3-PICSIII_Q-A_Final_2023_12_21.pdf

PICS III Offeror Questions

Question

Where in the Solicitation

(header section and page number)

Solicitation Section

(A‐M) Response

1 Please clarify whether the vendor or NIH will supply the publicly‐facing CDN and production environment comprised of hosting, security, database and system administration.

Attachment 7, PICS III

Sample Task Order SOW, Task 10: IT Requirements, b.

Web Design, Development, and Management, page 10

Attachment 7 The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

2 In Task 1 of the Sample Task Order, can NIH clarify if the background research effort is conducted just once or if there is a deliverable twice a month, per the email sent to the program office mentioned later in the paragraph.

Attachment 7, PICS III

Sample Task Order SOW, Task 1. Communications

Research, page 3

Attachment 7 The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

3 In 2.b in the Sample Task order, can NIH clarify if the media trainings are expected to be on site at NIH in Bethesda, MD. If so, should we include any travel related costs.

Attachment 7, PICS III

Sample Task Order SOW, 2b.

Media and Crisis

Communication Training, Attachment 7 The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

4 In Task 3 in the Sample Task Order, can NIH clarify the intended audiences for promotion and what is referred to as

“new audiences”?

Attachment 7, PICS III

Sample Task Order SOW, Task 3. Audience Outreach and Promotion, page 4

Attachment 7 The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

5 In Task 3b in the Sample Task Order, Can NIH clarify if the meeting is in person or virtual?

Attachment 7, PICS III

Sample Task Order SOW, 3b.

Outreach to Target

Populations/Health

Disparities Programs, page 4

Attachment 7 The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

6 For Task 3b in the Sample Task Order, can NIH clarify if there is a deliverable beyond attendance at the planning meeting? Is the contractor expected to summarize the meeting and furnish a completed plan for NIH review and approval?

Attachment 7, PICS III

Sample Task Order SOW, 3b.

Outreach to Target

Populations/Health

Disparities Programs, page 4

Attachment 7 The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

7 The link provided in the Sample Task Order, page 5 doesn’t seem to work. Can NIH provide another link?

Attachment 7, PICS III

Sample Task Order SOW, Task 4. Materials

Development, page 5

Attachment 7 The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

8 For Task 4 in the Sample Task Order, should the contractor assume the cost of printing when printing numbers are specified (for example 5,000 copies)?

Attachment 7, PICS III

Sample Task Order SOW, Task 4. Materials

Development, page 5

Attachment 7 The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

9 For the Sample Task Order, are you expecting any paid media?

If so, can you provide a budget?

Attachment 7, PICS III

Sample Task Order SOW

Attachment 7 The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

10 Can you provide an estimated budget for the Sample Task

Order?

Attachment 7, PICS III

Sample Task Order SOW

Attachment 7 The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

11 If the Offeror determines that necessary personnel required for the scope of work do not fit within the LCATs provided in the RFP, can additional LCATs be added?

B.2 Prices/Costs; page 5 B No, please align to the PICS III Labor Categories.

12 If the Offeror has a GSA contract, can they propose those vetted rates?

B.2 Prices/Costs; page 5 B No, please align rates to the PICS III Labor Categories.

13 For pricing purposes, please provide the anticipated period of performance start date for Year 1.

Article B.2, pages 5‐6; and

Attachment 8

B The anticipated start date will be summer of 2024.

14 This section states: "i) Procuring items/services on behalf of the Government. Such purchases are only allowed for those hardware or software items determined to be integral to the performance of a task order and approved by the task order

Contracting Officer. A competitive price analysis will be performed and properly documented" Q: Please confirm that generally a competitive price analysis is not required for any

ODCs proposed for the Sample Task Order since it is for evaluation purposes.

Section B, Article B.1 Brief

Description of Supplies or

Services, page 5 and C.1.4.1

(i), page 9

B The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

PICS III Solicitation 75N98023R00006 1 of 21

15 Is the offeror required to use ONLY the government’s labor categories in the Section B Master IDIQ Pricing Table or can we add labor categories we deem necessary to achieve the goals outlined in Sections C and L of the solicitation?

Article B.2, pg 5 B Please align to the PICS III Labor Categories.

16 Please confirm if the offeror may propose additional labor categories which may be required to cover the wide range of services anticipated under the IDIQ.

Section C.1.6, pages 10‐14 C No, please align to the PICS III Labor Categories.

17 What evidence does the Government constitute as meeting the "burden of proof" for qualification waivers?

SECTION C.1.4.3,

RESTRICTIONS AND

EQUIVALENCIES IN LABOR

CATEGORIES, p.10

C This is determined by the Task Order Contracting

Officer (CO).

18 Does the government have preferred software applications when they refer to "graphics software applications" for Web

Developer experience?

SECTION C.1.6.7, WEB

DEVELOPER, p. 11

C This will be determined at the Task Order level.

19 Can the government provide examples of the commercial database management systems the IT Specialists may need experience with?

SECTION C.1.6.8, IT

SPECIALIST, p. 11

C We cannot provide examples at this time, this will be determined at the Task Order level.

20 Will the Professional Trainer be responsible for in‐person or virtual training (or both)?

SECTION C.1.6.26,

PROFESSIONAL TRAINER, p.

C This will be determined at the Task Order level.

21 The Meeting Planner and Exhibit Designer show similar responsibilities for managing logistical support for trade show exhibits without mention of collaboration with each other. Can the government clarify how these LCATs should interact with each other regarding this responsibility?

