QA_FN_FASB_Contract_8_14_15.docx

SB1341-15-RQ-0796, Amendment 1

1) Is this a new requirement?

Answer: Yes, this is a new requirement.

2) Who is the current incumbent providing this service?

Answer: None – this is a new requirement.

3) What is the contract number for the current incumbent?

Answer: None – this is a new requirement.

4) What is the estimated value of this project from NIST perspective?

Answer: This is procurement sensitive information not approved for public release.

5) About how many hours does the NIST have budgeted for this project?

Answer: This is procurement sensitive information not approved for public release.

6) What is the period of performance? In other words when does this contract end?

Answer: The period of performance is from award through 3/31/2016.

7) At item # 8 on the Statement of Work, under Government Provided Space, it states that the Government will not provide the contractor work space. Is the contractor to perform all work from contractor’s office and just come to NIST office for the occasional meeting?

Answer: Yes, per the Statement of Work, “The Government will not furnish the Contractor with phone services or work space. The contractor will have access to NIST – Gaithersburg and HCHB, 1401 Constitution Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C., for occasional meetings with NIST or the FirstNet staff. Local travel costs will be reimbursed in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations.”

8) Can you provide a copy of the FY 2014 Financial statement of NIST?

Answer: This contract is to support NIST with the preparation of the standalone FY15 statements of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), an independent authority within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). NIST’s financial statement is irrelevant to this requirement, however, the following link will direct you to the FirstNet FY 2014 FASB financial statement:

http://www.firstnet.gov/sites/default/files/FirstNet%20Financial%20Report%20FY%202014%20%28includes%20IAR%29.pdf

9) Prior to FY 2015, was the NIST financial statement prepared based on Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB)?

Answer: FirstNet's stand-alone statements were prepared under Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) accounting standards and guidance. FirstNet is also reported under NTIA FASAB statements. Please see the Statement of Work for the specific financial statement preparation requirements, specifically Section 3 paragraphs (d) and (e).

10) The local travel costs to be reimbursed, is it for local travels to and from NIST office? Or is it for local travels elsewhere.

Answer: Local travel expenses (i.e., within the local commuting area) will be reimbursed when contractor employee travel is required for meetings at NIST Gaithersburg or HCHB in Washington, DC.

11) When does NIST anticipate making the Award? What date does NIST anticipate making the award?

Answer: NIST anticipates making the award on or before September 23, 2015.

12) Has a contractor performed similar work to this for the government in the past?

Answer: A contractor has not performed this work in the past, as this is a new requirement. Contractor support has been utilized to assist in the preparation of FASB standalone financial statements for FirstNet, however, the current scope of work is substantially different due to the FASAB analysis required.

13) Based by on the NAICS Code, does the prime offeror have to be licensed CPA firm? Does its teaming partner have to be licensed CPA firm?

Answer: The NAICS code has been revised to 541219 – Other Accounting Services. No corporate-level CPA certification is required. CPA and non-CPA firms are both eligible for award, assuming that the minimum qualifications of the Statement of Work are met. The small business size standard remains unchanged.

14) Contract period: How many months?

Answer: The period of performance is from award through 3/31/2016.

15) Statement of Work, 4. B) A firm-fixed-price quotation to complete the required services of the SOW. The price quotation shall contain a breakdown of the labor mix by labor category and estimated quantity of labor hours. Since this is a new requirement, we do not have sufficient information to prepare a competitive FFP quote. Would the government be able to provide the number of FTEs by labor category?

Answer: The Government is not willing to provide the number of FTEs by labor category, as the Contractor is responsible for determining a labor mix appropriate for the current requirements. The FY 14 Financial Statement is available as a reference (see Answer to Question 8). For additional information regarding the FY 2015 budget, please see http://www.firstnet.gov/sites/default/files/finance-committee-firstnet-fiscal-year-2015-budget-proposal_0.pdf

16) The work is being performed at the contractor's facility. How does the contractor receive the information?

Answer: The Contractor will receive information from the Government through email, telephone communication, and occasional meetings at NIST Gaithersburg and/or HCHB, Washington DC.

17) Responding to the quote. Is there a format that the government want the offeror to use? (font, page limitation etc) Answer: Yes. The solicitation has been revised to implement a total page limitation of 20 pages. Disclosures required by applicable clauses, such as FAR 52.212-3, do not count towards the page limitation.

18) Based on the magnitude of this requirement, would the government consider the CPA license a requirement for the key personnel.

Answer: A CPA license is Preferred, but not Required, for Key Personnel.