QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES 3.8.2012.pdf

QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES TO

HSFEMW-12-R-0001

3/8/2012

Q1: Ref PAMSS, Part II Contract Clauses, I.21 HSAR 3052.209-72 Organizational Conflict of Interest (JUN 2006). Will there will be an inherent conflict of interest between any PMO (included in SOW 4.2 Project Management) and Acquisition Support (SOW 4.10) Task Orders and any other Task Order? Is it the Government’s intent that the Offeror receiving award of the Sample Task titled IPAWS Program Management, Business Operations, Acquisition and Property Management Support will be precluded from receiving award of either of the other Sample Tasks? At the post-vehicle award task order competition stage, is it the Government’s intent that a Contractor receiving award of a task order including Acquisition Support (SOW 4.10), OMB 300 (SOW 4.9) and Audit Support (SOW 4.6) will be precluded from performing on other types of task orders?

A: The Acquisition Support required at this time is at a relatively high programmatic level, and the contractor should not be directly involved with the day to day preparations for any particular procurement. Any specific Conflict of Interest scenarios will be identified at the Task Order level, as tasks are competed and issued. At that time, any Limitation of Future Contracting concerns will be identified and the awardees will be notified in the Task Order Request for Quote.

Q2: (Ref: PAMSS, Section I, Page 23) Section I includes FAR 52.222-41 Service Contract Act of 1965. Shall we assume FAR 52.222-43 Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Act – Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts) applies, as well?

A: Yes, FAR 52.222-43 Fair Labor Standards Act will be added to the RFP via an amendment.

Q3: (Ref: PAMSS Attachment 1 Statement of Work, Page 7; RFP Attachment 2 Technical Proposal Instructions, Item 5 Personnel; and RFP Attachment 3 Cost/Price Proposal Instructions Pricing Base or Opt Period sheet.) Attachment 1 indicates the “Project Manager” is designated as Key Personnel. Attachment 2 indicates the “Program Manager” is designated as Key Personnel. Attachment 3 lists “Program Manager I,” Program Manager II,” and Program Manager III.” Since Attachment 3 does not include “Project Manager” for pricing purposes, are we correct in assuming that Attachment 1 should specify “Program Manager,” rather than “Project Manager” as designated Key Personnel? If the answer to (a) is yes, which level of Program Manager shown in Attachment 3 is designated as Key Personnel?

A: The terms Program Manager and Project Manager were both used throughout the RFP. The RFP will be amended to reflect the use of the term Project Manager. It is acknowledged that the Cost Proposal Instructions include the category of Program Manager (I-III), but not the category of Project Manager. For proposal preparation purposes, offerors should utilize guidance for the labor category entitled Program Manager III for the Project Manager position in this RFP.

Q4: (Ref: PAMSS Attachment 1 Statement of Work, Item 1.6 Travel, Page 10.) Item 1.6 indicates that travel will be reimbursed IAW the FTR. May we assume FAR 31.205-46 Travel Costs will also apply?

A: Yes, FAR 31.205-46 Travel Costs applies.

Q5: (Ref: PAMSS Attachment 3 Cost/Price Proposal Instructions, Item 3 Labor Hours;

and Attachment 3 Cost/Price Proposal Instructions, Pricing Base or Opt Period sheet.)

The maximum number of hours shown in Item 3 is different than that shown in the Pricing Base or Opt period sheet. Please confirm which value is correct for pricing purposes.

A: The correct total should be $165,975. The Cost Proposal Instructions will be corrected via an amendment to the RFP.

Q6: (Ref: PAMSS Attachment 3 Cost/Price Proposal Instructions, Item 6 Other Direct Costs; and Attachment 3 Cost/Price Proposal Instructions, Pricing Summary All Years sheet.) The Option Years 3 and 4 ODC dollar values shown in Item 6 are different than those shown in the Summary All Years sheet. Please confirm which values are correct for pricing purposes.

