Combined_Questions_List_draft_RFP_Final.pdf

General Questions, Comments, and Answers

PARAGRAPH # PARAGRAPH TITLE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR SUGGESTIONS RESPONDING PARTY ANSWER

Draft RFP 69319519R000001 General Once final RFP is released, will FTA please provide a redlined copy of changes from Draft RFP? TAD

The final RFP will not include redline changes from the draft RFP.

Section B - Questions, Comments, and Answers

PARAGRAPH # PARAGRAPH TITLE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, AND SUGGESTIONS ANSWER

Section B.6

FULFILLING MINIMUM

ORDERING REQUIREMENTS

Regarding the following (italicized) language in Section B.6 “FULFILLING MINIMUM ORDERING REQUIREMENTS”: The Government has no obligation to issue Task Orders to any contractor beyond the minimum amount specified above. For each Contractor, regardless of the number of technical areas for which the Contractor has qualified, there will be a one-time minimum guarantee award amount of $25,000 during the life of the contract. Will FTA award contracts to firms in a limited number of technical areas? No

B.8 Cost Accounting Please clarify cost accounting standards requirements. Does this apply to all contractors regardless of size of firm and size and scope of work to be performed under this contract. Yes it applies to all offerors.

B.16 2nd Paragraph

Paragraph states "The amount to be paid to the Contractor shall not exceed the hourly rates for disciplines listed in SECTION B.21 Labor Categories: . . ." However there are no disciplines listed in B.21 (pg.

19). Section B.21 refers to items unallowable as direct costs, not disciplines. Did the Agency intend to refer to Section B.28 (pg. 21)?

Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section B, Paragraph B.19 (page 17) Fee/Profit Question: What factors will the Government use to establish the fixed fee percentage, which currently shows as TBD?

The fixed fee will be negoiated at the task order level. The Governmet utilizes the weighted guidelines mehod to establish profit rate margins.

B.26 LABOR RATE REFRESHER Note the labor rate citations Section B.18 & B.19 are incorrect. Please provide correct citation. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section B, B.26, paragraph (a) (page 20) Labor Rate Refresher It states that the ‘labor rates are fixed for the total contract period of performance for each skill set’.

Question: Does this lock in all personnel to the same rate in that category?

Yes, The labor rate is fixed for the duration of the contract.

B.28

RATE TABLE FOR PRICING OF

CPFF It is not clear how to designate staff as Key Personnel, consultant?

Key Personnel are defined in Section H of the

DRAFT RFP.

B.28

RATE TABLE FOR PRICING OF

CPFF

"*NOTE: THE REREFERENCE SKILL-SET LABOR RATE IS SUBJECT TO RE-NEGOATATION

UPWARD OR DOWNWARD" in other sections it say labor rates are not negotiable. Please clarify. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

B.28 & J-7 Rate Table for Pricing of CPFF

The first sentence under B.28 states, The contractor is hereby authorized to incur the following maximum direct labor rate, including a maximum of TBD% escalation per year…" The Hours & Rates spreadsheet in J-7 (with the NFL coaches) shows an escalation rate of 3% per year. Please confirm that submissions should use an annual escalation rate of 3%. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

B.28 & J-7 Rate Table for Pricing of CPFF

The first sentence under B.28 states, The contractor is hereby authorized to incur the following maximum direct labor rate, including a maximum of TBD% escalation per year…" The Hours & Rates spreadsheet in J-7 (with the NFL coaches) shows an escalation rate of 3% per year. Please confirm that submissions should use an annual escalation rate of 3%. This will be updated in the final RFP.

Section B.30 WITHHOLDING OF FIXED FEE Does the withholding apply to the total contract fee or individual task fees?

The withholding of the fixed fee applies to each task order not individual task fees

Section C - Questions, Comments, and Answers

Section C-Statement of Work C.7 Tasks/Requirements

Please elaborate, to the extent possible, the primary types of programs/projects the for which FTA anticipates PMOC oversight. Ideally this information should be available by FTA region and in order of magnitude dollars (or percent of total) estimates.

Please refer to Section B and C. Presently, we cannot specify the portfolio of projects.

C.1 BACKGROUND

Comment: The last two sentences describing the beneficial funding emanating from the five year FAST Act will not apply to the transit community, since the FAST Act expires next year about the time the contracts may be signed. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C.3

CONTRACT MANAGEMENT AND

ADMINISTRATION

Should we assume that the items listed under Section C.3 “CONTRACT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION” are to be included in the proposal as G&A

This is a business decision each company will have to make.

C.3 Page 27 Contract Management and Administration

Per the DRAFT RFP, most Project Management activities are non-billable. FTA should reconsider instituting a CLIN for Project Management activities that are specific to the PMO contract as is standard for most federal contracts.

