BA HAM - Vendor Questions and Responses.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 28 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- 36C77622R0013
About this file
This document outlines a solicitation for an Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract to provide Business Architecture Healthcare Modernization Support Services. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Program Contracting Activity Central anticipates awarding a single-award, firm-fixed-price IDIQ contract to a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business. The contractor will provide support services to the VA's Business Architecture team, including integration and reference architecture, process and value architecture, and information and knowledge architecture support. The period of performance is a five-year base period with estimated task orders over two to three years. The place of performance includes contractor facilities and government sites in Washington, DC and Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg, FL areas.
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Sheet1
| Number | Document | Section | Page | Question | Response |
| 1 | Solicitation | E.1.1.d & | 57 & 59 | The Table on page 57 states that resumes do not count towards page count. Section (2) Key Personnel on page 59 states that offerors are also to include a Letter of Commitment in addition to resumes. Can the government confirm that Letters of Commitment do not count against page count as well? | Correct, Letters of Commitment do not count toward the page count. |
| 2 | Solicitation | (2) Key Personnel | 57 | The table on page 57 states Volume I Technical has a total of 6 sections each with their own file name. Will the Government allow all 6 sections of Volume I Technical to be included in one file as long as it stays within the 30-page limit? | Offerors should provide a single consolidated Volume I Technical submission with the file name "IDIQ Tech.doc/pdf" (and within the 30-page limit) that encompasses all subsections. Volume I Technical consists of the following: (1) IDIQ Technical Capability, (2) IDIQ Key Personnel, (3) IDIQ Staffing Strategy, (4) IDIQ Project Management, (5) IDIQ Quality of Service, (6) Task Order 1 Technical Capability. |
| 3 | Solicitation | E.1.1.d | 59 | Solicitation states ‘Offerors shall specifically identify those resources that it proposes to utilize as key personnel in the performance of this IDIQ. The Offeror will include in its proposal the expertise of staff resources who are considered as key personnel and have the ability and skills needed to perform the requirement’ The instructions indicate that offeror must include KP for all resources intended to support the IDIQ. However, at this time only the specific requirements in TO1 have been finalized. Would VA consider identifying 1-2 KP at the IDIQ such as program and project manager, then shifting additional KP requirements to the support of TO1? | No, Offerors shall specifically identify those resources that it proposes to utilize as key personnel in the performance of this IDIQ. Requirements are detailed in Attachment A - BA IDIQ PWS - Health Architecture Modernization (HAM)_v0.10. |
| 4 | Solicitation | E.1 (2) Key Personnel | 59 | Solicitation leaves open the number of KP that can be included in the response. This could potentially favor the incumbent since they have an entire project team currently executing. Would VA consider setting a specific number of KP across the appropriate Labor Categories? | The Offeror shall propose key personnel positions it considers essential to the successful completion of the requirements of the Performance Work Statement (PWS). It is up to the offeror to determine how many key personnel are required to accomplish the work. |
| 5 | Solicitation | E.1 (2) Key Personnel | 68 | Basis for Award makes no mention of KP evaluations. Is this an oversight? | The Basis for Award states "Any award will be made based on the best overall (i.e., best value) proposal which is determined to be the most beneficial to the Government, with appropriate consideration given to the four (4) following evaluation factors: Technical, IDIQ Past Performance, IDIQ Price and Task Order (TO) 1 Price." Key Personnel is included in the title and contents of Volume I Technical components (file name "IDIQ Tech"), comprised of (1) IDIQ Technical Capability, (2) IDIQ Key Personnel, (3) IDIQ Staffing Strategy, (4) IDIQ Project Management, (5) IDIQ Quality of Service, (6) Task Order 1 Technical Capability. |
| 6 | Solicitation | E.7 | 61 | Can VA confirm that offeror can propose any labor category and associated labor rate that it feels is necessary to execute the work? | Correct, the Offerors shall include all labor categories that may work on any potential Task Order issued within scope and service categories of the IDIQ. The schedule of labor categories and rates must clearly identify Contractor and Government site rates if separate rates are included. Offerors are advised that prices proposed will be incorporated into and become part of the contract |
| 7 | Solicitation | E.1 Price Volume | 61 | Solicitation states that the B.3 Price Schedule is part of the IDIQ pricing. Can VA clarify that these CLINs are intended to be reporting and briefings at the IDIQ Program level? If so, how can a reasonable FFP price be estimated without a full understanding of the totality of Task Orders awarded? The level of effort on these CLINs could potentially vary considerably depending on overall LOE of total task orders. | Per the solicitation estimated quantities for the IDIQ price schedule are provided for price evaluation purposes only; actual quantities required under this contract will be provided at the task order level. Per Attachment A - BA IDIQ PWS, it is estimated that 2-3 task orders will be placed against the IDIQ over a 5-year period. |
| 8 | Solicitation | E.1 Price Volume | 61 | Can VA Clarify that for Task Order 1, VA is requesting Labor Category and Rate cost buildups to justify the FFP amounts bid in CLINS 0001-0010 of attachment M? | Yes, Offerors shall provide a Basis of Estimate for CLINS 0001 - 0010 for Task Order 1. Offerors are permitted to modify Attachment M to include a tab for the Basis of Estimate. |
