ID06190003_SF33_Exhibit_07_Questions_and_Answers_20190612.pdf

SOLICITATION ID06190003

Exhibit 07

ID06190003 – Solicitation Vendor questions and Government Answers – 06/12/2019 Project Name: DLIFL DLPT5 Full Range Test Item IDIQ

RFP Question and Answers for GSA Solicitation ID06190003

Question

Solicitation Reference Vendor Question Government Answer

1 Attachment 01, PWS C.2.2

The PWS provides a list of languages from which the Task Orders will be potentially drawn. Should the Offeror provide a list in our proposal as to which languages we can staff and develop for, or is the assumption that each Offeror should be able to work with all the listed languages?

The Offeror should be able to work with all the listed languages.

2 Attachment 01, PWS C.5.2

How long after a given Task Order Request does a given selected Contractor have to provide the CVs / qualifications of potential TLEs to the Government?

Though the Government does not specify a deadline for submitting resumes of potential TLEs, it is in the best interest of the contractor to provide resumes as soon as possible after the Task Order is received by the selected Contractor.

3 Section J Can you please provide information about Attachment 02 “Performing Requirement Summary”? This document is missing from the solicitation.

Attachment 02 “Performance Requirements Summary” has been incorporated into the solicitation via Amendment 01.

Section J Can you please provide information about attachment 03“Ordering guide”? This document is missing from the solicitation.

Attachment 03 “Ordering Guide” will be incorporated into the solicitation via future Amendment 02.

5 Section J Delivery Schedule: Can you confirm that Technical Exhibit 01, the delivery schedule is provided with each task order?

A Delivery Schedule will be included with each task order.

6 IDIQ, Section J,

p. 29

The list of attachments references Attachment 2 (Performance Requirements Summary) and Attachment 3 (Ordering Guide) but these were missing from the solicitation package. Could these be made available to Offerors?

See Answers to Questions 3 & 4

7 Exhibit 4 Pricing Spreadsheet

The pricing spreadsheet includes places to provide price information for the required test items, travel, and contractor manpower reporting. Will the Government add lines for contractors to include pricing for identifying and securing permissions for reading selections and listening selections?

See revised Pricing Spreadsheet incorporated into the Solicitation via Amendment 01. Additional lines are now available to address Other Direct Costs (ODCs).

8 Attachment 4, Technical Exhibit 2, 2.2 Test Content, Can a passage and/or audio selection include more than one FLO content area?

Yes, it is possible. The developer chooses the FLO topic that is most prominent.

9 Attachment 4, Technical Exhibit 2, 2.2 Test Content, Will a “Not Acceptable Source” list be provided for passage search?

No.

10 Attachment 4, Technical Exhibit 2, 2.2 Test Content, Will passages/audio selections need to be approved before commencement of item development?

No.

11 Attachment 4, Technical Exhibit 2, page

Second level of passage information says that biographical information can be added. What is the definition of biographical information in the context of this RFP?

Note that passages at Level 2 and below are factual in nature rather than evaluative or interpretive.

Biographical texts at Level 2 should focus on informing the reader/listener of the relevant events and dates of an individual’s life, and could also include generally agreed-upon statements of an individual’s impact (such as “Albert Einstein was one of the most important figures in physics in the 20th Century”), but should not focus on analyzing significance or engaging in argumentation of contentious points (such as trying to establish that Nils Bohr was actually more significant to physics than Einstein by discussing the effects the Einstein-Bohr debate about quantum mechanics had on the direction of future physics research). Like all other texts at Level 2, biographical texts must present the typical grammatical, syntactic, lexical, organizational, and schematic expectations of that Level.

12 Attachment 01, PWS C.5.2.3, Does a person born in the target country who is a native speaker qualify as proficient at an IRL level 4 or above?

Not all natives are automatically L4 in any of the skill modalities. Technically, the only way to establish an ILR Level of proficiency is an official OPI/DLPT score in the language and skill in question. However, native status usually contributes to higher ILR proficiency Levels, as does extensive formal education delivered in the Target Language (TL). Length of residence in a country in which the TL is used extensively is also believed to contribute to attainment and sustainment of higher Levels of proficiency, as long as the resident is actively engaged with the TL.

For those residing in countries in which the TL is not used, frequency and duration of visits to a country where the TL is used are usually helpful indicators of both proficiency Level and currency of language knowledge. A current occupation that involves extensive use of the TL is also believed to contribute to maintenance of a proficiency Level and to currency of language knowledge.

13 Attachment 01 , PWS C.5.6.1, Will there be a demo or additional information forthcoming regarding the entering of items into DOMINO?

