amendment_001.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

Continuation Page

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Continued from Block 14...

The due date for proposals remains unchanged.

Attachment Page

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Question 1: Who is the incumbent for the current program?

Response 1: Per the solicitation, there is no incumbent for this statement of work.

Question 2: Who is the incumbent for the ExportTech program?

Response 2: Stone & Associates, LLC.

Question 3: Which contractor, if any, has supported the development of the Next

Generation Strategy?

Response 3: MEP did not have Contractor support for the development of the

Next Generation Strategy.

Question 4: What is the anticipated budget for this program over the five years?

Response 4: Reference Section B of the request for proposal.

Question 5: The Task Order for Lean Product Development references working on-site at up to 10 MEP Centers. For budgeting reasons, and so the government receives consistent pricing for this component from all bidders, can the government provide the location of the 10 centers they would like visited so that bidders can provide more accurate and realistic pricing?

Response 5: Offerors shall assume visiting 2 MEP Center in each of MEP’s current regions (Pacific Northwest including Hawaii & Alaska, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast including Puerto Rico)

Question 6: The Task Order for the ExportTech Program references working on-site at up to 18 seminars assuming 3-4 in each of the regions. For budgeting purposes, and so the government receives consistent pricing for this component from all bidders, can the government provide the location of the 18 seminars so that bidders can provide more accurate and realistic pricing?

Response 6: Reference the answer to question #5. Offerors shall assume 3-4 per region.

Question 7: The Task Order for the ExportTech Program references participating in a foreign trade related mission. For budgeting purposes, and so the government receives consistent pricing for this component from all bidders, can the government provide a sample location for the trade mission so that bidders can provide more accurate and realistic pricing?

Response 7: Over the last three years trade missions have been to the following

Locations; Southeast Asia, Brazil, and Turkey.

Question 8: I noticed one other issue when truying to go to a link in the RFP

(iv) The Service Contract Act does not cover bona fide executive, administrative, or professional employees. If Contractor employees performing under this requirement fall within this exemption, offerors must state the applicable exemption. Reference Fact Sheet 17a at http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/fairpay/fs17a. Offerors must submit the applicable wage determination for those labor categories covered under the Service Contract Act.

I also was not able to search for Reference Fact Sheet 17a – when

I type it into the search function it results in a blank page. I am not sure yet if this will apply to our firm but wanted to at least look at the document.

Response 8: Fact Sheet 17a has been attached.

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Question 9: In the Statement of Work on Page 12, #2, (c) reference is made to:

Selling and marketing strategies, development and support services to existing strategies being developed; Can you elaborate? Is this contributing new strategies to the existing strategies, or assisting in the marketing of those strategies under development?

Response 9: The Contractor will support developing marketing strategies for MEP’s current strategic areas (included in MEP’s Next Generation strategy document http://www.nist.gov/mep/upload/MEP_NextGenStrategy-2.pdf)

Over time, the next generation strategy document may change to include more appropriate focus areas and NIST MEP will require assistance in developing marketing strategies for those future focus areas. Both examples are correct.

Question 10: Page 12, #2, (d) reference is made to managing a collaboration tool for the MEP center… Are you currently using a tool or tools? If so, what are they? If not, is there a preference for a specific type of tool?

Response 10: Yes, NIST MEP has a collaboration tool which allows for various internal and external communities to collaborate, share documents, host discussions, etc and will need continued support. Currently, NIST MEP has a subscription to a GovDelivery collaboration tool.

Question 11: This RFP says there is no incumbent contractor. How has MEP performed these types of services to date?

Response 11: Some of the services are completely new & have not been performed at all and other aspects have been performed by internal staff or other

Contractors utilizing existing IDIQ and BPA contracts.

Question 12: How do the 60 MEP centers currently coordinate activities like seminars and training with the national office? Is there any coordination between MEP centers in contiguous states, or is each state acting largely independent of its neighbors?

Response 12: Training and seminars could be done in multiple ways (1) There are training and seminar events that NIST MEP coordinates at a national level – i.e., working group meetings, annual or quarterly events. We would require contractor support in coordinating the logistics of the events and collecting registration fees (2) Based on specific topic, contractor may work with local MEP centers to coordinate events in specific states (i.e., ExporTech).

Question 13: Can you elaborate on the expectations of the successful contractor in the Evaluation and Assessment of Projects and Programs, Page 13, #5?

Response 13: This task involves delivering various reports, research and/or market analysis on distinct topics that usually require on-time delivery of expert level knowledge on short-term projects (less than one year) with deliverables that have very quick turnarounds (days/weeks after award date).

Question 14: Reference is made to the possibility of on-site work at MEP headquarters in Maryland. Is there any estimate of how many hours annually would be necessary? Does the requirement for some on-site work disadvantage bidders not located in Maryland?

Response 14: On-site work will be identified in individual task order. On average about 100 hours annually (one day a month or a few consecutive days per year). There is no disadvantage to bidders not located in Maryland. On-site work will typically be required for project status meetings, working group meetings, etc.

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Question 15: Mock Task Order I calls for coaching resources to support Growth and

Technology Services. Specific support tasks include, assisting centers market, sell or deliver Lean Product Development Services to their manufacturing clients. To be clear, is MEP seeking assistance in marketing and coordinating the programs and services offered at the local center, or is it looking for qualified Lean Product Development trainers, or both?

Response 15: Both. MEP is seeking integrated support resources capable of marketing

(as outreach and awareness), selling and delivering Lean Product

Development services within the center as well as a qualified Lean

Product Development trainer(s).

Question 16: Having worked for other government contracts in the past, we know that there is often a fee cap based upon the qualifications and seniority of the consultants….I am wondering if you could tell me what NIST would cap its fees at.

Response 16: NIST will not provide a cap for professional fees. Proposed labor rates will be evaluated for reasonableness and realism based on the experience and expertise of the proposed personnel.

Descript: The above referenced solicitation is hereby amended to respond to questions submitted.

Reference the attached pages for questions and responses.

...See Continuation Page

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