| 9 | Solicitation | E.1 Price Volume | 61 | Solicitation states, ‘The contractor shall explain the estimating processes and methodologies used in estimating the quantities of labor hours required for successful performance’ Price volume is in Excel. If VA is asking to include a price narrative, can that be in a separate word document or should we include narrative in the excel file. | The Basis of Estimate should be included in the Excel file. Offerors are permitted to modify Attachment M to include a tab for the Basis of Estimate. |
| 10 | IDIQ PWS | E.1 Price Volume | 16 | Is the Government open to other tooling options in addition to Cameo? | Current tooling includes, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Power BI, MS SQL Server, and Cameo Enterprise Architecture. The Contractor shall be expected to be an expert in these tools to include configuration support and be familiar with other common industry tooling in the architecture discipline. |
| 11 | Solicitation | E.1 (A) | 55 | Is the Task Order Technical Capability included in the total 30-page "Tech.doc/pdf"? | Yes. |
| 12 | Solicitation | E.1 1d | 54 | To confirm what's included in the 30-page "Tech.doc/pdf": (1) IDIQ Technical Capability, (2) IDIQ Staffing Strategy, (3) IDIQ Project Management, (4) IDIQ Quality of Service, (5) Task Order 1 Technical Capability - Is this correct? | Volume I Technical consists of the following: (1) IDIQ Technical Capability, (2) IDIQ Key Personnel, (3) IDIQ Staffing Strategy, (4) IDIQ Project Management, (5) IDIQ Quality of Service, (6) Task Order 1 Technical Capability. |
| 13 | Solicitation | E.1 1c | 54 | In "section E.1 1c" "File Packaging: All of the proposal files shall be submitted as individual files in the required format as outlined in the table below." The referenced table (page 54) shows "Volume I Technical" with a file name of "IDIQ Tech.doc/pdf", however, each subsection of this volume listed in the table shows its own file name (e.g., Tech1.doc/pdf for IDIQ Technical Capability, Tech4.doc/pdf for IDIQ Project Management, Tech6.doc/pdf for Task Order 1 Technical Capability, etc.). Would the Government like each subsection to be submitted individually as its own file with the respective file names identified AND a consolidated Volume I Technical ("IDIQTech.doc/pdf"). Or would the Government like to have a single consolidated "Volume I Technical" submission with the file name "IDIQ Tech.doc/pdf" (and within the 30-page limit) that encompasses all subsections? | Offerors should provide a single consolidated Volume I Technical submission with the file name "IDIQ Tech.doc/pdf" (and within the 30-page limit) that is comprised of the following: (1) IDIQ Technical Capability, (2) IDIQ Key Personnel, (3) IDIQ Staffing Strategy, (4) IDIQ Project Management, (5) IDIQ Quality of Service, (6) Task Order 1 Technical Capability. |
| 14 | Solicitation | E.1 (2) Key Personnel | 56 | Please confirm that the Letters of Commitment for Key Personnel are NOT included in the 30-page technical volume limit. | Correct, Letters of Commitment and Resumes for Key Personnel do not count toward the page count. |
| 15 | Solicitation | E.1 (B)(5) Past Performance Questionnaire | 58 | The PPQ form instruction states that the PPQ is to be emailed directly from our reference to Ms. Morgan no later than the submission due date. The RFP instructions state that "Past Performance Questionnaire be completed and returned by the evaluator as instructed in the attachment. This requirement will not be included in the page count limitation." Please confirm that the PPQs are NOT to be sent back to us for inclusion in our proposal, and should be sent directly to Ms. Kimberly Morgan. | Correct, PPQs shall be sent directly to the Contract Specialist, Kymberly Morgan, via email at Kymberly.Morgan@va.gov. |
| 16 | Solicitation | B.3 Price/Cost Schedule | Is the price schedule correct that they do not want us to subtotal the periods? If not, can the price schedule be updated to include subtotals for each year and a grand total for all years? | The system generated price schedule does not break down ordering periods. Subtotals of ordering periods are not required. | |
| 17 | Solicitation | B.3 Price/Cost Schedule | Is the anticipated IDIQ start date 2/7/2022 as stated in the price schedule or will it align with the TO1 anticipated start date of 3/6/2022? | The anticipated start date in the price schedule is an estimated period of performance and shall be adjusted as needed. The start date of the IDIQ may not necessarily coincide with the anticipated start date of Task Order 1. | |
| 18 | Attachment A - BA IDIQ PWS | 4.1 Performance Period | The IDIQ PWS performance period states that "this IDIQ is a five (5) year base period." Is this correct, or should this be a one-year base period plus four option periods? | The proposed contract will include a five (5) year base ordering period. The period of performance identified on each task order will vary based on the type of services required. Task orders may include optional periods exercisable under FAR 52.217-9. | |
| 19 | Solicitation | B.4 Labor Rate Matrix | What is meant with the first column "No." in the provided labor matrix? Are they referring to numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4) or are they referring to quantities for each recommended LCAT? | "No." in the first column of the table in Section B.4 Labor Rate Matrix is referring to numbers (e.g. 1, 2, 3, etc.). | |
| 20 | Attachment M - Task Order 1 Price Schedule | N/A | Can the TO1 pricing template (Attachment M) be modified to include additional tabs covering the supportive pricing information requested in the instructions? Should the price template (Attachment M) provided include option year pricing? Right now, it only states the base year. | Offerors are permitted to modify Attachment M to include a tab for the Basis of Estimate. Attachment M has been updated to include option years per TO1 PWS. | |
| 21 | Solicitation | N/A | Can the government provide instructions to account for the anticipated TO1 travel in the pricing template (Attachment M)? | Attachment M has been updated to include an optional line item for travel. | |
| 22 | Solicitation | E.1.1 Proposal Files | Is the 30 pages cumulative across all technical items, aside from Key Personnel? Or should the Task Order 1 Technical capability document have a separate page requirement? | Offerors should provide a single consolidated Volume I Technical submission with the file name "IDIQ Tech.doc/pdf" (and within the 30-page limit) that is comprised of the following: (1) IDIQ Technical Capability, (2) IDIQ Key Personnel, (3) IDIQ Staffing Strategy, (4) IDIQ Project Management, (5) IDIQ Quality of Service, (6) Task Order 1 Technical Capability. | |
