86614922R00006 questions.docx

1. I would like to confirm if the effort mentioned above considered as new requirement or are there in cumbent contract(s)? If there is an incumbent vendor(s), would you be able to provide the contract details (such as: Vendor Name, Contract Number, Award and end dates, total contract value) please? This BPA solicitation is for a new Best-In-Class HUD-wide award.

2. On page 26 of the sample Task 4.2 PWS (Attachment 10), two submission volumes have been specified Volume 1: Past Performance (Comprised of one section) and Volume 2: Price Proposal (Comprised of three sections). But Pages 28-30 describe the following among the submittals: Technical Approach (Shall not exceed 25 pages) Management Plan (Shall not exceed 15 pages) See revised BPA pages 49-50 Price: Can the Department clarify that among the 2 specified volumes, to which volume do the Technical Approach and Management plan belong? Please provide clarity on the number of proposal volumes to be submitted. See revised BPA pages 49-50

3. For the small business pool, there are two applicable Performance Work Statement Documents, Attachment 1 Performance Work Statement, and Attachment 10 Sample Task 4.2 PWS and QASP Editorial Services. Can the Department provide clarity over which PWS is to be consulted for drafting the response to Technical Approach, Management Plan, and Price? See revised BPA pages 49-50

4. Can the agency provide further details regarding the Volume 1: Past performance, specifically Section 1 - Sample Tasks (Attachments 17 & 18) For the past performance information to be submitted via Attachment 3 Past Performance Information Chart and Attachment 4 Past Performance Survey, are there any minimum or maximum number of performances that need to be adhered to? See page 54 and 55 of the revised BPA

5. 52.219-28 : The RFQ cover page 1 states the NAICS 541611; however, the post award certification required certification each of the following NAICS: 541611; 541211; 541613; 541820; 561410; and 541430. Please confirm that small business awardees for Task 4.2 must meet ALL of the NAICS codes stated. Vendors do NOT need to meet all of the NAICS.

6. Pg 26, Proposal Package Requirements: Pg 26 mentions submission of Volumes 1 and 2. Pg 27 – 30 provides details for submitting Technical Approach and Management Plan. Are these to be provided as Volumes 3 and 4, or included as part of the aforementioned volumes? :Page 26 states “The offeror shall submit a labor mix and level of effort represented by labor categories and number of hours per labor category for the Sample Task.” As part of the Technical Approach, Page 28 states “The offeror shall submit a labor mix and level of effort represented by labor categories and number of hours per labor category.”. Attachment 13 Price Sheet Sample Task 4.2 requests for the offerors to submit unit pricing consistent with the Firm Fixed Price contract type, which appears to be inconsistent with the Technical Approach instructions to provide labor mix and level of effort represented by labor categories and number of hours per labor category. Please confirm we do not need to provide labor mix for this firm fixed price contract and update technical approach instructions and evaluation. See revised BPA pages 49-50 and revised attachments 8, 12 and 13. See revised sample tasks 4.1 and 4.2

7. The offeror’s project schedule demonstrates a clear understanding of the requirements described in PWS Task Area 2: Business Services 5.3.1 through 5.3.5 and meeting the performance objectives outlined within the solicitation.” The offeror must demonstrate how they will successfully coordinate various delivery dates for various properties located throughout the geographic boundaries of the HOC using both the prime and subcontractors with the established timeframes in the PWS. BPA Ordering Terms on page 1 states “Pool 2 ….will be evaluated based on the offeror’s response to Sample Task 2.” We assume this is the same as Sample Task 4.2 (Attachment 10). However, in the instructions and evaluation criteria in Attachment 10 the Government states it is evaluating technical approach based on PWS Task Area 2, 5.3.1 through 5.3.5. There is no 5.3.1 – 5.3.5 in Attachment 10. Is the Government asking us to propose technical approach (and pricing) in response to Section 5.3 in Attachment 1 – BPA PWS or Section 5.2 in Attachment 10 Sample Task 4.2 PWS? See revised BPA pages 49-50 and revised attachments 8, 12 and 13. See revised sample tasks 4.1 and 4.2

