Q&A_List_(1.15.2019).pdf

75FCMC19R0003

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RMADA 2 RFP: QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

GENERAL

No. Section & Title Page No. Question Response

L.8 – A.

Submission of Questions

Section L.8 states that questions regarding the solicitation should be sent “as an attachment in Microsoft Excel, using the format provided in Attachment J.4- Question Submission Template.” However, Attachment J.4 is provided as a PDF rather than an Excel document.

Will CMS be issuing the Attachment J.4- Question Submission Template in the required Excel format? Alternately, may offerors recreate this document in Excel or Word for the submission of questions?

CMS does not have a preference as to if questions are submitted in Excel, Word, or PDF so long as the formatting, as provided for in Attachment J.4 and Section L.8, A. Submission of Questions (pg.128), is adhered to.

2 N/A N/A

Does CMS have a date or timeframe in which offerors can expect to receive responses to the questions submitted regarding the RMADA2 IDIQ proposal?

If CMS is unable to post responses by 12/21/18, will CMS consider an extension for the proposal due date?

CMS is revising the proposal due date. Proposals shall be submitted via email to RMADA2@cms.hhs.gov no later than 1:00 PM Local Prevailing Time (Baltimore, Maryland), February 5, 2019. Section L of the RFP has been amended to reflect the extended proposal due date.

3 N/A N/A

Will CMS be holding an Industry Day, Information Session, or similar event for the RMADA 2.0 IDIQ?

CMS will not be holding an Industry Day, Information Session, or similar event for the RMADA 2.0 IDIQ since information was provided via a draft SOW prior to release of the solicitation.

4 N/A N/A

Will CMS will consider IDIQ awards to offerors who intend to quote only FFP task orders, and if so, whether the pricing instructions relating to CPFF, indirect rates, forward pricing, etc. apply to those bidders.

No.

5 N/A N/A

Is there flexibility in the contract type of subcontracts under CPFF task orders, in other words, will CMS allow FFP or T&M subcontracts under a CPFF prime-level order? or will the subcontract also need to be CPFF?

The subcontract type is determined by the Prime and Sub, not CMS and must be in accordance with FAR Part 44. If a cost type subcontract is contemplated, the subcontractor has to have an adequate accounting system for cost type contracts.

6 N/A N/A Roughly what percentage of task orders does CMS anticipate will be issued under the IDIQ as CPFF vs. FFP vs. T&M/LH?

We do not know this information for the upcoming long term of the new RMADA 2. However, the

Pg. 2 of 113 majority (approximately 97%) of existing orders under the current RMADA vehicle are Cost Plus Fixed Fee.

7 N/A N/A

Please confirm that CMS considers the solicitation to be administratively or otherwise exempt from the requirements of the Service Contract Act. If a wage determination is applicable, can CMS please provide the specific wage determination as an attachment so that all Offerors may include it when developing their pricing?

Yes, CMS considers this effort to be exempt from the Service Contract Act.

8 N/A N/A What is the maximum file size CMS will accept per email submission?

10 MB per email

Section F.2 Period of Performance

(IDIQ)

Given the extension to the current RMADA contracts, please confirm that the period of performance is July 10, 2019 through July 9, 2024.

The new anticipated RMADA 2 IDIQ period of performance is anticipated to begin September 26, 2019. Section F of the RFP has been amended to reflect said change.

Attachment J.3 Consent to Subcontract

1-2

The form assumes there will be budget information. Does this mean we can only request approval of the subcontractors on our RMADA team that are bid on the sample task order? Could we leave those cost questions blank or TBD to request consent for the rest of our team?

Consent to Subcontract forms should be submitted for subcontractors at the IDIQ level and for the Sample Task Order.

Consent to Subcontract forms should be included in Volume III of the proposal. Subcontractors Cost questions should be left

TBD.

Section G-2 Indirect Cost Rates

40-42

For contractors with HHS cognizant federal agencies (CFAs), for consistency purposes across HHS agencies and contracts, would CMS allow indirect cost ceiling rates to be determined by the CFA and not be memorialized in the contract?

No; indirect cost ceiling rates will be determined by the CO and memorialized in the awardee’s IDIQ contract but will be based upon rates as audited by the CFA and provided by the Offeror.

Section L.9 Proposal Organization and Content

Section L.9 indicates that “All files shall be compatible with Microsoft Office 2010 or later versions.” However, in the chart on Pages 130–132 about each volume, it indicates everything should be submitted as PDF (except for the Excel budget). Can CMS clarify if Word files or PDF is preferable?

Where a particular format is explicitly stated as the submission format, the stated format is preferred. If a format is not specifically stated, offeror’s may elect to use either Word, 2010 or later versions, or PDF.

Section L.10 Technical Proposal Instructions for IDIQ (Volume

IA)

The last paragraph in subsection B.

Personnel/Skill Mix indicates that “For persons who would be categorized as 'a planned hire,' the Offeror must provide documentation detailing the type of commitment (such as a letter of commitment) for each person.” Does the requirement for letters of commitment

This requirement applies only to individual persons the Prime intends to hire and does not apply to subcontract firms where there is more than one person.

Pg. 3 of 113 extend to subcontractors or are they only required for consultants or persons whose hire by the prime contractor is contingent upon the award of this contract? This requirement is not mentioned in the Sample Task Order Instructions in Section L.11;

are any type of letters of Commitment required for the Sample Task Order?