| 23 | Solicitation | E.1.1 (A) Volume I | If the 30 pages is cumulative, does the government still want each of these sections in separately packaged documents? | Offerors should provide a single consolidated Volume I Technical submission with the file name "IDIQ Tech.doc/pdf" (and within the 30-page limit) that is comprised of the following: (1) IDIQ Technical Capability, (2) IDIQ Key Personnel, (3) IDIQ Staffing Strategy, (4) IDIQ Project Management, (5) IDIQ Quality of Service, (6) Task Order 1 Technical Capability. | |
| 24 | Solicitation | E.1.1 (A) Volume I | Is there any content associated with the "IDIQ Tech.doc"? Is this document intended to be an overarching folder given that the IDIQ tech capabilities are listed separately? | Offerors should provide a single consolidated Volume I Technical submission with the file name "IDIQ Tech.doc/pdf" (and within the 30-page limit) that is comprised of the following: (1) IDIQ Technical Capability, (2) IDIQ Key Personnel, (3) IDIQ Staffing Strategy, (4) IDIQ Project Management, (5) IDIQ Quality of Service, (6) Task Order 1 Technical Capability. | |
| 25 | Solicitation | E.1.1 (A)(4) Project Management | Does the government require we submit a formal Project Management Plan (PMP)? | Yes. Volume I Technical is comprised of (1) IDIQ Technical Capability, (2) IDIQ Key Personnel, (3) IDIQ Staffing Strategy, (4) IDIQ Project Management, (5) IDIQ Quality of Service, (6) Task Order 1 Technical Capability. | |
| 26 | Solicitation | E.1.1 (A)(4) Project Management | If the government is asking for a formal PMP, can this be outside of the 30-page requirement? | No. Offerors should provide a single consolidated Volume I Technical submission with the file name "IDIQ Tech.doc/pdf" (and within the 30-page limit) that is comprised of the following: (1) IDIQ Technical Capability, (2) IDIQ Key Personnel, (3) IDIQ Staffing Strategy, (4) IDIQ Project Management, (5) IDIQ Quality of Service, (6) Task Order 1 Technical Capability. | |
| 27 | Attachment L - Past Performance Questionnaire | Past Performance Questionnaire | The government provided Past Performance Questionnaire references a different contract, should this be corrected to read BA HAM? | Attachment L - Past Performance Questionnaire has been updated to reflect the correct RFP number and title. | |
| 28 | Solicitation | E.1.1 (B) Volume II - Past Performance | Can the government define the qualifications of a "major subcontractor?" | A major subcontractor is defined as one who will be and/or whose subcontract is considered to be a significant portion of the work effort. | |
| 29 | Solicitation | E.1 Table | 58 | The Government requires each section of the Volume I: Technical to be submitted as separate sections. Based on instructions in the table, please confirm that the Government requires bidders to submit the entire volume saved as IDIQ Tech.doc/pdf and then separate out the sections of this volume to be saved as indicated in the table. This would result in a total of 7 files for Volume I. Please confirm whether our understanding is correct. | Offerors should provide a single consolidated Volume I Technical submission with the file name "IDIQ Tech.doc/pdf" (and within the 30-page limit) that is comprised of the following: (1) IDIQ Technical Capability, (2) IDIQ Key Personnel, (3) IDIQ Staffing Strategy, (4) IDIQ Project Management, (5) IDIQ Quality of Service, (6) Task Order 1 Technical Capability. |
| 30 | Attachment L - Past Performance Questionnaire | N/A | In the Past Performance Questionnaire (Attachment L), the RFP states: **All Email Correspondence for this project must reference the RFQ Number, Project Identifier and Project Title in the subject line of the email: 36C77621R0041, COVID-19 Pandemic Response. Please confirm whether this is correct. | Attachment L - Past Performance Questionnaire has been updated to reflect the correct RFP number and title. | |
| 31 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS and Attachment B - BA HAM TO1 PWS | Sections 5.4, 5.5 and 5.6 and Sections 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3 | Referenced sections are identical. Volume I requires a technical approach for IDIQ PWS tasks and for TO PWS tasks. Since both are identical, would addressing it once be sufficient in the response? | No. Refer to solicitation Section E.1 Addendum to 52.212-1 - Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items, (A)(1), IDIQ Technical Capability, in regards to the IDIQ PWS, and (A)(6), Task Order 1 Technical Capability, in regards to TO1. | |
| 32 | Solicitation | Please clarify whether the commitment letter from the proposed key personnel is also excluded from the page limit? | Correct, Letters of Commitment and Resumes for Key Personnel do not count toward the page count. | ||
| 33 | Solicitation | Volume II, Section 2 | In Volume II, Section 2 - would the Government consider accepting CPARS in lieu of PPQs? | The Government will review past performance data available in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). In the case of an Offeror without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available, the Offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance. | |
| 34 | Solicitation | Volume III, IDIQ Price | Would Volume III, IDIQ Price require a supporting worksheet detailing the cost or rate build up? | No. | |
| 35 | Solicitation | N/A | Would the Government consider changing the due date for RFP responses from January 4th and extending the due date to January 14th? | Response due date was extended to January 18, 2022 at 1:00 PM ET per Amendment 0001. | |
| 36 | Solicitation | N/A | N/A | Would the government consider extending the due date by one week given there are two federal holidays during the response period? | Response due date was extended to January 18, 2022 at 1:00 PM ET per Amendment 0001. |
| 37 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Are there any task orders on the current HEA contract that will be extending past the anticipated start date of the new HAM TO 1? If so, how does the government envision the two efforts integrating or aligning? | The HEA contract is a different contract. |
| 38 | Solicitation | RFP Proposal Instructions, d. Content Requirements. | 57 | The first line of the table lists a separate file name for Volume I Technical (IDIQ Tech.doc/pdf). However, it's our understanding from this table and the rest of the instructions that each component of Volume I is supposed to be submitted as a separate stand-alone file. If our understanding is correct, what goes in the IDIQ Tech.doc/pdf file? | Offerors should provide a single consolidated Volume I Technical submission with the file name "IDIQ Tech.doc/pdf" (and within the 30-page limit) that is comprised of the following: (1) IDIQ Technical Capability, (2) IDIQ Key Personnel, (3) IDIQ Staffing Strategy, (4) IDIQ Project Management, (5) IDIQ Quality of Service, (6) Task Order 1 Technical Capability. |
