Atch J.8 - Questions-Answers - 07-30-2024.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 16 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Housing Insecurity Research Support for the AHS
- Solicitation number
- 86614624Q00001
About this file
This document is a set of questions and answers related to a federal contract opportunity for Housing Insecurity Research Support for the American Housing Survey (AHS). The key details are:
The solicitation is for a contract to provide services for housing insecurity research support, including generating an updated literature review, convening an expert roundtable, developing analysis plans, analyzing AHS public use data, and producing interim and final reports. It is a commercial item procurement conducted under FAR Part 13.5 with a 100% small business set-aside. The NAICS code is 541720 - Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Questions are due July 5, 2024 and proposals are due July 26, 2024. This is a re-procurement of previous contract 86614619C00008, which was awarded to 2M Research Services LLC. The government will not disclose the anticipated budget for this effort.
View the file
Other files
Show all 15
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
Questions & Comments
| Questions and Comments |
| 86614624Q00001 - Housing Insecurity Research Support for the AHS |
| Amendment 0003 | ||||||
| Section | Section Title | Reference | Topic | Page # | Question | Answer |
| Section C | Performance Work Statement | C.6.0 & C.5.4.2 | Deliverables | 37 | The schedule of deliverables in the RFP as part of Amendment 0002 requires submitting the draft deliverable 5.4.2, Analysis Plan for Contract Year 2, in Week 29 and the Final in Week 32 and Deliverable 5.3.4, Expert Roundtable Feedback Report, due in week 33. Would HUD consider modifying the deliverable schedule so that the Draft and Final Analysis Plan for Contract Year 2 are due after the Expert Roundtable Feedback Report, so that input from the experts and concepts developed through the Expert Roundtable Feedback Report can inform the Final Analysis Plan for Contract Year 2? | The Government agrees to modify the schedule. The Final Analysis Plan for Contract Year 2 (A015) is due no later than thirty-four (34) weeks after contract award. |
Please note that per Section C.5.5.3, that the Final Analysis Plan for Contract Year 2 (A021) will be resubmitted in Week 55 after the initial data analysis in the base year.
See amended solicitation Sections C.5.4.2, C.6.0 Deliverables and C.7.0 Performance Requirement Summary (PRS) .
Section J List of Attachments Atch J.8 - Questions & Answers Key Personnel Row 15 HUD confirmed in row 15 of Attachment J8, Questions & Answers document, that only the project manager, senior technical staff, and alternate project manager are key personnel, and not the technical staff. However, in Section G.5, HUDAR 2452.237-70 KEY PERSONNEL, of the RFP, the technical staff (Analyst and Research Assistant) are included in this section. Could HUD confirm if the Analyst and Research Assistant are considered key personnel? The Analyst and Research Assistant are not considered key personnel.
See amended solicitation G.5 HUDAR 2452.237-70 KEY PERSONNEL.
| Section L | Quote Submission, Volume III - Business Price Proposal | L.12 | Attachment J.7: Labor Categories | 110 | In Attachment J7, on the Excel tab titled “3-Price Volume – Base Year” in Section 5 (rows 9 – 13), may bidders propose more than one rate for a particular labor category? If so, should bidders add rows under Section 5 for each rate? | Yes, offerors may propose more than one rate for a particular labor category. Bidders should add rows under Section 5 for each rate and state the different titles or levels that differentiate the varioius rates. |
| Section L | Quote Submission, Volume III - Business Price Proposal | L.12 | Attachment J. 7: Labor Categories | 26 | In Attachment J7, on the Excel tab titled “3-Price Volume – Base Year” in Section 5 (rows 9 – 13), may bidders propose additional labor categories than the four specified? If so, should bidders add rows under Section 5 for the additional labor categories? | Yes, offerors may propose additional labor categories beyond the four specified. Bidders should add rows under Section 5 for the additional labor categories and state which major labor category under Section 5 will best fit the additional labor categories. |
| Amendment 0002 | ||||||
| Section | Section Title | Reference | Topic | Page # | Question | Answer |
| Section C | Performance Work Statement | C.5.0.a | Editorial Standards | 19-20 | Can the government confirm that only the following three deliverables need to be 508-compliant, as recommended at the end of Section 5.0.b. Editorial Standards for Written Reports/Briefs: |
- 5.2 Generate an Updated Literature Review on Housing Insecurity,
- 5.6 Produce Interim Report,
- 5.7 Generate Final Report? Confirmed. Per Section C.5.0.a., only Tasks 5.2, 5.6, and 5.7 require Section 508 compliance. Note that the Analysis Plans described in Tasks 5.4.1 and 5.4.2, which are to be included in the technical appendix to the Interim and Final Reports, must also be in full compliance when they are submitted as part of these reports.
