OJC_Contingency_Operator_RFP_Responses_to_RFC.pdf

Office of Job Corps Contingency Operator

RFP DOL-ETA-16-R-00058

Responses to the Request for Clarification

1. Are large operators also qualified to bid on this?

ANSWER: Yes, only the first two awards are set aside for small business. The Government anticipates making at least four awards. After the first two contracts are awarded, all others are awarded on an unrestricted basis.

2. (Page 7, Section B.5) The RFP states: “It is anticipated that the Contractors will be given an opportunity to offer a firm fixed price for conducting an initial assessment based on their stated technical approach and transition in to operation of a Job Corps Center.” Please confirm that estimates for transition costs are not required in the response to this RFP, but the opportunity to propose transition costs will be offered as part of the RFQ when a task order is issued from the IDIQ contract.

ANSWER: Prices for Transitioning in will be evaluated for the purpose of contract award. The Transition Out will be addressed in the Task Order solicitation.

3. (Page 15, Section F.3) Please clarify the Period of Performance. Section F references a term of a base period of 12 months, with the potential for four 12-month option periods, but the Attachment J-1 references one base year and two option periods.

ANSWER: The period of performances for the IDIQs will have a base period of 12-months, with the potential for four 12-month option periods. See Amendment No. 0002.

4. (Pages 3, 16 & Attachment J-1, Sections B &G) Please clarify the fee structure and rates available in the task orders awarded. Section G does not address contract fees. The pricing schedule in Section B references Technical Performance Incentive and Cost Incentive Fees, while the Attachment J-1 provides for only Fixed Fees. Will the contracts include fixed fees considering the nature of the type of quick contract takeover, as a result of security issues, incidents and lack of performance, as well as assuming another contractor’s estimated costs/value?

ANSWER: No fees or fee structure will be proposed with the solicitation. Attachment J-1 is for informational purposes on the Task Order level and not a schedule to be completed for this solicitation. See Amendment No.

0002.

5. (Pages 45, 48 & Amendment 1, Sections L.6F & L.6.F.A.5) Please clarify the requirements for the

Business Management Proposal. Page 45 and Amendment #1 reference the requirement for the BMP as Attachment J-1. Attachment J-1 seems to be applicable for purposes related to the RFQ stage for a task order award, not this IDIQ solicitation. Are the instructions in Part 5, which detail requirements for Business Management Data (1-11) still applicable to the BMP response for this solicitation?

ANSWER: No fees or fee structure will be proposed with the solicitation. Attachment J-1 is for informational purposes on the Task Order level and not a schedule to be completed for this solicitation. See Amendment No.

0002.

6. (Page 48, Section L.6.F.A.5.a.9) Will the government consider removing the requirement to “describe any non-Federal resources that will be utilized in the operation of this Job Corps center,” as the resources will vary dependent on the Job Corps center identified in the issued task orders.

ANSWER: No. This question is required by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

7. (Page 50, Section M.2.5.A) As the Business Management Proposal Evaluation factors include only consideration of the Section L.6 Business Management Data, please confirm the Business Management

Responses to RFC

DOL-ETA-16-R-00058

Proposal section should include only the narrative information requested in the Business Management Data section, and cost estimates for transition or operations are not required at this time.

ANSWER: Cost estimates for transition are not required at this time.

8. (Attachment J-1) Attachment J-1 appears to provide the required forms for contractors after a task order is issued and the budget is provided. The Indirect Costs form seems to be the only worksheet applicable prior to the issuance of a task order. Please clarify how Attachment J-1 should be utilized in contractors’ response to this solicitation.

ANSWER: Attachment J-1 is for informational purposes on the Task Order level and not a schedule to be completed for this solicitation. See Amendment No. 0002.

9. What evaluation factors/criteria and priority order will be used in awarding task orders?

ANSWER: The factors, criteria and priority will be spelled out in the solicitation for the order. These will likely change based on the circumstances surrounding the sudden need for the requirement.