| 39 | Solicitation | RFP Proposal Instructions, d. Content Requirements. | 57 | Would the government consider increasing the page limit for Volume I so that offerors can adequately address all components? Thirty pages is a very tight limit to outline a comprehensive IDIQ technical approach, TO 1 technical approach, and the remaining staffing, quality, and project management requirements. | No. |
| 40 | Solicitation | RFP Proposal Instructions, d. Content Requirements. | 57 | Would the government consider allowing offerors to submit Volume I as one 30-page document instead of six separate files? By submitting as one file, the government won't have to manually aggregate the pages of each volume to confirm each offeror's compliance with the overall limit. It will also greatly streamline the submission process. | Offerors should provide a single consolidated Volume I Technical submission with the file name "IDIQ Tech.doc/pdf" (and within the 30-page limit) that is comprised of the following: (1) IDIQ Technical Capability, (2) IDIQ Key Personnel, (3) IDIQ Staffing Strategy, (4) IDIQ Project Management, (5) IDIQ Quality of Service, (6) Task Order 1 Technical Capability. |
| 41 | Solicitation | RFP Proposal Instructions, *Note page limitations | 58 | This section states "A Cover Page, Table of Contents, and/or a glossary of abbreviations or acronyms will not be included in the page count of the technical Volume." Are offerors also allowed to submit a cover letter outside of the page limit? | Any and all information contained within a Cover Page, Table of Contents and/or glossary of abbreviations or acronyms submitted with an Offeror's proposal will not be evaluated by the Government. Cover Letters outside of the page limitations will not be evaluated by the Government. |
| 42 | Solicitation | RFP Proposal Instructions, Section (1) IDIQ Technical Capability | 58 | Bullet a. requires offerors to provide "A detailed technical approach showing how the Offeror will perform tasks outlined in all paragraphs of PWS § 5.0, Specific Task Requirements." Please confirm offerors are not required to address PWS § 6.0 General Requirements as part of the technical proposal. | Correct, Offerors are not required to address PWS § 6.0 General Requirements. |
| 43 | Solicitation | RFP Section (2) Key Personnel | 59 | The Key Personnel section has a separate page limit of: One (1) Resume for each Key Personnel identified. Two (2) page limit per resume. Will the government allow offerors to submit a one-page introduction/executive summary to this volume in addition to the resumes? | Introduction/executive summaries that are included within the 30 page limit of Volume I Technical is permissible and will be evaluated. |
| 44 | Solicitation | RFP Section (2) Key Personnel | 59 | This section states "Offerors shall specifically identify those resources that it proposes to utilize as key personnel in the performance of this IDIQ." Since this is an IDIQ contract with undefined task orders beyond TO 1, can the government please clarify the expectation for key personnel? Is the government looking for offerors to identify key personnel for the IDIQ management, TO 1 execution, and potential future TOs? | Volume I Technical is comprised of the following: (1) IDIQ Technical Capability, (2) IDIQ Key Personnel, (3) IDIQ Staffing Strategy, (4) IDIQ Project Management, (5) IDIQ Quality of Service, (6) Task Order 1 Technical Capability. Offerors shall specifically identify those resources that it proposes to utilize as key personnel in the performance of this IDIQ. |
| 45 | Solicitation | RFP Section (5) Section 5 – Questionnaire. | 61 | To minimize the burden on our clients during the holiday season, would the government consider accepting CPARS in lieu of past performance questionnaires if available? | The Government will review past performance data available in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). In the case of an Offeror without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available, the Offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance. |
| 46 | Solicitation | RFP Section (C) Volume III – IDIQ Price | 61 | Can the government please confirm our understanding that the IDIQ Price volume is comprised of two components: 1) The completed price schedule in Section B, and 2) a separate schedule of the offeror's proposed labor categories and rates for the entire IDIQ contract? | Correct, the IDIQ Price Volume is comprised of Section B.3 Price/Cost Schedule and Section B.4 Labor Rate Matrix. |
| 47 | Solicitation | RFP Section (C) Volume III – IDIQ Price | 61 | Are offerors required to provide labor category descriptions along with the schedule of rates? | Yes. Refer to Section B.4 of the Solicitation. |
| 48 | Solicitation | RFP Section (C) Volume III – IDIQ Price | 61 | The instructions do not require offerors to provide a Basis of Estimate (BOE) for the deliverables in the Schedule B price schedule for IDIQ pricing. Would the government consider revising the instructions to require this, similar to the requirements for the TO 1 pricing? If not, how will the government determine price reasonableness at the IDIQ level? | Per the solicitation, the Government will evaluate offers by adding the total of all line item prices from Section B, including all ordering periods. In addition, FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services applies to this solicitation. As such, evaluation of options under FAR 52.217-8 will also include using the prices offered for the last ordering period to determine the price for an additional 6-month option period in the event an extension is issued under FAR 52.217-8. The Offeror’s total proposed price for all ordering periods and the additional 6-month option period price will then be added together to arrive at the Offeror’s Total Evaluated Price. The Total Evaluated Price will be that sum. Per the solicitation, for this IDIQ, the Offeror shall complete the price schedule in Section B of the solicitation (the IDIQ Price Volume is comprised of Section B.3 Price/Cost Schedule and Section B.4 Labor Rate Matrix). The unit pricing shall be fully loaded to include overhead, profit, project management, and all deliverables. In addition, the Offerors shall include all labor categories that may work on any potential Task Order issued within scope and service categories of the IDIQ. The schedule of labor categories and rates must clearly identify Contractor and Government site rates if separate rates are included. Offerors are advised that prices proposed will be incorporated into and become part of the contract. |
