Contract QAs_75R60221Q0072.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

SOLICITATION #75R60221Q00072

1. Can the government clarify the vehicle being used to issue the RFQ?

Response: We are using Simplified Acquisition Procedures under FAR 13.5

2. Since this is a competitive, commercial items quote, cost and pricing data is not required.

In addition, prices from the overarching vehicle are negotiated. Will the government remove the requirement of a cost analysis? Will the government remove the requirement for cost and pricing data?

Response: You are correct; however, we are requesting this information to analyze the fairness of the pricing being proposed.

3. Can the government provide the expected level of effort?

Response: Please propose the level of effort the Offeror believe it will take to perform all tasks in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

4. Will the Government extend the response due date by one week from Thursday 3/4/21 to Thursday 3/11/21?

Response: Unfortunately, due to the immediate need of the services we can only extend the due date to 3/8/21

5. In order to more effectively provide the government with a fixed price bid and appropriate labor mix, will the government provide a range for the anticipated level of effort/FTEs for any Task Areas as it relates to senior, key, and non-key personnel?

Response: Please propose the level of effort/FTEs the Offeror it deems necessary to perform all tasks in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

6. Due to the urgency of this solicitation and the breadth of support, does the government anticipate any possibility of there being multiple awards given at this time?

Response: No

7. Has the government already identified potential offerors or incumbents for this solicitation?

Response: No

NOTE: Contained herein are only contract-related questions and answers. Technical questions and answers will be posted on beta.SAM.gov in the immediate future.

8. Will the government please clarify the page limitation for the technical quote? Excluding cover pages, table of contents, and resumes, is the limitation 10 or 15 pages?

Response: 15 pages

9. Please can the Government provide the anticipated level of effort for the base and option period?

Response: Please propose the level of effort the Offeror deems necessary to perform all tasks in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

10. Paragraph 2 reads “Supporting Documentation: The contractor shall furnish a price breakdown in support of the Performance Work Statement (PWS) and deliverables.”

Please confirm the “price breakdown” requirement will be satisfied by the offeror providing a breakdown of Price by Labor Category rates times hours by Task for each Contract Period.

Response: The “price breakdown” requirement will be satisfied by the offeror providing a breakdown of price by labor category rates times hours by task for the base period and option period.

11. In the opening paragraph of the cover letter, Page 1 of the RFQ, it reads “The period of performance will be a 12-month base period”. However, in other sections of the RFQ, it states the period of performance will be one 12 month base period and one 12 month option period. Please confirm the Period of Performance will also include one 12 month option.

Response: The period of performance is a 12-month base period plus one (1) 12-month option period.

12. The RFQ stipulates “quotes and revisions of quotes shall be submitted via email to” and then is blank. Should we assume that quotes and revisions of quotes shall be submitted via email to ctaylor@hrsa.gov?

Response: Quotes and revision of quotes shall be submitted via email to ctaylor@hrsa.gov.

13. Is there a minimum number of Past Performance qualifications?

Response: Only three (3)

14. Given the Government’s request for “clarity, relevance, and conciseness... not the length,” are brief callouts summarizing relevant experience generally a sufficient format for communicating past performance, or would the government prefer detailed write ups of each recent experience?

Response: CPARS and/or the Past Performance Questionnaire shall be submitted for past performance.

mailto:ctaylor@hrsa.gov

15. The page limit states that it excludes “cover pages, table of contents, and resumes” but does not mention Past Performance; if Past Performance is part of the Technical Volume, can the government confirm it is not part of the page limit?

Response: Past performance is not a part of page limit.

16. The RFQ indicates that “Technical,” “Price,” and “Past Performance” will each be scored but requests the submission of only two volumes: “Technical Quote” and “Price Quote.”

Should Past Performance be submitted as part of the “Technical Quote?”

Response: Past Performance shall be submitted as a separate volume, Volume III.

