Q and A updated 14 July 2020.docx

14 July 2020 W91242-20-Q-0020 Questions and Answers

Q1: Will an SF-1449 be issued?

A1: No.

Q2: Section 52.212-2, Evaluation states, “Past Performance is somewhat more important than Technical”; however, Section 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors states that Past Performance is optional.? If Past Performance is more important than Technical, how can it be optional? Request that Past Performance be included as an appendix to the Technical Proposal and not counted against the 20 pg. limit.

A2: Past Performance is not mandated; if a contractor does not have any past performance to submit, they may still submit a response to the synopsitation, no past performance would be evaluated as neutral.

Q3: If incumbent personnel are hired, are resumes required or will a statement to that effect suffice?

A3: Please refer to synopsitation 52.212-1 Q4. Section 52.212-2. Request that Items 3-5 (Past Performance; Small Business Certification; and Resumes/Credentials) be included as appendices to the Technical Proposal and not counted against the 20 pg. limit?

A4. Items 3-5 are not included in the 10 page technical page limit. These page limits were reviewed a second time, and should be ample.

Q5. Can you provide us with how long the incumbent personnel have been on contract?

A5. All tenures provided are approximate, and have not been verified with the various historical contractors and CORS.

Behavioral Health Clinicians; 3 one year, 1 two years; 1 ten years (note correction to Q&A Question #4) Case Managers; 1 one year; 1 four years; 1 nine years Program Coordinator 5 years (note correction to Q&A Question #4) Program Director 12 years Q6. Of the nine locations listed (below), can you provide us with historical data of how much work has been conducted for each location?

Ultimately, the locations of work will remain variable as the "patients" are from across the state. For instance, the Asheville Clinician would not just be seeing or working with Asheville people. The Clinicians across the board maintain approximately equal utilization based on system function, not merely location.

To give a better idea, manning has historically been determined by deployment cycle and which MSC and elements are out the door and who is coming back. Manning of the toll free hotline, along with varying statewide and telehealth capabilities of the team are also considerations which shift personnel movement on an as-needed basis. For example, Clinicians have historically used a facility in the below areas as follows; however, contractors should anticipate variances in new sites being manned as force structure changes. Please refer to PWS 1.4.4 citing anticipated variances in locations.

Q7. We would love to have a 100% telework contract. We are in fact open to providing a dedicated staff to serve the contract.

A7. Case managers have historically never been provided with an office; they are nomadic within various armories/units so the staff and soldiers are being engaged with on a regular basis. The clinicians are subject to approximately 25% travel and Director is subject to limited travel. COVID-19 measures have required special telework arrangements; however, this is not the objective of the program. This in-person presence helps in destigmatizing behavioral health issues and Service Members talking to the staff. Also, some issues arise that require the contractor to meet the “patient” in person. Historically, regarding the 24hr hotline component, contractors have opted to provide their employees with a comp day, since that person on call could in theory be working outside the normal duty day. However, this decision is completely up to the contractor.

Q8. How are proposals to be submitted? Electronically to Amy Daniels?

A8. See updated synopsitation; electronically to either POC listed on the solicitation in beta.SAM Q9. Would the government like separate volumes submitted for items 1-5 under the ITO. (example: Volume 1 Price, Volume 2 Technical, Volume 3 Past Performance, Volume 4 Small Business Certification, Volume 5 Summary of Resumes).

A9. Not required, but acceptable.

Q10. Are there page limits requirements for Price and Small Business Certification volumes?

A10. No Q11. Please advise the format requirements the government would like the RFP responses to adhere to: Font size, margins, volume summaries, etc. Are cover pages excluded from page count?

A11. See updated 52.212-1 Addendum Note Q12. Contractors are categorized as SCA in the synopsitation. Is OT billable or will the contractors schedule be adaptable/flexible weekly?

A12. This is a firm-fixed-price contract; no overtime is billable to the contract.

Q13. With regard to PWS Para 4.1, what software is the NCNG requiring and the awarded company be able to port current cell phone numbers being utilized?

A13. We are able to port Q14. PWS Para 5.1.1; please verify that the hotline and number is the gov’t property and maintained by the gov’t?

