Q and A 07_30.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 33 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Amendment 01: Regional Innovation Clusters for Strengthening Domestic Industrial and Manufacturing Capacity
- Solicitation number
- 47QACA25K0452
- Issued by
-
GSA Federal Acquisition Service
About this file
This document is a Questions and Answers (Q&A) file for a Small Business Administration (SBA) Regional Innovation Clusters (RIC) solicitation (RFQ Number 47QACA25K0452). The solicitation seeks proposals for strengthening domestic industrial and manufacturing capacity through Regional Innovation Clusters that support small businesses. Key details include a one-year base period contract with a maximum of 20 awards not to exceed $7,500,000 total, full and open competition open to universities and other entities, and a submission deadline of August 8, 2025 at 4 PM ET.
The RFQ focuses on creating and expanding cluster networks in specific industries, with quoters expected to define their region, target industry (using NAICS codes), and proposed services. Evaluation will prioritize technical approach and management capabilities over past performance, with all non-price factors more important than price. Quoters must propose three primary service types, anticipate small business engagement, and develop a cluster network with potential partners including small businesses, universities, research centers, and entrepreneur support organizations. Quarterly and annual reporting of metrics will be required, with an emphasis on measurable economic impact and regional competitive advantage.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitation_07.30.docx | DOCX document | |
| ATTACHMENT 3_ Questionnaire_07.30.docx | DOCX document | |
| ATTACHMENT 7_ Sample PWS_7.30.docx | DOCX document | |
| AMENDMENT 01.pdf | ||
| ATTACHMENT 1_ PROVISION_CLAUSE PACKAGE.docx | DOCX document | |
| ATTACHMENT 5_ QASP.docx | DOCX document | |
| ATTACHMENT 6_ OCI.docx | DOCX document | |
| Solicitation.docx | DOCX document | |
| ATTACHMENT 4_ Price Schedule.docx | DOCX document | |
| ATTACHMENT 7_ Sample PWS.docx | DOCX document | |
| ATTACHMENT 3_ Questionnaire.docx | DOCX document | |
| ATTACHMENT 2_Statement of Objectives.docx | DOCX document |
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Text version
Sheet1
| Question | Response |
| Are all three steps —1. Small Business Support Services and Creation and Expansion of Cluster Network in a Specified Industry, 2. Cluster Management and Oversight & Report/Metrics Development, and 3. Past Performance/Prior Experience —due on August 8, 2025? | The full offer, including all steps, is due August 8, 2025 at 4 PM ET. Quoters should use attachment 7 - sample PWS - when submitting their quotes. |
| We would like to know if this is a brand new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services. If not brand new, could you please provide the current / previous contract number? | SBA has overseen the RIC Program since 2010. This solicitation is not a direct follow on requirement, so this is considered a new contract. |
| Is it correct to say that this solicitation is open to universities to submit? | Yes, this is a full and open competition. |
| We understand that the Base Period is 12 month and that the FAR 52.217-8 has been included. Is there a mechanism for SBA to extend the contract for multiple years? Or do you anticipate this contract being one year only. | The Government anticipates this contract being one year. |
| We would value guidance on a more precise definition of “Advanced Manufacturing” to determine if our support for small businesses qualifies us for the RIC award this year. | It is at the discretion of each quoter to define their intended industry served with corresponding NAICS codes (at least four-digit NAICS code is preferred). Reviewing Presidential Executive Orders may be helpful. |
| Would it be permissible to add new funded partners post-award, provided we remain within the total award amount and adhere to the approved scope of work? | The Government has privity of contract with the awardee only. No other awardees will be recognized post award absent a Novation agreement and formal approval by the Contracting Officer. Quoters wishing to add partners post-award should seek approval from the Contracting Officer, however privity of contract will remain with the awardee |
| The RFP requires us to set a goal for average increase in annual revenue for small businesses served. Is there a minimum threshold the SBA considers competitive, or examples of successful metrics from existing RICs? | The goal for average increase in annual revenue of small businesses served through the RIC should be determined by each quoter and reflect the the context of their region and industry. Also, this is an RFQ not RFP. (All quotes will be evaluated in accordance with the solicitation). |
| Has the SBA identified any priority industries among the eight listed that align with current national economic security initiatives or that have shown particular success in existing RICs? | No, industries included Statement of Objectives (Attachment 2) reflect the SBA's priorities to restore the U.S. industrial base, bring back American jobs, and promote the nation’s economic dominance and national security. |