10. In typical Job Corps center operations RFP’s, contractors propose transition-in and transition-out costs, but the amounts are not included in the evaluated cost, instead the amounts are only included in the award amount. Will the offerors’ transition costs be included in the cost evaluation for task order awards? Will the cost evaluation factors consider the amount of the transition-in costs proposed?

ANSWER: Cost estimates for transition are not required at this time.

11. What are the potential minimum and maximum contract terms of an awarded task order? Will an award from a task order follow the standard Job Corps contract terms of two base years and three, one-year option periods.

ANSWER: No minimum term has been stated, although one month would be the likely minimum period. No maximum term has been stated, but the period of performance of the Task order could not exceed the contract term by more than one year.

12. The RFP asks offerors to provide a narrative describing the offeror’s “organizational experience operating a large scale job training program similar in size and scope of a Department of Labor Job Corps Center.

Please clarify “large scale” in order to quantify the requirement.

ANSWER: A requirement of $10 Million per year or larger.

13. The RFP requires offerors who have no reported past performance Offerors must complete Section A of Attachment J-7, Performance Confirmation Questionnaire. Attachment J does not include a “Section A.”

Additionally, Attachment J included as part of the RFP includes “Contractor Comments” and “Signature” in blocks 22 and 23 respectively. The Past Performance Questionnaire is different from those typically included in RFPs. The J-7 appears to replicate CPARs, except for the rating definitions, which differ from the adjectival ratings in the CPARs system, nor do they include instructions for completion. Please clarify requirement.

ANSWER: See Amendment No. 0002.

14. The RFP States, “It is anticipated that the Contractors will be given an opportunity to offer a firm fixed price for conducting an initial assessment based on their stated technical approach and transitioning in to operation of a Job Corps Center. In order to expedite award of a task order, the remaining financial balances for each of the standard line items from the existing contract will be made available to the Task Order competitors without the cost detail or other backup for at least the first year of the contract. It is anticipated that the successful offeror for the task order will have ninety (90) days from the date of award to finalize the budget for the task order.”

The Pricing Schedule and Cost Detail require the offeror to include a completed Attachment J-1. Section M indicates the “Government reserves the right to make award to all responsive and responsible offers offering a fair and reasonable price.”

Since Job Corps Centers across the nation have varied geographic adjusters for wages and benefits and noted on the National Staff Compensation Report and Attachment J-1 requests details on such items as Staff Salaries Excluding Fringe, Fringe Benefits for Staff, Staff Travel & Per Diem, Consultants Costs, Subcontract Costs, Materials & Supplies, Communications Costs, and All Other Direct Costs, without knowing the geographic location or anticipated On Board Strength any evaluation of fixed price would be arbitrary. Please clarify how offerors shall complete Attachment J-1 in order for the government to determine a fair and reasonable price. Additionally, J-1 includes a tab for OA and CTS costs, but the RFP only asks for Center Operations. Please clarify.

ANSWER: Attachment J-1 is for informational purposes on the Task Order level and not a schedule to be

15. B.4 notes that RFQ’s for task orders “may be issued less than one month’s notice of takeover”. Paragraph

B.5 notes that the successful offeror for the task with have ninety (90) days to finalize a budget. Please clarify the timing and requirements for providing cost estimates.

ANSWER: Because of the exigency in using a Task Order, much like a letter contract in FAR 16.603, contract pricing will be finalized after the beginning of performance but may not exceed previous budget.

16. Pricing Schedule – Estimated costs are only requested for transition costs. Schedule J-1 requires transition and operations cost estimates. Please clarify the requirement to provide J-1 operations costs.

ANSWER: Attachment J-1 is for informational purposes on the Task Order level and not a schedule to be completed for this solicitation. See Amendment No. 0002.

17. Period of Performance Pricing Schedule also requires transition costs. Please clarify the necessity to provide transition costs for the second option.

ANSWER: During the period of performance of these contracts, the Government may issue a task order at any time.

