Polio AFRO QA 070921.pdf

RFP 75D301-21-R-71864 Polio AFRO

Q and A

No additional questions will be accepted.

Question Answer

1 I was curious if this was a follow-on requirement. If so, would it be possible for you to provide the incumbent information (we need the contract number and contractor).

Avram. 200-2016-89993

2 L.5.D.2 Relevant Experience (Page 80) asks to

“Provide a list of previous or ongoing

Government or non-Government contracts, subcontracts, or grants, similar in scope, magnitude, and complexity within the past 5 years”. L.6 CDC0.L018 Past Performance

Information (Page 83) requests that “The offeror should include the last 3 contracts completed during the past three years.” For the sake of clarity and cohesion across the volumes, would the Government consider making the requirement 5 years for both Relevant

Experience and Past Performance?

Yes, it is 5 years for both.

3 Does the travel allowance include travel for international travel to the designated countries and local in-country travel? Applicable

Reference -C.1. Background and Need Notes:

“Resources must shift to address immediate, often urgent, field and research needs in all parts of the globe” and Section B - Supplies Or

Services And Prices/Costs “Note: Estimated travel costs are based on Section C.6 general locations and trips anticipated”. C.6 Travel:

“Countries that travel will occur include (Chad, Nigeria, Indonesia, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Central Africa Republic, Cameroon, Guinea

Bissau, Mauritania, United States, Yes

Switzerland)”.

4 Why are the positions servicing Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Indonesia when these countries are not Places of Performances and Indonesia is not a country within the AFRO

Region? Applicable Reference - C.4. Tasks

(Technical Requirements) & F.3 Places of

Performance are: Angola, Cameroon, Central

African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. Attachment 3 Positions

Qualifications Required Labor Categories the labor categories positions’ locations are Central

Africa Republic, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Indonesia, and the U.S.

Burkina Faso and Mauritania are part of the AFRO region.

Indonesia and the U.S. are included for the administrative convenience of the branch.

5 Do Subcontractors also need to submit financial statements? Applicable Reference -

CDC0_L016: Business Proposal Instructions, Fixed Price (May 2020) - (b) Audited Financial

Statements A copy of the Offeror’s audited financial statements for the last three (3) complete fiscal years. If audited financial statements are not available, provide the most recent review, compiled or internally prepared financial statements. Such statements should include, as a minimum, balance sheets

(statements of financial position) and statements of profit and loss (statement of net income). In addition, provide an internally prepared financial statement for the most recent fiscal quarter and a listing of any accounts payable that were 90 days or more past due as of the end of that most recent quarter along with an explanation of why these accounts were overdue.

No.

6 Is the Prime to determine and propose Key

Personnel, when there are no Key Personnel listed/specified within the solicitation? Applicable Reference - H.2

CDCA.H009_Key Personnel (Jan 2021) – No

The Government does not have a list of key personnel. The prime can determine if there are key personnel. If there are no key personnel, none are required to be listed.

Key Personnel listed.

7 Will CDC require Contractors to cover the cost of HEAT training in advance of staff visiting or deploying to these countries in the Contractor’s budget for this proposal submission? Will

HEAT training be a reimbursable cost? What is the dollar value limit on reimbursable costs for

HEAT training for staff before deployment?

HEAT training is not a requirement.

8 How much in country travel will be required for the Contractor’s staff; how many trips, how rural will outposts be, and what security would be needed to be covered by the Contractor?

Country travel will be required and is dependent on planned polio activities in outlying areas. The work requires travel in developing countries, many of which have minimal infrastructure and significant environmental hazards.

Security is dependent on the country and would be covered by the contractor.

9 How should Subcontractors submit sealed packages for rate buildups, given that no hard copies are accepted?

If they do not want to submit it to their prime, ask them to submit it to the same email address proposals are due as stated in the solicitation.

In the subject line of the email, they must put “RFP 75D301-21-R-71864

Polio AFRO”. On their cover page, they must state who is their prime.

10 Page 83, L.6(b).-The RFP requires 3 completed contract references from the offeror and ALL current contract references from the offeror and major subcontractors. This represents a significant number (dozens) of current contracts that in many cases are not relevant to the RFP

PWS. Will the CDC consider requiring only three current contract references that are relevant to the RFP PWS?

