Amendment0001-signed.pdf

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 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 DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment your 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 date specified.

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

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1. CONTRACT ID CODE

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

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

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

FACILITY CODE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION

NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

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.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS.

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

CHECK ONE 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)

Except as 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.

15C. DATE SIGNED

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

16C. DATE SIGNED

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

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

PAGE OF PAGES

6. ISSUED BY CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code) (X)

CODE

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

Previous edition unusable

ASHLEY T OWENS, Contracting Officer

The purpose of this amendment is to incorporate solicitation changes and Government responses to Offeror questions.

USDA, Food and Nutrition Service Contract Management Branch, Rm 228 3101 Park Center Drive Alexandria, VA 22302

USDA, Food and Nutrition Service Contract Management Branch, Rm 228 3101 Park Center Drive Alexandria, VA 22302

AG-3198-S-15-0042

1 6

See Block 16c

06/29/2015

06/29/2015

AG-3198-S-15-0042

IDENTIFYING PROGRAM COMPONENTS AND PRACTICES THAT INFLUENCE

SNAP APPLICATION PROCESSING TIMELINESS RATES

Pages 34-35, Section 8. Basis of Award, Factor 2 Management, Paragraph 3 is hereby changed from:

The Offeror shall be evaluated to determine if and how well the proposed management approach describes the qualifications of all key personnel in relation to their proposed roles. Proposed staff assignments shall be evaluated to determine if and how well the proposed management approach demonstrates relevant experience, skill, and availability. The Offeror shall be evaluated to determine if and how well the proposed management approach demonstrates committed staff’s demonstrated experience critical to the successful completion of study objectives and research questions including project management; working with large quantities of quantitative and qualitative data; quantitative and qualitative analysis methods and techniques; database management; and writing clear and comprehensive reports of evaluation findings.

To:

The Offeror shall be evaluated to determine if and how well the proposed management approach describes the qualifications of all key personnel in relation to their proposed roles. Proposed staff assignments shall be evaluated to determine if and how well the proposed management approach demonstrates relevant experience, skill, and availability. The Offeror shall be evaluated to determine if and how well the proposed management approach demonstrates committed staff’s demonstrated experience critical to the successful completion of study objectives and research questions including detailed knowledge and understanding of the regulations and operations of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), project management; working with large quantities of quantitative and qualitative data; quantitative and qualitative analysis methods and techniques; database management; and writing clear and comprehensive reports of evaluation findings.

QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES

1. Will FNS provide the state admin data or does the contractor need to collect that data?

Government Response: No, FNS requires that the contractor work closely with the states to collect the required admin data for the study.

2. In RFP # AG-3198-S-15-0042, on page 27, Section 1. Content and Format of Submission of Quote it states “Offeror s shall submit (1) original and one (3) hard copies of your technical quotation and one original and one (3) hard copies of your price quotation to the office specified below." Can you please confirm if the requirement for proposal hard copies is 1 or 3 hard copies each of the technical and price quote?

Government Response: Page 27, Section 1. Content and Format of Submission of Quote is hereby changed from:

Offeror s shall submit (1) original and one (3) hard copies of your technical quotation and one original and one (3) hard copies of your price quotation to the office specified below

To

Offeror s shall submit (1) original and three (3) hard copies of your technical quotation and one original and three (3) hard copies of your price quotation to the office specified below

3. The Performance Work Statement refers to “53 State SNAP Agencies” on page 1, but indicates that the contractor is supposed to “survey all 50 States and the District of Columbia” on page 5 and elsewhere. Is the contractor to survey all 53 SNAP “State” Agencies, or all 50 States and the District of Columbia?

Government Response: FNS requires that the contractor survey all 50 States and the District of Columbia.

4. In section C.4 of Attachment I, the subtasks are numbered C.4.1.1 through C.4.1.11, but in the Schedule of Deliverable, the subtasks are numbered C.5.1.1 through C.5.1.11. With which numbers would you prefer the subtasks be referenced?

Government Response: Please reference the subtasks numbered C.4.1.1. through C.4.1.11 located in the Performance Work Statement for completion of the Schedule of Deliverables.

