Amendment3_Attachment2_HOPSS - Industry Day Q and A.pdf

No. Questions

Note: Questions 1-16 were pre-submitted questions that were answered during the event.

Responses

1 When will the solicitation be released? The NIDA is still in the process of finalizing the acquisition package and will release the solicitation once all details have been finalized and approvals have been obtained. We estimate spring 2025; however, interested parties should monitor SAM.gov.

2 Contract Structure: Are you anticipating multiple awards under this solicitation, potentially splitting between the two Task Areas (1: STEM Services and 2: Business and Operational Services)?

Task Areas 1 and 2 are interconnected – both require background in STEM, with specialization of supporting health and human services. Task orders may frequently include a mix of labor from both task areas. For example, a TO for “MRI Technologist services to support advanced neuroimaging analysis techniques” may require four (4) positions from Task Area 1 and one (1) position from Task Area 2.

3 Selective Task Bidding: Would it be permissible for our company to submit a response focusing solely on Task Area 2 (Business and Operational Services), or are prospective contractors expected to bid on both task areas?

For responses to the Small Business Sources Sought Notice, capability statements should contain the interested parties’ best documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements;

Contractor Team Arrangements involving small businesses are encouraged - with the goal of the entire team being capable of competing for task orders under the entire Statement of Work.

4 Employee Experience Leverage: In the capability statement, would it be acceptable to highlight the previous relevant experience of our employees on similar federal contracts, even if that experience was gained before their employment with our company? This could provide a fuller picture of our team’s expertise. Can we leverage our employees' experience to meet the company's required experience?

For responses to the Small Business Sources Sought Notice, capability statements should contain the interested parties’ best documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements.

5 Performance Standards: Could you clarify any specific performance metrics or quality standards that contractors are expected to meet under each task area?

Any applicable performance and/or quality standards will be specified in the solicitation.

6 Future Participation and Teaming: For companies unable to meet the entire SOW independently, are teaming arrangements encouraged, and are there guidelines or expectations for such collaborations?

Yes, Contractor Team Arrangements, particularly ones involving small business, are encouraged. See FAR Subpart 9.6 and FAR Part 19.

Amendment 3 - Attachment 2 HOPSS Market Research Industry Day Q&A

7 Would the Government please confirm if HOPSS is replacing SOAR? If so, is the Government expecting to retain the same contract ceiling of $3.6 billion?

Yes, HOPSS is the follow-on requirement of the SOAR contract. Since HOPSS will be HHS-wide, the maximum contract value is anticipated to be higher than the SOAR contract value of $3.6B.

8 How many awards is the Government anticipating on granting on the future HOPSS contract? For HOPSS, the Government anticipates an increase in awardees from the current five (5) SOAR contracts; however, the final number will be based on the results of the competition and is undetermined at this time.

9 Is the Government considering making HOPSS a small business set-aside? The Government cannot provide a response to this question at this time, as NIDA is still conducting market research to determine the most appropriate way to maximize small business participation.

10 Would the Government provide task order examples and/or more details on the nature of historical task order areas?

Paragraph six (6) of the Special Notice Attachment 1: Contract Scope includes task order examples.

Historical task areas included scientific, operations, administrative services necessary to conduct the business and fulfill the mission of NIH’s biomedical research program.

11 I am trying to write the capability statement, and it said to "address each of the project requirements separately", where can I find these project requirements?

Please refer to the Special Notice Industry Day Attachment 1: Contract Scope for the project requirements.

12 Are there specific ISO certifications that HHS would consider as limiting risk and/or increasing success?

Any applicable ISO certifications will be specified in the solicitation.

13 In preparing our response we need either details on the scope, complexity, and volume of tasks or an estimate to the level of required support.

Under SOAR, the incumbent contract program, there are ~450 new task orders awarded per year.

However, in the first year, there were over 2,100 new orders as we transition from the predecessor contract. The SOAR contract maximum value is $3.6B. Services are generally technically complex, mission critical services.

14 Frequently, the government requests fewer years of support than needed to match the desired level of expertise. For example, on one of our acquisition efforts the government identified a bachelor’s +6 years of experience as a senior level acquisition specialist. We found that if this level of expertise was insufficient to bring on senior level team members, but as a result our competitors underbid us significantly.