8. What is the BPA Ceiling or anticipated value of the BPA? BPAs have no ceiling

9. Does the contractor have access to the enduser subscribe links on the HUD website for Cityscapes? https://www.huduser.gov/portal/subscribe/subscribe.html Also, how do users unsubscribe to the CityScape mailing? The contractor will not have access to the end user Cityscape subscription links on the HUD User website; HUD will regularly provide subscription information to the contractor. To unsubscribe, users email the HUD User Helpdesk

10. Are Peer review processes done virtually/independently or are any peer reviews managed during in person group events? The Contractor would not be responsible for peer review in this sample task.

11. Can the government expand on the Peer review process? How many reviewers per article? What is average duration of review? The Contractor would not be responsible for peer review in this sample task.

12. The solicitation document does not include typical Sections L Proposal Instructions and Section M evaluation criteria. Can HUD please clarify the submission and evaluation requirements for applying for the BPA? Can HUD also please validate what is different in applying for the BPA from the task order responses? See revised BPA pages 49-50 and revised attachments 8, 12 and 13. See revised sample tasks 4.1 and 4.2

13. Our firm’s expertise falls within the PWS SOW but outside of the sample task orders. Are all applicants required to respond to one or both task orders to successfully be awarded a BPA contract? See BPA, page 1 “BPA Ordering” number “c”

14. Can HUD provide the justification why the same two task orders are affiliated with six different NAICS codes? It would seem there is not alignment between the NAICS/SIN and the task orders See PWS that described the various tasks, which may apply across multiple NIACS.

15. Can HUD please revise the size standards for NAICS 541611? In March of 2022, SBA revised the size standards and increased 541611 to $21.5M. Revised

16. The solicitation (p. 45) provides very little detail on proposal package requirements. Can HUD please clarify the proposal submission requirements of the BPA different from the task orders? See revised BPA pages 49-50 and revised attachments 8, 12 and 13. See revised sample tasks 4.1 and 4.2

17. Would HUD consider hosting an industry day to review the requirements of the BPA submission requirements as a follow on to the industry events held in 2019? HUD will not have an industry day

18. The solicitation is posted on sam.gov separately under six different NAICS codes, however there is no difference in the task order requirements for each NAICS. Can HUD please confirm that there is indeed no difference in the requirements for different NAICS codes? The six are identical

19. Under NAICS 541611, there are no special studies, reporting or research activities set aside for small businesses. Does HUD not intend to fund small business set aside research activities? Does HUD only intend to use the small business set aside for editorial support services? This model tends to discriminate against small businesses capable of conducting high quality research. See PWS 5.3 TASK AREA 2; all tasks are set aside for small business participation. TASK AREA 1 is full and open competition so small business may propose as well.

20. Can HUD please clarify that the 2-day startup requirement in Section III, “Performance” section (a) on p. 6, applies to all task orders? Would the requirement to identify the Contractor’s Principal Project Manager to arrange a meeting to discuss scoping under “BPA Calls” section (a) on p. 5 satisfy the “initiated” requirement on p. 6? Yes, it satisfies the 2-day startup.

21. On p. 5, can HUD please revise section (d) Closeout Procedures to remove the requirement for “...a complete accounting of hours expended by category, the prices associated with those hours, any cost reimbursable expenses...”? These are not required for fixed price calls. Removed.

22. On p. 11, please un-check #16 (Utilization of Small Business Concerns) and #17 (Small Business Subcontracting Plan) as they are not applicable. FAR 19.708 is applicable. One of the tasks is unrestricted.

23. The solicitation states a requirement for two key personnel positions on page 28 but does not include any additional information about the requirements for these positions. Please clarify.

