Questions_&_Responses_1-22.pdf

U.S Department of Transportation Solicitation #693JK318Q0010 Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Questions and Responses Safety Administration

SOLICITATION #693JK318Q0010

Question and Responses

• Questions 1-21 were posted on FBO.gov on 06/01/2018.

• Questions 22 (below in red font) were posted on FBO on 06/04/2018.

# Question Response

1. In the Notice Concerning RFQ document figure

1 on page 2 regarding Task 4 Instructor Certification, the place of performance is identified as “Minimum 45% 3700 South MacArthur Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73179 and Potentially 60% Telework”. Also, the SOW indicates “Contractor to provide 0.5 professional and trained staff members at Place of Performance, a minimum of 45% of the time for the support required.” Should the 45% be 40% onsite, or should the 60% actually be 55% telework?

The contract personnel must be on site 100% of the time when scheduled courses are offered and observations are conducted. When courses and observations are not in session, then telework is appropriate. Course offerings and observations conducted will be 40% of the time, the remaining 60% is allowable for teleworking for other activities.

An amendment to the solicitation will be forthcoming that will update the percentages to indicate 40% onsite to support courses and observations, and 60% telework when courses and observations are not in session.

2. In the Notice Concerning RFQ document figure 1 on page 2 regarding invoicing schedule for Task 3 and Task 4 are identified to be “Upon Completion”. Does this mean invoicing should be accomplished upon completion of each course delivered or each observation conducted?

Invoices should be submitted for both, delivery of courses and observation conducted. For courses delivered, invoices can be submitted upon completed delivery of the courses, such as weekly.

For observations, invoices can be submitted for the number of observations completed, such as monthly.

3 In the Notice Concerning RFQ document Section IV identifies core hours of contractor coverage to be from 7AM to 6PM Monday through Friday. However, in the Statement of Work section 5.0 TASKS, for each of the individual tasks it identifies Hours of Support as “Contractor to provide support between the hours of 8:00 AM CT and 5:00 PM CT, Monday through Friday, or as required and specified.” What will be the expected hours of coverage and support?

The expected hours of support is 7AM – 6PM, for a total of 8 hours of support in a given work day. The 8 hours can fluctuate, but must be between 7AM – 6PM.

An amendment to the solicitation will be forthcoming that will update the percentages to indicate the hours of support as 7AM – 6PM.

4 In the Notice Concerning RFQ document, Section V, number 2 – Are resumes required for all staff or just the key personnel?

Resumes are required for all staff.

5 In the Notice Concerning RFQ document, Section V, number 3 – past performance

The preference for work samples submission should be via email to request for work samples. Can you please clarify requirements for submission of sample work products?

fazal.mirza@dot.gov and Warren.osterberg@dot.gov. If work samples cannot be emailed, then the mailing address is:

US/DOT

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE.

Washington, DC 20590 Attention: Fazal Mirza Room: E21-344

An amendment to the solicitation will be forthcoming that will add mailing language regarding work product submission.

6 The following statement in the RFQ document states: “In addition to the references, you must provide Samples of Work Product that you have previously completed. The sample work Each reference must include the following:” The last sentence appears to be missing information.

An amendment to the solicitation will be forthcoming that will state “Each Sample of Work Product must include the following:”

7 Does PHMSA currently have established processes to certify qualification programs, request and obtain award of college credit, and request and obtain CEU’s for PHMSA courses?

Yes, this requirement is to continue enhancing the established practices and processes.

8 Does PHMSA currently have Pipeline Inspector and Hazardous Material Investigator training programs that outline all primary and secondary tasks, knowledge and performance standards required to be performed by these individuals?

Yes.

9 Can PHMSA provide a list of the 58 pipeline safety and 34 hazardous material courses with course lengths, and identify what percentages of each course are instructor-led, distance learning, and OJT?

PHMSA will not provide a list of the 92 courses at this time, as they are subject to changed based on the Analysis phase of the ADDIE methodology.

The percentages are 50% instructor-led and 50% distance learning, but this could also change based on the Analysis phase.

10 Can PHMSA provide a copy of the existing TQ strategic improvement plan for review?

No. The TQ Strategic Improvement Plan is not public information.

11 Will the “Community of Practice” online portal reside on Government servers, and be setup and maintained by Government Network Administrators?

Yes.

mailto:fazal.mirza@dot.gov mailto:Warren.osterberg@dot.gov

12 Sub-Task 1.6 of Section 5.1 in the SOW states the use of Flash animation. Since Flash is quickly becoming obsolete, will the Government be interested in other author-ware accept the use of other courseware development software? In other words, are Contractors required to use Captivate and Lectora?

PHMSA is receptive to other software tools, as long as the end product is in line w/the TQLM.

Flash is still used to support legacy courses, and is being evaluated for transition to newer technology.

13 Regarding Task 4: Instructor Certification, is the Contractor supposed to certify/train the Instructors on the TQLM process or to train them to teach/instruct specific topics/courses. Are they being certified to teach specific content or to deliver training developed under the TQLM methodology?

Yes, the Contractor supposed to certify/train the Instructors on the TQLM process, and yes to train them to teach/instruct specific topics/courses.

Yes, instructors are being certified to teach specific content, and yes to deliver training in support of the TQLM methodology.

14 Regarding Task 4: Instructor Certification, can you please provide the course lengths of each level (Levels 1, 2 and 3)?

Course lengths are dependent on the contractor’s design efforts.

15 Regarding Task 4: Instructor Certification, under instructor qualifications – are the state of the art gaming and simulation exercises already developed and part of the courses or is the contractor responsible for developing these exercises?

Some gaming and simulation exercises are developed. The contractor is responsible for further developing current and designing new exercises in support of TQLM.

16 How many instructional hours is a typical course (both Instructor-Led and Distance Learning courses)?

Currently, the typical hours for Instructor Led course is 32-40 hours. Currently, the typical hours for Distance Learning is 16-20 hours.

17 Depending on the number of instructional hours determined in the CTL, would the 6-month timeline dictated by the Deliverables section in Section 5.1 of the SOW be adjusted? If a course is large, 6-months may not be enough.

Yes, time adjustments will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

18 May some or all work be performed at contractor facility including in person attendance or is only the only portion provided at contractor faculty such as telework?

No.

19 What, specifically, is the GFR/equipment and what other equipment will be required?

Office space, government computers as required, video studio, phones/conference rooms

20 Are there any field trips? With regards to courses, there is a need for students to go on local travel as part of courses. Future course design may eliminate the need for the local travel.

With regards to contractor traveling outside of the Place of Performance, there may be a need to travel on a case by case basis. See Section

7.4 Travel, of the Statement of Work.

21 Are any specialized certifications required of staff? No specialized certification is required.

22 a) Is this a new requirement or a follow-on to an existing contract?

b) If follow-on to an existing contract, what is the name of the incumbent contractor?

c) What is the contract number?

a) This is a follow-on to an existing contract.

b) Lead Training, LLC.

c) 693JK318P000005