IDIQ QA 042223.pdf

IDIQ

ITOPSS 4.0 IDIQ (Do not list any RFTOP questions on this document)

THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR the IDIQ ONLY!

Q and A

Page Section Question Answer (CDC will answer)

1 4 B.7 Will the Government please consider an Accounting systems that is approved by HHS? Or is the

Government expecting a DCAA approved system?

Yes, an HHS approved accounting is ok to submit.

2 90

L.4

L.6 Line spacing for the technical response is listed as both 1.5 and double spacing. Would the government please confirm what is the correct line spacing for the technical response?

Double spacing and Times New Roman

12-point font.

3 92 L.6(c) This section states “The technical

Proposal shall be comprised of the following elements: 1. Title Page;

(Include Unique Entity ID)

2. Executive Summary;

3. Table of Contents”.

Would the government please confirm that the ‘Executive

Summary” is excluded from the 50-page limitation?

The page limitation has been revised to

“80”. The ‘Executive Summary” is excluded from the 80-page limitation.

However, keep the Executive Summary to no more than 2 pages.

4 2 B Is the Recapitulation Table on page

2 missing RFTOPs? They only include one real Task Order

(Rwanda) and Sample Task Order

Yes, it is missing the other 2 RFTOP’s by mistake. Please include all 4

RFTOPS in the recapitulation table.

(Brazil), but are lacking two other real task orders?

Note that only small businesses complete the information for RFTOP

Brazil.

5 2 B There is not any mention of the

Recapitulation Table within the

IDIQ solicitation. Does the

Government have specific instructions for the use of the

Recapitulation Table?

Take the total costs from each RFTOP and put in this table for its’ specific row.

Note that only small businesses complete the information for RFTOP

Brazil.

6 2, 6 B.1, C.3.1

On page 2, the RFP states, “The

Government intends to award a multiple indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts from this solicitation.” However, on page 6, the RFP states, “It is the intention of the U.S. Government to award an Indefinite

Delivery/Indefinite Quantity( IDIQ) as a result of this solicitation.”

Can the CDC clarify if the intention is to award a single IDIQ contract or multiple IDIQ contracts?

This will be a single IDIQ contract with multiple awards.

7 4 B.7 Section B.7 requires Contractors to have a “Federal Approved” cost accounting system for Cost

Reimbursable type Orders. Some subcontractors (i.e. 8(a) firms) may not have a Federally-approved cost accounting systems, but are willing to work under “time & materials” type subcontracts. Is a “Federally-approved” accounting system required for small business subcontractors working under a

T&M-type subcontract if the small business subcontractor can produce evidence that they are equipped to accurate manage costs under an awarded task order (e.g. letter from

The Federal Approved contracting system is for cost reimbursement contract task orders, not for “time & materials.”

If the task order is a cost reimbursement type and the subcontractor does not have a Federal

Approved contracting system, then they must include information in L.7(c).

See L.7(c) for exceptions to the

Government approved contracting system.

an auditor or accountant)?

8 12, 44 C.4.5, H.12

The SOW contemplates the eventual issuance of personal services task orders under Section

C.4.5, but Section H.12 states that personal services “shall not be performed” under this contract. It is unclear if an offeror should include a response on their ability to manage of personal services contractors as part of their technical approach response. Should offerors describe their management of personal services personnel vs. non-personal services personnel under the contract?

Each task order will designate if the task order is personal or non-personal.

This IDIQ includes the possibility of both personal and non-personal services. Therefore, there are clauses

(H.12 & H.16) to cover both situations.

As required in L.6(d), you respond appropriately per the instructions.

9 30 H.4 Are contractors required to submit a certification of insurance in the required amounts listed in Section

H.4 with their proposal submission or after award?

It can be submitted after award.

10 89, 96 L.4, L.7 Section L.4 requires contractors to submit a Business Proposal, and

Section L.7 (Business Proposal

Instructions) requires a detailed budget. There do not appear to be any cost elements to price or budget for under the IDIQ portion of the solicitation. Please confirm that a detailed budget is not required for the IDIQ response.

The detail budget is not for the IDIQ. It is for the RFTOPS.

11 90, 92 L.4, L.6 In Section L.4 on page 90, the solicitation says “The written technical proposal for the IDIQ volume is limited to 50 pages with

1.5 line spacing...” However, Section L.6 on page 92 says, The

Technical Proposal is limited to 50 pages with double spacing…”

Early clarification on this item would be appreciated since it

See answer to question 2.

impacts the amount of effort to draft proposal content.

Can the CDC clarify line spacing for the Technical Proposal?

12 91 L.5 Would the Government consider revising this certification to permit the use of consultant support personnel if the offeror certifies

(and/or represents and warranties) that the content of their proposal is an accurate and complete representation of their implementation approach?

The certification will not be revised.

13 92-93, L.6, M.1 In Section L.7 on pages 92-93, the

RFP notes, “All non-small businesses must provide a proposal for all three Real RFTOPS.

However, in Section M.1 on page

107, the following evaluation criteria is noted, “D. 1 Real RFTOP

Rwanda and 1 Sample RFTOP

Brazil. The Offeror’s responses to the technical requirements of the real RFTOP Rwanda and sample

RFTOP Brazil.” Can the CDC clarify how many and which

RFTOP responses will be evaluated for non-small business submissions?

This section is revised to the below to reference all RFTOPS.

D.1 Real RFTOP’s Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa and 1 Sample RFTOP

Brazil

The non-small businesses will be evaluated on their proposals for the

3 Real RFTOP’s (Rwanda, Ghana &

South Africa)

14 92 L.6 Can the CDC confirm that the page in the Technical Proposal where we add a comment, “See separate attachment name RFTOP Volume” does not count towards the 50-page limit?

