QA_693JJ322R000003_08.10.2022.pdf

Solicitation Number: 693JJ322R000003 Project Name: Infrastructure Materials Laboratories (IML) Support Services

# Question Answer Date

TOPR #0001 Instructions to Offerors Section 4.3 directs us to include labor hours per year the Level of Effort table.

However, the Base Period is 15 months and the total period of performance is 39 months. Will the requirement be changed to labor hours per Period?

No, this will not be changed. 7/12/22

TOPR #0001 Instructions to Offerors Section 5 Material Costs and Travel directs us to propose material and travel costs, and explain the estimating factors and other relevant details upon which those proposed costs are based. However, CLINs 0007 and 0008 provide specific amounts for travel and materials. Further, the Task Order #0001 PWS does not provide sufficient detail of current and upcoming research and other activities to enable any offeror other than the incumbent to identify what materials and travel are likely to be required during the POP; this would give the offeror an unfair advantage. Therefore, we request that the Material Costs and Travel section be changed to "Material costs and travel costs proposed shall be cost reimbursable and the amounts proposed for the entire POP shall be $200,00.00 for travel and $1,800,000.00 for materials" or equivalent text.

Please refer to Amendment 0003, this has been revised

7/12/22

In RFP Section L.6 Volume II Section b, the last sentence ask us to "provide rounded amounts without decimal points for all labor rates."Please confirm that all labor should be rounded to whole dollars for each year.

Please refer to Amendment 0003, this has been revised

7/12/22

RFP Section L.6 Volume II Section c, regarding Task Order 0001 price proposal is unclear as to what we are being instructed to provide because this section only refers to Exhibit J.1, which provides pricing only for the overall contract.

Please confirm that we at this location in Volume II we should submit the completed TOPR Schedule of Services and the TOPR Level of Effort Spreadsheet.

Please refer to Amendment 0003, this has been revised

7/12/22

Exhibit J.6 requires that we provide pricing for the labor categories CRM‐1 and CRM‐2, and a resume for CRM‐1 or CRM‐2 because that is the key position in the task order. However, Exhibit J.2 does not include the CRM‐1 and CRM‐2 labor categories. Will descriptions for these two labor categories be provided?

Please refer to Amendment 0003, this has been revised

7/12/22

6 Can we request for establishing a Forward Pricing Rate Agreement (FPRA) for this solicitation?

With regards to establishing a FPRA, this would be a possibility if FHWA is deemed a cognizant audit agency. Please review the instructions in Section L for instructions on what is needed for documentation of indirect rates.

7/20/22

“Describe the Offeror’s technical approach to performing the work described in Section C.3 in the PWS for the ID/IQ and the means used to accomplish them (to include subcontractors and/or teaming arrangements).”

In addition to General Lab Support (i.e. C.3.1), Section C.3 of the PWS includes specific requirements for each Laboratory (i.e. C.3.2 ‐ C.3.7). Given that the government intends to solicit task order proposals for each laboratory after award of the ID/IQ contract, would it be acceptable for Offerors' ID/IQ technical approach to only address Section C.3.1 ‐ General Lab Support?

No, the expectation is that the technical approach cover the entire PWS.

7/19/22

“The Offeror’s proposed Level of Effort table by year for six years (table displaying labor categories, individual names proposed by labor category, and labor hours per year).”

Will the government please confirm that this proposal instruction only applies to the FFP Core Staff identified in Technical Exhibit 4, in Attachment J.6 – Task Order 001?

Yes, this is correct ‐ this only applies to the CORE Staff.

7/19/22

Schedule 2 – For Cost Reimbursement Task Orders –Subcontractor rates can be proposed, but only one rate shall be proposed per labor category. Certified cost or pricing data is not required; in accordance with FAR 15.403‐1(b), data other than certified cost or pricing data is required to support cost realism. The same level of detail for the Offeror is also required for each Subcontractor(s) included in the proposal.

Based upon the referenced text, we understand that the Government will only accept one rate for each labor category.

As such, please confirm that pricing data is not required from subcontractors unless Offeror’s choose to propose rates from their subcontractors?

Amendment 0003 revises the language regarding pricing information for subcontractors. Please refer to the updated language in Section L. Pricing information is required for subcontractors and consultants proposed.

