36C10G19R0041-0001001.docx

FedBizOpps Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation

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* = Required Field FedBizOpps Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation Rev. March 2010 R Actuarial Support Services 22408-2697 36C10G19R0041 09-19-2019 N 524298 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs OPAL | Strategic Acquisition Center 10300 Spotsylvania Ave | STE 400 Fredericksburg VA 22408-2697 Gwennifer.Epps@va.gov www.va.gov/OfficeOfAcquisitionOperations/about/sac.asp VA | OALC | OPAL | Strategic Acquisition Center The purpose of amendment 001 to RFP 36C10G19R0041, is to provide questions and answers to inquiries from potential offerors.

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth below.

The following questions and answers are provided based on inquiries from potential offerors:

The following inquiry has been received: 1. Page 52. Explain term “executable format.” What is an SAS Program?

The following response applies: Response: “The projection models developed for this contract shall be provided in a format using software that can be used to produce analytics and data reports (e.g., SAS software programs).” (“SAS” is the name of the program – it doesn’t stand for anything anymore.).

The following inquiry has been received: 2. Solicitation language on page 111, expand on the importance of – “All non-Price Factors when combined are significantly more important than the Price Factor” The following response applies: On page 111 of the solicitation, paragraph A. BASIS FOR AWARD: has been revised to read as;

The Government will award a labor-hour contract from this solicitation to the responsible Offeror whose offer, conforming to the solicitation, is most advantageous to the Government. The best value proposal will be determined based on appropriate consideration of the following five (5) evaluation factors: Technical Approach, Past Performance, Small Business Participation, Veteran’s Involvement, and Price. Although technical factors are of paramount consideration in the award of the contract, past performance, and cost or price are also important to the overall contract award decision. All evaluation factors other than cost or price when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price, though, it must be noted that cost will be a substantial factor in source selection. In any case, the Government reserves the right to make an award to that offeror whose proposal provides the best overall value to the Government. Technical Approach Factor is significantly more important than the Past Performance Factor, which is more important than the Small Business Participation Commitment Factor, which is more important than the Veteran’s Involvement Factor, which is more important than the Price Factor. All non-Price Factors when combined are significantly more important than the Price Factor. Offerors are cautioned that the award may not necessarily be made to the lowest price offered, or to the most highly rated technical proposal. To receive consideration for award, a rating of no less than “Acceptable” must be achieved for the Technical Factor. The evaluation will be on based on the demonstrated capabilities of the prospective Contractors in relation to the needs of the project as set forth in the RFP. The merits of each proposal will be evaluated carefully. Each proposal must document the feasibility of successful implementation of the requirements of the RFP.

The following inquiry has been received: 3. Is there a list of actuarial positions incorporated into the solicitation by reference?

The following response applies: Actuarial positions are listed in the solicitation under Section B.3 Performance Work Statement under paragraph 16.0 Key Personnel, page 50. The positions are also included in of the RFP under Volume I – Technical Approach under the staffing paragraph.

The following inquiry has been received: 4. Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) - Attachments 2: The part 2 instructions state: “For any exceptional, neutral, marginal, or unsatisfactory rating, please provide explanatory narratives in the remarks block.” Exceptional, neutral, and marginal are not rating choices listed.

How does the government wish for us to instruct clients that are submitting complaint PPQ’s regarding the absence of these options on the form?

The following response applies: Contractors or customers responding to the questionnaire shall provide a narrative for any ratings of Outstanding, Good, and Unsatisfactory as identified in the questionnaire. There is no need for a narrative for an Acceptable rating.

The following inquiry has been received: 5. Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) - Attachment 3: The sample questionnaire cover letter references Brian Love as the recipient contracting officer for the solicitation PPQ (see excerpt below).

Except from the sample questionnaire cover letter:

“To assist you in preparing your response and expediting your reply, the questionnaire may be filled out and returned to the Contracting Officer, Brian Love at brian.love@va.gov, mailed to the address below, or faxed to (540) 479-8500. Your completed questionnaire will become a part of the official Source Selection records.

Strategic Acquisition Center Attn: Brian Love 10300 Spotsylvania Ave Fredericksburg, VA 22408”

Is this correct? Should all questionnaires be sent to Gwennifer Epps as the identified Contacting Officer for the current solicitation? Please advise as to which contracting officer the government would like as the recipient of the PPQs?

The following response applies: The Questionnaire shall not be sent to Brian Love. It is to be sent to Gwennifer Epps via email only at Gwennifer.Epps@va.gov

No Fax submissions shall be sent or evaluated.

The following inquiry has been received: 6. Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) - Attachments 2: The part 2 instructions state: “If a question is not applicable, circle N/A.”

On the form there is no N/A option available or listed on the questionnaire to circle.

How does the government wish for us to instruct clients that are submitting complaint PPQ’s?

The following response applies: Contractors or customers responding to the questionnaire can just type it or write in N/A for not applicable

The following inquiry has been received: 7. Evaluation - Commercial Items

On page 111 of the RFP Solicitation under section E.4 52.212-2 - EVALUATION - COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JAN 1999)- Section A - BASIS FOR AWARD, the provision outlines the order of importance regarding the five (5) evaluation factors and their order of importance.

Relative to this order of importance, can the government provide additional insight or elaboration into the percentages or values for each of the evaluation factors to better understand the weighted values and scoring for each of the five (5) evaluation factors for submitted proposals?

The following response applies: The Technical subfactors are weighted equally. Also, please see response to question 2 for further info on the Basis of Award.

The following inquiry has been received: 8. Key Personnel Resumes on page 104 Section (i) VOLUME 1 - TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE, there is a requirement for the description of qualifications for each key personnel (up to 2 pages each) plus a resume for each named key personnel member. On page 105 under Staffing - section 3 - it notes that Senior Consulting Actuaries are designated as Key Personnel positions.

Do the added resumes that supplement the description of qualifications for each key personnel member apply towards the Technical Approach Volume page count of 100 pages or are they to be added as an appendix and do not impact the volume page count?

The following response applies: The Resumes do not count as part of the technical volume page count. They can be added as an appendix.

The following inquiry has been received: 9. Key Personnel Requirements on page 105 of the RFP, key personnel are required to have a minimum of three years of experience in health benefit systems for the Project Manager and three years of experience in health care actuarial consulting services for Senior Consulting Actuaries.

Within Attachment 5 - Historical Labor Mix Information - experience for the Project Manager/Health Actuary is listed as five to ten years of applicable experience and the Tenured Principle Health Actuary is listed as at least twelve years of experience. Given the nature of the actuarial tasks to be performed on this contract, Milliman agrees that the experience requirements within Attachment 5 are appropriate.

Please clarify what labor categories are intended to qualify as key personnel under the solicitation and what is the minimum expected experience required for each of these categories?

The following response applies: It is up to the vendor to determine the right mix of key personnel beyond the two key personnel identified in solicitation on page 50. The Contract Program Manager and Senior Consulting Actuaries are designated as Key Personnel positions each requiring a minimum of three years’ experience in in providing health benefit systems and health care actuarial consulting services, respectively.

NOTE: THE SOLICITATION CLOSE DATE EXTENDED TO CLOSE OF BUSINESS 5PM EDT THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2019