DTFh61-10-R-00041 Amendment 1.pdf

(x)

DTFH61-10-R-00041

x x

4 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT

THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

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HAAM-30

WASHINGTON DC 20590

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

OFFICE OF ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

HAAM-30

WASHINGTON DC 20590

1200 NEW JERSEY AVE, SE

OFFICE OF ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

09/08/2010000001

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

08/17/2010

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

This Amendment is issued to:

1.Extend the due date of proposals from 9/17/2010 to 9/21/2010;

2.Amend Section L.6, FAR 52.252-3 Alterations in Solicitation (APR 1984), to reference

Amendment 000001; and

3.Provide responses to questions from Offerors received in response to Solicitation Number

DTFH61-10-R-00041.

To that end, the following amendments are made (refer to pages 2-9):

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

Robin K. Hobbs

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

robin.gates Typewritten Text Original Signed in Contract File robin.gates Typewritten Text robin.gates Typewritten Text robin.gates Typewritten Text 9/8/2010

Amendment 000001

DTFH61-10-R-00041

Performance based Construction Contractor Prequalification

1. Section L. 1 Proposal Delivery is amended to read as follows:

When/Where/How Many to Submit: Each offeror shall submit an original and four (4) written copies of both the technical and business proposals. In addition, the offeror shall submit two (2) Compact Discs (CDs); One (1) containing its Business Proposal prepared in accordance with Exhibit E.1 Business Proposal Template, attached as part of this solicitation, and one (1) containing its Technical Proposal. The Proposals are due no later than 3:00 PM EST Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at the following address:

Federal Highway Administration Office of Acquisition Management Attn: Robin Denise Gates, Contract Specialist 1200 New Jersey Avenue, Southeast Room E65-101 Mail Code: HAAM-30 Washington, DC 20590

2. Section L.6 FAR 52.252-3 Alterations in Solicitation (APR 1984) is hereby amended to read as follows:

Portions of this solicitation are altered as follows:

[ X] Reference Amendment 1

3. Responses are provided to questions submitted by offerors as follows:

Question 1:

Do the resumes count against the 80 page limit for the Technical Proposal?

FHWA Response 1:

Resumes do not count against the 80 page limit for the Technical Proposal.

Question 2:

On page 47, in the “Past Performance” section, you require 3 references for the prime and subs.

Does each of these references require a completed customer questionnaire? For example, if we have two subs, is the minimum number of questionnaires needed three or nine?

FHWA Response 2:

Past performance questionnaires should be submitted for both the Prime Contractor and its subcontractors and Consultants. Both the Prime Contractor and its subcontractors should submit a minimum of three (3) references each. Yes, each reference should complete a questionnaire. In your example, nine (9) questionnaires should be submitted; 3 for the Prime Contractor and three

(3) each per subcontractor.

Question 3:

On page 47, you state that the completed questionnaires shall be from independent sources. But then you say that the offer must submit each completed questionnaire in a separate envelope sealed by the customer for confidentiality. Is the customer in this case the “independent source’?

FHWA Response 3:

Yes. The customer is the independent source.

Question 4:

On page 47, item #3, you require a resume and letter of commitment for each key personnel not currently employed by the offer. We are assuming we need these letters of commitment from all sub-consultant firms. Is this correct?

FHWA Response 4:

Yes. For example, your firm intends to hire a Statistician currently employed by Company A.

However, you propose their skills and experience as part of your technical approach, the Letter of Commitment shows that this individual, upon contract award, will join your company to perform the duties as proposed. In addition, Letters of Commitment should be obtained from subcontractors and consultants as outlined in Section L.11 of the RFP.

Question 5:

On page 19, in section H.2, you discuss TAR requirement 1252.239-70. This does not seem applicable to the scope of work. Are we still required to define our approach to completing the security plan and accreditation requirements?

FHWA Response 5:

You are correct. It appears that TAR Clause 1252.239.70 applies if the services are for Information Technology services. As a result, offerors are not required to outline their approach to completing the security plan and accreditation requirements.

The text is included below for your further review.