Please re-read the RFP. Your comment is incongruous with the language in those specific section(s).

C.6 (and similar elsewhere) Mission Critical Personnel

Both Risk Assessment Manager I and Risk Assessment Manager II are indicated as "mission critical personnel", and are indicated that each title should be listed at a minimum. Is the intent that both positions should be identified for each PMOC? If so, is the intent to provide more breadth of personnel available for the risk process? Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C.6

LABOR CATEGORIES AND MINIMUM

PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS Can a firm propose an individual as a key person in more than one role? Yes. This is allowed.

C.6.B

LABOR CATEGPROES AND MINIMUM

PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS

Paragraph b. MINIMUM PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS - "All personnel utilized in performance of this Contract and any Task Order awarded there under, unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer, shall meet the following minimum education and experience requirements" This section does not mention the PMI certification process or equal. Would the FTA consider changing the certification process to preferred as it is a sole source procurement from PMI to obtain the certifications? Also we have never been required to provide PMI certifications on any work we are performing for multiple transit agencies that FTA funds. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.B

LABOR CATEGPROES AND MINIMUM

PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS

There is no Construction Management Manager labor category. We use this category to monitor the construction activities in the field. Eliminating this category creates risk for FTA by having no field trained construction personnel. The Systems Integration Manager I, II and the Communications Engineer I & II and the Electrical Power Distribution Engineer I & II and the Rail Transit Signal and Control Systems Engineer I & II categories could be collapsed into the System Integration Manager I & II. The work is rail/transit systems, integration, power and communications and for the last 150 years has been done by either people working their way up on railroad or transit properties starting out as signal and communications laborers or via a degree in Electrical Engineering. The mechanical and vehicle engineer positions are similar. You could collapse the two into a mechanical engineer position with vehicle experience and eliminate the PE. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.B Mission Critical Personnel

The pillars of the PMO program are scope, cost, schedule oversight along with risk and quality. The mission critical personnel should only include cost estimating, schedule monitoring, risk and quality subject matter experts. The systems integration engineer, civil/environmental engineer, communications engineer, structural engineer and clerical should be removed and replaced with the project scheduling manager and cost estimating manager SMEs. We have never used a communications engineer on an assignment. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C. C6 Mission Critical Personnel, pg 30 Not clear why FTA lists Communications Engineer as Mission Critical Personnel. Should this be railroad Signaling/Communications Engineer instead? Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.b (and similar elsewhere) Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel

Requirements Comment: QA/QC Manager refers to Section H.45 however the RFP does not contain a such Section.

You are correct. The text should be amended to read Section H.44. This will be addressed in the

FINAL RFP.

C.6.b (and similar elsewhere) Minimum Personnel Requirements

The descriptions for Risk Assessment Manager I and Risk Assessment Manager II indicate an "expert knowledge in performing Monte Carlo (MC) simulations for risk analysis calculations". On the cost-risk side, Monte Carlo calculations are not performed by the PMOC; instead the FTA Beta-model is performed. No mention is made here for--at a minimum--modeling with the FTA Beta model. Of course, familiarity with Monte Carlo modeling is very helpful since Grantees use this MC method.

On the other hand on the schedule risk side, Monte Carlo (MC) knowledge is important for schedule risk analysis. Some current, experienced PMOC risk managers perform their own MC schedule risk analysis, and others, similarly experienced, rely on working with the PMOC schedule manager to do so. The main reason is that schedule analysis depends on in-depth schedule knowledge, which is gained through the OP34 work. In addition, the Monte Carlo calculations are already embedded within the software used by the PMOC schedule managers. It is efficient and common to rely on the Risk and Schedule Managers to work together on the schedule analysis. In this case, a good working knowledge of MC analysis, as it relates to schedule, is an element of the work of the risk manager.

The corollary question is whether an understanding of Monte Carlo analysis is an important skill for the PMOC schedule manager? Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.b/C.6.c Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel

Requirements

Question: In Section C.6.b, the QA/QC Manager Position indicates "The QA/QC Manager provides quality assurance and quality control expertise in the oversight of FTA-funded major capital transit projects" however, goes on to state, "The QA/QC Manager shall be responsible for administering the QASP through the Period of Performance of the Contract.

The qualifications outlined in Section C.6.c further go on to require the position have "Experience in setting up one quality management plan or system for an agency or significant revision of an agency's existing plan or system."

Is the intent for the QA/QC Manager to provide oversight of transit projects or administer the QASP for the Contract?

The QA/QC Manager's duties have been expanded to include the review of deliverables under the Task Order Contracts such as (reports, invoices, Travel Requests, etc.) This individual will also have a significant role in the administration of the QASP.

C.6.b

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements

The contractor must report on and certify annually the status of licensed personnel. Please clarify how and when this certification is to be submitted.

