EVAL IDIQ Questions and Answers.pdf

# Question Section of RFP Page # Government Response (To be Provided) 1 Can HRSA confirm if the offeror should submit a business narrative with the

Volume IV Price Proposal?

Section L.6

No business narrative is necessary. Narraitves will be applicable at the task order level

2 Can HRSA provide guidance for completing Attachment G? Is HRSA expecting only rates for each of the labor categories, or is the offeror expected to submit a budget per the labor hours indicated in Attachment G? However, for labor categories with no associated hours, should the offeror assume the same 1040 hours or leave them blank?

Attachment G - Pricing Template

N/A

All labor categories in Attachment G must be completed. For labor categories with no associated hours, the offeror can leave the number of hours blank.

3 Should the offeror include subcontractor budgets, or only subcontractor labor categories?

Attachment G - Pricing Template N/A

Only labor catoegories

4 Can HRSA confirm if the Executive Level II annual salary limitation is applicable to only the Base Period, or the entire period of performace?

Standard Form (SF) 33, Section B

Salary limitations are by year, and should be proposed with annual increases included.

5 In the revised RFP, the language in the Personnel and Staffing section regarding subcontractor resumes, signed letters of commitment, and categorization of personnel by task area and labor category has been deleted.

Can HRSA confirm that this information is not required as part of the proposal?

Section L

10-11

Correct

6 Is the proposal due at 10:00 AM EDT or 11:00 AM EDT on January 25, 2024?

Cover Letter / Section L-M, L.1.11 1 / 3

Proposals are due at 10:00 AM EST on February 15th, 2024.

7 Please confirm that offers do not have to provide a rate for each labor category provided in the pricing template, and can select only those that are deemed applicable for this IDIQ and subsequent task orders.

Section L.6.2 Cost/Pricing Data

21-22

All labor categories must be completed.

8 Do staff bid across all labor categories need to appear within the Task Area skills matrices? For example, there are some labor categories that are more operational and non-technical in nature, e.g., Administrative Personnel, Information Technology Specialists, Editorial Personnel, who would not necessarily have specific technical expertise across the 4 Task Areas. Can staff aligned to these types of labor categories appear in the resume appendix only?

Section L.3.4 Subfactor 3, Personnel and Staffing / Section J, Attachment H-Labor Categories

10-11 / 1

The matrix should provide a summary of experience of the available personnel across the task areas, while the narrative and resume appendices enable the offeror to provide additional information as needed.

9 Please confirm contractors are to provide Unloaded Labor Category Ceiling Rates even though we are required to only provide fully burdened rates in Section L.6.2 Cost/Price Data?

Section B.2.2 / Section L.6.2.a

2 / 21

Only the fully burdened labor rates are required.

10 In the solicitation Cover Letter it states that “the government anticipates multiple awards from the solicitation, awarded to both Small Businesses and Other than Small Businesses.” Can the government please confirm whether or not the IDIQ will allow for Small Business set-asides at the Task Order level?

Cover Letter

Yes, small business set asides will be available at the task order level.

11 If the IDIQ will allow for Small Business set-asides at the Task Order level, is there a number of Task Orders or percentage goal to be set-aside anticipated at this time?

N/A

N/A

Not at this time.

12 Can the government please clarify the task hours in the amount of 1040 per labor category that are listed in the Pricing Template?

Section J, Attachment G - Pricing Template N/A

Confirmed

13 Section B - Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs requires bidders to provide maximum unloaded hourly rates for the life of the contract. This requirement appears to conflict with the Section L Price Proposal instructions, Attachment G - Pricing Template, and the anticipated Task Order types. Can the government please clarify the Section B requirement to provide unloaded labor category rates?

Section B.2, #2 - Unloaded Labor Category (LCAT) Ceiling Rates

The requiremetn at Section B.2, #2 has been removed.

14 Section L.1 General Instructions #9 states the page limit for Volume IV Price Proposal as “Excel and 1 Page Small Business Subcontracting Plan.” Can the government please confirm that there is no additional detail or narrative required for Volume IV Price Proposal beyond what’s listed in Section L.6?

L.1 General Instructions

Confirmed

15 Section L.1 General Instructions #9 states the page limit for Volume IV Price Proposal as “Excel and 1 Page Small Business Subcontracting Plan.” Can the government please confirm that the narrative requirement under Section L.6.2 Cost/Pricing Data to provide “the Offeror’s policy concerning merit or cost-of-living increases” should be completed within Section J, Attachment G - Pricing Template?

L.6 Volume IV Price Proposal

The statement regarding merit or cost-of-living expenses has been removed.

16 Section L.1 General Instructions #9 states the page limit for Volume IV Price Proposal as “Excel and 1 Page Small Business Subcontracting Plan.” Can the government please confirm that the only requirement for the 1 Page Small Business Subcontracting Plan is what’s listed under Section L.6.3 Sub- Contracting Plan, requiring offers to “acknowledge the subcontracting plan requirements outlined in FAR Part 19.704 and FAR Clause 52.219-9, and covering the information required at FAR Part 52.219-9(d)(5, and 7-15)?”

L.6.3 Sub-Contracting Plan

Confirmed. Each task order will have more specific subcontracting plan requirements, when applicable.

17 Can the government please confirm Section J, Attachment C – Disclosure of Lobbying Activities does not need to be completed and submitted at this time?

