Public_Questions_Responses_TAMPASS-D_HUB.docx

Response to Public Questions – SAQMMA14R0401 (HUBZone)

1. Reference: None Provided (All)

Question: Will the government release the full list of incumbent companies and their contract numbers for the existing Professional Employee Service (PES) Contract?

Response: Yes - TAMPASS-D replaces the following contracts [Professional, Technical, Administrative Program Support Services (PTAPSS) and Professional Employee Services (PES)]:

ATSG, LLC – PTAPSS – SAQMMA09D0071

Ian, Evan & Alexander Corporation – PTAPSS – SAQMMA09D0072 Symtech Corporation – PTAPSS – SAQMMA09D0073 Global Solutions Network, Inc. – PTAPSS – SAQMMA09D0068 Henderson Group Unlimited, Inc. – PTAPSS – SAQMMA09D0069 McManis & Monsalve Associates – PTAPSS – SAQMMA09D0070 E-9 Corporation – PES – SAQMMA10D0106

2. Reference: None Provided (All)

Question: Is the incumbent eligible to rebid?

Response: If the incumbent meets the size standard and socio-economic category, the answer is yes.

3. Reference: None Provided (All)

Question: Are subcontractors required to have a facility clearance?

Response: The prime could submit a proposal that includes subcontractors without a facility clearance. However, the subcontractor will be prohibited from performing services on task orders that require clearances.

4. Reference: None Provided (All)

Question: We need some relief on the page count of Volume I- Technical. As you may, or may not know, most companies Employee Benefits Package and Quality Control Plan both exceed the 25 pages that you are allocating for the entire response. What would you like a shortened version of these two documents?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP. The page count has been increased.

5. Reference: None Provided (All)

Question: Are there any specific qualifications (degrees, years of experience, security clearance) that are required by the Program Manager and Contract Administrator?

Response: Yes, Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP – Section M.5.

6. Reference: None Provided (All) Question: Does the Program Manager or the Contract Administrator have to be at a specific location or can they be located at the contractor’s facility?”

Response: Contract Level - All costs associated with the Contractor’s Program Manager and Contract Administrator shall be at no direct cost to the Government. The expected location is the Contractor’s Facility.

7. Reference: FBO.gov posting (All) Question: Per the FBO.gov posting “8A companies are not included in this program and will be addressed separately by the Department of State” Will there be a separate opportunity posted for 8(a) companies?

Response: This question is not applicable to the TAMPASS-D Request for Proposal (RFP).

8. Reference: Volume 1, Part A – Employee Benefits Plan, specifically the 401K area (HUB) Question:

Does the company have to have a 401K plan or is a SIMPLE IRA plan with a vesting schedule, % match, and is available to all employees an expectable substitute?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and Section M.5.

9. Reference: Section L.7.1 Volume I, Part A – Employee Benefits Plan and M.5 Evaluation Factors define the requirements for the employee benefits plan. (All) Question: Do these requirements apply to subcontractors as well as Prime offerors ?

Response: Yes, the Employee Benefits Plan submitted in response to the RFP will be the contractual requirement at award.

10. Reference: L.7.1 Volume 1, Part A – Employee Benefits Plan and M.5 Evaluation Factors (All) Question: Do these requirements apply to subcontractors as well as Prime offerors?

Response: The Department’s minimum requirements and/or higher requirements proposed/accepted/awarded will have to be fulfilled by both the prime and its subcontractors under the contract’s awarded CLIN structure. All subcontractor rates will have to fall under the awarded CLIN structure.

11. Reference: Not provided (All) Question: Are joint ventures required to have a facility clearance?

Response: Yes

12. Reference: Not provided (all) Question: We do not have a Facility Clearance Level. Are we still eligible?

Response: To compete for this opportunity, the company must have a current Department of Defense (DoD) FINAL SECRET or TOP SECRET Facility Clearance at proposal submission (emphasis added). To complete all the Department’s requirements for this contract, the Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Contract holder will be required to have a TOP SECRET Facility Clearance. If the awardee only has a Final SECRET Facility Clearance, the Department of State will sponsor the awardee for its TOP SECRET Facility Clearance (which must be granted within 90 calendar days to retain the contract).

13. Reference: Not provided (all) Question: Would the government consider expanding the solicitation to include companies with Interim Secret Clearance? This would serve a dual purpose for the government, as it would provide an increased pool of capable small business firms as well as provide increased price competitiveness with LPTA evaluation regarding pricing.

Response: No, an Interim Secret Facility Clearance is not acceptable.

14. Reference: Not provided (All) Question: Will this contract be a 5 year IDIQ?

Response: Yes

15. Reference: Not provided (All) Question: Will it also allow for the purchase of products in addition to services?

Response: No, products are not in scope.