Letters of Commitment are not required for the Sample Task Order.

Section L.10 Technical Proposal Instructions for IDIQ (Volume

IA)

In subsection D in the first paragraph under Past Performance Instructions, it is noted Offerors shall submit information as part of their proposal for both the Offeror and proposed significant subcontractors. Is it acceptable for subcontracts to submit their list of past performance directly to the Government if desired?

Subcontractors may submit information directly to CMS. If a subcontractor submits information directly to CMS in a separate e-mail, the e-mail must clearly identify the prime Offeror and must adhere to all other submission instructions (i.e.

deadlines, compatible file formats, and etcetera).

Section L.10 Technical Proposal Instructions for IDIQ (Volume

IA)

In subsection D in the first paragraph under Past Performance Instructions, it is noted that the past performance request is not required to be a list of all contracts within the past 3 years. Can the Government confirm that a full list of contracts within the past 3 years is not required?

Past Performance submissions should include all relevant past performance from the past 3 years, except RMADA task orders.

Section L.10 Technical Proposal Instructions for IDIQ (Volume

IA)

Section L.10 indicates that “CMS will access CPARS and PPIRS for all relevant CMS performance history, if available;

therefore, Offerors shall not submit Past Performance information pertaining to performance completed under the existing RMADA IDIQ. However, Offerors should identify relevant Non-RMADA CMS Past Performance information in its written proposal.” Can clarification be provided as to whether the Attachment J.5 is not required for RMADA contracts, or whether RMADA Past Performance information should be excluded from the list mentioned on pages 134 and 135?

Primes and significant subcontractors should submit Attachment J.5, Performance Questionnaire, for all past performance information submitted pursuant to L.10.D. for which there IS NOT a CPARS/PPIRS record. If Past Performance, as documented in the table format identified in Section L.10.D, can be retrieved from CPARS/PPIRS, then the J.5 Attachment is not required.

Section L.10 Technical Proposal Instructions for IDIQ (Volume

IA)

of 149

Can the Government please confirm if for RMADA contracts selected as past performance, if only the information requested in the table/list format on page 135 of Section L.10 is required? And if non -RMADA contracts should be included as separately from the list of past performance, and rather as a separate part of the past performance section with the information provided on page 135?

If the RMADA contracts selected as past performance are in CPARS/PPIRS, then only the information requested in the table/list format on page 135 of Section L.10 is required.

Offerors shall not submit Past Performance information pertaining to performance completed under the existing RMADA IDIQ. Offerors should only identify relevant Non-

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RMADA CMS Past Performance information in its written proposal. Offerors should submit the J.5 attachment for any past performance information that is not in CPARS/PPIRS.

Section L.11 Technical Proposal Instructions for Sample Task Order

137 of

Section L.11 indicates that the authors for Volume 1B must be identified. There is no such requirement for Volume 1A. Should there be?

All authors of the proposal, inclusive of Volume IA and IB, should be identified in the Cover Letter. The RFP language has been amended to reflect this requirement.

Also, see response to question 169.

Section L; L.9 Proposal Organization and Content

Would CMS be willing to consider a two week extension to the due date?

See response to question #2.

Section L; IX.

Small Business Subcontracting Plan

Does CMS require small business offerors to complete a Small Business Subcontracting Plan as provided in J.10?

See FAR 19.702 for statutory requirements regarding subcontracting plans and applicable exceptions.

Section M;

General Procedures

Does CMS anticipate that there will be small business aside task orders under the

RMADA 2 IDIQ?

CMS has reserved two contract awards for small business concerns; this is at the umbrella level. There is no set aside task order competitions as all eligible RMADA 2 umbrella contract holders will be invited to submit on task order competitions during the life of the umbrella.

Attachment J.3, Consent to Subcontract

The RFP states: "Does the subcontractor have an approved purchasing system?"

Please confirm whether subcontractors must provide documentation of an approved purchasing system.

To be eligible for a cost reimbursement type subcontract, a subcontract must have an approved accounting system.

Requirements for submitting documentation pertaining to accounting systems can be found in Section L.13, VII. Instructions for Submitting Accounting System Information.

G.9, Subcontract Consent

After award of a task order, will there be a maximum threshold for fixed price subcontracts and fully loaded hourly rates that will not require prior consent?

Determinations will be made at the task order level.

L.9, Proposal Organization and Content

130-131

Does CMS have requirements for font size and margins for the technical proposals?

Offerors are encouraged to use reasonable business judgment when determining font and graphic size, and margin spacing.

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L.9, Proposal Organization and Content

130-131

If CMS designates font size as Times New Roman 12 pt. font for technical proposals, may Offerors use a smaller font (e.g., Arial 10 pt.) for tables and graphics?

See response to question #24.

L.9 Proposal Organization and Content

For Volume IA, IDIQ Technical Proposal, number 4) Past Performance, is the narrative response for the Past Performance section excluded from the 60-page limit?

Past Performance submissions, including any J.5 Attachments, are excluded from the 60-page limit.

Any J.5 Past Performance Questionnaire Attachments shall be included as an appendix to Volume IA.

L.9, Proposal Organization and Content

Under Cover Page, 2) Executive Summary in the table, should the word "requirements" follow "four" in"...how the Offeror is going to address all four RMADA 2 listed in Section C...."?

