49100421Q0078 Questions and Answers 20210622.docx

49100421Q0078 Questions and Response 22 June 2021

1) How should the proposal be submitted? Is there a page limit?

Proposals should be submitted electronically via email to the contracting officer by the required date and time. There is a page limit, however the following documents do not count towards the page limit:

· Resumes or CV

· The returned solicitation document and amendment documents

· The returned evaluation sheet With that in mind, additional documentation must not exceed 20 pages. Multiple emails may be submitted.

2) Page 11, Section A.5, Provision 52.212-3 Offeror Reps and Certs – states in the first paragraph:

The Offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the Offeror has completed the annual representations and certification electronically in the System for Award Management (SAM) accessed through https://www.sam.gov. If the Offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically, the Offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (v) of this provision.

If I have kept my Representations and Certifications updated electronically in SAM, this means I do not have to complete anything in sections C through V (C begins at the bottom of page 14, with V ending at the top of page 27)?

Correct, if you have an up-to-date SAM registration with a complete representations and certifications this section does not require further input. Note that per the solicitation requirements, this is a 100% small business set aside under NAICS 621111. You must be registered as a small business in SAM under this NAICS to be eligible for award.

3) Page 27, Section A.6, Provision 52-212-5: This section does not require input or any fill-ins, merely acceptance, correct?

Correct, this section does not require any input from the offeror. Please note, however, that an offeror is agreeing to all the clauses included in this section if they are determined to be the awardee and accept the award. Offerors are required to read this section and understand the contractual terms they are agreeing to. Note, clauses that have [X] are included. Clauses that have an empty box (it looks like “[]”) are not included. If a clause does not have a box at all then it is included (typically because it is required for all contracts).

4) Page 33-34, Section A.7 thru A.8, 52.217-8 and A.8 52.217-9: Save for providing cost information for the option periods, these sections do not require any input, correct?

Correct, these sections do not require any input within the specific section, but please remember to provide the price information in Section A.2.

5) Page 34, Section A.9, 52.204-24: The only section requiring input is section (d), correct?

Correct. Note that subsection (1) does not need to be filled in if the offeror does not provide telecommunication equipment or services (IE, you are not involved in the relevant NAICS). Subsection (2) requires the offeror affirm that they do or do not use covered telecommunications equipment. For the definition of ‘covered telecommunications equipment’ please see the full-text of Clause 52.204-25. This clause is included in the contract by reference, meaning it is included on the contract but not in full-text. Its reference is in Section A.6.

6) Page 36, Section A.10: There are no fill-ins or responses required for these clauses, merely acknowledgement and acceptance, correct?

Correct. No fil-ins or response is required, but be mindful that if determined to be the awardee and accepting the award means you will adhere to these clauses.

7) Page 37, Section A.11: Electronic Invoicing – this section does not require any action for the solicitation at this time, correct?

Correct. This section describes the electronic payment process. The offeror must be willing to accept electronic payments, written checks or other means of payment are not possible.

8) Page 38, Section A.12: Does the offeror submit their key personnel, IE, does the offeror fill-in the name?

Yes, the offeror should submit who their key person is. The resumes and evaluation sheet should reflect the experience of this key person.

9) Page 39, Section A.13, Registering Research.Gov: If we are already registered in research.gov is any further action required for proposal submittal? Instructions will be provided by the contracting officer, correct?

Registering in research.gov is a requirement unique to NSF and a few fellow agencies to facilitate electronic invoicing. If you are not registered currently, you do not need to register. The potential awardee, if not registered at the time of award, will be provided instructions on how to register. Status of registration will not affect award determinations in any way. The CO will directly inform you when you need to register.

10) Are there estimated hours for the following duties?

The following are for estimation purposes and do not represent firm or guaranteed requirements.

0. Medical Waiver & Clearance related work hours:

5 hours per week (Note that this is subject to change, as there are periods (weeks) where waivers aren’t submitted).

0. Formal meeting attendance (in-person) hours?

3-5 hours per week.

0. On-call Consultations hours?

No on-call hours; however, approx. 2 hours per week reviewing policy or providing medical opinion.