16. Reference: Not provided (All) Question: Will other agencies outside of the State Department be able to use it as GWAC?

Response: No

17. Reference: None provided. (HUB) Question: Does the Government anticipate awarding a single HUBZone IDIQ or will multiple awards be made? If multiple awards, how many?

Response: Single award

18. Reference: None provided. (HUB) Question: The RFP implies but does not explicitly require that the incoming contractor attempt to hire the staff of the current incumbent. Will the Government provide the incoming contractor with access to the outgoing contractor’s personnel for hiring purposes?

Response: The Department will direct its requirements to socio-economic group IDIQs based on its socio-economic goals. The Offeror will be required to provide technical, administrative, management, professional employees as defined in a task order. In many cases, this will require the awardee to hire incumbents. No, the Government will not provide the incoming contractor with access to the outgoing contractor’s personnel for hiring purposes.

Reference: None provided. (HUB) Question: The minimum employee benefit requirements listed in Section M include a lot of benefits that are not always available through a small business. As an example, the 401k match is optional annually even in a large companies. At their discretion, companies can determine that they are unable to make a catch in any given year. Moreover, modifying existing benefits plans can result in a significant financial impact to a small business. Are the incumbents providing all of these benefits today?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements. Currently, the Department’s Professional Employee Service contract employees receive an employee benefit package that is equal or better than the listed minimum mandatory requirements.

19. Reference: None provided. (HUB) Question: When will current task orders expire? Will the Government provide a list of task orders and the anticipated time they will transition to the new contractor? How much time will be allowed for transition?

Response: Varies – many of the current task orders may continue for two (2) years; No, the Department will determine a specific socio-economic group for the task order at the requirements phase; an awardee will not be transitioning with any one company.

Reference: None provided. (HUB) Question: When does DoS expect the first Task Order to be issued?

Response: Task orders will be issued based on the Department’s requirements. The first task order issued is projected for 2015.

20. Reference: None provided. (HUB) Question: How many personnel are required for a typical Task Order?

Response: Varies – many task orders are for one or two individuals.

21. Reference: B.4, page 3, last paragraph. (HUB) Question: How many personnel (or what percentage of the contractors’ staff will be required to travel outside the United States? What is meant by the contractor maintaining passports? Is the Government asking the contractor to maintain other than civilian passports? If so, can you provide the regulation that directs the process so that we can insure compliance? Finally, when traveling out of the United States is the contractor required to provide our own security or is it provided?

Response: B.4 is a standard DoS Clause for Travel. This is a domestic only contract – 0%. Maintaining passports for this contract is not applicable.

22. Reference: C.1.1, page 4, first sentence. (HUB) Question: What are the “performance objectives and business requirements” that the contractor’s staff will be expected to meet?

Response: The performance objectives and business requirements will be defined at the task order level.

23. Reference: C.1.1 and C.1.2, page 4. (HUB) Question: The objectives listed are very high level and subject to wide interpretation. For example, “maintaining program continuity” could be as simple as manning an administrative assistant’s desk every day to answer phones, to collecting data to develop and provide a report on a regular basis, or as complex as managing day to day operations across multiple time-zones intended to achieve a specified outcome over a lengthy timeframe. Can the Government provide a more detailed description of the support needed to meet these objectives?

Response: No, the written objectives are appropriate for an IDIQ contract. The task order will identify the detailed description of the support needed to meet the Department’s objectives.

Reference: E.5, page 6, Customer Complaints. (HUB) Question: Are the customers Government employees or individuals accessing DoS services? Who receives the complaints, how are they documented, and who resolves any issues?

Response: The Department Bureaus are the customers. The complaints will be received by the Contracting Officer ‘s Representatives and Contracting Officers. Complaints will be received, documented and resolved in accordance with internal Quality Assurance Surveillance Procedures. Refer to RFP Section E.4 GOVERNMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE PLAN SURVEILLANCE.

24. Reference: F.5, page 7, Deliverables. (HUB) Question: There are no deliverables called out in the table for the Basic Contract. However, bidders are required to provide fixed labor hour rates that include all management and overhead costs. If the Government adds deliverables after contract award, will the contractor be allowed to recover these costs?

Response: This is a staff augmentation contract. Deliverables would be addressed at the task order level. Deliverables may be assigned at the task order level based on government technical direction.

25. Reference: G.1, page 7, General. (HUB) Question: What are the additional contract administration requirements that may be invoked via a task order? As structured, these costs must be factored into the fixed hour labor rates.

Response: Varies. The requirements (e.g., security clearance, hours of operation, place of performance, government furnished equipment/information) will be addressed at the task order level.

