Attachment 8 - RFQ Question Matrix (Official Responses)v1.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 66 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- 49100425Q0005
- Issued by
-
National Science Foundation
About this file
This is a Questions and Answers matrix containing official responses for a National Science Foundation (NSF) RFQ #49100425Q0005 for the Unified Network for Innovative Technology and Engineering (UNITE) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA). The file includes over 200 questions and responses covering topics like teaming arrangements, pricing, NAICS codes, labor categories, and task order requirements.
Key details include: questions are due by January 16, 2025 at 12:00pm ET; proposals are due February 07, 2025 at 12:00pm ET; this is a small business set-aside BPA with a 5-year period of performance from March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2030; the SEATS task order will be awarded under NAICS 541611; CTAs must collectively cover all five required NAICS codes (541330, 541990, 541611, 611430, 561920); each CTA member must be small under their respective NAICS codes; subcontractors do not need to be small businesses; G&A is not allowed on travel and ODCs; all CTA members must provide labor category mapping; and a minimum 5% discount is required at the BPA level with additional discounts allowed at the task order level.
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Sheet1
| ATTACHMENT 3-RFQ QUESTION MATRIX | |||||
| Question [Input by Potential Quoter] | Reference -Specify document, page number(s), and specific section [Input by Potential Quoter] *questions will not be answered with no reference | Response to Question [Provided by Government] | Change to RFQ based on Government Response [Provided by Government] | ||
| 1 | Will NSF indicate a potential conflict of interest when they issue the RFP or the vendor has to determine it on its own? | 49100425Q0005 - UNITE BPA (Official Solicitation), page 11, number 19 | The Contracting Officer will determine whether an organizational conflict of interest (OCI) exists. Offerors are responsible for identifying and submitting an OCI Mitigation Plan with their proposals, detailing how they will mitigate or neutralize any identified conflicts. Refer to section B.27, NSF270, and FAR Subpart 9.5. | ||
| 2 | Do we need to submit the rates for OCONUS locations too or is the anticipation that it can be derived by providing additional discount to the BPA LCAT rate (as Travel is separate)? | 49100425Q0005 - UNITE BPA (Official Solicitation), page 15 | OCONUS travel costs are to be determined at the task order level. Rates may be derived based on the BPA LCAT rate and do not need separate submission upfront unless specifically required by the task order. Travel is reimbursed as per Federal Travel Regulations (FTR). Refer to sections A.13 and A.21 | ||
| 3 | Does these resources needs to have a cyber background? (if yes then what level)? | Attachment 1 - UNITE BPA Statement of Work (SOW), Page 2, 1.a | Cybersecurity requirements depend on the task order. Some tasks may necessitate expertise in cybersecurity, aligned with NIST 800-53 standards and FedRAMP guidelines for moderate or low-impact systems. Refer to section B.10 and applicable NIST standards. | ||
| 4 | Does these resources needs to have a AI background? (if yes then what level)? | Attachment 1 - UNITE BPA Statement of Work (SOW), Page 2, 1.d | Task requirements for AI expertise are dependent on specific orders. For SEATS task orders, expertise in managing AI-related initiatives may be required. Refer to the SEATS Task Order Statement of Work, which emphasizes AI research support. | ||
| 5 | Is there any anticipated travel? (like once a week or month) or is the travel completely random? | Attachment 1 - UNITE BPA Statement of Work (SOW), Page 2, V | Travel requirements will be determined at the task order level and may include both CONUS and OCONUS locations. Travel frequency will depend on the specific needs of each task order. Refer to section A.13. | ||
| 6 | Do we have to leverage the ‘Unite BPA Price Quote” excel & replicate the tab ‘Sample Price Quote’ to provide quote for SEATS task order? | Attachment 2 - UNITE BPA Price Quote.xlsx | Yes, vendors are required to replicate the ‘Sample Price Quote’ tab to align with the SEATS task order requirements. Refer to the instructions in Attachment 2, which provides guidance on pricing. | ||
| 7 | Answer to question #169 says that the offeror is allowed to provide varrying\individual discount rate at the BPA level (with a properly documented approach) whereas answer to question #315 indicates that a single discount rate should be proposed at BPA level. Please confirm the correct one. Please also clarify the discount rate instruction for the SEATS task order. | Attachment 8 - Master List - RFQ Question Matrix (Responses).xlsx | A minimum discount rate must be applied to all Vendor MAS labor rates and those of CTA Team Members. Vendors may propose greater discounts for individual task orders. This applies uniformly to the SEATS task order. Refer to section A.16 and the Sample Price Quote instructions. | ||
| 8 | Could you please confirm if you mean 'A BPA-level holder who does not have any MAS CTA members whose GSA contracts have been awarded the specific SINs will not be able to compete on that task order'? Could you please check if the right term is used related to 'NAICS code' and 'SIN (special item number)' in other places of the solicitation? | 49100425Q0005 - UNITE BPA (Official Solicitation), page 6, A.2: A BPA-level holder who does not have any MAS CTA members who cover that NAICS will not be able to compete on that task order | Both NAICS codes and SINs are relevant. For eligibility, at least one CTA Team Member per NAICS code must be small under their MAS Contract. Refer to section A.2. | ||
| 9 | If the CTA Leader has a GSA contract under SINs 611430 and 541330 and a CTA member has a GSA contract under SIN 541611, can the CTA leader be the order leader for task orders related to SIN 541611 or does the order leader need to be the CTA member that has SIN 541611? | 49100425Q0005 - UNITE BPA (Official Solicitation), page 12, Order Leader | No, the order leader for SIN 541611 must hold that SIN under their GSA MAS contract. Refer to section A.30. | ||
| 10 | Do you mean 'a single vendor processes all of the required MAS awarded SINs'? | 49100425Q0005 - UNITE BPA (Official Solicitation), page 106, item (4): provided that a single Vendor possesses all of the required MAS NAICS as listed in Section A.2 | Yes, the requirement is for a single vendor or CTA to cover all the required SINs under their MAS schedules. | ||
