TMS_-_Q A_2_(17_May_-_22_May).pdf

Temporary Medical Staffing (TMS)

FA8053-13-R-0001

Questions and Answers

1. CLIN XXX3. Travel and Attachment 8, Table B-1 Sample Task Order:

CLINS XXX3 cover periodic travel. There are no CLINS listed for travel/lodging/rental car/per diem and other expenses associated with traveling providers.

Question: Will costs for travel/lodging/rental car/per diem be segregated and identified in future task order proposal requests?

Government Response: Travel/lodging/rental car/per diem associated with filling/backfilling positions must be included in the fully burdened hourly rate on future task order proposal requests under CLIN 0001. As defined in Section C 11.21, the fully burdened hourly rate is the bill rate covering direct labor, indirect costs (e.g., overhead, travel, per diem, lodging, rental car, General and Administrative expenses, and fringe benefits), and profit (Revised for clarification in Amendment 0002). The ordering procedures for future subsequent task orders are in Section H.3 of the RFP. In addition, see RFP section C 3.19 for information regarding travel (CLIN 0003). CLIN 0003 is only used to meet mission requirements, as directed by the Government and approved in advance by the Contracting Officer during the performance of a task order. (For example, training not required by the contract/task order but identified by the task order contracting officer after performance as necessary to meet mission requirements.)

2. CLIN XXX3. Travel and Attachment 8, Table B-1 Sample Task Order:

CLINS XXX3 cover periodic travel. There are no CLINS listed for travel/lodging/rental car/per diem and other expenses associated with traveling providers.

Section L 4.2.2, Criteria 4, Arrange Travel/Lodging and Attachment 8, Table B-1:

It is likely that some HCWs will relocate to area MTFs to support short-term requirements.

This is common practice in commercial services. It appears the Government recognizes the likelihood that traveling providers will perform some of the short-term coverage requirements.

Typically traveling providers are reimbursed for travel/lodging/rental car/per diem expenses.

However, neither Section B nor Attachment 8, Table B-1 (Sample Task Order) provides a method to identify/segregate costs associated with reimbursement for traveling providers.

Question: How will the Government evaluate the Sample Task Order (Attachment 8, Table B1) to ensure travel/lodging/rental car/per diem costs are included in the burdened labor rates and offerors do not understate costs?

Recommendation: Recommend the Government provide a NTE plug number for travel/lodging/rental car/per diem costs in the Sample Task Order (Attachment 8, Table B1).

Alternate Recommendation: Recommend the Government add a non-priced CLIN to cover travel/lodging/rental car/per diem costs. This could be a reimbursement CLIN, not subject to contractor burdens.

Government Response: Thank you for your input. No RFP changes will be made. The government tells offerors in Section M 6.2.1 that the fully burdened hourly rate, as defined in Section C 11.21, is the bill rate covering direct labor, indirect costs (e.g., overhead, travel, per diem, lodging, rental car, General and Administrative expenses, and fringe benefits), and profit (Revised for clarification in Amendment 0002). The Government will use analysis techniques in FAR 15.404-1 to evaluate the Sample Task Order.

3. Section L 4.2.2, Criteria 8, Confidence in Task Order Proposal Requests:

The solicitation requires offerors to demonstrate a sound approach to market research and a process to accurately price fully burdened rates for the specific labor categories and markets.

It is likely that some HCWs will temporarily relocate to area MTFs to support short-term requirements. Criteria 8 appears to acknowledge costs associated with short-term providers can be significantly different than those typically applied to long-term requirements.

Question: Will the Government provide a method to identify/segregate costs associated with costs (i.e., travel/lodging/rental car/per diem) typically applicable to short-term providers?

Government Response: No, the government does not intend to provide a separate CLIN to cover the costs associated with travel, lodging, rental car, or per diem costs. The government tells offerors in Section M 6.2.1 that the fully burdened hourly rate, as defined in Section C 11.21, is the bill rate covering direct labor, indirect costs (e.g., overhead, travel, per diem, lodging, rental car, General and Administrative expenses, and fringe benefits), and profit (Revised for clarification in Amendment 0002). The government expects the rates submitted with the STO and on all subsequent task order proposals, to be the fully burdened hourly rate which includes all costs (travel/lodging/rental car/per diem expenses) associated with filling the requirement.

4. Section L 4. Volume II – Technical Volume and Table 2.2 – Proposal Organization Table:

The Technical Volume requires nine criteria to describe the Offeror’s business/management plan and technical solution to meet the government’s requirements. Even without counting a Summary and the Attachment L-1 for the Contractor Team Organization, 12 pages will not allow enough room to adequately describe our processes and capabilities.

Question: Will the government consider increasing the number of pages?

Government Response: No, the government has limited the number of pages to 12 and expects offerors to be concise in their business/management plan and precisely address the criteria as written in Section M 2.1.

5. Section 5.2.1.1 Recent and Relevant Past Performance:

The government requests “the offeror shall submit information …on at least five and no more than eight recent references…”

Question: If the Prime has three relevant, recent Past Performance references and its Subcontractor has two, will those five references meet the requirement or is the government asking for a total of five references from the Prime and other references (up to eight) from the subcontractors?

Government Response: Yes - If a minimum of three of the recent and relevant references are for the offeror's performance as a prime contractor, and the other two recent and relevant references represent work performed by a teaming partner who will perform as a subcontractor on this contract. Please note that Section L 5.2.1.1 also states "If there are more than two teaming partners/subcontractors proposed, the past performance information shall be included for those providing the highest percentages of reference workload as stated in Attachment L-1, Contractor Team Organization."

6. Question: In H.1.b, since the STO are firm-fixed priced rates and this is a LPTA contract, it doesn't seem that it would be in the best interest of the Air Force for TOPRs to always go to the lowest price bidder and allow them 7 days to find out whether they can fill them or not, then go to the next lowest price for 7 days and so on. Would the government consider changing this to either allowing all awardees access to these STOs and expediting the process in placing HCWs?

(The Contracting Officer asked for clarification to this question and the revised question is below)

Would the government consider either allowing these rates to be ceiling rates (used for evaluation purposes) or changing this process to better allow all awardees access to STO's to expedite the process in placing HCWs?

Government Response: No - The government will not consider a change to the ordering procedures for Sample Task Orders in Section H.1.b or H.2. See section H.2.c.1.c for procedures on how the Government will handle Sample Task Order Proposal requests should the ordering CO not receive preliminary qualifying documentation for a candidate. In addition, if the offeror cannot provide a candidate for the evaluated price on the STO, this will be documented in the annual performance report for that offeror. Please note that the prices on the Sample Task Orders are only valid for the first 90 days. Also please note that ordering offices have the option to fill their requirements either through the STO prices or to compete the requirement as a subsequent task order. Finally, please note that given that there are many different positions, the Government believes that it is unlikely that only one awardee will be found to be the lowest price for all STO requirements. Rather, the low price will be determined by the specific mix of positions, locations, and offered prices.