A15. Hotline is funded/maintained by the government; staffed by the contractor Q16. PWS Para 1.4.4.1 Can the government provide explanation of what the Hotline currently entails?

A16. Reference PWS 5.5.7

Q17. PWS Para 5.5.6 What is the training that is required, and will this be provided by the government or a pass-through cost to the government?

A17. Reference 5.5.6

Q18. What is the associated cost for the CPRS training? Can this training be done online, or does it require on-site?

A18. Reference 5.5.4

Q19. Can you provide us with the previous contract number for the IBHS Coordinator?

A19. W91242-15-P-0136

Q20. In the synopsis dated 25 June CLIN 0001 is stated as “Base Year IBH Director Services” with a POP of 30 August 2020 through 29 August 2021. CLIN 1001 is stated as “Option Year I IBHS Services” with a POP of 30 August 2021 through 29 August 2022. Is it the government’s intention to award ONLY the Director position in the base year? If so, is the Director position included in CLIN 1001, or does the Director position end at the end of POP for CLIN 0001?

A20. See updated Synopsitation dated 14 July 20

Q21. In option year IV IBHS Services Six-Month extension, CLIN X002 changes from a travel CLIN to CMRA reporting. Does the government not anticipate any travel during the extension or is the funding in CLIN 4002 expected to carry into the extension.

A21. If funding is needed for travel during that time, it will be modified into the contract effort.

Q22. Throughout the synopsis and the PWS there is no mention of overtime. As a Service Contract Act Wage Determination is in place, overtime hours will be paid at time and a half. Is overtime authorized on this contract, and should it be priced in separately if authorized?

A22. See response to Q12 above Q23. This is an FFP contract, will invoicing be accomplished monthly an even fraction of the awarded POP?

A23. Invoicing will be on a per monthly basis; reference payment clauses within synopsitation

Q24. PWS 1.4.4.1 Teleworking: How many current staff members are on a regularly scheduled telework schedule, and what positions are they occupying?

A24. See response to Q7 above.

Q25. PWS 1.4.7.8 IBHS Director: May the Director be an LPC and/or is the LMHC considered an LPC equivalent?

A25. They are equivalent Q26. PWS 1.4.9 Contract Manager: Is the contract manager considered an onsite position? Can the IBHS Director be designated the Contract Manager or Alternate Contract Manager?

A26. The contract manager is an off-site position; normally contract managers handle quality control of several contracts at once.

Q27. PWS 1.4.15 Phase In/Phase Out Periods: There is no separately priced Phase In or Phase our period. How are the costs associated with these periods to be addressed? Do these periods precede or follow the quoted POP?

A27. Either the new contract will be awarded about 30 days prior to the ending of your contract for the overlapping phase, or 52.217-8 will be used if award is being made later.

Q28. Exhibit 3 Item 2 IBHS Cases: How many sessions/visits are average for each case. These cases can range from 10 to 50 sessions dependent on diagnosis or prognosis, please provide the average number of sessions per case.

A28. See updated PWS dated 14 July 20, Technical Exhibit 3

Q29. Which of the positions outlined in “North Carolina National Guard Family Programs” Quick Reference Guide are covered by the requirements of this contract?

A29. Reference PWS Para 1.2 for scope of who is covered/serviced by this contract. This program is separate from NCNG Family Programs Q30. Can the government please clarify the evaluations standards for past performance will this evaluation be centered on relevancy or recency?

A30. Given the nature of the synopsitation falling within simplified acquisition procedures, detailed definitions surrounding relevancy and recency of past performance are not utilized in order to streamline the evaluation process. Reference 52.212-2 for further information regarding this topic.

Q31. Can the government please increase the page count for the resumes section to allow for all resume submissions, currently there are 10 incumbent employees 6 pages does not allow for all 10-11 resumes?

A31. Please see updated synopsitation 52.212-1 Addendum Q32. Can the government clarify the crisis line and how it is managed?

A32. Reference Q6, Q7, Q14, and Q15

Q33. Is travel time compensable when traveling between sites or for certifications?

A33. Maintaining certification currency is the responsibility of the contractor, including but not limited to any financial implications of travel, as it is a requirement of the PWS.