RFP_N02CP71000-26_-_AMENDMENT_1_-_Questions_and_Answers.pdf

AMENDMENT 1

RFP N02CP71000-26

Support Services for Studies of Infection, Immunity and Cancer

Proposal due date: Remains the same 12:00PM EST November 7, 2016 Cut-off date for questions: Changed to 11:00AM EST October 25, 2016

Question: On page 52 of the RFP it states that Past Performance references should be provided in the Business Proposal. Attachment 11, Additional Technical Proposal Instructions, B3, requests documentation of past performance including contract title, contract ID, etc. Also, the Technical Evaluation Factors on page 94 states “Provide three references documenting your successful past performance in the conduct of similar studies.” Please clarify whether Past Performance references should be provided in the Business Proposal and the Technical Proposal or only in the Business Proposal.

Response: The Past Performance Information requested on page 52 of the RFP should be followed as per instructions and provided with your Business Proposal. You should also provide the information as requested in Attachment 11, Additional Technical Proposal Instructions and include in your Technical Proposal.

The first bullet under B. on page 94 is revised to read “Demonstrated experience in survey research design/development and the development/conduct of field and molecular epidemiologic studies by the Offeror relevant to this procurement”.

Question: The technical cost assumptions in Attachment 17 do not include any costs for the purchase of specimen and laboratory supplies and equipment. Please clarify whether such purchases will be required and if so please provide a uniform budget assumption.

Response: Please see the revised “Attachment 17”. Only highlighted sections have been revised.

Question: The Additional Technical Proposal Instructions in Attachment 11 indicate that the proposal should be printed “flip-up.” We standardly produce proposals in a book style layout, with the binding on the left side. This layout has been deemed acceptable at NCI and other Federal agencies. May we produce the proposal in our standard format?

Response: The layout format is revised. Proposal submissions should use a book style format instead of a “flip-up” format.

Question: Attachment 11, page 4; Additional Information Reference Text: “The Government estimates that, as a baseline, the labor mix of the key personnel required to provide the level-of-effort required for this contract shall include approximately 1 Project Director, 3-4 Project Managers/Senior Project Managers, 1 Database Manager, 1 Biological Specimen/Laboratory Specialist, 1-2 Research Assistants/Administrators, and other field personnel as needed….”

1) Please provide LOE estimates by annual contract year for all required labor categories.

Response: Please see the revised “Attachment 17”. Only highlighted sections have been revised. Labor hours are spread evenly over the life of the contract. The breakdown of labor hours per labor category is at the discretion of the Offeror.

2) Do the labor hours noted in RFP (pg. 46, Item d.) include vacation, holiday, and sick time?

Response: Yes, the labor hours include vacation, holiday, and sick time.

Question: Attachment 11, page 5; Additional Information Reference Text: Project managers (100% effort for 2-3 individuals). Please clarify if each Project Manager is at 100% effort, or does this mean 100% effort spread across 2-3 Project Managers?

Response: Total effort is expected to be between 200% – 300% across multiple individuals to fulfill the labor category for Project Managers. Level of effort for each labor category shall be determined by the Offeror based on experience with performing the types of studies outlined in the Statement of Work.

Question: Section M.6.A.2, page 94; Experience and Capabilities of Other Personnel Reference Text:

Reference Text – bullets 2-4 – “other mid-level personnel required for the conduct of the described variety of field studies….”; “other personnel required for the conduct of the described variety of field studies. This includes but is not limited to: forms designers, statistical sampling design specialists, nosologists, nutrition specialists, coding specialists……”; “Computer Programmers/analysts….”

1) Please confirm that the only relevant labor categories required to perform the work, and to be included in the proposal, are those named in Attachment 11, page 4; Additional Information”.

Response: With the exception of the Project Director and the Project Managers, the labor categories provided are for the offeror’s information only and is not to be considered restrictive.

2) If the experience and capabilities of other labor categories described in Section M.6.A.2 are to be included in the technical proposal and budget, please clarify all that are relevant and provide LOE estimates by annual contract year.

Response: Please use the Statement of Work and your knowledge of and experience with performing the types of studies to determine relevancy of labor categories and sufficient level of effort required.

The Chart on Page 46 d. Level of Effort is revised to read as follows:

The Government’s requirement for the work set forth in the Statement of Work of this solicitation is 44,930 direct labor hours. It is estimated that the labor hours are constituted below and will be expended approximately as follows:

Contract Base Year

Contract Year 2

Contract Year 3

Contract Year 4

Contract Year 5

Total

Base Year 7,488 Option 1 7,488 Option 2 7,488 Option 3 7,488 Option 4 7,488 Option 5 – Increased Services

1,498

Option 6 – Increased Services

1,498

Option 7 – Increased Services

1,498

Option 8 – Increased Services

1,498

Option 9 – Increased Services

1,498

Total 8,986 8,986 8,986 8,986 8,986 44,930