18. The intent of EO 13495 requires that “The contractor and its subcontractors shall make an express offer of employment to each employee as provided herein and shall state the time within which the employee must accept such offer, but in no case shall the period within which the employee must accept the offer of employment be less than 10 days. Question #1 of the technical approach asks, “Offerors shall describe a strategic plan they will follow in taking over the functions of an active Job Corps Center with a turnaround time of assuming operation responsibility within 15 days of notification.”

This will require operators to obtain applications, conduct background checks, administer drug screenings, etc. Will the government waive the requirement to give incumbent employees 10 days to accept offers so as to ensure adequate staffing on the first day of the contract?

ANSWER: The Government will consider compliance with the Executive Order in executing Task Orders against the resulting contracts.

19. A portion of the Technical Approach asks offerors to provide “A description of how safety and security procedures will be tailored to the features of this center, including that this center is in a high crime area and the use of day passes after the training day and on weekends has been discontinued.” The question relates to clarification regarding how we will ensure our procedures are “tailored to the features of this center” when we don’t have a center to base our tailored approach. Please clarify the question.

ANSWER: The Technical Approach is general in nature, and should be answered in such a way to address the exigencies that might arise at a Job Corps Center. It is anticipated that the offeror would benefit from being able to anticipate and address various types of exigencies.

20. The RFP requires “A description of the systems and methods that will be utilized to develop and maintain a positive normative center culture with minimal notice and in a few days’ time.” Developing a positive normative center culture requires training and development with both staff and students. Please quantify “in a few days’ time” to ensure that we can be responsive to the question and expectation.

ANSWER: It is anticipated that the Contractor would be in a position to positively impact/change center culture from the first day of their taking over center operation.

21. Paragraph C3 on page 47 requires “Costs associated with the transition in and out plans shall be submitted as part of the Business Management Proposal.” Since we do not know the location or time (e.g. 15 days or 30 days), please clarify the basis to be used for consideration of a fair and reasonable offer.

ANSWER: The solicitation allows each offeror to price each of the scenarios separately. The Government will use FAR 15.404-1 Proposal analysis techniques to determine fair and reasonable pricing.

22. M3. Basis of Award anticipates that the first two awards will be set-aside for small business concerns…Awards will be based on the rating and rankings based on combined evaluations of socio-economic, technical, Past performance and Price. Please clarify how a large business could compete when they would not warrant any consideration in terms of socio-economic status.

ANSWER: As stated socioeconomic status only applies to the first two awards.

23. Is there a preference to how the proposal sections are submitted, e.g. Adobe PDF?

ANSWER: No, however, the electronic copy of your Technical Proposal must be word-searchable. The total size of an offeror’s electronic response, including all the files required for this response, shall not exceed Twelve (12) Megabytes and may be sent in multiple emails.

24. Page 46 states that the Relevant Experience, Technical Approach, and Corporate Capabilities are to be bound together? Since this an email submission, can we submit each section under its proper title or do you want Relevant Experience, Technical Approach, and Corporate Capabilities submitted as one document?

25. With respect to the past performance proposal, should we assume that no written proposal is required as the government will utilize the PPIRS to score past performance? Or are we able to submit additional narrative information related to past performance?

ANSWER: If the Offeror has at least five references in PPIRS-RC, then no further action is required. The Government will use the PPIRS-RC system to retrieve qualitative assessments.

26. The Pricing Schedule provided on Pages 3-7 of the RFP is not the same Pricing Schedule provided in the J- 1 Attachment to the RFP. Is it correct that offerors should utilize the Pricing Schedule as provided on Pages 3-7 of the RFP, and not the Pricing Schedule contained in the J-1 Attachment?

ANSWER: Attachment J-1 is for informational purposes on the Task Order level and not a schedule to be completed for this solicitation. No submission is necessary based on these pricing tables. See Amendment No.

0002.

