Questions and Answers - RFQ 75R60220Q00040 - Health Center Loan Guarantee Program Support 2.14.2020.pdf

Amendment Number 0001

RFQ 75R60220Q00040

Health Center Loan Guarantee Program Support

Questions & Answers

1. How is the loan monitoring information to be monitored obtained by HRSA or provided by the lenders? Is the information loaded directly to Electronic Handbook (EHB) system or will the contract load it?

Answer: The Contractor shall have access to HRSA’s Electronic Handbook (EHB) and will access all financial and loan guarantee information for loan guarantee transaction through the EHB system. The goal will be to have this information loaded directly to EHB, where HRSA can assign its review to the Contractor (as applicable). However, the EHB system enhancement that will allow for this approach is still in development.

As the enhancement is in development, the Contractor shall receive loan monitoring information electronically from HRSA via email until the EHB system enhancement is activated and migration to EHB utilization is completed.

2. What is the annual anticipated number of transactions to monitor and for performing ongoing due diligence? How many lenders? How many borrowers?

Answer: The Contractor shall begin monitoring of closed loan guarantee transactions after closing. The number of monitored transactions will be adjusted semi-annually, based on the number of transactions closed or discontinued in the previous six month period, as disclosed in the semi-annual report.

The expected maximum number of active guarantees to be monitored for the base year and each option period is cumulative and is listed on SOW Attachment A, Item 5, LGP Transaction Monitoring and Ad Hoc Consultation. The anticipated maximum number of active guarantees is as follows:

Year Number of Anticipated Active Guarantee Transactions to be Monitored

Base Year 10 Option Period 1 25 Option Period 2 45 Option Period 3 65 Option Period 4 85

HRSA is requesting monitoring for ten (10) loan guarantee transaction for the first BPA Call Order, SOW Attachment B, Item 5 LGP Transaction Monitoring and Ad Hoc Consultation (Section IV, Task 5).

3. What data is provided/required in the quarterly reports?

Answer: Per Section IV, Task 5, the Contractor is expected to monitor loan guarantee transactions on an ongoing basis. The Contractor shall maintain contact with borrowers and lenders on a quarterly basis in order to monitor all outstanding LGP health center transactions. In addition, the Contractor shall provide ongoing due diligence on health centers with outstanding HCP guarantees by reviewing loan monitoring information provided by the health center for each existing loan guarantee transaction. Due diligence activities shall include a comprehensive review of the quarterly and annual financial statements, compliance with loan covenants, management and financial review, and loan payment status.

Lenders and the Borrowers will submit all project, loan, and financial data information to HRSA via EHB or email. The Borrower is required to submit to HRSA semi-annual financial statements (within 45 days of quarter close) and independent annual audited financial statements as required under 45 CFR Part 75 (within 120 days of year-end) prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

The Contractor shall submit to HRSA a semi-annual progress report for existing transactions, which shall include indication of the receipt of required reports from LGP borrowers and lenders, compilation of relevant reporting data, and submission of semi-annual reports on individual and aggregate loans as described in Section IV, Task 5.d.

The semi-annual report shall contain at minimum, financial indicators for each active loan, outstanding loan balance and HRSA’s estimated guarantee exposure, and performance on financial covenants; and a log of inquiries from existing borrowers and lenders and parties that are interested in the LGP as described in Section IV, Task 5.b.

4. Do we really have unlimited number of pages to write this proposal? Any constraints would be welcome to some over eager teams.

Answer: There are no page limits indicated in the proposal, however, we encourage each offeror to be clear, concise, and direct in demonstrating their ability to fulfill established criteria.

SF1449

1. Can you provide a pdf fillable version of the SF1449 so that we can more easily complete the sections we are required to fill in?

Answer: The SF 1449 is not available in a pdf fillable version.

2. Per the excerpt below from pages 3 and 4 of SF1449, we are to include the price quote in Box

23. Is this the lump sum price: (i) for the Base Year only or (ii) for the Base Year PLUS the four optional years?

Answer: Please provide the price for the base year, all option years and the total for base and all options.

3. Should each component of the application be submitted as individual pdfs in one email to Ms.

Dhaness? In other words, should we attach a cover letter, signed SF1449, Volume 1/Technical Proposal , Volume 2/Price Proposal as four files attached to the one email to Ms. Dhaness?

Answer: Yes.

4. Please explain what is being referred to in “the hourly rate that is stated in the hourly rate limitation” in the excerpt below from page 4 of the SF1449. Where do I look for “the hourly rate limitation”?

Answer: The hourly rate limitation is available at HHSAR 352.231-70 Salary Rate Limitation.

