Amendment_1_Question_and_Answers_8.2.2018.pdf

Amendment 1

1. No page limits are provided in the RFP or related attachments. Can NIH confirm there are no page limitations in either proposal (Business or Technical)?

ANSWER: There are now limitations. Technical proposals are limited to 40 pages and Business Proposals are limited to 5 pages.

2. Only the Program Manager is listed as Key Personnel. However, per page 21 of the REVISED

RFP, a Deputy Program Manager is referenced. Does NIH intend to receive Deputy Program Manager resumes as well? If so, what are the qualifications?

ANSWER: The role of Deputy Program Manager is not required for this service and is deleted.

3. The SF1449 requests 1 copy returned to NIH. However, page 59 asks for the Attachment 2 –

Pricing to be submitted as an Excel file. Can the government clarify how the Excel file should be submitted (CD-ROM, USB, electronic)?

ANSWER: Offerors are to submit 1 (one) hard Original Technical Proposal and 10 (ten) hard copies of the Technical Proposal. Offerors are to submit the Pricing Worksheet (Excel file) in hard copy in 1 (one) hard Original Business Proposal and 2 (two) Hard Copy Business Proposals.

4. Attachment 2 is referred to on page 49 as incorporated, but is referenced as “Information

Technology Systems Security NDA” and referenced on page 59 as the vendor’s pricing sheet.

Additionally, there are two Attachment 2s provided in the Solicitation Package on FBO.gov.

Can NIH please revise to differentiate between the two Attachment references? Can it be clarified that NIH is only seeking to receive Attachment 2 – Spreadsheet for Vendor’s Pricing with the proposal submission?

ANSWER: There is an Attachment 2 to the PWS – Duties and Responsibilities of the Onsite Program Manager and Attachment 2 to the RFP – Pricing Spreadsheet. Offerors are only to submit Attachment 2 to the RFP – Pricing Spreadsheet as part of the Business Proposals.

5. Page 50 states that the contractor should complete and include Section K, which is included as an attachment with the solicitation. This attachment is not found. Offerors are unable to access this attachment. Can the government please provide the Attachment, or provide the submission criteria for submission?

ANSWER: Offerors are to provide their Representations and Certifications from their SAM.gov registration. It is not included in the page limitation.

6. Attachment 11 is referenced on page 59; however, there is no reference to Attachment 11 in

Section J. Can the government clarify the location of Attachment 11? Or, should the contractor assume Attachment 11 will be the Section K Reps and Certs from the online system? If so, can the government confirm it intends to receive the entire Section K printed from the online system as part of the Business Proposal? Or, should the offeror simply reference that Section

K has been completed online? Is it possible for the offeror to simply supply the SAM reference page?

registration. It is not included in the page limitation.

7. Would you be able to tell me if there is an incumbent contractor for this requirement? If so, could you please provide the contractor name and the contract number that was awarded?

ANSWER: The prior contract was awarded to GMG Consulting under NIH Contract

HHSN269201400109P.

8. The solicitation references different Position Sensitivity Designations. On page 10, under

Position Sensitivity Designations, the solicitation states that the PSD is Level 1: Non-Sensitive;

however under Section H (e) (page 28), the solicitation states the Position Sensitivity is Level

5. Request the government confirm Position Sensitivity Designations.

ANSWER: Per confirmation with the Information Security Officer at the NIH Clinical Center, the designation is Level 5.

9. Language within the solicitation documents indicate the government may award more than one contract. Request the government confirm the type of contract anticipated for award, i.e., MAIDIQ, Single Award, etc.

ANSWER: It is the intent to issue one fixed price contract.

10. There are no formulas embedded in the pricing worksheet. Is the Offeror to include their own formulas or will the government provide a revised spreadsheet that includes formulas? Is the Offeror to assume it is the government’s intent that to calculate the “total” column, one is to multiply the number of hours provided by only the regular hourly rate?

ANSWER: The pricing spreadsheet is updated for additional columns and formulas.

11. Your proposal shall be submitted in the number of copies, to the addressees, and marked as on the SF1449. Proposals will be typewritten, paginated, reproduced on letter size paper, printed/copied double-sided, on at least30 percent post consumer fiber paper, as required by FAR 4.302(b), and will be legible in all required copies. The instructions for delivery seem to be vague.