Section J, Attachment C – Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

N/A

Correct, Attachment C will be submitted after award to the COR.

18 If a client already submitted a PPQ on our behalf for Solicitation #75R60224R00003 (prior to the original RFP being canceled on Jan 4), does the client need to submit another copy for new Solicitation #75R60224R00007 by Feb 15 or will the already submitted PPQ be acceptable?

Section L

20-21

Yes, 75R60224R00003 was cancelled, therefor all associated submissions and correspondence was also cancelled.

19 If a contractor has experience with more than 8-10 HHS and HRSA data sets, is it acceptable for them to select the most relevant to highlight in the matrix with examples and to list additional data set(s)/assets in the narrative?

Section L

It is up to the offeror have they to convey their experience.

20 In the Volume I Parent IDIQ Technical Proposal, is it acceptable to include hyperlinks to publicly available sample work documents to fulfill the requests for 12 example work products (3 short form written materials, 3 long form written materials, 3 visual displays of information, and 3 briefing materials)?

Section L

13-14

There should be 3 examples each of both short- and long-form written materials and visual displays of information. The examples should be submitted in their entirety and be included in the appendix. They will not count towards the page limit.

21 For the 12 example work products (3 short form written materials, 3 long form written materials, 3 visual displays of information, and 3 briefing materials), may we include the samples in the appendices to the Volume I Parent IDIQ Technical Proposal, outside of the 100 page limit on the volume?

Section L

13-14

These examples can be included in the appendix, and will be excluded from the page limit.

22 In Hypothetical Project #4: Data Optimization Project, there are two requirements addressing data collection instruments. Are these two separate instruments, or do both requirements speak to the same data collection instrument?

The two requirements on page 20 of Section L are copied below:

• Propose a common, harmonized data collection instrument for HRSA, with specific data variables to be collected. Ensure compliance with OMB, HHS, and HRSA data collection requirements, including requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, Human Subjects Protection and Institutional Review Board.

• Develop a data instrument that will collect information from clients about the performance of providers in providing STI screening and testing, according to program specifications (no more than 10 questions, no protected identifiable information, unique identifier).

Section L

These are two data collection instruments.

23 Can HRSA confirm that while the RFP is now requesting the summary matrix listing past projects on HRSA program and policy areas and related issues for HRSA priority populations in Subfactor 2 - Understanding of the Problem, the detailed project example write ups that match the matrix entries remain in Subfactor 4 - Organizational Experience. The end result will have the matrix and connected examples presented in separate sections of the RFP response document for reviewers.

Section L

8; 13

Yes. The matrix and connected examples will be presented in separate sections of the proposal.

24 Attachment G provides different columns for hourly labor rates for each Task Area. Are offerors to propose different rates for the same labor category for each Task Area, or should proposed labor category rates be consistent across Task Areas?

Attachment G

N/A, Attachment G

Offerors should fillin rates as applicable. They may be the same or they may be different depending on the task.

25 In which proposal volume should Offerors include the Conflict of Interest disclosures included in section H.7?

Section H.7

Conflict of Interest disclosures will be completed after award and at the task order level.

26 Does HRSA contemplate providing consent to subcontract in accordance with FAR 52.244-2 (Subcontracts) in Section I at the IDIQ level or with each individual Task Order?

Section I

All small business setasides and subcontracting plans will be established at the task order level

27 Can proposed personnel be listed in multiple labor categories as provided in the task area personnel matrices?

Section L.3.4.Subfactor 3

Yes

28 In which proposal volume should Offerors include a completed Section K, Representations and Certifications?

Section K Begins on Page 37 of

Please include all Section K documents and responses with your 1449.

29 The solicitation states “The Offeror shall include up to three (3) relevant examples of recent (within the past 5 years) evaluation studies, other evidence-building activities, communication and dissemination activities and products, and data optimization project experiences....”.

Should Offeror examples be included as an appendix to Subfactor 2:

Understanding the Problem? Or, do they count against the page count for Volume I IDIQ Technical Proposal?

Section L.3.4 Subfactor 2 - Understanding the Problem

Examples are included in the page count.

30 The solicitation states “The Offeror shall include up to three (3) relevant examples of recent (within the past 5 years) evaluation studies, other evidence-building activities, communication and dissemination activities and products, and data optimization project experiences....”.

Does the Government want examples to be written descriptions of experience or for Offerors to provide example deliverables and products that exemplify the work that is aligned with that Task Area?

Section L.3.4 Subfactor 2 - Understanding the Problem

Offerors should include a brief narrative description/summary of the examples.

31 The solicitation states “Include three (3) examples each of both short- and long-form written materials and three (3) examples of visual displays of information. The Offeror may include peer-reviewed journal articles and presentations at national conferences for organizations such as the American Public Health Association (APHA) as well as recently published articles on relevant topics of interest....”.

Should Offeror examples be included as an appendix to Subfactor 4 - Organizational Experience? Or, do they count against the page count for Volume I IDIQ Technical Proposal?

Section L.3.4 Subfactor 4 - Organizational Experience

The Offeror should provide brief descriptions of the examples in Volume I IDIQ Technical Proposal and include the examples in the appendix to Subfactor 4.

32 The solicitation states “Include three (3) examples each of both short- and long-form written materials and three (3) examples of visual displays of information. The Offeror may include peer-reviewed journal articles and presentations at national conferences for organizations such as the American Public Health Association (APHA) as well as recently published articles on relevant topics of interest....”.

