Q As 5-13-11.pdf

Solicitation SSA-RFP-11-1027

Questions and Answers

Question 1: I wanted to try and get a feel for the kind of consultant you’re looking for. That is, are you looking for a firm with multiple consultants, a full-time consultant, or an academically based person?

Answer 1: This solicitation is unrestricted and is therefore, open to any of the above. Please be sure to refer to FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation – Commercial Items and its addendum beginning on page 51 of the solicitation.

Question 2: Is there a preference for proposals from multiple individuals or a single individual?

Answer 2: See response to question 1. However, we intend to make multiple awards.

Question 3: Throughout the proposal reference is made to the “Contracting Officer’s Technical

Representative (COTR).” Who is this person (i.e., is there a person already in this position)?

Answer 3: The Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) is the Government representative the contractor will receive technical direction from and provide deliverables to if awarded a contract. This individual has no contracting authority or authority to make changes to the contract. See paragraphs C-11 and C12 beginning on page 18 of the solicitation for a more detailed description.

There is a person in this position, but all communication must go through the contracting officer at this point.

Question 4: Is there a fixed hourly rate for these consulting services or is that something that is up to the person responding to the solicitation?

Answer 4: The hourly rate is to be proposed by the offeror or person responding to this solicitation.

Question 5: Is this a small business set aside?

Answer 5: No

Question 6: It appears to me that you do not require an offeror to state their approach to this piece of work, but that you are more interested in the qualifications and experience of the offeror and their ability to handle large-scale projects. Is this correct? And if not, what else are you looking for from an offeror?

Answer 6: Technical Approach is not an evaluation factor. See FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation –

Commercial Items and its addendum beginning on page 51 of the solicitation.

Question 7: Page 5 states: During the performance of the tasks discussed below, the consultant(s) awarded contracts hereunder may become privy to certain agency information and/or may be asked to assist the agency in the development of future acquisitions that would result in the consultants obtaining an unfair competitive advantage under such acquisitions.

Accordingly, the consultant(s) may be precluded from any involvement in those future acquisitions (e.g., as a consultant or subcontractor). During the life of the subject project, would it be possible for the consultant to recuse him or herself from assisting the agency in the development of certain future acquisitions so that the consultant would then be eligible to be a selected vendor on those acquisitions?

Answer 7: No. If a contractor does not do what is within the scope of the contract to do, the contractor is in breach of contract.

Question 8: Page 5 states: During the performance of the tasks discussed below, the and/or may be asked to assist the agency in the development of future acquisitions that would result in the consultants obtaining an unfair competitive advantage under such acquisitions.

Accordingly, the consultant(s) may be precluded from any involvement in those future acquisitions (e.g., as a consultant or subcontractor). If an employee of a vendor were to serve as a consultant on the subject opportunity, is it possible for that vendor to be eligible to participate in future related acquisitions as long as the aforementioned employee was not included in those acquisitions?

Answer 8: It depends. The clause at C-21 of the solicitation titled “Organizational Conflict of

Interest (OCI)/OCI Mitigation Plan” provides guidance in this area. Basically, the OCI is limited to the design and development stages, either as a prime, subcontractor, or consultant. However, the Contracting Officer may make a determination to allow the contractor or its subcontractors to participate in a competitive procurement subject to the submission of an acceptable mitigation plan.

Question 9: Page 5 states: During the performance of the tasks discussed below, the and/or may be asked to assist the agency in the development of future acquisitions that would result in the consultants obtaining an unfair competitive advantage under such acquisitions.

Accordingly, the consultant(s) may be precluded from any involvement in those future acquisitions (e.g., as a consultant or subcontractor). What is the criteria that the SSA will use to determine whether the consultant is eligible to participate in future acquisitions? A definitive criterion on this issue would assist vendors in making a decision on this opportunity, and it would help to make those future acquisitions more fair and transparent.

Answer 9: Please refer to the clause at C-21 “Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI)/OCI

Mitigation Plan.” Outside of the information contained in this clause it is impossible to identify any other definitive criterion given the fact that the exact details of the work and any potential OCIs are unknown at this time.

There is the risk that if awarded a contract, an OCI will occur that will prevent the contractor from participating in future procurements. There is the possibility of an exception, but there is no guarantee and it is solely at the discretion of the contracting officer on a case-by-case basis.

Question 10: Please identify the SIC code necessary for registering in the CCR.

Answer 10: See table at http://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/sic_manual.html

Question 11: Can you explain simply what is necessary to complete the solicitation for someone who is not used to reading solicitations such as this?

Answer 11: Please read the entire solicitation, but the instructions for preparing a response begin on page 46.

Here is some helpful information on where to begin:

The Government cannot award a contract unless the offeror is in the Central Contractor

Registration. The site is https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/default.aspx

The completion of FAR 52-212-3 Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items is part of the response. This must be done through the Online Representations and Certifications

Application (ORCA) fond at https://orca.bpn.gov/. This system pulls data from the CCR.

There is a business proposal and a technical proposal that needs to be submitted. Again, refer to the evaluation instructions beginning on page 46 of the solicitation for what needs to be included in these volumes.

Question 12: I would like to register and receive information on SSA-RFP-11-1027. However, I do not have a DUNS number as an individual and I do not want to apply through the company with which I am affiliated. How can I register?

Answer 12: As mentioned in the response to question 12, registration in the Central Contractor

Registration (CCR) is necessary to receive an award, if selected. You can obtain a DUNS number through the CCR registration process at https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/default.aspx

Question 13: I am interested in this opportunity, but I am not sure I am qualified.

Answer 13: Please refer to FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation – Commercial Items and its addendum beginning on page 51 of the solicitation.

Question 14: We understand that anyone who is selected to serve as a consultant would be precluded from bidding on any work dealing with developing a new OIS for SSA due to an obvious conflict of interest. Will SSA also bar any selectees from bidding on work to evaluate the extent to which the new OIS meets SSA’s needs?

Answer 14: Yes. Amendment 4 to the solicitation has been issued to clarify this.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/sic_manual.html https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/default.aspx https://orca.bpn.gov/ https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/default.aspx

Question 15: Can you please tell me if the past performance references for the SSA solicitation must be typed letters from the referee or can I just provide names and contact details of the referee for similar projects we have done and you will speak to each one?

Answer 15. The names can contact details.

Question 16: “Please advise and/or provide the forms by which I may apply for the contractual position of I/O”

Answer 14: If you are interested in this project, you will respond by submitting a proposal according to the instructions that begin on page 46 of the request for proposal.

Forms consist of an SF1449 and its continuation pages. The SF 1449 will need to be signed and the continuation pages contain blanks that need to be completed. There are also amendments to the solicitation, which are accomplished through an SF30. Acknowledgement of these amendments are required and can be done by completing and signing block 15 of the form or by simply acknowledging in writing somewhere in the response all of the amendments.

Again, please refer to the instructions beginning on page 46. A business proposal and a technical proposal are also required.

Question 17: Could you kindly advise if there is an incumbent, and if so, who that might be?

Answer 17: There is no incumbent.

Question 18: I just wanted to verify that you will accept submissions via email to this address and can you confirm that responses must be received by you by 9AM on Monday the 16th?

Answer 18: Email responses are acceptable. See instructions in solicitation for size limitations though and other information. The date and time above are correct.