Amend_004_Att_12_-_Information_Page_and_Q-A_4_14_2014.pdf

Solicitation No. R17PS00106 Cultural Resources IDIQ

Amendment 000004

The purpose of Amendment 000004 is as follows:

1. Post Answers for all Questions received in writing by Thursday, March 16, 2017, 12:00 noon (MDT).

2. The following attachments have been updated and are titled as follows:

a. A4 Updated Solicitation No. R17PS00106 Cultural Resources IDIQ

4_20_2017.docx

i. Removes clauses 52.204-14 “Service Contract Reporting Requirements” and 52.204-15 “Service Contract Reporting Requirements for Indefinite- Delivery Contracts”

ii. Includes Task Order technical factor(s) and subfactor(s) information for all task orders required under the IDIQ. These factors will also be used for Task Order 1 which is due with the offeror’s proposal. Changes are within the “Continuation of Section B, Supplies or Services and Price” in the updated solicitation attachment.

iii.

iv. Update Continuation of Section B within the “Amend 004 Updated

Solicitation No R17PS00106 Cultural Resources IDIQ 4_14_2017.” to include the evaluation criteria for Task Orders under the Base contract including Volume III-Task Order 1 Technical Proposal.

3. Update the Statement of Work to resolve issues concerning the period of performance questions. Updated document is named “Amend 004 Att 1 – Updated Volume II Statement of Work 4_14_2017.”

4. Update “Att 2 - Updated Section B Provided in Excel Format” to include a G&A rate under each of the 5 years. Updated document is named “Amend 004 Att 2 – Updated Section B Provided in Excel Format 4_14_2017.” As a result of this additional CLIN, all CLIN numbers have changed in the Base Year and each of the Option Years, 1-4.

Changes can be found in the following tabs:

Base Year – CLINs 1 – 42 OY 1 – CLINs 43 – 84 OY 2 – CLINs 85 – 126 OY 3 – CLINs 127 – 168 OY 4 – CLINs 169 - 210

5. Update “Att 3 – Task Order” to provide evaluation factors for the sample task order.

Evaluation Factors for Task Order Award can be found on page 3 of the document.

Updated document is named “Amend 004 Att 3 – Updated Task Order 4_14_2017” and resolve issues concerning the Evaluation Factors for the sample task order.

6. To answer Contracting Questions 27 and 28 addressing “Page 41 Section L references FAR 52.222-46 Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees” in document titled “Amend 004 Updated Solicitation No. R17PS00106 Cultural Resources IDIQ”. As a result of the answers to these questions, this resolves issues concerning Contracting Questions 27 and 28.

7. There will be no additional open question periods for this solicitation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

1. Solicitation Closing Date: Wednesday May 16, 2017

2. Solicitation Closing Time: 14:00 Mountain Daylight Time

3. Proposals must be delivered to:

Ms. Louise Hancock, UC-853 Bureau of Reclamation 125 South State Street Room 8100 Salt Lake City, UT. 84138 o Packaging must be clearly identified as “PROPOSAL – ONLY TO BE OPENED BY

CONTRACTING OFFICER” to prevent mishandling.

o Please see Solicitation Clause WBR 1452.215-81 for arrangement of proposals information.

o Any proposals received after the closing date and time will not be accepted.

4. Inquiries regarding this Solicitation should be made to:

Ms. Louise Hancock, Contract Specialist E-mail: lhancock@usbr.gov Phone: 801-524-3756

5. All correspondence regarding this Solicitation should reference Solicitation No. R17PS00106 Cultural Resources IDIQ

6. Please read Section L and M attentively and thoroughly for proposal information.

mailto:lhancock@usbr.gov

SOLICITATION NO. R17PS00106

CULTURAL RESOURCES – IDIQ

SOLICITATION ROUND 2 QUESTIONS – MARCH 17, 2017

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

1. Will the contractor be expected to conduct multi-affiliation TCP inventories (including both tribal and non-tribal groups)?