7/19/22

Task Order 0001Price Proposal (a combination of FFP and Cost):

Complete the Schedule of Services in Exhibit J.1. Labor categories and hourly labor rate ceilings governing Task Order 0001 conform to labor category descriptions in Exhibit J.1 and the Offeror’s proposed billing rates in the ID/IQ Labor Rate Chart in Exhibit J.1. The proposed ID/IQ hourly labor rates are the maximum burdened rates allowable for Task Order 0001. The Contractor may elect to propose lower hourly rates on Task Order 0001.

The referenced instructions do not instruct users to use “Attachment 0001_Level_of_Efffort_Estimate .xlsx”.

Will the government please confirm that Offeror’s should utilize “Attachment 0001_Level_of_Efffort_Estimate .xlsx” to complete their Task Order 0001 Price Proposal?

Yes, this is correct and is also included in Amendment 0003.

7/19/22

For the cells that are highlighted in yellow for "C+F‐Surge Staff", i.e., the cells for G13 through G31, can the Government confirm that the offerors are required to fill in with the fully burdened labor rates, i.e., direct labor rate plus all indirect costs and profit/fee?

Attachment 0001 Level of Effort Estimate (Excel) has been deleted. Amendment forthcoming.

7/19/22

Columns B through G are labeled “Fully Loaded Rate”, however the instructions in cell A127 indicate that offerors should provide direct labor rates.

Will the government please confirm that Offerors should enter direct labor rates in cells B7 through G113?

Exhibit J. 1 Labor Rate Schedule will be replaced in a forthcoming amendment.

7/19/22

RFP L.6 Volume I – Technical Capability c.

The RFP states the response to Part III Task Order Technical Proposal is not to exceed 25 pages. Attachment J.6 states that the page limit is 20 pages. Please confirm the page limit for Part III is 25 pages.

The page limit for Task Order Technical proposal is 20 pages as noted in Amendment 0003

7/19/22

J.6 Key Personnel The key personnel section states that the Labor Category is CRM‐1 or CRM‐2. There is no Labor Category description for CRM‐1 or CRM‐2. Please confirm this is Concrete Laboratory Manager (CON‐LM).

This has been updated, please refer to question 5. 7/19/22

L.6 Proposal Content and Configura on (IDIQ)

The RFP states that there is no page limit for resumes: “No page limit, but individual resumes are limited to two pages each.” Please confirm Offerors may provide resumes in addition to key personnel resumes as part of their proposal.

Offerors shall only provide the resumes as stated in the amended version of the RFP and Task Order 0001. No additional resumes shall be provided

7/19/22

L.6 Proposal Content and Configura on (IDIQ)RFP page 75 states: “Part IV: Resumes of Key Personnel ‐ No page limit, but individual resumes are limited to two pages each.” Attachment J.6 states: “Resumes, if required, are excluded from the Technical Proposal page limitation, but are themselves limited to no more than three pages each.” Please confirm the page limit for all resumes.

Resumes are limited to 2 pages, this is clarified in Amendment 0003.

L.5 Proposal FormatThe RFP states: “Footnotes, legends, or labels associated with tables or diagrams, and other information that is ancillary to the main text, may be presented in a font size smaller than 12‐point font‐‐‐ provided that any such smaller font is fully legible.” Please confirm that text within tables and figures may also be smaller than 12‐ point font.

Ancillary text within tables and figures, e.g., footnotes, legends, or labels, must be fully legible and may be less than 12‐point font

7/19/22

Part III ‐ Task Order Technical ProposalFor Task Order 0001, the RFP asks for “The Offeror’s proposed Level of Effort table by year for six years.” However, the Task Order 0001 period of performance is for one (1) base period of fifteen (15) months, and two (2) option periods of twelve (12) months. Please confirm how many years Offerors should propose for the Level of Effort.

Discrepency has been corrected in Amendment 0003.

7/19/22

Part V‐ Experience The solicitation appears to allow for experience information/references to be included in “both volumes” (see second “Note to Offerors”), and that such information can be the same or different. There does not appear to be an appropriate place to include any additional experience/reference information in Volume II (Cost/Price). Could the Government clarify its intent here?

