Amendment__9_RFP-NIAID-DMID-NIHAI2016059.pdf

RFP-NIAID-DMID-NIHAI2016059 Page 1 of 4

AMENDMENT #9(Q&A)

RFP-NIAID-DMID-NIHAI2016059

“PRE-CLINICAL MODELS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES”

AMENDMENT No. 9

This Amendment lists questions submitted by interested parties and the responses provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The responses are offered for information only and do not modify or become part of this solicitation.

Amendment Number: Nine (9)

Amendment Issue Date: July 7, 2016

Proposal Due Date: Wednesday, July 13, 2016 5:00 PM EST

(UNCHANGED)

Issued By:

Brian A. Madgey

Contracting Officer Office of Acquisitions, DEA National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institutes of Health 5601 Fishers Lane, Room 3D47

MSC 9821

Rockville, Maryland 20852-9821

Point of Contact:

Brian Madgey, Contracting Officer

Email: madgeyba@mail.nih.gov.

Offerors must acknowledge receipt of the final posting of Amendment #9, on each copy of the proposal submitted. Failure to receive your acknowledgment of this Amendment may result in the rejection of your proposal.

The hour and date specified for receipt of proposals HAS NOT been extended.

THE CUTOFF DATE FOR QUESTIONS IS JULY 6, 2016.

THE FOLLOWING PAGES PROVIDE ANSWERS CONCERNING A NUMBER OF INQUIRIES WE HAVE

RECEIVED FOR THE ABOVE NUMBERED SOLICITATION:

mailto:madgeyba@mail.nih.gov.

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Question No.

Reference Question / Response

1. Part III – Section J – Attachment 1: Packaging and Delivery of Proposal (R&D)

Question: When submitting the business proposal (on the DVD and electronically), when attachment forms are filled out and included, do they need to be embedded directly into the final PDF business proposal or can they be separate files that are referenced and/or linked. For clarification, will the DVD only contain 1 PDF file or can attachment documents linked/referenced be additional individual files on the DVD.

Response: Please refer to Attachment 1 Section IV A.1. Proposals shall not include links to internet web sites (URLs) or otherwise direct readers to alternate sources of information. How to format the business proposal both for the DVD and electronically is described in Attachment 1 of the solicitation.

2. Part III – Section J – Attachment 1: Packaging and Delivery of Proposal (R&D)

Question: Can you confirm that responses to the subject RFP must be submitted through the ECPS System and not Grants.gov?

Response: The proposal submission instructions are provided in Attachment 1- Packaging and Delivery of Proposal. Please follow the submission instructions listed. Grants.gov is not one of the two required methods listed.

3. Part III – Section J – Attachment 6a: Sample Task Order A01.

Question: For Sample Task Order A01 in the Attachment 6(a), it asks us to use a small animal model for “Product Screening”. Are we able to propose to evaluate/screen different vaccine candidates?

Response: The uniform cost assumptions limit the number of products tested to ten for A01. Please refer to Attachment 7 – Additional Business Instructions and Uniform Cost Assumption. For alternate proposals which deviate from the requirements please refer to Section L.2.a.5. of the solicitation.

4. Part III – Section J – Attachment 5: Additional Technical Proposal Instructions & Attachment 7: Additional Business Proposal Instructions and Uniform Cost Assumptions

Question: It appears there is no specific template or online application to complete, is this correct?

Response: Please refer to Attachment 5 – Additional Technical Proposal Instructions- and Attachment 7 – Additional Business Instructions and Uniform Cost Assumptions. These attachments, along with Section L of the solicitation, provide specific instructions and formatting for the Technical and Business Proposals.

5. Part III – Section J – Attachment 7: Additional Business Proposal Instructions and Uniform Cost Assumptions

Question: Specific to the Business Proposal for the Sample Task Order is there a budget ceiling?

Response: The budget shall include the necessary costs to complete the work identified in the SOW for the sample task order.

6. Part III – Section J – Attachment 7: Additional Business Proposal Instructions and Uniform Cost Assumptions

Question: Is all that is required for Section 2 “Cost or Price Support” the sample worksheets with our costs of personnel, materials, and other key information, filled in as per the SOW, or is more information required for cost/price support?

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Response: Section 2 – Cost or Price Support of Attachment 7 states that Section L of the RFP specifies the minimum documentation requirements for cost data and all cost related support.

