AG-3187-S-15-0034_Responses_to_Questions.pdf

AG-3187-S-15-0034

Responses to Questions

Sacred Sites Facilitated Learning Engagements

1) Can resumes be included as attachments, or do they need to be incorporated into the body of the proposal?

Answer: Resumes may be included as attachments.

2) Do resumes need to comply with the proposal formatting requirements of 1-inch margins and Times New Roman, 12 pt font?

Answer: Yes

3) The RFP shows a required cover letter for Volume 2, but not Volume 1. Would it be helpful for us to also include a cover letter in Volume 1?

Answer: Please refer to page 61 of the RFP which states “Each proposal volume will include a Cover Page and Table of Contents.

4) For any given government contract, should we only send the reference survey to the contracting officer/representative, or, in addition to sending it to the CO/COR, would you additionally accept a reference form completed by an agency representative that we worked most closely with on the project?

Answer: Past performance surveys should only be sent to the Contracting Officer or the Contracting Officer’s Representative. A form filled out by anyone other than the CO/COR will not be accepted.

5) Would it be acceptable for a government agency reference to be an individual most able to answer the questions in the survey, even if that person is not a CO/COR? In particular, could a reference be an agency project manager on a project for which we were a subcontractor? (so that individual did not manage our contract directly but was the most familiar with our work)

Answer: Please see answer to question 4.

6) We were considering including a reference from an agency in which one of our proposed staff used to work. In this case, since our proposed staff worked inside the agency, would you accept us sending this reference form to someone this proposed staff worked closely with but who is not a CO/COR?

Answer: Please see answer to question 4.

7) Can you please confirm the number of references required overall and, if applicable, for each team member?

Answer: Please refer to Factor 3 Past Performance on page 63 of the RFP.

8) Is there a minimum or maximum number of project examples we should provide in the resumes, and can we provide resume project examples that occurred more than three years ago?

Answer: Please refer to Factor 1 sub-factor 2 part C. Resumes should follow the format and content as instructed.

9) The three-tier approach lists the three populations to be trained (page 6 of Attachment 2 Performance Work Statement Task Order 001) a: What the population sizes of Tier 1 (FS senior staff and management), Tier 2 (Line Officers, regional, Forest or District staff), and Tier 3 (all FS employees)?

Answer: Tier 1 consists of approximately 100 people. Tier 2 is about 1000. Tier 3 is close to 30,000 and is covered by the web-based course available on AgLearn, Working Effectively with Tribal Governments.

b: For Tier 2 (Line Officers, regional, Forest or District staff), can you please share the population size by region?

Answer: Tier 2 is focused primarily on those who work most closely with Tribes.

The Regions will be responsible for deciding who would be engaging in the sessions, so it is not possible to provide an exact number. For planning purposes, consider an average of about 100 to 150 people per Region (including NFS, SPF, and R&D) or roughly 1000 people overall.

10) A timeframe of December 31, 2015, is listed as the target date to complete the design, content, and structure of the training program (page 10 of Attachment 2 Performance Work Statement Task Order 001). What is the timeline for implementing the training? In other words, would training happen all at once for all three Tiers or occur over a time period, say one year?

Answer: We are looking for a variety of options. Implementation schedule will depend on the results of the pilots.

11) One option for Tier 3 training (page 6 of Attachment 2 Performance Work Statement Task Order 001) is to use already existing online training. What is the name of the Learning Management Service that provides the already available online training?

Answer: The on-line course “Working Effectively with Tribal Governments” is available on the government-wide site GoLearn, as well as on the USDA-wide site AgLearn.

12) Would the FS incorporate the additional, online sacred sites curriculum into the existing training or is that responsibility of the vendor?

Answer: Incorporating any additional, online sacred sites curriculum is the responsibility of the vendor.

13) Would the government accept 11x17-sized pages for tables or graphics? If 11x17 pages are allowed, would these count as one or two pages?

Answer: please follow the format exactly as specified in the RFP.

14) Would the government consider an extension to the proposal deadline to allow all offerors sufficient time to respond to the Section L and Section M requirements, specifically the detailed task order section?

Answer: As a result in the delay of providing responses to questions the proposal due date is hereby extended to June 30, 2015 1700EST.

15) Please define “engagements?”

Answer: The term “engagements” is intended to illicit a sense of attentive and interactive involvement from the students in a learning environment. The learning engagement is facilitated for enhancing discussion and mutual learning, rather than passive fact delivery.

