Amendment 002.pdf

NSN 7540-01-152-8070 STANDARD FORM 30. (Rev. 10-83) Previous Edition unusable Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Page of Pages AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1. Contract ID Code

2. AMENDMENT MODIFICATION NO. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (if applicable)

6. ISSUED BY CODE 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than item 6) CODE

(x) 9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (NO., Street, Country, State and ZIP Code)

CODE FACILITY CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of offers is extended, is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing items 8 and 15, and returning ______ copies of amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OR OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment your desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

Check One

A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE

CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return _______ copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible)

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

15C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

16C. DATE SIGNED

Attachment Page

PAGE 2 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

The purpose of this amendment is to hereby respond to technical questions submitted and amend Section B.2 – Labor Categories.

1) Technical questions and responses are hereby provided:

QUESTION #1: Are we to submit along with our response a proposal for the mock task order associated with ITL or MML, based on which we’re responding to?

RESPONSE #1: Responses must be provided for both mock task orders. Offerors are required to complete all work under this contract.

QUESTION #2: Is it intended to submit to one or both of the mock orders?

RESPONSE #2: Please see Response #1.

QUESTION #3: Can we re-use previously submitted “Past Performance” entries from a prior NIST solicitation?

RESPONSE #3: Please reference Section L of the solicitation for the documentation that must be submitted for Past Performance. References will be contacted during the evaluation process.

QUESTION #4: Is there an incumbent for this work? If so, who is it?

RESPONSE #4: There is no incumbent Contractor for this statement of work.

QUESTION #5: The first item in the “Go/No Go Criteria” specifies expertise and experience in managing data and information specifically in the physical sciences. Can we use our expertise/experience in the biological sciences to meet this criterion?

PAGE 3 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

RESPONSE #5: Expertise in one of the physical sciences (e.g., chemistry, physics, materials, mathematics, earth sciences, and the related engineering fields) is required.

QUESTION #6: Can we do one of the mock task orders (for example the HL7 task order) and focus on the ITL related bio-science/healthcare IT work? Or the proposal should address both MML and ITL mock task orders?

RESPONSE #6: Please see Response #1.

QUESTION #7: Are Department of Energy National Laboratories eligible to team with a proposer under this solicitation?

RESPONSE #7: The solicitation is 100% set-aside for small business and the limitation in subcontracting clause applies. The Government cannot comment on who an offeror can subcontract with.

QUESTION #8: Specialized Experience for Levels III through V: Only Level V is provided. Please clarify.

RESPONSE #8: Section C, Page 19 states Specialized Experience for Levels III, IV and V.

QUESTION #9: The number of Past Performance references is not provided. How many are required?

RESPONSE #9: There is no required number of references for Past Performance.

QUESTION #10: Is a resume only required for the Senior Program Manager?

RESPONSE #10: Please reference Section L.9 Proposal Preparation, Volume III Technical Proposal, For the purpose of evaluation of Personnel.

PAGE 4 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

QUESTION #11: Who is the incumbent?

RESPONSE #11: Please see Response #4.

QUESTION #12: Section B, Labor Categories identifies a single rate for Computer Scientist/Engineer/Data Scientist. Section C, 14. Personnel Qualifications (Page 18 of 58), notes Computer Scientist, Engineer, and Data Scientist are intended as three different labor categories. Please clarify that a single rate is meant to cover all 3 labor categories, i.e., Computer Scientist Level I is the same as an Engineer Level I is the same as a Data Scientist Level I?

RESPONSE #12: Section B has been amended to separate each of these labor categories. The Government does not intend one rate for all three labor categories.

QUESTION #13: Section C, 9. Place of Performance, (Page 16 of 58) indicates work may be performed at Contractor site or on-site at NIST. Please clarify if the Government requires both on-site (Government location) rates and off-site (Contract location) rates.

RESPONSE #13: Rates must be proposed by the offeror in accordance with their accounting system. Task orders will include on-site and off-site work.