Office of Purchasing and Contracts NIH Clinical Center 6707 Democracy Boulevard Suite 106 Bethesda, MD 20892

If not, please provide delivery instructions, including Fedex address, number of copies. Is hand carry delivery possible?

ANSWER: Offerors are to submit 1 (one) hard Original Technical Proposal and 10 (ten) hard Copies of the Technical Proposal. Offerors are to submit the Pricing Excel file in hard copy in 1 (one) hard Original Business Proposal and 2 (two) Hard Copy Business Proposals. Delivery is:

Office of Purchasing and Contracts NIH Clinical Center 6707 Democracy Boulevard Suite 106 Bethesda, MD 20892

12. L.b. Factor 2, Related Experience

11. NAICS Code under which the work was performed Please clarify if this is OUR Program Manager Name and Telephone Number for that contract or the CUSTOMER Program Manager Name and Telephone Number for that contract. (Commonly referred to as Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR))

ANSWER: It is the CUSTOMER Program Manager or Contracting Officer’s Representative.

13. “Offeror shall provide evidence of a broad pool of applicants, in similar roles, that have been placed in the metropolitan DC area within the past two years”

We have experience with hiring broad pools of applicants in the DC area, and broad pools of people in similar roles outside the DC area. We understand the challenges and constraints involved in hiring these roles within the DC area, but the majority of our hiring of people in similar roles has been elsewhere around the country. For example, right now we are managing a $12MM/year contract for CMS with a host of medical support professionals, but the work is being performed in New York for logistical reasons. Given that medical support has an inherent need to be localized to communities throughout the country, it seems like restricting based on past performance in one geographic area will disqualify more capable vendors than might be intended.

Include the following information for each contract or subcontract listed:

1. Name of Contracting Organization

2. Contract Number

3. Contract Type

4. Contract Period of Performance

5. Total Contract Value

6. Detailed description of requirement and services rendered

7. Description of obstacles and how they are overcome

8. Number of administrative support personnel managed

9. Contracting Officer's Name and Telephone Number

10. Program Manager's Name and Telephone Number

Can this requirement be changed to simply “Offeror shall provide evidence of a broad pool of applicants in similar roles?”

ANSWER: There is a continual need to staff the units of the hospital. It is the intent to use the large area of the DC metro area or offerors can indicate that staff sought in other areas will be within the DC metro area if they needed to report to work at the hospital

14. Question: the WD attached to the solicitation stipulates a H&W rate of $4.18 per hour for contracts that include EO 13706 Paid Sick Leave. Please confirm that offerors should use the WD and not the information provided in Section H when pricing SCA labor.

ANSWER: Offerors are to use the Wage Rate Determination. This services does not fall under E.O. 13706.

15. Background: Section C.1, Work statement, Paragraph G.2 on page 7 of the RFP states “At a minimum the Clerk 1 duties include…” Clerk I would appear to be in reference SCA Occupation Code 01111 – General Clerk I. During Questions and Answers from the last solicitation the Government stated that offerors should classify Medical Assistants as either Secretary I, Secretary II, or Secretary III (Occupation codes 01311 – 01313). The WD also includes relevant Occupation 12100 - Medical Assistant.

Question2a: Which SCA Occupation code is applicable to this requirement?

Question 2b: Which SCA Occupation code are Medical Assistants currently classified under?

ANSWER: The SCA Occupation Code is General Clerk II – Code 01112. These positions are Medical Support Assistants and not Medical Assistants in the SCA Occupation codes.

16. Background: Business Proposal Instructions, The Business Proposal must also include a completed copy of the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, Standard Form-LLL (Attachment 7), a signed copy of any amendments to the solicitation issued on an SF 30, a signed copy of the SF 1449, and a copy of the company's Representations and Certifications (Attachment

11) Will the government be providing Attachment 7 and Attachment 11?

ANSWER: The link to complete the Attachment 7 is https://www.gsa.gov/forms-library/disclosure-lobbying-activities. Offerors are to provide their Representations and Certifications from their SAM.gov registration.

17. Is there an incumbent contractor currently performing the Medical Support Assistant services? If so, what is the name of the company and how many staff in the Medical Support Assistant or equivalent category are currently being provided on the incumbent’s contract?

HHSN269201400109P. The positions are all Medical Support Assistants.

https://www.gsa.gov/forms-library/disclosure-lobbying-activities.