26. Reference: G.4, page 7, second paragraph. (HUB) Question: Is DoS approval required even if the contractor’s web page does not mention its relationship with the DoS?

Response: All marketing and promotional materials, including information on the contractor webpage must be approved by the Department of State Contracting Officer and other internal offices prior to distribution. If you are including any information that can be tied to a US Department of State contract, approval is required.

27. Reference: H.4, page 10, Key Personnel. (HUB) Question: Are the Program Manager and Contract Administrator expected to be on site daily? Are they expected to be available to meet with the Government within specified time constraints?

Response: Refer to the response to Q6. Most business will be conducted via telephone.

28. Reference: H.4, page 11, Contractor Training. (HUB) Question: The contractor is expected to maintain “professional qualifications and certifications”, but none are called out. Does the Government have specific qualifications and certification requirements for contractor personnel and can they be provided?

Response: No, qualification and certification requirements will be identified at the task order level.

29. Reference: H.5, page 11, Government Property. (HUB) Question: Will the Government provide information systems and platforms (e.g., laptops, tablets, etc.) or does the contractor need to provide assets for employees in Government or contractor facilities?

Response: The task order will address Government Furnished Equipment. The Department provides space and computer systems for its staff augmentation employees.

30. Reference: L.6.1.4, page 25, Exclusions From The Page Limitations. (HUB) Question: Can offerors include resumes for the Program Manager and Contract Administrator as an annex to the Technical Volume that is excluded from the 25 page limit?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Sections L and M. Resumes are included in the page limitations.

31. Reference: L.6.1.5, page 25, General Format Requirements. (HUB) Question: Can the cost tables be provided in excel format for the Volume II response?

Response: The offeror can provide the cost tables in excel format.

32. Reference: L.8, page 27, Cost/Price Proposal Instructions. (HUB) Question: Does the offer have to bid every labor category in every region? Are all positions expected to be in the DC area? If so, can we bid only labor categories in the DC metropolitan region? Are all positions expected to be in a DoS facility or a contractor facility? Does the DoS have a process for increasing the salaries of the individual contract employees? How will the scale and step of any individual be determined in order to propose a task order?

Response: Yes, the offeror will have to propose labor rates for all the B-Tables; No; Not Applicable; DoS facility; the labor rates are established for the period of performance (base year and option years) - the process is by exception and based on the job description and budget environment of the Department of State; the scale and step of any individual will be determined by the Department in coordination with the contractor based on the tailored position title and roles and responsibilities description developed at the task order level and the current salary rate of the employee working at the Department of State. Very few positions are recruited by the contractor under the staff augmentation contracts.

33. Reference: M.5, page 30, Technical Factor 1: Employee Benefit Plan. (HUB) Question: Several benefits categories listed in the left most column of the table (Employee Benefits), such as Health Insurance, include an *. What does the * signify?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP. The asterisks have been removed.

34. Reference: M.5, page 30, Technical Factor 1: Employee Benefit Plan. (HUB) Question: The Minimum Requirements column entry associated with Personal Time Off/Sick Leave (PTO) includes two statements. The second requires that the contractor negotiate with incumbent employees to “ensure comparable or better benefits” during the hiring process. Does this “minimum requirement” apply only to PTO? If the requirement applies to all benefits, it provides all the negotiating leverage to the employee and none to the company. This is problematic in an LPTA proposal in that a company can quickly be underwater on salary or benefits.

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5.

35. Reference: M.5, page 32, Technical Factor 2: Management Plan/Corporate Resources (HUB) Question: Entry (1) under the Minimum Requirements column ends with the phrase “and adapt to Department of State culture;” What is the DoS culture and what does adapting to it involve?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Sections L and M. The requirement has been deleted.

36. Reference: M.5, page 32, Technical Factor 2: Management Plan/Corporate Resources. (HUB) Question: Entry (2) under the Minimum Requirements column implies that the offerors proposal can include both key personnel as well as others who are qualified to execute the program. However, paragraph L.7.2.2 of the proposal instructions apparently limits resumes to only the key personnel. Will the Government allow resumes for key corporate personnel (President or CEO for example) to be included? We believe including such information will allow the Government to more fully assess the management capability of the contractor. Often these positions are critical factors in the success of small business performance.

Response: No, the requirement is for contract level key personnel resumes.

37. Reference: None provided Question: There are three acquisition vehicles requesting proposals, each expecting a single award. How will Task Orders be issued? Will some tasks only be issued against a specific acquisition type, or will Task Orders be offered against all three?