The clause is a fill-in; vendors need to identify who they are proposing for these 2 positions

24. PWS Attachment 1, Task 5.2.4. Data Analysis and Reporting. Are these sets of activities specifically speaking to the Homeless Management Information Systems data standards? No

25. PWS Attachment 1, Task 5.2.4. Data Analysis and Reporting. Can HUD please clarify what sets of standards are being referenced for this task? The PWS, page 10, states “TBD determined at the BPA Call level”

26. PWS Attachment 1, Task 5.2.7. National HMIS Data Lab. Is HUD aware that this identical scope of work was just competed for under HUD’s National Homeless Data Analysis Project Notice of Funding Availability (NOFO) FR-6500-N-65 dated 4/26/2022? The description can be found on page 6. Can HUD please clarify its intent to include the same SOW under 2 different vehicles? Can HUD please clarify under which vehicle this activity will be funded and awarded? HUD is aware of the redundancy between potential tasks listed in this solicitation and other awards and solicitations. HUD regards the BPA as a frequently more efficient mechanism for competitive awards but will not necessarily use this BPA to replace any awards currently in place.

27. The CLIN values required in the solicitation are not inclusive of the full set of tasks and activities highlighted in Attachment 1, 5. Specific Tasks. What approach will HUD use to establish costs for the array of additional activities available within the Attachment 1. 5. Specific Tasks description. For example, Task 5.2.9 Housing Technology and Building Sciences is not included in any BPA or task order technical or cost proposal requirements. See revised BPA pages 49-50, Task Area 1, Volume 2, Section 1

28. We'd like to follow up on our inquiry from June 13th, 2022 and see if we can bid on specific services such as Editorial and Graphic Design Services only. See BPA page 50, number 5.3 Task Area 2, Volume 2, Section 1

29. As per Task Area 4.2 Business Support Services, the following services:

a. Advertising and Public Relations Support

b. Marketing Consulting

c. Web-Based Marketing Services

d. Editorial Publishing, and Library Media Services

e. Graphic Design Services May we know if these 5 services are required to provide? See BPA page 50, number 5.3 Task Area 2, Volume 2, Section 1

30. It states that “Offerors may submit quotes for both pools, if eligible, but may submit quotes for only one.” Can the Government confirm if a Pool 1 prime bidder can also team with a Pool 2 prime? See BPA, page 49, Contractor Teaming Arrangements

31. What are the specific proposal submission requirements for the BPA? Page count? See BPA, page 53, “Minimal Technical Acceptability”

32. Is the Past Performance included in the 25 pages? Can you confirm that the Past Performance requirement is just for the sample task order or also for the BPA ,or both? See page 50 of the BPA; Past Performance must address ALL tasks 5.2.1 through 5.2.9 in the PWS and/or ALL tasks 5.3.1 through 5.3.5 in the PWS

33. On p. 27, it states “The offeror shall submit a technical approach that demonstrates logical and feasible methods for meeting the requirements described in the Performance Work Statement, Sample BPA Tasks, and meeting the performance objectives outlined within the solicitation. For the sample task order, can you confirm the submission requirements and page count for the Sample Task Order. For example, does the contractor need to include a technical approach for the BPA tasks in the PWS in addition to the sample task order? See page 49 and 50 of the BPA for revised instructions under “Proposal Package Requirements”

34. On p. 27, it states “The offeror shall submit a technical approach that demonstrates logical and feasible methods for meeting the requirements described in the Performance Work Statement, Sample BPA Tasks, and meeting the performance objectives outlined within the solicitation. For the sample task order, can you confirm the submission requirements and page count for the Sample Task Order. For example, does the contractor need to include a technical approach for the BPA tasks in the PWS in addition to the sample task order? On p. 28, it states “The offeror shall submit a technical approach that demonstrates logical and feasible methods for meeting the requirements described in the Performance Work Statement, Sample BPA Tasks, and meeting the performance objectives outlined within the solicitation. For the sample task order, can you confirm the submission requirements and page count for the Sample Task Order. For example, does the contractor need to include a technical approach for the BPA tasks in the PWS in addition to the sample task order? See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements”

