QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

QUESTION:

1. I would like to enquire as to whether the services are currently being used and if so what it the hourly rate of pay?

ANSWER

a. Contractor's name and address: Interactive Medical Specialist, 454 Las Gallinas Ave

PMB 287, San Rafael, CA 94903

b. Contract number: DJB11411013/RFQ 11411-003-06

c. Period of performance: Base period, 4 option periods and six month extension

d. Contract price for each separate year of service: Per 1 Hour Session for each Dental

Assistant: Base Year $20.48; Option 1 $20.98; Option 2, $21.33; Option 3 $21.78;

and Option 4 $22.28.

QUESTION

2. The RFQ indicates that award will be made based upon best value, lists the factors for award, and indicates that the basis for selection will be in accordance with 52.212-

1(g). However, while the cited FAR clause states that the Government may accept other than the lowest offer, it does not indicate whether the award will be made on the best value basis of LPTA, or a trade-off process. Please clarify the solicitation to indicate whether award will be made on the best value basis of LPTA, or a trade-off process.

ANSWER

The CO has broad discretion in fashioning suitable evaluation procedures. The procedures prescribed in PARTS 14 and 15 are not mandatory. At the CO’s discretion, one or more, but not necessarily all, of the evaluation procedures in PART 14 or 15 may be used. FAR parts

12 and 13 will be utilized; Award will be made on best value as stated on Page 17 of 27 of the RFQ. Best value, means the expected outcome of an acquisition that, in the

Government’s estimation, provides the greatest overall benefit in response to the requirement considering price, technical and past performance.

The purpose of the Test Program for Certain Commercial Items is to vest COs with additional procedural discretion and flexibility, so that commercial item acquisitions, may be solicited, offered, evaluated, and awarded in a simplified manner that maximizes efficiency and economy and minimizes burden and administrative costs for both the Government and industry (10 U.S.C. 2304(g) and 2305 and 41 U.S.C. 253(g) and 253a and 253b).

When soliciting quotations or offers, the CO shall notify potential quoters or offerors of the basis on which award will be made (price alone or price and other factors, e.g., past performance and quality). COs are encouraged to use best value. Solicitations are not required to state the relative importance assigned to each evaluation factor subfactor, nor are they required to include subfactors.

QUESTION

3. Reference: PWS, Output #1, Section E, "Academic, Experience, etc......"

This section states that six months current work experience is required. Please clarify the solicitation to define what is meant by "current".

ANSWER:

Current is defined to mean: belonging to the time actually passing.

4. Reference: PWS, Output #1, Section G, "Institution Security"

Please clarify the solicitation to specify how many hours of training will be required for each Dental Assistant for the annual refresher orientation training.

ANSWER:

Please refer to ATTACHMENT I – PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT, Section G, INSTITUTION SECURITY, as stated on page 5 of 8, “In addition each Contractor employee must attend an approximate four (4) hour orientation program at the institution. A

“refresher” orientation must be completed annually.

The orientation program is approximately four (4) hours as well as the “refresher” orientation being approximately four (4) hours.

5. Reference: Attachment VII- NCIC

The NCIC form requires applicants to provide private and sensitive information such as race, sex, national origin, DOB, social security number, etc.... The EEOC strongly advises employers not to request such information during the pre-employment process because such inquiries may be used as evidence of an employer's intent to discriminate against certain applicants. Additionally, pursuant to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

(IRCA), it is inadvisable for Employers to require applicants to indicate eye and hair color, complexion, height, or weight, etc., during the pre-employment process, as this may be viewed as discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin.

The RFQ (PWS, Output #1, Section F- Investigative Requirements) and Program Statement http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/the

3000.03 make it clear that the investigative requirements, including the NCIC form, are only applicable to the Contractor selected for award, and to the employees of the successful

Contractor. Therefore, I hereby request that you amend the RFQ to delete the requirement for Quoters to submit the completed NCIC form for the candidates, as background checks will not be run on the candidates submitted by Quoters. Instead background checks will only be processed on the employees of the successful Contractor.

ANSWER:

The Government is not hiring an employee(s). The company, as the Contractor should already have a pool of applicants or have its employee(s) hired prior to submitting a quotation. The RFQ includes all Equal Opportunity Clauses, please refer to Clause 52.212-5 and EEO is also, addressed under Special Contract Conditions.

This form ensure quoters have candidates that are aware of security and back ground clearances requirements.

Please keep in mind, Quoters must specifically identify the individual(s) that will be performing these services under any subsequent contract award…..The candidate’s name an qualifications must be submitted at the time the quote is submitted……