QA BAA FY 21 75D301-20-R-71744.pdf

Questions and Answers to FY21 BAA 75D301-21-R-71744.

• I am leading a team of mining engineers and geoscientists at [Institution A] and [Institution B] in writing a concept paper for the 2021 NIOSH Broad Agency Announcement. I have a few questions about submitting a collaborative two-university concept paper. Any advice (or pointers to URLs/documents that contain this information) you can provide would be very much appreciated:

Answer: Our contracts are described on the Mining Program webpage ( https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/researchprogram/contracts/index.html ). We encourage and see value in collaboration and cooperative agreements. In-kind contributions from mining companies, manufacturers or distributors should be identified as such, since it provides an opportunity to leverage federal funding to achieve improvements in mining health and safety.

• Do we need a single cover letter signed by both institutions, one signed cover letter per institution, or just a cover letter signed by the lead institution?

Answer: One cover letter signed by the prime contractor.

• I will be PI for the overall project at the lead institution. Do we need to designate a PI at the non-lead institution?

Answer: You may designate PI’s/CO-PI’s as per how you determine.

• If awarded, will NIOSH be able to work directly with both universities for financial purposes, or should we include budget estimates with a subcontract by the lead institution [Institution A] to the non-lead institution [Institution B]?

Answer: Under a contract, NIOSH only has privy of contract with the prime contractor. However, all subcontractor costs must be included in any cost/pricing.

• I see that if we are invited to submit a full proposal, we will include a summary of our planned collaboration with a mine in the Management Approach section. In the concept paper I am planning to briefly describe the planned collaboration (since access to the mine is integral to our tasks) in the Scope of Work. Can a letter of support/collaboration from the mine be included in the concept paper submission?

Answer: A letter of support may be included with the concept paper submission.

• Does this notice include literature in regards to dust control and particulate matter control?

Answer: This notice is only for proposals that include a scope of work – literature submitted not in support of a scope of work would be considered nonresponsive. NIOSH has active research in dust and particulate matter control and is always willing to receive literature and discuss manufacturer products outside of the Broad Agency Announcement process.

• Would this notice be interested in an educational phonecall to discuss our trackout control best management practice technology in regards to particular matter (PM10) and dust emissions?

Answer: An educational phone call is not possible at this time if a proposal is being submitted in response to the Broad Agency Announcement process. As noted in the response above, if the purpose of the call does not relate to a BAA submittal but rather the manufacturer’s technology and its applicability to NIOSH’s ongoing research, NIOSH researchers would be willing to schedule such a call.

• Considering this contract totally (100%) set aside for small business do you suggest additional paperwork required to be submitted for joint response before or along with the response?

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/researchprogram/contracts/index.html

Answer: This action is not set aside for small business; it is full and open competition.

• Based on our reading is it correct to say govt has approved this contract for NAICS code 5 - Other Computer Related Services size standard 30 Million?

Answer: Please read the announcement, NAICS code is: 541715 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences

• Is there Incumbent? If yes, what’s name of the incumbent's business and incumbent’s contract number? Similarly, who are the current sub-contractors?

Answer: Please read the announcement, this is a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), no incumbent.

• What’s time frame (in terms of years and months) planned to complete end to end transition i.e. base line year plus optional years?

Answer: Please read the announcement, timeframe is based your concept paper/project completion, within the timeframes specified in the announcement.

• In reference to *Similar Experience & Capability* do these qualifications must be related only to Government's Contract on the same technology/platform?

Answer: Similar Experience & Capability is not mentioned in the announcement. Commercial, non-commercial, and government experience is acceptable. Please read the announcement https://beta.sam.gov/opp/42a6550bb6c04947b07c83718db99c3c/view

• Or will commercial (non-Government) similar project’s experience will be treated as Govt? Do you recommend specific format offeror to use for submission of response?

Answer: Commercial and non-commercial entities are capable of responding.

• What are critical clauses and compliance matters specifically applicable for the joint bidding particularly for an EDMOSB firm (economically disadvantaged minority woman owned small business)?

Answer: Standard FAR and HHSAR clauses apply.

• Kindly advise how do we jointly move forward to the next steps in terms of meeting evaluation criteria of compliance, competency and cost to win this contract. Look forward to knowing next steps at your earliest.

Answer: Please read the announcement https://beta.sam.gov/opp/42a6550bb6c04947b07c83718db99c3c/view as to deadlines, submissions details, and other details on how to submit your organization’s concept paper.

• Is inter-institutional collaboration allowed for this announcement?

Answer: Yes, institutions may collaborate/have subcontracts with other institutions.

• If that’s the case, should each institution send a copy of the proposal or only one institution?

Answer: If you are both going to be working on the same project with one contractor being the prime and the other the subcontractor, only one concept paper should be submitted.

• Specifically, are we correct in assuming that a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) Cost Estimate will be adequate to support the Concept Paper submission and that the detailed price proposal requirements on pages 15 & 16 of the cited BAA Announcement will be required after Final Proposals have been requested by the Government?

Answer: A rough but somewhat close estimate is acceptable.