04_15_2015_RFP_QAs_Response_.pdf

SOLICITATION QUESTIONS

Q1. Is there a current incumbent contractor(s) performing the same or similar tasks described in the scope of work? If so, what is the full-time equivalent (FTE) staffing of the contractor(s)?

A1. The incumbent is Systems Research and Applications (SRA). The vendor should propose staffing based upon the requirements described in the solicitation.

Q2. Does the RSSC possess all of the licenses for all commercial off the self software applications that the scope of work describes the contractor would use in the course of the scope of work (SAS, SPSS, SUDAAN), or would the contractor need to provide these licenses? If the contractor needs to provide licenses for COTS software, please describe what applications will need to be licensed, and to how many users.

A2. PWS paragraph 2.3 states the government owns and provides the software.

Q3. RSSC utilizes government owned and developed software applications (SRT,SURVANT, the Sampling Tool, SAM) to conduct research. Will the RSSC provide the contractor with the technical support documentation on the functionality and features of each of the tools prior to contract award?

A3. No, this will be provided during the transition period after award.

Q4. RSSC utilizes government owned and developed software applications (SRT,SURVANT, the Sampling Tool, SAM) to conduct research. Will RSSC provide the contractor with training on the use of these tools after contract award?

A4. The incumbent will demonstrate and provide instructions on maintenance, operation and training for DMDC tools during the transition period.

Q5. Does the RSSC possess a web-based survey software application for administering web-based that the contractor would use in the course of the scope of work, or would the contractor need to provide this software? If the contractor provides the software, what are the government’s software requirements and data security requirements for this software?

A5. See A2 above

Q6. Does the RSSC possess a computer-based survey software application for administering CATI-based surveys that the contractor would use in the course of the scope of work, or would the contractor need to provide this software? If the contractor provides the software, what are the government’s software requirements and data security requirements for this software?

A6. The contractor does not need to provide the software nor will be the contractor be using the CATI-based survey application.

Q7. Does the RSSC possess a computer-based survey software application for scanning/data entry of paper-based surveys that the contractor would use in the course of the scope of work, or would the contractor need to provide this software? If the contractor provides the software, what are the government’s software requirements and data security requirements for this software?

A7. No. Scanning/data entry is not a requirement.

Q8. Will the government consider alternative proposals that rely on a different set of software tools? Offerors may have alternative approaches to providing these services based on a different set of survey and sampling tools which provide deeper insights into the survey results.

A8. Offer should be based upon use of government owned software listed in the PWS.

Q9. What is the historical number of FTEs or hours that the Government expects is necessary to execute the work described in the solicitation? What are the historical FTEs or hours expected for each sample task order?

A9. See A1.

Q10. What are the typical response rates to DMDC surveys? What is the average response rate? What was the highest response rate on a survey fielded for DMDC in 2014? What was the lowest response rate?

A10. Response rates are typically 20-30%. The average is 25%. The lowest rate ever received is 15%, while the highest ever received was 90%.

Q11. The PWS Requirement 2.3 describes and TO Requirements 4.4, 4.8, and 4.11 requires proficiency in Government-owned tools such as SRT, SURVANT, Sampling Tool, and SAM.

a. What are the names of all the tools used to support the requirements in the PWS? Please provide screenshots of the user interface for each tool, documentation describing technical specifications required to operate these tools and access these tools, and user guides for each tool.

Answer: Listing of tools stated in PWS paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3. No screenshots provided.

b. Which tools must be used on Government site and which tools must be used on Contractor site?

Answer: All tools can be used both at Government and at Contractor site.

c. Typically speaking, what proportion of questions in new questionnaires are based upon questions already in the existing Survey Reporting Tool and SURVANT, and what proportion are new?

Answer: Most recurring surveys are primarily comprised of existing questions.

New items/sections may be added to these surveys as needed. In addition, some surveys have topics that are used on alternating survey administrations. One to twosurveys each year are new surveys with new questions.

d. How many hours does it typically take to produce a new survey using SRT and

SURVANT?