| 49 | Solicitation | RFP Section (C) Volume III – IDIQ Price | 61 | Does the government desire discounts on labor rates at the TO-level or should our IDIQ labor rates include our best offer? | The unit pricing of the labor categories shall be fully loaded to include overhead, profit, project management, and all deliverables. Offerors are advised that prices proposed will be incorporated into and become part of the contract. Discounts may be provided at the task order level. |
| 50 | Solicitation | RFP Section (6) Solicitation Provisions | 63 | Can the government please clarify which Solicitation Provisions offerors are to provide in Section 6? The first provision listed (FAR 52.209-5 Representation by Corporations Regarding an Unpaid Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction under any Federal Law) is not included in the RFP and the number and title of the provision do not match the FAR. FAR 52.209-5 is titled Certification Regarding Responsibility Matters in the actual FAR. Is this the provision we should complete? | Offerors shall provide a completed copy of FAR 52.209-5 Certification Regarding Responsibility Matters (AUG 2020). |
| 51 | Attachment M - Task Order 1 Price Schedule | Attachment M - Task Order 1 Price Schedule | N/A | Are offerors permitted to modify Attachment M - Task Order 1 Price Schedule to include additional tabs for the Basis of Estimate (BOE) or would the government like the BOE submitted as a separate file? | Yes, Offerors are permitted to modify Attachment M to include a tab for the Basis of Estimate. |
| 52 | Attachment M - Task Order 1 Price Schedule | Attachment M - Task Order 1 Price Schedule | N/A | Sheet 1 of Attachment M only includes space to price the base period. Since the TO 1 PWS states the period of performance is one base year plus four option years, please confirm offerors may modify the template to add option year pricing. | Attachment M has been updated to include option years per TO1 PWS. |
| 53 | Attachment B - Task Order 1 PWS | Attachment B - Task Order 1 PWS | N/A | The three tasks listed in TO 1 (Integration and Reference Architecture, Process and Value Architecture, Information and Knowledge Architecture) appear to include the exact same requirements and deliverables as the IDIQ PWS. Since offerors are required to provide a technical approach for these tasks as the IDIQ and TO level, can the government provide more details on the specific scope of work for TO 1 so that offerors can tailor our approaches accordingly? | Reference solicitation Section E.1 Addendum to 52.212-1 - Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items, (A)(1), IDIQ Technical Capability, in regards to the IDIQ PWS, and (A)(6), Task Order 1 Technical Capability, in regards to TO1. |
| 54 | Attachment M - Task Order 1 Price Schedule | Attachment M - Task Order 1 Price Schedule | N/A | The provided spreadsheet does not include a line for travel. Does the government desire the offeror to add a line for travel? Should travel be broken out for each year? | Attachment M has been updated to include an optional line item for travel. |
| 55 | Attachment M - Task Order 1 Price Schedule | Attachment M - Task Order 1 Price Schedule | N/A | Does unused travel carry over to the next option year? | No. |
| 56 | Attachment M - Task Order 1 Price Schedule | Attachment M - Task Order 1 Price Schedule | N/A | Would the government consider adding a NTE travel amount for all offerors to avoid an offeror coming in too low? | Attachment M has been updated to include an optional line item for travel. |
| 57 | Solicitation | Volume III IDIQ Price | N/A | Are offerors expected to include travel in the IDIQ Price.xls? | No. Travel will be identified and subsequently performed at the task order level. |
| 58 | Solicitation | RFP Proposal Instructions, b. Maximum Value | 38 | Bullet b. states that the IDIQ contract ceiling is $45,000,000.00. However, table B.3 requests the breakout by deliverables which may be priced lower than the ceiling. If the IDIQ price quote for evaluation purposes is lower than the $45,000,000.00 IDIQ ceiling, does that become the new ceiling? | No, the IDIQ maximum (ceiling) is not dependent on the IDIQ price quote. The Government is required to state a maximum value for the life of the IDIQ contract. The maximum value for the life of this IDIQ contract is $45,000,000.00. |
| 59 | Solicitation | RFP Proposal Instructions, b. Maximum Value | 38 | Please confirm if the B.3 IDIQ pricing is only for evaluation purposes or if these become the awarded amounts. | Offerors are advised that prices proposed will be incorporated into and become part of the contract. Per the solicitation, the Government will evaluate offers by adding the total of all line item prices from Section B, including all ordering periods (the IDIQ Price Volume is comprised of Section B.3 Price/Cost Schedule and Section B.4 Labor Rate Matrix). |
| 60 | Solicitation | RFP Proposal Instructions, b. Maximum Value | 38 | Please confirm that where there are the same contractual deliverables for the IDIQ and Task Order 1 (Integration and Reference Architecture, Process and Value Architecture, Information and Knowledge Architecture) that the price for each of these deliverables should match. Or is it assumed in the IDIQ pricing that there will be future task orders with these 3 business units? | Per the solicitation, estimated quantities for the IDIQ price schedule are provided for price evaluation purposes only; actual quantities required under this contract will be provided at the task order level. Per Attachment A - BA IDIQ PWS, it is estimated that 2-3 task orders will be placed against the IDIQ over a 5-year period. |
| 61 | Solicitation | RFP Proposal Instructions, E. Solicitation Provisions. | 58 | The table identifies an IDIQ Price.xls file for Volume III. Only an Excel spreadsheet for the TO1 was provided. Please confirm the offeror is expected to create their own Excel file. Should this file mirror table B.3 starting on page 14? | For this IDIQ, the Offeror shall complete the price schedule in Section B of the solicitation (the IDIQ Price Volume is comprised of Section B.3 Price/Cost Schedule and Section B.4 Labor Rate Matrix). |
