Questions.docx

Q1. Can you please tell me if this is a new requirement? If not, who is the incumbent, and what is the contract number?

A1. This question is answered in the solicitation.

Q2. Are we able to submit a bid for just the PA/NP position alone, or are we required to offer services for all the required open positions?

A2 All or nothing. You must fulfill all requirements in order to be considered responsive.

Q3. Has a contractor performed similar work to this for the government in the past? If available, please provide the incumbent contract number. If you are unable to provide a contract number, is it safe to assume this is a new requirement for the government?

A3. This question is answered in the solicitation.

Q4. Past Performance – Is it acceptable for the Offeror to provide a listing of relevant and similar past with their response to the RFP?

A4. A listing is not what is requested. Evaluations from previous customers explaining your past performance is what is requested. These evaluations can be from CPARS/PPIRS or evaluations sent to this agency from your previous customer

Q5. Standard Form 1449 – Will the Government Issue a Standard Form 1449 in order for the Offeror to sign their response and to validate conformance to relevant Representations & Certifications?

A5. This agency doesn’t issue SF 1449s.

Q6. Standard Form 1449 – Will the Government Issue a Standard Form 1449 in order for the Offeror to submit their CLIN prices?

A6. This agency doesn’t issue SF 1449s.

Q7. Price – Can the Offeror submit their burdened pricing on an Excel Spreadsheet that includes the required pricing requirements set forth in the Solicitation?

A7. You can submit your cost proposal on an Excel spreadsheet.

Q8. Vacation Leave – Is the Offeror to use only the Vacation Leave schedules listed for each SCA category in the RFP announcement?

A8. Yes

Q9. CLINS – Is the Project Manager an SCA position? If yes, what Occupational Code must be used?

A9. This agency isn’t suggesting or mandating the use of any occupational codes. More information was requested from this offeror in order to better answer. That data has not been received.

Q10. CLINS – Must the Offeror use the listed DOL SCA wage rates contained in the Solicitation OR the DOL SCA wage rates for Rapides Parish (Pineville, LA)?

A10. Here is a cut and paste from the solicitation: “In order to ensure a level playing field in which to compare the cost proposals, you must use the proposed rates provided in this solicitation,…” The answer is in the solicitation.

Q11. How many past performances are required and are there past performance questionnaires that need to be sent out to contracting officers or will just a description of the past performance from the company will suffice?

A11. Ideally, you would print out a CPRAS/PPIRS evaluation completed by a past or current customer, in a quantity that you would think would build our confidence that you could perform the requested services. If you have none of those, you could have your past or present customers e-mail us an evaluation discussing as many or as few topics that you deem necessary to build our confidence in your company. There is no required amount.

Q12. I understand the RFQ does not require volumes however would you like the 3 sections separated by a cover page? Do you want the page numbers to be consecutive throughout the entire RFQ or to just go with each section?

A12. We don’t want to issue specific guidance on this. We would accept any of the options that you mentioned. As long as we can determine where everything is with relative ease, you can submit your proposal in a style that is comfortable with your company.

Q13. Section 2.1.14 PTO is to follow Federal General Service PTO regulations. Regulation states less than 3 years is 4 hours leave per pay period. 3-15 years is 6hrs leave per pay period. However, Background information list the years of service for each employee and weeks of leave which is not consistent with section 2.1.14 PTO Federal regulations. Please advise which PTO you would like us to use?

A13. The regulation that you are referring to refers to civil service and applies to Federal agency employees (FBI, DHS, DEA, etc.), not contract workers on a Federal contract. The formula we were using comes from the Department of Labor wage determination, which applies to contract workers on Federal contracts. Please use what was provided.

Q14. In calculating the fringe benefits for the contract knowing if the employees will need full benefits would be crucial to the bottom line. Are the current incumbent employees current members of the armed forces?

A14. Only one incumbent is a member of the Armed Forces (Louisiana Army National Guard).

Q15. Section 4.0 - can the Government provide examples of the contractor furnished equipment, tools, and materials or other direct costs that are required for this effort?

A15. There is no requirement for contractor furnished equipment.

Q16. Please verify that FAR Clause 22.1202 – Non-displacement of Qualified Workers under Service Contract Act is applicable to this solicitation.

A16. FAR Subpart 22.1202 does apply to this solicitation, and FAR Clause 52.222-17 (Non-displacement of Qualified Workers) has been added to the solicitation.

Q17. The solicitation announcement lists the applicable Wage Determination as WD 05-2229 Rev 16. When accessing the DOL WD website it appears that the latest WD is WD15-229 Rev 03. Please confirm which WD is applicable.

A17. WD15-2229 Rev 3 is the most current. There are no changes between the benefits sections of either document, so using either would provide the same outcome. DOL referenced WD 05-2229 Rev 3 in communications referencing the SF 1444 that was submitted to them, so I thought it best to reference it in the solicitation.

Q18. Wage Determination discusses uniform allowance (i.e. supplying uniforms or paying for the cleaning and maintenance). Are these employees required to wear specific uniforms that need to be provided or cleaned at contractor expense?

A18. These contract employees are not required to wear uniforms.

Q19. Are RAPIDGate Access and its associated cost a requirement for this contract?

A19. No.

Q20. PWS section 1.1.3 identifies the Period of Performance (PoP) as 1 May 2016 thru 30 April 2021. Section 1.3 identifies a different PoP (1 April 2016 thru 30 May 2021). Please clarify the PoP.

A20. The actual Period of Performance is 1 May 2016 thru 30 April 2021, if all options were to be executed. You have identified a typo (1 April 2016 thru 30 May 2021) that I will correct.

Q21. Solicitation states that there is a pending request for authorization of additional classification and wage rate (SF 1444) that has been submitted. Will the wages associated with these positions be periodically reviewed for wage increases in the same manner that Department of Labor does with other Wage Determinations or should the contractor incorporate a wage escalation for the wages?

A21. This agency assumes that any revisions the DOL makes will be below the wages that are being paid on this contract, so their modifications to the minimum rates will, likely, not affect our rates. I’d ask that every offeror not incorporate an escalation, as it might be the factor that makes your cost higher than a proposal that does not incorporate the escalation.