HSFECD-09-R-0006 Q A.doc

TSS - Development and Delivery

Solicitation HSFECD-09-R-0006

Contractor Questions and Government Responses

1. Question: The PWS on page 25, paragraph 6.1 states; “the contractor shall be in compliance with ISO 9000 quality management system.” Did you mean to specify the ISO 9001:2000 standard?

Government Response: ISO 9001:2000 is the current standard under the ISO 9000 Quality Management System.

2. Question: The PWS on page 7, section 1.5.1.8 details the finalization of site specific Quality Control Plans. What constitutes a separate site? Do we need to establish separate QCPs for every mobile training site to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph? Can you clarify the intent of this statement?

Government Response: Offerors shall provide a single CDP Site Specific Quality Control Plan covering all task requirements of the PWS including include mobile training.

3. Question: Reference Section M.4, page M-4, Sub-factor 5.2 – Prime Contractor Participation in the DHS Mentor-Protégé Program. Will the DHS Mentor-Protégé relationships built by a subcontractor help to satisfy the requirements of sub-factor 5.2?

Government Response: Offerrors shall submit all information they believe to be relevant to this evaluation factor. The Government will determine if any subcontractor participation is relevant based on the merits of the proposal.

4. Question: References to the SAVER program, which appeared in the draft (pre-solicitation notice) RFP, are missing from the final RFP. Should the SAVER program be addressed in our response?

Government Response: SAVER was removed from the PWS/RFP and should not be addressed in the proposals.

5. Question: What is the definition of what constitutes a major sub-contractor?

Government Response: For the purposes of the subject solicitation there is no formal threshold for a “major sub-contractor”.

6. Question: We are reviewing the above referenced solicitation and want to clarify that this does not request bids on specific courses or programs for DHS, but rather the development of a course development framework which could be used to deliver a variety of curriculums?

Government Response: The actual courses to be developed under the successful contract are yet to be determined. Work orders with a complete description of the course development requirements will be issued under the contract as needed. As set forth under section 7.1 of the PWS, offerors shall base their proposals (technical and business volumes) on the anticipated design, development, and implementation of 4 new 24-hour instructor-led and 4 new Level 2 2-hour web based courses per year for the duration of the contract.

Section 7.1.1 and 7.1.2 of the PWS list 4 areas of anticipated course development for informational purposes only. These are only 4 potential areas of course development. Offerors are not expected to go into greater technical detail in these subject matter areas (healthcare, advanced CBMRE, decontamination, and agro-terrorism) than other potential areas of development. Rather the technical proposal shall demonstrate the offeror’s ability to provide all needed course development requirements in accordance with Section L.6, Proposal Preparation Instructions.

7. Question: Is this a Small Business Administration 8A Set-aside procurement action?

Government Response: No. This is a non-restricted, “Full and Open” procurement action.

8. Question: When are responses due?

Government Response: Per the solicitation, all responses are due No Later Than 1:00pm (Central Time) January 6, 2009. This date is found on page 1 of the solicitation.

9. Question: Can you please review my company’s capabilities submission for this RFP?

Government Response: Thank you for your interest in this solicitation. We have filed your “Capabilities” submission without review. If you are interested in being considered for this procurement opportunity, please comply with all of the requirements outlined within the solicitation. Capability statements were previously requested and reviewed.

10. Question: Part IV – Section K, subparagraph K.1 52.204-8 (a)(1), the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 611430. However, under subparagraph (2), the small business size standard is listed as $31.5 million. There appears to be a discrepancy between the cited NAICS code and the respective size standard associated with this code. Our review of NAICS code 611430 shows a small business size standard of $7 million dollars.

Government Response: The size standard mentioned in the solicitation (31.5 million dollars) is incorrect and has been corrected to read $7 million dollars under amendment A00004.

11. Question: Who is the incumbent contractor on the current contract?

Government Response: The contractor on record is EAI Corporation, 1308 Continental Drive, Suite J, Abingdon, MD 21009-2321. However, EAI is now operated by SAIC.

12. Question: How is the current contract structured? We have been told that it is a one year “umbrella” contract with 4 option years that was written by the Department of Justice with one prime contractor providing all of the current multiple services.

Government Response: The current contract number HSOJP-2004-C-0008 was awarded by the Department of Justice as a cost plus award fee contract with a base year and 4 option years for a total performance period of 5 years. The current contract includes all services being procured under the subject solicitation and other services such as student support, needs assessment, production support, and related IT services that are being procured separately to foster small business participation.

13. Question: The past performance questionnaire included in the RFP as Attachment 27 contains the title “CDP Facility Operations and Maintenance.” Is this the correct questionnaire to use for the CDP Course Development and Delivery solicitation?

Answer: Attachment 27 has been corrected under Amendment A00004. Offerors may use either version of this attachment (original version issued with the RFP or the corrected version provided under amendment A00004).

14. Question: Will the government allow the signed and sealed past performance questionnaires to be submitted at a later date, such as January 27, 2009, than the proposal date submission of January 6, 2009 to accommodate the various responding government agencies who will be unavailable throughout the holiday season?

Answer: No, they are required to be submitted with the proposal.

15. Question: In regards to MP2 / 7i:

a. What modules are currently being used?

Government Response: All modules with the exception of the Vehicle Maintenance Module

b. Are there plans to add additional modules?

Government Response: No

c. What modules, if any, will be added?

Government Response: The Government does not intend to add any modules at this time.

d. What is the planned timeframe for implementation of each?