A: An amendment will be issued to show the correct ODC numbers as follows:

BASE PERIOD: $450,000.00

OPTION YEAR 1: $463,500.00

OPTION YEAR 2: $477,405.00

OPTION YEAR 3: $491,727.00

OPTION YEAR 4: $506,479.00

Q7: (Ref: PAMSS, Attachment 1 Statement of Work, 1.3.2; and Attachment 3 Cost/Price Proposal Instructions, Base or Opt Period table. SOW 1.3.2 indicates the Contractor shall propose Task Managers; however, Attachment 3 Base or Opt Period table does not include the labor category title “Task Manager” for pricing purposes. Please clarify.

A: Task Manager is not prescribed as the title of any labor category. Offerors will need to decide which labor category/personnel they propose for Task Manager roles under this requirement.

Q8: Section I includes FAR clause 52.222-41 Service Contract Act. Please provide the appropriate Wage Determination and a mapping of the SCA Wage Determination to the RFP LCATs.

A: There is a remote possibility that the SCA Wage Determination could apply to one or more administrative labor categories, though it would be contingent on the nature of the work ordered in a particular Task Order. FEMA will not specify Wage Determination rates at this time, but the clause has been included in the RFP in the event it is determined in the future at the Task Order level that the Service Contract Act applies to one or more labor categories.

Q9: Please confirm the proposed fixed labor rates are Team Rates and will cover all labor regardless of delivering organization (Prime, Subcontractor, Intercompany, Consultant, etc.).

A: The fixed labor rates do apply to the entire team (prime, sub, etc.); however offerors should identify in their proposal if certain labor categories are proposed for subcontractor personnel, rather than the proposed prime contract.

Q10: In Attachment 2 and Attachment 3 of the SOW, Section 2.0 Technical Experience references the following: L. Experience Working in Compliance with the Referenced Policy and Directives identified in Section 6.0. Section 6.0 in Attachment 1 is “Deliverables”. Did the Government intend to reference Section 5.0 References?

A: That is correct. The RFP will be amended to make that correction.

Q11: Attachment 3 Cost/Price Proposal, Paragraph 3 Labor Hours states Offerors should use 165,965 hours for the Base Period and each Option Year. The Labor Category table in this section shows the hours to be 165,975. Please confirm the correct number of hours per year.

A: The correct total should be 165,975. The Cost/Price Proposal Instructions will be amended accordingly.

Q12: Reference Solicitation Section L.2 Subcontracting Plan Goals: the solicitation provides for a subcontracting goal of 32% for ‘All Small Businesses’. Also listed are individual goals for Total Small Disadvantaged Businesses, Woman-Owned Small Businesses, Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, and Historically Underutilized Empowerment Zone Small Businesses. Consistent with DHS practice and the FAR, are the small business goals specified in the solicitation based on subcontracted dollars?

A: Yes.

Q13: Please reference Attachment 3, Cost/Price Proposal Instructions, Paragraph 7 Subcontracts states “Provide details of subcontract cost/pricing in the same format as the prime contractor’s costs.” What details of subcontract cost/pricing are we required to provide?

A: For subcontractors, please provide fully loaded, fixed labor rates with the same type of information provided for the prime, indirect rate ODCs (if applicable).

Q14: Attachment 3 Cost/Price Proposal Instructions states: “In addition to a hard copy of the information to expedite review of the proposal, submit a CD containing the financial data required in excel format.” For the CD, should this CD contain only the cost/price proposal and not technical? If the technical proposal is required to be submitted on a CD should it be a separate CD from cost?

A: The CD should only contain cost/price information, not technical information.

Q15: Attachment 3 Cost/Price Proposal Instructions: Section 9 (Profit), “Offerors shall not propose profit or fee on any Other Direct Costs, Travel of Subcontracted Effort” Is the “of” in this sentence to be “or.” If so, is this stating Primes are not permitted to apply fee to any element of non-labor costs?