| 11 | Could you please clarify if you mean 'the CTA member whose GSA contract awarded SIN is being used for the SIN in the solicitation must be shown as small under the awarded MAS contract'? | 49100425Q0005 - UNITE BPA (Official Solicitation), page 106, item (5): For proposed CTAs, at least one CTA Team Member per NAICS, not including subcontractors, must be shown as small under their awarded MAS Contract in GSA E-Library (www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov) in order to be considered under BPA establishment for Evaluation Factor 1 at the time of quote submission. | Yes, each CTA Team Member must demonstrate their small business status under their respective MAS contracts for the relevant SINs at the time of quote submission. Refer to section A.2. | ||
| 12 | Could you please clarify if you mean 'CTA Team Members'? | 9100425Q0005 - UNITE BPA (Official Solicitation), page 107, item (6): including Team Members | Yes, the term "CTA Team Members" is used to describe participants in the Contractor Teaming Arrangement. Refer to section A.30. | ||
| 13 | Could you please check if 'Retain all formula and links' is the case? | 9100425Q0005 - UNITE BPA (Official Solicitation), page 107, D.10 | Yes, vendors must ensure that all formulas and links in the pricing templates are intact for accurate evaluation. Refer to Attachment 2. | ||
| 14 | Please confirm that the labor categories and prices under each NAICS code in the price quote must be from the Vendor's price list of corresponding MAS awarded SINs. | 49100425Q0005 - UNITE BPA (Official Solicitation), page 108, item (2) | Yes, all labor categories and prices must align with the Vendor’s MAS awarded SINs as listed in their GSA schedule. Refer to section A.16. | ||
| 15 | Should offerors anticipate a broad range of requirements in their BPA responses, or can they focus on narrower capabilities? | Solicitation Instructions | Offerors must demonstrate the ability to cover a broad range of requirements listed under the BPA scope to ensure competitiveness. Refer to section A.12. | ||
| 16 | Is there a baseline level of effort or number of personnel anticipated for each functional task area or task order? | Solicitation General | Specific levels of effort will be detailed at the task order level. No baseline effort is defined at the BPA level. | ||
| 17 | What performance metrics will NSF prioritize to measure the success of marketing and PR efforts? | SOW Task Area 4 | NSF may prioritize metrics like engagement levels, audience reach, and alignment with strategic goals for evaluating marketing and PR efforts. Specific metrics will be defined per task order. Refer to section 7.0.5. | ||
| 18 | How many events does NSF typically organize per year, and what is the average scale of these events (e.g., number of attendees, venues)? | Section 7.0 BPA Task Areas Professional Services - Marketing and Public Relations (NAICS 561920 - Convention and Trade Show Organizers) | This varies based on directorate needs. The BPA scope includes support for a wide range of events, as described in section 7.0.5. | ||
| 19 | Does NSF maintain its own event properties (e.g., trade show booths, furniture, technology), or will these need to be warehoused and managed by the contractor? | Section 7.0 BPA Task Areas Professional Services - Marketing and Public Relations #11 (NAICS 561920 - Convention and Trade Show Organizers) | Event properties are typically maintained by NSF, but contractors may be required to manage them under specific task orders. Refer to section A.35. | ||
| 20 | Will NSF require the contractor to update its event properties (e.g., structures, signage, furniture, technology)? | Section 7.0 BPA Task Areas Professional Services - Marketing and Public Relations #11 (NAICS 561920 - Convention and Trade Show Organizers) | Updates to event properties may be required under specific task orders. Refer to section A.35. | ||
| 21 | Does NSF maintain its own event management software (e.g., Cvent), or will the contractor need to use their own system? If the latter, what is the anticipated capacity needed? | Section 7.0 BPA Task Areas Professional Services - Marketing and Public Relations #11 (NAICS 561920 - Convention and Trade Show Organizers) | Contractors should propose their own systems if required. Capacity needs will depend on the scale and number of events defined in individual task orders. | ||
| 22 | For hybrid or virtual events, does NSF have preferred platforms, or will the contractor recommend and manage them? | Section 7.0 BPA Task Areas Professional Services - Marketing and Public Relations #11 (NAICS 561920 - Convention and Trade Show Organizers) | The contractor will recommend and manage platforms, as no specific preferences have been indicated in the BPA documentation. Specific NSF needs will be detailed at the task order level. | ||
| 23 | For social media management and content creation, will NSF provide access to existing platforms and analytics tools, or is the contractor expected to propose new tools? | Section 7.0 BPA Task Areas Professional Services - Marketing and Public Relations #13 (NAICS 561920 - Convention and Trade Show Organizers) | Specific details will be outlined in task orders. | ||
| 24 | Will NSF provide its own personnel, such as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), for trade shows/events or is the contractor required to supply qualified representatives? | Section 7.0 BPA Task Areas Professional Services - Marketing and Public Relations #19 (NAICS 561920 - Convention and Trade Show Organizers) | Specific details will be outlined in task orders. | ||
| 25 | Can you elaborate on the type of market research and analysis expected under this BPA (e.g., competitive landscape analysis, stakeholder sentiment surveys)? | Section 7.0 BPA Task Areas Professional Services - Marketing and Public Relations #22 (NAICS 561920 - Convention and Trade Show Organizers) | Specific details will be outlined in task orders. | ||
| 26 | Will NSF provide access to existing datasets, or is the contractor required to gather all necessary data independently? | Section 7.0 BPA Task Areas Professional Services - Marketing and Public Relations #22 (NAICS 561920 - Convention and Trade Show Organizers) | Specific details will be outlined in task orders. | ||
| 27 | Can Government please clarify that how many key personnel offeror should propose for the task order? | 49100425Q0005+-+UNITE+BPA+(Official+Solicitation) | |||