The Procedural Orientation given to each awarded contractor will include demonstration and training on

DOMINO.

14 Technical Volume

What are the spacing requirements (i.e.

single or double) for the technical volume?

Single spacing is acceptable

15 Pricing Spreadsheet

Is it expected that the Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) include salary, benefits, and IDC?

CLIN pricing is all inclusive. Labor rates listed in the Pricing Spreadsheet should be “fully loaded”

16 N/A (General Question)

Can you provide any information about organizations that were previously awarded contracts under DLPT5 and/or what languages test items were developed for under previous DLPT5 contracts?

Refer to Solicitation Exhibit 06, Consolidation Determination. Table 2 on page 5 lists three current or recently expired DLPT5 Test Item Development contracts. The Delivery Schedules for each contract are incorporated as Exhibit 08.

17 Attachment 01, PWS

If an organization has its own test development platform in place, is it possible to continue development in that system, uploading the deliverables to

DOMINO?

Yes. It is the obligation for the contractor to validate content rendering upon incorporation and prior to submission to the government.

18 SF33 Solicitation:

Section A – Solicitation Contract Form, #9

Please clarify: “Per unit pricing for each Test Item associated with a particular period of performance will serve as ceiling rates for follow-on task orders.” Does this mean that each option year is considered a period of performance and the per unit price for any future order must not exceed the price proposed for the option year?

Additionally, we seek clarification on what defines a ceiling rate because unit prices will vary greatly depending on the combination and distribution of items requested for a particular ILR level, whether the items are MC or CR, and potentially even the languages requested. For example, the price to create an L3 item in a less commonly taught language is far more expensive than producing an L1 item in a commonly taught language. MC items are also typically more expensive to produce than CR items, and L4 items are very expensive to produce. i.e., A ceiling rate would be exceedingly high if only L4 items were requested but far lower if only L1 items were requested. We therefore seek guidance about how to derive a ceiling rate.

Each option year is considered a period of performance. The per unit price proposed by any IDIQ contractor in response to any future Task Order Request cannot exceed the price awarded at the IDIQ level for that same period of performance.

The Government acknowledges that a wide variety of factors impact cost of Test Item Development but it is impossible to account for all combinations within an IDIQ CLIN structure. The Government will evaluate the price reasonableness of proposed ceiling rates for each IDIQ CLIN as outlined in Section M.

19 SF 33

Solicitation:

The table references Attachment 02, the Performance Requirements Summary (PRS)

See Answers to Questions 3 & 4

Section J - List of Documents, Exhibits, and Other Attachments, List of Attachments and Attachment 03, the Ordering Guide.

However, they do not appear to be attached to the solicitation in FBO. Where can we find these attachments?

20 Exhibit 04:

Pricing Spreadsheet

The pricing spreadsheet includes only labor, travel, and G&A as line items. How do we account for other direct costs (e.g., publisher copyright royalties) and a profit/fee in the spreadsheet? Traditionally these are separate line items as opposed to being incorporated into labor or G&A rates.

See Answer to Question 7

21 Pricing Spreadsheet – Summary Tab

For the field labeled “Pool”, what information should be entered?

See revised Pricing Spreadsheet incorporated into the Solicitation via amendment 01. The “Pool” field has been deleted.

22 Instructions to Offerors, Tab B (p.47)

Referenced section states:

p. 47: Except for Key Personnel (Volume III

TAB H), DO NOT INCLUDE PROPOSED

PERSONNEL NAMES/RESUMES IN

NARRATIVE.

Are offerors permitted to provide names of proposed key personnel in Volume I or only in Volume III?

The names of Key Personnel may be used in Volume I. Place the resumes of Key Personnel in Volume III

(TAB H).

23 Instructions to Offerors, Volume

Regarding Volume III - General and Price, the solicitation references state:

General and Price Volume III includes Tabs A through J – typically in a pdf format, with the Staffing Matrix

III, (p. 45, 49)

p. 45: The General and Price Volume may be submitted as two documents (one MS Excel file, and one other file).

p. 49: TAB F – Staff Matrix (Exhibit 03):

Complete the Excel worksheets for each period of performance using the example worksheet provided.

p. 49: Provide a locked down pdf version of the MS Excel submission within TAB G as well as a separate MS Excel file with active formulas (to assist the Government in identifying and resolving computation errors.

Is the Exhibit 03, Staffing Matrix, required to completed and submitted as a standalone file with Volume III? If so, please confirm that three (3) files may be submitted as the General and Price Volume III.

included in Tab F. In addition, include with your proposal a MS Excel file (Exhibit 4 provided as a template) which corresponds to the pricing details included in Volume III.

