USDS QandA 052622.pdf
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- Attached to
- Unified Servicing and Data Solution (USDS) Solicitation Federal contract opportunity
- Solicitation number
- 91003122R0007
About this file
This document contains questions and responses related to Solicitation Number 91003122R0007 issued by the U.S. Department of Education for a Unified Servicing and Data Solution. The Solicitation seeks servicers to provide continued servicing capabilities for FSA's student aid recipients, including complete student loan servicing, loan consolidation origination and disbursement, financial reporting, processing of specialty claims, fulfillment, operational reporting, compliance monitoring, and data integrations. Offerors may submit proposals electronically by the specified deadline. While work must be performed within the United States, companies outside the U.S. may apply but there are requirements that may make participation difficult such as security vetting restrictions for non-U.S. citizens. The Solicitation replaces existing contracts and is not a renewal of previous contracts, which included ED-FSA-09-D-0012 through ED-FSA-12-D-0012 and ED-FSA-11-D-0012.
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Federal Student Aid | StudentAid.gov Page 1 of 4
Unified Servicing and Data Solution Questions and Responses May 26, 2022
Prepared By Federal Student Aid (FSA) USDS Team http://studentaid.gov/
Federal Student Aid | StudentAid.gov Page 2 of 4
# Document Page # Line # Vendor Comments FSA Response 1 General Question N/A N/A Whether companies from Outside
USA can apply for this? (like, from India or Canada)
Yes, however, please be aware that there are many clauses, provisions, and requirements which may make that difficult such as the requirement for performance in the Solicitation Part I Section H (b) Prohibitions on Contract Performance outside of the United States (pg 47) and the clause C.
3452.204-72 Contractor Security Vetting Requirements. (DEVIATION) (JUN 2021) section (g) (page 78) which has a restriction to U.S. Citizens.
2 General Question N/A N/A Whether we need to come over there for meetings?
Yes, meetings in the United States at FSA may be required.
3 General Question N/A N/A Can we perform the tasks (related to RFP) outside USA? (like, from India or Canada)
No. In the RFP, under Section H.
Special Contract Requirements, letter “b. Prohibitions on Contract Performance outside of the United States., ” on pg. 47, all work will be performed in the United States.
4 General Question N/A N/A Can we submit the proposals via email?
Yes. According to USDS RFP, under Addendum to Provision 52.215-1, (6) Submission Address, “Offerors shall submit electronic proposals to fsa.acq.usds@ed.gov.”
5 General Question N/A N/A If this is a brand new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services. If not brand new, could you please provide the current / previous contract number?
Yes, this is a new contract. Contract numbers for contractors currently performing similar servicing:
ED-FSA-09-D-0012
ED-FSA-09-D-0013
ED-FSA-09-D-0014
ED-FSA-09-D-0015
ED-FSA-11-D-0012
ED-FSA-12-D-0005
ED-FSA-12-D-0007
ED-FSA-12-D-0012
6 Proposal Volume Requirements
Volume 4: Pricing for Initial Task Order
125-126
Table Table 4 in the Proposal Volume Requirements section lists Attachment 15 in both Volumes 3 and 4, but the Volume 4 description refers to Attachment 23. Please confirm the correct attachments for each volume.
Attachment 23, Requirements Development and Costs Template, should be submitted under Volume 4:
Pricing for Initial Task Order. The RFP language in Table 4 has been updated to clarify that Attachment 23 is also required.
7 Proposal Volume Requirements
Volume 5:
Standard Form
Table Proposal requirements include a completed Standard Form 1449, however the first page of the RFP is Standard Form 33. Please confirm the correct form for this requirement.
The solicitation is amended to have the Offerors complete the SF-33 Form.
Standard Form 33: Offeror must include a completed and signed Standard Form (SF) 33. Blocks 12 – 18 of page 1 of SF 33 must be completed by the Offeror.
References to the SF 1449 have been replaced with SF 33 and appropriate form references. See pages 126 and 134.
8 Proposal Volume Requirements
Table Table 4 in the Proposal Volume Requirements section lists
In the Proposal Volume Requirements section, under iii. Offeror Experience 1.
Federal Student Aid | StudentAid.gov Page 3 of 4
Volume 1:
Technical Approach Volume
Volume 5:
Additional Solicitation
133-134
Attachment 18 as part of Volume 5, but the Volume 1 description refers to Attachment 18 as part of the Offeror's Experience section.
Please confirm the correct volume for Attachment 18.