35. Can the Government confirm the estimated value of the BPA award for both pools? BPAs have no ceiling

36. Can the Government confirm if they are requesting separate technical volumes for the BPA and the sample tasks? Confirmed. See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements”

37. Can HUD please confirm that the “Extended Price” referred to in Column G of Attachment 13 is asking for the total price (e.g. multiplying Column D by Column F)? See revised Attachment 13

38. Attachment 10 (Sample Task 4.2) on page 26 states that Section 1 (Sample Task Pricing) corresponds to Attachments 11 and 12. Can you please confirm that sample task pricing for Section 1 needs to be completed through Attachment 13? See revised Proposal Package Requirements” under the BPA, pages 49 and 50

39. Attachment 10 (Sample Task 4.2) on page 26 references “Attachments 17 & 18” required for Volume 1. There does not appear to be an Attachment 17 or 18. Can HUD please clarify this discrepancy? Typo removed

40. Section 5.2.1 (page 10) of Attachment 10 states that “editorial services include proofreading, all levels of copyediting, and technical editing” and that “definitions of these terms are located in Section 2.1”. The definitions of these terms appear to be missing. Can HUD please provide more refined definitions of “Light Copyediting,” “Medium Copyediting,” “Heavy Copyediting,” and “Technical Editing?” See page 12 of the revised Attachment 10

41. The hyperlink to the PD&R style guide on page 11 of Attachment 10 is not functional. Can HUD please provide a functional hyperlink to the PD&R style guide? See revised page 11 of Attachment 10

42. Attachment 10, Section 5.2.1 (Editing) on page 10 states that “All materials prepared for web posting adhere to the Federal Governments 508 Compliance guidelines” and also references Adobe InDesign. We provide copyediting services as well as Section 508 remediation services, however we generally use different labor categories since they are different services. The pricing template for Sample Task 4.2 (Attachment 13) does not account for Section 508 remediation services. Can HUD please amend Attachment 13 or please clarify how offers should account for Section 508 remediation services in Attachment 13? See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements” and revised Attachment 13

43. Can HUD please provide samples of the deliverables (e.g. the Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis Reports, Editions of Cityscape, and the HUD Secretary's Award Brochures) that are referenced in Sample Task 4.2? See page 14 of Attachment 10

44. Sample Task 4.2 Sections 5.2.1.1 and 5.2.1.2 require the contractor to “edit and format” the deliverables. Will HUD consider revising Attachment 13 (the price sheet for Sample Task 4.2) to include “Page Layout and Formatting” as a separate from the “Editing” tasks? See revised Attachment 13

45. Attachment 10, under Section 5.2.3 (page 13) states that “the COR will provide a list of scholarly reviewers in the subject area of the research paper/report to the Contractor. The Contractor shall then contact the reviewers and work with each one during the review…” Can HUD please clarify if these scholarly reviewers are government employees or if they are working under a separate contract? The contractor is not responsible for peer review in this sample task

46. Regarding Attachment 10, under 5.2.1 (page 10): As “Cityscape” is a scholarly research journal and will require a heavy edit, is the use of a technical subject matter expert recommended? Cityscape like other HUD research publications does require heavy edit but not technical edit by the publications contractor. It requires expert copy and layout editors but not subject matter experts.

47. Regarding Attachment 10, under Section 5.2.3 (page 13): Does the peer review process involve anything other than what is described in this section, i.e., simply collecting/managing input from the reviewer and sending this input to HUD? The contractor is not responsible for peer review in this sample task

48. Question: Are there larger, BPA-level, proposal structure requirements? Should submission consist of Task Order responses as stand-alone documents? If we wish to respond to both Sample Task Orders, should we submit both as sections under one cover page and table of contents? See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements”

49. PWS, Client Satisfaction Data Collection and Analysis – Sample Task, PAST PERFORMANCE, “The contractor shall provide the survey contained in Attachment 4 to each past performance reference in sufficient time for the reference to complete and submit the survey directly to the HUD Contracting Officer prior to the date and time for submission of proposals.” Can we provide CPARs for client work as a substitute to a survey to minimize inconvenience to our references? See BPA pages 54 and 55 that requires completion of attachments 3 and 4

