RFP 693JJ326R000002_Questions and Government Responses.pdf

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Request for Proposal No.: 693JJ326R000002 - Development and Delivery of Design and Traffic Operations; Freight and Transportation Logistics; Intelligent Transportation Systems

(ITS); and Transportation Performance Management (TPM) Trainings

RFP 693JJ326R000002 - Questions and Government’s Responses

# Page Section Paragraph Question Government’s Responses

1 4-5

Attachment+1+-

+693JJ326R000

002_Billing+Cat egories+and+La bor+Category+

Descriptions

Civil Engineer

(SME) – High, Civil Engineer

(SME) – Mid, &

Civil Engineer

(SME) - Low

Should the “Civil Engineer (SME)” labor categories be used for all individuals who will serve as subject matter experts/course instructors, even if they do not hold a civil engineering degree?

Yes.

2 N/A

Attachment+2+-

+693JJ326R000

002_Schedule+o f+Rates

N/A Are we to provide rates for eight years?

Yes. Vendors are expected to provide labor rates for up to Year 8. As per Section 5.3 Period of

Performance (page 91), Orders may be issued up to the final day within the period of performance of this contract provided that they can be completed within 36 months past the end of the period of performance of this contract.

3 12

693JJ326R0000

02_RFP: Price

Evaluation

Factor

2nd paragraph, last sentence Are we to provide rates for year six?

Vendors are expected to provide labor rates for up to Year 8.

4 N/A N/A N/A

We would like to know if this is a brand-new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services.

If not brand new, could you please provide the current / previous contract number?

This is a recompete. Contract numbers are provided below:

693JJ320D000008 – C2 Technologies, Inc.

693JJ320D000009 – Greenman-Pedersen, Inc.

693JJ320D000010 – ICF Incorporated, LLC

693JJ320D000011 – Iteris, Inc.

693JJ320D000012 – ToXcel, LLC.

693JJ320D000013 – Zylter, Inc.

5 N/A N/A N/A

Could you please confirm if the task order ceiling value of $15M mentioned in the document is an estimate, or if there is potential for it to be extended?

The IDIQ ceiling value is $15M, and it is unlikely to be extended.

Attachment 1

Listed in the Program managers required education experience in Attachment 1, loan transaction experience is not noted as it is on

Yes. Please see Amendment 1.

Request for Proposal No.: 693JJ326R000002 - Development and Delivery of Design and Traffic Operations; Freight and Transportation Logistics; Intelligent Transportation Systems

RFP

page 88 of the RFP “...10 years of experience in both leading and supervising teams on projects and loan transactions…” Please clarify the required experience for the Program

Manager.

7 5 of 103

RFP Volume I

Technical

Capability

Part II - Staffing

Proposal /

Resumes

Please clarify the number of resumes, and for which positions the Government requires a resume to be included with the offeror’s proposal.

Please provide resumes only for Key Personnel and a list of basic qualifications for non-key roles, as specified in RFP Amendment 1.

8 1 - 5 Attachment 1

Please clarify if any labor categories are considered Service Contract Act (SCA) Labor

Categories. If SCA is applicable to this contract, please provide the applicable Wage

Determination schedule number(s).

None of these labor categories are considered

SCA Labor Categories.

General

Question

Will the contractors be required to undergo a federal background check in order to obtain access to the FHWA systems and facilities as required by any given task order? If yes, please identify the applicable background check *e.g., NACI SF-85, NACI SF-86, etc.)

Contractors will only have access to Blackboard.

Therefore, they likely will not need additional background checks to perform the contract tasks.

Please provide any historical task order data procured under the current contract.

This information can be found on FPDS.gov.

693JJ320D000008 – C2 Technologies, Inc.

693JJ320D000009 – Greenman-Pedersen, Inc.

693JJ320D000010 – ICF Incorporated, LLC

693JJ320D000011 – Iteris, Inc.

693JJ320D000012 – ToXcel, LLC.

693JJ320D000013 – Zylter, Inc.

Please provide the Government’s forecast for task orders under the new contract vehicle award.

We anticipate approximately 15 course developments and 10 course delivery task orders over the life of the IDIQ. These numbers are estimates only, as more courses may be developed and delivered, based on funding availability.

Are there specific types of innovation

FHWA/NHI is particularly interested in exploring (e.g., AI-powered learning, VR/AR, gamification)?

We would be interested in gamification, as appropriate for the course content. Case studies, problem-based learning, and other non-lecture-based instructional strategies may be used. More

Request for Proposal No.: 693JJ326R000002 - Development and Delivery of Design and Traffic Operations; Freight and Transportation Logistics; Intelligent Transportation Systems advanced technologies like AI, VR, etc. may be limited due to the Learning Management System

(LMS) and budgetary constraints.

