Question_and_Answers_for_SBIR_SOW_RFP_amend_00001.docx

1. Will a separate RFP be released by SBA through FedBizOpps outlining SBA requirements for Offerors submitting to SBAHQ-16-R-0009 prior to the 1200 EDT 15 Aug 2016 Solicitation closing?

Answer – No. This is a COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION.

2. Are there section requirements and section page count limitations for Offeror's submitted proposals to SBAHQ-16-R-0009?

Answer – See Part V of Solicitation for Instructions to Offerors.

3. Are there Offeror past performance requirements and/or past experience requirements for SBAHQ-16-R-0009? I understand Attachments 2 indicates guidance for Offerors to itemized past performance/past contracts, however, there are no requirements stated that I have identified in order for Offerors to qualify for award.

Answer – See paragraph3 9.1.3. FACTOR 3 -RELEVANT PRIOR EXPERIENCE AND PAST PERFORMANCE of the solicitation for the Factor requirement and how it will be evaluated.

4. Are there Offeror compliance requirements and/or other Offeror requirements not stated in SBA Solicitation SBAHQ-16-R-0009 which would preclude qualification or enable qualification in order to submit to SBAHQ-16-R-0009, which are not stated in the attached documents?

Answer – No – all evaluation factors are listed in the solicitation with how each will be evaluated.

5. Often the above questions are addressed in Sections L & M of Federal RFPs, but I have not been able to locate any guidance for SBAHQ-16-R-0009 which addresses these questions. Any information, insights, or guidance you may have is much appreciated.

Answer: This is a Commercial Requirement and the information required for submittal is located in starting on page 64 titled PART V - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO VENDORS (52.212-1-INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS - COMMERCIAL ITEMS (FEB 2012)

6. Is there a timeline or anticipated date that is releasable when the Amendment is planned to be issued?

Answer: NLT August 5, 2016

7. Are you able to advise if there is an incumbent contractor for this requirement? If so, could you please provide the incumbent contract number for this opportunity? If not, is this a new requirement?

Answer: See Paragraph 36 of the Solicitation HISTORICAL DATA – This is a new requirement, however, there are contractors that are currently performing similar aspects of some of the services described in this solicitation: SBAHQ-12-A-0028, REI Systems, 45335 Vintage Park Plaza, Sterling, VA; SBAHQ-14-F-0127, DAWNBREAKER, INC., 2117 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY

8. Inquiring about the subject solicitation, is there an incumbent for this work, and if so, can you provide the award details?

Answer: See Question and Answer #8 above.

9. As a small business, we frequently respond to SBIR/STTR opportunities. Would supporting this IDIQ contract exclude us from bidding on future SBIRs, or present any OCI issues?

Answer: Yes, supporting this IDIQ would exclude on bidding for future SBIR R&D award grant/contract bids during the course of the support work, as it would present unfair advantage.

10. In section 10 on page 9 of the proposal it indicates that SBA will provide seating for three individuals. However, on page 14, it specifies that SBA will provide four spots and four computers. Please clarify if space and computers will be provided for three or four individuals Answer: The space and computers will be provided for up to four individuals as we deem and see fit best on the level of work and activity required on-site.

11. On page 9 it indicates that “Only a Contractor or Sub-Contractor employee who has completed and passed all clearance requirements can work in the SBA office space and have access to SBA IT systems. “ If an individual has secret clearance will that meet this criterion?

Answer: All SBA contractors and sub-contractors are subject to the SBA Security Clearance processes.

12. On page 16 there are a number of system requirements mentioned which imply that a Learning Management System (LMS) is required. There are a number of vendors that provide such systems and they are priced based on the number of users. Is the anticipation that this capability would be available during the base year? Although it is specified that the system could handle random spikes reaching 2,000 users – How many users should be anticipated during the base and subsequent option years?

Answer: Yes, we anticipate having said system available and/or implantable based on what is conceivably created and utilized during the base and subsequent option years, depending on best proposal submitted forward. We anticipate a system that can handle up-to 2,000 users per session.

