RFC_Responses.pdf

Questions – Solicitation FTC18Q0001

Reference page 3 of 5 of RFQ # FTC18Q0001, “Instructions to Offerors

1) Question: Does FTC require separate files for the product capabilities and features information and the pricing schedule/quote? Please clarify.

FTC Response: The FTC requires two volumes: (1) technical which describes product capabilities and features and (2) price. When submitting offers via email, each volume should be attached as a discrete, separate file.

2) Question: FTC has excluded the transmittal letter and the price quote from the 15 page limit for the product capabilities and features. Offeror requests that FTC exclude a cover page and table of contents as well. Please confirm.

FTC Response: The FTC will exclude cover pages, title pages, and table of contents from the page limit count.

Reference Page 4 of 5 of RFQ #FTC18Q0001, “Clauses

3) Question: FAR 52.211-6, “Brand Name or Equal” is included in this RFQ. We saw no reference in the specifications that stated “Brand Name or Equal” where an offeror could respond. Please clarify the use of this clause in this RFQ.

FTC Response: The FTC currently receives these services under contract FTC-13-H- 3020 due to expire April 30, 2018. Any offers would have to insure that the form, fit, function, and content minimally includes everything in the current contract.

4) Question: FAR 52.212-1, “Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items.” Please clarify that there is no requirement for offerors to complete/submit a SF 1449 as mentioned in this clause.

FTC Response: That is correct, there is no requirement to submit a signed SF1449 with your proposal submission. However, if you choose to not use that form, insure that you do not omit anything required in subparagraph (b) of the Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items provision when you use your own format.

5) Question: FAR 52.212-3, “Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items.” Please confirm that FTC requires a response related to Representations and Certifications and that the response should be included in the price quote response.

FTC Response: In accordance with FAR 4.120, prospective contractors shall complete electronic annual representations and certifications at SAM accessed via https://www.acquisition.gov. The FTC will consider this requirement fulfilled if the offeror’s annual representations and certifications are current in SAM as validated by the government at time of proposal submission. Pursuant to 52.212-1 and consistent with the answer to question 4 above, see also subparagraph (b)(8) in the cited provision. We will https://www.acquisition/ accept a completed copy by email, if for some reason your firm has not been able to complete the electronic version. Please send it as a separately attached file if you choose this method.

52.212-2 Evaluation—Commercial Items; the RFQ references this FAR clause; however, there are no evaluation criteria factors completed.

6) Question: Will FTC provide information related to how this RFQ will be evaluated?

FTC Response: The FTC will consider the following when evaluating an offeror’s submission:

• Depth of hearing transcript, bill, and political databases

• Ease of use of database

• Frequency with which the databases are updated

• Degree of personal customization available

Reference Page 2 of 5 of RFQ#FTC18Q0001, “Legislation” which states “Bill track, bill comparison, and bill analysis with notification within 24 hours of actions on bills we select to track”

7) Question: We assume that side-by-side bill comparison is required to instantly identify changes between two bills. Please confirm.

FTC Response: Yes, a side-by-side bill comparison is required.

8) Question: With regard to tracking bills, does FTC require that bill tracking can be set up by Congress number, keyword, Words in Bill Title, Bill numbers, Sponsor, Cosponsor, Committees, Chamber, Date bill introduced, Action/event date, Stage in Legislative Process, Public Law Number and Date items added?

FTC Response: Yes, FTC requires bill tracking through keywords, titles, numbers, sponsors, etc.

9) Question: Regarding Congressional Archives, does FTC require congressional archives for the last 20 years at a minimum?

FTC Response: Yes, the FTC requires a minimum of 20 years of congressional archives.

Reference Page 2 of 5 RFQ#FTC18Q0001, “Member of Congress which states “Member fact files, including key votes, election summaries, Committee positions, and archived news articles.”

10) Question: Does FTC require news archives for the last 20 years at a minimum?

FTC Response: Yes, the FTC requires a minimum of 20-years of news archives.

Reference Page 3 of 5 of RFQ #FTC18Q0001, “General” which states “custom search lists and reports for bills, keywords, members, votes, laws, and Committees” and “custom e-mail alerts, including but not limited to all of the asterisked fields above at least daily update”

11) Question: We assume that the Boolean search capabilities are required for Custom e-mail alerts and searching to meet FTC’s criteria. Please confirm.

FTC Response: Yes, the FTC requires Boolean search capabilities.

12) Question: Does FTC require the ability to combine separate alerts into a single e-mail alert to be delivered daily at the times of their choosing (5am, 7am, 9am, 11 am, 1pm, 3 pm, 5pm, 7pm, 9pm and 11 pm)?

FTC Response: This is not required, however the FTC may consider it a “value add.”

Reference Page 2 of 5 of RFQ#FTC18Q0001, “Legislation” which states “Bill track, bill comparison, and bill analysis with notification within 24 hours of actions on bills we select to track”