ATTACHMENT 3 Question Format Answers.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 31 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Food Price Data Collection
- Solicitation number
- RFQ12319824Q0020
About this file
This document contains a set of questions and answers related to a Request for Quote (RFQ) for a federal contract opportunity to collect food price data for non-contiguous U.S. states and territories.
The RFQ is seeking proposals from small businesses to provide services for data collection, including innovative approaches to collect food prices at the UPC-level and record store type information. The contract will have a 5-year period of performance with a firm-fixed-price structure, though some optional data collection tasks may have not-to-exceed ceilings. Key details include the government's preference for UPC-level data and store type information, allowance for subcontractor past performance to be included, and confirmation that the incumbent is a new contract. The summary also covers clarification on assumptions for cost estimation, quality assurance, data access, and the purpose of the data collection, among other topics.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| B02 USDA Food Data Collection CNPP Updated Request for Quote.pdf | ||
| ATTACHMENT 3 Question Format Answers.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| ATTACHMENT 2 - RFQ- Pricing Sheet.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| ATTACHMENT 2 - RFQ- Pricing Sheet.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| A02 - Updated CNPP Food Price PWS Revised 20240530 (003).pdf | ||
| B02 USDA Food Data Collection CNPP Request for Quote (002) (Recovered).pdf | ||
| A02 - CNPP Food Price PWS final.docx.pdf | ||
| ATTACHMENT 4 - Past Performance Questionnaire.docx | DOCX document | |
| ATTACHMENT 2 - RFQ- Pricing Sheet.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| ATTACHMENT 1 - PWS CNPP Food Price Data Collection.pdf | ||
| ATTACHMENT 3 Question Format.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| B02 USDA Food Data Collection CNPP Request for Quote.pdf |
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Text version
Question List
| Question # | RFQ Part & Section Reference | RFQ Page# | Question | Answer | ||
| 1 | RFQ, Instructions | p. 2 of 27 | Will the Government allow 10pt font for tables, graphics, flow charts, organizational charts, drawings, callout boxes, etc.? | Yes | ||
| 2 | RFQ, Instructions | p. 2 of 27 | Will the Government require specific guidelines for general formatting, including margins, font size, line spacing, and other related formatting details? | 12-point, Times New Romans, double space, 1-inch margins throughout the paper. | ||
| 3 | RFQ, Instructions | p. 11 of 27 | The Technical and Management Approach (Volume 1) Instructions state, "The Offeror shall submit a resume (restricted to two (2) pages) for each Key Personnel which clearly indicates required qualifications, certifications, and experience, along with statements of availability and letters of commitment for Key Personnel." Can the Government please confirm that resumes and letters of commitment can be included as an appendix and not counted against the page limit? | Yes | ||
| 4 | RFQ, Instructions | p. 11 of 27 | The Technical and Management Approach (Volume 1) Instructions state, "The Offeror shall submit a resume (restricted to two (2) pages) for each Key Personnel which clearly indicates required qualifications, certifications, and experience, along with statements of availability and letters of commitment for Key Personnel". | |||
| Can the statement of availability be included within each Key Personnel's letter of commitment, or should it be provided as a separate document? | Yes | |||||
| 5 | RFQ, Instructions | p. 9-10 of 27 | Can we include a cover letter that does not count towards the page limit for the Technical Capability Volume? | Yes | ||
| 6 | RFQ, Instructions | p. 9-10 of 27 | Can we include a Table of Contents (TOC) that does not count towards the page limit for the Technical Capability Volume? | Yes | ||
| 7 | RFQ, Instructions | p. 11-12 of 27 | The Past Performance (Volume 2) Instructions state, "Offerors must provide past performance information in accordance with the instructions and format provided in (ATTACHMENT 4)." Can we include past performance references from our subcontractors as part of our submission? | Yes, the subcontractor must complete the attachment and send to the CO via email. | ||
| 8 | RFQ, Instructions | p. 11-12 of 27 | Are there any page limits or specific formatting instructions for the Past Performance Volume? | Complete attachment 4 only. | ||
| 9 | RFQ, Instructions | p. 9 of 27 | Would the Government consider increasing the page length for the Technical approach to 30 pages so that bidders can adequately address all of the requirements in the PWS? | Yes | ||
| 10 | RFQ, Instructions | p. 9 of 27 | Would the Government grant a 2-week extension to provide additional time to incorporate answers to questions? | Yes, the RFQ will close on June 28, 2024. | ||
| 11 | ATTACHMENT 2 - RFQ- Pricing Sheet | General | Point-of-sale data at selected grocery stores may be managed by third-party providers, may be complicated to access, or may involve data acquisition fees. Can we propose to provide honoraria/reimbursements for grocery stores that extract and submit requested point-of-sale data, if that approach is used? | Yes | ||
| 12 | RFQ, Instructions | p. 11 of 27 | Would the Government consider accepting CPARS in lieu of the past performance questionnaire? | Yes | ||