A: The statement that Primes are not permitted to propose profit or fee on subcontracted effort will be deleted from the RFP via an amendment.

Q16: Attachment 3 Cost/Price Proposal Instructions: Sample Spreadsheet Labor Categories. Please provide the ranking of the labor category levels for the categories which have a I, II, III , i.e. does a I correspond to a junior or senior level?

A: Additional information about the experience levels for the labor categories will be provided in an amendment to the RFP.

Q17: If it is acceptable to submit as a sealed package, do the subcontractors need to submit the same number of copies as the Prime? Do they also need to submit a CD?

A: Subcontractor pricing may submitted in a separated sealed package, in the same quantities as the prime proposals. CDs must also be submitted for subcontractor pricing, if packaged separately from the prime.

Q18: Resumes: Please clarify the requirements for submittal of resumes to support the contract. RFP Instructions, Section 5 – Personnel states that "resumes shall be provided for all proposed personnel..." Please clarify whether resumes are required for personnel who will support all 12 SOW task areas, as well as the Key Personnel resumes.

A: The Technical Proposal Instructions will be amended to state that offerors should submit resumes for proposed personnel Key Personnel, including Project Manager and any other positions proposed as Key Personnel by the Offeror. Resumes should be submitted for personnel proposed to work on the three Initial Task Orders, as well as any labor categories/ positions for which the Offeror would like to submit resumes. For the remaining labor categories/positions, Offerors may submit a narrative or chart describing the skills and experience of individuals available to staff the contract.

Q19: Cleared Personnel: Will personnel with a clearance level of TS/SCI with poly be required on any future task orders?

A: Offerors only need to provide personnel with TS clearances at this time. If TS SCI is required for a particular Task Order in the future, it will be addressed after award.

Q20: Number of Copies: Block 9 of the SF33 indicates that 1 original and 7 copies are required. However the Cost Instructions calls for 3 copies, and the Technical Instructions call for 7 copies. Can the Government please verify how many copies are required for each volume?

A: Seven copies of the Technical Proposal and Three (3) copies of the Cost/Price Proposal should be submitted.

Q21: Section I (Contract Clauses). Will the government include the clause at 52.249-6 Termination (Cost-Reimbursement) Alternate IV for Time and Materials type Task Orders?

A: Yes, 52.249-6 Alternate IV will be incorporated into the RFP via an amendment.

Q22: Will the government provide an ODC not-to-exceed estimate for each representative task order?

A: An amendment will be issued to delete the requirement for price proposals for the Individual Task Orders at the time proposals are submitted. This will eliminate the need for additional information on ODCs for the Initial Task Orders.

Q23: Reference Page 1 of TO C: Will the government confirm if there is an OCI issue for the contractor working on the development contract as referenced on page 1 of Attachment 7, Task Order C, and performing the work called for in Task Order C?

A: At this time not Organizational Conflicts of Interest have been identified within the three Initial Task Orders. Potential Conflicts of Interest will be identified as projects are defined for future Task Orders, and awardees will be notified at the time the Fair Opportunity RFQs are issued. If an OCI is determined, the conflict may be able to be resolved through a Mitigation Plan.

Q24: Technical Proposal Instructutions, 3. Past Performance states that the offer "shall provide description of the work performed and explain how it is relevant to the tasks in the SOW, and the offeror's approach to supporting NCP under this contract." Can you clarify the last part of this statement? Is the government asking how the past performance reference is relevant to supporting NCP?

A: Yes, please explain how the prior projects are relevant to the work to be performed under this requirement.

Q25: Can you provide minimum years of experience and education for the provided labor categories?

A: The RFP is being amended to include the list of Labor Category Qualifications and experience.

