SF30 Amendment 0001 for Solicitation 47QACA26F0306 - Risk Management Support 2026 09 19.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

Bertha Russell, Contracting Officer

This Amendment to Solicitation 47QAA26R0306 - Risk Management, Financial Analysis, and Administrative Support Services is for the following:

A. Provide a List of Questions and Answers received in reference to the solicitation.

B. Provide updated copies of the RFP and all attachment documents.

C. Provide andextension of the proposal submittal due date from 09/21/2026 to 09/29/2026 No Later Than 9:00 am EST.

General Services Administration 77th Forsyth Street SW Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Bertha BR Russell

(404) 989-6124

General Services Administration 77th Forsyth Street SW Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Bertha BR Russell

(404) 989-6124

47QACA26R0306

1 41

09/19/2026

09/10/2026

U.S. Small Business Administration / U.S. General Services Administration Solicitation 47QACA26R0306

Risk Management, Financial Analysis, and Administrative Support Services Questions and Answers

Question 1

1. RFP Attachment D, 89/1 Section L.2, Factor 4/Past Performance, Relevant Experience/Past Performance Section L states that offerors may provide “up to three” relevant projects, while Attachment D states that each offeror “must submit” past performance information on a minimum of three contracts.

Please clarify the number of past performance projects an offeror is required and permitted to submit.

Specifically: (1) if three projects is the minimum requirement, may an offeror submit more than three relevant past performance projects; or (2) if offerors may submit up to three projects, may an offeror submit fewer than three without being considered noncompliant or otherwise adversely evaluated?

Please also clarify how the Government will evaluate an offeror that submits fewer or more than three projects.

Response: Section L.2, Factor 4 will be amended to remove the "up to three (3)" limitation and to read "a minimum of three (3) and no more than five (5)" relevant projects. If more than five are submitted, the Government will evaluate only the first five in the order presented. An offeror that submits fewer than three references will not be found non-compliant, but the Government will evaluate only what is submitted; an offeror with no recent, relevant past performance will be rated Neutral/Unknown confidence in accordance with Section M.4 and FAR 15.202(c). Quantity itself is not scored; relevance, recency, and quality of performance are. (See Revised RFP Section L.2 Factor 4)

Question 2

2. RFP Attachment D, 89/1 Section L.2, Factor 4/Past Performance, Recency of Past Performance Section L limits relevant past performance to contracts performed within the last three (3) years from the posting of the RFP, while Attachment D permits contracts performed within the last five (5) years.

Please clarify the applicable recency period for relevant experience/past performance and revise the solicitation and/or Attachment D as appropriate to ensure consistency.

Response: Section L.2, Factor 4 and Section M, Factor 4 will be amended by the same amendment that issues these responses to substitute "within the last five (5) years from the date of solicitation posting" for "within the last three (3) years." (See Revised RFP Section L.2 Factor 4)

Question 3

3. RFP 89 Section L.2, Factor 4, Relevant Experience/Past Performance For purposes of Factor 4 – Relevant Experience/Past Performance, will the Government consider relevant contracts performed by proposed subcontractors when the subcontractor will perform a meaningful portion of the corresponding work under the resulting contract? If so, may one or more of the offeror’s submitted past performance projects be contracts performed by the proposed subcontractor, and how will subcontractor past performance be considered in the Government’s relevance and performance confidence assessments?

Response: The Government will consider contracts performed by a proposed subcontractor, teaming partner, or joint-venture member where that entity will perform a meaningful portion of the work under the resulting contract. One or more of the required references may be a subcontractor reference, provided the offeror identifies the entity, the portion of this requirement that entity will perform, and the workshare (dollar or percentage) it performed on the referenced contract. Such references are evaluated for relevance and quality on the same basis as prime references; however, the Government will consider the degree to which the referenced performance is likely to be brought to bear on this requirement in assigning the performance confidence rating. Offerors are cautioned that a proposal relying exclusively on partner past performance may receive less confidence than one demonstrating the offeror's own comparable record.

Question 4

4. RFP Attachment D, 89/1.-6, Section L.2 Factor 4 Past Performance Questionnaire, CPARS /Past Performance Questionnaire.

For Federal contracts for which an official CPARS evaluation is available, may an offeror submit the applicable CPARS evaluation in lieu of the client-completed Past Performance Questionnaire in Attachment D, or in addition to Attachment D? If subcontractor past performance is permitted, may CPARS evaluations associated with a proposed subcontractor’s relevant Federal contracts likewise be submitted and considered under Factor 4?

Response: For any Federal contract with a completed CPARS evaluation, the offeror may submit the CPARS report in lieu of, or in addition to, the Attachment D questionnaire, and the Government will consider it. CPARS evaluations for a proposed subcontractor's relevant Federal contracts may likewise be submitted and will be considered under Factor 4 on the same basis described in the response to Question 3. Offerors should submit CPARS reports as attachments to Volume I and identify the referenced contract number for each.