Answer: The TCP inventories included in the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project (NGWSP) Programmatic Agreement (PA) are being undertaken though individual contracts with the Tribes/Pueblos who have requested the inventories. In Reclamation’s experience this has been the preferred method of completing the TCP inventories. It is unlikely that the remaining Tribes/Pueblos who have yet to formally request a TCP inventory would elect to use Reclamation’s IDIQ to complete that inventory. However, if a Tribe/Pueblo were to request Reclamation use its IDIQ to complete a TCP inventory on their behalf we would explore the possibility of doing so.

2. Are Task Orders for traditional cultural landscape inventories and/or assessments anticipated to be released as part of Section 106 compliance support for TCPs?

Answer: As stated in the above question, it is unlikely a task order will be issued for a TCP/Traditional Cultural Landscape inventory for an individual Tribe/Pueblo involved in NGWSP. However, there will be instances where the contractor is required to record and assess project effects to a traditional cultural landscapes/TCPs. Navajo Nation Historic Preservation Department (NNHPD) survey permits require ethnographic survey to compliment Class III inventories on Tribal land. The ethnographic survey component requires contractors to perform a file check of the NNHPD TCP database and record/assess TCPs located in the Area of Potential Effect (APE). Survey task orders involving Navajo Nation land are expected to be released under this IDIQ, and therefore TCP identification/assessment will be a component of those task orders.

Western Colorado Area Office projects also consider TCPs when assessing project effects. The contractor will be expected to perform a Class I file search of a project area prior to undertaking the Class III survey, and any identified TCPs will need to be considered as part of the assessment/recommendations.

3. Is it anticipated that the APE for TCPs will also include visual and cumulative effects assessments?

Answer: Yes. The NGWSP APE is 400 feet for direct and indirect effects to historic properties. The Class III Inventories and Mitigation Strategies have included visual and cumulative effects assessments for register eligible TCPs. There is currently a proposed amendment to the NGWSP PA to expand the APE one quarter mile out around above ground structures (pumping plants, water storage tanks, etc.) to account for the increased potential for adverse visual effects to historic properties. When and if this amendment is approved by the NGWSP consulting parties, the contractor will need to include this expanded area when assessing visual and cumulative effects of the project on historic properties.

4. Will each task order outline the ethnographic data management and sharing protocols or will it be the responsibility of the contractor to develop in collaboration with each participating Tribe and/or heritage community? (Also pertains to Section 5.2).

Answer: Ethnographic data management and sharing protocols will be outlined in the task orders and NGWSP agreement documents that the contractors need to adhere to. Reclamation and the Programmatic Agreement Project Manager (PAPM) have been working with the participating Tribes/Pueblos to develop data management protocols as it relates to their sensitive ethnographic data. The contractor(s) under this IDIQ will be required to participate in the data management protocols and are encouraged to collaborate on future requirements, but it will not be the primary responsibility of the contractor to develop those protocols.

5. In the Statement of Work in Section 4.0 Key Personnel under 4.5 "Ethnographic Director":

a. It notes factors regarding qualifications that will be measured in several ways, including "field and laboratory training." Does the laboratory part of this seem pertinent for cultural anthropologists?

Is this requirement necessary?

Answer: Reclamation does not expect the Ethnographic Director to possess specialized training or experience in laboratory management. However, there may be instances when the Ethnographic Director is required to help facilitate access to a laboratory collection on behalf of a consulting Tribe/Pueblo. On NGWSP, some consulting parties have requested to examine the artifacts collected during data recovery while they were being processed in the laboratory. In this instance it would be appropriate for the Ethnographic Director to coordinate with the Laboratory Director for access. It would also be appropriate for the Ethnographic Director to be familiar with laboratory procedures and etiquette when facilitating the visits. This type of work in facilitating laboratory visits would typically fall under Task 5.9: Additional Cultural Resource Services.

For the purposes of evaluating the Ethnographic Director’s qualifications in laboratory work, evidence of on-the-job training in laboratory procedures and etiquette will suffice. If the Ethnographic Director can demonstrate experience working with Tribal or non-Tribal groups in examining artifact collections for the purposes of ethnographic research that should be included in the proposal.

b. Are there any particular "non‐Native American groups” under consideration?

