Consolidated QA_Amendment 0004.pdf

Question Number RFP Page or Section Question Government Response

Solicitation+Amendment+H9821025RE0120001+SF +30.pdf (iii) Volume 3: FACTOR 2 -Past Performance

Would the Government confirm “Date of Contract” is the same as date of contract award?

Yes, date of contract is the same as date of contract award.

Solicitation+Amendment+H9821025RE0120001+SF +30.pdf

(ii) Element 2 and (ii) Element 3

The instructions for Element 2 (Technical Approach and Methodology) asks that bidders address all PWS requirements. However, PWS element 4.17 requires a similar response as some of the content in Element 3 (Staffing Plan). Can bidders reference a portion of their Element 3 response to address PWS 4.17 in Element 2?

Yes. As long as the Government may clearly determine where the cross-reference point begins and ends . For example, reference figure no. 1 on page 12 of the Staffing Plan.

Attachment 2 - Transition Plan PWS.pdf 4.9

Should 4.9 read as follows: “Within 1 month of the period of performance start date, the incumbent contractor will provide the new contractor with a complete list of all government approved survey platforms, government provided survey analytic tools (e.g., Advana), and proprietary software (e.g. STATA) necessary to complete the JAMRS Market Research survey contract”

See Attachment 2 - Transition Plan PWS Rev 1.

Attachment 2 - Transition Plan PWS.pdf

4.9 and 5.0

For Annotated Questionnaires, Section 4.9 specifies a date of within 1 month of the period of performance start date, but the corresponding deliverable in Section 5.0 indicates a due date of 15 December, which is 2 months after the period of performance start date. Please indicate which is correct.

See Attachment 2 - Transition Plan PWS Rev 1.

Attachment 2 - Transition Plan PWS.pdf 4.11.1

Should 4.11.1 refer specifically to the “new contractor”?

"new contractor" is stated in paragraph 4.11.

Solicitation+Amendment+H9821025RE0120001+SF +30.pdf (ii)Volume 2: TECHNICAL

Instructions state: “70 single -sided pages (excluding RMF and Small Business Participation) inclusive of any table of contents, appendices, attachments, etc.” Typically, the cover page, the cover letter, TOC, list of figures, and acronym list are not included in page limits. Would the Government consider excluding these items from the page count?

Yes, the cover page, cover letter, table of contents, list of figures and acronym list are hereby excluded from the page limit.

Revised.

Solicitation+Amendment+H9821025RE0120001+SF +30.pdf

(iii) Volume 3: FACTOR 2 – Past Performance

Commercial clients do not typically deal with federal contracting requirements and often do not understand the purpose or process of completing a PPQ. They can be reluctant to spend time completing government forms, especially if they are unfamiliar with federal terminology or perceive the request as burdensome or intrusive. Would the Government consider exempting commercial references from the requirement to submit a Past Performance Questionnaire

(PPQ)?

The requirement for all vendor references to submit completed PPQ's will not be exempted. The Government recommends vendors coordinate with references in completing this eligibility requirement.

Solicitation+Amendment+H9821025RE0120001+SF +30.pdf

(iii) Volume 3: FACTOR 2 – Past Performance

Would the Government confirm that it is asking for a letter from the holder of the commercial contract for authorizing the Government to contact their commercial customer?

No, a letter is not required from the contract holder, a written confirmation from the offeror that the Government is clear and authorized to speak with their commercial customer or subcontractor.

Solicitation+Amendment+H9821025RE0120001+SF +30.pdf SAM_Combined Q&A, #12

The government states that the evaluated price for FAR 52.217-8 will be calculated as 50% of Option Year 4. Would the Government confirm that this approach applies strictly for evaluation purposes and that, if exercised, the 52.217-8 period will be performed at Actual Option year 4 rates, not discounts?

The evaluated price will include six months or 50% of contract year 5 pricing. If FAR 52.217- 8 authority is invoked, pricing applied will correspond to the contract year for which the action occurs.

Solicitation+Amendment+H9821025RE0120001+SF +30.pdf SAM_Combined Q&A, #12 1,4,and 8 of 13

Would the government please confirm that all changes to the solicitation, such as updated proposals due dates or clarifications provided in Q&A responses, will be reflected through a formal amendment using SF-30, in accordance with FAR Part 15? If not, would the government clarify how offerors are expected to formally acknowledge such changes in their proposals?

Yes, all vendors must formally acknowledge all SF 30 amendments in writing as indicated in Amendment 0003 on page 4 of 10 of the SF 30 at paragraph (8).

12 Attachment 5 Price Worksheet

Most but not all labor categories note the years of experience equivalents for educational degrees. For Project Manager, Consultant, and Subject Matter Expert labor categories, can significant years of experience be substituted for an advanced degree? For example, if a software programmer has a bachelor's degree and 20 years of experience, can they align to a Subject Matter Expert or Consultant labor category?

No. The education requirement may not be substituted for relevant experience.

13 Attachment 3 Sample TO PWS Could the Government please clarify the intended fielding period or Period of Performance of the Sample Task order and whether the Government intends to award this as the first task order on the new IDIQ?

