36C77621Q0387 A0003_1.docx

Standards & Interoperability Support IDIQ RFQ 36C77621Q0387 – Questions & Answers

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CODE

7. ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

CODE

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED

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10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED

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1. CONTRACT ID CODE

FACILITY CODE

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Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

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

E. IMPORTANT:

is extended,

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ 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 ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

(REV. 11/2016)

is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office.

is not, A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

15C. DATE SIGNED

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

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.

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER

Contractor

16C. DATE SIGNED

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

STANDARD FORM 30

PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243 (Type or print) (Type or print) (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (If other than Item 6) (Specify type of modification and authority) (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(If required)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(X)

CHECK

ONE

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer) A0003 None 36C776 Department of Veterans Affairs Program Contracting Activity Central 6150 Oak Tree Blvd, Suite 300 Independence

OH

44131

36C77621Q0387

X The purpose of this amendment is to provide revised responses vendor questions #10, #16 #19 and #22.

The proposal due date of August 3, 2021 remains unchanged.

Nicholas Sparks Supervisory Contracting Officer

GENERAL INFORMATION

BASE NOTICE TYPE

SET-ASIDE

Program Contracting Activity Central

6150 Oak Tree Blvd, Suite 300 Independence OH 44131

POINT OF CONTACT*

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

POSTAL CODE

COUNTRY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

Modification to a Previous Notice Modification to a Previous Notice All vendor questions and answers with revised responses to vendor questions #10, #16, #19 and #22.

Modification to a Previous Notice

1. The instructions for IDIQ VOLUME III – PRICE FACTOR (page 49 of 81) appear to be requesting a description of LCATs (and their corresponding qualifications) to be used in pricing Task Orders on the IDIQ. Is the Labor Rate Matrix in Section B.4 (page 16 of 81) the way we should present this information in our response?

"Please utilize explanation on page 49: At a minimum, the Offeror shall address the labor category; description to include minimum skills, qualifications, and major areas of responsibilities as it relates to the work specific in the PWS; minimum education level; degree; minimum experience requirements; and information related to substitutions. The Offeror shall also provide an explanation for the designation of labor categories relative to the approach to the performance of the work identified in the PWS. It is up to the offeror to determine which labor categories to offer, and in what quantities are needed to support the prices provided. These labor categories and descriptions will be incorporated into the resulting contract and serve as the minimum requirements/standards throughout the life of the contract."

2. Can you please specify all information that is expected to be included in Part I, Volume III?

"All information included in Part 1, volume 3: At a minimum, the Offeror shall address the labor category; description to include minimum skills, qualifications, and major areas of responsibilities as it relates to the work specific in the PWS; minimum education level; degree; minimum experience requirements; and information related to substitutions. The Offeror shall also provide an explanation for the designation of labor categories relative to the approach to the performance of the work identified in the PWS. It is up to the offeror to determine which labor categories to offer, and in what quantities are needed to support the prices provided. These labor categories and descriptions will be incorporated into the resulting contract and serve as the minimum requirements/standards throughout the life of the contract."

3. Are there specific personnel that the Government is identifying as Key for the IDIQ response?

No. Please propose your labor categories based on work described in the PWS.

4. Are there specific personnel that the Government is identifying as Key for the Task Order 1 response?

No. Please propose your labor categories based on work described in the PWS.

5. Are we required to include a resume for the Contractor Project Manager (IDIQ PWS 4.8) in our response?

Yes, please include resumes for contractor project manager.

6. Can the Contractor Project Manager for the IDIQ also serve as Project Manager on Task Order 1?

At vendor discretion.

7. Under the Part I: IDIQ instructions table (page 45 of 81), it reads “The cover page, table of contents, one-page resume, and/or glossary of abbreviations…”. Can you clarify what the “one-page resume” refers to?

A resume detailing proposed staff experience

8. Is the required Sample Program/Project Management Plan (page 46 of 81) included in the 30 page limit for IDIQ Volume I?

Yes, please include sample program/project management plan in 30 page limit.

9. The list of factors in Evaluation of Offerors (pages 62-63 of 81) goes from #1 (Past Performance) to #4 (Price). Are there items missing from this list?

The numbering is incorrect it should read #1 Past performance and #2 Price.

10. The Basis For Award (Page 63 of 81) indicates that “The Government will evaluate technical, price, and past performance” and that “Task Order (TO) 1 shall be used for the technical and price evaluation at the IDIQ level”. Can the Government clarify the criteria that will be used for the Technical evaluation?

