SB_RFP_Questions_and_Answers_Version_2.pdf

BMO SB Questions and Answers Version 2

Page

Number

Section

Number

Section

Title

Paragraph

Number Question Answer

N/A Attachm ent J.2

Proposal

Checklist

N/A Row 29 of this attachment references a Subcontracting

Plan (Attachment J.13). This attachment was not listed in

Section J of the RFP nor was it provided as an attachment to the solicitation. Would the Government clarify if Offerors are to complete this attachment, and if so, provide a copy of it?

This attachment has been corrected and posted with

Amendment 01.

N/A Attachm ent J.9

Price

Template

N/A On the Price Proposal Template SCLS worksheet, there are multiple levels listed for each labor category.

In some instances, the occupation base listed as the SCLS

Occupation Code does not contain four (4) levels. For example, for the Office Clerks, General, the Government listed occupational base code 01110, which contains three

(3) levels. In these instances, does the Government have a preferred method for how it would like Offerors to price subsequent levels? In instances where there is only one

SCLS Occupation Code mapping per labor category, such as in the case of the Secretaries and Administrative

Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive, which is mapped to 01020, is it the Government’s expectation that

Offerors would price higher levels at rates that exceed the wage determination wage? If yes, does the Government have a preferred method for how it would like Offerors to price subsequent levels?

The offeror does not have to provide levels for every labor category. The levels would only apply to labor categories the offeror is proposing.

N/A Attachm ent J.9

Price

Template

N/A Are Offerors prohibited from proposing labor categories for which they do not have fully loaded hourly commercial rates?

Yes, if governmental rates are unavailable they may be omitted. However, a contractor doing business within Zone

1 would be expected to provide, at minimum, either commercial rates or governmental rates for comparison. If rates are unavailable in a particular geography, the offeror should utilize rates from the most similar market possible.

N/A Attachm ent J.9

Price

Template

N/A The price template allows for the application of Health and

Welfare (H&W) only on direct labor rates for SCLS labor categories. Where are Offerors to enter their additional fringe costs, such as those associated with taxes, worker’s compensation, 401k, holiday pay, and paid time off?

An "Other Costs" column has been added to account for costs the offeror does not assign to other cost elements.

Offerors should include all costs in the other costs, overhead, G&A and profit cost elements in accordance with

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). GSA will not be evaluating the individual elements, instead focusing on the fully loaded rates. However, these percentages are ceiling rates not to be exceeded when developing pricing at the task order level.

N/A Attachm ent J.9

Price

Template

N/A The price template fixes overhead, G&A, and profit for

SCLS positions for the life of the contract. In addition, non-

SCLS fully burdened labor rates are escalated year to year, thus applying the same fringe, overhead, G&A, and profit for all years of the contract. Our standard estimating and accounting practice, in accordance with guidance we have received from DCAA, is that we forecast out year indirect rates and apply these rates to direct labor in order to determine fully burdened labor rates for subsequent years within our pricing. Would the Government allow us to propose different indirect rates and fully burdened labor rates for years 2 through 15?

The contractor must submit a single overhead and G&A rate to be applied to all labor categories. This will assist the

BMO Contracting Officer in making a determination of fair and reasonable pricing at the MA-IDIQ level. However, it should be noted that this rate (along with all other cost element rates) are intended to be ceiling rates which an offeror is able to decrease at the task order level to compete for task order awards. Individual labor mix and geographic issues may be considered and accounted for at that time.

13 B.2.2

Firmed Fix

Price Task

Order

Firmed Fix Price Task Order, there is a reference in this section that is made to “ceiling overhead”. And there is a reference to “successful offerors will then be required use the ceiling overhead”. Can you please define clearly or explain in further detail “ceiling overhead”?

The contractor must submit a single overhead rate to be applied to all labor categories. However, it should be noted that this rate (along with all other cost element rates) are intended to be ceiling rates which an offeror is able to decrease at the task order level to compete for task order awards. Individual labor mix and geographic issues may be considered and accounted for at that time.

