Amendment 0002 Questions and Answers.pdf

6973GH-19-R-00002, AMENDMENT 0002

Questions and Answers

Question 20: Page 12, Section 3.8.2-17 The solicitation identifies the Project Manager and Assistant Manager as Key Personnel. Do you require a signed Letter of Commitment in addition to resumes to confirm that proposed personnel are genuinely interested and actually available to begin work on the effort on the contract start date?

Answer 20: AMS Provision 3.8.2-17 will be revised to remove the Project Manager and Assistant Manager as Key Personnel and adding the following labor categories to be consistent with the Performance Work Statement (PWS): On-Site Supervisor, Scanning Lead and Administrative Assistant. In addition, Provision M.3, Technical Evaluation, Factor 1: (Contract Experience/Personnel), Sub-Factor 1.2 will be revised to add the requirement of a Letter of Commitment in additional to resumes of key personnel.

Question 21: Section B / PWS 6.13 and 7.14 Labor Category for Educational requirement - Toxicologist or Technologist. Section B requires industry to price an Educational Toxicologist. However, PWS sections 6.13 and 7.14 provide description and qualifications for an Educational Technologist. When determining exempt versus non-exempt personnel, the toxicologist is NOT in the Wage Determination schedule provided with this SIR. However, the technologist IS in the Wage Determination schedule. Are these two labor categories the exact same position or different positions?

Please correct and align Section B with the PWS requirements and further identify whether this position is exempt or SCA non-exempt.

Answer 21: The PWS is correct and the term is Educational Technologist. Section B will be corrected in SIR Amendment 0002.

Question 22: Section B, PWS 6.16 and 7.17 / Q&A #15 EKG Technician In Amend 0001 Question/Answer #15, a Pathology Coder labor category is named.

However, this title does not appear in the PWS. Rather, the pathology coder task is performed by the EKG Technician. In clarifying non-exempt versus exempt personnel, the EKG Technician is listed in the Wage Determination schedule provided with the SIR.

Please confirm that we not pricing a Pathology Coder position separate from the EKG Technician and also confirm whether or not this position on this contract is exempt or SCA non-exempt.

Answer 22: The PWS is correct and there is no longer a labor category for Pathology Coder. Section B will be corrected in SIR Amendment 0002.

Question 23: WD 2015-5316, Rev.-6 SIR Attachment 2, Wage Determination Will the Government confirm that the contract issued pursuant to this Solicitation is a "covered contract" pursuant to EO 13706?

Answer 23: Yes, this acquisition will be subject to Executive Order 13706.

Question 24: SIR pages 62 & 63 "Section L.4 Factor 1 Sub-factor 1.1 Section L.4Factor 4 Sub-factor 4.1" Please clarify whether or not the past performance questionnaires required in Factor 4, Sub-factor 4.1 are to be for the same contracts we discuss in Factor 1, Sub-factor 1.1.

Answer 24: More than likely, the contracts identified in Sub-Factor 1.1, Corporate Experience, will be the same contracts identified in Sub-Factor 4.1, Past Performance Questionnaires; however, it is possible that a potential offeror may have several qualifying contracts which could meet Sub-Factor 4.1.

Question 25: SIR Page 62 Section L.4 Sub-factor 1.2 Please consider allowing key personnel resumes to be included as an attachment to the Technical Proposal and to NOT be counted against the 100 page limit.

Answer 25: Since there are only three positions identified as key personnel, the resumes of key personnel will count against the 100 page limit.

Question 26: Is Executive Order 13706, Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors, applicable to all work performed, including all hours and labor categories, under this contract? Would adherence to the 56 hour sick leave requirement starting at the beginning of the performance period be demonstrated in the Volume II Technical Proposal or Volume III Cost/Price/Solicitation Proposal?

Answer 26: This information should be provided in Volume III Cost/Price Information

Question 27: Reference: SIR L.4, Sub-factor 3.1 states that the offeror shall provide a draft Quality Control Plan. Is this draft document to be incorporated directly into the Technical Proposal volume or may it be an attachment to that volume? Requiring the draft document to be included within the volume could significantly impact the number of pages available to address the other Factors and Sub-Factors in this requirement.

Answer 27: Potential offerors are allowed to make the draft Quality Control Plan an attachment to the Technical Proposal and the draft Quality Control Plan will NOT count towards the 100 page technical proposal page limitation.

Question 28: Pg. 60 L.3(b)(5) Is the content of the information provided in tables/figures required to be double spaced?