| What guidance can you provide on the optimal geographic scope for a RIC? | A region may cross municipal, county, and other jurisdictional boundaries. The region in which a cluster will administer services can include multiple localities across multiple states. Each quoter will determine their region. |
| Is there a preference for multi-state regions versus concentrated metropolitan areas, or rural versus urban focus? | Quoters should describe their region of service. A region looks different across the Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) Program. A region could be a county(ies), state(s), and/or cross jurisdictions. |
| What level of commitment is expected from formal partners at the proposal stage? | Quoters should list existing cluster partnerships, formal partnerships could be recognized by formal partnership documents, such as memorandums of understanding, letters of agreement etc. If formal partnerships exist, documents should be included in the appendix A (see Table 1). |
Quoters should address how they will collaborate with their partners to support delivery of services to small businesses and coordinate their efforts to expand services and support the delivery of new and needed services within the region.
| What is the anticipated period of performance for the base period, and does the SBA anticipate exercising the 6-month extension under FAR 52.217-8? | The period of performance is a one year base. No option periods are currently listed but the Government is including FAR 52.217-8 which shall not be quoted at this time. |
| Is funding provided as a lump sum or distributed throughout the performance period? | Funding is not provided as a lump sum. |
| Does the SBA have expectations regarding the RIC's path to self-sustainability beyond the period of performance, and should we address this in our proposal? | Quoters are responsible for responding to all materials requested in the solicitation. |
| How should we approach areas where SBA resource partners (like SBDCs or WBCs) already provide similar services? | Quoters should describe the current small business support services in the identified region and how the RIC funding will support the delivery of new and needed services and avoid duplication of services. |
| Is the expectation to collaborate, fill gaps, or create industry-specific versions of these services? | Quoters should address how they will collaborate to support delivery of services to small businesses and coordinate their efforts to expand services and support the delivery of new and needed services within the region. |
| Can you provide insight into how the three evaluation steps are weighted in the final scoring? | See page 3 of RFQ document (Basis of Award section), Step 1 & 2 are equally weighted but more important than Step 3 past performance/prior experience. Past performance/prior experience is more important than price. All Non-price factors, when combined, are more important than price. |
| Is past performance weighted equally with the technical approach? | No, see page 3 of the RFQ document (Basis of Award section) |
| Are there any publicly available metrics or success stories from current RICs that we could reference to better understand performance expectations? | No, RICs program-wide performance is reported via SBA's annual congressional budget justifications. |
| Does the SBA have expectations regarding the initial size of the cluster (number of small businesses and partners) and growth targets over the period of performance? | No, goals for cluster size should reflect the context of the chosen region and industry. |
| Will the team members also need to submit their own OCI forms? | Each company shall submit an OCI form which shall be reflective of all team members. |
| Once the cluster is funded, can new partners or external technical assistance providers be formally added to the cluster network without prior approval? | The Government has privity of contract with the awardee. The Cluster can onboard informal partners during the period of performance. |
| Would those new partners need to be subcontracted, or can they participate as non-funded collaborators? | The Government has privity of contract with the awardee. No other subcontractors will be recognized post award without formal approval from the Government. The Cluster can onboard informal partners during the period of performance. |
| The RFQ references an expected staffing plan — is it acceptable to propose staff allocated at less than 100% FTE to this project, given it’s a 1-year firm-fixed price contract? | Staff can be allocated by percentage of effort other than 100% FTE to the RIC project. |
| Can existing institutional staff (shared across multiple programs) be allocated by percentage of effort, or must staff be fully dedicated to the RIC? | The quoter must describe how their staffing plan is uniquely suited to deliver on the proposed small business support and creation of the cluster network proposed. Staff can be allocated by percentage of effort. |