| Section F.4 SEATS VOLUME II—TECHNICAL INFORMATION - TASK ORDER QUOTE PREPARATION | The number of key personnel will vary based on task order requirements. Section A.20 notes that key personnel qualifications will be determined at the order level. | ||||
| 28 | Is it necessary for bidders to hold current GSA MAS Schedules covering all the listed NAICS codes (541330, 541990, 541611, 611430, 561920)? Or can we have these NAICS in our SAM Profile, or only one NAICS in our GSA MAS Schedule. Please Clarify. | Bidders must have a GSA MAS Schedule covering at least one relevant NAICS code. However, having the listed NAICS codes in SAM is insufficient for this solicitation. Companies proposing as individual companies must have all relevant NAICS in their MAS schedules. If Offering under a CTA, the Team collectively must be able to perform under ALL NAICS. | |||
| 29 | For corporate experience in Volume II, it is necessary to use Federal Past Performance or we can use commercial as well. Also can we use our proposed subcontractors subcontracting PP. Please Clarify. | Both Federal and commercial past performance are acceptable. Subcontractor experience can also be included, as specified in Section D.9. | |||
| 30 | How recent does our PP need to be? | Past performance must typically be from the last three years, per standard government evaluation practices. | |||
| 31 | Can a prime contractor (or CTA leader) include subcontractors who do not hold the required NAICS or SIN as long as the prime contractor's (or CTA leader's) GSA Schedule and SINs cover those areas, and can subcontractors perform tasks outside of their own NAICS codes or SINs under these circumstances? | Attachment 6 - NSF UNITE BPA Ordering Guide | Subcontractors can support tasks outside their own NAICS or SINs as long as the prime or CTA leader holds the required NAICS or SINs. The subcontractor is not required to have the NAICS. | ||
| 32 | The deliverables section is marked as "TBD." Are there any anticipated deliverables or examples you can share to better understand contractor expectations? | Attachment 7, SEATS Task Order, Statement of Work, pg. 6, Section 6, Deliverables | Deliverables will vary by task order. Examples may include reports, market analyses, or event coordination plans, as outlined in Section 8.0 of the SOW. | ||
| 33 | What performance evaluation criteria will be used to assess contractor contributions to areas like program planning, review management, and award management? | Attachment 7, SEATS Task Order, Statement of Work | Specific details will be outlined in task orders. Performance will be evaluated on criteria such as adherence to timelines, quality of deliverables, and effectiveness in achieving task objectives. Refer to Section E.3. | ||
| 34 | What size font is acceptable for graphics and tables? | UNITE BPA, Official Solicitation, D.7 Instructions for BPA Establishment Quote Preparation, (c) Arrangement of Quote, (3) Formatting, pg. 105 | Font size for graphics and tables is typically required to be legible and professional (10-point or larger) unless otherwise specified in the solicitation. | ||
| 35 | Could the government please confirm whether an OCI Mitigation Plan is required at the time of submission, or if OCI Statements from each team member attesting that their company has no OCI related to this opportunity will suffice? | UNITE BPA, Official Solicitation, D.8 Instructions for BPA Establishment Quote Preparation, Volume I Other Documents, (3) OCI, pg. 106 | Statements of no OCI from all team members will suffice unless an OCI Mitigation Plan is explicitly requested by the contracting officer. | ||
| 36 | Could the government please confirm whether offerors are only required to provide signed CTA documents and are not required to submit signed teaming agreements with subcontractors? | UNITE BPA, Official Solicitation, D.8 Instructions for BPA Establishment Quote Preparation, Volume I Other Documents, (4) CTA documents, pg. 106 | Offerors are required to provide signed CTA documents. Teaming agreements with subcontractors are not explicitly required. | ||
| 37 | Could the government please clarify whether SAM Reps and Certs in PDF format are required solely for CTA members or for all team members, including subcontractors? | UNITE BPA, Official Solicitation, D.8 Instructions for BPA Establishment Quote Preparation, Volume I Other Documents, (6) System for Award Management, pg. 107 | D.(8) (4) CTA Documents (if CTA is contemplated) and written agreements: The Vendor, if applicable, shall submit its signed CTA Documents and written agreements for all its proposed CTA Team Members and Subcontractors. | ||
| 38 | Could the government clarify if GSA price lists are required exclusively from CTA members, or if subcontractors are also required to submit them? | UNITE BPA, Official Solicitation, D.8 Instructions for BPA Establishment Quote Preparation, Volume II Attachment #2, BPA Price List Instructions, (3) GSA MAS/Price Lists, pg. 108 | GSA price lists are required only from CTA members. | ||
| 39 | Would the government please consider providing an extension? | General | No, not at this moment in time. | ||
| 40 | The government gives the following direction for file naming purposes, "File naming conventions should follow the format (Vendor Name – Volume X – Document Title (e.g., ABCInc_VolumeI_TechnicalProposal)." Does NSF prefer hyphens or underscores in the file name? And are spaces to be included or deleted from the file names? | RFQ D.7.b p103 | NSF prefers underscores in file names, and spaces should be removed, per the file naming conventions provided in Section D.7. | ||
| 41 | The government states, "References to another part or section of the quote may be appropriate in order to avoid duplication of detailed information." Does this clause in the RFQ allow for referencing information between volumes, as long as price information is not provided for the technical evaluation? For example, is it permissible within the "SEATS Technical Information Volume" that is intended for the SEATS task order to reference past performance information in the "Technical Information Volume" that was submitted for the overall BPA award? | RFQ D.7.b p103 | Yes, cross-referencing between volumes is allowed as long as the referenced information is clearly identified and price data is excluded from the technical evaluation volume. Refer to Section D.7. | ||
| 42 | The government allows for a "Cross-Reference Matrix" to be excluded from page count. What are the restrictions and/or definitions on this Matrix? Can it be used to summarize information such as contract information throughout the volume? | RFQ D.7.b p104 | The Cross-Reference Matrix is excluded from the page count and can be used to summarize contract and compliance-related information. It should align with the organization of the solicitation. | ||
| 43 | NAICS and SINs are inconsistently used throughout the RFQ document, attachments, and answers to question. Please see the supplementary document walking through specific examples of this throughout the procurement documents and how it affects eligibility, competition, efficiency, and overall compliance. References are included within that document. Will the government respond to those concerns listed and provide clarity on its intent and requirements for NAICS and SIN representation? | Attached document with numerous references throughout many of the solicitation documents. | NAICS codes determine business size standards, while SINs align with GSA categories. NSF intends for these to be consistent, as noted in Section A.2. | ||
| 1. | Professional Services - Business Administrative Services | ||||
| • | NAICS 541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services | ||||
| 2. | Professional Services - Technical and Engineering Services (non-IT) | ||||
| • | NAICS 541330 - Engineering Services and 541330ENG | ||||
| • | NAICS 541990 - All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | ||||
| 3. | Professional Services – Training | ||||
| • | NAICS 611430 - Professional and Management Development Training | ||||
| 4. | Professional Services - Marketing and Public Relations | ||||
| • | 561920 - Convention and Trade Show Organizers | ||||
| 44 | Subcontractors can be used to cover BPA task areas (SOW Section 7.0) in the BPA-level offer that CTA Team Lead/CTA Team Members do not cover.' However, this seems to conflict with other requirements throughout the documentation that emphasize a Prime Vendor or CTA Team Lead/Member must demonstrate direct capability to cover all task areas. Could the government confirm whether subcontractors are restricted to providing only supplemental support and are not permitted to fully cover a task area independently? Additionally, does this restriction apply consistently at both the BPA and task order levels? | RFQ D.8 p 105 | Subcontractors can provide supplemental support but cannot independently fulfill an entire task area without the CTA lead or prime vendor demonstrating capability. | ||
| 45 | The government requires, "System for Award Management (SAM) Reps & Certs in PDF format for the proposed Vendor (including Team Members, if applicable)." Based on context, it is unclear if this includes subcontractors or only CTA Team Members. Please clarify who Reps and Certs must be submitted for. | RFQ D.8 p 105 | SAM Reps and Certs are required for all CTA members. Subcontractors may need to provide this if specified in task order instructions. | ||
| 46 | The government states, "Demonstrate that the Vendor or CTA, collectively, including Team Leads, Team Members, and subcontractors, has experience performing work required under each of the four BPA Task Areas identified in SOW § 7.0." Could the government clarify whether this requirement applies differently to Prime Vendors versus CTAs? Specifically, is it the intent that only CTA structures may collectively leverage subcontractor experience to meet the experience requirement? Or is subcontractor experience also permissible for Prime Vendors to include when demonstrating experience across the four task areas? Clear guidance on whether subcontractor experience can contribute to a Prime Vendor’s qualifications will ensure proposals align with the government’s intent and expectations. | RFQ D.9 p 106 | Subcontractor experience may contribute to qualifications if included in the prime vendor's or CTA’s proposal. However, the primary responsibility lies with the CTA or prime vendor. Per A.34 Small businesses must receive atleast 50% of Contract obligations during each reporting period and cumulatively during the performance of the BPA. | ||
| 47 | The government states, "The Vendor shall submit a price quote by completing Attachment #2 Sample Price Quote; however, the Vendor may tailor the Attachment to comply with the specifics of this acquisition and the Vendor’s approach." There are several questions regarding this attachment and requirements for LCATs in the attached document. Beyond that, there appears to be discrepencies with discounts allowed on the BPA submission to the GSA schedule rates, with only a place to enter fixed discount percentages and no option to customize that percentage for each LCAT. By not allowing for discounts beyond a fixed percentage, it gives inconsistent advantages across companies and teams that are arbitraty based on information not known until the RFQ release. A restriction to not allow for additional discounts beyond the fixed rate will lead to wild swings in pricing across teams, which could affect price evaluation. For example LCAT A in any given task area could be a high demand role where only small discounts can be given, but LCAT B may be a more common position that large discounts can be given on. Not allowing additional granularity in discounting by individual labor category will create a situation where a larger fixed discount must be given to remain competitive, creating losses for the higher demand roles, or smaller discounts will be given to cover industry costs raising the price for the government. To avert these issues, will the government allow for custom and LCAT level discounts to their mapped GSA MAS LCATs to give the best possible price to NSF? | Attachment 2 |
RFQ A.16 p 15 RFQ E.5 p 109 RFQ D.10 p 107
| Discounts are applied at the BPA level as fixed percentages. Offers are free to apply greater discounts at the Task order level that do not apply to the larger BPA. However, offers are required to apply the fixed minimum discount at the BPA level into the task order. | |||
| 48 | The requirements for the SEATS Volume I ask for a completed SF1449, while also stating that that SF1449 will not be generated for that task order until after award. What would the government like included in SEATS Volume I? | RFQ F.3 p 110 | The 1449 for the SEATS order will be generated after the BPA is awarded to the vendor. |
| 49 | The RFQ references both an SF1449 for the BPA and separate SF1449s for task orders, but no sample SF1449 was provided in the attachments. Can NSF provide a sample SF1449 to ensure proper completion? | Standard Form 1449 & BPA Agreement | This section was updated. |