The comment “See separate attachment name RFTOP Volume” is part of 4.d

RFTOPS. It will read like this “d.

RFTOPS - See separate attachment name RFTOP Volume”. It is only listed once.

Therefore, it is part of the page count.

Note that the page count in the IDIQ has been revised.

15 95 L.6 The instructions on the required number of RFTOPs are inconsistent. The header states

“Two (RFTOP’s)”, but the number of required RFTOP responses appears to be defined elsewhere in the solicitation. Can the

Government please clarify the number of required RFTOP responses in Section L.6 of the solicitation?

There are four RFTOPS (1 sample and

3 Real) which are listed below.

1. Sample RFTOP Brazil

2. RFTOP Rwanda

3. RFTOP Ghana

4. RFTOP South Africa

16 93, 95, L.6, M.1

B

In Section L, on page 93, the instructions require the offeror to provide a minimum of 3 examples from the last 5 years of providing relevant services. In Section L, on page 95, the instructions state, “The offeror should include the last 3 contracts completed during the past three years [regardless of scope and relevance]…” Also, Section M on page 106 the RFP indicates, “This portion of the proposal will be evaluated to determine if the

Offeror provided a minimum of three examples of relevant experience and the experience provided was experience within the last five years having the same or similar size, scope, and complexity as this requirement.”

Can the CDC confirm:

a. that offerors can submit examples of relevant experience from within the last five years (and not the last three years);

b. that contracts do not necessarily have to be the last

Your questions have a mixture of both

Relevant Experience (L.6.4.2) and Past

Performance (L.6.d.5). These are two different topics with separate requirements. Keep these separate as they are not the same.

Past performance is separate from

L.6.4.2 Relevant Experience. Past performance will be evaluated to determine Performance Risk as stated in Section M.1.E on page 107.

For past performance, follow the directions in (L.6.d.5) on page 95 which references the last three must be submitted within the past 3 years.

To reduce any burden in Past

Performance (L.6.d.5), for the contracts currently in process don’t submit more than 6 total combined for both the offeror and all proposed major subcontractors

( Example-3 offeror, 3 major subcontractor, or any other combination but don’t exclude the major subcontractor if they have any).

These can be of any relevance.

three contracts completed by the offeror;

c. whether the contract must be complete or if ongoing contracts within the last five years also can be submitted as relevant experience; and

d. whether offerors can submit more than three examples of relevant past performance?

In Section M.1.B Relevant Experience, the correct Section reference in the last sentence is “L.6.d.2”.

See answers below from your questions in a-d.

a. Follow the directions in Section

L.6.d.2 Relevant Experience which references minimum of three examples of relevant experience (within the past 5 years).

b. For Relevant Experience

(L.6.d.2) see the answer to “a” above.

c. It can be complete or ongoing.

However include any that are complete.

d. For Relevant Experience

(L.6.d.2), you can submit more than what is required.

17 95 L.6 The Government notes that it may use CPARS records as the “primary option for reviewing past performance,” and that if an

Offeror has at least 3 records, they will not need to complete certain past performance requirements.

a. Does the Government consider CPARS for only

CDC-funded projects or all

CPARS entries for an offeror?

b. Is the Government

For CPARS, do not confuse Past

Performance with Relevant Experience.

These are two different topics.

The below responses are for Past

Performance (CPARS).

a. All CPARS records.

b. Past Performance will be evaluated to determine

Performance Risk as stated in

Section M.1.E. It does not have to be related to ITOPSS.

c. If you have at least 3 CPARS records, the CPARS system will considering the relevance of the project records to the work being performed under

ITOPSS?

c. If an offeror has more than

3 CPARS records and elects to submit Past Performance information as set out in

Section L.6, would that content be reviewed against

Section M or would the

CPARS record be solely considered?

Are subcontractor CPARs or Past

Performance information required?

be used primarily. Additional submitted information will be reviewed if needed when the past performance is a below satisfactory (High Risk).

d. Only the Prime contract CPARS records will be considered. See

L.6.2.5 (b) for offerors that are newly formed entities without prior contracts.

18 95 L.6 In Section L, on page 95, the instructions state, “The offeror should include the last 3 contracts completed during the past three years and all contracts currently in process for both the offeror and all proposed major subcontractors.”

a. Can the CDC clarify what information or data points they would like for “all contracts currently in process...”?

b. Would the Government like a table or list and with what data points?

c. Can the CDC also clarify what is considered a major subcontractor for an offeror response?

a. It is no different than the awarded contracts. See Section

L.6.d.5 (b) for the list of information (1-11) that must be included for each contract listed.

Note that if you are submitting past performance information because there are not at least 3

CPARS records, then the past performance survey will also have to be completed and sent.

b. See above answer.

c. Any subcontractor with a subcontract agreement with the

Prime contractor.

19 Page 2 Section

B

The Recapitulation Table does not include Ghana or South Africa.

Please confirm both countries should be in the table. If yes, See answer to question 4.

provide updated table.

20 Page 6 Section

C.3.2

Does CDC require that all personnel assigned to Task Orders be employed as a W2 employee?

Are 1099 independent contractor(s) permitted to fulfill Task Order staffing requirements?

The contractor is responsible for this decision, not CDC. CDC will not tell you how to staff your company.

21 Page 2. Section

B.1.

General.

Will the Government indicate how many small business awards and full and open awards it anticipates making as part of this multiple award IDIQ?

No.

22 Page. 9 Section

C.3.2.4.

Manage ment

Support

Services.

Using the example identified by the

Government, it is likely that an individual RFTOP could be for assisting with staffing continuity in-country, where administration of an extramural program could be required, including grants, cooperative agreements, etc could be required.

