Attachment 3 - Question and Answers.pdf

SoliciaƟon 75N95025Q00228 QuesƟons & Answers:

1. We would like to know if this is a brand new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services. If not brand new, could you please provide the current / previous contract number?

a. This requirement is a recompete of Contract Number 75N95024C00034.

2. Base period length: SecƟon (vii) describes a “6-month base period,” but the dates listed are

9/10/2025–9/9/2026 (12 months). Please confirm the intended base period duraƟon.

a. The SoliciaƟon SecƟon (vii) is hereby amended as follows, “The Government anƟcipates award of a firm fixed-price and Ɵme and materials hybrid contract for this acquisiƟon, and the anƟcipated period of performance is for a 12-month base period, two 12-month opƟon periods as follows:”

3. Contract type by CLIN: SecƟon (v) notes a hybrid (FFP + T&M/LH). Please confirm which CLIN(s) are FFP and which are T&M/LH (base vs. opƟons).

a. NIH intends to award the acƟviƟes of Tasks 1.1 as described in the Statement of Work for the Entrepreneur in Residence acƟviƟes on a firm-fixed-price basis. NIH intends to award the acƟviƟes of Task 1.2 for Travel and OpƟonal Tasks for Conference CoordinaƟon on a T&M/LH basis. Please see the revised Price Template aƩached to the solicitaƟon for your reference.

4. Event support ODCs: SOW references up to $100k/year for event pass-throughs; should Offerors include an Event Support CLIN in pricing, and may standard indirect/overhead be applied to pass-throughs?

a. Please see the response to QuesƟon 3. Offerors should provide separate pricing for travel and separate pricing for Conference CoordinaƟon acƟviƟes. Fully burdened pricing should be proposed.

5. Travel ODC ceiling: Please confirm the annual NTE $10k travel cap and whether GSA per diem applies.

a. Please assume that there will be approximately 3 trips per period of performance.

6. Deliverables/page limits: Are there page limits for the technical volume, resumes, and past performance?

a. Technical proposals are limited to 20 pages and should include a cover page, technical approach and understanding, personnel, and past performance. Full length resumes are not required and offerors can submit bios with work history. The Business proposal should include a summary of proposed costs as well as any price jusƟficaƟons, raƟonale, and descripƟons of proposed costs. The required representaƟons and forms described in SecƟon 10 should be included in the business proposal. The Business proposal shall not exceed 30 pages. The Price Template should be submiƩed as a separate excel file.

7. SecƟon 508/EIT: Please confirm SecƟon 508 expectaƟons for materials we develop (slides/handouts/recordings) and whether HHS 352.239-73/-74 compliance statements in the technical volume are sufficient.

a. A statement in the technical proposal on the compliance with HHS 352.239-73 and HHS 352.239-74 is sufficient.

8. Key personnel: May we propose one EiR (key) plus as-needed analyst support, or do you expect >1 key advisor?

a. Only one EIR support personnel is requested.

9. We would greatly appreciate if the government could consider extending the deadline by 1 week (i.e., September 2, 2025).

a. Due to programmaƟc requirements and Ɵmelines to award this requirement NIH is not able to extend the solicitaƟon period.

10. SecƟon (viii) of the call states:

“The provision at FAR 52.252-1, SolicitaƟon Provisions Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998), applies to this acquisiƟon. This solicitaƟon incorporates one or more solicitaƟon provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the ContracƟng Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cauƟoned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submiƩed with its quotaƟon or offer. In lieu of submiƫng the full text of those provisions, the offeror may idenƟfy the provision by paragraph idenƟfier and provide the appropriate informaƟon with its quotaƟon or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitaƟon provision may be accessed electronically at these addresses: hƩps://www.acquisiƟon.gov/browse/index/far and hƩps://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/contract-policies-regulaƟons/hhsar/index.html.”

With respect to the bolded sentence above, which specific provisions include compleƟon blocks, and which blocks must be submiƩed? Please idenƟfy each by clause number and the exact paragraph or block idenƟfiers that must be completed.

We would greatly appreciate the Government specifying which blocks must be completed or confirming that the only forms, in addiƟon to the proposal and budget, that need to be completed are the following, as explicitly stated:

FAR 52.204-24 RepresentaƟon Regarding Certain TelecommunicaƟons and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (Nov 2021) FAR 52.204-26 Covered TelecommunicaƟons Equipment or Services RepresentaƟon (Oct 2020) FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and CondiƟons Required to Implement Statutes or ExecuƟve Orders Commercial Products and Commercial Services (May 2024) FAR 52.222-52 ExempƟon from ApplicaƟon of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Certain Services CerƟficaƟon (May 2014) NIH Invoice and Payment Provisions

If addiƟonal forms or specific compleƟon blocks are required, we greatly appreciate if you could please idenƟfy them and provide the corresponding instrucƟons.

a. With regard to the bold language above the forms that need to be completed and submiƩed are as follows:

i. 52.204-24 RepresentaƟon Regarding Certain TelecommunicaƟons and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment, SecƟon (d).

ii. 52.204-26 Covered TelecommunicaƟons Equipment or Services-RepresentaƟon (Oct 2020), SecƟon (c)(1)and (2).

iii. 52.222-52 ExempƟon from ApplicaƟon of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Certain Services-CerƟficaƟon, SecƟon (a).

In addiƟons to the forms that should be completed and submiƩed with the proposal, Offerors must also include a completed copy of the provision at FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror RepresentaƟons and CerƟficaƟons—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Feb 2024), with its offer. However, if the offeror has completed FAR clause 52.212-3 at www.sam.gov, then the offeror does not need to provide a completed copy with its offer.

11. Paragraph (xv) of the solicitaƟon states: “Responses to this solicitaƟon must include clear and convincing evidence of the offeror’s capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the technical evaluaƟon criteria.” We respecƞully request that the Government provide the full proposal submission specificaƟons, including whether to submit a bio or a full-length resume for the proposed EiR, the page limits and what counts toward those limits (including the cover page and any annexes or appendices), the required secƟons of the technical proposal, the formaƫng requirements (font, size, margins, and spacing), and the required file format.

a. Please refer to the response to QuesƟons 6 above.