| Must we identify every county served in the proposal, or is it sufficient to list the primary service area with an appendix of counties? | Quoters are responsible for responding to all materials requested in the solicitation, including identifying counties served. |
| If we bring in a partner organization to deliver specific training, would that be considered a subcontract, or could it be an unfunded cluster partner? | The Government has privity of contract with the awardee. No other subcontractors will be recognized post award without formal approval from the Government. The Cluster can onboard informal partners during the period of performance. |
| Is there an expectation that the proposal include specific revenue generation strategies for sustainability beyond Year 1? | No |
| The solicitation indicates a size standard of $19.5 million applies. Please confirm whether that size standard applies to non‑profit/Higher Education entities or only to for‑profit firms. | This requirement is full and open, not a set-aside requirement. |
| We intend to select Advanced Manufacturing as our industry target. Please clarify whether there is flexibility in selecting multiple applicable four-digit NAICS codes under this industry category. Advanced manufacturing does not correspond to a single, specific four-digit NAICS code. Rather, it spans a range of industries that typically fall within several four-digit NAICS codes under the broader manufacturing sector. Our relevant four-digit NAICS codes may be found within the following three-digit categories: 332 – Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing, 333 – Machinery Manufacturing, 334 – Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing, 335 – Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing, and 336 – Transportation Equipment Manufacturing. Each of these categories includes sectors closely aligned with advanced manufacturing. We would appreciate confirmation on whether proposals may include multiple applicable four-digit NAICS codes within these categories. | It is at the discretion of each quoter to define their intended industry served with corresponding and relevant NAICS codes. Quoters may propose multiple NAICs codes to support, see Statement of Objectives Attachment, page 5, Industry and Region Served. |
| Is there a preference for geographic regions that have not previously received RIC funding? | No |
| Are matching funds or cost-sharing required or encouraged? | No, matching funds or cost-sharing are not required. |
| Can we include informal partnerships in our proposal, or must they all be formalized? | Quoters should list existing cluster partnerships – formal or informal. |
| Is there collaboration between current RICs and what is the existing platform for that collaboration on a national level? | Cluster partners could include but are not limited to small businesses, large businesses, industry groups, local universities, community colleges, government or independent research centers, capital providers, entrepreneur support organizations, SBA Regional and District Offices, and other SBA resource partners or funded organizations. |
| Is there flexibility in how we structure our cluster network and engagement model? | Quoters are responsible for responding to all materials requested in the solicitation. |
| Any requirements on font size, margins, or spacing? | No, reasonable font size, margins, and spacing are expected for evaluators to view all portions of the quote without requiring magnification or zoom capabilities. |
| Can the government provide the relative weighting or scoring breakdown for technical, management, past performance, and price evaluation factors? | See the RFQ (solicitation document), specifically Basis For Award section page 3. |
| How will the evaluation panel assess ‘regional competitive advantage’ and ‘measurable economic impact’? Are there specific metrics or qualitative criteria that will be used to score these elements? | The evaluation panel will assess according to the listed evaluation factor criteria, "Quoters shall describe how their designated region is able to support the growth of the specific industry and to build, maintain, and represent a regional cluster. Quoters should describe the existing assets, resources, and capabilities of the region and qualitative and quantitative metrics are of interest to describe why the designated region has the capacity to support growth in the specified industry. Quoters should identify any gaps in the existing assets, resources, and capabilities of the region and how the cluster will address and/ or fill the gaps. ". |
| Are there minimum requirements for small business engagement, such as a required number of businesses served or specific types of services delivered, or is performance evaluated solely on outcomes? | No, quoter shall identify the three types of services predominately provided by the cluster and list the number of unique small businesses they anticipate serving and number of hours of small business support services provided. |
