Q and A Responses-07252022.pdf

1. In the solicitation it states “…FHWA anticipates awarding a maximum of six (6) individual IDIQ contracts, up to two (2) of which will be reserved for Small Business as set-asides. The remaining four (4) contracts will be open to all sources.” Please elaborate on how FHWA will manage the task orders for the individual IDIQ contracts. Will the task orders be competed amongst the six (6) individual IDIQ contracts? Will there be task orders reserved to the two (2) small business set-aside IDIQ contract holders? Task orders will be managed in accordance with EFLHD policy. Some task orders will be reserved for the 2 Small Business set-asides.

2. One of the questions we submitted previously, “Do the rating/evaluation documents requested in Section F (Evaluation Factor 4 – Past Performance) count towards a page limit?

Or would they be considered an attachment to Section F?”, question #24 in the amendment, was not answered in a way that provides clarification. Can you please answer our question in a different way? No, the rating/evaluation documents do not count against a page limit, and are considered an attachment to Section F.

3. The RFQ requests us to submit a transmittal letter with our SOQ. Is there a page limit for the transmittal letter? There is no page limit for the transmittal letter. Should it be in a specific location/order within the submittal? The transmittal letter should be at or near the beginning of the submittal.

4. Evaluation Factor 3: The government requests information to support Factor 3 be presented in SF330 Section H and limits the response to no more than three pages.

a. Is it the government’s intent to limit the overall page count of section H to no more than three pages, or is the page limitation only for the offeror’s response to Factor 3? The page limitation is only for the offeror’s response to Factor 3.

b. Does the government intend to provide a limit on the overall page count in SF330 Section

H, or is it up to the offeror’s discretion? There is not a limit on the overall number of pages in SF330 Section H.

5. Evaluation Factor 4 – Past Performance: The government requests rating/evaluation documents from up to seven contract/task orders, including the contract/task orders submitted under Factor. Is it acceptable for the offeror to provide rating /evaluation documents as an Attachment to the SF330? Yes.

6. Factor 2: The government requests offerors submit resumes of key personnel in five separate labor categories (A-E). Additionally, the government requests offerors submit a minimum of three Section E data sheets for personnel in labor category A and B and a minimum one each for labor categories C-D.

a. Is it the government’s intent that labor category A is a separate labor category, or is it a subset of labor categories B,C,D & E? For instance, will it be acceptable for offerors to present personnel in labor categories B-E who are professional engineers who also satisfy the requirement of labor category A? Offerors may present any personnel who satisfy the requirements for any labor category. The labor rate for the activity performed will be determined by the specific labor category.

7. Evaluation Factor 4 – Past Performance: To receive an Outstanding rating, the government asks that offerors submit at least three projects with Exceptional or Outstanding ratings. If a client does not use those words to describe the offerors performance but instead uses another rating system, (e.g. numerical 1-5), how will the government evaluate the rating of those projects? The government will interpret the ratings.

a. Do the rating criteria provided for Factor 4 refer to only the offeror’s overall rating on a project or contract, or will the government consider ratings provided for the subordinate evaluated factors listed on the client’s evaluation form? The rating criteria refers to the offeror’s overall rating on a project or contract.

8. Please confirm that a large firm may submit as a prime consultant for one of four possible open contract awards AND be a subconsultant on another open contract award. Yes, a firm may submit as a prime consultant for an open contract and as a subconsultant for another open contract.

9. Page 11, Evaluation Factor 4 – Past Performance: If a PPQ or CPAR is unavailable does the alternate form of rating/evaluation from the client negatively affect the rating of this particular evaluation? No.

10. Amendment 0001, Question 24 – Please clarify the following question with separate answers for each question.

a. Do the rating/evaluation documents request in Section F (evaluation Factor 4 – Past

Performance count towards a page limit? No.

b. Or would they be considered an attachment to Section F? Yes.

11. Page 7, Evaluation Factor 2 – “75% of the personnel identified have bridge and tunnel inspection and related inspection support experience and have performed this work for the firm for 5 or more years.”

a. Will FHWA consider total work experience years adding up to 5 or more from multiple firms? No.

12. Regarding the answer to Question # 17 in Amendment 1 – Typically the Small Business is required to perform 51% of the work, however, the response to Question # 17 is 15%. Is the requirement only 15%? Small Businesses are required to perform at least 50 percent of the cost incurred for personnel with its own employees.

13. It is clear from the responses in Amendment 1 that a company being a part of multiple teams is not a concern. Is there an issue if a small business pursues the two Small Business Set Asides as both a prime and also as a subconsultant to another small business? No, a small business may pursue the Small Business set asides as both a prime and as a subconsultant to another small business.

14. Evaluation Factor 2 – It states that additional supporting documentation may be included but shall not exceed two (2) pages. Does this statement mean two (2) additional pages of documentation for a total of three (3) or two (2) pages total? This means 2 additional pages of supporting documentation, not 2 pages total.

15. Is it allowable to submit a proposal to be the prime consultant for the Small Business Set- Aside contract; and, be a subconsultant to another firm that is submitting a proposal for one of the non-Small Business Set-Aside contracts? Yes.