| 13 | ATTACHMENT 2 - RFQ- Pricing Sheet | n/a | Would the Government consider making CLINs 6-12 (optional data collections and travel) time-and-materials, with not-to-exceed ceilings, while keeping the rest of the contract firm fixed price? | No. We expect to award a firm-fixed-price contract. However, the optional CLINS will be cost CLINs with a NTE ceiling. | ||
| 14 | ATTACHMENT 2 - RFQ- Pricing Sheet | n/a | Will there be an opportunity to renegotiate the cost of CLINs 6-12 (optional data collections and travel) based on any changes to the Study Plan and the results of the Proof of Concept? | No, the Government expects to receive price quotes for this firm fixed price contract in the Offerors' price proposals. The Government recommends that Offerors develop sufficiently detailed proposals such that price quotes for all base and optional tasks can be established up front. | ||
| 15 | PWS Section 4.0 Deliverable / Schedule and | |||||
| ATTACHMENT 2 - RFQ- Pricing Sheet | PWS pp. 17-23 of 30 |
| Pricing Sheet Labor Rates Tab | Can the government please re-confirm the alignment between the CLIN and Task #s in the PWS and the Pricing File? There seem to be some disconnects. For example, Task 4: OMB Clearance appears in the Pricing Sheet as CLIN 0004 but appears in the PWS Schedule of Deliverables as CLIN 1001. | Please see update PWS and prcing sheet. | ||||
| 16 | PWS Section 3.2 Tasks and Deliverables | pp. 6-16 of 30 | Will FNS grant the contractor access to STARS data to support sampling? | FNS may provide STARS data to support sampling if required to execute the proposed study plan and if publicly available data sources (e.g., the SNAP Retailer Locator) are not sufficient. However, access to these data cannot be guaranteed at this time. | ||
| 17 | PWS 1.0 Background and Purpose and | |||||
| Section 3.2 Tasks and Deliverables | p. 3 |
| pp. 6-16 of 30 | Can FNS share the Federal Register responses to the "RFI: Food Price Data for State of Hawaii" to inform the selected approach? | Most responses to the RFI did not provide information on food price data sources and instead provided comment on why food prices could be expected to be higher in the Neighbor Islands than in Honolulu and/or suggested FNS make policy changes. FNS received limited information on food price data sources in response to the RFI, some of which was inaccurate or misrepresentative. FNS synthesized the relevant information received in response to the RFI with other available information in developing section 1.0 Background and Purpose in the PWS (i.e., the discussions in this section related to retail scanner data, WIC EBT data, store surveys, direct retailer transmission of price and/or sales data). | ||||
| 18 | Cost Estimation and Resource Allocation | pg 6 -12 | How should we approach estimating the costs for optional tasks and the overall rollout given that the final study plan will be informed by the initial pilot testing in Hawaii? Specifically, what assumptions should we make about resource allocation and potential adjustments after the pilot phase? | The Government expects to receive price quotes for this firm fixed price contract in the Offerors' price proposals. The Government recommends that Offerors develop sufficiently detailed proposals such that price quotes for all base and optional tasks can be established up front. | ||
| 19 | Data Collection Methods | pg 3-6 | Is there a preference for using certain data collection methods (e.g., store surveys, web scraping, household surveys) beyond the flexibility mentioned in the RFP? If so, could you provide more detailed guidelines or preferences? | As stated on page 8 of the PWS, "To the extent possible, the Contractor should prioritize innovative approaches over existing approaches, and approaches that would provide food prices that are compatible with food prices calculated using retail scanner data (i.e., by collecting food prices at the UPC-level and by recording store type information)". Existing approaches in this context refers to household surveys (e.g., the 1977-78 NFCS, FoodAPS) and store surveys. Innovative approaches in this context refers to using administrative data, collecting prices direcly from retailers or using retailer APIs, web scraping, and any other food price data collection approach that may be feasible. | ||
| 20 | Geographic Coverage | pg 5-6, pg 17-24 | Are there specific regions or localities within each non-contiguous state and U.S. territory that require targeted data collection beyond what is described in the RFP? How should we handle areas with limited or no retail presence? | Sampling within each State and Territory should be designed to yield food price estimates that are sufficiently representative of each State and Territory. The Government does not require that any specific regions or localitites within each State or Territory be sampled beyond the aforementioned requirement around representativeness. | ||
| 21 | Pilot Testing Evaluation | pg 7-9 | What specific metrics or criteria will be used to evaluate the success of the pilot test in Hawaii? How will these metrics influence adjustments to the study plan for the broader rollout? | The Government does not prescribe any specific metrics or criteria for evaluating the success of any pilot tests conducted as part of the study. Offerors should propose specific pilot testing activities that are in line with the scientific literature and/or best practice. | ||
