Amendment_0003.pdf

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OMB Approval 2700-0042

NSN 7540-01-152-8070 30-105 STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

PREVIOUS EDITION UNUSABLE Computer Generated Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.24

1. CONTRACT ID CODE PAGE OF PAGES

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1 12

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

0003 See Block 16c

6. ISSUED BY CODE 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)

CODE

U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, Contract Management Branch 3101 Park Center Drive, Ste 228 Alexandria Virginia 22302

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No. Street, county, State and ZIP: Code) 9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

AG-3198-S-14-0021

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

CODE 1EFX9 FACILITY CODE 06/24/2014

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended, is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning one (1) copy of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATA SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and data specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

N/A

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

(4) A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET

FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return ____ copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

CACFP Improper Payments The purpose of this amendment is to answer offerors’ questions.

Except at provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

Lawrence Williams

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

BY _____________________________________________

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

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CACFP Improper Payments

Amendment 0003 Question and Answer

Numbe r

Reference Section

Content Question Answer

1. RFP, Page 32, Tab B - Management

Offeror shall provide detailed descriptions of past projects completed in concert with conducting large scale evaluations at a national level, with similar work performed.

Is this requirement in regards to the key personnel’s experience or corporate experience?

This refers to key personnel’s experience.

2. RFP, Page 32, Tab B - Management

The offeror shall demonstrate experience with sampling, collecting and the analysis of administrative data and producing technical reports in the last three

(3) years.

Is this requirement for key personnel only?

This refers to management and key personnel’s experience.

3. RFP, Page 6, Section 1.7 Line Item 6 Pricing

The government estimated level of effort to be 10,145.

(for Line Item 6)

Can offerors bid a different LOE than that given?

Yes, offerors can propose the LOE that is necessary to address the objectives.

4. RFP, Page 6, Section 1.7 Line Item 6 Pricing

The government estimated level of effort to be 10,145.

(for Line Item 6)

Is the estimated level of effort for CLIN 6 essentially the same as performed by the current incumbent?

There is a no incumbent. This is a new study that will replicate APEC study for CACFP centers.

The level of effort for APEC II study is 66,000 hours.

5. RFP, Pg. 8, Section 2(a)

– Special Requirement s

The holder shall ensure that appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards are established to ensure the security and confidentiality of this

Can the government provide guidance regarding what the government considers “appropriate” in this context?

See RFP, Pg.8.

Section 2(a).

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Reference Section

Content Question Answer information, data, and/or equipment is properly protected.

6. Attachments I and II

Scope of PWS for CLIN 1-5 and 6.

Is there an incumbent contractor currently supporting any element of the scope of CLIN 1-5 or CLIN 6? If so, what is the nature of that support?

There is a no incumbent. This is a new study. See response to question #4.

7. Attachment

II – PWS

CLIN 6, Pg 15 Task 6

“The contractor shall select and train qualified staff…”

Can the government clarify if the “qualified staff” are those of the contract awardee, the government (e.g., FNS), or other FNS contractors?

Can the government clarify whether it is expected or permissible for the staff of the contract awardee to act as “data collectors”?

Yes, the staff can be awardee staff or subcontractors.

It is permissible for staff of awardee to be data collectors.

8. Attachment

II – PWS

CLIN 6, Pg 15 Task 7

“…the contractor shall arrange with the appropriate personnel at the selected sites to collect data in accordance with the plan…”

Can the government clarify whether it is expected or permissible for the staff of the contract awardee to act as “data collectors” under Task 7?

It is permissible for staff of awarded to be data collectors.

9. Attachment I

– PWS

CLIN 1 – 5,

C.2 – Program Regulations and Administrati on

This section mentions “FNS Regional Offices” and “State agencies” as administering CACFP payments.

Can the government confirm the number of “FNS Regional Offices” and “State agencies” that currently administer CACFP payments?

All States currently administer CACFP.

There are 7 FNS Regional Offices across the US. For more information:

http://www.fns.usda.g ov/cacfp/child-and-adult-care-food-program.

