Questions and Answers for 36C77623Q0345.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 17 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- 36C77623Q0345
About this file
This document contains questions and answers regarding a solicitation for program evaluation and management services for the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Workforce Management and Consulting. The incumbent contractor is CIDVER under contract number 36C77618C0015. The solicitation seeks a contractor to provide performance measurement and management of training programs utilizing the preferred Metrics That Matter software, which is currently licensed and used by the incumbent but not integrated with the VA learning management system. The contractor would be expected to host the software in a commercial cloud, pursue integration with the LMS, and purchase licenses to support seven administrator roles and up to 10,000 users. The response is set aside for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and pricing should be provided in an Excel workbook.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| 36C77623Q0345 A00001_1.docx | DOCX document | |
| 36C77623Q0345 A00001.pdf | ||
| S02 - Combined Synopsis Solicitation Commercial Products and Commercial Services.docx | DOCX document | |
| 36C77623Q0345.docx | DOCX document | |
| S02 - Attachment - QASP for HRD Program Evaluation _ Management.docx | DOCX document | |
| S02 - Attachment - PWS HRD Program Evaluation and Management.pdf |
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Q&A
| Questions and answers for Solicitation 36C77623Q0345. | |||||
| Question Number | Document Referenced | Page/Section | Question | Answer | |
| 1A | General | N/A | As noted in the solicitation, the VHA's preferred system of management is Knowledge Advisors Metrics that Matter® (MTM). We have several questions based on this software preference: Is this tool already being used by VHA? | Yes, this tool is already being used by HRD's current vendor. | |
| 1B | General | N/A | If not, is there an Authority to Operate (ATO) already in place or will the tool require this prior to use? | There is no ATO in place/needed as the tool is used in a commercial cloud. | |
| 1C | General | N/A | Is the expectation for this tool to be hosted in a federal cloud, commercial cloud, on onsite? And does it already integrate with the VA Learning Management System (LMS) or is this something that still needs to take place? | The expectation would be for the awarded vendor to hose/use the tool in a commercial cloud as it is presently. It currently does not integrate with VA's LMS, this is something that would need to be implemented. | |
| 1D | General | N/A | Is this tool already FedRamped or approved to be used and integrated with the VA LMS? | The tool is not already FedRAMP approved, this is something that would need to be explored during discussion and development of an integration plan and implementation. | |
| 1E | General | N/A | How many federal users will require administrator licenses? | Likely none, possibly two at the most. | |
| 2 | General | N/A | Is this a new requirement or an ongoing effort? Is there a current contract number associated with it? | This is a new requirement (while also part of an ongoing effort). The current associated contract number is 36C77618C0015. | |
| 3 | RFQ | Page 8 - Section 5.2 | Is the Metrics That Matter (MTM) software (performance / measurement / survey management system) currently being used by HRD? If so how many licenses does HRD currently have, compared to the 10,000 specified in the PWS? | Yes, the MTM software is currently being used by HRD’s current vendor. HRD currently has a handful of administrator licenses in use by currently contracted staff and user licenses for up to 10,000 as specified in the PWS. | |
| 4 | RFQ | Page 8 - Section 5.2 | Is Metrics That Matter (MTM) software the only (performance / measurement / survey management system) currently being used by HRD? | The current vendor also used Qualtrics for certain program-related projects/tasks. | |
| 5 | RFQ | Page 8 - Section 5.2 | Is HRD looking to switch away from the Metrics That Matter (performance / measurement / survey management system) they are currently using to monitor program effectiveness? | No, HRD is not looking to switch away from MTM as this is the preferred system as noted in the PWS. | |
| 6 | RFQ | Page 3 - Section 2.1 | There are multiple references to training, courses, and products for "Each applicable VA Administration", does HRD support training outside of VHA? | HRD’s training courses, programs/products, and resources are geared specifically toward VHA HR Professionals, but some of our learners are sometimes from other VA administrations. | |
| 7 | RFQ | Page 11 -Instructions to Quoters | Will the government allow Key Personnel resumes to be included in the Appendix of the Technical volume and excluded from the 10-page limit? | Yes, key personnel resumes can be included in excess of the 10-page limit. | |
| 8 | RFQ | Page 12 - Instructions to Quoters | What is the maximum page count for the Past Performance volume? | Maximum page count for past performance volume is limited to 10 pages. | |
| 9 | RFQ | Page 12 - Instructions to Quoters | Can the government please confirm that an Offeror may utilize and submit past performance projects from its teaming partners? | Yes, an offeror may utilize/submit past performance projects from its teaming partners. | |
| 10 | General | N/A | Is there an incumbent contractor currently performing this work? If so, what is the incumbent contract number? | The incumbent contract number is 36C77618C0015. | |
| 11 | PWS | Page 8 - Section 5 Specific Tasks and Deliverables | The PWS states: “The contractor shall develop and implement a performance measurement system...” Is there a PMS in place today? If so, will that system be phased out in favor of the new PMS? | Yes, there is a PMS in place/use today. The government does not guarantee that the current system will be phased out in favor of a new PMS as the current system is the preferred as specific in the PWS. | |