Does the Government want examples to be written descriptions of experience or for Offerors to provide example deliverables and products that exemplify the work that is aligned with that Task Area?

Section L.3.4 Subfactor 4 - Organizational Experience

Offeror should submit example deliverables and products.

33 The solicitation states “The Offeror shall include three (3) examples of briefing materials.”.

Should Offeror examples be included as an appendix to Subfactor 4 - Organizational Experience? Or, do they count against the page count for Volume I IDIQ Technical Proposal?

Section L.3.4 Subfactor 4 - Organizational Experience

Materials can be included in the appendix.

34 The solicitation states “The Offeror shall include three (3) examples of briefing materials.”.

Does the Government want examples to be written descriptions of experience or for Offerors to provide example deliverables and products that exemplify the work that is aligned with that Task Area?

Section L.3.4 Subfactor 4 - Organizational Experience

Offerors should include a brief narrative description/summary of the examples.

35 Section L.3.4 Subfactor 3 - Project Management, Personnel and Staffing, Planning Approach: Personnel and Staffing requires Offeror to, "include a summary matrix of available personnel, by labor category and task area, noting areas of specific expertise or experience in specific activities."

May offeror provide the required matrices in appendices, outside of 100 page limit, as opposed to within the Personnel and Staffing section, and in the page count limit (100 pages) of the technical volume?

Section L.3.4 Subfactor 3 - Project Management, Personnel and Staffing, Planning Approach

Page 10-11 of 30

No. The summary matrix should be included in the Subfactor 3 by personnel, labor category, expertise, and task area; however, the matrices do not count against the page limit. The resumes shall be in the appendix

36 Section B.2(2) incorporates a chart of unloaded labor rates; however, Section L.6.2(1)(a) requires that offerors propose “fully burdened labor rates”, which align with the types of orders contemplated in Section B.2(1)- Time& Materials, Labor hour, Firm Fixed Price, or combination thereof. Please clarify that fully burdened labor rates as proposed in Attachment G will replace this Section B.2(2) and will serve as fully burdened, hourly, ceiling rates.

Section B.2, Compensation, subsection 2

The rates proposed in attachment G do serve as the fully burdened, hourly, ceiling rates.

37 Section B.2(2) presents a table of unloaded ceiling labor rates and states that “Contractors shall not exceed these rates, for any reason.” However, fully burdened labor rates are requested by the soliciation, and unburdened labor rates would not be bid or billed under the Task Order types contemplated in B.2(1). In accordance with FAR 52.232-7 (Payments Under Time & Materials Labor Hours) all staff, consultants, and subcontractors providing labor under a prescribed labor categories will be billed at the fixed, fully-burdened, labor category rate prescribed in the relevant Task Order. Please clarify that fully burdened labor rates as proposed in Attachment G will replace this section B.2(2) and will serve as fully burdened ceiling rates.

Section B.2, Compensation, subsection 2

Confirmed

38 Section B.2(2) states that “Contractors must adhere to HHSAR 352-231-70 Salary Rate Limitation (DEC 2015) and cannot bill the Government for more than the Executive Level II annual salary.” Please clarify that HHS’ position remains that this limitation is an annual limitation for the subject contract, as opposed to an hourly rate limitation, as clarified in questions 14 and 12, respectively, in the HHS Q&A: https://www.hhs.gov/grants-contracts/contracts/contract-policies-regulations/salary-rate-limitation/index.html

Section B.2, Compensation, subsection 2

Correct, this is an annual limitation, in accordance with the HHSAR.

39 Section E.2 incorporates FAR 52.246-5; however, no Cost Reimbursement type Task Orders, as defined in FAR 16.3, are contemplated by B.2(1), but rather Fixed Price, Time & Materials and Labor Hour Task Orders, as defined in FAR 16.2 and 16.6 respectively, to which the remaining clauses in E.2 apply. We ask that HRSA remove FAR 52.246-5 as it is not applicable to the contemplated Task Order types.

Section E.2, Inspection

FAR 52.246-5 is removed

40 Section I.1(A) incorporates FAR 52.215-10 and FAR 52.215-11 which, in accordance with the prescription clauses FAR 15.408(b) and (c) respectively, are only applicable when certified cost or pricing data are required. We ask that these clauses be removed from Section I as they are not applicable to this solicitation.

Section I.1, subsection A, FAR 52.252-2 Clauses Incorproated by Reference (FEB 1998)

52.215-10 and 52.215-11 are removed

41 Can allowable education and experience substitutions be included in the Labor Categories attachment H (e.g., In lieu of a Master Degree and 10 years, would HRSA accept a Bachelor’s degree and 12 years and so on for each level)?

Section J, Attachment H Education and experience equivalencies are permitted.

42 Attachment H indicates Leadership personnel must have a doctoral degree on

p. 2, but Appendix One indicates that the minimum qualification for Senior/Lead personnel is an MA/MS. Can HRSA clarify the education and experience for Leadership personnel?

Section J, Attachment H

Page 2 and page 52 of

A combination of more than 10 years of relevant experience and advanced degree (MA/MS degree or higher) is acceptable.

43 Can HRSA identify an estimated start date for purposes of rate development? Section J, Attachment G N/A, Attachment G

Estimated start date of IDIQs (not necessariliy task orders) will be the end of September, 2024.