Yes; this language has been amended in the RFP.

L.9, Proposal Organization and Content

For Volume IA, may the resumes be included in an appendix?

Resumes should be included in an appendix to this volume; the RFP has been amended to reflect such.

L.9, Proposal Organization and Content

Is there a page limit for resumes for the IDIQ and Sample Task Order?

Resumes are excluded from page limits. Resumes should be included in an appendix in the respective Volume submission.

L.10.D, Technical Proposal Instructions for IDIQ, Past Performance

May subcontractors submit their confidential business information directly to CMS?

Subcontractors may submit confidential business information directly to CMS. If a subcontractor confidential business information is sent in a separate e-mail, the e-mail must clearly identify the prime Offeror and must adhere to all other submission instructions (i.e.

deadlines, compatible file formats, and etcetera).

L.10.D.2, Technical Proposal Instructions for IDIQ, Past Performance

134-135

When providing CPARS information, are Offerors required to include only the: 1) contract number, 2) order number, and 3) period of performance in their responses?

All relevant, Non-RMADA Past performance information for the past three years shall be submitted in the table format provided for in Section L.10.D.2.

L.10.D.2, Technical Proposal Instructions for IDIQ, Past Performance

134-136

Is Attachment J.5, Performance Questionnaire, required for contracts that are in CPARS?

Attachment J.5, Performance Questionnaire is required for all past performance information submitted pursuant to L.10.D. for which there IS NOT a CPARS/PPIRS record.

L.10.D.2, Technical Proposal Instructions for IDIQ, Past Performance

If contracts in CPARS only require the contract number, order number, and period of performance, and the bulleted list on page 135 only applies to non-CPARS, what is the purpose of the table on page 135?

The table on page 135 is to identify all relevant non-RMADA past performance from the last 3 years. This table should include non-RMADA contracts, regardless of whether or not they

Pg. 6 of 113 are in CPARS. If the identified contracts in said table are in CPARS, no additional information is required. For any identified contract not in CPARS, offerors should submit Attachment J.5, Performance Questionnaire for those contracts only.

L.10.D.2, Technical Proposal Instructions for IDIQ, Past Performance

Non-CMS-related past performance references are limited to six for the prime Offeror and three for each significant subcontractor. Is there a limit to the total number of CMS contracts Offerors may include in past performance?

The number of total CMS contracts Offerors may include in past performance are limited to relevant Non-RMADA contracts within the last three years.

L.11.1, Technical Proposal Instructions for Sample Task Order

Please clarify the reference to "project summaries" that may be included in a separate Appendix since there is not a Past Performance section in this Task Order.

The RFP has been revised to remove reference to project summaries in this section.

L.11.1, Technical Proposal Instructions for Sample Task Order

The Technical Proposal Format lists and describes three sections: 1. Technical Approach, 2. Personnel/Skill Mix, and 3.

Management Plan, but the following paragraph references four sections. Please clarify if the paragraph should reference three sections, not four.

CMS confirms Volume IB, Technical Proposal, consist of the following three (3) sections:

Technical Approach, Personnel/Skill Mix, and Management Plan.

Section L.11.I has been amended to reflect three (3) sections are required for this volume.

L.11.1.C, Technical Proposal Instructions for Sample Task Order, Management Plan

May a detailed work plan be included in the appendix and excluded from the page count?

Only vitae/resumes are excluded for the Volume IB page limit.

L.12, Business Proposal for Sample Task Order 1

Is CMS receptive to travel in the budget for the Sample Task Order?

Travel is not included in the sample task order.

Part II— Contract Clauses Section I – Contracts Clauses, I.1

FAR 52.252-2

Clauses Incorporated By Reference

(FEB 1998);

92, 96

This section contains FAR 52.204-15, Service Reporting Requirements for Indefinite Delivery Contracts (OCT 2016) and FAR 52.222-43, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards—Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts) (AUG 2018)

Nevertheless, will the Government exempt this IDIQ from the Service Contract Labor Standards (SCLS) on the grounds that the

CMS considers this effort to be exempt from the Service Contract Act.

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Clauses Applicable To T&M/Labor Hour Orders Only, Pages 92 and 96 work contemplated is considered bona fide executive, administrative, or professional labor that is generally exempt under SCLS, and that the use of SCLS-covered labor (if at all) will be only secondary or incidental?

40 N/A N/A

The RFP suggests use of the CCW’s Virtual Data Center (VRDC) for conducting analyses. Should the Offeror budget for anticipated VRDC seat licenses for the Sample Task Order (STO), or is access to the VRDC available to RMADA contractors without additional cost in a manner similar to the IDR?

Offerors should not budget for using CCW’s VRDC.

41 N/A N/A

If the contractor is a CMS Qualified Entity (QE), can data access through this program be utilized for TO activities under this

IDQ?

If the contractor is a CMS Qualified Entity (QE), data cannot be accessed through this program be utilized for TO activities under this IDIQ.

The CMS Qualified Entity (QE) Program (also known as the Medicare Data Sharing for Performance Measurement Program) enables organizations to receive Medicare claims data under Parts A, B, and D for use in evaluating provider performance.

Organizations approved as QEs are required to use the Medicare data to produce and publicly disseminate CMS-approved reports on provider performance.

