Questions_Response.pdf

Question Response Does the Service Contract Act (SCA) apply to this solicitation, with all provisions and requirements inherent to the SCA applicable?

FAR Clause 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards, is listed in the solicitation and applicable to this requirement.

The government has identified the DOL WD code of 12100 (Medical Assistant) as part of Clause 52.222-42; is this the correct WD code/labor category that the government will utilize for evaluation?

Evaluation will be conducted in accordance with 52.212-2 and 52.212-2 Addendum

Who is responsible for approving or authorizing work past a scheduled 8-hour period? If the FTE works an 8-hour day M-F, and on Friday they are told to work an extra hour it will be impossible to offset this hour within their same-week schedule.

See PWS paragraph 1.9.10.

Overtime is not Authorized

The government states that assigned FTE’s will only be paid for hour worked (e.g. not paid for temporary work stoppage @ the MTF such as inclement weather, power outages, etc.). Since the employee (FTE) must log in and out for arrival and departure, and obtain end of the day signatures from a clinical supervisor does the government expect the FTE to sign out and depart the site for a power outage event that may be resolved within a normal period vice working on other items relevant to the positional roles (records, etc.)?

Decision is made by the MTF Commander on a case by case basis

The government states that the FTE will (daily) sign in to a government log sheet for arrival/departure. This is additionally noted as being for the sole use of the government and will not be accessible to the contractor for any reason/purpose. We request the ability to request an audit or access to these materials on request for the purpose of resolving issues related to timekeeping/billing and/or as needed in the event of employee disciplinary processes.

See PWS paragraph 1.9.1.3.

The government states that the FTE, at the end of the day, must obtain a clinic supervisor signature on the log sheet. Will the government ensure that this supervisor is available at end of shift to review/sign the sheet in a timely manner?

See PWS paragraph 1.9.1.3.

The government states that the completed (and signed) log sheet must be faxed/scanned to the COR directly. Is this a daily occurrence? Who is responsible to provide this signed/verified product to the COR? As this is for the sole use of Government Officials for compliance verifications, this should be the role/responsibility of a direct government employee and not the contractor/staff.

See PWS paragraph 1.9.1.3.

What is the length of time that is normally taken in the security clearance process?

Length of time varies

Will the proposed FTE be expected to be available and working during the security clearance process?

No See PWS paragraph 1.9.5

Will the FTE be expected to wear scrubs as normal daily work attire?

See PWS paragraph 1.10.6

Please describe or define all clinical privilege requirements necessary for this staff role? Based on the descriptive, the FTE would not be involved with any diagnosis or patient treatment.

See PWS section 1.18.2. and PWS Attachment #2

The government states that the process for award will be made on a Best Value LPTA basis. This process seems to be invalid as the government should be evaluating on EITHER a Best Value OR and LPTA-based approach. We request that the government define the evaluation and award method for this solicitation as either Best Value or as a LPTA-based competition.

The government will obtain Best Value through LPTA in accordance with FAR 15.101 and FAR 15.101-2

Proposal evaluation will be in accordance with 52.212-2 and 52.212-2 Addendum as listed in the solicitation

In this section, the government states that the award basis will be a Best Value approach; other sections indicate a LPTA approach. Please define as costing can and will vary based on the basis indicated by the government.

The government will obtain Best Value through LPTA in accordance with FAR 15.101 and FAR 15.101-2

The government indicates that the award will be made using best value LPTA procedures; this does not indicate the definitive method of evaluation/award. Please define the evaluation approach specifically to be utilized for this solicitation.

See 52.212-2 and 52.212-2 Addendum

Best Value evaluation should provide means/reward prospective contractors for innovative/value added proposed solutions;

LPTA is the base price necessary to provide the requirements AS STATED by the government in the PWS…no more, no less, and requires only the determination of “technically acceptable”.

The government includes as it’s basis a determination of a contractor exceeding the acceptability factors; to achieve this requires additional costs for a prospective contractor, which WILL be captured and passed on to the government, and WILL result in a higher cost than a true LPTA costing approach.

Hence the problem in trying to combine a Best Value evaluation with an LPTA evaluation. Request the government review and define the manner in which they will conduct the evaluations for pricing.

See 52.212-2 Addendum PART III: PRICE

The government indicates it is using or relying on an IGE in which the contents/salary assessments exceed the provided DOL WD statements. As a reference point; in an SCA-based proposal response, the DOL labor wage/categorization dictates the proposed salary...NOT the IGE estimation. The IGE is used in a Best Value evaluation approach to provide a baseline for the government to evaluate pricing estimates against. I will guarantee that you will have the LPTA pricing based on the DOL WD salary data, and for an SCA-based contract THAT IS the defining authoritative source. Is the government conducting a Best Value evaluation (using an established IGE), or a LPTA evaluation using the SCA (DOL) wage determinations?

The government will obtain Best Value through LPTA in accordance with FAR 15.101 and FAR 15.101-2

Proposal evaluation will be in accordance with FAR 52.212-2 and Addendum to FAR 52.212-2 as listed in the solicitation

Are offerors required to provide a full copy of all reps and certs, or will a statement that electronic representation (in SAM) be sufficient?

See 52.212-1 Addendum Paragraph under PART III titled “Please submit the following: “ and in accordance with instructions provided in the required clauses and provisions with fill-ins.

If we agreed to have him secure (CAOHC) say within 30 days of award would that be acceptable?

See PWS 1.18.1.2.

Can you confirm if this work is for only 1 Audiology Technician? If there is more than 1 needed, please provide the total number of personnel.

1 FTE Audiology Technician

If there is a current incumbent providing this service today, can you provide the contract number and/or task order associated with this work?

This is a new requirement

How many hours per day will the technician or technicians be expected to work? Will the hours include weekends?

See PWS paragraph 1.9.1.1

Will the contractor need to provide the resume or resumes as part of our response to the solicitation?

No See 52.212-1, 52.212-1 Addendum and 52.212-2, 52.212-2 Addendum