SECTION C.1.6.4, MEETING

PLANNER, p. 11

C.1.6.29, EXHIBIT DESIGNER,

p. 14

C This will be determined at the Task Order level.

22 Does the government have existing Media and Crisis

Communication Training that will serve as the foundation for new programs or is the contractor responsible for creating these programs from the ground up?

SECTION C.1.7.2b, MEDIA

AND CRISIS

COMMUNICATION

TRAINING, p. 16

C Customers' needs and existing materials may vary, however, vendors must be able to design, plan, conduct, and furnish a wide range of media and crisis communications training programs for designated spokespersons and staff members, including but not limited to agency leadership, advisors, employees, contractors, consultants, and grantees, in both individual and group settings.

23 What does the government constitute as the "full range of comprehensive communication and recruitment efforts?"

SECTION C.1.7.3a, AUDIENCE

OUTREACH AND

PROMOTION, p. 16

C Please see the Performance Work Statement.

24 Can the government clarify the requirements to store meeting and campaign‐related exhibits and displays? Are there specific facility or security requirements, etc.?

SECTION C.1.7.8, EXHIBIT

DEVELOPMENT, DESIGN,

PRODUCTION, STORAGE,

AND TRANSPORT, p. 18

C This will be determined at the Task Order level.

25 Does the government have an existing or preferred learning management system (LMS) in place for training material and certificate hosting? If so, will the contractor be responsible for

LMS management/maintenance or will they work with existing

LMS administrators to carry out these functions?

SECTION C.1.7.10, IT

REQUIREMENTS, pg. 20

C This will be determined at the Task Order level.

26 Are there any positions the government anticipates will be allowed to work remotely?

Section C.1.7, Principal Task

Areas, page 14

C This will be determined at the Task Order level.

27 For the Program Manager position, would the government confirm that it would accept a bachelor’s degree if it is in an associated field?

Section C.1.6.1. Program

Manager, Page 10

C Please see the Performance Work Statement for experience substitution details.

28 The Deputy Program Manager position requires more years of experience than the Program Manager, which in our experience can unnecessarily limit the candidate pool when there are candidates who can perform the position with less years of experience and provide a cost reduction for the government. Would the government be open to reducing the years of experience to 7 years with at least 5 years specialized or alternatively 10 years with 7 years specialized?

Section C.1.6.2. Deputy

Program Manager, Page 11

C No.

29 Is there a years of experience equivalent for the positions that require degrees?

C.1.6 Labor Category

Descriptions/Experience for

Principal Task Areas, Page 10‐

C Please see the Performance Work Statement for experience substitution details.

30 What square footage is required for warehouse space? Inventories/Warehouse/Dist ribution/Services, pg 22

C This will be determined at the Task Order level.

PICS III Solicitation 75N98023R00006 2 of 21

31 Will the contractor's Web Design, Develop, and Management team be able to directly access and edit pages on NIH websites?

Or, will the contractor only be recommending website updates/edits that will then be completed by the internal NIH web team?

C.1.7.10b. Web Design, Development, and

Management, Page 20

C This will be determined at the Task Order level.

32 Does the government require facilities within a 50 mile radius of Greater Baltimore‐Washington Metropolitan Area?

C.1.7.11

Inventories/Warehouse/Dist ribution/Services

C This will be determined at the Task Order level.

33 The Deputy Program Manager requires 12 years of experience but the Program Manager only requires 10. Can the government switch these requirements or provide clarity on why the Deputy PM requires more than the PM?

C.1.6. Labor Category

Descriptions

C No, the Government will not switch these requirements.

34 For the Meeting Planner, can the government confirm that if the employee has a BS/BA, they are not required to also have 4 years of experience?

C.1.6. Labor Category

Descriptions

C Yes, we confirm that if an employee has a BS/BA they do not also have to have 4 years of experience.

35 For the Junior Meeting Planner, can the government confirm that if the employee has a BS/BA, they are not required to also have 2 years of experience?

C.1.6. Labor Category

Descriptions

C Yes, we confirm that if an employee has a BS/BA they do not also have to have 2 years of experience.

36 For roles that only require a high school diploma/GED + work experince, can a bachelors substitute 4 years of experience and an associates substitute 2 years of experience?

C.1.6. Labor Category

Descriptions

C Yes

37 What platform is the government currently utilizing for recruitment?

C.1.4.1 General, Page 9 C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level.

38 Are the sites for meetings domestic or international? C.1.6.4. Meeting Planner, C This will be determined at the Task Order level.

39 What participant/meeting planning software is currently being used?

C.1.6.4. Meeting Planner, C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level. Offerors may be required to provide the software.

40 Is there specific software that the government currently uses to pay for participant and/or exhibitor registration fees? Or is this a platform that the contractor will be responsible for procuring?

C.1.6.5. Jr. Meeting Planner, C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level. Offerors may be required to provide the software.

41 Are there existing exhibits that are currently housed at government facilities that will be used, or will the contractor be responsible for designing and creating completely new exhibits OR is it a combination of both?

C.1.6.29. Exhibit Designer, C Vendors may be required to store existing exhibits as well as plan, design, develop, execute, duplicate, and furnish meeting and campaign‐related exhibits and displays as specified in agency task orders.

42 Considering the government's requirement for a comprehensive suite of interpretation and translation services, encompassing a variety of communication materials and high‐ level diplomatic support, could the government specify the anticipated range or total number of languages that vendors are expected to accommodate for translation and interpretation purposes?

