Questions_and_Responses_Part_One_1_April_16.pdf

Questions and Responses Part One Solicitation No. PBGC01-RP-16-0011

Benefit Calculation & Valuation (BCV)

NOTE: This is Part One of PBGC’S response to the Industry Questions. PBGC’S will post it’s response to the remaining questions on or before Thursday, 8 April 2016.

1. Question: Are outside systems that are integrated with PBGC systems considered part of the operations and maintenance (O&M) or are there existing support agreements that will remain in place? Is so, which outside systems may be included.

Response: No, PBGC systems that are outside of Legacy BCV are not considered part of

BCV O&M.

2. Question: The RFP does not seem to provide operating procedures, service levels, etc.

Are these available to assist with the Operations and Maintenance proposal?

Response: Refer to RFP Section C.4.1 for information on O&M. See RFP Section L.7.3.1 #2 for request of Offeror to submit information around service levels.

a. Question: Are the related special projects to be considered part of the new BCV or are there examples of outside special projects that could be provided? Will these be issued as separate Task Orders?

Response: The special project work will not be performed as part of Sample O&M or DME Task Orders. Special Projects will pertain to BCV as a whole. A separate task order will be issued for each special project based on the level of effort needed to complete the special project. Examples of special projects:

a. Detailed studies and analysis performed for responding to information requests, e.g., impact of eliminating the aggregate maximum insurance limit, impact of adopting standard marital status assumptions for valuations, impact of using actuarial equivalence for applying PBGC limitations, etc.

b. Conversion/enhancement of existing BSRS programs in production due to retroactive changes in benefit administration policy (e.g., offering PBGC optional forms of annuity, discontinuing retroactive retirement dates, etc.) or due to changes in technology.

c. Revisions to business processes, e.g. benefit statement standardization and simplification, reporting standardization and simplification, auditing standardization and simplification.

d. Improving customer service, e.g., surveys, town hall, pilot programs, etc. The special project work will not be performed as part of Sample O&M or DME Task Orders. Special Projects will pertain to BCV as a whole.

A separate task order will be issued for each special project based on the level of effort needed to complete the special project. Examples of special projects:

a. Detailed studies and analysis performed for responding to information requests, e.g., impact of eliminating the aggregate maximum insurance limit, impact of adopting standard marital status assumptions for valuations, impact of using actuarial equivalence for applying PBGC limitations, etc.

b. Conversion/enhancement of existing BSRS programs in production due to retroactive changes in benefit administration policy (e.g., offering PBGC optional forms of annuity, discontinuing retroactive retirement dates, etc.) or due to changes in technology.

c. Revisions to business processes, e.g. benefit statement standardization and simplification, reporting standardization and simplification, auditing standardization and simplification, etc.

d. Improving customer service, e.g., surveys, town hall, pilot programs, etc.

3. Question: The RFP indicates “Design, develop, and effectively migrate existing plan inventory to New BCV”. Does this include the migration and calculation of the multi-employer plans discussed in Attachment 10?

Response: The migration and calculation of multi-employer plan benefits are out of scope for New BCV. Legacy BCV and New BCV only include single-employer PBGC-trusteed plans. The reference in Attachment 10 is for background purposes only.

4. Question: The solicitation states that the Offeror system web browser interface shall be agnostic to version and or vendor. Is there any limit to the types of web browsers that shall be supported? For example, must the web browser interface support obsolete web browsers not supported by the manufacturer? Must the web browser interface support web browsers not commonly in use in the United States? Must the web browser interface support all mobile web browsers including those with limited functionality?

Response: The intention of this modernization is to have web based solutions which are not tied to vendor specific technologies such as Internet Explorer with ActiveX objects, which gives PBGC the option of defining the current standard for Web Browsers.

Legacy browsers and versions are not acceptable as PBGC maintains a goal of using the current version (n) or (n-1). Government preferences are to use software produced in the United States. Mobile devices and their browsers may be used in the future, but are not a requirement at this time.

5. Question: The RFP indicates the “Offeror shall reflect work to be performed by members of the IPT in their project schedules”. How many and what types of resources does the PBGC envisage making available to the IPT?

Response: The count and types of IPT resources vary by project. An IPT could vary from approximately 5 to approximately 30 people depending on the project. These people may represent Stakeholders, Security, Business, Infrastructure, Enterprise Architecture, etc.

6. Question: Paragraph (k) states that unless otherwise specified in the contract, the Contractor’s obligation to correct or replace Government-furnished property shall be governed by the clause pertaining to Government property. Section I.58 incorporates FAR 52.245-1 Government Property (APR 2012). Contractor requests confirmation that maintenance of the facilities, the hardware platforms, personal computing devices and operating software are not included in Contractor’s obligation to correct or replace Government-furnished property and thus need not be priced.

