Questions from Contractors with Govt Response_W91YTZ23Q0110_Amend 0004.pdf

W91YTZ23Q0110_Psychology Assessment Services for Talent Management Task Force_Questions from Contractors with Government Responses

Question 1. (a) Request an increased page limit from 5 to 25, which is more appropriate to the level of detail required per the solicitation instructions and evaluation criteria.

(b) If the Government does not increase the page limit for the Technical Proposal, we respectfully request the Government please provide clarification of which PWS requirements must be addressed in the Technical Proposal to ensure an equitable and fair evaluation of technical acceptability.

(c) If the Government does not increase the page limit for the Technical Proposal and does not specify which PWS requirements must be addressed in the Technical Proposal, then we respectfully request allowing use of 8 point font and narrow (0.5”) margins on the top, bottom, left, and right of each page.

Government Response: The page limit is changed from 5 to 25 pages for the Technical Response requested in the ADDENDUM TO 52.212-1 and ADDENDUM TO 52.212-2.

Question 2. Reference Solicitation SF 1449 Continuation Sheets, Pages 3 – 5 of 80 state the Period of Performance (PoP) is 1 July 2023 – 31 December 2023 for CLINs 0001-0005. Reference Solicitation Page 39 of 80, PWS Section 5, Specific Tasks, states “The Period of Performance is 1JUL23 to 30NOV23” with “Phase-In: 30 day Period” and “Base Period: 6-month Period.”

Since PWS 5 specifies a Base Period of 6 months, and all CLINs are aligned to a 6 month PoP of 1 July – 31 December 2023, can the Government clarify that Section 5 should state “The Period of Performance is 1JUL23 to 30NOV23.”?

Government Response: The last official day of a psychologist/data coordinator will be NLT 12NOV. However, we placed the POP out to 30NOV23 to include the admin time to close out receipts.

Question 3. Reference Solicitation Pages 41 – 42 of 80, PWS Technical Exhibits A and B.

Performance Standard in Technical Exhibit A states Process Analysis / Feedback Report is required “Two weeks after completion of Period of Performance.” Deliverable Frequency in Technical Exhibit B states Process Analysis / Feedback Report is required “Two weeks after completion of each FY CAP.” Assuming the PoP ends 31 December 2023, and CAP Execution ends 30 November 2023, there are two possible due dates for the Process Analysis / Feedback Report.

Can the Government please clarify the due date for the Process Analysis / Feedback Report (PWS 5.10) as either 14 January 2024 (two weeks after completion of PoP) or 14 December 2023 (two weeks after completion of CAP)?

Government Response: Two weeks after completion of POP 14 DEC 2023.

Question 4. Reference Solicitation Page 30 of 80, PWS 1.6.1, Quality Control Plan (QCP), states “Within 20 days after contract award three copies of a comprehensive written Quality Control Plan shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer and COR. Any revision will be submitted within 5 working days.” Reference Solicitation Page 42 of 80, PWS Technical Exhibit B, Deliverable Frequency states Draft QCP is required “15 days after award” and Final QCP is required “20 days prior to Start of Period of performance.”

Can the Government please clarify if both Draft and Final versions of the QCP are required and provide the actual due date(s) relative to contract award date? Recommend that the PWS 1.6.1 requirements be reflected in Technical Exhibit B.

Government Response: Both Draft and Final are required. Draft is required 15 days post award date and Final is due 1 SEP 2023 and is reflected in Technical Exhibit B.

Question 5. Reference Solicitation Page 34 of 80, PWS 1.6.8.3, states that “The P/S Data Coordinator contractor shall be someone, who has demonstrated assessment effectiveness and meet these qualifications”

Can the Government clarify this section pertains to the P/S Enlisted Coordinator and not the P/S Data Coordinator?

Government Response: This section pertains to the P/S Enlisted Assessments Data Coordinator.

Updated all nomenclature to “Peer/Subordinate Enlisted Assessments Data Coordinator

Question 6. Reference Solicitation SF 1449 Continuation Sheets, Pages 4 – 5 of 80.

(a) CLIN 0003 references “Assessments Deputy.” However, there is no reference to services required for an “Assessments Deputy” in the PWS. Can the Government please clarify the services associated with CLIN 0003 through the associated PWS requirements?

Assists Assessments Chief in managing all CAP Assessment data uploads, transfers, and storage within our systems of record

-Works between 10-12 hours each day during execution

-Assists Assessment Chief in building administration support and room configuration. If necessary, the Deputy Assessments assists with the overall assessment administration at designated assessment sites.

-If necessary, assists the CAP Assessments Chief manage backend Blackboard/digital platform course management and/or troubleshooting which ensures all candidates have access to written platforms

-Assists with backend support and support with the Army Research Institute to ensure strategic assessment data transfer occurs properly for each cohort. Uploads and formats all candidate data into the primary system of record

-Lead integrator for setting 8-9 Panels each night during execution. Reviews 2,000 peer and subordinate feedback forms to capture significant comments/feedback necessary to balance panels each evening.