Q26: Ref: PAMSS, Attachment 1 – Statement of Work, 6.0 Deliverables, Page 23 The table of deliverables references does not align to the SOW. Please confirm the following SOW references and that the requirements in those SOW references are correct and complete:

• Kickoff Meeting SOW reference should be 1.7

• Draft Contractor Project Plan/Final Contractor Project Plan should be SOW reference 1.8

• Status Reports SOW reference should be 1.9

• Draft Close Out Report/Final Close Out Report SOW reference should be 1.11

A: Those references are correct. The SOW will be amended accordingly. Additionally, the Risk Mitigation Plan deliverable will be deleted from the Statement of Work. It may appear later in Task Orders, if required.

Q27: Ref: PAMSS, Attachment 1 – Statement of Work, 6.0 Deliverables, Page 23 The table of deliverables lists Item 7, Risk Mitigation Plan, SOW reference 1.15, however, SOW 1.15 is missing from the SOW. Please clarify if a Risk Mitigation Plan is a Deliverable within 15 days after award. If so, is the Risk Mitigation Plan at the contract level, or will it be specified as a requirement at the Task Order level?

A: The Risk Mitigation Plan will be deleted from the contract Statement of Work. It may appear later in Task Orders, if required.

Q28: In the Q&A issued by FEMA on Friday, March 2, FEMA restated the RFP requirement that any individual proposed for cleared work must be employed by a firm that has a facility clearance. We interpret the Government’s guidance that only the prime contractor is required to have a valid facility clearance. Is this correct?

A: The prime contractor must have a valid facility clearance. In order for cleared individuals to work on projects requiring a clearance under this contract, they must be employed by a company (prime or subcontractor) that has a facility clearance. If cleared subcontractor personnel do not work for a company that has a facility clearance, they may not work in a cleared capacity under this contract. It is not sufficient that just the prime has a facility clearance if cleared subcontractor personnel are also proposed to work under the contract.

Q29: In response to Question 22 in the Questions and Responses dated February 29, FEMA clarified Attachment 3 Cost/Price, 9. Profit should read “Offerors shall not propose profit or fee on any Other Direct Costs, Travel, or Subcontracted effort.” In accordance with FAR 52.232-7 subcontractor effort qualifies as labor under T&M contracts. DCAA audit guidance on Time-and-Materials (T&M) and Labor Hour (LH) Contracts dated 7/31/07 clarified that “subcontract labor rates, separately proposed by the prime contractor, should include the prime’s subcontract costs and applied indirect costs and profit”. Based on these two references, profit or fee on subcontracted labor is generally allowable under T&M contracting. Managing, delegating to, and retaining ultimate responsibility for subcontractors places risk on prime contractors that does not exist when all work is performed by personnel fully under their control. Disallowing profit or fee on subcontractors provides a disincentive to prime contractors to allocate resources to other companies and, thereby limits competition and small business subcontracting. Will FEMA consider evaluating the bottom line price and allow prime contractors to determine how the total amount is allocated, including allowance for a reasonable fee on subcontracted effort?

A: The RFP will be amended to allow profit on subcontracted labor.

Q30: For subcontract reporting purposes, if a subcontractor is not currently small under the $7M size standard, but will be considered small after the 3/12/2012 change to the $14M size standard, will their subcontract count toward small business subcontracting goals after award?

A: Yes.

Q31: Reference Statement of Work Section 1.3.1 states that the Contractor will provide a ‘Project Manager’ responsible for all Contractor work performed. Attachment 3 Cost/Price Proposal Instructions lists ‘Program Managers I, II, and III’, and Attachment 4 Technical Evaluation Criteria Paragraph 5 references ‘Program Manager’. Is the preferred title Program Manager consistent with the Labor Category table in Attachment 3?

A: The term Project Manager and Program Manager were used interchangeably, however the intent is to utilize the word Project Manager. The Project Manager position, which is designated Key Personnel by the Government, corresponds with the Labor Category entitled Program Manager III in Attachment 3 to the RFP.