Q: For the existing ID/IQ contracts that are expiring, what has been the historical average number of new course development tasks and course update tasks per year across all four program areas?

Q: What has been the historical average number of course deliveries per year for each program area, and what percentage of these were distance-based/virtual?

1. Historical data may not be accurate due to the effects of the pandemic and the need to convert in-person training to online training. Post-pandemic, NHI has had 4-6 course development projects per year.

Funding availability will affect these numbers.

2. Course deliveries for instructor-led training varies based on requests from

NHI’s host partners, but there is typically a minimum of 10 in-person sessions per year, and about 8 sessions of virtual, instructor-led training.

Q: What is the typical timeframe expected for developing a new course from design to delivery-ready?

Q: What is the typical timeframe for updating an existing course?

Q: Are there specific platforms or software currently used for Web-Based Training (WBT), Web Conference Training (WCT), virtual world training (VWT), and video conference training (VCT) that offerors would need to be proficient with, or is flexibility allowed?

1. We average approximately 18 months, from kick-off to final development, for most courses, whether instructor-led or web-based.

2. Generally, courses may be revised approximately every 7 years, as technologies change and funding for course updates becomes available.

3. NHI’s LMS is currently Blackboard Ultra.

Experience developing and delivering training with this platform is preferred.

15 3

1.3.1 Proposal

Format d)

Is it permissible to use a smaller font in graphics, tables, and text boxes?

Yes. Please see Amendment 1.

16 4

1.3.2 Proposal

Content and

Configuration

Part I – Technical

Approach

2.

In the RFP, it is mentioned "Demonstrate project management controls for each task type." Please clarify what is meant by "task type"? Is this referring to task order type?

It refers to the different work/work products that may be performed under a task order. For example, course delivery session(s), technical walk-through, storyboards, course pilot, etc.

Request for Proposal No.: 693JJ326R000002 - Development and Delivery of Design and Traffic Operations; Freight and Transportation Logistics; Intelligent Transportation Systems

17 6 III b)

The RFP states that “A completed copy of Part

5 in this RFP, if the Offeror is not registered and completed their representations and certifications in the System for Award

Management” Part 5 is Task Order Procedures.

Please clarify.

Please see Amendment 1.

18 Page 2 Section 1.0 2

Is the government able to expand on the definition or criteria for the small business reserve? What are the terms of the reserve – is it solely to win a position in the IDIQ or will there be task orders or portions of TOs set aside for the small business?

The small business reserve is intended solely for the IDIQ contract award process itself. There will be no set asides for task orders.

Attachme nt 2

If the period of performance is five years, with a potential for a sixth option year, why is the pricing table asking for eight years of rates?

See Question 2.

20 Page 16

Is this a course or a service you are looking for:

Procurement, Management and Administration of Consultant Services?

Same question for: Mobility Data Business

Planning for Transportation

FHWA / NHI may require services for deliveries of these courses.

21 31 3.7.1.c

Visual Aids / Use of Proprietary

Materials

Will the government provide access to any existing FHWA-owned media or resources to reduce the burden of sourcing proprietary content?

Yes, existing resources may be provided, as appropriate.

22 32 3.7.2 Delivery Formats and Innovation

Are there FHWA-preferred platforms or technologies for innovative formats such as gamification and virtual worlds? Will the government provide technical specifications or hosting support?

The Government will provide the learning management system / ecosystem to support course development and delivery. This may be limited to

NHI’s existing platform, Blackboard Ultra.

23 32 3.7.2

Gamification and

Virtual

Simulations

If used, will the contractor need supply the 3D simulation technology?

This technology will not be used, as it may not align with NHI’s current LMS and budgetary constraints.

24 88

1252.237-73 -

Key Personnel

(NOV 2022)

Key Personnel

Will the government accept representative resumes in addition to the key personnel to illustrate technical capabilities?

The Government will not accept representative resumes for illustrative purposes.

Request for Proposal No.: 693JJ326R000002 - Development and Delivery of Design and Traffic Operations; Freight and Transportation Logistics; Intelligent Transportation Systems

25 10, 70

Part 2, 2.1(a), &

Part 4, 52.216-

Best Value

Evaluation

Section 2.1(a) states the Government intends to award "approximately four contracts," while

FAR clause 52.216-27 states the Government anticipates awarding "up to three contracts."

Please clarify the intended number of awards.

Please see Amendment 1.

26 6 1.3.2

Part III - Other

Financial /

Organizational

Information

Under Part III - Other Financial /

Organizational Information it says to provide the following information, which includes terminated contracts, a completed copy of Part

5 of the RFP, and conflicts of interest. Is this to only be completed by the prime or do subconsultants need to complete this section as well?

Only prime contractors. Please see Amendment 1.