Answer: Yes. As part of NGWSP mitigation the incumbent contractor’s Ethnographic Director was tasked with overseeing the development of a historic context report of the City of Gallup. This included historic and ethnographic research on non-Native American groups such as coal miners, merchants/traders, Civilian Conservation Corps camps, etc. Another portion of the NGWSP required historic research on a designated segment of the Old Spanish Trail. It is anticipated that future mitigation efforts can require the Ethnographic Director to coordinate with non-Native American groups for cultural resources not solely identified with a particular Native American group.

Outside of NGWSP, the Western Colorado Area Office (WCAO) frequently has undertakings involving historic dams, canals, and associated structures/features. The Ethnographic Director may be directed to oversee ethnographic and historic research relating to these features, thereby being responsible for coordinating with non-Native American groups for the purposes of WCAO projects.

c. Will the Navajo Nation Human Research Review Board be involved in approving the ethnographic interviews, or will an ethnographic permit from NNHPD be sufficient for conducting all the expected requirements of the solicitation?

Answer: The Navajo Nation Human Research Review Board has not been involved with reviewing/approving ethnographic interviews associated with NGWSP. A Navajo Nation Class C Permit for Ethnographic Data Collection has been sufficient for the types of interviews expected under this solicitation.

6. In the first round of Q & A:

7. Are we expected to conform to the pre-existing field manual if we are awarded the contract (i.e., adapt our field methods to those contained in the manual)?

a. Contractors are expected to conform to the pre-existing field manual developed for the NGWSP.

This is to ensure consistency between multiple contractors working on NGWSP. The standardized terminology and methodology contained within the field manual have been accepted by the consulting parties on NGWSP.

Does this apply to the production and use of QR codes as artifact and specimen labels (when, in fact the QR code labels will replaced prior to curation) as discussed on pages C-14 and C-15 of the Data Recovery Methods Manual? Similarly, is BOR expecting contractors to have and use the “3-G-enabled iPads” load with the 10 separate programs/applications described on page F-4 of the Class III Inventory Field Methods Manual, or alternate devices and software be utilized as long as the deliverables to the BOR are consistent with the overall terminology and methodology and compatible with the NGWSP database?

Answer: The contractor will not be required to use the incumbent contractor’s QR codes, 3-G-enabled iPads, and associated programs/applications. Contractors are encouraged to develop their own systems for artifact/specimen management and fieldwork/recording efforts. Reclamation only requires that the system the contractor uses leads to deliverables that are consistent with the overall NGWSP terminology and methodology and compatible with the existing NGWSP database.

7. Upon review of Attachment 7, it has come to our attention that the PA signatories include the BOR, the Advisory Council, the New Mexico SHPO, Navajo Nation, BLM, and BIA, but does not list the Colorado SHPO as signatory. Since the task order (attachment 3) is to be performed in Colorado, is the Colorado SHPO signatory?

Answer: Colorado SHPO is not a signatory to the NGWSP PA. The task order (attachment 3) is not related to the NGWSP, and thus the NGWSP PA does not apply to this work. The task order is related to other Western Colorado Area Office projects located in Colorado.

8. Attachment 3, Task Order, SOW, last Page – Project Assumptions, The attached Task Order (Attachment 3), requires both Colorado and New Mexico site forms be completed. Is it necessary for the New Mexico LA site forms to be completed for work in Colorado? Is supplying only the Colorado site form sufficient?

Answer: A New Mexico LA site form will be required. The original Navajo Reservoir surveys were undertaken by the New Mexico Laboratory of Anthropology and sites were recorded on their forms.

Reclamation continues to complete both Colorado and New Mexico forms for sites at Navajo Reservoir.

Furthermore, the Navajo Reservoir curation agreement has all artifacts being stored at the Laboratory of Anthropology Museum. All artifacts sent there for curation require a completed LA site form.

9. In Section L Volume II Factor 1 Subfactor 3 it states to confirm any teaming arrangements. Does the government want the offeror to provide teaming agreements? If so, can this be included as an appendix? Some of these documents can be over 10 pages long.