10. Attachment I

– PWS

CLIN 1 – 5,

C.2 –

This section mentions in FY 13 average daily attendance at sponsored childcare centers was

Does the government believe the average of 2.7M children is the average number of children participating the CACFP

This average number of children refers to only attendance for CACFP childcare http://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/child-and-adult-care-food-program http://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/child-and-adult-care-food-program http://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/child-and-adult-care-food-program http://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/child-and-adult-care-food-program

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Reference Section

Content Question Answer

Overview of the Child and Adult Care Food Program

“…more than 2.7 million children”.

program in FY13?

centers, the focus of this study.

11. Attachment

II – PWS

CLIN 6, Pg.

9, Objective 2 and Objective 3

There are a number of bullets following Objective 2 and 3.

Can the government clarify whether in their proposal, the Offeror is to provide an answer or perspective on each of these questions listed under Objectives 2 and 3?

These are questions that must be considered and answered in addressing the Objectives 2 and 3 of this study.

12. Attachment

II – PWS

CLIN 6, Pg.

10, C.4

Section C.4 states that the contractor shall arrange an “external review” of every draft report by organizing a “peer review panel”.

Can the government clarify whether the “peer review panel” needs to be made up of people outside the contractor’s organization? Can contractor personnel be members of the “peer review panel”?

The peer review panel members should be independent of the contractor’s organization.

13. Attachment

II – PWS

CLIN 6, Pg.

11, Section 1.1, Final Study Plan

This section explains the only deliverable for Task 1 (CLIN 6) is a draft, revised, and final study plan.

Over the course of this five year CLIN 6, how often does the government expect the contractor to deliver this deliverable, i.e., “1.1 Final Study Plan”? monthly?, quarterly?, annually? Other?

The offeror will propose the deliverables schedule.

Typically, the study plan should be delivered early in the study and will propose the data collection, methods, and analysis to be used. If the study adds new tasks, the study plan may be updated and submitted as additional deliverables.

14. Attachment

II – PWS

CLIN 6, Pg.

19, Section F, F.1:

Schedule

This section lists all deliverables under

CLIN 6.

Over the course of this five year CLIN 6, how often does the government expect the contractor to deliver each of these deliverables? monthly?, quarterly?, annually? Other?

If frequency of delivery depends on the type of deliverable, what

See response to question #13.

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Reference Section

Content Question Answer is the expected frequency for each deliverable over the course of five years?

15. Attachment I

– IDIQ

PWS, CLIN

1 -5

This PWS does not include a section which describes, explicitly, what the required contractual deliverables are for CLIN 1 -5.

a) Can the government clarify, explicitly, what are the required contractual deliverables are for

CLIN 1 -5?

Can the government clarify whether the contractual deliverables for CLIN 1 -5 are the same for the base year and each option year?

To be determined at task order level.

To be determined at task order level.

16. RFP Page 3 -

1. Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs

– Item 1.3

The Firm Fixed Price portion of Line Item 6 with five (5) years from date of award.

Please confirm that the base period of Line Item 6 consists of five (5) Years.

The period of performance is 5 years for line item 6.

17. RFP Page 7

– CLIN Item

6 PRICING

CLIN Item 6 Payment Schedule table

Please confirm that the CLIN/Sub CLIN amount column should show the total price for each sub CLIN.

Yes, the column will be filled with prices for total price of each CLIN. See RFP Page

7 LINE ITEM 6

PRICING.

18. General Award date What is the expected award date of this contract?

The Government anticipates an award date in late September.

19. General Current contract spending

Could the Government please provide the amounts spent on the existing contract for each contract period and CLIN?

See responses to questions #4 and #6.

20. Attachment I

– IDIQ PWS

– CLIN 1-5,

Page 1, C.1.

Overview

C.1. Overview: Under “The Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act (IPERA) of 2010”

Is this contract to be performed in accordance with The Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act (IPERA) of 2010, as stated, as well as the recent

Yes.

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Reference Section

Content Question Answer and Page 2, C.2 Background

Attachment

II – PWS –

CLIN 6,

Page 1, C.1.

Overview and Page 2, C.2 Background

(Public Law 111-204) the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is required to identify and reduce erroneous payments including overpayments and underpayments in various programs including the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

C.2 Background:

On July 22, 2010, President Obama signed into public law “The Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act (IPERA) of 2010”, P.L.

111-204… To comply with the IPERA 2010, USDA needs a reliable measure to estimate erroneous payments for the CACFP.

Improper Payments and Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act (IPERIA) of 2012?