HOPSS anticipates establishing minimum qualifications for labor categories requirements, and ceiling labor rates, with the base IDIQ contract. Additional qualification requirements may be established at the task order level, when necessary, to address more specific needs for each requirement.

15 Are there any incumbents? If so, [what are the] contract details? Yes, there are 5 current contract holders.

22nd Century (75N95021D00019) Axle Informatics (75N95021D00010) GAP Solutions (75N95021D00011) Guidehouse Digital (75N95021D00013) Kelly Services (75N95021D00012)

16 Will NIH consider a phased approach to the selection process? Suggested phases: Phase 1:

Past Performance Phase 2: tech and price

Yes, NIH is considering the feasibility and appropriateness of a phased evaluation process; however, the evaluation process is still being developed and all information will be finalized in the solicitation.

17 Can a company still provide an RFI response if they did not survey for the industry day The Small Business Sources Sought Notice and Industry Day Special Notices are independent, so participation in one is not dependent on participation in the other.

18 [W]ill the slide deck and recording be shared with attendees after the meeting? The PowerPoint Presentation has been posted as an Attachment to the HOPSS Market Research Industry Day posting on sam.gov (Please see Amendment 2 - Attachment 2). The recording may potentially be posted at a later date.

19 For teaming purposes, can you release a list of attendees? We will not be posting the names of the attendees of the Market Research Industry Day event. However, we will be posting the HOPSS Small Business Interested Vendor List, based on responses to the Small Business Interested Vendor List survey available at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J2WV76Z.

Based on industry feedback, we plan to release this list in December 2024, as well as at later date(s) and time(s) to be determined. Additionally, we encourage you to visit the HHS Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization's (OSDBU) Small Business Customer Experience (SBCX). They have recently launched a teaming partner portal in the SBCX system to potentially locate and connect businesses that align in the same areas.

20 Will you please open the chat? This allows for teaming opportunities. The general chat was not opened during the HOPSS Market Research Industry Day event. Please also see the response to Question No. 19.

21 Should a company that can only do part of this work respond to the sources sought? For responses to the Small Business Sources Sought Notice, capability statements should contain the interested parties’ best documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements;

Contractor Team Arrangements involving small businesses are encouraged - with the goal of the entire team being capable of competing for task orders under the entire Statement of Work.

22 Is it mandatory to have a Government-approved accounting system[?] It is anticipated that offerors will have an accounting system that has been audited and determined adequate for determining costs applicable to this contract in accordance with FAR 16.301-3(a)(1);

however, the evaluation criteria is still being developed and all information will be finalized in the solicitation.

23 The survey seem to have the wrong NAICS code. It states 540690; it likely should be 541690. Yes, the correct NAICS code is 541690. This was a typo in the survey.

24 Are incumbents eligible to bid on this [?] Yes.

25 Are there any pain points with incumbents [?] This question is not relevant to the Market Research Industry Day event.

26 Do you need Cost Accounting System in place before bidding on the IDIQ? Please see the response to Question No. 22.

27 Please clarify what you mean when you said that tasks will be competed under a selected pool of contract holders. Do you mean all of the HOPSS awardees or a limited number of HOPSS awardees? If limited, how will you decide which contract holders to include?

The statement was intended to mean we would have a select pool of contract holders; however, NIDA is still conducting market research to determine the most appropriate way to maximize small business participation.

28 With an anticipated contract award in spring/summer 2026, when do you expect the RFP to be released?

The NIDA is still in the process of finalizing the acquisition package and will release the solicitation once all details have been finalized and approvals have been obtained. We estimate spring 2025; however, interested parties are responsible for monitoring SAM.gov.

29 Who are the SOAR incumbents? Please see the response to Question No. 15.

30 What is this SS Solicitation? We currently have a Small Business Sources Sought posting that is active on SAM.gov. The solicitation has not been released yet. Please also see the response to Question No. 31.

31 Can you please send the link to the SAM notice? We currently have two (2) notices posted on SAM.gov.

Notice ID: 75N95025R00017_ SB_SOURCES_SOUGHT https://sam.gov/opp/59611b58d0b447dead3838a3408e520f/view Notice ID: 75N95025R00017_INDUSTRY_DAY https://sam.gov/opp/f27de3325afb481495730fb51d8bda3f/view

32 I thought the response date from extended from November 26, 2024 to December 2, 2024, 1:00 PM ET. Is this correct?

The response date for the Small Business Sources Sought has now been extended to 12/9/24 at 1:00

PM ET.

