DOL111RP21354 Mod 0001.DOC

CONTINUATION PAGE

Questions and Answers for DSG Expert Consultation and Technical Support Services SOL#DOL111RP21354

1. Is this a new requirement? Or is there a current contract in place that is providing the same or similar work? If there is a previous or current contract, would you please provide the following information: Contractor Name, Contract Number, Contract Value, and Expiration Date?

Answer: No, this is not a new requirement. The incumbent contractor is Eastern Research Group, BPA No. DOLQ119F31405, Contract Ceiling – $1.6 Million, Period of Performance November 14, 2010 – November 13, 2011.

2. What is the Subject Matter Expertise that will be required by the solicitation?

Answer: There is varied subject matter expertise required for this award. Key expertise will be needed in: technological feasibility; regulatory analysis; OSHA rulemaking protocol; health science; biology and epidemiology; industrial hygiene; and sampling and testing methodologies. Currently OSHA has projects related to combustible dusts; silica; global harmonization of standards; beryllium; nanotechnology and ergonomics and will need experts for these projects. However, as OSHA rulemaking and guidance projects vary, so will our expertise needs.

3. Can you confirm if it is, or is not, a set aside solicitation?

Answer: This is not a set aside. This is a full and open requirement.

4. Is this a single or multiple award IDIQ? If multiple award, how many awards will be issued?

Answer: It is the government’s intent to make a single award from this solicitation, but the government reserves the right to make multiple awards.

5. What is the ceiling for this contract?

Answer: The contract ceiling will be determined at the time of contract award. It is up to each vendor to draw from there personal expertise in the tasks areas identified in the SOW to proposal a reasonable price to perform the desired services.

6. What is the number of task orders expected to be released under this IDIQ annually?

Answer: The number of task orders is hard to determine. It will depend on the directorate’s budget, workload, and technical assistance needs. We estimate from one to thirty task orders will be issued annually.

7. Section 6.0 Key Personnel (page B-3): Can two additional labor categories be added: Subject Matter Expert and Principal Consultant? The SOW requires providing technical expert recommendations and expert testimony. At present, the qualifications of these Subject Matter Experts would be substantially different than a Senior Analyst (i.e., an advanced degree and at least 15 or 20 years of experience). Page E-20 of the solicitation refers to the qualifications of proposed Principal Consultants. This labor category would be advantageous to the government because it would include individuals with more experience than a Senior Analyst but less than a Subject Matter Expert.

Answer: No.

8 . Section 8.0 Specifications for Progress Reports (page B-6): Is the information required for the financial management section under items c. (2), (3), and (4) only applicable for labor hour task orders issued under the contract?

Answer: Yes.

9. Section 9.0 Travel (page B-6): DOL is proposing a NTE amount of $30,000 for each contract year for travel and other direct costs. Will the Contracting Officer be able to increase the NTE amount after award for each contract year if the need arises for the contractor to incur additional costs beyond the $30,000 for activities such as conducting multiple trips to collect information due to changing Agency needs, such as, an aggressive regulatory agenda? If no, would DOL consider raising the NTE amount for the RFP?

Answer: The Contracting Officer reserves the right to raise the NTE for Travel/ODCs if the need arises.

10. Section C.4 (d) (page C-7): Text appears to be missing from the end of the last sentence.

Answer: This date will be determined at contract award. The date that should be at the end of this sentence is the date of the last day of the contract period of performance.

11. Section C.8, Required Insurance (page C-8): The requirement for “Builder’s Risk and Fire and Extended Coverage” insurance does not appear to be applicable to the SOW for this procurement. This insurance coverage requirement appears to be for construction work. Can this clause be eliminated?

Answer: This clause will be removed will the contract is awarded. It was erroneously added to the solicitation.

12. Section F, Proposal Submission, Format (page E-18): Do Volumes IV and V of the proposal have to be redacted since they will contain pricing information that we assume will not be shared with the technical proposal reviewers?

Answer: No Volumes IV and V of the proposal do not need to be redacted.

13. Section F, Proposal Submission, b. File Packaging (page E-19): Does DOL want the CD to contain the files for just the original proposal, the redacted proposal, or both versions of the proposal?