If an ITOPPS IDIQ holder is also a holder of a cooperative agreement, or a sub-recipient of a cooperative agreement for the same country, how does the Government intend to mitigate conflict of interest, or is the ITOPPS IDIQ holder restricted from bidding on a RFTOP in a country where they are already performing work for CDC under a different vehicle?

The are no restrictions keeping an IDIQ awardee from providing a proposal to

RFTOP in a country where they are also cooperative agreement holder.

However, every RFTOP proposal, has an evaluation criteria sub-item that includes identifying any potential challenges of which would delay performance starting as required in the country and identify solutions and/or alternatives for mitigating such challenges.

Therefore, each offeror responding to a

RFTOP will have to demonstrate they can successfully complete the requirements per the instructions in that solicitation.

23 Page. 9 Section

C.3.2.4.

Manage ment

Support

Services.

If an ITOPPS IDIQ holder implements a RFTOP where a position includes assisting in-country technical staff on staffing plans, position descriptions, and documentation for future proposals

– does that work preclude the same

IDIQ holder from submitting a

See answer to question 22.

future proposal for work in the same country?

24 Page 47. Section

H.15.CD

C100_00

7.

Within this section, a number of trainings are referenced that contractor staff must undertake before travelling OCONUS, including in-person FACT training for OCONUS travel longer than 89 cumulative days. Medical assessment and clearance are also required.

Will the Government clarify if these training and medical assessments are to be performed at the Contractor’s expense or are reimbursable as part of the contract?

These trainings will be required at the task order level, not the IDIQ.

It is not possible for the Government to determine which will require the contractor to pay at their own expense.

However, if any of these required trainings require the contractor to pay, then those expenses will be reimbursable under the task order.

25 Page 63. Section

H.21.

Issuance/

Award of Task

Order.

Subsection B indicates that contractors are not required to respond to each RFTOP over the duration of the IDIQ.

Is there a requirement to respond to a minimum number of RFTOPs per year or over the duration of the contract?

No.

26 Page 90 Section

L.4.

CDCA_

L011

General

Instructi ons (c)

Please clarify if the ‘four separate parts’ of the proposal equates to four separate electronic files for purposes of proposal submission?

How does the Government desire the Business Volume to be submitted? Should all RFTOP pricing be included in a single

Excel file?

If yes, confirm labeling tabs by

RFTOP country name is sufficient to differentiate pricing worksheets.

If no, please provide specific instructions for submission of

Yes, four separate documents (e-files).

We understand that the size may require separate emails.

However, for the RFTOP’s, don’t include all in one volume document.

Each RFTOP should be a separate document in itself.

For the business volume, each RFTOP should have its own single Excel file document.

RFTOP pricing Excel file(s).

27 Page 90. Section

L.4.

CDCA_

L011

General

Instructi ons (d)

This section states that the written technical proposal for the IDIQ is limited to 50 pages with 1.5 line spacing, and 12-point font. Section

L.6 states that the technical proposal is limited to 50 pages with double spacing and Times New

Roman 12-point font.

Will the Government please clarify which statement is correct?

See answer to question 2 for line spacing and 3 for page count.

28 Page 90. Section

L.4.

CDCA_

L011

General

Instructi ons (d)

Is a sans serif font acceptable for proposal narrative and graphics, tables and call out boxes?

No.

29 Page 95. Section

L.6.

CDC0.L

018. Past

Perform ance

Informat ion (May

2020).

Subsection (d)(5) states that the offeror should include the last three contracts completed during the past three years and all contracts currently in process for both the offeror and all proposed major subcontractors.

How is the government defining

‘major subcontractor’ for this procurement?

Any subcontractor with a subcontract agreement with the Prime contractor

30 Page 95. Section

L.6.

CDC0.L

018. Past

Perform ance

Informat ion (May

2020).

Please confirm the Government will also accept relevant

Cooperative Agreement past performance from offerors.

Yes, for Section L.6.d.5 Past

Performance.

31 Page 92. Section

L.6

CDC0_L

Within subsection C, two RFTOPs are referenced, yet subsequent section reference RFTOPs for

See answer to question 15.

Informat ion in

Technica l

Proposal

(Jul

2017).

Brazil, Rwanda, Ghana and South

Africa. Will the Government please clarify.

32 Page 93. Section

L.6

CDC0_L

Informat ion in

Technica l

Proposal

(Jul

2017).

Within subsection D.2. it is stated that examples of relevant experience may be either contracts or grants for international services.

Will the Government confirm that cooperative agreements may also be used for relevant experience?

No.

33 Page

Section

M.1

Proposal

Evaluati on

Criteria

The table in M.1 does not include

‘Relative Importance’ ranking or description for (1) RFTOP’s and (4)

Organization’s Management Plan.

Will the Government provide this missing information?

Above the table, it states “The following technical evaluation criteria in Table A are shown in descending order of importance.”

In the table, the column to the right shows “Relative importance”.

No other information is required.

34 Page

106.

Section

M.1

Proposal

Evaluati on

Criteria.

Subsection A indicates that the portion of the proposal will be evaluated to determine how well the proposal demonstrates the

Offeror’s overall understanding of the requirement and technical approach as addressed in Section

L.7(d)(1) and listed in Scope of

Work Section C.3. Section L.7

(d)(1) does not appear to exist, Section L.7 (d) refers to an accounting system.

Will the Government clarify the

For Section M.1 A, B and C. the correct section reference at the end of the sentence is “L.6”

M.1.A = L.6(d)(1)

M.2.B = L.6(d)(2)

M.3.C = L.6(d)(3) reference should be to Section L.6?

35 Page

106.

Section

M.1

Proposal

Evaluati on

Criteria.

