Amendment_1_RA133R18RP0010.pdf

NSN 7540-01-152-8070 STANDARD FORM 30. (Rev. 10-83) Previous Edition unusable Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Page of Pages AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1. Contract ID Code

2. AMENDMENT MODIFICATION NO. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (if applicable)

6. ISSUED BY CODE 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than item 6) CODE

(x) 9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (NO., Street, Country, State and ZIP Code)

CODE FACILITY CODE

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.

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 ______ copies of amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OR OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment your desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. 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 NO. IN ITEM 10A.

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

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

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible)

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.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

15C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

16C. DATE SIGNED

The purpose of this Amendment 0001 is to revise the solicitation and respond to questions from interesed parties.

Accordingly:

1 2

RA133R18RP0010 Amendment 0001 See 16C. NRMA0000-17-00115

AJ730004

WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION

SOU6

325 BROADWAY

BOULDER CO 80305

See Block 6

RA133R18RP0010

JAN 18, 2018

See Schedule

PAGE 2 OF 2 RA133R18RP0010 AMENDMENT 0001

AMENDMENTS TO THE SOLICITATION

1. Section B SF 1449 Continuation, B.3 Contract Type is modified as follows:

B.3. CONTRACT TYPE

The Government contemplates award of an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract resulting from this solicitation. Task orders may be issued on a labor-hour or firm-fixed-price basis.

2. Section C Contract Clauses C.2.16: CAR 1352.237-75 KEY PERSONNEL (APR 2010) is modified. The section (a) position title is revised to “Program Manager”.

(a) The contractor shall assign to this contract the following key personnel:

(Name) Program Manager

3. Section D Contract Document, Exhibits, or Attachments; Attachment 3 Price Evaluation Worksheet is deleted and replaced with a new Attachment 3 Pricing Evaluation Worksheet.

4. SECTION E Solicitation Provisions; E.2.5 CAR 1352.215-70 PROPOSAL PREPARATION (APR 2010) (a) General Instructions item (4) and (b) Technical Proposal, Factor 1 Technical Approach and Experience are modified as follows:

(a) General Instructions (4) The proposal should be typed, double-spaced, with one inch margins, using size 12-font or equivalent and printed, unreduced in size, on 8-1/2" by 11" paper. The proposal shall not exceed 40 pages, single sided (20 double sided). Any pages in excess of 40 will be disregarded, and will not be included in the proposal evaluation.

Charts, tables of contents and graphics are subject to the page and font requirements.

(b) Technical Proposal Factor 1 – Technical Approach and Experience.

(1) The technical proposal must contain information on how the project is to be organized, staffed, and managed. Information should be provided which will demonstrate the offeror's understanding and management of important events or tasks and how the offeror intends to fulfill the contract requirements as outlined in the Attachment 1 Performance Work Statement. This includes demonstrating the offeror’s ability to provide the appropriate personnel levels and skill mixes as required under this solicitation. A resume shall be submitted for the Program Manager listed in clause CAR 1352.237-75 Key Personnel. The offeror must explain how the management and coordination of consultant and/or subcontractor efforts will be accomplished.

AMENDMENT 0001 RA133R18RP0010

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS FROM INTERESTED PARTIES

Question 1. Can the Government confirm that a Basic Background Check conducted prior to hiring an employee is sufficient for an employee to start work if the results are favorable?

NOAA Response:

Obtaining staff credentials will be coordinated through the Contracting Officer’s Representative. The contract may have Moderate Risk positions and the positions are required to have a Tier 2 Investigation. Reference Section D, Attachment 1 Performance Work Statement, page 7, Item 6.4. Further reference CAR 1352.237-70 SECURITY

PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS – HIGH OR MODERATE RISK CONTRACTS (APR 2010)

CAR 1352.237-71 SECURITY PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS – LOW RISK (APR 2010)

CAR 1352.237-73 FOREIGN NATIONAL VISITOR AND GUEST ACCESS TO

DEPARTMENTAL RESOURCES (APR 2010).

Question 2. Can the government confirm a Public Trust is the required clearance level for this contract?

NOAA Response:

There may be positions with sensitivity/risk designation.

Question 3. Can the government confirm only one Key Personnel position of Program Manager?

NOAA Response:

Yes, there is only one Key Personnel position which is the Program Manager as listed in the clause C.216 CAR 1352.237-75 Key Personnel.

Question 4. We understand that this work will take place across multiple NOAA Line Offices and at two separate laboratory locations. Based on historical data, can the Government please provide more information on which of these positions are staffed at NOAA PMEL and which at DSRC? This data is vital to our organization's ability to provide best value pricing and market analysis.

NOAA Response:

The Attachment 3 Pricing Evaluation Worksheet has the estimated labor hours from historical information. Task orders for Seattle, Washington are estimated to require a Research Scientist X, Engineer/Technician IV, Engineer Technician V, and an Engineer/Scientist V. It is anticipated a majority of those positions will be required in Boulder, Colorado.

Question 5. Can the government confirm that the total compensation plan, including salary data should be included as part of the price proposal rather than the technical proposal?

NOAA Response:

The total compensation plan (as required in FAR 52.222-46 Evaluation Compensation for Professional Employees) is part of the technical proposal per E.2.5 CAR 1352.215- 70 Proposal Preparation (b) Technical Proposal, Factor 1 Technical Approach and Experience (2).