C.1.7.6. Foreign Language

Translation and

Interpretation, Page 16‐17

C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level.

43 Can the government specify what kinds of "guest services" they are referring to? For instance, spouse programs?

C.1.7.9. Meeting, Conference, and Event

Support, Pg. 18‐19

C Guest services are intended to provide information to travelers and participants. This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level.

44 Are the virtual "round table discussions" part of a larger virtual event, or does NIH plan to routinely host separate virtual round table discussions?

C.1.7.9. Meeting, Conference, and Event

Support, Pg. 18‐19

C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level.

45 Given the comprehensive inventory management responsibilities outlined for vendors, including tasks like receiving, cataloging, and shipping communication materials, along with routine tracking and reporting requirements, could the government provide details on the inventory management software currently in use by the government to facilitate these processes?

C.1.7. 11.

Inventories/Warehouse/Dist ribution/Services, Page 22

C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level.

PICS III Solicitation 75N98023R00006 3 of 21

46 Based on the outlined requirements for the vendor to transport materials within the Greater Baltimore‐Washington

Metropolitan Area, including the provision of all necessary machinery and equipment like handcarts, electric pallet jacks, and forklifts, could the government please specify the anticipated average annual volume of machinery and equipment usage that vendors should be prepared to manage?

C.1.7. 11.

Inventories/Warehouse/Dist ribution/Services, Page 22‐

C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level.

47 HHS Force Majeure Clause: It has been our experience that a hotel's willingness to agree to clauses like the Cancellation

Matrix and Good Faith Effort clause referenced in C.1.8 is heavily dependant on market conditions. What will the government's position be if the vendor makes good faith efforts to negotiate a contract with the required clauses and available hotels will not agree to all the required terms?

C.1.8 ‐ HHS Force Majeure

Clause Page 23

C Contractors will be required to coordinate with the

Task Order CO and COR for approval throughout contract negotiations.

48 Are bidders permitted to propose additional labor categories for consideration provided they subtantiate why these positions would be beneficial for the Contract?

C.1.6 Labor Category

Descriptions/Experience for

Principal Task Areas, Page 10

C No, please align to the PICS III Labor Categories.

49 Would the government consider adding a labor category for a junior graphic artist/designer with 1‐2 years of experience required to allow offerors to provide a more cost‐effective solution to graphic design‐heavy task orders?

C.1.6; p. 10 C No, please align to the PICS III Labor Categories.

50 Can the government clarify the level of effort expected for

C.1.7.7.a Information and Referrals “Clearinghouses”

Government call operations? What would a typical call volume be for a call center under PICS III? Would it be expected that it operates 24/7 or just during business hours?

C.1.7.7; p. 17 C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level.

51 The Deputy Program Manager has a minimum education/ experience of B.A. /B.S. degree in business or other related discipline. A minimum of (12) years of experience of which at least (7) years must be specialized in project development from inception to deployment and demonstrated capability in managing multi‐task contracts and/or subcontracts of various types and complexity. Would degrees in communications, journalism, public health, communications, or marketing qualify to serve as a Deputy Program Manager?

C.2.6.2; p. 11 C Other related discipline refers to other business‐ related disciplines (e.g. Accounting, Finance, Marketing).

52 Does the offeror need to identify personnel and include resumes for each of the labor categories listed in Section C?

For background, we have personnel for each role. Our question is about whether it is practical to include descriptions of each of the individuals for 30 labor categories (some of which will be used by multiple employees) given the space limits of the response, and what level of detail you want to see. It may be that you only want to see bios and resumes for a portion of the positions or for specific types of positions.

C.1.6, pg 10‐14 C A resume is not required for all labor categories.

Offerors shall provide resumes of proposed key personnel which as stated in article G.2. is the

Program Manager and Deputy Program Manager. In addition to the resumes of the key personnel, offerors may provide bios/backgrounds of additional communications personnel that add value to your proposal and would contribute to the contract. The number of additional bios/backgrounds is at the discretion of the offeror.

53 Several sections of the solicitation such as C 1.7.1 (h) (“Design, development, execution, and reporting of approved surveys and polls”) and c 1.7.3b (“vendors shall be required to …test, execute, and evaluate”) require staff with a quantitative experimentation and survey analysis skillset. However, section

C 1.6 does not include a Data Scientist or similar labor category. Would the government consider adding one or more quantitative‐analysis focused labor categories to the solicitation?

C.1.6, pg 10‐14 C No, please align to the PICS III Labor Categories.

54 What specific criteria or benchmarks are used to evaluate the success or impact of communication, news media operations, evaluation, and social marketing services for the work described in Section C?

C.1.7.2a, pg 15 C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level.

55 How does NIH determine the effectiveness of its engagement with different media outlets?

C.1.7.2a, pg 15 C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level.

PICS III Solicitation 75N98023R00006 4 of 21

56 Besides English‐language news media, are there other key languages that NIH requests/requires for media outreach (e.g., Spanish, etc.)?

C.1.7.2a, pg 15 C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level.

57 Are the media and crisis communications required to take place in person/at NIH facilities?

C.1.7.2b, pg 16 C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level.

58 Can the government please specify the type of event promotion performed and required.

C.1.7.9, pg 18‐19 C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level.

59 Could the government describe the interactive media used for events?

C.1.7.9, pg 18‐19 C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level.

