Questions_and_Answers_(5_Jul_13).pdf

Solicitation FA5209-13-R-0009 Amendment 0001

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

JAPAN-WIDE NURSES

5 JUL 13

1. Q: Should offerors submit one (1) original and one (1) copy of all documents required under FAR ADDENDA TO 52.212-1, PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS, PART I – TECHNICAL, PART II –

PRESENT /PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION, PART III – PRICE PROPOSAL?

A: All offers shall submit one (1) original and one (1) copy for all parts listed above to include sufficient information for the Government to evaluate all Subfactors under each part. The only exception to the offeror submitting original documents applies only to the Diploma, Certificate, or Transcript required under PART I – TECHNICAL. In this case, the contractor shall only submit a copy.

2. Q: Will the Government accept electronic submission of proposals?

A: Yes, the Government will accept electronic submission of proposals. Amendment 0001 will incorporate this into the solicitation.

3. Q: Is this a new or follow-on contract?

A: This is a follow-on contract; however, the Contracting Agency has changed.

4. Q: Who is the incumbent contract?

A: The incumbent contractor is American Hospital Services Group.

5. Q: Is there a page limit for PART I – TECHNICAL?

A: There is not a page limit for PART I – TECHNICAL.

6. Q: Does the Letter of Intent counted as part of the page count?

A: The Letter of Intent does count as part of the page count; however, there is no limit to the number of pages for each part.

7. Q: Can multiple Letter of Intents be submitted by an offeror if the offeror has multiple candidates?

A: Yes

8. Q: Since there is an incumbent, what is the purpose of gathering Letters of Intents?

A: The purpose of gathering Letters of Intent from each provider is ensure that the provider has the intent and capabilities to satisfy the requirements outlined in the Performance-based Work Statement. Also, the Letter of Intent shows the Government the provider’s intent to work for the offeror if the offeror is awarded the contract.

9. Q: Should it be assumed by the offeror that they will be utilizing their own nurses for performance of this contract.

A: How the offeror intends to fill the positions required is solely at the discretion of the offeror.

10. Q: Will the offeror be required to retain the incumbent workers?

A: No, the offeror is not required to retain the incumbent workers.

11. Q: Is there a page limit for PART II – PRESENT/PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION?

A: There is no page limit.

12. Q: Is the Prime Contractor required to submit past performance information?

A: The prime contractor is required to submit a completed Present/Past Performance Reference List, Attachment 2 of the solicitation.

13. Q: If the prime is an 8(a) and has no relevant or any past performance, is it sufficient for the prime to submit the present/past performance of its teaming partner or partners? Will the Government accept past performance solely from a prime subcontractor(s)?

A: The past performance information must be on-going or completed contracts that the offeror has performed as a prime contractor, subcontractor, joint ventures and/or as teaming partners.

14. Q: On page 45-46 of the solicitation within the Past Performance Evaluation Ratings chart it states “Note: In the case of an offeror without record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available or so sparse that meaningful past performance rating can be reasonably assigned, the offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance (see FAR 15.305(a)(2)(iv)). Therefore, the offeror shall be determined to have an unknown past performance. In the context of acceptability/unacceptability, “Unknown” shall be considered as “Acceptable.”” Does this mean that if an offeror did not submit any past performance information that we would be rated as “Acceptable?”

A: Yes. If an the Government cannot reasonably assign a rating to an offeror’s past performance based on the Past Performance Reference List, Present Past Performance Surveys, and data independently obtained from other Government or commercial sources, the offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance; therefore, shall be determined to have an unknown past performance. In the context of Acceptabilility/unacceptability, “Unknown” shall be considered as “Acceptable. This does not preclude the contractor from fulfilling the requirements in “Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS – COMMERCIAL ITEMS” and not submitting any past performance information if past performance information is available.

15. Q: Would it be more advantageous to submit past performance that may be “Somewhat Relevant” to demonstrate that we do have experience in placing Registered Nurses rather than not submitting anything?

A: If an offeror has “somewhat relevant” past performance, the past performance information should be submitted. If no past performance information is submitted by an offer, or an offeror states they do not have any past performance, and past performance is discovered through independent methods, then the offer may be deemed non-responsive and may not be considered for award.

16. Q: Can an offeror submit multiple offers based on pricing nurses already in Japan versus nurses that would have to be relocated?

A: Yes. Offerors need to be aware, if prices are based on nurses already in Japan and the offeror is awarded the contract, no price adjustments to the contract will be made in the event the offeror must hire nurses that have to be relocated.

17. Q: Should unit prices be rounded to the nearest whole dollar (zero decimal places) or is it acceptable to round to the nearest cent?

A: It is acceptable for unit prices to be rounded to the nearest cent.

18. Q: How many candidates’ letter of intent should be submitted with the proposal? We understand the letter of intent is needed for each position in each location.

A: A letter of intent is needed for each position in each location, therefore a minimum of 8 letters of intent are required.

19. Q: When are questions in responses to this solicitation due?

A: Questions are due to mark.caesar@us.af.mil on or before 9 July 2013 at 12:00 P.M. Japanese Standard Time. Amendment 0001 includes this information.

mailto:mark.caesar@us.af.mil