Answer: Both

14. Section F, Proposal Submission, c. Page Count (page E-19): Is the total number of lines per page that is allowed to be evaluated 45 or 50?

Answer: The total number of lines allowed per page is 45.

15. Section F, Proposal Submission, c. Page Count and d. Content Requirements (ii) Volume II – Small Business Participation Plan (pages E-19 and E-20): Under Page Count, Volume II indicates the page count to be NTE 15 pages, excluding the Small Business Subcontracting Plan. After reviewing the requirements for Volume II under d. Content Requirements, it appears that all the required information for that volume will be in the Small Business Subcontracting Plan. Should the Small Business Subcontracting Plan be included, versus excluded, in the NTE 15 pages for Volume II? What additional information, if any, does DOL request under Volume II?

Answer: Small Business Subcontracting Plan is excluded from the NTE 15 pages. DOL does not request any additional information under volume II besides the Small Business Subcontracting Plan. Some companies may decide to provide additional information that is limited to 15 pages.

16. Section F, Proposal Submission, d. Content Requirements, (iii) Volume III – Past Performance, (1) Section 1 Content Descriptions (page E-22): Could you please define the individuals listed under (b) “Procuring Contracting Officer; (d) “Administrative Contracting Officer; and (e) “Pre-Award Monitor”?

Answer: The Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO) is the CO that awarded the contract. The Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO) is the CO that administered the contract after it was awarded. The PCO and ACO may be the same person. The Pre-Award Monitor is the Contract Specialist or Contracting Officer who worked with the PCO in awarding the contract.

17. Section F, Proposal Submission, d. Content Requirements, (iii) Volume III – Past Performance, (4) Past Performance Questionnaire (page E-23): Which client points of contact listed for each contract should receive the past performance questionnaire?

Answer: Please see the questionnaire to the person that monitored your contract performance. Usually that person would be the COTR/COR. If the COTR/COR is not available than send it to the Contracting Officer that awarded your contract.

18. What is the proposed start date for this procurement?

Answer: Mid/Late November.

19. Can G&A be applied to travel and other direct costs in accordance with an offerors normal accounting practice? If yes, does the $30,000 NTE amount for travel and other direct costs include any indirect markups (i.e., G&A)?

Answer: Travel/ODCs will be a cost reimbursable CLIN. G&A should not be applied.

20. Should offerors provide supporting documentation for its proposed fixed hourly rates as part of its proposal submission?

Answer: Yes

21. Are the page counts provided on page E-19 referring to single-sided or double-sided paper?

Answer: The page counts provided on page E-19 refer to the total number of allowable pages.

22. Page B-1, Section B, Subsection 4.0, Description of Tasks. While the scope of work to be performed is well explained, there is no indication of the amount of work expected to be performed in support of the activities identified in each task. Without that information, we have no logical reason to price any quantity different than the hours presented in Technical Exhibit 1 of Section B (page B-7), notwithstanding the instructions in the technical exhibit that “The contractor is responsible for proposing the appropriate hours and labor mix to perform the requirements of this SOW.” Please clarify.

Answer: The amount of the work, per task, is really hard to determine. Our needs for technical assistance are based on regulatory projects, deadlines, emerging risks, and our budget. Therefore, proposals should be based on the assumption that there will be equal amounts of work for each task.

23. Page B-3, Section B, Subsection 6.0, Key Personnel. Why are all of the job categories considered key, particularly the Junior Analyst and Clerical?

Answer: Junior Analyst and Clerical positions will be removed from the Key Personnel Section.

24. Page C-8. Since the Description of Tasks doesn’t not include any actual construction, why is Builder Risk insurance required for this contract?

Answer: This clause will be removed will the contract is awarded. It was erroneously added to the solicitation

25. Page E-19. Reference the following sentence: “If there are more than forty-five (50) lines of text on any page, the sum of the additional lines will be removed from back to front of the particular volume or attachment and will not be evaluated.” Please clarify the number of lines allowed on any page. Also, it appears that if a page (say page 3) of a volume is 10 lines over, those 10 lines will be deleted from the last page of that volume. Is that correct?

Answer: The total number of lines allowed per page is 45. Yes, that is correct.