| 50 | Can NSF clarify how they will evaluate business size for CTA members who hold multiple GSA Schedule contracts with different NAICS codes? For example, if a CTA member's primary NAICS code in their GSA Schedule is not one of the required NAICS, but they have the required NAICS as a secondary code, will they be considered small if they are small under that secondary NAICS? | RFQ, Business Size Requirements Section D.8, pg 105 | The CTA collectively can have all NAICS. A team member must possess one of the 5 NAICS identified in A.2. (541330, 541990, 541661, 611430, 561920), but collectively the Team must have all five represented. CTA members will be evaluated based on the NAICS code relevant to the task order. If they are classified as small under the secondary NAICS code that applies to the task order, they will be considered small for that task order. |
| 51 | The RFQ states Volume II Technical has a 25-page limit but then in Section D.9 specifies the Corporate Experience narrative is limited to 25 pages. Are these meant to be the same limit or are they separate? If separate, what is the total page limit for Volume II? | RFQ, Technical Volume Page Limits,Section D.7(c), pg 103 and D.9 (1), pg 107 | The 25-page limit for Volume II Technical includes the Corporate Experience narrative. They are not separate; the total page limit for Volume II remains 25 pages as specified in Section D.9 |
| 52 | Section A.9(5) indicates BPAs may extend beyond contractors' GSA Schedule terms if there are sufficient option periods, but doesn't specify how this works for CTA members with different schedule end dates. Can NSF clarify how they will handle CTA members whose schedules expire at different times? | RFQ, BPA Duration vs. GSA Schedule Duration Section A.9 (5), pg.9 | BPA terms may extend beyond the GSA schedule term if sufficient option periods are exercised. For CTA members with expiring schedules, the prime contractor or CTA lead must replace them with equivalent team members to maintain compliance. |
| 53 | The RFQ states "No MAS labor categories, labor rates, or price lists will be added or awarded in the BPA" but requires pricing submissions. Can NSF clarify how contractors should handle new labor categories added to their GSA Schedule during the BPA term? | RFQ, Section A.3, pg. 8 | Contractors must notify NSF of new labor categories added to their GSA Schedule. These categories can be incorporated at the task order level upon approval by the Contracting Officer. | ||
| 54 | The security requirements section contains extensive technical requirements but doesn't clearly state which requirements apply at the BPA level versus task order level. Can NSF provide a matrix showing which security requirements apply at each level? | RFQ, Security Requirements Section B.17, pg 71 | BPA holders do not need to comple the security process at the BPA leve. Security requirements will be at the task order level for each requirement as appropriate. Each Task Order will identify If and when security requirements are applicable. | ||
| 55 | Since the government plans to only award to small business at the CTA level does it anticipate setting aside BPA calls or task orders into small business set asides? | Attachment 6, Ordering Guide, Small Business Goals, pg 8 | NSF may set aside specific task orders for small businesses depending on market research and task order requirements, and NSF mission directives from our Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSBDU) ti meet SBA and NSF specific goals. However, BPA calls themselves are not exclusively set aside unless specified. | ||
| 56 | The ordering guide provides FY24 small business goals but doesn't specify if these are targets or requirements. Are these goals aspirational or will they be evaluated as part of task order awards? | Attachment 6, Ordering Guide, Small Business Goals, pg 8 | FY24 small business goals are aspirational. Goals will be updated to FY25 goals once released. In the future, Contractors contractors may encouraged to align during annual onramp/offramp discussion to assist in meeting the needs of the government. | ||
| 57 | Several sections reference a pricing template/attachment but this wasn't included in the documents. Can NSF provide the pricing template to ensure proper quote submission? | Pricing Template (Referenced but Not Provided) | The pricing template for the BPA is Attachment #2. NSF is adding Attachment #9 for Task Orders. | ||
| 58 | The RFQ discusses annual reviews for potential on/off ramping but doesn't specify the process for emergency team composition changes outside the annual review. Can NSF clarify the process for urgent team member changes? | RFQ, Team Composition Changes, Section A.31, pg 20 | For urgent changes, contractors must submit a written request to the Contracting Officer detailing the proposed replacement and their qualifications. Added language to SOL section A.31 | A.31 (4) | For urgent changes required outside an annual review, contractors must promptly submit a written request to the Contracting Officer, providing details of the proposed replacement and their qualifications. Approval of the replacement is at the discretion of the Contracting Officer. |
| 59 | Key Personnel mentions "Vendors must submit a narrative, describing the Vendor or CTA’s can meet required services section VI.." but only mentions the page count for resumes. Is there a page limit for the narrative in this section? | RFQ, Section F.4, pg 111 | It should be included in the 10 Page limit set for Volume I of the SEATS Task Order. | ||
| 60 | Q&A #122 states "Yes, letters of commitment are required for all key personnel at the time of proposal submission to confirm availability and commitment to the proposed effort." however, letters of commitment are not included in the RFP. Are they to be included in the 3 pg limit for each resume? | Atachment #8 - Master List - Question Matrix Responses Question #122 | F.4 (2) was updated | (1) Key Personnel. Vendors must submit a narrative, describing the Vendor or CTA’s can meet required services section VI. Contractor Staff Requirements, Role and Responsibilities in Attachment #7 - SEATS Task Order - Statement of Work. Each resume for Key Personnel shall not exceed three (3) pages. Vendors can add one (1) additional page providing a letter of commitment for Key personnel. | |
