Questions and Responses H9821020R0010 (002) (002).pdf

1 | P a g e

Questions and Responses, H9821020R0010, CONUS COLA

1) PWS 4.5 indicates that the data for some locations provided under the “Standard Off the Shelf Data” CLIN shall be based on a complete market basket of 100 to 150 items whereas other locations shall be based on a subset market basket of at least 40 items.

PWS 4.12.3 states that some locations may also be linked to other locations. Can the Government please provide or estimate the number of locations ordered under the current contract (H98210-15-D-0002) that are based on the complete market basket? How many locations are based on the subset market basket? How many locations are linked?

1R: In accordance with Title 37 United States Code § 403b, the Government relies on the expertise of the incumbent to determine, using industry best practices, the best method to compute a cost-of-living index for all requested locations.

2) Regarding PWS 4.5: Under the current contract (H98210-15-D-0002), what is the typical number of items in the complete market basket? What is the typical number of items in the subset market basket?

2R: In accordance with Title 37 United States Code § 403b, the incumbent should determine the best method for determining the number of items in the market baskets.

3) To confirm, do the items enumerated in the Taxation, Transportation, and Miscellaneous Major Cost Categories (PWS 4.12.5) count towards the total number of items in the complete/subset market baskets described in PWS 4.5? For example, do “Federal Tax” (PWS 4.12.5.1) and “finance changes” (PWS 4.12.5.2) both count as items for the purposes of satisfying the 100 to 150 item requirement described in PWS 4.5?

3R: In accordance with Title 37 United States Code § 403b, the incumbent should determine the best method for capturing a complete/subset market basket.

4) Regarding PWS 4.12.5.2, do the transportation cost items for the first vehicle count as separate from the cost items for the second vehicle? For example, are “finance charges” considered one item in the market basket or do the finance charges for the first vehicle and the finance charges for the second vehicle count as two items for the purposes of satisfying the 100 to 150 item requirement described in PWS 4.5?

4R: In accordance with Title 37 United States Code § 403b, the incumbent should determine the best method for capturing transportation costs.

5) In the “Standard/Off the Shelf Data” collected under the current contract (H98210-15-D- 0002), what is the typical number of items in each of the Major Cost Categories (PWS 4.12.5)?

5R: The typical number of items in each of the Major Cost Categories depends on the data in the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditures Survey. In

2 | P a g e accordance with Title 37 United States Code § 403b, the incumbent should determine the best method to quantify the items in each category.

6) To clarify, is the Contractor required to provide any housing cost data? (“Housing” is listed as one of the Major Cost Categories to be provided in PWS 4.12.4, but it is not mentioned elsewhere.)

6R: No data on housing is required; that was added in error. Please see the revised PWS with the necessary correction.

7) Does the Government have a preference for whether the prices for items in the Standard/Off-the-shelf deliverable (PWS 4.5) or for the Overseas Comparison Market Basket deliverable (PWS 4.19) are collected in-store (onsite) or via the stores’ websites (online)?

7R: In accordance with Title 37 United States Code § 403b, the incumbent should determine the best method for collecting cost-of-living data.

8) How far from a location can prices be collected from?

8R: In accordance with Title 37 United States Code § 403b, the incumbent should determine the best method for collecting cost-of-living data.

9) How many prices need to be collected for each item per CONUS location?

9R: In accordance with Title 37 United States Code § 403b, the incumbent should determine the best method for collecting cost-of-living data.

10) Do multiple stores need to be utilized in a single location?

10R: In accordance with Title 37 United States Code § 403b, the incumbent should determine the best method for collecting cost-of-living data.

11) What are the item requirements (name brand, medium price, generic, etc.)?

11R: In accordance with Title 37 United States Code § 403b, the incumbent should determine the best method for collecting cost-of-living data.

12) Do prices need to be collected from overseas locations?

12R: No.

13) Is the use of open source data for price collection allowed?

13R: In accordance with Title 37 United States Code § 403b, the incumbent should determine the best method for collecting cost-of-living data.

3 | P a g e

1R: In accordance with Title 37 United States Code § 403b, the Government relies on the expertise of the incumbent to determine, using industry best practices, the best method to compute a cost-of-living index for all requested locations.