?

95. Clause 52.213-S0094 Invoices section is consistent with contracts issued on Time and Material or Labor Hour type contract but not Firm Fixed Price. Can you please clarify if the SI intend to apply this clause to FFP type contracts?

96. Will the contract allow for Labor Hour, Time and Materials as well as Firm Fixed Price contracts?

Answer: Task orders (TOs) against IDIQ contracts

Request for Information

97. If Representations and Certifications are completed by the contractor in SAM.gov, can the SI clarify if the

Section K needs to be fully completed?

98. What level of detail should be submitted with the pricing volume? Is SI expecting to see only a rate table?

99. Is there a preferred or required file format for technical proposals (e.g., Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, etc.)

Answer: PDF

100. Can the Smithsonian share an approximation or range regarding number of Work Orders in an average year?

101. While this announcement is full and open to all business regardless of size, will this be criteria for scoring / selection?

Answer: no

102. Are there any MBE / WBE requirements? If so, how will that impact evaluation?

Answer: full and open competition not limited through set-asides

103. For Key Personnel, is the Smithsonian open to global resources located outside the US?

104. Are there any related reciprocity / cooperative clauses as part of the IDIQ?

105. Can the Smithsonian confirm that this is not a solicitation for a federal contract and therefore not governed by federal procurement procedures?

Answer: This is a Request for proposal for Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contact which will result in task orders that can be federally funded or Trust funded.

106. If we are submitting a proposal with a teaming partner, and each team member has interested in different business areas based on past performance, will the government accept recent and relevant past performances from the Prime and Subs?

107. Are the key personnel inferred at the work order level or at the IDIQ level?

Answer: IDIQ level

108. Does the Government expect the same level of effort to be prevalent on the current iteration of current IDIQ contract to be competed, or is there something else that will be included in the level of effort that will entice industry to bid on this IDIQ?

Answer: To be determined by individual scopes of work

109. Please provide industry an estimated contract value.

Answer: See response to answer 89 as an estimate

Request for Information

110. Yet, at C.3.1 the Gov states the following, ``For each Work Order, the successful offeror shall provide key personnel…`` Please clarify if Key Personnel resumes are to be submitted at the IDIQ level or at the Task Order Level. Please correct and amend to fully understand what the Government is requesting.

Answer: It is correct as stated. However, this RFP is for the IDIQ, not future work orders

111. There are a least 5-7ea functions listed in Section C that are independent from all other, thus if an offeror is to submit a proposal on all functions, 3ea past performances would sustain the bid. How are 3ea past performances to be rated to quality for all functions selected? In addition, if we are to submit a proposal with subs at the IDIQ level, can we use subcontractor`s past performance? And finally, are 3ea the maximum number of past performances that can be submitted.

Answer: Please provide three past performance information for each business function being proposed.

Yes, you may use subcontractor past performance and their key personnel.

112. Will the Government accept CPARS rather PPQs?

Answer: If you are using a state, local, or commercial project for past performance, it will not have a CPARS rating. In which case, you'll use a PPQ. CPARs is accepted.

113. Does the government have a page limit for the technical proposal? Should the offeror adhere to any font, style, or page limit specifications?

Answer: No page limit

114. Does the government wish for offerors to provide an individual narrative strategy for each of the selected business areas specified in C.2.0, or rather, is the government seeking a holistic technical approach?

Answer Yes, narrative for each business area

115. Does the government have a limit or suggestion on the number of key personnel? Given the variety and range of scope areas, are there specific key personnel or skill sets the government would like to be included?

Answer: No limit

116. Would the government be amenable to a proposal extension based on the response to question 2? If the Government is requiring a separate approach response for each functional area, then we respectfully request an extension of 7 days to 08/24/2023.

117. Since the RFP does not provide any specific requirements, is it adequate here to discuss a general approach to how offers intend to planning and executing consulting opportunities?

118. Does the government anticipate that offerors will provide sample positions and staff for task order level projects or is the staffing plan only to address IDIQ level personnel?

Answer: IDIQ level key personnel

119. If we would like to submit proposals for more than one business area do we simply include separate Plans of Accomplishment for each of the different business areas in a single proposal?

