RFP 693JJ324R000007 Q-A.pdf

Questions/Responses

RFP 693JJ324R000007

“Technical Support Services Contract for Infrastructure Engineering Laboratories”

1. RFP General: if you can please confirm the vendor names and contract number of the incumbent contract(s).

Response:

Genex Systems LLC – 693JJ319D000054 Engineering Software Consultants Inc. – 693JJ319D000055 Highway Technology Partners LLC – 693JJ319D000056 High Performance Technologies Inc. – 693JJ319D000057

2. RFP p. 86 and p. 92 Vol II Part III subsection e. . The proposal will need to address the approach for completing the IT security plan and accreditation requirements in TAR clause 1252.239-70 https://www.acquisition.gov/tar/1252.239-70-security-requirements-unclassified-information-technology-resources. If you can please clarify the required IT requirements to include the nature of the system such as specific installed software, accessibility needs, hardware (data center), laptop/mobile resources, custom applications, cloud requirements, etc.

Response:

TAR 1252.239-70 prescribes that a Contractor shall be responsible for information technology security for all systems connected to a Department of Transportation (DOT) network or operated by the Contractor for DOT, regardless of location. Specific requires may involve a multitude of software and hardware.

3. RFP p7, and p. 86 IT requirements are listed but there are no labor categories that are associated with IT support. Can you please clarify the IT requirements.

Response:

The IT requirements listed are intended to be covered by the engineering personnel, rather than through specific IT labor categories. The nature of the IT support aligns with the expertise typically possessed by engineers. Most of the laboratories have standard laboratory equipment which meets the referenced definition of “information technology.”

It is the expectation of the Government that the appropriate research staff and/or contract lab manager can satisfy the requirements. It is not the expectation of the Government that these requirements be fulfilled by an IT specialist, nor is it expected to warrant a substantial level of effort.

https://www.acquisition.gov/tar/1252.239-70-security-requirements-unclassified-information-technology-resources https://www.acquisition.gov/tar/1252.239-70-security-requirements-unclassified-information-technology-resources

4. RFP p. 88 states “Provide the names, titles, and a description of the duties of personnel for the categories”; however, resumes are only required for Key Personnel (Program Manager). Please clarify which personnel names, titles, and job descriptions are required for the IDIQ proposal submission.

This is required for only the key personnel.

5. RFP p. 88 of the RFP says: “Provide the names, titles, and a description of the duties of personnel for the categories. See C.5 Staffing, for descriptions of qualifications, experience, and expertise by labor category. Explain why each personnel possesses the qualifications to perform the proposed position.” For the four laboratories, this means naming about 100 people at the IDIQ stage. Would the Government consider limiting this requirement to only key personnel?

This is required for key personnel. See Question #4.

6. Regarding RFP Section L.6 Volume I – Technical Capability, Part I: ID/IQ Technical Approach, fourth bullet, please consider replacing this bullet as written with a requirement for a more general staffing approach, for the following reasons:

• The effort of a small business to identify personnel for all 92 positions will require an extreme level of effort that will draw away resources from preparing all of the other sections of our offer.

• Many, if not most, of the individuals that we would be required to identify will probably not be available when the individual laboratory task orders are issued (e.g., at least one current laboratory TO runs through August 2025), which will be 14-16 months after support for that laboratory is solicited under the upcoming contract.

• Providing the information on individuals that is requested in the RFP will not “Describe the Offeror’s proposed staffing approach” because the offeror could obtain resumes from recruiting and other websites without contacting individuals and determining their interest in employment. It will not give the Government information on how the Offeror will actually identify and hire qualified individuals when they are needed.

• Providing the requested information will require a large portion of the 25 pages allowed for Part I: ID/IQ Technical Approach at the expense of other information required in Part I.

This is required for key personnel. See Question #4.

7. RFP p. 89 Volume I – Technical Capability requirements states” Offerors may include the same examples/references in Volume II, or can be distinct references/examples cited in each volume. It is up to the Offeror to include the experience examples and/or references it deems best to meet the requirements of the respective RFP Volume.” There is no reference to examples/reference in the Volume II Section L or Section M requirements. Does the Government require past performance references (e.g., CPARs or previously completed PPQs) are part of the proposal submission? And, if so, in which Volume/Section.

Note Removed.

8. RFP p. 92 Part III Item I requires a Preaward Clearance by OFCCP. Please confirm this will be requested by the Contracting Office after the Offeror is identified as a potential awardee.

The Government is responsible for requesting Clearance for OFCCP.

9. RFP p. 68 FAR 52.222-41 Service Contract Labor Standards is listed in the incorporated clauses and there is no exemption checked for it on page 79. If the SCA applies to this contract can you please provide the applicable DOL wage determination to use for the basis of the hourly positions.

The SCA Wage Determination will be added as Attachment J.3 to the RFP.

10. RFP p.88 Part III- Resumes Indicates letter of intent shall be provided. If you can please confirm that letters of intent are only required if the proposed personnel are not current employees of the offeror.

The letter of intent is required for all proposed key personnel.

11. RFP p. 7 States: Provide field experimental testing and analysis services. Will any of the field experimental testing take place at locations not at the TFHRC campus? If yes, can you please identify possible field locations.

Response:

Yes, field experimental testing and analysis services might take place at locations not at the TFHRC campus. The identify of possible field locations is not known at this time. However, possible field locations include but are not limited to bridge structures, concrete ready-mix or precast plants, steel manufacturing facilities, up- or down-stream of existing or future bridge structure locations, failure investigation of a specific piece of infrastructure, or other research facilities. The locations will be determined at the task order level.

12. RFP p. 91 Subcontracts- If you can confirm that subcontractors may be added after award based upon specific Task Order requirements.

Additional subcontractors may be requested after award.

13. RFP p 91 If subcontractors are not allowed to be added after award can you please provide a list of all equipment, etc. and their OEM requirements (as some OEM requirements necessitate specialized certifications).

Additional subcontractors may be requested after award. See Question #12.

14. RFP p.90 Requests a 180 day acceptance period however the SF33 has 120 days listed in block 12. If you can please clarify which requirement you would like us to list in the

SF33.

The acceptance period is 180 days. Cover Sheet has been updated.

15. RFP p. 89 Price- Per the site visit- please confirm that all materials will be addressed at the task order level.

Any materials would be addressed at the task order level.

16. Regarding RFP Section L.6 Volume I – Technical Capability, Part iV: Experience, the second NOTE TO OFFERORS references Volume II. However, Volume II – Price/Cost Analysis does not contain any instructions regarding experience contracts. Should this reference be removed?

Note removed.

17. Regarding RFP Section L.6 Proposal Content Volume II – Price/Cost Analysis Part I – ID/IQ Cost/Price Information b. ID/IQ Labor Rate Chart. “Offeror shall complete Exhibit J.1, Labor Price Chart schedule which shall include a tab for the prime contractor and each proposed subcontractor/consultant”. Question, Will the government allow Offerors to propose a single Labor Price Chart schedule that represents blended hourly rates for Contractor employee labor, subcontractor employee labor, and consultant labor?

Response:

For Schedule 1-Firm Fixed Price the proposal may include a single loaded labor rate per labor category. For Schedule 2-Cost Plus Fixed Fee, the proposal shall include a tab for the prime contractor and a separate tab for each proposed subcontractor/consultant. For Schedule 2-Cost Plus Fixed Fee, direct hourly rates are required for each position proposed. Blended labor rates will not be acceptable.