50. On page 3 of the RFQ the government notes that Task Orders under the small business set aside pool covering Task 4.2 activities will be evaluated on a lowest-price, technically acceptable (LPTA) evaluation, rather than a Past Performance/Price Trade-Off basis as identified under Pool 1. Can the government explain the rationale behind the differing evaluation criteria utilized for these two pools? See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements”

51. Additionally, concerning the proposed-LPTA evaluation for Task 4.2 pool Task Orders, tasks covered under Task 4.2 (notably advertising and marketing tasks) and proposed contractor solution could vary significantly depending on the strategy and tools available to each contractor, and could lead to inferior solutions being presented to HUD in order to achieve the lowest-cost status. Would the government be willing to utilize other evaluation criteria (e.g., Best-Value or Past-Performance/Price Trade-Off) for Task Orders under Task area 4.2, where appropriate? See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements”

52. Sample Task 4.1 PWS includes instructions for the completion of Past Performance documentation (using Attachment 3) and the completion of Past Performance Questionnaires (Attachment 4); similar instructions are not included for Sample Task 4.2. Can the government confirm that no Past Performance documentation or completed questionnaires are required for Sample Task 4.2 or, if these are required, could the government clarify the PPQ requirements for Sample Task 4.2? See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements”

53. Attachment 10, Sample Task 4.2 PWS references Attachment 17 and 18 on page 26 of the PWS, but these files do not appear to be posted to SAM.gov. Can the government clarify if this is a typo or if there are additional files to be posted? This is a typo; there are no attachments 17 and 18

54. Can the government clarify what line item under Attachment 13 (Task 4.2 pricing) corresponds to Task 5.2.1.1 (Edit and Format the Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis Reports) from Attachment 10? See revised CLIN structure in the BPA, as well as revised pricing sheets (attachments 12 and 13)

55. Whether the proposal demonstrates experience and resources to analyze, inspect and report on the requirements described in PWS Task Area 1: Special Studies and Reporting Services 5.2.1 through 5.2.9 and Task Area 2: Business Services 5.3.1 through 5.3.5 and meeting the performance objectives outlined within the solicitation. Q Throughout the table found on page 28, the evaluation criteria make references to both Task Area 1 and Task Area 2, however this attachment suggests it is only addressing Task Area 1 for the Unrestricted pool. Then the entire set of language in this table appears to also be repeated on page 31, however this time all the references to Task Area 2 are removed. Would the government confirm the references to Task Area 2 throughout the table on page 28 within this document are not intended to be part of the Unrestricted Pool response and should be struck from Attachment 9 Sample Task 4.1 PWS and QASP See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements that identifies ALL tasks 5.2.1 through 5.2.9 in the PWS and/or ALL tasks 5.3.1 through 5.3.5 in the PWS

56. Based on our read of the proposed work statement and the sample task documentation, please confirm HUD is asking offerors to submit the following: Technical proposal to address the PWS areas 5.2.1 through 5.2.9 and that there is not an actual “sample scenario”? See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements

57. Based on our read of the proposed work statement and the sample task documentation, we are not clear on what exactly HUD is requesting. Should offerors be preparing pricing for all labor categories provided in Attachment 11 or just for those they determine would be needed for any future Call Orders based on the work described in the entire BPA PWS scope? Attachment 12 asks for “hours” but there does not appear to be “tasks” defined. See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements and revised pricing sheets (Attachments 12 and 13) The RFP offers a description of services to be provided across the BPA iteslf, but no actual Call Order defining a scenario for which estimates can be provided against. How is HUD going to evaluate pricing from different offerors? Is HUD comparing rates? There are not defined tasks to price from. Please see revised CLIN structure in the BPA, as well as revised pricing sheets (Attachments 12 and 13). See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements

58. Would the government confirm that having a seat on the BPA itself does not cause any inherent future blanket OCIs, and that the OCI is determined at the Call Orders themselves? An OCI would most likely be determined at the Call Order level.

