QUESTIONS.docx

DOL131RP21715

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SECURITY ADMINISTRATION - VARIOUS ECONOMIC AND STATISTICAL STUDIES RELATED TO EMPLOYER PROVIDED BENEFIT PLANS

QUESTIONS/ANSWERS

1. How a many copies of the proposal are to be provided?

See revised Section E, paragraph E, Proposal Submission in the revised Request for Proposal.

The offeror’s proposal shall be submitted as set forth below. The offeror’s proposal shall consist of the following separate volumes: one original, four copies, and two CD of Volume I – Technical; one original, one copy, and one CD of Volume II - Past Performance, Volume III - Price, and Volume IV- Solicitation, Offer and Award Documents and Certifications /Representations. The offeror must also provide a technical and price proposal for the sample tasks identified in as Attachments D.2 through D.6, each proposal for the sample task orders shall be included in the Technical and Price volumes accordingly, under separate tabs. These task orders may or may not be issued at the time of award.

2. There is a disconnect on the due date. SF 1449 Block 8 says 7/24 @ 1100 EST, Page 41 of the RFQ states 7/22 @ 1100 EST. Please clarify.

The due date for receipt of proposals is 11:00 a.m., July 24, 2013. However, it is being extended until 11:00 a.m., EST, July 31. 2013.

3. There does not appear to be a Sample Task Two posted on FED BIZ Ops. The Source Selection Plan has a subtitle as sample task two. Please clarify.

Special Notice submitted on Federal Business Opportunity on 06/27/2013. See below:

DOL mistakenly published a draft Source Selection Plan for this procurement on 06/24/2013. This document was a draft only, and may or may not be used in the procurement. Offerors should ignore this document and its contents, and rely on the Request for Proposal issued on 06/24/2013. This document is withdrawn from publication in this procurement.

In addition, an amendment will be issued to provide a copy of Attachment D.3, Sample Task Order Two.

4. The SB goal is shown at 60%. This appears to be high from traditional goals. Please confirm the correct SB goal %.

The 60% goal is correct.

5. The Sample Task Orders imply that a narrative is required for the Sample Task orders, whereas the RFQ only asks for a total price in the Price Volume. What is the specific requirement for addressing the Sample Tasks and if a narrative is required which Volume should it be a part of?

See Section E, paragraph E of the revise RFP. A technical proposal is required and shall be submitted in the technical volume under separate tabs.

6. Is the 60% SB requirement is for the overall master contract, or does each TO have to aim for 60% SB set aside?

The 60% goal is for the overall master contract.

7. While it was indicated the Source Selection Plan should be ignored, it appeared to include some narrative that referenced and/or may be included in a Section M. Can you provide a description of Relevancy or provide Section M.

The source selection plan was mistakenly included as an attachment to the Request for Proposal. This document is in draft format, and changes will be made as needed. This document is not a part of the solicitation package and is utilized internally. Please ignore this document and only utilize the Request for Proposal in writing your proposal.

8. While it is indicated the Source Selection Plan should be ignored, it appeared to include some narrative that referenced and/or may in a Section M. Please clarify if the contractor is required to submit 5 past performance or 3 past performance.

The source selection plan was mistakenly included as an attachment to the Request for Proposal. This document is in draft format, and changes will be made as needed. This document is not a part of the solicitation package and is utilized internally. Please ignore this document and only utilize the Request for Proposal in writing your proposal.

9. Which Federal Supply Schedule (e.g. GSA Schedule) will this contract fall under?

This procurement does not fall under any GSA Schedule, and is in fact an open market buy. RFP, Section C.12 has been revised to delete, “…within the underlying Federal Supply Schedule Contract”.

10. The solicitation indicates three volumes (Volume I – Technical, Volume II – Past Performance, Volume III – Price). Please clarify which volume the Small Business Subcontracting Plan should be included in.

Please include your Small Business Subcontracting Plan in Volume III – Price. See revised Section E, Paragraph E of the Request for Proposal.

11. Please clarify whether task orders will be firm-fixed price or labor hour, or whether this is a hybrid IDIQ for both labor hours and firm fixed price task orders.

EBSA intends to issue all firm-fixed price task orders, however in specific circumstances it may be necessary to issue labor hour orders.

