Government Response to RFQ Questions A0001.pdf

Government Response to RFQ Questions A0001

Q # Section Pg. Questions Answers

1 General -

Is there an existing contract or contracts (BPA, IDIQ, or standalone) for this requirement? If yes, please provide name of contractor, contract number(s), and expiration date(s).

Similar support has been provided under following contracts:

• 36C10X22P0001

• GS35F128DA 36C79123F0001

2 General -

How many concurrent offerings of courses are anticipated or estimated to be delivered during each ordering period?

PM School has 19 unique course offerings available with more to add in the future. PM School estimates 100 to 300 course deliveries per fiscal year. This mix could be virtual instructor led or in-person delivery.

3 General -

Is the contractor responsible for creating and uploading to CSOD the course completion certificates showing relevant course information and CLPs earned?

Does VAAA require a specific template?

No, VAAA Registrar’s office will be responsible for uploading the information from the CAR into CSOD. See updated Section 6.7.1.8.

4 General -

Due to the nature of cohort programs and to improve continuity, does the VAAA prefer that a dedicated instructor(s) be assigned to the courses identified as part of the GOTS PM Fellows program?

Yes, ideally.

5 General -

Will the contractor be required to purchase a license for Blackboard (or any subsequent LMS) or will VAAA provide access as needed for contractor personnel, including instructors?

No, VAAA will provide Blackboard access to instructors and technologists who deliver PM School GOTS courses. See updated Section 6.1.

6 PWS 3.0 8

Is the referenced “After Action” feedback in section 3.0 the same as the “after action course reviews” cited in section 6.7.1.8?

See updated Section 6.7.1.8.

This after after-action feedback will be specified at the order level and vendors will invoice using the labor hour CLIN if ordered under Section 9.6.2.

Also, an after action review will not be for every class, just classes where the Government needs some additional information about a course delivery.

7 PWS 3.0 8

Does the Government intend on including After Action feedback/course reviews for each delivery?

See response to Question #6

PWS 3.0 &

Attachment C Price Schedule

Would the Government adjust the Price Schedule items currently designated as Instructor LCAT for Train the Trainer and Technologist LCAT for Train the Trainer to reflect that After Action feedback/course reviews may also be included in this line item?

If not, can the Government specify how the Contractor shall invoice for the LH line items for After Action feedback?

Line Items x023 and x024 are in the Price Schedule for PWS 9.6 Labor Hour support. Orders will specify when LH support is required.

9 PWS. 6.1, para 2 8

Is Blackboard the course delivery platform or is the Government using Adobe Connect, Teams, Zoom, or WebEx?

The VAAA Blackboard will be used for this BPA’s course delivery.

However, this could change in the future.

10 PWS 6.7.1.9 12

Is the Contractor responsible for uploading completion certificates to

CSOD?

No, see response in Question #3.

11 PWS 6.8.2 12

Will the Government provide section 508 compliant course materials or a compliant alternative to the Contractor?

Yes. The Government is responsible for 508 Compliant Course materials.

12 PWS 6.8.4 12

If a student requests a hard copy of course materials for a virtual class delivery, will the Government print and ship the hard copy materials?

Generally, no. The virtual participants can print the course materials at their normal business unit location. In-person students receive a printed student guide or handouts if required due to a reasonable accommodation.

Occasionally, the PM School may mail student materials; however, this is not common. If the Government does this, it is generally the responsibility of the Government to mail and pay for this printing and shipping or in rare occurrences these may be ordered as an ODC;

see Section 9.5.1.

13 PWS 7.0,

Deliverable 8 14

In the 7.0 Delivery Schedule Table, on page 14, Deliverable 8 indicates Paragraph Number: 6.8.7 as reference, however, the PWS does not have a Paragraph Number:

6.8.7. It does, however, reference

the description of Deliverable 8 in both sections 6.8.3 and 6.8.4.

Would the government please confirm these are the sections associated with Deliverable Number 8?

Yes, deliverable #8 is described in paragraph 6.8.3. See updated table in Section 7.0.

14 PWS 8.0,

Technologists 16

Will the Technologist have the administrative access necessary to administer password resets or will the Technologist serve as a coordinator with an internal VAAA service to reset the password?

Due to system licensing and coordination, the PM school will provide 1 or 2 contractor personnel with this ability who then would reset passwords for possibly multiple technologists.

15 PWS 9.2

Can the government explain the reasoning for not allowing G&A to ODCs? Applying G&A on Travel and ODCs is a usual and customary business practice.

Offeror’s standard cost accounting practices consistently treat these costs in the G&A base and that it is currently not an option to remove these costs. (reference FAR 31.203 for indirect costs). In addition, the application of reasonable G&A support costs does not fit the meaning for pass-through costs.

Section 9.2, Travel will only be reimbursed IAW FTR and G&A charges will not be reimbursed.

ODCs are detailed in section 9.5.

16 PW 9.3

PWS Section 9.3. discusses key personnel, please confirm that only the Project Manager resume is required with this BPA submission and the Project Manager resume belongs in the Technical Volume.

Please confirm that the resume

Yes, Project Manager is the only key personnel at the BPA level and the two page resume is required at quote submission.

RFQ Section E.5 updated.

would not count towards the Technical Volume page count.