| 61 | Q&A #19 states that "The offeror need only demonstrate capability for the general NAICS 541330, not specific SINS.", however, 541330 has been deprecated on the MAS Schedule eLibrary. so companies are unable to show proof of 541330 on eLibrary. Please confirm that companies with NAICS 541330ENG on MAS eLibrary are acceptable in terms of coverage for NAICS 541330. | Atachment #8 - Master List - Question Matrix Responses Question #19 | Yes, companies with NAICS 541330ENG listed on MAS eLibrary will be considered acceptable as it is the replacement for the deprecated NAICS 541330. This ensures alignment with current MAS classifications. | ||
| 62 | We would like to request a 30-45 day extension from receipt of clarifications. This extension would allow for thorough preparation of a compliant and competitive quote while ensuring all team members meet requirements. | General | No | ||
| 63 | The evaluation information is cut off on page 30 where it says, "Technical and past performance, when combined, are .' Please provide complete information about the evaluation. | RFQ, Section B.6, pg 30 | The evaluation criteria on page 30 state that "Technical and past performance, when combined, are significantly more important than price." | B.6 updated. | |
| 64 | Please detail how Pricing will be evaluated across all CTA members? Including how if schedule holders map multiple labor categories from their schedule to single BPA lcat. | Pricing Template | Pricing will be evaluated based on alignment with GSA schedule rates, ensuring consistency with mapped labor categories and applicable discounts. Mapping multiple labor categories to a single BPA LCAT must be clear and substantiated for evaluation purposes. | ||
| 65 | The government states "No MAS labor categories, labor rates, or price lists will be added or awarded in the BPA" but is asking for a mapping of both schedule holders list and to include their Schedule Pricing Lists. This language is contradictory please clarify. | Solicitation, Section A.3, pg 8 | Updated A.3 to make language more clear. | Language updated "No MAS labor categories, labor rates, or price lists will be added or awarded in the BPA at the time of issuance. The BPA will specify the required minimum discounts to be used on all future order solicitations and reference the applicable GSA MAS contract number(s). If additional labor categories are subsequently added to the Contractor’s GSA MAS contract, those categories may be proposed and utilized for Task Orders under this BPA, subject to approval by the Contracting Officer." | |
| 66 | RFP Section F.4 (2) requires the submission of resumes, "Each resume for Key Personnel shall not exceed three (3) pages." Following up on Q&A #157, Can the Government confirm that the submission of one resume for "one key personnel which would be the contractor handling our Advisory Committee. The requirement for that position would be Project Management experience" would satify the resume requirements for proposal submission? | RFP, Section F.4 (2), pg 112 | Yes, submitting one resume for the specified key personnel position, provided it meets the criteria (e.g., project management experience), satisfies the requirement for that role. | ||
| 67 | Page 30 of the solicitation states "Technical and past performance, when combined, are" with an incomplete sentence. Could the Government clarify? | RFP, Section B.6, pg 30 | The full statement is: "Technical and past performance, when combined, are significantly more important than price." This completes the intent of the evaluation methodology. Language was updated | ||
| 68 | For Corporate Experience, is there a minimum or maximum number of contract references required? | RFP, Section D.9, pg 107 | No specific minimum or maximum number of references is stated. Offerors should provide sufficient references to demonstrate capability and experience. | ||
| 69 | On page 6, it states "Listed below are the NAICS Codes, MAS Special Item Numbers (SINs), and dollar values and/or number of employees necessary to qualify as a small business under Task Orders for providing Professional Services. No other NAICS Codes and associated size standards will be considered at the Task Order level. A BPA-level holder who does not have any MAS CTA members who cover that NAICS will not be able to compete on that task order." Could the Government clarify what "cover" means? Does this mean the contractor has the ability to fulfill the requirements for the NAICS code, has this NAICS code on their SAM.gov profile, or other? | RFP, Section A.2, Pg. 6 | "Cover" means that the contractor must demonstrate capability to fulfill the requirements associated with the NAICS code, including having the NAICS listed on their SAM.gov profile and their MAS schedule, as applicable. | ||
| 70 | Given the critical questions submitted during the initial Q&A period, we request the Government consider implementing a second Q&A period following the release of responses to the initial questions. Would the Government consider adding a brief second Q&A period to the procurement timeline to ensure all offerors can submit proposals based on a clear and complete understanding of the requirements? If so, we suggest a 2-3 day window following the release of initial question responses. | General | No | ||
| 71 | Are past performance examples from subcontractors based on commercial work acceptable? | Solicitation; page 107, Quote Preparation Instructions: Volume II - Technical Information | Yes, commercial past performance examples from subcontractors are acceptable if they are relevant to the scope of work and included in the proposal. | ||
| 72 | On page 110, the Solicitation states, "Subcontractors do not need to be small businesses and will not be evaluated under Evaluation Factor 1 (no extra credit will be given if they are small)." However, also on page 110, discussing the Go/No Go Criteria, the Solicitation states, "Acceptable: The Vendor or CTA (or Prime not in a CTA) has demonstrated that the Team Lead and all Team Members are considered small businesses in their primary NAICS on their GSA MAS Schedule ..." Can the government please clarify the Go/No Go Criteria regarding Small Business Status? | Solicitation; page 110, E.3 Factor 1 - Small Business Status (Go/No Go Criteria) | The Go/No Go Criteria apply to the CTA lead and all members being small businesses in their primary NAICS code on their GSA MAS Schedule. Subcontractors are not required to be small and are not evaluated under this criterion. | ||
| 73 | What is the level of effort expected for each of the cited thirteen (13) required contractors for the SEATS task order? Or; Are they all full time equivalent positions? | Attachment 7 - page 2; section 1 | The Task Order SOW was updated. | ||
