Questions-Responses-0004_(08-30-2018).pdf

RFQ No. 70RDAD18R00000012-0004 (08/30/2018) Questions / Government Responses

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1 N/A N/A N/A Will all vendors be allowed to Resubmit a new quote on this contract?

Government’s Response: To compete in this procurement, please resubmit your offer in accordance with this extension or indicate whether your offer is withdrawn. If no offer is resubmitted, DHS will consider your original offer to be withdrawn and it will not be evaluated for award. This means that if you wish to compete for this requirement as amended on August 29, 2018, you will need to submit a new offer no later than 12:00pm Eastern Standard on Wednesday, September 5, 2018. In this new offer you may make revisions from any previous submission, to include your offer price. No previously submitted offers have been evaluated or viewed by any party outside of DHS.

2 N/A N/A N/A Just to confirm, is the amendment specific to just the following:?

"Criteria Two - Past Performance: The Government will assess the

Offeror's capability to perform under the resultant Task Order by evaluating the Offeror's past performance, as either a prime contractor or subcontractor, on other similar contracts or programs.

The past performance evaluation will examine the extent to which the Offeror's past performance demonstrates their capability to deliver high quality service and solutions. Only recent (or ongoing) and relevant past performance data regarding work will be evaluated. Recent is defined as ongoing or recent within the last three (3) years. Relevant is defined as work similar in size, scope, and complexity to the work identified in the SOW. If no past performance reference is provided the Offeror will receive a neutral rating. Past Performance evaluations will be based on: (a)

Information obtained in Government past performance reference checks related to the project descriptions submitted as well as other inquiries on Offeror's past performance, and (b) Information obtained from Government past performance databases. If DHS determines that any of the available past performance are not relevant or recent or if past performance information is not available, neither a favorable nor unfavorable evaluation will be

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Question provided for that reference. If no relevant, recent, or if past performance information is available neither a favorable nor unfavorable (neutral) evaluation rating will be provided.

Technical Capabilities is more important than Past Performance which is more important than Price. Past Performance is more important than Price. Technical Capability and Past Performance, when combined, are significantly more important than Price.

Offerors shall also submit a sample of each requirement with their proposal for review of technical acceptability (3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7,

3.8 and 3.10) addressed in the statement of work. DHS will review each sample for clarity and sufficiency of content, layout, and structure. The Government will not make an award at a significantly higher overall price to achieve a marginal increase in superior technical capability. The Government will conduct a tradeoff analysis that involves the assessment of benefits of superior technical proposal features (i.e., benefits clearly attribute to increased productivity, increased probability of successful task order performance, and unique or innovative approaches or capabilities) versus the added price. Overall price to the

Government may become the ultimate determining criterion for award of the task order as proposals become more equal based on other criteria. It should be noted that award may be made to other than the lowest priced proposal if the Government determines that a price premium is warranted due to technical merit. The

Government may also award to other than the highest technically rated proposal, if the Government determines that a price premium is not warranted."

Government’s Response: Yes, the amendment posted August 29, 2018 is specific to Criteria Two of paragraph (ix).

3 N/A N/A N/A Also, is the requirement for samples for the 24 hour period leading up to 7 a.m. on 9/5/18?

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Government’s Response: As a result of the extended closing date, the required samples and alerts identified in paragraph (ix) of the combined synopsis/solicitation shall be based on the coverage period 24 hours ending at 7AM ET on the proposal due date is due (Wednesday, September 5, 2018).

4 N/A N/A N/A Are the required samples specific to DHS media coverage? If so, will search parameters be provided so that we can conduct a sample search?

Government’s Response: The required samples are specific to DHS media coverage. DHS will not provide search parameters for this coverage.