Questions 2.pdf

Questions 2

1. Please confirm that the Government will provide a computer, PIV, and CAG access to all personnel assigned to the contract?

Yes, as stated in section 9.0.

2. ITO states, “This relevant experience shall also include the experience of Key Personnel, and shall provide resumes.” Does the Government require resumes in the proposal for each of the 7 Key Personnel (1 Program Manager, 5 Protocol Coordinators, 1 Technical Writer)?

See section 8.0 for the minimum requirements.

3. ITO states, “Proposals shall…not exceed 30 single sided pages, each (inclusive of cover pages, table of contents, glossary, and appendices).” Can the Government please clarify whether “30 single sided pages, each” means that the entire proposal package may not exceed 30 pages, or whether each of the individual volumes may not exceed 30 pages?

As stated in the solicitation, the entire proposal shall not exceed 30 pages.

4. Can the Government please provide individual page limits for each volume?

As stated in the solicitation, the entire proposal shall not exceed 30 pages.

5. ITO states, “Proposals shall…not exceed 30 single sided pages, each (inclusive of cover pages, table of contents, glossary, and appendices).” Can the Government please confirm whether cover pages, tables of contents, glossary, and appendices are included in the page count for each volume?

Inclusive would require them as part of the 30 page count.

6. Can the Government also state whether cover pages, tables of contents, glossary, and appendices are required or optional for this proposal submission?

No requirement in the solicitation, so they would be optional.

7. ITO states, “NOTES: OFFEROR SHALL CONTACT MICHAEL.HAYDO@VA.GOV TO REQUEST

OFFEROR CODE. THIS CODE WILL BE SOLELY USED IN THE 2ND COPY OF THE VOLUME II –

TECHNICAL PROPOSAL (SEE BELOW).” Is there a specific deadline as to when offerors must request the offeror code from Mr. Haydo?

The Offeror Code is no longer required by the vendor and the unredacted file will be coded by the Contracting Officer upon receipt. The Contracting Officer will be out of the office until 8/20/2021.

Please send the files in both the redacted and unredacted versions.

7. ITO states that offerors are required to submit past performance questionnaires (PPQs) with their proposal. Will the Government provide a PPQ template or guidance for the PPQ format?

A PPQ template has been uploaded to the site.

8. Will the Government provide file-naming conventions for proposal files?

No file-naming conventions, nor specific formats are required.

9. What is the required Font/FontSize for the Tech response? Typically it is 12pt Arial/Verdana or Times New Roman?

11pt and larger Arial/Verdana and Times New Roman are fine.

10. Can the government provide a pricing volume template?

No template will be provided.

11. The SOW states the Contractor will be responsible for answering calls on the national Central IRB toll free line. Can the Government clarify if this task can be performed remotely?

It should be performed remotely.

12. When the contractor identifies incomplete documentation submissions, errors, etc., on the part of research participants, and communicates them to the government, who has the responsibility for following up with the research participants and correcting the deficiencies; the contractor or the government representatives?

The VA IRB team will follow up with the research participants, based on the contractor findings.

13. During webinars, video conferences, etc., will the government provide real-time technical support to solve any A/V technology issues?

The contractor will be responsible for the technical support.

14. Based on the nature of the work, what type of price proposal is requested, e.g., a combination of fixed price and time and materials, fixed-price and estimated labor hours by labor category, etc.?

The requirement is for an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract with Firm-Fixed price task orders.

15. Based on the variation in the potential labor mix, do you require Key Personnel Resumes for the 1 Program Manager, and 5 Protocol Coordinators and 1 Tech writer, or just a Key personnel resume for the Program Manager?

Answered above.

16. Can the Program Manager have an equivalent number of years experience or a Masters degree?

The minimum required degree and experience is in Section 8.0.

17. Confirming the government requires a per task pricing as outlined in the Total Evaluated Price, can the government assign CLINs to them?

Services will be ordered from the vendor’s prices by task order. CLINS outlining the required services will be on the task orders.

18. What are the evaluation factors, for example does the Strength of the Tech Volume and Past Performance outweigh Price, etc.

As shown in Provision 52.212-2 “Technical, and past performance, when combined, are significantly less important than price.”