QEs are also permitted to create non-public analyses and provide or sell such analyses to authorized users. In addition, QEs may provide or sell combined data, or provide Medicare claims data alone at no cost, to certain authorized users. Under the Qualified Entity Certification Program (QECP), CMS certifies QEs to receive these data and monitors certified QEs

42 F.2 Period of Performance 39

The RFP states that Period of Performance is from July 10, 2019 through July 9, 2024.

The RFP then states that the period of performance of any funded task order shall not extend ten (10) years in totality. May we presume that the task order has a five year base period (July 10, 2019-July 9, The period of performance for live task orders will be determined on a case-by-case basis as those RFPs are solicited.

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2024) and another five year option period (July 10, 2024-July 9, 2029)?

43 B-4 and C.1.5 12 & 14

Define model participants, is this in reference to healthcare providers?

Model participants are determined based upon specific nuances of each individual model. Model participants can include healthcare providers, beneficiaries, etc. but are not limited to such.

44 C.1.5 14 On average how many model participants and beneficiaries are expected to participate per task order/demonstration?

CMS anticipates that the number will commonly vary and there is no average.

45 C.2.2 24

Are the referenced data files in this section maintained in a CMS database system or will offeror need to use their own data management system? For example:

SharePoint?

Offerors will need to use and gain access to CMS systems.

Section F, F.2 Period of Performance

The IDIQ period of performance is listed as 5 years and states that no funded task order shall exceed 10 years in totality. Can CMS please confirm that awarded task orders may have end dates past the specified IDIQ end date of July 9, 2024, potentially extending as far as July 9, 2034? If this is accurate, will the IDIQ have an optional period that covers this extended timeframe beyond 2024?

Awarded task orders could potentially have expiration dates extend as far as 2034. It is not necessary for the IDIQ to have an optional period that covers the extended timeframe for task orders.

47 Section M.2.A

Section M.2.A states: “The Government will perform a combined technical evaluation for the award of the IDIQ contract, whereby the evaluation of the Sample Task Order and the IDIQ information, when combined, will inform the Government of which offerors will receive an IDIQ award.”

Question: What is the relative weighting of the IDIQ response and Sample Task Order response into the overall technical rating of offerors?

CMS will not be weighting the IDIQ response against the sample task order response.

48 Section M.2.F

Section M.2.F states: “Business/Cost evaluation will be conducted by performing a cost realism analysis based only on the cost proposal submitted in response to the Sample Task Order.” Further, Section M.4 states “CMS will conduct a cost realism analysis in accordance with FAR 15.404- 1(d) on the cost proposal for the Sample Task Order.” FAR 15.404-1(d) defines cost realism analysis as the process for evaluating costs “… to determine whether the estimated proposed cost elements are realistic for the work to be performed.” The Sample Task Order is a

The Sample Task Order is a combination of work necessary for all phases of a model. As a result, the sample task order is not duplicative of any recently awarded or solicited task orders but rather a combination of work across multiple models and phases of model requirements.

Pg. 9 of 113 combination of two recently awarded RMADA task orders.

Question: Given that the awarded values for these tasks is publicly available information, can the Government clarify how they will perform the cost realism analysis to ensure a truly balanced competitive environment?

Sample Task Order (Attachment J.2)

If the Government’s intent with the Sample Task Order is to solicit responses to enable the proper evaluation of offeror capabilities, the scope of this task should more broadly represent the capabilities required to support the full scope of the IDIQ. As written, the sample task contains a limited set of task requirements rather than addressing all of the core capabilities sought in the RFP, including business case development; model design; application support; learning, improvement, and diffusion; and scale and close out. This lack of balance across all of the core capability areas potentially means that not all of the strengths of the offerors to support CMMI in RMADA2 are being considered.

Question: Would the Government consider adding additional core SOW capabilities in the Sample Task Order?

At this time the Government will not consider adding additional core SOW capabilities to the Sample Task Order.

50 Section M

Due to the nature and breadth of tasks envisioned on this RMADA 2.0 IDIQ, if two prime bidder’s team and bid on each other’s teams, will the Government confirm this is an acceptable and compliant approach at the IDIQ and Sample Task Order level?

This approach is acceptable at both the IDIQ and Sample Task Order level. Offerors are encouraged to keep in mind any COI that could arise from this type of arrangement.

51 General NA How many IDIQ contracts does CMS anticipate awarding?

CMS does not have an anticipated number of IDIQ awards.

Section I, Contract Clauses

52.245-1 Government Property (APR 2012). For nonprofit Contractors, will the Government add Alternate II to this clause in any resultant contract per FAR 45.107(a)(3)?

Should a nonprofit offeror request Alternate II to this clause in its proposal, CMS would consider said request.

Section G, G.9 Subcontract Consent

Will subcontractors proposed as a part of the Prime Contractor’s IDIQ Proposal be considered approved upon contract award or will the Prime be required to submit a request for consent to subcontract after award?

A consent to subcontract at the task order level is not necessary if a subcontractor has already been approved at the IDIQ level.

54 Section M 148 Section M states: "Further, after evaluation of the other factors, cost may be the deciding factor for selection, depending

This is not public information and will not be disclosed.

Pg. 10 of 113 upon whether a highly evaluated technical proposal warrants the evaluated cost differential. CMS will conduct a cost realism analysis in accordance with FAR 15.404-1(d) on the cost proposal for the Sample Task Order." Does CMS plan to use an independent government cost estimate to determine reasonable cost? If so, would the government disclose what the total IGCE price is? And who prepared the estimate?

