Questions_&_Answers_Amendment_0002_FA301618R0023.pdf

Solicitation FA301618R0023, Amendment 2

Questions and Answers

OFFERORS ARE REQUIRED TO ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF AMENDMENT 2. YOU MAY

SUBMIT A SIGNED COPY OF THE SF30 WITH YOUR PROPOSAL AND/OR EMAIL RACHEL

DEMONE AT rachel.demone@us.af.mil BY THE CLOSING DATE AND TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE

RECEIPT OF AMENDMENT 2.

Q1: Page 62 of 73: ‘PRICE PROPOSAL’ – Will the Government require a cost narrative document explaining the Offeror’s pricing rationale?

A1: As stated in FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Items, “offerors shall complete the Price Schedule contained in this solicitation by inserting a unit price for each Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) for each performance period, rounded to two decimal places. The extended amount must equal the unit price multiplied by the number/quantity of units.” No narrative document regarding price is required.

Q2: The government provides SCA job titles for equivalent labor categories as part of

Clause 52.222-42, page 51, indicating the classes of service employees expected to be employed by contractors under this contract. Page 63 and 64 also addresses price reasonableness to ensure there are not unbalanced pricing during option years but does not talk about cost realism. Cost realism will ensure fair competition and reduces the risk of contractor failure of performance on LPTA contracts. Would the government review for cost realism in addition to price reasonableness in evaluation process to ensure bidders provide cost data as part of their pricing volume in order to validate correct application of SCA categories? And for the bidder’s selected categories will the government use cost realism methods to confirm if bidders have correctly used at least minimum SCA pay rates in their fully burden rates for the work being performed in support of this contract?

A2: The purpose of FAR 52.222-42 is to inform offerors of “the wages and fringe benefits payable to each [employee] if they were employed by the contracting agency…” [emphasis added]. The job titles and wages pertain to employment by the federal Government, not by a company in the open marketplace. It is the offeror’s responsibility to determine which SCA position titles apply.

Unbalanced pricing, price reasonableness and cost realism are distinctly different. The Government must consider price as a factor in every award decision, and a determination of price reasonableness, as in this case, meets that burden on a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract award. Unbalanced pricing is an assessment of prices at the line item level to identify over- or understated line items, and can be utilized in either a price (as in this case) or cost type contracting environment. As with many risks, however, assessed risk of unbalanced pricing does not preclude award, but may do so if the Contracting Officer determines that the unbalanced pricing poses an unacceptable level of risk. Cost realism is required when contracting on a cost reimbursement basis, and does not apply in an FFP context. Regulation and case law limit where price realism (which differs from cost realism) may be used, and it is mailto:rachel.demone@us.af.mil generally used only in exceptional cases such as new requirements that may not be fully understood by offerors. Here, we have an incumbent contract and well defined requirements. It is the offeror’s responsibility to propose prices that a prudent person in the conduct of competitive business would expect to pay.

Q3: PWS – Page 13, 3.8.1 – Travel: Will the Awardee be authorized to apply indirect rates, with the exception of fee, to official project travel related costs under this effort?

A3: No. This is a solicitation for a Firm Fixed Price contract; indirect rates apply to cost type contracts. The Travel CLINs in the Schedule have been updated to clarify that indirect rates shall not be applied to Travel. Please remember that for Travel CLINs (0009, 1009, 2009, 3009, 4009), the Not To Exceed (NTE) amounts in the Schedule ($1,500.00 per CLIN) will be applied to all proposals for the purpose of price evaluation. The Addenda to FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Items, and 52.212-2, Evaluation—Commercial Items, have been updated to clarify this.

Q4: Reference Instruction to Offerors, Additional Instructions, Technical Proposal, paragraph 1. Hiring and Staffing Plan, (page 62) line 7 states “The plan shall indicate any personnel identified to fill the required positions at the time of proposal or to fill any remaining positions prior to and throughout contract performance.” Assuming there are qualified incumbent employees, do those employees have the right of first refusal for their positions? If so, wouldn’t offerors identifying names of other personnel at the time of proposal violate this clause?

A4: FAR 52.222-17, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers, is included in the RFP and requires that “the contractor and its subcontractors shall…in good faith offer those service employees employed under the predecessor contract whose employment will be terminated as a result of this contract…a right of first refusal of employment under this contract in positions for which the service employees are qualified.” Note also section (b)(2) of the clause: “…the Contractor and any subcontractors shall not offer employment under this contract, to any person prior to having complied fully with this obligation.” Note also that the right of first refusal is not a guarantee of employment.

The requirement to indicate personnel identified to fill the required positions does not preclude the offeror from identifying incumbent personnel. Further note that the plan shall also indicate the approach to fill positions “throughout contract performance.”

Q5:

A5:

Page 51 of 73: Will the Government provide SCA Occupation Titles that will correspond with the positions listed in the SF1449 – Price Schedule?