QUESTION #14: Section C, Personnel Qualifications (Page 18 of 58) denotes the Senior Program Manager as the only Key Personnel. Section L, Page 54 of 58, notes that for purpose of evaluation of Personnel, description of projects proposed Level IV and V have performed in the past 3 years…” Please clarify if the Level IV and V is referring to staff for the mock task orders?

RESPONSE #14: Level IV and V refer to proposed personnel over the life of the contract; not just the mock task orders. In addition, Level IV and V refer to projects that have been performed in the past three (3) years that demonstrates experience and expertise within their proposed roles appropriate to IT models, IT standard reference implementations, IT tools, standard reference database applications pertaining to physical sciences, and archival projects pertaining to physical sciences. This information is not limited to the mock task orders.

QUESTION #15: Section L, Page 54 of 58 notes that resumes of proposed personnel for each Government-provided labor category must be submitted. As noted, the Government has identified Computer Scientist, Engineer, and Data Scientist as different labor categories, with 5 levels (I-V) each, plus three Technician levels, and the Senior Program Manager, if both labor category and level are considered, this would require 19 resumes to be submitted; although only the Senior Program Manager is denoted as Key. For a small business, this represents a significant number of personnel at the IDIQ level, e.g., before any tasks are competed, please clarify the number of resumes (other than the Senior Program Manager) that are required.

PAGE 5 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

RESPONSE #15: Please see Response #10.

QUESTION #16: Section M, Factor C Personnel references the “Project Manager”. Is this the Senior Program Manager?

RESPONSE #16: Yes, this should read Senior Program Manager.

QUESTION #17: Section M, Factor C Personnel, references “proposed personnel and Levels IV and V”—is the Government requesting resumes as part of the mock task order response? If yes, are Level IV and Level IV the only labor category levels the Government will accept for performance of the mock task order?

RESPONSE #17: Please reference Section L of the solicitation and responses to questions herein for the documentation that must be submitted for Personnel.

QUESTION #18: Section L, Page 52 of 58, the Government has requested five

(5) copies of the technical and cost proposal and one copy of the business proposal. How many copies of Volume II--Go/No Go would the Government like?

RESPONSE #18: Five (5) copies of Volume II – Go/No Go are required.

QUESTION #19: Is there a page limit on Volume I Business Proposal? If yes, does the cover page and table of contents count in the page limit?

RESPONSE #19: There is no page limit required for Volume I – Business Proposal.

QUESTION #20: For Volume II Go/No Go, would a cover page and a table of contents be counted in the ten page limit?

RESPONSE #20: No, cover page and table of contents are not included in the ten page limit.

QUESTION #21: For Volume III Technical Proposal; is the cover page, table of contents, list of tables and figures included or excluded from the twenty-give page limit?

RESPONSE #21: Named documents are excluded from the page limit.

QUESTION #22: Section L, Page 55 of 58, notes that “Offerors must submit the applicable wage determination for those labor categories covered under the Service Contract Act.” Is the Technical Level I, the only Government identified technician labor category that is covered under a wage determination labor category?

PAGE 6 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

RESPONSE #22: Offerors are required to submit a wage determination for any labor categories that are paid under the Service Contract Act in accordance with their accounting system. The Government has not identified positions that are or may be covered by the Act.

QUESTION #23: Section C, Page 18 of 58 indicates that the Senior Program Manager must have a Ph.D. or Master’s from a nationally recognized/certified program. Does ‘national’ refer just to the United States?

RESPONSE #23: “National” refers to the United States.

QUESTION #24: Does the Government anticipate as part of the IDIQ award, task order awards will also be made based upon the response to the Mock Task Orders?

RESPONSE #24: The solicitation provides that the mock task orders will not result in actual awards.

QUESTION #25: For the mock task orders, are there currently incumbent staff performing this work? If yes, will transition be required?

RESPONSE #25: Please see Responses #4 and #24.