See amended solicitation Section C.5.0.a. Editorial Standards.
| Section C | Performance Work Statement | C.5.1 | Project Management | 20 | How much travel should the contractors anticipate, if any? | No travel is required per Section C. Travel, if required, would be a cost reimbursement CLIN detailed in Section C.5.0. Per C.1.11, this is a fixed-price contract, and all travel costs are included in the fixed unit price. |
| Section C | Performance Work Statement | C.5.1 | Project Management | 20 | How engaged would HUD staff be in this work? Are staff available for collaboration, meetings, thought partnership, etc. or is the expectation that the contractors work independently? | Government engagement will vary by task in accordance with Section C, Performance Work Statement (PWS). In general, the Government will provide guidance as needed, with specific tasks outlining the expected level of interaction and support. |
| Section C | Performance Work Statement | C.5.1.2 | Management Plan | 21-22 | States, “An organization chart with key personnel roles and names, including subcontractors and teaming Partners”. L.7.1 Factor 1: Technical Approach – Volume I (page 97) Section (c) (1): States, “Key positions/roles and responsibilities (position/role and not individuals to be named to such position/role)”. Please clarify if key personnel names are or are not to be included in the organization chart. | Key personnel names should be included in Volume III (Business Price Proposal) as specified in L.12 and L.8(b), but should not be included in Volume I (Technical Approach). In Volume I, only the key positions/roles and responsibilities should be detailed without naming individuals. |
| Section C | Performance Work Statement | C.5.3 | Convene an Expert Roundtable on Housing Insecurity | 24 | Deliverable 5.31 indicates that HUD will provide input on the selection of experts prior to the contractor drafting the list. Have the participants already been identified by HUD? What role do you envision the contractor having in identifying and recruiting participants? | Per Section C.5.3.1, HUD will provide input on the selection of experts. Participants have not been identified by the Government. |
The body of Section C.5.3.1 has been amended to state, "The Contractor shall identify the leading experts on Housing Insecurity Research and Measurement, with guidance from HUD," to clarify contractor requirements.
See amended solicitation Section C.5.3.1.
| Section C | Performance Work Statement | C.5.3 | Convene an Expert Roundtable on Housing Insecurity | 24 | Do you anticipate bringing together the expert panel more than once? | Per Section C.5.3.3, the Expert Panel will conviene only once. |
| Section C | Performance Work Statement | C.5.4 | Develop Analysis Plans for Year 1 and Year 2 of the Contract | 26 | Is use of SAS required, or would an alternative statistical programming language like Stata, R, or SPSS be allowed? | The Contractor may use SAS, STATA, or R for this requirement. SPSS does not allow for replicate-based variance estimation, which is the variance estimation method used for the AHS. |
The body of Section C.5.5.1 has been amended to state, “The Contractor shall write code in SAS, STATA, or R for the analysis of the PUF of the 2023 AHS data. Currently, SAS is the primary programming language used by both HUD and the United States Census Bureau. The Contractor shall ensure that HUD can functionally replicate the results of the analysis as outlined in Tasks 5.5, 5.6, and 5.7.”
All relevant language in regard to SAS coding has been amended to reflect the broader inclusion of coding languages.
Section C Performance Work Statement C.5.4.2 Generate Analysis Plan for Contract Year 2 27 The solicitation states: “Timely: The Contractor shall submit the draft Analysis Plan for Contract Year 2 (Option Year) (A014) no later than twenty-nine (29) weeks after contract award, and the final Analysis Plan for Contract Year 2 (Option Year) (A015) two (2) weeks after receipt of HUD comments, submitted by thirty-one (31) weeks after contract award.” If the government required one week for review and the contractor has two weeks after receipt of HUD comments, then the Final Analysis Plan for Contract Year 2 (Option Year) (A015) can only be submitted after 32 weeks of contract award. Section C.5.4.2 has been amended to state that the Final Analysis Plan for Contract Year 2 (Option Year) (A015) is due 32 weeks after contract award, allowing two (2) weeks after receipt of HUD comments and a one-week review period.
