70T05019Q5NCSL013_Questions_and_Answers.pdf

# RFQ Section Question Answer

1 General

Who is the current contractor and the contract Value?

The incumbent is Plant Depos. The contract is HSTS05-15-D-CSL022. Total Contract award is $844,888.66.

2 General

There are a large number of HUBZone small businesses that can meet the requirements of this solicitation. Would the agency consider making this solicitation a HUBZone small business set-aside?

Market Research was conducted and there is not enough HubZones to facilitate competition. This requirement will remain open to all small businesses.

3 General

Can we charge for conference rooms outside of DC?

The need for outside conference rooms is very minimal. An Other Direct Charges CLIN will be allocated and approved by PMO and CO.

4 General

Is this for court reporting or CART (for deaf or hard of hearing audience?) It seems to me that it is for court reporting.

This is for Court Reporting transcription that requires certified court reporters.

5 General Any government security clearance required?

No security clearance is required.

6 General

Are we permitted to sell certified copies to the opposing counsel of record for the proceedings?

If opposing Counsel asks for a copy of the proceedings, the contractor can provide it at a cost to the opposing counsel. Chief Counsel is not in the business of selling items to others and we are not involved in the transaction.

7 Section B

A) The price schedule does not match the Excel Pricing Worksheet (the CLIN numbers are different; section B doesn’t have a CLIN for video conferencing; the quantities of cases are different). What price schedule would the agency like vendors to use? B) If the agency would like vendors to use the Excel pricing worksheet, can the agency correct the price schedule in section B the solicitation? If vendors should use the

A revised Spreadsheet will be provided with clarifications. The excel spreadsheet is just a template for the pricing portion of your quote.

8 Section B

The solicitation lists hearings and depositions in the SOW but they are not differentiated in the pricing – can we have them broken out since generally the cost for each of those is significantly different?

No, the pricing structure will be the same and a notation can be given for charges over the customary charge for a basic deposition.

9 Section B

Historically, what locations throughout CONUS and OCONUS have depositions been held? Hearings held?

Majority of the depositions are located within close proximity to airports, federal offices, and government buildings. Depositions and hearings are held throughout the country, including all 50 states and US territories.

10 Section B

The RFP says the following: The Contractor shall provide a qualified court reporter for real time verbatim transcription court reporting at a time and location specified by TSA. Are you asking for routine court reporting or realtime reporting which we define as follows:

a. REALTIME: Realtime is a live feed of the proceedings that you receive on an electronic device whether you are in the same location as the stenographer or remote.

b. STREAMING: Participants in a remote location (your trial team room, your office, another country, and more.)

receive streamed realtime over the Internet. This is an excellent cost-saving measure for your client. Instead of flying in your expert, you can stream the realtime testimony to them. Please provide the email address for anyone who will receive the realtime stream.

c. VIEWING REALTIME: You need a realtime browser to view the live feed from the stenographer. This could be software installed on a computer, a link in

W b b bil

We don’t request A, B, or C. Use of “real time” in this solicitation refers to an onsite court reporter (stenographic, digital, or voicewriter) creating and managing the verbatim record using current technology with the ability to do readbacks, handle exhibits, etc.

11 Section 5.1

5.1 states that the contractor provide “real time verbatim transcription court reporting”. Real time is a very specific service available in the broad scope of court reporting services. There are not many reporters who can accurately do it and it is very expensive when it is provided. A) Please confirm that the use of “real time” in this solicitation refers to an onsite court reporter (stenographic, digital, or voicewriter) creating and managing the verbatim record using current technology with the ability to do readbacks, handle exhibits, etc. If actual real time is required, please indicate the estimated quantity of this requirement. B) If actual real time is required, please add a CLIN to cover the additional costs to the contractor of this very expensive service.

Use of “real time” in this solicitation refers to an onsite court reporter (stenographic, digital, or voicewriter) creating and managing the verbatim record using current technology with the ability to do readbacks, handle exhibits, etc.

12 Section 5.1

I don't see a charge on the pricing sheet for rough drafts and we frequently have clients request that service as well and would be an additional charge.

We don't request drafts.

13 Section 5.2.1

Would the agency consider removing the requirement for a paper copy in an effort to reduce expenses and be more environmentally conscious?

Yes, except for hearings. The MD-110 allows AJs to require hard copies of transcripts.

14 Section 5.2.2

Section 5.2.2indicates that exhibits must be available in both paper and electronic format. By what provision may the contractor be compensated for the reproduction and/or scanning and/or production of paper or electronic exhibits by the terms of this contract?

This requirement shall be included in the pricing.

15 Section 5.2.7

Given that transcripts will vary greatly in length, it is the industry standard to set error rates based on a percentage rather than a set number (e.g., transcripts must be 95% accurate). This approach helps to ensure a consistently high level of accuracy across all transcripts. Would the agency consider changing the error threshold to a percentage measure?

This will not be changed.

16 Section 5.4

The contractor will be required to provide videoconferencing facilities and equipment, but there is no CLIN to cover these additional costs to the contractor.

Please add a CLIN for providing videoconferencing facilities and equipment. A) On average, how many assignments require videoconferencing each year?

An Other Direct Costs (ODC) CLIN with a Not to Exceed (NTE) has been added to the RFQ to cover incidental costs that are not within the standard deposition process. However, these costs must be proposed by contractor and approved by Contracting Officer and COR before the service is provided.

17 Section 5.5

The contractor will be required to provide conference room space on occasion, but there is no CLIN to cover this additional cost to the contractor. Please add a CLIN for providing conference room space. Can we charge for conference rooms outside of DC?

An Other Direct Costs (ODC) CLIN with a Not to Exceed (NTE) has been added to the RFQ to cover incidental costs that are not within the standard deposition process. However, these costs must be proposed by contractor and approved by Contracting Officer and COR before the service is provided.

18 Section 10.1

A) What is the estimated quantity of work each year that is held OCONUS? B) What is the estimated quantity of work each year that is not in Alaska or Hawaii

Majority of the depositions are located within close proximity to airports, federal offices, and government buildings. Depositions and hearings are held throughout the country, including all 50 states and US territories. We might have 1 or 2 cases every 5 years in Guam or Saipan.

19 Section 10.3

A) States that the Agency reserves the right to specifically request a specific type of equipment. By what provision may the awardee be compensated for the specifically requested/required type of court reporter equipment? B) the agency please consider adding a CLIN to the pricing matrix (Order Period Pricing schedule) to allow for invoicing for utilizing the specially requested equipment (consistent with the requirements in 5.1 and 10.2.1)?

A) No additional CLIN will be added because most of the depositions do not require special equipment. B) An Other Direct Costs (ODC) CLIN with a Not to Exceed (NTE) has been added to the RFQ to cover incidental costs that are not within the standard deposition process. However, these costs must be proposed by contractor and approved by Contracting Officer and COR before the service is provided.

20 Section H - 10.0

IS there a requirement for transcripts to be provided in 508-compliant format? If so is it all transcripts or is there an estimated number for this requirement and how will the contractor be compensated for this additional cost?

Would the agency add a CLIN for this service?

Currently there are minimumal depositions impacted by this requirement, therefore there is no need to add another CLIN.

21 Section L

Past Performance Sample Letter to arrive NLT 9:00 A.M. EDT Thursday, 26 August 2019. Should be Thursday, 26 September 2019?

Yes, the Past Performance Sample Letter due date should have been Thursday, 26 September 2019.

However, the due date is being extended and the new due date for the Past Performance will be September 30, 2019.

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