13. Part V, 39.1.3 – Factor 3 – The first paragraph in Subfactor B of this paragraph states: “PAST PERFORMANCE - (COMPLETE CHART - NO MORE THAN 150 TOTAL REFERENCES TO INCLUDE PRIME AND SUBS- Attachment 2) NOT PART OF 10 PAGE LIMIT FOR FACTOR 3.” However, Attachment B states that we should include no more than 10 references. Please confirm that up to 10 references is sufficient to meet the Factor 3 requirement.

Answer: Amendment Corrected this to read ‘10’.

14. Part II, 5 – Labor Rates - No specific format is specified for rates. Does the Government want a detailed rate workup or are fully burden labor rates sufficient?

Answer: Amendment adds this note to the pricing paragraph 39.1.4. ‘Note: Offers’ shall proposed fully loaded rates, but should be capable of providing details as to how rates were developed if necessary during the Source Selection process’.

15. Attachment 1, Task Order 1 – Pricing - How does the Government want travel and other direct cost (ODCs) presented in the price proposal?

Answer: For ODCs, add a separate line and detail based on GSA travel rates.

16. Is there a Conflict of Interest doing this work on this contract?

Answer: Please specify any conflict of interest your firm has or may have.

17. Refer: The PM or APM are expected to be onsite most of the time at SBA unless traveling with the SBA Director of Innovation. It is expected that Task 1 will require a minimum of four, but possibly more, man-years of effort in addition to the time of the PM and APM. Offerors are not required to propose 4 individuals or any particular number of individuals to support this task, and this information is only provided as an estimate.

Q. We need to price the resources and roll it into CLIN for Base and Options. Please clarify on the above paragraph. If we do not propose it during proposal submission, how will the resources added after contract award?

Answer: We will base it on needs required and planned for on a yearly basis.

18. Attachment 2. – Prior Experience and Past Performance References – 1. The file called “Attachment #2” is titled “Attachment #5,” please confirm this is a typo.

Answer: Yes

19. The right-most column “Description of Work” is so small that there won’t be much room to insert enough information to show relevance to the SBA PWS. Please confirm – since the form states, “complete the below chart or something similar” – that offerors are allowed to re-format this form, perhaps making it landscape, so that this column can be expanded.

Answer: Yes offerors are allowed to re-format

20. 3. Solicitation page 69 asks for up to 150 total references but the chart provided in Attachment #5/#2 specifies no more than 10 references for past performance. Is there a typo on page 69 and the total number of references should be 10?

Answer: See question 13.

21. Subject Matter Experts: 1. There is conflicting information about the years of experience for SMEs for “individual course work.” In TASK 2 (page 24), it calls for 8-10 years, but in Task Order 2, it asks for “at least 10 years.” Please clarify.

Answ Solicitation corrected - 8-10 years,

22. If possible, please provide additional information (level of effort) about how costs for SMEs are to be priced?

Answer: Base it on market demand and typical subject matter expert government rates.

23. (Page 67) Section 39.1.2, Factor 2: PERSONNEL AND STAFFING PLAN - Solicitation states that resumes are to be submitted for all “Key Personnel,” however… What SBA considers a “Key Personnel” (definition) is not provided in the solicitation. Please provide.

Currently all personnel qualifications and anticipated levels of effort are under the heading “Key Personnel.” Are there no non-key personnel for these tasks/task orders?

Please identify all key personnel and non-key personnel positions for each task order.

Answer: Is already identified in the solicitation generally, as well what we are looking for in specific task orders. Please review and put your best offer out there.

24. Resumes/Subfactor A (Page 67) - Please clarify the number of resumes required for Subfactor A.

Answer: Provide resumes for all key personnel that you are proposing to utilize for the proposal.

25. Labor Categories and Descriptions- Please provide a complete list of labor categories and labor category descriptions, as well as indicate which are KEY and which are NON-KEY.

Answer: They are all key categories to be addressed over the years of this contract. Provide us your best proposal.

26. Will the government allow offerors to bid additional labor categories and descriptions (in addition to those mentioned in the PWS and Task Orders)?

Answer: Yes, it is up to the offeror

27. Levels of Effort - Not all tasks and task orders provide levels of effort.

Task 2 has key personnel paragraphs on pages 108 and 113. Please clarify the total number of anticipated level of effort for Task 2 (inclusive of tasks 2.1 and 2.2).