Response: The Government will provide Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) in accordance with PBGC 52.245-7000. Additionally, PBGC does not expect the contractor to provide any maintenance of facilities, hardware platforms, personal computing devices or operating software.

7. Question: Please confirm whether the minimum hours of operation for which the Contractor shall provide coverage are Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) or Monday through Friday 8 Am to 5 PM Eastern Time (ET).

Response: The minimum hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

8. Question: The RFP restricts page size to 8 ½ X 11 inch paper. For complex documents like Microsoft Project plans and architecture diagrams, may Bidders use larger paper folded down to 8 ½ X 11 inch size?

Response: No, larger sized paper, folded down is not allowed. All pages are limited to 8 1/2 X 11 inch size.

9. Question: The RFP requires Bidders to respond using 12-point font. May Bidders use a smaller, still readable font for the following: headers and footers, requirement text, exhibits/diagrams, and tables?

Response: The government will allow smaller and/or different font type for headers, footers, exhibits, diagrams, table, charts, inset text boxes, graphics, figures, illustrations, and those requested documents that cannot be modified to adjust the font to the requested size, but the type must be readable.

10. Question: Several requested documents/samples do not comply with font restrictions and they are not available in a native MS Office format for font adjustments. Please confirm that it is permissible to submit those documents as is.

Response: The government will allow smaller and/or different font type for headers, footers, exhibits, diagrams, table, charts, inset text boxes, graphics, figures, illustrations,

11. Question: Can Bidders number the pages by major section (i.e., A-1, B-1)?

Response: Only one set of page numbers shall be used for each volume submitted.

12. Question: Can Bidders exclude signed forms, attachments, tables of content, etc. from the sequential numbering requirement?

Response: Items such as signed forms, attachments, tables of content, etc. shall be numbered as requested. Only one set of page numbers shall be used for each volume submitted.

13. Question: L.7.2 reference states that the Subcontracting Plan shall be included as a separate attachment; however, L.7.3.4.3 as item 3 within Factor 4 responses. Can you please clarify if the Subcontracting Plan should be placed within proposal response as it appears in order within RFP (Factor 4 – Item 3) or shall Offerors create an additional proposal response section for separate attachments?

Response: Offerors Subcontracting Plan shall be included as a separate attachment as part of Factor 3, Management Approach and is not counted towards page limitation.

14. Question: Reference states “Technical Proposal Exceptions and Deviations. Identify any exceptions or deviations taken, or conditional assumptions made with respect to the technical requirements of the solicitation.” Where shall Exceptions/Deviations be placed within the Technical response?

Response: The Exceptions/Deviations to the Technical Proposal shall be included as a separate document attached to the end of Volume 1 - Technical Approach. The Exceptions/Deviations are not included in the page count.

15. Question: This section indicates the Offeror is to “complete all required representations and certificates”. Please confirm this refers to the provisions contained in Section K. Is Section K to be submitted as an Attachment to Volume 2?

Response: Yes, the provisions in Section K shall be submitted as an attachment to Volume 2, Price Proposal. See Clause 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND

CERTIFICATIONS (DEC 2014).

16. Question: Reference states “Offeror(s) shall make a clear statement in their proposal that the proposal is valid for no less than 240 calendar days from the closing date of the solicitation.” Where shall offer validity statement be placed within the proposal response?

Response: The offeror shall include its validity statement as the last page of Volume 2 - Price Proposal Factor 5 - Price.

17. Question: The RFP states, “If a Sub-Contractor(s) is being used, at least one of the references submitted must be for the proposed Subcontractor.” Does the sub-contractor past performance need to be of the same size, scope, and complexity of the Prime contractor past performances or should it reflect primarily the specific work the subcontractor will be performing?

Response: If the sub-contractor is being used, the reference submitted for the proposed sub-contractor shall primarily reflect the specific work the sub-contractor will be performing.

18. Question: Are periodic modifications to the PBGC Add-ins considered a BCV-Related Special Project?

Response: The ATPBGC AddIn development is not a special project. Enhancing existing functions and the development of new functions will be part of DME and fixing bugs and maintaining the AddIn will be part of O&M.

19. Question: Would the government accept graphics, figures, or illustrations that utilize a font size of 9 pitch print or larger in the Arial family?

Response: The government will allow smaller and/or different font type for headers, footers, exhibits, diagrams, table, charts, inset text boxes, graphics, figures, illustrations,

20. Question: Would the government accept tables that utilize a font size of 10 pitch print or larger in the Arial family or Times New Roman?

Response: The government will allow smaller and/or different font type for headers, footers, exhibits, diagrams, table, charts, inset text boxes, graphics, figures, illustrations,

21. Question: Would the government allow for the PRS Table to be provided as an appendix to Volume 1 and be considered not within the page count limitations of Volume 1, Factor 1 – Technical Approach?