27. The Pricing Schedule provided in the J-1 Attachment to the RFP also includes several additional tabs containing Cost Detail for Center and OA/CTS, Fringe Benefits, Indirect Costs, and Option to Extend

Services. Please clarify, other than the Pricing Schedule, which additional J Forms are required to be submitted at this point under the intended FFP type contract award.

ANSWER: Attachment J-1 is for informational purposes on the Task Order level and not a schedule to be

28. The Pricing Schedule provided on Pages 3-7 of the RFP appears to request Estimated Cost for Transition Out. Is this correct or is this estimated cost not applicable at this point in the procurement?

ANSWER: Attachment J-1 is for informational purposes on the Task Order level and not a schedule to be

29. Are contractors required to provide cost estimates in this response?

ANSWER: No, cost estimates are not required for this solicitation.

30. If an operator is awarded a contingency contract are they eligible to submit a proposal and be awarded a contract for the continued operation of that contract?

ANSWER: Yes.

31. In the Business Management Proposal section (5. a. 9; page 48) it states, “Offeror shall describe any non- Federal resources that will be utilized in the operation of this Job Corps center.” Our question is:

a. Since the location of the Job Corps Center that will be operated and related local resources is unknown, how can we identify resources?

ANSWER: This question is required by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

32. In the Evaluation Factors section (M.2, 3.), under Corporate Capabilities, it states, “Organization:

Adequacy of Staffing will be evaluated to determine the appropriateness of the number and adequacy of staffing in accordance with the PRH.” Our question is:

a. Does this question refer to corporate staff assigned to transition? Without specific Center location, size, facility layout, scope of work and program operational requirements, how can we determine number and adequacy of staffing?

33. In the Evaluation Factors section (M.2, 3.), under Corporate Capabilities, it states, “Corporate transition and operating staff schedules will be evaluated to determine if critical functions for residential living, career preparation, academic and career technical training, and counseling and security are adequate in accordance with the PRH.” Our question is:

a. Our clarification request is similar to the prior question #4. The Government’s question appears to combine both corporate transition staffing and actual Center operational staffing without identifying the Center, location, size and contract scope of work. How is it possible to respond to this question? Please clarify.

34. In Section B- Supplies or Services/Prices, beginning on Page 3, the solicitation requires transition costs with more than one month’s notice, with one month’s notice, more than 2 weeks and transition with less than two weeks’ notice.

a. In Section M of current RFP’s for Job Corps Center operations the costs for Transition-In and Transition-Out are specifically stated to be excluded from consideration as part of the offeror’s evaluated cost nor will they be factored into the Government’s Best Value, Trade Off analysis. Is this true for the Contingency RFP. Also?

ANSWER: Prices for Transitioning in will be evaluated for the purpose of contract award. The Transition Out will be addressed in the Task Order solicitation.

35. In Section M.2. Evaluation Factors, Item 5. Business Management Proposal Evaluation, Item A. Cost

Analysis, one of the criteria includes data to ensure that the offeror is licensed in the state.

a. We do not get licensed in a state in which we currently do not do business, but immediately upon receiving a contract award of starting business operations in a state, will obtain a dba and authorization for licensure before transacting any business which is common practice. Is it sufficient to simply make this statement?

ANSWER: This question is required by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA). See Amendment No.0002.

36. (Page 3, Section B.3) Please clarify the references in the Pricing Schedule. The base and option periods in the chart align with the Period of Performance of the potential IDIQ contract, but the CLINs include lines for transition periods, which seem applicable only to task order awards. Is this chart applicable to the IDIQ contract?

ANSWER: Yes. Please note that most CLINS are identified as “not applicable”.

37. (Pages 3-7, Section B.1.2 & B.3) Please clarify the type of contract to be issued from the task orders.

Section B.1.2 states a cost reimbursement task order will be placed, but the Pricing Schedule seems to reference Firm Fixed Price for transition costs.

ANSWER: Transition costs will be firm fixed price. Other expenses will be priced as requested in task orders which are anticipated to be cost reimbursement for the foreseeable future.

