Questions_Answers 75P00122R00001.pdf

Questions and Answers

RFP: 7P00122R00001

Rapid Medical Examinations for Commissioned Corps Accessions

RFP/PWS Section

Title

RFP/PWS

Section

Reference Page # Question

Contractor

Responsibilities

C.2.4 and Deliverables

Table

Last bullet in C.2.4 contains a reference to Optum as does the Deliverables table on page 45. Is that intended or should those two references be removed?

L.8 PAST

PERFORMANCE

INFORMATION

INSTRUCTIONS

L.8 98

This section references a "past performance questionnaire (see Attachment J.1)." Attachment J.1 provided on Sam.gov is the pricing chart. Can the government provide the past performance questionnaire?

Subfactor b:

Capability and

Experience of the Organization and

Proposed Personnel

L.7, Subfactor b, item 2 and L.8

96, 97

Past performance information is listed in Subfactor b under the Technical proposal in L.7. It is also listed under its own volume (volume 3: Past Performance Information) as described in L.8. 1. Please confirm whether past performance information should be included in Volume 1 or Volume 3 (or both).

2. If past performance information is to be included in Volume 1, will it be excluded from the page count and included in the Technical appendix?

Subcontracting

Plan Goals L.9.4 and

Attachment J.2

The small business subcontracting plan goals differ between L.9.4 (page

100) of the RFP and Attachment J.2. Can the government clarify which are the correct goals?

5 C.2.2 23

The RFP states that the Government access to a contractor secure on-line digital application require the use of a PIV or CAC to access the system. The use of PIV or CAC access is used for applications that reside on Government networks and not those on contractor networks.

Please clarify this requirement and the location of the contractor application.

6 C.2.2 23 Contractors typically meet the application requirement with a secure web-based portal that resides on its infrastructure. Request that this approach may be used to meet the on-line application requirement.

7 C.2.4 24

The use of the Optum Portal for results appears to contradict the requirement in C.2.2 for a contractor secure on-line digital application.

Please clarify. If an Offeror must use the Optum Portal please provide information on its architecture, features, interfaces and costs.

C.7.b 36

And per C.7.b the system used must obtain an authority to operate (ATO) within 30 days. If the Optum Portal is the required application and as it is not a contractor’s system, an Offeror cannot comply with the ATO requirement. Please clarify.

8 C.2.4 and F.3 24, 45

Entry for C.2.4 requires the results are available in the Optum Portal.

Please clarify this requirement. What is the Optum Portal, how is it accessed, does it have system to system interfaces? Is it a required component of the solution or can an Offeror propose a different portal?

9 C.4.1 26

The transition-in period is defined as a 30 calendar day period that favors the incumbent. To ensure a smooth and complete transition typically requires 60-90 days. Request that the transition-in period be extended to 60 days.

10 C.5.1.m 31 Request that the Attachment 1, Non-Disclosure Agreement be provided with the solicitation.

11 C.7.b 36 The RFP states that an ATO is to be completed within 30 days. If the Offeror has an existing ATO from HHS for the contractor’s system, will this ATO meet this requirement? If not, the timeline for an ATO is typically a minimum of 6 months. Please clarify.

12 C.7.c.ii 40 The RFP prohibits commingling of Government Data. It is a typical, cost effective approach to use logically separated vs. physically separated data. Is this acceptable?

There are several clauses (52.222-41, 52.222-42, 52.222-43, and 52.222-

44) related to the Service Contract Act and these clauses are typically not included in commercial item medical examination services contracts.

This is a contract to be performed overwhelmingly by physicians and medical professionals, who are not “service employees.” In addition, Wage Determination(s) are not provided with the RFP. Since the Act requires the payment of minimum compensation for work performed under the contract, and recordkeeping to prove that such compensation was paid, the compliance burden for the average medical practice would be burdensome. The inclusion of these clauses will make it very difficult to obtain medical practices as subcontractors.

The physicians themselves are exempt from the Act as “professionals.” 29 C.F.R. § 541.304 (a) & (b). Moreover, some nurses and physician assistants are also exempt. 29 C.F.R. § 541.301(e). Other nurses and medical technicians are apparently covered, and will have to be paid the minimum compensation in the wage determination applicable to their locality. These individuals may work for the prime and/or a subcontractor.

In addition, other individuals performing duties on the contract may be exempt as “administrative” workers.

