Question_on_Solicitation_DOL-OPS-15-Q-00134.docx

Question and Answers

DOL-OPS-15-Q-00134

1. I did not see this RFP in GovWin. Is this a new opportunity or re-compete work?

This is a new opportunity, however DOL has subscribed to a variety of data subscriptions in the past that would fall under this opportunity.

2. If this is re-compete work, who is the current incumbent?

While there is no incumbent for the entire work, DOL has subscribed to a variety of data subscriptions in the past including Bloomberg Financial, Brightscope, Compustat and Morningstar.

3. What are the Small Business Utilization and Small Business Program representation requirements for the prime?

Small Business Plans are not being required for large businesses as the total aggregate for each vendor is not expected to exceed $650,000.00 for the period of three years.

4. What are the specific tasks and responsibilities under D: Technical Assistance?

It is normal tech support and maintenance for the data subscription (e.g. password help, account set-up).

5. Does DOL want full-time, on-site resources?

DOL only requires access to the subscription online. No on-site resources are intended.

6. How many resources and what GS equivalent?

NA

7. Does DOL want a Technical PM for clarification regarding data elements?

DOL only requires an additional contact for clarification if tech support does not answer questions regarding data elements.

8. Is this a follow-on requirement? If so, could you please provide the incumbent contract number for this opportunity?

This is not a follow-on requirement. However, DOL has subscribed to a variety of data subscriptions in the past that would fall under this opportunity including Bloomberg Financial, Brightscope, Compustat and Morningstar.

9. If not, is this a new requirement?

Yes, this is a new requirement, however DOL has subscribed to a variety of data subscriptions in the past that would fall under this opportunity.

10. The way the RFQ is constructed, it seems you wanted a traditional FFP response via email by September 18th, (not via FedBid on 16 September) but I wanted to clarify.

This Request for Quote was issued on the Federal Business Opportunity, not FEDBID, therefore quotes are required to be delivered via email to Thompson.sheila@dol.gov, no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, September 18, 2015.

11. I also wanted to know if you wanted the vendor to suggest a contract vehicle (or vehicles) since you’re looking for multiple awards.

No, we are not requiring the vendor to suggest a contract vehicle (or vehicles).

12. Can you confirm the due date for proposals? The SF-1149 lists it as 9/18/2015 at 1700 ES, while p. 23 of the SOW has September 16 by 5 PM Eastern.

The due date for receipt of quotes is no later than 5:00 p.m., EST, Friday, September 18, 2015.

13. We have never responded to a SOW issued through Fedbid.com and did not see any instructions regarding how to access the service. What other mechanisms can bidders to use to submit proposals?

This requirement was not issued on FEDBID, therefore your quotes must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., EST, Friday, September 18, 2015.

14. The framework for pricing consists of cost per license/users for volumes of 5, 10, 20 and 75 users. Will EBSA entertain alternate pricing scenarios for subscriptions that are not priced in that manner?

Yes, but we will make decisions regarding the number of licenses awarded/bought depending on the costs per license.

15. With regards to Data on Bankruptcy Issues (Category # 5), does the term “individual” refer to people or sole proprietorships? In other words, is EBSA looking for an individual’s personal bankruptcy filing in addition to those on firms/plans?

EBSA is looking for an individual’s personal bankruptcy filing in addition to those on firms/plans (though firm/plans filings are our main interest). Vendors may break out the pricing separately if preferred.

16. Page 7 (E) includes Rights in Data and Copyright language that conflicts with our licensing terms (and, most likely, those of other data subscription service providers). Is EBSA willing to consider alternative language that will enable solution providers to protect their intellectual property?

Yes, though this will have to be negotiated with our Solicitor’s Office.

17. Are there any requirements regarding the manner in which our response / quotes should be prepared and delivered.

Please see attached instructions to offerors.

18. Is the last day for submissions of quotes the 16th or the 18th of September 2015 - both dates are mentioned in the documents.

Quotes must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., EST, Friday, September 18, 2015.

19. Do “Auditors Opinion” listed in this section refer to the auditors reports that are prepared by accountants/auditors in connection with the financial statements of reporting companies

Yes

20. Across the investment universes listed under “Financial Market and Investment Information,” what specific data elements would you expect? (i.e. categorization, portfolio breakdown, performance, manager detail, trailing performance, etc)

Ideally the subscription would provide financial information (such as name of the investment, ticker, management fee, performance fees, load fees, net assets, dividend, price, price history, and historical performance) for a minimum of the following investment instruments: equities, institutional mutual funds, retail mutual funds, closed-end funds, and exchange-traded funds (EFTs). The subscription would provide financial information (such as the name of the investment instrument, list of the underlying investments or strategies, management fee, performance fees, other fees, price, price history, and historical performance) for a minimum of the following investment instruments: alternative investments, pension portfolios, hedge funds, separately managed accounts (SMAs) and collective investment funds (CIFs). The subscription would provide comprehensive information on fees for a range of investment classes, especially mutual funds, including: the fund’s ticker, inception date, net assets, net and gross expense ratio, management fees, 12b-1 fees, load fees, and share class.