No.

11 Page 83, L.6B - The RFP requires 3 completed contract references from the offeror. In this instance, does offeror include Major subcontractors?

Yes, subcontractors can be listed.

12 Page 81, CDC0_L016 (d); Page 82 Note: The Provision CDCO_L016 (d) page 81 is

RFP states on page 81 in section (d) that Cost and Pricing is not required with initial proposals.

That seems to contradict the statement at the bottom of page 82 that states: "Include supporting data for ALL COSTS…" Can CDC please clarify? What is required for Section

6(d)?

correct.

You can ignore the statement “Include supporting data for ALL COSTS supported by Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. In addition, if applicable, please add tab in your spreadsheet that shows your buildup for each labor position from unloaded to loaded” on page 82.

However, you still must submit a

Microsoft Excel sheet for your business proposal costs.

13 Page 2, B; Contract Value is not Defined. What is the Total Contract Value Ceiling for this

BPA?

We don’t disclose our estimated value of this acquisition. This is not a “BPA”.

14 Misc; There are multiple contracts being consolidated into this one. What are the other contracts previously being held by incumbents?

This recompete is for the current contract listed in question 1. See answer to question 1.

15 Misc; If other incumbents, please provide contract name and number. Could the USG please provide the contract name and contract number of previous contracts?

See answer to question 1.

16 Page 25, H.2 CDCA.H009_ Key Personnel; The key personnel cited below are considered essential to the work performed under the contract. Pursuant to the terms of HHSAR

Clause 352.237-75, Key Personnel, the

Contractor shall not replace or divert any of these individuals without the written consent of the Contracting Officer. - Nothing is cited below this line. Could the CDC please list the position titles and position descriptions that

CDC considers Key Personnel?

See answer to question 6.

17 Page 27, H.7 CDCA_H037 Observance of Legal

Holidays and Administrative Leave

(Government Facilities Performance) (Jun

It is a federal holiday and consider it for this solicitation. The updated clause will be added in the contract.

2020); Missing June 19th. Could the USG please add Juneteenth, as of June 17, 2021 this is now recognized federal holiday and will need to adjust for pricing.

18 Page 39, H.12 Telework by Contractor;

Covid-19 Telework policy in accordance with

Local Country Laws or further outbreaks in the

USA. Could the CDC please clarify what their policy is for teleworking in regards to

COVID-19 in respect to local country shut downs/curfews?

Telework is available to contractors as required by COVID-19 and local country shutdowns/curfews.

19 Page 61, I.4 52.219-12 Special 8(a) Subcontract

Conditions (Oct 2019); The Small Business

Administration (SBA) has entered into Contract

No. TBD with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to furnish the supplies or services as described therein. A copy of the contract is attached hereto and made a part hereof.

(b) The Integral Global Consulting, LLC, hereafter referred to as the subcontractor, agrees and acknowledges as follows:

(1) That it will, for and on behalf of the SBA, fulfill and perform all of the requirements of

Contract No. TBD for the consideration stated therein and that it has read and is familiar with each and every part of the contract. Could the

Government explain the reference to Integral

Global Consulting, LLC, is the government's intent for offerors to subcontract with Integral

Global Consulting, LLC?

This is a mistake. It should be “TBD”.

The awarded contract will have the name of awardee.

20 Page 78, L.4 CDCA_L011 GENERAL

INSTRUCTIONS (NEGOTIATED) (Jan 2000);

(g) The proposed due date will be posted in the website. Could the USG please define which website, or the proposed due date?

SAM.GOV - same place the solicitation posted.

21 Page 77, L.4 c; 50 pages ...excluding the cover page, table of contents and appendices… Does the List of Abbreviations count towards the page count?

No

22 Pages 1 and 78, SF33 Solicitation, Offer, and

Award

L.4 (g) General Instructions;- The due date is missing from the SF 33 and L.4(g) states, "The proposed due date will be posted on the website." However, Sam.gov indicates a due date of July 29, 2021, by 5AM ET, which is inconsistent with 2PM on the SF. Would the

Government please confirm the proposal due date and time?

