RFQ S5121A24Q0001 Amendment 1.pdf

Request for Quote (RFQ) S5121A24Q0001 Amendment 1 Response to Industry Questions

Q. How should the proposal be submitted?

A. Electronically in accordance with (IAW) Addendum to 52.212-1 contained in the RFQ.

Q. What are the required sections for the proposal? Should we write to the Evaluation Criteria?

A. Submittal according to Evaluation Criteria and pricing spreadsheet.

Q. How should we submit separate offers? By submitting separate rate spreadsheets?

A. Yes

Q. Can we discuss multiple approaches in our technical proposal to support our separate pricing proposals?

A. Yes

Q. The RFQ states that the following near the bottom of page 4: "Basis of award will be Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA)." It is our understanding, therefore, that the evaluation of each element of a firm's technical volume will be done solely on a pass/fail basis. Is that understanding, correct?

A. Evaluation will be based on Technical Capability Factors listed in FAR 52.212-2.

Q. Regarding the Pricing Worksheet, how should we price the locations without hours listed in column D? Should those not be priced since they do not use recurring ASL Interpreter services at this time?

Can you provide more details on how you are looking for this to be priced? Do you have evaluation hours for the 2 shifts by location, and do those remain static?

A. Enter hourly rate for the location without estimated hours in the event ASL services are required in the future. Pricing should be hourly rate charged at each location listed for the base year and all option years. Currently services are during regular daily business hours.

Q. Regarding the Pricing Worksheet, it lists 2029 as the header for column D. Can it be assumed these are the hours for translation and interpretation services for the site listed in column C?

Based on these hours, how many are remote translations verses in-person?

A. Column D entry of 2029 is an error. New Pricing Spreadsheet posted with the amendment.

Q. DCMA has released this RFQ as an LPTA evaluation. The use of LPTA for professional services – especially sensitive, niche, and highly specialized services requiring a security clearance - is an inappropriate use of this type of source selection. Can DCMA please explain why LPTA was chosen and justified for this RFQ?

A. IAW with DFARS 215.101-2-70 (a)(1)(viii), The contracting officer documents the contract file describing the circumstances justifying the use of the lowest price technically acceptable source selection process.

Q. DCMA has indicated this will be a BPA with multiple awardees. How does DCMA intend to issue call orders? The amount of work for the total contract is small and many of the resulting call orders will be small. How will the work be split among the call orders?

A. IAW 8.405-2(c)(1), orders may be distributed among contractors.

Q. The call orders are also being competed as LPTA. Will BPA awardees be required to bid on the task orders?

A. Yes

Q. Is there a minimum guarantee for this contract?

A. No

Q. In ref. to Factor 2 - Past Performance (Page 5), If the vendor doesn't have any CPARS, is the Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) sufficient?

A. Yes

Q. In ref. to the Scope of Work, section 5.2 (Page 24). Can we select the specific regions where we can provide the service, or is it mandatory to have capabilities to cover all regions?

A. You may select the specific regions where you can provide the services. Enter pricing for the regions on the pricing spreadsheet.

Q. Is it possible to provide the estimate annually hours for the following locations: Long Island, NY, Hanscom AFB, MA, Salt Lake City, UT, Greensville, SC, Redstone Arsenal, AL, Huntsville, AL A. As stated on the pricing spreadsheet, Locations without estimate hours have personnel that are Deaf/Hard of Hearing but do not use recurring ASL Interpreter services at this time.

Q. Are you planning to give preference to a particular minority set aside program?

A. No

Q Who is the incumbent?

A. Applied Development CLGT Solutions, LLC Glocoms, Inc.

MT&Associates, LLC Parliament Translation TransPro Global Trusted Translations, Inc.

Q. What prices is the incumbent charging under the current contract?

A. Varies depending on location and time of day. Range is $80.00 - $145.00.

Q. In ref. to page 4, under clauses, specifically regarding the Purchase Card, is it possible for the vendor to opt for payment via check? Additionally, could you please inform us if there are any other available methods of payment?