| 62 | Solicitation | RFP Proposal Instructions, d. Content Requirements. | 14 | The offerors are asked to provide a price quote at the IDIQ level, however there does not appear to be enough information to provide a detailed quote outside of Task Order 1 without understanding the number of anticipated task orders or the level of effort of those task orders. Would the government consider evaluating the B.4 IDIQ Labor Rate Mix for the IDIQ price evaluation in lieu of pricing out all of the deliverables for the IDIQ? | Per the solicitation, estimated quantities for the IDIQ price schedule are provided for price evaluation purposes only; actual quantities required under this contract will be provided at the task order level. Per Attachment A - BA IDIQ PWS, it is estimated that 2-3 task orders will be placed against the IDIQ over a 5-year period. Offeror shall complete the price schedule in Section B of the solicitation (the IDIQ Price Volume is comprised of Section B.3 Price/Cost Schedule and Section B.4 Labor Rate Matrix). |
| 63 | Attachment B - Task Order 1 PWS | Attachment B - Task Order 1 PWS | 9 | The current IR tools are listed as Visio, Power BI, and SQL Server. How does the IR team update the BAR? Is the BAR maintained in Excel or is it an extract from the SQL Server? How does the IR team make updates to the BAR primitives and mappings? | Refer to Task Order 1 PWS, page 9, section 5.1 - VHA Integration Requirements and Reference Architecture section which states: "The Contractor shall assist in BA efforts to elicit, refine, and document integration and reference support activities associated with VHA’s Requirements repository to inform architecture related reporting, analysis, and project planning. Support activities include modeling and architecture requirements, architecture content elicitation utilizing Agile Methodologies, using VA approved Collaborative Lifecycle Management tools (currently primary tools are Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Power BI, and SQL Server". |
| 64 | Attachment B - Task Order 1 PWS | Attachment B - Task Order 1 PWS | 9 | Is there currently a plan to change BA tooling and if so what tools are being evaluated? | Task order 1 only reference tools used by IR, BPV, and BIK. Current tools used by those areas include: Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Power BI, SQL Server, NoMagic Cameo Enterprise Architecture, Microsoft Office, and SharePoint. |
| 65 | Attachment B - Task Order 1 PWS | Attachment B - Task Order 1 PWS | N/A | There appears to be various modeling tools utilized across the business units. What is the process for integrating the data within SQL Server? | Task order 1 only reference tools used by IR, BPV, and BIK. Current tools used by those areas include: Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Power BI, SQL Server, NoMagic Cameo Enterprise Architecture, Microsoft Office, and SharePoint. |
| 66 | Attachment B - Task Order 1 PWS | Attachment B - Task Order 1 PWS | 7 | Place of Performance lists both Contractor facilities and Government-provided. Is there an expectation that some positions will be required to sit on-site? | Yes, it states in the PWS that: "Tasks under this PWS shall be performed at Contractor facilities and/or Government- provided facilities. Government provided facilities include Washington, DC, and Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg, FL, areas." This could mean that a contractor could be expected to come in to one of those locations. |
| 67 | Solicitation | RFP Proposal Instructions, c. Volume III - IDIQ Price | 61 | The IDIQ (Table B.3 on page 14) and the Task Order 1 (provided Excel file) pricing only have one place for amounts, however page 61 states rates should be broken out by Contractor and Government site. Should these tables and files be updated to account for on- and off-site quotes? If not, should offerors use Contractor or Government site rates for the IDIQ and TO Section B pricing? | The primary place of performance for work on task orders placed under this IDIQ shall be performed at the contractors facilities with estimated travel as described at the task order level. |
| 68 | Attachment B - Task Order 1 PWS | Attachment B - Task Order 1 PWS | 7 | The TO1 PWS identifies the Period of Performance as one base plus 4 options, however the provided price spreadsheet only includes pricing for the base year, and page 71 of the RFP Proposal Instructions state that only the base year and 6-month extension are to be evaluated. Please confirm the period of performance and which of these contradictions should be updated. | Attachment M has been updated to include option years per TO1 PWS. The Offeror’s proposed total base year price plus option year(s) price and an additional 6-month option period price will be added together to arrive at the Offeror’s Total Evaluated Price. The Total Evaluated Price will be that sum. Offeror's shall not provide a breakdown for FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services for an additional 6-month option period. |
| 69 | Attachment A - IDIQ PWS | Attachment A - IDIQ PWS | 15 | What state is the Strategic Architecture Metamodel in? How current and mature is it? | The Contractor shall review, assess, and update the Strategic Architecture Meta-model and content annually. |
| 70 | Solicitation | 6 | 61 | it said we are proposing for TO1 which is located in Section D of Attachment B. There is no Section D of Attachment B. Is there a Task Order 1 ? | The solicitation states that the PWS for TO1 can be found in Section D (of the solicitation), Attachment B (BA HAM TO-1 PWS). |
| 71 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.1.2 | 14 | Would you provide an existing WBS for review? | No. |
| 72 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.2 | 15 | What communications mechanisms (tools) are in place today and how much of the communications are automated? | "The Contractor shall assist in the updating of BA communications materials as warranted (e.g., blogs, fact sheets and presentations) and in determining marketing strategies to enhance BA’s image with stakeholders. (Pg. 15, BA HAM IDIQ)". |
| 73 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.2 | 15 | Both logical and physical meta-models? | Refer to question 77. |