Answer: Offerors are not required to submit that actual teaming agreement documents as part of the technical proposal. Offerors are responsible for clearly stating any teaming arrangements that have been made under Factor 1 Subfactor 3, and those teaming arrangements should be truthful. Reclamation reserves the right to confirm the teaming arrangements as part of our evaluation. Submitting false information on teaming arrangements will lead to Factor 1: Experience being rated as unacceptable.

It should be noted that this question refers Volume I, Section L, Clause 1452.215-82 Technical Proposal Instructions – Bureau of Reclamation (APR 2001), Subsection 5. This is not located in Volume II as indicated in the offeror’s question.

10. Page 45, volume II technical proposal instructions item five (5) states, “Technical approach proposed to accomplish the statement of work. The discussion of the technical approach shall contain the following: Factors 1, 2, 3 and 4. Is the offeror to present its contract technical/management approach in supporting the Scope of Work as presented in Attachment 1 Statement of work , if so where is the offeror to present this information and is it included within the page count?

Answer: The offeror’s contract technical/management approach should be provided under one of the four factors included under Volume I, Section L, Clause 1452.215-82 Technical Proposal Instructions – Bureau of Reclamation (APR 2001), Subsection 5. It is left up to the offeror to decide where within those factors to include their contract technical/management approach. An offeror’s ability to successfully manage contracts/task orders is a consideration in evaluating the offeror’s technical experience/capabilities in carrying out the scope of work of the IDIQ. Discussion of this could be appropriate under Factor 1:

Experience, Factor 2: Past Performance, Factor 3: Organizational Structure, or Factor 4: Quality Assurance/Quality Control. An offeror’s presentation of its contract technical/management approach needs to be included within the page count for the factor(s) they wish to present it under.

It should be noted that this question refers Volume I, Section L, Clause 1452.215-82 Technical Proposal Instructions – Bureau of Reclamation (APR 2001), Subsection 5. This is not located in Volume II as indicated in the offeror’s question.

11. Can Reclamation provide information regarding how and under what scenario(s) the Government intends to use (award) the Discovery Mitigation CLINs?

Answer: The discovery mitigation CLINs are typically used in conjunction with an archaeological monitoring task order during the construction of a NGWSP reach. Reclamation archaeologists will estimate the anticipated number and types of inadvertent discoveries that may be encountered during construction and include this in the monitoring task order. The monitoring task order will be awarded with the funds for the inadvertent discovery mitigation obligated upfront. In the event of an inadvertent discovery the contractor will be ordered to mitigate the discovery under the appropriate discovery category for the set price. This system helps prevent excessive construction delays when an inadvertent discovery is encountered as the mitigation funds are already obligated and the contractor can begin work once directed to by Reclamation. If inadvertent discoveries exceed the original estimate, the task order can be modified to add additional mitigation funds. Mitigation funds remaining at the conclusion of the task order will be deobligated and returned to Reclamation.

12. In Question 1 of the answers to technical questions of Amendment 0001, the Government references Mitigation Strategies, and it appears to imply that it might be a separate document. Is it a separate document, and if so, would the Government please provide it to the offerors?

Answer: Reclamation, in conjunction with the NGWSP consulting parties and the incumbent NGWSP contractor, has developed a series of Mitigation Strategy documents to resolve direct and indirect effects on specific NGWSP reaches. The mitigation has typically taken the form of archaeological testing, data recovery, ethnographic research, and historic research.

The Mitigation Strategy documents contain site sensitive information and have restricted distribution. They will not be provided to potential offerors. Contractors selected for the IDIQ will be provided with copies of the Mitigation Strategies for NGWSP.

13. Page 50-51, Section M, Would the government please provide the evaluation criteria for Volume III –Task Order 1 Technical Proposal?

Answer: Provision 1452.215-85 Evaluation Factors for Award – Quality Predominance – Bureau of Reclamation (May 2005)-WBR for the Sample Task Order has been added to Amend 004 Att 3 – Updated Task Order 4_14_2017.