Response: The PRS Table will be included in the page count limitation of Volume 1, Factor 1 – Technical Approach.

22. Question: What does the Government anticipate as the percentage of work between the 4 objectives (e.g., 1 at 40%, 2 at 20%, 3 at 10%, 4 at 30%)?

Response: The percentage of work for Legacy BCV O&M and BCV DME will start off at ~25-30% Legacy BCV O&M and ~65-70% BCV DME. Those percentage will change as New BCV is developed. BCV DME percentages will grow, and Legacy BCV O&M shrink. Then, as the BCV DME nears completion, that percentage will shrink and New BCV O&M will grow. The percentage of the overall work devoted to special projects is anticipated to be anywhere from 0 to 10 percent each year.

23. Question: Can the Government provide details around the following items:

1. What is the current volume of BCV software problems per Quarter or Year?

2. How many enhancements exist in the Agile backlog and/or enhancement log?

3. What is the average number of tickets per release, and how many tickets are outstanding/open?

4. What is the expected uptime (e.g., 24 x 7, 9 x 5) requirement?

Response: There are an average of 37 production support tickets per month. There are currently 162 items in the backlog. An average of 28 backlog items are included in an O&M release. The expected uptime of Legacy BCV (and New BCV) is 24x7.

24. Question: Of the 4,600 ended plans, approximately how many of them have plan specific unique calculations?

Response: Each plan has its own unique calculation spreadsheet. There is no shared calculation engine, so no information can be offered on number of plan-specific unique calculations.

25. Question: Approximately what is the size (in GB) of the data to be converted?

Response: There are thousands of Access databases with varying sizes.

26. Question: Has the Government performed an assessment of broader issues and common challenges of the underlying data quality across the inventory of failed plans (e.g., how much free form/text data exists) or an actuarial analytic report, and if yes, can the Government provide a copy of the assessment and its results? If no, can the Government provide additional information around the overall quality of the underlying case data and challenges with migrations?

Response: No, the Access databases have the same structure. We anticipate that part of data migration will include identifying and fixing any issues found.

27. Question: Approximately how many users are being trained for each Release?

Response: There are approximately 500 users of Legacy BCV. The same population of users is expected to exist for New BCV. End users will need to be trained on the initial use of New BCV as well as for each New BCV release. Training for each New BCV release is targeted to the set of users affected by the changes in the release and will vary in number.

28. Question: How many total/concurrent users does the current system support?

Response: There are approximately 500 users of Legacy BCV.

29. Question: Can the Government clarify what equipment it expects the Contractor to provide as part of this project?

Response: The Contractor is not required to provide any equipment. The Government will provide Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) in accordance with PBGC 52.245- 7000. Additionally, PBGC does not expect the contractor to provide any maintenance of facilities, hardware platforms, personal computing devices or operating software.

30. Question: Can the Government provide some examples of the types of special projects to allow the Contractor to appropriately estimate the LOE and skills required?

Approximately how many special projects are anticipated per year?

Response: The special project work will not be performed as part of Sample O&M or DME Task Orders. Special Projects will pertain to BCV as a whole. A separate task order will be issued for each special project based on the level of effort needed to complete the special project. Examples of special projects:

a. Detailed studies and analysis performed for responding to information requests, e.g., impact of eliminating the aggregate maximum insurance limit, impact of adopting standard marital status assumptions for valuations, impact of using actuarial equivalence for applying PBGC limitations, etc.

b. Conversion/enhancement of existing BSRS programs in production due to retroactive changes in benefit administration policy (e.g., offering PBGC optional forms of annuity, discontinuing retroactive retirement dates, etc.) or due to changes in technology.

c. Revisions to business processes, e.g. benefit statement standardization and simplification, reporting standardization and simplification, auditing standardization and simplification, etc.

d. Improving customer service, e.g., surveys, town hall, pilot programs, etc.

31. Question: Can the Government provide the name of the current support Contractor?

Response: The incumbent contract is Aderas, Inc.

32. Question: Section C jumps from C.6.6 to C.6.8. Is Section C.6.7 missing, or should Section C be renumbered?

Response: No information is missing between Sections C.6.6 and C.6.8. This Section was misnumbered.

33. Question: What is the approximate number of business rules contained in legacy BCV for Calculation Authoring?

Response: Legacy BCV has no set number of business rules for calculating and valuing benefits. Instead, plan rules are programmed using Excel formulas and PBGC-specific add-in functions (ATPBGC) in over 3,000 individual spreadsheet files.

34. Question: Approximately how many interfacing systems will new BCV integrate with after modernization?

Response: Please see Attachment 16 for other existing systems New BCV may integrate with for more information.