SF30 -Amendment A0001 - Answers to Questions.pdf

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 or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication 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 you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

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

3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUISITION NUMBER 5. PROJECT NUMBER (If applicable)

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

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

FACILITY CODE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

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.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER 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

NUMBER IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation data, 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)

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 (Number, 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)

Previous edition unusable

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

A0001

The PURPOSE of this amendment is to 1) provide answers to the questions received from interested vendors and 2) provide a revised Statement of Work

Note: Offerors should acknowledge on the cover page or first page of its technical offer and price quotation receipt of the RFQ and this Amendment.

Continued...

Office of Acquisitions NINDS Section, Contracts Management Branch-Red National Institutes on Drug Abuse, NIH

To All Potential Offerors

NIH-NINDS-CSS-20-5673698

1 7

07/24/2020

07/24/2020

NIH-NINDS-CSS-20-5673698 – Answers to Questions

1) Would you consider Virtual Training?

If asynchronously, that is not what we want since we want participants to be able to engage with the trainer and other participants. If in-person training is not feasible due to pandemic related impact, virtual training should be live streaming of real time instruction.

2) If so, what learning platform would we use?

Specific platforms to stream live instruction is up to the offeror, but ultimately must be coordinated through the NIH Information Security Office for compatability. The NIH is familiar with Microsoft Teams, Webex, Meeting One as live streaming platforms.

3) Would we provide a producer for this training or will you do so?

Contractors are required to meet the requirements of the SOW to include but not limited to providing qualified instructors, appropriate curriculum, and streaming platform in the event that classes are conducted virtually (live stream). As per SUB-TASK 8.3.4 the SOW on this solicitation, the training shall be engaging to encourage participation. Please also see 11. Key Personnel on SOW.

4) What level of experience will participants have in conducting training, before attending this training?

Please see 2. and 3. of SOW for background of participants. Please see Technical Evaluation Factors for experience requirements for instructors.

5) How will you measure the success of the program?

Does the trainer understand and show in their teaching that the training goals were attained; How many learners completed the course; Were learners’ feedback on content and instruction positive; Did learners interact with the content in a meaningful way; Were the learning objectives achieved upon completion of the course; Did learners find the course to be engaging?

Training Success Metrics Examples:

• Ease of course access and navigation.

• Satisfaction of the topics covered.

• Relevancy and practicality of the content.

• Skills development and behavioral changes.

Evaluation of the success of the program will be after the program is completed and is not an evaluation factor in reviewing proposals. Proposals will be reviewed in accordance with the Evaluation Criteria.

• 6) Are there dates in mind for when this training will be held?

• 1st cohort on or about October 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 (except Federal Holidays)

• 2nd cohort on or about January 4, 2021 – March 31, 2021 (except Federal Holidays)

The Government understands that the dates for the cohorts will impact which PMP material will be included in the customized curriculum and will finalize those dates after award with coordination and agreement from the Contracting Officer’s Representative. At this time, proposals should factor in that Cohort 1 will teach 2020 material and Cohort 2 will teach 2021 material. This is subject to change depending on actual cohort start dates and proposals should indicate whether a change in curriculum subject matter for Cohort 1 (from 2020 material to 2021 material) would impact the proposed fixed price cost.

7) What would be the outcome of this training?

Executives will be able to manage projects better with enhanced communication skills, setting stakeholders expectations, assessing and manage risks, time and track cost.

8) How should past performance be presented?

See section C. Past Performance within the Evaluation Criteria. Please note that this section is distinct from the Corporate Experience Technical Evaluation Factor.

9) Does the Price Proposal have a page limitation?

No. Please note that information obtained in the Price Proposal will not be subject to any Technical Evaluation scoring. Technical Evaluation will be conducted based on the information contained in the Technical Volume of the offeror’s proposal.

10) If past performance is submitted as an appendix within the Technical does it count against the page limitation?

Past performance can be an appendix to the Technical Volume that does not count towards the page limit.

11) When was the last time this work was done and what vendor (or vendors) were contracted for the effort?

This is a new requirement and there is no incumbent.

12) What is the level of the individuals who will be participating (i.e., Senior Leadership, mid-level management, etc.)?

Mix level of management. Combination of Sr. Leadership and mid-level management that will include mainly Ph.D.’s that have a Health/Scientific background with a small portion that are administrative.

13) Will Small Businesses who do not have the REP certification be dismissed from consideration? Is there an alternate certification that can be acceptable?