| 74 | Please clarify; do you require one Excel file for each CTA member and each are required to provide a rate for all of the task NAICS? Or only one price quote that includes all CTA members and the NAICS code they represent using their GSA schedule rate? | Attachment 8 - BPA Price quote | Only one consolidated price quote, including all CTA members’ rates and the NAICS codes they represent using their GSA schedule rates, is required. | ||
| 75 | Please confirm that the Option to Extend Services is to be entered in columns AB through AE of Attachment 8 Sample Price Quote and does not require a separate Excel file. | UNITE BPA file; Page 109 Sample Price instructions; "D. The Vendor shall provide a separate price quote for the Option to Extend Services clause in accordance with FAR 52.217-8. This amount shall be included in the Sample Price Quote." |
| Yes, the option to extend services should be entered in columns AB through AE of Attachment 8. A separate Excel file is not required. | |||
| 76 | Please confirm: are we to submit a second Attachment 8 price quote for SEATS and have the option to provide a greater discount than the BPA sample price quote? | UNITE BPA file; page 113; "F.5 SEATS VOLUME III – ATTACHMENT #2 BPA PRICE LIST INSTRUCTIONS TASK ORDER QUOTE PREPARATION: " | Offerors will receive Attachment #9 Task order Price Quote Template. The RFQ is updated to reflect Attachment #9. |
| 77 | Are all CTA members and subcontractors required to submit their SAM's The Contractor’s representations and certifications record with the BPA response? | UNITE BPA file; B.7 52.212-3 OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS—COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (MAY 2024) | SAM Reps and Certs are required for all small business CTA members. Subcontractors must provide them if explicitly required in the task order. |
| 78 | Can you please confirm that teaming agreements with named subcontractor/s (who are not inlcuded in the CTA) need to be included with the proposal? Or will a letter of commitment from the subcontractor/s suffice? | RFP D.8 (4) p106 | These subcontractors, though lacking privity of contract with the Government, are required to sign the BPA agreement to acknowledge their roles and responsibilities. |
Section A.30 focuses on CTAs, emphasizing that subcontractors are not considered part of the CTA for BPA purposes and do not have privity of contract with the Government. This means they are not direct parties to the BPA Agreement in the context of a CTA.
| 79 | Are SAM Entity Record PDFs required for small and large business subcontractors; in addition to all small business CTA members? | RFP D.8 p107 | SAM Entity Record PDFs are required for all small business CTA members. It is the responsibility of the Prime contractor to ensure that all subcontractors comply with the BPA Terms and Conditions. | |
| 80 | NSF states: "NSF will not establish a BPA with a GSA MAS Holder whose schedule, inclusive of all options, ends prior to the BPA period of performance. This requirement applies to all CTA Members." Understanding that GSA Schedule renewal periods are not at the discretion of the contractor, can you please confirm that the CTA Lead and all members' schedules must be active at the time of award (even though the schedule/s may expire prior to the end of the anticipated UNITE period of performance, the assumption is that all GSA MAS schedules will be renewed prior to their expiration date)? | RFP D.10 p108 | Yes, all GSA MAS schedules for the CTA lead and members must be active at the time of award. While renewals are outside contractor control, it is assumed that all schedules will be renewed prior to expiration to maintain eligibility. | |
| 81 | Should the SEATS proposal Volumes be labeled Volumes I, II, and III as well? Or IV, V, and VI? | RFP F.3 - F.5 p112-114 | Section updatd to F.3. added label convention. | *File naming conventions should follow the format (Vendor Name – SEATS - Volume X – Document Title (e.g., ABCInc_SEATS_VolumeI_Technical). |
| 82 | Is there a page limit for the total key personnel section? | RFP F.4 p112 | There is no specific page limit mentioned for the overall key personnel section; only resumes are limited to three pages each. F.4. Seats Volume I should not be more than 10 pages. | |
| 83 | Are the 3 page resumes to be included in the key personnel section or are they to be included in an appendix? | RFP F.4 p112 | Updated F.4 | F.4(1) Key Personnel. Vendors must submit a narrative, describing the Vendor or CTA’s can meet required services section VI. Contractor Staff Requirements, Role and Responsibilities in Attachment #7 - SEATS Task Order - Statement of Work. Each resume for Key Personnel shall not exceed three (3) pages. Resumes shall be included as an appendix (if necessary) and shall not be included int the page count. Vendors can add one (1) additional page providing a letter of commitment for Key personnel. |
| 84 | The "Attachment+3+-+UNITE+BPA+Agreement+Form" states that it is "*To Be Completed at BPA Award"; however, the instructions on p. 103 of the RFP state that "Each CTA Member shall sign a BPA Agreement Form, Attachment #3." When we review the Attachment #3 we noted that there is no signatuere line, limited ifnormation that the offerors can fill out prior to award, and that it is listed as attachment #8 in its header. Can you please identify the fields in Attachment #3 that you want each CTA member to complete in this form? | Attachment #3; RFP Section D p103 | Each CTA member should complete the fields identifying their GSA contract number(s) and other applicable information. | |
| 85 | Can you please confirm that this task order falls under 541611 so we can assign the appropriate CTA Member to lead this task order response? | Attachment #7 | NAICS 541611 is the most appropriate for this task order. | |
| 86 | NSF is requesting contractor staff with "1. | Science background: a Master’s degree in science, engineering, or mathematics (preference will be given to computer or information science/engineering fields) – background to understand the funded research. Equivalent experience and/or certifications are acceptable in place of MS." Does this requirements apply to all personnel assigned to this task order? If not, which personnel does it apply to? | Attachment #7; VI.Contractor Staff Requirements, Role and Responsibilities, p. 2 | The specified degree requirement applies to positions where technical expertise in science, engineering, or mathematics is essential. It does not apply universally to all personnel unless explicitly stated in the task order. |