L.10.D.2 Past Performance Instructions

Regarding the "below table" for past performance information, can the Government clarify or provide examples of what is intended for Offerors to provide in the column labeled "Other"? Is it intended to contain the remaining bulleted items not otherwise identified in their own column?

The column labeled Other is for any required or otherwise relevant, as determined by the Offeror, that does not already have a dedicated column to capture that information.

M.2.E. and M.2.H General Procedures

Evaluation Procedures E and H under Past Performance are nearly duplicative. Can the Government clarify whether Offerors should propose to E, H, or both?

The RFP has been amended;

please see revised RFP.

Attachment J.5 Past Performance Questionnaire

1-5

The Attachment J.5 does not appear to be called out or described in the body of the RFP. Can the Government clarify by what date the completed questionnaires should be returned to the CMS Contract Specialist?

The RFP has been amended;

please see revised RFP.

All components of an offeror’s proposal, including the Attachment J.5, should be submitted to CMS no later than the proposal due date/time.

M.3.D Technical Evaluation Process

The RFP says that "The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s past performance in accordance with FAR 15.305(a)(2) and CMS Clause Past Performance Evaluation Criteria." Can the Government clarify the document(s) to which "CMS Clause Past Performance Evaluation Criteria" refers to?

Does this refer to RFP Section G.6, pages 48-49? Please provide clarification.

CMS’ Clause on Past Performance Evaluation Criteria is imbedded in Section M.3.D as follows:

CMS will evaluate the Offeror’s and proposed significant subcontractor(s) past performance information (See submission for definitions of relevant and significant subcontractor), which is expected to demonstrate the likelihood that the prospective contract will be performed successfully.

The CO reserves the right to limit its review of past performance information to what he/she has been determined to be relevant.

The Offeror is advised that the Contracting Officer, using sound business judgment, may consider

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Federal contract past performance to be more relevant than State Agencies, Local Government or Commercial Customer performance assessments.

In the case of an Offeror without a record of relevant past performance, or for which information on past performance is not available, the Offeror’s Past Performance may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably.

L.9 Proposal Organization and Content

Would the Government allow for 11 x 17 pages? If so would the Government count this as 1 page or 2 pages?

Pages should be a standard letter size of 8.5 x 11 inches.

Attachment J.3 Consent to Subcontract

1-2

Is Attachment J.3 required to be submitted with the proposal? If so, what volume should the attachment be provided in? We recommend it be included in Volume III.

Other Administrative Data as the last section.

All attachments must be submitted no later than the proposal due date. Attachment J.3, Consent to Subcontract, should be submitted as part of Volume III, Other Administrative Data.

H.4 CMS

Information Security, In the CMS Security section there is a link to the CMS Information Security pdf document. Under the Security Section 1.1.3 on page 26 of the pdf, there is a Master Key Management List listed as a deliverable due within 45 days of award of the contract.

Can the Government clarify what is required for the Master Key Management List deliverable?

Offerors need to abide by FIPS 201-2, which is a mechanism to recover and not an actual master encryption key. It is guidance provided by NIST.

L.10.C.c Technical Proposal Instructions for IDIQ (Volume

IA),

Management Plan

"Based on your organization’s understanding of Section C of the RFP, what are the outcomes that CMS is looking to achieve at a global level under this RMADA 2." Please clarify if there are unstated outcomes not addressed by the four strategic goals for CMS.

As stated in the RFP, it is the Offeror’s responsibility to demonstrate in the proposal their understanding of what outcomes CMS is looking to achieve at a global level under this RMADA2.

63 Attachment J.3 1,2

Section L did not include instructions for submitting consent to subcontract information. Please confirm that J.3 should be completed by the Offeror for proposed IDIQ subcontractors.

CMS confirms that J.3 should be completed by Offerors for proposed IDIQ subcontractors only. Section L has been amended to reflect that Consent to Subcontract Submissions shall be included in Volume III, Other Administrative Data.

64 L.4 NAICS

Code and 126

We assume that NAICS 541720 delineates a size standard, but that firms with other NAICS codes are not precluded from

CMS has identified NAICS 541720 as appropriate for this

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Small Business Size Standard bidding. Please identify other acceptable NAICS codes.

procurement for purposes of determining size standards.

65 N/A N/A Can the Government provide the estimated number of awards for Small Business Set- Aside.

CMS has reserved two awards for small businesses.

66 Section L 139

To help navigate the proposal, is it permissible to include a Table of Contents, list of figures, list of tables, compliance matrix, and acronym list excluded from the page limit?

Offerors may include a Table of Contents in the Cover Letter section. The table of contents shall not exceed 2 pages in total and what, if any, information is captured in the table of contents is at the discretion of the offeror.

Also, see response to question 169.

Attachment J.5 Past Performance Questionnaire

3-5

Can CMS please make a Word version of the Past Performance Questionnaire available, so that respondents have the option of typing their responses to the questionnaire (instead of handwriting responses)?

A MS Word version of Attachment J.5 has been included.

Attachment J.5 Past Performance Questionnaire

3-5

How many Past Performance Questionnaires does CMS want each team to submit?

Attachment J.5 Past Performance Questionnaire should be submitted for each CMS Non-RMADA past performance contract within the last three years that is relevant and not available in CPARS/PPIRS.