| 74 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.2 | 16 | What tools are being used today? Is the architecture also being used to generate the budget? | Current tooling includes, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Power BI, MS SQL Server, Cameo Enterprise Architecture, Microsoft Office, and SharePoint. The Contractor shall be expected to be an expert in these tools to include configuration support and be familiar with other common industry tooling in the architecture discipline. |
| 75 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.3 | 16 | What best practices are in place today? What tools are in place today and are they integrated? What about the logical (meta) model? | Current tooling includes, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Power BI, MS SQL Server, Cameo Enterprise Architecture, Microsoft Office, and SharePoint. The Contractor shall be expected to be an expert in these tools to include configuration support and be familiar with other common industry tooling in the architecture discipline. |
| 76 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.3 | 16 | Is there a requirements repository in place today and is there a requirements traceability matrix? | Pg. 18 of the BA HAM IDIQ PWS states: "...IR maintains the VHA Business Architecture Repository (BAR), a repository of business architecture content and their associations...". |
Pg. 19 of the BA HAM IDIQ PWS states: "VHA Integration Requirements and Reference Architecture. The Contractor shall assist in BA efforts to elicit, refine, and document integration and reference support activities associated with VHA’s Requirements repository to inform architecture related reporting, analysis, and project planning. Support activities include modeling and architecture requirements, architecture content elicitation utilizing Agile Methodologies, using VA approved Collaborative Lifecycle Management tools (currently primary tools are Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Power BI, and SQL Server)."
77 Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS 5.3 17 To what extent does the physical model differ from the logical model? Section 5.3 of the BA HAM IDIQ PWS states: "BA Physical Meta-model. The Contractor shall review and assess the BA physical meta-model to determine if changes are required and shall assist in making appropriate changes to same. This work shall be done in collaboration with the Integration and Reference unit which has responsibility for the BA Logical Meta-Model and integrating content leveraging tools such as MS SQL Server Management Studio, MS Visual Studio, and other VA-approved tools. Changes to BA tooling encyclopedia content shall result in physical meta-model changes. These changes to the physical meta-model shall be implemented throughout the BA tooling environments. This includes support for continued analysis and maturation of a physical meta-model in support of BA product integration and tooling configuration. (Pg. 17)".
Section 5.4.2. of the BA HAM IDIQ PWS states: "Integration Analysis Packaging and BA Logical Information Model Publication: This report shall include updates and publications of the VHA Capability and Service Architecture reference model and publication of VHA-BA wide logical information model, to include outcomes/impacts related to BA’s Physical Meta-Model. All key architecture concepts and relationships shall be addressed..."
| 78 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.3 | 17 | Are there system use cases and test scripts in place today? How is quality being measured today and what level of maturity has been achieved? | The work performed under this IDIQ is Architecture, not software development. In conjunction with the Requirements team we would provide the business understandings for software solution evaluation, but the IT Program/Project team would develop use cases and test scripts. |
| 79 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.3 | 17 | What tools are being used today to manage configuration? Additionally, is the tool environment configuration controlled and managed using ITIL-based systems like SNOW or REMEDY? | Section 5.3 of the BA HAM IDIQ PWS states: "Configuration Management (Architecture and Tooling Configuration). The Contractor shall support OQA with the management of the addition/inclusion of new architecture concepts, and the archival of any deprecated concepts, thereby ensuring consistent management of all architecture concepts. Architecture Concepts are items such as Process Roles, Normalized Data Objects and Business Functions typically conveyed via Conceptual and Logical Information Models (the BA CIM and LIM). These concepts are normally designed, developed and introduced via other core BA organizational units. Likewise, the Contractor shall utilize the VA-approved tooling environment to develop, produce and publish Business Intelligence analytics, reports, and dashboard views with the input of appropriate BA units. As necessary, the Contractor shall work with BA tooling owners to ensure the VA-approved tool can be configured to customize products needed by BA. This may also require working with various tooling environments to acquire access to products that shall meet BA requirements. (pg. 17)". |
| 80 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.3.2 | 18 | Will the contractor be responsible for the logical (meta) model or just reviewing and assessing that model? | Section 5.3 of the BA HAM IDIQ PWS states: "BA Physical Meta-model. The Contractor shall review and assess the BA physical meta-model to determine if changes are required and shall assist in making appropriate changes to same. This work shall be done in collaboration with the Integration and Reference unit which has responsibility for the BA Logical Meta-Model and integrating content leveraging tools such as MS SQL Server Management Studio, MS Visual Studio, and other VA-approved tools. Changes to BA tooling encyclopedia content shall result in physical meta-model changes. These changes to the physical meta-model shall be implemented throughout the BA tooling environments. This includes support for continued analysis and maturation of a physical meta-model in support of BA product integration and tooling configuration. (Pg. 17)". |
Section 5.4.2. of the BA HAM IDIQ PWS states: "Integration Analysis Packaging and BA Logical Information Model Publication: This report shall include updates and publications of the VHA Capability and Service Architecture reference model and publication of VHA-BA wide logical information model, to include outcomes/impacts related to BA’s Physical Meta-Model. All key architecture concepts and relationships shall be addressed..."