Answer: We do not know for certain, and would like to review the proposals to determine what be the best path forward.

28. Solicitation page 33 states an anticipated 4 man-year level of effort for Task 3, while page 122 specifies 5 man-years. Please clarify.

Answer: Anticipated hours, are just that. Each described Task Order has additional details nnecessary for the offeror to provide a proposal. For the Task Orders in this solicitation we anticipate 4-5 man years, but as an offeror your are required to provide a proposal for the described requirements. .

29. Please provide an anticipated level of effort for Task 4 (page 126).

Answer: It will require a multi-person IT & Data savvy team as it is a highly sophisticated business intelligence platform and gateway that we would like to see grow and developed appropriately.

30. Part II: IDIQ Pricing Schedule (Pages 4-5) - Are ODC and travel costs to be included in task order pricing as a government-provided plug?

Answer: Yes

31. If so, please provide the plug figures.

Answer: For your proposal provide an estimate proposal for the current Task Orders, however travel, ODCs and reimbursable will be awarded at at Not to Exceed amount.

32. If not, please provide sufficient detail on the materials, fees, and travel requirements in order to accurately price these costs.

Answer: The Task Order included in this solicitation has the current available details. At time of award this item will be awarded as a Not to exceed amount. For additional you can review prior outreach travel efforts like SBIR Road Tour and National SBIR Conferences, to conduct said diligence and determinations. All travel will be in accordance with GSA travel regulation.

33. On-Site Positions (Solicitation, Page 9, 14) - Solicitation page 9 states that SBA will provide the Contractor with seating for three (3) individuals in its office facilities in Washington D.C. Solicitation page 14 states that SBA will have four (4) spots on-site for the contract team. Please clarify the number of on-site spots, and which positions are on-site for each task order?

Answer: Up-to 4 spots and it will vary based on the tasks at hand and what is required for on-site vs off-site related efforts.

34. Section 11.1 - Is the 0.75 to 1.25 combined man years of effort listed in section 11.1 (1st paragraph) include the “individuals with at least 5 years’ experience” listed in section 11.1.2?

Answer: Yes

35. Is the four man-years of effort over the life of the entire contract or is it per year?

Answer: It will vary based on the needs each year

36. Is the four man-years of effort annual, for the four individuals? How does it compare with “0.75 to 1.25 combined man years of effort” listed in section 11.1?

Answer: Related to combine time needed for working on these efforts by the proposed individuals of the team.

37. Section 11.2 - How many participants are expected in each webinar?

Answer: 25-1000

38. Do participants need to have ability to ask questions during the webinar?

Answer: It would be ideal to have that feature capability incorporated.

39. It is assumed that these webinars are with a live instructor/facilitator; is the assumption correct?

Answer: Some webinars

40. Will the instructor/facilitator need to have the ability to give exercises to the participants?

Answer: It depends on the webinar.

41. Is there a knowledge check and/or certification of the participants?

Answer: It depends on the webinar.

42. Are these webinars or web-based training taken individually by the learners?

Answer: Both

43. Are SMEs to be provided by contractor or will the Government provide some of the SMEs?

Answer: Both

44. Are all of these virtual sessions with live instructors?

Answer: No

45. Approximately what percentage of these courses exist in some form today, versus needing to be developed from scratch?

Answer: Please review what has been created on SBIR.gov, and do your diligence on understanding materials that have been created, what would need to be created and what would need to be updated over the time of the contract.

46. 11.1.4. Transition Plan (Page 12, under “Task 1”) -Please confirm our understanding that the Transition Plan is not required to be submitted with the proposal, and that it will be due at the “post award” meeting.

Answer: Yes

47. Is the Transition Plan specified in section 11.1.4 only for Task 1, or for the IDIQ in transferring operations from the two incumbents listed in Section 36 on page 64?

Answer: Both

48. Task Order 2 / Task 2.2 Web-Based Learning Systems - Are the terms “modules” and “courses” being used synonymously? Or is a “course” expected to contain multiple “modules”? If so, how many modules is a course expected to contain?