59. Can an offeror submit as both a prime on one bid and as a teammate (subcontractor) on another bid within the same Pool? No Can prime awardees add subcontractors on a Call Order by Call Order basis? No, subcontractors are added at the BPA level.

60. Could HUD describe the nature of transcription services and medical billing for this task? HUD has recognized that housing may affect health but has not as yet commissioned any studies requiring “specialized transcription services for medical billing, medical coding, (or) medical transcription”. An offeror can describe its ability to obtain such services. HUD has in the past procured transcription services for remarks made at conferences, and offerors that have experience and capacity in providing conference transcription should do so.

61. Attachment 10 Sample Task 4.2 PWS submission instructions state a Proposal Matrix shall be included in the proposal submission; will the Government please confirm if the Proposal Matrix should be submitted as a separate file or within Volume 1: Past Performance, and if within Volume 1, will the Proposal Matrix be excluded from page limitations of the Technical Approach and Management Plan? See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements”

62. Section 5.2.1 (Editing) indicates that all materials must adhere to the Federal Government's 508 Compliance guidelines. Are the content creators contractually obligated to provide deliverables that conform with Section 508 guidelines? For instance, are the content creators required to provide alternative text (alt-text) for images/pictures? See revised PWS, page 14

63. Coordination with Content Creators. Are Task Area 4.2 contractors expected to identify Section 508 deficiencies while the content creators remediate documents for Section 508. Or, are Task Area 4.2 contractors expected to both identify and remediate any Section 508 deficiencies independently? See revised Attachment 10, page “Editing”

64. Are there pre-established hourly rates or honorarium for the scholarly reviewers referenced in Section 5.2.3 (attachment 10)? No

65. Are past performance questions required for clients that have completed CPARS? Yes

66. Are subcontractor agreements required to be included in the quotation submission? Yes

67. Does HUD anticipate setting-aside any forthcoming task orders in Task Area 4.1 (Special Studies, Reporting, Research and Program Evaluations) task orders for Small Business BPA holders? No

68. Are Small Business bidders required to submit responses for both sample task orders? No

69. Does HUD plan to assess bidders’ capabilities for the small business task order based on the technical skills outlined in the BPA PWS, i.e., marketing, advertising, graphic design, etc.? Yes, see revised BPA pages 49 and 50; also beginning page 56 “Solicitation Evaluation Factors”

70. Can the government please confirm that teaming partners may be added at the BPA call order level? No

71. Can the government please confirm if this site is externally facing and who has access? Also, will the government confirm if awardees names will be published on the site? This is an internal site for HUD procurement purposes only Our current understanding is that the BPA awards for the unrestricted pool will be made solely on the evaluation of Attachment 9 sample call order. Given the potentially expansive scope of services to be provided under the BPA, would the Government consider revising its evaluation approach as to consider potential skills, past performance and pricing that may not be captured in the response to the Attachment 9 sample call order? In our view, this would allow the Government to better evaluate the expected pricing and technical merit of offerors across the potential scope of services that may be provided under the BPA. See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements”

72. Would the government please confirm that the Past Performance narratives are outside of the 25 page limit for Volume 1? See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements”

73. Would the government please confirm that these NDAs are applicable only to future BPA call orders and are not applicable to the current BPA and Sample Task 4.1 response? NDAs are applicable at the Call Order level.

74. The clauses section includes the Service Contract Act and Area Wage Determinations. Does this apply to tasks under section 4.2 for technical writers and editors? If so, should bidders reference the WD number and version, labor categories, and AWD rate so the gov has a reference for future equitable adjustments with subsequent AWD revisions over the course of the contract term? Or again, do SCA AWD rates not apply under section 4.2? SCA Rates apply dependent upon vendor proposed labor categories.

