Signed_Amendment_0001.pdf

NSN 7540-01-152-8070 STANDARD FORM 30. (Rev. 10-83) Previous Edition unusable Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Page of Pages AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1. Contract ID Code

2. AMENDMENT MODIFICATION NO. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (if applicable)

6. ISSUED BY CODE 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than item 6) CODE

(x) 9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (NO., Street, Country, State and ZIP Code)

CODE FACILITY CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of offers is extended, is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing items 8 and 15, and returning ______ copies of amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OR OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment your desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

Check One

A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE

CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return _______ copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible)

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

15C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

16C. DATE SIGNED

Veronica.Price Inserted Text

Veronica.Price Typewritten Text

Typewritten Text

Veronica.Price Typewritten Text

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Attachment Page

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The purpose of Amendment 0001 is three-fold:

A. To provide responses to all questions submitted by potential offerors.

B. To provide corrections to Section J. List of Attachments and Section L. Instruction to Offerors, of the subject Request for Proposals.

C. Incorporate a clause into Section I.

A. Clarification Questions and Responses

1. Estimated Start of the Contract: What is the estimated effective date of the contract?

U.S. Department of Education Response: Estimated start of the contract is anticipated on or about June 1st, 2015.

2. Performance Reviews: On page 95, it states that offerors must submit 4 performance reviews (Contractor Performance Information Form). Please clarify which of the following interpretations were intended:

a. 4 performance reviews are to be submitted only for the prime contractor,

b. 4 performance reviews are to be submitted across the prime contractor and its subcontractors, or

c. 4 performance reviews are required for the contractor and in addition 4 reviews are required per subcontractor.

U.S. Department of Education Response: The intent is for a minimum of four past performance reviews to be submitted that encompasses work completed by both the prime contractor and all proposed subcontractors. For example: A prime contractor who proposes three subcontractors may consider submitting two reviews for themselves and one for each of the proposed subcontractors.

3. References: Should references be provided as an appendix?

U.S. Department of Education Response: Past Performance references should be provided as an appendix to the technical proposal.

4. Professional staff: On page 90, it says that vitae are required for all professional staff and that letters of commitment are required for professional staff not employed by the offeror or collaborators. Does professional staff mean key personnel, or does it include other staff such as reviewers?

U.S. Department of Education Response: “Professional staff”, as referenced on page 90 of the solicitation, refers to all professional staff working on the contract, including reviewers.

5. Personnel Chart: Is the personnel chart on page 91 for key personnel only or for all staff members including research assistants and administrative staff?

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U.S. Department of Education Response: The personnel chart on page 91 must include all staff proposed to work on the contract, including research assistants, administrative staff and subcontractors.

6. Task Orders: We wonder if there is an error in the estimated due dates for Tasks 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 in the Schedule of Deliverables for Task Orders 2, 3, and 4 on pages 51, 55, 59. The estimated due date is mentioned as “3 weeks after the effective date of the Task Order” for all three tasks (Task 1.1, 1.2, ad 1.3) in all the three task orders (Task Order #1, #2, and #3).

U.S. Department of Education Response: Three weeks after the effective date of award for each of the task orders is the correct due date. All completed master review guides (MRGs) and a summary chart of study ratings are due three weeks after the contractor receives the study citations.

7. Task 4: For Task 4, will the satellite help desk be given access to WWC’s SharePoint site to track issues that come through the WWC help desk?

U.S. Department of Education Response: All WWC contractors will have access to a shared site to ensure consistency across the WWC investment, but this does not include the SharePoint site for tracking help desk inquiries. The R2D2 contractor will not have access to that site. The R2D2 contractor will be responsible for tracking satellite help desk requests routed to them from the main WWC help desk, and filing/archiving them per COR instructions.

8. Topics: On Pages 90-91, requirements for applicable contractor past performance include references to “classroom observation data; content knowledge of teacher preparation policy and practice; teacher certification and routes to certification, measure teacher practices and competencies.” Can you please confirm if these topics are applicable to the R2D2 solicitation or should the focus be only on those topics directly related to the R2D2 contract?

U.S. Department of Education Response: The topics referenced on pages 90 - 91 were included in error. The focus should be on the topics directly related to the R2D2 contract solicitation.

9. WWC training: Will the contractor be given priority in the allocation of slots at upcoming WWC reviewer certification trainings?

U.S. Department of Education Response: The successful offeror will have at least 8-10 reviewers certified in version 3.0 of the WWC standards for rating group design studies. Future training opportunities will be available for all WWC contractors, including the R2D2 contractor.

10. Page 92 of the RFP has several statements that suggest this procurement will be difficult for a small business to perform the work if certain requirements remain. Specifically, “At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern…Please ensure that the Prime is proposing to perform at least 50% of the labor dollars, and that subcontractors (including Subject Matter Experts and consultants) are performing less than 50% of the labor dollars.”

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Given our estimate of the large number of WWC-certified reviewers needed to successfully perform the required reviews in the compressed time period available, we believe any prime contractor will need to engage a substantial number of reviewers, including subcontractors and consultants. We suggest ED allow for a team of small businesses, formed as a consortium, to perform jointly to meet the participation requirement. This arrangement would align with the intent of Section 46 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013 (NDAA), (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq) allowing for a small business to subcontract with a “similarly situated entity” in order to meet the limitation on subcontracting. Please consider (1) allowing small business teams (as a whole) to meet the subcontracting limit or (2) permit consultant labor to be included as part of the small business prime contractor’s personnel costs.

