Q_A RFQ 435021.pdf

Question Response

May offerors count experience of its key personnel towards qualifying criteria if the individual’s experience was gained while working for another firm? Yes

Would it be possible for the Expert on Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy and Strategic

Planning to be based out of the Washington, DC metro area, with remote work and occasional travel to BNL? yes

Would the position require relocating to the Upton area or does it allow for a mix of working in the DC area combined with travel to BNL? Relocation to Upton NY is not needed.

Can the Assigned/Selected Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy and Strategic Planning

Consultant work remotely (telework via Secure Network) and travel to Upton, NY as necessary, while they fulfill PWS requirements support to BSA to provide the NNSA

Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control with Strategic Planning and Related

Program Support reporting to Maia Gemmill (BNL Technical Representative).

Yes, this work may be performed remotely. The respondent will be expected to meet regularly with NNSA Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control, in person and virtually, as needed.

Would the Assigned/Selected Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy and Strategic Planning

Consultant have to stand for a cooling‐off period before starting a new role as a Policy and Strategic Planning Consultant assigned to provide the NNSA Office of

Nonproliferation and Arms Control with Strategic Planning and Related Program

Support reporting to Maia Gemmill (BNL Technical Representative).

No, although given this is an A&AS requirement, a conflict of interest form will need to be completed. That form will be submitted as a part of the RFQ for reference.

Are there policy and guideline establishments for cooling‐off periods" or post‐ employment restrictions that would require individuals to wait for a certain amount of time after leaving their government or military positions before they can take up employment in the private sector related to their previous roles? If so, Can you advise on the duration of this period that would require individuals to wait for a certain amount of time after leaving their government or military positions before they can take up employment in the private sector related to their previous roles? No

Is this the first issue of this solicitation (is this a re‐compete of an existing BNL requirement or a new requirement)? This is a recompete

Can you advise on if there were/are incumbent provider(s) for these services? If Yes –

Who is/are the incumbent(s), and can you provide a previous contract number? yes there is an incumbent. OTH Analysis, LLC.

If there is an incumbent, is there a reason the known incumbent may be precluded from bidding on this new or existing requirement?

There is an incumbent and there isnt a known reason that they would be precluded from bidding on this requirement.

Does this requirement stipulate that the proposed bidder must hold an active Form

DD254 (Top Secret) Facility Clearance "Before BEING AWARDED" this contract?

A Department of Energy Q clearance is required. BNL cannot sponsor a Q clearance as part of this effort.

If an active Form DD254 (Top Secret) Facility Clearance (or other agency specific

Clearance) is required, will arrangements be made to assist and provide adequate time to process the required paperwork (i.e. Letter of Authorization), or are bidders without

DD254 (Top Secret) Facility Clearance not advised to participate?

A Department of Energy Q clearance is required. BNL cannot sponsor a Q clearance as part of this effort.

For areas where strict requirements exist for an active Secret/Top‐Secret Facility

Clearance, would The Government accept a Contractor Teaming Agreements (CTA) under The GSA Construct that fulfills the Facility Clearance requirement?

A Department of Energy Q clearance is required. BNL cannot sponsor a Q clearance as part of this effort.

Can this requirement be facilitated as a HUBZone Small Business Set Aside?

We do not have sufficient market research to show that two or more Hubzone contractors can fulfill the highly specialized requirement.

Can this requirement be facilitated on the GSA PSS (00CORP PSS) 874‐1 SIN (541611)

Schedule as a Small Business 8(a) Set‐Aside? If so, will the BNL add this contract vehicle to allow small businesses an adequate opportunity to compete and support this requirement?

BNL is not against using GSA as a source, however in order to maximize competition, the use of SAM.gov allows for the most opportunity considering there is an incumbent contractor.

Can you guide the level of effort expected (Total Labor Hours, Labor Hours by Key Team

Members, etc.) to complete the Performance Work Statement (PWS)? Average is 40 hours per month, but actual varies depending on sponsor priorities.

Does The Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC (BNL) anticipate that required personnel

(Key & Non‐Key) supporting RFQ435021 work remotely or on client site at BNL offices in

Upton NY? Personnel are not required to be onsite in Upton NY.

What are the Workers' Comp Codes and National Council on Compensation Insurance

(NCCI) Classifications for the positions required under? RFQ435021? A Workers' Comp

Codes and NCCI Classification Code is a three‐ or four‐digit numerical code assigned by

NCCI. Class codes are posted to differentiate between the various job duties (such as

8810 ‐ Clerical or 8292 ‐ Warehousing) or the scope of work performed by employees.

The designation for specific workman’s comp code impacts costing for workman’s comp insurance. We do not deal in workers comp codes.

In calculating annual work hours for this project (RFQ435021), does BNL use 2,080 (i.e., 40 hours/week * 52 weeks) for employees/contractors according to the U.S. Office of

Personnel Management Federal Standard? If NO, Please advise on how many hours per year are established for a full time under this contract. Does the BNL calculate annual work hours based on 2,080, 1920, 1860, or “other” please state. 2080 is typical

Can the Government provide specific guidance on proposal formatting for each required volume (Technical, Past Performance, Price, etc.), including font size, graphics/tables font size, margins, and page limitations?

There isnt a specific format for each volume and no page limitation. Please only provide relevant information.

Should/Can Past Performance/Relevant Experience information be included in the

Technical Proposal Volume, or should Offerors provide a separate Past

Performance/Relevant Experience Volume for the response to RFQ435021? PP information can either be included in the technical section, or separately.

Are bidders required to provide a price estimate for Travel and ODC Costs related to The

RFQ435021 Contract? If not, Does the government require that bidders provide a separate "best estimate" of Travel and ODC to accompany the proposal? In such an instance, please provide guidance on which specific proposal volume to include: Travel and ODC Cost Estimates.

Best estimate should be provided. These estimates should be included with the price volume.

Is this requirement part of a Multiple Award Schedule/Contract or a Single Award

Schedule/Contract? No

Has Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC (BNL) held preliminary meetings with specific contractors interested in responding to this solicitation? No

Is it estimated that full/total funding exists for this solicitation? If so, is there an intended Maximum/Minimum funding threshold?

The funding has not been fully established and a ceiling has not been fully comtemplated at this point.

Is the McNamara‐O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) Wage Determination in force with this RFQ? If so, can you advise a) What SCA/Wage numbers are applicable? And b) What

City and State SCA Wage Determination takes precedence?

SCA is not applicable for this effort. This is a professional service that allows for an exemption from SCA.

For areas where strict requirements exist for the number and types of past performance as a PRIME Vendor, would the government accept a Contractor Teaming Agreement

(CTA) under The GSA Construct that fulfills Past Performance requirements? No