Questions and Answers_Revision 1.pdf

Question and Answer Document, Rev. 1

NOTE - Questions can be asked until 24 hours before the closing date and time. The Government will make every effort to answer the questions as quickly as possible, however some questions may lead to a solicitation amendment and/or extension. As such, please do not wait until the last minute to ask your questions.

On July 31, 2023, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Geospatial Research Laboratory (GRL) in Alexandria, VA posted a Request for Quote (RFQ) for its LDP Phases I & II training classes.

For the past few days, our contracting team has been fielding, researching, and compiling answers to all of your questions related to the RFQ. A document with all Questions and Answers has been posted with the corresponding amendment on SAM.gov. Several changes have been made to the RFQ PWS section as a result of the responses received from Industry. Please make sure you are viewing and using the most current version of the attachments from the amendment.

The following questions and answers are provided for informational purposes only:

1. As a 100% Disadvantaged Women Owned Business (DWOB), we are in the process of applying for formal certification of this status. While we are awaiting confirmation, could you advise if we would still be considered for bidding on this RFQ? We understand the government often promotes initiatives for businesses such as ours and we hope this will not inhibit our opportunity to contribute.

Answer: This is a total Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) set-aside, and the vendor must be certified as WOSB eligible under the WOSB program at the time of the quote due date/submission.

2. Could you provide an approximate number of attendees for each training session? We understand that the exact number might not be available at this point, but a rough estimate would help us in tailoring our proposal to ensure optimal engagement and learning outcomes for all participants.

Answer: Please reference the Solicitation, Section C, PWS, paragraph 3 “Scope of Work” which states the following: Phase I – maximum twenty (20) participants (GS 9-13); Phase II – maximum six (6) participants (GS 9-13).

3. Lastly, could you inform us where the training is expected to take place? Specifically, we are wondering if there is a designated location or if the sessions are anticipated to be held virtually. This information will allow us to more accurately plan for logistics and resources.

Answer: The LDP will be facilitated in-person but with virtual attendees as well as in person at the Geospatial Research Laboratory (GRL) located at the following address: 7701 TELEGRAPH ROAD, ALEXANDRIA VA 22315.

4. Is there an incumbent doing the same or similar work as described in the Performance Work Statement?

Answer: Yes.

5. If so, please identify the incumbent and its contract number.

Answer: Kernel Associates, LLC under Contract No. W9132V-19-P-0002.

6. Can you confirm the training location (City/state) for solicitation notice ID Notice ID W9132V23R0002 please?

Answer: Geospatial Research Laboratory (GRL)

7701 TELEGRAPH ROAD

ALEXANDRIA VA 22315

7. Can you confirm the amount of the contract awarded to the current incumbent?

Answer: Contract No. W9132V-19-P-0002 was awarded to Kernel Associates, LLC, in the total amount of $138,121.00.

8. What is the mode of frequency when invoices are submitted (i.e., weekly, monthly, etc.).

Answer: Invoices may be submitted as frequently as monthly for services performed and/or deliverables received.

9. What is the average amount invoiced monthly?

Answer: The contractor invoiced after each class was conducted. The frequency was not monthly since neither LDP 1 nor LDP 2 contained 12 courses.

10. How many years was included in the current contract that was awarded?

Answer: Contract No. W9132V-19-P-0002 included one (1) base year and four (4) option years.

11. Today my leadership and I were looking through RFQ ID # W9132V23R0002 and are seeking some clarification. Our company is an established Leadership Development company. We have two well respected leadership programs that more than meet the stated objectives of the contract but are structured differently to the solicitation details. Our programs both run over a 9-month period consisting of different specific courses to the ones laid out within the RFQ description. Our Series 1 is focused on developing as a leader and Series 2 is focused on developing and leading high performing teams. Given this would be in exception to the details of this solicitation, while still meeting the overall stated objective, would this still be of interest?

Answer: Yes. Please see the amended solicitation.

12. I am WOSB certified and would like to respond to “Leadership Development Program Phases I & II SOL W9132V23R0002 DUE 08/07/2023.” I just saw the notice from my subscription through Virginian PTAC. I missed the q&a period cut off, but I’m wondering if it is set in stone that the bahavior profile must be Disc or Myers Briggs. I am certified in Emergenetics and this profile as gotten preference with some agencies. We just completed this program with another federal agency and they did not know about but raved after we did the facilitation of the program.

Answer: Please see the amended solicitation.

13. p 48 - Technical Capability [resumes] - When "sanitizing" resumes, what is considered to be "identifying information" that should be removed?

Answer: Name, address, year of graduation, salaries, and SSN.

