AHRQ-21-10006 Solicitation Questions_Responses.pdf

Support to Implement Increased Transparency of the Processes of the USPSTF

AHRQ-21-10006

Responses to Proposal Questions December 15, 2020

Thank you for your interest in this Request for Proposal (RFP). Below is a key to the responses to the questions found on the following pages:

• “No solicitation amendment necessary” – This response is given when:

1) the requirements are clearly articulated in the solicitation to the maximum extent possible, or

2) the information is not available, or

3) it is dependent on the offeror’s proposed approach.

• “Please see solicitation amendment” – This response is given if the response to the question affects a revision to the RFP. Please see the amended RFP posted to Federal Business Opportunities.

• A response to the question is provided - A response/answer is given if clarification is necessary, but the response does not require a revision to the RFP.

# Page Section Question Response 1 5 B.4

Provisions Applicable to Direct Costs

Section B.4.a specifies that “Travel to attend general scientific meetings” is unallowable as a direct cost. Can we assume that the USPSTF meeting is not considered a “general scientific meeting” since attendance at this meeting is Task 1.4?

USPSTF Meetings are not considered a general scientific meeting.

2 9 Subtask 1.4:

Attend

USPSTF

Meetings

How many hours each meeting will take on average? Will it be virtual to start until travel resumes normally? And in what city is it normally in (to calculate travel costs)?

Please see solicitation amendment (Section L.9).

3 73, Technical Discussion 3.

Personnel L.7 Technical Proposal Instructions

The proposal states that signed letters of commitment are required for all subcontractors and can be included as Appendix material.

However, L.7 states that vendors can only include 2 appendices (resumes and HHS 508 Product Assessment Templates). In light of this, please advise where we should include the signed letters of commitment.

Please see solicitation amendment.

4 71, L.7 Technical Proposal Content (a) Cover page and L.9 Business Proposal Instructions, The RFP requests listing of “subcontractors” in the Cover Page of the Technical Proposal and Page 2 of the Business Proposal.

Are purchase orders and consultants included in the “subcontractor” classification?

Should offerors request advance consent for all entities considered “subcontractors” in their business proposal?

Consultants and purchase orders are considered subcontractors.

Proposed subcontractors and consultants will be reviewed and incorporated in Section B.5 as appropriate at award.

5 74 L.8 Past Performance Information

Can AHRQ please provide a definition for “major subcontractors”?

No solicitation amendment necessary.

6 75 L.9 Business Proposal Instructions, Cover Page

Can AHRQ please clarify what is meant by a “manually signed original of the proposal” given that submissions will be electronic via a computer portal? Are offerors expected to send a hard copy original via courier in addition to the portal submission, and if yes, by the proposal due date?

Please see solicitation amendment.

7 76 L.9.A.10 and

Business Proposal Instructions, Other Direct Costs

Should offerors provide the same cost/pricing and source selection detail required for subcontractors in items 10 and 11 of this section for purchase orders and consultants?

Consultants and purchase orders are considered subcontractors.

8 77 L.9.C. (b) Business Proposal Instructions, Other Admin.

Data, Commitments

Can AHRQ please clarify if the other commitments requirement in this section refers generally to other projects or is AHRQ looking for a listing of personnel and their time commitments on other projects. If a personnel listing is sought, would this request encompass all personnel or only key personnel?

Please see solicitation amendment.

9 65, L.2. (d) Instructions to Offerors L.7 Technical Proposal Instructions

Please confirm that the cover sheet referenced on page 65 (specifying that the offer expiration date must be on the cover sheet) is this the same as the cover page referenced on page 71.

Please see solicitation amendment.

10 8, 27 C F.2

Section C specifies that weekly tables should be submitted to the Task Order Officer (TOO);

however, the deliverable schedule table in Section F.2 states that recipient of weekly tables will be the COR. Can AHRQ please clarify to whom the contractor should submit the weekly tables and other deliverables?

Please see solicitation amendment.

11 25, F.2 Section F.2 notes that days mean calendar days. In the deliverable schedule table, it notes that the quarterly progress report is due 10 business days after the end of the previous quarter. Can AHRQ confirm that it would like the progress report 10 business days rather than calendar days after the end of the previous quarter?

Please see solicitation amendment.

12 26 F.2 Since the annual report draft is due 60 days prior to the end of the contract year, and the final due 2 weeks prior to the end of the contract year, is it fair to assume that the annual report will not include data from topics occurring in the final months of the contract year?

Please see solicitation amendment (Section C, Subtask 1.5).

13 28, F.2 Does AHRQ require the summary report and full report to be 508 compliant upon submission 2 and 4 weeks respectively after comment period closing, or may these documents be made 508 compliant later in the contract year?

No solicitation amendment necessary.

14 1 Additional Information

In the past AHRQ has issued this contract with a period of a base year plus four option years; it is noted that in item a, the contract is issued with a base year plus three option years. Can you clarify the reason for the change?

No solicitation amendment necessary.