RFQ_ITEP_Technical Response_Vol. 1 Questions_Answers_Final.pdf

Request for Quotation (RFQ) Solicitation ID: RFQ-NIAID-23-2155667

NIAID Innovator to Entrepreneur Program (ITEP) Technical Response (Volume 1) Questions

Technical Response (Vol. 1)

1. The RFQ pg. 3 mentions a page limit of 10 pages. Is the limit 10 pages per Volume? Or 10 pages for the two Volumes (Technical and Price) combined?

The Price Quote should have not been included in the 10-page limited. The 10-page limit only includes the Technical Response (Volume 1). The Price Quote (Volume 2), CVs/Resume, other attachments, and appendix are not included in the page limit. The RFQ will be updated to reflect this change.

2. We are performing independent research on the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation (RFQNIAID232155667). We would like to know if this is a brand-new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services. If not brand new, could you please provide the current / previous contract number?

This is a new contract. There is no incumbent.

3. The 50 hours of one-on-one support per participant, is that expected to occur only in month 4 of the 4-month cohort, or can it be offered during the entire 4-month period? For example, offering office hours during the entire 4-month program. “The Contractor shall provide up to fifty (50) consulting hours per participant to support each participant in business plan development phase of each cohort.”

The 50 hours of one-on-one support is expected during month four. However, alternate consulting hour structures that are well justified and do not exceed the limit of 50 hours per participant, will be considered.

4. Can we make cohort materials publicly available as part of the marketing efforts?

Cohort materials cannot be made publicly available as part of marketing efforts.

5. Through this program what are your target goals for WOSBs and SDBs that apply for the SBIR/STTR program?

The target goals for the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), is to increase participation and success in SBIR/STTR while also providing biomedical entrepreneurial skills and knowledge to increase the likelihood of successful commercialization.

6. Will the ITEP program be marketed and added to the NIH NIAID website?

https://www.niaid.nih.gov/

ITEP program will not be marketed or added to the NIH/NIAID website. All web assets will be hosted through the contractor owned/operated websites.

7. What is expected of the contractor in the company vetting process?

The Contractor will manage and administer the online application form and conduct an initial screening of the applicants/companies that apply. This will consist of ensuring that each application is complete and verifying that the applicant/company is developing a product that aligns with NIAID or NHLBI. NIAID/NHLBI staff will review applications and make final determinations of accepted, rejected, or waitlisted.

8. The SOW states we will provide training around: “How to launch a company & startup operations.” What support are we expected to provide around business entity formation?

The business entity formation support expected from the contractor is to provide education on the various business structures. This should include pros & cons of each business structure, recommended business structures for new bio-medical entrepreneurs, and how/where to form a company. Contractor will not file business entity paperwork on behalf of participants.

9. The SOW states we will provide training around: “How to launch a company & startup operations. What support are we expected to provide around govt portal registrations? (UEI, CAGE code, grants.gov application portal, etc.) registrations?

The government portal registration support expected from the contractor is to provide education on the required business registrations. Contractor will not file on behalf of participants.

10. Is there an incumbent? If so, can you provide the contract number?

This is a new contract. There is no incumbent.

11. Are there already in use materials that need revised and updated (training, tool kit, etc.) or will all materials need to be developed?

All materials will need to be developed by the contractor.

12. Page 3 states "The total page limit of your Technical Response (Volume 1) and Price Quote (Volume 2), not inclusive of CVs/Resumes, other attachments, and appendix, is 10 pages." Are both volumes allowed to be ten pages, or is that ten pages between both Volumes?

https://www.niaid.nih.gov/ https://www.niaid.nih.gov/ https://www.niaid.nih.gov/ http://grants.gov/ http://grants.gov/

The Price Quote should have not been included in the 10-page limited. The 10-page limit only includes the Technical Response (Volume 1). The Price Quote (Volume 2), CVs/Resume, other attachments, and appendix are not included in the page limit. The RFQ will be updated to reflect this change.

13. What additional information should be included in Volume 2?

The quote must contain sufficient information to allow the Government to perform an evaluation of the quoted price. For example, NIAID would expect offerors to price the base period and each option period.

14. Is it possible to please extend the date for when this submission is due, given that the current submission date is falling the day after a holiday weekend? Perhaps it can please be extended until Thursday September 7th?

