SF30 - 73351025Q0172_0001 (with attachment).pdf

(x)

73351025Q0172 x x copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT

THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted , such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

x

DENVER CO 80202

208050

SUITE 300

721 19TH STREET

DENVER FINANCE CENTER

DENVER ACQUISITION OFFICE FOR SBA

DENVER CO 80202

208050

SUITE 301

721 19TH STREET

DENVER FINANCE CENTER

DENVER ACQUISITION OFFICE FOR SBA

12/05/20240001

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended , by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

11/21/2024

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

This requirement supports the Office of Advocacy in fulfilling research on small business topics using Economic Data.

This amendment is issued to provide responses to questions received by the deadline of

Friday, November 29, 2024.

Quotation responses are due Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 5PM ET and should be sent via email to angel.butler@sba.gov. No responses will be accepted after this deadline.

Attachment:

1- Response to Questions

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

Angel Butler

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

TEL: EMAIL: adbutler2@sba.gov

12/05/2024

Solicitation

Number

73351025Q0172

Document Title

Research on Small Business Topics Using Economic Data –

Response to Questions

Page

Responses to Questions

1. We would like to know if this is a brand new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services. There is not an incumbent performing this specific research, each RFQ's scope varies and is not the same.

2. If not brand new, could you please provide the current / previous contract number? N/A

3. I have never applied for a contract through the SBA, and I was hoping to find out more about expected dollar amounts for this contract, the ideal number of individuals collaborating, and the time until decision about who receives the contract. It is also not clear to me what typical contracts have been awarded to do. We expect quotes to be for a level of effort commensurate with meeting the deliverables and performance requirements of the SOW. We cannot disclose our budget estimate. Prior prices of awards on similar contracts range with complexity and methodology of the research. For example, an award from last year was 73351023P0059 $82,000.

However, the level of effort required to perform the SOW of producing a report deliverable could be above or below depending on the proposal.

Typically one or two people co-write the research. However, we’ve had research teams of up to 4 people work on a contract. There is not a cap to the amount of people working on a research team in a proposal. However, the research team should demonstrate in the proposal the roles each person would have, their qualifications, and how they will work together to meet the deliverables on schedule.

The target award date is mid-January 2025.

4. Typically one or two people co-write the research. However, we’ve had research teams of up to 4 people work on a contract. There is not a cap to the amount of people working on a research team in a proposal. However, the research team should demonstrate in the proposal the roles each person would have, their qualifications, and how they will work together to meet the deliverables on schedule.

5. The target award date is mid-January 2025.

• I don't know if there is a list of contract awards from the past, so that I can get a sense of expected types of projects?

Website: https://advocacy.sba.gov/category/research/economic-studies/ o An Examination of Entrepreneurship Among Americans with Disabilities:

Demographics and Economic Outcomes Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic o Patterns of Small Business and Young Business Hires Pre & Post COVID-19 by Region o The Impacts of COVID-19 on Racial Disparities in Small Business Earnings o African-American Entrepreneurs: Contributions and Challenges

73351025Q0172

Document Title

Research on Small Business Topics Using Economic Data –

Response to Questions

Page o Millennial Veteran Entrepreneurship: Research on the Next Generation of

Veteran Entrepreneurs o Effects of Small Loans on Bank and Small Business Growth o Bank Lending to Rural vs. Urban Firms in the United States Before, During, and After the Great Financial Crisis o An Investigation of Women Business Owners, Industry Concentration, and

Family Composition o Job Characteristics and Transitions Among Older Self-Employed

Individuals with Work-Limiting Health Conditions o How Accelerators Promote Regional Entrerpreneurship

6. I work at a university, and one or two of my colleagues would be interested in applying for this contract with me as a research project, but we would need to ask a few more questions about how this works before doing so.

Regrading working at a university, the procurement is a small business set aside.

Universities as large entities are not directly eligible to compete. However, researchers can independently register on SAM.gov through their own LLC to be eligible as a small business or a university can partner with a small business to compete but the small business partner needs to perform at least 51% of the work.

7. Can you confirm the total number of awards anticipated under this solicitation?

Tentatively, one single award will be made from this RFQ.

8. Will multiple awards be made for different proposals or topics, or is this intended as a single award opportunity? Tentatively, a single award will be made from this RFQ.

9. If multiple awards are planned, is there a limit on the number of awards one organization can receive? Multiple awards will not be made.

10. When addressing the past performance requirements, are applicants allowed to highlight the experience and accomplishments of the Principal Investigator (PI) or other key personnel as part of the submission? Researcher qualifications of the PI are considered and evaluated under 1c of the Technical Approach – Research qualifications and knowledge of literature in the field.