Answer 28: The FAA acknowledges that tables/figures may not always be able to be double-spaced; however, it is recommended that this exception be used only sparingly in offerors proposals. Please keep in mind the evaluators must be able to read and evaluate the information and illegible information may lead to an unfavorable evaluation.

Question 29: Reference: Section L, paragraph L.3(b)(1), page 60.

Does the table of contents, list of tables and figures and glossary of abbreviations and acronyms count against the 100 page limitation of the Technical Proposal?

Answer 29: Yes, this information is subject to the 100 page limitation.

Question 30: Reference: PWS paragraph 4.1 Monthly Status Reports and paragraph

12.0 Deliverables Table 1: PWS Deliverables.

Are all these deliverables to be softcopy, hardcopy or both? To whom are they delivered. CO? COR? Both?

Answer 30: Monthly Status Reports are anticipated to be provided by electronic means to the COR and the CO.

Question 31: Reference: PWS paragraph 12.0 Deliverables, Table 1: PWS Deliverables and Section L paragraph L.3, Table L.1, page 60, paragraph L.4(a), pages 62-63. The PWS states the Draft Quality Control Plan (QCP) is due 7 days after award, Phase-In Plan is due 15 days after Task Order award and Phase-Out Transition Plan is due 60 days before the end of the POP. While the Section L requires these items be submitted with the proposal. Please clarify?

Answer 31: The PWS will be revised to remove the Draft Quality Control Plan, Phase-In Plan and Phase-Out Transition Plan but will include the requirement for a Final Quality Control Plan.

Question 32: Reference: Section L, paragraph L.3(c) Contract Documentation, page

61. The Tab A shows an executive summary. Is this an executive summary of the Technical Proposal? Cost/Price Information? Or both?

Answer 32: The Tab A: Executive Summary applies to Volume 1, Contract Documentation only.

Question 33: Reference PWS, paragraph 8.0 Cardiologist/Internal Medicine Electrocardiogram Review (Professional) and Section B Supplies or Services and Prices/Cost, Labor Hours CLINs.

Schedule B calls for an EKG Technician (1880 hours = 1 FTE) as well as a Cardiologist/Internal Medicine Physician (600 hours = part-time) and the PWS does not detail the services and qualifications. Can the Government provide the additional information?

Answer 33: The description and qualifications of the EKG Technician are included in the PWS revision included in SIR Amendment 0001. The qualifications of the Cardiologist/Internal Medicine Physician are as follows and will be included in the PWS revision that will be included in SIR Amendment 0002:

U.S. licensed -Board-certified in Internal Medicine or Cardiology -If board-certified in Internal Medicine, must have either completed Cardiology fellowship or have 2 years clinical experience interpreting electrocardiograms

Question 34: Reference: Section F, paragraph F.1 Transition Period and Period of Performance, page 9; Section H, paragraph H.1 Transition and Phase-In Requirements, page 20 and PWS, paragraph 11.0 Transition Plan, (a) Phase-In, page 23.

Is the Transition/Phase-In period 30, 45 or 60 days?

Answer 34: The Transition/Phase-In period is 45 days. Provision F.1, Transition Period and Period of Performance will be revised in SIR Amendment 0002 to reflect a 45-day transition period.

Question 35: Reference Part 1 Section B Supplies or Services and Prices/Cost, Labor Hours CLINs and PWS paragraphs 6.9 Aeromedical Examiner, 6.15 Data Analyst, 7.10 Aeromedical Examiner and 7.16 Data Analyst.

Section B groups the Aeromedical Examiner and Data Analyst together while the PWS describes them as separate positions. Should these be two separate positions on the Section B with a separate number of labor hours? Are they each full time?

Answer 35: The PWS is correct and they are separate positions. Section B will be corrected in SIR Amendment 0002.

Question 36: Reference: Part 1 Section B Supplies or Services and Prices/Cost, Labor Hours CLINs and PWS paragraph 6.12.

Should the Section B reference to Medical Records Technician/Pathology Coder be simply Medical Records Technician? We cannot find any reference to a Pathology Coder in the PWS or the Wage Determination.

Answer 36: Pathology Coder will be removed from Section B in SIR Amendment 0002.

Question 37: (Reference - RFP Section M.1(a), pg. 66, SIR Process Overview):

Section M.1 (a) provides the basis of the Government’s approach to eliminating proposals for various reasons, including Cost Reasonableness. Cost Reasonableness ensures that a proposed price is not too high and that Cost Realism ensures the proposed price is not too low; Section M.1 (a) makes no mention of price/cost realism as a basis to eliminate proposals. This presents the risk of sustainable protest should the Government choose to eliminate proposals whose price is unrealistic. Is this omission intentional?

