Responses_to_Vendor_Questions_DOL-BLS-16-Q-00024.docx

Section C4 DELIVERABLES | (4.g.) Cost Update Methodology appears to require a new, customized methodology to collect price data for each quarter that will require additional resource and time to implement.

1. Would BLS consider an alternative proposal from a vendor to propose a more cost effective quarterly price data collection methodology?

The cost update methodology is unchanged from the previous PWS for this building type. That being said, vendors are free to offer proposals as long they meet the data requirement in the PWS.

1. Should the vendor assume that BLS intends to change over to this new pricing methodology, not just for the new healthcare building data model, but for all building data models that were developed and being maintained by a vendor?

We are unable to answer questions about other building data models.

BLS list as a performance measurement in section C.4.1 BASE YEAR “ the completeness of the project list will be evaluated by BLS independently identifying 30 “high profile” projects in each region and checking to see if those “high profile” projects are included on the project list AND …are similar to internet sources”

1. Can BLS identify for a vendor the criteria and sources used to identify the 120 “high profile” projects in the 4 regions OR make these “high profile” projects directly available to the vendor for the purposes of cross checking their project list prior to submittal?

“High profile” projects are those newsworthy projects cited in media due to their significance in the area that they are being built.

1. Would BLS consider an alternative proposal from a vendor to propose a more cost effective solution to identify “high profile” projects required by BLS with the mandatory project data?

As stated in response to question 1, vendors are free to offer proposals as long they meet the data requirement in the PWS.

The observation was made in Figure 4 below the Period of Performance that BLS may be excluding an Option Year 5 of quarterly cost updates that may not be the intent of BLS. In other words, every fifth year BLS completely reevaluates and updates one of their five (5) base building models (e.g., office, industrial, health care, schools, and office buildings) on a rotating cycle. DOL-BLS-16-Q-0024 does not provide for an Option Year 5 Data Update.

Figure 4 – Period of Performance – Heath Care Building Models

1. Does Bureau of Labor Statistics intends to run their Building Model Development and Cost Update program on a full, five (5) year cycle that would require adding an Option Year 5?

Contracts/Purchase Orders are only able to run for 5 years total, a base year and 4 option years. If an additional year of updates is required, that will be purchased through a different purchase order.

The RFQ requires providing a project list with all projects fully researched with all mandatory project data points in each region.

1. Would BLS consider modeling the construction data points (exterior wall, roof covering, frame) for (20) representative projects in each region instead of researching all projects on the project list?

Again, vendors are free to offer proposals as long they meet the data requirement in the PWS.

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