26. Page E-20, Subfactor 4 Performance Plan. The term Principal Consultant is used in this sub-factor. How does that term relate to the titles presented in Section B, Subsection 6.0, Key Personnel?

Answer: The principal consultant is equivalent to the Sr. Analyst.

27. Page E-23 (iv) – Volume IV – Price: Requests that section B.1 be completed with pricing for the base and each option year. The next sentence requests a detailed fixed price cost proposal with pricing for the base year and each option year, listing the proposed labor categories and labor rates. Do the words Fixed Price refer to the hourly rates being proposed for each labor category or are we being asked to provide a single, firm fixed price to provide all support for each contract period?

Answer: Vendors must submit a completed Section B.1 with a fixed price for the base and each option year with their price proposals. In additional vendors’ price proposals must include detailed pricing information listing the proposed labor categories and labor rates that make up the fixed price amounts listed in Section B.1.

28. Can bidders use their GSA schedule rates as the basis for the proposed hourly rates?

Answer: The government is looking to received open market rates.

29. Pages B-3 to B-5: There is no education for experience conversion factor listed for a bachelor’s degree. If an individual has a bachelor’s degree would that be equivalent to 4 years of experience?

Answer: No.

30. Pages B-3 to B-5: Two of the labor categories specifically state that a degree is required, Project Director and Junior Analyst. However, under the Senior Analyst position, the wording under item (b) 3rd sentence reads “ . . . Similarly, relevant education, in addition to the required advanced degree, may be considered . . . “ This indicates that an advanced degree is contemplated for the position. Can you please clarify which labor categories require a degree and what level of degree is required?

Answer: The labor categories that require an advanced degree are the Project Director and Senior Analyst. For the Senior Analyst labor category, a Bachelor’s degree and eight years of relative experience would be considered equivalent to a Master’s degree; and a Bachelor’s degree with nine years of relative experience would be considered equivalent to a Ph.D.

32. Page C-8, Section C.8: Required Insurance: We are not sure why there is a requirement for Builders Risk Insurance for this SOW. Is this a policy we will be required to have for the work contemplated?

Answer: This clause will be removed will the contract is awarded. It was erroneously added to the solicitation

33. Page E-19, item b. File Packaging: Do we need to provide CDs for both the complete proposal and the redacted version of the proposal? May all volumes be included on a single CD or must a separate CD be used for each volume?

Answer: Vendor’s must provide both the completed proposals and redacted version of the proposal on CD. All volumes may be included on a single CD.

34. Page E-23, item e. Delivery of Offers: Normally when we send a federal express package, we receive a delivery confirmation from FedEx that is signed by the receiving location at the delivery address. Will this be sufficient to ensure that our proposal has been received by Mr. Gross prior to the due date and time specified?

Answer: Yes.

35. Do we need to remove all the names from the consultants as well, or just our company name?

Answer: Remove all names from your redacted proposals. That includes company name and the names of individuals. Vendors must use their offerors code in the place of their company’s name.

5. PROJECT NO.

CODE

7. ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO.

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

9B. DATED

PAGE OF PAGES

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

10B. DATED

BPA NO.

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

FACILITY CODE

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:

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

E. IMPORTANT:

is extended,

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR AC-

KNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

(REV. 10-83)

is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office.

is not, 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.

15C. DATE SIGNED

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES

SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you 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.

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER

BY

Contractor

16C. DATE SIGNED

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

STANDARD FORM 30

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

(Type or print)

(Type or print)

(Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

(If other than Item 6)

(Specify type of modification and authority)

(such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(If required)

(If applicable)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(X)

(X)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

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

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

10-07-2011

163-119F-655

OASAM Office of Procurement Services

U. S. Department of Labor

RM S4307

200 Constitution Ave., NW

Washington DC 20210

OASAM Office of Procurement Services

U. S. Department of Labor

RM S4307

200 Constitution Ave., NW

Washington DC 20210

To all Offerors/Bidders

DOL111RP21354

09-13-2011

X

The purpose of this amendment is to:

1) Upload responses to all the questions submitted by vendors.

2) Extend the due date for proposal submission to October 25, 2011 at 3:00PM EST.