60 Can the government specify which registration system and mobile applications have been used on prior events?

C.1.7.9, pg 18‐19 C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level.

61 When describing website support, the RFP states, “Some may require ongoing support (e.g., development and/or hosting) on contractor‐provided servers.” By "contractor‐provided servers," we are assuming you mean contractor purchased and managed secure cloud servers through providers such as

Amazon's AWS, Microsoft's Azure, etc. as digital contractors rarely host servers on site anymore. Is this correct?

C.1.7.10. pg 19 C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level.

62 The RFP states, “For the overall project, Vendors shall also furnish all staffing, equipment, materials, and expertise sufficient for accomplishing the Government’s requirements, ranging from early‐phase development, (e.g., identifying, researching, designing, developing, refining, revising, and testing), to final production (e.g., enhancing, monitoring, maintaining, and inventorying).” This appears to imply that the government will not be supplying any government equipment

(i.e., laptops) to contractors so the treatment of government‐ supplied equipment will not need to be addressed in the response. Is this correct?

C.1.7.10. pg 19 C This may vary by customer and will be determined at the Task Order level. Offerors shall address the treatment of government supplied equipment.

63 Could NIH please confirm that the only two labor categories considered key at the IDIQ level are Program Manager and

Deputy Program Manager?

ARTICLE G.2. KEY

PERSONNEL, HHSAR 352.237‐

G Yes, that is correct.

64 The RFP states ..." the TORP will identify the basis for selecting a Contractor for award" and "Upon completion of evaluations, the Contracting Officer will issue a task order to the Contractor whose proposal is most advantageous to the government."

Does the Government intend to use a best‐value trade‐off process when evaluating Task Order proposals, or does it intend to use LPTA?

ARTICLE G.3. TASK ORDER

PROCEDURE, d.

Evaluation and Award of

Task Order Proposals, p. 31.

G Method of evaluation for each task order will be determined at the task order level.

65 Can the Government confirm that there are only 2 required key personnel (Program Manager and Deputy Program

Manager)? May offerors propose additional or alternate key personnel?

Section G, Article G.2., Key

Personnel

G Yes, there are only two required key personnel

(Deputy Program Manager and Program Manager) for the master contract. No additional or alternate key personnel may be proposed in response to this master contract solicitation.

66 Can the HHS Section 508 VPAT template be submitted post‐ award?

ARTICLE H.7. ELECTRONIC

AND INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY

NOTICE

HHSAR 352.239‐73

H The HHS Section 508 VPAT template is not required for the master contract solicitation but may be required at the Task Order level.

67 Article H.7 states that offerors must submit an HHS Section 508

Product Assessment Template. However, the tempate is not listed as a submission element on p. 66, including in the 20‐ page appendix. The template will take up at least 16 pages.

Could the 508 Product Assessment Tempate be submitted as an additional appendix to the technical proposal or as a part of the business proposal?

p. 43, Article H.7.c, and p.

66, L.3 Mandatory Submittal

Requirements

H The HHS Section 508 VPAT template is not required for the master contract solicitation but may be required at the Task Order level.

PICS III Solicitation 75N98023R00006 5 of 21

To increase the marketability of the PICS III vehicle in the latter years of its period of performance, and to be consistent with other IDIQ vehicles, will NIH consider replacing “365 days after expiration of master contract” with “five (5) years after expiration of master contract?”

Article I.4. (Additional FAR

Contract Clauses Included in

Full Text), a. (FAR Clauses),

5. (FAR Clause 52.216‐22, Indefinite Quantity), page 56

I No, the language will remain “365 days after expiration of master contract”.

69 The RFP indicates FAR 52.222‐41, Service Contract Labor

Standards applies. Shall Offerors escalate the rates for labor categories subject to SCLS, or does FAR 52.222‐43 Fair Labor

Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards‐Price

Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts) also apply?

ARTICLE I.6. SERVICE

CONTRACT LABOR

STANDARDS, p.59.

I Offerors shall escalate the rates for the labor categories.

70 In Task 3, Audience Outreach and Promotion, should we assume the use of the client's GovDelivery or other email marketing platform for the distribution of the new e‐ newsletter? Or should the Offeror include costs for a separate email service?

Attachment #7: PICS III

SAMPLE Task Order Exercise, Task 3; page 4

J The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

71 In Task 3, Audience Outreach and Promotion, the RFP references "the current budgetary environment to which the

Government may be subject." Would NIH please explain how

Offerors should interpret this, especially given that the RFP is not providing any estimated budget levels for this sample task to guide the development of approaches?

Attachment #7: PICS III

SAMPLE Task Order Exercise, Task 3; page 4

J The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

72 In Task 3, Audience Outreach and Promotion, does NIH envision using targeted paid media promotion as part of the outreach activities? If so, this could dramatically impact pricing and comparison of cost proposals. Therefore, if paid media is desired, can NIH provide a budget range?

Attachment #7: PICS III

SAMPLE Task Order Exercise, Task 3; page 4

J The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

73 The scope described in Section d. Website Usability Testing does not specifically include usability testing of the new website. Is NIH looking for that to be included in the scope?

Attachment #7: PICS III

SAMPLE Task Order Exercise, Task 10; page 10

J The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

74 The Distribution and Delivery Summary includes the mailing of teacher and library content. Will the client provide the mailing lists for these two mailings?