QUESTION #26: The delivery address given on the SF 33 Block 8 is:

NATIONAL INST OF STDS AND TECHNOLOGY

100 BUREAU DRIVE STOP 1640

BUILDING 301 ROOM B129

GAITHERSBURG MD 20899-1640

And is stated as in the depository located in 100 Bureau Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20899 in Block 9

But, it is specified as:

Proposals must be submitted so that they are received at the following address:

Joshua Holliday

NIST

Building 301, Room B152 100 Bureau Drive Stop 1640 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1640

Could you please clarify to where submissions should be addressed?

RESPONSE #26: Proposals must be submitted to Joshua Holliday at the following address:

NIST

100 Bureau Drive Stop 1640

PAGE 7 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1640

QUESTION #27: Section L.9, Proposal Preparation, (a) Page 52. Please confirm how many copies (in addition to one original) of Volume II go/no go should be prepared and submitted?

RESPONSE #27: Please see Response #18.

QUESTION #28: Section L.9, (b) Overall Arrangement of Proposal, (2) Volume II Go/No Go, Page 53. What specific documentation does NIST want to “clearly and explicitly” demonstrate experience and expertise?

RESPONSE #28: The documentation submitted is at the discretion of the offeror, however, must clearly and explicitly demonstrate all required experience and expertise.

QUESTION #29: Section L.9, (b) Overall Arrangement of Proposal, (3) Volume III Technical Proposal (A) Page 53. Are cover letters, cover sheets, tables of contents, list of tables and figures, indexes/cross references and tabs, counted against the page counts for this volume?

RESPONSE #29: Please see Response #21.

QUESTION #30: Section L.9, (b) Overall Arrangement of Proposal, (4) Volume IV Price Proposal Page 54. Is there a page limit on Volume 4, and what is excluded from the page limit?

RESPONSE #30: There is no page limit required for Volume IV – Price Proposal.

QUESTION #31: Section B.2 Labor Categories, Page 7. Would it be possible to present a range for each labor category, (Excluding the Key Personnel)? The differences between a computer scientist, Engineer or Data Scientist can vary greatly depending on numerous factors. These really are three distinctly different labor categories and wage scales vary greatly within these categories as defined. This may be beneficial to the Government for the contractor to work within a range as opposed to a single fixed rate for each category, e.g. a low and high range for the five scientific and three technician labor categories defined.

PAGE 8 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

RESPONSE #31: Please see Response #12.

QUESTION #32: Section M.3 Evaluation Criteria, (b.) Best Value, Page 57.

Please clarify how the weighting of non-price factors is being considered.

The last sentence of the Third Paragraph beginning in “Past Performance shall be…..” is confusing.

RESPONSE #32: It is the Government’s position that the language in Section M is self-explanatory.

QUESTION #33: Section L.9, (b) Overall Arrangement of Proposal, (3) Volume III Technical Proposal, (C), Page 54. In the section discussing past performance, the second paragraph on Page 54, item (ii) requests resumes of proposed personnel for each government labor category. Section C.14.2 (pg.

18) identifies three distinct labor categories (Computer Scientist/Engineer/Data Scientist) at five levels creating effectively 15 labor categories, in addition to the Senior Program Manager and three Technician labor categories, totals 19 Labor Categories. This is not identified elsewhere and they are not Key Personnel. Particularly for Scientists and technicians, this seems to create a hardship for small businesses. As small businesses, most companies do not bench scientists and technicians with these particular skill sets while awaiting the next competitive proposal. Additionally, Individual task orders are going to have distinct personnel requirements. As the successful vendors reply to task orders, they are going to have to provide resumes for the task order’s key personnel and be evaluated then. Can this requirement be stricken? As there are no task orders to currently fill (two MOCK task orders were included in the RFP), can we only submit the resume of the Key Personnel? Would this requirement be better evaluated on the ability of offerors to recruit and retain for specific task orders rather than define who they currently staff (as will be demonstrated in the past performance citations)? If yes, can the page limit be expanded to allow for the resulting explanation? If the Government decides to keep this requirement please clarify and expand on the intent of this requirement.