Answer 37: Provision M.4, Volume II, Cost/Price Analysis addresses how the cost/price proposals will be evaluated. Cost realism was purposefully not included in Provision M.4. For the record, paragraph (a)3 states that “unrealistically low proposed costs or prices, initially or subsequently, may be grounds for eliminating a proposal from competition either on the basis that the offeror does not understand the requirement or the offeror has made an unrealistic proposal.”

Question 38: (Reference - RFP Section M.1(a), pg. 66, SIR Process Overview): Section M.1 (a) Has the Government established an estimate to base its determination of whether an offeror's proposed price is reasonable and/or unrealistic?

Answer 38: Yes

Question 39: (Reference - RFP Section M.1, pg. 66, SIR Process Overview): What remedies does the Government intend, should an offeror's price be insufficient to maintain satisfactory staffing of qualified personnel?

Answer 39: The majority of the labor categories included in this contract are covered by the Service Contract Act Wage Determination and the Wage Determination provides the minimum for compensation for the given labor category. Additionally, potential offerors are required to address in Sub-Factor 1.3 of the technical proposal, the offerors corporate personnel policies and practices, human resource management, recruitment and retention methods, historical and projected turnover of personnel and filling of vacancies in a timely manner.

Question 40: One of the strategic contracts that we wish to use as a past performance reference is with the Air Force at Tyndall AFB in Florida. Our contracting officer and contracting specialists are located at Tyndall, which has been greatly affected by Hurricane Michael. They are still without power and the contracting office is closed until further notice. Will the Government allow us to use the CPARS for this specific contract in lieu of the Past Performance Questionnaire?

Answer 40: It is the FAA understanding that while the contracting office for Tyndall AFB is currently closed, the contracting office personnel have been relocated to nearby air force bases (Hurlburt and Eglin). The FAA does not want to eliminate the past performance surveys that may be coming from Tyndall at this time. The FAA requests offerors to take their best effort to obtain this information; however, the FAA may use discretion if the information cannot be obtained because the contracting office at Tyndall is unable to respond.

Question 41: In the introduction it states that the, “FAA FY15 Business Plan outlined the AMCD goal to maintain a rolling average processing time of 40 days or less for all priority medical certifications.” What is the current rolling average processing time?

Answer 41: The current rolling average processing time is 40 days or less.

Question 42: Is the Project Manager the same as the On-Site Supervisor?

Answer 42: Yes

Question 43: Question about subcontracts Per section L, the FAA contemplates award of a Labor Hours contract resulting from this Screening Information Request (3.2.4-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1996)).

Considering that this solicitation will result in a Labor-Hour type of contract, would the FAA consider making following changes to the solicitation:

a. Instead of including 3.10.2-1 Subcontracts (Fixed-Price Contracts) (Apr 1996) in the solicitation, FAA should include 3.10.2-3 Subcontracts (Time-and-Materials and Labor- Hour Contracts) (April 1996) in the solicitation.

b. Change SIR L.3 d(4), from “(4) If any portion of the work is to be performed by a subcontractor, the proposal must provide rationale for subcontracting, how the specific subcontractor was determined (reference AMS 3.10.2-5, Competition in Subcontracting), and the percentage of work to be performed by the subcontractor. The proposal must include supporting documentation describing each subcontractor's technical qualifications and detailed pricing information to support all subcontractor costs.”

to “(4) If any portion of the work is to be performed by a subcontractor, the proposal must provide rationale for subcontracting (reference AMS 3.10.2-1 Subcontracts (Time-and- Materials and Labor-Hour Contracts) (April 1996)), and the percentage of work to be performed by the subcontractor. The proposal must include supporting documentation describing each subcontractor's technical qualifications and detailed pricing information to support all subcontractor costs.”

Answer 43: Provision L.3 of the SIR will stay as is. AMS Clause 3.10.2-1 Subcontracts (Fixed-Price Contracts) will be deleted in Amendment 0002 and AMS Clause 3.10.2-3 Subcontracts (Time-and-Materials and Labor-Hour Contracts) (April 1996) and AMS Clause 3.10.2-5 Competition in Subcontracting (January 1998) will be added in Amendment 0002.

Question 44: Attachment 1 Section B seems to show significantly more hours than there are currently on the incumbent contract. Is the government contemplating significant increase in workload from the current incumbent contracts? Will this increase be on day 1 of the contract or at a later time?

Answer 44: Due to changes in policies and procedures that have increased workload and future system changes expected through the life of the contract, estimated labor hours have increased in some areas. The increases will not go into effect on day 1 of the contract but are anticipated to start afterwards.