21. Can you provide clarification on the type of Alternative Investments you are interested in.

Alternative investments can be anything that are not traditional asset classes. Traditional asset classes are stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc. Alternatives can include but are not limited to hedge funds, private equity, real estate, commodities, options, futures, and collectibles.

22. Can you please provide clarification on Pension Portfolios

Information on pension portfolios would describe what asset classes a pension plan would be investing in. An example of a pension portfolio would be 60% stocks/equities/mutual funds, 30% bonds, and 10% alternatives. If the subscription provides further details on the portfolio, such as the individual investments/funds, that would be preferable to simply having information on the asset classes.

23. What details do you need regarding bonds?

As stated in the description, DOL has a particular need for historical time series of bond prices, particularly during periods of light trading. DOL requires an estimate for these bond prices for those days bonds were not traded based on other factors, including the prices of similar bonds. Ideally the subscription would provide financial information (such as name of the investment, name of the company, CUSIP, maturity date, coupon rate, coupon frequency, fees, price, price history, historical performance, and ratings) for bonds.

24. Are you looking for litigation and bankruptcy information on (a) sponsors of a plan, (b) constituent companies that make up a plan, or (c) both? Also, what is meant by “firm”, or “individual identifiers”.

We are looking for litigation and bankruptcy information on sponsors of a plan, including sole practitioners, as well as small and large corporations in any form, including professional corporations such as LLCs and PAs. We are also looking for individuals, as these may be plan fiduciaries. We are also interested in information on subsidiaries and affiliates of plan sponsors.

25. What type of “Distress indicators and statements” are you looking for beyond the ratios mentioned under Section 1 - Financial Data / Information about Companies?

Distress Indicators and statements may include but are not limited to the following:

· Profit warnings

· Layoffs

· Failure to make payroll

· Substantial delinquent contributions including both employee and mandatory employer contributions)

· Cuts in or elimination of health benefits, pension-this is likely to be identified in the plan sponsor’s financial documents

· Cuts in executive bonuses and/or salaries

· Changes in upper management following market losses, resignations or firings

· Dismissal and/or change of auditor or accountant

· PBGC reportable events

· SEC investigations

· State agency financial solvency filings

· FDIC action

· Lawsuits related to corporate and product failures, contract breaches with vendors or employees, or other court actions posing the potential for a substantial judgment against the company

· State Receivership actions

· Negative cash flow

· Inability of company to meet current obligations as they come due; inability to pay operating expenses

· Loan defaults; inability to make interest payments

· A factoring firm is brought in because the company is looking to liquidate

· Inability to prepare financial statements on a going-concern basis

· Deficits in owner equity

· Company’s inability to have line of credit renewed

· Large or frequent stock sales by large shareholders

· Plant closings

· Branch closings

· Hostile takeover

· Mergers and Acquisitions

· Sale of a product line

26. Geographic locations. Do you require information regarding (a) the geographic location of the court where the litigation / bankruptcy occurs, (b) the location of the company that is subject to bankruptcy, or (c) both?

We are interested in both. A company and its plan may be located in one region, but appropriately file bankruptcy in another jurisdiction with which the plan sponsor has jurisdictional contact.

27. What type of “Key event updates on all active bankruptcy cases” are you looking for?

We are looking for the notice of all filings in bankruptcy cases. Some filings relating to ERISA-covered plans are not necessarily identifiable by the title of the document filed. For example, some motions regarding an Application for Compensation or the Appointment of a Trustee do not appear to directly relate to a plan, but they are of great interest to EBSA.

28. What is meant by “key names”? Will the names of the parties, judges, and their attorneys suffice?

No, the names of the judge, parties and attorneys is not sufficient. We need to have Bankruptcy Trustees, Receivers, Plan Fiduciaries and Plan Participants identified as well.

29. With respect to the Category 5 Data Subscription for Bankruptcy Filings, does the government have an estimate on the numbers of companies/entities on which the government requires this data and/or the universe of companies/entities that the government would like to monitor for updates/changes to bankruptcy data.

We are interested in this information on any company that sponsors an ERISA-covered plan. One method to determine if a plan is ERISA-covered is to check the plan sponsor’s name and/or EIN number for 5500 filings through the EBSA public page.

30. Is the government open to alternative pricing models that might be advantageous to the government?

Yes

31. When you are speaking about “downloadable” does that mean you are looking for the ability to download the content into excel?

Yes