QuestionsAnswers_for_Solicitation_SBAHQ18Q006.pdf

Questions/Answers for Solicitation SBAHQ-18-Q-0006

Rural Entrepreneurship and Women Business Ownership for the National Women’s Business Council

1. On Please clarify- the following links in the PWS (PWS_SBAHQ18Q006.pdf) document are not found (returns Error 404):

o (Page 2) Regarding current NWBC research https://www.nwbc.gov/research/ o (Page 8) Regarding Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements https://www.opm.gov/about-us/open-government/digital-government-strategy/fitara/paperwork-reduction-act-guide.pdf ;

https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/assets/inforeg/PRAPrimer_0 4072010.pdf o (Page 9) Regarding Data Quality and Transparency Requirements https://www.opm.gov/information-management/information-quality-guidelines/

2. At what time would the optional period (Task B) be anticipated to be exercised?

Option period would be exercised eight months from date of award of Task A.

Task A – to be completed not more than eight months from the date of award Task B – if option period is exercised, to be completed not more than twelve months from the date of exercise

3. What is the SBA's definition of rural entrepreneurship?

The definition of rural entrepreneurship should be determined by the vendor and effectively conveyed and supported within the technical of the proposal itself.

4. Does the SBA or NWBC maintain a database, or have particular data sources in mind, for the descriptive analysis outlined in Task A? Or is this data yet to be collected/identified?

The NWBC does not maintain a database or have a particular data source in mind for the descriptive analysis outlined in Task A. If the vendor would like to propose a data collection effort, this should be outlined in the technical report and must follow OPM guidelines.

5. Who will be responsible for the external peer reviews of Tasks A and B reports? Will the SBA provide external reviewers, or will the contractor be required to identify their own external reviewers?

The vendor is required to identify peer reviewers. The NWBC intends to procure a Fixed Price Purchase Order and will not directly provide the peer reviewers and associated costs. Peer reviewers must be approved by the NWBC and have knowledge in the specific area of research.

6. What is expected of the annotated bibliography for Task B? Is this meant to be a review of literature on the proposed methodology?

Depending on the methodology for Task B, additional literature may need to be reviewed and incorporated into the report for Task B. Often, this literature is more nuanced or in-depth than the literature presented in Task A, which is often broader in scope.

https://www.nwbc.gov/research/ https://www.opm.gov/about-us/open-government/digital-government-strategy/fitara/paperwork-reduction-act-guide.pdf https://www.opm.gov/about-us/open-government/digital-government-strategy/fitara/paperwork-reduction-act-guide.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/assets/inforeg/PRAPrimer_04072010.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/assets/inforeg/PRAPrimer_04072010.pdf https://www.opm.gov/information-management/information-quality-guidelines/

7. What is the recommended amount of time to allow for OMB approval of a survey instrument?

The timeline varies for OMB approval of a survey instrument. Please visit https://www.opm.gov for additional details and information on the OMB process and necessary requirements.

8. Could you please provide the incumbent contract number? If not, is this a new requirement?

The NWBC considers this requirement to be a brand new solicitation separate from any active award done prior. Therefore, no incumbent has performed the services of this specific new requirement.

https://www.opm.gov/