Question 5

5. RFP 88-89, Section L.2, Factors 1-4, Corporate vs. Individual Experience Where proposed key personnel possess highly relevant experience obtained while employed by another organization, may that individual experience be presented and evaluated within the Technical Approach, Management/Staffing, and Key Personnel portions of the proposal, distinct from corporate past performance? Please clarify how the Government will distinguish and evaluate offeror corporate experience, proposed subcontractor experience, and individual key personnel experience.

Response: Individual experience of proposed personnel gained at another organization may be presented and will be evaluated under Factor 1 (Technical Approach) and the Staffing/Key Personnel factor, which is where personnel qualifications are assessed. It will not be credited as the offeror's corporate past performance under Factor 4. The Government will distinguish the three as follows: (a) offeror corporate experience and subcontractor/partner experience are evaluated under Factor 4 as described in the response to Question 3; (b) individual key personnel and labor-category qualifications are evaluated under the Staffing/Key Personnel factor against PWS Sections 7.1, 7.2, and Appendix A; and (c) demonstrated technical understanding, however acquired, is evaluated under Factor 1.

Question 6

6. RFP 88-93, Section L.2/Section M, Factors 2 - 3, Section L and Section M appear to use different titles and/or descriptions for Factors 2 and 3. Please clarify the final title, proposal content requirements, evaluation criteria, and relative importance applicable to Factors 2 and 3, and revise the solicitation as necessary so that offerors can organize their proposals consistent with the Government’s intended evaluation methodology.

Response: The factor titles and order are: Factor 1 - Technical Approach and Understanding of OCRM Requirements; Factor 2 - Staffing, Key Personnel, and Labor Category Qualifications; Factor 3 - Management Plan, Quality Control, and Task Order Execution; Factor 4 - Relevant Experience and Past Performance. Relative importance is as stated in Section M.2: Factor 1 is most important;

Factor 2 is second in importance; and Factors 3 and 4 are of equal importance to one another. Section L.2 will be amended to conform its factor titles and content requirements to Section M, and the stray parenthetical "(Factor 1)" in the Section L.2 Factor 3 heading will be deleted. Offerors should organize Volume I using the Section M factor titles; content placed under a differently titled heading will still be evaluated under the factor to which it pertains. (See Revised RFP Section L and M)

Question 7

7. RFP 88-93, Section L.2/Section M, Factor 3, Section L establishes a ten-page limit for Factor 1, a ten-page limit for Factor 2, and a six-page limit for Factor 4, but does not identify a page limit for Factor 3. Please confirm the page limit applicable to Factor 3. Please also clarify whether the Draft Management Work Plan, Quality Control/Quality Assurance Plan, Transition Plan, and key personnel resumes are included within the applicable factor page limits or may be submitted as separate attachments excluded from those limits.

Response: Factor 1 (Technical Approach) is limited to 10 pages, Factor 2 (Management Approach) to 10 pages, and Factor 4 (Past Performance / Prior Experience) to 6 pages excluding Attachment D.

Section L.2 states no limit for Factor 3; the amendment will establish one. The Government intends to set the Factor 3 narrative at 10 pages, with the Draft Management Work Plan, the draft Quality Assurance Plan, and the Transition (Phase-In/Phase-Out) Plan submitted as attachments to Volume I and limited to 5 pages each. Key personnel resumes are excluded from the factor page limits and are limited to 2 pages per resume. The Attachment D questionnaires are excluded from the Factor 4 limit, and the Attachment F organizational conflict of interest response is excluded from all page limitations under paragraph 2 of that attachment. Offerors are reminded of the Section L instruction to be clear, concise, and complete; volume alone is not credited. [FOR CO ACTION: the amendment must add to Section L.2 the Factor 3 page limit, the 5-page limit per required plan, and the 2-page limit per resume stated above.] ( See Revised RFP Section L)

Question 8

8. RFP/PWS, 88-/6, Factor 1/PWS Section 8.1, SBA Systems and OCRM Specific Experience Factor 1 requires demonstrated capability related to the Lender Portal, CAFS, and other diagnostic tools, while PWS Section 8.1 states that SBA will provide training for tasks unique to SBA/OCRM.

Please clarify whether prior hands-on experience with the Lender Portal, CAFS, OCRM protocols, or other SBA-specific systems is required for proposed personnel at the time of proposal submission, or whether personnel with demonstrated experience in comparable banking, lending, financial analysis, credit-risk, regulatory, or oversight systems will receive full consideration and subsequently receive SBA/OCRM-specific training.

Response: Prior hands-on experience with the Lender Portal, CAFS, or OCRM protocols is not a mandatory minimum qualification for proposed personnel at the time of proposal submission.

Personnel with demonstrated experience in comparable commercial banking, government-guaranteed lending, credit-risk, financial-analysis, audit, or financial-institution supervisory or oversight systems will receive full consideration, and SBA will provide SBA/OCRM-specific training under PWS Section 8.1. Under Factor 1, the Government will evaluate the offeror's demonstrated capability to use these or functionally analogous systems and the credibility of its approach to bringing personnel to proficiency; demonstrated direct SBA system experience may be evaluated as a strength.