Question 45: Pg. 54/Pg. 58/Pg. 60 "3.2.2.3-20 Offers / Section L.1 Information and considerations affecting offeror proposal submission / L.3(b)(6) Instructions for preparation and submission of proposals/" "As part of the solicitation it says ""Sealed offers in original format and FOUR (4) COPIES OF VOLUME I TECHNICAL PROPOSAL will be received at the depository located in FAA, Customer Service Desk (AAQ-700) Bldg 14, Academy Headquarters, until 3:00 p.m.

central time, on SIR closing date, as specified on Page 1, Item 8, of the Cover Page (Solicitation, Offer and Award).""; however, on page 60 it says ""(6) Proposals will be submitted electronically in accordance with Section L, Provision 3.2.2.3-20. All volumes should be submitted in electronic format via CD/DVD-ROM or USB Flash Drive with no .zip files included. Each volume should be submitted in separately marked electronic files."" Please clarify the proposal submission requirements.

(a) Is industry being asked to submit electronically via email?

(b) Is industry being asked to submit hard copies, and electronic copies as compact disks (CD)?

Answer 45: The wording of this clause is confusing. Paragraph b(6) will be revised to read as follows: All volumes shall be submitted in the quantities addressed in Table L.1 with an electronic copy provided via CD/DVD-ROM. Each volume should be submitted in separately marked electronic files.

Question 46: SIR pages 16-18 Clause AC0090 Sections (a) through (f) are duplicated. Please clarify.

Answer 46: Thank you for advising the FAA of this issue. Unfortunately, the issue cannot be corrected for this SIR so please ignore the duplication.

Question 47: SIR Page 58 Section L.1, The last paragraph of Section L.1 is a duplicate of the preceding paragraph. Please clarify.

Answer 47: Please disregarding the duplication.

Question 48: SIR pages 62 & 63 "Section L.4 Factor 1 Sub-factor 1.1 Section L.4 Factor 4 Sub-factor 4.1" Please clarify whether or not the past performance questionnaires required in Factor 4, Sub-factor 4.1 are to be for the same contracts we discuss in Factor 1, Sub-factor 1.1.

Answer 48: As addressed in the answer to Question 24, more than likely, the contracts identified in Sub-Factor 1.1, Corporate Experience, will be the same contracts identified in Sub-Factor 4.1, Past Performance Questionnaires; however, it is possible that a potential offeror may have several qualifying contracts which could meet Sub-Factor 4.1.

Question 49: Section L.3 instructions for Volume III do not include tabs for all of the items required by section I clause 3.2.2.3-38 & 39 (page 25). Under what tab should offerors include their certified cost and pricing information?

Answer 49: Certified cost and pricing information is not required in response to the subject SIR. AMS Clause 3.2.2.3-38 will be deleted in SIR Amendment 0002.

Question 50: Could the government please clarify the tab instructions for volume III contained in Section L.3 (e)? Specifically:

a. What is to be contained in tabs (A) and (B)?

b. Are the numbered list items to be included as tabs? For example is (2) a tab? Or are only parts A, B, and C to be tabbed?

c. How do tabs (A) and (B) differ from (3)?

d. What detail would the government like to see under (2)?

Answer 50: Under Provision L.3(e), paragraph (1), the FAA is requesting the detailed cost information to show the rates and factor used to develop the proposed prices.

Paragraph (A) is requesting the detailed cost information for the Basic Contract Period (Year 1) while Paragraph (B) is requesting the detailed cost information for Options I through IV.

Paragraph (A), (B) and (C) are all sub-parts of Tab (1).

Provision L.3(e), paragraph (1) is requesting the detailed cost information of how the proposal was developed. Provision L.3(e), paragraph (3) is requesting the completed Section B fully burdened labor rates.

The intent of Provision L.3(e) is for the FAA to understand how the offeror developed their proposed prices. Please provide the detail that would be needed to understand how and what rates and factors were used to develop the proposal.

Question 51: Section B includes a single line-item for pricing the Aeromedical Engineer and the Data Analyst labor categories. However, the PWS shows that these two labor categories are different jobs with different required qualifications. Can the government please provide two line-items in Section B for pricing the two different labor categories?

Answer 51: Please note that the labor category is Aeromedical Examiner, not Engineer.

The PWS was revised in Amendment 0001 to separate Aeromedical Examiner from Data Analyst. The Section B will be corrected in SIR Amendment 0002.

Question 52: Can the government please define “lead differential”?

Answer 52: The Call Center lead has more responsibility than the Call Center agents.

While it is not enough to warrant a different labor category, the lead should be compensated for the additional duties required by that role.