33 Once the contract is awarded...If there are 2 or more HUBZone, WOSB's, 8a etc. Can a task order be set aside?

NIDA is still conducting market research to determine the most appropriate way to maximize small business participation.

34 Could you please the website where we can find partners? you have mentioned about the one? The current incumbents all have public websites. Please also see the response to Questions Nos. 15 and 19.

35 Are responses due on Nov. 26th or Dec. 1st? Please see the response to Question No. 32.

https://sam.gov/opp/a1a98cee9bae49ad9b22a604291738a3/view%20for%20the%20industry%20Day https://sam.gov/opp/a1a98cee9bae49ad9b22a604291738a3/view%20for%20the%20industry%20Day https://sam.gov/opp/a1a98cee9bae49ad9b22a604291738a3/view%20for%20the%20industry%20Day https://sam.gov/opp/a1a98cee9bae49ad9b22a604291738a3/view%20for%20the%20industry%20Day https://sam.gov/opp/a1a98cee9bae49ad9b22a604291738a3/view%20for%20the%20industry%20Day https://sam.gov/opp/a1a98cee9bae49ad9b22a604291738a3/view%20for%20the%20industry%20Day https://sam.gov/opp/a1a98cee9bae49ad9b22a604291738a3/view%20for%20the%20industry%20Day

36 In the survey the NAICS code is listed as 540690. I am guessing it is supposed to be 541690 with the same size standard.

Yes, please see the response to Question No. 23.

37 Would you consider allowing vendors to bid exclusively on either Task Area 1 or Task Area 2 Please see the response to Question Nos. 2 and 3.

38 Please repeat the SOAR awardees. Please see the response to Question No. 15.

39 Would you please list the Incumbent companies on the current SOAR contract here? Please see the response to Question No. 15.

40 Are the number of awardees would be a similar makeup a SOAR (i.e. 4 LB and 1 SB)? We anticipate more than five (5) awardees. The goal is to have a reasonable number of awardees to allow for competition without being overly burdensome; however the final number will be based on the results of the competition and is undetermined at this time.

41 Could you please list the current vendors Stephen listed on the SOAR contract? Thanks Please see the response to Question No. 15.

42 Could you please provide the name of the current contract holders that Stephen just mentioned? Please see the response to Question No. 15.

43 Where will this SAM special notice link be posted? Please see the response to Question No. 31.

44 Could you please share the Sources Sought Notice ID that was referenced earlier? 75N95025R00017_SB_SOURCES_SOUGHT. Please see the response to Question No. 31.

45 Will the slides be shared? Please see the response to Question No. 18.

46 I'm sorry if I missed Stephen answering this already, but must all offerors be able to support both task areas, or can you submit for only one?

Please also see the response to Question Nos. 2 and 3.

47 Am I right in thinking that the response date has been extended from November 26, 2024 to December 2, 2024, 1:00 PM ET?

Yes. Please see the response to Question No. 32.

48 Will a list of interested vendor be posted for teaming? Yes. Please see the response to Question No. 19.

49 Will the government allow past performance references to be current or up to 5 years? For responses to the Small Business Sources Sought Notice Survey, we have requested experience within the last three (3) years. However, capability statement narratives should contain the interested parties’ best documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements.

50 Can we get a copy of this recording Please see the response to Question No 18.

51 Will the STARS application be used for HOPSS? NIDA is still in the process of developing its task ordering requirements and conducting market research on potential ordering applications.

52 If there is a small business only track, will small businesses be eligible to bid on all task orders or just the small business set asides NIDA is still conducting market research to determine the most appropriate way to maximize small business participation.

53 Since this is a wide scope, can you provide a breakdown of the type of tasks awarded under

SOAR?

Paragraph six (6) of the Special Notice Attachment 1: Contract Scope includes task order examples.

Historical task areas included scientific, operations, administrative services necessary to conduct the business and fulfill the mission of NIH’s biomedical research program.

54 Can we get a presentation of slide? Please see the response to Question No. 18.

55 What is a reasonable number of awards and are there any specific number of awards reserved for small businesses?

Please see the response to Question No. 40.

56 Will this be 100% set aside for small business or a mix of unrestricted and SBs. NIDA is still conducting market research to determine the most appropriate way to maximize small business participation. The Small Business Sources Sought Notice will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.

