Attachment_3_-_Q&As_Financial_Services_Support_FINAL.pdf

Questions & Answers NTSB – Financial Services Support – 9531BM18R0012 Amendment 0001

9531BM18R0012

ATTACHMENT 3

Question #1: Is there an incumbent contractor currently, or previously performing these services? If so, can you please disclose the contractor name and contract number.

Answer #1: NTSBD140001 with Deidiker Accounting and Consulting LLC.

Question #2. CLIN 2 provides a NTE Level of Effort (LOE) of 144hrs, which is clarifying to biddors. Can you please provide the estimated LOE for CLIN 1 to ensure you receive competitive FFP quotes based on a clear requirement.

Answer #2: No, each firm has a technical approach unique to their business for those tasks.

Also be advised, as stated in the RFP, that CLIN 2 LOE is estimated for evaluation purposes only.

Question #3: Does the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation posted as solicitation number 9531BM18R0012 on FBO contain requirements similar to an existing contract or will this be a new requirement?

Answer #3: Similar tasks, and new requirements.

Question #4: If possible, please provide the current contract number.

Answer #4: See Answer #1.

Question #5: 1. Is there an incumbent?

Answer #5: See Answer #1.

Question #6: Is the $150,000 estimate for one year or the entire duration of the base year and option year?

Answer #6: The entire duration of the base period and option year.

Question #7: The requirement for only small agency experience seems unreasonably restrictive. As a highly qualified small business, this requirement will preclude us from competing for this opportunity.

Can this requirement be waived?

Answer #7: No. The technical requirements to be met by small and large agencies are the same but small agencies operate differently in that large agencies due to the vastly different resource levels and organizational structures. Proposed corrective actions for a large agency are often totally impractical for a small agency. This can result in wasted time and resources for the small agency when proposed actions don’t fit the small agency environment.

Question #8: What should we submit in Part II – Past Performance? Do you want completed copies of the past performance questionnaires, summaries of the past performance, it is not clear.

Answer #8: Refer to Sections L & M for past performance.

Question #9: Do I need to complete any of the information on the first attachment named "9531BM18R0012_-_Request_for_Proposal_-_ Financial_Support_Services(1)" or was that provided just for information?

Answer #9: Price proposals are required in accordance with Section L. Yes, complete the price schedules in Attachment 1 for the overall estimated BPA tasks & specific BPA Order.

Question #10: In addition the second entry for Factor 2 - Corporate Experience for me was not under a contract; do I need to forward the "Past Performance Questionnaire" to my employer for him to complete?

Answer #10: Assuming you were a subcontractor, yes the Prime should forward the PPQ to the reference and follow the Proposal Instructions.

Question #11: Attachment 1, page 16, Section 5.1 states, “Quarters 1 & 2 Financial Statement Reviews for FY2018”. Please advise if the first and second quarter FY 2018 financial statement reviews would still not have been performed with the period of performance of this contract expected to start on June 1, 2018? Additionally, Section 6.0A.2 states that the first and second quarter review results would be expected to be completed by the 31st of December.

Answer #11: A. Yes, Quarters 1 & 2 financial statement reviews will require performance in the base period. B. The Quarters 1 & 2 statement reviews must be completed within 30 days from the issuance of the award.

Question #12: Attachment 1, Section 5.0, page 16 states, “The Contractor shall provide the following assistance to the NTSB as needed.” Please advise if the Government is expecting there to be full-time contractor staff supporting the NTSB on this BPA for SOW Section 5.1 and 5.2? If not, how many personnel and for what time periods does the Government expect services to be provided on the BPA? It is difficult to estimate the hours to propose based on the limited information provided in the Requirements section.

Answer #12: Please refer to the Price Schedule for estimated hours for evaluation purposes only.

Question #13: Attachment 1, page 19, Section L-3 – Please confirm that the Cover page, cover letter if applicable, and table of contents do not count towards the 15-page limit for the Technical Proposal.