Government Response: MP2/7i will be implemented upon contract award.

e. Who is/will be responsible for supporting this software?

Government Response: The Government will support this software.

16. Question: In order to determine how to optimize the use of existing resources, what is the tool currently used for Configuration Management?

Government Response: Microsoft Office products are currently used for Configuration Management. All existing configuration data will be provided to the successful contractor in a Microsoft Office format such as Excel and/or Word. Offerors shall propose the configuration management tools it will be use for contract performance.

17. Question: In order to determine how to optimize the use of existing resources, what is the tool currently used for Quality Metrics.

Government Response: Microsoft Office products are currently used for Quality Metrics. Offerors shall propose the quality metrics tools it will use for contract performance.

18. Question: PWS, page 30, section 7.1.2 says “All SMEs that contribute to course materials must have advanced academic preparation…” What qualifications satisfy “advance academic preparation?”

Government Response: Graduate level or above degrees in field of expertise.

19. Question: Section L.6, Paragraph A states that “front matter (title pages, tables of contents, cross-reference matrices, acronym lists, and glossaries) may be provided solely for the purpose of easing evaluation.” Will the front matter count against the 100 page limit in Volume 1: Technical Proposal?

Government Response: No

20. Question: The statement found Section L.6, Paragraph B, last sentence in the second paragraph of Section 1-Work Plan states, “It shall include a complete list of vehicles and major equipment (over $1,000) which the offeror proposes to utilize in the performance of this contract.” We assume this refers to contractor-owned equipment and not the Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE) found in Attachments 13 and 14. Is this a correct assumption?

Government Response: Yes

21. Question: Section L.6, Paragraph B, Section 7-Past Performance, Item 3, “The Past Performance Questionnaire once completed by the references shall be returned to the offeror in sealed envelopes, signed and taped across the seal. The offeror shall forward the unopened envelopes with their proposal.” Should the sealed envelopes for the questionnaires be marked as part of Section 7 and provided within the sealed box containing the technical proposal copies?

Government Response: Yes

22. Question: The PWS is not clear on a performance requirement regarding current functions such as planning, research, and analysis. Paragraph 7.7.1.1 (Urgent Work Orders) does state “emergency calls will consist of quick reaction data calls.” Does the government require these services, as well as related deliverables such as concept papers, government report analyses, and government report development inputs on the new course development and delivery contract?

Government Response: Yes, as it applies to curriculum management.

23. Question: The PWS does not specify a requirement for the services provided by the current Human Patient Simulator (HPS) technician. Attachment 13 lists Human Patient Simulators in the Government-Furnished Equipment list. Does the government require the services of the HPS technician on the new contract?

Government Response: The services of a HPS technical or similar job category will be needed to maintain equipment.

24. Question: Relative to solicitation HSFECD-09-R-0006, what is the DPAS Rating?

Government Response: This solicitation does not have a DPAS Rating.

25. Question: Reference Section I.6 52.219-26, subparagraph (b) states that “If the Contractor exceeds its total monetary target for subcontracting to small disadvantaged business concerns in the authorized SIC Major Groups, it will receive [blank] percent of the dollars in excess…” Please define the percent that will be included here and how the contractor will receive the excess.

Government Response: This amount is 0 (zero) percent.

26. Question: Section L.6, Proposal Preparation Instructions, indicates that the Small Business Participation with Subcontracting Plan is to be included in Section 5 of the Technical Proposal, Volume 1. L.6.A.2 states that no reference to cost shall be included in this volume. Contract clause I.5 52.219-9 Small Business Subcontracting Plan requires that the total dollar planned to be subcontracted be included within the small business plan. These two sections contradict each other on whether or not the Offeror should include subcontracting dollars in their small business plan. Please clarify.

Government Response: The subcontracting dollars shall be included in the small business plan in accordance with FAR 52.219-9. To avoid this contradiction, the offeror’s response to technical evaluation factor 5, Small Business Participation with the Subcontracting Plan shall be submitted as Volume 3 of the proposal. Section L.6, Proposal Preparation Instructions, is revised in amendment A00004 to require the proposal to be submitted in 3 volumes rather than 2 volumes. Volume 1 shall consist of the technical proposal, volume 2 shall consist of the business proposal, and volume 3 shall consist of the response to the evaluation factor 5, Small Business Participation with the Subcontracting Plan. This will allow the contracting officer to control what evaluators have access to cost information.

27. Question: PWS section 4.2.4 on page 19 holds the contractor responsible "...for damage or loss to the Contractor's stored supplies or materials." In reference to this requirement we have the following questions:

a. Will the Government hold the contractor responsible for loss or damage of property due to natural-disasters or any reason beyond the control of the contractor?

Government Response: The Contracting Officer with the support of other appropriate Federal staff will make a determination on a “case by case” basis as to the cause and extent of any damage to Government property.

b. If yes, does the Government permit the contractor to bill the Government for insurance premiums required to protect all property (Government and Contractor provided) that is the contractor's responsibility?

Government Response: The Government will only reimburse allowable insurance premiums pursuant to FAR 31.205-19.

28. Question: Can the government provide sample reports for those it mentions in the RFP (e.g., Daily accountability situational analysis, Curriculum status reports, Work Order reports, Technical progress reports, etc.)?

Government Response: No. Such reports contain proprietary data and may not be representative of the work to do be performed under the resultant contract.

29. Question: Will the Government extend the due date for submission of proposal?

Government Response: No, the due date cannot be extended so sufficient time is available for contract transition.