Response: The Department will direct work to socioeconomic categories based on its socioeconomic goals. The IDIQ contract is a standalone contract. The Department creates a specific labor category title and description of work and provides a task order request for proposal with pertinent information (includes a recommended GS/ES equivalent CLIN) to the contractor. The contractor submits a simple technical and cost-price proposal.

38. Reference: None provided Question: The list of items in “the Government’s minimum employee benefits plan requirements” significantly exceeds current industry standards for benefits – which will drive up costs to the Government.

Response: a) minimum mandatory requirements and b) No, the Department’s Professional Employee Service contract employees receive an employee package that is equal or better than the listed minimum mandatory requirements.

39. Reference: None provided Question: The Government’s minimum employee benefit plan requirements identifies four Health Care plans (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum); most small businesses are only able to offer three plans. Can this requirement be modified to three plans?

Response: The requirement has been modified. Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5.

40. Reference: None provided Question: Attachment A, TAMPASS-D Cost-Price Tables, is a Word document, which will require a significant amount of cut-paste to fill in the approximately 195 tables. Performing cut-paste actions for 230+ pages increases the likelihood of an error; any errors would impact a company’s rates, potentially resulting in the Government not being able to identify the company that truly offers the lowest-price proposal. To minimize the likelihood of a cut-paste error, will the Government consider providing Appendix A as an Excel file?

Response: No

41. Reference: None provided Question: Could the Government please verify that we are required to provide a description of our quality control plan (Section L.7.2.10), and not provide the Government a Quality Assurance Plan (Section E.4)?

Response: Contractors provide quality control plans. Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Sections L and M.

42. Reference: None provided Question: Section L.6.1.4 identifies that the “Compliance Matrix” is excluded from the twenty-five page limit, however there is no other information provided or reference to this matrix. Could the Government provide additional information that is desired in the Compliance Matrix?

Response: The Department does not require a compliance matrix but many contractors find its inclusion useful. The compliance matrix is excluded from the page count.

43. Reference: None provided Question: Does the Government have a desired format for Key Personnel resumes?

Response: No

44. Reference: None provided Question: Would the Government consider excluding the Key Personnel resumes from the Volume 1 twenty-five page limit?

Response: No, refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP. The page count has been increased.

45. Reference: Page 30 under M.5 Question: The government states, “The Government will evaluate the extent to which the offeror satisfies the Government’s minimum employee benefits plan requirements.” Two of the three technical evaluation factors identify multiple minimum requirements. Must respondents be 100% compliant for each of the multiple minimum requirements (i.e. 9 out of 10 = FAIL) or will compliancy be gauged across each evaluation factor (i.e. 9 out of 10 = 90%)? If that latter, what constitutes a passing score?

Response: 100% compliance

46. Reference: Page 30-31 Question: Is the Government weighing any specific benefits more than others?

Response: The process is in accordance with FAR 15.101-2.

47. Reference: Page 30-31 Question: Please clarify the following line "The proposal includes a comprehensive summary that provides, as a minimum." It is our understanding that this clause provides the requirements of what an offeror should detail in their proposal not the actual benefits an offeror is required to provide an employee.

Response: RFP Section M.5 identifies the mandatory minimum requirements. RFP Sections L provides the proposal instructions.

48. Reference: Page 30-31 Question: Please define all minimum requirements. For example, 401K, there are 5 required areas an offeror must write to but only one requirement of the benefits plan (full vesting within 5 years).

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5. The package shall offer a 401K/SIMPLE IRA, a defined matching contribution to the employee, and a vesting requirement.

49. Reference: Page 31 Question: 401K plan, the Government states that the employer matching contribution must be defined, is the government requiring a level that an employer match said contributions?

Response: Yes, refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5.

50. Reference: Page 33, M6 Question: The government states they will multiple burdened rates by 2000hr/yr but has provided industry with hourly rates based off of 2080hr/yr. Would the Government modify the hourly rates to be consistent with the Government's annual estimate of 2000hr/yr? This is important to industry, especially small businesses, as we have to pay an employee's full annual salary.

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and Sections L and M. References to 2080 hours have been removed from the solicitation. A company’s work year is normally defined as 2080 hours.

51. Reference: General Question: 1) Would the Government allow industry to submit pricing in either MS Word or MS Excel? 2) In addition, does the Government have price information in an existing MS Excel format that can be shared with industry - perhaps with the annual calculations described in section M.6 already created? Thus eliminating the need for industry to create an excel document, transcribe the 238 pages into Excel, re-type data into a 238pg Word document, then have the Government transcribed each price proposal in their own spreadsheet?

Response: 1) Yes and 2) No

52. Reference: General Question: Request the Government delete the requirement that industry submit 3 paper copies of their price proposal. Given industry is submitting the 238pg price proposal electronically and consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 this is a burden on Small Business and via the electronic submissions the Government can print extra copies on an as-needed basis while reducing the consumption of paper.