Answer: Five days to create and quality control..

e. How many hours does it typically take to produce a 30 slide PPT report in SURVANT?

Answer: PPT slides are generated in the SRT, slides are automatically generated based on the specifications entered for each survey.

f. How dependent are SRT, the Sampling Tool, SURVANT, and SAM dependent on one another as inputs/outputs in order to work seamlessly? In what, if any, ways di these tools work independently from each other?

Answer: The tools were created independently and can function dependently or independently.

Q12. PWS requirement 4.5, states the Contractor shall: “Support survey design, construction, and execution of survey studies using self-administered web-based and paper and pencil questionnaires, as well as local, nation-wide, or world-wide focus groups; world-wide computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI); nation-wide in-person interviewing protocols; and pretesting protocols including those requiring cognitive pretesting.”

a. The sample task orders do not include information about CATI and in-person interviewing. Please provide examples of research projects that involve these activities and note which, if any, of the Sample Task Orders will employee these activities.

Answer: Under this contract, the CATI surveys would only include developing the questions and analyzing the data. All CATI operations are out of scope of this contract and will be included under another DMDC contract.

b. What does the Government mean by “support”? What are the specific support activities the Government wants the vendor to perform?

Answer: As stated in 4.3, support the survey design, construction, and execution of surveys.

This includes survey development, notification (postal, email) text development, testing web-survey to ensure correct, analyzing data, developing survey tabulations, briefs, etc. In limited instances, contractor may be responsible for administering web-based surveys with e-mail only notification using government provided software.

c. Can DMDC provide additional detail on how the data collection (Operations) process integrates with the Analysis process?

Answer: For most surveys conducted under this requirement, SURVANT allows for a seamless transition from operations to analysis. This tool is used to both administer web-based surveys and provides the capability to manage the data and to create datasets.

d. Does the Operations contractor program the online and CATI surveys into its own data collection software for CATI and online, or is SURVANT the actual data collection software? If data collection is not done through SURVANT, in what format are its products (questionnaires?) output?

Answer: SURVANT is the data collection software.

e. What format data files are read into the Survey Reporting Tool?

Answer: Access databases are used in the SRT to create the tab volumes, briefing charts, and trend carts.

f. Is the transfer of files among the Survey Reporting Tool, Sampling Tool, SURVANT, and the Statistical Analysis Macros automatic or are files output to a folder structure and then uploaded?

Answer: In some instances it’s automatic and in other instances files are uploaded.

Q13. PWS Requirement 4.7 states, “Assist with preliminary and complex analyses of data including univariate and multivariate statistical analyses (e.g., logistic regression, path analysis), and structural equation modeling (SEM) using SAS and other statistical analysis package skills.”

The RSSC web page, https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/dwp/dwp_surveys.jsp, includes links to survey reports that have tabulation volumes. These volumes don’t include results of multivariate statistical analyses and structural equation modeling. What current or planned research projects does DMDC anticipate the vendor to perform?

A13. Technical Exhibit 1 states the anticipated surveys for 2015.

Q14. Per PWS Section 4.14, what approaches or techniques (including tools) are in mind for assisting with quality assurance, theme identification, and IRR calculation of qualitative data?

A14. Answer: Offerors should propose a response to the requirement.

Q15. PWS Requirement 4.17, refers to the Inter Service Survey Coordinating Committee-

ISSCC.

a. How many times does the ISSCC meet?

Answer: The ISSCC meets twice a year. These are usually 6-8 hour sessions. In addition, shorter meetings on targeted topics are held monthly. These meetings typically last 2 hours.

b. What other task forces or working groups will require Contractor support for this

PWS?

Answer: This is the only ongoing requirement. There may be ad-hoc meetings as needed.

c. How many times do those entities meet?

Answer: See 15 a&b above

Q16. PWS Requirement 4.18 states, “Coordinate the completion and dissemination of research results within DMDC and to external clients through Web publication and email notification.”

What tool or system does DMDC currently use to disseminate results?

