DTNH2216R00042-_Answers_to_Vendors'_RFP_Questions_-_Part_II.docx

National Survey of Drowsy Driving Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviors Solicitation Number: DTNH2216R00042 Answers to Vendors’ Questions Part II National Survey of Drowsy Driving Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviors Solicitation Number: DTNH2216R00042 Answers to Vendors’ Questions – Part II This is the second part of the answers to questions received on the subject solicitation. All questions responded to were received within the required timeframe.

1. What is the expected survey length, in terms of number of questions/data points, and in pages of mail survey booklet (for each version, if applicable)?

This is up to the Offeror to suggest, justify, and budget for.

2. For mailed (paper) questions, should bidders assume three survey versions: 1) national version; 2) New Jersey-specific version; 3) Arkansas- specific version?

Yes

3. Regarding security requirements for data collection and data management:

a. Does this task order require that work be performed under FEDRamp standards?

b. Are specific levels of NIST security controls required?

All data collection and data management requirements are specified in the RFP (e.g. C.5.6.1 & H.2). However, the contractor may propose to follow additional security requirements based on government or other industry standards.

5. Section C.4 (General Requirements) – the solicitation states that the survey should be “probability-based approach that delivers the questionnaire by the Internet and the U.S. mail.” Can NHTSA clarify if the online section of the survey should be delivered via the Internet or solely that an online method of completion should be made available?

NHTSA prefers that the survey data collection be internet-based, at least initially. However, the Offeror is welcome to propose an alternative strategy (as an option to the government).

6. Section C.4 (General Requirements) – the solicitation states that “to reach certain populations” a paper completion method should be provided. Can NHTSA confirm that the primary population of interest for this component of the study are non-Internet households?

This is up to the Offeror to identify and justify in their proposal. There are other groups that may exist that have internet in their households but are unlikely to use it.

7. Section C.5.2 (Submit Sampling and Data Collection Plan) – the solicitation discussion concerning the project sampling plan only references regions and the two over-sampling states, but when discussing the project background a number of other variables, such as gender, race/ethnicity, education, age, and employment are discussed as possible factors for drowsy-driving behaviors. Can NHTSA clarify if any of those variables are of importance to the project sampling plan and deserve particular attention?

This is up to the Offeror to suggest, justify, and budget for. These are all likely important variables that may correlate with drowsy driving behavior, attitudes, and knowledge.

8. Section C.5.2 (Submit Sampling and Data Collection Plan) – Can the contractor suggest alternative data collection methodologies than the 5-wave mail and web plan described?

The Offeror is welcome to suggest alternative data collection methodologies as an additional (separate) option for the Government to consider.

9. Section C.5.2 (Submit Sampling and Data Collection Plan) – Does NHTSA have a particular interest in data from drivers under the age of 18? If not, could this population be excluded from the survey?

This is up to the Offeror to suggest, justify, and budget for.

10. Section C.5.5 (Questionnaire Development) – does NHTSA have any expectation in terms of approximate length of the questionnaire and/or number of open-ended questions it anticipates for this survey effort?

This is up to the Offeror to suggest, justify, and budget for.

11. Section C.5.10 refers to “sample weights needed to produce national and State estimates.” Could NHTSA confirm that state estimates are needed only for AR and NJ using the supplement sample?

This is correct.

12. Section C.5.16 (Optional Task 2: Additional State Survey 1) and Section C.5.17 (Optional Task 3: Additional State Survey 2) – Are these states in addition to the oversampling of NJ and AR described in C.5.2 or are these optional tasks intended to capture the additional scope and cost of oversampling NJ and AR?

These are States in addition to the oversampling of NJ and AR described in C.5.2. These States could in the future include a re-survey of NJ and/or AR or other States that NHTSA specifies later.

13. Is the target population all adults age 18+? Or all of age 16+? (Or does it vary by state?)

This is up to the Offeror to suggest, justify, and budget for.

14. Does NHTS have a preference for the within-household selection of eligible adults? Would they accept a birthday based approach?