Answer #13: Yes. Cover page, letter and table of contents shall not exceed 3-pages and will not count towards the 15-page limit.

Question #14: Attachment 1, page 19, Section L-3, Factor 2 – Corporate Experience – The factor discusses requiring “experience performing small agency Federal Agency financial services support,” “experience with small independent Federal executive branch agencies,” and “Contracts listed may only include those entered into with small agency Federal Government customers.” Would the Government consider taking out these requirements, or adding in relevant experience at larger agencies? The type of work required in the SOW is basically the same at a small or large agency, so the Government is unduly restricting the pool of corporate experience for a contractor to provide.

Answer #14: No. See answer #7.

Question #15: Attachment 1, page 19, Section L-3, Factor 2 – Corporate Experience states, “Offerors shall submit at least two (2) examples of experience performing small agency Federal Agency financial services support that are similar in scope to this requirement and would qualify the offeror to perform the work set forth in this solicitation.” This section also states, “experience with at least 10-years’ experience auditing financial statements for Federal agencies.”

Answer #15: All experience pertains to small agency Federal agencies as mentioned.

Question #16: Attachment 1, page 5, Section 1.3.1 states that qualified personnel must hold a Certified Public Accounting (CPA) license; would the government consider changing the requirement to allow a Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) certification in place of a CPA license?

Answer #16: No. The CGFM certification and CPA license are not comparable.

Question #17: Is there an incumbent providing the requested services for this contract? If yes, who is the contractor, how long have they been performing the services, and what is the dollar value of their contract?

Answer #17: See Answer #1.

Question #18: Would the Government consider extending the due date for the proposal to allow sufficient updates to the proposal based on Government responses to the Q&As?

Answer #18: Not at this time due to time constraints.

Question #19: Does the government include the estimated travel budget values within their cumulative total not to exceed estimate?

Answer #19: Yes.

Question #20: Attachment 1, Section 5.1 – How many policies and procedures are expected to be developed?

Answer #20: Not known at this time, but may be ordered with the remaining BPA Order hours.

Question #21: What core financial system is used at NTSB?

Answer #21: Oracle Federal Financials.

Question #22: Attachment 1, Section 5.3 – How many desk procedures are expected to be developed?

Answer #22: Not known at this time.

Question #23: Would the Government consider relaxing the years of experience requirement for the senior personnel, i.e., from 10 years to 5 years of experience? Five years of experience is typically reasonable in the industry for senior auditor personnel.

Answer #23: No.

Question #24: Would the Government consider relaxing the corporate experience requirement from 10 years of federal financial statement audit experience to 5 years? This requirement could preclude many small business firms from the opportunity.

Answer #24: No.

Question #25: The RFP asks for small federal agency experience. Would the Government consider removing this requirement? We believe large federal agency experience will also be relevant to this contract.

Answer #25: See #7.

Question #26: Approximately how many financial reviews will be required per quarter or are the reviews for the NTSB only – or are there subunits of the NTSB that require reviews?

Answer #26: There is one review per quarter, NTSB has no reporting subunits.

Question #27: Are there pre-established procedures for the reviews or will we need to devise the procedures and have them approved prior to proceeding?

Answer #27: You will need to devise your own procedures.

Question #28: What type of non-local travel is required?

Answer #28: Non-local travel is required in accordance with the BPA & BPA Order SOWs, if it applies.

Question #29: Will travel to the location of the entity subject to the review be require?

Answer #29: Yes, we anticipate the contractor will need to be on-site for two weeks each for the 3rd quarter and 4th quarter reviews.

Questions #30: For the short turnaround consulting support, are you looking for a $ per hour quote? If not, what are the anticipated number of hours we should consider for the proposal?

Answer #30: This is explained in the solicitation.

Questions #31: Is a Washington DC area base required for the services?

Answer #31: No.

Questions #32: Can we be provided the questions and answers of other organizations who may intend to propose on these services?

Answer #32: The solicitation amendment will be posted to incorporate timely Q&A submissions.

(End of Amendment 9531BM18R00120001)