14. Are the course topics listed in the RFQ mandatory or suggested? The RFQ is somewhat unclear on this. For example, p. 18 paras 3.1 and 3.2 state that "courses could include the following" but p. 48 (Technical Capability) refers to "each of the 12 courses required by the PWS." In addition, Section B's Item Numbers specify exact course topics.

Answer: No particular topic is mandatory as long as the proposed courses fit the LDP themes and purpose:

THEMES

- LDP1: Focuses on leading yourself. Lasts one fiscal year. You must graduate from LDP1 before applying to LDP2.

- LDP2: Focuses on leading teams. Lasts one fiscal year.

PURPOSE

• Support ERDC Director’s and Commander’s goal of developing high-potential leaders.

• Help clarify your values and career goals.

• Improve your communication skills through self-awareness.

• Provide a broad understanding of the ERDC’s Laboratories, Installation Operations Command (IOC), and Executive Office (ExO) elements; the ERDC’s customers; Army research, development, technology, and engineering; and USACE and Department of Defense (DoD) activities.

• Help you differentiate between leadership and management skills and understand the need for both.

• Prepare you for other ERDC leadership development opportunities, plus lay the foundation for opportunities at the USACE and DoD levels.

Changes have been made, please see the amended solicitation.

15. If the course topics are suggested, how should vendors propose alternative topics? Do you want these proposed and quoted in a single bid package along with the topics listed in Section B's CLINs, OR should vendors submit a separate bid package with Alternative Line Proposals?

Answer: See Question #14. Changes have been made, please see the amended solicitation.

16. Please confirm that this solicitation is still open till 5PM CST August 14, 2023.

Answer: Correct, please reference the amended solicitation which extended the quote due date to 5PM CST August 14, 2023.

17. Please do you have a budget for this project?

Answer: There is an Independent Government Estimate (IGE) that has been developed for this requirement, but it is “for official use only” and not disclosed to the public.

18. What was the dollar amount for the previous award or point me to where I can locate it?

Answer: See question #7.

19. I itemized each CLIN in excel and submitted it all in a typed up word document, rather than itemizing them the continuation sheet. Was it permissible to itemize each CLIN in excel or would you prefer that I simply itemize the price on the continuation sheet attached to the solicitation?

Answer: It is acceptable that you itemized each CLIN in excel and submitted it on a MS word document.

20. How many participants are anticipated to take part in the leadership development program, and have you already identified their specific pain points and challenges? By pain points, I mean what challenges have aspiring leaders expressed they need readiness support for? I noted on page 17 of the Solicitation they will be expected to work on a group project, so I want to make their capstone project around solving a specific problem that many leaders say they have. For example, some aspiring leaders say they have difficulty moving into leadership because they have excellent technical skills but need to learn how to transfer those skills to people leadership and management. In this case, their capstone project would be creating a digital dossier highlighting their transferrable skills.

Answer: See question #2. Also, the assessment at the beginning of the course will help the vendor identify challenges or pain points for that group. Each LDP session will have a different group, (LDP II will have repeat people, of course at a fraction of the LDP 1 class) thus different challenges may be expressed.

21. Is there a current contractor or incumbent working on the project?

Answer: See question #4 and #5.

22. Has GRL identified a budget for this initiative, and if so, is it possible to share? Is there a price above which proposals would not be accepted?

Answer: See question #17.

23. In the solicitation on page 19 Task 4 of item 5.3, I had a question on the delivery of the assessment. DiSC is a Wiley Branded product. My organization holds a certification in LPI 360 which is also a Wiley Brand leadership assessment. Is this acceptable or is DiSC or Myers Briggs the only acceptable option for this course?

Answer: Please see the amended solicitation.

24. How many participants are estimated for the Leadership Development Program Phases I&II- Notice ID: W9132V23R0002 please?

Answer: See question #2.

25. Additionally, is there a specific format for responding to the bid? Or, should bidders complete the attached PDF in SAM (CLIN & FARS), and add pages for technical and past performance summaries?

Answer: Please reference the solicitation, section L, Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Bidders.

26. This is stated under the contractor qualifications- BOTH FAR AND DFARS representations and certifications completed by the quote submission due date. What is an avenue for me to gain the required FAR and DFARS certification in ample time? My search has taken me to various resources I’m not sure are acceptable. Can you help with best options approved by your agency?

Answer: Please reference the combined synopsis/solicitation which states the following:

*Note: In order to be eligible for award of a Government contract, vendors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), have no active exclusions, and complete representations and certifications. For more information, review the SAM website at https://www.sam.gov.

Offerors are reminded, “Failure to acknowledge receipt of this amendment may result in rejection of your offer.”