The Government appears to be asking for “Past Experience” information (which will be used for the “Past Performance” evaluation). Is it the Government’s intent for offerors to only provide information on “Past Experience”, or does the Government also intend for offerors to provide “Past Performance” information as well (perhaps in the Cost/Price volume as the solicitation alludes to (see Part A above)

The Government, at it's discretion, may use information provided in Volume I, Part V Experience to evaluate past performance. .

7/19/22

A achment J.6, Sec on 5 Price Proposal

Can the government further clarify the requirement for the offeror to “include a complete breakdown by task and labor category.” Please confirm if this is referencing only the 5 tasks in the PWS Section 1.3.

This is referencing the 5 tasks outlined in the PWS. 7/19/22

A achment J.6, Sec on 5 Price Proposal Cost Plus Fixed Fee: asks for a budget summary to include ODCs, which are provided by the government. Then under Material Costs and Travel, the government states that the Contractor should support the estimation with relevant supporting details. Please explain if we are being asked to validate or adjust the government’s estimate for Material Costs and Travel.

This has been revised in Amendment 0003. Please refer to Question 2 above.

7/19/22

Part III – Other Financial / Organiza onal Informa on

The RFP requests the Completed DCAA Pre‐Award Survey of Prospective Contractor Accounting System Checklist (Exhibit J.3). Are Offerors required to complete and submit Exhibit J.3 if they have a DCAA approved accounting system?

All Offerors are required to complete J.3 ‐‐ DCAA Pre‐Award Survey of Prospective Contractor Accounting System Checklist

7/19/22

Part III – Other Financial / Organiza onal Informa onThe RFP states that A Preaward Clearance by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) will be required in accordance with FAR 22.805(a). Is the clearance required with proposal submission, or is this a requirement post award? Is the clearance initiated by the Contractor, or the Contracting Officer?

Clearance is initiated by Contracting Officer prior to award.

7/19/22

In many cases, incumbent personnel have signed non‐compete agreements which would preclude their employment with competitors for six months after an employment change. To protect both the Government (ensuring staff availability) and incumbent employees (from being proposed without their consent), would the government consider requiring letters of commitment along with resumes?

Letters of commitment are not required for this procurement.

The Government has not included FAR 52.222‐46 Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees in Section I of the Solicitation. We believe that this acquisition meets both of the criteria for its mandatory inclusion, as prescribed under FAR 22.1103 – there are meaningful numbers of professional employees, and the acquisition is expected to exceed $750,000. As the provision states, it is in the best interests of the Government to ensure that professional employees are properly and fairly compensated, and that unreasonably low salary offers do not jeopardize performance by impacting recruitment, retention, and motivation. The provision requires the submission of a total compensation plan. We request that the Government include FAR 52.222.46 in Section I, and any corresponding instructions in Section L. The Government can then conduct the appropriate analysis described in the provision and the prescription.

This provision referenced is included in Section L. 7/19/22

Attachment J.1 Schedule 2

A achment J.1 (Schedule 2 Tab) indicates in the column headings that offerors should provide 6 years of “Fully Loaded Rates”. Then at the conclusion of the labor category list is a place for “Fringe, Overhead, G&A, and Profit/Fee. This is confusing.

A.Is it the Government’s intent that offerors provide a Fully Loaded Rate which includes Fringe, Overhead, G&A, and Profit/Fee in the labor category columns? Our understanding of CPFF rates is that they are never listed as “Fully Burdened” or “Fully Loaded”. It is always a Base Rate, with all overheads and fee listed separately, and with a discussion of how each overhead and fee is applied.

B.What is the purpose of the list of overhead rates at the conclusion of the labor category list? Is it so the Government will have insight into what makes up the “Fully Loaded” column rates?

Can the Government please clarify what type of rate is required for the columns, and what/how the Government will use this overhead rate and fee information.

Refer to Amendment No. 0003 which revises the pricing schedule format.

7/19/22

RFP Sec on L IDIQ Labor Rate Chart (b)(2)The RFP says “Offerors shall include direct hourly rates for all posi ons…” What does the government mean by direct hourly rates—a fully loaded rate or base rate?

This has been clarified please refer to Amendment 0003.