The inclusion of these clauses severely limits an Offeror’s ability to submit an offer and we respectfully request removal of these clauses.

L.7 95

It is our assumption that the artifacts to document that the Offeror possess a current HHS ATO are to be provided in the Technical Appendices and are outside of the page limit. Is this assumption correct? If not, please clarify as the artifacts may be multiple pages that is a notable percentage of the Technical Proposal page limit.

L.7, Factor 2 96

It is our assumption that the evidence related to Policies & HIPAA are to be provided in the Technical Appendices and are outside of the page limit.

Is this assumption correct? If not, please clarify as the evidence may be multiple pages that is a notable percentage of the Technical Proposal page limit.

L.7, Factor 2 96

It is our assumption that the evidence related to Program Support are to be provided in the Technical Appendices and are outside of the page limit.

Is this assumption correct? If not, please clarify as the evidence may be multiple pages that is a notable percentage of the Technical Proposal page limit.

17 L.8 97

L.9.3 99

The RFP contains instructions and evaluation of key personnel and the solicitation does not identify key personnel positions. It is our assumption that the Offeror can select and identify the positions designated as key

57I.1, FAR 52.212-

5(c)

M.2.2.2 106

L.8 98

The RFP proposal instructions include a past performance questionnaire as Attachment J.1. Request that this document be provided with the solicitation.

L.8 98

Due to the rapid procurement timeline, request that submission of the completed past performance questionnaire (if needed) have a later due date in order to permit clients time for completion.

L.9.4 100

Goals for the small business category reflects 29.45% and does not tie to the goals identified in the Sub Contracting Plan Template at 35% for small business. Please clarify which goal should be used.

L.9.4 100

The RFP states that if subcontractors are proposed, a commitment letter is required. Due to the nature of the work, individual providers within a contractor’s network will support the exam services dependent on the location. Therefore every potential subcontractor cannot be identified at this time. Request that this requirement only apply to subcontractors with an expected dollar value, e.g. $50,000/year.

Subcontract

Plan Requirements 1

The subcontracting goals in the Template file are not the same as those in the RFP Section L.9.4. Please clarify the subcontracting goals to be used in the proposal submission.

personnel. Is this assumption correct? If not, please clarify.

Answers

Reference was removed.

Questionnaires added under amendment 1

Past performance information under Section L.8 is not the same as past/corporate experience requested in the Technical volume under Section L.7 Subfactor b. Past/corporate experience focuses on the technical experience of the offeror where past performance forcuses on the quality of the performance. They are completely separate evaluations.

Corrected Section L..9.4; the correct subcontracting plan goal is 35%.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health Chief Information Officer requires that employees of Commissioned Corps Headquarters can only access the contractor’s applications with the use of PIV or CAC cards and not user name and password.

Applicants access to the contractors application should be through the contractor’s secure web-based portal, however, the applicant must be required to use a unique identifier number provided by the government for their initial sign-in. See above for government employee access.

The reference to Optum portal has been removed.

The reference to Optum portal has been removed; however, the Offeror must have and current ATO as defined in Section L.7 Factor 1.

The reference to Optum portal has been removed.

we are going to keep it to 30 days.

NDA's provided at attachment J.4, section C.5.1.m has been corrected in Amendment 1.

Section C.7.b is standard security requirements and states the ATO deliverables are required in 30 days; however, under Factor 1 this requirement requires a vendor that already possess a current HHS ATO; Factor 1 will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis.

The Offeror is free to use alternatives to physical separation that meet the NIST 800-53 controls and HHS security policy to maintain the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of Commissioned Corps services under this contract.

yes that is correct.

yes that is correct.

yes that is correct.

This was an oversight, the clauses have been removed.

If not defined elsewhere in the solicitation, it is up to the Offeror to define what positions/personnel are essential to performance of the contract and should be identified as key personnel

Added to amendment 1

Since PPQ's were inadvertently not attached to the original release of the RFQ, the PPQ will be due no later than 7 Oct 2021.

In order to facilitate a mid-Oct award, a later submission would not facilitate a timely evaluation.

This has been corrected in amendment 1; the SB goal is 35%.

Subcontracting plan are required for large businesses and for acquisition exceeding $750,000.00, this include subcontractors that receive subcontracts in excess of $750,000.00, reference FAR 19.704(a)(9).

This has been corrected in amendment 1; the SB goal is 35%.

of the contract and should be identified as key personnel.

PWS Questions