Questions_and_Answers_Strategic_Communications_Solicitation_20170109.docx

Q1: On page 7-8 of 65 there are six key personnel listed as being required. In the Technical Exhibit (pricing) on page 17 of 65, the list of required labor categories for pricing is different (ex. Special Events Coordinator is missing from the list). Can you clarify the labor categories you want priced for this proposal and which of those are key and require resumes?

A1: The labor categories found on page 7-8 were identified by the Project Manager and will be required to have the listed qualifications. I'm not sure how the Special Events Coordinator fell off of Technical Exhibit 3 but I will go and amend the solicitation and upload a corrected version. Thank you for bringing that to my attention.

Q2: Can you clarify the labor categories you want priced for this proposal and which of those are key and require resumes?

A2: Answer: At a minimum, provide resumes for the key personnel identified on page 7 and 8.

Q3: The FBO notice states that price files should be sent via email but does not specify if the technical portions of this RFP should be included in the email. Please verify that vendors can send one email with one file that includes all technical portions and the pricing Technical Exhibit.

A3: Answer: The entire proposal shall be sent to the email identified in the FBO solicitation.

Q4: Since questions are not due until Wednesday 11 Jan 2017 and Monday 16 Jan 2017 is a Federal Holiday, would the Government extend the bid deadline to January 25th in order for vendors to review and process questions and answers once you have posted them?

A4: Answer: no extension will be granted at this time. I have received very few questions and it has only been from one vendor who is extremely new to the government contract process.

Q5: For the Website Content Manager, is there already a webmaster in place? Assuming the contractor will provide content, will this content be managed by the webmaster? Are there any platform requirements?

A5: Answer: At this time we do not know of any webmaster in place or of any platform requirements. I am forwarding this question to the project manager with hopes she can provide further insight. As soon as she responds I will promptly provide you with the information.

Q6: The RFP includes SCA WD tables for Illinois and Missouri. Is this contract an SCA based contract? If employees are professional service providers, are they bound by the SCA WD tables?

A6: Answer: This is a service contract and the SCA wage rates do apply. The services needed will be in the St. Louis metro area which is why Illinois and Missouri wage rates were included.

Q7: Are you expecting that we deliver the proposal via email in a PDF format?

A7: PDF is preferred.

Q8: We have more individuals that will be on the team other than the key team members listed in the solicitation. Can we put these in the Appendix with short bio so not to use up space in the 15 page maximum.

A8: The proposal is limited to a maximum of 15 pages.

Q9: Does the 15 page maximum include the cover page and cover letter (2 pages).

A9: The 15 pages includes the cover letter.

Q10: You list Public Relations Specialist on the price sheet, but there is no reference to this in the Key Personnel section. Please clarify. And you list Communications Specialist in the Price List, but it is also not mentioned in the Key Personnel - it this supposed to be the Visual Communications Specialist? Please clarify.

A10: You may include additional labor categories. The Visual Communications Specialist will fall within the Communication Specialist realm.

Q11: Are we supposed to use the labor categories and hourly rates included in the solicitation. Our hourly rates are quite different from these as well as the categories. Please clarify. Any are the hourly rates to include our overhead, G&A, Profit, etc.?

A11: You may use additional labor categories as you see fit within your company. The hourly rates must be fully burden labor rates.

Q12: We often use paragraph bios in our proposals that describe the work of individuals. Do you have to provide a one-page resume or can we use the paragraph bio format instead?

A12: The solicitation requires resumes.

Q13: You state past performance is limited to the past 5 years. My team is highly experience with several years of experience and knowledge to bring to NGA. Can we use some of our great past experience to showcase our knowledge and experience that will go beyond the 5-year limitation?

A13: You may showcase all knowledge and experience; however when it comes to past performance we will only be looking at work completed within the past 5 years and anything beyond that will not be evaluated.

Q14: Can I please check if the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking a Missouri based agency for this contract? Or if there are any geographic location preferences.

A14: There is no geographic location preference for this requirement.