18. Please clarify how the proposal should be submitted? Are hardcopy proposals required or can proposals be submitted electronically?

Copies of the Technical Proposal. Offerors are to submit the Excel file in hard copy in 1 (one) hard copy Original Business Proposal and 2 (two) Hard Copy Business Proposals. Delivery is to:

Office of Purchasing and Contracts NIH Clinical Center 6707 Democracy Boulevard

19. Page 3, Article B.2 Option Prices states that it is required that the option periods shall include annual escalation rates according to the Department of Labor Consumer Price Index (CPI) projections. Since there are several variations of the CPI, would the government provide a percentage to use or provide a link to the appropriate table with the projected escalation rate we should use?

ANSWER: The NIH Clinical Center reviewed data from the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) measures price change for a narrower population of Americans. It is estimated that the CPI is not to increase more than 2% on an annual basis.

20. Page. 7, Section 2. Non-Key Personnel mentions Clerk 1 in the description for Medical

Support Assistant. What is the Department of Labor Wage Determination (WD) equivalent labor category for the Medical Support Assistant since there are multiple Clerk 1 labor categories in the WD?

ANSWER: The Occupation is General Clerk II.

21. Page 10, Paragraph D. Position Sensitivity Designations appears to contradict page 28, paragraph E. Position Sensitivity Designations. Please clarify whether the position sensitivity designation is Level 1: Non-Sensitive (page 10) or Level 5: Public Trust (page 28).

ANSWER: Per confirmation with the Information Security Officer at the NIH Clinical Center, the designation is Level 5.

22. Page 21, Section H – Special Contract Requirements lists the benefits in accordance with the

Department of Labor Wage Determination. Should the benefits listed be updated to include the current Health & Welfare Rate of $4.48 and the requirement for paid sick leave as cited in the WD incorporated in the solicitation?

ANSWER: The benefits are to be updated to the Wage Rage Determination and not including the requirement for paid sick leave.

23. Page 58, Factor 2: Related Experience - The last sentence in the first paragraph states that

Contracts may include those entered into by the Federal Government, agencies of state, local government, or commercial entities and should be for work completed during the past three years. Does this include contracts that are currently ongoing during the past three years?

ANSWER: The related experience can include ongoing contracts within the past three years.

24. Page 58, Factor 2: Related Experience – Should the Program Manager (number 10) listed in the Experience Statement be the government’s Program Manager or the contractor’s Program Manager?

ANSWER: The Program Manager is the Customer’s Program Manager.

25. Reps and Certs are required to be completed both in SAM and in Attachment

11. Attachment 11 was not provided. Can you please upload that onto FBO.gov?

registration.

26. Standard Form-LLL (attachment 7) was not included. Can you please upload that onto

FBO.gov?

ANSWER: The link for Attachment 7 is https://www.gsa.gov/forms-library/disclosure-lobbying-activities.

27. Does the pricing schedule on page 64 of the solicitation (last page) include overage hours? If not, we may do a blended rate to account for the 24/7/365 coverage. Would this be acceptable?

ANSWER; Any hours in excess of a 40 hour work week are to be calculated as overtime.

28. Can this proposal be submitted electronically? The instructions were not clear on the format of submission.

ANSWER: Offerors are to submit 1 (one) hard Original Technical Proposal and 10 (ten) hard Copies of the Technical Proposal. Offerors are to submit the Excel file in hard copy in 1 (one) hard copy Original Business Proposal and 2 (two) Hard Copy Business Proposals. Delivery is to:

Office of Purchasing and Contracts NIH Clinical Center 6707 Democracy Boulevard

29. No schedule was provided for the medical support assistants. Will they be working 8, 10, or 12 hour shifts? Can you give us an example of their weekly schedules?

ANSWER: A majority (47) of the contractor staff work 8-hour shifts. Several staff for weekends or holidays may work 12-hour shifts.

30. What shifts are the current employees working? 8, 10, or 12?

ANSWER: A majority (47) of the contractor staff work 8-hour shifts. Several staff for weekends or holidays may work 12-hour shifts.

31. What are the education requirements for the Medical Support Assistants and the Program

Manager?

ANSWER: Page 7 of the RFP states that the Medical Support Assistants must have a HS diploma or equivalent.

32. What are the experience (number of years) for the Medical Support Assistants and the

Program Manager?