| How will the government define and measure ‘success’ for small business impact under this program? Are there specific key performance indicators (KPIs) or reporting templates that offerors should address in their proposals? | The metrics clusters will be responsible for reporting to the SBA on a quarterly and annual basis are included in Statement of Objectives (Attachment 2) and how the SBA can track quality assurance is included in the QASP (Attachment 5). |
| Should the offeror provide and collect ALL the metrics listed? | See page 5 of the RFQ. The Contractor shall provide a narrative and quantitative report at the end of every quarter detailing breakdown of time spent across contract categories, activities completed, activities delayed, problem areas determined, problems resolved, any additional small business benefit and/ or success stories. At the end of the period of performance, the Contractor shall provide a detailed report on the extent to which it provided all the services proposed including activities completed and outcomes from those activities, as well as any activities not completed with explanations. |
| How does the government define ‘cluster network expansion’ for the purposes of this contract? Is there a minimum threshold for network growth, or specific outcomes expected in terms of new members, partners, or geographic reach? | Quoters shall demonstrate the cluster’s historical and existing partnerships, or ability to develop partnerships. Each regional cluster is unique in size and services, demonstration to have and maintain successful and continued partnerships within the designated region is an integral cluster qualification. The Government does not have pre-set minimum thresholds. |
| Can the government clarify the minimum required functionality and content for the cluster website during the base year, including whether a stand-alone website is required, any specific technical or accessibility standards that must be met, and if integration with SBA reporting systems is expected? | See Attachment 2, membership management section. Quoter shall describe a plan for creating a website or a web page on an existing site specific to the programming and efforts undertaken by the cluster. The website should serve as a mechanism for small businesses and partner organizations to find and contact the cluster. The Government does not anticipate the website will need to integrate with any reporting systems. |
| Are you allowing co-proposers to submit or just one proposer with one UEI per proposal? | There should be one UEI per proposal. |
| When the proposed activity involved several entities offering services into one coherent program, do you suggest each entity should apply separately with a common reference to the program or apply together under one umbrella? | It is the responsibility of the quoter to be responsive to all elements of the solicitation and describe how the RIC funding will support the delivery of new and needed services and avoid duplication of services. |
| can you please provide a list of all the RIC awardees since 2010 and the period of performance | Prior RICs awards can be found on SAM.gov. |
| can you please provide the geographies covered by each RIC awardee | Current RICs and their geographies covered are available on the Regional Innovation Cluster page on SBA.gov |
| can you please provide the consortium partners for each RIC awardee | Information on current RICs are available on the Regional Innovation Cluster page on SBA.gov. |
| In the past, we have negotiated a change when an award was to be made to us to use FAR 52.213-4 as we are performing research and development rather than commercial services. Is that something that could be done with the RICs? | No, this requirement is for commercial services |
| Given SBA’s mission to expand small-business utilization—and the SOO’s explicit emphasis on engaging Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs)—will the Government consider (a) restricting one or more RIC awards to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) or (b) applying evaluation preference for SDVOSB primes? | The Government has considered different options and will not change the acquisition strategy at this time. |
| Does each specific technology listed under ‘Disruptive Technology’ count as one industry of interest? Or does the ‘Disruptive Technology’ industry encompass all those listed beneath it? | Each specific technology listed under "Disruptive Technology" counts as one industry of interest. |
| Can SBA clarify how outcomes like technology adoption or prototype‑to‑production or technology advancement transitions will be weighted relative to revenue/capital metrics? | All quotes will be evaluated in accordance with the solicitation. SBA recognizes each cluster has unique strengths and attributes; clusters will not be expected to have equal outputs across all reporting metrics. There are not relative weights between the different metrics. |
| Some specific metrics such as funding raised and contracting value received might take beyond 12 months on average. Will the proposers have flexibility in measuring success beyond the 12 month period or is the expectation to meet the metrics within the programmatic timeline? | RICs are required to submit annual reporting and metrics 30 days after the end of the period of performance which is 12 months. |