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and the RFP Section L instructions.

53. Reference: General , page 23 Question: In what volume should the answers to sections K.7 and K.8 go?

Response: Volume II, Cost-Price

54. Reference: L.8.4 Question: Since the offeror is required to submit accurate Reps and Certs (L.8.8), is not the requirement in L.8.4 "to determine business size based on a revenue-based size standard" duplicative? Recommend deletion.

Response: The requirement remains. Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and the RFP Section L changes.

55. Reference: L.8.4 Question: If the Government elects to keep section L.8.4 please define what constitutes "annual receipts" and what if any, additional information or format is required by the Government. Or does an income statement showing Federal and Commercial revenue suffice?

Response:

§ 121.104 How does SBA calculate annual receipts?

(a) Receipts means “total income” (or in the case of a sole proprietorship, “gross income”) plus “cost of goods sold” as these terms are defined and reported on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax return forms (such as Form 1120 for corporations; Form 1120S and Schedule K for S corporations; Form 1120, Form 1065 or Form 1040 for LLCs; Form 1065 and Schedule K for partnerships; Form 1040, Schedule F for farms; Form 1040, Schedule C for other sole proprietorships). Receipts do not include net capital gains or losses; taxes collected for and remitted to a taxing authority if included in gross or total income, such as sales or other taxes collected from customers and excluding taxes levied on the concern or its employees; proceeds from transactions between a concern and its domestic or foreign affiliates; and amounts collected for another by a travel agent, real estate agent, advertising agent, conference management service provider, freight forwarder or customs broker. For size determination purposes, the only exclusions from receipts are those specifically provided for in this paragraph. All other items, such as subcontractor costs, reimbursements for purchases a contractor makes at a customer's request, and employee-based costs such as payroll taxes, may not be excluded from receipts.

(1) The Federal income tax return and any amendments filed with the IRS on or before the date of self-certification must be used to determine the size status of a concern. SBA will not use tax returns or amendments filed with the IRS after the initiation of a size determination.

(2) When a concern has not filed a Federal income tax return with the IRS for a fiscal year which must be included in the period of measurement, SBA will calculate the concern's annual receipts for that year using any other available information, such as the concern's regular books of account, audited financial statements, or information contained in an affidavit by a person with personal knowledge of the facts.

56. Reference: General Question: Would the government please extend the due date for proposals by two weeks to allow time to make adjustments based on the government’s responses to industry’s questions?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP. The due date has been adjusted.

57. Reference: L.6.1.4 Question: Does the government have a preferred format for the compliance matrix?

Response: No

58. Reference: Page 30, M.5 Question: Can the government please clarify the line “Employer share of premiums shall be 80% or better for the employee; 70% or better for the Employee plus one and the Family.” It is unclear which part of the statement is the minimum requirement or if all of it is the minimum requirement. If we cover 80% or better of premiums for the employee and the plus one or family premiums are at the employees own expense, will that be considered compliant?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5.

59. Reference: Section M.5, Page 30 Question: Health Insurance: Must the offeror provide Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum Health Care packages to employees?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5.

60. Reference: Section M.4, Pages 29- 30 Question: Will the Government be using contractor support to evaluate an offerors proposed benefits?

Response: Refer to RFP Section M.4. Acquisition Support Contractors may provide advice during the evaluations.

61. Reference: Section M.4, Pages 29- 30 Question: Will the contractor support used to evaluate an offerors technical merits (including benefits) be from contractor personnel currently performing services and/or anticipated to perform services under this scope of work?

Response: Office of Acquisition Management contractor support will assist Government personnel and are subject to non-disclosure and conflict of interest regulations.

62. Reference: Section M.4, Pages 29- 30 Question: If the Government utilizes contractor support from contractors performing or anticipated to be performing services under this scope of work, how will the Government ensure there is not a conflict of interest?

Response: Not applicable.

63. Reference: Section M.4, Pages 29- 30 Question: Pursuant to FAR 37.2 what professional or technical advice is not readily available regarding this scope of work and evaluation criteria?

Response: The question is not relevant to the TAMPASS-D solicitation requirements.

64. Reference: Section L.6.1.4, page 25 Question: The Government indicates a "Compliance Matrix" is excluded from the Volume I page count, but yet this is not referenced elsewhere in the solicitation. Can the Government please provide details on what is being requested?

Response: The Department does not require a compliance matrix but many contractors find its inclusion useful. The compliance matrix is excluded from the page count.