Q32: The Labor Category table in Attachment 3 includes ‘Task Lead’ and Task Lead, Sr.’ positions. Is Task Lead consistent with the Labor category table the preferred title vice ‘Task Manager’ as referenced in Statement of Work Section 1.3.2? Please clarify.

A: Offerors may utilize the Task Manager labor category for proposed Task Leads, or they may utilize a different labor category for those positions, at their own discretion.

Q33: Section I.10 (2) – Small Business Subcontracting Plan. This section requires a statement of Total Dollars planned to be subcontracted. Since this is an IDIQ proposal, and at this time the cost template only requires a rate applied against the provided hours, and offerors will not know until a TO is issued who is performing the work, please provide direction on how the offereors are to compute the value to be subcontracted at the IDIQ level. Can we provide our goals in terms of percentage only?

A: Yes, offerors may provide goals in terms of percentages instead of Total Dollars.

Q34: In RFP Attachment 2, Technical Proposal Instructions, Sub-section Technical Proposal Instructions, Paragraph 5 Personnel, we are instructed to provide Letters of Commitment for all Key Personnel. In RFP Attachment 4, Technical Evaluation Criteria, Paragraph 5, it states that “Letters of Commitment for all proposed Key Personnel will be evaluated.”

A – Do Letters of Commitment count against the page limitations or are they excluded like resumes?

B – Is there specific content requirement for Letters of Commitment?

C – Is there a minimum amount of time proposed Key Personnel must commit to?

D – What criteria will be used to evaluate Letters of Commitment?

A: Letters of Commitment will not be subject to page limitations, per pending amendment. There is not specific content for Letters of Commitment. There is no minimum time period for which Key Personnel must commit. Letters of Commitment will be evaluated to ensure they have been included with the proposals.

Q35: Page 24, Section I.2, 52.234-4 states that “The Contractor shall use an… EVMS that has been determined to be… compliant with… the ANSI/EIA-748… to manage this contract.” However, the effort described in the provided Attachment 1, Statement of Work, indicates that the effort requested by the Contractors is support as opposed to any development, modernization, upgrade, or enhancement effort. The OMB Exhibit 300, Circular A-11 states that a contractor’s EVMS is to be used on those parts of the contract that are development, modernization, or upgrade efforts. Please advise whether NCP expects the contractor to utilize ANSI-Compliant EVM in managing this support work.

A: No, NCP does not expect the contractor to utilize ANSI-Compliant EVM in managing the contract. Clause 52.23-4 will be deleted from the RFP via an amendment.

Q35: RFP Part II, Section I – Contract Clauses, I.2 52.234-4 Earned Value Management System (Jul 2006) specifies EVMS requirements for the contractor. Subparagraph (g) of clause I.2 implies that there will be a flow down of the EVMS requirements to selected subcontractors, with none listed. Can the government clarify whether EVMS requirements will in fact flow down to all subcontractors on a team, and if so, whether there will be any threshold value criteria for task orders that would require or exclude EVMS requirements (task orders valued under $20M versus over $50M, for example)?

A: The subject clause will be deleted from the RFP via an amendment. EVMS compliance is not required at the contract level, however certain Task Orders, including Initial Task Order B, may require use of EVMS concepts or principles.

Q36: Is EVM reporting also required for Initial Task Orders A and C?

A: No, it is not required for A and C.

Q37: Section M.3: Source Evaluation and Selection Procedures Section J, Attachment 4: Technical Evaluation Criteria The RFP does not provide a description of the evaluation ratings that will be used. Will the Government please provide as offerors find them helpful in developing our technical proposals?

A: The following Adjectival Ratings be used in the technical evaluation process:

Outstanding Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory

Q38: Attachment 3 Cost/Price Proposal Instructions: Sample Spreadsheet Summary.

Should the offeror apply their applicable burdens (OH, G&A etc) to the provided plug numbers?