| 87 | Where it says "Applicable NAICS Code" can you please confirm NSF is looking for us to identify all NAICS codes listed on our MAS schedules? | Attachment #4, Column E | Yes, NSF expects offerors to identify all applicable NAICS codes listed on their MAS schedules to demonstrate compliance with task order requirements. | |
| 88 | Where it says "SIN(s) from SOW (Attachment 1) Section 7.0" can you please confirm that NSF is looking offerers to identify the CTA member lead for each SIN? If not, can you please clarify instructions for this column? | Attachment #4, Column G | The CTAs do not need to define which contractors will act as lead for any specific SIN. However, the CTA must be able at all times to have an order lead who can be a small business prime contractor for each of the SINs. | |
| 89 | We noticed the instructions state "Columns D-G do not apply to subcontractors" which includes the column indicating the business size. Can you confirm that the SDVOSB can be a subcontractor? | Attachment #4, Row 23 | Yes, SDVOSBs can serve as subcontractors. Columns D-G apply only to CTA members, not subcontractors, as per the instructions. | |
| 90 | We see the sample price quote tab in Attachment #2, where should we provide our overall rates for the umbrella BPA contract? | Attachment #2 | Overall rates for the umbrella BPA contract should be provided in Attachment #2, as specified in the solicitation. | |
| 91 | Can the Government please confirm that that contractors should use Attachment 8 for the submission of both the BPA and Task Order Price quotes. Additionally, confirm offerors can propose for the SEATS task order using their own pricing model. |
The response to question 177 adds ambiguity to the instructions as it states the price for the task order should be in a separate document while the response to question 285 says to use the same template as the task order. Official Solicitation, Page 110, D.10 Quote Preparation Instructions: Volume III - Attachment #2 BPA Price List Instructions and Official Solicitation, Page 115, F.5 SEATS VOLUME III – ATTACHMENT #2 BPA Price List Instructions Task Order Quote Preparation and
| Attachment 8 Q&A numbers 177 and 285 | Use Attachment #2 for the BPA submission and Attachment #9 for the Task Order Quotes. Attachment #9 was added to the solicitation, reflected in sections C and F.5. | |||
| 92 | Please clarify the SIN (and NAICS) for the SEATS task order. Reponse to question 15 says 541330 and response to question 289 says 541611. Based on the scope, we feel 541611 is the most appropriate. | Attachment 8 Q&A #15 and 289 | The SEATS task order most appropriately aligns with SIN 541611 based on the scope. NSF should clarify and confirm this designation |
93 The Government's response to question 5 appears to allow an offer to be submitted from prime contractors / CTAs who do not have all five SINs covered in their GSA MAS's, as long as they can perform within the NAICS under their MAS's. Can the Goverment clarify if the requirement is for all SINs to be covered, or all NAICS to be covered (regardless of SINs awarded on their MAS's). In our understanding, an awarded SIN is objective as it is evidenced in GSA Advantage. The "ability to cover all NAICS" is subjective as an offer could claim they could cover a NAICS because of the inherent broadness of the NAICS descriptions. Attachment 8 Q&A #3 and 5
| RFP section E.3 Factor 1 (page 111) | For the purpose of this contract, NAICS and SIN can be used interchangably. Offerors must demonstrate coverage for all required SINs at the BPA level for their MAS schedule. CTAs can collectively cover all SINs. If an offer is proposing as a lead (without a CTA) then they alone are responsible for covering and being able to perform all five SINs on the contract. | |||
| 94 | Will NSF accept an offer from a CTA and establish a BPA with that CTA if one of the CTA member's GSA MAS final option period is due to expire prior to the end of the five year BPA period of performance, yet that CTA Member has a renewal of their GSA MAS already in process with GSA? | RFP D.10 (3) Page 109 | Yes, provided the member’s MAS is active at the time of award and a renewal is in process, NSF may establish a BPA with the CTA. | |
| 95 | During task order competitions, if multiple members of the CTA hold the same SIN on the BPA, will NSF accept offers for an individual order where that offer provides pricing which spans multiple CTA member GSA MAS contracts (assuming all contracts are part of the CTA agreement and BPA)? | A.33 (e), page 21 | Only one offeror may propose on a specific Task order from the CTA. For example, we do not want 4 offerors to propose on a specific task order from the same CTA. There is a high potential for collusion in establishing pricing, and driving rates. | |
| 96 | Regarding key personnel for the SEATS Task Order, response to question 118 states the CISE SOW section IV has the qualification requirements. Responses to questions 157 and 308 state OAC has one key person. The response to question 277 states only to propose the essential postions. The response to question 325 says the "government considers these as key positions for the tasks" but does not clarify what "these" referres to (and it is not clear from the question.) |
| Please address the conflicts and ambiguities, and provide a defintive response to which positions are key for the SEATS task order. | Attachment 8 Q&A #118, 157, 308, 277, and 325. | The Task Order SOW was updated. | ||
| 97 | The response to bidder's questions 155 and 286 read like an internal NSF notes rather than responses to the question intended for industry. | Attachment 8 Q&A #155 and 286 | The Task Order SOW was updated. | |
| 98 | The response to bidder's question 335 states: "No, the Government will require one consolidated rate per LCAT and NAICS code at the BPA level. Task orders will allow further rate breakdowns if required." The instructions in Attachment 2 state: "Column (3): Identify your proposed GSA labor categories exactly as shown in your current GSA Federal Supply Schedule. Do not combine different GSA labor categories. | If proposing two labor categories under one Government estimated labor category, add a row to the spreadsheet to show both GSA FSS labor categories." |
The answer to the question conflicts with the instructions in…
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