A. Only form of payment will be the Government Purchase Card.

Q. In ref. to invoices section 8.2 (Page 26). Would the government prefer individual invoices for each service provided, or is a consolidated invoice for combined services acceptable?

A. Separate invoice for each task order issued.

Q. In ref. to invoices section 8.2 (Page 26). In addition to providing the invoice to the ROO no later than [NLT] 7 days business days, does the government also requires that invoices be submitted through a specific platform or system?

A. No

Q. Are you planning to give preference to a particular minority set aside program?

A. No

Q. Does the volume listed in the spreadsheet cover the entire BPA? Or is it an estimation of volume for individual call orders? We ask because the volume is already somewhat low, and thus splitting it among multiple vendors would reduce it to quite a low total.

A. It’s an estimation of volume for individual call orders.

Q. The solicitation states that need include “On-Demand Video Remote Interpreting (VRI).”

Can DCMA provide historical volume splits between Onsite and Remote needs?

A. In the pasted, the Agency did not use On-Demand Video Remote Interpreting (VRI). This latest PWS now includes VRI.

Q. Are all Remote needs On-Demand? Is there any Prescheduled VRI need?

A. No, not every remote need is On-Demand. At the time there are no prescheduled VRI needs, however it has been requested and I expect the need will increase.

Q. Are there any ongoing assignments, or are they all ad hoc/as-needed?

A. There are no ongoing assignments now. Individual requirements are met on an as-needed basis.

Q. Are all the services to be rendered with an interpreter on-site? Or may they be provided on-line, virtually, through a tele-interpreter platform?

A. Service will be provided via on-site, on-line, virtually.

Q. Are you permitting remote translators? What is the volume of the need for in-person translation compared to remote translators?

A. Most of the services were rendered in person. But the pandemic has led to the emergence of virtual translators. However, I think it will pick up with the return-to-work policy. There are no on-site remote interpreters at an employee residence.

Q. Is support required 24 hours per day? The pricing sheet requests pricing for 24 hours in the day.

A. Yes

Q. Regarding “3.2 Utilize interpreting services to translate speeches, presentations, conversations, and other spoken languages into the native or preferred language of a given audience.”, what languages are included in native or preferred languages?

A. English

Q. Is all the translation and interpretation related to sign language? Or will translation and interpretation be needed for other languages besides sign language? If so, what are those languages?

A. Only sign language.

Q. DCMA has requested a 24-hour cancellation policy. Industry standard for ASL interpreting is at least two full business days. Will DCMA modify their requirements to meet industry standard?

3. In ref. to 5.0 Scope of Work, section 5.5 (Page 24). Will the government be willing to change the notice of cancellation from 24 hours to 48 hours instead?

A. Yes, 48-hour cancellation

Q. DCMA is requiring a 95% fill rate. There ASL interpreting industry has changed significantly in the past few years and the availability of interpreters, especially those with clearances and background checks, is scarce. The most qualified interpreters are in high demand and book their assignments months in advance. Will DCMA consider removing this requirement?

A. Yes

Q. In ref. to 5.0 Scope of Work, section 5.6 (Page 24). Is the government willing to pay for the 30 minutes prior to the start time?

A. Yes

Q. In ref. to 7.0 Contractor Qualifications (Page 25). State Screenings/Assessments. Will the government provide the state specific QAS as stated in this section of the solicitation?

A. No

Q. In ref. to 10.0 Contractor Travel, section 10.1 (Page 27). Will the government be willing to change this to the GSA-acceptable travel rates?

A. No

Q. In ref. to 7.2 Verification (Page 26). Would a list of individuals along with their credential status suffice, or do you require a copy of the credentials card?

A. A list of people with their credentials is sufficient.

Q. What are the main challenges that you face with the current vendors?

A. Most vendors do not submit a bid.