The anticipated period for the sample task order is February 2026 and will be the second task order awarded.

14 Attachment 5 Price Worksheet Could the Government please provide more specifics for the ODE "Public Opinion of Influencers" to facilitate the creation of a FFP ODE estimate?

The ODE is "Public Opinion Polling of Influencers" IAW IDIQ PWS, para. 4.4 which in summary requires "..public opinion polling…" resource. See Rev 2 to Attachment 1, Survey and Market Research Services

PWS.

15 Volume 3, Factor 2 (Past Performance) For past performance projects, would the Government like copies of all eSRS reports or just the most recent so long as it reflects cumulative small business spend?

Yes, the most recent eSRS report is acceptable as long as it reflects cumulative small business spend

Attachment 4 - Sample Task Order Pricing Sheet.xlsx Proposed ODEs

The number of completed New Recruit surveys depends on the survey response rate, which is impossible to exactly predict. In order to incentivize the contractor to be innovative in increasing response rates, would the Government be willing to accept firm fixed unit-pricing for survey response processing?

Sample Task Order PWS, para 4.4 requires Service-specific laminated booklets survey booklets which are intended to be reused during the fielding period (survey questions).

Survey responses will need to be collected separately (e.g. SCANTRON sheets). ODE costs for survey respondents is dependent on Sample Task Order PWS, para 4.6.1 and 4.6.2 requiring all new recruits are invited to participate in the survey.

Attachment 3 – Sample Task Order PWS Rev1.pdf 5.0

Would the Government please clarify the delivery dates for the deliverables associated with paragraphs 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, and 4.16? Rev 1 of Attachment 3 currently lists these as “NLT 31 January XXXX.”

Deliverables for paragraphs 4.13, 4.14, 4.15 and 4.16 are due on the last day of the 12-month period of performance.

18 Attachment 3 – Sample Task Order PWS Rev1.pdf Would the Government specify when fielding of the 2026 New Recruit Survey – Recruiter Processes and Recruiter Interaction Modules is expected to start and end?

April 2026-September 2026 and October 2026-March 2027

Attachment 3 – Sample Task Order PWS Rev1.pdf 5.0

The Delivery Date for the Monthly Datasets (associated with Para 4.7) is “NLT the last business day of each month”. Would the Government identify the content of the dataset? For example, is it data received during the prior month, or through a specified day of the current month?

Monthly dataset content is the previous month's collected data.

Solicitation___H9821025RE012_FS.pdf Amendment 3 – Attachment 1_Rev1 - Survey and Market Research Services PWS

Would the Government confirm that all performance expectations and evaluation criteria will be based solely on the contents of the solicitation, and that no assumptions or familiarity with prior work will be expected unless specifically provided to offerors?

Review will be based on the four corners of the proposal with notice that the offerors proposal is binding with the express caveat that in any instance of conflict, the Governments contract shall always supersede and prevail in any discrepancy.

Solicitation___H9821025RE012_FS.pdf Amendment 3 – Attachment 1_Rev1 - Survey and Market Research Services PWS

Would the Government confirm that the three deliverables identified in the deliverables table are required for all TOs

No. The three deliverables apply only to the base IDIQ contract and not the individually awarded task orders.

Attachment+1+- +Survey+and+Market+Research+Services+PWS+R ev1.pdf

4.15 Project Management Services

5.0 Deliverables

pages 7, 20

The PWS shows the PWS reference for the Project Management Plan as 4.17. Would the Government please confirm that this should be 4.15? 4.15 does not mention requirement for a Project Management Plan.

PWS reference 4.17 is accurate. For each task order the contractor is required to demonstrate management staffing to the minimum requirements of PWS para. 4.17 in a Project Management Plan.

Solicitation___H9821025RE012_FS and Attachment 2 Attachment 2

Solicitation states “The offeror shall not submit a complete Transition-in Plan with the proposal.

A comprehensive Transition-in Plan addressing all areas will be required after contract award IAW the overall PWS and the DPAC JAMRS FY25 Vendor Transition Services PWS (Attachment 2).” Neither Attachment 1 nor 2 provide Transition-In Plan requirements. Would the Government clarify when after IDIQ award the Transition-in Plan is due? Would the Government confirm that the Transition-in task order request for proposal (TORP) will provide guidance on the required content for the Transition-in Plan?

Clalrification: The tasks performed by Attachment 2 will result in performance of the Governments comprehensive transiton-in services requirement. There is no comprehensive transition-in plan due to be submitted. Offerors shall submit a price proposal based on Attachment 2 Transition Plan PWS and in accordance with Attachment 5 Pricing Worksheet.

Attachment+11+-+Addendum+FAR+52.212- 2+Evaluation+Rev1.pdf

3.6. Price Evaluation.

The eval criteria state: “An Optional six (6) month period of performance in accordance with FAR 52.217-8 will be included in the total evaluated price. The total evaluated price will be calculated by adding the total amount of proposed labor with Other Direct Expenses (ODEs) (Rate Card), plus half of the offeror’s year four annual contract pricing.” Would the Government confirm that the optional 6-month extension is based on half of the offeror’s year five annual contract pricing?

Yes, confirmed that the optional six month extension pricing will be based on the offeror's year five annual contract pricing.