RESPONSE #33: The requirement cannot be stricken. The successful offeror(s) must have access to the required labor categories to successfully complete future task order requirements. The Government has to be able to determine that offerors have relationships with and can hire or contract with employees, consultants and/or subcontractors with the required qualifications over the life of the contract.

PAGE 9 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

QUESTION #34: Section L.9, (b) Overall Arrangement of Proposal, (3) Volume III Technical Proposal, (C), Page 54. In the section discussing past performance, the second paragraph on Page 54, item (iv) in the same paragraph requests “Commitments of proposed personnel……” On the same lines of thought as the questions above, because a contractor has these people on staff, does not imply we would use these people for a particular task order. We would not know that until we had a chance to review the task order and the specific requirements, staffing plan, etc. Can this requirement be stricken? If not, please explain the intent of requesting commitments of current staff for future task orders not defined.

RESPONSE #34: Please see Response #33.

QUESTION #35: Section L.9, (b) Overall Arrangement of Proposal, (3) Volume III Technical Proposal, (C), Page 54. In the section discussing past performance, the second paragraph on Page 54, item (iii) requests resumes of proposed personnel for each government category. If required, are these resumes excluded from the page count also?

RESPONSE #35: Yes, resumes are excluded from the 25 page limit.

QUESTION #36: Section L.9, (4) (A) (ii) Page 55. Stated the offeror must have the financial capacity, working capital, etc. but does not say how the Government wants it demonstrated. Please clarify.

RESPONSE #36: The Government will evaluate in accordance with FAR Part 9.

QUESTION #37: Section L.3.C (Pg. 54, 55). How many projects must be submitted for the experience and past performance requirement?

RESPONSE #37: There is no required number of projects and/or references for Experience or Past Performance.

PAGE 10 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

QUESTION #38: Attachment V – MML Mock Task Order –Deliverables for Task 1 “100-120 electronic records every and 1 report every 3 months” (sic) please clarify deliverables frequency for the 100-120 electronic records.

RESPONSE #38: The Contractor shall abstract information from 100-120 articles and provide a summary report (using the template included in the mock task order) every three (3) months. This means that 400-480 articles shall be abstracted and summarized in four (4) reports throughout the performance of the mock task order.

QUESTION #39: Please define the periods of performance in Section F, Page 22.

RESPONSE #39: The period of performance is a period of one year with four one year option periods. The exact periods will be defined at the time of award.

QUESTION #40: Reference C.1, 5., 3. Page 13. Is the Program Manager required to be on-site or off site (NIST)?

RESPONSE #40: The Contractor shall use their own judgment to determine when the Program Manager is required to be on-site at the NIST campus and/or off-site (Contractor’s facility).

QUESTION #41: Reference B.2, Labor Category Sr. Program Manager (for base and all option years) and C.1, 5., 3. Page 13. Is the program manager [Key Personnel] billable to the project immediately upon award since he is a defined Labor Category?

RESPONSE #41: Labor associated with the Senior Program Manager shall only be billable via task order awards.

QUESTION #42: Reference Section G.2, page 23, has the COR been identified?

If so can that information be provided?

RESPONSE #42: The COR will be identified at the time of award.

PAGE 11 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

QUESTION #43: Will there be a program level management/technical representative for NIST? If so, can the position and contact be identified?

This question is not referring to the individual technical representatives that will be identified on the task order level rather a single POC on the program level.

RESPONSE #43: Please see Response #42.

QUESTION #44: Reference Section G.3, Page 23, is this contract designated a high or moderate risk contract?

RESPONSE #44: The base contract does not have a risk assessment. Risk assessments will be identified with each task order. Work under this base contract may be assessed as low, moderate or high.

QUESTION #45: What is the security designation of this contract?