Question 9

9. RFP/PWS Appendix A, 29-33/20-24, Factor 1/Financial Analyst Position Description, SBA Lending Experience Please clarify whether prior SBA 7(a), 504, delegated lending, or OCRM experience is a minimum requirement or a preferred qualification. Where SBA-specific experience is identified as preferred, will comparable experience in commercial banking, government-guaranteed lending, credit risk, financial institution oversight, audit, accounting, or regulatory environments satisfy the underlying experience requirement?

Response: Prior SBA 7(a), 504, delegated lending, or OCRM experience is a preferred qualification, not a minimum requirement. Appendix A identifies it as "Preferred." Comparable experience in commercial banking, government-guaranteed lending, credit risk, financial-institution oversight, bank supervision, credit review, internal audit, accounting, or a comparable regulatory environment satisfies the underlying specialized-experience requirement.

Question 10

10. RFP, 88, Section L.2, Management/Transition, Incumbent Information Is this requirement currently being performed by an incumbent contractor? If so, please provide the incumbent contractor name, incumbent contract number, current period of performance, and current labor-category/staffing profile, to the extent available.

Response: These services are currently performed under an existing contract. Consistent with FAR 15.201, the Government provides the following: incumbent contractor name (The Jardin Group LLC), contract number (47QACA26P0051), current period of performance, and current staffing by labor category (Staffing is Per PWS). Proprietary incumbent pricing will not be released. Offerors should note that Section B.6 (See Attachment B - Pricing Worksheet) states the Government's estimated level of effort for all offerors and is the basis on which price proposals are to be constructed.

Question 11

11. RFP/PWS, 88/7-8, Section L.2, Transition/PWS Sections 9 and 14, Phase in/Knowledge Transfer If these services are currently performed by an incumbent contractor, what phase-in/transition period does the Government anticipate following award? Please describe the Government’s expectations regarding transfer of work-in-process, records, procedures, outstanding actions, system knowledge, and other institutional knowledge from the incumbent to the successor contractor, including any anticipated overlap period.

Response: The Government anticipates a phase-in period of up to thirty (30) calendar days following award, during which the successor contractor completes security packages, obtains badges and system access, and receives SBA/OCRM-specific training. The Government's expectations for knowledge transfer are: transfer of work-in-process inventories and status; return or transfer of all Government records and files; documentation of desk-level procedures maintained by contractor staff; a list of open and pending actions with status; and coordinated hand-off of Lender Portal and CAFS access.

All Government-owned records and work products remain with SBA and will be furnished by SBA, not by the incumbent contractor.

Question 12

12. PWS, 11-12, Section 14.1-14.3, Suitability, PIV, and System Access Because contractor personnel may not report for duty or access required systems until applicable suitability/access requirements are satisfied or temporary access is approved, please clarify how the

Government anticipates addressing the period between contract award and completion of suitability, PIV, CAFS, Lender Portal, and other required access processes for successor-contractor personnel.

Will temporary access, phased onboarding, incumbent overlap, or another transition mechanism be available?

Response: Contractor personnel shall not report for duty until the required suitability or access determination has been favorably adjudicated or temporary access has been approved by the SBA Suitability Office, as stated in PWS Section 14.2. To bridge the interval between award and completion of processing, the Government contemplates: (a) immediate submission of complete Security Packages upon award; (b) requests for temporary access under PWS Section 14.3 where appropriate; (c) phased onboarding, with positions brought on as individuals are cleared; and (d) reciprocal acceptance of existing favorably adjudicated Tier 2 or higher investigations where SBA security determines reciprocity applies. Task Order hours will be authorized consistent with actual onboarding.

Question 13

13. RFP, 5-7, Section B.6, Estimated Staffing Profile The pricing schedule identifies eight estimated personnel totaling 16,640 hours annually: one On-Site Supervisor, two Financial Analysts, one Administrative Assistant, one Program Analyst I, two Program Analysts II, and one Program Analyst III. Please clarify whether this staffing profile represents: (1) the Government’s anticipated initial staffing requirement; (2) estimated annual utilization for proposal evaluation purposes; (3) historical/current staffing; or (4) an illustrative staffing scenario only.

Response: Refer to Questions 20 and 51

Question 14

14. RFP/PWS 5-7/2.3, Section B.6/PWS Sections 4.2 -4.3 and 10, Anticipated Initial Task Order, Does the Government anticipate issuing an initial Task Order at or near contract award? If so, without committing the Government to a future order, can the Government provide the anticipated scope, labor-category mix, approximate number of personnel or hours, estimated value, and expected period of performance of the initial Task Order for proposal planning purposes?