44 In the case of an Offeror being supported by one or more subcontractors or consultants, does HRSA expect the Offeror to provide (a) a single set of labor category rates that would be used for all staff, consultants, or subcontractors contemplated by the Offeror; or, (b) separate labor category rate spreadsheets for the Offeror and each subcontractor?

Section J, Attachment G

N/A, Attachment G

A single set for all labor categories

45 The solicitation states, "HRSA reserves the right to award any of the hypotheticals provided as the first task order under this IDIQ." The solicitation goes on to note, "The Offeror shall provide a proposed technical approach ONLY (no cost or past performance volumes) to the four hypothetical projects."

If HRSA elects to award a hypothetical task order and no cost proposal is expected or provided, what will be the basis of the pricing for the hypothetical task order?

L.4 Volume II Hypothetical Technical Proposals

If award of a task order from the hypotheticals becomes a reality, negotiations will begin in order to evaluate pricing.

46 Could the government please confirm whether the Past Performance Questionnaire is due at 11am EDT on February 15?

Section L

With these extension of the propsoals due date, Past performance questionaires are due at 10:00 AM EST on February 22nd, 2024.

47 Could the government please confirm the award types (e.g., Time and Materials, Fixed Price, etc.) that will be released from Task Orders under this

IDIQ?

Standard Form 33

All commercial types of task orders will be possible and established at the task order level.

48 Would it be acceptable to list separate rates for subcontractor firms by labor category? For example, is it acceptable to have rates listed as:

“Technical Personnel (Prime Contractor): $XXX Technical Personnel (Subcontractor): $YYY”

Section J Attachment G – Pricing Template

N/A

No, offerors shall propose their own rate ceilings.

49 Should Offerors assume that the Task Hours in columns B, E, H, and K are fixed?

Section J Attachment G – Pricing Template N/A

Yes, they are for planning purposes only.

50 Is it required for Offerors to fill all labor categories, either through their own employees or through subcontractors?

Section J Attachment G Pricing Template N/A

Yes

Is it acceptable for Offerors to note that a labor category would be an open position to be hired?

Section J Attachment G Pricing Template

N/A

A labor category is a possible category to be required in a task order during the life of the IDIQ. It is necessary for the offer to establish the rate ceiling for that category in case they ever need to include that within a business proposal at the task order level.

52 Would HRSA accept any experience equivalencies for degree requirements?

For example, if someone had 15 years of experience and a Bachelor's degree, instead of 10 years of experience and a Master's degree, would that be considered equivalent qualifications for the Senior Project Management category?

Section J Attachment H

N/A

Education and experience equivalencies are permitted.

Would the government please clarify the meaning of Section H.7.A.4., “All contractors providing evaluation services under this solicitation are prohibited from submitting offers as prime, team members or subcontractors”?

Section H

Word "not" was omitted.

54 May Offerors reference Volume I: Parent IDIQ Technical Proposal in Volume II: Hypothetical Technical Proposals?

Section L

Yes

May the table of contents and a cover page be exempt from the page limits?

Section L 2, 3, 4

Yes

56 What should Offerors include in Volume IV: VPAT? Should Offerors complete a VPAT for both the overall Technical Proposal and the four Hypotheticals Projects?

Section L

2, 22

No VPAT is required for the hypotheticals.

57 Would the government please confirm whether Offerors should complete a Subcontracting Plan for this proposal?

Section L & Section M 2, 22, 29

No subcontracting plan is required for the IDIQ proposal. Instructions on what is required regarding subcontracting plans are in the instructions to offerors.

58 If a subcontracting plan is required for this proposal, would the government please confirm how the Subcontracting Plan should be submitted? Per solicitation page 22, the subcontracting plan “is submitted separately from the technical and cost proposals,” but is included in the Volume IV - Price Proposal requirements on page 2.

Section L

2, 22

N/A

59 Would the government confirm how the key technical skills/capacities listed in Volume I: Subfactor 1 relate to the four hypothetical projects?

Is it a 1:1 mapping of criteria to each hypothetical project? That is, should Offerors assume that the key technical skills/capacities align as follows:

Program Evaluation Factors (pg. 4) = Hypothetical 1 Other Evidence-Building Activities (pg. 5) = Hypothetical 2 Communication and Dissemination (pg. 6) = Hypothetical 3 Data Optimization (pg. 7) = Hypothetical 4

Alternately, are the factors listed applied wholistically across all hypothetical projects?

Section L

4-8, 15-20

To the first question: Key technical skills/capacities included in Volume I: Subfactor 1 could be applied to each/any of the Hypothetical Projects as appropriate. There is no direct cross walk. To the second question:

please refer to section M.5 Evaluation Criteria for a description of HRSA's approach to evaluate proporals.

60 Should Offerors discuss ten total major program and policy areas and related issues for HRSA priority populations or should Offerors include ten examples per category (i.e., 20 total)?

Section L

Offerors should include summary and examples as specified in requirements for Vol. 1 Subfactor 2 - Understanding the Problem

61 Could the government please clarify to which section the following instruction from solicitation page 13 refers: “A brief narrative description shall be included for one example of each issue(s) and/or population(s) depicted in Volume I Subfactor 2 Understanding the Problem section with which the Offeror has previous experience”? Should Offerors include one brief narrative description for each major program and policy areas and related issues for HRSA priority populations with they have previous experience? Or does this instruction refer to a different section?