Attachment #7: PICS III

SAMPLE Task Order Exercise, Distribution and Delivery

Summary; page 12

J The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

75 Attachment 9 Sample Task Order Pricing Template states that no adjustments are to be made to the template but the "Total

Indirect Costs" field is summing all other direct costs associated with the contract and is not allowing for contractors to apply indirect cost amounts. Should row 58 read "Total

Other Direct Costs" and the indirect amounts be factored into row 47, 50, 53, 56? Will NIH provide an updated template or allow contractors to make adjustments?

Attachment_09_PICS III STO

Pricing Template.xlsx

J The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

76 Attachment 14 is an identical duplicate of attachment 3. Kindly furnish an updated version of attachment 14.

Section J ‐ List of

Attachments: Attachment

14 ‐ Commitment to Protect

Non‐Public

Information Contractor

Agreement

Page No. 60

J In response to this solicitation, offerors shall only have attachment 3 completed by the key personnel

(Program Manager and Deputy Program Manager).

Please use attachment 14 at the Task Order level.

77 Will a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) be required upon response to this solicitation or upon response to individual tasks orders?

ARTICLE H.7. ELECTRONIC

AND INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY

NOTICE HHSAR 352.239‐73

(December 2015), Page 43

J It will be required upon request at the Task Order level.

78 Does the government want estimated printing costs included for all of the print materials listed in this section, or will materials be printed through other means (e.g., GPO)?

Attachment 7 ‐ Sample Task

Order SOW, Task 4:

Materials Development, J The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

79 Is 508 remediation required for any of the meeting materials listed under Task 9?

Attachment 7 ‐ Sample Task

Order SOW, Task 9:

Meeting, Conference, and

Event Support, page 9

J The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed

PICS III Solicitation 75N98023R00006 6 of 21

80 Will the event detailed in Task 9 be in‐person only, or will a virtual aspect be offered? If so, will the government provide the virtual platform?

Attachment 7 ‐ Sample Task

Order SOW, Task 9:

Meeting, Conference, and

Event Support, page 9

J The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

81 Should a copy of our company's completed Representations and Certifications be submitted with the Business Proposal or is sufficient to complete and sign Attachment 2?

SECTION K ‐

REPRESENTATIONS,

CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER

STATEMENTS OF

OFFERORS

K It is sufficient to sign and complete attachment 2.

82 Are subcontractors required to provide reps and certs? Section K K No.

83 Are subcontractors required to provide disclosure of lobbying activities?

Section K K No.

84 Would NIH consider extending the proposal due date by one week? This is a significant proposal submission with a sample task and the response period falls over several holidays and scheduled time off for many staff working on the proposal.

2. Proposal Submission

Information; page 65

L No.

85 Should the completed checklist, Attachment 5, be submitted as a standalone document along with the Technical and Business

Volumes?

4.1 Checklist; page 66 L Yes.

86 What kind of information is required in the response to Factor

2 about past performance references? Later on, page 69, the

RFP states that Past Performance Questionnaires need to be requested of the "references provided within the related experience statements from section L4.2.2."

4.2.2 Factor 2: Experience in

National, Federal Health

Programs; page 67

L Please see the amendment for revised language.

87 Can the "lease/rental/own agreement[s]" required in Factor 6 be included in the business proposal or as an appendix, rather than in the 35‐page technical? Such documents can be very lengthy.

4.2.6 Factor 6: Quality of

Facilities, Equipment, and

Supplies; page 68

L Yes, offerors may submit the lease/rental/own agreements in the business proposal.

88 Is there a minimum or maximum number of references/Past

Performance Questionnaires that need to be provided?

4.3.4 Past Performance;

L Please see the amendment for revised language.

89 Is there a minimum number of references/Past Performance

Questionnaires that must be provided by the prime contractor versus subcontractors?

4.3.4 Past Performance;

L Please see the amendment for revised language.

90 Can CPARS be provided in the Business Volume in lieu of requesting Past Performance Questionnaires?

4.3.4 Past Performance;

L No.

91 Will the government accept CPARS in lieu of Past Performance

Questionnaires?

4.3.4, pg. 69 L No.

92 Can section headings/caption titles be in font other than Times

New Roman?

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

INFORMATION

L No.

93 Should the checklist (Attachment 5) be submitted? If yes, should it be submitted as an attachment to the Technical or

Business volumes?

MANDATORY SUBMITTAL

REQUIREMENTS

L Yes, Attachment 5 shall be submitted as a standalone document along with the Technical and Business

Volumes.

94 Page 66 notes that "SF 1449 and all amendments ‐ SF30s" should be submitted. SF30 was not provided. Could you please confirm that it is sufficient to just complete SF 1449?

MANDATORY SUBMITTAL

REQUIREMENTS

L SF‐30s will be used for solicitation amendments. If a

PICS III solicitation amendment is released, offerors shall be required to sign the SF‐30 and include it in their business volume.

95 Factor 1b: Approach to Sample Task Order implies that the sample task should be incorporated as part of Factor 1. Page

66 states that the response to the sample task order shall be provided in an appendix with a 20‐page limit. Could you please clarify whether the response to the sample task should be included as an appendix item or as part of the Technical proposal?

DESCRIPTION OF

SUBMITTALS

L The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

96 Could you please provide greater clarity on what information should be included as part of 4.2.4 Factor 4. Understanding of the Work and Technical Objectives (page 67) versus 4.2.1.1

Factor 1a: Technical Understanding and Approach (page 67)?