ANSWER: Page 7 of the RFP states: This person requires a college degree and at least five (5) years of relevant experience or a high school diploma and ten (10) years of relevant experience.

Relevant experience required for this position involves program management performing tasks such as staffing, budgeting, scheduling, and client interaction.

33. The solicitation states 28 FTE Medical Support Assistants (ND) and 20 Medical Support

Assistants for PSSID with (3) backups. That would be 51 FTE + 1 Program Manager, totaling

52 FTE.

ANSWER: It is the intent to have a back up/pool of contractor staff in case their services are needed due to absences or vacancy. The number of daily contractor staff are 49-50. On an average day, there may be 3-4 unplanned absences (of the 49-50.) The pool will serve as immediate replacements and can be reporting to work at the start or near start of the shift.

34. Questions: Is there an incumbent contractor? If so who is the incumbent contractor and what is the contract number and contract value for the incumbent?

HHSN269201400109P. The current value is $13,000,000.

35. Reference RFP, Medical Support Assistants, NIH-CC-18-007046, page 7, Section C, Article

C.1, Work Statement paragraph g.2, Non-Key Personnel which states: Labor Category:

Medical Support Assistant. At a minimum the Clerk 1 duties includes…

Questions: Is the Equivalent Rate for Federal Hires General Clerk 1 for the Medical Support Assistants? If not, what is the Equivalent Rate for Federal Hires for the Medical Support Assistants?

ANSWER: The SCA occupation is General Clerk II. The GS equivalent is GS 6.

36. Reference RFP, Medical Support Assistants, NIH-CC-18-007046, page 26, Section H, Article H.3.1, Training paragraph 2, which states: All Contractor (and/or any subcontractor) employees with significant security responsibilities (as determined by the program manager) must complete role-based training annually commensurate with their role and responsibilities Question: Does the Government Program Manager make the determination of employees with significant security responsibilities or does the Contractor Program Manager make this determination?

ANSWER: The Government decides and informs the Contractor Program Manager to ensure adherence. The NIH currently requires all staff to complete annual IT security training since staff is using NIH systems.

37. Reference RFP, Medical Support Assistants, NIH-CC-18-007046, Instructions to Offerors, page 54, paragraph 2.a.2, which states: Your proposal shall be submitted in the number of copies, to the addressees, and marked as on the SF1449.

Question: How many copies are offerors to submit and to where and who other than identified in blocks 7a and 9 of the SF1449? It appears one copy submitted to Ms.

Nsangou.

hard copy Original Business Proposal and 2 (two) Hard Copy Business Proposals. Delivery is to:

Office of Purchasing and Contracts NIH Clinical Center 6707 Democracy Boulevard

38. Reference RFP, Medical Support Assistants, NIH-CC-18-007046, Instructions to Offerors.

Question: What are the page limits (if any) for the Technical Proposal and Factors 1 through 4?

ANSWER: There is a page limit of 40 pages for the entire Technical Proposal.

39. Reference RFP, Medical Support Assistants, NIH-CC-18-007046, page 58, Instructions to Offerors paragraph 2.b. Factor 4 which states: “Offerors are required to provide a minimum of two (2), maximum of three (3) references who are requested to complete References should be within the past three years and relevant to the requirements of this solicitation.” It appears there are two sentences where the first sentence ending “to complete” is missing guidance on what to complete.

Question: What are references to complete and by when? Please advise on the correct number.

ANSWER: Offerors are required to provide a minimum of two (2), maximum of three (3) references. References should be within the past three years and relevant to the requirements of this solicitation.

The Government is not required to contact all references provided by the Offeror. Also, references other than those identified by the Offeror may be contacted by the Government to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation of the Offeror's past performance.

Include the following information for each contract or subcontract listed:

1. Name of Contracting Organization

2. Contract Number

3. Contract Type

4. Contract Period of Performance

5. Total Contract Value

6. Detailed description of requirement and services

7. Contracting Officer's Name and Telephone Number

8. Program Manager's Name and Telephone Number

40. Can you please tell me if this is a new requirement? If not, who is the incumbent, and what is the contract number?

HHSN269201400109P.

41. 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS-COMMERCIAL ITEMS (JANUARY 2017)

(a) North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and small business size standard. The NAICS code and small business size standard for this acquisition appear in Block 10 of the solicitation cover sheet (SF1449).