5. The Schedule of Deliverables states that the revised draft survey instrument and the draft memorandum on pre-test results are both due by week 20. In C.4.1.3, Subtask 3, the RFQ suggests that cognitive pretesting of the survey instrument should be conducted “after revising the instruments based on FNS comments and recommendations”. Can you clarify exactly when

FNS is to provide comments on the draft survey instrument? Can you also clarify that the pre-test should be conducted after revising the draft survey instrument (rather than after the revised draft survey instrument) based on FNS comments and recommendations?

Government Response: The contractor shall conduct the pre-test of the revised draft survey instrument after receiving comments from FNS. The revised draft survey instrument will be due to FNS on week 16 (not week 20). The draft and final Memorandum on Pre-Test Results of the survey instrument will be due to FNS on week 22 (not week 20) and 26 (not week 24), respectively.

6. Are we supposed to discuss our approach to the post-award conference as part of Tab B?

Government Response: No. Page 29, Section 4.Technical Quotation Instructions (Volume 1) outlines what is to be included in Tab B. The Post Award Conference is a requirement of the contract after award.

Page 12, Section 3. Contract Administration, Post Award Conference is hereby changed from:

Within the two weeks after contract award, the Government shall provide a draft agenda to FNS and hold a telephone discussion with FNS to schedule the orientation meeting, discuss the agenda and decide who will attend the meeting. Within two weeks of the award of this contract, the contractor shall meet with FNS staff in Alexandria, Virginia.

To:

Within the two weeks after contract award, the Contractor shall provide a draft agenda to FNS and hold a telephone discussion with FNS to schedule the orientation meeting, discuss the agenda and decide who will attend the meeting whether in person or virtually. Within two weeks of the award of this contract, the contractor shall meet with FNS staff in Alexandria, Virginia.

7. Is it a requirement to program a separate application using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) software, or can we propose a different approach?

Government Response: FNS recommends using CATI software, however, Offeror s may propose an approach they believe will aid in collecting the most comprehensive data to address the study objectives.

8. The Performance Work Statement states that the contract “will include a review of reports from studies done by FNS on this issue” on page 3. Can these reports be made available to contractors preparing proposals?

Government Response: FNS will make these reports available to the contractor after award.

9. Does FNS have an estimated level of effort for completing the work under this RFP?

Government Response: FNS anticipates the estimated level of effort to be approximately 7,830 hours. However, Offerors should propose a level effort in accordance with their proposed technical methodology.

10. Does FNS anticipate use of other data collection methods, such as site visits or telephone interviews with some States to complement the data collected via web survey? It seems that a more in-depth discussion with States on their policy and operational procedures might provide important information for addressing the research questions.

Government Response: FNS recommends a web-based survey as the primary mode of data collection. However, Offerors may propose an approach they believe will collect the most comprehensive data to address the study objectives.

11. Subtask 7 in the Performance Work Statement mentions administrative records as a data source.

Can FNS provide any additional information about the type or content of the administrative records?

Government Response: In accordance with C.5.1.7 of the Performance Work Statement, administrative records may vary to include application processing timeliness, and application dispositions. The administrative data that are collected from the states should be responsive t the research questions.

12. Can FNS clarify the distinction between the administrative case record data discussed in Subtask 2 and the administrative records discussed in Subtask 7 of the Performance Work Statement?

Government Response: There is no difference in these data. Both Subtask 2 and 7 are referring to the same data.

13. Is the Offeror required to be on the GSA schedule to respond to this RFP or to complete any subsequent contract related to this RFP?

Government Response: No. This requirement is being acquired Open Market as a small business set aside therefore a GSA Schedule is not required to propose on this solicitation. The Government cannot make a determination as to the future acquisition strategy of any subsequent contract at this time.

14. On page 27, the text reads as follows: "Offerors shall submit (1) original and one (3) hard copies of your technical quotation and one original and one (3) hard copies of your price quotation to the office specified below. Also provide one (1) technical quotation CD and one (1) price quotation CD to…” Is the Offeror expected to submit one hard copy each of the price and technical quotations or three hard copies of each?

Government Response: See response to question #2.

15. Is state participation voluntary? If participation is mandatory, what is the penalty to the contract awardee if a state refuses to participate?

Government Response: State participation is voluntary. However, FNS expects the Offeror to utilize sufficiently effective recruitment strategies to engage the required sample, which are all 50 states and the District of Columbia.