Hawaii_Industry_Day_-_Questions_and_Answers_(Final).pdf

CIO-SP3 Small Business Ramp On

Hawaii Industry Day - Questions and Answers 11/20/2015

# Question: Answer:

1 How many awardees does NITAAC anticipate for the on-ramp? Number of awards will depend on the number of qualified proposals submitted.

How often will contractors on the vehicle be required to recertify their small business size?

Re-representation is covered under FAR Part 19.3.

Does the NITAAC anticipate off-ramping the large businesses on CIO-SP3

SB?

The procedures for a ramp off are in the CIO-SP3 Small Business GWAC Conformed Contract

(http://nitaac.nih.gov/nitaac/contracts/cio-sp3-small-business/master-contract) under Article H.15. This article is not intended to be used to ramp off contractors solely based on the size re-representation.

If you qualify in a task area and later become qualified in another task area can that task area be added?

Only if the Contracting Officer declares another Open Season to allow contract holders to propose on additional task areas in accordance with Article H.14 of the CIO-SP3 GWAC.

5 What is a "Health Resource SME"?

This refers to the requirement for the contract holder to have an inherent domain-specific capability in a health-related mission. You may also want to refer to the Q&As posted in FBO under the original solicitation.

If awarded GWAC by 8(a) can compliant get 8(a) task order business after

8(a) status expires, or do they re-size certification?

Per FAR 19.804-6, once an 8(a) receives an award under the GWAC, the 8(a) concern may continue to accept new orders even after a concern’s program term expires, the concern otherwise exits the 8(a) Program, or the concern becomes other than small for the NAICS code assigned under the contract.

7 Can teams bid or only business who will be the prime?

Companies may propose under a Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA) or Joint Venture (JV). It is a business decision that each company will have to make. Requirements for acceptable CTAs will be specified in the solicitation.

8 If the team is allowed, can tech capabilities and pp subs be used?

Past Performance and technical capabilities of subcontractors will be considered only if the offeror submits an acceptable FAR 9.601(1) CTA or JV. You may want to refer to the Q&As for the initial solicitation for further clarification.

9 Can they bid on opportunities based on subs socio-economic status?

No. Only the prime's or the JV's socio-economic status is considered. Further details regarding the CTAs and JVs will be detailed in the solicitation.

Can you please clarify how you currently have 94 companies that are prime?

Currently 94 contractors hold GWAC awards for CIO-SP3 SB. http://nitaac.nih.gov/nitaac/contracts/cio-sp3-small-business/matrix

11 What briefing is available? Yes the slides will be posted both on the FBO notice for the Ramp On.

Under the 137 Labor Categories, do offerors bid on all 137, or just the categories that they think will apply to our future bids?

All 137.

In regards to Labor Categories pricing, when you stated that we should expect to be asked for a discount, is it prior to being awarded?

The Ordering Contracting Officers (OCOs) always have the right to ask for additional discounts at task order level. If this question is relating to the upcoming RFP please visit Q&A for the initial solicitation posted on FBO.

14 Does this include Hawaii Tax? The loaded labor rates are all inclusive.

15 Is there an account for regional rates?

Please note per the initial RFP the ceiling rates are applicable CONUS-wide. Please see the initial RFP for the OCONUS information.

16 Are we required to bid on all 10 categories?

No, all will be required to qualify in task area 1 plus a minimum of 2 - 3 other task areas depending on the offeror's socio-economic status. Details will be specified in the solicitation, or please view the original solicitation.

17 What is the apportionment between products vs. services?

CIO-SP3 SB is for services and solutions, however ODCs may be required under an individual task order, and any

"apportionment" is determined by the Ordering Contracting Officer.

18 What are the subcontracting opportunities?

Subcontracting opportunities are available through any of the three GWACs CIO-SP3, CIO-SP3 SB and CIO-CS. Please visit the NITAAC website and each GWAC page. Information on each prime contractor is posted along with the PM contact information.

19 You mentioned sole source, is that also for the other categories?

Exceptions to fair opportunity is covered under FAR 16.505 (b) (2) at task order level. There will be no sole sources for the GWAC award.

CIO-SP3 Small Business Ramp On

Hawaii Industry Day - Questions and Answers 11/20/2015

Is there an expectation that vendors will respond to a minimum percentage of RFP's?

There is no set required percentage. Those contractors that will receive the award shall comply with the terms and conditions of the contract. Please see the current CIO-SP3 SB GWAC posted on the NITAAC website.

Are the ceiling rates 100% hard (absolute)? Or, are they negotiable upwards/beyond the ceiling in an event that a specific requirement causes for capabilities that exceed a generic labor category description?

No, some exception may apply (e.g. additional educational experiences, security clearances, etc), however they will have to be approved by the ordering contracting officer.

Can you share any information on past awards by any local Hawaii based agencies?

This information is available on FPDS-NG. Currently NITAAC CIO-SP3 SB GWAC has only one prime CH based out of

Hawaii. However, other Contract Holders may have satellite offices or HI Based subcontractors.

23 Will there be a CIO-SP4? Most likely

24 If so, when potentially? At the expiration of the CIO-SP3 and CIO-SP3 SB GWACs

25 Is there any simulation animation in IT services?

The CIO-SP3 Small Business GWAC covers a wide range of IT services and solutions. Examples can be found under

Article C.2 of the current contract. Specific requirements including scope determinations are made at the individual task order level.

26 What if you have little to no past performance?

The solicitation will detail the requirements for past performance including the criteria the government will use in its evaluation. You may also want to refer to the Q&A posted in FBO for the initial solicitation.

27 Is there a Veteran Owned Small Business category as well? The SBA does not recognize Veteran Owned Small business as a set aside category. The GWAC has SDVOSB.

You mentioned that we can reach out the current primes, is there a place for companies that want to sub to find our profile and reach out the U.S.?

There is no current separate website for that. However you may contact the current prime contract Holders for opportunities. For the Ramp On to this GWAC once the solicitation is posted you may list yourselves as interested vendors.

If you're an 8(a) and you graduate out of the 8(a), can you still be listed under the GWAC as an 8(a)?

Per FAR 19.804-6, once an 8(a) receives an award under the GWAC, the 8(a) concern may continue to accept new orders even after a concern’s program term expires, the concern otherwise exits the 8(a) Program, or the concern becomes other than small for the NAICS code assigned under the contract.

30 Can you clarify recertification requirements? Rerepresentation requirements are detailed under FAR 19.301-2 for rerepresentation requirements.

31 What is the on ramping period?

As specified in the FBO posting the RFP will be released between the end of February 2016 and beginning of March

2016.

32 Who sets the Hub Zone? This is done by SBA.

33 If the Hub Zone is taken away, can it be re-issued and how? This questions should be posted to the SBA.

Will you lose Hub Zone status if your HUBZone area recertifies and losing its status?

Except for several exceptions detailed in 13 CFR 126.601(h), generally "a concern that is a qualified HUBZone at the time of contract award is considered a HUBZone SBC throughout the life of that contract. However please contact SBA for any additional questions or information.

Does the NITAAC website have its own "auto notification" capabilities to help us track movements, publications, etc? If not, will we have to rely on

FBO?

No, it does not, but FBO does give you these options.