HSFE20-13-Q-0058_A00002_Q A.docx

HSFE20-13-Q-0058

Questions & Answers

1. How are these services currently performed (in house, contractor)?

This is a new requirement, there is not an incumbent contractor.

2. If there is not an incumbent, what is the estimated dollar value range for this requirement?

$2M - $5M.

3. Is this listed on the DHS Acquisition Planning Forecast System and if so, what is the AAP #?

Originally APFS # 201301459, now # 201303596.

4. Paragraph 4.1.1.2 of the PWS states that the LCMS should leverage the customer’s Learning Management System (LMS) through creation of SCORM 2004, SCORM 1.2, and AICC compliant content.

a. What is the name(s) of the current LMS being utilized by the customer?

In contrast to a traditional LMS, CDP utilizes a highly customized COTS application that was purchased from KMI and built upon a portal framework. In its present configuration, it is neither an LMS nor is it an LCMS, but it does contain elements of both. An LMS upon procurement, the CDP Training Administration System (CTAS) has evolved into a training administration system specifically designed for the management of Resident, Non-resident and Indirect training. It is highly customized for functionality unique to CDP and no known COTS LMS/LCMS combination will replace this functionality. CTAS has the capability to deliver web-based content; however, we have not yet used that function. Finally, in our current environment, the LCMS will operate as a standalone system and will eventually be integrated with an LMS.

5. Paragraph 4.3.3 of the PWS states that the analysis of support for installation, configuration set up, custom code development, theme development, template development, administration mentoring, application consulting, and productivity improvements must be completed within 45 days of contract start date. However, it is not specified when the actual installation should be performed in regards to the contract start date.

a. Following the 45 day analysis phase above, will there be a specified time period for the actual custom development and template development to be completed prior to implementation of the LCMS?

Please see below.

b. If yes to question “a” above, what is the expected range of time available to complete the customization prior to the implementation of the LCMS?

Ideally, installation and customization would occur in the aforementioned 45-day period. If, however, this period of time proves insufficient, the Government may allow for additional days following the 45-day period to complete installation and customization and to initiate implementation of the new system. The Government realizes the complexity involved in this effort. It is expected that the successful offeror will require an appropriate period to develop multiple environments (DEV, TEST and PROD) and then perhaps install the product on the DEV environment to enable testing of modifications.

6. Can you clarify the differences between sections 4 and 5 (Experience and Past Performance). The sections seem to be requesting similar information. Can the same client be used for each section?

Although past performance and experience are closely interwoven, their evaluation can be broken down into two distinctive, complementary factors. Essentially, past performance reflects the proven quality of your company's performance on specific tasks, while experience relates to the applicability of your company's performance in relation to the proposed contract. Your past performance may be evaluated against a variety of customer service factors, such as cost, quality control, safety, ability to recruit and maintain a qualified workforce, response to customer concerns, response to changing workload conditions, effectiveness of administration and recordkeeping, and the like. Your experience is generally evaluated in the applicability of the quantity and type of work your company has performed, as well as the quality, in relation to the proposed contract. Yes, the same client can be used for each section.

7. Can you confirm that the Phase Out-Contract Closeout plan is not a part of the initial response to the PWS. It would appear that it is deliverable scheduled for 60 days before contract closeout only.

A basic/general plan should be submitted with the proposal, then a detailed plan 60 days prior to expiration as required by the PWS.

8.

Small Business Concerns do not need to submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan.

Proposal Preparation Instructions: A. General Instructions Item 2 The solicitation states “Front matter (title pages, tables of contents, cross-reference matrices, acronym lists and glossaries) may be provided solely for the purpose of easing evaluation. Please confirm that Front matter is not included in the page counts given for each volume.

Front matter is not included in the page counts.

The customer’s email server rejects single messages over 15MB.