The Successful Offerors will be required to submit an updated license/certificate for all individuals in a labor category required to have one.

Section C, C.6, paragraph b (page

31) Minimum Personnel Requirements

It states that ‘all personnel utilized in performance of this Contract and any Task Order awarded thereunder, unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer, shall meet the following minimum educational and experience requirements’.

Question: If staff was approved under the prior contract for the same labor category, may that qualify as ‘otherwise approved by the Contracting officer’ or will they be evaluated under the new criteria? Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.b Page 31-32

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements

DRAFT RFP identifies requirements for Task Order Manager (TOM) I and II. We are a current contractor with six staff approved as TOM, all of which would satisfy the requirements for TOM II. The difference in the requirements for TOM I & II are not significant enough to warrant two separate classifications. We recommend eliminating the TOM I classification since it will not allow flexibility in the assignment of staff for all potential project assignments.

Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C. C6. c. Minimum Technical Requirements, pg 37

Most Program Managers and Task Order Managers in the program have extensive experience in managing major projects but do not have a PMP. A PMP is helpful but not essential for experienced PMOs. Also, it creates an unreasonable burden and logistical issue if FTA is to continue to have this requirement. We request that FTA make the PMP a preferred requirement and not essential or if continues to make it a requirement, allow exceptions for Program Managers and Task Order Managers who have direct oversight experience with FTA. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, C.6, paragraph c (page

37) Minimum Technical Requirements

Above the chart, it states that ‘All personnel utilized in performance of this Contract and any Task Order awarded thereunder, unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer, shall meet the following minimum educational and experience requirements’. However in the description area below the chart, the requirements are different.

Comment: The Government could choose to verify that the requirements in the chart match the requirements in the text below the chart for each labor category. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.c

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements

Recommend either deleting table or ensuring the table is consistent with narrative on pages 39-46 to eliminate confusion regarding Labor Classification requirements.

Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6, subsection c

LABOR CATEGORIES AND MINIMUM

PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS, subsection

c. MINIMUM TECHNICAL

REQUIREMENTS

On page 39, it states that Program Manager is required to have a Program (PgMP) or Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and Task Order Managers are required to have a PMP certification. Please consider removing these requirements. These labor categories require a PE license in anycase and as such demonstrate sufficient education and training to meet the requirements of the position. Requiring the additional certification places undo burden on the potential prime firms as anew requirement. This will limit the competion and not serve the in the programs best interests. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.c

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements

The table on page 37 lists PgMP while the narrative on page 39 indicates either PgMP or PMP is required.

Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 39)

Also: Section L.24.a, Program Manager (page 172)

Program Manager, Minimum Technical Requirements

Comment: The education requirements appear narrow and may restrict current staff that have served in this capacity, thereby potentially reducing FTA’s access to the best available staff for these positions. The limitation to an Engineering or Architecture degree may remove from consideration established professionals who have led transit programs and managed projects that meet the eight elements identified below. Likewise, there are additional relevant licenses other than a PE or RA that would provide an individual with the expertise necessary for this Labor Category.

Suggestion: Replace current language with: “Shall have a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Engineering from an ABET Accredited Program or a Bachelor of Architecture from a NAAB Accredited Program OR licensure in the United States as either,” with: “Shall have a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Engineering from an ABET Accredited Program, a Bachelor of Architecture from a NAAB Accredited Program, or Bachelor of Science Degree (BS) from a field very closely associated with these, OR professional licensure in the United States in a related field.” Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 39)

Also: Section L.24.a, Task Order Manager I (page 172)

Task Order Manager I, Minimum Technical Requirements

Comment: The education restriction appears narrow and may eliminate current staff that have previously served in this capacity, thereby potentially restricting FTA’s access to the best staff for these positions. The limitation to an Engineering or Architecture degree may remove from consideration established professionals who have led transit programs and managed projects that meet the eight elements identified below. Likewise, there are additional relevant licenses other than a PE or RA that would provide an individual with the expertise necessary for this Labor Category.

Suggestion: Replace current language with: “Shall have a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Engineering from an ABET Accredited Program or a Bachelor of Architecture from a NAAB Accredited Program OR licensure in the United States as either,” with: “Shall have a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Engineering from an ABET Accredited Program, a Bachelor of Architecture from a NAAB Accredited Program, or Bachelor of Science Degree (BS) from a field very closely associated with these, OR professional licensure in the United States in a related field.” Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 39)

Also: Section L.24.a, Task Order Manager I (page 172)

Task Order Manager I, Minimum Technical Requirements

Comment: The certification requirement may be restrictive. PMP certification has not been required on previous contracts creating a scenario where the FTA could lose access to proven and experienced personnel who lack a previously unrequired certification.

