Amendment_0001.pdf

Solicitation No. CC13HQR0005 Amendment 0001

The purpose of this amendment is to post responses to Questions received for Solicitation

CC13HQR0005.

# Questions Answers

I am not familiar with the last item - completion of Representations and Certifications online at http://orca.bpn.gov

The reference to ORCA in the pre-solicitation notice on FBO was incorrect. It was corrected with the Solicitation (ORCA has become a part of SAM and is known as the Reps & Certs in SAM).

In order to respond to this solicitation, do I complete the applicable forms and mail to your attention or can I send the items electronically?

Offerors are to complete their offerors in accordance with Section L and to ensure that all items in the RFQ are addressed. Proposal submission instructions are in Section L (Provide an original and two (2) copies of each document and provide one (1) electronic copy on CD-ROM/DVD with all documents).

I am I correct in believing the discipline sought is limited to credit analysis?

See Section C.4.1. Only Credit Analysis.

Is there a closing or response date for CC13HQR0005 National Bank Examination Support Services (CY14)

See Section L.4.

Offerors shall complete all representations and certifications found in Section K and submit with proposal

If the Representations and Certifications have been completed in Sam.gov that may be printed out and included

If I submit a Key Personnel (contractor) and another company bidding on this solicitation also submits the same contractor, how does the OCC handle that situation?

The individual would be evaluated under both proposals.

If accepted, the individual would be listed as key personnel under both contracts.

I have a couple of questions pertaining to Section L Instructions, Conditions(etc). Under section 2. (page

38) of the instructions concerning the "Not-To-Exceed" hourly rate, will the offeror be allowed to bid hourly rates less than this amount on individual contracts at later times depending upon the work involved?

Yes- if awarded an IDIQ contract, the contractor willl be able to bid a hourly rate less that the amount established in the IDIQ contract for individual task orders.

However, the hourly rate cannot exceed the hourly rate established in the IDIQ contract.

Also under section L.7 Supplemental Information (page

40) concerning Offeror Representations and Certifications reference is made to the representations and certifications fond in Section K of the proposal. An annual electronic representation and certification filing under ORCA appears to be required. Is this also true for individual Offerors or just corporations?

Both individual offerors and corporations are required to submit the Offeror Representations and Certifications.

Pg 18/Section H.18 – Do any background forms need to be submitted with the proposal for Key Employees?

The process is only applicable after award of a contract.

Pg 32/Section K – For Supplemental Information requested in Section L.7.6 Offeror Representations and Certifications, do we simply copy and complete Section K of the RFP?

Offerors may copy and complete Section K or if the Representations and Certifications have been completed in Sam.gov that may be printed out and included.

Section K.2 – references CCR. Is registration in SAM and electronic representation and certification in SAM sufficient to satisfy K.2(b)?

The reference to CCR in the FAR clause is outdated. If the Representations and Certifications have been completed in Sam.gov that may be printed out and included.

4. Is the tolling period with respect to Attachment 8:

Potential Post-Employment Restrictions calculated off the Award Date or the actual Contract Start date?

The tolling period is the contract start date of January 1, Pg44/M.3.2 Past Performance – Where in the proposal should an Offeror who will provide employees to perform work under the contract add its organizational past performance for evaluation?

See Section L.7.

How exactly does the process work? Can a contractor choose not provide services under a task order if the location is too far from home or for any other reasons?

Under H.1, the solicitation states that, if ordered, the contractor must provide additional hours up to the maximum number but under I.3, Order Limitations, it states that the contractor is not obligated to furnish services under the contract. This seems contradictory.

Does that mean the contractor must provide services if personal or any other circumstances would make it difficult or impossible to provide these services?

If awarded an IDIQ contract, a Contractor shall have the ability to decide which task orders to bid on. There is no contradiction between H.1 and I.3. I.3. states: (a) Minimum order. When the Government requires supplies or services covered by this contract in an amount of less than $100.00, the Government is not obligated to purchase, nor is the Contractor obligated to furnish, those supplies or services under the contract.

Under H.13(c) it states that the CO may negotiate prices with a selected contractor before issuing the task order.

Does that imply that the prices provided in B.2 are negotiable and, if higher than desired, will not act to be a negative factor in the issuance of a task order? Can the OCC share any historical information on the average, median or range of hourly rates that have been approved in the past?

Prices are negotiable prior to issuance of a task order however the hourly rate for the task order may not exceed the hourly rate established in the IDIQ contract.

Hourly rates are commensurate with experience and range from the 50s to mid 100s.

Does an individual offeror need a DUNS number? Are they available for individuals?

Yes - an individual offeror is required to have a DUNS number and they are available for individuals.

I was unable to get on the acquisition.gov website many times today. If the site becomes available, how do I find the section to complete the representations and certifications? 2014?

Representations and Certifications are available for completion on Sam.gov. You may utilize the website's help function to complete the process.

Will the earliest date the services be request be in January 2014?

The start date of the contract is January 1, 2014.

How many contract resources does the OCC expect to require at 1,000 hours?

See Section B.2.

How much notice is required, should "key" personnel need to be replaced?

See Section H.16.

When will contract personnel be required to submit to background checks?

See Section H.18.

As part of our normal contracts with clients, we generally include a clause preventing them from hiring our resources without first discussing the matter with our principals and require that they pay a fee upon finalizing such hires. This is a particular concern since we are a small business and our resources are our most valuable commodity, and considering that this was a frequent practice by the FDIC during the recent rush on bank closings. Would the OCC be agreeable to such a clause?

No.

Pages 5-6; Section C.4 Knowledge and Skills. Are all applicable Key Personnel only to be submitted for Credit Analysis?

See Section C.4.1. Only Credit Analysis.

Pages 5-6; Section C.4 Knowledge and Skills. Are other areas of bank examination such as BSA/AML, BIT or Compliance not being considered under this Solicitation?

See Section C.4.1. Only Credit Analysis.

Page 39; Section L.6.7 Proposal Submission Instructions. Is there a limit to the number of resumes and Key Personnel to be included in this submission?

There is no limit to Key Personnel.

Page 39; Section L.6.7 Proposal Submission Instructions. Can we submit Bank Examiners that are currently listed as active Bank Examiners with the

OCC?

If "active" is equivalent to "current OCC employee", then the response is No.

Page 5; Section C.3 Scope of Work. Will awarded Task Orders be granted to the same Vendor each successive year, or will they need to be re-bid each year?

Task orders will be recompeted on an annual basis.

General. Will the NBES program include a blend of both foreign and local banks as originally anticipated? If so, what are the criteria in your proposal for qualifying a contractor with experience in international and domestic banking business and regulatory matters?

No foreign banks. No international assignments.

General. Do you plan to evaluate each bidder based on ‘collective skills experience’ in an effort to consolidate multiple contractors to fewer ones?

No- We review each bidder on individual merits.

General. Do you plan to host a vendor selection conference upon award of services to articulate how the Agency envisions the NBES program to work among contractors with focus on selection, program efficiencies, and cost reductions to the Agency.

A vendor selection conference is not held upon award.

However Acquisition Management will provide awardees with a Post Award Orientation that will provide an overview of the administrative processes of the NBES program.

General. Are MDIs (Minority Depository Institutions) part of the NBES program? If so, does this subject the contractor to different pricing and capabilities performance under the OCC’s Minority Owned Banks?

Do you expect the contractor to be familiar with OCC and Federal policies and regulations surrounding Minority Owned Banks?

MDIs are not part of the NBES program.

General. How is the NBES program different from its equivalent one currently administered by the FDIC?

What are some of the similarities and differences between the two Regulators?

The OCC is unfamiliar with the FDIC process and therefore cannot provide a response.

General. Does the NBES program include familiarity with banking matters related to consumer banking and if so, what are some, if any, of the program’s ‘check points’ and ‘measurement standards of success’ with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?

Very few assignments involve consumer banking. Most are commercial credit oriented.

SF-33 I do not understand what I need to enter for blocks 13 and 14. Can I leave these blank?

See Section L.6(1).

Is it acceptable to not include a separate resume for myself under attachment 7 if all relevant experience is described under attachment 7 and attachment 8? My work with the OCC is the only relevant work experience.

All offerors must include a resume.

Should I send only sections B and K of the contract, or should I include the entire contract as part of my submission?

See Section L for submission instructions.

Could you help me with block 14 on the Solicitation, Offer and Award form, form 33? I am not sure what "amendments" are that I should or should not "acknowledge"

Amendments are formal changes to the Solicitation; the posting of the Questions and Answers to include the SF 30, is an Amendment.