The due date for this RFQ has changed to September 8, 2023, 3:00PM EST.

15. Is there an incumbent on this scope of work? Or is this a new set of requirements?

This is a new contract. There is no incumbent.

16. Does the government already have a preferred technology system and contract for the online application form for the ITEP program? If there is no preferred system in place, is the contractor expected to support securing an Authority to Operate (ATO) for the application system? Is the application program expected to be FedRAMP compliant? If there is no preferred system, should we budget for the procurement of this survey service in ODCs?

NIAID does not require a specific support system. The application will not collect confidential information. In a similarly structured contract, Contigo Forms was used to administer a 10-question application form. ITEP will utilize a similar application and the Contractor is free to propose the use of Contigo Forms or any similar platform.

17. The evaluation criteria for the Human Resources Plan says that staff should meet or exceed minimum requirements. Will the government accept this information within resumes in the appendix or must it be included in the 10-pages of the technical response?

The evaluation criteria for the Human Resources Plan should include key staff highlights in technical volume supported by resumes in the appendix.

18. Does the government have a particular platform in mind for the contractor to use to host the Tool Kit and resources?

The Government does not have a particular platform that the contractor should use to host the toolkit and resources. It will be the Contractors responsibility to propose a particular platform within their Technical Response (Volume 1).

19. Does the agency have specific resources that it will provide for the resources toolkit?

The Government does not have specific resources that will be provided for the resource toolkit.

It will be the Contractors responsibility to propose resources in the toolkit within the Technical Response (Volume 1).

20. Is there a specific program length that will allow multiple cohorts within the contract period of performance?

There will be two cohorts during the base period. Each option period, will have two cohorts.

21. We understand that all resources will remain the property of the government and must be fully transferrable at the time of contract completion. Does the agency have specific software that it will use for program and resource storage in an effort to ensure that the transfer is seamless? (i.e., Survey Monkey, Zoom class recordings, Amazon S3/AWS, learning and applicant management systems, etc.).

The Government does not specify the software that would need to be used to ensure that transfer of materials. The Contractor would be responsible for providing this information within the Technical Response (Volume 1).

22. Please confirm the total number of participants for the full program and 1:1 consultations.

The total number of participants for the full program and 1:1 consultation is up to 44 participants. During the base period and each option period, the program will support two cohorts each consisting of up to 20 participants, which align with NIAID mission priorities and two that align with NHLBI priorities.

23. Beyond the current number of participants, does the agency foresee adding cohorts within the period of performance based on the number of applicants? (i.e., 500 applicants, but the number of accepted applicants remains the same). Will there be an increase in the number of participants based on recruitment responses?

The Government does not foresee adding cohorts within the period of performance or increasing the number of participants based on recruitment responses.

24. In the event that applicants require more 1:1 consultation, should there be an optional fixed rate for this in the quote?

This requirement will be limited to 50 hours per participant for 1:1 consultation.

25. In the Final RFQ document, the page limit for the response is listed as 10 pages (including Volume 1 (Technical) and Volume 2 (Pricing). The document states that this must include a detailed project management plan (PMP) and quality assurance plan (QASP). Historically, these are documents added to the appendix along with resumes/CVs due to their length and larger numbers of pages. Does the agency desire a high-level, truncated version of these documents in order to meet the 10-page requirement or will it increase the page number requirement for the response?

The Price Quote should have not been included in the 10-page limited. The 10-page limit only includes the Technical Response (Volume 1). The Price Quote (Volume 2), CVs/Resume, other attachments, and appendix are not included in the page limit. The RFQ will be updated to reflect this change. Include a brief, high-level project management and Quality Assurance Plan (QASP) in Volume 1. Full length plans can be added to the appendix.

26. Is there a proposed budget that the agency can share at this time?

There is not a proposed budget that the Government will share at this time.

27. Does the agency have specific SMEs that it would like to be involved or featured in these efforts?

The Government does not have specific Subject Matter Experts (SME) that need to be involved in this requirement. It is the Contractor’s responsible to provide the SMEs as described in SA7.e. of the Statement of Work (SOW).

28. Is there an incumbent contractor or is this a new requirement?

This is a new contract. There is no incumbent.

29. Will a past performance questionnaire be required, or should past performance details be listed in the 10-page response?

The past performance details should be included within the Technical Response (Volume 1).