70RDAD23Q00000050_Amendment 0003_ Response to Questions_04-12-23.pdf

70RDAD23Q00000050, Amendment 0003: News Clipping Services (NCS) Questions and Responses

SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE - FAR 3.104 Page 1 of 5

# Reference RFQ Section Paragraph No. Page No. (s) Question/Comment 1 General Question N/A N/A We are not a small business, and this does have a 100 percent small business set aside, I want to confirm if we submit our quote through a certified small business reseller would that be accepted by DHS OPA?

Government’s Response: Contractors that are not small business, and are interested in providing a quote, can be a sub-contractor to the authorized certified small business.

2 General Question N/A N/A Is there an incumbent? If yes, who is the incumbent? If yes, what is the contract number, contract value, Period of Performance?

Government’s Response: The incumbent providing similar services to this requirement is Technology – Management Innovative Solutions, LLC. The contract number is 70RDAD19C00000001; total value of award is $1,892,755.26; and the period of performance is November 28, 2022 to May 27, 2023.

3 General Question N/A N/A 1. How many employees will there be receiving emails?

2. What was the incumbent amount for the previous contract holder and how many years was that contract?

Government’s Response: 1. Approximately 5,000, this number can go up or down at any given time.

2. Please see response to question #2.

4 General Question N/A N/A When does the government anticipate making the award?

Government’s Response: The government anticipates making an award by May 26, 2023.

5 General Question N/A N/A What is the estimated contract value?

Government’s Response: The estimated contract value is between $2,000,000.00 and $3,000,000.00.

6 General Question N/A N/A Amendment 1 issued on Friday, March 31 included an erroneous due date and time within the amended file.

Block 14 of the SF30 states “There is no change to the quote submission date,” however, the Instructions to Offerors states that 1200 EDT on April 6 is the quote submission deadline, with the News Summary and Alerts Sample day now scheduled on April 5.

Please confirm that Quotes are due by 1500 EDT on April 13, with the scheduled News Summary and Alerts Sample

SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE - FAR 3.104 Page 2 of 5 day being April 12, as is reflected on the SF1449 and SAM.gov.

Government’s Response: The RFQ is revised to extend the date for quotes due to April 20, 2023 which includes Factor 1: News Summary and alerts Sample; however, the Sample shall consist of news events that occur on April 19, 2023. Also please see response to question #17.

7 General Question N/A N/A Is access to full-text of the news articles required?

Government’s Response: Yes, access to full-text of the news articles is required.

8 Section I – Specifications / SOW 2. Background 2 How many recipients need to receive the real-time alerts?

Government’s Response: Please see response to question #3.

9 Section I – Specifications / SOW 3.1 2 Does Section 3.1 feature a deliverable or is that requirement intended to be in performing Section 3.2, the “written summary?”

Government’s Response: The deliverable should be produced in the performance of section 3.2.

10 Section I – Specifications / SOW 3.1 2 To which extent is international news coverage expected to be translated? Are there any other languages expected to be covered, other than Spanish?

Government’s Response: If there is any international news coverage not in English it will need to be translated.

11 Section I – Specifications / SOW 3.1 2 Please confirm that Government access to Spanish-language media sources/content translated to English meets the Spanish language requirements for SOW 3.1 and 3.2?

Government’s Response: Yes, the vendor will have access to this not the government.

12 Section I – Specifications / SOW

3.1 & 8.

Deliverables

2 & 4 Is there a preferred document format for the daily reports?

Microsoft Word (*.docx) and Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf) formats are mentioned in “8. Deliverables” but subsection 3.1 does not otherwise specify.

Government’s Response: Per the Statement of Work at Section 8., all deliverables “shall be submitted in electronic readable format as well as Microsoft Word (.docx) and Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF files).”

SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE - FAR 3.104 Page 3 of 5

13 Section I – Specifications / SOW 3.2 2 How many recipients need to receive the daily written news summary?

Government’s Response: Please see response to question #3.

14 Section I – Specifications / SOW 3.3

3 Does the Government intend for Government staff to be able to create, update, or change these news alerts regularly or are these news alerts to be actively managed by the contractor?

Government’s Response: The creation, updates, or changes to the news alerts are to be managed by the contractor, however DHS may ask for adjustments depending on the news of the day.

