AMENDMENT_001_RFP_AG-3198-S-15-0041_7-16-2015.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.

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1 4

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

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-15-0041

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

6/24/2015

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

CODE 1EFX9 FACILITY CODE

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 __1__ copies to the issuing office.

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

Project Title: CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMUNITY ELIGIBILTY PROVISION SCHOOLS

The purpose of amendment # 001 is to incorporate the following:

1) Provide Government answers to interested 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)

Thu Vo

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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CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMUNITY ELIGIBILTY PROVISION SCHOOLS

Amendment 0001

Questions and Answers

Question 1: Should the study include near-eligible LEAs in the sample frame, or should inclusion be limited to eligible participating and eligible non-participating LEAs only?

Government Answer to Question 1: The study is only interested in examining eligible participating and eligible non-participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs). The Government is not interested in including near-eligible LEAs.

Question 2: Does FNS want the contractor to assess the impacts of Community Eligibility Provisions (CEP) on attendance, participation, and per-meal revenues for each year since CEP began, or should they be based on a comparison between the year prior to implementing CEP and the current year of CEP?

Government Answer to Question 2: FNS is interested in assessing the impacts of CEP on various outcomes in the initial year of CEP implementation as well as examining the sustainability of these impacts across later years of CEP implementation.

Question 3: Does FNS have an estimated level of effort for completing the work required under this RFP?

Government Answer to Question 3: No. Offerors are required to propose their own level-of-effort.

Question 4: What is the anticipated level of effort?

Government Response to Question 4: See the Government’s answer to Question 3.

Question 5: Page 25 of the RFP states: “The Technical Proposal shall not exceed 30 pages in length, double spacing, 12 point font, one inch margins; resumes and other business information, Past Performances and Staffing are excluded from the page limit.” Can FNS clarify whether the “other business information such as Past Performances and Staffing” refer to all of the contents of Tab B (Management Approach) and Tab C (Past Performance), as described on pages 25-26?

In other words, is the 30-page limit only applicable to Tab A (Technical Approach)?

Government Answer to Question 5: The 30 page limit applies to (TAB A) Technical Approach (Technical and Management Criteria). The 30 pages do not include resumes, appendices, quality control plan, or past performance questionnaire.

Question 6: Given the requirement for a comprehensive study plan, will FNS consider increasing the page limit to 50 pages?

Government Answer to Question 6: See answer to Question 5. FNS is willing to increase the page limit to 50 pages, the Technical Approach (Tab A) shall be limited to 30 pages.

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Question 7: Does FNS have an intended award date for this contract?

Government Answer to Question 7: Award will be made prior to September 30, 2015.

Question 8: Do the lists of eligible and participating LEAs/schools include length of time on CEP or must that be constructed from multiple years of lists? Will FNS make prior years’ lists available to the contractor?

Government Answer to Question 8: Yes. The annual lists of eligible and participating LEAs/schools will be provided to the Contractor upon request. It is not the intent to provide these lists to potential offers (only the winning contractor). These lists are annual lists and do not include the length of time a LEA/school has been eligible or participating. The contractor would have to determine that by examining multiple years of lists.

Question 9: Page 8 of the PWS (Attachment I) states, “Ensure a response rate of at least 80 percent.” Is achieving this response rate an explicit requirement from FNS or the anticipated goal?

Government Answer to Question 9: The Government fully expects the contractor to attain at least a 80 percent response rate and should build into their study plans approaches that they will use to reach these response rates. The contractor should be conducting non-response bias analysis and making appropriate adjustments to weights if potential bias is found.

Question 10: Is the discussion of personnel in Tab B excluded from the page limit?

Government Answer to Question 10: No.

Question 11: Is the Quality Control Plan excluded from the page limit?

Government Answer to Question 11: No, the Quality Control Plan is not excluded.

Question 12: The price proposal format (p.26) specifies that the table of labor hours and labor mix should include the fully loaded labor rate. P.27 requests direct labor cost information showing direct labor rates. Does FNS request both types of information?

Government Answer to Question 12: Yes.

Question 13: Does FNS require the submission of fringe cost rates and indirect cost rates for subcontractors?

Government Answer to Question 13: Yes, the government does require fringe cost and indirect rates for subcontractors.

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Question 14: Does FNS require the submission of profit information for subcontractors?

Government Answer to Question 14: The Government does not require the submission of profit information from subcontractors.

Question 15: Will requests for extant data from States require OMB clearance?

Government Answer to Question 15: Yes, obtaining extant data such as the number of reimbursable meals, or Federal reimbursement dollars for specific LEAs from State agencies does require OMB clearance.

Question 16: Please clarify the following statement on p.17 in Attachment I-A Performance Requirements Summary of the Performance Work Statement: “The minimum detectable differences applicable to the variables of interest and at 95% level of confidence (at 0.80 power), and 90% level of confidence for subgroup analyses.”

Government Answer to Question 16: The sample sizes selected must be sufficient to yield estimates for agreed upon minimum detectable differences applicable to the variables of interest and at 95% level of confidence (at 0.80 power), and 90% level of confidence for subgroup analyses.

Question 17: Per Special Requirements section of the RFP, page 6, please advise on the following:

What is the FIPS 199 security categorization level for this system?

Will the contractor be required to submit a Privacy Impact Assessment?

Government Answer to Question 17: The proposed contract will be unclassified. No Privacy Impact Assessment is required.

Question 18: Will the contractor be expected to participate in a certification and accreditation (C&A) effort? If so, what is the expected level of involvement from the contractor? Are there any ongoing C&A activities that should be included in the proposed budget?

Government Answer to Question 18: No, there is no Certification & Accreditation (C&A) process for this effort.