Section L

8, 13

Yes, the instruction refers to Volume I Subfactor 2 Understanding the Problem.

62 Should Offerors provide up to three recent and relevant examples of communication and dissemination strategies per category (i.e., up to nine examples) or up to three examples total?

Section L

Offeror should provide up to three examples per category - evaluation, other evidence-building activities and data optimization (i.e, up to 9 examples).

May the summary matrices of available personnel be submitted as appendices and thus be exempt from the page limit?

Section L

10, 11

No. The summary of available personnel by labor category and task area should be included in the Personnel and Staffing section; however, the matrices are exempt from the page limit. Resumes shall be provided in the appendix.

For Hypothetical Project #1: Impact Evaluation Project, is the government seeking an impact evaluation of health centers as a whole program, a component/program embedded within the health center program or either?

The solicitation first asks for “an impact evaluation of the Health Centers program” and then refers to a hypothetical program (“the impact evaluation developed in response to this hypothetical program…”).

Section L

15-17

The Offeror should prepare an impact evaluation of one program administered by Health Centers. The Offeror should make assumptions about such things as: the type of Health Centers to include in the evaluation;

the program to be evaluated; the number of Health Centers to include etc). These assumptions should be stated in the Offeror's response to Subfactor 1 for Hypothetical Project #1.

Hypothetical #1 asks for proposals to “identify performance and quality measure(s) to define how success is being measured for achieving program outcomes as well as for use by HRSA for required annual reporting through the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act of 2010.” Should Offerors identify new measures of program success or should they select from among existing measures of success currently being used by HRSA?

Section L

The Offeror should identify new measure(s) of performance and quality to measure success of the program they are evaluating.

We received the notice on 12/7/2023 from the Office of Acquisition Management Services that “HHS has recently issued agency-wide policy that designates the following General Services Administration (GSA) vehicles as mandatory use: One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services (OASIS) and the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) – Professional Services Schedule (PSS).” How does HRSA plan to use this IDIQ given that directive?

Overall

N/A

Until further notice, this IDIQ is exempt from that directive and all requirements meeting the capabilites of this IDIQ will be competed under this IDIQ.

67 We will highlight the 9 requested communications examples (3 short format, 3 long format, and 3 visual displays of information) in the body of the proposal.

Can HRSA please confirm that the full materials themselves can be included as appendices?

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS,

CONDITIONS AND NOTICES TO

OFFERORS

Materials can be included in the appendix.

68 Can HRSA provide clarification about what is meant by the following statement: "All contractors providing evaluation services under this solicitation are prohibited from submitting offers as prime, team members or subcontractors." In particular, can HRSA articulate if there are any contractors that are excluded (as "contractors providing evaluation services")? We understand if a contractor is helping to implement a program, they might be precluded from evaluating said program; however, at the IDIQ level we are wondering how this exclusion applies.

SECTION H – SPECIAL CONTRACT

REQUIREMENTS - H.7 Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI)

All contractors providing evaluation services under this solicitation are NOT prohibited from submitting offers as prime, team members or subcontractors

69 Given the Pricing Template shows hours for only a subset of labor categories in each given task area, is it HRSA's intent for offerors not to propose labor category rates where there are no hours? For example, in Task Area 2, there are no hours supplied in column E, rows 10-23. In cases where there are no task hours supplied, should offerors still present labor category rates for all categories that are relevant, understanding that those rates will not then be multiplied by task hours (e.g., column E, or 1040 hours) and therefore not yield a total dollar amount (e.g.,column G).

SECTION J ATTACHMENT G - PRICING

TEMPLATE

N/A

All labor ceilings must be proposed. Those without labor hour estimates will not be multiplied.

70 L.6.2 instructions say to use Section J Att G to provide the fully burdened hourly labor category rates. Section B.2.2 of the proposed contract will contain a table of "The maximum unloaded hourly rates (specified below) are ceiling rates for the life of the contract." If Offerors propose fully burdened Labor Category rates per attachment G, how will unburdened labor category ceiling rates be derived?

SECTION J ATTACHMENT G - PRICING

TEMPLATE and

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS,

CONDITIONS AND NOTICES TO

OFFERORS Section L Pages 21-

Section B Page 2

Section B.2.2 has been removed.

71 Section B.2.1 indicates that Individual task orders may be awarded on a labor hour, time and material, firm-fixed price, or a combination of these types .

Section B.2.2 of the proposed contract will contain a table of "The maximum unloaded hourly rates (specified below) are ceiling rates for the life of the contract." which implies cost-type task orders. [emphasis added] Are these sections in conflict?

SECTION B Compensation

Section B.2.2 has been removed.

72 This section states that for Past Performance Questionnaires, "the completed questionnaire shall be submitted by the client via email in PDF format to HRSAIDIQ@hrsa.gov." For prime offerors interested in including a CPARS from a proposed subcontractor, would HRSA accept a copy of the CPARS emailed directly from the proposed subcontractor to HRSA using the same e-mail and including appropriate reference to the prime offeror, so as to protect the subcontractor's proprietary information in the CPARS?

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS,

CONDITIONS AND NOTICES TO

OFFERORS; L.5 Volume III Past Performance

Yes

73 In which volume should the organizational conflict of interest statement be included in the proposal?

Section H.7

Conflict of Interest disclosures will be completed after award and at the task order level.