7. Part III – Section J – Attachment 11: Proposal Summary and Data Record, NIH-2043

Question: In the section “Offeror’s Acknowledgement of Amendments to the RFP”, is “ERRATA NUMBER” synonymous with “Amendment Number” from the FedBizzOpps.gov postings?

Response: Yes. Please continue to monitor Federal Business Opportunities website prior to submission of your proposal for release of amendments.

8. Part III – Section J – Attachment 13:

Breakdown of Proposed Estimated Costs (plus fee) w/ Excel Spreadsheet

Question: On page 47 of the solicitation, there are two links for Attachment 13. One link is to an excel spreadsheet. The other link is to a document titled “Breakdown of Proposed Estimated Cost (Plus Fee) and Labor Hours.” The latter document is not interactive.

Should we have access to an interactive version of this form to prepare in addition to the excel spreadsheet?

Response: You only need to submit the excel spreadsheet. The other form is instructional.

9. Part IV – Section K- Representations, Certifications and Other Statements of Offerors

Question: Do we need to complete the Representations and Certifications online on the SAM website and complete the Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors form, which is included in the RFP?

Response: Please refer to Part IV – Section K – Representations, Certifications and Other Statements of Offerors on page 49 of the solicitation.

10. Part IV – Section L.2.a.5 Alternate Proposals

Question: If we submit a discretionary alternate proposal, should we submit it as a completely separate business and technical proposal or include the alternative with our proposal for performance based on the sample task order?

Response: Separate business and technical proposals for the alternate would need to be submitted. In accordance with Section L.2.a.5. “Alternative proposals, or deviations from any requirements of this RFPO, shall be clearly identified.”

11. Part IV – Section L.2.b.5.

Research Involving Live Vertebrate Animals; Part IV – Section M.3. Live Vertebrate Animals Evaluation; & Part III – Section J- Attachment 10:

Contract Proposal Vertebrate Animal Section (VAS) Worksheet

Question: Should the Vertebrate Animals Section be about only the animals discussed in the Sample Task Order, or should this Section be about all the animals in the proposed Small Animal Models of Infection.

Response: We need information about the animal care program as it pertains to the attainment of OLAW accreditation, but the proposal should refer only to the sample task order(s) for specifically addressing the criteria of vertebrate animal care and use. Please be sure to review Amendment #8 for updated Vertebrate Animal language for Section L.2.b.5. and Section M.3. of the solicitation.

12. Part IV – Section L.2.c.2.7. Proposal Cover Sheet

Question: Do we need to provide salary documentation at submission time for personnel included in the budget (personnel action forms, copy of pay stub, etc.)? This is related to the

RFP-NIAID-DMID-NIHAI2016059 Page 4 of 4 information listed in the attached excel budget template (Instructions Tab, under Direct Labor).

Response: Offerors are not required to submit salary documentation unless we enter discussions. However, you must make acknowledgment on your business proposal coversheet to release all pertinent information needed by the Government to conduct a proper evaluation. Please refer to Section L.2.c.2.7.

13. Part IV – Section L.2.c.6 Small Business Subcontracting Plan

Question: Do large business subcontractors have to complete a small business subcontracting plan if they are receiving over $650,000 in the full contract period? For sample task orders that they will receive less than $650,000.

Response: Subcontracting Plans from subcontractors are not required at this time since the Sample Task Orders will not be executed. The commitment letter from the subcontractorss will suffice at this time.

14. Part IV – Section L.2.c.10.c. Financial Capacity

Question: To address our “Financial Capacity”, does submission of our audited annual report suffice? Or do we need to describe in more detail our financial capacity to cover the contract work?

Response: Submission of financial documents are not necessary at this time. You are required to “indicate” if you have the necessary financial capacity to perform the contract without assistance from an outside source.

15. Part IV – Section L.2.c.10.d. Adequate Accounting System

Question: How do we certify that we have an “Adequate Accounting System?” Can we describe our system in the proposal, or do we provide sample documents showing that our accounting systems are adequate?

Response: Please refer to Section L.2.c.10.d. The certification that is required to be stated on your business proposal is provided in this section.

16. Part IV – Section L.2.c.12 Subcontractors

Question: For the subcontractor commitment letter, what information should be provided for “information on their cognizant field audit offices”?

Response: Name, address, and telephone number of Audit Office (if applicable).

17. Part IV – Section L.2.c.13 Proposer’s Annual Financial Report

Question: For the annual report submission: is our income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow information sufficient, or does the proposal require more detail.

Response: That should be sufficient.