Q and A Collective Nutritional Data.docx

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS COLLECTIVE NUTRITIONAL DATA FOR TOP 100 RESTUARANTS

Question 1: Is there an incumbent performing the same or a similar project? If so, can the Government share the contract number?

Currently there is not a contract in place.

Question 2: We understand there was a similar solicitation issued in June/July 2020 (FDA-20-RFQ-1229307). What was the result of this solicitation?

Did not have adequate funding for the contract last fiscal year.

Question 3: Will the Government consider a proposal deadline extension to allow sufficient time to prepare an adequate response?

The proposal due date will be extended to 03/29/2021 at 5pm est.

Question 4: Section 3.4.1.3 indicates that the contractor should collect missing data from a physical restaurant, but section 3.4.6 indicates that no travel will be required. Can the government clarify if travel is required or expected as part of these services?

No travel required

Question 5: Since data collection (task 1) takes place from October through 31 December 2021, should the scope of work references to recollecting data in 2021 in sections 3.4.1.3 and 3.4.4. refer to recollecting data in 2022?

It depends on the timing of when this gets contracted. We need collection to occur within either the 2021 or 20222 year, but not one blending into the other unless the company is able, within the scope of the contract (E.G. Budget) to do collection for two years.

Question 6: We are very much interested in bidding on the enclosed solicitation - we have built a similar platform for an AI/GI ( Artificial Intelligence/Glycemic Index) application that includes both store purchased food as well as restaurant food for diabetes and other chronic diseases that can be managed with healthy nutrition. In our experience there are some things that we found would be helpful as a longer term strategies for the project ( Just recommendations ), but would add additional value to what is being requested. We have a few questions:

One deliverable is the spreadsheet with the nutritional information in a format that can be used as a decision making tool.

Recommendation:

· Database format for security ( in compliance with cybersecurity requirements for data - cloud security)

· Future use of the original source ( suppliers - Organic/GMO/etc) - Domestic or Foreign

· Compare information on restaurant nutrition with areas that have high concentration of chronic illnesses

· Diabetes/Heart Disease/Kidney Failure/etc.

· Compare information on cost in certain areas,

· Food higher in underserved areas or lower in underserved areas but have higher levels of chronic illnesses These are recommendations, not questions. If this company can build a GUI and APRIS to support this within the current scope/budget we could discuss, but we also need raw data. We will have not demographic data so many of these recommendations to do not make sense.

Is this something that might be of interest to the project? In response to the bid we will of course show how to deliver what is required and additionally looking to a longer-term strategy to help the project continue to be scalable, provide more data as restaurants and demographic change over time Question 7: Approximately how many items will be on each Restaurant’s Menu?

Its totally variable. Starbucks has thousands, others have hundreds. This probably ranges from about 100 to over a thousand.

Question 8: What are the Minimum and Maximum items on a Menu for any restaurant encountered by FDA?

All product are required.

Question 9: Section 3.1 – “FDA needs additional restaurant menu data” – Does FDA have any data from the restaurants which would be used to provide the excel or all the data which is required would need to be collected from restaurants website?

This solicitation includes data collection and data entry.. We do not have current data.

Question 10: Is this a new requirement?

Yes

Question 11: Is there an incumbent currently working on this requirement? If yes, can you provide the Contractor’s name and contract details?

We do not have a current contract with anyone.

Question 12: Will the contractor have to call Restaurant to get any missing data? If yes, will FDA provide the POC for each restaurant?

If data is not available on line, calling a restaurant may allow one to obtain data. We do not have POC information.

Question 13: Section 3.4.1.3 – “If some or all of the information was not found or was not available from the restaurants website or customer service, the contractor shall collect data from a physical restaurant location” – Will the contractor be required to travel outside of DMV region and will FDA re-imburse the cost of travel if required?

We are pretty confident that data will be available online based on past experience. Should the data not be available, we can discuss a solution. Travel outside the DMV area is not necessary unless it fits within the scope/budget for the contract.

Question 14: Section 3.4.2.0, 3.4.2.1 – If restaurants website and menu for a product does not have information related to specific nutrient or allergen for example: vitamin a or vitamin c or iron, what would be the process? Can the contractor mention Information Not Available or Not Applicable?

Sometimes this information could be available upon request. If its not available, we would discuss how to enter this into data tables.

Question 15: What is the Contract start date?

Sometime in May 2021

Question 16: Will FDA approve all data collected under Task 1 by December 31, 2021 so data collectors can start entering data under Task 2 from January 1, 2022?

