Tech_Questions_Answers_Jan_9_2013.docx

MCC-13-RFQ-0020

BPA for Threshold and Compact Technical Questions and Answers

1. The RFP was released on 12/20/2012 with a response period of three weeks (proposals are currently due 01/10/2013). Given the Christmas and New Year holidays, it is difficult to prepare as high a quality proposal as we would prefer in this short period. We also note that the typical response period for Federal contracts of this type is 30-45 days. We request MCC consider extending the proposal due date to 01/24/2013 to reflect the timing of the release of the RFP and the usual time allotted for such solicitations. We believe this will allow MCC to receive higher quality proposals than would be submitted otherwise under the current deadline.

The first cut off due date for capability statements is extended to 01/24/2013 at 2:00pm EST.

2. FAR Clauses 52.219-6 and 52.219-14 on page 20 are checked. Please confirm that MCC’s intent is to allow some orders under the BPA to be issued as small business set-asides (ie, all orders under the BPA are not intended to be small business set-asides and thus large businesses are eligible for awards).

The first cut-off date for submission of Capability Statements is extended to -01/24/2013 at 2:00pm EST. This cut-off date is reserved for Small Businesses. However, the recently passed Defense Authorization Act included the revival of the FAR Part 13.5 Test Program which authorizes the use of simplified procedures for the acquisition of supplies and services in amounts greater than the simplified acquisition threshold. Once this language is re-incorporated into the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), capability statements from other than small businesses will be accepted.

3. The RFP states “C.5.1. The Offeror must submit a document outlining the company’s capabilities. C.5.1.1. The format is attached in the Excel spreadsheet, along with an example.” However, the RFP later states “L.1.2 The Statement of Capabilities package shall include identification of the Offeror. L.1.3. Each package shall consist of two volumes, as described below: L.1.3.1. Volume I – Curriculum Vitae L.1.3.2. Volume II – Statement of Capabilities L.1.3.2.1 Capabilities shall include experience and expertise in the following areas: sector, geographical and foreign language skills.” Is the Statement of Capabilities “package” supposed to consist of CVs (Volume I); a statement of capabilities comprised of a narrative description of the organization’s experience and expertise (Volume II); and the completed excel worksheets? Please clarify.

Section C.5.1.1. is revised as follows: “Offerors/Consultants shall provide their Capability Statement in accordance with Section L.”

L.1.3.1. Volume I – Curriculum Vitae L.1.3.2. Volume II – Statement of Capabilities L.1.3.2.1 Capabilities shall include experience and expertise in the areas of the Statement of work as well as the following areas: sector, geographical and foreign language skills.

L.1.3.3. Volume III – Pricing Information L.1.3.3.1 All pricing information shall be included in Volume III. No pricing information shall be included in Volumes I or II. A sample Excel spreadsheet is included in the RFQ.

4. Also with respect to Section L.1.3, please confirm that the “Rates” worksheet should be submitted as part of Volume III, and that the worksheets titled “Capabilities” and “Past Performance Matrix” should be submitted as part of Volume II.

This is correct.

5. Section L.1.4 states “Pages over the maximum page limitation for any section will be excluded from evaluation.” However, we could not find any reference to page limits elsewhere in the RFP. Please clarify what page limits apply to Volumes I, II, and III (or any relevant sections within each volume).

Section L.1.4. is revised to read as follows: “There are no page limits to the 3 volumes of the Capability Statements.”

6. In the Excel spreadsheet provided, the tabs marked “Capabilities” and “Example” have mostly similar, but some different, items. Please clarify how these tabs are to be interpreted. Is one tab meant to provide overall information about the responding organization and the other about specific projects/contracts that provide examples of the organization’s capabilities, or are they to be interpreted in some other way?

The tab marked “Example” is hereby deleted. The tab marked “Capabilities” is to provide basic information about your organization and is slightly updated as attached.

7. It appears as if there is a word(s) missing from Section C.5.2, “Vendors shall submit in addition to the capabilities statement and the executive summary detailing how they can meet MCC’s needs and their specialties.” Please clarify.

Section C.5.2. is revised to read: “Vendors shall submit, in addition to the capabilities statement, an executive summary detailing how they can meet MCC’s needs and their specialties.”

8. Concerning the “Rates” worksheet:

(a) Please clarify what information, if any, is to be provided in the “Rates” worksheet with respect to CLINs 0001-0004. Does Volume III only need to quote rates for each of the labor categories? What is the meaning of each of CLINS 0001-0004, particularly CLIN 0003 “Incentive”?

CLINS 0001 – 0004 are deleted. The vendor shall provide labor rates for any and/or all of the labor categories included in the vendor capability statement.

(b) Are the rates proposed to be interpreted as ceiling rates for individual call orders (ie, BPA holders may discount rates proposed here for specific call orders)?