The limit on the number of Non- CMS related past performance references is six (6) for the prime Offeror and three (3) for each significant subcontractor. For those Non-CMS related past performance references, Attachment J.5 Past Performance Questionnaire need be submitted only for those contracts not available in CPARS/PPIRS.

69 Section L

134 Does the Government expect that a significant subcontractor will perform a certain percentage of work?

CMS does not have a predetermined percentage as to what does/does not constitute a significant subcontract. A significant subcontractor is defined as a subcontractor performing major or critical aspects of the requirements relevant to the prospective contract.

70 Section L

134 Does the Government expect Prime Contractors to identify and propose significant subcontractors in their responses to the IDIQ RFP?

Primes are encouraged but not required to identify and propose significant subcontracts at the IDIQ level.

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Section L, L.13, III.

Subcontractor/ Consultant Information

The information requested contains company proprietary information. May subcontractors provide their response directly to the Government?

Subcontractors may submit confidential business information directly to CMS. If a subcontractor confidential business information is sent in a separate e-mail, the e-mail must clearly identify the prime Offeror and must adhere to all other submission instructions (i.e.

deadlines, compatible file formats, and etcetera).

72 General N/A Will there possibly be more than 2 small business awards?

CMS has reserved a minimum of two awards for small businesses.

H – Special Contract Requirements

All

Please confirm that Moderate is the highest FIPS 199 Security Categorization and corresponding FISMA controls set for which Contractors would be required to comply.

Historically, data indicates Moderate as the highest FIPS 199 Security Categorization and corresponding FISMA controls set for which Contractors would be required to comply, however future task orders could be categorized as High Impact.

H – Special Contract Requirements

All

Please confirm whether CMS requires Contractors to provision endpoints to personnel working on this project (i.e., contractor furnished equipment (CFE). If not, are Contractors required to purchase endpoints as Government furnished equipment (GFE), or does CMS have an infrastructure vendor who will provide equipment?

CMS does not anticipate providing any Government furnished equipment (GFE) pursuant to this IDIQ.

H – Special Contract Requirements

Please specify if HSPD-12 Compliant PIV Cards are required for access. If so, please confirm that the cost of the OPM Background Investigation and Card will be borne by CMS. Please also clarify whether identity proofing (presumably in-person) can be performed by the Contractor or whether our personnel must register in person.

HSPD-12 Compliant PIV Cards requirements as well as any necessary identity proofing requirements will be determined at the task order level.

RFP/ PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS

No. Section & Title Page No. Question Response

Section F.2; Period Of Performance

(IDIQ)

The period of performance of this IDIQ contract is July 10, 2019 through July 9, 2024. The period of performance of any funded task order shall not extend ten years in totality.

Q: Is this a 5-year base period plus 5-year option period?

The IDIQ will have one non-severable base period of performance consisting of five years. The IDIQ will not have any option periods.

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Attachment J.5;

Past Performance Questionnaire

1-5

Will CMS please clarify whether J.5 Past Performance Questionnaires are required (and quantity) in addition to the past performance requirements specified in Section L.10? Section L.10 does not provide instruction on the submission of Attachment J.5 Past Performance Questionnaire.

Please see response to questions: 16, 17, 32, 33, 57, and 68.

Section L.6. - Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Notice HHSAR 352.239-73;

Paragraph C

This section states “…Offerors must submit an HHS Section 508 Product Assessment Template…” Will CMS be providing a J.13 Voluntary Product Accessibility Template®?

Which volume should this be included in? Please confirm this will not count against page limit of that volume.

Any required Product Assessment Template (PATs) would be at the task order level and not required in response to this IDIQ. The RFP has been amended to reflect such. In consideration of the above, CMS will not be providing a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template and Offerors should not include one in their proposal.

Section L.10.2 - Instructions;

Paragraph 1

134-136

Recent GAO rulings that define the Offeror to include parent, subsidiaries, and affiliates, allow the use of their relevant experience as long as they are proposed to perform work under the awarded contract. CMS has consistently allowed their use in other recent RFPs.

Can the Government please confirm that the Past Performance of an Offeror's parent, subsidiary, or affiliate, which would contribute to the performance of the awarded contract, can be used as a Past Performance citation?

Past Performance of an Offeror's parent, subsidiary, or affiliate, which would contribute to the performance of the awarded contract, can be used as a Past Performance citation it if is relevant and the Offeror intends on proposing the parent/subsidiary/affiliate as a subcontractor.

Section L.10.2 – Instructions;

Paragraph 1

For Past Performance, can significant subcontractors submit their Past Performance table as a sealed package directly to CMS and provide their Prime Contractor with a sanitized version? Many companies consider such a list to be competition sensitive information which it may not wish to provide directly to the Prime Contractor. CMS has consistently allowed this approach under recent RFPs.

Subcontractors may submit confidential business information directly to CMS. If a subcontractor confidential business information is sent in a separate e-mail, the e-mail must clearly identify the prime Offeror and must adhere to all other submission instructions (i.e. deadlines, compatible file formats, and etcetera).

81 Section L.13.III. – Subcontractor 140

Please confirm that a Certificate of Current Cost or Pricing Data for Offeror and/or Subcontractors is not

CMS confirms Certificate of Current Cost or Pricing Data for Offeror and/or

Pg. 15 of 113

/Consultant Information, 6.

required for the sample Task Order as it is a competitive proposal and is not being awarded.