75. Are the address labels for the Secretary's Award and Cityscape publications pre-printed on the booklets, printed on labels provided by the printing vendor (to be affixed by awardee), or supplied by awardee? See page 13 of the revised Attachment 10

76. If labels are supplied by awardee, what are the requirements, if any, for size, tracking, bar-coding, etc? Labels must meet the requirements of the carrier that will be used for delivery, e.g., USPS, Fedex, UPS. Offeror should explain what the scenario for delivery is in conjunction with its pricing

77. Are the brochures and Cityscape publications designed to ship without additional packaging (ex. envelopes or plastic sleeves that need to be provided by awardee?) If additional packing is required, does printing vendor provide HUD-branded supplies? See page 13 of the revised Attachment 10

78. Is media mail the accepted requirement for the mailings? If not, what is the requirement for mailing (first class, flat rate)? Offeror should explain what the scenario for delivery is in conjunction with its pricing

79. According to what we have seen in HUD's publications, each new periodical/brochure is slightly redesigned (colors, imagery, photos.) We can provide graphic design services but it is not expressly included in the editing/formatting pricing categories. Assuming that "formatting" means only the necessary alterations to margins, fonts, and layout, should an additional line item be included for visuals? This would include items like alterations to color, creation of graphics/backgrounds/banners, or editing of imagery. See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements” and revised Attachments 12 and 13

80. definitions for the three different levels of editing as well as whether HUD could revise the pricing template to allow offerors to account for Formatting & Layout and Section 508 Remediation as separate labor categories See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements”

81. There are 6 solicitations released on SAM.gov titled “Special Studies, Reporting, and Business Support Services” under NAICS codes 541611, 541211, 541613, 541820, 561410, and 541430. We would like to confirm that the BPAs released under each NAICS are identical? Yes, they are identical

82. The sample task order for Task 4.1 (Pool 1) is for Client Satisfaction Data Collection and Analysis. If the contractor does not offer the services listed in the sample task order but has extensive experience in other sub-tasks under Task Area 1, how should the contractor respond to the sample task order? Do offerors need to be able to provide all services/respond to all BPA calls under the pool(s) they are bidding on? See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements”

83. The sample task order for Task 4.1 (Pool 1) is for Client Satisfaction Data Collection and Analysis. If the vendor does not offer the services listed in the sample task order but has extensive experience in other sub-tasks under Task Area 1, how should the vendor respond to the sample task order? Do offerors need to be able to provide all services/respond to all BPA calls under the pool(s) they are bidding on? See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements”

84. In November 2020, HUD released an RFI for a BPA for various HUD services. Are Pool 1 and Pool 2 tasks drawn from the 2020 BPA or is this a completely new procurement? This is the same requirement.

85. We would like to confirm that vendors can copy the tables in Attachment 3 and Attachment 8 into Volumes 1 and 2, respectively, instead of submitting as part of proposal in separate files. See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements”

86. The proposed Proposal Matrix outlines “RFP Requirement”, “SOW”, and “Instructions to Offerors”. We understand that under “SOW”, the vendor should map the proposal section to either a task under the BPA PWS or the Sample Task PWS, but can the government clarify the difference between “RFP Requirement” and “Instructions to Offerors”? See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements”

87. Another column under the Proposal Matrix is “Section M or Evaluation Factor”. Since there is no Section M, can the government confirm that the vendor should map proposal sections to some criterium listed from pg. 30 – 34? See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements”