65. Reference: Section M.5, Pages 30-31 Question: Please confirm that the benefits required by the Government must be offered by the proposed Prime and any and all proposed Subcontractors.

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for the minimum mandatory benefits and requirements.

66. Reference: Technical Evaluation Factor 2 Question: The Government states they will evaluate the proposed contractor personnel "key and other," can the Government please expand on the requirement for "other" personnel including skills desired, experience, how many are required to be proposed to be technically acceptable?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Sections L and M. RFP Section M removed the “other” personnel requirement.

67. Reference: Section L.7.2 Page 26 #2 Question: Are key-personnel resumes included within the 25 page count? Recommend the Government consider allowing the 2 resumes to be provided as an Appendix and be excluded from the page count with a restriction of 3pg per resume (6 pages total).

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP. Page limitation has been increased.

68. Reference: Section C.1.1, #4 Question: The Government states that contracted services will include the ability to "Meet the travel requirements established," which implies these requirements are established. Can the Government please share these travel requirements?

Response: Travel requirements, if any, will be identified at the task order level.

69. Reference: Section M.6 Question: Can the Government please clarify how an offeror should propose ODCs for Travel? Is it the Government's expectation that the offeror shall proposed a not-to-exceed ceiling for the life of the contract based off a certain number of travel engagements? Understanding that this is an IDIQ contract (FAR 52.216-22) with estimates only where uncertainty exists on the Governments requirements we recommend the Government provide industry an ODC ceiling or estimate for travel.

Response: The reference is incorrect. There is no requirement to estimate ODC. The requirement is to enter the General and Administrative and/or Material Handling rate in the ODC Burden Block as described in L.8 (b).

70. Reference: Section M.6 Question: The Government's stated price evaluation does not discuss how the ODC included in the price volume will be factored into the price evaluation, please describe. In addition, since this is an LPTA evaluation and uncertainty exists around ODCs specifically but not limited to travel, recommend the Government provide industry a ceiling or estimate for ODCs to ensure an apples to apples price comparison.

Response: The reference is incorrect. There is no requirement to estimates ODC. The requirement is to enter the General and Administrative and/or Material Handling rate in the ODC Burden Block as described in L.8 (b).

71. Reference: General Question: The FBO notice stated that these three IDIQs will replace and/or augment the PES and PTAPSS contracts. How will the government allocate current work being performed under the PES and PTAPSS contracts amongst the three IDIQs or will the work be competed between the three?

Response: The number of FTE’s to be transitioned to this contract is unknown and will be dependent on the socio-economic goals of the Department. The number of FTE’s to be transferred will also be staggered over several years as the task orders on the existing contracts expire. The vast majority of positions are projected to be at the GS-10 and higher levels. The estimate is approximately 229 employees for all the TAMPASS contracts. The estimated breakout by GS/ES level is: GS-7 (2); GS-8 (5); GS-9 (5); GS-10 (24); GS-11(26); GS-12 (76); GS-13 (38); GS-14 (28); GS-15 (16); and ES Levels (9).

72. Reference: H.3 Question: What is the security clearance requirement for the Program Manager, if any?

Response: A SECRET clearance. Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5.

73. Reference: H.3 Question: What is the security clearance requirement for the Contracts Administrator, if any?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP. There is no security clearance requirement for the Contracts Administrator.

74. Reference: H.6 and M.5 Question: Section H.6 states that a) A facility security clearance at the Top Secret level is required for contract performance while section M.5 states that the prime offeror (set-aside business) shall submit written proof that it has a current Department of Defense (DoD) FINAL SECRET, interim TOP SECRET, or TOP SECRET Facility Clearance at proposal submission. Can the government please clarify which security clearance is required at time of proposal submission.

Response: Refer to RFP Section H.7, L.9 and M.5. The Department requires the minimum of a FINAL SECRET Facility Clearance at proposal submission.

75. Reference: RFP Page 13 Question: Department of State has invoked FAR 52.222-41 for the Service Contract Act. No wage determinations are included in the RFP. Will you please provide them?

Response: The applicable wage determination has been provided in Section J. Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP

76. Reference: None Provided Question: Per the Service Contract Act, contractors will be required to pay the wages shown in the Wage Determinations. In some cases, we believe the SCA rates exceed the GS schedule rates. Will you please provide the correlation matrix between each applicable wage determination and each applicable GS Schedule by location to ensure the GS wages meet the minimum correlating wage determination category rate.

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and the Section J Attachments.

77. Reference: None Provided Question: As we all are aware, September is a heavy procurement season for everyone in the government as well as in the industry including multiple proposal submissions, quotes and significant contracting activity due to fiscal year end. The TAMPASS opportunity requires attention to detail and completion of 288 pages of Price Proposal sheet. Considering that the opportunity is significant for Small business and one error could result in disqualification, we request government to extend the proposal deadline by at-least 2 weeks to allow us to submit quality response that DOS deserves.