The successful vendor will be required to have the capability of providing the minimum hours needed for participants to sit for the PMP exam and obtain certification. REP certification is not required if this requirement can be met.

14) Is it a requirement that most instructors have PHARMACEUTICAL or NIH Background?

It is beneficial for instructors who have taught courses in private health sector and government, but not required.

The qualification of the proposed personnel will be evaluated based on the language contained in the Technical Evaluation Factors. The participants in the class will be primarily PhDs with Health/Scientific background and therefore, high qualified instructors should be capable of teaching this audience in accordance with the requirements in the Statement of Work.

15) Is it the expectation that the Executive Level Project Management Training and PMP Exam Certification Training delivery be combined or separate deliverables/engagements?

SUB-TASK 8.1.3 in the Statement of Work provides the major and minor tasks. Since it is anticipated only a small portion of participants will sit for the PMP Exam, this is listed as a minor task. It is anticipated that the curriculum will be customized to meet both major and minor tasks all in one, and not separate deliverables/engagements.

Participants may prepare and study for exam material outside of class instruction. The successful vendor shall provide instruction and materials for participants to self study any PMP exam subject matter that is not included in the vendor’s proposed curriculum.

16) Is the expectation the tailored Executive Training be delivered to the entire group and those 10-20% participants who are interested in obtaining their PMP Certification be provided separate and specific PMP® specific curriculum?

See answer to Question #15.

17) Can you confirm the 4-hour blocks of instruction can spread out every two weeks rather than be conducted every week? Courses taught once a week for an average of 47 available working weeks per year would exceed the desired 104 hours. Instruction of 26 weeks (every other week) would meet the required 104 hours of executive level project management training

It is anticipated that there will be two cohorts in each annual perforance period(Base Period, and Option Period 1). Each cohort will last approximately 13 weeks, with a 4 hour block of instruction held in one day of each week for a total of 52 instruction hours per cohort. For the price quote volume, there should be a total fixed price for the Base Period(2 cohorts) and a total fixed price for the Option Period 1(2 cohorts) including supporting information to justify the costs as fair and reasonable.

18) Printed Training Materials: For print materials, what is the Government's preference for shipping materials to participants in remote work situations?

We will accept electronic training materials. If print material must be shipped to participants, then contractor may ship to their remote work/telework location and will coordinate with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) after award issuance.

19) Digital Training Materials: As a part of the contingency planning, would the Government allow participants access to digital materials from an external cloud-based web-site that meets Government standards?

Any access to digital training materials must meet NIH Information Security Requirements and will be coordinated with the NIH Information Security Office. If proposing access to external cloud-based website, please include any proposed security details.

20) Would the Government provide an audit by the Government IT team to ensure compliance of external cloud-based websites?

There will be coordination between the NIH Information Security Office and the successful vendor on compliance of external cloud based websites.

21) The expectation is that the PMP® Training will be delivered in August 2020, however, the new PMP® Exam curriculum will not be furnished until Sept/Oct time frame with testing date of January 2021. Is it the expectation that the 1st cohort be taught on the 6th Edition Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®), the practice guide of the Project Management Institute (PMI®) and the later subsequent cohort instructed on the 7th Edition of the PMBOK® to meet the 35 required hours?

Contractor should budget for teaching 1st cohort on 2020 requirements and 2nd cohort with 2021 requirements, subject to change. The Government understands there is the possibility that both first year cohorts will be taught 2021 subject matter, depending on the exact timing of the cohorts. Offerors should indicate in their proposal if there is any variance in costs if both cohorts in the Base Period are taught 2021 material as opposed to Cohort 1 having 2020 material and Cohort 2 having 2021 material.

22) The new 7th Edition of the PMP® exam is heavily reliant on agile and hybrid approaches – which accounts for 50% of the exam effective January 1, 2021. The questions are geared toward professionals with 1-3 years of experience managing agile projects. Will the participants meet the new agile requirement for PMP application approval?

No, we are not IT focused program and an Introductory Agile classroom instruction/material is acceptable for a custom curriculum offering provided that the successful vendor is able to set participants up with material to self-study (for PMP Exam) outside the 35 minimum qualifying hours.

23) Would the Government allow additional coaching services for those participants who want to pursue the PMP certification? The current requirements do not account for specific study materials and exam preparation.

Those who are very successful and score above target on the PMP® Exam participate in additional coaching/study groups.