Response: The Government anticipates issuing an initial Task Order at or near award. For planning purposes only, and without committing the Government, the anticipated initial Task Order is expected to cover the six labor categories and eight positions identified in Section B.6 (See Attachment B - Pricing Worksheet), for a period of performance approximately coextensive with the base period, at a ceiling based on the offeror's awarded fully loaded rates applied to the Section B.6 hours (See Attachment B - Pricing Worksheet).

Question 15

15. RFP/PWS, 4/3, Section B.4/PWS Section 4.3, Concurrent Task Orders Given the $1.5 million maximum amount identified for an individual Task Order and the substantially larger total IDIQ ceiling, does the Government anticipate issuing multiple Task Orders concurrently?

If so, should offerors demonstrate the capacity to staff and manage multiple concurrent Task Orders beyond the eight-person annual staffing profile shown in Section B.6 (See Attachment B - Pricing Worksheet)?

Response: The Government does not anticipate issuing multiple concurrent Task Orders as a routine matter; the expectation is a single Task Order per contract period covering the required positions, with additional Task Orders issued only if a discrete requirement arises. Offerors are not required to demonstrate capacity beyond the eight-person profile in Section B.6 (See Attachment B - Pricing Worksheet), but should describe surge capability for peak oversight periods as required under the Staffing factor. The $1.5 million individual Task Order maximum and the total contract ceiling do not imply concurrent orders.

Question 16

16. RFP/PWS, 5-7/1-4, Section B.6/PWS Sections 3,5 and 6, Additional Labor Categories The PWS permits ad hoc efforts, special projects, emerging-risk analysis, policy/procedure work, and other OCRM support, while Section B establishes rates for six labor categories. If a future Task Order requires specialized expertise not reasonably encompassed by the established labor categories, may additional labor categories and rates be added by bilateral contract modification or proposed at the Task Order level?

Response: If a future requirement calls for expertise not reasonably encompassed by the six awarded labor categories, additional labor categories and fully loaded rates may be added by bilateral modification to the IDIQ, negotiated for fairness and reasonableness, before any Task Order is issued against them. Offerors should not propose additional labor categories or rates in Attachment B;

Attachment B shall be completed exactly as issued.

Question 17

17. RFP/PWS, 5/4-5, 29, Section B.6/PWS Sections 7 1.7-7.2/Appendix A, Project Manager and On-site Supervisor PWS Section 7.1 states that the Project Manager is Key Personnel, shall not be billed directly to SBA, and shall have its costs absorbed in fully loaded labor rates. Section 7.2 states that the Project Manager shall serve as the On-Site Supervisor, while the On-Site Supervisor is a separately priced labor category for which the pricing schedule includes 2,080 annual hours. Appendix A further describes the On-Site Supervisor responsibilities as collateral duties of an individual who also holds a PWS labor-category position. Please clarify the Government’s intended staffing and billing construct.

Specifically, may the same individual serve as Project Manager and On-Site Supervisor and bill authorized On-Site Supervisor or other labor-category hours while performing non-separately-billable Project Manager responsibilities as collateral duties? If not, please clarify how these requirements are intended to be staffed and priced.

Response: The Government's intended construct is as follows. (a) The On-Site Supervisor is a separately priced, separately billable labor category (CLIN 0001/1001/2001/3001/4001) and is one of the eight positions reflected in Section B.6 (See Attachment B - Pricing Worksheet) . The individual filling it is a working, full-time on-site employee who performs substantive labor-category work for OCRM and performs the supervisory duties in PWS Section 7.2 and Appendix A as a collateral duty.

All hours for that individual are billed under the On-Site Supervisor CLIN at the awarded On-Site Supervisor rate; that individual shall not also be counted or billed under another CLIN, so there is no double counting. (b) The Project Manager is a separate, non-billable management function whose cost is absorbed in the fully loaded rates in accordance with PWS Section 7.1, and is not one of the eight positions in Section B.6 (See Attachment B - Pricing Worksheet) . (c) Because more than three contractor employees will be placed at SBA Headquarters, the Project Manager is not required to serve as the On-Site Supervisor; consistent with Appendix A, the Project Manager serves as On-Site Supervisor only where fewer than three contractor employees are placed at an SBA site. The sentence in PWS Section 7.2 stating "The Project Manager shall serve as the On-Site Supervisor" will be revised by amendment to align with Appendix A. The same individual may serve in both roles at the offeror's option, but in that case only the On-Site Supervisor labor-category hours are billable and Project Manager duties remain non-billable. (See Attachment C, section 7.2)

Question 18

18. RFP/PWS, 88/4, Section L.2/PWS Section 7.1, Project Manager Level of Effort Section L requires offerors to state the percentage of time the Project Manager will commit to the contract, while PWS Section 7.1 prohibits direct billing of the Project Manager. Does the Government have an anticipated or minimum Project Manager level of effort or percentage commitment for evaluation purposes? If not, please confirm that offerors may propose the level of Project Manager effort they determine appropriate to successfully manage the IDIQ and resulting Task Orders.