1239.70 Solicitation provision and contract clause.

The contracting officer shall insert the provision at (TAR) 48 CFR 1252.239-71, Information Technology Security Plan and Accreditation, and the clause at (TAR) 48 CFR 1252.239-70, http://www.dot.gov/ost/m60/tamtar/part1252.htm#1252.239-71� http://www.dot.gov/ost/m60/tamtar/part1252.htm#1252.239-70�

Security Requirements for Unclassified Information Technology Resources, in all solicitations and contracts, exceeding the micro-purchase threshold, that include information technology services.

Question 6:

On page 47, bullet #1, you state that the questionnaires can be sent to both commercial and government customers. But the last page of the questionnaire speaks directly to government clients.

a. For Example: “Based on the contractor’s overall performance, would you award this contractor another government contract? “

b. Is it acceptable for us to modify the questionnaire to replace the word “government” with something more appropriate when sending it to commercial customers?

FHWA Response 6:

Questionnaires should be submitted to and completed by references that can provide feedback on the offeror’s performance of work that is relevant in scope and complexity to the work required by the SOW.

It is acceptable for the questionnaire to be altered to include commercial references, if necessary.

Question 7:

Due to the very specific nature of this topic and scope of work, limiting the references to the last three years seems a bit restrictive. For example, some very relevant research was published in 2006. Would you be willing to loosen that to 5 or 10 years?

FHWA Response 7:

Due to the nature of the work to be performed and the data collection involved, the FHWA will consider past performance for up to five (5) years. As such, Section L.10, Technical Proposal Instructions, 1. Past Performance is amended to read as follows (changes in BOLD):

1. Past Performance

The Offeror shall provide relevant references for their past performance supporting the same or similar requirements delineated in the Statement of Work (SOW).

A minimum of three (3) references are required for the number of past performance references for the prime and each subcontractor. However, the Offeror and its subcontractors may provide additional references to demonstrate their capability to perform the SOW.

• The completed questionnaires must be submitted by current (within the last FIVE years) customers (include both commercial and Government if applicable) involving similar or related services, at similar dollar values if possible.

• The completed questionnaires shall be from independent sources.

• Offerors must submit each completed customer questionnaire in a separate envelope that has been sealed by the customer for confidentiality.

• The Government may contact the customer point of contact (POC) for verification. POC telephone and facsimile numbers must be accurate and current.

• The Contracting Officer will consider such performance information, along with information from other sources, in determining the past performance rating and deciding whether the Offeror is to be considered responsible, as defined in FAR

9.104. The Offeror is responsible for ensuring the questionnaires are completed in a timely manner and are submitted in a timely manner.

If no organization past performance history exists, FHWA will consider references from major and/or significant subcontractor agreements and, in the case of a joint venture, constituent entities.

Question 8:

Who will be the COTR for this project?

FHWA Response 8:

The COTR for this effort will be disclosed upon award.

Question 9:

Regarding the Letter of Commitment in the Technical Proposal (page 47 of the RFP), is this for subcontractors or people we intend to hire as an employee?

FHWA Response 9:

See response to question 4.

Question 10:

Page 46 states the following: “Demonstrate its understanding of pavement design, pavement structural analysis, numerical modeling of pavement systems, mechanistic and empirical pavement design, use of Falling Weight Deflectometer data to evaluate in service pavements, and static/dynamic pavement back calculation”

Can you please explain the relevance of this?

FHWA Response 10:

This reference was erroneously included in this RFP. Section L.10, Technical Proposal Instructions, Technical/Management Approach is amended to read as follows:

Technical/Management Approach

The Offeror shall demonstrate its understanding of the Statement of Work (SOW); and its technical understanding to accomplishing all SOW requirements. The following describes, in more detail, how an Offeror shall demonstrate the Technical Understanding of the Task:

The Offeror shall, at a minimum (refer to M.2 for further discussion):

• Demonstrate its understanding of the SOW requirements and discuss experience with similar SOW requirements;

• Explain its technical approach to accomplishing each of the SOW requirements.