Suggestion: Either eliminate this certification requirement in its entirety, state is as not required but "preferred," or change it to read: “Shall possess Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, or be able to attain certification prior to contract award.”

This would allow staff who have the necessary qualifications to be submitted in the proposal, while setting out to provide the FTA with the certifications they will require on this and future contracts. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.c

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements

Program Manager - We request that the RFP be modified to list PgMP or PMP certification as "desirable but not required".

Such certification is not standard in the transit industry. A search of the pmi.com website confirms such certification is extremely rare for current FTA PMO Program Managers.

Retaining this requirement may result in the loss of access to individuals that have served the FTA for multiple IDIQ contract periods.

Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.c Page 39-40

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements

TOM I & TOM II - We request that the RFP be modified to list PMP certification as "desirable but not required".

Such certification is not standard in the transit industry. A search of the pmi.com website confirms such certification is extremely rare for current FTA PMO TOMs. Retaining this requirement may result in the loss of access to individuals that have served the FTA for multiple IDIQ contract periods.

Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.c

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements

We currently have 6 Task Order Managers that meet the requirements of TOM II. Would FTA allow proposers to submit candidates in only the TOM II category?

Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 40)

Also: Section L.24.a, Task Order Manager II (page 173)

Task Order Manager II, Minimum Technical Requirements q pp y y staff that have served in this capacity, thereby potentially restricting FTA’s access to the best potential staff for these positions. The limitation to an Engineering or Architecture degree may remove from consideration established professionals who have led transit programs and managed projects that meet the eight elements identified below. Likewise, there are additional relevant licenses other than a PE or RA that would provide an individual with the expertise necessary for this Labor Category.

Suggestion: Replace current language with: “Shall have a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Engineering from an ABET Accredited Program or a Bachelor of Architecture from a NAAB Accredited Program OR licensure in the United States as either,” with: “Shall have a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Engineering from an ABET Accredited Program, a Bachelor of Architecture from a NAAB Accredited Program, or Bachelor of Science Degree (BS) from a field very closely associated with these, OR professional licensure in the United Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 40)

Also: Section L.24.a, Task Order Manager I (page 173)

Task Order Manager II, Minimum Technical Requirements

Comment: The certification requirement may be restrictive. PMP certification has not been required on previous contracts creating a scenario where the FTA could lose access to proven and experienced personnel who lack a previously unrequired certification.

Suggestion: Either eliminate this certification requirement in its entirety, state it as not required but "preferred," or change it to read: “Shall possess Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, or be able to attain certification prior to contract award.”

This would allow staff who have the necessary qualifications to be submitted in the proposal, while setting out to provide the FTA with the certifications they will require on this and future contracts. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.c

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements

Systems Integration Manager - We request that the requirement for PE license be reconsidered since this is not standard in the industry for Systems Integration Manager and will exclude experienced personnel that have served FTA for many years.

Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.c

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements

Risk Assessment Manager I & II - We request that the RFP be modified to list PMI-RMP certification as "desirable but not required".

Such certification is not standard in the transit industry. Retaining this requirement may result in the loss of access to individuals that have served the FTA for multiple IDIQ contract periods.

Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 41)

Also: Section L.24.a, Risk Assessment Manager I (page 174)

Risk Assessment Manager I, Minimum Technical Requirements

Comment: The certification requirement may be restrictive. Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) certification is uncommon and has not been required on previous contracts creating a scenario where the FTA may lose access to proven and experienced personnel who are currently leading risk assessment work as PMOC, yet lack a previously unrequired certification.

Suggestion: Suggest either eliminating this certification requirement, state that it is not required but "preferred," or changing it to read: “Shall possess Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) certification, or be able to attain certification prior to contract award.” This would allow staff who have the necessary qualifications to be submitted in the proposal, while setting out to provide the FTA with the certifications they will require on this and future contracts. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 41)

Also: Section L.24.a, Risk Assessment Manager II (page 174)

Risk Assessment Manager II, Minimum Technical Requirements

Comment: The certification requirement is restrictive. Risk Management Professional (PMI- RMP) certification is uncommon and has not been required on previous contracts creating a scenario where the FTA may lose access to proven and experienced personnel who are currently leading risk assessment work as PMOC, yet lack a previously unrequired certification.

Suggestion: Suggest either eliminating this certification requirement, state that it is not required but "preferred," or changing it to read: “Shall possess Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) certification, or be able to attain certification prior to contract award.” This would allow staff who have the necessary qualifications to be submitted in the proposal, while setting out to provide the FTA with the certifications they will require on this and future contracts. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.c

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements

QA/QC Manager - DRAFT RFP requires certification or years of experience. We recommend that the same standard be applied to the other Labor Classifications that require an unregulated certification (PgMP, PMP, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP).

Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.c

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements

Vehicle Engineer - Table on page 38 indicates a PE license is required. However, narrative on page 43 indicates that a PE license is not required. We request that a PE license not be required since this is not standard in the industry for Vehicle Engineer and will exclude experienced personnel that have served FTA for many years.

Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 43) Project Scheduling Manager, Minimum

Technical Requirements

Comment: All of certification/licensure options (Certified Scheduling Technician [CST], Earned Value Professional [EVP], Planning & Scheduling Professional [PSP], or PMI Scheduling Professional [PMI-SP]) are uncommonly held amongst professionals in this field and have not been required on previous contracts, creating a scenario where the FTA may lose access to proven and experienced personnel who are currently delivering Project Scheduling work as PMOC, yet lack a previously unrequired certification.

Suggestion: Suggest either eliminating this licensure/certification requirement, state that it is not required but "preferred," or changing it to read: “Shall possess licensure as a Certified Scheduling Technician [CST], Earned Value Professional [EVP], Planning & Scheduling Professional [PSP], or PMI Scheduling Professional [PMI-SP], or be able to obtain certification prior to contract award.” This would allow staff who have the necessary qualifications to be submitted in the proposal, while setting out to provide the FTA with the certifications they will require on this and future contracts. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.c

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements

Real Estate Manager - DRAFT RFP requires a Bachelors Degree. We request that a Bachelors Degree not be required since this will exclude experienced personnel that have served FTA for many years. We ask that FTA consider amending the requirements to allow for additional experience (5 or more years) with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Act (URA) be considered acceptable in lieu of the Bachelor Degree requirements for this position. Your comment is incongruous with our version of the RFP. Please recheck.

C.6.c

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements

Buy America I and II - It is recommended that FTA eliminate the Buy America I position given the minimal differences in requirements from Buy America II and the limited number of individuals with industry experience in general.

Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, C.6, paragraph b (page

31) Minimum Personnel Requirements

It states that ‘all personnel utilized in performance of this Contract and any Task Order awarded thereunder, unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer, shall meet the following minimum educational and experience requirements’.

Question: If staff was approved under the prior contract for the same labor category, may that qualify as ‘otherwise approved by the Contracting officer’ or will they be evaluated under the new criteria? Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, C.6, paragraph c (page

37) Minimum Technical Requirements

Above the chart, it states that ‘All personnel utilized in performance of this Contract and any Task Order awarded thereunder, unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer, shall meet the following minimum educational and experience requirements’. However in the description area below the chart, the requirements are different.

Comment: The Government could choose to verify that the requirements in the chart match the requirements in the text below the chart for each labor category. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 39)

Also: Section L.24.a, Program Manager (page 172)

Program Manager, Minimum Technical Requirements

Comment: The education requirements appear narrow and may restrict current staff that have served in this capacity, thereby potentially reducing FTA’s access to the best available staff for these positions. The limitation to an Engineering or Architecture degree may remove from consideration established professionals who have led transit programs and managed projects that meet the eight elements identified below. Likewise, there are additional relevant licenses other than a PE or RA that would provide an individual with the expertise necessary for this Labor Category.

Suggestion: Replace current language with: “Shall have a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Engineering from an ABET Accredited Program or a Bachelor of Architecture from a NAAB Accredited Program OR licensure in the United States as either,” with: “Shall have a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Engineering from an ABET Accredited Program, a Bachelor of Architecture from a NAAB Accredited Program, or Bachelor of Science Degree (BS) from a field very closely associated with these, OR professional licensure in the United States in a related field.” Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 39)

Also: Section L.24.a, Program Manager (page 172)

Program Manager, Minimum Technical Requirements

Comment: The certification requirement may be restrictive. Few professionals carry the PgMP certification. Some carry PMP certification however neither have been required on previous contracts creating a scenario where the FTA could lose access to proven and experienced personnel who lack a previously unrequired certification.

Suggestion: Either eliminate this certification requirement in its entirety, state is as not required but "preferred," or change it to read: “Shall possess Program (PgMP) or Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, or be able to attain certification prior to contract award.” This would allow staff who have the necessary qualifications to be submitted in the proposal, while setting out to provide the FTA with the certifications they will require on this and future contracts. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 39)

Also: Section L.24.a, Task Order Manager I (page 172)

Task Order Manager I, Minimum Technical Requirements

Comment: The education restriction appears narrow and may eliminate current staff that have previously served in this capacity, thereby potentially restricting FTA’s access to the best staff for these positions. The limitation to an Engineering or Architecture degree may remove from consideration established professionals who have led transit programs and managed projects that meet the eight elements identified below. Likewise, there are additional relevant licenses other than a PE or RA that would provide an individual with the expertise necessary for this Labor Category.