57 Will there be SDVO 8a WOSB HUBZone ISBEE (Native American owned) set asides? NIDA is still conducting market research to determine the most appropriate way to maximize small business and/or native-owned participation.

58 How many total anticipated awards? Please see the response to Question No. 40.

59 Please comment on NIAID PSTSS IDIQ which has similar categories? There is a lot of overlap NIAID's PSTSS contract is a separate requirement from the HOPSS contract program.

60 Thank you for putting on these events. Will any of the task orders be set aside for 8a businesses? NIDA is still conducting market research to determine the most appropriate way to maximize small business participation.

61 Will you be sharing the recording of this event? Please see the response to Question No. 18.

62 When is the SSN due? SAM has December yet Arielle mentioned the original date of 11/26 Please see the response to Question No. 32.

63 Can companies submit as Mentor Protege Joint Ventures? Yes.

64 If the STARS application is expected to be used, wouldn't the application extremely reduce the burdensome administrative aspect of the contract and thus enable a much larger amount of vendors to be awarded contracts?

Please see the response to Question 51.

65 What is the limit on the teaming partnership for each company? Please see the response to Question 6.

66 Must the contractor have HHS experience? Or can they use DoD, DHA, NASA experience For responses to the Small Business Sources Sought Notice, capability statement narratives should contain the interested parties’ best documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements.

67 What has historically been the small business requirement for large business primes on SOAR?

And will these be increased on HOPSS full and open awards?

Small Business Subcontracting Plans are negotiated with each acquisition and with each offeror.

Historically, NIDA uses the HHS small business goals as the minimum requirements. However, the evaluation criteria is still being developed for HOPSS and all information will be finalized and released in the solicitation.

68 If HOPSS is not small-business set-aside, will Task Orders under the Simplified Acquisitions Threshold be set-aside for small businesses? If so, what is the Simplified Acquisitions Threshold amount that will be used?

NIDA is still conducting market research to determine the most appropriate way to maximize small business participation.

69 Can you share again where to find the project requirements Please refer to the Special Notice Industry Day Attachment 1: Contract Scope for the project requirements. Please see the response to Question No. 31 as well.

70 Do we need teaming agreements in place with our partners for the RFI submission? Are we allowed to add subcontractor partners to our team between the RFI and RFP?

For responses to the Small Business Sources Sought Notice, capability statements should contain the interested parties’ best documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements;

Contractor Team Arrangements involving small businesses are encouraged - with the goal of the entire team being capable of competing for task orders under the entire Statement of Work.

71 Will there be any research and evaluation requirements or tasks for this opportunity? This requirement is for Professional Services. All requirements will be contained in the solicitation.

72 Will there be a draft RFP? Or just a final RFP? The Government cannot provide a response to this question at this time, as NIDA is still in the acquisition planning process. Please monitor SAM.gov.

73 Are responses due on Dec 2nd or Nov 26th? Please see the response to Question No. 32.

74 Can the government clarify the due date for the SS? Is it Dec 2nd or Nov 26th? Thank you Please see the response to Question No. 32.

75 Can we get a chance to have one-one discussion with Contracting officer or Point of contact regarding this event

Not at this time.

76 Anita Allen's email address one more time please Anita.Allen1@cms.hhs.gov 77 Will the slide be made available? Please see the response to Question No. 18.

78 Will the recording be made available? Please see the response to Question No. 18.

79 in which agency will the program office reside? It is anticipated that the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), within the National Institutes of Health

(NIH), will serve as the program office for the parent contract, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The program office for task orders will vary depending on the requirement, since this contract program will provide services HHS-wide.

80 who is the sponsor for HOPSS? Please see the response to Question No. 79.

mailto:Anita.Allen1@cms.hhs.gov

81 Could you please share any insights on whether NIDA is seeking to implement advanced technological solutions like AI language models and virtual environments in its programs?

The Government cannot provide a response to this question at this time, as NIDA is still in the acquisition planning process.

82 Can you please share the 2 survey links? I filled one just now, but never filled a survey regarding our capabilities.

Please see the response to Question No. 31.

83 Could both those survey links be shared post this webinar? Many thanks. Please see the response to Question No. 31.

84 Could you please confirm if a small business plan will be required for this opportunity, and whether there will be strong incentives for small business subcontracting if the contract is awarded as full and open?

