Amendment_0001_to_RFQ_45310019Q0013_QA_03212019_7pp.pdf

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:

(a) By completing items 8 and 15, and returning 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 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.

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1. CONTRACT ID CODE

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUISITION NUMBER 5. PROJECT NUMBER (If applicable)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

FACILITY CODE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended. is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

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

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER

NUMBER IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

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

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

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.

15C. DATE SIGNED

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

16C. DATE SIGNED

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

PAGE OF PAGES

6. ISSUED BY CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (X)

CODE

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

Previous edition unusable

Doreen Starkes, Contracting Officer

The purpose of this amendment is to provide answers to questions received in response to Request for Quotation (RFQ) No.

45310019Q0013 for Alternative Dispute Resolution Mediation Services by the question closing date and time stated in the RFQ.

See attachment.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Acquisition Services Division 131 M Street, NE, 4th Floor Washington, DC 20507 Attn: Doreen Starkes

RFQ 45310019Q0013

1 7

03/21/2019

03/11/2019

Digitally signed by Doreen P. Starkes DN: cn=Doreen P. Starkes, o=Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, ou=EEOC-OCFO-ASD, email=DOREEN.STARKES@EEOC.GOV, c=US Date: 2019.03.21 12:41:41 -04'00'

3/21/2019

ADR Mediation Services Solicitation No. 45310019Q0013, Amendment 0001

Questions As of March 19, 2019 (1:00 p.m. EDT)

Category # Question Response Past Performance

1 The question I have concerns references. I have served as a volunteer mediator for the EEOC for the past two years and would like to send the Past Performance Questionnaire (Attachment D) to the EEOC mediator coordinator who oversaw my work. The mediation coordinator is the same person listed as the contact person in Attachment A. Is that acceptable?

Any entity or individual familiar with your experience and perfomance is acceptable.

Submission Instructions

2 I was told by the EEOC area director that this year the application process was to be submitted online. When I read the solicitation, I cannot find any reference to completing the application on line.

● Is there an online application process?

● Or am I correct that I need to submit my quotation via email and send the documentation to the specific EEOC office?

Quotations are to be submitted only via email to an address listed in Attachment A. There is no online application process.

Past Performance

3 Could you clarify the Attachment D Past Performance Questionnaire?

The Solicitation states that we should include the past performance question (attachment D) with our submission.

● Does this mean that I only fill out the top part of the form with my name and leave the rest blank for the EEOC to send to the person for the reference –OR- does it mean I should ask two references to complete this questionnaire and submit the form to the EEOC?

● Does this mean that I need to submit two completed questionnaires with my quotation submission (as the solicitation states) or does the person writing the reference submit it directly to the EEOC (as Attachment D states)?

● Under the section “Reference Information” (see attached with yellow highlighting) – what name and contact info goes here? The person who will be providing the reference or the person at the EEOC who will receive the reference?

The past performance questionnaires are to be completed by the reference and are the responsibility of the offeror. Questionnaires must be received along with all other required materials before the closing date and time. The quoter must complete the REFERENCE INFORMATION section of Attachment D by adding the name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of the reference and forward to the reference for completion. While references may submit the completed questionnairre directly to the EEOC listed address, it will not be considered if received after the stated closing time and date. If any part of the submission is incomplete, inaccurate or contains any misrepresentation, it will be disqualified from consideration.

Questions As of March 19, 2019 (1:00 p.m. EDT)

Category # Question Response Past Performance

4 The solicitation referenced above, which involves an EEOC request for mediation services, says the “quotation package shall include” several items including the “Past Performance Questionnaire (Attachment D)”.

Attachment D, in the first paragraph, directs the reference to “complete the form and submit it to the following EEOC contact listed below… no later than March 29, 2019, 3 p.m. local time”. Attachment D, on the first page, has a section for “Reference Information” which, I assume means the name, address, phone number, e-mail of the person providing the reference; I see nothing on Attachment D which provides information about the EEOC person to whom the providing the reference should submit the completed questionnaire.

Might you advise whether, as part of my quotation package, I should submit the questionnaires which have been completed by my two references (in other words, I should ask my references to complete the questionnaires and return them to me so I can submit with my quotation package) or whether my references should be directed to send their completed questionnaires directly to the EEOC office where I want to be considered? If my references are to submit their completed questionnaires directly to the appropriate EEOC office, then I assume I should not include any of Attachment D with my quotation package.

Might you confirm?

Attachment D may be submitted directly and separately by the contacted references to the contact listed in Attachment A in the office(s) where the quoter plans to submit a quotation. Attachment D is the responsibility of the offeror. If any part of the submission is incomplete, inaccurate or contains any misrepresentation, it will be disqualified from consideration.

Solicitation Instructions

5 “quoters…[to] visit the link on EEOC’s website….to review a list of “Frequently Asked Questions Regarding RFQ 45310019Q0013 to assist Quoters in completing the acquisition process.” I’m unable to find those Frequently Asked Questions on the EEOC’s website. Might you advise?

The information in this phrase refers to guidance concerning the federal acquisition process generally. There is no FAQ section per se on the weblink provided. Questions and responses regarding this RFQ will be posted to www.FedBizOpps.gov.

Questions As of March 19, 2019 (1:00 p.m. EDT)

Category # Question Response Past Performance

6 Do I need to send out attachment D to my references, or is that something that you or someone in your office sends out after I submit my application?

If I am sending it out, Attachment D does not say to whom the reference is supposed to send the completed form.

Finally, if I am sending it out, may I send it out to more than two references, in case one of my references misses the March 29 deadline?