14. Will the government allow contractors to change the unit from hours to Cost per sample in Attachment 2: Continuation of Section B? For Example (line 19) Most Pollen/Ethnobotanical Analysts perform work on a cost per sample basis verses an hourly rate.

Answer: No. Reclamation requests that the contractors submit hourly rates for specialized analysts included in the Section B. The direct costs associated with specialist testing/analysis (i.e. C-14 testing) is covered by CLIN 38 (Time and Materials Line Item: Specialized Testing and Analysis per Section C 5.4).

15. In section B.1 of the Solicitation it mentions that the offeror is to prove a schedule for the contract including to “provide all personnel, materials or equipment necessary for completion of the Cultural resources in accordance with the statement of work in section C of this solicitation.” Is the government looking for the offeror to present this information in a Gantt chart format? Where is this information to be presented? In Volume II Task order 1 Technical Proposal?

Answer: The “schedule” that is being requested by section B.1 of the solicitation does not refer to a set timeline in which the offeror will provide all personnel, materials or equipment necessary for completion of the cultural resources in accordance with the statement of work in section C. The offeror is expected to complete Section J Attachment 2 “Section B Provided in Excel Format” in order to provide the schedule for the services. This is explained in solicitation Volume I, Section B.1, Schedule For The Contract, subpart (b). Therefore, it is not necessary for the offeror to submit a Gantt chart showing when the personnel, materials, and equipment will be provided as part of their proposal.

Individual Task Orders issued under this IDIQ will have deliverable dates that the contractor(s) need to meet. It will therefore be important for a contractor to submit their schedules/timelines for providing personnel, materials, and equipment necessary for completion of the individual task order. However this is not necessary for the overall IDIQ.

CONTRACTING QUESTIONS

1. The FAR clauses incorporated by reference include 52.204-14, 15, which contain the Service Contract

Act (SCA) reporting requirements. Will wage determinations be provided? Will the Agency designate a “site of the work” in accordance with CFR Title 29-Part 5-Section 5.2(l) (1) to facilitate application of the wage determinations under SCA?

Answer: FAR Clause 52.204-14 and 52.204.15 do not apply to this requirement and have been removed from the solicitation.

2. Are the New Mexico and Navajo Gross Receipts Taxes to be subsumed under the line item for “Fees and Permits?”

Answer: No. The New Mexico and Navajo Gross Receipts Taxes are included per Task Order not on the Main IDIQ. The tax percentage may vary, per task order, if the current rates change; as such, do not include the rate in the Fees and Permits on the Main IDIQ.

You will, however, need to include the taxes under “Attachment 4 – Task Order Pricing in Excel Format” since you are pricing the Task Order posted under “Attachment 3 – Task Order.”

3. Will there be an opportunity to ask another round of questions based on the response to the first round of questions?

Answer: No. This is the last round of questions for this solicitation.

4. Subcontracting Percentage Worksheet. In accordance with FAR regulation we track, manage, and report indirect costs using three indirect cost “buckets;” Fringe, Overhead, and G&A costs. The Subcontracting Percentage Worksheet only provides for Fringe and Labor G&A. Please confirm that you do not want to see overhead or fee on labor in this table.

Answer: Please provide the information and costs which are directly asked for on the form. Do not remove or include anything that is not on the required form.

5. Subcontracting Percentage Worksheet. If there are more than one subcontractor is the BOR looking for weighted average for all subcontracted services or would they like to see the subcontracting percentage worksheet expanded to provide data for each of the subcontractors used and the anticipated subcontracting labor cost percentage.

Answer: Please provide a separate worksheet for every subcontractor that will be used on this requirement.

Please be aware that interested parties are required to follow the performance percentages under FAR Clause 52.219-14 “Limitations on Subcontracting.”

6. Attachment 4 – Task Order TBD – Pricing. This table provides for unit pricing for labor categories.

This unit pricing is assumed to be fully loaded rates that include fringe, overhead, labor G&A, and fee. Please confirm we are interpreting the requested data correctly.

Answer: The unit pricing must be fully loaded with everything OTHER THAN G&A. G&A will be the only item that should be independently added to direct costs per task order. “Amend 004 Att 2 - Updated Section B Provided in Excel Format” has been updated to include a G&A rate under each of the 5 years.

