Solicitation_Questions_and_Responses.pdf

HSFE80-16-R-0004 Questions and Responses

Question 1:

Is this a follow-on requirement? If so, could you please provide the incumbent contract number for this opportunity?

If not, is this a new requirement?

Government’s Response:

This is a follow-on requirement. The current contract number is HSFEHQ-11-F-0284.

Question 2:

Is there an incumbent (existing software)?

Government’s Response:

The contractor provides an interactive database using a Microsoft Access platform.

Question 3:

Am I correct that you are requiring a fixed-price proposal?

Government’s Response:

Yes.

Question 4:

The Statement of Work lists lots of definitions … but there’s no description of the required user-interface or how the logic of the fields is support to work (otherwise known as a Design

Document). May I meet with a FEMA representative to learn about FEMA’s desired user-interface?

Government’s Response:

The line Items populate a table used in the supplied database. FEMA is not holding meetings prior to the closure of the solicitation.

Question 5:

Who would I contact at FEMA to offer our custom software services? Outside of Microsoft, we are the world’s leader in Microsoft Access databases, we are an In-Q-Tel portfolio company, and have developed custom software for decades (we created a custom application for PAHO, for example).

Government’s Response:

At this point in the solicitation, alternative data source applications to meet FEMA's NEMIS narrow data requirements is not possible. Please provide an MS Access database outlined in the SOW requirements.

Question 6:

The solicitation states that the Housing Repair Line Item Database shall be updated quarterly and delivered to FEMA via FTP according to the following update schedule in Figure #1:

September = Q1

December = Q2

March = Q3

June = Q4

Figure #1

This schedule deviates from the standard update schedule used by FEMA today.

Q6.1: Would FEMA consider reverting back to the standard update schedule by allowing the vendor, on a one-time basis, to deliver September (Q3) and December (Q4) as part of the vendor’s current 2016 update and delivery schedule? Starting in 2017 the vendor would return FEMA back to the standard update schedule that is used today and listed below in Figure 2.

February 2017 = Annual Line Item Mapping Master File – the vendor would provide at least two weeks prior to the delivery of the March 2016 quarterly update a breakdown of the line item components as

CSI codes with national average pricing /pricing rational for review and approval

March 2017 = Q1

June 2017 = Q2

September 2017 = Q3

December 2017 = Q4

Figure #2

Q6.2: If the answer to Q1 above is NO, then we would propose adopting the update schedule below in

Figure #3. Is that acceptable?

September 2016 = Q1

December 2016 = Q2

February 2017 = Annual Line Item Mapping Master File – the vendor would provide at least two weeks prior to the delivery of the March 2016 quarterly update a breakdown of the line item components as

CSI codes with national average pricing /pricing rational for review and approval

March 2017 = Q3

June 2017 = Q4

Government’s Response:

Yes, re-aligning the delivery schedule to meet the calendar quarters will be acceptable. The first deliverable will be labeled Q3.

Question 7:

How many government computers does FEMA anticipate the database and quarterly updates will be loaded onto?

Governments Response:

The interactive Access database, the contractor produces and updates quarterly, is loaded on a limited access enterprise shared drive.

Only personnel with NEMIS data management responsibility have access.

Question 8:

Proposer takes exception to Section 10 “Property and Intellectual Rights” included in Attachment #2.

The data to be provided pursuant to this RFP was developed at private expense and not in the performance of the proposed contract. Accordingly, the data shall be provided with Limited Rights as defined in FAR 52.227-14(a), marked accordingly in the proposal, and proposer requests the deletion of

Section 10 of Attachment #2 pursuant to FAR 52.227-14.

Government’s Response:

From FEMA’s perspective it would not be a good idea to delete the Property and Intellectual Rights section.

To possibly forgo property and intellectual rights may subject FEMA to restrictions on requirements adjustments to meet the evolving disaster housing repair demands without incurring delays and unnecessary cost.

The Access database deliverable does not have a complex architecture and is populated with item pricing files derived from the contractor’s data source. There are only 381 real and personal property items specifically priced for the FEMA Housing Repair Program with no value outside of FEMA Housing

Inspection Services.

Note: Proposal response date and time remains the same. All proposals are due Friday, July 15, 2016 by

12:00pm Eastern Standard Time.