120. Does the government have any other guidelines on what is required in the Technical Proposal other than the Plan of Accomplishment, Staffing Plan, and Experience and Qualifications of Key Personnel?

121. Does the government have any requirements in terms of page limit, font, etc.?

What information does the government require in the Cost Proposal given that there are no work orders issued at this time?

Answer: Cost will be negotiated per each individual work order.

122. This provision requires an awardee to provide proof of insurance 14 days prior to commencing services.

Please confirm that an awardee will not be in violation of this clause if the Government does not allow for 14 days between award and the period of performance start date?

Answer: Confirmation would need to be provided by the COTR for the specific work order.

123. This section states, “A statement of the key personnel to be assigned to this project, with the name, title, role, and relevant experience of each person” is to be included in within the Experience and Qualifications of Key Personnel section of the offeror’s Technical Proposal.

Answer: yes, please refer to response of question 77.

124. Would the Smithsonian allow offerors to include the statements of key personnel experience within the Staffing section of their Technical Proposals?

125. Would the Smithsonian confirm that Section M.4. was intentionally omitted?

Answer: Correct

126. Would the Smithsonian clarify how offerors will be rated if they respond to fewer work domains?

Answer: Each work domain will be evaluated individually

127. To prove our capabilities across the 14 task areas listed in section C.2.0 Scope of Work, would the Smithsonian allow offerors to submit more than three past performance references?

Answer: no, please send only three for each task area in your proposal.

128. Would the Smithsonian confirm that it plans to perform a best value evaluation, which will include an assessment of technical capability with price becoming more important as offers are found to be more equal, and that they will evaluate price for reasonableness?

Answer: Technical Proposals will be evaluated and ranked pursuant to the evaluation factors set forth herein with a selection being made of the most highly qualified offerors that will benefit SI by providing a service. Price will be established per each work order.

129. Would the Smithsonian clarify if it will allow the submission of offerors’ General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) price list with any discounts offered in lieu of the labor rate breakout in the Schedule of Labor Rates spreadsheet provided?

Answer: yes.

130. Because this will be a commercial item procurement based on fully burdened labor rates (see pg. 2 of 37, Section B.1), and because adequate competition is anticipated to allow the Government to have a basis of comparison to establish price reasonableness, will the Government please either remove the requirement to provide a cost build or confirm bidders’ understanding that we do not have to provide a build-up if pricing is based on established Schedule or commercial rates?

Answer:? Omitted, Price will be established per each work order.

Request for Information

131. The Smithsonian’s response to question #38 states that offerors are to “provide three relevant experiences for each service area that you are proposing.” Based on this response, offerors that respond to all 14 services areas would be required to submit a total of 42 references, including a combination of 42 Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) and Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) are required in Q&A #112. Would the Smithsonian please consider allowing offerors to submit a total of three examples of relevant past experience and describe how each reference is similar in nature to the applicable service area(s)?

Answer: Yes, the relevant experience can be a combination of several categories on one project.

132. Q&A #112 refers to a PPQ; however, PPQs and CPARs are not listed as a requirement within the Request for Proposal (RFP). Would the Smithsonian confirm that there is no requirement for offerors to submit CPARS and/or have customers complete a PPQ?

Answer: Provide relevant experience within the past five years. CPARS/PPQ is not required.

133. Q&A #103 confirms that the “Smithsonian is open to global resources outside the US.” Would the Smithsonian please clarify this statement? Do the global resources need to be U.S. citizens?

Answer: Everyone employed under the contract shall be a citizen of the United States of America.

134. If an Offeror is bidding on multiple Business Areas and anticipates using the same labor categories and rates, can a single pricing table be submitted?

135. Should we include a completed Standard form 33?

Answer: SF 33 and all Amendments must be signed and submitted with your proposal

136. Do you need details of our SAM.gov account or company information?

Answer: Offers must submit their UEI# all other information can be located on SAM.gov

137. We intend to provide our daily rates, but project budgets would be dependent on the project scale, I assume this is okay?

Answer: Daily Rates

138. Does the reference (F.2) to multiple deliverable formats refer to our response to this IDIQ?