21. Attachment

II – CLIN 6

PWS, Page 8, C.3 Study Objectives and Research Questions

The Offeror’s proposal shall include in an appendix not to be included in the page limit, a table presenting which tables from APEC-1 the Offeror will and will not replicate, with an explanation for the latter.

Will additions to the table presented in the appendix be allowed once the project begins?

Yes, this can be discussed after contract is awarded.

22. Attachment

II – CLIN 6

PWS, Page 12, C.4 Task and Deliverables

When developing the project schedule, the Offeror shall allow, at a minimum, 52 weeks for OMB’s final approval from the submission of the 60-day notice to FNS to final OMB approval.

Can the Offeror work on other tasks and deliverables under the proposal during the 52 week period allotted for OMB approval?

Yes.

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Reference Section

Content Question Answer

23. Attachment

II – CLIN 6

PWS, Page 14, C.4 Task and Deliverables, Task 3

The Offeror shall develop a 60-day Federal Register Notice for publication that meets all requirements of the Federal Register Office. In addition, the Offeror shall submit to FNS a package requesting OMB approval for all data collection activities…

The OMB data collection package shall contain copies of all recruiting materials and data collection instruments (to include screenshots, if applicable)…

Can the government confirm which deliverables listed in section C.4 will be included in the described in the Federal Register Notice and included in the data collection package submitted to OMB for review and approval?

60 day notice of data collection, data collection instruments, and recruitment materials.

24. Attachment I

– IDIQ PWS

– CLIN 1-5,

Page 2, C.1.

Scope, C.2.

Background

Attachment

II – PWS –

CLIN 6,

Page 2, C.1.

Scope, C.2 Background, Page 17, 9.3.

Evaluation Report

Scope It builds on the methods developed for school meals in the Access, Participation, Eligibility and Certification (APEC) study series and complements the annual measure of reimbursement “tiering” errors in family day care homes for reporting on

CACFP

C.2 Background Need for Study This solicitation seeks to leverage the methodology used to conduct the Access, Participation, Eligibility, and Participation (APEC)

1) Does involvement in the APEC study preclude the current APEC contractor from participating in this solicitation due to an Organizational Conflict of Interest?

2) If not precluded, will the government facilitate coordination between a non- APEC contractor awardee and the APEC contractor in order to sufficiently satisfy the contract tasks and deliverables?

No. This will not be necessary. The first APEC study’s final report, released in 2007, is available on the FNS website.

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Reference Section

Content Question Answer study series in both sponsored and independent childcare centers operating under

CACFP.

Past Relevant Research FNS expects the contractor to use and modify the data collection and analysis methods from the APEC studies and apply them to CACFP centers for this study.

9.3 Evaluation Report

• A presentation of all major findings of the study including a discussion of how the results differ (and/or are similar) from those found in the APEC study series;

25. Attachment

II – PWS –

CLIN 6,

Page 15, Task 7

As data are collected, the contractor shall create a database consistent with the procedures described in the approved Data Collection and Analysis Plan sections of the Final Study Plan

Will the database be maintained on FNS systems or will the contractor store and maintain the database and documentation within their environment?

The database will be maintained by the awardee.

26. Attachment

II – PWS –

CLIN 6,

Page 20, F.5 Performance Measures

The Government shall monitor quality assurance in accordance with the PRS below and Attachment 1 - Quality Assurance Monitoring Form

The PRS presented on pages 21- 24 of the PWS does not display fully. Can the government provide revised pages?

In addition, can the government clarify where Attachment 1 – Quality Assurance Monitoring

Yes. We will post with amendment. See Attachment to amendment 0003.

Yes, it can be found in the appendix.

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Reference Section

Content Question Answer

Form can be found?

27. RFP, Page 7, Quality Control

The Contractor shall submit the Quality Control Plan (QCP) with submission of their proposal.

Can the government clarify which Tab of the technical proposal should include the QCP? Can it be included as an appendix and will the QCP count toward the page limit?

Tab B. See RFP page 31 to 32. Appendix will not count toward the page limit, but the QCP will count toward the page limit.

28. RFP, Page 9 The preliminary and final deliverables and all associated working papers, and other material deemed relevant by the agency that have been generated by the Vendor are the property of the U.S.

Government and cannot be reproduced, or retained by the Vendor.

Would it be permissible for the vendor to retain certain associated work papers and deliverables in accordance with GAO requirements and industry standards?

