Questions_and_Answers_IPIA-SAA_-_86543F19R00001.pdf

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

86543F19R00001

Vendor 1:

1. I am hoping to find out if there is an incumbent contractor currently performing these services, if similar services have been performed in the past, or if this is a new requirement. If there is an incumbent, could you please provide the contract or task order number?

ANSWER: The incumbent is the Institute For Building Technology And Safety (IBTS), contract number 86543F18C00006.

Vendor 2:

1. RFP page 49. Please confirm that a flash drive is acceptable for the electronic copy of the proposal response.

ANSWER: Flash drives are not acceptable mediums for the electronic copy submission of the proposal response.

2. RFP page 49. Please confirm that Attachment 1 needs to be submitted in Excel format. As issued, Attachment 1 is a PDF document. If an Excel version is required, please provide.

ANSWER: Attachment 1 as shown in the .pdf version should be submitted in .xls format.

3. Section 1.B. states

a. Technical Proposal: an original plus 5 copies

b. Price Proposal: an original plus three (3) copies.

Section D Submission Addresses requests 4 copies of Part 1 and 2 copies of Part 2. Please clarify the submission instructions for numbers of copies plus the original.

ANSWER: Sections B.1., B.2. and D have been corrected to read a total of 5 copies for Part 1, Technical Proposal and a total of 3 copies for Part II, Business Proposal.

4. RFP page 53. Please clarify if the past performance reference narratives (1 page) are included in either the Technical Approach or Management Plan pages limits.

ANSWER: Narratives are not counted in the Technical Approach or Management Plan page limits. Narratives will be submitted as attachments to Attachment 4 and shall not exceed 1 page per reference. This submission will be included in Part I, Technical Proposal.

5. Performance Work Statement page 9. Please confirm that any reference to the term “days” refers to “business/work days” as defined in Section 2: Definitions.

ANSWER: The use of the term “Day” or “Days” shall be read consistent with the term “business and work days.” However, where the phrase “Calendar Day” is used, it shall have the meaning separately defined in Section 2.

6. Performance Work Statement Section 1.13 Transition In and Section 1.14 Transition Out and Attachment 1 – CLINs. Please clarify the timeframes for the transition-in and transition-out periods.

The Performance Work Statement states 90 days for each and Attachment 1 states 60 days for each.

ANSWER: Attachment 1 is correct. The Transition In and Transition Out period shall be a maximum of 60 days, not 90 days. Attachment 6, PWS, Sections 1.13 and 1.14 have been corrected.

7. Performance Work Statement Section 5.3.5 Perform In-Plant Reviews of Manufacturer Records.

Please clarify the number of days to deliver report.

ANSWER: A written preliminary report is due to HUD within 10 days of conducting the audit.

After feedback/acceptance of the preliminary report, the Contractor has 5 business days to submit the final report. The Performance Standard has been changed to, “100% of Record Review Reports shall be delivered within 5 business days after the receipt of HUD’s acceptance/feedback/comments on the written preliminary report”.

8. Performance Work Statement Section 5.4.8 Provide Internet Materials and Data Access. Please clarify the number of internet materials to be provided annually.

ANSWER: Performance Work Statement Section 5.4.8 envisions a two-step process. Each quarter, the contractor is required to review existing material on HUD’s website and from that review propose a list of materials it recommends the Department revise or post. Any written materials approved by HUD for posting shall be delivered on a semi-annual basis as determined in HUD’s assessment of the quarterly reviews.

9. Performance Work Statement Section 6 Deliverables (A026). Please clarify the number of FOIA Documentation deliverables. Quantity is specified as 2, and frequency is specified as once.

ANSWER: Performance Work Statement Section 6 contains a typographical error. The frequency for deliverable A026 should read “once” with a quantity of “1.” Attachment 6, PWS has been corrected.

10. Will the government confirm that resumes are included? If required, will the government confirm that resumes do not count against Technical Approach and Management Plan page limitations?

ANSWER: Resumes have not been requested as submissions under the solicitation.

11. Recognizing the expectation that work anticipated by this solicitation is performed primarily by the prime contractor (RFP page 55), and expectation for significant state participation in monitoring teams (PWS section 5.1.7), additional subcontracting opportunities may be limited. Please confirm if work that is subcontracted to states to provide for state participation in monitoring teams can be excluded from total planned subcontracting dollars as required in Attachment 8, Subcontracting Plan, as states are not businesses in the traditional sense, and as such, cannot be classified as large or small businesses.

ANSWER: Subcontracting is not limited to large and small business. It is actually is, small and ALL other than small business concerns, which would include (not an exhaustive list):

Large Businesses State & Local Government Non-Profit Organizations Public Utilities Educational Institutions

12. Socioeconomic Participation - Recognizing the expectation that work anticipated by this solicitation is performed primarily by the prime contractor (RFP Evaluation Criteria, Socioeconomic Participation

(1) “Offerors proposing to subcontract 50% or more of the total cost of labor will be considered unacceptable and will not be evaluated”), and expectation for significant state participation in monitoring teams (PWS section 5.1.7), offerors that are other than small may not be able to achieve socioeconomic participation goals. Will the government consider other additional approaches for other than small businesses to achieve higher than a marginally acceptable socioeconomic score, including significant participation of states referenced in other RFP requirements?

ANSWER: For evaluation purposes only, Offerors proposed state government subcontracting dollars will not be included in calculating subcontracting participation. Please see the revised instructions and evaluation criteria, Section V Instructions and Evaluation Criteria.