Subcontractors is not required for the sample Task Order as it is anticipated there will be adequate price competition and the sample task order is not being awarded.

Section L.11.I – Technical Proposal Format; Paragraph

Under the instructions for Volume IB, Technical Proposal, there are three (3) sections listed: Technical Approach, Personnel/Skill Mix, and Management Plan. The paragraph proceeding this states “The four (4) sections combined shall be no more than…”

Can you please confirm that there are only 3 sections in Volume IB, Technical Proposal?

CMS confirms Volume IB, Technical Proposal, consist of the following three (3) sections:

Technical Approach, Personnel/Skill Mix, and Management Plan.

Section L.11.I has been amended to reflect three (3) sections are required for this volume.

Section L.11 – Technical Proposal Instructions for Sample Task Order (Volume IB); B. Personnel/ Skill Mix

“The authors of the proposal must be identified.”

Does CMS have a preference for location or section where this should be documented?

See response to question 18.

Section L.9 Proposal Organization and Content; Section ‘Cover Page’

The ‘Contents’ column instructions state, “2) Executive Summary - shall include (1) why the Offeror is best suited for the RMADA 2 and (2) how the Offeror is going to address all four RMADA 2 listed in Section C of this

RFP (IDIQ SOW).”

Will CMS please clarify whether these four RMADA 2 includes:

i. Model Design: Business Case Development

ii. Technical Assistance – Application Support

iii. Design, Implement, & Evaluate

iv. Scale & Close Out

Section L.9, Cover Letter Contents amended to state “how the Offeror is going to address all four RMADA 2 requirements listed in Section C.3 of this RFP (IDIQ SOW)”.

CMS confirms that the four overarching RMADA 2 requirements include:

i. Model Design: Business

Case Development;

ii. Technical Assistance –

Application Support;

iii. Design, Implement, &

Evaluate; and

iv. Scale & Close Out.

Also, see response to question 169.

Section L.10.D – Past Performance, 2 Instructions

The instruction states “Therefore, Offerors shall not submit Past Performance information pertaining to performance completed under the existing RMADA IDIQ” since that information should be in the CPARS or PPIRS systems.

However, since subcontractors

CPARS and PPIRS captures past performance information pertaining to Prime contractors only. Subcontractor past performance is not captured in

CPARS.

Proposed significant subcontractors with RMADA task order past performance

Pg. 16 of 113 currently supporting RMADA task orders do not have access to CPARS or PPIRS, will CMS please confirm that RMADA task order past performance experience can be included in the list of past performances?

information should submit this information as required under Section L.10.D.

Section L.9 Proposal Organization and Content

129-132

We assume font and font size limitations for proposal content must be “no smaller than Times New Roman font 11-point for text and 10-point for any graphics. Please confirm the Offeror’s assumption is correct.

See response to question #24.

87 M.3.D 147

Section M.3.D states, “In case of an offeror without a record of relevant past performance, or for which information on past performance is not available, the Offeror’s Past Performance may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably.” If an offeror does not have relevant past performance information, will it be considered a weakness or deficiency?

If an offeror does not have relevant past performance information they will receive a neutral rating under this evaluation area.

Section L.10.D.2, Past Performance Instructions

Can the government confirm that the offeror is limited to 6 references as a prime contractor and 3 as a significant subcontractor? Further, would the government confirm this limitation does NOT apply to the past performance questionnaires?

The limit on the number of Non-CMS related past performance references is six

(6) for the prime Offeror and three (3) for each significant subcontractor.

See the response to questions 16, 17, 32, 33, 57, and 68 regarding the submission of Attachment J.5, Past Performance Questionnaire.

Attachment J.5 Past Performance Questionnaire

1 through 5

Will the government confirm the instruction to have past performance questionnaires returned from selected customers as OPTIONAL and ONLY for past performance references that are NOT RMADA contracts?

See the response to questions 16, 17, 32, 33, 57, and 68 regarding the submission of Attachment J.5, Past Performance Questionnaire.

Section L.9 Proposal Organization and Content

RFP states “Each page shall contain a header or footer with the Offeror’s corporate name (or initials), volume number, and page number”. Does this apply to the entire PDF file or just the narrative section and not the appendices included in the PDF?

The requirement for a header or footer with the Offeror’s corporate name (or initials), volume number, and page number applies to all pages of the proposal in its entirety.

Section G.9 Subcontract Consent

Can CMS confirm that this consent is required to be obtained for consultants as well as subcontractors?

CMS confirms Subcontract Consent is required for both proposed consultants and subcontractors.

92 L.9 Proposal Organization and 131 Based on the number of items that need to be addressed in the IDIQ statement No; page limits will not be changed.

Pg. 17 of 113

Content, 4 Volume 1A of work (four major tasks, each with multiple subtasks), would the government consider increasing the page count for this volume to 70 pages?

L.9 Proposal Organization and Content, 4 Volume 1A

Based on the number of items that need to be addressed in the IDIQ statement of work (18 major tasks, many with multiple subtasks), would the government consider increasing the page count for this volume to 50 pages?

No; page limits will not be changed.

L.10 Technical Proposal Instructions For IDIQ (Volume IA) D.2 and Attachment J.5

Please confirm that PPQAs are not required with this submission

See the response to questions 16, 17, 32, 33, 57, and 68 regarding the submission of Attachment J.5, Past Performance Questionnaire.