Subsection B references Section

L.7 (d)(2), but this RFP section does not appear to exist.

See answer to question 34.

36 Page

107.

Section

M.1

Proposal

Evaluati on

Criteria.

Subsection C references Section

L.7 (d)(3), but this RFP section does not appear to exist.

See answer to question 34.

37 Page

107.

Section

M.1

Proposal

Evaluati on

Criteria.

Subsection D.1. indicates that the offerors responses to the technical requirements of the real RFTOP

Rwanda and sample RFTOP Brazil are part of the technical evaluation criteria but does not mention

RFTOP Ghana and RFTOP South

Africa.

Will the government clarify within this section that these RFTOPs are also part of the evaluation criteria?

Yes. See answer to question 15.

38 Page

108.

M.4

Basis for

Award.

RFP states that the price from the real RFTOP Rwanda, and sample

RFTOP Brazil will be the price factor for the IDIQ award(s) decision.

Will the Government confirm that

RFTOP Ghana and RFTOP South

Africa will also be considered in price evaluation?

Yes. See answer to question 15.

39 Page

108.

M.4

Basis for

Award.

Refers to B.1 for determination of number of awards, but Section B.1 does not indicate the number of awards.

Will the Government please state the intended number of awards?

No. The Government will not disclose this information.

40 General Proposal The Government originally The Government will add additional

Due Date requested proposal submission 30 days from release of the RFP.

Will the Government please extend due dates for proposals to 30 days after the date questions are answered to enable offerors to fully incorporate answers in proposal preparation.

time to the due date to account for the time we took to answer the questions.

This will be stated in SAM when the

Q&A are uploaded by CDC.

41 91 L4 Does the CRM have to be 1.5 spacing?

No. Use double spacing.

42 91 L4 Where should the CRM be placed in the proposal?

Appendix.

43 91 L5 Where should attachment 5 be placed in the proposal?

Appendix.

44 90 and

L6 Should text be doubled spaced or should it follow 1.5 spacing?

There is conflicting instructions on the pages identified.

See answer to question 2.

45 92 and

L6 Item 4 on page 95 references two

RFTOPs while Item D references one small business RFTOP and three real RFTOPS open to all.

Please clarify.

See answer to question 15.

46 General How many small business task orders are anticipated on this vehicle?

This information is not known.

47 General How many small business task orders were awarded during the last iteration of this contract?

ITOPSS 3.0 did not have a small business set aside.

48 General How many awards are anticipated? The Government will not reveal this information.

49 Business

Proposal

Spreads heet

All the labor categories listed in the

RFTOPs are Service Letter A. How does the contractor differentiate between Service Letter labor categories in the IDIQ spreadsheet?

The Service Letters will be listed in the each RFTOP.

50 Business

Proposal

Spreads

Please define Service Letter. This is the labor category listed in the

RFTOP.

heet

51 Business

Proposal

Spreads heet

Will the government provide a plug number for travel?

The travel amount is listed in each

RFTOP. This listed travel amount is the plug figure.

Offerors are not to add their own travel figure.

52 1 – RFP

and

RFTOPs

Cover

Page

The solicitation number on the

IDIQ RFP (75D30123R63271) is not consistent with the number provided on the RFTOPS

(75D30122R63271). Can the CDC confirm that the solicitation numbers are intentionally different and that contractors should include the RFP solicitation number in the

Subject Line of the Submission email, per section L.4 on page 90?

The solicitation number is

75D30123R63271.

Offerors are to submit their proposal via email as stated in Section L.4.d

53 16 C.9 “Contractor employees are required to receive Level 1/NACI security/background checks prior to contract performance. The security process is initiated when contracting organization provides contractor employee’s NACI results to the Office of Safety, Security and

Asset Management personnel and personal identifying information to the Headquarters Contracting

Officer Representative.” - Ghana, Rwanda, and South Africa RFTOPs require a Level 5 NACI security/background checks. Can the government please confirm if contractors should abide by each

RFTOPs requirements for Level of

NACI security/ background checks?

See the RFTOPS for the correct NACI

Level.

54 16 C.9 “Security Background

Requirements

The RFTOPS contain the correct NACI level and all incumbents must adhere to

Contractor employees are required to receive Level 1/NACI security/background checks prior to contract performance. The security process is initiated when contracting organization provides contractor employee’s NACI results to the Office of Safety, Security and

Asset Management personnel and personal identifying information to the Headquarters Contracting

Officer Representative.” - Can the government please confirm the following is not applicable to current incumbent staff.

it.

55 16 C.9 “Security Background

Requirements

Contractor employees are required to receive Level 1/NACI security/background checks prior to contract performance. The security process is initiated when contracting organization provides contractor employee’s NACI results to the Office of Safety, Security and

Asset Management personnel and personal identifying information to the Headquarters Contracting

Officer Representative.” - Can the government please confirm if this will be a billable cost?

If the contractor is required to pay this cost, it will be a billable to the task order, not the IDIQ.

56 47 H.15 - A.

Training

Requirements for Contractor

Performance or Travel OCONUS -can the government please confirm the training requirements under this section do not apply to existing incumbents or staff already in-country?

Clause H.15 is specific to the contract not the individual. Therefore, this clause will apply to all existing incumbents or staff who will be identified on the RFTOPS Service

Letters (labor categories) because they will be new to ITOPSS 4.0 task orders.

57 48 Section Section H.15. B.2 Medical See answer to question 56.

H.15. B.2

Medical

Clearanc e

Clearance states: “Documentation of medical clearance must be provided within 30 days of contract award and prior to any OCONUS travel. If contract employees performing under this contract are

OCONUS-based, documentation of their medical clearance must be provided prior to the start of any performance under this contract.”