17. The RFQ indicates that best value will be determined based on “Factor A: Technical;

Factor B: Past Performance; and Factor C: Price” and that “All non-price factors (i.e., technical approach and past performance) are significantly more important than price” but then states that “Price” is more important than “Past Performance.” Is it correct to assume that the order of importance is: “Factor A: Technical” is more important than “Factor B: Past Performance” which is more important than “Factor C: Price”?

Response: See Revised RFQ

18. The RFQ references both a 10-page and 15-page limit; can the government confirm a 15-page limit?

Response: 15-page limit

19. Please can the Government provide an estimated range for the contract value?

Response: No. Please propose the level of effort the Offeror deems necessary to perform all tasks in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

20. P.4, “Page Limits & Format”: “The technical quote shall not exceed 10 single-spaced pages, excluding cover pages, table of contents and resumes. Pages submitted over the 15-page limit will not be read or evaluated.” To clarify, can the government confirm that a document consisting of a cover page, table of contents, the technical quote, and resumes, should not exceed 15 pages in total?

Response: The technical quote shall not exceed 15 single-spaced pages, excluding cover pages, table of contents and resumes

21. P.6, “Factor 2: Price”, Supporting Documentation, Does supporting documentation include a pricing narrative/justification, or does the government solely wish to receive a breakdown of price by deliverable and PWS task area?

Response: The “price breakdown” requirement will be satisfied by the offeror providing a breakdown of price by labor category rates times hours by task for the base period and option period.

22. P.7, #2, #3, #4: Best Value Determination: “Determining the best value of the solicitation includes the following factors: Factor A: Technical, Factor B: Past Performance, Factor C: Price” The RFQ provides details for Factor 1. Technical and Factor 2. Price. What proposal elements will the Government review to determine/evaluate Past Performance?

Response: See revised RFQ.

23. Is this a single award or multiple award contract?

Response: Single award

24. What is the anticipated date of award?

Response: March 15, 2021

25. What is the anticipated start date for this contract?

Response: March 15, 2021

26. Since the RFQ is on a fast track, when will the answers to the vendor questions be released?

Response: March 1, 2021

27. Are there any set asides for Small Business, HubZone, etc.?

28. Is there an incumbent currently providing the same services?

29. If there’s an incumbent(s), are they eligible to bid for this RFQ?

Response: There is no incumbent. This is a new program created as a necessary to address the COVID19 Pandemic.

30. If there are incumbents can HRSA reveal the # of PMs the incumbent has in place to manage the program?

Response: See response to #29.

31. Is there any anticipated budget value assigned for this RFQ?

Response: No. Please propose the level of effort the Offeror deems necessary to perform all tasks in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

32. If there is Federal Funding, what is the budgeted amount and what are any restrictions tied to the funding?

Response: The budgeted amount will not be provided and there are no restrictions tied to funding outside of appropriation law. Please propose the level of effort the Offeror deems necessary to perform all tasks in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

33. What are the expected work hours and holiday schedule to be followed? Since it’s a fixed price bid, we need to know what are the billable or work hours HRAS is expecting for performing the work mentioned in the RFQ?

Response: Please propose the level of effort/FTEs the Offeror it deems necessary to perform all tasks in the Performance Work Statement (PWS)

34. If overtime work is required to meet a surge in demand, how will that be factored and paid to the vendor in case of a Fixed Price contract?

Response: The contractor will not be paid for overtime. Please propose the level of effort/FTEs the Offeror it deems necessary to perform all tasks in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

35. To allow bidders to adjust the technical and price quotes based on the government’s responses to questions, will HRSA grant an extension ending one-week after release of the Q&A?

Response: See Question #4.

36. Item reads “The technical quote shall not exceed 10 single-spaced pages, excluding cover pages, table of contents and resumes. Pages submitted over the 15-page limit will not be read or evaluated.” Please confirm that the page limit is ten (10) pages and not fifteen.

Response: The page limit is 15 pages, excluding cover pages, table of contents, and resumes.