38. (Page 47, Section L.6.F.A.3) In the Corporate Oversight section, the RFP states: “Costs associated with the transition in and out plans shall be submitted as part of the Business Management Proposal.” Please confirm this statement should be removed as it appears transition in/out costs are not required in the responses to the RFP for the IDIQ contract, but instead will be submitted in the RFQ stage for specific task orders.

39. (Page 51, Section M.3) The RFP states: “The Government reserves the right to make award to all responsive and responsible offers offering a fair and reasonable price.” Please clarify this statement as cost/price information does not seem to be required in the responses to this RFP for the IDIQ contract.

ANSWER: Prices for Transitioning in will be evaluated for the purpose of contract award. In order to receive a cost reimbursement task order later the organization will need to demonstrate approved indirect cost rates, and adequate financial tracking capability now.

40. (Page 51, Section M.3) The RFP states: “Although non-price factors are significantly more important than price, price is an important factor and should be considered when preparing responsive offers (proposals).

The importance of price as an evaluation will increase with the degree of equality of the proposals in relation to the remaining evaluation factors.” “The Government will not make an award at a premium in cost that it considers disproportionate to the benefits associated with the evaluated technical superiority of the non-price factors…” Please clarify the applicability of these statements. Does this language pertain to future evaluations of the submitted responses to task order RFQ’s?

ANSWER: No, the factors, criteria and priority will be spelled out in the future RFQs.

41. The RFP includes several references to cost/price, but the instructions do not seem to require cost/price information in response to the RFP for the IDIQ procurement. Please clarify the requirements for offerors’ response to the IDIQ solicitation.

ANSWER: Prices for Transitioning in will be evaluated for the purpose of contract award. In order to receive a cost reimbursement task order later the organization will need to demonstrate approved indirect cost rates, and adequate financial tracking capability now.

42. As this IDIQ contract has the potential of one base year and four option periods, what types of re-evaluation will be conducted by the government of the IDIQ contract holders bidding on the task orders to confirm a contractor’s qualifications are adequate as originally proposed (i.e., small business, corporate resources, financial capability, past performance, etc.)? A contractor’s capabilities may change over the 5-year life of this IDIQ contract. Will a contractor be required to re-represent its status/capabilities?

ANSWER: At a minimum the Government will comply with FAR 17.207 when exercising options under this contract and subsequent task orders.

43. (Page 9, Sections C.3.B & C.3.C) Both of these sections of the RFP include the following statement, “The contractor’s performance shall be measured against the goals established by the Employment & Training Administration each year in the Outcome Measurement System.” How does this apply when assuming another contractor’s operation of a center as a contingency operator? How will this effect an operator’s overall rating in the Outcome Measurement System or past performance factors in future proposals for center operations?

ANSWER: Performance shall be measured against the goals established for the Employment and Training Administration each year in the Outcome Measurement System. However, the Government will determine which characteristics will not be counted against the Contractor, and for what period of time.

44. (Page 45) The Past Performance section requires PPIRs in written form. What is a current Job Corps contractor expected to provide if PPIRs are accessible to the government?

ANSWER: If the Offeror has at least five references in PPIRS-RC, then no further action is required. The Government will use the PPIRS-RC system to retrieve qualitative assessments.

45. (Pages 35 & 47) This section provides a list of documents, exhibits and other attachments. Included under attachments that will be provided at the RFQ level is J-4, Staffing Chart. Another reference to the staffing chart is on page 47, Corporate Capabilities statement. Is a corporate specific (attachment J-4) staffing chart required in response to this RFP? If so, when will it be provided?

ANSWER: No, the staffing chart (Attachment J-4) is not required for this RFP.