Q1. However, I'm not able to see the dollar value or NAICS code in the referenced block. Kindly confirm the NAICS code and dollar value.

ANSWER: The NAICS is 561110 and the size standard is $7.5 Million.

42. What the suspense date for submitting questions?

ANSWER: The deadline date and time for questions was July 30 at 2 PM EST.

43. If company A & B form a JV, but the JV has no past performance but company A does- Will past performance of entities in a JV be evaluated by the prime contractor if the JV has no past performance?

ANSWER: When evaluating the past performance and experience of an entity submitting an offer for an 8(a) contract as a joint venture approved by SBA pursuant to this section, a procuring activity must consider work done individually by each partner to the joint venture as well as any work done by the joint venture itself previously.

44. Would the Government consider evaluating the past performance fo Key the same as a subcontractor's past performance?

ANSWER: The subcontractor experience will not weigh as heavy as the prime.

45. There is a minimum and maximum column with 1-50 Medical Support Assistants. If this has to be submitted with the proposal can the gov’t answer the below:

Q1 – Is the Hourly Price entry for 1 or 50?

Q2 – Is the Overtime Price entry for 1 or 50?

Q3 – Is the Total Price entry for 1 or 50 What goes in the Hourly Price?

ANSWER: The pricing spreadsheet is updated for the additional columns.

46. What systems does the contractor have to provide a SA&A package for? Does this work require contractor systems to store and process Government data and requirements?

ANSWER: This is not a requirement for these services. The IT security provisions are broad to cover many contract types.

47. It states qualified replacements are required within one (1) day of original employee removal. What is the expectation for the replacement to perform if there is no NACI or fingerprints yet or is the Government saying the replacement is provided in one day and will begin in-processing?

ANSWER: Due to the number of daily unplanned absences, the pool of candidates can quickly begin in-processing.

48. How many is too many before the contractor reduction occurs?

https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/index.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=3e1275e6fc3818559e5d445a696109ce&term_occur=36&term_src=Title:13:Chapter:I:Part:124:Subpart:A:Subjgrp:292:124.513

ANSWER: Occurences that raise concern to the IT security team may cause contractor reduction. It has not occurred in past contracts.

49. What systems is the contractor developing for NIH under this contract that requires system documentation at intervals?

ANSWER: The contractor will not be developing systems.

50. What is the contractor scanning, the NIH system or its own systems?

ANSWER: Scanning will not be a part of this service. These are general IT terms.

51. It states that all labor categories under this multiple award IDIQ receive the following benefits IAW the Wage Determination.

ANSWER: It excludes the one onsite program manager.

52. Is this a Single Award FFP contract per top of page 21 or Multiple Award IDIQ contract per statement above, middle of page 21?

ANSWER: It is Single Award FFP contract per top of page 21.

53. Can the Government verify if this will be awarded as a Firm Fixed price contract or Labor Hour contract?

ANSWER: It is Single Award FFP contract per top of page 21.

54. Is the Gov’t stating that the PM is also subject to the SCA since the RFP states it refers to ALL labor categories?

ANSWER: It excludes the one onsite program manager.

55. 52.222-17, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers (May 2014)(E.O. 13495) is selected.

Will the Gov’t provide the number of current workers, position and time in service breakdown?

ANSWER: The current number of workers is 48 and all are Medical Support Assistants. The time in service may range from 3 months to 10 years.

56. Is there a page limit for the Technical Proposal and if yes, what is it?

ANSWER: The page limit is 40 pages.

57. Is there a page limit for the Business Proposal and if yes, what is it?

ANSWER: The page limit is 10 pages.

59. Requirement is to provide a list of active profiles / resumes available for the requirement. What data does the Gov’t want in this list, i.e. table with the names, if they meet the requirements Y or N, etc. What data specifically is required to be compliant with this requirement?

ANSWER: The Government is requesting the ability to have resumes of candidate to be available. This could be the case for long term absences (maternity leave) or vacations.

60. Requirement is to provide evidence of a broad pool of applicants in similar roles that have been placed in the metropolitan DC area within the past two years. This requirement seems to favor the incumbent and possibly other companies currently supporting NIH.

Will the Gov’t remove this from the requirement and evaluation?

