RFQ_Amendment_NIHES2016092_000002.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1. CONTRACT ID CODE

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICAITON NO. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicble)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

FACILITY CODE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICIATION NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

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 the 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 OF 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 APPROPIRATION 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.

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.

15C. DATE SIGNED

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

16C. DATE SIGNED

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

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

PAGE OF PAGES

6. ISSUED BY CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code) (X)

CODE

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

Previous edition unusable

NIHES2016092

000002

No. Reference Question Response

1 RFQ

Based on our understanding of Article H.7 part C, the sensitivity level is level 1 non-sensitive, and would not prohibit the production of composition work being done offshore. Could you please confirm?

In the course of performing this work, the contractor will not have access to HHS facilities nor HHS information systems. Position sensitivity classifications pertain to federal contractors with PIV cards, who undergo a background check – but the contractor servicing this solicitation will not go through that process, and will not have PIV cards, so this doesn’t really apply. There is no problem with work being handled outside the U.S. from a security standpoint.

2 RFQ

As of Amendment I, the RFQ added Article H.7 to the solicitation as well as Attachment VI. These new sections include:

· System security requirements

· Security configurations

· Encryption standards

· An overall federal information systems security categorization of “Moderate”

· Security training requirements

The solicitation now also requires the submission of a System Security Plan in accordance with NIST 800-53, IT Security Requirements Instructions & Guidance and the HHS Information Security and Privacy Policy. These security attachments and requirements contradict the answers given to Questions 6, 7, 8, and 11. Do the amended security requirements supersede the answers?

There is no contradiction between the previously provided answers and the amended security requirements. All security requirements are to be implemented as applicable; if the RFQ does not state that access to the federal network is required, then security language pertaining to access to the federal network is not applicable. To confirm, contractors will not be given NIEHS email accounts, will not have to take NIH security training, will not have access to the federal network, and files can be uploaded to the publication system from anywhere in the world.

3 RFQ

Article H.7, Part A of the amended RFQ states specific requirements for background investigations and personnel procedures for all contractors and subcontractors as well as specific FDCC requirements for all computers used on this contract. Is the assumption, then, that all work on this contract be done within the United States and performed by individuals permitted to work in the US?

No. Only individuals connecting directly to a federal network are subject to these restrictions; again, security requirements are implemented only as applicable. Contractors and subcontractors will not be subjected to background checks, and contractor computers will not be linked to the federal network. Responses are welcome from companies that are within CONUS and OCONUS as long as they are not from Countries with foreign governments that support international terrorism and/or have a “significant” interest in international terrorism.

4 RFQ

Online it says we can submit proposal via email. In the RFQ document I found a clause on page 26 that said it needs to be mail/currier. Is email fine?

(13) The Date, Time and Place Quotes are Due: The Quoter shall submit dated quote to the following e-mail address: The CO at uche.washington@nih.gov at or before Wednesday October 12, 2016 at

10:00 AM. EST.

Confirm that I can email the proposal to you VS. the US postal services.

Please see amendment 000001 which changed the submission date to 18 October 2016. Email is the only acceptable method.

No

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

The purpose of this Amendment is to provide responses to additional industry questions (page 2).

1. The Request for Quote (RFQ) closing date remains October 18, 2016 10:00 AM EST.