Could CDC kindly confirm that this requirement does not apply to incumbents or personnel already located in-country?

58 48 Section

H.15. B.2

Medical

Clearanc e

Section H.15. B.2 Medical

Clearance states: “Documentation of medical clearance must be provided within 30 days of contract award and prior to any OCONUS travel. If contract employees performing under this contract are

OCONUS-based, documentation of their medical clearance must be provided prior to the start of any performance under this contract.”

Can the government please confirm whether costs related to medical clearances are billable to the contract.

Any cost related to this are billable to the task order contract, not the IDIQ.

59 50 H.15 - D.

Safety and

Security

(3) (b)

“The communications plan and list of equipment that will be provided by the Contractor to contractor employees performing or traveling

OCONUS under this contract. At a minimum, the Contractor must provide two communication devices with international service or local internet access.

Communication devices may include cell phone, radio, satellite

Any cost related to this are billable to the specific task order contract, not the

IDIQ.

phone, laptop, or pad/tablet.” As this was not a requirement in the previous contract, can the government please confirm if the two communication devices are billable.

60 50 H.15 - D.

Safety and

Security

(3) (b)

“The communications plan and list of equipment that will be provided by the Contractor to contractor employees performing or traveling

OCONUS under this contract. At a minimum, the Contractor must provide two communication devices with international service or local internet access.

Communication devices may include cell phone, radio, satellite phone, laptop, or pad/tablet.” - Can the government please confirm if this is a requirement for all staff or on an as needed basis?

Any cost related to this are billable to the task order contract, not the IDIQ.

61 51 H.16 "Personal services shall be performed under this contract”.

However, page 44, section H.12 states, “Personal services shall not be performed under this contract” and section C.4.3 on p.11 states

“CDC may utilize this contract to award both personal services and non-personal services task orders, if needed.” Can CDC confirm whether personal services shall be performed under this contract?

This will be defined in the each

RFTOP.

62 68 Section I Under page 68, Section I, the solicitation lists 52.215-20 and

52.215-21: Requirements for

Certified Cost or Pricing Data and

Data Other than Certified Cost or

Pricing Data / Modifications. Per

FAR 15.403-1(b)(1), as adequate price competition is anticipated for

This data is not required for this IDIQ solicitation.

However, the clauses will remain in the

IDIQ solicitation and awarded contract because these flow down to the each

RFTOP. It is possible that when this solicitation, we respectfully request that the highlighted Section

I clauses be removed.

RFTOPS are issued, after with IDIQ is awarded, there may be only 1 offeror response.

63 90 L.4 “The written technical proposal for the IDIQ volume is limited to 50 pages with 1.5 line spacing”.

However, section L.6 on page 92 states the following “The Technical

Proposal is limited to 50 pages with double spacing Times New Roman

12 point font.” Can CDC confirm that the contractor may use 1.5 spacing when preparing the written technical proposal?

See answer to question 2.

64 90 L. 4 L.4 CDCA_L011 GENERAL

INSTRUCTIONS, Table of

Contents. May the offeror include a list of acronyms and abbreviations that does not count against the 50-page limit?

Yes.

65 90 L. 4 L.4 CDCA_L011 GENERAL

INSTRUCTIONS, Table of

Contents. May the offeror include a

Cover Letter that does not count against the 50-page limit?

Yes, but it should not be longer than 1 page.

66 90 L.4 L.4 CDCA_L011 GENERAL

INSTRUCTIONS, includes guidance on the Cross Reference

Matrix: “The Offeror shall submit a

Cross Reference Matrix (CRM) for the Technical Volume, similar to the example below, to help ensure that all solicitation requirements are addressed and to facilitate the technical evaluators' review of the

Offeror's technical proposal.” Can

Appendix

CDC confirm the preferred placement for the CRM in the

Technical proposal?

67 91 L.5 L.5 Proposal Preparation in

Response to this Solicitation - As part of what volume, Technical or

Business should bidders include

Attachment 7 Preparation

Certification?

Appendix

68 95 L.5.5 The Past Performance Section indicates that it must be a separate proposal. ‘(b) Offerors shall submit the past performance information as part of a separate proposal. The offeror should include the last 3 contracts completed during the past three years and all contracts currently in process for both the offeror and all proposed major subcontractors.’ Can CDC confirm whether this is a separate requirement from the Past

Performance Surveys provided?

And if so, could CDC kindly provide detailed instructions for this separate past performance requirement?

If you do not have at least 3 records in the CPARS system, then the Past performance Survey is required as part of L.6.d.5.

Use it for each of the past performance information you will submit ( last 3 contracts completed during the past three years and no more than 3 of those currently in process.)

69 95 L.5.5 The Past Performance Section indicates that CPARS may be used in lieu of a Past Performance

Proposal:

“Note- The Government will use past performance information located in the Contractor

Performance Assessment Reporting

System (CPARS) as the primary option for reviewing past performance.

If you have at least three (3)

CPARS records, then you do not have to complete any of the

The past performance required in

Section L.6.d.5 is not a combination with CPARS.

If you do not have at least 3 CPARS records, then follow the directions in

L.6.d.5.

The past performance survey will be used for each of the last 3 contracts completed during the past three years and no more than 3 of those currently remaining information below for this topic section.

If you do not have at least three (3)

CPARS records, then complete the remaining information below in this topic section.” Can CDC confirm that the Past Performance Proposal can be a combination of CPARS and Past Performance Surveys (for those projects that do not have available CPARS) to total 3 references?

in process.

