S2OS_Q_and_R_3.pdf

Questions and Responses, Volume 3

STARS II Open Season Solicitation QTA0015MDA2001

Questions and Responses

Introduction

Thank you for the robust interest in STARS II Open Season.

In addressing questions it is the Government’s position that if the solicitation’s position vis-à-vis a question is self-evident in the request for proposals (RFP), the response to a question may simply be that the RFP already addresses the matter in the manner the Government intended for it to be addressed, or “The RFP is clear”.

A few requests have been made by organizations wanting Government assistance with proposal development. The RFP itself is supposed to serve as the basis for the competition and expresses the Government’s requirements. Procurement integrity considerations preclude the acquisition team working on this procurement from offering personal support to offerors or recommending sources that might assist in proposal preparation. Proposal preparation and related decisions are matters in which interested parties should exercise business judgment.

While the Government may include one or more specific solicitation passages in a response to a question, interested parties are reminded that the solicitation’s EVALUATION section contains paragraph 1.6. that states “Offerors are expected to examine the RFP and respond based upon an understanding of the entire solicitation.”

Questions were not extensively edited for grammar, punctuation or spelling. Not every question is shown. Only those questions, or portions of questions, that were deemed frequently asked and/or those that were deemed to benefit the procurement process are shown.

Questions and responses are organized into topic areas shown below. While jumping to a topic area or to the response for a question might be gratifying, interested parties stand to benefit from reviewing all questions and responses.

• Pricing/Pricing Guideline Coefficients

• Portal (AcquServe) Usage/Taxonomy

• Evaluation Criteria

• Other

As a reminder, EVALUATION Section A (including any of its subsections) addresses Constellation I and EVALUATION Section B (including any of its subsections) addresses Constellation II.

Where the response to a question indicates that the reader should consider the response to a previous question, that encompasses both the previous question and the response to it, not just the response.

Pricing/Pricing Guideline Coefficients

Questions Responses

Q1) Are the government estimated prices found in the portal specific to each Constellation and Functional Area pairing?

It is evident in the portal that government estimated prices are included for all constellation and functional area pairings.

Portal (AcquServe) Usage/Taxonomy

Q1) The evaluation document at A.7.8.

refers to estimates prices being available in the portal for viewing/download. We were not able to locate these.

A.7.8. The portal includes government estimated prices for all labor categories and locality areas, for both government and contractor sites for five years. The estimates can be seen by selecting “view table” in the portal or selecting “price viewer” from the portal Tools menu

Could you please clarify where we might be able to find these in the portal?

EVALUATION section paragraph A.7.8. is clear (as is its counterpart in B.8.8.).

Please review the document/file Instructions for Using AcquServe to Submit a GSA STARS II Open Season Proposal posted on May 18, 2015.

Also, the government estimated rates are located in the Proposal Editor, under the Tools menu, within the portal. You can scroll down the Proposal Editor page, until you get to the Labor Category Prices and Locality Area Coefficients section, using the "View Table" buttons. Clicking on an individual item within the View Table will display details for that item at the bottom of the window, which is scrollable.

Evaluation Criteria

Q1) Is there a detailed description of what materials are required in the total compensation plan?

As the solicitation states, FAR 52.222-46 applies.

Please considered EVALUATION section paragraphs A.8. and B.9. The requirements there are self-evident and provide each offeror discretion on how to respond. It was not the

Government's intent to script the mechanics of how each offeror crafts a total compensation plan.

Q2) How do we demonstrate Compliance per EVALUATION section, paragraphs A.3.1. and B.3.1.?

EVALUATION section paragraphs A.3.2. and B.3.2. establish what is noncompliant. Hence, the submission of a complete proposal that is not noncompliant will satisfy EVALUATION section, paragraph A.3.1. and B.3.1. Please also consider the response to Q11 in the Other topic area in the Questions and Responses posted June 2, 2015.

Other

Q1) Can you please tell me if STARS II can be used by federal agencies for Assisted Acquisitions, or is it for Direct Acquisitions only? If it is for both, where can I find the different procedures that the agencies would use for each type?

It is evident that the solicitation is for a Governmentwide acquisition contract. It is also evident that the solicitation references ordering contracting officers and authorized ordering organizations. It is further evident that the solicitation does not restrict ordering contracting officers from performing assisted or direct acquisitions.

The solicitation provides ordering procedures.

You might start, but not stop, by examining Section III, Contract Administration.

Q2) Do I have to complete the code and facility code boxes on the SF1449?

The code and facility code boxes within 17a are helpful but not required.

Q3) STARS II OS RFP, S2OS Section

III. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

12. MEETINGS AND

CONFERENCES

12.1. From time to time the

Government may require attendance at conferences and meetings at no additional cost to the Government.

What anticipated meetings and conferences does GSA anticipate?

How many meetings in the year are anticipated? Will these require travel, or does GSA anticipate attendance via teleconference?

GSA understands the desire for an estimate.

While an exact number is not set, thus far GSA has held one in-person meeting under this authority, and that in the Washington, DC area.

There have also been meetings via teleconference and webinar.

Q4) The solicitation does not specify a Yes, that is correct. Manual or electronic method for signature on the SF1449, is that correct?

signatures are acceptable.

Q5) Are Contractor Teaming Arrangements (CTAs) allowed under STARS II Open Season?

Do not confuse FAR 9.6 Contractor Teaming Agreements with GSA Schedule Contracting Teaming Arrangements based on FAR 8.

Please refer to FAR 9.6 where you will see that it recognizes two types of contractor teaming agreements, either a joint-venture or a prime-subcontractor relationship.

8(a) STARS II is not a GSA Schedule. Hence, FAR Part 8 Contractor Teaming Arrangement guidance does not apply.