Response: PWS Section 7.1 prohibits direct billing of Project Manager time; it does not prescribe a minimum level of effort. The Government has no minimum or anticipated Project Manager commitment percentage for evaluation purposes. Offerors may propose the level of Project Manager effort they determine necessary to manage the IDIQ and resulting Task Orders, and the Government will evaluate the credibility and sufficiency of the qualification under the Staffing/Key Personnel factor.(See Attachment C, Section 7.1)

Question 19

19. PWS/QASP, 14-15/31/32, PWS Section 18, 19 and 21/QASP Section 3 and 4, Government Direction and Non-Personal Services, The solicitation characterizes this requirement as non-personal services, and PWS Section 21 states that Contractor employees will be controlled and supervised at all times by Contractor management and will perform independently without Government supervision. However, the QASP provides that the OCRM Director or designee will provide day-to-day technical guidance, determine start and end times, confirm work schedules and hours, advise on operational priorities and workload distribution, and verify Contractor personnel time sheets. Please clarify the intended division of responsibilities among the OCRM Director/designee, COR, Contractor Project Manager, and On-Site Supervisor for assigning work, establishing schedules and priorities, providing technical direction, evaluating day-to-day performance, and supervising Contractor personnel. Specifically, how will Government technical direction be administered through Contractor management to preserve the non-personal services relationship required by the solicitation?

Response: The requirement is and remains non-personal services. Responsibilities divide as follows.

The Contracting Officer is the only official authorized to direct, change, or amend the contract or a Task Order. The COR provides technical direction within scope, reviews and accepts deliverables, and verifies hours for invoice-review purposes. The OCRM Director or designee identifies operational priorities, required coverage hours, workload distribution, and technical requirements, and provides feedback on the adequacy and quality of work products. All such direction is operational and technical in nature, is communicated to and through the Contractor's Project Manager and On-Site Supervisor, and does not constitute supervision of contractor employees. The Contractor's Project Manager and On-Site Supervisor retain exclusive authority over the supervision of contractor employees, including assignment of individuals to work, establishment of individual work schedules within the Government-identified coverage window, approval of leave, timecard certification, performance appraisal, and discipline. Verification of hours by the Government is for contract administration and invoice review only. The QASP will be revised to state that the OCRM Director or designee identifies required coverage hours and priorities and verifies hours worked, rather than "determines start and end times" for contractor personnel, so that the non-personal services relationship is preserved. (See PWS Attachment B QASP Section 3.3)

Question 20

20. RFP/PWS, 5-7/7-8, Section B.6/PWS Sections 9.3-9.4, 2080 hours/Holidays/Backfill, Section B.6 uses 2,080 estimated hours per full-time position annually, while PWS Sections 9.3 and

9.4 prohibit work on Federal holidays and Government closures and provide that the Contractor will not be paid for time not worked. Please clarify whether 2,080 hours per position is solely a standardized quantity for price evaluation or represents the Government’s expected billable hours. If the Government expects 2,080 hours to be performed, please clarify how offerors should account for Federal holidays, Government closures, employee leave, and other non-billable periods, including whether qualified backfill personnel are expected to achieve the estimated hours or required coverage.

Response: The estimated hours in Section B.6 (See Attachment B - Pricing Worksheet) are a standardized quantity used to establish a common basis for price evaluation; they are not a guarantee of billable hours and do not obligate the Government to order them. Because PWS Sections 9.3 and

9.4 prohibit work on Federal holidays and during Government closures and provide that the Contractor is not paid for time not worked, the estimate is being revised to reflect productive hours.

Section B.6 and Attachment B as issued state 2,080 hours per position per year, or 16,640 hours for the eight positions. SBA has established the estimating basis as 1,912 productive hours per position per year - 2,080 hours less 88 hours for the 11 Federal holidays and less 80 hours for 10 business days of personal leave - or 15,296 hours per year for the eight positions. Section B.6 and Attachment B will be amended to 1,912 hours per position. Offerors shall price the quantities as amended and shall make no further adjustment for holidays, closures, or leave. Offerors are not required to backfill or to work additional hours to reach the estimated quantity. The Government expects the required positions to be covered during the core hours addressed in PWS Section 9.1, and the Contractor is paid only for hours actually worked and accepted. (See Attachment C, Section 9.3 and 9.4)

Question 21

21. PWS/QASP, 7/33-35, PWS Section 9.3/QASP Performance Requirement Matrix, Hours of Operation/Coverage The PWS requires Contractor personnel to work eight-hour days and forty-hour workweeks within the 0630-1800 EST/EDT operating window, while the QASP references maintaining coverage during core hours. Please clarify whether the Government requires Contractor coverage throughout the entire 0630-1800 operating window each business day through staggered schedules, or whether each assigned employee will work an eight-hour schedule within that window as established by Contractor management consistent with Government coverage requirements.

