Consolidated_questions_and_answers_final.docx

Question 1:

Does the CDC have pre-existing relationships with the school sealant programs that will be utilized for this project?

Answer: No.

Question 2:

Will the contractor be responsible for partnering with dental public health community organizations to facilitate the webinars?

Answer: No

Question 3:

What are the guidelines for formulation of a Focus Group? Will the Focus Group need to sign the NDA?

Answer: There are no specific guidelines to follow. No, the focus group will not need to sign an NDA.

Question 4:

Where is the Place of Performance of this contract? FBO.gov lists Chamblee, GA but no place of performance is listed in the SOW. Will the Government be providing work space?

Answer: No work space will be provided by the government. Work will be performed at the contractor’s location.

Question 5:

Are there specific criteria for online vs an in-person group meeting?

Answer: No

Question 6:

Will the CDC be providing subject matter experts to assist with the development, review and approval of deliverables?

Answer: The selected contractor will be responsible for performing the work to produce task deliverables. CDC SMEs will monitor the work performed, provide feedback on performance and quality, review deliverables and accept work that fits the task.

Question 7:

Is there a specific program location where the high-resolution photographic images must be taken?

Answer: No

Question 8:

What state law and local policies will be the prevailing guidance on guideline and checklist development?

Answer: Resources listed in the References section of the SOW are intended to inform product development.

Question 9:

How long is the contractor expected to house the interactive article on its website and should the website be solely for the display of this article?

Answer: 3 years

Question 10:

What if any network requirements or technical specifications are required for housing this article?

Answer: Needs to be freely available on the WWW.

Question 11:

How many staff members are required?

Answer: This is a firm fixed price contract, the government does not dictate staffing. Interested bidders should make their own determination on labor needs to complete the requested tasks.

Question 12:

Is this a national program?

Answer: Yes, this is for all states and territories without restriction.

Question 13:

Does the finish documents require data from schools and the CDC?

Answer: No

Question 14:

Is this data required for the Solicitation proposal?

Answer: No data are required.

Question 15:

Does it require a licensed Dentist?

Answer: No

Question 16:

Has this project been completed before?

Answer: No

Question 17:

Is there a past contractor on this project Answer: No

Question 18:

Section 3, 2nd Paragraph: With regard to continuing education units, do you wish to have CEU certified credit that may be used for licensure and certification purposes?

Answer: Yes, for dental professional continuing education (CEU).

Question 19:

SOW, Section 3, 3rd Paragraph: Will we have access to the CDC's powerful social media presence for dissemination?

Answer: No

Question 20:

Will the CDC be able to provide a list of school sealant coordinators for our use in recruiting participants?

Answer: Yes

Question 21:

Can the CDC provide any guidance about their desired qualifications for the school sealant coordinators who would participate in the group? For example, what kind of geographic diversity are you interested in?

Answer: CDC does not have specific guidelines for qualifications of school sealant coordinators. Regarding geographic diversity, variety is ideal but CDC does not have specific geographic areas of interest.

Question 22:

Is the CDC interested in having representation from different areas, and/or are there any specific geographic areas of particular interest?

Answer: CDC does not have specific guidelines for representation. Regarding geographic diversity, variety is ideal but CDC does not have specific geographic areas of interest.

Question 23:

Does the CDC define the terms of the size of population for the focus groups or are you are you looking for a mix of size?

Answer: CDC does not have specific guidelines for population sizes.

Question 24:

Will anyone who coordinates the school’s sealant program qualify, or do people need to have been in the position for a minimum amount of time (such as a year) or have other specific responsibilities?

Answer: The contractor will develop criteria for selection of focus group participants.

Question 25:

Is the CDC open to having online focus groups as opposed to a traditional, in-person focus group?

Answer: Yes

Question 26:

Technical Evaluation Criteria: Will the Staffing and Management Plan and Past Performance components be included in the 15 page Technical Quote page limit?

Answer: Both may be included in either the 15 page Technical quote, or in appendices that meet the requirements for appendices laid out in the Instructions to Offerors.

Question 27:

Technical Approach, 2b: Can the CDC clarify the need for "Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program doctrine?"

Answer: This sentence was included in error, and such need is not applicable to this requirement.

Question 28:

Past Performance, 4, 1st Paragraph: Can the CDC clarify the need for "...and unanticipated problems for Treasury?”

Answer: This is not a need for this requirement and need not be included in past performance.

Question 29:

Are all resources to be developed for online use only, or downloadable and printable, as well?

Answer: Downloadable and printable, as well as online.

Question 30:

Can the government confirm the technical quote instructions to submit responses in 10 pt., single spaced, Times New Roman font?

Answer: Yes, technical quote submissions should be in 10pt. Times New Roman, single-spaced.