NIDA is still conducting market research to determine the most appropriate way to maximize small business participation. Please also see the response to Question No. 67.

85 Would it be possible to provide the interested vendors list on an ongoing basis instead of waiting until the solicitation is released?

Please see the response to Question No. 19.

86 Is this contract only for services or will it also be relevant for technology? This contract program is for labor-based professional services, though technology may be required to perform some services.

87 Can the Government release a copy of the recorded industry day meeting or a transcript? Please see the response to Question No. 18.

88 Can you please tell me if there is an incumbent? If so, contract details? Please see the response to Question No. 15.

89 Can we partner with a medium business? Yes, the FAR allows small businesses to subcontract, in accordance with the requirements of FAR 19.

Responses to the Small Business Sources Sought Notice are being accepted from small business organizations, including Contractor Team Arrangements, that meet the small business requirements for NAICS code 541690 - Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services.

90 How much work has to be performed by the prime contractor? Please refer to FAR Part 19 for small business requirements.

91 I was wondering if you could share the link for the SAM.gov posting that this information will be on from the webinar yesterday.

Please see the response to Question No. 31.

92 I have been looking into the upcoming HOPSS opportunity (75N95025R00017_SB_SOURCES_SOUGHT) and wanted to confirm that the effort is anticipated to be structured as a multiple Award IDIQ under NAICS NAICS 541690 with an award likely in June 2026. Does this remain accurate?

Yes, those are the current expectations.

93 Will you announce industry day participants for Solicitation Number #75N95025R00017INDUSTRYDAY – HOPSS, please?

Please see the response to Question No. 19.

94 Will small business vendors be allowed to sub to a large business team on their bid? If offerors that are submitting as small were also allowed to subcontract to one large business on their bid, this would allow small businesses who win a seat on the IDIQ the ability to perform on the large business task orders that don’t get set aside for small business. If a small business offeror cannot sub to a large business on their proposal, then the small businesses are potentially being penalized for pursuing the contract on their own.

We recommend that small business offerors be allowed to sub to one (1) large business team on their bid.

Yes, the FAR allows small businesses to subcontract to other-than-small businesses, in accordance with the requirements of FAR 19. Please also see the responses to Questions Nos. 9 and 89.

95 If a small business offeror is proficient in task area 2, but does not have past performance in task area 1, can the offeror use the past performance of a subcontractor in the proposal? Many small businesses either specialize in STEM services or Business and operational services, not both.

Allowing a prime offeror that specializes in one to submit a bid using a subcontractor’s past performance to cover the other task area will give many more small businesses a chance. It would also lower operational costs for small businesses by not requiring them to form a JV to pursue the contract.

Yes, capability statements may include information based on the experience and past performance of the organization's contractor teaming arrangements. See FAR Subpart 9.6 and FAR Part 19.

96 How many IDIQ awards does NIH plan on making? Please see the response to Question No. 40.

97 When will the list of interested small business vendors be publicly released? Yes. Please see the response to Question No. 19.

98 Besides the NIH NIDA SOAR IDIQ, which other HHS vehicles will be rolled into the HOPSS IDIQ? This contract program will provide professional services HHS-wide.

99 When will NIDA know the acquisition strategy/competition type? The NIDA is still in the process of finalizing the acquisition package and will release the solicitation once all details have been finalized and approvals have been obtained. We estimate spring 2025; however, interested parties should monitor SAM.gov.

100 Will the Sources Sought process result in the Government limiting the number of small businesses eligible to bid on the HOPSS contract through a down-selection (two-step) process?

The purpose of the Small Business Sources Sought Notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses;

HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses;

veteran-owned small businesses; women-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.

101 Will there be more than one small business awardee under the HOPSS contract? If so, can the estimate the number of awards to small businesses that would not be overly burdensome?

NIDA is still conducting market research to determine the most appropriate way to maximize small business participation.

102 Will small business awardees be bidding on task orders against large business awardees? The Government cannot provide a response to this question at this time, as NIDA is still conducting market research to determine the most appropriate way to maximize small business participation.

103 Given that the HOPSS contract is a multiple-award IDIQ with both large and small businesses, would the Government consider an acquisition strategy that includes a separate small business pool or task order set-asides? This approach, proven successful on contracts like Alliant II, would ensure equitable opportunities for small businesses, particularly in areas aligned with their capabilities, while helping the Government meet its small business participation goals.