ANSWER: There is a continual need to staff the units of the hospital. It is the intent to use the large area of the DC metro area or offerors can indicate that staff sought in other areas will be within the DC metro area if they needed to report to work at the hospital

61. Will the Government accept using the extended Virginia area instead of just the DC metropolitan area for experience?

ANSWER: There is a continual need to staff the units of the hospital. It is the intent to use the large area of the DC metro area or offerors can indicate that staff sought in other areas will be within the DC metro area if they needed to report to work at the hospital. Experience can be shown in other areas.

62. Is the Gov’t providing only 2 weeks’ notice of requirements?

ANSWER: This question is not clear.

63. Are these additional staff requirements over and above the 20 for PSSD and 28 for ND

Assistants?

ANSWER: It is the intent to have a back up/pool of contractor staff in case their services are needed due to absences or vacancy. The number of daily contractor staff are 49-50. On an average day, there may be 3-4 unplanned absences (of the 49-50.) The pool will serve as immediate replacements and can be reporting to work at the start or near start of the shift.

64. How many and what are the times of the shifts that the Assistants work?

ANSWER: The staff are scheduled a full-time schedule and the times of the shifts are typically around 7 am, 3 pm and 11 pm.

65. How many within the PSSD and ND are provided by shift, i.e. PSSD has 10 on days, 5 on swings and 5 on midnight shift, etc.?

ANSWER: The schedule is typically days/evenings Monday through Friday. There are rotational holidays and weekends. There is usually no midnight shift even though the hospital is open.

66. How many Assistants work on the weekends from each department?

ANSWER: Typically, weekends are rotational. Staff may work 1 weekend a month.

67. Can the Gov’t provide a sample or notional schedule, so offerors can see the schedule requirements?

ANSWER: The typical weekly schedule is days/evenings with rotational weekends and holidays. Shifts are typically 8 hours and start at 7 am, 3 pm or 11 pm. There are a few positions that have different tour of duty start times to meet the staffing needs for that location.

68. Reference: RFP Section L: Factor 2: Related Experience - “Prime contractors’ related experience statements will be weighed more heavily that subcontractor related experience.” Is there a formula for this score?

ANSWER: There is no mathematical formula but evaluations with comments on prime contractors will weigh more heavily.

69. Reference: PWS: Section 3.2 Personnel Requirements, Mandatory Training Orientation – How will training be scheduled? It is assumed that a new class will receive orientation prior to October 1st, but will training need to be scheduled as new personnel is hired? How would the government prefer to schedule training/orientation for “replacement staff”?

ANSWER: Orientation is 1-2 days and can begin on October 1. Any new contractor staff will be provided a training/orientation schedule which is regularly conducted by the Government.

Replacement staff will attend a training schedule due to the number of unplanned absences and the need to use replacement staff on a daily basis.

70. How would the government would like the transition to the Program Manager to take place?

ANSWER: The current contract does not have a full time onsite Program Manager. The Government is requiring a program manager to meet the skills and qualifications on page 7 of the

RFP.

71. Refence: RFP Section L: Subfactor 2: Recruitment and Retention Plan – “Offeror shall indicate the timeframe in which the NIH Clinical Center can expect to receive profiles/resumes once a request is made.” Would you elaborate on the process of requesting a profile/resume? Will there be task order made? What turnaround is the government expecting? Will there be any time permitted to provide orientation/training to the requested candidate?

ANSWER: The Government requests profiles/resumes within 48 hours of request. The Government will contact the Program Manager. No task orders will be issued. The need for orientation and training will be coordinated with the Program Manager.

72. Is there a page limit for the technical response?

ANSWER: There is a 40 page limit for the technical response.

73. Will vendors be expected to email proposal responses to the COR or will we need to submit hard copies to NIH? If hard copies are requested, who shall they be addressed and at what mailing address?

hard copy Original Business Proposal and 2 (two) Hard Copy Business Proposals. Delivery is to:

Office of Purchasing and Contracts NIH Clinical Center 6707 Democracy Boulevard

74. Can you please provide the award total for the current contract?

ANSWER: The current contract total is $13,000,000.

75. What’s the obligations amounts per year for the current contract?

ANSWER: The obligation amounts are between $2.5 million and $2.8 million per year.

76. Have position totals in this solicitation changed from the current contract?

ANSWER: The position totals have increased in this RFP from the current contract. The increase is 5-7 contractor staff.

