2018-11-28_-_Amendment___4_RFP-NIAID-DMID-NIHAI201800005.pdf

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AMENDMENT #4

RFP-NIAID-DMID-NIHAI201800005

“BIOINFORMATICS RESOURCE CENTERS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES”

AMENDMENT No. 4

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: Four (4)

Amendment Issue Date: November 28, 2018

Proposal Due Date: January 10, 2019 3:00PM 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 #4, 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.

A CUTOFF DATE FOR QUESTIONS IS SET AT JANUARY 4, 2019.

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

RECEIVED FOR THE ABOVE NUMBERED SOLICITATION:

Question

No.

Reference Question / Response

1 Other: General Inquiry Question: Can a foreign institution be a member of a consortium led by the U.S. applicant institution?

Response: Yes mailto:madgeyba@mail.nih.gov.

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2 Other: General Inquiry Question: Are third-tier subcontracts permitted under this contract?

Response: While an Offeror’s approach to the levels of subcontracting is at their own discretion, the solicitation does not contain language that would restrict the use of subcontracts at any tier.

3 Other: General Inquiry Question: Please confirm that it is acceptable for the Offeror’s subcontractors to use a subcontract type other than Cost Plus Fixed Fee?

Response: The contract type between the Government and the successful Prime contractor(s) will be Cost Plus Fixed Fee. It is the Offeror’s decision on whether to subcontract and the type of subcontract to use. Please refer to FAR Part 44 Subcontracting Policies and Procedures for additional information.

4 ARTICLE C.2. b.2.

Reporting of Financial Conflict of Interests

(FCOI)

Question: If the Government has a preferred template for Reporting of Financial Conflicts of Interest, could that be made available to Offerors?

Response: The Government does not have a template for Reporting of Financial Conflicts of Interest. Offerors shall comply with the requirements of 45 CFR part 94.

5 SECTION L.1.d. Level of Effort

Question: The “Direct Labor Hours – Optional Quantities” table found on page 60 appears to be inconsistent with the Government’s desires as stated in the RFP. Specifically, the Optional Quantities in the row labeled as “Professional Support” do not appear to be included in the row labeled “Total Base plus all Options” (43,680 + 2,080 + 18,720 does not equal 62,400) Please clarify or revise/update the “Direct Labor Hours – Optional Quantities” table.

Response: The Level of Effort as stated in Section L.1.d. is correct. The Direct Labor Hours – Base and Term Option Periods is 43,680 per contract period. Additionally, each contract period (Base, Term Option 1, Term Option 2, Term Option 3, and Term Option 4) have Quantity Options that may be exercised. Each quantity option is for 1 FTE which is defined in the chart as the Professional Support at 2,080 hours. The quantity option of 1 FTE may be exercised up to nine (9) times during each contract period (18,720). The Total Base plus all Option is 62,400. (43,680 + 18,720 = 62,400)

6 Attachment 1 – Packaging and Delivery of Proposals for Use with the NIH electronic Contract Proposal Submission (eCPS) Website.

Question: Please confirm that the proposal does not require hard copies to be submitted?

Response: Hard copies are not required. Proposal submission instructions are provided in Attachment 1 “Packaging and Delivery of Proposals for Use with the NIH electronic Contract Proposal Submission (eCPS) Website.

7 Attachment 1 – Packaging and Delivery of Proposals for Use with the NIH electronic Contract Proposal

Question: Are letters of support permitted in an appendix outside of the 150-page technical proposal limit?

Response: Attachment 1 “Packing and Delivery of Proposal” clearly states what is excluded from the total page count. To reiterate Title

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Submission (eCPS) Website.

& Back Page; Table of Contents; and Section Dividers that do not contain information other than title of Section.

8 Attachment 1 – Packaging and Delivery of Proposals for Use with the NIH electronic Contract Proposal Submission (eCPS) Website.

Question: Are references included in the 150-page technical proposal limit?

Response: Attachment 1 “Packing and Delivery of Proposal” clearly states what is excluded from the total page count. To reiterate Title & Back Page; Table of Contents; and Section Dividers that do not contain information other than title of Section.

9 Attachment 1 – Packaging and Delivery of Proposals for Use with the NIH electronic Contract Proposal Submission (eCPS) Website.

Question: Are the 3-page CVs of key personnel included in the 150-page technical proposal limit?

Response: Attachment 1 “Packing and Delivery of Proposal” clearly states what is excluded from the total page count. To reiterate Title & Back Page; Table of Contents; and Section Dividers that do not contain information other than title of Section.

10 Attachment 4 – Section K Section 8.

Question: Certification of Institutional Policy on Financial Conflicts of Interests: As depicted by the “Note” in this Section, “Contract with Federal Agencies” Note: This certification is applicable to all Research and Development (R&D) Contracts except SBIRs and Contracts with Federal Agencies.” Please confirm that this certification is not applicable to the Offeror, if the R&D Contract is with a Federal Agency?

Response: Please refer to ARTICLE H.15. Institutional Responsibility Regarding Investigator Financial Conflicts of Interest. The language states: “The Institution (includes any contractor, public or private, excluding a Federal agency) shall comply with the requirements of 45 CFR Part 94…” SBIR Applicants and Institutions that are Federal Agencies are excluded.

11 Attachment 5 – Additional Technical Proposal Instructions – Section 9

Question: Are the options (SECTION 9: OPTIONS) reviewed as part of the proposal by the same study section or are they reviewed independently at a later time? In other words, will the review panel see the options and take them in consideration as part of the review process?

Response: Yes. The review panel will be provided with the entire technical proposal which includes Section 9 Options.