70 97 L.7 (b)

(1)

In this section the governemt states:

“1) Direct Labor: Provide a time-phased (e.g., monthly, quarterly, annually, etc.) breakdown of labor hours, rates” however in the

Rwanda, SA, and Ghana RTOPS, it states “(1) Direct Labor: Provide a weekly breakdown of labor hours, rates”. Will the government allow contractors to establish direct labor based on annual hours vs. weekly breakdown?

This language has been revised. The business instructions in the RFTOPS have been removed. There is a comment to refer to the business instructions in the IDIQ.

This is being done because these

RFTOPS will have the same business instructions and having one set will reduce redundancy.

See the explanation in L.7.b.1 for breakdown format explanation.

71 84 Section L Section L reference FAR 52.216-29

Time-and-Materials/Labor-Hour

Proposal Requirements—Non-

Commercial Item Acquisition with

Adequate Price Competition (Nov

2021). This says:

“a) The Government contemplates award of a

Time-and-Materials or

Labor-Hour type of contract resulting from this solicitation.

b) The offeror must specify fixed hourly rates in its offer…”

Given that the RFP Section B.2 of

This clause is part of the IDIQ and will allow the CO to issue a RFTOP as a

Time and Materials Labor hour.

Therefore, this clause will remain as it.

Each RFTOP will contain the type of contact it will be issued as.

The three RFTOPS that will be awarded with this IDIQ will be Cost and are identified as such.

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.216-29 the IDIQ (page 3) says that the CO reserves the right to solicit and award TOs as FFP/TTM, we kindly ask that this be removed. If not removed, please provide instructions.

72 84 Section L The RFP references FAR 52.222-46

- Evaluation of Compensation for

Professional Employees (Feb

1993). Can the CDC please clarify if this is about compensation at the

IDIQ level or for each separate

RFTOP?

RFTOP.

73 Recapitu lation

Sample

Business

Proposal

Spreadsh eet

The recapitulation table provided in the Sample Business Proposal

Spreadsheet lists CLINS 0001, 2001, 3001, and 4001. Can the

Government please specify whether this was a typo and CLIN 1001 should be included in the recapitulation table.

This is a mistake. CLIN 1001 should be included. Please add it on your copy.

N/A N/A

Would the government consider a 1 week extension?

See answer to question 40.

90 L.4

What resumes are required for the

IDIQ proposal response?

None. Resumes are required for labor sources (Service Letters) required in the RFTOPS.

96 L.7

Can the government confirm that a business/cost proposal is not required for the IDIQ proposal response?

It is only required for the RFTOPS.

77 92, 93 L.6.(b), L.6.(d).4

Number of Task Order Proposals –

L.6(b), second paragraph refers to

“two Task Order proposals”. Could the CDC please confirm that this should state “three Task Order

Proposals” for the full/open competition – referencing the

Rwanda, Ghana and South Africa

RFTOPs? The reference to two task order proposals is repeated again in https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.222-46

L.6.(d).4 on page 93.

78 90

L.4.C

L.6

L.4.(c) mentions the IDIQ technical proposal is “…limited to 50 pages with 1.5 line spacing…”

L.6 mentions the IDIQ technical proposal is “...limited to 50 pages with double spacing…”

Could CDC please clarify the discrepancy and confirm whether the line spacing should be 1.5 or 2 for the IDIQ technical proposal?

See answer to question 2.

79 90-91, L.4.(g) &

L.6.(c)

On page 90-91, L.4.(g), it is stated that Offerors must submit a Cross

Reference Matrix (CRM) for the

Technical Volume. However, this

CRM is not included among the technical proposal elements listed under L.6.(c) on page 92. Could

CDC please confirm where in the technical proposal should the CRM be inserted?

Appendix

80 92 L.6.(c) Proposal Organization - The technical proposal submission elements presented on page 92 helpfully clarifies how CDC expects the IDIQ technical proposal to be organized. Could CDC please provide additional guidance/instruction on how the overall proposal package should be organized and submitted– i.e., IDIQ

Technical Proposal, Task Order

Proposals, Business Proposal (and elements within each Proposal)?

See L.6 (d) for the specific elements required in the IDIQ.

For the task orders, see section L in each RFTOP for the information required in those four.

For the business instructions, see L.7 in the RFP.

81 46, Rwanda

RFP

L.3.(1)

L.7

In what detail should offerors present their Direct Labor costs?

The Rwanda RFTOP (page 46) states “Weekly breakdown of labor hours, rates, and costs by

See answer to question 70.

96, IDIQ

RFP

appropriate category, and furnish basis for estimates”, while the IDIQ

RFP (page 96, Direct Labor) states

“Provide a time-phased (e.g., monthly, quarterly, annually, etc.)

breakdown Page 97 of 108 of labor hours, rates, and cost by appropriate category, and furnish basis for labor hour and labor rate estimates.”

Would the CDC please clarify what is required?

82 96, IDIQ

RFP

L.7(b).1

Business

Proposal

Instructio ns, Cost

Data

This section requires submission of cost data to include labor, fringe, materials, subcontracts, travel, and so on. Since there is no activity under the IDIQ, could CDC clarify if the contractor needs to submit all detailed costs for each cost category because most of the elements would be incurred under individual task orders instead of the IDIQ?

Also, does CDC expect offerors to propose labor categories based on their approach because this is a performance work statement (PWS) and the RFP does not specify any labor category or position titles?

This section L.7 is the instructions for the RFTOP business.

All cost information will be done for the RFTOP’s not the IDIQ.

For the IDIQ, there are no labor categories required.

Labor categories are only required for the RFTOP’s. CDC has stated the required labor categories and the minimum qualifications in each

RFTOP. No other labor category is required to do the work in the

RFTOPS.

83 95 L.6.(d).5( b)

L.6.(d).5(b) refers to major subcontractors. Could CDC please clarify what minimum percentage share of work constitutes a major subcontractor (i.e. those who will receive a minimum of 20% work)?