46. (Page 47) RFP part L.F.A.2, Technical Approach requires a description of the offeror’s strategic plan for taking over functions of a center “with a turnaround time of assuming operation responsibility within 15 days of notification.” On the same page under Corporate Capabilities it says, “The successful Offeror will be required to take over complete operation of the center with the start of performance under the resultant Task Order. It is the Government’s intent that the transition period will begin no less than 30 days prior to that date.” Please clarify the transition time for a contingency contract.

47. (Pages 8 and 47) The Job Corps Policy and Requirements Handbook (PRH) is incorporated into Letter "C -

- Description/Specifications" of the solicitation and is referenced throughout the document. The PRH is currently under revision and is expected to change program delivery in a significant manner. Given Government evaluators, as well as some potential Offerors, are familiar with the anticipated changes, does the Government expect Offerors to include anticipated changes in developing a response to questions? For example, on Page 47 in the Technical Approach section, the Offeror is asked to "...describe its strategies for implementing student standards of conduct for maintaining sound discipline...." However, according to Job Corps Information Notice 15-34 issued on April 14, 2016, the revised Student Conduct System effective date is now June 1, 2016. Therefore, should Offerors include the anticipated PRH changes in the student standards of conduct in developing responses to this question?

ANSWER: The Offerors should consider the PRH as it is amended at the time the Task Order is issued against the resulting ID/IQ contract.

48. (Page 46) It states that "The Relevant Experience, Technical Approach and Corporate Capabilities

Narrative sections shall be bound separately as well as the Past Performance and the Business Management Proposal section shall be separately bound."

Is each section to be bound individually (separately) thereby producing five separate volumes? Or are the Relevant Experience, Technical Approach and Corporate Capabilities sections to be combined into one binder while Past Performance and the Business Management Proposal sections combined into another binder resulting in two separate volumes?

49. (Pages 47 and 50) On Page 47, under the heading "Corporate Capabilities", letter b "Schedules", it appears that the schedules being requested are specific to only corporate staff who will be providing critical transition and continuity functions for such areas as residential living, career preparation, academic and career technical training, counseling and security. However, on Page 50, in terms of "Corporate Staff Schedules Covering Critical Functions: Corporate transition and operating staff schedules will be evaluated." Does the Government seek either corporate and operating staff schedules or only corporate schedules? If operating staff schedules are sought, given the size of center operation will not be readily known, will the Offeror be able to propose staff schedules based on a center size of its choosing?

ANSWER: Corporate Schedules.

50. (Pages 50 and 51) Can the Government provide clarification as to the reference to "socio-economic status"?

ANSWER: The Answer is on page B.1.1. The Offeror must be a small business under NAICS 611519. The current size standard is $38.5 M.

51. Will the government select two large and two small contractors as a result of this solicitation?

ANSWER: Yes, or more.

52. What are the Base contracting period and Options for contingency Job Corps center operations?

ANSWER: The period of performances for the IDIQs will have a base period of 12-months, with the potential

53. Will contractors who operator centers on the basis of a contingency award be excluded from bidding on the operations of the center once the contingency period has ended?

ANSWER: No.

54. Please describe in greater detail how contractors should submit cost proposals? Will there be a negotiation period to prepare cost estimates/models for individual centers upon an award?

ANSWER: Greater detail for cost proposals will be provided in Task Order solicitations.

55. The RFP states that the basis of the award will include socio-economic status. What does “socio-economic status” mean for this solicitation?

ANSWER: The Answer is on page B.1.1. The Offeror must be a small business under NAICS 611519. The current size standard is $38.5 M.

56. Will the definition for "Transition Out Cost' be the same as a normal Job Corps RFP? If so, how should the transition out cost be estimated with no definitive size of the Job Corps being known initially?

ANSWER: The Transition Out will be addressed in the Task Order solicitation.

57. Should Contractors include center costs i.e. supplies, student costs, food, during the transition period in the Firmed Fixed Price?

Are we to indicate a Transition-Out cost for this proposal?

ANSWER: The Transition Out will be addressed in the Task Order solicitation.