77. What’s the annual percentage of call-outs for the current contract?

ANSWER: The annual percentage was not tracked by the Government. The Government did track daily and it is 3-4 call-outs a day.

78. Can you please provide seniority dates, length of service of current personnel supporting this requirement? What’s the current level of vacancies?

ANSWER: This data is not available. The length of service ranges from 3 months to 10 years.

The current level of vacancies is 3 vacancies.

79. What wage determination occupation code is being used for the medical assistant? Is a medical assistant certification required?

ANSWER: The code is General Clerk II. This is not a medical assistant position.

80. Can the government provide a sample of the schedule?

ANSWER: The typical weekly schedule is days/evenings with rotational weekends and holidays. Shifts are typically 8 hours and start at 7 am, 3 pm or 11 pm. There are a few positions that have different tour of duty start times to meet the staffing needs for that location.

81. In Part 1, section H the listed SCA wage rate is $3.81hour. The SCA wage for contracts covered under EO 13706, such as this one, have a rate of $4.13/hour as of August 2017.

Can you confirm the updated SCA fringe rate of $4.13/hour?

ANSWER: The Wage Rate determination is applicable. The EO 13706 is not applicable.

82. In section L, b: Technical Proposal Instructions, Factor 2: Related Experience it states, “offeror shall provide evidence of a broad pool of applicants, in similar roles, that have been placed in the metro DC area within the past two years”. We respectfully requests this requirement to allow the offeror to submit applicants placed outside of the Metro DC area within the past two years.

83. Re Factor 4 (Past Performance), please clarify what information the offer or should submit in order for the Government to evaluate the past performance of its team and if there is a specified format.

ANSWER:

Offerors are required to provide a minimum of two (2), maximum of three (3) references.

References should be within the past three years and relevant to the requirements of this solicitation.

The Government is not required to contact all references provided by the Offeror. Also, references other than those identified by the Offeror may be contacted by the Government to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation of the Offeror's past performance.

Include the following information for each contract or subcontract listed:

1. Name of Contracting Organization

2. Contract Number

3. Contract Type

4. Contract Period of Performance

5. Total Contract Value

6. Detailed description of requirement and services

7. Contracting Officer's Name and Telephone Number

8. Program Manager's Name and Telephone Number

84. Please confirm that the medical support assistant labor category maps to General Clerk

II in the wage determination attached to the RFP.

ANSWER: It is General Clerk II.

85. The reference on page 21 to a $3.81 employer health and welfare contribution should be updated to $4.18 IAW the wage determination attached to the RFP and the Government's incorporation of 52.222-62.

ANSWER: The RFP is updated to correct the employee health and welfare to the Wage Rate Determination.

86. Please provide a list of hire dates or tenures for the current medical support assistants.

ANSWER: This data is not available. The length of service ranges from 3 months to 10 years.

87. FAR 52.222-42 is checked off as applying, but we could not find the GS equivalent rates. Will the government kindly provide those?

ANSWER: The GS equivalent rate is GS 6.

88. Please clarify how the Government's evaluation of Factor 2 (Related Experience) will differ from its evaluation of Factor 4 (Past Performance).

ANSWER: The Offeror and any proposed main subcontractors will be evaluated on the extent to which prior experience in similar contracts can be demonstrated. The Offeror's related experience will be weighted more heavily than subcontractor related experience. Related experience includes providing and managing personnel serving in an administrative role to organizations of similar size. Specific experience in a clinical and/or research environment will be evaluated more favorably. Additionally, experience in a government clinical/research environment is preferred.

The Offeror's and any proposed main subcontractor past performance will be evaluated based on the reference checks. Prime Contractor past performance questionnaires will be weighted more heavily than subcontractor past performance questionnaires. Past performance will be evaluated based on the ratings received in the areas of: quality of service; timeliness or scheduling of service; business relations/customer satisfaction; and program manager and staffing. An Offeror with no past performance information will receive a neutral rating (i.e., the rating will not add to or detract from its past performance rating.)

No questionnaires will be requested.

89. What is the average timeframe for Level 1 security processing/clearing contract personnel to begin performing services at NIH?

ANSWER: The average timeframe is 4-8 weeks. It may be shorter if the contractor staff has worked for a federal agency. The Level is also corrected to read as “Level 5.”