Answer: Yes terms being used synonymously.

49. The 52 modules currently developed are to be reviewed twice per year. How many modules does the Government anticipate requiring to be changed per every six months? And, for the modules requiring change, what percentage of the content will likely need to change?

Answer: Unknown depends on market and needs.

50. Is the level of interactivity to be increased for the 20 new courses to be developed, in comparison to that of the 52 modules already developed?

Answer: Depends on market and needs.

51. Are the courses/modules to be viewed primarily over desktop computers in an office setting?

Answer: Operable on any web-based interactive system from a smartphone to a desktop.

52. Task 3 / SBA Hosting - Solicitation page 31 states that SBA currently hosts the sbir.gov front and back-end systems. Task 3 appears to require support for maintenance and enhancement of sbir.gov software system. Will the Offeror also be required to perform network operations such as maintaining hardware, network infrastructure, internet connectivity, system environment updates, patches, hardening, network security, etc.?

Answer: Not immediately at this time, but it may be required in the future which can be discussed when necessary and applicable.

53. If so, please provide a complete list of hardware and network systems that must be supported under Task 3.

Answer: N/A at this time

54. Task 4.1 Tibbets Award Ceremony - Will the Government facility have the audio-visual equipment necessary, and will the Government provide audio-visual technicians to manage the equipment?

Answer: Yes

55. Are there any posters to be developed and/or printed?

Answer: Yes, it will be defined post award in a specific task order request. This will be a cost reimbursable amount at time of award. For your proposal provide a cost estimate based on your proposed solution.

56. Task 4.2 SBIR Road Tours - 4.2.1: Does the Government have a list of prior small business support organizations to host, plan, and execute an SBIR conference/workshops in their state?

Answer: Yes, it can be found via www.sbirroadtour.com

57. 4.2.1: the host provides the facilities, audio-visual equipment, printing, and direct costs?

Answer: Yes

58. Does “leverage the training material developed under Task 2” involve contractor sending instructors to train? Does it involve updating the material to suit every specific event?

Answer: No

59. 4.2.2: What is the proportion of using bus vs. air transportation for travel – for SBIR Program Managers? Is it customary to fly into a city and then rent a bus, for example, for local travel?

Answer: Yes, for SBIR Road Tours

60. 4.2.6: Is setting of tables, printing of agendas, etc. being done by the host? What is the range of duration of each conference? Will the contractor administer the survey mentioned in “..report analyzing feedback (surveys/one on one sessions with program managers..”. Is the survey administered online or on paper from attendees and 1:1 sessions with program managers?

Answer: No, in the initial task order, but future task orders will contain pertinent details required.

61. Task 4.4 Develop Online One-on-One Registration System - Does the tool mentioned in “Develop a web based tool” hosted on SBIR’s site – or can it be a commercial, 3rd party tool (which can be linked to SBIR site, if required), or does SBIR prefer a custom-developed tool for SBIR?

Answer: We are open to the best version crafted, so long as it is Section 508 compliant.

62. Task 4.4 Develop Online One-on-One Registration System - Does the tool mentioned in “Develop a web based tool” hosted on SBIR’s site – or can it be a commercial, 3rd party tool (which can be linked to SBIR site, if required), or does SBIR prefer a custom-developed tool for SBIR? – Answer: We are open to the best version crafted, so long as it is Section 508 compliant.

63. Does the tool mentioned in “Develop a web based tool” hosted on SBIR’s site – or can it be a commercial, 3rd party tool (which can be linked to SBIR site, if required), or does SBIR prefer a custom-developed tool for SBIR? – Answer: We are open to the best version crafted, so long as it is Section 508 compliant.

64. Will SBIR consider removing the requirement “at least 3 years of relevant experience around the SBIR/STTR programs” for the key personnel? This favors the incumbent contractor doing similar work. A non-incumbent contractor’s key personnel can do this work even without direct SBIR/STTR programs, as PM, APM and others on the team have direct SBIR.STTR experience.