Technical Proposal Instructions/Content (Volume 1) Section 2, Management Plan The Section instructions call for a discussion of the management of multiple work order assignments. Please clarify whether the government intends to award this contract in multiple work orders, or if this refers to multiple work orders received from CDP employees after the single award.

In addition, please provide examples of the types of work order assignments we can expect to receive.

Following contract award, the successful offeror may anticipate simultaneous receipt of multiple work orders intended to facilitate installation, configuration set up, template development, etc.

If the offeror’s technical proposal involves the installation of software onto the customer’s servers, rather than onto offeror-affiliated servers (e.g., cloud repository), the offeror can anticipate customer-provided, multiple host servers with a minimum of 120 Terabytes of storage and 500GB RAM.

Correct.

Correct.

Yes.

Yes.

Does the Government have an estimated training allowance per student, per year?

No.

Was a Request for Information or Market Research study conducted for this opportunity?

While market research was conducted, a separate RFI was not issued.

If so, how many responses were received?

NA.

If possible, please provide the list of RFI respondents.

Please provide the IGCE or internal cost estimate for this effort.

No.

Software as a service. With that said, newly-developed training materials developed from newly-installed LCMS software may be applicable and of value solely to the Government customer and its end users. Nonetheless, a final delivery product resulting from a newly-installed LCMS will not be considered proprietary.

In contrast to a traditional LMS, CDP utilizes a highly customized COTS application that was purchased from KMI and built upon a portal framework. In its present configuration, it is neither an LMS nor is it an LCMS, but it does contain elements of both. An LMS upon procurement, the CDP Training Administration System (CTAS) has evolved into a training administration system specifically designed for the management of Resident, Non-resident and Indirect training. It is highly customized for functionality unique to CDP and no known COTS LMS/LCMS combination will replace this functionality. CTAS has the capability to deliver web-based content; however, we have not yet used that function. Finally, in our current environment, the LCMS will operate as a standalone system and will eventually be integrated with an LMS.

If the system is internally hosted on a CDP system, the C&A process will be internal to the government and performed by the FEMA IT Security Board (no vendor involvement). If the system is hosted by the vendor or a vendor affiliate, the system must already be FISMA and FedRamp certified and accredited.

The customer expects the capability to leverage the system’s content at any time to better facilitate assessing students’ performance. Assessment types may include, but are not limited to, quizzes, cognitive examinations, affective assessments, performance checklists, performance assessment rubrics, etc. Common assessment item types must be supported and an assessment instrument must be creatable using multiple item types without restriction.The customer anticipates that assessment templates will include a large variety of question types so as to better gauge end-user knowledge.

The bandwidth is currently 20Mbps Metro circuit and can be expanded if needed. The LCMS application and db may be placed in a virtual environment of multiple host servers with a minimum of 120 Terabytes of storage and 500GB RAM. Performance and storage can be throttled as needed. The network topology consists of a standard Ethernet Star topology with a fiber backbone.

Correct, unintentional duplication. Additional training topics to include, but not limited to, page layout, configuration of roles, data modeling, and content translation.

Noted, and corrected on revised PWS.

Noted, and corrected on revised PWS.

Ideally, installation and customization would occur within the 45-day period as prescribed in Section 4.3.3. If, however, this period of time proves insufficient, it will be incumbent upon the contractor to identify to the Government any Deliverable that cannot meet the Government’s schedule. The Government will examine any such Deliverable on a case-by-case basis.

The Government realizes the complexity involved in this effort. It is expected that the successful offeror will require an appropriate period to develop multiple environments (DEV, TEST and PROD) and then perhaps install the product on the DEV environment to enable testing of modifications.

This refers to an analysis of the customer’s requirements. Emphasis should be placed on the latter portion of the sentence (i.e., “…provide support of application installation.”)

Multiple themes.

Please see PWS items 4.1.3 and 4.1.4.6 for amplifying information. These items provide a representative, although not exhaustive, sample and explanation of template requirements and associated level of effort.