Please propose your G&A rate in that field. This G&A rate will flow down to every task order under the

IDIQ.

7. Attachment 4 – Task Order TBD – Pricing. We do not apply G&A to direct expenses or subcontractors. We will indicate this in our response. We do apply a fee to direct costs and subcontracted services. Please confirm that the table can be modified accordingly

Answer: Please see above. “Attachment 4 – Task Order Pricing in Excel format” is only applied towards direct costs, which is why the Excel sheet has G&A after Direct Subtotal and prior to Direct Total, which would include the G&A costs.

We do not need to see the fee applied to the subcontracted services. That is an agreement between the Prime and the Subcontractor(s). The Labor Rates will come from the Base IDIQ proposed rates which should already be fully burdened with everything, other than G&A.

8. In “Attachment 2: Continuation of Section B Provided in Excel Format” the four rows at the bottom of each of the five years (CLIN 38-41, CLIN 79-82, CLIN 120-123, CLIN 161-164 and CLIN 202-205) already contain dollar amounts. Does the BOR want us to use these NTE amounts, or do you want us to provide our own estimates that do not exceed (but that could be lower than) the given amounts?

Answer: The Bureau of Reclamation has added a “Not to Exceed Amount” for certain CLINS as those CLINS cannot be estimated at this time. This is the reason that the aforementioned CLINS are time and materials line items. In addition, the Travel CLIN will be in accordance with FTR. Travel cannot exceed the total NTE price for that year.

9. As the government is anticipated to answer question no later than Tuesday, March 28, approximately 7 days before the proposal is due, will the government allow the proposal due date to be extended another two weeks to allow sufficient time for contractors to incorporate answers from the second round of questions?

Answer: Please use the most up to date Proposal Due Date which is stated in Amendment 004.

10. Will the government allow additional project write-ups to be included in Factor 2 Past Performance that do not have a PPQ?

Answer: Yes. Offerors may include additional RELEVANT project write-ups for Past Performance. The offeror must include the Point-Of-Contract (POC) for that particular project and the POCs contact information. The Government may or may not contact any projects included in the proposal that do not have PPQs.

11. In section L of the solicitation it mentions that there are four (4) volumes to be submitted hard copy.

Volume III Task Order 1 Technical Proposal instructions are not presented in the instructions.

Would the government please provide?

Answer: Solicitation Provision “1452.215-82 Technical Proposal Instructions- Bureau of Reclamation (APR 2001) (a) General” can be found directly after 1452.215-81 General Proposal Instructions-Bureau of Reclamation (JAN 1998)-WBR. Offerors shall follow the same instructions for the Task Order as for the solicitation. However, the Task Order Technical Proposal shall be submitted as Volume III. DO NOT

INCLUDE ANY PRICING INFORMATION IN VOLUME III.

12. Section L of the solicitation references the Pricing proposal instructions as Volume III, but earlier this information was presented in a table as Volume IV IDIQ Pricing proposal and Task Order 1 Pricing proposal. Please clarify if this is for Volume III or Volume IV.

Answer: This question was addressed in Amendment 00001, titled “Amendment_00001_Information_Page_and_Q&As.pdf.” The following answer was provided:

Yes. In Section 1452.215-83 Pricing Proposal Instructions (a) General, has been revised to read as follows “The pricing proposal shall be identified as Volume IV of the offeror’s proposal…”

13. Would the government please provide Volume III Task Order 1 Technical Proposal instructions for Section L?

Answer: “Att 3 - Task Order” and “Att 4 – Task Order Pricing in Excel Format” of the Solicitation are provided for the offeror to submit their proposal for the Task Order. The offeror should follow the same instructions for submitting the technical proposal of the task order, as for the solicitation. Please see Answer 11.

14. In Section L volume II instructions Factor 1 it states to demonstrate offerors ability to successfully perform this project based on demonstrated relevant and recent (within 5 years) performance on large-scale or complex projects. Is the government looking for project descriptions of these projects?