A: Yes, offerors should apply their applicable burdens to show their total proposed price for each year of the contract, and for the total of all five years.

Q39: OMB 300 Support is Task Area 4.9 in Attachment 1 to the RFP, the Statement of Work. OMB 300 Support: Please clarify the requirements for OMB 300 Support versus Business Operations Support in Task Order A and in the list of task requirements.

Attachment 2, Item 2, pg. 3 --Tech Approach and Understanding: OMB 300 support is not listed as a requirement/task area. However, in Attachment 1, Page 19, Section 4.9, OMB 300 Support is listed in this section as a task area requirement. In Attachment, Page 19, Section 4.9, OMB 300 Support is listed in this section as a task area requirement.

Please clarify. In Task Order A –Item B. pg. 4, "Section II. Task Area" shows OMB 300 Support as a requirement; however, the requirement within the Task Order requirements is for Business Operations Support.

A: Task Order A, Section II will be amended to reflect the Work Task Area entitled Business Operations Support, in lieu of OMB 300 Support.

Q40: Section J, Attachment 2, Technical Proposal Instructions, Item 3: Past Performance. “Offerors shall provide a description of the work performed and explain how it is relevant to the tasks in the SOW, and the offeror’s approach to supporting NCP under this contract.” Can the Government please clarify that it is seeking what approaches we can leverage from our past performance to support NCP as it relates to the instruction “…and the offeror’s approach to supporting NCP under this contract.” Could the Government please clarify that past performance write-ups should not include a technical approach.

A: The past performance write-ups should not include a technical approach, but they should provide enough information about the work performed in the past so that the Government can determine the relevance between the prior work and the proposed work under this requirement.

Q41: Section J, Attachment 5, Section VII: Deliverables Section J, Attachment 6, Section VIII: Deliverables Section J, Attachment 7, Section VI: Deliverables Each initial task order includes a deliverable section and it states that the draft PMP needs to be delivered with the proposal. Please confirm if offerors should include a PMP in the 10-page task order response limit.

A: Offerors should include a Project Management Plan with the task order responses, however, there is no longer a page limit on responses to the Task Orders.

Q42: Section J, Attachment 3, Item 1. “If an offeror’s fully loaded labor rates are different for on-site (contractor’s facility) versus off-site (Government facility) work, both rates should be specified in the offeror’s proposal. If the offeror has different rates for cleared versus non-cleared personnel, both sets of rates should be provided. A suggested spreadsheet identifying the prescribed labor categories and proposed rates is included with these instructions.” The sample pricing table in Attachment 3 specifies hours by labor category for the IDIQ. However, the hours are not delineated by on-site or off-site nor cleared or non-cleared staff. In order for the Government to conduct a fair and equal evaluation, the hours need to be delineated by on-site or off-site and cleared or non-cleared staff. Will the Government please revise the sample pricing table to provide the hours by site and cleared/non-cleared staff?

A: Offerors may provide multiple versions of the sample pricing table to provide the cleared/non-cleared and on-site/off-site pricing of labor categories; or they may adapt the sample table to list all of that information on the same page, if preferred.

Q43: Reference Attachment 6, Task Order B, Statement of Work for IPAWS Outreach Support, Section VIII Deliverables, Attachments A and B were not provided. Please provide.

A: The templates will be provided by an amendment to the RFP.

Q44: Attachment 3 (Cost/Price Proposal Instructions), number 1 states: “Each offeror shall identify its fully loaded labor rates for each proposed period. If an offeror’s fully loaded labor rates are different for on-site versus off-site both rates should be specified.

If offerors have different rates for cleared versus non-cleared personnel, both sets of rates should be provided.” The suggested spreadsheet provides hours for each labor category and a column for only one rate per labor category.

A: Offerors may submit multiple pages of the spreadsheet to accommodate more than one rate per category, or they may adapt the spreadsheet to show them all on the same page.