See answer to question 20.

23 Pages 1 and 75 SF33 Solicitation, Offer, and L.2(d) Offer expiration date-No expiration date is provided on the SF 33 nor in L.2(d).

Would the Government please confirm the date?

See answer to question 20.

24 Pages 2-6 and 7 Item 0003, 1003, 2003, 3003 and 4003-The SURGE CLIN in B.3 states the

Offeror should price this line item at 8% of the labor CLIN; however, Attachment 3 – Position

Qualifications states that the Offeror should propose the CLIN on a labor hour basis for lines

1-11. Would the Government please clarify which is correct?

These are two separate independent statements that are not related.

In the Surge CLINS, price them at 8% of their respective line item (hypothetical example, if CLIN 0001 is $400,000, then it will be multiplied by 8% to get the value of CLIN 0003 which would be

$32,000).

The note in yellow font on Attachment 3 is a reminder that positions 1-11 could be used for Surge, if exercised.

Therefore, labor hour rates must be listed for all in advance so if Surge is exercised, the Government will know the hourly costs.

25 Page 2 Section B – Supplies Or Services And

Prices/Costs; - In Section B, the RFP defines

Option Surge Support as "To be priced at 8.0% of CLIN 0001 total." This instruction is inconsistent with Attachment 3 - Position

Qualifications which states, "Note that SURGE

CLINS 0003, 1003, 2003, 3003 and 4003, are to be proposed on a labor hour basis (lines 1-11 below)." Does the Government want cost data

See answer to question 24.

to support a labor hour basis for Surge costs?

Does the Government recommend using a

Weighted Averaged Labor Rate for surge costs on Labor Categories 1-11 as defined in

Attachment 3 - Position Descriptions?

26 Page 2 Section B – Supplies Or Services And

Prices/Costs In Section B, the RFP defines

Option Surge Support "To be priced at 8.0% of

CLIN 0001 total." This instruction is inconsistent with Attachment 3 - Position

Qualifications which states, "Note that SURGE

CLINS 0003, 1003, 2003, 3003 and 4003, are to be proposed on a labor hour basis (lines 1-11 below)." Would the Government clarify is we should propose Surge Costs as 8.0% of CLIN

0001 total or propose surge for only labor categories 1-11 as defined in Attachment 3 -

Position Qualifications?

See answer to question 24.

27 Pages 10 – 12 C.3. Scope of Work and C.4.1 and C.4.2 Tasks (Technical Requirements); - C.3 and C.4 do not refer to COVID-19 until the

Surge Support (C.4.2). Does the CDC definition of VPDs include COVID-19 for non-surge staff?

Yes

28 Page 11,C.4. Tasks (Technical Requirements) –

Task 1; -What other portable software is acceptable by CDC/government standards other than REDCap? Is there other software required?

None

No

29 Page 12 C.4. Tasks (Technical

Requirements) – Task 1 (part c) and F.1

Deliverable(s) Schedule

-C.4.1.c states, "Conduct three- and six-month assessments of outbreak status, the effectiveness of response and the likelihood of continuing transmission of polio and other VPDs (e.g., measles)." However, the assessment reports are missing from the Deliverables Table in F.1.

Would the Government please confirm the

Tasks/Reference, Deliverable/Format, Recipient, and Deliverables/Due Date if the reports are required?

Yes, reports are due for these assessments. The appropriate column information listed below in yellow font.

C.4.1(c) – word format – COR - 3 /6 months

The deliverables list “The Quarterly

Summary” on F.1, page 19. This “The

Quarterly Summary” will be deleted. It will be replaced with the assessment reports.

30 Pages 13 and 14 Section C.5 –

Government Furnished Materials and C.7 –

Special Requirements; - C.5 states the

Government will provide contractor personnel with office environment items, including work stations, fax, phones, computers and the internet.

However, C.7 states that the contractor shall provide facilities, supplies, equipment, including laptops and cell phones. Would the Government please clarify who is responsible for furnishing laptops, cellphones, office supplies and internet?

US based staff will be provided office environment items. International staff will work in assigned in-country office space with CDC/WHO partners. The contractor shall provide laptops and cellphones to international staff.

