Prebid_conference_Q_ _A_Final.docx

Pre-Proposal Conference USDA Rural Development, CSC St. Louis, MO July 27, 2015

SOLICITATION # AG-31ME-S-15-0018

Questions and Answers

1. The vision you seem to have is event driven or in conjunction with rapid response. Is this accurate? The services we currently have are what we are looking for the contractor to maintain. What we want is the ability to obtain talent as we need it. There may be a time it may be event driven but that is not the purpose of the contract right now.

2. Would you want a ramp up plan? The current requirements are as reflected in the Statement of Work and sample task order. However, the requirements could change anytime and other services could be added as needed.

3. Could anything other than the positions listed be required? Room to add more? There is no guarantee. Possibly, task orders are situational, and based on need.

4. How will the onboarding be handled? Will it be handled locally in St. Louis? The Human Resources office in this building will be handling it. You will handle the initial screening for potential contractors. Fingerprinting and the adjudication process will be handled by HR at this location.

5. Is security Public Trust? Yes. It is standard form 85. Please see the security attachment to the solicitation for more details.

6. Can we get more information on loss and retention that was mentioned in the presentation? Our challenge is retention of trained contractors. After the onboarding process is complete, we provide training in our processes and programs but turnover in staff does happen. They may leave for their own reasons, they take jobs elsewhere, say six months down the road. So we have spent 6 months training someone and then when they leave, we have to start the process over again. We would like to be able to find contractors that we will be able to retain for the duration of the task order on the contract.

7. What is the capacity of an event driven situation? Want the flexibility to offer services to other Agencies or Departments and leverage our infrastructure. This requires the ability to find the knowledge and talent with a certain skill set that is needed. The contract lists the skills sets and basic requirement required for each of the positions identified.

8. Fixed Price proposed value- On the sample task order it looks like there are 8 positions, will there be the ability to add more positions? The Task is similar to the services required today and is utilized for price evaluation.

9. Right of first refusal for employees-Are we able to have access to the base salaries for employees currently in these positions? The base salaries (hourly rates) cannot be disclosed.

10. What other agencies are you currently servicing? We service states within the Agency. UPDATE: We currently perform services for Food and Nutrition Service.

11. You mentioned telecommuting. Is this going to be an option for the contractor or will only a certain number of employees be allowed to telecommute? This will be at the discretion of the agency and the supervisor. It will be on a situational and case by case basis but the expectation is that the contractor will work here in the office. There are currently 2 remote contractors.

12. Will there be a phase in period? Yes

13. Is there a page limitation for the bid? No. There will not be a limitation to the number of pages or specification of font style. Just please make sure it pertains to requirements of this solicitation.

14. How long has the current contract been in existence? 2 years. The requirement being solicited currently is different in scope from the current one.

15. What are you looking for in satisfactory financial data? Looking for proof that the company has not been disbarred or experienced financial problems during performance.

16. Does the government plan to release employee’s information prior to award? No

17. Will past performance evaluation be allowed on a sub-contractor? No- it will be based on the prime.

18. The contract states that subcontractors and key personnel can be evaluated. Why the discrepancy? Sorry for confusion. It is the prime only. The key personnel pertains to the project manager.

19. What if you want to keep the current project manager, is there the ability to swap out? Yes.

20. Who is the incumbent? Adino, Inc.

21. Has the scope changed due to personnel? Scope changed as a result of combining two contracts. The projected employees are in the sample task order.

23. What is the difference between the current and new contract? Two contracts are being combined into one. The other incumbent is CMW & Associates.

22. Will there be a preference to local companies? If they have the experience in recruiting and maintaining a qualified workforce and knowledge of the St. Louis market, yes.

24. Would it be useful to have sample resumes over the amount of positons available to help the government be aware of the pool of workers that is available should there become turnover? Whatever you want to offer you in your proposal, you are welcome to send.

25. What improvements from current contract do you want to see? Recruit and retain knowledgeable employees that meet the criteria in the contract.

26. Does the Service Contract Act apply ? Yes.

27. Is there a non-compete within USDA? No.

Will the positions be refilled if an employee either gets hired on by USDA. The positions will be refilled throughout the duration of the task order.

28. Total value? For 2015 the value is estimated at $2.8 million.

29. Technical approach more important than price? Yes

30. Will the date be extended for solicitation? Not as of this point.