Questions_and_Answers_Amendment_000001.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (Q&A)

Solicitation Number: SECHQ1-16-R-0023 Question Number SECTION REFERENCE QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

RFP Section B.4, Paragraph a, Page 5.

We have a negotiated rate schedule with the General Services Administration. For Contract Pricing purposes, would offerors be permitted to provide a rate table consisting of their fully-burdened GSA rates?

Offerors are permitted to use fully burdened negotiated GSA rates for Pricing purposes. In accordance with Section L.9 of the RFP, Offerors must complete Attachment L-1, Pricing Templates for the cost/ price submission

RFP Section L.4.2 Delivery of Proposal, Paragraph 4, Page 75

Given the July 4th holiday, the requirement for a hard copy delivery, as well as the need to address such breadth and depth within a response to this innovative IDIQ opportunity—which may include formalizing teaming agreements with subcontractors, we believe the due date of July 6, 2016, will not provide sufficient time to provide an adequate response. Would FNS consider extending the due date to July 20, 2016? We think a July 20, 2016 due date would provide offerors enough time to effectively respond to the requirements in the solicitation.

If a July 20th due date is not workable for the SEC, we believe July 13, 2016 is the earliest an adequate technical response could be written, labor rates and sample budgets to be developed, and the full proposal to be quality assured, produced, and delivered to the SEC.

See revised Section L.4.

RFP Section L.8.2 General Format Instructions, Paragraph 2 / Second table, Page 78

With respect to the page limitation for Volume II, please clarify whether the 25 pages includes the Section Title, Cover Letter, Table of Contents, Executive Summary, and Acronym List. Those items by themselves would likely take at least 5

See revised section L.8.2/Paragraph 2, Second table https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS10F0275P/0P3A5J.38KCE9_GS-10F-0275P_RANDCORPORATIONGS10F0275P.PDF

3 pages. If those items are included in the page limitations, would the SEC consider increasing the page limits for Volume II?

RFP Attachment L-4—Sample Tasks, Section Example Task 1: Telephone Survey, Pages 4 and 5.

The page following Example Task #1 for telephone interviewing contains information about a web survey. Was this placed in the RFP in error or should contractors plan on responding to this as a second example task?

See revised Attachment L-4

5 RFP Attachment L-4—Sample Tasks, Section Critique Task: Focus Group Research, Pages 5 and 6

What are the more specific research objectives of the focus groups and randomized experiments within the focus groups? We will be able to provide a more thoughtful critique with this information.

See revised Attachment L-4

6 (1) RFP Attachment C-1— Descriptions/Specifications/Statement of Work, Task 5.4.1.2, Subtask 4.2;

(2) RFP Attachment C-1— Descriptions/Specifications/Statement of Work, 5.7.1 Task 7 – Design and Information Services; (3) RFP Attachment L-2—Personnel Labor Category Descriptions, Pages 1 through 5.

Task 5.4.1.2 requests technical support in the area of Mathematical Economics. However, the request for labor rates in Attachment L-1 does not include a labor category for this activity.

Similarly, there are no labor categories for information technology related services, which would be needed for all aspects of programming and testing online, CATI, and CAPI surveys, and other applications. Nor are there communications-related labor categories that would be useful in fulfilling Task 5.7. Nor are there labor categories for clerical or editorial staff.

Is it permissible to add labor categories to the cost volume of the proposal?

As stated in Section L.9.2 Tab D Management Approach and Capabilities – Offerors may propose additional personnel in their technical proposals which may be included as labor categories/personnel in the IDIQ contract at time of award

RFP Section L.9.2 Volume II—IDIQ Technical/Management and Past Performance, Paragraph 3, Page 85

In the past performance section, three recent (within 3 years), relevant projects are requested.

Also requested is a bibliography of 15 academic publications produced using public use data.

Delays in release of public use data and publication of results can mean studies can have been completed for more than three years prior to publication of significant numbers of academic papers using the dataset. Are the citations in the

The citations need not be related to the three recent projects bibliography tied only to the three selected projects, or can these include citations from other studies?

8 RFP Section L.9.2 Volume II—IDIQ Technical/Management and Past Performance, Paragraph 2, Page 86

Also related to the bibliography, can this be submitted as an appendix or is it to be included in the 25-page limit for the technical volume?

See revised Section L.9.2

9 RFP Section M.2 Basis of Award, Paragraph 2, Page 88

Will the SEC consider competing this under FAR Part 15 (Contracting Under Negotiation), instead of FAR Part 12 (Acquisition of Commercial Items)?

As stated in Section M.2, the Government is conducting this source selection in accordance with competitive negotiation source selections procedures contained in FAR Part 15 and the commercial procedures in FAR Part 12.

10 RFP Section L.9.1 Volume I— General Information and Cost/Price, Entire Section

Would it be acceptable for the offeror to propose their MOBIS GSA schedule rates for the IDIQ?

See Question 1 for response.

11 RFP Section B.4 Contract Pricing, Paragraph 3, Page 6

As per the RFP, “IDIQ Contract-level program management support costs include contract-level management, reporting requirements (See Section F, Deliveries or Performance) and related travel and meeting attendance costs associated with the Contractor’s program management staff.”