All data should be collected and delivered within the same calendar year. Timing would be dependent on the contract start date. The collection process may take 3 months. We would approve the data if it has good quality and does not require collection.

Question 17: If changes appear to a Restaurant Menu after the date it was collected due to thanksgiving or Christmas holidays, will the contractor need to send the revised information, or it would be only done once?

One time collection unless the quality is poor, in which case I would need to be recollected.

Question 18: Under 3.3 Scope of Work: seven (7) tasks are identified. However, under 7.2 Technical Capability: it mentions “five” tasks listed under the scope of work. Noting all the detail provided for the 7 tasks within the RFQ, I would suspect the “five” tasks is just a typo. Would you be able to clarify for me. Thanks much!

Correct, this a typo.

This could potentially be combined.

Question 20: To confirm, the scope of work and seven tasks consist of data collection, data management, quality control, and compilation of a data package and is not inclusive of data analysis?

Correct Question 21: In section “7.2 Technical Capability”, should the statement below read for seven tasks or for five tasks?

The Offeror shall demonstrate they can provide all five tasks listed under the scope of work, the successful application of any planned methodologies and delivery of data with identical nature and scope, and planned quality control procedures, including training field and back-office personnel, monitoring and verification of data accuracy, and monitoring and verification of deliverables.

Seven

Question 22: In Section “3.4 Tasks”, Task 7 is not specified, however subsection 3.4.7 is “Progress Reports”. In the table in Section “3.5 Deliverables”, Task 7 is referred to as “Customer/Technical Support”. Please confirm what is Task 7 (Progress Report or Customer/Technical Support)?

Ongoing Customer/Technical Support

Question 23: In Section “3.7 Place of Performance”, for the planning meetings and trainings with agency staff, is FDA planning on holding them electronically or should offerors budget for travel to College Park, MD? If so, is there an estimate of the number of planning meetings and trainings to be held within the period of performance?

Electronically/Virtually Question 24: Are 100 restaurants grouped in any way (e.g., regionally)?

Not sure I understand the point of the question. We are looking for data collection of restaurant menus and nutrition information (images,data) from the top 100 US chains as it is presented in all formats on the corporate websites.

If some or all of the information was not found or was not available from the restaurant’s website or customer service, the Contractor shall collect data from a physical restaurant location. (Since Menu Labeling went into effect, restaurants with 20 or more chains are required to make available menu and nutrition data upon request.)

Those with experience in this field may not have needed to ask this question. Hopefully most top chains should have information online. Because we are requesting nutrition information and sometimes more information is available “upon request” per menu labeling, the company may not always choose to make it available on the website. Phone calls could be made to have the menu/nutrition information emailed or mailed as long as the information is the most current from the company.

Examples of what the Contractor shall collect include, but are not limited to the following information for each menu item.

Data Collection Elements:

This totally varies based on the restaurant. Starbucks is one example where there are an excessibe amount of build options and therefore many menu items. Products can be easly counted on their website for some of the other large top selling chains like McDonalds, Subway, etc.

NOTE: if recollection occurs, the updated recollection date should be included.

Recollection would occur with errors due to poor collection. Hopefully recollection won’t be needed. In addition to updated delivery of data, a report summarizing recollection would be helpful. Details would be discussed per scenario encountered.

Not sure what this question is getting at. The pilot will consist of 5 of the restaruants from which data is being collected.

Question 29: Furthermore, a pilot for this data collection task shall be conducted for 5 restaurants (see Task 4) to assure adequate and consistent methodology.

In reference to the RFP excerpt pasted below that appears in Section 5.3, is this an IDIQ contract with a single or multiple awardees?

• Section 5.3 Single awardee Question 30: The following COR(s) will represent the Government for the purpose of this IDIQ contract:

TBD

Question 31: Is Relevant past performance separate from the 10pg technical proposal?

Relevant past performance is not included in the technical proposal. (Revised in Amendment 1)

Found on Beta.sam.gov Question 33: Also, are you able to provide a budget or anticipated spend (hours) or # of personnel for this RFQ? We would like to ensure we stay in line with any budgetary, hours or personnel restrictions.

This is hard to estimate. It depends how familiar and experienced the proposer is with the work. Very rough estimate – 4-5 full time competent staff. Different skill sets are needed.

Question 34: I am applying for this solicitation and wanted to know, if McDonalds, KFC, can included amongst the list...

If these restaruants fall on the top 100 US chains list for the contracted year, then yes.