5. (i) Pertaining to the excerpt below on pages 4-5 of SF1449, we completed an annual representation and certification electronically in December 2019. I believe this means that we will only need to complete paragraph (b) of FAR 52.212-3 - is that correct? (ii) When is it that we will need to complete paragraph (b)?

Answer: Your question is not clear, please confirm the requirements with SAM.gov.

ATTACHMENT A – SCOPE OF WORK

Training

1. Federal Records Management Training: How long does the training take, i.e., how much time should we allocate for employees taking it?

Answer: 1 hour for all relevant staff once a period of performance

2. HHS/HRA Contractor Information Security Awareness, Privacy & Records Management Training:

How long does the training take, i.e., how much time should we allocate for employees taking it?

Answer: Approximately 1.5 hours for all relevant staff once a period of performance.

3. Role-based Training (Task 15: Security and Privacy Requirements)

a. Please provide guidance as to what is meant by “significant security responsibilities”? We’re trying to determine who, if anyone, will require this training which appears to relate to cybersecurity.

a. HRSA requires this training for users who require elevated privileges beyond a normal user account (administrators, developers, etc) in order to protect information security. These users require this training in order to get an alt-card.

b. After receiving appropriate clearances, the contractor will access EHB remotely.

HRSA does not anticipate the need for the contractor to receive elevated privileges under the contract at this time. Therefore Role-based Training and an Alt-card are not required at this time.

b. What contractor employee roles would be required to take the training?

a. See response above

c. What if the contractor’s information security officer (ISO) is not otherwise on the contract; must we include the ISO just for the purpose of the training?

a. If the contractor does not require an alt-card from HRSA, the training would not be required.

d. How long does the training take (how much time to allocate for employees taking it)?

a. HRSA does not anticipate the need for Role-based training at this time.

b. Answers: See response above

Task 9

The contractor is required to provide HRSA with bi-monthly updates – please confirm whether bi-monthly means once every two weeks or once every two months.

Answer: Once every two months.

Task 15 Section c (3)

Please provide a copy of the HHS Information Security Program security requirements outline in the HHS Information Security and Privacy Policy (IS2P).

Answer: See Attached.

Task 15 Section j

1. What employee positions or functions will require a background investigation? Any contractor that has access to HRSA systems or proprietary information will need an investigation.

2. What are the current background investigation requirements for a “T2S moderate risk position”?

We have been unable to locate a definitive answer to this question. This is not information readily available to the general public. Anyone requiring an investigation has to complete eQIP which is an electronic version of the SF-85P, an OF-306 and Additional Questionnaire Form. In some cases a subject interview will be conducted by a DOD investigator, a credit check will be done with no impact to credit score and reference and employment checks will be done.

3. Is the contractor responsible for obtaining any required background investigations, or is this something the Federal government undertakes? The government initiates and adjudicates the investigation.

4. If the contractor is responsible, is the cost an allowable reimbursable item? The government pays for the investigation.

5. If the contractor undertakes these investigations, who are the findings submitted to and how is this information secured? Not sure we completely understand the question so we will answer to the best of our ability. All investigation documents are completed in a secure DOD system. The information is only shared between the applicant, the personnel security office processing the package and the DOD suitability team.

ATTACHMENT B - TECHNICAL EVALUATION

1. Labor Matrix: Just confirming that the excel file in Attachment D has been provided to assist us in preparing the labor category-loading matrix and that we should submit the completed matrix within the pdf for Volume 1 Technical Proposal and NOT separately provide the excel file as part of our formal submission – is this correct?

2. Past Performance

a. When are the three past performance references due? The date on page 7 in Attachment B is

June 10, 2019…

Answer: February 20, 2020, see attachment E.

b. Should these references be submitted directly to Veronica Dhaness or included in Volume III – Past Performance?

Answer: Directly to Vdhaness@hrsa.gov, see attachment E.

SOW ATTACHMENT C – CONTRACTOR NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

1. When are we to submit the Information Technology Systems Security Contractor Non-Disclosure Agreement? As an attachment to Volume I – Technical Proposal?

2. Are we to submit an individual form for each person we have identified on the labor category-loading matrix?

NON-LABOR COSTS

Where should we identify any non-personnel expenses, for example, the travel expenses that will be incurred in connection with the Application On-Site Review in Task 8 and the cost of the background investigations, if required?

Answer: This should be submitted with the price quote; any overhead costs shall be included in the fully loaded hourly rates proposed – those should not have a separate line.

The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers remains unchanged.

mailto:Vdhaness@hrsa.gov