Can the government provide guidance on level of effort they anticipate for program management at the IDIQ level (other than reports), and expected number of meetings requiring attendance?

The Government anticipates the meetings will be held primarily at the Task order level, however Offerors can anticipate possibly one meeting at the IDIQ level

12 (1) RFP Attachment L-4—Sample Tasks, Paragraph 6, Page 2; (2) RFP Section L.9.2 Volume II—IDIQ Technical/Management and Past Performance, Paragraph 4, Page 81

The description of example task 1: telephone surveys states: “The survey will be conducted in January – March 2016 [this timeframe is indicative for the purpose of this example task].”

However, Attachment L-1 Pricing Templates, Sample Task Pricing Template states that “Offerors should assume a start date of August 1, 2016 for the Base Year.” Can SEC clarify the start

The anticipated start date of the IDIQ arrangement is August 1, 2016. As described in the sample task, survey data collection (i.e. actual telephone calls) would take place in Q1, 2017).

Presumably, other effort would be required on behalf of the contractor prior to launch. Also, recall these are date and period of performance for sample task 1?

Additionally, our assumption was that example task 1 only occurs in the Base Year; however, Section “Attachment L-1 Pricing Templates, Sample Task Pricing Template”, Paragraph 1, Page 81 states: “For pricing purposes, offerors shall assume 12 month Base Period and 4, 12 month long Option Periods for example task 1 only.” Please confirm that example task 1 should only be budgeted in the Base Year.

example dates for the purpose of the RFP. The example task is for evaluating contractor capacity,in the RFP not a promise of future work.

Pricing shall be submitted for Example Task 1 assuming a 12 month Base Period and 4, 12 month Option Periods. Please see Attachment L-1 Pricing Templates which includes worksheets for the Base and Option Periods

13 (1) RFP Section L.4.2 Delivery of Proposal, Paragraph 4, Page 75; (2) RFP Section L.8.2 General Format Instructions, Paragraph 1, Page 77

The RFP states: “Vendors shall submit one (1) hard copy and two (2) electronic copies on CD- ROM per proposal volume…” (page 75).

However, page 77 states that “A single email size shall not exceed 12 MB each…” Can SEC clarify whether Vendors are required to submit an electronic copy via email, in addition to the hard copy and two CD-ROMs via mail?

See revised Sections L.4.2 and L.8.2

14 (1) RFP Section Tab B—Small Business Subcontracting Plan, Paragraph 3, Page 87;; (2) RFP Section L.8.2 General Format Instructions, Table, Page 79

Page 87 of the RFP states that “The subcontracting plan shall be submitted as an attachment to Tab A; however, directly above on page 87, and also in the table on page 79, the RFP directs the prime offers to include the small business subcontracting plan as Tab B. Can SEC confirm that the subcontracting plan should be included as Tab B of Volume III?

See revised Section L.9.3

15 RFP Section J Page 53 Attachment B-1, Labor Rate Tables, is referenced throughout the RFP but not included. Please include a copy. Additionally, the instructions under section L don’t require that Attachment B-1 be included in offerors proposals, please clarify.

As stated in Section J, Attachment B-1 is reserved and will be completed at contract award by the Government.

16 Section L What level of detail, if any, is required of See Section L.9.2 for the level of subcontractors proposals? detail concerning subcontractor proposals.

17 What is the anticipated start date for this IDIQ? The anticipated start date is August 1, 2016.

18 Proposal Volumes I, II, and III Tab A requires an executive summary to provide an overview of the of the proposal and is to be used as an aid in understanding the organization, content, and interrelationship of the proposal material. However, Tab A also requires a cover letter and table of contents which accomplish the goal of the Executive summary. Should offerors submit the Executive Summary, as well?

See revised Sections L.8.2 and L.9.1

19 Section L.9.1, p. 80 Requires and acronym list under Tab A and Tab B. Must it be included in each tab for the same volume?

See revised Sections L.8.2 and L.9.1

20 Section L.9.2, p. 84 Tab C - Subcontractor Teaming Agreements, states “If the Offeror is proposing subcontracting, then the proposal must include duly executed subcontracting teaming agreements by the parties of the Offeror’s team. Letters of commitment are acceptable examples of subcontracting teaming agreements, and are considered subcontracting teaming agreements for the purpose of responses to this solicitation. If submitted, letters of commitment shall include, at a minimum: (1) signatures of the principals and/or owners of the respective parties; 2) statements on the division of tasks, relationship of the parties, and responsibilities of parties; and 3) statements on the handling of disputes. Subcontracting teaming agreements and/or letters of commitment must state that they are valid and in effect for a period of not less than five (5) years from the award date of any contract resulting from this RFP. Offerors must submit a statement in this proposal section indicating an understanding that SEC will evaluate the data received from the team and if an award is made based upon this information, SEC will not

a. Yes, any person authorized to bind the company.

