DTFH61-10-R-00028 Amendment 4.docx

Amendment 4 – DTFH61-10-R-00028 This amendment is being issued to:

1. Change the solicitation point of contact to Gary Klaff

2. Answer Questions received under DTFH61-10-R-00028

The solicitation is being amended to change the point of contract to the following

Gary Klaff Contract Specialist Department of Transportation - FHWA 1200 New Jersey Ave S.E, E66-309 Washington D.C. 20590 Phone: (202) 366-6991 Fax (202) 366-3705 Email: Gary.Klaff@dot.gov

1. Does 11X17 foldout paper (for chats) count as 1 or 2 pages Answer: 1 page

2. We respectfully request an extension to the proposal due date to at least October 20, 2010. The extensive changes to the technical and cost submittal requirements included in Amendment 1 are substantial, and have increased the complexity of the submittal. Although we had completed a significant amount of writing based on the original RFP requirements, including major elements prepared by subcontractors, we will now have to request they redo and/or expand their input significantly within a short period of time if the due date is not extended to October 20th.

Answer: We are unable to grant an extension and the Due date remains September 30, 2010

2. On page 60 of Amendment 1, the table for Task C adds up to 31,900 person-hours, but the total at the bottom says 35,200, a difference of 3,300 hours. The numbers in all the other tables appear to add correctly. Can you resolve this discrepancy?

Answer: Please use 31,900

3. Attachment E (Cost Price Template) to Amendment 1 requires the proposer to break down labor fee estimates by 5 categories for each of Tasks A through K, including:

1. Direct Labor

1. Fringe Benefits

1. Overhead Rate

1. G&A Rate

1. Fee This would not be a cumbersome process if a single firm with established audited multipliers were proposing without subcontractors. However, it will be made complicated since:

1. we will likely have both prime and subcontractor personnel proposed for many of the individual tasks within Tasks A – K

1. it is unlikely that the overhead structures for the prime and its multiple subcontractors will be comparable

1. in some cases, subcontractors will propose “commercial” hourly rates, or rates not covered by previous audits Is it the government’s intent that the proposer submit, for as many as all 11 of the tasks, an estimate that includes a separate summary of the five labor fee elements for the prime and each of the subcontractors proposed for that task? In a task area with potentially up to five contractors, this would involve a summary rolled up sheet and 6 separate estimates and o/h numbers; multiplied across the 11 task areas this could involve 50-55 linked sheets to get to a total. Or is there an alternative means through which the contractor’s (prime or sub) labor cost structure could be presented? Since we could easily provide audits or other documentation substantiating fully-loaded hourly rates, would it be possible to submit those rates on the 11 estimates and delete lines 3 - 6 from the form?

Answer: Yes

4. lines 3, 4, and 6 of estimated level of effort form include the word “generic” next to the corresponding labor multiplier element. What is this use of the word intended to convey?

Answer: A generic rate that is applied across the board

5. Section L.8 states “For all personnel who are not currently members of the offeror’s staff, an original letter of commitment and agreement to serve as planned is required to be submitted with your proposal.” Please confirm that the letter of commitment requirement applies only to contingent hires proposed by the prime or subcontractor; not to staff currently on the payroll of the prime or subcontractors.

Answer: This only applies to contingent hires who are not currently part of the Offeror’s staff

6. Page size requirements on pages 56 and 57 of 75 refer to “fold-out” page dimensions as 8 ½ inches by 17 inches. This is legal sized paper and would make for awkward folding at the bottom of the page or a shortened page top to bottom. Did FHWA intend to specify 11 inches by 17 inches fold-out pages, which are commonly used as fold-outs in 8 ½ by 11 documents?

Answer: This is a correction to the pervious statement and 11 X 17 is correct not 8 ½ by 17

7. In Section L.14 (Part I – Staffing, page 57 of 75), the RFP mandates three “Key Personnel”. Please confirm that “Program Executive” is the same role/position as “Program Manager” listed in the original RFP. If different, please describe.

Answer: Yes these are the same

8. Can the government clarify whether the Past Performance Questionnaire is for reference to past performance on relevant projects/contracts or key personnel? The reference of key personnel on the past performance questionnaire seems to be reviewing individual performance which could also be construed as personal services. Typically past performance questionnaires, and any associated summary description, are used to evaluate the offeror's corporate capabilities and qualifications and not personnel performance. We believe it is in the government's best interest to evaluate contractor past performance based on relevant projects/contracts rather than the personnel linkages. If the government is looking for references for the Key Personnel, we would be happy to supply those on the resumes or through other means. Please confirm this is the intention and that past performance questionnaires, and associated summary descriptions, are not limited only to those in which the key personnel performed in a significant way on the contract.