If so, A) where would the government like these project descriptions presented, Subfactor 1? B) Is there a specific template the government would like to see for these project descriptions; if so would the government please provide? C) Is there a page limit for the project descriptions and if so, is it to be included in the page count of Factor 1? D) If projects are included in page count, would the government expand the page count to allow for project descriptions? E) How many projects would the government like the offeror to present? F) Will the government allow any projects to be presented outside of New Mexico, Colorado, and the wider Four Corners Region?

Answer: A) Factor 1 information shall be submitted with Volume III Technical Proposal.

B) No, there is not a specific template for the project descriptions.

C) Yes, there is a Ten (10) page limit on each of the SUBFACTORS in FACTOR 1:

EXPERIENCE.

D) No.

E) There is no limit on how many projects an offeror can submit, providing it is within the 10 page limit.

F) No. SUBFACTOR 1 states “Offerors shall demonstrate their specialized experience and technical competence with the successful performance and completion of cultural resource management projects in New Mexico, Colorado, and the wider Four Corners Region similar in scope and duration similar to the type, magnitude, and complexity of the work required to be performed under this IDIQ.”

15. In Section L Volume II Factor 1: Would the government allow Factor 1 to have a 30 page limit and allow the offeror the ability to disperse the page limit how they would like across the three (3) subfactors?

Answer: No.

16. In Section L Volume II Factor 1 Subfactor 2 Will Reclamation allow full page resumes for the Principal investigator and Project Manager to be included as an appendix?

17. In Section L Volume II Factor 1 Subfactor 3: Will Reclamation allow full page resumes for other key personnel positions to be included as an appendix?

18. Section L Volume II Factor 2 Past Performance, Will the government allow CPAR government ratings to be presented in place of PPQs?

Answer: No. The Government pulls CPARS reports on each Offeror submitting a proposal, prior to the onset of the Technical Proposal Evaluation Committee (TPEC). However, PPQ’s submitted to the Contract Specialist, by another Government entity, is allowed.

19. Section J Attachment 1 page 18 period of performance states the period of performance will extend from March 2017 to March 2022. Would the government please provide an award date?

Answer: Amend 004 Att1 – Updated Volume II Statement of Work, page 18, the Period of Performance has been revised to read as August 2017 to August 2022.

20. Page 46, pricing volume item four (4) states, “The offeror shall submit Section B of the contract Schedule (Part I of this solicitation) with its proposed total prices/costs for each contract line item (including any options), proposed unit price(s), and a total proposed price consisting of the sum of all contract line items (excluding options) shall be submitted. Is this Section B to mean attachment 2 Continuation of Section B provided in Excel format or section B schedule or both?

Answer: Attachment 2 Continuation of Section B: “The Pricing Proposals shall be submitted as Volume IV and filled in directly from Attachment 2: Continuation of Section B Provided in Excel Format and Attachment 4: Task Order Pricing in Excel Format of this solicitation. The electronic copies of Attachments 2 and 4 MUST be submitted in Excel format on the flash drive.”

21. Page 46, pricing volume item four (4) states, “In addition, the offeror shall provide a noncertified copy of the final pricing proposal (i.e. other than cost or pricing data in accordance with Table 15- 2.).” Is this to mean Attachment 4 Task Order No. TBD Pricing?

Answer: On the Base IDIQ pricing, Base Year through Option Year 4.

22. Where is Attachment 5, Subcontracting Percentage Worksheet to be presented, Volume IV with other cost information?

Answer: Attachment 5, Subcontracting Percentage Worksheet shall be submitted in Volume II Technical Proposal.

23. Page 44, volume II technical proposal instructions item four (4) Executive summary. Is there a page limit for this section?

24. Is it to be understood that a page is a single sided 8 1/2 x11 sheet of paper?

Answer: Yes. A “page” is an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of white paper. See Updated Solicitation No R17PS00106 Cultural Resources IDIQ1452.215-81 GENERAL PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS.

25. Are full page graphics, tables, figures excluded from page count?

26. Page 41 Section L provides provisions incorporated by reference. Is it to be understood that the government is using the most recent FAR provisions? For example FAR 52.215-01 instructions to offerors (Jan 2004) should be the most recent January 2017 revision?