Suggestion: Replace current language with: “Shall have a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Engineering from an ABET Accredited Program or a Bachelor of Architecture from a NAAB Accredited Program OR licensure in the United States as either,” with: “Shall have a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Engineering from an ABET Accredited Program, a Bachelor of Architecture from a NAAB Accredited Program, or Bachelor of Science Degree (BS) from a field very closely associated with these, OR professional licensure in the United States in a related field.” Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 39)

Also: Section L.24.a, Task Order Manager I (page 172)

Task Order Manager I, Minimum Technical Requirements

Comment: The certification requirement may be restrictive. PMP certification has not been required on previous contracts creating a scenario where the FTA could lose access to proven and experienced personnel who lack a previously unrequired certification.

Suggestion: Either eliminate this certification requirement in its entirety, state is as not required but "preferred," or change it to read: “Shall possess Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, or be able to attain certification prior to contract award.”

This would allow staff who have the necessary qualifications to be submitted in the proposal, while setting out to provide the FTA with the certifications they will require on this and future contracts. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 40)

Also: Section L.24.a, Task Order Manager II (page 173)

Task Order Manager II, Minimum Technical Requirements

Comment: The education requirements appear narrow and may reduce availability of current staff that have served in this capacity, thereby potentially restricting FTA’s access to the best potential staff for these positions. The limitation to an Engineering or Architecture degree may remove from consideration established professionals who have led transit programs and managed projects that meet the eight elements identified below. Likewise, there are additional relevant licenses other than a PE or RA that would provide an individual with the expertise necessary for this Labor Category.

Suggestion: Replace current language with: “Shall have a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Engineering from an ABET Accredited Program or a Bachelor of Architecture from a NAAB Accredited Program OR licensure in the United States as either,” with: “Shall have a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Engineering from an ABET Accredited Program, a Bachelor of Architecture from a NAAB Accredited Program, or Bachelor of Science Degree (BS) from a field very closely associated with these, OR professional licensure in the United States in a related field.” Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 40)

Also: Section L.24.a, Task Order Manager I (page 173)

Task Order Manager II, Minimum Technical Requirements

Comment: The certification requirement may be restrictive. PMP certification has not been required on previous contracts creating a scenario where the FTA could lose access to proven and experienced personnel who lack a previously unrequired certification.

Suggestion: Either eliminate this certification requirement in its entirety, state it as not required but "preferred," or change it to read: “Shall possess Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, or be able to attain certification prior to contract award.”

This would allow staff who have the necessary qualifications to be submitted in the proposal, while setting out to provide the FTA with the certifications they will require on this and future contracts. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 41)

Also: Section L.24.a, Risk Assessment Manager I (page 174)

Risk Assessment Manager I, Minimum Technical Requirements

Comment: The certification requirement may be restrictive. Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) certification is uncommon and has not been required on previous contracts creating a scenario where the FTA may lose access to proven and experienced personnel who are currently leading risk assessment work as PMOC, yet lack a previously unrequired certification.

Suggestion: Suggest either eliminating this certification requirement, state that it is not required but "preferred," or changing it to read: “Shall possess Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) certification, or be able to attain certification prior to contract award.” This would allow staff who have the necessary qualifications to be submitted in the proposal, while setting out to provide the FTA with the certifications they will require on this and future contracts. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 41)

Also: Section L.24.a, Risk Assessment Manager II (page 174)

Risk Assessment Manager II, Minimum Technical Requirements

Comment: The certification requirement is restrictive. Risk Management Professional (PMI- RMP) certification is uncommon and has not been required on previous contracts creating a scenario where the FTA may lose access to proven and experienced personnel who are currently leading risk assessment work as PMOC, yet lack a previously unrequired certification.

Suggestion: Suggest either eliminating this certification requirement, state that it is not required but "preferred," or changing it to read: “Shall possess Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) certification, or be able to attain certification prior to contract award.” This would allow staff who have the necessary qualifications to be submitted in the proposal, while setting out to provide the FTA with the certifications they will require on this and future contracts. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Section C, Paragraph 6.c, (page 43) Project Scheduling Manager, Minimum

Technical Requirements

Comment: All of certification/licensure options (Certified Scheduling Technician [CST], Earned Value Professional [EVP], Planning & Scheduling Professional [PSP], or PMI Scheduling Professional [PMI-SP]) are uncommonly held amongst professionals in this field and have not been required on previous contracts, creating a scenario where the FTA may lose access to proven and experienced personnel who are currently delivering Project Scheduling work as PMOC, yet lack a previously unrequired certification.