25 Attachment+5+-+Pricing+Worksheet.+Rev1.xlsx The hours for each year are provided in the Pricing template for IDIQ, Are the hours in Year 1 including the hours for Transition In? If not, it is assumed that the hours provided are for 9 months of labor. Please clarify.

All labor hours in Year 1 should be included in the pricing sheet. Historically, JAMRS issues 12-month task orders between January through August each fiscal year.

Attachment+5+-+Pricing+Worksheet.+Rev1.xlsx;

Solicitation___H9821025RE012_FS.pdf

Transition Out does not have hours on pricing template, under 52.217-8 it states extension not to exceed 6 months. Would the Government provide a revised template reflecting the 6-month extension?

No changes or revisions to the template will be made.

27 62 The RFP is silent on page limitations for the price proposals. Would the Government confirm there is no page limit for the Price Volume?

Yes, there is no page limit for the Price Factor proposal submission.

28 62 The RFP is silent on page limitations for the price proposals. Would the Government confirm there is no page limit for the Price Volume?

Yes, there is no page limit for the Price Factor proposal submission.

29 56-64

The instructions do not provide guidance on margins; preferred font; font size for narrative; font size for tables, figures, graphics, etc. Would the Government confirm that Times Roman with 1-inch margins, size 12 for narrative and Arial Narrow size 10 for graphics, tables, figures, headers, footers is acceptable?

Confirmed.

30 2 For the laminated survey booklets, would the Government please provide the required number qty of 1,000 bundles of booklets for each service, the number of pages in each booklet, and page size (e.g., 8.5 x 11 inches)?

For the most recent execution, the laminated booklets were 8.5" x 11" size; ~15 pages front and back; ~3000 total laminated booklets.

31 63 Please confirm plans for documentation, training, and QA associated with the Staffing Transition Plan are not part of the 10 pages allowed for Element 6.

Element 6 does not require training and QA associated Staffing Transition Plan.

Specifically, "The offeror shall not submit a complete Transition-In Plan with the proposal."

33 62 Please confirm an approach for transition-in and transition-out does not need to be presented in Element 4 as this would be addressed in Element 6 as part of the Initial Phase-In Plan and the Transition-Out Plan.

The intent for Element 4 is to address support that fully integrates all phases of program and project management requirements.

To ensure vendors are providing pricing based on the same assumptions, would the government please provide a sample size that bidders should assume for quarterly Public Opinion Polling of Influencers?

A sample size of 1,000 is an adequate amount to consider for pricing.

35 8 Is the sentence “Expertise in best practices of public opinion polling and techniques to improve response rates for publicly fielding surveys” that appears after section 4.17.5 intended to be section 4.17.6?

Yes. See Attachment 1 - Survey and Market Research Services PWS Rev 2 issued with Amendment 0004

36 61 Please confirm offerors can cross-reference their response to Element 4 (Program and Project Management) when addressing PWS 4.15 Project Management Services in Element 2, since both elements must address Project Management?

Offerors are advised to use cross-referencing sparingly in order to ensure the requirements for each element are minimally satisfied in the proposal. Cross-referencing could create ambiguity in the proposal assesssment.

37 61 Please confirm offerors can cross-reference their response to Element 4 (Program and Project Management) when addressing PWS 4.16 Transition Services in Element 2, since both elements must address Transition?

Offerors are advised to use cross-referencing sparingly in order to ensure the requirements for each element are minimally satisfied in the proposal. Cross-referencing could create ambiguity in the proposal assesssment.

41 Total Evaluated Price Tab Please confirm that the government intended to remove the ODEs associated with procurement of printed materials (booklets, envelopes, and letters). Confirmed

The sample task order pricing will be evaluated by peforming price analysis

One overall cover letter is required. Cover letter is excluded from the page count.

Updated.

eSRS is covered in the Small Business Participation Plan Factor.32 63 Please confirm that copies of eSRS reporting do not count against the past performance reference page limit.

38 62

The RFP is silent on the inclusion of a cover letter. Please confirm a cover letter is not required for every volume submitted. If a cover letter is required for every volume, please confirm the cover letter is not included in the page count.

For the SME I, Consultant, and Project Manager labor categories, would the Government consider candidates with 18+ years of directly relevant, hands-on experience in lieu of the advanced degree (e.g., Master’s or PhD) currently specified in the LCAT descriptions?

No. The education requirement remains unchanged.

The Solicitation states “the Government is requesting that the Offeror submit *Data Other than Certified Cost or Pricing Data with respect to the firm-fixed priced Other Direct Expense(s) (ODE) and other than firm-fixed price Other Direct Costs. The Offeror shall submit three quotes for all requirements in excess of $2,500.00 to the maximum extent possible.”

The $2,500.00 limit for requiring vendor quotes remains unchanged.

N/A methods similar to those identified in FAR 15.404-1(b) and in conjunction with a Governments determination of Price as fair and reasonable. See Attachment 11- Addendum FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation Rev 1 of Amendment 0004

42 5of8 The evaluation criteria is silent on how the sample task order pricing will be evaluated. Would the Government please clarify?

Q&A's