Question 31:

Will the government share its list of IPC program participants?

Answer: No, it is not relevant to the performance of the contract.

Question 32:

Do the delivery dates presented in the solicitation include allowances for CDC clearance?

Answer: No, clearance will occur after due dates for materials.

Question 33:

Evaluation Criteria – In both Staffing and Management Plan, item f and Technical Approach, item b – the criteria states that experience and expertise relevant to “designing, developing, coordaining and conducting preparedness exercises consistent with Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program doctrine including the management of recurring exercise planning conferences development of exercise concepts and objectives, exercise plans, situation manuals, evaluation plans, significant event lists, after action reports and associated documentation.” There do not appear to be any requirements in the SOW for conducting exercises, will the government consider removing these evaluation criteria from the solicitation?

Answer: The inclusion of this criteria was made in error, please ignore this criteria, as it will be removed.

Question 34:

Where are services to be performed? Government site or Contractor site?

Answer: Contractor site

Question 35:

How many focus groups, and how many participants, does the government require?

Answer: One group with at least 5 but no more than 9 participants.

Question 36:

Can focus groups be conducted virtually?

Answer: Yes

Question 37:

Does the government have a preferred list of focus group participants, or a list of focus group participants who have agreed to participate?

Answer: No

Question 38:

Are only CDC-funded programs/states permitted to participate in the focus groups?

Answer: No

Question 39:

Does the government have an expectation of the number of photos needed/preferred?

Answer: 50 photos minimum.

Question 40:

Will the contractor need to identify and recruit a dentist, or group of dentists, to conduct the photo shoot?

Answer: No, but the contractor must ensure all photos are compliant with all infection prevention and control guidelines in a dental setting.

Question 41:

Is there a preferred or target time length for the PowerPoint presentation?

Answer: No

Question 42:

What are the required “interactive” elements for the article, or is this at the discretion of the contractor?

Answer: The “interactive” elements are up to the discretion of the contractor, but Section 508 guidelines must be adhered to.

Question 43:

Will the government provide the continuing education credits for the new guide and checklist, or will the contractor be required to arrange for the credit? What type of credits are required/preferred – CHES or CEU?

Answer: The contractor will arrange for providing CEU credits.

Question 44:

Are webinars to be delivered no later than 9/2/20 or on 9/2/20?

Answer: No later than 9/2/20.

Question 45:

What are the special requirements or resources needed to produce the webinar to be hosted on CDC TRAIN?

Answer: A recording of the webinar shall be provided to CDC for future use. The recording format shall be MP4.

Question 46:

Does CDC have a specific photo release form they would like the contactor to employ?

Answer: CDC will provide a Talent Release form.

Question 47:

Are there specific format requirements for the images: Pixel #, etc.?

Answer: JPG images of at least 500 X 500 pixel resolution.

Question 48:

Is there a specific number of photos needed in the “set”?

Answer: CDC does not require a specific number, but anticipates a minimum of 50 to provide a variety of photos of a diverse population in a dental setting (varied by age, race, gender, pregnancy status, etc.)

Question 49:

Are there specific CDC criteria for PowerPoints, ie, number of words per slide, etc.?

Answer: Contractor is encouraged to follow best practices for clear communication. CDC Clear Communication Index guidelines are available at https://www.cdc.gov/ccindex/index.html.

Question 50:

Will the PowerPoint only be housed on the CDC website or can the contactor also house it and promote it as an educational resource?

Answer: Contractor may also house and promote use of the resource in addition to CDC. This use must comply with the rights and data clause included in the SOW.

Question 51:

How many years should the contractor plan to host the article?

Answer: CDC would like the contractor to host the article for at least 3 years.

Question 52:

Can a small fee be charged to accommodate the cost of hosting?

Answer: This is a firm fixed price contract, any costs anticipated should be built into the bid.

Question 53:

Who will be allowed access to the interactive article? Will it be available for everyone?

Answer: There should be no limitations on access to the resource.

Question 54:

Are there specific CDC criteria for all 3 webinars, ie, accommodating the hearing impaired, close caption, transcript, etc.? Or will just the CDC TRAIN version include any such accommodations?

Answer: Utilize closed captioning for audio content of presentations. Provide a transcript for users.

Question 55:

Is the solicitation requiring 3 separate webinars or is it one webinar that will be given 3 times.

Answer: One webinar given three times.

Question 56:

Can the RFQ be submitted via email? If so, what email address should it be sent to?

Answer: As required by the combined synopsis solicitation, quotes should be sent to Adam Dwyer at oel3@cdc.gov.

Question 57:

Will all the training materials only be branded by CDC and can they be co-branded?

Answer: Co-branding according to CDC guidelines is acceptable.