RFP_Q A_9june2014.pdf

Q&A UPDATED 9 JUNE 2014

1. Page 27 states that the preferred method of submitting proposals is via email. Page 29 (Section 3.2) states that we should provide two CDs, one with a complete proposal including all four volumes, and one with only Volume II with no company identifying information. If we submit via email, please confirm our assumption that we should submit all four volumes in a zipped file, and then send a second email with the Volume II that has no company identifying information. If we submit via email, does SBA also want us to separately deliver two CDs?

The requirement for email submissions was an oversight and has been deleted. All proposals shall be submitted as instructed in the amended solicitation, Section L, Proposal Preparation Instructions.

2. Do the cover page and the table of contents count against the 15-page limit for Volume II— Technical Approach?

No

3. Page 28, Section 3.1, states that the proposal shall consist of three (4) volumes. We assume that you mean four (4) volumes.

Yes, error has been corrected.

4. Page 30, Section 3.7, seems to indicate that Volume II—Technical Proposal will provide the offeror’s management approach to this contract (Section 3.7.4), rather than a technical approach to the work assignments that might be expected to be issued under this contract. However, page 33 describes Factor 1 of the evaluation criteria as the Technical Approach to the Project, and the accompanying paragraph implies that we should include both a technical approach and a management approach to this contract in Volume II. Table A-1 on page 34 refers only to the offeror’s technical approach. Please clarify what should be included in Volume II.

Title has been changed to match Factor 1 eval criteria listed in Section M. This paragraph is for instruction purposes only on how to organize volume II.

5. The discussion of Factor 1 on page 30 (Section 3.7.4) and page 33 states that offerors should identify any partner or subcontractor involvement and describe the relevant authorities within the organization. However, as noted above, page 29, Section 3.2, states that one version of Volume II to be submitted should include no company identifying information. Our management approach typically names key staff and proposed roles in the contract, as well as the names of our subcontractors. Is it intended that the version of Volume II without the company identifying information be a redacted version of the original Volume II, or do we need to omit all of this identifying information from the volume? If the latter, we assume that we would omit the names of key staff and simply discuss them by proposed role, but how should partners/subcontractors be identified?

The requirement for no company identifying information has been removed.

6. Page 34 includes evaluation criteria for Factor 2—Personnel Experience. However, the instructions do not address personnel. Should our personnel experience and resumes be contained in Volume III of our proposal?

Criteria for resumes have been added to section M.

7. Paragraph B2 states the minimum obligation shall be $5,000 per award. On page 12, under FAR Clause 52.216-19 – Order Limitations, para. (c), it states the minimum order is $2,500. Please clarify the correct minimum order value.

52.216-19 identifies some obligations that neither the Government, nor the awardee, is required to perform.

The $2500 amount referenced on Page 12, Clause 52.216-19 is for the purpose of complying with the Service Contract Act (SCA) and is not intended to obligate the Government to any minimum order amount under this effort. The SCA states any service contract for an amount of $2500 or greater is subject to the Act. For the purposes of this IDIQ, should the Government have a requirement with an estimate amount below the $2500 threshold; performance of services can be sought outside the scope of this contract through other means.

8. Paragraph B2 states the aggregate not-to-exceed value of contracts to be awarded is $250,000. On page 13, under FAR Clause 52.216-19 – Order Limitations, para. (b)(2), it states the combination of items will not exceed $100,000. . Please clarify the correct aggregate order value.

$250,000 is the estimated NTE for the life of the IDIQ plus 4 option periods should they be exercised.

52.216-19 (b) (1 & 2) apply to the current year the contract is active meaning the Contractor is not obligated to accept orders exceeding these terms.

9. Clauses incorporated by Full Text, pg. 12, FAR Clause 52.216-18 (Ordering) lists orders issued from 1 June 2014. Is this correct since proposals are not due until 17 June 2014.

The dates will be updated once award is made.

10. Section L, Proposal Preparation Instructions, para. 3.2, pg. 29 states two versions of the Technical Proposal are required: one of these is to have “ABSOLUTELY NO COMPANY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION.” This will be the only one evaluated. Please clarify how acceptable Technical Proposals will be attributed to companies if there is no identifying information. Was this intended to be “no price information” to be included in volume 2?

The requirement for no company identifying information has been removed and no second is required.

11. Page 29 of the solicitation states that all proposal pages must identify the complete company name via headers/footers. However, earlier on this page, SBA states that no identifying company information is to be provided in Volume II - Technical Approach. Please clarify whether SBA is okay with removing company information from the header/footer of each page of this volume of the proposal.

The requirement for no company identifying information has been removed.

12. The table on page 29 of the solicitation lists two sections under Volume IV - Price. The second section is the Price Matrix (Attachment B). Is there some specific type of information that SBA is requesting be included in proposals with respect to the first listed section ("a. Section B")?

This is optional for any additional pricing information interested parties would like to provide should they feel it is a necessary part of their proposal aside from the price matrix.

13. Page 30 of the solicitation provides an outline of the sections to be included in Volume II (Technical Proposal). Should this Volume be limited to these sections or would SBA not have objection to proposers including additional sections beyond those listed in the solicitation (i.e.,

3.7.1 through 3.7.4)?

As long as the applicable page limits are not exceeded.

14. Section L, 1.5 states that “Offerors are cautioned not to alter of disassemble the solicitation,” but Section L 3.3 requires that some portions of the solicitation be included in Volume 1 (e.g., SF33 and Provisions) and others in Volume IV (e.g., Section B). How is this to be accomplished without disassembling the solicitation?

This statement is intended as a recommendation to interested parties to keep the solicitation documents in order for readability purposes and to ensure any information required to be submitted is not missed. Amendments may apply to this solicitation which require acknowledgement from interested parties.