12. Past Performance Questionnaire – Can you clarify if “FDIC” should be replaced with “DOL?”

The past performance questionnaire included with the original RFP is an incorrect questionnaire. Please see the correct version of the Past Performance Questionnaire to be utilized.

13. For task orders restricted to IDIQ contract holders that are small businesses (“set aside task orders”) – does this refer to prime contractors on the IDIQ who are also small businesses? Is there a certain percentage of contract dollars allocated from a large business to a small business that would warrant inclusion into these set aside task orders?

Yes, prime contractors that are small businesses. Those “other than small” firms will be required to comply with applicable subcontracting laws.

14. Please provide Section M.2 referenced on page E-7 under the Cost and Pricing data Volume III: Price.

This requirement is being procured as a commercial item, therefore, there is no Section M. Please see Section E.5 for proposal evaluation.

15. Will the Government be willing to extend proposal due date by 2 weeks?

The due date for receipt of proposals has been extended for one week.

16. The SF1449 indicates a due date for responses of 7/24/2013 at 11:00AM whereas on page E-9 the due date is 7/22/2013 at 11:00AM. Please clarify the due date.

The due date for receipt of proposals is 11:00 a.m., 7/24/2013, please see revised Request for Proposal.

17. The attachment containing a description for Task Order Two appears to be missing. Please provide.

The sample Task Order Two is being provided with this amendment.

18. The SF1449 lists the NAICS code for this procurement as 541720, with a size standard of $7 million. The current size standard for that NAICS code is now $19 million. Can we assume that the current size standard of $19 million is applicable?

The current size standard for NAICS code is $19 million. Please see revised RFP.

19. On page B-1, for the listing of estimated hours , is that to compute the maximum value of the contract, and if so, is the contractor required to have the ability to provide the maximum estimated number of hours given the IDIQ nature of the task orders?

Yes, the contractor (including subcontractors) should have the ability to provide the maximum hours, or at least a large majority of the hours.

20. In lieu of the cost buildup in the business proposal, can a contractor that has a Federal Supply Schedule utilize those rates?

The Government can not tell you what rates to utilize.

21. On page D3, D.1.4.7, the requirement states that the contractor shall coordinate conferences and presentations. However, there is no stipulation for reimbursement of direct conference costs in B.4. Reimbursement for other direct costs. Can you please clarify how reimbursement for any potential direct conference costs (other than travel) may occur?

Conference costs can be reimbursed as other direct costs. The contract will be amended to allow for this type of reimbursement. The Ceiling of the contract will not be increased. The fixed price for any applicable task order will include the costs of the conference.

See revised Section B.

22. Can subcontractors be added later if and when the specific need arises?

Subcontractors can be added later, but must be approved. However evaluation of proposals will be influenced by quality of available staff.

23. How will the task order bid process occur? Will there be task orders in which only small businesses can respond? Will there be sole source task orders?

Some task orders will be reserved for small businesses. Unless very specific needs arise, all task orders are intended to be competed amongst the contract holders.

24. Are subcontractor rates to be included within the prime contractors’ labor rates, so only one set of labor rates are supplied to DOL?

Yes.

25. Given that the sample task orders are to be all fixed price, is there a need for the monthly progress reports to report budgetary items as indicated in the sample task orders?

Yes, EBSA will still require monthly progress reports of the work and budgetary items. If a monthly progress report is not required, it will be identified on the individual task order.

26. For the Technical proposal, Volume I, should there be an overall IDIQ response to the 3 sections (Section 1. Understanding the scope, Section 2. Prior Experience, Section 3: Staffing Plan), as well as the same three sections for each of the 4 sample task orders?

Yes, the technical proposal needs to include an overall IDIQ response to the three sections. In addition, we are requesting responses for each of the sample task orders that the contractor wants to compete for this year.

27. Is it the intention for DOL to issue only fixed priced task orders?

It is our intention to issue fixed price task orders, however it may be necessary in a few specific circumstances to issue labor hour task orders.

28. I realize the time for questions has passed however, the Administration’s recently announced postponement of the employer mandate prompts our question as to whether the SOW for Sample Task 4 is impacted?

No, Sample Task 4 is not materially impacted by the recent Administration announcement. We are still interested in the questions posed.