Q A.docx

Question and Answers STEP Financial Examination Services

SBAHQ-16-Q-0039

1. Q. Is this a follow-on requirement? If so, could you please provide the incumbent contract number for this opportunity? If not, is this a new requirement?

A. This is a follow-on requirement previously performed under contract number SBAHQ-15-M-0183 Artery Consulting, LLC

2. Q. The RFP calls for a fixed price quote for the initial Task Order, can you provide more information about the scope of the Task Order: a) This appears to be a quote for 23 Financial Exams plus 25 Response Reviews, is that correct? b) Can you provide information about the scope of prior similar Task Orders: specifically the nature and size of a “State Awardee”

A. See the Statement Of Work: a) up-to-23 financial examinations, plus the up-to-25 reviews; b) See the Statement Of Work

3. Q. What firm is currently supporting this effort?

A. See the answer to question #1

4. Q. Can you expand the page limit for resumes?

A. A one page resume of the proposed senior analyst and analyst shall be included with this technical response.

5. Q. The scope of work calls for financial examinations to be performed in accordance with current cost accounting standards. Are these examinations to be also performed under generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS)? If so, is the selected contractor required to be a certified public accountant or CPA firm?

A. No

6. Q. Can you provide an example (redacted if necessary) of a STEP report previously issued?

A. No.

7. Q. Is there a standard examination guide that SBA requires the contractor to follow? If so can you provide it?

A. No.

8. Q. Will the vendor be paid on a monthly basis?

A. Partial payment will be permitted no more than monthly

9. Q. Is the previous contractor allowed to bid on this opportunity?

A. Yes

10. Q. Is the offeror permitted to use a subcontractor to satisfy the past performance requirement (references) and experience relating to financial examination associated with federal grants and cooperative agreement?

A. No. The Government has no privy of contracting with the subcontractors

11. Q. Should we complete the pricing information on the pricing sheet or submit a separate Excel sheet?

A. Offerors may use another format for submission of quotes. However, all quotes must contain the minimum information required under FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors, Commercial Items (February 2012

12. Q. Would government consider providing the Excel template for pricing?

A. No. See example is RFQ

13. Q. Page 5 of 14: 1st paragraph: “Offeror’s shall also submit a separate price quote for the initial task order effort detailed in the statement of work.” Please clarify the meaning of “Initial Task Order. Does it mean the base year?

A The work described in the statement of work under a task order and will have an 18 month period pf performance. Subsequent task order may be issued under the basic order.

14. Q What is the estimated Level of Effort required for each financial examination/grantee?

A. 99 total hours per financial examination.

15. Q What is the estimated Level of Effort required for each review responses to financial examination recommendations?

A. 9 total hours per review of state’s responses to financial examination.

16. Q What is the estimated Level of Effort required by Labor Category?

A. . For the FinEx, Senior Analyst is 50 hours, and Analyst is 34 hours. For the reviews, Senior Analyst is 7 hours, and Analyst is 2 hours.

17. Q Is this a new solicitation? Did the Government award a contract last year in 2015?

A See the answer to question #1

18. Q Who was the incumbent auditor? What was the fee paid to them?

A See the answer to question #1. The award was issued Firm Fixed Price and a fee is not priced seperatly.

19. Q Was the incumbent awarded the contract with base plus four option years? If so, please state the reasons for not exercising the “option years” with the incumbent

A The incumbent award was a purchase order with a 18 month period of performance with no option periods.

20. Q Can government provide a copy of the report issued by the incumbent or the previous auditor at the time of answering the questions?

A. No.

21. Q Would travel be required to “field locations?” If yes, please specify the locations and the frequency to each location

A. Travel will be required. All locations will be continental U.S. We are planning on 3 on-site financial examinations.

22. Q Does government expect 23 different/individual final reports or it is expecting the summary of 23 examinations in one consolidated final report?

A. We expect a copy of each of the 23 draft reports in the final report, plus an analysis of recommendations from all 23 draft reports.

23. Q Can resumes be excluded from the page limit count?

A See the answer to question #4

24. Q What are the reasons for transitioning from the current awardee to the new contractor?

A The current award will expire and the replacement award must be competed

25. Q Could you confirm the closing time for Q & A regarding the above referenced RFQ

A If you have any questions, please contact Lenny Spakow, Contract Specialist, by e-mail – leonard.spakow@sba.gov before COB May 27, 2016 with RFQ number SBHQ-16Q-0039 in the subject line. A consolidated response will be provided in a solicitation amendment within four business days.