The past performance questionnaires are to be completed by the reference(s) and are the responsibility of the offeror.

Questionnaires must be received along with all other required materials before the closing date and time. While references may submit the completed questionnairre directly to the listed address, it will not be considered if received after the stated closing time and date. If any part of the submission is incomplete, inaccurate or contains any misrepresentation, it will be disqualified from consideration. Only two references will be considered.

Submission Instructions

7 Just confirming that Attachments B and D are all that are required for submission. Attachment D requires 2 references and should be submitted separately by the referring person or group?

As noted in the RFQ, non-FEPA offerors are required to submit completed Attachments B and D for consideration. If any part of the submission is incomplete, inaccurate or contains any misrepresentation, it will be disqualified from consideration.

Submission Instructions

8 As I have never done a written quotation for a federal contract before, is there any sort of template or format that you recommend?

The RFQ states that the quotation package shall include CLINs 0001- 0004. I looked up CLIN to see that it stands for Contract Line Item Number. Aside from that, I am unsure what types of items to include in each of these CLINs.

Yes, the characters in "CLIN" form an acronym for the words Contract Line Item Number. CLIN information will not be required for the submission. Please follow all other submission requirements under the combined synopsis/solicitation. The submission requirements include but are not limited to the required submission of Attachments B and D along with the copy of the information for the Offeror Representations and Certifications. Government entities must submit Attachment C.

Past Performance

9 Do I need to submit Attachment D or is that something that EEOC will send to the references I listed in Attachment B? With respect to the references listed in Attachment B, one of them will be my former EEOC supervisor, who is also the ADR contact for the LADO on this RFQ. Is it okay to list her as a reference for that quotation too even though she will be the selecting official for that office?

Any entity or individual familiar with your experience and perfomance is acceptable. References must be completed and submitted by the closing date and time and are the responsibility of the offeror. If any part of the submission is incomplete, inaccurate or contains any misrepresentation, it will be disqualified from consideration.

Questions As of March 19, 2019 (1:00 p.m. EDT)

Category # Question Response SAM.gov 10 With respect to 52-212-3, I have registered at SAM, but I am considered a "vendor" and need to do the annual representations and certifications if I am applying as an individual Mediator as opposed to applying as my sole member LLC. If so, I will complete that too at this time.

The SAM.gov registration record inclusive of associated Representations and certifications must be active and complete for the entity for to which the award and payment will be issued.

Place of Performance, Attachment A

11 I just wanted to confirm the New Hampshire and the other New England states report to the New York office, and the EEOC does not need pro bono or contract mediators in this part of the country.

The New York District Office is not participating in this RFQ.The New York District Office has jurisdiction over the States of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont, and the State of New Jersey - counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren.

ATTACHMENT D

PAST PERFORMANCE QUESTIONNAIRE

INDIVIDUAL SEEKING REFERENCE:

The person/entity identified above has offered to contract with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to provide mediation services and has listed you as a reference. Please complete the form and submit it to the following EEOC contact listed below via e-mail no later than the RFQ closing date. Failure to provide this information by this date and time will result in the disqualification of the individual listed above.

REFERENCE INFORMATION

NAME:

ADDRESS:

PHONE NUMBER:

E-MAIL ADDRESS:

Insert below the name of the contracting office, date of contract, name of contract administrator, where the individual or entity seeking a reference has provided mediation service for you for up to the past 5 years.

Contracting Office:

Date of Contract(s):

Name of Administrator:

1. How many cases/disputes did the person/entity mediate for you during the past 12 months? How many cases/disputes the past 5 years? What was their resolution rate? How many times was the person/entity the lead mediator in the dispute?

2. Are there indicators that would provide information comparing the person/entity's resolution rate to the expected norm of results, i.e, more or less favorable than expected?

3. What types of disputes were mediated by the person/entity for you/your program (EEO, family, consumer, interpersonal, community)? What percentage were EEO disputes? What was the percentage of disputes mediated in each category?

4. Were settlement agreements adequately crafted by the person/entity? Did the person/entity draft written agreements? If not, why not? What level of assistance was required by your program to the person/entity in crafting the agreements?

DSTARKE

Highlight

5. Did you receive any complaints that implicated the person/entity's appearance of neutrality or underlying fairness of the assigned mediation? If so, what were the circumstances? In your view were the complaints justified? What remedial action was required, if any?

6. Did the person/entity properly perform the mediation(s) and necessary paperwork within the time frames set forth by you or your program? Were there any instances where the person/entity could not complete the mediation and any necessary paperwork associated with the mediation(s) within specified time frames and if so, what were the underlying circumstances?

7. How reliable was the person/entity's availability to undertake disputes? Were there instances where the person/entity was unable to mediate for you? If so what were the circumstances? Was the person/entity usually available to mediate disputes when you needed them?

8. How reliable was the person/entity to contact and return messages related to scheduling, conducting or the completion of a mediation?

9. Did the person/entity comport themselves professionally and did they execute the necessary procedures of your program?

10. What level of assistance was required by your program/contract administrator in overseeing the person/entity's assignments?

11. What is your assessment of the person/entity's understanding of equal employment opportunity law and EEOC procedures?

12. EEOC is a federal agency with limited resources. It is critical to the success of our mission to secure effective vendors. Is there any other information that you would like to provide concerning the person/entity? Would you award another contract with this person/entity again?

I attest that the information that I have provided to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission concerning the person/entity seeking my reference is accurate and truthful.

Signed:

Print Name:

Date: