CPSC-Q-16-0031_-_Amendment_1_-_06_02_2016.pdf

Amendment 0001 - CPSC-Q-16-0031 User Research Studies to Support Human Factors Work at CPSC

Amendment 0001 to CPSC-Q-16-0031 is hereby issued as follows:

1) Change the Period of Performance identified on page 44 of Task Order 0001 of the RFQ from “45 calendar days” to “four (4) months”.

2) Change Section 6 b, Reporting Requirements (page 44) from “Content – the report must contain the market data as described in the “Description of Work” to “Content – the report must contain a list of the content of the submitted data as described in the Description of Work.”

3) Contractor Questions and Answers in response to the RFQ are provided below.

4) Extend the due date for proposals from June 9, 2016, 9:00 a.m. ET to June 15, 2016, 1:00 p.m. ET.

Question 1 Surface Material: On a cursory search of playground surfaces it seems that there may be multiple surface types that incorporate post-consumer (potentially tire) rubber materials; loose fill, pour-in-place, tiles and matts. The one that stands as having the most issue is the loose fill material.

Understanding this may inform how we recruit the three demographic areas. Will the CPSC be specifying which playground surfaces are to be researched, should identifying specific types of crumb rubber and recycled tire surfaces be part of our proposal, or is it not necessary? If the CPSC is specifying which surfaces, what are they?

Answer 1 Types of recycled tire playground surfaces can include unitary surfaces (e.g., poured-in or tiles) as well as loose rubber mulch, which is similar to wood mulch. It is not necessary to specify the type of surfaces.

Question 2 Item 3, under “Description of Work”, states that we will moderate the focus groups using CPSC prepared documents. Is it possible to get a draft of these documents? This may help us determine the duration of each focus group, which will impact our quote.

Answer 2 The duration of each focus group is not expected to exceed two hours. The following link is a public document that outlines the work CPSC will have to do and is provided for your reference:

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016- 02/documents/federal_research_action_plan_tirecrumb_final_2.pdf

Question 3 Is there a page limit for Volume 1 (Contract & Pricing Documents) and/or Volume 2 (Technical

Proposal) Answer 3 There is a maximum page limit of 80 pages for Volume 2. Any proposal over 80 pages will not be reviewed after the 80th page.

Question 4 Page 43, 1. Description of Services: This section mentions that the purpose of the focus group study is to inform the development of a national survey. Should we provide costs for this national survey in Volume 1 in addition to the focus group study, or should we provide costs for only the focus group study? If costs associated with the national survey are desired, please provide specs for this quantitative study.

Answer 4 CPSC does not have the specifications for the national survey so an estimate is not required.

Question 5 Is this a new or existing contract requirement? If existing, who is the incumbent?

Answer 5 This is a new requirement. There is no incumbent.

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-02/documents/federal_research_action_plan_tirecrumb_final_2.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-02/documents/federal_research_action_plan_tirecrumb_final_2.pdf

CPSC-Q-16-0031 – Amendment 0001 June 2, 2016

Question 6 Will task orders likely be overlapping in time?

Answer 6 Not very likely, at the most two Task Orders about two different studies may overlap.

Question 7 Approximately how many people would be needed to staff the larger Task Orders – less than a dozen? More than a dozen? Several dozen?

Answer 7 This is a performance based contract and therefore the number of staff that is required will depend on the type of data to be collected. Therefore, the government cannot give a specific number of people that the contractor will need to have on staff. That will have to be determined per Task Order.

Question 8 Task Order 1 calls for “focus groups and contextual interviews” but then details what seem to be the three focus groups with 10 participants each. Please clarify. Are the contextual interviews to be a part of the focus groups or a separate data collection activity?

Answer 8 Yes, in this task order contextual interviews are part of the focus group study.

Question 9 Does a sample full or partial research design need to be submitted as part of the response to the solicitation?

Answer 9 No

Question 10 Does the CPSC have its own IRB that we would have access to? We have extensive experience writing protocols but are not currently affiliated with an organization that has an IRB.

Answer 10 CPSC does not have an internal IRB. The Contractor is expected to obtain the approval via an external IRB.

Question 11 Who would be responsible for securing study locations?

Answer 11 As indicated in the Task Order, paragraph 4, Description of Work, the Contractor shall secure an appropriate facility to moderate the focus groups.

Question 12 Is there an anticipated start date?

Answer 12 Task 0001 will commence upon contract award.

Question 13 What is the expected total value of the IDIQ? What is the budgeted amount for Task Order 0001?

Answer 13 The total value of the IDIQ will depend on what the Commissions direct CPSC to do. CPSC cannot share the budgeted amount for the Task Order.

Question 14 Will CPSC provide access to its own IRB to review and approve any human subjects research under this contract? If the answer is no, can the offeror use an external IRB for review purposes when the need arises?

Answer 14 CPSC does not have an internal IRB. An external IRB is acceptable.

Question 15 Is there a page limit for the proposal? Does CPSC have a preference of document format (word, PDF) for the proposal documents?

Answer 15 There is a maximum page limit of 80 pages for Volume 2. Any proposal over 80 pages will not be reviewed after the 80th page. PDF or Word is an acceptable format for proposal documents.

Question 16 Should the offeror only provide experience of staff who will execute the sample task or provide a more comprehensive list of staff for all potential types of projects (surveys, focus groups, etc.)

mentioned in the RFQ?

Answer 16 Beyond the Task Order, please provide a comprehensive list of staff in accordance with page 40, Qualification of Personnel, of the RFQ.

Question 17 Should the offeror only submit a price for the sample task only? Should the offeror provide rates for labor categories required for other potential projects falling under the IDIQ?

Answer 17 Pricing shall be submitted for the Task Order only in accordance with page 39, Volume 1: Contract and Pricing Documents, of the RFQ.

Question 18 Will the offeror have the opportunity to make an in-person presentation of the proposed approach and firm capabilities?

Answer 18 In-person presentations will not be conducted.

Question 19 When is the anticipated award date and project kick off date?

Answer 19 The anticipated award date is no later than mid-August. The kick-off meeting shall commence one week after contract award.

Question 20 Does the CPSC have an existing generic clearance for the Paperwork Reduction Act under which this work could qualify for Fast-Track Clearance?

Answer 20 Yes

Question 21 Does the ESHF Division have experience with Fast-Track clearance and how long these clearances have taken to process for other tasks.

Answer 21 A few weeks.

Question 22 Is Task Order 0001 to be planned and priced as part of the response?

Answer 22 Yes

Question 23 The period of performance for the sample Task Order is 45 days, while the delivery schedule shows deliverables due in terms of weeks elapsed after IRB and OMB approvals. How are the IRB and OMB approval timelines to be reconciled with shorter contract periods as in the example Task Order?

Answer 23 The period of performance for Task Order 0001 is amended to extend from 45 days to four (4) months.

Question 24 The sample Task Order states that travel is not required, implying either that research would be conducted remotely or that participants are recruited locally to the contractor for this task. Are there expectations or constraints around travel for this contract?

Answer 24 At this time not travel is required, however if determined that travel is required at a later date then it will be negotiated and then issued by way of a contract modification by the Contracting Officer.

Question 25 Is the contract being awarded under a government schedule (i.e. a GSA schedule)?

Answer 25 The contract is being awarded open market.

Question 26 On page 44 (Task Order 0001), the instructions indicate that the contactor should “submit all data and materials to CPSC for analysis and reporting.” However, item 6 outlines the reporting requirements. Could you please clarify whether CPSC expects the contractor to create and submit the report, or CPSC will conduct the reporting?

Answer 26 CPSC will analyze the data to generate a report. CPSC however would expect outlining the content of data in a report format.

Question 27 (a-d): Task Order 1 activities: Both technical approach and pricing are related to what is specifically being requested in Task Order 0001. Please clarify the following:

a) Will the contractor help develop or revise the focus group procedures and/or question path, or will this be fully developed in the materials that CPSC provides?

b) Will the contractor simply turn all data over to CPSC or will they assist in analysis?

c) Will the contractor simply turn over the videotapes of the focus group sessions or will they be expected to reduce the video data into some summary form first?

d) In recruiting participants for the three sample populations (parents, childcare providers, parks and recreation facility employees), is CPSC specifically interested in those with experience and exposure to recycled tire crump surfacing, or those with no such exposure, or some mix?

Answer 27a Answer 27b Answer 27c Answer 27d

a) CPSC will provide the materials.

b) The contractor shall turn over the data to CPSC.

c) The contractor shall turn over the videotapes as recorded.

d) Mix

Question 28 Section 4, Description of Work, specifically indicates that the contractor is to obtain IRB approval.

It does not mention OMB approval. The schedule of deliverables is specifically tied to the date of OMB approval. It’s the contractor expected to assist in the OMB approval process?

Answer 28 CPSC will apply for the OMB approval.

Question 29 Will Ethics Training be provided?

Answer 29 CPSC does not provide Ethics Training for contractors.