0. NSF OPP Liaison Panel Participation hours? Is participation in-person or virtual?

Potential Panel participation once per quarter, estimated 2 hours. Participation is virtual.

0. Any other hours?

No

11) Would NF consider a CLIN to capture travel costs related to performance?

Yes, and said CLINs have now been added to the solicitation via amendment 0001. Note that these CLINs have price already filled in. Offerors are not to provide their own price for travel. As travel costs are reimbursable, they are not considered in the evaluation of offerors.

12) Is any travel other than that to the NSF HQ in Virginia required?

Yes, every 2-3 years travel may be required to McMurdo Station in Antarctica or Summit Station in Greenland. These are not guaranteed trips and subject to program needs and constraints, but the possibility does exist. Given the complexity of travel for these trips they are arranged in coordination with NSF and the contractor will be notified in advance. The statement of work has had information added to address this travel.

13) Would the Government consider 2 billing rates: Monthly Retainer Rate (for being on-Call) and a Hourly Labor Rate when working?

Only one rate is being considered at this time.

14) Where is the expected place of performance? Can services be conducted remotely or are any required to be on-site in Alexandria?

Services will be performed remotely. Potentially, the two-day Medical Review Panel will be a hybrid event, which there will be an option to attend in person, but not mandated. Travel, if elected by the contractor and approved by NSF, would be reimbursed if commuting from outside the local area of NSF headquarters.

15) Is the expectation for the advisor to be on-call 24/7 to handle such late night calls within the required 2 hour response time?

There is no expectation for the advisor to be on-call.

16) What role will the advisor play relating to urgent/emergent cases?

The Medical Advisor does not play a functional role in the advisement of treatment of participants, such as a medical evacuation.

17) Is the advisor responsible for all after-hours consultation? If so, can you provide historical data or an estimate on how frequently overnight consultations are needed?

The Medical Advisor primary taskings are medical waiver reviews and policy reviews, which can be completed during normal business hours. After-hours events that require the Medical Advisor’s input are so infrequent that no meaningful historical data is available.

18) Please clarify the discussion regarding cold weather gear and polar travel. Is the expectation for the advisor to be deployed? If so, how often and for what length of time?

Under ideal conditions, the Advisor would travel to McMurdo and Summit Stations during the contract period. Given the infrequency of these visits, it is probable that such travel would only occur once to each site during the entire contract performance period. Due to weather and time to travel, the length would be approximately one week for summit and two weeks for McMurdo. Travel is not anticipated for the next 12 months due to quarantine protocols and limited availability.

19) Please clarify the support need for waivers. Have there been any previous instances where the advice of the advisor was pointed to as the cause for a denial to participate in a polar deployment? Could this culminate in a legal action involving the advisor?

Waiver approval is based on criteria determined by PQ guidelines and professional judgement. The Medical Advisor provides recommendations to the Senior Safety and Occupation Health Officer. The Senior Safety and Occupation Health officer makes the final determination and signs all disapproval letters.

20) Please clarify the requirement for providing an expert review of any MRP recommendations for appropriateness developing an ultimate written recommendation for concurrence or non-concurrence sent through the Safety and Occ. Health Office to the Director, OPP. What does this review entail?

First, the Medical Review Panel is provided a concern/problem to review. After the conclusion of the MRP meeting, a report is provided of MRP recommendations. The expectation of the Medical Advisor is to provide input on the recommendations, i.e. are they feasible, foreseeable issues, and/or reasons why NSF may not follow the recommendation. Ultimately, NSF responds to each recommendation with an explanation of why it will not implement or how it will implement.

21) Is this a personal services or non-personal services contract?

It is a non-personal services contract.

22) Is anything else required for the RFQ response besides the Medical Advisor Evaluation Sheet and the completed A.2 Price/Cost Schedule?

In addition to the Evaluation Sheet and Price/Cost Schedule, please provide a signed solicitation form to denote acceptance of the terms and conditions (IE, acceptance of the clauses). A signed front-page of any released amendments must also be included, to denote acceptance and understanding of the amendment.