5 B.3.4 Travel 2 The RFP states that there will be no reimbursement for travel within Zone 1. Is it anticipated that employees working within this area will be required to travel further than 60 miles outside of their normal work location as part of their job duties? If such travel is required, would the

Government consider making this requirement potentially reimbursable at the task order level, with reimbursement being dependent on the frequency of trips, duration, and distance from the employee’s normally scheduled work location?

The requirement of this IDIQ is for awardees to provide coverage for the entire area of Zone 1, therefore travel is not reimbursable.

17 C.5.1.1

HVAC

Maintenan ce

(Required

Service)

Also in other sections of the solicitation. It was noticed that equipment repair is mentioned here, as well as in other sections of the Solicitation. However, there appears to be not be any specific direction given in regard to any

Contractor threshold repair requirements. Will this be included as a separate line item in future Task Orders awarded? Who will pay for the costs of repairs in these

Task Orders? The Government or the Contractor?

This information would be included at the task order level as applicable as this will vary from customer to customer.

36 F.3 Period of

Performan ce

1 Would the Government provide an estimated Notice-To-

Proceed date?

An anticipated award is intended for January of 2015.

106 L.10.4 Price

Price, there are references to two required sub-sections for this section of each offeror’s proposal. The first is the Price

Template and the second is the Cost Price Requirements.

Will you explain and give further detail as to what are the necessary elements to include in the sub-section for the

Cost Price Requirements?

Cost Price Requirments have been removed from this section and were posted with Amendment 01.

122 M.4.10

Past

Performan ce

There is no requirement for the Past Performance –

Section J Attachment Past Performance Survey to be sent from the evaluator separate from the proposal submitted by the Offeror. Is this correct? Is the Offeror to obtain the

Surveys from the evaluators and then include the Surveys with the Offeror’s Proposal?

Past Performance Survey's should be submitted with the offer, in the 3rd folder titled, Section 3-Technical

Experience as indicated in L.10.3 of the Solicitation

116 M.4.2.5

Pre-Award

Survey

There is a reference that if an audit has not been performed, the “Offeror must answer all 21 questions”.

There are 2 pages in Form 1408. The first page has 4 areas to be filled in by the evaluator who is providing a recommendation and evaluation of the Offeror’s accounting system. The second page has 5 questions to be answered.

Where are the 21 questions referenced on page 116, Section M.4.2.5 of the evaluation? Is the Offeror to also fill out page 1 of SF 1408? Also, is the Offeror to fill out page 2 of SF 1408?

This language has been removed from the solication and has been posted with Amendment 01.

127 M.6 Price

Apparently, the offeror’s pricing comparison and the evaluation of the pricing for this particular solicitation will be based upon the following two items:

a. A comparison of fully loaded burdened labor rates, including the base rate, health and welfare rate, overhead rates, general and administrative rates, and profit.

b. Discounts offered for the overall pricing of the task order based upon “Tier Discounts”

Is this a correct assumption that these are the only pricing comparisons to be used in the pricing evaluation process?

This is correct, please refere to section M.6.2 regarding the pricing evalution techniques to be used.

127 M.6 Price

It seems, for the purposes of this particular solicitation, that there will not be a pricing comparison and evaluation of other direct costs, i.e., materials, supplies, equipment, on-site office expenses, uniform costs, and subcontract costs.

Is this correct? Will you confirm that other direct costs are not to be included in the Pricing evaluation of the solicitation?

This is correct Other Direct Costs will be evaluated at the task order level.

127 M.6 Section 4

– Price

5 This section states, “These rates will be proposed as fully burdened ceiling rates since the base rate does not change with the delivery location for exempt labor categories.” Zone

1 covers numerous states with widely varying cost of living expenses. It is anticipated that the salary requirements to hire qualified personnel will vary by location. Since the proposed exempt rates will be fixed for the life of the contract and will cover all areas, would the Government provide Offerors with additional details with respect to the anticipated workshare among the Region 1 locations and/or provide details on where the preponderance of work is anticipated to be performed for task orders under this IDIQ?

Pricing at the task order level may be based on Contract

Labor Standards, Wage Rate Requirements Statute, and/or

Collective Bargaining Agreements. For the purposes of the proposal, the offeror shall use the direct labor and health and welfare rates in the Washington,D.C., wage determination as provided in the RFP.