Can the Government provide a SCA Equivalent labor category for each labor category listed within the Line Items?

What labor categories on the DOL wage determination should be used for the labor categories in the RFP?

It is the offeror’s responsibility to determine which SCA position titles apply.

Q6:

A6:

Are all positions listed in the PWS and SF1449 Price Schedule subject to the Service Contract Act? If so, what are the occupation codes and SCA position titles under the referenced Area Wage Determination for each position listed in the PWS and SF1449 Price Schedule that offerors should use to ensure full SCA compliance?

Yes, all positions in the PWS and SF1449 are subject to the Service Contract Labor Standards (formerly Service Contract Act). It is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure full compliance with the Service Contract Labor Standards (formerly SCA).

Q7:

A7:

We noticed the SCA job title refers to Admin Assistant, GC III, PA III, and Medical Record technician. Are these the required SCA Wage Determination Labor Categories?

The purpose of FAR 52.222-42 is to inform offerors of “the wages and fringe benefits payable to each [employee] if they were employed by the contracting agency…” [emphasis added]. The job titles and wages pertain to employment by the federal Government, not by a company in the open marketplace.

Q8:

A8:

Ref: 52.222-42 - Statement of Equivilent Rates for Federal Hires (May 2104), Pg. 50 of 73. The Solicitation includes a Wage Determination (pg. 64 of 70) indicating that the Labor Categories included in this RFP fall under the Service Contract Act requirements. Pg. 50 of 73 provides a listing of federal hire equivalent rates (for information purposes only). Which positions are currently filled by incumbents?

Are all the current positions filled, if not, which of the current positions are vacant?

Would the Government state what the number of CMEs the incumbent currently has staffed on the contract?

If this is a follow-on contract, are all of the positions currently filled?

A seniority list of incumbent personnel will be provided after award in accordance with FAR 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards, section (n), Seniority List. The Government does not disclose this information prior to award as it is the offeror’s responsibility to determine how to fulfill this performance based requirement.

Q9: Page 70 of 73: ‘Area Wage Determination – WD 15-5254’: Executive Order 13706;

Will the Government please clarify if 1,920 hours or 1,864 hours should be used as the basis of productive hours for a Full Time Equivalent? For example, if we include the EO 13706 requirement of 56 Sick Leave hours per year, and add that the to 80 hours of Paid Time Off and 80 hours of Holiday Leave, we have a total of 216 unproductive hours. Reducing 2080 annual hours by 216 unproductive hours yields a total of 1,864 Productive Hours per FTE. If offerors are instructed to use 1,864 productive hours, will the Government revise the SF1449 Price Schedule?

Q9: Please confirm the total of FTE’s needed under this effort. If offerors are to use 1,920 productive hours per FTE, is the total number of personnel required under this solicitation 16 FTE’s? If offerors are to use 1,864 productive hours per FTE (as calculating with the inclusion of the SCA Sick Leave), is the total number of personnel required under this solicitation 16.48 FTE’s?

A9: The following answer pertains to all comparably numbered questions listed above:

Under a performance based contract, the Government does not dictate how many employees should be utilized to fulfill a requirement.

Q10: Is there a current, incumbent work force? If so, will the government please provide contract anniversary dates / contract service time per incumbent employee so Offerors may provide rates reflective of accurate PTO accruals?

Q10: What are the anniversary dates for the incumbent employees?

Q10: In order to properly price the offer, will the Government provide a longevity report for the incumbent employees that shows the number of years each employee has been there with anniversary dates?

Q10: Will the Government provide incumbent information, including anniversary dates of incumbent employees?

Q10: Can you tell us how long each incumbent personnel have been working on the contract?

Q10: If the current position is filled, how many years has the current incumbent HCP been in this position?

A10: The following answer pertains to all comparably numbered questions listed above: A seniority list of incumbent personnel will be provided after award in accordance with FAR 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards, section (n), Seniority List. The Government does not disclose this information prior to award as it is the offeror’s responsibility to determine how to fulfill this performance based requirement.

Q11:

A11:

PWS Para 1.2.13.5 (page 9). Paragraph states the computer access investigations will be processed through the Government as no cost to the contractor. In addition, all personnel requiring access to computers must submit the documentation required, within 15 Calendar days after Notice of Award. If contractor personnel have a security clearance, either at Secret or Top Secret, will that investigation be sufficient for computer access so they do not have to complete a new investigation?

No.

Q12:

A12:

Several of the SCA Job Titles do not correlate to positions listed in Appendix A. Are any of the positions included in Appendix A Exempt?

No.

Q13: PWS para 1.2.5 (page 2). Government references “soft approval”. Request the government clearly define “soft approval”.

A13: Generally, soft approval refers to tentative approval of an employee package following a preliminary review of the package.

Q14: Solicitation calls for specific security requirements. Is there a DD 254 for this contract?

A14: No.

Q15: Please confirm that there are no past performance requirements.

A15: Past performance is not an evaluation factor in the Addendum to FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation—Commercial Items. However, please be advised that no federal contract can be awarded unless the Contracting Officer makes an affirmative determination of responsbility, which includes an assessment of past performance. The Government has many databases and sources of information available to it to make this determination, including, but not limited to, the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS) and the System for Award Management (SAM). As indicated in the Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Items, offerors are not required or requested to submit past performance information as part of their proposal, nor will past performance information submitted be evaluated for the purposes of award. Past performance information available to the Government will be considered as part of the Government’s determination of responsibility.

Q16: 1.3.12 Quality Assurance states The FRED will evaluate the Contractor's performance in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) for this requirement and forward copies to the COR. Can we have a copy of the QASP?

A16: No, the QASP reflects the Performance Work Statement, and can be made available upon award.

Q17: Cardiac Systems Imaging Manager: Is this position managing anyone under them?

A17: No; position will manage a Cardiology PACS (picture archiving and communication system).

Q18: Cardiac Systems Imaging Manager: Are there multiple locations they are responsible for or just one location?

A18: Data is transmitted from multiple locations which may require limited assistance to outlying locations, main responsibility is centrally located within the facility.

Q19: Cardiac Systems Imaging Manager: How big are the teams they responsible for?

A19: CP will be responsible for managing a medical data archive system which receives input from multiple sources in multiple formats. Technicians perform cardiac diagnostic testing which is recorded as images and text. This information is validated and verified prior to inputting to PACS system. CP will be responsible for the verification, storage and retrieval of information. CP will have no team to be responsible for; position will work as part of a larger team supporting other cardiac systems.

Q20: Cardiac Systems Imaging Manager: How many Cardiac Systems Imaging Managers are there?

A20: There is one Cardiology Systems manager. This is a one-deep position. Back-up is provided by one of the IT personnel within the wing or one of the admin support personnel within Cardiology.

Q21: Credential Specialist – Graduated Medical Education: It states in the requirements/qualifications that they must have at least 12 months of experience within the last 36 months in Medical Administration. But it doesn’t actually list anything about needing a medical certification or degree. Can we get clarification if a degree or clarification is needed?

A21: No, we don't require any certification or higher degree other than a high school diploma or equivalent. Experience requirement is as stated.

Q22: PWS 3.5 states that the Government will provide initial testing at no cost, but the Contractor shall provide follow-up testing or reimburse the Government for such services performed within the MTF. Will this initial testing be completed as part of the in-processing with the 59th MDW and does this include any new hires throughout the life of the contract?

A22:

This is in ref to any on-duty injuries which includes blood borne exposure after CP start working.

This paragraph refers to exposure to different elements requiring medical testing for exposure;

Testing will not be accomplished unless needed due to exposure.

Q23:

The positions required in the RFP typically do not require BLS certification. The numerous candidates that we have who are currently working at other hospitals in the area do not require BLS.

Would the government consider deleting this qualification?

A23:

No – CP will be working in areas of patient care and may need to participate in BLS.

Q24:

Since this is a non-personal services contract, does the government require an on-site contractor representative? If so, will office space be provided?

A24: No, not required.

Q25: Will the government consider including a CLIN for a project manager?

A25: No, not required.

Q26:

A26:

Please clarify what continuing education units (CEUs) must be earned and maintained for the labor categories noted in the RFP?

Training and continuing education requirements will be communicated after award and throughout the life of the contract.

Q27: PWS Para 1.3.4.1 (page 3). The government states references “family/planned closure days”.

Request the government provide the projected dates for each of the family/planned closure days expected in the base year and each option year. If that data is not available, request the government provide historical data, providing the family/planned closure days for the past five years.

A27:

AETC Family/Down Days are treated as holidays and the CP are not required to work. If CP are required to work, the CP will be notified by the Government 30 days prior.

Historical data is unavailable because many holidays move each calendar year and down days are determined by base command.

Q28: Solicitation, Additional Instructions, Paragraph 7, Technical Proposal. (Page 62 of 73). Paragraph directs the Offeror to include in its Screening Plan its process for timely compiling and submitting complete security packages before the performance start date and throughout contract performance…and keeping two or more appointments, as scheduled by the Government, to complete the security package.” Request the government reconsider this requirement. The Offeror does not control the complete process. Appointments to complete package processing are scheduled by the Government.

A28:

As stated in the Addendum to FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation—Commercial Items, the Government will evaluate the offeror’s plan, not its degree of control over that plan. Appointments are one part of the larger process to screen potential candidates. The Government is looking for a Screening Plan that demonstrates a thorough thought process regarding the steps required to bring candidates on board.

Q29: Ref: Uniform Allowance Pages 71-72. Are any employees in this contract required to wear uniforms?

A29: No.