Both seem to indicate they should contain an exploration of tasks ‐ can NIH clarify where our approach to the task areas should be covered?

4.2.4 Factor 4:

Understanding of the Work and Technical Objectives, L The offeror shall demonstrate their understanding of

4.2.4 Factor 4.

PICS III Solicitation 75N98023R00006 7 of 21

97 The solicitation states "Fully Loaded Labor Rates shall match the base year rates from Section B Master IDIQ Pricing Table".

Does this mean offerors can not provide additional discounts to provide the most accurate and competitive pricing?

L.4.3.3 Price Proposal for the

Sample Task Order contract, Page 68‐69

L The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

98 Is the offeror required to submit a lease/rental/own agreement in the Volume I Technical? If so, can the offeror submit this as an additional appendix, outside of the page count of 20 for Appendix?

L.4.2.6 Factor 6 Quality of

Facilities, Equipment, and

Supplies, Page 68

L Yes, offerors may submit the lease/rental/own agreements in the business proposal.

99 Can the government confirm that response to Factor 1b:

Approach to Sample Task Order should be included only in the

Appendix specified in the Mandatory Submittal Requirements

Table on Page 66?

3. Mandatory Submittal

Requirements Table, Page

4.2.1.2 Factor 1b: Approach

to Sample Task Order, Page

L The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

100 Will the Government allow the use of other NAICS code, for example, 516210, 518210, 519290, 541519, 541690, or 541990

Section 1.3, page 62 L No.

101 Please specify the number of past performance questionnaires to be provided for this opportunity.

Section 4.3.5, page 69 L Please see the amendment for revised language.

102 The page limitation for the appendix for Volume 1 Technical

Proposal indicates that resumes and the response to the sample task should be a in the 20‐page appendix, then on page

67 under 4.2.1.2, Factor 1b: Approach to Sample Task Order is nested among Factors in the 35‐page Technical Volume. Please clarify if Factor 1b Approach to Sample Task Order should be in the 20‐page appendix along with the resumes.

p. 66 Page Limitation, Technical Volume

L The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

103 Section 4.2.6 states that offerors shall provide a lease/rental/own agreement. Can this be provided as part of the business volume?

p. 67, 4.2.6 Factor 6 L Yes, offerors may submit the lease/rental/own agreements in the business proposal.

104 The table on p. 66 indicates that the checklist in Attachment 5 is a required element of the proposal. Should it be submitted separately from volumes I and II?

p. 66, L.3 Mandatory

Submittal Requirements

L Yes.

105 Will the Government please clarify if an Alaska Native

Corporation’s use of prior experience and/or past performance from an affiliate company will or will not be allowed?

PLEASE NOTE: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) permits Alaska Native Corporations to claim all the experience and work history of its affiliated corporations for the purposes of establishing performance capability in the context of a competitive acquisition. Reference: Ecompex, Inc., B‐292865.4, B‐292865.5, B‐292865.6, June 18, 2004 (see page 5). Serco, Inc., B 406683, B‐406683.2, Aug. 3, 2012. AMI‐ACEPEX, Joint

Venture, B‐401560, Sept. 30, 2009. Specifically, GAO has ruled that an ANC bidding on a government contract may rely on the past performance of an affiliated company when the proposal makes it clear that the resources associated with the affiliated company will have meaningful involvement in the execution of the present contract.

4.3.4 Past Performance, L Alaska Native Corporation’s use of prior experience and/or past performance from an affiliate company will be allowed.

106 The definition provided for Small Business Concern is not equivalent to the SBA's definition of Small Business Concern.

According to the solicitation, the Small Business Concern must be independently owned and operated and includes reference to the Concern's affiliates. The SBA has no requirement for a

Small Business Concern to be independently owned and operated, nor does it include reference to the Concern's affiliates. The SBA defines a small business concern purely based on the NAICS Code, which for 513199 is any business with less than 1,000 employees. Would the Government please consider eliminating type of ownership and affiliate references from its definition of Small Business Concern.

1.2 Notice of Small Business

Set‐Aside, page 62

L No, for Alaskan Native Corporations, small business concerns under NAICS Code 513199 is any business with less than 1,000 employees and we will not eliminate boiler plate language in the solicitation.

PICS III Solicitation 75N98023R00006 8 of 21

107 The Government states that the total page count for the

Technical Proposal shall not exceed 35 pages. Can the

Government confirm that the Appendix for resumes and the sample task order is not included as part of the 35‐page limit?

3. Mandatory Submittal

Requirements, page 66

L The appendix is not included in the 35‐page limit.

Additionally, the Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

108 The Government states that offerors may provide bios/backgrounds of additional communications personnel.

Since resumes will be included in an Appendix, its seems logical that these bios/backgrounds should also be included in an

Appendix with the resumes. Can the Government confirm that the bios/backgrounds can be included with the Resumes as an

Appendix?

4.2.3 Factor 3: Personnel

and Organizational Strength, L Bios/backgrounds may be included with the resumes in the appendix.

109 Key Personnel requirements include Program Manager and

Deputy Program Manager – given the 20‐page limit for the sample task order response and resumes, does NIH only want to see resumes for the two key personnel positions?

Section 3. Mandatory

Submittal Requirements, Row 2 in Table, page 66

L Offerors shall provide resumes of proposed key personnel (Program Manager and Deputy Program

Manager). In addition to the resumes of the key personnel, offerors may provide bios/backgrounds of additional communications personnel that add value to your proposal and would contribute to the contract.