37. Item reads “1. Quotes and revisions of quotes shall be submitted via email to”. Please confirm submission is to be made to Carolyn C. Taylor at ctaylor@hrsa.gov.

Response: Submission to be made to to Carolyn C. Taylor at ctaylor@hrsa.gov.

Item reads “The Offeror shall submit a price quote, fully supported by cost and pricing data, in sufficient detail to allow for cost analysis that will be utilized to establish the reasonableness of the proposed costs.” This is an FFP contract, would the government please confirm that approved labor rates in a GSA schedule and number of hours per rate, are sufficient to meet the cost data requirement.

Response: Please note this is not a GSA schedule procurement. Please propose the level of effort the Offeror deems necessary to perform all tasks in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

38. Would the government please consider extending the due date to March 12, 2021?

Response: See Question #4

39. There are no instructions regarding the requirements for Past Performance, and in addition, past performance is not listed in the Evaluation Criteria table on page 7. Can the government confirm that Past Performance is not required?

Response: See Revised RFQ.

40. Given that this is a FFP contract, offerors will need sufficient details to adequately estimate. Would the government consider changing this to a T&M contract or provide a government furnished estimate of the labor hours required to perform this if it will remain

FFP?

Response: The Government will issue firm-fixed price contract as a result of this solicitation. Please propose the level of effort/FTEs the Offeror deems necessary to propose the work.

41. Could the government please clarify the page limitations for the technical quote?

Response: The page limit is 15 pages, excluding cover pages, table of contents, and resumes.

42. In order for contractor to provide a comprehensive proposal, will the Government provide a 10 business day extension to the RFQ response deadline?

Response: See Question #4

43. Reference: RFQ p. 6-7, Award Criteria. While the Award Criteria states Past Performance is one of the three Evaluation Factors, the Instructions do not clarify what is required for this Factor. Can the Government please clarify how it will evaluate Factor B:

Past Performance?

Response: See revised RFQ.

44. Will the Government confirm that an offeror can propose as a Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA) with another firm, where both parties are named as awardees to the resulting contract, similar to those used under a GSA Schedule?

Response: No. Please propose the level of effort/FTEs the Offeror it deems necessary to perform all tasks in the Performance Work Statement (PWS)

45. Item 1 under Submission, Modification, Revision, and Withdrawal of Quotes is missing the end of the sentence.

Response: See revised RFQ.

46. Will the government please provide the contact information for Item 1?

Response: See revised RFQ.

47. The RFQ States: The technical quote shall not exceed 10 single-spaced pages, excluding cover pages, table of contents and resumes. Pages submitted over the 15-page limit will not be read or evaluated. Will the government please clarify if the page limit for the quote is 10 pages or 15 pages?

Response: The page limit is 15 pages, excluding cover pages, table of contents, and resumes.

48. The RFQ states “Factor B: Past Performance as an evaluation factor, however the Instructions for Quote state Factor B as Price.”

Response: See revised RFQ.

49. Does the government intend for Corporate Capabilities (Factor 1.a) to serve as evaluation Factor B?

Response: See revised RFQ.

50. Page 7, Section C. Award Criteria of the RFQ and Page 2 Section 52.212-2 Evaluation- Commercial Items mentions Factor B: Past Performance as part of the Best Value Determination but Pages 3-7, Section: Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors of the RFQ, specify instructions for Factor 1: Technical and Factor 2: Price only. Would the government provide additional clarifications regarding instructions for Factor B Past Performance?

Response: See revised RFQ.

51. Could you confirm that the services under acquisition for the above-captioned RFQ are for PMO services only and not the staffing surge? If so, does HRSA plan to procure staffing augmentation through the FEMA vehicle, or should industry be looking at beta.sam or another venue?

Response: The services under acquisition are for PMO services only for the new Health Centers COVID19 Vaccine Program. HRSA does not plan to procure staffing augmentation through the FEMA vehicle or any other contract vehicle.