| 22 | Quality Assurance Processes | pg 6-9 and 12 - 17 | What specific quality assurance processes are required to ensure data accuracy and reliability beyond the general review processes mentioned in the RFP? Are there any particular standards or practices we should follow to meet USDA's expectations? | The Government does not prescribe any specific quality assurance processes. Offerors should propose specific quality assurance activities that are in line with the scientific literature and/or best practice. | ||
| 23 | RFQ Instructions | 11 | The RFQ asks for resumes of each Key Personnel and letters of commitment. Are the resumes and letters of commitment to be counted within the 20 page limit for Volume 1? | No | ||
| 24 | RFQ Period of Performance | 3 | The period of performance is listed as Base Period comprising 60 months. Please clarify if that is what the Government intends to award, or is it 12 month base + 4 option years? If this is not the case, how will the annual escalation factor be incorporated? | The government intends to award a multi-year contract with a 5-year period of performance. Please include escalation | ||
| 25 | Performance Work Statement, Section 3.2 Tasks and Deliverables | Page 12 | The PWS states that the data collection may occur over a period no longer than 24 months. What is FNS's preferred period of time for data collection? Should the food price collection be one time or conducted continuously? | With the exception of the 24-month limit, which is intended primarily to ensure that there is sufficient time in the period of performance for other Tasks to be completed, the Government does not prescribe any specific period of time over which data must be collected. Offerors should propose a data collection period that aligns with their proposed approach that can be reasonably expected to yield sufficiently representative food price estimates. | ||
| 26 | Performance Work Statement, Section 3.2 Tasks and Deliverables | Page 8 | The PWS indicates that data collection task for Alaska and the five territories is currently optional. Does the Government anticipate that data collection for these six sites could occur concurrenlty or does the Govnerment anticipate having these be conducted sequentially over the 60 month period of performance? | As described on page 6 of the PWS in reference to the optional data collection Tasks: "FNS’ intent is for all exercised optional tasks to be completed simultaneously, however, they may be exercised sequentially depending on the Contractor’s study plan (Task 2) and available funds. The data collected should be sufficiently representative of each State and U.S. Territory, with the exact quantity of data collected and the period over and frequency with which data are collected to be determined by the Contractor in their study plan." | ||
| 27 | Attachment 2 | Pricing Sheet | Pricing Sheet shows Task 2 (Study Plan) includes several line items - such as Proof of Concept (Task 3 in PWS), Final report (Task 12 in PWS), Data and Code (Task 13 in PWS), and Briefing (Task 14 in PWS). Please clarify if these separate tasks should all be rolled into Task 2 for prircing purposes? | Please see update pricing sheet and PWS. | ||
| 28 | Attachment 2 | Pricing Sheet | Based on the PWS, we understand that the Study Plan (Task 2) is to be developed for data collection in Hawaii. What line items should be used to price Project Management, Study Plan and other deliverables such as (proof of concept etc.) for Alaska and the five territories that are currently marked as optional in the PWS, but may require a separate efforts? | Task 2: Study Plan is intended to reflect all States and Territories in which data will be collected, not just Hawaii. For pricing purposes, Offerors should assume that the study plan will cover the activities to be conducted under all optional data collection Tasks (i.e., Optional Tasks 6-11). | ||
| 29 | Attachment 2 | Pricing Sheet | Pricing Sheet indicates Travel as a line item. Does the Government anticipate that Travel will be budgeted as a "Not to Exceed" amount or is it a fixed price line item that will be awarded to the contractor to use for all travel requirements? | Budgeted as a Not to Exceed amount. Please see updated pricing sheet. | ||
| 30 | Attachment 2 | Pricing Sheet | Can the Government clarify that the "Travel" line item is only to be used for Hawaii (and not for the other six sites that are currently optional)? | The travel CLIN is for all locations. | ||
| 31 | Attachment 2 | Pricing Sheet | Please clarify if data acquisition costs can be included in "Other Direct Costs" for pricing purposes? Do ODCs have a "not to exceed" limit or does it have to be a fixed price budget? | Yes. The ODC's have a not to exceed. Please see updated pricing sheet. | ||
| 32 | Performance Work Statement, Section 3.2 Tasks and Deliverables | Page 2 | The PWS states that FNS has the retail scanner data (with its limitations). If needed, can the Government confirm that this data will be available to the contractor at no additional cost for the non-coniguous States and the U.S. Territories for which the data is readily avalable? | If appropriate given the proposal/study plan, FNS will coordinate with the USDA Economic Research Service to secure the Contractor's access to the retail scanner data via a secure data enclave. Access to the enclave involves submission of a third party agreement by the Contractor and is subject to approval by the retail scanner data provider, which FNS cannot guarantee. Costs associated with accessing the secure enclave would be the responsibility of the Contractor. But however, the Government emphasizes the limitations of these data for calculating food prices for the non-contiguous States and U.S. Territories (outside of the 2017 data that FNS has previously analyzed and reported on). A motivation for this solicitation is to fill the information gap in the currently accessible retail scanner data. | ||