Yes.

(c) If the offeror’s NICRA allows for recovery of indirect costs on ODCs and subcontracts, will call orders allow such recovery (as implied by CLIN 0002”Cost Reimbursement”) or does all indirect cost recovery need to be included in the labor rates proposed?

The offeror’s shall provide loaded hourly labor rates.

(d) Similarly, how is fee/profit to be treated under call orders? Can fee/profit be proposed against ODC and subcontract costs, or does all fee/profit need to be included in the labor rates proposed?

The offeror’s shall provide loaded hourly labor rates.

9. The first section under CLIN 0005 in “Rates” spreadsheet is for the period “Award through 12/31/2012”, Section C.5.5.2 states “Rates shall coincide with the calendar year and only change on January 1 of every year.”, and Section F.1 gives the end date of the BPA as 12/31/2017. However, Section B.1 of the RFP states the period is “Award through Month 12”. Also, the final period in Section B.1 is given as “Month 49 through 61.” Is it intentional on MCC’s part that the last period is 13 months in length, or should the last period be “Month 49 through Month 60” (consistent with Section C.5.5.1 giving the length of the BPA as five years). Please clarify what is the period of performance for the BPA.

Loaded Direct Labor Rates should be provided for a 5-year period ending 12/31/2017 or for whatever period the vendor / consultant is available.

10. Section C.5.1.2 states “Offerors need not be capable of performing every requirement under the BPA.” Is this to be interpreted as not requiring offerors to propose candidates and rates for all eight labor categories, but allowing offerors to submit proposals covering only a subset of the eight labor categories?

Offerors are allowed to submit capability statements for any and/or all labor categories. For example, they may submit for just one category, a few categories or all categories.

11. Section L.1.5 states “Responses are required to be submitted in hardcopy and in accordance with Section L.3.” However, Section L.3. lists requirements for electronic submission. Please confirm that both hardcopy and electronic submission are required.

Both are required.

12. Consistent with any page limitations for Volume I that MCC might specify, is there a minimum or maximum number of CVs to be submitted for each labor category proposed by an offeror?

There are no page limitations. A CV must be provided for each consultant /person proposed.

13. Section C.2.1.4 provides a list of labor categories, but no descriptions or minimum qualifications required for each category. Since the categories are quite broad, will MCC please provide brief descriptions and minimum qualifications such as education and years of experience for each labor category?

· A minimum of 7-10 years of experience in designing and/or implementing successful governance reform programs in developing countries with a focus on the specific labor category. Strong preference is for candidates who have led analytical assessment studies or missions in developing countries or who have served as an in-country implementer of a governance reform.

· Strong preference will be given to candidates with prior, and ideally recent, experience in developing countries.

· As clearly shown on CVs, prior experience assessing policy and institutional gaps and weaknesses in the labor category. CVs should clearly list assessments, studies, publications and analytical missions the candidate has participated in and should note the candidate’s role in each.

· He or she should hold an advanced degree from an accredited institution in a related field, including economics or the social sciences. MA-level or equivalent mandatory, PhD a plus.

· Fluency in both English and a foreign language is mandatory and should be clearly indicated on CVs.

· CV should indicate relevant facilitation and presentation skills in English and, ideally, foreign language settings.

· Experience engaging with foreign governments in the design and/or implementation of assistance programs.

14. Section C .5.2 - Should the Executive Summary requested be included as part of Volume I or II or as a separate file?

As a separate file.

15. Section L.1.4. states that any pages over the maximum page limitation for each section will be excluded from evaluation. We are unable to locate the page limitation for each section in the RFQ. Please clarify.

See answer to question 3.

16. L.1.5 and L.3 - - It appears that both a hardcopy and electronic submission is required by the RFQ. If so, should the electronic version be submitted via email or as a CD with the hardcopy submission?

The electronic version may be submitted via email.

17. Section L.1.3.1 does not indicate how many CVs per labor category should be submitted in Volume 1 – Curriculum Vitae. Please clarify.

There should be one CV submitted per consultant for a labor category. If a consultant is applying for more than one labor category, they should submit separate proposals for each labor category.

18. Section L.1.8 - Please clarify what is meant by “Offerors’ packages shall identify their timeframe for availability”.

If the offeror/consultant is not available for the full five year period, the capability statement shall note their timeframe for availability.

19. The Capabilities tab of the Excel spreadsheet includes a field entitled ‘Past Performance Evaluation’. Please clarify what type of information is to be provided in this section.

If the vendor has previously held contracts/task orders of similar tasks, they are to provide the contract/task order/purchase order number, the period of performance of that contractual vehicle, the value of the contractual vehicle, the government technical and contractual point of contact for your contractual vehicle, and the project description.