58. Per the RFP, For Offerors who have no reported past performance Offerors must complete Section A of

Attachment J-7, Performance Confirmation Questionnaire, for each relevant past performance reference identified above, which is not readily available in the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS). The Offeror must forward this questionnaire to the Government agency or company listed as a reference and request that the Relevant Past Performance evaluation be completed for Sections B-F of Attachment J-7. However, Attachment 7 does not have the indicated Section A or Sections B-F. Could the government provide the correct Past Performance Questionnaire for the Offeror and Contract Reference to complete?

59. Section L Instructions states, Each agency/company evaluator must return the questionnaire directly to the Contracting Officer and Contracting Specialist identified in this Solicitation.” It is not clear in the RFP who is the Contracting Specialist. Would the government clarify to whom we are to submit the past performance questionnaires?

60. RFP, Section H.7 NONDISPLACEMENT OF QUALIFIED WORKERS UNDER SERVICE CONTRACTS (EXECUTIVE ORDER 13495 -JANUARY 30, 2009) Under Item A it states, “The contractor and its subcontractors shall make an express offer of employment to each employee as provided herein and shall state the time within which the employee must accept such offer, but in no case shall the period within which the employee must accept the offer of employment be less than 10 days. Could the government confirm for Transition periods less than 30 days, Offeror must adhere to the requirement of providing employees no less than 10 days to accept employment?

ANSWER: The Government will consider compliance with the Executive Order in executing Task Orders against the resulting contracts.

61. The Government is requesting rapid response solutions that may require a vast departure from the traditional Center transitions. Often, the details of these unique strategies can be best explained and clarified with a brief oral presentation. Would the Government consider adding the “Option at the Government’s discretion” an oral presentation of the contractors chosen for the Best and Final to provide further explanation of their strategic approach to fulfilling the requirements of the contract, and allowing the selection committee to ask questions derived from the proposal to gain clarification where needed?

ANSWER: The instructions for Task Orders will be provided in the solicitations and are likely to evolve over time.

62. Will the Government allow Small Business bidders to utilize the relevant experience, past performance and corporate capabilities of major subcontractors and team members due to the rapid response contract requiring the breadth of a team to execute the requirements for a successful transition?

ANSWER: Under the limitation on subcontracting clause in the solicitation, on the small business set aside the small business must perform 51% of the work or more. A small business can provide reference for a subcontractor if the subcontractor will perform more than 25% of the work, but less than 50%. The Offeror can state the percentage or fraction of the work to be assigned to the subcontractor. In other words, if the subcontractor is proposed to perform one-third of the work, than one-third of the offeror’s past performance rating will be used for the assessment. Less than 25% will not be considered, and more than 50% will not be allowed.

63. Will the Government provide a Task Order Proposal Process with times lines?

64. Regarding Section G 7-10. It is assumed that this contract will primarily be dealing with poorly operated programs and a complete audit of these areas during transition is not practical. Will there be a grace period prior to these liquidated damages and other penalties being imposed on the new contractor?

ANSWER: No, but previous enrollments will be attributed to the prior contract.

65. Suggestion - In order to promote consistency among offerors, we would suggest that DOL consider looking into amending the RFP to provide information on a hypothetical center, which includes its capacity (OBS), Geographic Adjuster (National Staff Compensation Report), a summary description of the site (e.g. Gated urban center), and benchmark for utility costs.

For instance, modifying the requirements to state, “cost proposal shall consider a model center with a capacity of 200 male residential students, 200 female residential students, in a rural location with a central main gate and tree lined perimeter with no other barriers. The location is in a geographic location that offers 100% of the levels posted on the National Staff Compensation Report Data. Utility costs are estimated at $200,000 per year.”

ANSWER: Thank you for your suggestion, but given the multiple awards we do not consider this approach to provide useful information for the purposes of making an award decision because the information would have no bearing on issuing future task orders.

65. Regarding Section G 7-10. It is assumed that this contract will primarily be dealing with poorly operated programs and a complete audit of these areas during transition is not practical. Will there be a grace period prior to these liquidated damages and other penalties being imposed on the new contractor?