No, additional training will be needed above the 52 hours per cohort. Participants should be setup by the successful offeror to self study for passing the PMP Exam for any material not included in the customized curriculum.

24) What is the specific audio video tool the Government will provide to accommodate the live-streaming classes? i.e. Skype, MS Teams?

For live streaming classes that are conducted in-person, the Government may use Microsoft Teams, Webex, Zoom, Meeting One, etc. If the class will be conducted completely live stream virtual (due to pandemic), the successful offeror is responsible for providing the audio video streaming option and coordinating that with the COR and participants.

Given the uncertainty of in-person versus live stream instruction, Offerors are requested to have their fixed price quote cover a single fixed price for the Base Period and a single fixed price for Option Period 1 that will allow flexibility for either scenario.

25) For live streaming classes not held at NIH arranged space, will the Government still provide the audio video tool or will the Contractor be expected to provide audio video tools? Contractor has the capability to deliver in-person and virtual classes, but is the Government asking that Contractor has the technology capability when not held at the NIH arranged space?

See answer 24.

26) Will course modules need to be provided for PDUs or may several be provided by a qualified executive trainer not for PDU credit?

Any necessary PDUs and/or minimum required hours to allow for some participants to sit for and pass the PMP Exam is required.

27) Does NINDS have a preferred platform for the live streaming class component?

Offerors are free to propose their suggested platform.

28) What project management scheduling software does NINDS’ program managing scientists use now?

We primarily use Microsoft Project Teams.

29) Can you or NINDS please provide an example project case study to ensure complete curriculum customization?

See Section 2. and 3. in the Statement of Work for details. Additional details can be obtained after issuance of award in discussions with the COR. Offerors may include in their proposal how they intend to develop a finalized curriculum after issuance of award, but prior to the start of the first Cohort.

30) RE: “SUB-TASK 8.1.3”, the SOW states the contractor will “Provide appropriate training and hours to meet the requirements of the new PMP exam content” (page However, under TASK 8.2 on page 4 of the SOW, it cites “project management knowledge areas and process groups”. Project management knowledge areas and process groups are germane only to the current PMBOK Guide 6th edition and the current exam. The new exam content outline from PMI, dated May 2020 no longer references these items at all. We are prepared to teach either or both, but clarity on which version you’d like us to deliver would be very helpful and deeply appreciated. Which curriculum would you like us to customize and deliver?

Contractor will be required to provide the required hours to pass the next PMP Exam. Contractor should plan and budget for teaching 1st cohort on 2020 requirements and 2nd cohort with 2021 requirements at this time. The Government understands that depending on the timing of the first Cohort, both Cohorts may end up teaching to 2021 requirements and the successful vendor shall be capable of teaching both.

31) RE: “SUB-TASK 8.3.5” on page 5, the SOW discusses “CLP’s, PDU’s, [and] COR certification maintenance”. PDU’s are specific to the PMP, and furthermore, PDU’s cannot be earned until one has achieved PMP. We believe that CLP’s may be earned depending on content area alignment.

The minimum 35 hours necessary to sit and pass the PMP exam should be provided.

32) Finally, during contract execution, there is no mention of instructor management, i.e. additions and/or substitutions.

Proposed instructors are Key Personnel and any change in instructors requires COR advance review and approval.

The Contractor is responsible for managing the instructors for this class.

33) Is it acceptable to show pricing for both virtual live online instructor-led and on-site delivery?

If in-person pricing costs more than virtual, please provide in-person pricing with the understanding there may be a need to conduct virtual live stream instruction without any change to the fixed price.

34) Would NIH NINDS be open to our offering classes to 2 cohorts per day to maximize instructor utilization (example: Cohort 1’s class from 8a-12p and Cohort 2’s class from 1-5p)?

No. Feedback from participants from Cohort 1 may impact future Cohorts.

35) Would NIH NINDS be open to delivery of a 7 hour class in one day vs in two separate 4-hour sessions?

No, given that people have busy schedules the goal is to allow participants to have some part of their classroom day dedicated to normal work responsibilities.

36) Does NIH NINDS desire to have training in Agile, given its importance in the PMP exam and PMI standards for project management?

Introduction of agile while setting up and allowing participants to self study to ensure successful knowledge obtained to pass the PMP exam.

37. NOTE**TO OFFERORS** - A slightly revised Statement of Work is provided to indicate that the curriculum should cover necessary Knowledge Areas and/or Subject Matter. The Government understands the possibility that the 2021 PMP Exam may not have "Knowledge Areas."