17 PWS 9.3.2.1.

Per “9.3.2.1. The Contractor shall submit a résumé of qualifications for all key personnel proposed for the project” – are these resumes to be included in the proposal itself, and if so, do these count towards the page limitations for the technical proposal?

See response to Question #16 above.

18 PWS 9.3

Please confirm proposed Instructor resumes will be submitted at the Task Order level and not at the BPA submission level.

See updated Section 6.9.2 and E.5.9.a.

The draft Instructor Management Plan (IMP) must be submitted in the quote which includes 6.9.2.5, list of instructor pool with summary of qualifications and experience or resumes.

19 PWS 9.3.2 17

Since instructors will be considered key personnel at the order level (and given that “individual orders may identify any specific key personnel requirements in addition to those defined in paragraph 6.9.4), can the Government confirm that the only key personnel at the BPA level is the Project Manager?

See response to questions #16 and #18 above.

20 PWS 9.3.2.1 17

As resumes of Key Personnel instructors are required 4 weeks prior to the start of the course, can the Government confirm that instructors do not need to be designated as Key Personnel within the proposal submission?

See response to Question #18 above.

21 PWS 9.5.1 ODC

Per “9.5.1 ODC: May be anticipated at the order level for such items as printing and shipping of student materials to training locations…”-however in para 6.8.3 it states, “For face-to-face courses, Government shall print, and Contract instructor shall provide printed course

Contractor will not be required to print and/or ship course materials but only in the event of an emergency. Normally, this will be the responsibility of the Government. In a face-to-face course, the contract instructor will distribute printed materials to the students if specified in the order.” For pricing purposes, is the contractor to propose a set amount for ODCs during performance, or should it reflect “TBD at Order Level” like for Travel?

Further, will the contractor be responsible for printing/shipping materials upon request according to para 6.8.3, “Students may request a hard copy of any additional, supplemental course materials on an occasional basis due to reasonable accommodations.”

materials to the students while in the classroom.

22 PWS 9.6.1 Train the Trainer 18

In the event that the Instructor or Technologist needs to attend tabletop sessions or shadow deliveries, would the Contractor be reimbursed for that time under the LH CLIN for the Instructor and/or Technologist?

Yes, if ordered, the contractor will only invoice at the order level for the instructor or technologist train-the-trainer LCAT.

As stated in 9.6, Labor hour support may be anticipated at the order level. Orders will include a ceiling price that the contractor exceeds at its own risk (FAR 12.207).

23 PWS 9.6.1 Train the Trainer 18

Will the Government confirm that the Government is responsible for developing and delivering the train the trainer?

Yes, for initial kickoff of the order and for select courses (i.e., program and project scheduling, mid- and senior-level FAC-P/PM courses).

24 PWS 9.6.1 Train the Trainer 18

Are the Train the Trainer courses already developed? No.

25 PWS 9.6.1 Train the Trainer 18

Will Train the Trainer be provided if courses are modified?

Depending on the amount of course modification.

26 PWS 9.6.1 Train the Trainer 18

Will Train the Trainer be provided for each course title and each instructor and/or technologist at the Task Order level?

No, see answer for Question #23.

27 Para 11.0, Appendix C

Are contractor key personnel (including instructors) required to undergo background and suitability investigation (as outlined in Para 11.0, Appendix C) for access to and

No, instructors do not have access to classified or key information systems. Nor, will instructors require a PIV card unless specific at the task order level. In this case, if a PIV delivery of the course content on Blackboard? Does the VA anticipate requiring these investigations for other purposes in performance of this BPA?

card is required, a PIV card background investigation will be required. See updated Section 11 – 13.

Attachment C - Price Schedule, Quantities

Does the Government foresee an overlap of course title deliveries (i.e., will multiple deliveries of any one course {such as FAC COR Level II 5-day} occur simultaneously)

Yes.

29 Attachment C - Price Schedule -

The price proposal template shows two labor line items for “Train the Trainer” services. Can you confirm that the costs associated with program management, technologist, course administration, and other related support requirements (not identified as ODC) are expected to be incorporated into the cost of the course and not priced separately?

The train-the-trainer lines are for the labor hour CLIN. Program management, course administration, and technologist duties are not priced separately. These are part of the FFP of the course delivery.

30 Attachment C - Price Schedule -

Would the government please revise the D.5 ATTACHMENT C - PRICE SCHEDULE.xlsx workbook to include a line for Project Manager - Key Personnel, either Labor Hour or Fixed Price. Note:

this is an essential position to the successful execution of the work and deliverables (8.0) outlined in the PWS.

The Project Manager is at the BPA level and not separately priced. See updated Section 9.3.1

31 Solicitation E.5.3 37 Does the Government intend on sharing the course content during the solicitation phase?

Yes, course content will be sent directly to vendors during the solicitation phase. Vendors who submitted timely questions per SF 1449, Block 20 will receive the course content. See below for clarified quote intention date.

32 Solicitation E.5.3 37

Can the Government specify the “intention to provide a quote” due date? It is not currently identified in the SF1449, Block 20.

Quote intentions are due by

09-03-2024, 10:00AM ET.

Solicitation E.5.9

b. Volume II – Factor: Past Performance

39-40

For the use of Key Personnel past performance, since it would be challenging for the Government reviewer to specify the performance of an individual, would the Government waive the PPQ requirement for any Key Personnel past performance references?

No, if Key Personnel will be used as a past performance reference a PPQ is to be requested/provided.