(pg. 130), Attachment 18 is the correct attachment. Table 4 has been updated to include Attachment 18 in the Techincal Approach Volume as well.
9 Section J (Lists of Attachments)
93 List Section J (List of Attachments) references Attachment 04 - IT Deliverable Repository, but this attachment was not included in the Section J Attachments zip file. Can FSA provide Attachment 04?
Yes. FSA has amended to upload to SAM.gov the missing Attachment 04 – IT Deliverable Repository.
10 Attachment 6 N/A Header Attachment 07, when opened, lists Attachment 06 in the title. Please confirm the correct attachment.
Yes. Attachment 7 is the correct. Please see the updated attachment posted with the amendment.
11 Attachment 15 – Pricing Template
N/A Header The file for Attachment 15 is "Attachment 15 - Pricing Template Instructions 051922," but the RFP refers to "Attachment 15 - Pricing Template." Also, when opened, Attachment 15 is labeled "Attachment 10 - Pricing Offer Template" on the first worksheet.
Please confirm the correct attachment.
Yes. This is the correct attachment.
Please see the updated attachment posted with the amendment.
12 Attachment 17 N/A Header Attachment 17, when opened, lists "Attachment 14" and "Interim Servicing Solution" in the heading.
Please confirm the correct attachment.
It’s the correct attachment, Attachment 17 – Teaming Arrangements and Subcontracting Template. Please see the updated attachment posted with the amendment.
13 Attachment 4a, PWS Section Reference Column
N/A N/A Attachment 04a references several "LMM Templates." Can FSA provide these templates?
Yes. The templates referenced in Attachment 04a will be provided via Attachment 04 – IT Deliverable Repository zip file.
14 Submission – SF-
1 N/A Standard Form 33 indicates "sealed offers in original and 1 copies" should be submitted. Is a copy required for electronic submission via email?
According to USDS RFP, under Addendum to Provision 52.215-1, (2) Proposal Volume Requirements, (6) Submission Address, “Offerors shall submit electronic proposals to fsa.acq.usds@ed.gov.”
An additional copy is not required for submission by email.
15 Proposal Volume Requirements
129 10.a.ii.5 In the Technical volume, 10.a.ii.5, the response states "The Offeror shall state in its proposal, the information technology assets (software name, manufacturer, platform, and other relevant technical specifications) that it deems necessary to provide services and deliverables outlined in the Solicitation". This list will be multiple pages long and as it is
The information technology assets may be included as a separate attachment referenced in the narrative of the Techincal Approach volume. The list of information technology assets does not count toward the page limits of the Technical Approach volume.
A template for information technology assets has been provided as mailto:fsa.acq.usds@ed.gov
Federal Student Aid | StudentAid.gov Page 4 of 4 written, would be part of the 20 page count for the "ii Information System" section of the Technical Proposal. Can FSA provide a template or can bidders attached the requested information as a separate attachment to not count against page counts? If yes, please advise how to include for review.
Atttachment 27 Software Inventory and Hardware Inventory Template. The mandatory columns for completion are highlighted in yellow on the software and hardware list sheets. The additional columns may be filled out as well if known. In addition, the Internet Protocol (IP) Address mandatory column should only be completed if the information is available.
The RFP has been amended with the updated instructions on pages 126 (Table 4) and 130.
16 Proposal Volume
125 Table 4 Will FSA consider modifying the page counts limits for the Technical Approach volume to allow for 40 total pages across 10.a.I (scaling, performance testing, and migration capability) and 10.a.ii (Information System) rather than splitting up as 20 pages each. The amount of information requested can then be better balance across the combined page count and not increase the overall Technical Volume total page count
The overall page limit is 76 pages for the Technical Approach volume.
Provided for each area of the technical approach factor are the suggested page counts.
The language in the RFP has been updated in Table 4 Proposal Volume Summary.
17 Proposal Volume
129 10.a.ii.2 Can FSA clarify or address the incomplete sentence at the end of 10.a.ii.2 on page 129 of the RFP? It states "The Offeror must include shall be demonstrated in a cybersecurity narrative within this section", Offerers need clarification of what must be included.
i. The Offeror must include shall be demonstrated in a cybersecurity narrative within this section
Updated sentence to “This shall be demonstrated in a cybersecurity narrative within this section.”
18 General Question N/A N/A Will the USDS Powerpoint Presentation from FSA on Friday, May 20, 2022 be posted as an attachment to the solicitation?
Yes, it is attached to this solicitation for informational purposes only.
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