Q45: If offeror has different set of rates as described in the reference section, what rate should be used on the spreadsheet to calculate the price?

A: Offerors should use the labor rates for the cleared personnel to calculate the total price. The RFP will be amended to reflect this information.

Q46: Since this is an IDIQ, is it acceptable to put the offeror’s highest (ceiling) rate on the spreadsheet and provide a backup sheet with all other rates?

A: Offerors should only provide one fully loaded labor rate per category, unless they have different labor rates for cleared, non-cleared, on-site or off-site work of a particular labor category. Also, if a different rate is proposed for subcontracted labor, they should provide that labor rate information, but not multiple rates for the same category within the prime’s organization.

Q47: In Attachment 3 Cost/Price Proposal Instructions, Page 8, Total Contract Price, offerors are instructed to identify a total contract price per contract period, based upon individually proposed, fully loaded labor rates, and Other Direct Cost plug numbers provided. The response to Question 15 in the Questions and Responses dated February 29 further instructed that offerors should provide separate rates for the offeror and any proposed subcontractors, to the extent proposed. Should offerors specify how the hours provided in the spreadsheet included in Attachment 3 Cost/Price Proposal Instructions are anticipated to be allocated between the offeror and any proposed subcontractors to support evaluation of proposed Total Contract Price?

A: Yes, please provide information as to the breakout of hours between prime and subs.

Q48: Attachment 3 (Cost/Price Proposal Instructions), Section 7 Subcontracts states:

“Provide details of subcontract cost/pricing in the same format as the prime contractor’s costs.” The solicitation provided spreadsheet only requires one rate per labor category, since it is not required at this time to show offeror versus subcontractor rates, what information should be provided in a sealed package?

A: Offerors are asked to provide supporting information on how the labor rates were calculated (information on Fringe, OH, G&A, profit, etc.). If subcontractors prefer not to provide that information through the prime, they may provide it in a sealed package.

Q49: Section J, Attachment 3, Item 5: Direct Labor. “For each fixed labor rate, offerors shall identify the basis for the loaded fixed hourly rate for each contract period. For example, explain that the rate might consist of the following cost elements: raw wage or salary rate, plus fringe benefits, plus overhead, plus G&A, plus profit.”

Section J, Attachment 3, Item 7: Subcontracts. “Provide details of subcontract cost/pricing in the same format as the prime contractor's costs.” The proposal instructions seem to indicate that the Government wants a narrative discussion of what costs are included in the fixed hourly rates. However, Section J, Attachment 3, Item 7 seems that the Government is requiring a cost build up for each labor rate since they are asking for price/pricing information for subcontractors in the same format as the prime.

This is a significant amount of data to provide if it has to be provided for each labor category, by site, by clearance level, and for each proposed subcontractor (resulting in seal packages from each subcontractor).

Given that the Government has determined there will be adequate price competition as stated in response to the initial questions (see Q4) and that certified cost and pricing data is not required (see FAR 15.403-1(c)(1)), will the Government please clarify what cost/pricing data is required to be submitted in the Cost/Price Proposal?

We recommend that the Government require similar data required by EAGLE II and TABSS where offerors provided narrative describing their basis of estimate for the proposed fixed hourly rates.

A: The RFP will be amended to request a narrative describing the basis of estimate for the proposed fixed hours rates, to include rates for Fringe, OH, G&A, profit, etc.

Q50: Attachment 3 (Cost/Price Proposal Instructions), Section 7 Subcontracts states:

“Provide details of subcontract cost/pricing in the same format as the prime contractor’s costs.” If prospective subcontractors consider the cost or pricing information to be proprietary and confidential, can the prime contractor submit this data as a sealed bid package marked, “For Government Use Only.”

A: Yes, sealed packages from subcontractors are appropriate.

Q51: SOW 1.5 Primary Place of Performance. If a Task Order requires the work to performed at a FEMA facility, will the offeror’s proposed on-site personnel be provided with a computer and other necessary supplies and infrastructure to perform the task?