See RFP, page13, Data Rights section.

29. RFP, Page

Two Service Contract Reporting provisions:

(7) FAR 52.204-15 and

(8) FAR 52.204-15

under FAR 52.212-5(b) have been marked as applicable by the contracting officer.

Can the government explain why these two have been marked applicable?

The Service Contract Act applies to proposed positions that are not deemed professional.

30. RFP, Page 40, Factor 2 Management Evaluation criteria

Factor 2 Management The offeror will be evaluated on the ability to identify the Key personnel with related experience in which it is proposing to accomplish the potential range of FNS

The RFP does not include minimum qualifications of key personnel; however it is an evaluation criterion of the proposal. Can the government identify the minimum qualifications of the key personnel?

This is a performance based requirement and the offeror must determine the qualification of personnel to meet the requirements outlined in the PWS.

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Reference Section

Content Question Answer task orders.

31. RFP, Page

32, Tab B – Management

Attachment I

– IDIQ PWS

– CLIN 1-5,

Page 2, C.1.

Scope, C.2.

Background

The staffing and management plan should include the names of key personnel, the qualifications of all personnel… This section should also describe the expertise of key personnel in relation to their assignments and the actual and expected assignments outside this contract.

Scope It builds on the methods developed for school meals in the Access, Participation, Eligibility and Certification (APEC) study series and complements the annual measure of reimbursement “tiering” errors in family day care homes for reporting on

CACFP

The RFP does not identify key personnel labor categories or minimum qualifications;

however, the scope of the PWS states that the contract will build on the methods developed for the APEC study series. Can the government identify labor categories and minimum qualifications needed to execute the APEC study series?

See response to question number #30.

32. RFP, Page 6, Section 1.7 Line Item 6 Pricing

The government estimated level of effort to be 10,145.

(for Line Item 6)

If the base period for line item 6 is 5 years, are these hours for the whole period of five years or for each year?

The estimated LOE is for five (5) years. See RFP, page 6.

33. The RFP number for each is the same for each procurement (Total small business ID/IQ, AG- 3198-S-14-0021 )and (Full/open, AG-3198-S-14-0021)

Yes. One was titled “sources sought,” which has been archived.

https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=ff7fd66c1ca7e6777fbb4ea312eeb6c9&tab=core&_cview=1 https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=ff7fd66c1ca7e6777fbb4ea312eeb6c9&tab=core&_cview=1

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Reference Section

Content Question Answer

34. The procurements are very similar, are they actually one procurement but erroneously released as both a TSB sources sought and open RFP at the same time?

The sources sought notice was released previously to gauge capabilities of small businesses. The current RFP was released as a full and open solicitation. See response to question #33.

35. On page 5 of The PWS for line item 6 it states: “FNS expects the contractor to use and modify the data collection and analysis methods from the APEC studies and apply them to CACFP centers for this study. The APEC series utilizes a variety of methods (such as application abstractions, meal observations, surveys, and review of administrative data) to produce national estimates of erroneous payments for NSLP and SBP.”

In Part A of the APEC OMB package cited by FNS the total burden hours (p. 18) are 5,362.72. While these are respondent burdens, not contractor, the time required for the contractor to conduct the surveys is typically three to five times greater than the respondent burdens. However, on page 6 of the RFP under line item 6 pricing it states that “The government estimated the level of effort to be 10, 145 hours.” Presumably these hours are intended to cover not just the survey and analysis effort but also the development of estimation methods for FNS use and the white paper on state level estimates. Does FNS anticipate substantial reductions

66,000 hours is what the contractor estimated to complete the APEC II Study.

The vendor will propose the level of effort it deems appropriate to address the objectives of this study.

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Reference Section

Content Question Answer in the burden estimate for applying APEC methods in child care centers? If not, will the government clarify the estimated level of effort?

36. When you say “Performance and Staffing” are excluded, do you mean all of Tabs B and C? Or are just the resumes excluded from the page limit?

Page 33, section 7.3 of the RFP states: “The Technical Proposal shall not exceed 70 pages in length, double spacing, 12 point font, one inch margins; resumes and other business information (PWS, Past Performances and Staffing) are excluded from the page limit.”

Tab B management does count against the 70 page limit for the technical proposal.

Tab C and resumes do not count against the 70 page limit.

[END OF AMENDMENT]