U.S. Department of Education Response: In accordance with FAR clause 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting, “At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern.”

11. On page 86 of the RFP it states that the offerors must submit the “Business Proposal electronically as an EXCEL WORKBOOK.” Can the department please clarify if offerors can also submit a PDF version of documents that contain assumptions and other supporting information related to the determination of the price/cost associated with the business proposal in addition to an Excel Workbook that contains the budget and supporting schedules?

U.S. Department of Education Response: The “numbers” portion of the business proposal must be submitted in a Microsoft Excel Workbook. The narrative portion of the business proposal may be submitted in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF.

12. On p. 95 of the RFP, it states that offerors must submit information about their most recent four contracts, completed in the last three years or currently in process but beyond the first year of the contract, which are of similar size, scope, and complexity. Further, the RFP indicates that, “the offeror must also submit the same information for all proposed subcontractors.” Four past performance ratings for subcontractors regardless of their level of effort seems excessive. Would the government consider reducing the number of past performance forms required for subcontractors, particularly those with smaller proposed roles?

U.S. Department of Education Response: Please reference the U.S. Department of Education’s response to Question #2.

13. On p. 90-91 of the RFP, the Organizational Capabilities, Experience & Resources seems to address specific areas of expertise not required for this procurement. Specifically, it asks offerors to demonstrate expertise in areas such as classroom observation, teacher preparation policy and practices, and teacher certification. We assume these requirements were not intended for this procurement. Please clarify.

U.S. Department of Education Response: The assumption that the Organizational Capabilities, Experience and Resources on pages 90-91 regarding classroom observation is not applicable to the R2D2 solicitation and will be removed through a solicitation amendment.

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14. Please clarify the requirement that the small business prime perform 51% of the work with its own staff. Given that there are hundreds of reviews to be done, would ED consider that the independent WWC certified reviewers be considered prime contractor staff for this purpose.

U.S. Department of Education Response: In accordance with FAR 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting, The U.S. Department of Education is unable to remove the 51% mandate.

15. Coordination across contractors to avoid duplication of work is essential for the success and cost-efficacy of the WWC work. What guidance and/or support has been provided to the existing three WWC contractors to ensure their active participation in coordination, including and beyond the bimonthly coordination meetings?

U.S. Department of Education Response: The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) provides ongoing support and coordination to all contractors that support the WWC investment.

All WWC contractors have access to a shared site where templates, documents, and other internal procedural informational materials are housed.

16. For IDIQ Task 2, Activity 2.3 (reviews of studies funded by the Department), have non-IES offices sponsoring research committed to providing the draft study reports for WWC review?

How will these offices be involved in supporting the reviews?

U.S. Department of Education Response: Only final reports will be reviewed. IDIQ SOW Task 2, Activity 2.3 may be executed according to government discretion.

17. For IDIQ Task 2, Activities 2.2 and 2.3, how does the R2D2 review interface with the larger ED study report review process?

U.S. Department of Education Response: There is no interaction or interfacing with the ED report review or clearance process as discussed in IDIQ SOW Task 2, Activities 2.2 and 2.3.

Only final public reports are reviewed by the WWC.

18. Task 1.3 calls for up to two meetings between contractor and COR per year. The IDIQ (Activity 1.3) calls for 4. Which should we use for cost assumptions?

U.S. Department of Education Response: Offerors should plan for up to four meetings per year based on the information provided in IDIQ SOW Activity 1.3.

19. Will the IDIQ contractor have access to the parts of the grant proposal that describe the cited research?

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U.S. Department of Education Response: No, the IDIQ contractor will only have access to a list of studies that have been included with proposal submissions.

B. Section J. List of Attachments and Section I. Instructions to Offerors are hereby updated:

• Section J, Attachment A – IDIQ Performance Work Statement (PWS) - Section VII paragraph entitled “Commercialization Plan” is revised to be titled “Communication Plan”.

• Section L. Instructions to Offerors (ITO) -

a. Under ‘Past Performance’, paragraph two is revised from “The offeror must also submit the same information for all proposed subcontractors.” to “The submitted past performance reviews may also include relevant work completed by proposed subcontractors.”

b. Under ‘Organizational Capabilities, Experience & Resources’, the paragraph below the bullet points (italicized below) is deleted, as it was incorporated in error, and is not related to this procurement.

“Short abstracts of current work shall include the name, current affiliation and current telephone number of the study's project officer. This section must briefly identify resources (other than personnel), such as facilities and equipment that is available for use in carrying out the activities of this project. Applicable contractor past performance must include evidence of designing and managing large-scale multi-site education studies that involve: challenging large-scale study recruitment; random assignment in an education setting; collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data including sophisticated correlational; analyses and collection/analyses of classroom observation data;

content knowledge of teacher preparation policy and practice, teacher certification and routes to certification, measuring teacher practices and competencies; prior successful work in conducting studies of a similar nature.”

C. Relevant Contract Clause: Section I is updated to incorporate the following clause:

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Clause 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting is hereby incorporated into the solicitation.

US Dept of Education, 550 12th St SW - 7th Floor Washington DC 20202-4230