74 Should Section K.3.(f) be K.3.(d), or are K.3.(d) and K.3.(e) missing? Section K.3 (f) 41 K.3.(f) is K.3.(d) 75 The page limits for Volume IV Price Proposal in Section L.1.9.d. state "d.

Volume IV Price Proposal – Excel and 1 Page Small Business Subcontracting Plan".

Please confirm where the other price volume information listed in Section L.6 should be included (SF 33, Section B.2 unloaded Lcat ceiling rates table, cost/pricing data, assumptions, and statement of proposal validity) and if there is a page limitation for this information.

Sections L.1.9.d. and L.6.

2 & 21

Section B.2.2 has been removed.

76 In which volume should the completed SF LLL be included in the proposal? Attachment C - SF LLL Dislcosure of Lobbying Activities

Attachment C is due after award

77 Section B.2 requires “unloaded labor category ceiling rates” and Section L.6.2 requires “fully burdened” rates in Attachment G.

Can HRSA please confirm which rates will be analyzed to determine fairness and reasonableness, in accordance with Section M.5.3?

Section B.2 Sections L.6.2, M.5.3 Attachment G 2

21 & 28 Att G

Section B.2.2 has been removed.

78 Section B.2 requires “unloaded labor category ceiling rates” and Section L.6.2 requires “fully burdened” rates in Attachment G.

Can HRSA please confirm which rates will be incorporated into the IDIQ contract as ceiling rates and used for the pricing of the anticipated labor hour, time and material, and firm-fixed price task orders?

Section B.2 Sections L.6.2 Attachment G

Att G

Section B.2.2 has been removed.

79 The degree topic areas for Leadership and Senior Technical personnel labor category positions are very restrictive (evaluation, operations research, public health, or related field). One of our leaders has extensive experience (over 20 years) leading health and public health evaluations but has a PhD in political communication. Does that meet the requirements of a related field?

J, Attachment H

1 to 4

Yes

80 Two of our references had previously submitted past performance forms as part of the previous solicitation (#75R60224R00003) for this IDIQ, which was canceled. Can those previously submitted forms be used for this solicitation? Or must we ask references to submit new forms?

L.5

New forms must be submitted

81 Section L.3 requires 3 examples each of both short-and long-form written materials and 3 examples of visual displays of information. Can you confirm that this means 3 examples of short-form written materials, 3 examples of long-form written materials, and 3 examples of visual displays? Can you also confirm that these examples should be submitted in their entirety (i.e., a full journal article, not an excerpt or link)? Where in the Technical Proposal should these be included? Will the examples count towards the page limit of 100 pages?

L.3

13 to 14

There should be 3 examples each of both short- and long-form written materials and visual displays of information. The examples should be submitted in their entirety and be included in the appendix. They will not count towards the page limit.

82 Section L.4 requires that Volume II Hypothetical Technical proposal response be organized using subfactors 1 and 2. Does this mean that the entire hypothetical technical proposal should have two sections (Subfactor 1 and 2) for each of the four hypotheticals? Or should each of the four hypotheticals be organized into two sections using Subfactors 1 and 2?

L.4

Each Hypothetical Project should be organized into two sections using Subfactors 1 and 2 (total of 4 Subfactor 1 and 4 Subfactor 2)

83 The RFP requires deep experience in 4 distinct areas. This request suggests that this IDIQ may not be well-suited for small businesses. Do you anticipate releasing small business opportunities under this IDIQ? Will you consider allowing small businesses to apply for two of the areas instead of four?

Small business capabilities will be established at the task order level.

84 Should the transmittal letter be included with the Technical Proposal or should it be included as a separate PDF file?

L

The transmittal letter (as applicable) should be part of the techncial proposal

85 Do we need to include letters of commitment from subcontractors? If so, should these letters be from subcontractor organizations or from each individual working for subcontractor organizations?

Letters of commitment are not required

86 The list of labor categories in Attachment H includes several proposed job titles and position names. Do we need to identify staff using these positions?

Or should we only list staff by labor category for purposes of the IDIQ proposal?

J, Attachment H all

Offerors must identify rates, even they don't currently have staff for every category.

87 Will the Government please confirm that Volume IV Price Proposal has no page limit or size limitation for the overall volume?

Section L.1.9.d

Correct

88 Will the Government please confirm that “Volume V Sub- VPAT” should instead read “Volume V VPAT”

Section L.1.9.e

Correct

89 Will the Government please confirm that an Executive Summary can be included and does not count toward the Volume I Parent IDIQ Technical Proposal page limit?

Section L.3.2

3-4

Executive summary does not count toward proposal page limit.

90 Will the Government please confirm that the “plan with clear strategies for handling data security” can be included as an Appendix to Volume I Parent IDIQ Technical Proposal and excluded from the page limit?

Section L.3.4, Subfactor 3, Project Management

The response to this requirement should be included in the proposal and not in an appendix.

91 Will the Government please confirm that the examples of Short Form Written Materials, Long Form Written Materials, Visual Displays of Information, and Briefing Materials can be included as Appendices to the Volume I Parent IDIQ Technical Proposal and excluded from the page limit?

Section L.3.4, Subfactor 4

13-14

These examples can be included in the appendix, and will be excluded from the page limit.

92 Will the Government please confirm that the Past Performance Questionnaire referenced in the 3rd paragraph should be listed as “Attachment E”?