| 81 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.4 | 18 | Are the information exchange requirements documented and are the data objects being exchanged described using data models? How well-defined are the information exchange requirements and the data being exchanged? | Referenced source (Pg. 18 of the BA HAM IDIQ PWS) does not address information exchange requirements. |
| 82 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.4 | 18 | Have business needs been recorded in the architecture and if so, how do they manifest themselves in the architecture? | Pg. 18 of BA HAM IDIQ PWS states: "Analyze and Inform VHA Information Technology Needs. The Contractor shall support the business customer in identifying and understanding the business needs, identifying gaps, overlaps, and/or redundancies (IT and non-IT) to enhance the business understanding and accomplish business goals, and preparing the needs for VHA Governance (when/where appropriate). Work is based upon multi-year planning and prioritization activities organized and led by the Architecture Requirements and Investment Working Group (ARIWG)." |
| 83 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.4 | 19 | Is there a complete architecture in place with both operational and system views of the Architecture and Engineering Capability? Would you provide a system view showing all of the tools in use today? | Pg. 9 of BA HAM IDIQ PWS depicts the VHA Capability and Service Architecture and states the following: "In order to strengthen and improve OHI, SIM and BA’s ability to deliver quality health enterprise architecture information and services for leadership, clinicians and other health care professionals, the contractor shall employ VHA’s Capability and Service Architecture constructs and principles, and shall meet and/or conform to best business and industry practices, e.g., Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA), federal segment architecture methodologies, DoD Architecture Framework (DoDAF), Health Level 7 (HL7), Services-Aware Interoperability Framework (SAIF), Office of National Coordinator (ONC), Federal Health Architecture (FHA), Malcolm Baldrige, Capability Maturity Model Implementation (CMMI), IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), Project Management Institute’s (PMI™) Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), and International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK) Guide." |
Current tools used by BA include the following: Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Power BI, MS SQL Server, Cameo Enterprise Architecture, Microsoft Office, and SharePoint. The Contractor shall be expected to be an expert in these tools to include configuration support and be familiar with other common industry tooling in the architecture discipline.
| 84 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.4 | 19 | Would you provide an example of a "Reference Architecture"? Would you provide an example of an "Integration Architecture"? Is the VHA using the VA Data Access Service (DAS) for integration of health systems? Is the VHA using WEBMETHODS for integration of systems and data synchronization? | See Pg. 9 - a reference architecture includes capabilities and services. See Pg. 3, Section 1.0 - "...Key functional component areas of BA that are relevant to this PWS are as follows: | |
| 1. | Director’s Office (includes Advisory and Program/Project Management) | |||||
| 2. | Strategy and Planning | |||||
| 3. | Operations and Quality Assurance | |||||
| 4. | Integration and Reference Architecture | |||||
| 5. | Process and Value Architecture | |||||
| 6. | Information and Knowledge Architecture" | |||||
| 85 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.4 | 19 | Would you expound on the phrase "business reference modeling"? | Pg. 19 of BA HAM IDIQ PWS notes that examples of business reference modeling include mappings and alignments. | |
| 86 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.4 | 19 | Would you explain what is meant by "business descriptive and definition modeling"? | Pg. 19, Section 5.4 of BA HAM IDIQ PWS states: "The Contractor shall provide Integration and Reference architecture support services for healthcare clinical and administrative areas that include assisting BA with architecturally defining VHA capabilities, planning, scope coordination and management, reporting, ad-hoc reference architecture analysis and continued maturity of all Integration and Reference architecture concepts." | |
| 87 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.4 | 19 | What are the current methodologies in place? | Pg. 19 of BA HAM IDIQ PWS states: "Support activities include modeling and architecture requirements, architecture content elicitation utilizing Agile Methodologies, using VA approved Collaborative Lifecycle Management tools (currently primary tools are Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Power BI, and SQL Server)."; further down on Pg. 19 of BA HAM IDIQ PWS states: "To ensure successful integration of architectural artifacts that yield “value add” architecture content, using current methodologies, industry best practices and innovative insight." | |
| 88 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.4.2 | 20 | How is data being stored in/with VISIO? What is CAMEO being used for aside from data modeling? Is there any automation in place today for the generation of MSOFFICE products? | Current tools used by BA include the following: Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Power BI, MS SQL Server, Cameo Enterprise Architecture, Microsoft Office, and SharePoint. The Contractor shall be expected to be an expert in these tools to include configuration support and be familiar with other common industry tooling in the architecture discipline. | |
| 89 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.4.4 | 20 | In what way is the "VHA Transition Management Framework" depicted in figure 2 an "architecture framework"? | The VHA Transition Management Framework is an approach (tool) for leveraging the architecture, which includes architecture frameworks, to support change management - The TMF is not an architecture framework. | |
| 90 | Attachment A - BA HAM IDIQ PWS | 5.5 | 20 | Would you provide a definition for "process model" and some pictorial samples? How does this all relate to the VA Process Asset Library? | Section 5.5, Pages 20-21 of the BA HAM IDIQ PWS notes that Business Process and Value (BPV) captures and communicates VHA busines process needs through process analysis, improvement, and re-engineering utilizing Business Process Model Notation (BPMN). |
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