Questions on RFI_Final 8.14.26.pdf

Question Answer Will offerors on the anticipated IDIQ/BPA be expected to demonstrate capability across all activity areas, or does the Government anticipate that awardees may hold deeper capability in subsets of the scope and compete for task orders accordingly?

We anticipate that awardees may demonstrate strong capabilities in specific areas and should compete accordingly. Teaming arrangements is also encouraged to expand capabilities across activity areas.

Does the Government anticipate a total small business set-aside, a partial set-aside, or a small business reserve for the anticipated awards?

The Government is currently analyzing the capabilities of small businesses to determine the appropriate small business strategy for this award.

What does the Government anticipate as the approximate mix of firm-fixed-price versus time-and-materials/labor-hour task orders?

We anticipate awarding the majority of task orders as Firm-fixed price, while the remaining orders will be issued as time-and-materials/labor-hour or firm-fixed price/time-and-materials hybrid task orders.

Are contractor teaming arrangements at the task-order level acceptable for scope areas requiring specialized credentials or in-person event logistics? Yes, teaming arrangements are encouraged.

Are firms' RFI response submissions able to be viewed publicly, or will they be kept confidential (at the RFI stage)?

The Government does not intend to share the responses with the public. However, contractors may also mark information proprietary as appropriate.

Will the anticipated multiple-award IDIQ/BPA be organized by functional domains or will all awardees compete across the full scope of work? Awardees will compete across the full scope of work.

Does FHWA anticipate making awards to firms with complementary capabilities, or does it expect each awardee to possess the full range of capabilities identified in the RFI? FHWA expects awardees to possess the full range of capabilities.

Will task orders generally be single-discipline efforts or multidisciplinary projects requiring integrated teams? Integrated teams are encouraged and may be anticipated for complex projects.

Are there any anticipated task areas that will require onsite support, or should offerors assume the work will primarily be performed remotely?

Work will primarily be performed remotely, however; some activities may require select and infrequent in-person meeting attendance with authorized travel. This includes international travel for dedicated report leads participating in global benchmarking site visits abroad, or domestic travel for subject matter experts attending organized workshops or conferences. All such authorized travel is funded and reimbursed separately by the government through cost-reimbursable contract line items in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation.

Place of performance. The notice lists Washington, DC 20590 as the place of performance. For the analytical task areas, particularly Objectives (1), (7) and (9) covering economic analysis, benefit-cost analysis and program evaluation, does FHWA anticipate requiring contractor personnel on site in the National Capital Region, or can that work be performed remotely with travel as individual task orders require?

Work will primarily be performed remotely or at vendors company facility. However, some activities may benefit from in-person collaboration using DOT systems which will require a background check and the assignment of a security access card (PIV card) and Government furnished laptop for the period of the task order. If appropriate, requests for in-person support will be clearly stipulated at the task order (call order) level.

Magnitude. Can FHWA share an anticipated ceiling for the five-year vehicle, or a typical range of individual task order value? This would help respondents assess whether their capacity is well matched to how the work is likely to be issued.

The contract ceiling is anticipated at $19,000,000 over the period of performance. Task order value may range from $40,000 to $1,000,000. Task orders may be 6 months to over 3 years in duration.

Task order competition. Among multiple awardees, does FHWA anticipate competing task orders across all awardees under fair opportunity procedures, or directing them by functional capability area? FHWA anticipates competing task orders across all awardees.

Who are the incumbent contractors?

Battelle Memorial Institute, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services, Guidehouse, ICF Incorporated, Leidos, MacroSys, RCF Economic & Financial Consulting, and WSP