Additional_Questions.docx

Additional Questions & Answers

SBAHQ-16-R-0009

1) Can the government confirm that managing an SBIR/STTR program at any agency for the requisite time will be sufficient experience for the PM and APM?

Answer: Yes, so long as they meet the 8-10 years of experience required.

2) How much travel is anticipated for the PM and APM?

Answer: Some travel is required, to be determined at the task level award order.

3) Can the focused training be delivered virtually/web-based? How many focused trainings does the government anticipate?

Answer: Yes, although some will require in-person coordination as well. The number of trainings will be determined upon issuance of award.

4) Are the 24 webinars included in the focused training above? Is a stand-alone web delivery service (e.g. GoToMeeting, WebEX, etc.) acceptable?

Answer: Yes and Yes

5) How many one-on-ones were done last year? What is the anticipated volume for one on-ones this year?

Answer: From a web-based management learning system perspective, None.

6) Platform:

Is the contractor expected to utilize an existing learning management system or are they expected to provide/build one? How many SBA FTE resources are dedicated to its implementation?

Answer: Provide us your best offer, and there is one current SBA FTE helping manage these types of efforts currently.

7) Usage: What is the current and anticipated number of users? What is the percentage of internal versus external training recipients? How many courses will training recipients be expected to take each year, on average?

Answer: Current system rendering was just launched in July 2016, on SBIR.gov, so the number of users have not been solidified, but we anticipate a system that can handle 500 - 2,000 users a session.

8) What is the current FTE support for Help Desk? What is the anticipated call volume for the Help Desk?

Answer: 1 FTE is utilized for support for our Help Desk. Call volume varies based on timing of the year for when SBIR/STTR funding opportunities are posted as well due. Deadline dates tend to experience a higher volume of calls. Range can be from 15-20 to up to a few hundred inquiries a day.

9) Will this run in SBA’s internal network? What technology (Microsoft, Java, etc.) will this use? Are there any outstanding enhancements that the contractor will have to implement? If so, can the government share them?

Answer: As denoted in the solicitation, the SBIR.gov system is hosted on an external server contract, and built out with Drupal 7 architecture. At this time there are no major outstanding enhancements that the contractor will have to implement, but continual maintenance and updates will be required as disclosed in the specific task order for this RFP.

10) Can the government clarify the difference between Task Areas and Task Orders? The referenced instruction 35 refers to Attachment 2 as containing Task Order 1 and suggests that a response is required for Task Order 1. (Attachment 2 is a Past Performance chart and Attachment 1 contains TO 1.) However, Attachment 1 contains four task orders, and 39.1.1 specifically states that all four task orders are to be addressed in Factor 1. Please confirm that the instruction to address only the first task order is incorrect, and that the government expects a complete proposal covering all four task orders to be submitted under Factor 1.

Answer: The IDIQ contract support includes 4 task areas addressed and desired to have support work done by SBA, and there is a specified Task Order accompanying this IDIQ support contract for each particular tasks that we would like to have worked on and completed over the following year. The instructions detail what you are required to submit in your proposal.

11) Would the Government consider extending the proposal due date by at least one (1) week to allow Offerors adequate time to incorporate the answers to questions into their response?

Answer: No, not at this time.

12) Can the government confirm that Dawnbreaker is eligible to prime this new requirement as a woman-owned small business (WOSB)? Can the government confirm that Dawnbreaker and/or REI Systems developed the existing 52 training modules referred to on page 108?

Answer: All firms’ that meet the WOSB requirements are eligible to submit proposals. SBA developed with assists of the incumbents the training modules referred to in the solicitation.

13) The cover page of the solicitation document is titled Performance Work Statement. Part III beginning on page 6 also is titled Performance Work Statement. In addition, Attachment 1 parallels the content in Part III but with many expanded details. Please confirm that the referenced evaluation factors address the offerors' response to the requirements, deliverables, and management plan for the activities described under Attachment 1.

Answer: Evaluation factors are based on both overall IDIQ Task Areas and the initial Task Order.

14) Can the government clarify minimal refresh? Does this mean that updates will largely involve text changes as opposed to updates to audio or video re-recordings? What is the anticipated volume of minimal refreshes?

Answer: As denoted in the RFP solicitation, twice a year. Updates will require text and at times AV changes based on new updates derived from any programmatic changes. Anticipated volume of minimal refreshes has not been determined at this time.