Suggestion: Suggest either eliminating this licensure/certification requirement, state that it is not required but "preferred," or changing it to read: “Shall possess licensure as a Certified Scheduling Technician [CST], Earned Value Professional [EVP], Planning & Scheduling Professional [PSP], or PMI Scheduling Professional [PMI-SP], or be able to obtain certification prior to contract award.” This would allow staff who have the necessary qualifications to be submitted in the proposal, while setting out to provide the FTA with the certifications they will require on this and future contracts. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements: Minimum Technical

Requirements

Program Manager Certification: Consider including Certified Construction Manager (CCM) of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) as an alternative to PMI PgMP. CCM is equally rigorous, comprehensive, and professionally accredited.

We have reviewed the website and the certification. We will respond in the FINAL

RFP.

C.6 Minimum Technical Requirements

Task Order Managers I and II Certification: Consider including Certified Construction Manager (CCM) of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) as an alternative to PMI PMP. CCM is equally rigorous, comprehensive, and professionally accredited.

We have reviewed the website and the certification. We will respond in the FINAL

RFP.

C.6 Minimum Technical Requirements

Risk Assessment Managers I and II Certification: Consider including Decision & Risk Management Professional (DRMP) of AACE International as an alternative to the PMI RMP.

DRMP is designed for senior-level practitioners and specialists, and is equally rigorous, comprehensive, and professionally accredited. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6 Minimum Technical Requirements

Cost Estimator Manager Certification: Consider revising the AACE International CCC and CCE certification to the current name, Certified Cost Professional (CCP). The names CCC and CCE are no longer in use. Consider including this certification as a requirement, as it distingushes those individuals with the level of cost engineering expertise required for this position. The AACE Certified Estimating Professional (CEP) certification is also recommended as an alternative to the CCP.

Thank you for your comment. We concur and have updated the certification criteria for this labor category.

C.6 Minimum Technical Requirements

Project Scheduling Manager Certification: Recommend the Certified Scheduling Technician (CST) is not accepted as sufficient for this position, as it is designed for early-career professionals or recent college graduates with minimum experience. CST does not demonstrate a professional level of expertise. It should not be equated to the PSP or EVP, which are professional level certifications, designed for experienced practitioners with advanced knowledge and technical know-how in the broad aspects of Total Cost Management. Refer to the AACE website for more information (www.aacei.org).

Thank you for your comment. We concur and have updated the certification criteria for this labor category.

Can you please provide a list of projected projects that will fall under this contract. We cannot provide that information at this time.

Par. # C.4 and C.7 DEFINITIONS and

TASKS/REQUIREMENTS

QUESTION: Under CLIN 0003 - BASELINE OVERSIGHT and CLIN 0004 - OPTIONAL OVERSIGHT, it is stated that "FTA's risk-based approach using the Risk Evaluation Tool and the Project Oversight Plan will tailor a specific level of effort for the completion of each project." It is understood that the application of the Risk Evaluation Tool results in the recommended Project Oversight Plan for the particular project being monitored by the PMOC. The POP is then "translated" into either an RIP or a PIP. When the RET process was introduced over two years ago, the process involved working closely with the PMOC for input and consultation during execution of the RET. We have, at the last Quarterly PMOC Conference Call, heard that some PMOCs have, in some cases, not been part of the RET process as originally planned. The FTA responded that the RET process is being reviewed and recalibrated. Will these anticipated updates to the RET process be part of the upcoming IDIQ contract? Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Par. #C.6

LABOR CATEGORIES AND MINIMUM

PERSONNEL REQUIREMEMTS

QUESTION: Please provide the implications of the "Key Personnel" and "Mission Critical Personnel" designations with regard to selection, approval and availability. Because of the many Mission Critical Personnel designated Labor Categories, it is likely that substitutions may be needed on a case-by-case basis to meet specific schedule requirements for completion of deliverables. Because future needs are undefined, may the PMOC provide qualified alternates if needed? Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Par. #C.6

LABOR CATEGORIES AND MINIMUM

PERSONNEL REQUIREMEMTS

COMMENTS: The number of Labor Catagories requiring a current Professional Engineer License has increased significantly, from 3 to 9, compared to the current IDIQ contract. This may disqualify many experienced and capable professional staff that might otherwise provide real value to the PMOC program. Changing some of these catagories to a PE License "desireable" status might result in a better balance and interest from more consultants. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

Par. #C.6

LABOR CATEGORIES AND MINIMUM

PERSONNEL REQUIREMEMTS

QUESTION: The number of Labor Catagories requiring various types of specialized certifications has increased significantly compared to the current IDIQ contract. Must all be in effect at the time of the proposal, or can the certifications be completed later at the time that the staff is added through the contract modification process? Additionally, could alternate equivalent relevant experience substitute for a specialized certification? The implication of "required" certifications for many positions will limit qualified staff who currently support the PMOC contracts. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.c

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements - Minimum Technical

Requirements

Regarding PMP/PMgP requirement for Program Manager and Task Order Managers (and other areas where PMP is required): Our experience in the industry is that licensed professional engineers with the levels of experience required by FTA do not find additional value in having PMP certification. We recommend FTA drop requirement for PMP/PMgP certification from the RFP as there is limited, if any added benefit to the government by implementing this requirement.