24 Instructions to Offerors, Proposal Content

a. TAB C (p. 47)

Regarding Volume I – Technical Approach, Tab C Management and Staffing Plan, the solicitation reference states:

pg. 47: Discuss how the proposed staffing plan satisfies specific qualifications (to include security requirements) required by the PWS, include the labor hours proposed

Offerors may complete and submit the Staffing Matrix (Exhibit 03) as an Appendix to Volume I outside of the page limitations.

per labor category for each of the PWS tasks (the staff matrix format required in Volume III may be used here).

As Exhibit 03, Staffing Matrix contains three (3) tabs, may Offerors complete and submit the Staffing Matrix as an Appendix to Volume I outside of the page limitations?

25 Instructions to Offerors, Volume III (p. 49)

The solicitation reference states:

p. 49 TAB E – Contract Line Item Number (CLIN): Complete CLIN structure/schedule to include Unit of Measure, Unit Price and Net Amount for each Line Item listed in Section B of this solicitation.

Please confirm that the Government requires pricing information under Tab E in Section B format in addition to the CLIN structure/format required in the Exhibit 04 format, per Tab G instructions.

Confirmed. Pricing information in Volume III Tab E using the Section B format, and in Volume III Tab G using Exhibit 04 (Pricing Spreadsheet).

26 Instructions to Offerors, Volume III (p. 49)

The solicitation reference states:

p. 49: TAB H – Key Personnel Resumes:

Refer to PWS C.5.5

Please confirm this PWS reference. It refers to Audio Files and does not appear to address key personnel requirements.

PWS reference changed to C.5.2.9

27 SOW C.5.2.9,

Key Personnel (p.

8)

“The Contractor shall submit documentation of the qualifications of the Project Manager(s) for Government approval, which may include resumes and/or curriculum vitae.”

Please confirm that Offerors are required to submit resumes for the Project Manager (PM) only, and no resume is required to be submitted for an Alternate PM.

Resumes are only required for the Project Manager.

28 Section M, Basis for Award and Evaluation, (d) Factor 2 – Past Performance (p.

53)

“Other Than Small Businesses Only – Past Performance of offerors in complying with FAR 52.219.8 “Utilization of Small Business Concerns” and FAR 52.219-9 “Small Business Subcontracting Plan”.

How does the Government intend to evaluate large businesses Past Performance on this criterium if no Small Business Subcontracting Plan was required by the referenced contract, or if a referenced

That portion of a proposal’s Past Performance will be considered “neutral” and will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably.

contract was competed as Small Business set-aside contract prior to the Offerors graduation to Large Businesses?

29 Instructions to Offerors, Proposal Submission c.;

Proposal Preparation Instructions e. (p.

46)

Pg. 45: “Each volume shall be a separate electronic file.”

Pg. 46: “Technical Approach, Past Performance, and Price Proposals shall be separate volumes/documents.”

Please confirm that the Technical Approach contained within one (1) folder, may contain 3 separate (Tab A, Tab B, Tab C) documents.

Each Volume I, II, and III shall be separate electronic files organized as instructed in Section L.

30 Instructions to Offerors, Proposal Preparation Instructions e, Please confirm that Offerors may submit proposals in Times New Roman font type.

There are no restrictions on font type.

31 PWS C.6.7.1;

Adjudicated Access to Government Network Information System (if required).

‘Designated Contract Employees who require adjudicated access to the network information system must be able to favorably pass a federal background investigation’

Does this requirement pertain to the Offeror’s personnel responsible for uploading deliverables into DOMINO?

DOMINO utilizes internal account management so gov/edu network accounts requiring a background investigation are not required to gain access for the contract performance.

32 Consolidation Determination, p.

‘…the aggregate quantity of items per year will be met through competitive IDIQ task orders…’

Does the Government intend to compete Task Orders on a LPTA or a Best value basis?

Refer to Attachment 03 “Ordering Guide” which will be incorporated into the solicitation via future Amendment 02.

33 Consolidation Determination, p.

‘…the aggregate quantity of items per year will be met through competitive IDIQ task orders…’

How does the Government intend to evaluate solicited Task Order responses?

What proposal effort is required from contractors at the TO level?

See Answer to Question 33.

34 RFP Section A.5 (p.2); PWS C.2.2

‘In general, task orders for the languages accepted as more common and those involving ILR round table ratings at the Very Low and Low levels will be set-aside candidates.’

Which languages (of those listed under PWS C.2.2) are considered more common, and are intended to be set-aside for Small Business.

See Answer to Question 33.