b. The intent is to be consistent with the anticipated performance period of the IDIQ and ensuring subcontractor availability a the IDIQ level for the purposes of evaluation

c. In accordance with FAR Part,44.201 Consent and Advance Notification Requirements, if the contractor has an approved purchasing system, consent is required for subcontracts specifically identified by the contracting officer in the subcontracts clause of the contract and if the contractor does not have an approved purchasing system, consent to subcontract is required for allow substitutions of the Subcontractors except as specified in Section H-27, Subcontracting.”

a. Can any person authorized to bind the company sign the Teaming Agreement / Letter of Commitment or must it be a Principal or Owner?

b. It is customary that Teaming Agreements expire once a Subcontracts is executed under a resultant award, therefore it would expire before the 5 year requirement. Please confirm what the intent is or revise the requirement.

c. Please clarify what the intent is of requiring the following statement, “Offerors must submit a statement in this proposal section indicating an understanding that SEC will evaluate the data received from the team and if an award is made based upon this information, SEC will not allow substitutions of the Subcontractors except as specified in Section H-27, Subcontracting.” What substitutions are allowed & not allowed as H-27 does not cover substitutions related to subcontractors?

cost-reimbursement, time-and-materials, labor-hour, or letter contracts, and also for unpriced actions (including unpriced modifications and unpriced delivery orders) under fixed-price contracts that exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Please refer for FAR Part 44 - Subcontracting Policies and Procedures

21 P. 47 47 includes the Service Contract Labor Standards clause. Will a wage determination apply? If so, please provide.

See revised Page 47

22 Section L.9.1, p. 80 requires Completed Signed Copy of Attachment H-2 – Non-Disclosure Agreement (Contract Employee) will be required for all proposed

Attachment H-2 is not required at the IDIQ level. Attachment H-2 is required at the Task Order level only.

personnel at Task Order award. Since offerors are only proposing for an IDIQ award, please confirm signed copies H-2 are not required in the proposal.

The attachment is provided for information purposes only.

23 Page 78 Can SEC specify what is included in the 25 page limit? Specifically, are the cover page, Executive Summary, and acronym list counted toward the page limit?

See Question 3 for response.

24 Can CV’s be included? Are they counted toward the 25 page limit? How should they be included?

See revised Section L.8.2 and L.9.2

25 RFP Section L.9.2, Page 83-84 Is the Response to the Sample Task order also subject to the1500 word limit (as the Critique Task is)?

The 1500 word limit applies to the Critique Task only as stated in Section L.9.2 Tab B, Paragraph 3

26 Attachment C-1, Subtask 5.3.3.3

Can the SEC elaborate on the coding support discussed in section 5.3.3.3?

Behavioral finance laboratory experiments often place subjects in front of a computer terminal in order to complete survey questions, view information, and play simulation games. Simulation games might create a scenario in which participants buy or sell stocks based on a set of information that is presented. Many experiments across the social sciences have involved simple games of this type. The coding support would be required to create a program that the individual interfaces with, likely with a different set of fixed stimuli (e.g.

information) presented to respondents, and to appropriately track the data that arises from the experience (e.g. clicks, time intervals).

27 RFP Section L.4, Paragraph 1, Page

Due to the July 4 holiday, would SEC be willing to extend the deadline by 1 week?

See Question 2 for response.

28 RFP Section L.4.2, Paragraph 3, Page

Would SEC be able to accept email/electronic submittals of the proposal in lieu of hard copies and CD’s? If not, may Contractors be permitted to submit electronic version of their proposal by the deadline and the hard copies and CD’s a few days thereafter?

See revised Section L.4.2

29 RFP Cover pages, Pages 2-3 Please clarify the basis for the NTE on ODCs.

Since the SOW requires significant survey efforts, the NTE may pose arbitrary constraints on bidders’ ability to propose the most cost efficient and effective approach to meet SEC requirements.

The basis for the NTE amount on ODCs is to establish a ceiling amount at the IDIQ level and to provide consistency amongst all Offerors for pricing evaluation purposes.

Depending upon the success of the project or based on project needs as they develop, the amount may be adjusted in accordance with the Changes clause. Please note that only the sample task pricing will be used for evaluation purposes in accordance with Section M.3.5 of the RFP

30 RFP Section B.4, Paragraph a, Page 5 We have a federally negotiated rate schedule with the General Services Administration. For Contract Pricing purposes, would offerors be permitted to provide a rate table consisting of their fully-burdened GSA rates?

See Question 1 for response

31 RFP Attachment L.4, Page 143

For pricing the sample task, should we assume that SEC will require OMB approval to field the telephone and online surveys and request contractor support in this process?

Assume that OMB approval has been granted, or is not required

32 Given the variety of activities to be covered in the proposal, would SEC consider extending the proposal deadline by one week

See Question 2 for response

33 Given that all vendors may not complete all activities described in the RFP, would SEC consider waiving the requirement the past performance requirement regarding preparation of Public Use Microdata (namely, that vendors must have prepared such datasets that have been used in 15 or more academic publications)?

No. As stated in Section L.9.2, Page Offerors with no past performance will result in assignment of a neutral rating which will indicate neither a favorable nor unfavorable evaluation rating http://www.rand.org/capabilities/public/mobis.html