| For new market entry related metrics, are there preferences on whether the new markets are domestic or international? | Annual metrics related to new markets entered are collected in the aggregate. |
| Do we need to include annual reports, regional plans, etc. in appendix? | Required documents for appendices are described in Tables 1 and 2 in the solicitation. |
| What supplemental documentation is allowed in appendix that does not count towards page count? | Required documents for appendices are described in Tables 1 and 2 in the solicitation and do not count towards page count. |
| What is meant by RFQ Number? Is this our own number for proposals? Or is there a number we are not seeing in the RFQ? | Request For Quote (RFQ) is the Government's generated reference number posted on sam.gov for this requirement, The RFQ number for this requirement is 47QACA25K0452. |
| Will the cluster dissolve after the 12-month period or is the contractor expected to develop a continuity plan? | Period of Performance is 12 months. |
| If 20 awards are granted, does the government anticipate distributing the funds evenly between each awardee? | It is anticipated that this RFQ will result in up to 20 awards, not to exceed $7,500,000 in overall total. |
| Can we use subcontractor past performance? | Quoters may use their own performance as a subcontractor for past performance. |
| Limit on pages and/or number of Past Performance Questionnaires? | No page limit on Questionnares, 3 Questionnares, see RFQ page 8. |
| We selected Advanced Manufacturing as our category of focus and hope to assist any small businesses working in this field of expertise regardless of the industry they serve (IE, wood, food, automotive, aerospace, etc.). We request clarification on the level of detail required for our identified codes. Do you want us to list all of the manufacturers codes available? Is there a broad code that will not limit the population we can serve or are we required to identify every industry we plan to support ahead of time? | It is at the discretion of the each quoter to define their intended industry served with corresponding NAICS codes (at least four-digit NAICS code is preferred. |
| Would the team consider expanding the past performance period to 3 years? | No |
| Will this be awarded under the GSA MAS schedule (and if so, which SIN), or under OASIS+ Small Business (and if so, which domain)? Alternatively, will a different contract vehicle be used? | No, this effort is being solicited open market |
| Can the Government elaborate on the specific SBA-preferred project management tools or methodologies for managing the cluster network? | Quoters shall describe project management process, including staff and any specific project management tools utilized. Quoters shall describe processes to address project delays and unanticipated risks. |
| Why does this solicitation have such a short time to respond? | Market Research has been posted on sam.gov prior to solicitation being posted. |
| Why can’t solicitations be simplified? | Government appreciates all feedback |
| What does COR stand for? | Contracting Officer Representative |
| What is a TA provider? | Technical Assistance Provider |
| Can a national organization propose a coordinated national strategy with localized implementation through regional chapters or partners under a single RIC award? | Quoters should state their anticipated region of service down to the county level with corresponding FIPS codes. |
| Will SBA prioritize or reward applicants that already maintain strong partnerships with SBA resource partners, capital providers, or economic development agencies in their region? | Quoters will be evaluated based on the stated evaluation factors |
| Can awarded funds be allocated toward subawards or contracts with regional affiliates, outreach and marketing efforts, and/or the purchase or licensing of CRM and other program support tools? | See RFQ page 8 Price Quote. Quoters shall submit pricing in accordance with the pricing schedule template in Attachment 4. The resultant contract(s) will be firm-fixed price for 1 year. Quoters shall identify all proposed costs for all years to include labor categories, labor rates, number of hours, other direct costs (i.e. travel, subcontractor costs), etc. Quoters are responsible for quoting ODCs that are applicable to their proposed approach. Quoters shall include anticipated number of hours of small business support for each period of performance. Quoter shall include any and all assumptions made in the development of its price quotation. These assumptions, while they will not be used for pricing evaluation, they will be used to determine the level of effort being quoted within the total FFP quotation. Once an award is made the Government has privity of contract with the only the awardee. |
| Is there a recommended or minimum number of small businesses served or technical assistance hours required to remain in compliance? | No, quoter should list the number of unique small businesses they anticipate serving and number of hours of small business support services provided. |