Answer: Any FAR Clauses and/or Provisions that are currently in the Solicitation will be included in the Contract Award, as written. The FAR is consistently updated and it is unreasonable for the Government to update clauses as they are changed on all projects.

27. Page 41 Section L references FAR 52.222-46 Evaluation of Compensation for Professional

Employees. As part of this FAR it says, “As part of their proposals, offerors will submittal total compensation plan setting forth salaries and fringe benefits proposed for the professional employees who will work under the contract.” Will the government allow this information to be provided post award?

Answer: No. Offerors are required to complete and submit “Amend 004 Att 2 – Updated Section B Provided in Excel Format.xls” in Volume IV, as part of their proposal and by the closing date of the solicitation. Each CLIN in Section B, that applies, have been referenced with either 29 CFR 541.300 or 29

CFR 541.400.

28. Page 41 Section L references FAR 52.222-46 Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees. As part of this FAR it says, “As part of their proposals, offerors will submittal total compensation plan setting forth salaries and fringe benefits proposed for the professional employees who will work under the contract.” Where would the government like this information to be provided, Volume I, Volume II and if so what is there a page limit?

Answer: This information must be included in Volume IV as part of the pricing proposal. There is no page limit, however the Government encourages the offeror to be brief and concise with this information.

29. Attachment 1, 4.0 Key Personnel, page 6 of Updated Volume II statement of work states, “The Contractors shall demonstrate the administrative capability to adequately manage large contracts and projects. The Contractors shall also possess a flexible organization to provide a quick-reaction capability to meet last minute changes and requirements.” What Factor is this information to be provided in Volume II Technical Proposal and does it count towards page count of that section?

Answer: The Offeror must decide which factor to include the information under. Yes, any information will be counted towards the page count of that section.

30. Attachment 1, 4.0 Key Personnel, page 6 states, “As part of their Technical Proposal, offerors shall provide a quality assurance plan…” Is this information to be included in Factor4 Quality Assurance/Quality Control in Volume II Technical Proposal?

Answer: Yes.

31. Attachment 1, 4.0 Key Personnel, page 6 states, “As part of their Technical Proposal, offerors shall provide… a management/organizational chart to ensure that all requirements are adhered to and successfully completed in a timely and professional manner and to illustrate efficient and clear communication between all members of the offeror’s project team and Reclamation.” Is this information to be included in Factor3 Organizational Structure in Volume II Technical Proposal?

Answer: The Offeror must decide which factor to include the information under. Yes, any information

32. Attachment 1, 4.0 Key Personnel, page 6 states, “Offerors will also identify any subcontractors or teaming partners and designate a primary point of contact for this contract.” What Factor is this information to be provided in Volume II Technical Proposal and does it count towards page count of that section?

Answer: The Offeror must decide which factor to include the information under. Yes, any information

33. Attachment 1, 7.0 Provided Items, page 17 states,” The Contractors shall demonstrate that they can provide the necessary equipment, including but not limited to, global positioning system (GPS) units, screens, field equipment, field vehicles, and the capacity to staff and conduct multiple field projects simultaneously. The Contractors shall demonstrate that they can incorporate work anticipated under this IDIQ within their existing workload. Work may be intermittent and the Contractors shall be able to provide the requested services during periods of both high and low demand and within the timeframes specified within the individual TOs.” Where is this information to be provided? Volume II Technical Proposal and does it count towards page count?

Answer: The Offeror must decide which factor to include the information under. Yes, any information

34. Is Attachment 5: Subcontracting Percentage Worksheet to be completed in support of the entire contract or in support of future Task Order pricing? If required as part of this response, how is it to be completed?

Answer: Please see Answer 5.

35. CLINs 00029 to 00034 as described in the Statement of Work ask for “…all the labor and direct costs…” or “…all the labor and supplies…”, however, Attachment 2 Section B Provided in Excel does not have a space for offerors to provide direct costs associated with CLINs 00029 to 00034. How should offerors provide these directs costs?

Answer: Please see Amendment 00001.