20140711_SECHQ1-14-R-0027_-_RFP_Questions_UPDATE.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS – SMARTSTREAM BNOE SOLICITATION SECHQ1‐14‐R‐0027

No. Question Response

1. Can you elaborate on the scope of the requirements? For example:

o What are the number of data sources?

o What are the in‐scope reconciliations?

The tool must support the SEC’s National Examination Program (information for which is available at http://www.sec.gov/ocie/Article/about.ht ml). Complete the pricing matrix to support up to 250 data sources from confirming (i.e., third party) entities and

1.75 million transactions per month.

In‐scope reconciliations are those performed to reconcile data provided from SEC‐registered entities (requirement 1) and “confirming” third parties (requirement 2).

2. Do you require the platform to create a “gold copy/single source of truth” for any of the data? If so, what would they be? Do you require long term, time series data storage for any of the gold copies?

The agency does not intend to use this product to create a “gold copy/single source of truth” for the data.

3. Do you require long‐term data storage (i.e. beyond 12 months) for either the source data and/or reconciliation results? If so, what are the storage requirements?

The agency does not intend to store data outside of internal SEC systems.

4. Do your requirements include a need to perform any transformations of the data to enhance data quality to enable downstream processes and/or reconciliations?

The agency does not require the tool to perform Extract/Transfer/Load functions. As such, data transformations will not be necessary.

5. How should travel and meals be reflected in the pricing proposal?

Expenses for travel and meals should be reflected in the fixed‐price proposal

6. Can you confirm the location for the software installation, implementation and training?

Initial software installation, implementation, and training will occur at SEC offices in Washington, DC within 120 days after contract award. Additional End User Training sites are within scope of this agreement and may be added after award at one or more of the following SEC locations: New York, NY, Chicago, IL and Los Angeles, CA. Additional training will follow the Changes process, and will be added on a fixed price basis via bilateral agreement.

7. Is the expected response limited to pricing or should/can we also include any additional information related to our offering and how we can meet the stated requirements?

See Provision 52.211‐6 (Brand Name or Equal) and Attachment A to the solicitation.

8. Please confirm that the only document to be downloaded from the www.fbo.gov site is SECHQ1‐14‐R‐ 0027_RFP_08JUL14.pdf?

Confirmed.

9. On page 17 of SECHQ1‐14‐R‐0027_RFP_08JUL14.pdf it states that “Offerors are responsible for submitting a proposal by the deadline listed in Block 8 of the solicitation cover page (SF 1449).” I did not see a document called SF 1449 on the website nor in the .pdf file. Please clarify if an SF 1449 document will be supplied with Block 8 filled out which I assume will have the same

The referenced statement on Page 17 is a typographical error. The statement should read, “Offerors are responsible for submitting a proposal by 2:00 PM ET, July 18, 2014.” Per Amendment 0002, the proposal deadline has since been extended to 2:00 PM ET, July 24, 2014. An SF 1449 will not be supplied.

response date that is listed on the website of July 18th, 2014 at 2:00pm Eastern?

10. If we are to respond on an SF 1449 form (which I was able to download from a link in 52.212‐1), do we only fill out blocks 12,17,23,24 & 30 as it states on the top of the form? If not, please list all the blocks we need to fill out so we don’t miss any.

An SF 1449 does not need to be provided as part of an offeror’s response.

11. If you are not supplying an SF 1449 for us to fill out as our response or say that we don’t need to respond through an SF 1449 how do we submit the offer? I did find 52.212‐1 Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items on the web, which states we can submit signed and dated offers on letterhead as long as we include:

a. (1) The solicitation number;

b. (2) The time specified in the solicitation for receipt of offers;

c. (3) The name, address, and telephone number of the offeror;

d. (4) A technical description of the items being offered in sufficient detail to evaluate compliance with the requirements in the solicitation. This may include product literature, or other documents, if necessary;

e. (5) Terms of any express warranty;

f. (6) Price and any discount terms;

g. (7) “Remit to” address, if different than mailing address;

h. (8) A completed copy of the representations and certifications at

FAR 52.212‐3 (see FAR 52.212‐3(b) for those representations and certifications that the offeror shall complete electronically);

i. (9) Acknowledgment of Solicitation

Amendments;

j. (10) Past performance information, when included as an evaluation factor, to include recent and relevant contracts for the same or similar items and other references (including contract numbers, points of contact with telephone numbers and other relevant information); and

k. (11) If the offer is not submitted on the

SF 1449, include a statement specifying

Yes, the instructions referenced at FAR 52.212‐1 can be followed to provide an acceptable response format.

the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. Offers that fail to furnish required representations or information, or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration.