Answer: This is with respect to Task Order 4 regarding the overall SBIR Outreach & Communications efforts. The answer is No, we require strong familiarity with the work and efforts being done, given the complex nature of the work being done by and for the SBIR/STTR programs, it is imperative that the personnel involved with that task have familiarity with the programs in helping us communicate effective branding and awareness efforts.

65. SBA System Hosting -(Solicitation page 42) - Are all SBA SBIR/STTR related environments – development, testing, and production – hosted by SBA, or is the contractor expected to host non-production environments?

Answer: Contractor is expected to have capabilities to host a testing environment.

66. SBA Systems interfacing with SBIR.gov - With what internal SBA systems and external systems does the SBIR/STTR sbir.gov systems interface?

Answer: At this time there is no direct interface between SBIR.gov and SBA systems, as it is a standalone system.

67. Quality Control Plan - (Page 37, Section 12) - Is the Quality Control Plan to be developed and implemented after award, and is not part of this proposal submission?

Answer: Yes

68. Is the Quality Control Plan to be developed and implemented after award, and is not part of this proposal submission?

Answer: Yes

69. Is the Quality Control Plan to be developed and implemented after award, and is not part of this proposal submission?

Answer: Yes

70. Please confirm this should have read “Attachment #1.”

Answer: Yes

71. Please clarify whether two separate proposals are anticipated (one for the IDIQ and one for the first task order), or if only one proposal is to be submitted, which covers both the IDIQ and first task order.

Answer: One proposal that covers both overall IDIQ and specifics for all four task orders.

72. Furthermore, Solicitation page 65 states, the technical plan should address “both the base IDIQ parent and task order 0001, 0002, 0003 and 0004” (rather than just the first task order). And page 73, section 42 requires pricing for all four task orders. Should the technical proposal and cost proposal address and price all four (4) task orders, or just the IDIQ and first task order?

Answer: See answer to 71

73. Task Orders 0001, 0002, 0003, 0004 - Does the government intend to award all four (4) task orders at the same time as the IDIQ award?

Answer: Yes

74. Evaluation Factors, Factor 3 EXCERPT (Page 69) - 39.1.3, FACTOR 3…- PART 1: Please confirm our assumption that FACTOR 3 should have “Subfactor A: Narrative, Relevant Prior Experience” (Solicitation states “Subfactor B” is the chart, Attachment 2).

Answer: Yes

75. Section 39.1.1 - Should level of effort (hours) also be listed for each labor category proposed?

Answer: Yes, if possible

76. Can SBA provide the sbir.gov system topology?

Answer: As denoted in the solicitation based on Drupal 7 architecture.

77. 1. Is the contractor responsible for purchasing/maintaining licenses, domain registration, SSL certificates, etc., or is this the responsibility of SBA’s network administrator?

Answer: No

78. If the contractor’s responsibility, what software/system licenses/registrations/certificates will be transferred upon award?

Answer: Anything relevant to the work conducted.

79. Will the Government furnish all source code, html files, databases, data files, executables, configuration files, network topography, data schemas, and all related documentation upon award for the systems identified to sbir.gov (front and back-end) and sbirroadtour.com?

Answer: Yes

80. Will the government consider issuing a deadline extension in order to give all potential offerors a little more time to process the Q&As when released?

Answer: No

81. Do they have total budgets and/or LOE established respectively for Task Orders 1 – 4?

Answer: No

82. Do offerors have to bid on all 4 Task Orders?

Answer: Yes

83. REI and Dawnbreakers are mentioned as having performed work that is related to this procurement. Are any potential conflicts of interests that might exist that would prevent REI or Dawnbreaker eligible to participate in this solicitation as a Prime or Subcontractor?

Answer: All offerors must meet all the requirements on the set aside and size requirements.

84. The deliverable includes

1) Impact report

2) Short draft findings

3) Monthly reports question 1. How does 1) relate to 2) given that a draft of 1) is due Feb 1. will the short reports be included in the Impact Report, or act as supplements?

Answer: Task Order 1 does not have a direct correlation to Task Order 2 question 2. are the monthly reports essentially activity reports, or are they substantive reports. If the latter, are they the same as short draft findings?

Answer: Activity reports and keeping us in the loop on deliverables requested and timelines for milestone completions.