A: On-Site personnel may be provided computers in some cases, but offerors should not assume that to be true for all personnel working on-site. Issuance of Government owned equipment will be determined on a Task Order basis.

Q52: Attachment 3 Cost/Price Proposal Instructions: Initial Task Order 1: The sample spreadsheet format for Task Order 1 contains a row for “Subcontracts” . What should offerors insert in that line if the Task Order is a FFP? Are offerors required to show a breakdown of subcontractors labor categories and rates for a FFP TO?

A: Offerors should identify the total amount proposed for subcontracted effort on that line. Offerors should also show a breakdown of subcontractor proposed labor category rates.

Q53: General Instruction on Page Limits: Are the cover page, title page, table of contents, acronym list and compliance matrix excluded from the page count for each volume?

A: Yes, those documents are excluded from the page limitations.

Q54: Attachment 3 Cost/Price Proposal Instructions: Plug numbers for Travel and ODC.

Can the Government further breakdown the split between Travel and ODCs, this will be helpful for offerors who have different indirect rates for the two elements?

A: That information is not available.

Q55: Section L.1 (Contract clauses - page 66) FAR 52.216.29. This clause states “The offeror must specify whether the fixed hourly rate for each labor category applies to labor performed by the offeror, subcontractors and/or divisions…” Since this clause applies only to the T&M Type Orders, offeror assumes this does not apply to the IDIQ proposal;

FFP or T&M orders may be issued and will only apply to T&M task orders. If this assumption is incorrect and applies to the IDIQ, since offerors may not know what labor categories they will be performing versus a subcontractor. How should this be handled for the IDIQ proposal, as there isn’t a place to indicate on the cost template more than one rate?

A: If an offeror wishes to propose both an in-house labor rate and a subcontract labor rate for the same labor category, they should include both rates in their proposal. They may use their discretion as to the format the use to provide that information.

Q56: Reference Page 15, Attachment 1: 4.1.6: This section identifies an “E-File plan”.

Will the government please elaborate on the E-File plan?

A: The E-File Plan is an in-house electronic shared drive of documents used within NCP.

The contractor support would involve simple organization and maintenance documents within that file system.

Q57: Please reference Section I.2, 52.234-4 Earned Value Management System (JUL 2006), Paragraph (a) which requires the Contractor to use an earned value management system (EVMS) which has been determined by the Cognizant Federal Agency (CFA) to be compliant with the guidelines in ANSI/EIA Standard – 748 to manage this contract.

1. Recommend that this language is changed to be applicable to specific task orders consistent with the guidance in SOW Paragraph1.9.6.

2. Recommend removal of the EVMS requirement in Attachment 6, Task Order B, Statement of Work for IPAWS Outreach Support, Section VIII Deliverables, given the size and nature of the prospective task order.

A: The EVMS requirement at the IDIQ contract level is being deleted via amendment.

Task Order B will still require EVMS reporting. Clause 52.234-4 will be deleted from the RFP.

Q58: Section I.2 (page 24). FAR clause 52.234-4 Earned Value Management System (July 2006). Per FAR subpart 34.2 (b) “. . . If the offeror proposes to use a system that has not been determined to be in compliance with the American National Standards Institute/Electronics Industries Alliance (ANSI/EIA) Standard-748, Earned Value Management Systems, the offeror shall submit a comprehensive plan for compliance with these EVMS standards. Offerors shall not be eliminated from consideration for contract award because they do not have an EVMS that complies with these standards.” Is the requirement satisfied if the offer does not have an EVMS that has been determined by the CFA to be compliant with the guidelines in ANSI/EIA Standard 748, but instead has systems in place that can produce the same reporting requirements as EVMS?

A: Clause 52.234-4 is being deleted from the RFP via an amendment. It is acceptable to produce the same reporting requirements when required on certain task orders, without having a compliant system.