| For the required annual revenue growth metric, will SBA allow flexibility based on industry differences, such as early-stage deep tech versus service-based companies? | SBA recognizes each cluster has unique strengths and attributes; clusters will not be expected to have equal outputs across all metrics. |
| Will unsuccessful applicants receive feedback or a formal debrief following award decisions? | Formal Debriefs will not be provided. |
| The Solicitation states that an (1) outline of management and governance structure and (2) staffing plan are required for Appendix B, but the SOO also request this information as part of Step 2. Can the Government clarify the difference in the information being requested in these sections? | The required documents for Appendix B are under Step 2 of the Solicitation. The required documents for Appendix B will be used when evaluating Step 2. |
| The RFQ asks for labor categories, rates, hours, and other direct costs — is there a required template beyond Attachment 4, or can we format this to match institutional cost categories? | No required template for additional required info (labor categories, labor rates, number of hours) referenced in Attachment 4 |
| We are proposing a Critical Minerals RIC, to include mining, processing, and increased access to capital. Will efforts in capital formation to address critical minerals be a viable aspect of our proposal? | It is the responsibility of the quoter to identify the three types of services that will predominately be provided by the cluster and address how they will collaborate with their regional network of entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) and regional stakeholders to support delivery of services to small businesses and coordinate their efforts to expand services and support the delivery of new and needed services within the region. |
| Can we include travel expenses in our proposal? | Yes |
| Should any applicable ODCs be included in the pricing as part of the FFP amount, or separated out for reimbursement? | ODCs should be included |
| Is Travel allowed to be billed? | Travel shall be incorporated into the total Firm Fixed Price |
| Are the labor rates commercial rates? Or are the rates cost plus benefits and 10% de minimis rate? | Labor Rates should be fully loaded rates |
| Are there specific KPIs or metrics beyond the QASP mentioned standards that must be met? | The metrics clusters will be responsible for reporting to the SBA on a quarterly and annual basis are included in Statement of Objectives (Attachment 2) and how the SBA can track quality assurance is included in the QASP (Attachment 5). |
| Will SBA provide a standardized reporting template or system to support data submission for quarterly and annual metrics? | SBA utilizes a standardized reporting template for quarterly and annual reporting. See QASP attachment and Attachment 2 Statement of Objects (Report/Metrics Development section). |
| On Page 6 under the section "Step 3 Past Performance/Past Experience", would CPARS evaluations be acceptable in place of the Attachment 3 for each Past Performance/Prior Experience reference? | Attachment 3 must be completed and returned, filled out by the quoter with 3 examples. |
| Are quoters supposed to complete the questionnaire on our own behalf or do prior CORs/ program managers complete them? | Quoters should complete the Past Performance Questionnaire (Attachment 3) on their own behalf. |
| Are letters of support admissible, encouraged or required in this solicitation? | Letters of support are not required. |
| The RFQ asks for projects started or completed within 2 years — can we include projects that began more than two years ago but were completed within the last two years? | Yes, see Solicitation page 6, Step 3. Quoters shall identify at least three (3) contracts or projects for the same or similar services started or completed within two (2) years from the closing date of this solicitation. |
| Can we submit both federal and non-federal projects as past performance? | Yes |
| Can we list a federal grant project, such as our previous DOE funded Advanced Manufacturing Project (July 2016 – April 2025), as the “Company Evaluated,” or is it limited to the clients we served under that grant? It would be ideal if SBA allows us to consider our DOE funded project itself to be listed, as we can provide comprehensive, fact-based information including price (funds), timeline, and performance outcomes. However, if the SBA requires us to name specific clients we served, some of the questions in the form may not be applicable, as we did not sign contracts, set prices, or charge for those client engagements/services. | Grant projects are acceptable, please fill out the form to the best of your ability. |
| Solicitation – Step 3 Past Performance/Prior Experience - “For each past performance/prior experience reference, quoters shall complete Attachment 3 Past Performance-Prior Experience Information. The Quoter shall identify if it was the prime contractor or a subcontractor for each contract or project identified.” Q. Please Confirm this is Attachment 3 – Questionnaire. Where in Attachment 3 – Questionnaire shall the Quoter identify their role as the prime or subcontractor? | Please see updated Attachment 3- Questionnaire and list within attachment. |