110 Please confirm that the 20‐page limit for the sample task order response also includes the resumes for the IDIQ submission?

Section 3. Mandatory

Submittal Requirements, Row 2 in Table, page 66

L The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

111 Please confirm where the sample task order response should appear – should it be included as a separate appendix to the technical volume as listed in the Section 3 table or as part of the technical volume, as listed in Section 4.2, Volume I

Technical Proposal, 4.2.1.2, Factor 1B: Approach to the Sample

Task Order.

Section 3, page 66; Section

4.2, Volume I Technical

Proposal, 4.2.1.2, Factor 1B:

Approach to the Sample

Task Order, page 67

L The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

112 In the RFP, it states the Past performance questionnaires are to be submitted to PICSIII Contracting Officer via email at

PICSIII@od.nih.gov. In the Attachment 6 form, the email indicated is PICSIII@mail.nih.gov. Please confirm which email is correct.

Section 4.3.4. Past

Performance, page 69; and

Attachment 6

L Either email will work.

113 Is there a minimum or maximum number of Experience references required?

Section 4.2.2, page 67 L No.

114 Is there a minimum or maximum number of Past Performance

Questionnaires required?

Section 4.3.4, page 69 L Please see the amendment for revised language.

115 Would the Government consider the submission of CPAR evaluations in lieu of Past Performance Questionnaires?

Section 4.3.4, page 69 L No.

116 For past performance evaluation where CPAR assessments are available, will NIH accept the most recent CPAR assessment in lieu of a past performance questionnaire?

L.4. (Description of

Submittals), 4.3.4 (Past

Performance), page 69

L No.

117 Would the Government consider allowing work products to be submitted as appendices?

Section 4.2.5, page 68 L No.

118 The RFP states the IDIQ period of performance is a five‐year base period. Please provide a start date all Offerors shall assume for IDIQ price proposal purposes, to ensure effective comparison of IDIQ pricing proposals.

1.4 Type of Contract and

Number of Awards, Page 62.

L The anticipated start date will be summer of 2024.

119 The Sample Task Order (STO) SOW states the STO period of performance is 12‐months beginning in early October of an unspecified FY. Please provide an STO start date all Offerors shall assume for STO price proposal purposes, to ensure effective comparison of STO pricing proposals.

Attachment 07 PICIII Sample

Task Order SOW, Period of

Performance, Page 2.

L The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

120 The STO SOW does not specify a place of performance. Please provide an STO place of performance all Offerors shall assume for STO pricing proposal purposes, to ensure effective comparison of ATO pricing proposals.

Attachment 07 PICIII Sample

Task Order SOW

L The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed

PICS III Solicitation 75N98023R00006 9 of 21

121 The RFP states "Letters of commitment from Key Personnel is only required if the personnel is not now employed by the prime." Please confirm (a) where in proposal Volume I Offerors shall include any required Key Personnel Letters of

Commitment, and (b) that any required Letters of Commitment shall be excluded from page count.

SECTION L ‐ INSTRUCTIONS,

CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES

TO OFFERORS, 4.2 Volume I

Technical Proposal, 4.2

Volume I Technical Proposal,

4.2.3 Factor 3: Personnel

and Organizational Strength, p.67.

L Offerors shall include any required key personnel

Letters of Commitment in the Technical Proposal.

122 The RFP states "Work products shall be submitted electronically. Offerors shall submit PDF files of sample work products." As they are separate attachments, will the government please confirm they are excluded from Volume 1 page count.

SECTION L ‐ INSTRUCTIONS,

CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES

TO OFFERORS, 4.2 Volume I

Technical Proposal, 4.2

Volume I Technical Proposal, Factor 5: Quality of Work

Products, p. 68.

L No, they are not excluded from the Volume I page count.

123 The RFP requires Offerors to include executed Key Personnel

NDAs in Volume II. There are two RFP attachments containing

NDAs: Attachment 03 IT Systems Security ‐ Non Disclosure

Agreement and Attachment 14 Commitment to Protest Non

Public Information Contractor Agreement. Which of these is required for Key Personnel completion, execution, and submission with the proposal? Alternatively, are both attachments required for Key Personnel completion, execution, and submission with the proposal?

SECTION L ‐ INSTRUCTIONS,

CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES

TO OFFERORS, 4.2 Volume I

Technical Proposal, 4.3

Volume II Business Proposal,

4.3.1 Required Forms, p. 68.

L In response to this solicitation offerors shall only have attachment 3 completed by the key personnel

(Program Manager and Deputy Program Manager).

Please use attachment 14 at the task order level.

124 Attachment 10 is not listed as a Volume II required form. Are

Offerors required to submit completed Attachment 10

Offeror's Points oF Contact as part of Volume II?

SECTION L ‐ INSTRUCTIONS,

CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES

TO OFFERORS, 4.2 Volume I

Technical Proposal, 4.3

Volume II Business Proposal,

4.3.1 Required Forms, p. 68.

L Yes.

125 The Mandatory Requirements Table lists "Commitment

Letter(s) from Subcontractors," but this item is not detailed in the Volume II requirements. Are Letters of Commitment required from all subcontractors, or only significant subcontractors, defined as anticipated to perform a certain

(please define) percentage of the Master Contract work?

SECTION L ‐ INSTRUCTIONS,

CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES

TO OFFERORS, 2. PROPOSAL

SUBMISSION INFORMATION,

3. MANDATORY SUBMITTAL

REQUIREMENTS, (Table), p.