Also, what specific supporting documentation is needed for each subcontractor?

See answer to question 29. There is no minimum percentage.

The major subcontractor supporting documentation would the information identified in items 1-10 of L.6.(d).5(b).

84 76-83 Section K Can CDC clarify whether the It can be included once as part of the completed/signed “Section K -

Representations, Certifications, And Other Statements Of

Offerors” must be included in each

RFTOP proposal or whether it may be included once as part of the

IDIQ Technical Volume. Please clarify where this element of the submission should be inserted.

IDIQ Technical Volume.

85 95 L.6.(d).5 L.6.(d).5 states that “the

Government will use past performance information located in the Contractor Performance

Assessment Reporting System

(CPARS) as the primary option for reviewing past performance” and that “if you have at least three (3)

CPARS records, then you do not have to complete any of the remaining information below for this topic section”.

The instructions then continue in

L.6.(d).5.d stating “The offeror should include the last 3 contracts completed during the past three years and all contracts currently in process for both the offeror and all proposed major subcontractors.”

Can CDC please clarify what must be submitted for the Past

Performance Information Section?

Specifically, can CDC confirm that if at least 3 CPARS are provided, no further information on past performance must be submitted in this section?

If you have at least 3 records in the

CPARS system, you do not have to complete any of the remaining information this topic section.

If you do not have at least 3 records in the CPARS system, then you must complete the rest of the information required.

86 89–90 L.4, L.6

The solicitation states—L.4

CDCA_L011 GENERAL

INSTRUCTIONS (NEGOTIATED)

(Jan 2000) - The written technical proposal for the IDIQ volume is limited to 50 pages with

1.5 line spacing, 12-point font, and

1” margin (excluding the cover page, table of contents and appendices). And the solicitation states—Section L.6 CDC0_L012

Information in Technical Proposal

(Jul 2017) - The Technical

Proposal is limited to 50 pages with double spacing Times New Roman

12 point font, and 1” margins

(excluding the cover page, table of contents and appendices).

QUESTION: What is the correct spacing—1.5 or double spacing?

87 95, 107 L.6, (d), M.1,D.1

The solicitation states: Information in Technical Proposal (Jul 2017) -

4. Two (RFTOP’s): The

Government will evaluate the offeror’s proposal submitted for the

RFTOP. The attached RFTOPs will contain the specific information to submit. Each RFTOP will also have its own evaluation criteria. Also, on page 107 the solicitation states:

"Section M - Evaluation Factors

For Award D. 1 Real RFTOP

Rwanda and 1 Sample RFTOP

Brazil The Offeror’s responses to the technical requirements of the real RFTOP Rwanda and sample

RFTOP Brazil."

QUESTION: Does the

Government mean it will evaluate

“Three” RFTOPS (Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa), instead of just

“Two” RFTOPS or will only

“Two” RFTOPs” be evaluated—

Rwanda and Brazil?

See answer to question 15.

88 2 B Solicitation states in Section B -

Supplies Or Services And

Prices/Costs – Recapitulation: Only reference Sample Tasks for Brazil

& Rwanda. QUESTION: Are

Ghana and South Africa to also be included?

89 N/A N/A QUESTION: Will the 3

RFTOPS—Rwanda, Ghana, and

South Africa—be awarded to 3 different Offerors?

The RFTOPS will be awarded in accordance to the evaluation section

M.1 in each task order.

Therefore, no one specific offeror is guaranteed any task order.

90 N/A N/A QUESTION: Will the government grant an extension of the April 17, 2023 due date in order for Offerors to address the government’s responses to the questions submitted for the IDIQ and the 4

RFTOPS?

See answer to question 40.

91 93, 95 L.6., (d), 2, L.6., (d), Solicitation section L.6

CDC0_L012 Information in

Technical Proposal (Jul 2017) - 2.

Relevant Experience states: The

Offeror shall provide a minimum of three examples of relevant experience (within the past 5 years) in providing international technical, operational, and professional support services as outlined in Section C.3 of the solicitation. On page 95, solicitation section

CDC0.L018. Past Performance

Information (May 2020) – 5.b states: Offerors shall submit the past performance information as part of a separate proposal. The offeror should include the last 3 contracts completed during the past three years and all contracts currently in process for both the offeror and all proposed major subcontractors. QUESTION:

Would the government accept both relevant experience and past performance information within the

No.

last 5 years?

92 60 H.19, A., D.

In section H.19. Information

Security and/or Physical Access

Security, A. Baseline Security

Requirements, D. Position

Sensitivity Designations it specifies

Position Sensitivity Designations for all contractor and subcontractor employees.

QUESTION: Does this mean all employees for all Task Orders must be US citizens and non-citizens that meet the specified criteria, as stated in all four RFTOPS (Brazil, Rwanda, Ghana, and South Africa) in their respective Minimum

Qualifications and/or Certifications sections for personnel to be hired ?

Can the Offeror hire in-country staff native to and residing in the country?

You must follow the information listed in each RFTOP.

This information is listed in the

Minimum Qualifications and/or

Certifications area of each RFTOP.

An in-country staff native to the country would meet the definition or an

Ordinarily Resident which is not allowed per the RFTOP’s.

93 92 L.6, (c), 4,, d., i.

QUESTION: Can an Offeror who is a small business select only 1 or

2 of the 3 RFTOPS (Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa) to respond to in addition the required Brazil

RFTOP? In other words, must a small business Offeror reply to the required Brazil FRTOP and ALL 3 of the other RFTOPS (Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa)?

Small businesses are not required to provide a proposal to the 3 Real

RFTOPS.