See amended solicitation Section C.5.4.2. Generate Analysis Plan for Contract Year 2, C.6.0 Deliverables & 7.0 Performance Requirement Summary (PRS).
Section C Performance Work Statement C.5.5.1 Develop Statistical Analysis System (SAS) Code for the Analysis of AHS Public Use Data 27-28 Task 5.5.1 is to perform initial analysis of AHS PUF data. In the previous study, only internal use files (IUF) were used. Is the goal to replicate the index using PUF? Will the previous SAS code/files be provided to the contractor? The goal is not to replicate the index using PUF. Offerors may choose to replicate the index using the PUF as part of analysis however, the goal is not merely to replicate the index produced with the IUF from the previous contract. Per Section C, Vision Statement, the contract aims to "Advance research on the measurement and indexing of housing insecurity through updating prior related work, developing housing insecurity indexes with 2023 AHS data, and recommending questions for future iterations of the housing insecurity module."
Code and relevant files from the previous contract may be provided to the contractor upon request, subject to approval for release by the Census Disclosure Review Board.
See amended solicitation Section H.2(1)d.
| Section G | Contract Administration Data | G.1 | Invoice Submissions | 49 | Is there an anticipated budget for this scope of work? | The Government will not disclose the anticipated budget. Offerors should submit proposals based on the solicitation's requirements and scope. |
| Section G | Contract Administration Data | G.5 | HUDAR 2452.237-70 KEY PERSONNEL | 53 | Can the government confirm that only the project manager, senior technical staff, and alternate project manager are key personnel (and not the technical staff)? | Confirmed. However, please note the inclusion the Deputy Research Position as Key Personnel as a result solicitation amendment. The Contractor is not required to have a "Deupty Research Director". |
See amended solicitation Section G.5 & G.6.
Section G Contract Administration Data G.6 Key Personnel and Other Personnel Minimum Experience and Education Requirements 54 We are envisioning a close partnership with a subcontractor. Would it be allowable to have co-Research Directors or other key personnel? Yes, the Government has made an allowance for the type of role described by amending the solicitation to include the position of "Deputy Research Director." The Contractor is not required to have a "Deupty Research Director".
See amended solicitation Sections G.5 and G.6.
Section L Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors L.12.a Quote Submission 106 Would it be possible to extend the submission date to July 31, 2024? Proposal submission due date extended to Friday, July 26, 2024 at 2:00 PM (Eastern)
See amended solicitation SF-1449 Box 8 & Section L.12.a.
Section L Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors L.12.a Quote Submission 106 Can the government confirm the due date for proposal submission? Section L.12. indicates that proposals are due July 19, but box 8 of the SF-1449 form provides a due date of July 25. Proposal submission due date extended to Friday, July 26, 2024 at 2:00 PM (Eastern)
See amended solicitation SF-1449 Box 8 & Section L.12.a.
Section L Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors L.12.a Quote Submission 106 We also request that the due date be extended by approximately 2 weeks to August 13, 2024. Proposal submission due date extended to Friday, July 26, 2024 at 2:00 PM (Eastern)
See amended solicitation SF-1449 Box 8 & Section L.12.a.
| N/A | N/A | N/A | General Inquiry | N/A | Is this a brand new contract, or is there (was there) an incumbent performing these services? If not brand new, could you please provide the current/previous contract number? | This is a re-procurement, intended to continue a line of research support on housing insecurity using the American Housing Survey (AHS). The previous contract, number 86614619C00008, was issued on 09/30/2019 with a 12-month base period of performance and one 12-month option year through 09/29/2021 for Housing Insecurity Research (HIR) Support for the AHS. | ||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | General Inquiry | N/A | Is there a current vendor performing similar services listed within the Solicitation, or is this the first iteration of these services? | |||
| If there is, could you kindly provide me with the current contract # and vendor? | This is not the first iteration of these services. The previous contract number was 86614619C0008 and was awarded to 2M Research Services LLC. |
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .