FA301620R0095 Phlebotomists Q and As.pdf

1. Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, Section 1.2 (Page 52) states that the page limit for the technical volume is 5 pages, however a technical volume is not listed amongst the submission documents. Can the Government confirm if a Technical Volume is required with submission? If so, can the Government provide the evaluation factors for this volume?

A technical volume is NOT required with submission. There are no additional evaluation factors other than Past Performance and Price. The overall proposal limitation is 5 Pages.

However, how you plan to satisfy the requirements in PWS will be your “technical” portion and it can be added to the Price volume.

2. Is there an incumbent contractor for these services? If so, can the government provide the contract number for the incumbent contractor and the total dollar amount awarded?

The incumbent contractor is SA Solutions Inc. Contract FA304715D0034 was awarded as an IDIQ with a maximum Government Obligation to Order of $5,138,864.80.

3. Can the Government provide the current staffing level of effort/staffing mix? Is it anticipated to remain the same?

As stated in the solicitation, the hours are estimated for 21 full time equivalent employee phlebotomist for the duration of the contract. The anticipated number of hours was determined prior to the issue of the solicitation and is the most current estimate.

4. Are CLIN separated by services needed at each clinic? If so, can the government please list which CLIN supports which clinic?

All 21 FTEs across all three CLINs need to be interchangeable. The only reason they are separated across three CLINs is because of the way the Government is going to fund them.

5. How often are Phlebotomists reassigned to another clinic?

Generally phlebotomists remain in their designated clinic. If reassignment is sought it will be done in accordance with the PWS (1.6.2.6. Place of Performance).

6. Option Line Item 2003 Lists an additional FTE. Does the government intend to increase level of support during this option period?

This solicitation contained a clerical error on Option Line Item 2003. The correct estimated number of FTEs for option line is 2 FTEs and not 3 as previously publicized. The number of hours for that CLIN is the same as the base and all other option years. This error will be corrected at time of award.

7. Section 1.4 states that offerors must provide two volumes in their bid submissions, one being Volume II-Past Performance. From our read of Section 3.1, offerors must submit PPQs, which will constitute Volume II-Past Performance. Should offerors provide a narrative summary of their past performance references to create Volume II-Past Performance or will the PPQs constitute this volume?

Offerors shall submit blank Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) (Attachment 4) to present and/or past Government/Industry customers for contracts considered relevant and recent. The offeror must provide at least two but no more than four contracts/task orders for past performance evaluation. The narrative summary is not needed.

8. There is a discrepancy between the days and dates listed for the deadlines for offerors to submit questions and for the proposal submission deadline. Please confirm if the days listed are clerical errors, and that offerors are to follow the dates provided.

The day of the week previously specified was a Friday but August 26, 2020, is a Wednesday. The submission date to receive completed proposals with all elements is Wednesday, 26 August 2020 at 12:00 p.m. CDT.

9. Will the Government explain what “Session-based" means in the PPQ so that we may clarify this for our customers who are completing our PPQ forms?

Customers will specify the number of FTEs during the period of performance in that section of the PPQ.

10. Is Sick Leave per E.O. 13706 applicable to this solicitation?

Yes, this acquisition is subject to SCA and E.O. 13706 is applicable.

11. Representations and certifications --- On which Volume should we submit this. Should it be included in Volume I - Price Proposal, OR will it be a stand-alone Volume by itself.

Representations and certifications will be validated by the Government using Sam.gov.

Representations and certifications can be included as a separate attachment along with page 1 of the 1449.

12. Kindly provide a format or Attachment Past Performance Information that we need to include on Volume II - Past Performance OR should we include Attachment 4 (PPQ that we sent to our references) on this Volume. Also what is the page limitation for this Volume II.

The overall page limitation is 5 (not to include attahcments). Attachment 4 is the only pre-formatted document being provided for completion of Volume II. Volume II should only reference your PPQS.

13. Are Cover page and Table of Contents as page limitations for all or any Volumes?

ADDENDUM TO 52.212-1 section 1, Proposal Preparation Instructions specifies that page limitation do not apply to the coverage page or indexes of the volumes. This applies to both the past performance and price volumes.

14. Should SF 1449 (Completed and Signed Page 1) be included in Volume I - Price Proposal OR should it be submitted as a separate attachment. Also, in which Volume should we include completed & signed any future Amendments (SF 30)?

Please include the completed and signed page 1, as well as any completed and signed future amendments as separate attachments from the volumes. The completed proposal should be submitted as one document, including the volumes and attachments.

15. Can the government indicate how many incumbents there are currently and their dates of service in this position for SCA determination of vacation time accruals?

Please refer to question 2 regarding the incumbent contractor. The contract number is provided for all publicly available information regarding the award.

16. Basis of Award: 1.8 states Price reasonableness, but then states in 3. Volume II-Past Performance 3.2 & 3.3 lowest priced offeror with substantial confidence (page 54 of 57) but then reiterates Price Reasonableness in 3.2.2 under Factor 3.2- Price (Page 56 of 57). Is this requirement LPTA, Lowest Price Technically Acceptable based on Price, then Past Performance?

52.212-1, paragraph 1.8, states that the Government will be using Trade-off procedures.

Once the apparent awardee is identified, we will verify price reasonableness prior to award.

17. Can you explain how this is best value? If you are only evaluating individuals against successive respondents that is not best value but LPTA.

52.212-2, paragraph 1, states that the Government will value Past Performance Significantly more than Price. This could result in the award of the contract to an offer that is other than the lowest price. LPTA would result in the lowest offer that could satisfy the requirements set forth in the PWS.

18. Hello there! I have a couple of questions regarding this solicitation. I am wondering if the current contract holder is an 8(a) company. Also, is there a copy of the previous bid available for review?

Please refer to question 2 regarding the current contract holder and price.

19. Will the phlebotomists be working in the same or separate locations? If separate, what are the different locations?

Please refer to the PWS regarding work locations.

2. Will the Government accept previously submitted DHA MQS PPQs or do new PPQs need to be submitted for this opportunity?

The previous PPQs need to be submitted directly from the customer to michael.ellis.35@us.af.mil and joseph.kitzmiller@us.af.mil.

23. Will the Government provide industry the incumbent employee tenure?

The incumbent contractor is listed in question 2.

24. Would you accept CPARS in lieu of Past Performance Questionnaires for our reference contract?

The Government reserves the right to review CPARS of all offerors, but the CPARS will not be considered as acceptable past performance information in lieu of PPQs.

25. Historically, how many times a month is the HCW scheduled over night shifts?

The clinics specified in the PWS do not operate overnight (PWS, 1.6.2. Hours of Performance).

26. Historically, how many times a month is the HCW scheduled weekend shifts?

Over the course of the 5-year current contract, contractor employees and work schedules have varied. Additionally, contractor employees will work alongside military and government employees whose numbers within the clinic and work schedules have varied.

Those factors will determine how many contractor employees and how often contractor employees will fill weekend shifts. It should not be assumed that all contractor employees will be needed every weekend of every month.

27. Does the government want us to provide the Total price with the extended 6 months on the COMP Plan?

Should a 6 month extension of services be required, rates will be adjusted only as a result of revisions to applicable prevailing Department of Labor wage rates. These positions should not include a compensation plan.

28. Does the fillable portions of the Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs in solicitation apply towards the page count? \

No, they can be a separate attachment.

29. We are submitting proposal as a JV, our JV member is submitting past performance as a PRIME, will we need a TA or Letter of Commitment from JV Partners?

A minimum of two projects must be for work performed by the prime and remainder may be for work performed by a teaming partner. Past performance for team members will not be evaluated unless a signed Teaming Arrangement (TA) or Letter of Intent (LOI) is mailto:michael.ellis.35@us.af.mil submitted. To be valid under this solicitation, a Teaming Arrangement (TA) or Letter of Intent (LOI) must commit the business entities to performance under this contract.

30. How long have the incumbents been working on this contract?

Please refer to question 2 for current contract questions

31. Since you will base your decision on lowest price and then look at Past Performance This is LPTA is this a correct statement? If we have more that substantial past performance but our price is realistic and reasonable yet not the lowest, we will not be selected for consideration, is this a true statement?

Please refer to question 17.

32. page 52: If the offeror encounters a problem with posting their response, the offeror must provide the proposal directly to 2d Lt Michael Ellis via email at Michael.ellis.35@us.af.mil.

Where does the Government intend the offerors to post their response initially, is this via email or will a SAFE link be provided?

Please email proposals directly to michael.ellis.35@us.af.mil and Joseph.kitzmiller@us.af.mil.

33. ITO 1.9: Questions. All questions regarding this requirement shall be submitted by Friday, 19 August 2020 at 12:00 PM CDT - When does the Government intend to release answers to the questions?

The Government released responses as soon as possible after coordinating the response with the appropriate subject matter experts.

34. Will the Government consider extending the due date of Solicitation by 7 days after release date of questions and answers?

The Government will provide answers as soon as possible. No extension has been contemplated by the Government.

35. ITO 3.1 - An SBA approved Joint Venture is an entity of itself. What document if any does the Government require of a Joint Venture submitting a proposal in response to this solicitation?

Please see question 29.

36. Will the Government confirm that it would rank offerors past performance first before pricing?

The Government states that past performance will be evaluated as significantly more important than price. The ranking of proposals for evaluation will be conducted in accordance with Addendum to 52.212-2 Evaluation.

37. PWS 1.6.2.4 (page 5) 1.6.2.4. If the CP is prevented from performing due to acts beyond the CP’s control including emergency base closure the standards in contract terms and conditions will be applied to determine if the non-performance is excusable. In the event of an emergency mailto:Michael.ellis.35@us.af.mil mailto:michael.ellis.35@us.af.mil base closure due to weather or other contingency situation the COR will notify the CP of any changes in performance requirements. Under no circumstances will the contractor be paid for services not delivered. Will the Government include the verbiage except in a pandemic such as COVID-19, where the CP is being required or directed to self-quarantine by the Government?

Such instance will be evaluated on a case by case basis once all circumstances are taken into account by the Contracting Officer.

38. Will the government please clarify ITO information: Did the government mean to have 3 Volumes: 1. Technical, SF 1449, (Any amendments acknowledged), Reps and Certs filled and then a short narrative of our abilities not to exceed 5 pages with the Solicitation fill ins, Schedule B and Reps and Certs not counting towards the page count and then VOL II – Price (NO PAGE LIMIT) which includes a Comp Plan and Vol III – Past Performance that includes a Past Performance Reference Sheet (NO PAGE LIMIT) that references the PPQs that were submitted?

Please see Page limitation in questions 11 and 12.