However, small business can provide a proposal for this three Real RFTOPS

(Rwanda, Ghana & South Africa).

If so, you must provide a proposal for

ALL three Real RFTOPS (Rwanda, Ghana & South Africa).

94 15 C.5 The solicitation states in C.5 Any task order under $500,000 will be set aside for small business only.

What percentages of task orders for

Rwanda, Ghana, and South Africa are expected to be set aside for small business?

There is no set percentage. The

Government is unable to predict how many task orders will fall under

$500,000.

95 N/A N/A The live proposal period spans a See answer to question 40.

time with multiple holidays, including Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Passover, and Easter, as well as spring break, adversely impacting

Offerors’ availability to respond.

Would CDC kindly consider extending the deadline for applications by two weeks, to the

30th, to allow Offerors sufficient time to compile compliant and high quality proposals?

96 N/A N/A Does the government expect a separate IDIQ budget be submitted, in addition to the RFTOP budgets?

No.

97 N/A N/A Should 8a Certified Small

Businesses, applying for the small business set aside portion

(Operational Support Services), also include qualifications and technical content which highlights their experience in the other technical areas (i.e. Management

Support Services, Epidemiology

Support Services, etc.)

There is no separate instructions for 8a

Small business.

Follow the directions listed in the IDIQ and each RFTOP.

98 Pg 90 &

L.4

CDCA_

L011

GENER

AL

INSTRU

CTIONS

(NEGOT

IATED)

The line spacing requirements are

1.5" on page 90 and 2" on page 92.

Could CDC kindly confirm that

1.5" spacing is the correct format

Offerors should use when responding to the solicitation?

See answer to question 2.

99 14, 16 C.4.10 The quarterly conference call requirements state, “The discussion from the conference call must be documented in the monthly report of which the call was held.” A monthly report is not listed in the

Performance based matrix. For the

This has been revised to remove

“monthly report”.

monthly report, could the government clarify these requirements?

100 8 C.2.A Can Small Business offerors respond to all technical areas or only Operational Support Services?

See answer to question 93 for this solicitation.

After the IDIQ is awarded, small businesses can provide a proposal for any task order, not just the set asides.

101 Page 97 L.7.b.7 The RFP states "Include these analyses as part of your own cost submissions for subcontracts"-could CDC please confirm if this also includes a detailed budget from subcontractors?

We do not need your subcontractor detailed budget unless they do not want to submit it to you.

102 Pg 95 CDC0.L0

18 Past

Performa nce

Informati on

Does the government expect all current contracts to be included in the past performance, or only those of similar scope and size?

To reduce any burden, for the contracts currently in process don’t submit more than 6 total combined for both the offeror and all proposed major subcontractors

(Example-3 offeror, 3 major subcontractor, or any other combination but don’t exclude the major subcontractor if they have any).

These can be of any relevance.

103 Pg 96 CDC0.L0

18 Past

Performa nce

Informati on

Number 11, requires that a Past

Performance Evaluation be included for each contract listed.

Can the government please clarify what this Evaluation is?

This item has been replaced with a Past

Performance Survey.

104 Pg 90 L.4

CDCA_L

GENER

AL

INSTRU

CTIONS

(NEGOT

“An electronic copy of your entire proposal shall be emailed to krz3@cdc.gov. The electronic copy shall be in MS Word.doc (or .docx) and a pdf version except the Past

Performance Volume.”

Can the government please clarify

For the Past performance Volume, it still needs to be submitted electronically but only in PDF format.

It will be submitted as a separate mailto:krz3@cdc.gov

IATED) the instructions above. Should the

Past Performance be submitted with the proposal, but in a separate document (for those without

CPARS)?

105 Pg 107 Past

Performa nce Risk

Rating

In this section, the government mentions the Past Performance

Survey, but instructions are not included in the solicitation. Could the government please clarify when the Past Performance Survey should be used? Should it be completed by all contracts included in the Past Performance volume?

The past performance survey will be used for each of the last 3 contracts completed during the past three years and no more than 3 of those currently in process. Don’t submit more than 6.

106 Pg 107

Past

Performa nce Risk

Rating

Should copies of the Past

Performance Surveys be included in the Past Performance Volume or just submitted directly to the government?

Submitted directly to the Government via the same email the proposals are submitted.

In the subject line of the email, put “

RFP 75D30123R63271 ITOPSS 4.0”.

In the body of the email, state it is a past performance survey and the name of the vendor it is for.

107 Pg 90 L.4

General

Instructio ns

The RFP states that Offerors can use up to 10-point font for call-out boxes. Could CDC confirm that

Offerors can use up to 10-point font for tables, graphics, and charts as well?

Yes, but make sure it is legible.

108 Pg 92 L.4

General

Instructio ns

The RFP states “The Two Request for Task Order Proposals (RFTOP) will have their own page count listed in inside each document that will not count against the IDIQ limit.” There are additional

RFTOPs that we must respond to.

Can CDC confirm that all RFTOPs have their own page count that will not count against the IDIQ limit?

All RFTOPs have their own page count that will not count against the IDIQ limit?

109 Pg 92 L.4

General

Would CDC allow the Table of

Contents to be included exclusive of the page limits?

Yes.

110 Pg 92 L.4

General

Where would the CDC prefer that

Offerors provide the Cross

Reference Matrix? Should it fall after the Table of Contents?

Appendix

111 Pg 93 L.4

General

Instructio ns, Past

Performa nce

The RFP states “The Offeror shall provide a minimum of three examples of relevant experience

(within the past 5 years) in providing international technical, operational, and professional support services as outlined in

Section C.3 of the solicitation.” Can the CDC confirm that the prime offeror and its consortium members can provide a minimum of three examples of relevant…