ANSWER: Thank you for your suggestion, but given the multiple awards we do not consider this approach to provide useful information for the purposes of making an award decision because the information would have no bearing on issuing future task orders.

66. (Page 3, Section B.1) What does the Government plan for the term of the IDIQ contract?

ANSWER: The period of performances for the IDIQs will have a base period of 12-months, with the potential

67. (Page 7, Section B.4) Will IDIQ awardees be required to respond to all task order proposal requests issued against this IDIQ?

ANSWER: No, the awardees can choose which solicitations to respond to. However, the Government will not exercise an option if the contractor has stopped responding to solicitations altogether.

68. (Page 7, Section B.4) Will Task Order awardees be precluded in any way from responding to subsequent procurements for permanent operations of the subject center?

69. (Page 7, Section B.4) How many task orders does the Government expect to award each year under this contract?

ANSWER: The Government can not anticipate how many exigencies the Government will arise during the course of the base year, or thereafter.

70. (Page 7 & 47, Section B.4, L.6.F.A.2) Section B.4 states that task orders “may be issued less than one month’s notice of when takeover is required.” And page 47 requires offerors to describe a strategy for assuming operations within 15 days of notification. However, page 47 Section 3 also states that “the transition period will begin no less than 30 days prior to” the contract start. Based on these statements, please clarify (1) what will be the required response time for an IDIQ contract holder to provide a task order proposal, and (2) the minimum transition period for any Task Order award.

ANSWER: Less than one month response time. See Amendment No. 0002.

71. (Page 7, B.5) Section B.5 states that “it is anticipated that the Contractors will be given an opportunity to offer a firm fixed price for conducting an initial assessment based on their stated technical approach and transitioning in to operation of a Job Corps Center.” Based on this, what costs should be submitted with the initial proposal?

ANSWER: Nothing that is not stated in the solicitation.

72. (Page 45-46, Amendment 1, L.6.F) Please confirm that the proposal is required to be submitted in electronic format only. Are any hard copies required? If not, please clarify the statement on page 46, “…sections shall be bound separately…”

73. (Page 46, Section L.6.F.) The proposal format instructions say that offerors may refer to other sections provided they are in the same binder. However the same paragraph, first sentence, indicates all sections should be separately bound. Please clarify how sections are to be bound and how does this relate to the electronic submission?

74. (Attachment J-1) Should the Pricing Schedule tab on attachment J-1 reflect anticipated costs for the Transition CLINs (0001a-0001c, 1001a-1001c, etc.) as presented on RFP pages 3 through 7? If so, what would the scope of work be? If we are to propose an estimated cost for a 30 day transition, it will differ based on the size of the center to be transitioned.

ANSWER: Attachment J-1 is for informational purposes on the Task Order level and not a schedule to be

75. (Page 47, Section L.6 & F.3) Section 3 Corporate Capabilities states that the “page limitation excludes…the availability to perform the required rapid transition of a center contract.” There appears to be language missing from this sentence. Please clarify.

76. (Page 48, Section L.6 & F.5) The RFP indicates that the Offeror should include a completed Attachment J-

1. There are many sections of the J-1 that would relate directly to a specific task order. Which tabs of the J- 1 spreadsheet are required to be completed and in what amount of detail?

ANSWER: Attachment J-1 is for informational purposes on the Task Order level and not a schedule to be

77. (Attachment J-1) What are the restrictions on the fees the Government is willing to pay for center operations in high risk, contingency situations?

ANSWER: Fees are not part of this solicitation submission.

78. (Page 50, Section M.3) The RFP indicates the first two awards will be set asides for small business concerns and at least four awards will be made. What is the total time period expected for making all four awards?

ANSWER: Award is anticipated this summer 2016, perhaps as early as July.

Thank you for the time and attention to this solicitation. Based on the questions asked and answers given, the Government will not entertain additional questions.