Responses To Questions 9 Feb 2021.docx

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS - RFQ 70Z08420QBB500900

Date: 9 February 2021

NOTE: Numbers 10 through 31 has been added to the Q&R document.

1) QUESTION: On Beta.SAM.gov, this solicitation is classified as an 8(a) set-aside. On the solicitation's SF1449, it is listed as a small business set-aside. Can you please let us know if this solicitation is open to all small businesses, or just those with 8(a) status?

RESPONSE: The solicitation is set aside and open to 100% Small Business under NAICS 541611.

2) QUESTION: Is there a current incumbent for this work? If so, can you please let us know who the incumbent is, and the contract number?

RESPONSE: Yes – Thundercloud Labs, LLC out of Christiansted VI. The contract number is HSCG84-16-D-BB5081.

3) QUESTION: We have just started a company, we are a women owned company. We are just starting out in this field. Unfortunately, it has been a lot of learning on our end. We came across the contract. If you can direct us on how we can proceed would be greatly appreciated.

RESPONSE: This is a solicitation not a contract. If your company is interested and would like to submit a quote the solicitation is posted on the BETA.SAM.gov website at https://beta.sam.gov

4) QUESTION: Would the government allow CPARS to be used in place of PPQs for this solicitation?

RESPONSE: No

5) QUESTION: Since the base period commences on April 6, 2021, can the government provide the number of Functional Analysts and Operational Research Analysts needed for the base period? This would allow us to identify the appropriate number of Analysts prior to the beginning of the base period.

RESPONSE: It is anticipated, but subject to change and not guaranteed, that the U.S. Coast Guard requires one Functional Analyst and one Operational Research Analyst. Per estimated quantities on page 5 and 6 of the solicitation. The estimated quantities specified in the “Schedule of Supplies/Services” are estimates only. The quantities needed may go up or down depending on the need of the Coast Guard.

6) QUESTION: FAR Clause 52.222-41 Service Contract Labor Standards is “checked”. However, this Program Management and Analytical solicitation appears to require “employees employed in a bona fide professional capacity”. Please clarify the government’s intent for “checking” this FAR Clause 52.222-41.

RESPONSE: FAR 52.222-41 was checked in error and is not applicable to this solicitation.

7) QUESTION: The notice is classified as an 8(a) Set-Aside on opportunity on beta SAM and in other documentation listed as "100% total small business". Are you able to clarify the intended set-aside classification?

RESPONSE: See Response at Question 1

8) QUESTION: Solicitation Provisions - pp. 45-46. Will the Government accept Past Performance Questionnaires from clients of each team member, or are PPQ's only expected to come from the clients of the submitting prime vendor?

RESPONSE: The government will not accept PPQ’s from clients of each team member. PPQ’s can come from clients of the submitting prime vendor.

9) QUESTION: We currently have highly qualified staff on hand who meet the minimum requirements for the Operations Research Analyst, however we do not currently have staff on hand who meets all the requirements for the Functional Analyst. We do have a highly qualified Program Manager with 25+ year of Project Management experience supporting the Department of Defense, however she does not have a Bachelor’s Degree or PMP.

My question is if there is in flexibility in the requirements for the Functional Analyst position? Will experience be considered in lieu of degree/certifications?

RESPONSE: No – the Functional Analyst must meet the minimum requirements as outlined on page 14 of the solicitation.

10) QUESTION: Continuation of SF-1449 Blocks 19 – 24: Schedule of Supplies/Services. The contract type is listed as an Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) Contract with Firm-Fixed Unit Prices. Is this a single award IDIQ or multi-award IDIQ?

RESPONSE: Single award

11) QUESTION: Continuation of SF-1449 Blocks 19 – 24: We have profound experience in developing strategy, organizational change management, business process transformation, and facilitation at the DoD service level. This RFQ Statement of Work is vast in scope across these major task areas; however, the SF1449 lists two CLINs that align to the only two labor categories (Functional Analyst and Operations Research Analyst) listed in the Statement of Work Section 3.2 Qualified Personnel. The perceived discrepancy between the broad task areas with a multitude of specified sub-tasks, only two listed Labor Categories, and the description and structure of CLINS 00001 and 00002 may mislead an organization to believe that this is only a 2 FTE effort. What is the government estimate of level of effort? We estimate it to certainly exceed 2 FTE and thus are challenged to appropriately capture our price for the Not to Exceed Contract Ceiling.

RESPONSE: See Response at Question 5. Additionally, the government does not believe there is a need for any additional labor categories.

12) QUESTION: Statement of Work 3.2 Qualified Personnel: Given the four major task areas listed in the Statement of Work (2.1 Change Management and Communications, 2.2 Strategic Planning and Analysis, 2.3 Business Transformation and Initiative Management, and 2.4 Facilitation, Coordination, and Documentation Support), will the Government consider increasing the number of Labor Categories beyond the Functional Analyst and Operations Research Analyst. This should lead to better task and sub-task alignment to Labor Category capabilities and specified requirements/experiences. It should also lead to more efficiency in service delivery and price at the Task Order level. If desired, we are happy to recommend an additional three to five Labor Categories with capability and experience requirements that would be appropriate for the task areas listed in the Statement of Work.

