Amendment001._DU100H14R0007.QA.doc

Consolidated Questions & Answers

DU100H-14-R-0007

Electronic Policy Platform & Support Services

Technical Questions and Responses

1. Is there a particular Platform-as a Service (PaaS) HUD FHA would like to use to accomplish its goals?

Answer: HUD is acquiring an existing, commercial-off-the-shelf electronic publishing platform.

2. Does HUD have a preference for an existing industry policy management platform?

Answer: No.

3. Does HUD accept open source solutions?

Answer: HUD is acquiring an existing, commercial-off-the-shelf electronic publishing platform.

4. Did HUD review any online electronic policy platform(s) prior to release of this solicitation? If yes, please provide a list.

Answer: HUD performed market research prior to the issuance of this solicitation. The market research is an internal document and will not be released to the public.

5. Where will the application be hosted? Will it be the responsibility of the vendor to host it?

Answer: The successful vendor/offeror will be required and is responsible for hosting the application.

6. Can the government provide an estimated number of documents to be hosted?

Answer: An estimate is not deemed reliable as publication of information is driven by FHA’s need to disseminate new or revised HUD guidance. FHA publishes its policy in Handbooks and MLs, and offers guidance and clarification through Notices and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). These policy and guidance artifacts are provided in Portable Document Format (PDF) on HUD’s website, via the HUD Client Information and Policy System

(HUDClips). Proposed offerors may review the information under HUDCLIPS at www.hud.gov to get an idea of the types of documents that will be published on the electronic publishing platform within a specified time period.

7. What is the expected number of users of the system?

Answer: Data on the expected number of users are not available.

8. What is the computer literacy level of the users of this system?

Answer: The commercial electronic publishing platform will be accessed by both Government and industry personnel. It is anticipated that the user has basic knowledge and ability to utilize computers and related technology efficiently as it relates to the mortgage industry.

9. How many calls for help does HUD anticipate per day/week?

Answer: Call volume data are not available.

10. Do you expect the contractor to be available on-site at HUD offices for meetings?

Answer: Yes, the awardee is required to be available for technical meetings at HUD Headquarters at the initial startup phase of the contract.

11. Does HUD accept internet based meetings?

Answer: Yes.

12. Does HUD require in person visits to HUD locations by project personnel in support of project activities such as status meetings, requirements development, acceptance testing, etc.?

Answer: Meetings may be held via teleconference, live meeting and/or in person.

13. Will HUD reimburse for pre-approved travel expenses?

Answer: Travel is not a requirement in the performance of the PWS.

14. If HUD will reimburse for pre-approved travel expenses, how should this be reflected in the price proposal (volume II)?

Answer: Travel is not a requirement in the performance of the PWS.

15. What are the objectives for HUDs business process transformation with regard to electronic policy management?

Answer: The objective of this requirement is to acquire contractor support services to obtain an online electronic policy platform that allows HUD to maintain resources in a manner which is consistent with other large mortgage industry players, using a similar format, language and presentation of materials. By obtaining these services, this will assist HUD in achieving its goal of transforming the ways HUD does business.

16. Does HUD intend to retire and replace its existing HUDCLIPS policy management system?

Answer: No.

17. What is the volume of existing policy content (number of documents, and number of pages) to be migrated onto the new policy management platform?

Answer: The exact volume of policy content is not available. FHA currently disseminates thousands of pages of content to communicate FHA Mortgagee Letters, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), Housing Notices, and other statutory, regulatory and guidance references and documents.

18. What is the historical and projected volume of new policy documents per month and year?

Answer: Historical volume and projected volume data are not available.

19. What is the historical and projected number of users and their role in the policy management process (e.g. administrators, content managers, read only users, etc.)?

Answer: Historical volume and the projected number of users data are not available.

20. What is the historical and projected number of Help Desk calls and emails per month?

Answer: Data on the historical and projected number of calls are unavailable.

21. Does HUD have a requirements document for system capabilities or will detailed requirements be developed as part of Task 1?

Answer: No. HUD seeks a subscription service to an online electronic policy platform for presenting its policy as it moves toward a consolidated SFH Policy Guide. The PWS does not include the purchase of software. HUD will not host the electronic policy platform on its LAN.

Contracting Office Questions

1. Will the due date for receipt of proposals be extended? If needed/requested by Offerors.

2. What is the obligated funding for this solicitation? N/A

3. Can we use SF1449 to submit pricing? Do you need any additional information in the pricing proposal packet? Vendors may use whatever pricing method available to submit pricing in its’ cost proposal(s), but ensure that the prices are reflected in Section I of the Pricing Schedule of the solicitation.

4. Per 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors, Paragraph 3(c) states to indicate on each CD the volume number and title. Later in the same paragraph it states that each volume shall be in a different directory on a CD. Can the government please confirm if two separate CDs are desired (one for each volume) or if a single CD with separate directories for each volume is the desired delivery method? Two separate CDs are required.