11. Alternatively, should the past performance section strictly reflect the firm's track record as a whole? Past performance information should be the experience and performance record of the offeror (firm).

12. Does the SBA prioritize specific geographic regions or demographic groups of small businesses (e.g., rural, underserved, minority-owned) for this research? No specific geographic regions or demographic groups will be prioritized.

13. Are there any particular focus areas, such as regions impacted by specific economic challenges, that should be emphasized in the proposal? No specific issues will be

73351025Q0172

Document Title

Research on Small Business Topics Using Economic Data –

Response to Questions prioritized, but policy relevance of the topic is considered and evaluated under

Technical Approach 1b. The proposals will be evaluated and prioritized according to the stated criteria in the solicitation. Successful offerors will best exhibit a policy relevant, high quality research plan and high likelihood the report will be produced soundly and successfully in researching an important small business issue under

Advocacy’s mandate to study small businesses.

14. Beyond the datasets listed in Section 3.3 of the Statement of Work, are there additional datasets or data collection methods (e.g., surveys, interviews) that are preferred or restricted? Is proprietary or non-public data acceptable, and are there specific requirements for obtaining and using such data? Surveys and interviews are permitted, but analysis of existing data is preferred. New information collections are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. If surveys or interviews are used, the research plan should account for the proper time needed to seek and receive PRA clearance and understand that the expected performance period is planned for 12 months. It will be the contractor’s responsibility to prepare and obtain PRA clearance. Proprietary and non-public data are acceptable, however the offeror should clearly describe the data to be used in the proposal and be able to produce reproduceable findings and provide source details and data coding. Data and analysis are subject to OMB’s

Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility, and

Integrity of Information Disseminated by Federal Agencies. Data rights under FAR

§§ 52.227-14 (alternates 2 and 5), 52.22715, and 52.227-16 apply.

15. While Section 5 outlines deliverables, are there detailed formatting requirements for interim deliverables? Are there examples of previous reports or deliverables that can guide the expected level of detail and quality? Final deliverables are reports fit for release and dissemination. Examples of released reports include the following: Economic Studies – Office of Advocacy. Interim deliverables are sections of the draft report and steps in the process. Drafts should conform to a major style guide, in 12 point font, be double spaced, and in a word processing format such as Microsoft Word. See section 5.2.10 of the SOW.

16. The RFI states that advanced technical skills are required. Are there specific minimum qualifications for key personnel (apart from holding a Ph.D.), such as years of experience or particular certifications in economics or data analysis? The Key Personnel section

(5.2.3a) provides that personnel performing the research should have the appropriate skills, training, and experience to do so. Offerors should provide the training level of the personnel performing the research and demonstrate the appropriateness of the training to perform the research.

17. Can personnel be added or changed after the proposal submission, and if so, what is the approval process? Section 5.2.3.b of the SOW, page 12 Changes in Contract Team states: Contractors must seek prior written approval from the contracting officer and COR before any changes are implemented among the key personnel and other https://advocacy.sba.gov/category/research/research-publications/economic-studies/

73351025Q0172

Document Title

Research on Small Business Topics Using Economic Data –

Response to Questions staff listed in the proposal.

18. Can separate proposals be submitted if a contractor wishes to propose multiple projects focusing on different research topics outlined in Section 3.4? No, only one submission per contractor will be considered per solicitation.

19. If multiple proposals are allowed, is there a preference for grouping them into one submission or submitting them individually? Multiple proposals per solicitation are not allowed. Offerors are expected to submit their best proposal per solicitation.

20. What is the maximum allowable budget for proposals under this solicitation? We are unable to disclose the estimated budget for this RFQ.

21. If a budget ceiling exists, does it apply to individual awards, or is it an aggregate ceiling across multiple awards? This requirement will tentatively be awarded as a FFP (firm fixed price) award, there is no ceiling with FFP awards.

22. Are there any specific budgetary restrictions or cost caps (e.g., on labor categories, travel, or indirect costs) that applicants should consider when preparing their financial proposal?

Section 1.5 Anticipated Award Type, page 16 states: The Government anticipates a

Firm Fixed Price Order as a result of this Request for Quote (RFQ).This requirement will tentatively be awarded as a FFP (firm fixed price) award, this is not projected to be awarded as a cost-type contract. Travel is not required. Work is to be completed at the contractor’s facility.

23. What constitutes allowable indirect costs within the project budget? This requirement will tentatively be awarded as a FFP (firm fixed price) award, this is not projected to be awarded as a cost-type contract.

24. Are there caps or guidelines for indirect costs, such as administrative overhead or facilities costs? Any indirect costs must be included in your firm fixed pricing of the specified deliverables.

25. If there are caps, are they aligned with federal cost principles (e.g., FAR or OMB guidelines)? This requirement will tentatively be awarded as a FFP (firm fixed price) award, this is not projected to be awarded as a cost-type contract.

