EPA_NARS_Questions_(Autosaved).docx

SOL-CI-15-00006

Technical Questions

1. B-1 ORDERING PROCEDURES. How will EPA determine which Task Orders be will issued as firm-fixed price from those that are cost-plus-fixed fee?

A: The Contracting Officer takes into account the Performance Work Statement and other relevant factors set forth in FAR Part 16, Contract Types to determine the appropriate contract type for each task order requirement.

2. B-5 ESTIMATED COST AND FIXED FEE. Is it EPA’s intention to negotiate the fixed fee by Task Order or will you be seeking a fee that applies to the contract?

A: In accordance with L-22 Local Clauses EPA-L-36-101 PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS, (b)(2)(a), for award of this contract, the proposed prices will be evaluated on a cost-plus-fixed-fee-basis.

3. L-13 GENERAL FINANCIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION. Please confirm that this information is only required from the prime and not subcontractors.

A: This information is only required for the Prime Contractor.

4. L-18 PROPOSED CONTRACTOR START DATE. Please confirm contract start date of February 7, 2016. This would imply EPA will be reviewing proposals and making award in 3 months?

A: This is the proposed start date. Dates are subject to change based on the evaluation process. Please propose using the start date of 2/7/16.

5. TECHNICAL PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS: I KEY PERSONNEL. Can key personnel other than the Project Manager, Quality Assurance Office and Logistics Coordinator be proposed (e.g. Deputy Project Manager of multiple Logistics Coordinators)?

A: No. The specified key personnel are evaluated for acceptability as part of the technical criteria.

6. COST PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS. The solicitation indicates that one (1) electronic submission in Excel at the FedConnect website. Should we presume that this infers that only the total cost and fee spreadsheets and cost breakdown spreadsheets (Excel) need to be submitted to the FedConnect website and that no other narrative information contained in the Cost Proposal is required?

A: L-22 Local Clauses EPA-L-36-101 Proposal Instructions has been revised to delete the requirement to submit proposals through FedConnect. Offerors shall submit their proposals in accordance with the Proposal Instructions either by mail or hand delivered to Katie Rechenberg:

(i) For those mailed through the U. S. Postal Service -

U.S. EPA

CPOD

MC NWD 001

26 West Martin Luther King Drive Cincinnati, OH 45268

(ii) For those sent by Courier or Hand Carried -

U.S EPA

CPOD, Suite 300 4411 Montgomery Road Norwood, OH 45212

7. COST PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS. What content is EPA expecting to be included in the Subcontracting Plan?

A: A Subcontracting Plan is not required in accordance with FAR 19.702 for a small-business set-aside. This was included as an error and has been removed from L-22 Local Clauses EPA-L-36-101 Proposal Instructions.

8. COST PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS. (i) When subcontractor effort is included in the cost proposal, the prime contractor shall submit charts for each contract year and for the aggregate (all years, all hours) which clearly indicate the exact allocation of the specified level of effort among the prime contractor and the proposed subcontractors. This chart should be included in both the technical proposal and the cost proposal. Where should this “chart” be included in the Technical Proposal?

A: L-22 Local Clauses EPA-L-36-101 Proposal Instructions has been revised to delete the requirement to include the chart in the Technical Proposal. The chart is only required to be included in the cost proposal instructions.

9. COST PROPOSAL. Please confirm we can allocate level of effort to our subcontractors and apply hourly rates (company specific) without creating a consolidated blended rate for the team (e.g. Prime Sr. Aquatic Biologist $150/hr. - Subcontractor Sr. Aquatic Biologist $140/hr.)

A: It is the Offeror’s business decision on how they want to allocate the level of effort and apply hourly rates to the subcontractors. The Offeror shall propose in accordance with the L-22 Local Clauses EPA-L-36-101 PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS.

10. COST PROPOSAL. Does EPA cap annual escalation percentage for labor rates?

A: No, however, as part of the cost analysis, the EPA will review and evaluate each separate cost element proposed by the Offeror in accordance with 15.404-1 (c). To evaluation the direct labor cost element, the Contracting Officer will perform a direct labor analysis, which includes, but is not limited to, determining the basis of the proposed labor rates based on cognizant audit agency, historical data and payroll data supplied by the offeror and determining the basis and reasonableness of the proposed escalation.

11. COST PROPOSAL. Please confirm that the “Services” included under Other Direct Cost are intended for laboratory services.

A: “Services” included under Other Direct Cost can include laboratory services, but it not limited to laboratory services. Any non-labor, direct cost for services can be categorized as a “Service” under Other Direct Cost.

12. COST PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS. The Cost Proposal Instructions refer to Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Total as well as Base year, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4 and Aggregate. Please clarify your preference in defining years under this contract.

A: Paragraph (c) has been revised to coordinate with the Level Of Effort Chart.

13. EVALUATION FACTORS FOR CONTRACT AWARD. Several of the acceptability criteria identify “regional aquatic resource surveys”. Can you better define the geographic extent that is intended by “regional”?

A: This answer is covered in the Solicitation Amendment 1. Please see SOL-CI-15-00006 Amendment 1.

14. EVALUATION FACTORS FOR CONTRACT AWARD. Several of the acceptability criteria identify “sampling events”. Can you better define what constitutes a sampling event (i.e.; 100 sampling events)?

A: This answer is covered in the Solicitation Amendment 1. Please see SOL-CI-15-00006 Amendment 1.

15. EVALUATION FACTORS FOR CONTRACT AWARD. Beginning on Page 100 for the table of evaluation factors, the section headings numbering do not match the subsection numbering beneath. Please confirm the Titles and associated numbering since the proposal has to be organized as such.

A: This answer is covered in the Solicitation Amendment 1. Please see SOL-CI-15-00006 Amendment 1.

16. PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT. Can you identify the states that have historically elected to self-perform the NARS field surveys for each waterbody type?

A: Set forth below is a list of the states that have sampled themselves. State sampled themselves could mean the state sampled themselves or that they contacted with another group independent of the national contract. Please realize that this may change based on new state decisions. This list does not account for the disposition of sites that fell on tribal land. This list may not accurately reflect all during field season changes, for example, state realized part-way through sampling they could not sample all of their sites.

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