88. We have noted the past performance trade off evaluation approach to this acquisition. Though the RFQ says all other factors, when combined, are more important than price, as written, this approach actually forces HUD to first rate by price before focusing on past performance. Per the RFQ, if one of the two lowest price bids have top rated past performance and minimal technical acceptability, the evaluation stops. This could have the effect of limiting opportunities for small and diverse vendors. Evaluation criteria that are based on vendors’ technical approach, past performance, and staff resumes that focus on the PWS of the BPA allow small and diverse vendors to bring in their FULL backgrounds to light and reflect how they’ll support the goals of this acquisition. Simply reviewing past performance submissions as a pass/fail benefits the “old guard” of large vendors. Further, this approach in reality makes price the leading factor, and could be detrimental to value. Given the current landscape of the job market, inflation, and other competitive considerations, is more likely to result in an award to an offeror who may not even be able to perform given the rates bid. If hiring and retention is maintained given a low bid rate, it would at best likely still have a negative impact on the overall quality of the contract performance. We would ask HUD to consider a best value approach with a technical tradeoff. This would allow HUD to consider a stronger technical approach and the advantages it brings, encourage greater opportunities for small and diverse vendors, and the opportunity to determine if the value warrants the price. This approach will result in a higher confidence that the future work will be successfully performed. See BPA page 56 “Solicitation Evaluation Factors”

89. For the past performance evaluation criteria for Sample Task 4.1, the RFQ currently defines “value” to be “at least 1,000 surveys”. Given the broad scope of the BPA itself, the different types of surveys over different focus areas for the life of the BPA, we feel there may be more beneficial criteria for HUD to consider when evaluating offerors past performance. We would ask HUD to consider removing the 1,000-survey definition/requirement and instead focus on past performances with similar scope and complexity, and perhaps requiring past performances with demonstrated ability to determine the appropriate study or survey approach, design the survey, and develop methods to effectively accomplish the evaluation or study objectives relative to one or more of the BPA focus areas. This would allow HUD to focus the evaluation on quality over quantity, likely resulting in a better performing offeror post award. Unchanged

90. Where is the HUD Best in Class site and what level of information is posted there? Is it the same data that might be posted on USA spending, or more detailed? Would HUD please offer additional details and a link to this site? This is an internal site for HUD procurement purposes only

91. The language in the “minimum to be determined acceptable criteria” in the table (page 31 Attachment 9) does not appear to talk to the sample task. The table states “outlined in the PWS”. The language in the left column of the table points to the BPA PWS elements, but not the Sample Task PWS elements. Would the government confirm they are asking for offerors to provide an approach to both the BPA PWS elements identified in the table and the PWS elements of the Sample Task for this evaluation section? See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements”

92. Would the government confirm the Sample Task 4.1 is a 5-year PoP? The work described seems suggest an initial plan that would then be built upon through follow on Call Orders and not necessarily a 5-year option. For example, for the Quality Control Plan (A009), is it intended to capture all future active on all future call orders, or for this individual call order? If the former, would the government provide a scope around how many active call orders to assume/price to for the sample task? Not knowing how much work an individual offeror may be awarded, it is challenging to scope out the effort to provide hours against. See BPA, pages 49 and 50 for revised “Proposal Package Requirements” and revised Attachments 9 and 12

93. Reference Attachment 9, PWS 5.2.1 Develop a Client Satisfaction Survey. Would the Government provide the list of OHC services to be surveyed? Vendor provides sample scenario and the assumptions underlying its proposal for practicable scope of services to be assessed.

94. The scope of OHC-Client interaction is a huge component of developing a Client Satisfaction Survey - can the Government provide an overview of each of the OHC services to be surveyed? Vendor provides sample scenario and the assumptions underlying its proposal for practicable scope of services to be assessed

95. Will the contractor have access to OHC Program Office staff throughout the development and execution of Client surveys? Yes

96. Does the Government have existing Client Satisfaction surveys? If so, will these surveys be made available to the Contractor? How are these surveys conducted? HUD has conducted various client surveys. After discussion with the Contractor to determine which surveys would be most relevant, the relevant instruments will be shared with the Contractor

97. Will the contractor be able to leverage existing HUD IT resources (e.g., HUD OHC website pages) to conduct surveys? It is unclear to HUD that the department’s existing IT resources would be helpful for the sample task

98. How will the Government provide lists of Clients to the contractor? Annual basis? Real time? What contact information will be provided? Client contacts would have to be solicited from HUD grantees. HUD will provide letters of support for this solicitation

99. Does the Government intend for the surveys to be conducted anonymously? Yes