Response: 0630 to 1800 EST/EDT is the operating window within which contractor personnel may be scheduled; it is not a requirement that every position be staffed for the entire 11.5 hours. Each assigned employee works an eight-hour day and a forty-hour workweek on a fixed schedule established by Contractor management, staggered as necessary so that the coverage hours and operational priorities identified by the Government are met. The phrase "100% coverage during core hours" in Section L.2, Section M, and the QASP performance matrix means the staffing plan provides uninterrupted coverage of the Government-identified coverage requirements across the window, with no unstaffed gap in required positions, and will be clarified by amendment. (See Attachment C, Appendix B)

Question 22

22. RFP/PWS, 4/2/8, Section B.1 and B.5/PWS Section 4.1, 4.2 and 10, Task Order Contract Type Section B.1 states that Task Orders may be issued on a Labor-Hour, Time-and-Materials, or Firm-Fixed-Price basis, while the PWS repeatedly states that Task Orders will be issued on a Labor-Hour basis and Section 10 states that Task Orders will be issued solely on a Labor-Hour basis.

Please clarify which Task Order contract type(s) may be used under the resulting IDIQ and revise the solicitation accordingly.

Response: Task Orders will be issued solely on a labor-hour (LH) basis. The Contracting Officer has executed a determination and findings under FAR 16.601(d) that no other contract type is suitable, and PWS Sections 4.1 and 10 state the labor-hour requirement. Section B.1 and Section H.4 will be amended to delete the references to Time-and-Materials and Firm-Fixed-Price ordering. Each Task Order will include a ceiling price that the Contractor exceeds at its own risk, and payment will be made under FAR 52.232-7. (See revised RFP)

Question 23

23. PWS/QASP, 8/35, PWS Section 9.5/QASP Performance Objective 11, Overtime Billing PWS Section 9.5 states that authorized overtime will be billed and paid in accordance with the contract’s pricing terms and applicable labor-hour rates, while the QASP states that overtime will be billed at 1.5 times the regular rate. The pricing schedule does not request separate overtime rates.

Please clarify the applicable billing methodology for authorized overtime and whether offerors should include or identify overtime rates in their price proposals.

Response: Attachment B does not request overtime rates and offerors shall not propose or enter them.

Overtime is not a normal practice under this contract and requires advance written authorization by the Contracting Officer under PWS Section 9.5. Authorized overtime will be billed in accordance with the contract's pricing terms and applicable labor-hour rates and applicable law: for non-exempt employees, at one and one-half times the applicable fully loaded hourly rate for hours worked in excess of forty in a workweek; for exempt employees, at the applicable fully loaded hourly rate.

QASP Performance Objective 11 will be revised to reflect this and to remove the unqualified "1.5 times" statement. (See revised Attachment C Section 9.5)

Question 24

24. Attachment E/PWS, 1, 10/10, Wage Determination No. 2015-4281/PWS Section 4.2, Service Contract Labor Standards Applicability Please confirm whether the Government anticipates that the Administrative Assistant is the only proposed labor category subject to the occupational wage rates in Attachment E, with offerors responsible for determining the exempt or non-exempt status of all remaining labor categories in accordance with applicable labor laws.

Response: Confirmed, with the following qualification. Wage Determination No. 2015-4281 applies to all Service-Contract-Labor-Standards-covered, non-exempt positions performing in Washington, DC. The Government's expectation is that the Administrative Assistant is the labor category most likely to be covered by an occupational classification in the wage determination. The Contractor remains solely responsible for determining the exempt or non-exempt status of each of its positions and for correct classification and conformance under the Service Contract Labor Standards, 29 CFR Part 4, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. Positions that qualify as bona fide professional employees are exempt.

Question 25

25. PWS Section 4.1, Task One/RFP Section B.1, The PWS and SF 1449 state that all Task Orders will be issued solely on a labor-hour (LH) basis, consistent with a Contracting Officer determination that no other contract type is suitable under FAR 16.601(d). However, RFP Section B.1 states Task Orders may be issued as Labor-Hour, Time-and-Materials, or Firm-Fixed-Price. Please clarify which contract/ordering type(s) will actually be used, as this affects our pricing methodology and risk allocation.

Response: (Refer to questions 22)

Question 26

26. PWS Section 7.2/Attachment B Pricing Sheet, CLIN 001/1001/2001/3001/4001 Section 7.2 of the PWS states the On-Site Supervisor role is a collateral duty performed by an individual who also holds one of the other labor category positions, and that the Contractor may bill for On-Site Supervisor hours only to the extent they are included in an awarded labor category.

However, the Pricing Sheet and SF 1449 list "On-Site Supervisor" as a separate, independently staffed CLIN with its own FTE and hours. Please clarify whether the On-Site Supervisor position should be priced as a distinct, additional FTE, or whether those hours should be embedded within one of the other five labor categories' fully loaded rates, to avoid double-counting labor in our price proposal.

Response: (Refer to question 17)

Question 27

27. Attachment D, Past Performance Questionnaire Attachment D directs the Offeror to submit Past Performance Information on a minimum of three comparable contracts as part of the technical quote, but also instructs the Offeror to forward the questionnaire to references for independent submission directly to the Contracting Officer. Please clarify: (1) whether the Offeror's own narrative submission and the client-submitted questionnaire are both mandatory and independently due by the proposal deadline, and (2) whether the client's independent submission may be received after the proposal due date without being considered late or non-responsive.

Response: (1) Both are required. The offeror's own narrative and reference information for a minimum of three contracts is part of Volume I and is due with the proposal; Attachment D expressly requires it "as part of the technical quote." The offeror shall complete the company-specific fields on pages 1-2 of Attachment D, forward the form pages 3-6 to each reference, and request that the reference complete and email it directly to bertha.russell@gsa.gov with the subject line prescribed on page 3 of Attachment D ("Solicitation 47QACA26R0306 - Past Performance Questionnaire - [Evaluated Company's Name]"). (2) References are requested to submit questionnaires by the proposal due date. Offerors bear the risk of a reference's non-submission; where a questionnaire is not received. The offeror may submit project CPARS in lieu of the questionnaire. (See Revised RFP Section L and Attachment D)

Question 28

28. PWS Section 9.1/SF1449 Item 0001 The anticipated period of performance begins October 6, 2026, only about two weeks after the proposal due date of September 21, 2026. Given the Security Package, PIV/HSPD-12, and Suitability Office clearance requirements in PWS Sections 14.1–14.3, please clarify the expected timeline for adjudicating contractor personnel suitability determinations relative to the anticipated start date, and whether temporary access/clearance is expected to bridge any gap.

Response: (See Revised SF1449 and The Government intends to award in time to begin performance on October 6, 2026, subject to completion of the evaluation and availability of funds.

Because Security Packages cannot be submitted before award, the Government expects a phased ramp: complete Security Packages submitted immediately upon award; temporary access requested under PWS Section 14.3 where appropriate; and personnel reporting for duty as individually cleared.

Personnel may not report for duty until favorable adjudication or approved temporary access. (See Attachment C, Section 14)

Question 29

29. PWS Section 6/Attachment B Pricing Sheet The PWS states the Government may elect not to backfill immediately when a contractor employee leaves, and that a bilateral modification would reduce Task Order price accordingly if fewer positions than stated are provided. Please confirm whether Offerors have flexibility to propose an alternate FTE mix or total headcount (while still meeting the stated labor categories and total hours), or whether the FTE counts and hours by labor category on the Pricing Sheet are fixed and must be quoted exactly as shown.

Response: The FTE counts and hours by labor category in Attachment B are fixed for pricing purposes and shall be quoted exactly as issued; alternate FTE mixes or headcounts shall not be substituted in the pricing sheet. PWS Section 6 addresses post-award administration only: if a position becomes vacant and the Government elects not to backfill immediately, the parties will bilaterally modify the affected Task Order to reduce price for the unfilled hours. Offerors may describe a proposed alternative approach to labor mix in Volume I as additional information, but the priced quantities in Attachment B must match those issued or the price proposal may be found non-compliant.(See Attachment C Section 6)

Question 30

30. PWS Section 9.5/Attachment B Pricing Sheet The PWS states overtime is not a normal practice and requires advance written CO authorization, but the Pricing Sheet contains no separate line item or rate structure for overtime hours. Please clarify how authorized overtime hours, if any, should be priced and invoiced under the Task Order structure, and whether a separate overtime rate should be included in our price proposal.

Response: (Refer to question 23)

Question 31

31. PWS Sec 6 – Required Personnel Labor Categories PWS Section 6 states that if the Contractor provides fewer positions than stated in a Task Order (e.g., due to attrition and the Government electing not to backfill immediately), the parties will bilaterally modify the Task Order to reduce the price accordingly. Please clarify the expected mechanism/timeline for this price reduction (e.g., prorated by unfilled hours) so we can appropriately model risk and pricing contingencies.

Response: The price reduction will be prorated. Where a position is unfilled and the Government elects not to require immediate backfill, the affected Task Order will be bilaterally modified to reduce the ceiling by the unfilled hours multiplied by the awarded fully loaded rate for that labor category.

The Government will process the modification promptly after the staffing change is reported through the twice-monthly Contract Employee Report; in the interim, the Contractor bills only hours actually worked, so no reduction is required to prevent overbilling. There is no downward adjustment to awarded hourly rates because of a vacancy. (See Attachment C, Section 6)

Question 32

32. PWS Sec 12.2 Quality Assurance Plan PWS Section 12.2 requires a draft Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) to be submitted with the proposal.

Please confirm whether the draft QAP counts toward any technical proposal page limit and, if so, specify the maximum page count expected for this submission.

Response: (Refer to question 7)

Question 33

33. PWS Sec 8.2 Language Requirements PWS Section 8.2 requires that at least one employee assigned under the contract have business-level Spanish proficiency "when such tasks are required." Please clarify whether this bilingual requirement must be met by a dedicated, specifically-designated employee at contract start, or may be satisfied on an as-needed basis by any qualified team member, and whether it applies across all labor categories or only specific positions (e.g., Financial Analyst, Program Analyst).

Response: The requirement is that at least one employee assigned under the contract have business-level Spanish proficiency when such tasks are required. It is not a dedicated position and is not tied to a specific labor category; it may be satisfied by any qualified assigned team member in any labor category. The Government expects the capability to be available at the start of performance and to be maintained throughout. The individual need not be identified by name in the proposal; offerors should confirm in Volume I how the requirement will be met and maintained. Proficiency will be verified by Contractor certification to the COR at the time of assignment, supported by the employee's qualifications. (See Attachment C Section 8.2)

Question 34

34. PWS Appendix A Financial Analyst Position Description The Financial Analyst position description lists two distinct experience tiers: a GS-11 equivalent (typically one to two years of specialized experience) and a GS-12 equivalent (typically three or more years of progressively responsible specialized experience), with Master's degree preferred especially for higher-level/GS-12 placement. The Pricing Sheet lists 2 FTEs under a single "Financial Analyst" line with one blended rate. Please confirm whether Offerors should propose both GS-11 and GS-12 equivalent Financial Analysts (i.e., one of each) at differentiated rates, or whether both FTEs should be priced at a single level, and if so, which level SBA expects.

Response: Both Financial Analyst positions are priced at a single blended fully loaded rate under one CLIN, as Attachment B is issued; offerors shall not split the CLIN or propose two differentiated rates.

The two experience tiers in Appendix A describe the range the Government expects to be filled. The Government expects at least one of the two Financial Analysts to meet the higher tier (three or more years of progressively responsible specialized experience, and will accept the second at the one-to-two-year tier. Offerors should price accordingly. The GS equivalent has been removed. (See Attachment C, Appendix A)

Question 35

35. PWS Appendix A Program Analyst I, II, II Position Descriptions The PWS distinguishes Program Analyst I (GS-10 equivalent), Program Analyst II (GS-11 equivalent), and Program Analyst III (GS-12 equivalent) as separate labor categories with different qualifications, and the Pricing Sheet separately lines out 1 Program Analyst I, 2 Program Analyst IIs, and 1 Program Analyst III. Please confirm whether Offerors must identify/propose specific named candidates (or at minimum resumes demonstrating the applicable GS-equivalent experience tier) for each of these four Program Analyst positions at proposal submission, or whether staffing to the specific level may occur after award.

Response: Named candidates are not required at proposal submission for the Program Analyst I, II, and III positions, which are not Key Personnel. Offerors shall describe a recruitment, qualification-verification, and retention approach demonstrating the ability to staff each tier at the applicable experience level. Resumes for these positions are not required; if provided, they will be considered under the Staffing/Key Personnel factor, are limited to 2 pages each, and are excluded from the factor page limits. Qualifications for each individual will be verified by the COR against the labor category before the individual is placed. (See Revise RFP Section L)

Question 36

36. PWS Sections 7.1 and 7.2 Project Manager and On-Site Supervisor Qualifications The minimum qualifications listed for the Project Manager (Section 7.1) and the On-Site Supervisor (Section 7.2) are identical (Bachelor's degree or 10 years of relevant experience managing contracts of similar scope and complexity, plus personnel transition experience), and the PWS states the Project Manager shall serve as the On-Site Supervisor when fewer than three employees are placed at a site.

Since all work is performed at a single SBA HQ location with six FTEs (exceeding the three-employee threshold), please confirm whether SBA expects the Project Manager and On-Site Supervisor to be the same individual or two distinct individuals under this specific staffing plan.

Response: The Government's intended construct is as follows. (a) The On-Site Supervisor is a separately priced, separately billable labor category (CLIN 0001/1001/2001/3001/4001) and is one of the eight positions reflected in Section B.6 (Attachment B - Pricing Worksheet). The individual filling it is a working, full-time on-site employee who performs substantive labor-category work for OCRM and performs the supervisory duties in PWS Section 7.2 and Appendix A as a collateral duty. All hours for that individual are billed under the On-Site Supervisor CLIN at the awarded On-Site Supervisor rate; that individual shall not also be counted or billed under another CLIN, so there is no double counting. (b) The Project Manager is a separate, non-billable management function whose cost is absorbed in the fully loaded rates in accordance with PWS Section 7.1, and is not one of the eight positions in Section B.6 (Attachment B - Pricing Worksheet). (c) Because more than three contractor employees will be placed at SBA Headquarters, the Project Manager is not required to serve as the On-Site Supervisor; consistent with Appendix A, the Project Manager serves as On-Site Supervisor only where fewer than three contractor employees are placed at an SBA site. The sentence in PWS Section 7.2 stating "The Project Manager shall serve as the On-Site Supervisor" will be revised by amendment to align with Appendix A.