Q and A Solicitation 75N97020R00005.pdf

1. The stipulation that “the contractor is responsible for supplying all needed computer equipment” is a change from the draft Statement of Work issued in December, which stated that all indexers would use government-furnished equipment (GFE). Is it possible for indexers currently using GFE to continue using it, or should it be replaced as soon as possible after contract award with contractor-supplied equipment?

Answer: It will not be possible for indexers currently using GFE to continue using GFE; therefore, GFE should be replaced as soon as possible with contractor-supplied equipment following contract award.

2. Will indexers who currently use tokens for accessing the indexing system be able to continue using them, or will tokens be eliminated and replaced by PIV card readers?

Answer: Indexers will not be able to continue using tokens, as PIV-based access to NIH/NLM networks and systems is now mandatory. Use of non-PIV authentication for remotely accessing NIH/NLM networks and systems is no longer authorized and is being phased out.

3. If all indexers are to use PIV cards for accessing the indexing system, is there a way to renew digital certificates remotely on personal computers or must all indexers visit NLM once per year to renew the certificates?

Answer: At present, indexers with personal computers (personally owned equipment) must visit either the NIH campus or other authorized facility within the U.S. to renew their PIV card certificates.

4. Can an indexer who is a US citizen but living outside of the United States obtain a PIV card?

Answer: Yes; however, the indexer would need to travel to NIH to obtain a PIV card.

5. Once any new indexers are trained by our staff, will additional training be required onsite at

NLM?

Answer: Additional on-site training of new indexers at NLM will be provided only as needed;

most follow-up training will be provided by revisers.

6. Will new indexers be assigned to an NLM reviser once they achieve a basic level of indexing proficiency?

Answer: Yes, new indexers will be assigned to revisers following their training by Contractor staff.

7. Amended Solicitation

Part IV Section L.2.C.6 (page 29)

This section specifies that "A copy of the organization's most recent annual report must be submitted as part of the business proposal." Our company is a privately-held small business entity and does not prepare annual reports as we are not required to issue annual reports be regulating agencies. In lieu of providing an annual report, would prepared financials signed off by our CFO for our most recent fiscal years be acceptable?

Answer: Yes.

8. Amended Solicitation

Part IV Section L.2.B.2 (page 29)

This section states "Resumes of all key personnel are required. Each must indicate educational background, recent experience, specific or technical accomplishments, and a listing of relevant publications."; however, I did not see in the Solicitation or Statement of Work any positions that were identified as "Key Personnel". What positions are considered Key Personnel, if any?

Answer: Project managers are considered key personnel. Also, indexing trainers are considered key personnel, as they will be responsible (once trained) for appropriately training all MEDLINE indexers.

9. Page 4 of the Amended Solicitation - Section B.1

How many units are currently being completed on an annual basis for each of the following:

Answer:

a. Number of Biomedical Journal Articles for MEDLINE that are indexed? 680,000

i. What is the estimated number of images for each article? Information not available

b. Number of MTIFL Completion Articles that are indexed? 97,500

i. What is the estimated number of images for each article? Information not available

c. Number of Gene Links created? 69,500

d. Number of HSRProj records that are indexed? 2,100

i. What is the estimated number of images for each record? Not applicable

10. Page 6 of the Amended Solicitation - Section F.1

Is there a particular reason that the base period of performance is only 7 months?

Answer: Due to funding constraints, the base period was reduced to 7 months to compensate for a 5-month extension of the previous contract’s final option year.

11. Page 19 of the Amended Solicitation - Section C

How many awards are expected? Two to three awards are expected.

How is work expected to be awarded/allocated across awardees? This will depend on each awardee’s performance capacity.

Specially, what percentages of work are expected to be distributed? Again, this will depend on each awardee’s capacity to perform each required task.

For example, contract value awarded evenly across all awardees? This will be the case only if awardees show equal performance capacities; typically, that is not the case.

12. Please provide the following for any incumbents: Incumbent name, contract number, contract period of performance, contract value.

Information Ventures, Inc.; HHSN276201500004C; April 1, 2015 through August 7, 2020.

Kelly & DeWitt, Inc.; HHSN276201500005C; April 1, 2015 through August 7, 2020.

Cygnus Corp.; HHSN276201500006C; April 1, 2015 through August 7, 2020.

13. Will a pricing matrix be provided?

Answer: No, pricing is proposed by the vendor.