The Government is considering multiple strategies for the most appropriate way to maximize small business participation while meeting programmatic needs.

104 Does the Government plan to designate specific task orders exclusively for small businesses under the HOPSS contract?

NIDA is still in the acquisition planning process and is conducting market research to determine the most appropriate way to maximize small business participation.

105 We recognize that the Sources Sought designates NAICS Code 541690 as the primary NAICS Code. However, its narrow scope does not fully reflect other NAICS Codes relevant to the HOPSS SOW requirements. This may exclude small businesses with significant experience and past performance in areas like NAICS Code 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services), which aligns closely with HOPSS SOW Task 2 (e.g., program management services). Would the Government consider allowing relevant experience and past performance from other NAICS Codes within the 5416 Industry Group (Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services)?

Yes, NIH is considering the parameters for how to best obtain offerors' relevant past performance and organizational experience; however, the evaluation process is still being developed and all information will be finalized and released in the solicitation.

106 Several questions in Amendment 1, Attachment 2 (Capability Survey Questions), limit responses to experience "within the last three (3) years" (e.g., Q9, Q11, Q17, Q18, and Q26). For small businesses, this restriction may not provide a complete picture of their capabilities. Would the Government consider expanding the timeframe to include relevant experience within the last five (5) years instead?

For responses to the Small Business Sources Sought Notice Survey, we have requested experience within the last three (3) years. However, capability statement narratives should contain the interested parties’ best documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements.

107 For small businesses proposing as part of a teaming arrangement or joint venture, will the Government evaluate the collective capabilities of the team, or require each entity to independently demonstrate the ability to meet all SOW requirements?

Please see response to Questions Nos. 3 and 6.

108 Will the Government evaluate small business proposals separately from large business proposals, or will both be evaluated under the same criteria?

NIDA is still in the acquisition planning process and is conducting market research to determined the most appropriate way to maximize small business participation. All information will be finalized and released in the solicitation.

109 Does the Government have a minimum threshold for the number of employees or resources required to perform the HOPSS SOW, or is this left to the respondent’s discretion based on their proposed approach?

The Government cannot provide a response to this question at this time, as NIDA is still in the acquisition planning process and the evaluation process is still being developed. All information will be finalized and released in the solicitation.

110 To enable the Government to thoroughly evaluate the capability of an Offeror to perform on this complex scope of work, would the Government consider requiring past performance from Offerors that has a minimum headcount or a minimum total obligated value?

Yes, NIH is considering the feasibility and appropriateness of minimum standards for past performance;

however, the evaluation process is still being developed and all information will be finalized and released in the solicitation.

111 During the Industry Day, the Government spoke about its goals of cost containment and efficiency. When vendors have the ability to have a higher headcount, they are able to leverage economies of scale to offer greater discounts and engage sufficient resources to meet the complex scope needs of the requirement. As a result, will the Government consider limiting the total number of IDIQ awardees to no more than 8 to avoid unintended higher costs?

We anticipate more than five (5) awardees. The goal is to have a reasonable number of awardees to allow for competition without being overly burdensome; however the final number will be based on the results of the competition and is undetermined at this time.

112 I noticed that the HOPSS opportunity (75N95025R00017_SB_SOURCES_SOUGHT) lists the value of the incumbent effort. Is this to provide industry with an idea of what the value of the upcoming effort may look like?

Yes, please see the response to Question No. 7.

113 What does the agency expect us to respond with to the question of providing professional qualifications of personnel?

Please provide professional qualifications for key personnel to oversee the program as it relates to the requirements outlined.

114 Does the agency want us to talk about the qualification of various labor categories that are mentioned as part of two task areas?

Please see the response to Questions Nos. 14 and 113.

115 Regarding the total number of employees requested in the capability statement, does this refer to the company’s total permanent workforce, or is it intended to reflect the total number of personnel who would potentially be assigned to this project?

The total number of employees requested refers to the company’s total permanent workforce.

116 Is there a possibility of a due date extension? Please see the response to Question No. 32.

117 When will the agency release answers to questions asked during the industry day event? This document provides responses to questions asked during the industry day event.

118 I have been looking into the upcoming HOPSS opportunity and noticed that an award is anticipated to be released sometime in Summer 2026. Does this mean that Industry should not anticipate a solicitation for the effort until Q3 FY2025 at the earliest?

Please see the response to Question No. 1.

1615164862 - QA Report