7/19/22

Schedule 2 requests supporting data and rate calculations in a file. The RFP Section L provides no instructions or clarifying information. Can the government clarify what type of supporting data and rate calculations are required and the file format?

This has been clarified please refer to Amendment 0003.

7/19/22

Schedule 2 appears to request Indirect rates based on a Forward Pricing Rate Agreement (FPRA). Is there a requirement for companies to have an FPRA?

Section L does not appear to request supporting data for indirect rates. Can the government verify this or clarify what type of supporting data is required and in what file format?

This has been clarified please refer to Amendment 0003.

7/19/22

Price Analysis FFP Rates This section of the solicitation appears to be referring to the price evaluation process for FFP rates for the award of the basic IDIQ contract. It states that the Government will calculate a total evaluated price “by multiplying the proposed fully burdened fixed‐prices/hourly rates for each labor category by the Government’s estimated number of labor hours for that labor category over the five‐year ordering period.”. Please confirm that this is only for evaluation purposes related to the award of the basic IDIQ, and that this process (the total evaluated price) does not include any IDIQ CPFF calculations.

This has been clarified please refer to Amendment 0003.

Cost Realism Analysis for CPFF Rates This section of the solicitation appears to be referring to the price evaluation process for the IDIQ CPFF rates for award of the basic IDIQ contract. It states that the Government will conduct a cost realism analysis of CPFF Rates.

A. Does the Government mean “Cost Analysis” or “Cost Reasonableness Analysis”? The primary purposes of a cost realism analysis are to analyze whether the labor mix is appropriate for the effort, whether the amount and type of travel and materials is appropriate for the effort, and whether the methods of performance and their associated costs are appropriate for the effort. None of these things are applicable for the basic IDIQ.

B. The Government also states that the Cost Realism Analysis will determine the “Probable Cost” of performance.

However, there is no work that gets accomplished under an IDIQ contract, and the CPFF IDIQ Rates are provided for “as needed” work efforts, which again leads us to believe that the Government means to say here Cost Analysis, not Cost Realism Analysis.

Please clarify.

This has been clarified please refer to Amendment 0003.

7/19/22

RFP Part I(b) The RFP request labor rates that do not include any decimal places (cents). We believe rounding to the whole dollar amount will cause problems in invoicing after award and also fee calculation as we will be held to the rounded rates.

Can the government clarify its intent here?

See Question 3 7/19/22

TO 1 Level of Effort Pricing Sheet The Concrete Lab with both Pavement and Structural materials is one of the largest labs on the IML contract and requires considerable attention for the PM to manage all deliverables, staffing administration, subcontractor management, invoicing, and ODC management. Would the government consider adding hours for the PM (300‐400 per year)?

See J.6 Task Order 0001 for revised estimated hours in Amendment 0003

7/19/22

J.6 Task Order 0001

The task order states that “No less than size 11 font shall be used” and the RFP states that “Text shall be formatted using a Times New Roman or Arial font, size no less than 12‐point font.” Please confirm the font size limit.

12‐point font shall be used 7/19/22

If there are conflicts between the J.6 Task Order document and the RFP document (693JJ322R000003.pdf), which document takes precedence?

Any conflicts between the two documents should be brought to the Government's attention for resolution.

7/19/22

J.1 Pricing Sheet and J.2 Labor Category Posi ons There are positions that are on the labor category description (LCD) and not captured in the Pricing Sheet. For example, CON‐LM‐1,2 is on the TO, but not on the IDIQ pricing sheet, but has an LCD. Chemistry has a Lab Manager position in the LCD, but no pricing option, and PTF has a LM for both Pricing and Labor Cat description. Also, would the government consider a adding category for LM in the ABML, CCL, and APL labs in the pricing and LCD?

J.2 Labor Category Descriptions and J.1 Pricing Sheet are revised in forthcoming amendment. The government will not conider adding a separate LM for ABML, CCL, and APL labs.

7/19/22

RFP Para 2.1 states that subcontractor information must include a UEI, which means they must be registered in SAM. Can the government confirm that SAM registration is required for all subcontractors regardless of size?

Please refer to the following link on how to obtain a UEI with or without registration:

https://sam.gov/content/duns‐uei