This is up to the Offeror to suggest, justify, and budget for.

15. What is the budget? -- reference section G.1 As a competitive procurement, the budget is not being provided. Instead, in accordance with Section M.4, the offeror’s proposed cost will be evaluated on reasonableness and realism, and an award will be made to the offeror who represents the best value to the Government.

16. What is the percentage of “plus” for Cost plus? Reference G3

This is up to the offeror to propose. Please see FAR Section 16.306 for the description of Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts.

17. What is the per diem? Reference G4

As stated in Section G.4, “travel costs will be reimbursed in accordance with FAR Part 31.” And “Travel and Per Diem authorized under this contract shall be reimbursed in accordance with the Government Travel Regulations currently in effect.” Current Per Diem rates can be found at http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/104877.

18. Can we access databases from Department of Transportation for mailings? Reference C.5.2

It is unclear as to what is being asked in this question. The U.S. DOT does not have any databases appropriate for sampling or contacting licensed drivers for this effort.

19. Just to confirm, should we use all drivers including commercial drivers and possessors of CDLs? Reference C.5.2

This is up to the Offeror to suggest, justify, and budget for.

20. Can we use the NHTSA logo on the front of the web survey? H.3.3.

The NHTSA logo (but not the DOT logo) can be used on the front of the web survey with certain restrictions.

21. Section C: Description/Specs/Work Statement What is the level of effort anticipated for the 22 month period of performance?

No level of effort is provided by the government. The offeror is to propose a level of effort that is commensurate with the approach that it proposes.

22. Section C: Description/Specs/Work Statement When does NHTSA anticipate awarding this contract?

It is anticipated that this contract will be awarded by 9/30/2016.

23. Section C: Description/Specs/Work Statement; C.5.5.2 entitled “Cognitive Testing of Draft Questionnaire” For the cognitive interviews, is there a minimum number of participants that NTHSA expects will be recruited from New Jersey and Arkansas?

This is up to the Offeror to suggest, justify, and budget for. However, OMB requirements shall be followed. https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/inforeg/PRAPrimer_04072010.pdf

24. Section C: Description/Specs/Work Statement; C.5.9 entitled “Conduct Data Collection” Will the data collection for the nationally representative sample and the sample of New Jersey and Arkansas residents occur concurrently?

This is up to the Offeror to suggest, justify, and budget for.

25. Section L: Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors; L.9 entitled “Proposal Format” and L.10 entitled “Technical Proposal Instructions” The instructions regarding resumes in Section L.9 (page 58) provide that “Staff Resumes or biographies shall be no more than two pages in length, and if academic papers are cited, the citations must also be limited to two pages in length.” However the instructions in section L. 10 (page 60) provide that “Proposed staff resumes (no page limit) shall include…” Can the government please clarify the page limitations for resumes?

Please follow the guidance in Section L.9 (page 58).

26. Section L: Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors; L.10, Part III entitled “Corporate Experience and Past Performance” Regarding the past performance references, is it necessary to use the Past Performance Questionnaire if CPARS information is available for the selected projects?

Yes, the Past Performance Questionnaire is required.

27. Section L: Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors; L.11.1 entitled “Cost/Price Information” Section L.11.1 (page 62) says that “Proposed labor categories should relate to the Government labor categories discussed herein.” Upon careful review, we are unable to find this information in the RFP. Will the government provide information on the labor categories offerors should use, or should offerors propose their own?

Unless specific labor categories are mentioned in the RFP, the offeror shall propose their own labor categories.

28. Section L: Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors; L.11.1 entitled “Cost/Price Information” Should the business proposal include detailed costs for optional tasks 1, 2, and 3? If so, what assumptions should the offer use to prepare an estimate? (For example for optional task 1, number of conferences, webinars, publications, and websites. For options 2 and 3, number of survey response expected.)

This is up to the Offeror to suggest, justify, and budget for. Options 2 & 3 will be similar in nature to the State Surveys in the Base Task.