| 12 | PWS | Page 8 - Section 5 Specific Tasks and Deliverables | The PWS states: The contractor shall purchase licenses on behalf of the Government to support (7) seven administrators and up to 10,000 users.” Does the government intend to have contractor staff serve in the roll of Administrator? If so, would it be for all 7 administrator roles? | Yes, the government intends to have contractor staff serve in the roll of administrators, likely for all 7. | |
| 13 | RFQ | Page 12 - Instructions to Quoters | For the Price Volume, can Offerors create and submit an Excel workbook that aligns to the Supplies/Services table, or does the government prefer a Word document? | The government does not have a particular preference, but an Excel workbook may prove easier for evaluation. | |
| 14 | RFQ | Page 11 -Instructions to Quoters | The instructions require us to submit one (1) copy of pricing and technical approach. Our understanding is that – One Volume Titled “Pricing” and Other separate Volume be Titled “Technical Approach” – both volumes (word or pdf) be separate submissions (so that Pricing information is not given anywhere in the Technical Approach Volume). Is this understanding correct? | Each Volume must be separate in accordance with the instructions provided in the solicitation. | |
| 15 | General | N/A | What is the number of Full Time Employees (FTEs) to be put on the Base Period of contract, and shall we take the Annual Hours per FTE to be as 1920 hrs or 1880 hrs? | This question is not clear. Is the question how many FTE will the contractor supply, or how many FTE will the contractor support? Please provide the mathematical equation being used to derive the number of annual hours per FTE in this question. | |
| 16 | General | N/A | Request to let us know the Incumbent company’s name and their currently ongoing contract number, if these services are being provided by existing contractor, if any. | The current incumbent company is CIDVER, and the contract number is 36C77618C0015. | |
| 17 | RFQ | Page 12 - Instructions to Quoters | Are there any page limitations on the Past Performance volume? | Limited to 10 pages. | |
| 18 | RFQ | Page 12 - Instructions to Quoters | May we submit pricing as an Excel file or must it be in the Word document provided? | An Excel file is preferred for ease of evaluation. | |
| 19 | General | N/A | Should Key Personnel resumes be submitted separately? Or as part of the Technical Capability? | Separately, excluded from the 10-page limit. | |
| 20 | General | N/A | Would the use of VA Acquisition Academy’s TEMPO® system (Training Evaluation for Measurement and Performance Optimization), be an acceptable system for performance measurement? | While HRD would not be opposed to exploring the use of VAAA’s TEMPO system, the preferred system is MTM a specified in the PWS. | |
| 21 | General | N/A | Is the Metrics that Matters system (formerly from Knowledge Advisors, now owned by Explorance, a Canadian-based company) a required system to be used for performance measurement? | While not required, it is the preferred system as specified in the PWS. | |
| 22 | General | N/A | Will the license cost, as an ODC, be competitive in terms of the government’s decision of a vendor? Or would the license cost be assumed as equal among all bidders? | The license cost, as an ODC, would be considered as equal among all bidders. | |
| 23 | General | N/A | What is the cost of the licenses for the current performance measurement tool? Is the cost calculated on a by-user/by-name basis or is it a lump sum amount? | The current costs of the licenses is around $80,000, with an initial implementation cost of around $80,000, and monthly maintenance/support of around $14,500 per month. | |
| 24 | General | N/A | Is there an incumbent for this work? If so, who is the incumbent? | Yes, the current incumbent is CIDVER. | |
| 25 | General | N/A | Task 5.1.6 includes VHA-wide skills assessment and report. This could be a significant amount of effort. Unlike other tasks, this task does not include a corresponding deliverable and pricing line item in the PWS. Would the government consider adding a line item? Alternatively, where should this work be priced? | The VHA-wide skills assessment and report does entail a significant amount of effort. The government would consider adding a line item or alternatively pricing this work in alignment with CLINs 0011 and/or 0012. | |
| 26 | General | N/A | To simplify pricing review, does the government have a preference how work is priced? For instance, given the complex program described, especially the flagship HR STAR program, there is likely a need for weekly data, cohort-specific reports, ad-hoc data requests, and other | ||
| collaboration products. Should the cost for these work products be included in CLIN 0002 – Monthly Progress Report (MPR) or CLIN 0010 – Monthly Support of Performance Measurement System? Alternatively, would the government prefer it be decided by the offeror and described within the technical proposal? | The costs for HR STAR work tasks & products/deliverables shall likely be included/aligned with CLINs 0005, 0006, 0010, 0011, 0012, 0013, 0015, and 0017 (subject to change/addition). | ||||
| 27 | General | N/A | Task 2 notes 7 administrator licenses. Is it the government’s intent to have an integrated government/contractor team administering the system? If so, how many administrators would be government v. contractor? Alternatively, would the government prefer a fully turn-key | ||
| solution where the contractor provides full administration of the system allowing the government to focus on learning delivery, specialized data analysis, and continual program improvement? | It is the government’s intent to form a team, be it integrated or all contractor, that will best fit the government’s need(s). The team members Shall be decided upon following kick-off/discussions post-award. | ||||
| 28 | General | N/A | The proposal states that there is a 10-page limit and that the 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. | ||
| In the PWS there is a discussion of the key personnel and their resume. Do resumes of the key personnel count against the page count of the technical volume? | No, key personnel resumes do not count toward the page count of the technical volume. Key personnel resumes can be included in excess of the 10-page limit. |
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