RFP 75N91021R00030- Amendment 00001 Final.pdf

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing items 8 and 15, and returning or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1. CONTRACT ID CODE

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUISITION NUMBER 5. PROJECT NUMBER (If applicable)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

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9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

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11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended. is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

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IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER

NUMBER IN ITEM 10A.

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C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

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Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

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14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

PAGE OF PAGES

6. ISSUED BY CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (X)

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16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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Previous edition unusable

00001

Pooja Rathore, Contracting Officer

The purpose of this amendment is to: 1) provide responses to questions received, 2) update Additional Technical Proposal Instructions and 3) update Additional Business Proposal Instructions.

National Cancer Institute Office of Acquisitions NCI Shady Grove 9606 Medical Center Drive, MSC 9705 Rockville, MD 20850-9705

To All Potential Offerors 75N91021R00030

1 8

08/24/2021

08/09/2021

Pooja Rathore -S Date: 2021.08.24 07:29:15 -04'00'

8/24/2021

RFP Number 75N91021R00030 Amendment 00001

RFP Number: 75N91021R00030

Questions and Answers

A. Technical Questions:

i. Is this a new requirement? If so, are all the positions filled; how many? Are the incumbent staff meeting the requirements of the PWS?

NCI Response: This is not a new requirement. The NCI cannot disclose information related to incumbent’s performance.

ii. Where are the current incumbent’s staff located?

NCI Response: As per the requirements of the Statement of Work (SOW), incumbent staff performs the activities of the contract on-site at NCI and off-site at Incumbent’s offices.

iii. Is telework/remote work allowable? Could that be considered “off-site”

NCI Response: In accordance with the SOW, the contract requires contractor personnel to work onsite at NCI. Due to the pandemic, the work has been performed remotely since maximum telework has been required. However, once the normal operations resume, there will be space available on-site at NCI for up to 8 contractor personnel (See IV.L.2.c.12.1). The proposal should reflect the contractor’s assessment of on-site staffing needs and how the Government’s requirements as outlined in the SOW and the RFP will be met.

iv. SOW mentions and off-site facility, are the remainder of the staff expected to work at that site?

NCI Response: Off-site facility means contractor’s facility. The number of staff working off-site is dependent on the offeror’s proposed approach. Please refer to Additional Business Proposal Instructions (IV. L.2.c.12.) in the solicitation for additional assumptions.

v. Is the agency happy with current incumbent staff?

NCI Response: The NCI cannot disclose information related to incumbent’s performance.

vi. What are the labor categories/job titles for non-key personnel?

NCI response: The offerors need to determine the categories/titles for non-key personnel on the basis of their own technical approach and understanding of the

SOW.

vii. What is the current contract number?

NCI response: HHSN261201700007C

viii. What is the definition of a professional and non-professional personnel?

NCI Response: There are many definitions of professional and nonprofessional personnel and the Government does not have a definition that is utilized as a standard. If a labor category requires a bachelor’s, master’s degree or Ph.D. it is generally considered professional personnel. If the labor category requires a special certification it is generally considered professional personnel. In contrast, if the labor category does not require any specialized knowledge, previous training or certification but can be taught on the job, then it might be considered nonprofessional personnel. The Offerors should use their best judgement.

ix. Can you clarify the requirement of the PM to be published? What is an example of a “relevant publication?”

NCI Response: There is no requirement for the PM to be published, however, if the PM has publications that are relevant to the scope of the requirement, the inclusion of such publications in the Resume is encouraged.

x. On page 25 of the RFP, under Article H.10.1, Information Security and/or Physical Access Security, we are instructed to email FISMA at this fisma@hhs.gov or to contact the CO/COR to “Obtain the HHS Information Security requirements outlined in the HHS Information Security and Privacy Policy (IS2P).” Can you please provide the same as soon as possible?

Will the government please provide the HHS Information Security and Privacy Policy (IS2P) to all offerors with the responses to questions to enable timely responses to the solicitation?

NCI Response: The Applicable HHS IT Security requirements are included in Sections C, H, and L of the solicitation. If the offeror needs to review HHS IS2P to assist in proposal preparation, they are advised to contract the Primary and Secondary POC for the solicitation who are listed in beta.sam.gov.

xi. What percentage does price play into the evaluation criteria?

NCI Response: The proposals will be evaluated in accordance with Section M of the solicitation. There is no specific percentage assigned to price in the Section M of the solicitation.

xii. Technical Evaluation Factors, Staff Capabilities and Personnel Qualifications, Page

92. “ I. Project Manager, II. Assistant Project Managers, III. Technical Personnel, IV.

All Other Personnel” Question: There are inconsistencies with the titles of the roles throughout the proposal (on pages 73 and 92). Should we use the titles/categories provided on page 92 of the RFP?

NCI Response: Please use the titles/categories provided on Page 92 of the RFP.

B. Administrative and Business Questions:

i. Please clarify if the Past Performance instructions indicate to provide a total of 3 or 6 Past Performances. (Past Performance Instructions page 63 of the RFP)

NCI Response: 6 contracts; 3 past contracts, 3 current contracts.

ii. Can subcontractors PP be used as part of the proposal?

NCI Response: The NCI interprets “PP” in the question to mean Past Performance. Please refer to IV.L.2.a.13. (Pg. 63 of the RFP) for instructions.