Include its subcontractor approach, if applicable:

o Why each particular subcontractor was chosen;

o The subcontractor’s role in completing the SOW requirements; and o The subcontractor’s commitment to continued work with the Offeror; and

• Explain the strategy for maintaining, managing, and submitting all documentation.

Question 11:

What is the budget for this project?

FHWA Response 11:

The FHWA does not intend to reveal the estimated budget for this effort. However, a Government Level of Effort is provided as part of the RFP to assist offeror’s in preparing their Business Proposals in response to this solicitation. As we are in the competition phase of this procurement, Offerors are advised to present their best Technical Approach and applicable costs.

Question 12:

We offer our services on a commercial pricing basis. The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) accept and recognize this method of pricing for consulting services in FAR Parts 12 and 15. Our hourly rates are inclusive of all costs (other than direct expenses) and profit. Therefore, can we propose using these rates instead of breaking them out into direct labor and overhead?

FHWA Response 12:

Offerors are advised to propose using their current accounting practices. However, please use the Cost Proposal Template and adjust the data fields as needed. Please be advised that all proposed costs should be supported with payroll information, rate agreement letters and any other applicable information necessary to adequately substantiate the basis for the proposed costs.

Question 13:

Letters of Commitment of referred on page 47 as part of the Technical Proposal, and on page 50 as part of the Business Proposal. Do proposers need to provide these letters in both volumes?

FHWA Response 13:

The Letters of Commitment should be included in the Technical Proposal. Section L.11, Business Proposal Instructions, b. Business Proposal Breakdown, 4. Subcontracts/Consultants is revised to delete reference to Letters of Commitment. This section is hereby amended to read as follows:

Subcontracts/Consultants [as appropriate]: The Offeror shall include subcontract information to be evaluated when proposing subcontractors/independent consultants (e.g.

name, labor rates, etc.).

a. Name and address of the Subcontractor or consultant;

b. Identify the position and the portion of the work to be completed;

c. Extent to which adequate price competition was obtained, or justification in its absence. This information should be in a Negotiation Memorandum Format describing the Prime Contractors approach for identifying appropriate subcontractors and/or consultants inclusive of methods used to determine cost reasonableness.

d. Statement as to whether the proposed Subcontractor is on the list of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement (ELPS) and Non-procurement Programs.

e. Cost proposal inclusive of any supporting documentation needed to substantiate proposed rates, hours, and overall costs. Note: Prime Contractors/Offerors are responsible for performing a cost reasonableness analysis on all its proposed Subcontractors and Consultants in accordance with FAR 15.404-3 and this analysis should be included in the Negotiation Memorandum described above in Section c.

Question 14:

Do proposers need to provide all of the required PDF forms, the completed past performance questionnaires, and the signed letters of commitment in the electronic Word Technical Proposal on the CD?

FHWA Response 14:

Offerors should include all information on the CD that is included in the hard copies of Volumes I and II with the exception of the Past Performance questionnaires. As stated in the RFP, on page 47, the completed questionnaires shall be from independent sources. Offerors must submit each completed questionnaire in a separate envelope that has been sealed by the customer for confidentiality.

Because the questionnaires are sealed by the customer, Offerors are not expected to have them on the CD.

Question 15:

Who are the decision makers that will evaluate proposals? Can we talk to them?

FHWA Response 15:

To maintain the utmost integrity in the procurement process and to eliminate the appearance of bias, favoritism or unethical practice, Offerors are not permitted to speak with the Technical Evaluation Panel or “decision makers” unless clarifications or discussions are needed further along in the procurement process.

Question 16:

We need clarification of one element of the Technical and Management Approach. On page 46, second bullet, is a demonstrated understanding of pavement design, pavement structural analysis, etc. necessary for this RFP?

FHWA Response 16:

See Response to Question 10

Question 17:

What are the key issues to be resolved in this project?

FHWA Response 17:

Please refer to the Objectives and Scope of Work sections of the Statement of Work for further clarification.

Question 18:

What does the FHWA see as the most important qualifications for the winning proposer to possess?

FHWA Response 18:

Please refer to Section M, Evaluation Factors for Award.