| 33 | Performance Work Statement, Section 3.2 Tasks and Deliverables | Can the Government clarify the goal of this study for the three territories that currently use Block grants (as opposed to TFP)? How would this food price data collection study assist those territories? | The goal of this study is to obtain sufficiently representative food price data to inform several applications related to research, policy, and consumer education. The data should be sufficient for FNS to calculate cost adjustments to the Thrifty Food Plan for each non-contiguous State and Territory regardless of how nutrition assistance programs are currently funded in those localities. The posting of this solicitation and potential execution of this contract should not be misunderstood as FNS establising or making updates to the cost of the TFP in any of these locations. | |||
| 34 | Performance Work Statement, section 3.2 Tasks and Deliverables | Page 6 | What are the use cases for the prices collected in non-contiguous states and U.S. territories? Is the Government updating the current TFP in those areas or checking the differences between prices collected in this approach and the IRI InfoScan? | The goal of this study is to obtain sufficiently representative food price data to inform several applications related to research, policy, and consumer education. The data should be sufficient for FNS to calculate cost adjustments to the Thrifty Food Plan for each non-contiguous State and Territory. The posting of this solicitation and potential execution of this contract should not be misunderstood as FNS establishing or making updates to the cost of the TFP in any of these locations. | ||
| 35 | Performance Work Statement, section 3.2 Tasks and Deliverables | Page 6 | How granular should the prices be, at UPC-level or food item level (food items do not require a specific brand, package size or flavor) ? How similar should the prices collected to IRI InfoScan in terms of gradunarity and coverage? | As decribed on page 8 of the PWS: "To the extent possible, the Contractor should prioritize innovative approaches over existing approaches, and approaches that would provide food prices that are compatible with food prices calculated using retail scanner data (i.e., by collecting food prices at the UPC-level and by recording store type information)." | ||
| 36 | ATTACHMENT 2 - RFQ- Pricing Sheet | n/a | Would the Government consider making CLINs 6-12 (optional data collections and travel) time-and-materials, with not-to-exceed ceilings, while keeping the rest of the contract firm fixed price? | No. The government intends to award a firm-fixed-price contract. | ||
| 37 | ATTACHMENT 2 - RFQ- Pricing Sheet | n/a | Will there be an opportunity to renegotiate the cost of CLINs 6-12 (optional data collections and travel) based on any changes to the Study Plan and the results of the Proof of Concept? | No, the Government expects to receive price quotes for this firm fixed price contract in the Offerors' price proposals. The Government recommends that Offerors develop sufficiently detailed proposals such that price quotes for all base and optional tasks can be established up front. | ||
| 38 | PWS Section 4.0 Deliverable / Schedule and | |||||
| ATTACHMENT 2 - RFQ- Pricing Sheet | PWS pp. 17-23 of 30 |
| Pricing Sheet Labor Rates Tab | Can the government please re-confirm the alignment between the CLIN and Task #s in the PWS and the Pricing File? There seem to be some disconnects. For example, Task 4: OMB Clearance appears in the Pricing Sheet as CLIN 0004 but appears in the PWS Schedule of Deliverables as CLIN 1001. | The PWS and pricing sheet has been updated. | ||
| 39 | Does the USDA require the market research data to include point-of-sale prices for all specified food products/items? For instance, the price per pound of organic ground beef | As decribed on page 8 of the PWS: "To the extent possible, the Contractor should prioritize innovative approaches over existing approaches, and approaches that would provide food prices that are compatible with food prices calculated using retail scanner data (i.e., by collecting food prices at the UPC-level and by recording store type information)." | ||
| 40 | Do you need retail purchase data from major retailers, such as key supermarket chains, mass merchandisers, and club stores/wholesalers? | The Government does not prescribe any specific sample or sample frame and defers to the Offeror to propose a data collection approach that would yield sufficiently representative food prices in each non-contiguous State and Territory. | ||
| 41 | Are you looking to gather pricing data from key distributors in the food industry, including both retail food distributors and food service distributors? For example, in Puerto Rico, due to Law 75, no company sells directly to retailers or supermarkets; all transactions must go through a food distributor. | The Government is specifically interested in retail food prices faced/paid by consumers. | ||
| 42 | Would you like to conduct a survey across these key states and U.S. territories to gauge consumer sentiment regarding key products? | No, this is outside the scope of the PWS | ||
| 43 | We would like to know if this is a brand new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services. | New Contract | ||
| 44 | If not brand new, could you please provide the current / previous contract number? | N/A |
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