31 Pages 13 and 14 Section C.5 –

Government Furnished Materials and C.7 –

Special Requirements;- Regarding required software in support of this contract, would the Government please clarify if this is considered a Government Furnished Material or

Contractor Provided Material?

We do not require any unique software that is either not available through an open source or requires a purchase.

32 Page 27 Section H.7 CDCA_H037

Observance of Legal Holidays and

Administrative Leave (Government Facilities

Performance);-Is CDC adding 6/19 (Juneteenth) as a Federal holiday moving forward as directed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)?

See answer to question 17.

33 Page 27 H.7 CDCA_H037 Observance of Legal

Holidays; -In Attachment 3 – Personnel

Qualifications, each labor category is defined with 40 hours under the "Expected work hours/week" column. Would the Government please confirm whether hours worked more than

40 hours, such as compensated overtime or comp time, will be allowable and billed under the Surge CLINS?

There will not be any authorized overtime.

34 Page 33 Exhibit I, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) Contractor

Non-Disclosure Agreement; -Would the

Government please confirm that the completed

Exhibit I is not required as part of the proposal response?

It is not required as part of the proposal response.

35 Page 33 Exhibit I, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) Contractor

Non-Disclosure Agreement;-If Exhibit I is required, would the Government please confirm that Exhibit I is only required for key personnel and may be included as an attachment excluded from the Technical Proposal page limit?

See answer to question 34.

36 Page 49 EXHIBIT II – H.13 – E. Position

Sensitivity Designations

Public Health Advisor- Domestic: Tier 1

Public Health Advisor- International: Tier 1

Data Manager- Domestic: Tier 1

Data Manager- International: Tier 1

Epidemiologist- International: Tier 1

Field Service Officer -International: Tier 1;- On the AR Attachment 3 Position Qualifications, 0623, Numbers 14 and 15 of the mentioned position's labor categories are Data

Manager-Domestic-Level 2.

Would the Government clarify if one of the Data

Manager-Domestic-Level 2 will perform Data

Manager- International: Tier 1 as said in Exhibit

II. If so, would the Government provide the

Requirements: Qualifications and experience?

No, you can ignore the reference to

“Data Manager- International: Tier 1” in this clause.

37 Page 51 H.14 Requirements for

Contractor Performance or Travel OCONUS

(part A. Training); -Is the OCONUS travel for in-person training included in the Travel CLIN?

And are these OCONUS training only for all staff?

Most if not all of the training in Part A is available from CDC or state department at no cost. If there is a cost, the contractor will be allowed to invoice for it as a reimbursement under the Cost

CLIN.

However, any training that may incur an expense will need to be approved by the

COR and CO in advance.

38 Page 51 H.14 CDC100_0007

Requirements for Contractor Performance or

Travel OCONUS (part 1.b.ii Security Overseas

Seminar (SOS) / Preparing for Work Overseas

(PFWO) (Soon to be renamed - Overseas

See answer to question 37.

Security Awareness (OSA) provided via DOS

FSI/CDC University (CDC-U); -Regarding https://www.state.gov/update-fsi-training-status/, if the DOS FSI/CDC University (CDC-U) training is in-person, can the Offeror submit travel expenses for reimbursement under the

Travel CLIN for all required staff?

39 Page 77 L.3 FAR 52.216-1 TYPE OF

CONTRACT; -The RFP states, "The

Government contemplates award of a Firm

Fixed Price contract with separate CLINS for

Cost Reimbursable Travel." Would the

Government please confirm that Cost

Reimbursable travel includes direct travel costs and indirect costs, such as indirect G&A burden? If so, should the G&A burden on travel be included in the Government-provided travel amounts defined in Section B, or should the

G&A burden be applied in addition to the

Government provided amounts defined in

Section B?

The Government does not include indirect cost in the amount listed for the travel

CLINS.

See FAR 31.205-46 for requirements on travel costs.

40 Pages 81 and 82 L.5.2 CDC0_L016:

Business Proposal Instructions (paragraph d and

NOTES) L.5.2.(d) states, "Cost and pricing data is not required with the initial proposal," which conflicts with the Notes indicating that the Offeror must show the cost buildup for each labor position (from unloaded to loaded in our excel worksheet). This seems to imply we need to provide this backup data and not just the final firm-fixed price. Would the Government please clarify which section is correct?

