Questions and Answers April 27.pdf

Questions and Answers for

Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) Services for the Small Business Administration (SBA) Notice: 73351021Q0012

1. Could you please tell me if this is a new requirement, or if there is a current or previous contractor who has performed similar services? If available, can you please send along the incumbent contract or task order number?

a. ANSWER: This will be considered a New Requirement.

2. Do I understand correctly that the 2021 RIC opportunity is100% small business set aside and that there will not be another opportunity posted separately for non-profits or full and open competition?

a. ANSWER: This requirement has been set-aside 100% for Small Businesses, therefore Offerors have to be Small Businesses only. However, this does not prohibit Small Business Offerors to partner with Large or Non-profits as long as the Limitations on Subcontracting regulations are followed per FAR Clause 52.219-14 which states: “(c) Limitations on subcontracting. By submission of an offer and execution of a contract, the Contractor agrees that in performance of the contract in the case of a contract for—(1) Services (except construction). At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern.”

3. Can you clarify the period of performance? It states a Base Period with 4 Option Years.

Can you confirm/clarify this, in total, represents up to 5 twelve month periods?

a. ANSWER: That is correct, the intent of the SBA will be to award a contract that consists of 5 twelve-month periods. (1 Base year plus 4 option years). Renewal of option years will be as SBA’s sole discretion.

4. Regarding the documents required in the Appendix, can you clarify what Memorandums of Understanding should be included?

a. ANSWER: Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) is an agreement between

SBA and another organization or an agreement between your organization and another organization. The MOU should include the followings:

• Purpose

• Authority

• Responsibilities of the Parties

• Expenses of each Parties

• Publicity

• Statement of Non-Binding Obligation and No Financial Commitment

• Information Sharing

• Organization Contacts

• General Terms

• Duration of the Memorandum of Understanding

• Amendments

• Termination

• Signature

5. In reading through the RFQ, it states "This is 100% set aside for small business under NAICS code 541690." We are a 'center' who falls under the umbrella of the Research Foundation for the State University of New York who is listed as NAICS 541710. Would we still be eligible to apply?

a. ANSWER: Offerors will need to a small business that fall under NAICS code 541690 in order to be eligible for award.

6. In section 2.0, the Statement Objectives reads “SBA is seeking the services of contractors to create new Regional Clusters”. However, Evaluation Factor 2 subfactor 1 states that “the Offeror is an established regional cluster…” Is the Government looking for new or existing clusters for this opportunity?

a. ANSWER: The Government is looking for new or past offerors with experience leading services in Clusters.

7. In section E Under Volume 1 it reads “tab 3 /Cluster Qualifications and Experience include resumes for key personnel (included in page limitation)”. Then on page 30-31 under documents required to be submitted as an Appendix it sates, “The Offeror shall attach resumes of any key personnel, such as project manager, project associates, or a key expert, who will contribute to the work effort.” In which section should the resumes be included? Are resumes page counted?

a. ANSWER: Resumes for any Key Personnel shall be submitted under Volume 1.

Resumes will be part of the page count for Tab 3/ Cluster Qualifications and Experience (20 pages). Resume language included on page 31 will be removed to avoid any confusions.

8. The Pricing Schedule has a line item for Events. Should the estimated cost per event include labor costs? If so, should those labor costs be reduced from another category (e.g., Cluster Service Deliver)?

a. ANSWER: No, the estimated cost per event should not include labor cost.

9. Is there an NTE for the for the proposed solution?

a. ANSWER: The SBA provided a medium estimated range for this requirement between $200,000.00 and $300,000.00 per year. The NTE amount would be $300,000.00 per year.

10. Should Section B – Schedule of Supplies and Services be included in the proposal along with the Pricing Schedule form?

a. ANSWER: For pricing, we prefer for all Offerors to complete the Pricing Schedule Form included in the RFQ.

11. On page 16, section 1 states that the Contractor cannot bill directly for the Project Manager. However, the Schedule of Supplies and Services contains line items for the Project Manager. Can you clarify which position are expected to be billed directly?

Which positions should be included in the Pricing Schedule?

a. ANSWER: Some of the Project Manager language on page 16 will be removed to avoid any confusions. Offerors are responsible for providing the Labor Mix and Level of Effort as per their proposed solution. The labor mix that is provided in the proposals will be the labor categories that will ultimately be included in the pricing schedule.

12. Should the labor hours in the Section B – Schedule of Supplies and Services be considered rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimates for those positions?

a. ANSWER: Correct, the hours provided in Section B are estimates only. Offerors are responsible for providing the Labor Mix and Level of Effort as per their proposed solution.

13. Is SBA expecting the Project Associates (page 16, section 1) to be full-time positions?

a. ANSWER: In accordance with the Department of Labor, the Fair Labor Standards

Act (FLSA) does not define full time or part time employment. The determination of full time or part time employment is determined by the employer. For the purposes of this requirement, Offerors are responsible for providing the Labor Mix and Level of Effort (Hours) as per their proposed solution.

14. How do you define and/or determine a “Regional Innovation Cluster”? Is it pre-defined by the SBA or can it be one that has been establish by the submitter/awardee?

a. ANSWER: A Regional Innovation Cluster is a network of large and small businesses, specialized suppliers, academic institutions, service providers and economic organizations in a geographic location that grow and prosper by collaborating with each other. Clusters work together to maximize their strengths and resources, which allows them to compete on a larger scale. They also help to foster innovations in their region that may ultimately have a global economic impact.

15. If pre-defined - please share a list of the SBA recognized Regional Innovation Clusters?

a. ANSWER: The current SBA-funded Regional Innovation Clusters are as follow:

• AgLaunch

• Conductor

• Kansas State University

• LSI Business Development

• MonTec

• Strategy 1

• UAMMI

16. Are there any priorities for industry verticals?

a. ANSWER: No, there are no priorities for industry verticals.

17. Does an established Regional Innovation Cluster need to remain the same or can it be narrowed to focus on a subset of an established region?

a. ANSWER: An established Regional Innovation Cluster who is currently under contract with SBA must maintain their regional focus per their agreement with SBA. Any Regional Innovation Cluster who is applying is for Notice ID:

73351021Q0012 has the option to focus on their desired initiatives.

18. Can you provide the url where the questions and answers will be posted?

a. ANSWER: Questions and Answers will be posted within SAM.Gov as an amendment to Notice ID: 73351021Q0012

19. My question is in regards to the regional strategic plan requested in the Appendix. Is this the CEDS (Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy) plan that each county or region produces and is a cornerstone in many EDA funded grants? Or is it the plan the applicant has produced for the region in response to this RFQ?

a. ANSWER: The SBA-supported Regional Innovation Cluster(s) can be associated with established regional/state/county economic development plans and we encourage such citations in proposals.

20. The RFQ states that this opportunity is a “100% Small Business Set-Aside.” Yet the RFQ also says the following: “Include a cover sheet which states the Contractor name and DUNS number. State on the cover sheet whether Contractor is a small business, Large Business, for profit, not profit etc.” Our question is, does the offeror have to be a small business, or can it be a non-profit enterprise instead?

a. ANSWER: This requirement has been set-aside 100% for Small Businesses, therefore Offerors have to be Small Businesses only. However, this does not prohibit Small Business Offerors to partner with Large or Non-profits as long as the Limitations on Subcontracting regulations are followed per FAR Clause 52.219-14 which states: “(c) Limitations on subcontracting. By submission of an offer and execution of a contract, the Contractor agrees that in performance of the contract in the case of a contract for—(1) Services (except construction). At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern.”