Is this how you want us to respond, on letterhead with the above?

12. Please confirm that all the Contract Terms and Conditions that are attached to Solicitation SECHQ1‐14‐R‐0027 are in 52.212‐4 (that we found by clicking on the link on the FBO.gov site) and 52.212‐5 that were included and checked off in the RFP SECHQ114R0027_RFP_08JUL14.pdf?

To clarify what is already stated in the combined synopsis/solicitation, FAR 52.212‐1, 52.212‐4 and 52.212‐5 apply to this acquisition, and SECHQ114R0027_RFP_08JUL14.pdf provides applicable addenda and/or additional FAR clauses to this solicitation.

13. In the Solicitation SECHQ1‐14‐R‐0027, we are/will comply with the all the FAR clauses that are checked but we have two questions:

a. 52.204‐10 Reporting Executive Compensation & First Tier Subcontract Awards – where will our Executive Compensation be posted – on the public or non‐public section of the SAM website?

b. 52.209.9 Updates of Publically Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters – Can you please provide us some examples of the types of information you would post to our record?

a. See the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) website FAQs at https://www.fsrs.gov/#a‐faqs for more information.

b. Examples of information posted pursuant to this clause may include contractor responsibility and/or past performance information as discussed in FAR Subpart

9.1 and 42.15, respectively.

14. On Page 7 of the Solicitation SECHQ1‐14‐R‐0027, item

4004.00 it mentions a transmittal sheet. None was attached. Can we please get a copy of the transmittal sheet or get the information we would need to include in a transmittal sheet?

This may be requested by the vendor after award, at such a time that transmittal under Section 4004.00 is required.

15. Once we submit to you via Email on July 18th prior to 2pm Eastern, what is process after the submission? How many days will it take the SEC to decide who they are going to award the solicitation? How will we be notified of the status?

The Government will follow the process in FAR Parts 12 and 15, respectively. An estimated date of award cannot be provided at this time.

16. Clause 52.217‐9(c) states, “The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed three (3) years six (6) months.”

However, Section 4002.00 states, “The period of performance shall be one (1) base‐year, with four (4) additional one‐year options. The total potential period of performance shall not exceed 5 years.” Please clarify which is correct.

Section 4002.00 is correct. Clause 52.217‐9(c) will be corrected so that it is consistent with the information in Section 4002.00.

17. Our solution is a foreign end product that is a commercially available information technology product, See FAR 25.103(e).

and is sold through a domestic company. Please confirm that this is acceptable.

18. Can our proposal state that clauses in our Standard License Agreement that are not in the 52.212‐4 and 52.212‐5 Standard Terms and Conditions apply?

Any exceptions to the terms and conditions, or assumptions and/or additional terms proposed by the offeror shall be identified at the time of proposal. Please note that the Government may award without discussions, and unacceptable terms or conditions that are proposed may result in the offeror not receiving an award.

19. Can we amend the Warranty and Liability clauses in 52.212‐4 and 52.212.5 to include the language and provisions we have in our Standard License Agreement?

See Answer #18.

20. On Page 12 & 13 of the Solicitation SECHQ1‐14‐R‐0027,

6012.02 SEC 508 Requirements and 6012.04 Electronic &

Information Technology Accessibility – we are not sure if our solution is EIT Accessible compliant. Can you please provide us with some guidance on the proper way to respond to these provisions?

[PENDING RESPONSE]

21. Is there any other guidance you can provide on areas that we may have overlooked?

All relevant information for responding to this solicitation are either referenced or provided herein.