Answer: It is the government's intention to evaluate contractor past performance based on relevant projects/contracts

9. DOT Form 4220.44; Contract Pricing Summary requires an unloaded DL rate on the summary page. Since the POP spans 5 years and direct labor rates are escalated, including an average loaded rate on the summary tab would not be an accurate representation of cost.

1. Clarification: Please confirm that it is not necessary to include an Unloaded DL rate on the Summary tab.

Answer; A loaded rate is acceptable

10. RFP Section G.4 Task Order Award details CPFF task order awards.

1. Clarification: Please provide clarification on how FFP task orders will be issued and what will be required in the contractor’s submission.

Answer: These will be based on task order RFP evaluation factors developed at the time of need and pricing proposals based on rates established under the master contract

11. RFP Section L.7 52.216-1 Type of Contract States that the Government intends to issue a hybrid IDIQ contract with both FFP and CPFF task orders.

1. Clarification: Please clarify that responses to this solicitation will be evaluated as CPFF.

Answer: Yes

12. RFP Section L.14, page 70: “i. Small Disadvantaged Business Participation - The Offeror shall specifically address goals and approach regarding Small Disadvantaged Business Participation. See SECTION M – EVALUATION CRITERIA. “

1. Question: There is no guidance regarding Small Disadvantaged Business Participation in Section M – EVALUATION CRITERIA. Can the Government please provide guidance?

Answer: Section L.14 is being amended to delete erroneous reference to section M.

13. In Amendment 2, response to Question #12 indicates that the maximum page size is 8 ½ by 17 inches. This is not a standard page size. Could you please confirm whether this is indeed the maximum allowable page size, or whether offerors are allowed to use a page size of 11 by 17 inches for foldout pages, which is more typical of standard practice.

Answer: Offers may use 11 x 17

14. Question: Will you clarify the requirements for electronic delivery. Do you want 25 CD copies of Volume I and 25 separate CD copies of Volume II (for a total of 50 CDs), or should both Volume I AND Volume II be copied together onto a total of 25 CDs?

Answer: Volume 1 and II should be on the same CD for a total of 25

15. Amendment 3 directs that a summary sheet be provided as the first page of the proposal identifying the name of company, RFP number and task areas for which a response is being provided. Is this summary sheet in addition to the 300 page limit for Volume I Answer: No this will not be counted

16. L.8 Notice to Offerors: Could you please clarify that the “original letter of commitment and agreement to serve as planned” relates only to contingent hires who are not currently part of the Offeror’s staff, rather than to subcontractors? If the latter, can you clarify whether a single letter of commitment may cover multiple persons from the same subcontractor firm, or whether separate letters are required for each individual person who is a member of the team and not part of the Offeror’s staff?

Answer: This only applies to contingent hires who are not currently part of the Offeror’s staff

17. Selection Factors C and D as set forth below in Section M” and “…Selection Factor E as set forth in Section M of this solicitation.” The Offeror is unable to find a reference to Selection Factors C, D, or E in Section M. Could you clarify how the evaluation will be carried out and what Selection Factors and/or Evaluation Criteria will be used?

Answer: The above referenced sections are being amended to delete references to Section M.

18. On page 65 within L.14 Format for Written Proposal, there is an incomplete sentence ending with “…could even permissibly” Can the missing text be provided?

Answer: unfortunately not, the solicitation is amended to remove this sentence.

19. Which Volume of the proposal should the past performance questionnaires be included in?

Answer: Volume I under past performance, see section L.14 page 56

20. Can our electronic copies on CD be in pdf format?

Answer: Yes

21. For federal contracts, I know you can go in on a Cost plus basis or a fixed price. If we opt to go with a fixed price basis, do we still have to provide information regarding G&A, overhead, etc.? We do have a negotiated indirect rate and federally approved purchasing procedures, but wanted to understand what our options are as we provide you pricing.

Answer: We have requested cost data and therefore would like you to provide cost data for evaluation purposes

22. There is a lobbying disclosure form, but we don’t lobby. Do we just not include that form in our packet or do we do some type of negative reporting?

Answer: A statement to this effect in the proposal will suffice

23. Form 4220.44 – Do we need to fill out a separate form for each subconsultant for each task that we are proposing on or do we fill out one form for each subconsultant and list the total hours proposed for all tasks?

Answer: This is required for each subcontractor

24. Also, most of our subconsultants have direct labor rates based upon fair market value. Their rates are not broken out by direct labor and overhead. Do we simply complete form 4220.44 listing the subconsultant under “direct labor” and enter their direct labor rates and zero for overhead?

Answer: This is acceptable with a statement as to why you are doing so.