A19_75D30126Q78839 Qustions and Answers_FInal.pdf

75D30126Q78839 Qustions and Answers

1. The Solicitation asks for the main proposal but also an option for 2 additional users and 3,000 additional units. It also has an area to provide costs on pages 2 & 3 and another blank form on pages 44 & 45, which appears to be the same exact form. I want to confirm that the first appearance on pages 2 & 3 is for the main proposal of 6 users and 18,000 credits and the second appearance on pages 44 & 45 is for the optional proposal of 8 users and 21,000 credits.

a. Answer: The pricing structure has been modified to allow for the base work and the optional work to be priced for the base period and each option period. The pricing structure shown in Section L is the same as in Section B. I have deleted it from L and redirected offerors back to Section B.

2. The SF 18 cover indicates “offers due by 3/6/26,” while Section L indicates quotes are due

March 24, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST. Please confirm the controlling quote due date/time and whether an amendment will be issued to resolve the discrepancy.

a. Answer: This was an error and will be corrected via the amendment.

3. Section L states the Technical Quote is limited to 20 pages and that items such as cover letter, TOC, appendices, tables, and figures count toward the limit. Please confirm whether any administrative transmittal (e.g., email body or separate cover letter) may be submitted outside Volume I, or if all transmittal content must be included within the 20-page limit.

a. Answer: The 20 page limit counts toward what will be evaluated. If it’s not in the specific volumes listed in the solicitation, it will not be sent to the panel for evaluation. You may submit items outside of the requested volumes for my benefit, but those will not be submitted to the panel for the source selection process.

4. Section L includes a 30-word limit for text in graphics/illustrations. Please confirm whether this 30-word limit also applies to tables, diagrams, and screenshots, and whether table column headers/captions count toward the 30-word maximum.

a. Answer: The 30-word limit is only for the description of illustrations, charts, etc.

that are included in the quote.

5. Section L requires “resource information” in Volume I (e.g., labor hours/categories, materials, subcontracts) while excluding price. Given this requirement is a software license subscription, please confirm the preferred level of labor detail (e.g., hours by labor category by period vs. FTEs) and whether the Government anticipates professional services labor beyond standard subscription administration and support.

a. Answer: An example of this is if you’re proposing various labor categories and need to give a breakdown in the reasoning behind how many hours you assign to each category, that will go there. Please be aware this is a standard clause that goes into every solicitation. Please ignore the examples that don’t apply here. You are free to include any and all non-price information in the technical volume you deem necessary to provide adequate information for the panel to review.

6. Does CDC have a preferred labor category taxonomy/format (e.g., standardized labor categories) for this procurement, or may offerors use commercial role titles (e.g., Customer Success Manager, Platform Support Specialist) as labor categories in the staffing plan?

a. No, there are no preferred labor category taxonomy or format. Please use the format you typically use in commercial actions.

7. Will the Government consider a quote compliant if the offeror proposes a minimal labor footprint (limited contract administration and platform support roles) with the primary deliverable being the license subscription, provided all SOW support requirements are met?

a. The government will evaluate each quote received against the evaluation criteria published in the solicitation. As long as the quote is received on-time, it will be evaluated. The quote must provide information that will allow the government to determine that the proposal fits the government's needs and will provide adequate service.

8. For the Similar Experience evaluation factor, please confirm whether CDC expects resumes/qualifications for named assigned staff, or if it is sufficient to describe the experience of the roles supporting the subscription (account management, onboarding, support) without naming individuals.

a. There is not a particular format that must be used and resumes are not required.

However, the offeror must appropriately demonstrate that they posess the appropriate similar experience necessary in order to sucessfully perform all tasks listed within the Statement of Work.

9. The SOW includes an Optional Surge (additional creator seats and up to 3,000 additional session units). Please confirm whether the Government expects offerors to price the surge as a separate CLIN/line item (and if so, where it should be reflected), or whether it should be included as an on-demand capability priced into the base subscription.

a. Answer: There will be surge CLINs added to the amendment where this pricing will be recorded.

10. Section 9 requires evidence of Section 508/WCAG compliance. Please confirm whether a VPAT (and/or other accessibility documentation) must be submitted with the quote for

Go/No-Go purposes, and whether a specific WCAG version/level is required (e.g., WCAG

2.1 AA).

a. Answer: VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) and/or other accessibility documentation must be submitted. For Go/NoGo purposes, WCAG

2.1 or higher is acceptable.

11. The Go/No-Go criteria reference incident reporting within “[1 hour].” Please confirm the required incident reporting window (e.g., 1 hour), when the clock starts (discovery vs.

confirmation), and whether this applies to suspected incidents as well as confirmed incidents.

a. Answer: Incident reporting must occur within one hour of discovery.

12. The solicitation references RMF/ATO planning and “FedRAMP evidence if required.” Please clarify whether FedRAMP authorization is required for this procurement (and at what impact level), or if alternative security attestations (e.g., SOC 2/ISO 27001) are acceptable pending CDC/HHS review.

a. Yes, FedRAMP authorization is required unless a policy exception is granted by the CDC Chief Information Security Officer. Alternative security attestations, while relevant, cannot be accepted in place of FedRAMP authorization.

13. Past Performance is listed as a technical subfactor. Please confirm what past performance information is required within Volume I (e.g., number of references, recency window, format), and whether CPARS may be submitted “in lieu of” PPQs and if there is a preferred maximum age for CPARS.

a. Past Performance shall be submitted as Volume II. The required information is listed starting on page 43 and continues onto page 44. The CDC will pull any relevant CPARS information. CPARS information may be submitted in Volume II as long as the information provided answers all posted bullet points.

14. The solicitation states: "Contractor will be paid for the licenses up front once they're delivered. The contractor will be paid the remainder of the money in 1/12 increments monthly." UserTesting is a commercial SaaS platform that is sold as an annual subscription and requires annual invoicing/payment to activate and maintain access for the performance period. Monthly invoicing is not available under the OEM's commercial terms. Please confirm whether "paid...up front once delivered" means CDC will allow invoicing/payment at the start of each 12-month subscription period (upon license activation/delivery). If CDC's intent is monthly payment only, will the Government consider issuing an amendment to Section B/pricing tables (currently structured as "12 Months") to permit annual subscription invoicing/pricing for the platform license?

a. Answer: The subscription costs will be paid for once per year to activate them.

Any additional work (services not related to the software license) will be payed on a monthly basis. Section B has been updated to reflect the way the non-optional work will be paied.

15. In the same product area. Unit price. Are you looking at price per user, price per session unit, or both?

a. The pricing schedule has been modified to make this more clear.