Section L.5

Correct

93 Will the Government please confirm whether Volume III should be referred to as a “Price Proposal” (Section L.7) or a “Price Quote” (Section M.5.3)?

Section L.6; Section M.5.3

21, 28

This is a price proposal

94 Will the Government please confirm that the HHS Subcontracting Plan Template (Attachment D) should be included in Volume IV of the proposal?

Section M.5.3

28-29

Correct

95 Will the Government please confirm the full HHS Subcontracting Plan Template (Attachment D) must be completed at the IDIQ level instead of a one-page plan of the offeror’s choosing?

Attachment D, HHS Subcontracting Plan Template all

No, subcontracting plans will be established as applicable at the task order level.

96 Will the Government please confirm which placeholder dollar amount should be used for “total dollars planned to be subcontracted under this contract” for the IDIQ?

Attachment D, HHS Subcontracting Plan Template

2-4

This will be completed at the task order level, as applicable.

98 Will the Government please confirm that References can be included in Volumes I and II, outside of the page limits for each overall volume?

Sections L.1.9.a and L.1.9.b

Yes

99 For the Understanding the Problem section, can HRSA please confirm if the “Understanding communication and dissemination strategies” project examples and the “Understanding HHS and HRSA data assets ” project examples can be ongoing, or do the projects need to be completed?

Section L.3, Subfactor 2

Project examples can be ongoing as well as completed.

100 The solicitation states that "Offerors shall submit their finalized CPARS ratings" and "Acceptable methods for providing a total of (3) past performance references are... Contractor Performance Assessment System (CPARS) reports/ratings." We have been informed by our subcontractor that company policy prevents them from sharing any detailed CPARS information with partners. Would it be acceptable for the subcontractor to submit the CPARS report/rating directly to HRSAIDIQ@hrsa.gov as per the procedure for Past Performance Questionnaires in Attachment D?

RFP Section L + M, L.5 Volume III Past Performance

20-21

Yes

101 Does HRSA require a new submission of Past Performance Questionnaires for projects previously submitted before the cancellation and re-release of the HRSA IDIQ bid, or will the initially submitted PPQs still be valid?

RFP Section L + M, L.5 Volume III Past Performance

20-21

New submissions are required

97 Will the Government please confirm unloaded labor category (LCAT) ceiling rates only need to be provided if offerors are proposing a build-up approach to

B.2 Unloaded Labor Category (LCAT) Ceiling Rates

Section B.2.2 has been removed.

102 Are there specific requirements for content in the Past Performance volume beyond CPARS and Past Performance Questionnaires? Specifically, does the government require narrative descriptions of past performance examples in this section?

RFP Section L + M; L.5 Volume III Past Performance

It is the offeror's responsibility to convey their recent and relevent experience in accordance with the solicitation

103 For examples of recent and relevant past projects required in the Volume I Parent IDIQ Technical Proposal, would the government accept projects led by staff employed at the firm, but executed prior to their employment at the firm?

RFP Section L + M; Factor 1 - Technical, Subfactor 1 - Technical Approach and Subfactor 2 - Understanding the Problem

4, 8-9

HRSA welcomes descriptions of project examples that reflect current organizational and staff capacity

L.1 General instructions indicate that "where data and/or information appear in one part, it does not have to be repeated in any other part; however, it shall be cross referenced by indicating the specific location including the volume and page number as a minimum." The instructions also state that each volume "shall be submitted separately and clearly labeled. Each of these parts shall be separate and complete in itself so that the evaluation of one may be accomplished independently of the evaluation of the other." Several sections of the Parent Technical (Volume I), in particular the contractors approach to project management, subcontractor management, and quality assurance are also required in Volume II Hypothetical Technical Proposals. For Volume II, would the government accept a brief explanation relevant to each hypothetical with reference to the separate Volume I for more detailed information?

RFP Section L + M, Section L.1 General Instructions, items #3 and #8

1-2

Yes. The response in Volume II should be specific, with some detail/reference to the Hypothetical project and may include relevant references to Volume I as needed for more detailed information.

105 Bullet 1 states "Provide the names, educational background, professional experience (including number of years of experience), and professional/technical accomplishments of all personnel, organized by Task Area (found in the statement of work/Attachment A of the RFP) and labor category (found in Attachment B of the RFP)." Bullet 3 states "The Offeror shall include a summary matrix of available personnel, by labor category and task area, noting areas of specific expertise or experience in specific activities..." Are these 2 separate requirements?

RFP Section L + M, Section L.3 Volume I Parent IDIQ Technical Proposal, Subfactor 3 - Project Management, Personnel and Staffing, Planning Approach, Personnel and Staffing

10-11

Yes; the matrix provides a summary of experience of the available personnel, while the narrative enables the offeror to provide additional information as needed.

106 Requirements for hypothetical #1 include "Develop and prepare a complete OMB clearance package." Could the government indicate how much time is anticipated for acquiring OMB approval in Hypothetical 1?

RFP Section L + M; L.4 Volume II Hypothetical Technical Proposals, Hypothetical Project #1: Impact Evaluation Project 16

The Offeror should assume a 5-10 month time frame for approval of a new Information Collection Request, depending on the complexity of the offeror's proposed approach.