The idea is to go beyond the connotations around the term “training” in which a lecturer provides information to a passive audience of students who may or may not be “engaged” in the learning.

16) Do you foresee different curriculum for personnel at different levels of the Forest Service? If so, how many different curricula will be developed?

Answer: See the audiences described in the three tiers.

17) You mention a cultural and environmental assessment internally and externally.

What is meant by “cultural and environmental assessments?”

a. Is there an assessment tool?

b. Has an assessment methodology been established?

c. Where will these assessments be done (geographic regions)

d. Do these assessments involve gathering data from tribes?

e. Do these assessments involve gathering data?

Answer: See assessment of current skills, needs, and condition of relationships.

The main elements of the assessment may include development of assessment questions; interviews with FS Line Officers and subject matter experts, tribal leaders and content experts, and other content experts from outside the FS; and a summary of the assessment. The assessment would address current conditions and would provide the baseline for monitoring and evaluation of changes over time, including how the engagements have made a difference.

There are neither assessment tools nor a methodology established. The assessment would cover the entire United States, including both internal FS and external (primarily Tribes) sources.

18) Is there an internal team in place who has been involved in this project?

Answer: A team of FS employees has been involved in the project.

19) Will this project require assembling a team of internal and tribal advisors?

Answer: Yes.

20) Will the documentation of best practices be done as part of the training, or is this done as a separate component of this project?

Answer: Documentation of best practices is a separate component of the project.

21) Is there an incumbent?

Answer: No

22) Do you require facilitated strategic planning for partnerships and collaborations? If so, would that be viewed as separate from the training component?

Answer: Any facilitated planning for partnerships and collaboration would be accomplished through an additional task order.

23) Will the vendor be required to provide instructors for the training component?

Answer: That depends on the selected design submitted by potential vendors.

24) How many training events per year do you foresee?

Answer: That depends on the selected design submitted by potential vendors.

25) How many people will be attending each training session?

Answer: Anticipate both small (<30) and large (upwards of 100), depending on the selected design and Regional assignments.

26) Will the vendor be required to secure a facility?

Answer: Yes, the vendor will be required to secure a facility.

27) Do you require a train-the-trainer component?

Answer: A train-the-trainer component is not required for the initial task order.

28) What is the expected period of performance?

Answer: See pages 8 and 74. The contract period shall extend for one calendar year from the date of award with four option periods for a total of five years from the date of award.

The period of performance for Task Order 001 will be one calendar year from the date of award.

29) Page 9/91 Section G, 52.222-46, Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees” indicates a total compensation plan is required for professional employees who will work under the contract. We are not seeing this requirement included in Technical Volume 1 or Price Proposal Volume 2 submission instructions. Is the total compensation plan a requirement for this proposal? If so, should the plan be incorporated in Volume 1 – Technical Proposal or Volume 2 – Price Proposal?

Answer: This is a mandatory FAR provision and not unique to this requirement. Please refer to FAR 22.1103 -- Policy, Procedures, and Solicitation Provision

30) Task Order 1, Task 2—What is the desired sample size to establish a baseline?

Answer: That will be developed by the proposing vendor.

31) If a survey instrument is to be used has the USDA Forest Service factored in the time for OMB clearance in their timeline?

Answer: No. OMB clearance is not required for gathering information from employees of the federal government.

32) Has the USDA Forest Service identified tribes that are most important to engage in this process and if so which ones are they?

Answer: The FS has not identified tribes most important.

33) Task 4—Is there a maximum amount consultant subject matter experts can be paid per day?

Answer: There is not a maximum amount consultants shall be paid per day. Please be advised, this is a firm fixed price contract NOT a labor hour contract. Salaries for subcontractors or consultants used by contractors are determined by the contractor. The firm fixed price for all CLINs will be subject to a determination of reasonableness and all labor rates shall be rolled up into the final firm fixed price proposal.

34) In the pilot and second pilot how many in person trainings are expected to be conducted? How many webinar trainings are expected to be conducted?

Answer: A proposal is expected from potential vendors.

35) Should the contractor budget for copying of materials/curriculum for each training and if so how many sets?

Answer: Potential vendors should factor in either hard copy or electronic materials, or both depending on their proposals. The number of sets will be determined based on the class size for each training.

36) Will presentations need to be made Section 508 compliant for posting on USDA Forest Service websites?

Answer: Yes.