Technical: The quotation will be evaluated to the extent to which it can meet and/or exceed the Government’s requirements as outlined in the solicitation, and based on suitability to VHA needs, value of features, likelihood of success, and the information requested in the instructions to quoters section of the solicitation.

11. Section 6.1.2 (b) says “Within three (3) business days after award, the Contractor shall provide a roster of Contractor and Subcontractor employees to the COR to begin their background investigations in accordance with the PAL template artifact.” Three days to secure a final staffing roster can only be achieved if there is a minimum of 3 weeks between award and contract start date so that candidates can provide their existing employers with professional turnover and departure. Will the Government consider changing this to (5) business days in case award and start date fall within a 3-week cycle?

Yes; 5 business days is a reasonable request

12. The first page of the SF 1449 references a due date of 07-12-2021, (Pg. 43 of 81) of the RFP references a due date of Friday Aug 3, 2021. The first Friday in August is Aug 6th. Can the Government clarify the due date?

The due date should read Tuesday, August 3, 2021 @11:59AM EST.

13. Based on the likely changes that will be required in our response based on the answers to offeror questions, will the Government provide an extension of two weeks to the due date for this response?

No.

14. Rows 1 and 2 of the table show an approximate number of Contractor Personnel Required per Trip as 6 people. Rows 3 and 4 show an approximate number of Contractor Personnel Required per Trip as 2 people. Specifically in reference to the Security personnel, it appears the Level of Effort for Sub-Task Area 5.1.5 Task 5: Security Standards Framework does not support having 2 contractor personnel participate at HL7 WGM (Rows 1 and 2) or Connectathon (Rows 3 and 4), but rather just 1 contractor personnel. Can you please clarify if our pricing estimate should include 2 Security personnel or just 1?

One person

15. Box 8 of the SF 1449 shows a quotation due date of July 12, 2021; however, page 43 of the RFQ indicates a due date of August 3, 2021. Given this discrepancy, will the Government please extend the quotation due date beyond August 3, 2021?

The government will not extend the due date at this time. It will remain 8/3/2021 @ 11:59AM EST.

16. We understand that the pre-defined deliverables for the IDIQ are listed on page 14 of the IDIQ PWS (Attachment A), and we will address them in IDIQ Volume I - Technical Factor. We do not, however, see any Key Personnel requirements for the IDIQ. We are prepared to address our resourcing and staffing strategy for each of the specific IDIQ tasks and deliverables, but how shall offerors address Key Personnel for the IDIQ? Does the Government plan to add further Key Personnel requirements for the IDIQ?

No, additional requirements for key personnel will not be provided. It is up to the offeror to demonstrate why certain skillsets and key personnel were proposed to accomplish the work in the PWS.

17. How many recent and relevant past performances are required/requested for this quotation?

3 is listed in the questionnaire.

18. The IDIQ and TO1 PWS respective tasks have duplicate requirements that may result in an overlap of proposed technical approach content between the TO Volume I response and the IDIQ Volume I response. Can government provide some guidance on how the content can be differentiated and evaluated in the IDIQ volume and in TO volume with regards to the evaluation criteria?

Your technical approach at the task order level will include priced deliverables. Your technical approach at the IDIQ level should reflect your overall understanding of the required work over the lifespan of the contract. Also specify TO1 vs IDIQ

19. Is there any limit to the total number of past performances that can be submitted by prime and their subcontractors?

No more than 5 instances.

20. What specific standards has the VHA KBS S&I group being working on?

Please refer to S02 Attachment D - Task Order 1 under travel for some standards development organizations that S&I participates in

21. Can government confirm that the referenced attachment is S02-Attachment D and not Attachment B. Also, is government asking pricing on Deliverables Table between page #17-21 referenced in this attachment.

The referenced attachment is Attachment D.

Attachment B is the QASP.

There is a column listed actual unit cost please provide pricing in that column of this solicitation.

22. Government anticipates personnel travel as per Section 4.3. There is not line item for travel in the list of deliverables. Could government provide guidance on how travel cost be included in the price proposal? Does Travel price separately from the deliverables or included within the price of deliverables?

Travel shall l be separately priced from other Line Items and established on a cost-reimbursable basis. The proposed travel Line Item will not be included in the total evaluated price for all other Line Items proposed.

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