107 Requirements for hypothetical #3 include "Develop a data collection and data analysis plan that describes primary data collection and incorporates secondary data sources" but OMB approval is not a requirement of this project. Could the government provide guidance on whether we should plan for OMB approval or not propose primary data collection activities that would require OMB approval?

RFP Section L + M; L.4 Volume II Hypothetical Technical Proposals, Hypothetical Project #3: Descriptive and Predictive Analytics Project

The Offeror should present their project plan and include OMB approval if appropriate.

108 Requirements for the Understanding the Problem section of the technical volume include "Offeror shall include up to three (3) recent (within 5 years) and relevant examples of communication and dissemination strategies used for evaluation studies, other evidence-building activities (e.g., policy studies) and data optimization projects". Should these examples be placed directly into the Understanding section, or should they be placed in an appendix and a link to the appendix be placed in the Understanding section?

RFP Section L + M, Section L.3 Volume I Parent IDIQ Technical Proposal, Subfactor 2 - Understanding the Problem

Examples should be included in the Understanding the Problem section.

109 Requirements for the Understanding the Problem section of the technical volume include "Offeror shall provide up to three (3) examples of recent and relevant work for each data asset or system with which they have experience."

The section then goes on to say "Include a brief narrative description of one project for each of the data assets/systems with which they have experience."

Can you please confirm whether you want 1 or 3 examples for each data asset/system?

RFP Section L + M, Section L.3 Volume I Parent IDIQ Technical Proposal, Subfactor 2 - Understanding the Problem

9-10

Offerors should provide a brief narrative description of one project for each data asset/system with which they have experience (included in the summary matrix).

110 A requirement of the Organizational Experience section states, "Describe their experience in conducting briefings to high-level policymakers and decision makers, including the types of briefings and audiences. The Offeror shall include three (3) examples of briefing materials." Should these examples be placed directly into the Organizational Experience section of the technical volume, or should they be placed in an appendix and a link to the appendix be placed in the Organizational Experience section?

RFP Section L + M, Section L.3 Volume I Parent IDIQ Technical Proposal, Subfactor 4 - Organizational Experience

Offerors may include examples in an appendix. A link to the appendix may be included in the Organizational Experience section.

111 A requirement of the Organizational Experience section states, "Describe their experience in conducting briefings to high-level policymakers and decision makers, including the types of briefings and audiences. The Offeror shall include three (3) examples of briefing materials." Should these examples be placed directly into the Organizational Experience section of the technical volume, or should they be placed in an appendix and a link to the appendix be placed in the Organizational Experience section?

RFP Section L + M, Section L.3 Volume I Parent IDIQ Technical Proposal, Subfactor 4 - Organizational Experience

Offerors may include examples in an appendix. A link to the appendix may be included in the Organizational Experience section.

112 H.7.A(4) says “All contractors providing evaluation services under this solicitation are prohibited from submitting offers as prime, team members or subcontractors.”

a. Can the government please confirm that this prohibition applies only to the programs/services being evaluated by the contractor (that is, a contractor awarded a RFTOP to evaluate HRSA Project X may not then submit an offer—as a prime, subcontractor, or team member—to conduct Project X if/when it is up for recompete)?

b. Can the government please define the length of time during which the awardee is prohibited from submitting an offer per the question above? Is it only for the duration of the IDIQ period of performance? If it extends beyond that period, what is the length of the prohibition?

RFP Section A - J, Section H - Special Contract Requirements

All contractors providing evaluation services under this solicitation are NOT prohibited from submitting offers as prime, team members or subcontractors

113 Can the government please check Section K.3 (Annual Representations and Certifications) to ensure it reflects the latest updates?

RFP Section A - J, Section K - Representations and Certifications 37

52.204-8 has been updated

114 Can the government please clarify if 52.209-7 Information Regarding Responsibility Matters (Oct 2018) (Section K.4 and K.10) should be provided twice?

RFP Section A - J, Section K - Representations and Certifications

43 and 48

It only needs to be provided once

115 Can the government confirm if we are required to submit rates for all LCATs listed in Attachment G Pricing Template?

RFP Sections L + M; Section M.5.3 B

p. 41-42

Yes, all catergories must be established

116 Can the government confirm if we are required to provide positions descriptions for all LCATs provided in the Attachment G Pricing Template?

RFP Sections L + M; Section M.5.3 B

p. 41-42

Section B.2.2 has been removed.

117 Can HRSA clarify how the requirement in Volume 1 Subfactor 4 Organizational Experience for a narrative description for each example of an issue or population depicted in Volume 1 Subfactor 2 Understanding the Problem differs from Volume 1 Subfactor 2 Understanding the Problems’ requirement of identifying and discussing issues for priority populations around program and policy areas? Given that the requirement in Volume 1 Subfactor 2 Understanding the Problem is more detailed, it feels that Volume 1 Subfactor 4 Organizational Experience is redundant.

Section L.4 Subfactor 4 Organizational Experience, Section L.4 Volume 1 Subfactor 2 Understanding the Problem

8, 13

Yes; the offeror may refer back to narrative examples provided in other sections.

118 Can HRSA provide clarification on whether Volume V VPAT should include completed VPATs for proposed technologies to be used in the hypotheticals?

Should a separate VPAT be submitted for each hypothetical? If so, can the page limit be expanded to 25 pages per VPAT?

Section L.7 VPAT

VPATs are not required for hypotheticals. The page limit for VPAT proposals has been removed.

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