A16. Results are released using email and a website available to DoD personnel.

Q17. PWS Quality Assurance 8.2, what appropriate safeguards for PII/PHI data should the vendor enact in order to allow Contractors to telework (i.e., Level-1 room, etc.)?

A17. Vendor must comply with DODI 1035.01. PII only processed on encrypted GFE.

Q18. Per Task Order #1, what are the vertical milestones for each survey within the 9-month timeframe?

A18. Please refer to Section 5.0”Deliverables” of the PWS and Technical Exhibit 1 of Task Order One for the tasks to be completed on Task Order #1.

Q19. Per Task Order #1, Requirements 4.4 states, “For assigned RSSC core program and ad hoc surveys, support analytical operations, including data processing (e.g., Survant, SRT work), editorial and data validation, analysis, disclosure, and dataset documentation.” How much lead time will the Contractor typically have to prepare and clean the databases for analysis?

A19. Usually 2-4 weeks depending on the scale of the survey.

Q20. Per Task Order #1, requirement 4.5.1 states, “Conduct at least three ad hoc complex statistical analysis projects (e.g., predicting retention, identifying barriers to military spouse education) and document analyses in a short paper/briefing.” To what extent does this requirement reflect DMDC’s interest in applying advanced statistical analyses?

A14. Answer: Interest is in complex statistical analysis, for example, logistic regression, path analysis, and structural equation modeling.

Q21. Per Task Order #1, Deliverable 4.11 states “Demonstration of capability to take over functions of SRT, Sampling Tool, and SAM2.” What is the difference SAM2 and SAM or any of the statistical analysis macros mentioned in the PWS?

A21. The Survey Analysis Macros produce estimates and tests of significance within one survey administration. SAM uses SAS, SUDAAN and Microsoft products. SAM2 is a newer version of SAM.

Q22. Reference RFP Page 20 – Volume II Technical Proposal. “Margins shall not be less than ½ inch. Font may be Times New Roman or Arial with not less than 11 pitch”.

A smaller font size is often acceptable for proposal graphics, charts, and tables. Will a smaller font size be acceptable in such instances for contractor proposals as long as the font remains legible?

A22. No

Q23. On page 1, item #10, it states that

NAICS: 541720

SIZE STANDARD: $7M

Is this an artifact from earlier years? The July 14, 2014 U. S. Small Business Administration Table of Small Business Size Standards Matched to North American Industry Classification System Codes (page 33) lists this code as:

541720 - Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities - size standard = $20.5

A23. The stated size standard has been corrected to reflected $20.5M.

Q24. Will there be a small business set aside category for this IDIQ?

A24 No. This is an unrestricted procurement.

Q25. May a small business prime but also sub to a large firm? (and vice versa?)

A25. Yes

Q26. Historically, how many FTEs per year were supporting the current contract?

A26. See A1.

Q27. Could the Government please confirm whether Task Order 1 (attachment C) and the 3 sample task orders (attachments D, E, & F) are all awardable? If not, please identify which tasks are awardable- Task order 1 (Attachment C), Sample Task Order 2 (Attachment D), and Sample Task Order 3 (Attachment E), and Sample Task Order 4 (Attachment F)?

A27. See Addendum 52.212-1, “Offerors Should Note The Following Important Information Regarding Proposal Submission”.

Q28. Could the Government please clarify whether the sample task orders, if required, will be awarded as the awardee proposed or will a new technical and price proposal be required?

A28. See A27 above

Q29. Question – How many hard copies of Volume II Technical are required to be submitted by offerors?

A29. The solicitation has been revised at Addendum 52.212-1, “Offerors Should Note The Following Important Information Regarding Proposal Submission”, Section B i.

Q30. What is the anticipated Period of Performance (PoP) for Sample Task Order #4?

A30. Periods of Performance are typically for 12 months from date of award of the task orders when and if awarded.

Q31. Will task orders under the same contract number be acceptable references for qualified past performance?

A31. Offerors should submit relevant and recent past performance references.