66.

L Letters of commitment are required for all subcontractors.

126 What is the minimum number of past performances needed, and over what time frame (e.g., three years, five years, etc.)

should these performances have occurred?

Section ‐ 4.3.4 Past

Performance;

Page No. 69

L Please see the amendment for revised language.

127 What is the recommended number of Past Performance

Questionnaire (PPQs) that the Contracting Officer (CO) should authorize and sign?

Section ‐ 4.3.4 Past

Performance;

Page No. 69

L Please see the amendment for revised language.

128 How many key personnel and their resumes are needed as part of our response?

Section ‐ 4.2.3 Factor 3:

Personnel and

Organizational Strength;

Page No. 67

L Offerors shall provide resumes of proposed key personnel which as stated in article G.2. is the

Program Manager and Deputy Program Manager.

129 Per the table on Page 66, can the Contracting Officer confirm that the response to the Sample Task Order should be included in the Volume I Technical Proposal Appendix (20‐page limit) and not the main Technical Proposal (35‐page limit). In Para

4.2 Volume I Technical Proposal, Para 4.2.1.2 Factor 1b, it

implies that the technical approach to the sample task is in the main Technical Proposal and not specifically in the Appendix.

3. Mandatory Submittal

Requirements

Pages 66‐67

L The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

130 Per 4.2.6 Factor 6, Quality of Facilities, Equipment, and

Supplies ‐ will companies with remotely based staff, i.e. not office‐based, be evaluated negatively compared to vendors with physical offices?

4.2.6 Factor 6: Quality of

Facilities, Equipment, and

Supplies

L Please see Section M for evaluation criteria.

PICS III Solicitation 75N98023R00006 10 of 21

131 The Government states that, "Resumes and response to the sample task order shall be provided in an appendix with a 20‐ page limit." Can the Government please clarify whether there is a specific page limit for resumes within the 20‐page limit?

Solicitation, Mandatory

Submittal Requirements, L The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation. The page limit for the appendix has been reduced to 8 pages and will only include resumes.

132 The Government states that, "Resumes and response to the sample task order shall be provided in an appendix with a 20‐ page limit." Are offerors permitted to cross‐reference technical approach details between the sample task order response

(provided in the appendix) and technical approach (provided in the body of the proposal)?

Solicitation, Mandatory

Submittal Requirements, L The Sample Task Order exercise has been removed from the solicitation.

133 May offerors submit additional resumes to demonstrate skills and qualifications, provided they fit within the 20‐page limit?

Solicitation, Mandatory

Submittal Requirements, L Yes, please note that the page limit for the appendix has been reduced to 8 pages and will only include resumes.

134 Is there additional guidance on number of example work products desired?

Solicitation, Description of

Submittals, 4.2.5 Factor 5:

Quality of Work Products, L No.

135 Can the Government clarify how many references are required to complete the Past Performance Questionnaire?

Solicitation, Description of

Submittals,4.3.4 Past

Performance, pages 68‐69

L Please see the amendment for revised language.

136 Can the experience mentioned in Section 4.2.2 reference more projects than are requested for Past Performance

Questionnaires?

Solicitation, Description of

Submittals,4.3.4 Past

Performance, pages 68‐69

L Yes.

137 Can the Government confirm if the RFP # should be included as the Contract # for submission of any key personnel NDAs?

Solicitation, Mandatory

Submittal Requirements, L Yes.

138 Can the Government confirm if experience can be from

Subcontractors as well as the Offeror? Are there any limitations on whether experience is as a Subcontractor or a

Prime?

Solicitation 4.2.2 Factor 2:

Experience in National, Federal Health Programs, p.

L Offerors may include experience from subcontractors, however, the majority (greater than half) of experience shall be from the Prime.

139 Can the Government confirm if the Offeror needs to submit anything related to #4 Past Performance as part of the

Business Proposal? As it is understood, all questionnaires would be provided directly to the Government in accordance with L ‐ 4.3.4.

Solicitation, Mandatory

Submittal Requirements, L Please see the amendment for revised language.

140 The instructions state "Create one PDF file of your Technical

Proposal, including all attachments", but later on 4.2.5 Factor 5 states that an Offeror shall submit PDF files of work products.

Can the Government confirm that all work products should be included in one Technical Proposal submission, not as separate

PDF files?

Solicitation, 2. PROPOSAL

SUBMISSION INFORMATION

B., p.65

L All work products shall be included in one technical proposal submission.

141 Can CPARS be used in lieu of Past Performance questionnaires? Description of Submittals,

4.3.4. Past Performance, L No.

142 Does Past Performance need to be from the prime only or can

Past Performance from subcontractors be included?

Description of Submittals,

4.3.4. Past Performance, L Please see the amendment for revised language.

143 Section 2, paragraph 2 states: "Price proposal tables shall be submitted in Microsoft Excel with formula(s) included." Q1a:

Please clarify the formulas expected in this section. For example, does the government want to see the full bill rate buildup in the bill rate cells, especially where the IDIQ pricing table template does not have any formulas? Q1b: Should any discounts that may be applicable to the STO fall under this requirement? Q2: Please also confirm that the formula only needs to be in the IDIQ pricing table since the STO pricing table has the formulas included already and it requires the use of the labor categories in the IDIQ unless Q1b applies.

Section 2. Proposal

Submission Information, L Please use any appropriate formulas required to fill the price proposal table.