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP for the proposal deadline.

78. Reference: None Provided Question: Will the Government make the Pricing Sheet available in Excel.

Response: No

79. Reference: None Provided Question: Government has identified at least 20 work locations and gathering SCA wage Rate, H&W for each location for each labor category requires careful planning and review. We request government to allow additional time (at least 2 weeks) to submit our proposals so that research can be completed to ensure price reasonableness across various locations.

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP for the proposal deadline.

80. Reference: None Provided Question: Will the Government allow for adjusting IDIQ Base Price if H&W wage rate increases during the Option Years?

Response: No

81. Reference: None Provided Question: Government Evaluation criteria suggests it is based on LPTA (Low Price Technically Acceptable). At the same time, Government has imposed Minimum benefits requirements (like 80% or more Health Premium Payments by Contractor). Is Government fair in requesting Low Price as well as providing a comprehensive benefits package to the potential employee. As a small business, Can we request the government to reevaluate its decision to perform selection based on LPTA.

Response: The Source Selection Process remains unchanged.

82. Reference: None Provided Question: Can a Hubzone that is also a women owned compete in multiple categories such as Hubzone as well as Women Owned. Are multiple proposal required to be submitted?

Response: Each solicitation stands alone. The correct category is Economically Disadvantage Woman Owned Small Business. If your company meets the criteria in accordance with the Small Business Administration guidelines and the Federal Acquisition Regulation, the answer is YES.

83. Reference: RFP Section L.6.1.4 (pg. 25) Question: RFP Section L.6.1.4 (pg. 25) stipulates the exclusion of page count for a compliance matrix. However, the compliance matrix requirement is not specified in Section L.6.1.5 General Format Instructions (pgs. 25-26) or Section L.7 Technical Proposal Instructions (pgs. 26&27). Does the Government require a compliance matrix for the technical proposal submission? If so, please advise if it can be provided as an appendix?

Response: The Department does not require a compliance matrix but many contractors find its inclusion useful. The compliance matrix is excluded from the page count.

84. Reference: RFP Section L.7.1 Volume I, Part A Question: Employee Benefits Plan (pg. 26) requires the submission of a “…clear and complete Employee Benefits Plan…” Given the Government is requiring a complete benefits plan rather than a summary of the Offeror’s benefits plan, will the Government exclude pages associated with the Offeror’s Employee Benefits Plan from the page count limitation and incorporate Employee Benefits Plan in Section L.6.1.4?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section L. The page count has been increased.

85. Reference: RFP Section M.5 Evaluation Factors Question: Technical Evaluation Factor 1: Employee Benefits Plan table (pgs. 30-31) indicates an asterisk (*) next to the following benefits: health insurance, vision, dental, short term disability, and long term disability. An explanation for the asterisk (*) was not provided. Please provide clarification as to why these benefits are asterisked.

Response: Refer to the Q33 response

86. Reference: None Provided Question: Is there a page limitation for resumes and can the government exclude resumes from the page count?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP. Resumes are included in the page limitations.

87. Reference: None Provided Question: Can the government exclude the proof of facility clearance from the page count and allow it to be included as an appendix since the verification page can consume ½ to one full page?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP. Proof of facility clearance is included in the page limitations.

88. Reference: Section M.5 Evaluations Question: Section M.5 Evaluations Factors designates the following: “Employer share of premiums shall be 80% or better for the employee; 70% or better for the Employee plus one and the Family”. The government minimum employee benefit plan requirements exceed the federally mandated Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements on an LPTA proposal. In light of the fact that this is an LPTA evaluated proposal would the government consider modifying the minimum requirement to be consistent with the ACA minimum requirement?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements. Currently, the Department’s Professional Employee Service contract employees receive an employee benefit package that is equal or better than the listed minimum mandatory requirements.

89. Reference: RFP Page 30, Section M5 Technical Evaluation Factors. Technical Evaluation Factor 1 Question: Technical Evaluation Factor1: Employee Benefits Plan, indicates M.5 Evaluation Factors under Health Insurance indicates that the Employer share of premiums shall be 80% or better for the employee; 70% or better for the Employee plus one and the family, Question: Does this mean that the offeror must provide this percentage for all levels of plans or just for their primary plan?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

90. Reference: RFP Page 30, Section M5 Technical Evaluation Factors. Technical Evaluation Factor 1 Question: Employee Benefits Plan, states: Health Insurance: The employer’s health insurance plan shall be compliant with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and offer Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum Health Care packages to the employee.