Question 6. Attachment 3, Pricing Worksheet, Tab 2 Price Totals provides hours for a work year. Some of the labor categories have hours that total less than 1,920 hours.

Will the awarded contract require full-time and part-time workers?

NOAA Response:

Part-time as well as full time staff may be required for task orders.

Question 7. Does the current contract task orders have full-time and part-time workers?

NOAA Response:

Yes.

Question 8. Regarding Evaluation Factor 1, paragraph (3), do the Total Compensation Plan and the Supporting Information count against the 20 page limit for the Technical Proposal?

NOAA Response:

Yes, and Amendment 0001 revises the page limit to 40 pages. Offerors must submit data such as recognized national and regional compensation surveys and studies of professional, public and private organizations, used in establishing the total compensation structure.

Question 9. Regarding Factor 1, paragraph (3), if offerors provide one (1) combined Total Compensation Plan for the prime and all of its proposed subcontractors, will that be evaluated as any less favorably?

NOAA Response:

One Total Compensation Plan as required in FAR 52.222-46 Evaluation Compensation for Professional Employees for the prime contractor and any subcontractors is acceptable. Subcontracting is acceptable under the solicitation.

Question 10. Will the Government compare Total Compensation Plans amongst offerors? Or will the Government simply make an assessment on each offeror’s Total Compensation Plan to see if they are fair and reasonable?

NOAA Response:

Evaluation will be completed against the stated evaluation criteria and not amongst Offerors. The best-value trade-off decision will consider all evaluated criteria to arrive at an award decision consistent with these stated criteria.

Question 11. Are there any specific acceptable or unacceptable aspects of a Total Compensation Plan?

NOAA Response:

Reference E.2.3 FAR 52.222-46 Evaluation Of Compensation For Professional Employees for details.

Question 12. Regarding Evaluator Factor 1, bullet #2, “How the offerors’ proposal demonstrates an understanding of and a viable strategy to meet the Government’s need.” Can the Government clarify how it will evaluate a strategy’s viability? For example, is the Government referring to our strategy to conduct, earth system modeling framework. development, and prediction model formulation with advanced data assimilation methods, etc? Or our strategy to staff and manage the contract and ensure accomplishment of work requirements?

NOAA Response:

Reference E.2.5 CAR 1352.215-70 Proposal Preparation (b) Technical Proposal, Factor 1 Technical Approach and Experience requests specific information. We will be evaluating the firms understanding of the requirement and overall strategy (technique) to fulfilling the requirement.

Question 13. Will the government consider past performance/questionnaires from proposed subcontractors, and if so, would subcontractor past performance references/questionnaires be supplied in addition to, or as part of the 3 required references?

NOAA Response:

Yes, subcontractors may submit past performance questionnaires. A minimum of three references are requested in E.2.5 CAR 1352.215-70 Proposal Preparation, (b) Technical Proposal, Factor 2 Past Performance.

Question 14. Please confirm past performance questionnaires for work that was performed as a subcontractor should be sent to Government client rather than prime contractor for completion.

NOAA Response:

Past performance questionnaires must be submitted from the offeror’s or subcontractor’s clients directly to NOAA. This may require coordination with prime contractor clients.

Question 15. "The technical proposal shall not exceed 20 pages" In section E.2.5.(b).

Factor 1 is titled "Technical Approach and Experience". Does this mean that the Technical portion of Factor 1 is limited to 20 double-spaced pages, and the Experience portion of Factor 1 is outside the 20-page limit?

NOAA Response:

There are two separate volumes Technical Approach and Experience (not past performance) limited to 40 pages. Past performance questionnaires are submitted directly from Clients. The list of references shall be included in the technical proposal and is part of the 40 page limit.

Question 16. E.2.5 CAR 1352.215-70 Proposal Preparation (a) General Instructions,

(6) "The offeror shall not merely offer to perform work in accordance with the Performance Work Statement (PWS), but shall outline the actual work proposed as specifically as practical. What level of elaboration does NOAA consider "sufficient" with regard to the level of detail required when describing the actual work performed?

NOAA Response:

NOAA cannot provide a description of a sufficiently articulated proposal, but NOAA can clarify that the general instructions excerpt reference in the question above is merely to remind offerors that a proposal solely stating an offeror’s ability to complete the requirements without further explanation as required by the solicitation would result in a low rating during evaluations.

Question 17. Will NOAA accept CPARS in lieu of Past Performance Questionnaires?

NOAA Response:

No, Contractor Performance and Reporting System (CPARs) reports may not be submitted in lieu of the Past Performance Questionnaires.

Question 18. Do Past Performance Questionnaires or CPARS count towards the 20 page limit? Will NOAA consider excluding the list of references with contact information from the page restriction?

NOAA Response:

Reference E.2.5 CAR 1352.215-70 Proposal Preparation (b) Factor 2 Past Performance, questionnaires are submitted from the Offeror’s clients and are not part of the proposal page count. The list of references is included in the page count.

Question 19. Will NOAA consider revising RFP Attachment 3 to allow for 3 rates per Labor Category which would include Boulder, CO, Seattle, WA, and OTHER CONUS?

NOAA Response:

No, these will be the maximum allowable rates. Discounts from these rates will be requested and can be provided on a task order basis.