| Are the past performance questionnaires supposed to be completed by our COR/Program Managers? | Past Performance Questionnaires should be filled out by the quoter |
| Do the three past performance references need to be specific to the prime contractor, or can they reflect the experience of any organization included in the submitting team? | Yes, past performance should be related to the prime contractor's experience. |
| Can the Government confirm if the Attachment 3 Questionnaire for each project should be included in our submission or should the evaluator send it directly to the government? Is there any other information the government wants as part of Evaluation Step 3 Past Performance beyond the questionnaires? | See RFQ page 8. Questionnaire shall be filled out by the quoter. |
| Offerors should list existing cluster partnerships (formal or informal). Formal partnerships could be recognized by formal partnership documents, such as memorandums of understanding or letters of agreement. Does SBA have a recommendation on how many MOUs or letters of agreement should be included as part of the proposal submission? | No |
| Please confirm that the only requirement for MOUs or formal agreements applies to current SBA RIC clusters, and that prospective partners are not required to have formal agreements at the time of submission. | Quoters are responsible for including all information listed in the solicitation and should list existing cluster partnerships – formal or informal. Formal partnerships could be recognized by formal partnership documents, such as memorandums of understanding, letters of agreement etc. |
| Additionally, we would like to confirm whether applicants are permitted to make modifications to Attachment 7 – Sample PSW when submitting the application. | Quoters should follow the outline and sections as included in the Sample PWS (Attachment 7) when submitting their quote. |
| When we review the sample PWS, it includes in reference to what should be included in the submission, on "Pages 13-17, Evaluation Step 2" Section b, "Report and Metrics Development". This appears to be a number of items that will be required for submission of regular reporting if selected, but do we need to supply something here? Is it required to submit proposed figures for each of these reporting items up front at this time as part of our proposal? Or are these sub-sections not required? Please clarify what items must be submitted within the five page narrative in this section. | Quoters should review the Solicitation and SOO and ensure all requested information is provided and clearly labeled in their submission. |
| what is to be included within this same section, in the prior subsection under a.Cluster Management and Oversight, subsection iii.Disclosures. Is there a disclosure form? Please advise what is needed here.c | The Sample PWS (Attachment 7) has been updated and disclosure section removed. |
| The RFQ references that the quote will form the basis of the PWS — should we submit a separately labeled PWS document in addition to the narrative, or will the narrative sections suffice? | Please reference Attached 7 Sample PWS for drafting your response. |
| Attachment 7 – Sample PWS - “Appendix B. Include Materials from Table 2 Outline of management and governance structure and resumes of key personnel”. Q. Should offerors determine which positions are designated Key Personnel? | See updated Attachment 7, key personnel has been removed. |
| Is our final submission document to be structured in the same format as the Sample Performance Work Statement provided with the solicitation? | Yes |
| Attachment 7 – Sample PWS, Evaluation Step 2 – Cluster Management and Oversight and Report and Metrics Development (iii. Disclosures): Could SBA please clarify what specific "Disclosures" are expected to be included in this section of the proposal? | The Sample PWS (Attachment 7) has been updated and disclosure section removed. |
| They are referenced again on the SBA instructions website, but not within this procurement materials. Can you confirm if they are required and where to find them: |
(8) A completed copy of the representations and certifications at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.212-3 (see FAR 52.212-3(b) for those representations and certifications that the offeror shall complete electronicall
(9) Acknowledgment of Solicitation Amendments:
| (11) If the offer is not submitted on the SF 1449, include a statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. Offers that fail to furnish required representations or information, or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration. | See Attachment 1, solicitation amendments shall be acknowledged when offerors respond to solicitation, please reference the latest amendment there as acknowledgement. | |
| How is contractor performance evaluated quarterly—will performance drive payment? | Performance is evaluated by reviewing cluster membership, quarterly reports, and annual reports and tracking against goals identified in quote. RICs will invoice no more than monthly for work completed and paid when performance is satisfactory. |
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