Question: In many cases, it is extremely costly for small businesses to offer multiple plans and will be penalized for offering platinum plans and for non-subsidy employees going to the exchange. Is it the Government's intention that an offeror must offer 4 plans, one at each level?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

91. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (*HEALTH INSURANCE) We have been informed by our insurance vendor that insurance companies will not provide multiple plan types to small and medium size companies and that only the very largest of companies with thousands of employees qualify to have multiple plan types. Can you please clarify the statement that “The employer’s health plan shall be compliant with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and offer Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Health Care packages to the employees.” Does the minimum requirement require that an employer’s health plan be compliant with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and offer one of either a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum Health Care package to the employees?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

92. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: M.5 EVALUATION FACTORS (*HEALTH INSURANCE) Please clarify the following statement “Health insurance begins the 1st day of the month following the month of employment”. Does the minimum requirement require that health insurance begins the 1st day of the month after a month (30 days) of employment? If not, please clarify the minimum requirement. For example if a person begins working on the 15th of June would the minimum requirement require that health insurance be available on July 1st or August 1st of the same year?

Response: July 1st. No further action is required.

93. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: M.5 EVALUATION FACTORS (*VISION) Please clarify the minimum required waiting period for vision insurance eligibility?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

94. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (*VISION) What is the minimum requirement for “employer share of premiums” paid toward vision health insurance?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

95. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (*DENTAL) Please specify minimum requirements for a “High Option” plan.

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

96. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (*DENTAL) Please specify minimum requirements for a “Low Option” plan.

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

97. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (*DENTAL) If a company only has one type of Dental policy currently, and since there are several expenses associated with establishing a second policy type, will a company be able to establish the second policy to meet the “High” and “Low” requirements after award or does an employer have to have both a “High” and “Low” option plan in place at time of proposal submission?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

98. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (*DENTAL) In the event insurance companies will not write two different types of dental policies for a small business due to low enrollment numbers can an employer offer a supplemental dental reimbursement policy which is paid directly to the employee to compensate for the difference between a low and high policy to meet the minimum requirements?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

99. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (*DENTAL) What is the minimum requirement for “employer share of premiums” paid toward dental insurance?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

100. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (*SHORT TERM DISABILITY) What is the minimum requirement for “employer share of premiums” paid toward short term disability insurance?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

101. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (*SHORT TERM DISABILITY) - If a company does not currently offer short term disability to employees does the company have to purchase a policy prior to submission of its proposal or, since additional insurance is expensive to obtain, will a company be allowed to purchase a policy after award?

Response: The benefit must exist at time of proposal submission.

102. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (*LONG TERM DISABILITY) - What is the minimum requirement for “employer share of premiums” paid toward long term disability insurance?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

103. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (*LONG TERM DISABILITY) - If a company does not currently offer long term disability to employees does the company have to purchase a policy prior to submission of its proposal or, since additional insurance is expensive to obtain, will a company be allowed to purchase a policy after award?

Response: The benefit must exist at time of proposal submission.

104. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: M.5 EVALUATION FACTORS (401K) - Does a “Matching/Employer Contribution – Discretionary Year-End Match” which is based on an amount, if any, equal to a percentage of elective deferrals which the employer will determine each year meet the defined minimum matching contribution requirements?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

105. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: Is there a minimum requirement for the employer 401K minimum matching contribution? If so, what is the minimum matching contribution amount?

Response: Yes, refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

106. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (401K) – If a company does not currently offer a fixed 401k matching contribution does the company need to change its current 401k plan to conform to the requirements prior to submission of its proposal or will a company be allowed to change its 401k plan to conform to the minimum requirements after award?

Response: The benefit must exist at time of proposal submission.

107. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (Life Insurance) - Is there a minimum requirement for the amount of life insurance offered to employees?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

108. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (Life Insurance) – Is there an employer share of premiums minimum requirement for Life insurance?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

109. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (Tuition Reimbursement) – Is there a minimum reimbursement requirement for the employer as a “Tuition Reimbursement” bonus?

Response: No minimum requirement.

110. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (Commuter Reimbursement Savings Account) – In addition to offering a “Commuter Reimbursement Savings Account” are there any other minimum requirements?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

111. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (Spot Bonus) – Is there a minimum requirement for a “Spot Bonus” plan?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

112. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (Parking Reimbursement) – Is there a minimum requirement for the employer to contribute toward a “Parking Reimbursement” benefit?

Response: Refer to Amendment 1 to the RFP and RFP Section M.5 for changes to requirements.

113. Reference: M5 Technical Evaluation Factors.

Question: (Dependent Care) – Is there a minimum requirement for the employer to contribute toward a “Dependent Care”…