RESPONSE: See Response to Question 5. Additionally, the government does not believe there is a need for any additional labor categories.

13) QUESTION: Statement of Work 2.2 Strategic Planning and Analysis: Can the DOL provide us with a recent Strategic Plan or its goals and objectives as referenced in the RFQ paragraph 2.2.2.1?

RESPONSE: The Technical Approach and Understanding document should focus and provide a comprehensive discussion of your organizational capabilities as well areas of expertise and resources to be used in the proposed effort of this area.

14) QUESTION: With respect to “Place of Performance”, due to ongoing COVID restrictions in gov’t facilities, will the Government consider any offers which do not require Full Time Seating at Contract Facility – will any flex-work, or off-site arrangements be entertained until COVID restrictions relax?

RESPONSE: As time goes on the government may consider and entertain other arrangements such as flex-work, telework or off-site arrangements until COVID restrictions relax. However, at this time the primary place of performance is outlined in paragraph 4.3 on page 17 of the Statement of Work.

15) QUESTION: The solicitation states there are no security clearance requirements for this program. Will the CG require a background check using a system like eQuip to ensure CAC access and/or government facility access can be granted? Is a VAR required for this program for building access? Or is TASS sufficient to cover everything?

RESPONSE: See paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 on pages 16 and 17 of the Statement of Work.

16) QUESTION: Can charts/tables that are used to display capability, qualifications and/or performance use a font size other than 12pt? All remaining content will meet the font size criteria.

RESPONSE: Yes

17) QUESTION: PPQ: Due to time constraint, COVID and the speed of getting this requirement complete, will the government consider authorize past performance to be submitted by the contractor in the response and the government can than reach out to the POC if there are questions. The concern is not knowing the state of health or condition of past performance representatives in such a short, fused response window.

RESPONSE: No

18) QUESTION: Can you please provide clarity? Page 46 of 67 Past Performance section states: “(A Past Performance Questionnaire shall not be completed by a point of contact/employee of a prime contractor that your company worked for as a sub-contractor or your company’s parent or sister company)”.

RESPONE: See Responses at Question 8, 19 and 25

19) QUESTION: Will past performance only be considered from prime contractors? Can a teaming partner submit a past performance questionnaire?

RESPONSE: Yes

20) QUESTION: Are resumes and PMP certification certificates considered in the 12 page count?

21) QUESTION: The award criteria states LPTA but your scoring criteria indicates this order: The following factors shall be used to evaluate quotes: (1) Technical, (2) Past Performance, and (3) Price. Please clarify award preference is not best value.

RESPONSE: Technical, Past Performance and Price

22) QUESTION: FAR Clause 52.222-41 Service Contract Labor Standards is “checked”. The requirements are very complexed and strategic in nature. Also, this appears to be a professional services contract. How does the government desire the offeror to apply the wage table provided for pricing?

RESPONSE: See Response at Question 6

23) QUESTION: After looking at the "Services and Prices" table on page 5 of the RFQ, can you clarify that the "EST QTY" of 12 are suggesting (12) Functional Analysts to provide support or one Functional Analyst providing (12) months of service?

RESPONSE: See Response at Question 5

24) QUESTION: Can the government confirm the level of effort on this contract? How many FTEs required? How many employees did the incumbent engage historically?

RESPONSE: See Response at Question 5

25) QUESTION: The submission requirements state that PPQs are required for at least 3 different contracts. Can the PPQs be of a teaming partner/subcontractor who is teaming to bid for this opportunity? In other words, do all the PPQs need to be from the prime only?

RESPONSE: No

26) QUESTION: Will the cover page, table of contents and acronym list be included in the total count of the 12 page limit for the technical approach?

RESPONSE: No

27) QUESTION: Per section 4.3 “place of performance”, key personnel will perform work on-site in Norfolk, VA and “unless otherwise specified in individual task orders, all other services shall be performed at the contractor's facility.” For work being performed on-site, are there any telework or flexible work accommodations being made for COVID-19?”

RESPONSE: See Response at Question 14

28) QUESTION: Solicitation Provisions - pp. 45 notes that the font will be a 12 point size type or larger in our response. May we use a smaller font for tables and graphics?

RESPONSE: Yes

29) QUESTION: Solicitation Provisions - pp. 45 notes that the page limit for the Technical Approach is 12 pages. Are Cover Page, Cover Letter, and Table of Contents included in this page count?

30) QUESTION: We request Government clarification on the previous response to question (#8). Will the Government reconsider accepting Past Performance Questionnaires from clients of each of the team’s members if the team members are Small Businesses or if every member of the team is a SB?”

RESPONSE: See Responses at Questions 8, 19 and 25

31) QUESTION: PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The primary place of performance (i.e., primary worksite) for the designated Key Personnel to perform on-site work is USCG, Director of Operational Logistics, 300 East Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510.

Unless otherwise specified in individual task orders, all other services shall be performed at the contractor's facility.

Given COVID 19 and the adoption of Remote Work, is it still a requirement for the primary place of performance to be at the designated address, or would you expect most of the work to be completed at the contractor's facility?

RESPONSE: See Response at Question 14