If, however, the FTA chooses to require the PMP/PMgP certification, we suggest that there be a waiver of this requirement for those Program Managers and Task Order Managers who have served adequately in those capacities on past PMOC contracts with the FTA. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.c

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements - Minimum Technical

Requirements

If the FTA chooses to require the PMP/PMgP certification and not approve a waiver for persons who have adequately served in the Program Managers and Task Order Managers positions under previous FTA contracts, we request adequate time be provided to obtain certifications. We suggest that FTA allow PMP Certifications to be in process at the time of proposal submittal, and Certifications to be complete at time of contract award. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6 Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements - Mission Critical Personnel

We fully support FTA's decision to allow two levels of technical expertise for many of the Subject Matter Expert (SME) and Task Order Manger (TOM) positions. We have recognized the need to be able to train more junior staff to be qualified to be able to serve as PMOCs for the FTA. However, we have several observations about the way the FTA is implementing this in the draft RFP:

(1) For the TOM I - State requirements for licensing Professional Engineers (PEs) require that PEs practice only in the fields of their knowledge and expertise. By defining the types of projects TOM I's are allowed to work on the FTA is limiting the ability of the PMOC to assign a TOM I to a project where they have expertise that may not be on the list defined by the FTA. It is suggested that the government will get more benefit if the PMOC follows industry practice to assign TOMs (both levels I and II) to projects for which they are qualified following the requirements of the state licensing policies for PEs.

(2) For Mission Critical Personnel the FTA's requirements that a PMOC identify in their proposal personnel for both the level I and level II SME classifications is potentially difficult for SBE firms proposing as prime PMOC contractors due to the small size of the firms. It is suggested that the FTA require that proposers include a resume for at least one of the two levels (either level I or level II) as the minimum submission allowing the PMOC to add additional SMEs after award if necessitated by specific task order assignments.

(3) Can a TOM I and a TOM II (and/or a particular SME I and II) be assigned to the same project? Allowing this would facilitate a PMOC's ability to train the more junior staff in the level I positions and save the government money by limiting the work of the level II personnel to technical oversight and guidance of the level I personnel rather than the more expensive level II personnel doing all of the work. We will respond in the FINAL RFP.

C.6.c

Labor Categories and Minimum Personnel Requirements - Minimum Technical

Requirements

For Civil Engineer/Environmental Engineer I (PE) and Civil Engineer/Environmental Engineer II (PE), suggest allowing minimum 4 years of experience as Engineer of Record be the equivalent of the B.S.C.E. degree requirement. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.b (and similar elsewhere) Minimum Personnel Requirements

The descriptions for Risk Assessment Manager I and Risk Assessment Manager II indicate an "expert knowledge in performing Monte Carlo (MC) simulations for risk analysis calculations". On the cost-risk side, Monte Carlo calculations are not performed by the PMOC; instead the FTA Beta-model is performed. No mention is made in the RFP for a Risk manager to have practical experience modeling with the FTA Beta model. Of course, familiarity with Monte Carlo modeling is very helpful since Grantees use this MC method.

Monte Carlo (MC) knowledge is important for schedule risk analysis. In many cases PMOCs have their Schedule Manager perform the MC evaluations. The main reason is that schedule analysis depends on in-depth schedule knowledge, which is gained through the OP34 work.

In addition, the Monte Carlo calculations are already embedded within the software used by the PMOC schedule managers. PMOCs find that it is more efficient to rely on the Risk and Schedule Managers to work together on the schedule analysis.

It is suggested that:

(1) The requirements for both Risk Managers I and II include familiarity with implementing the FTA's top-down Beta Factor risk models for cost.

(2) That the FTA require PMOC firms to have the expertise to run MC schedule risk analyses on their teams, but allow PMOCs to propose that expertise to reside in either the Risk Manager or the Schedule Manager positions depending on the capabilities of their teams. Please refer to the FINAL RFP.

C.6.c (and similar elsewhere) Minimum Technical Requirements

The technical requirements for Risk Assessment Manager I and Risk Assessment Manager II in the matrix and in the written descriptions indicate a PMI-RMP certification. The topics indicated in this certification are duplicates of the topics contained in the FTA's Risk Assessment Guidebook, in OP40, and in the current NTI Risk Assessment class.

It is suggested that the FTA consider deleting the proposed PMI certification as familiarity in implementing FTA's OP40 is sufficient and/or duplicative of the PMI requirements. A small and very experienced group of individuals have emerged that do this risk work for FTA PMOCs. These individuals likely do not have (or need to have) this PMI certification.