RESPONSE #45: It is not clear what is meant by the term “security designation.”

QUESTION #46: Questions from proposed offerors are due two weeks form the proposal due date. Allowing the Government adequate time to respond and post questions may leave very little time between the forthcoming amendment answering questions and the advertised due date of 4-27-12. Can the due date be extended beyond April 27, 2012 to allow for adequate time to review and respond to the forthcoming amendment addressing offerors questions and the Government’s responses?

RESPONSE #46: Please reference Amendment 001.

QUESTION #47: In Section L.9 Proposal Preparation (B) (3) (C) For the Purposes of Evaluation of Personnel (ii) can you clarify the statement “Resumes of proposed personnel for each Government-provided labor category”?

Is this referring to personnel proposed for the Mock Task Orders? Do we need to submit resumes for each of the 20 individual labor categories (Levels I- V)? Or do we need to submit a resume for each of the 5 major labor categories?

RESPONSE #47: Please see Response #33.

PAGE 12 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

QUESTION #48: When completing section B, are the Computer Scientist, Engineer, and Data Scientist all to have the same rate, or are we to separate these out into three distinct labor categories?

RESPONSE #48: Please see Response #12.

QUESTION #49: Is there a particular format the printed proposals need to be in? 3 Ring binders, spiral bound, comb bound, etc.?

RESPONSE #49: If Section L does not specify, there is not a requirement.

2) Section B.2 – Labor Categories is hereby changed as follows:

LABOR CATEGORIES

The Contractor shall provide all labor, equipment, and materials necessary for Information Technology and Database Application Support Services in accordance with Section C – Statement of Work.

Labor categories and rates will be negotiated. The awardee’s final negotiated labor categories and rates will be added to Section B at the time of award.

The Government anticipates the following labor categories will be applicable to this contract. The Contractor shall propose all labor categories applicable to their proposal.

Base Year:

Labor Categories: Rate:

Senior Program Manager – [ Key Personnel }: $__________

Computer Scientist:

PAGE 13 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

Level V $__________

Level IV $__________

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Level I $__________

Engineer:

Level V $__________

Level IV $__________

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Level I $__________

Data Scientist:

Level V $__________

Level IV $__________

PAGE 14 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Level I $__________

Technician:

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Level I $__________

Option Year I:

Senior Program Manager – [ Key Personnel : $__________

Computer Scientist:

Level V $__________

Level IV $__________

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

PAGE 15 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

Level I $__________

Engineer:

Level V $__________

Level IV $__________

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Level I $__________

Data Scientist:

Level V $__________

Level IV $__________

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Level I $__________

Technician:

PAGE 16 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Level I $__________

Option Year II:

Senior Program Manager – [ Key Personnel : $__________

Computer Scientist/Engineer/Data Scientist

Level V $__________

Level IV $__________

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Level I $__________

Engineer:

PAGE 17 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Level I $__________

Data Scientist:

Level V $__________

Level IV $__________

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Level I $__________

Technician:

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Option Year III:

PAGE 18 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

Senior Program Manager – [ Key Personnel ]: $__________

Computer Scientist:

Level V $__________

Level IV $__________

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Level I $__________

Engineer:

Level V $__________

Level IV $__________

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Data Scientist:

PAGE 19 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

Level V $__________

Level IV $__________

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Level I $__________

Technician:

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Level I $__________

Option Year IV:

Senior Program Manager – [ Key Personnel ]: $__________

Computer Scientist:

PAGE 20 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Level I $__________

Engineer:

Level V $__________

Level IV $__________

Level III $__________

Level II $__________

Level I $__________

Data Scientist:

Level V $__________

Level IV $__________

Level III $__________

PAGE 21 OF 21 SB1341-12-RP-0015/002

Level I $__________

Technician:

Level III $__________

100 BUREAU DRIVE STOP 1640

BUILDING 301 ROOM B129

GAITHERSBURG MD 20899-1640