The subcontractors PP cannot be submitted in lieu of Prime’s Past Performance, however, in accordance with the aforementioned section of the RFP it, “may also be included if the subcontractor will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement…”

iii. What is the submission due date for RFP 75N91021R00030?

NCI Response: As indicated on the face page of the RFP and in beta.sam.gov the proposals are due 2 PM EDT on September 8, 2021.

iv. May the "Information Security" section be excluded from the page limitations?

NCI Response: No, it needs to be included in the page limitations, and if additional technical documentation is needed, please include it in an appendix.

v. May the Product Assessment Template (PAT) be excluded from the page limitations?

NCI Response: The VPAT is not counted in page limit. Please include it as a separate section in the Technical Proposal.

vi. Additional Technical Proposal Instructions, Section 1, Pages 75-76. “The offerors shall use the following template as the Table of Contents for the Technical Proposal. All information presented in the Technical Proposal should be presented in the order specified below… PROPOSAL SUMMARY AND DATA RECORD (NIH-2043)”. However, on page 49 within the Business Proposal Attachments section, the form NIH-2043 is listed as a “Business Proposal Attachment”. Question: Please clarify whether the NIH-2043 should be included in the Technical Proposal, Business Proposal, or both?

NCI Response: Please include NIH 2043 in the Business Proposal only.

vii. Instructions to Offerors, Authorized Official and Submission of Proposal Question, Page 59. “Proposals will be typewritten, paginated, reproduced on letter size paper, printed/copied double-sided, on at least 30 percent post consumer fiber paper, as required by FAR 4.302(b), and will be legible in all required copies.” Question: Please confirm that proposals are to be submitted electronically only, through e-CPS?

NCI Response: The proposals shall be submitted electronically only, through eCPS, in accordance with Attachment 1 included in Section J of the solicitation.

viii. Additional Business Proposal Instructions, 8. Estimated Level of Effort (LOE) for Base and Term Options, Pages 89-90. “The Government provides the following estimated LOE for the base of 12 months and four 12- month option periods and five options for increased quantities, one in each period...”

Question: The required level of effort represents an increase in labor hours from the last procurement for these services. Does NCI anticipate that the contractor support requirements will increase in the new contract?

NCI Response: The level-of-effort is the Government’s estimate based on the Statement of Work.

ix. What is the historical level of effort on this engagement?

NCI Response: Please see the Additional Business Proposal Instructions (IV.

L.2.c.12.) and General Information (IV.L.1.e.) for information about the level of effort assumptions.

x. Are the any ODCs on this contract? If so, what ODCs are required as per pay 1;

materials?

NCI response: As stated in the solicitation, NCI plans to award a cost reimbursement level-of-effort contract and offerors can propose allocable, allowable and reasonable costs based on their Technical Approach.

C. Updates to the Solicitation:

i. Section IV.L.2.b.5. (Pg. 76 of the RFP) Additional Technical Proposal instructions, Section 1 is deleted and updated as follows:

Deleted:

a. PROPOSAL TITLE PAGE. Include RFP title and number for which you are submitting a proposal, name of organization, DUNS number, and proposal part. Offerors that include in their proposals data that they do not want disclosed to the public for any purpose, or used by the Government except for evaluation purposes, shall also include the legend regarding Restriction on Disclosure and Use of Data prescribed by FAR 52.215-1 (e)]

b. GOVERNMENT NOTICE FOR HANDLING PROPOSALS

c. PROPOSAL SUMMARY AND DATA RECORD (NIH-2043)

d. TABLE OF CONTENTS

Updated:

a. PROPOSAL TITLE PAGE. Include RFP title and number for which you are submitting a proposal, name of organization, DUNS number, and proposal part. Offerors that include in their proposals data that they do not want disclosed to the public for any purpose, or used by the Government except for evaluation purposes, shall also include the legend regarding Restriction on Disclosure and Use of Data prescribed by FAR 52.215-1 (e)]

b. GOVERNMENT NOTICE FOR HANDLING PROPOSALS

c. TABLE OF CONTENTS

ii. Section IV.L.2.c.12. Additional Business Proposal instructions, paragraph 8. is deleted and updated as follows:

Deleted:

8. Estimated Level of Effort (LOE) for Base and Term Options

The Government provides the following estimated LOE for the base of 12 months and four 12-month option periods and five options for increased quantities, one in each period. The Government estimates that the Contractor will need to provide not less than 90% nor more than 110% of the total direct labor hours noted for each period. Negotiated fixed fee will be reduced in the event the actual hours worked are less than 90% of the negotiated hours included in the award. No additional fee will be paid for hours provided in excess of 100% up to 110% of the hours negotiated and included in the award.

Yearly Labor Hours

Professional 5640

Other Professional

31,960

Support 1880

Total 39,480

Updated:

8. Estimated Level of Effort (LOE) for Base and Term Options

The Government provides the following estimated LOE for the base of 12 months and each four 12-month option periods. The Government estimates that the Contractor will need to provide not less than 90% nor more than 110% of the total direct labor hours noted for each period. Negotiated fixed fee will be reduced in the event the actual hours worked are less than 90% of the negotiated hours included in the award. No additional fee will be paid for hours provided in excess of 100% up to 110% of the hours negotiated and included in the award.

Yearly Labor Hours

Professional 5640

Other Professional 31,960

Support 1880

Total 39,480