26. What are the specific requirements for ensuring that all deliverables comply with ADA

Section 508 accessibility standards? Are there resources or templates provided by the

SBA to ensure compliance, particularly for visual content such as charts, graphs, or other figures? Section 5.2.9 ADA Section 508 Requirements of the SOW, page 13: The according to the Office of Advocacy will provide guidance to achieve 508 compatibility at the time of award; however, it is ultimately the contractor’s responsibility to provide all deliverables in accordance with the legal requirements

73351025Q0172

Document Title

Research on Small Business Topics Using Economic Data –

Response to Questions for section 508 compliance.

27. Will the SBA provide technical support, such as guidance on methodologies or data access, during the performance of the contract? How frequently are coordination meetings with the COR or other SBA staff anticipated? It’s the contractors responsibility to gather and prepare the data used in the analysis. The COR meets with the contractor as needed to ensure timely delivery of the deliverables to the deliverables timetable. Typically the COR will meet with the contractor at least monthly and in advance of each deliverable delivery.

28. Could you clarify the page limit for the technical proposal? Are there specific guidelines regarding formatting, such as acceptable font types (e.g., Times New Roman), font size

(e.g., 11-point or 12-point), line spacing (e.g., single, 1.5, or double), and margin size?

Are there specific requirements for including appendices/annexes or supporting documents, and do those count toward the page limit? Should the final submission be in a specific file format, such as PDF or Word? Per the instructions for offerors the technical and past performance sections of the proposal combined shall not exceed

25 pages. This page limit does not include the cover page, company credentials, references and writing samples. The file format can be in PDF or Word.

29. Could you specify the level of detail required for the cost proposal? Should it include labor categories and corresponding hourly rates for each staff member or role? Yes, you may include labor categories, estimated hours, unit price (hourly rate) and total price for each proposed staff member/role.

30. Are contractors expected to break down costs by each deliverable or major task outlined in the Statement of Work? Please refer to page 50, Instructions to Offerors #10 Price.

The table provided is how pricing should be presented in the cost proposal, broken down by deliverable.

31. Additionally, should indirect costs such as overhead or fringe benefits be separately identified, and are there specific caps or guidelines for these? Indirect costs should be included in the overall pricing provided in the cost proposal, this requirement is not proposed to be awarded as a cost-type contract.

32. Are templates or specific formats for the budget submission preferred by the SBA?

Please refer to page 50, Instructions to Offerors #10 Price. The table provided is how pricing should be presented in the cost proposal, broken down by deliverable.

33. Could you provide the evaluation criteria for determining the best value trade-off? Please refer to pages 53-57, Instructions to Offerors for further details.

34. Specifically, what is the relative importance of the technical proposal compared to the cost proposal? Please refer to page 57, Instructions to Offerors which states: The non-price factors are significantly more important than price. Note: Submissions will first be reviewed for compliance to the instructions. Failure to comply may

73351025Q0172

Document Title

Research on Small Business Topics Using Economic Data –

Response to Questions result in elimination. A Poor rating will result in the proposal being disqualified from evaluation. If discussions are held, the Government reserves the right to hold those discussions with only the most highly rated submissions.

35. Are there specific percentages, points, or weighting factors assigned to each evaluation category (e.g., 60% technical, 40% cost)? The following rating method shall be used in the evaluation of past performance information (Excellent, Good, Marginal, Poor, Neutral), no percentages are listed and none will be used.

36. Additionally, within the technical evaluation, are certain factors (e.g., methodology, past performance, qualifications of key personnel) weighted more heavily than others? Please refer to page 57, Instructions to Offerors which states: The non-price factors are significantly more important than price.

37. Are there minimum thresholds or requirements to be met for technical or cost proposals to be considered in the trade-off process? No.

38. Am I allowed to bid on both solicitations (RFQs 73351025Q0172 and 73351025Q0173)?

Yes, you may provide a quote for both solicitations separately.

39. If two companies form a team, can they both be prime contractors or does one have to be a subcontractor? Typically, one or two people co-write the research. However, we’ve had research teams of up to 4 people work on a contract. There is not a cap to the amount of people working on a research team in a proposal. However, the research team should demonstrate in the proposal the roles each person would have, their qualifications, and how they will work together to meet the deliverables on schedule.

Please note, the procurement is a small business set aside. Companies defined as large business and universities are ineligible to compete (as a prime nor subcontractor). The RFQ will only be awarded to one small business, if two small businesses form a team, one small business will receive the award as the prime. This must be decided prior to the submission of the quote(s). Contractually, a small business cannot be a subcontractor to another small business, the two businesses must decide which company to submit the quote(s) under.