L.10 Technical Proposal Instructions For IDIQ (Volume IA) D.2 and Attachment J.5

134 and 135

There appears to be a conflict between what is required in the table and information required for Past Performance non-CPAR/PPIRS contracts. Please clarify if how this additional information is to be included in the Past Performance tables.

See response to question #55.

IX. Small Business Subcontracting Plan

The last sentence states "Additionally, please be aware that the Small Business Administration expects all contractors to provide documentation as to how they plan on meeting the stated goals (i.e. contacted small business counsels, etc.)" Please confirm that Small Businesses do not need to provide a Small Business Subcontracting Plan do not need to provide documentation on how they plan to meet stated goals

Subcontracting plans are not required from small business concerns pursuant to FAR 19.702(b)(1).

L.6 Electronic And Information Technology Accessibility Notice HHSAR 352.239-73

Part B states, "any Offeror responding to this solicitation must comply with established HHS EIT accessibility standards." Does this mean the offeror's proposal must be 508 compliant (and if so, which sections of the proposal must be 508 compliant)?

In accordance with CMS Section 508 Policy, https://www.cms.gov/Research- Statistics-Data-and- Systems/CMS-Information- Technology/Section508/508- Compliant-doc.html, all electronic communication and documentation created by contractors must be 508 compliant.

L.7 General Proposal Instructions For A Multiple Award IDIQ Contract And Task Orders

Are there any font size restrictions for Volumes IA and IB text? Font size restrictions for graphics?

See response to question #24.

https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/CMS-Information-Technology/Section508/508-Compliant-doc.html https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/CMS-Information-Technology/Section508/508-Compliant-doc.html https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/CMS-Information-Technology/Section508/508-Compliant-doc.html https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/CMS-Information-Technology/Section508/508-Compliant-doc.html https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/CMS-Information-Technology/Section508/508-Compliant-doc.html

Pg. 18 of 113

L.9 Proposal Organization and Content

In row 2, column 2 of the table, the Executive Summary instructions include the requirement to describe "how the Offeror is going to address all four RMADA 2 listed in Section C of this RFP". Does this refer to the four tasks in Section C?

CMS confirms Volume IB, Technical Proposal, consist of the following three (3) sections:

Technical Approach, Personnel/Skill Mix, and Management Plan.

Section L.11.I has been amended to reflect three (3) sections are required for this volume.

L.10 Technical Proposal Instructions For IDIQ (Volume IA)

Regarding the table provided in the RFP: As the CMS is requesting more past performance information than this table can accommodate, may offerors modify the table so long as CMS is receiving all of the information being requested?

See response to question #55.

L.10 Technical Proposal Instructions for IDIQ (Volume IA)

Under D (Past Performance), 2 (Instructions), fifth paragraph:

"Offerors shall not submit Past Performance information pertaining to performance completed under the existing RMADA IDIQ." If the offeror is performing work as a subcontractor to a current RMADA contractor (and is not itself an RMADA prime contractor), may the offeror include this work as part of the Past Performance?

Yes; subcontractors on the current RMADA task orders are not evaluated in CPARS/PPIRS therefore they are not precluded from submitting past performance information pertaining to their work as a subcontractor on any RMADA task orders.

L.10 Technical Proposal Instructions for IDIQ (Volume IA)

Under D (Past Performance), 2 (Instructions), ninth paragraph: "Limit the number of Non-CMS related past performance references to six (6) for the prime Offeror and three (3) for each significant subcontractor." Please clarify what is meant by "Non-CMS related." If an offeror is performing work on a CMS project as a subcontractor to another company, is this work considered "Non-CMS related" for the purposes of providing Past Performance information?

If an offeror is performing work on a CMS project as a subcontractor to another company, this work is considered CMS related. Non- CMS related includes, but is not limited to, relevant contracts or subcontracts with other federal government agencies, state agencies, local government and/or commercial firms for the same or similar services required by this solicitation.

Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award

pp. 145-146 Can CMS please provide the breakdown of the technical approach score between volumes IA and IB?

Evaluation factors and procedures are identified in Section M.

L.8 Special Instructions, Part D

The RFP states: “Offerors shall not submit Past Performance information pertaining to performance completed under the existing RMADA IDIQ.

However, Offerors should identify relevant Non-RMADA CMS Past

Offerors shall not submit Past Performance information pertaining to performance completed as the prime contractor under the existing RMADA IDIQ. However, Pg. 19 of 113

Performance information in its written proposal.” Please confirm that Past Performance information pertaining to performance under the existing RMADA IDIQ may be included in the written proposal, but should not be included in the detailed list/table of Past Performance information for which CMS provides a table shell on page 135.

Offerors should identify relevant Non-RMADA CMS Past Performance information in its written proposal.

105 L.10.D 134

In the instructions for Past Performance there are no instructions regarding Attachment J.5 Past Performance Questionnaire. Please provide instructions to Offerors about what we are required to do with Attachment J.5

See the response to questions 16, 17, 32, 33, 57, and 68.

106 L.11.I 136

The instructions have the following statement: “Detailed vitae for key personnel and project summaries may be included in separate Appendices without page limitations.” What are the project summaries that are being referred to here? These are not mentioned elsewhere in the instructions and are not covered in the table on pages 130-131.

This section of the RFP has been amended to exclude…