15 Section I – Specifications / SOW 3.3 3 What communication methods or channels (ex. text alerts, email alerts) are preferred when sharing real time news alerts as described in subsection 3.3?

Government’s Response: The real time news alerts must be provided via email.

16 Addendum to 52.212-1: instructions to Offerors

5.1 Overall

QUOTE Structure and Content

46 Are offerors required to submit each volume (I and II) in a single file, or are offerors permitted to submit Tabs and Factors separately (i.e., Factors 1, 2, and 3 submitted in three separate files), as long as content, formatting, and structure is otherwise compliant with the terms of the RFQ?

Government’s Response: As provided in the instructions, Volumes I and II are to be submitted in separate files. However, Volume I includes Quote Cover/Transmittal letter (limit to 3 pages); Factors 1, 2 and 3. There is no page limit for Factors 1 and 3; however, Factor 2-page limit is 10 pages. In addition, there is no page limit for Volume II, Price Quote. Also please see response to questions #18 and #19.

17 Addendum to 52.212-1: instructions to Offerors

5.3 Tab B: Factor 1 48 Regarding Factor 1, should contractor provide a daily summary of events of April 12, 2023, as if it had been shared with DHS the morning of April 13, 2023?

Government’s Response: Yes, however, the RFQ is revised to request that Factor 1: Sample news summary, consists of news events that occur on April 19, 2023. Also please see response to question #6.

18 Addendum to 52.212-1: instructions to Offerors

5.3 Tab B: Factor 1

48 Regarding Factor 1, should real-time news alerts be shared with DHS in real time or as attachments with the Technical Quote?

Government’s Response: Factor 1: Sample shall be included with volume I Technical Quote. Also please see response to questions #16 and #19.

SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE - FAR 3.104 Page 4 of 5

19 Addendum to 52.212-1: instructions to

Offerors

5.3 Tab B: Factor 1

48 Can you please confirm that the “Factor 1: News Summary and Alerts Sample” documents (the samples) do not count towards the Volume I page count? These daily products far exceed 10 pages in length.

Government’s Response: There is no page limit for Factor 1. Also please see response to questions #16 and #18.

20 Addendum to 52.212-1: instructions to Offerors

5.3 Tab B: Factor 2 48 If responses to Factor 2 shall only address the Services Required in SOW Section 3 (3.1-3.6), please amend the instructions and evaluation criteria to replace the terms “task” and “functional areas” with “Services Required,” as neither tasks nor functional areas are defined in the SOW.

Government’s Response: Addendum to 52.212-1: Instructions to Offerors; and Addendum to 52.212-1: Evaluation are revised to clarify requirement for Factor 2: Technical Capabilities. Please see pages 48 and 51 of the RFQ.

21 5.3 SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR

VOLUME I - Technical Quote

Factor 3: Past Performance

45 Our company has deep and relevant experience working with large commercial entities. If we cite the same type of Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) information associated with private sector organizations, would you allow our past performance to be rated as a favorable or unfavorable evaluation, the same as if government past performance is submitted?

Government’s Response: The CPARS reference can include information associated with private sector organizations. Also see response to #24.

22 Addendum 52.212-2: Evaluation— Commercial Products and Commercial Services

2.0, Factor 2 48 Please confirm responses to Factor 2 shall only address SOW Sections 3.1 through 3.6 (Services Required).

Government’s Response: The Offeror shall demonstrate the knowledge, understanding, and technical ability to perform each of the requirements set forth in the SOW to include sections 3.1 through 3.6. Also, please response to question# 20.

23 Schedule “B” Pricing, Attachment 2 N/A N/A Can cost of the clipping service be a separate CLIN than the labor to support the requirement?

Government’s Response: The CLINs on Schedule “B” Pricing, Attachment 2 identifies total annual cost; however, the Offeror can include a separate document that explains the breakdown of pricing for each CLIN.

SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE - FAR 3.104 Page 5 of 5

24 Addendum to 52.212-1, Section 5.3 Factor 3: Past

Performance 48 Is the PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION FORM limited to current government agency clients?

Government’s Response: No, past performance information is not limited to current government clients; it also includes past performance data for work performed within the last 3 years. Also please see response to #21.