See answer to question 12.

41 Page 81 and 82 L.5.2 CDC0_L016:

Business Proposal Instructions (paragraph d and

NOTES) L.5.2.(d) states, "Cost and pricing data is not required with the initial proposal."

However, the "Notes" on page 82 states, "Include supporting data for ALL COSTS supported by Microsoft Excel spreadsheet."

Would the Government please clarify or provide

See answer to question 12.

examples of supporting data?

42 Page 82, L.5.2 CDC0_L016: Business Proposal

Instructions, Fixed Price and Attachment 3 –

Personnel Qualifications The Notes section states in L.5.2 states, "Include the appropriate labor hour rates for the Surge CLINS (all labor categories for each period of performance)," which is inconsistent with Attachment 3 -

Personnel Qualifications. Additionally, Attachment 3 states, "Note that SURGE CLINS

0003,1003, 2003, 3003 and 4003, are to be proposed on a labor hour basis (lines 1-11 below)." Would the Government please clarify if the Offeror should price surge labor hour rates for all 15 labor categories?

The note in Attachment 3 is correct.

43 Page 82, L.5.2 CDC0_L016: Business Proposal

Instructions, Fixed Price-For Joint-Ventures, please clarify the required supporting and pricing data for the JV.

L.5.2 title is “CDC0_L016: Business

Proposal Instructions, Fixed Price (May

2020)”.

There is no reference to joint ventures in this provision and on page 82.

All eligible offerors follow the same requirements in this solicitation.

See answer to question 12 about cost and pricing data.

44 Page 83, L.6 CDC0L.018 Past Performance

Information;- Formatting instructions for this volume (assuming Volume III – Past

Performance per L.4) is missing. Would the

Government please confirm that we should follow the formatting instructions as provided in

Section L.4?

Yes, follow the same formatting instructions on Section L.4 (c) second paragraph.

45 Page 83, L.6 Volume III Past Performance

Would the Government please confirm that Volume III does not have any page limits?

See answer to question 44.

46 Pages 83-84, L.7 CDC42.0001 Contractor

Performance Assessment Reporting System

(CPARS) Requirements; - Would the

Government please clarify if the Offeror is

Yes, respond as part of Volume III.

The CPARS will be excluded from the page count.

required to respond to this section? If so, should the Offeror include the most recent CPARS in

Volume III Past Performance and is excluded from the page count?

47 Page 83 L.7 CDC42.0001 Contractor

Performance Assessment Reporting System

(CPARS) Requirements; - A past performance questionnaire was not part of the solicitation documents. If no CPARS is available, will the Government please provide a past performance questionnaire for completion and evaluation?

It will be added in the amendment.

48 Page 87,L.9 Invitation to Propose

Performance-Based Payments - Would the

Government please clarify the relevancy of L.9 as it pertains to this contract, which is a firm-fixed priced contract?

This for CLINS 0001, 1001, 2001, 3001

& 4001. You can submit your own performance base payment schedule based off deliverables.

If none is submitted, the Government will provide a schedule to the awardee.

49 General N/A The RFP does not clearly define the “Offeror”.

L.5.1.C.2 refers to “for Offeror and any proposed sub-offerors”.

L.6.b refers to “both the offeror and all proposed major subcontractors”.

M.5 refers to “Offeror” refers the proposed prime contractor and teaming partners or joint ventures. In either case, the prime contractor and teaming partners or joint ventures will be assessed individually and then the results will be assessed in their totality to derive the Offeror’s performance Risk rating.”

Would the Government please clarify if the definition of Offeror includes Prime, Subcontractors, and Joint-Ventures (both majority and minority partners)?

The offeror is the entity submitting the proposal. It will be the entity who the contract is awarded to.

50 General, N/A - L.6.b refers to “both the offeror and all proposed major subcontractors”. Would the Government please provide the definition of major subcontractor?

For the purpose of this requirement, you can ignore the “major” and just refer to it as subcontractor.