-Directly coordinates with the Executive Director, CAP to understand panel guidance and considerations to provide initial panel draft schedules/allocation 24-36 hours in advance of evening panel finalization

-Responsible for proper data uploads, transfer, and secure digital storage for 2,000 Written Assessments, all Strategic Assessment score upload sheets (totaling 2,000 candidates)

-Coordinates with the Center for Army Leadership to refine Panel Member training, Rehearsal Candidate scheduling, and panel training materials to support each panel member training session

-Develops candidate scheduling logic necessary to properly balance 72 candidates per cohort into daily schedules while at CAP. The scheduling logic allows candidates to be dispersed into proper sub-cohorts and to the correct assessment room locations/times. Assessment Deputy ensures sponsor teams have the most updated candidate assessment schedule by candidate cohort day 0. Makes necessary adjustments and then is responsible for re-sending any adjusted candidate cohort assessment schedules

-Advises Assessments Chief and CAP Leadership on long-term impacts and consideration of any decisions that adjust timing/sequencing of assessments while at CAP to understand long-term effects or unintended consequences of any scheduling adjustments

(b) CLIN 0005 references “Cadre Validation.” However, there is no reference to services required for “Cadre Validation” in the PWS. Can the Government please clarify the services associated with CLIN 0005 through the associated PWS requirements?

The Contractor shall provide the equivalent of four panel-level psychologists needed for the Command Assessment Program training. The four psychologists will demonstrate psychological assessment integration and risk conceptualization to train active duty psychologists. To facilitate selection decisions, the contractor shall conduct training, job suitability interviews and provide psychological assessments of Command Assessment Program candidates, advise General Officer level interview panels, and provide feedback to each designated candidate.

The psychologist contractor shall be a licensed clinical psychologist, who has demonstrated assessment effectiveness and meet these qualifications:

• Education. Possess doctorate in clinical psychology or counseling psychology.

• Experience. Possess a minimum ten (10) years of experience working with personnel assessment and selection or work suitability interviews. At least five (5) of the ten (10) years must include experience working with active-duty military populations. This experience must include the review and interpretation of cognitive and non-cognitive psychometric testing instruments as part of an assessment and selection process. The contractors must be approved by the OPE Chief to for this specific training.

• Psychometric testing instruments. Must be subject matter experts with practical experience with multiple group-administered cognitive and non-cognitive psychological testing instruments.

Question 7. Reference Solicitation Page 37 of 80, PWS 1.6.11, Key Personnel.

(a) Are resumes required for the Key Personnel (Contract Manager and Alternative Contract Manager)?

(b) Are resumes required for the other positions specified in the PWS (Psychologists, Peer/Subordinate Data Coordinator, Peer/Subordinate Enlisted Coordinator, Assessments Coordinator)?

(c) If resumes are required, can the Government please confirm that they are excluded from the page limit?

Government Response: (a) yes, (b) Resumes will be required post award. Resumes for psychologists, data coordinators, and assessments deputy are not required until post-award. (c) the resumes in (a) should not count toward page limit.

Question 8. Reference RFP PWS Page 39 “CAP execution for 2023 will be performed 29 September – 30 November.”

Can the US Government clarify the performance dates for each of the positions, i.e. 1.4.1 Psychologists, 1.4.2 Peer/Subordinate Data Coordinator, 1.4.3 Peer/Subordinate Enlisted Coordinator, 1.4.4 Assessment Coordinator?

Government Response:

1.4.1 Psychologists: CAP execution dates for psychologist are 27SEP through 11NOV (recent update).

1.4.2 Peer/Subordinate Data Coordinator: 15 Jul 23 and 12 NOV 23

1.4.3 Peer/Subordinate Enlisted Coordinator : 1 AUG 23 and 12 NOV 23.

1.4.4 Assessment Coordinator: ROC Drill (week of 21AUG) & 20 SEP 23 through 12 NOV 23 (Onsite at Fort Knox).

Question 9. Reference RFP CLINs:

Can the USG clarify the associated CLINs for Peer Subordinate Data coordinator, Peer Subordinate Enlisted Coordinator, and Assessment Coordinator?

Government Response:

Changed names to 1) Peer/Subordinate Assessments Data coordinator, 2) Peer/Subordinate Enlisted Assessments Data Coordinator, and Assessment Deputy for clarity.

Peer/Subordinate Assessments Data coordinator: Solicits, aggregates and cleans peer/subordinate data for all officers/civilians coming through the CAP using the systems in the PWS. Up 10 Hours per day.

Peer/Subordinate Enlisted Assessments Data Coordinator: Solicits, aggregates and cleans peer/subordinate data for all enlisted leaders coming through the CAP using the systems in the PWS. Up to 10 hours per day.

Assessment Deputy: Clarified the Assessment Deputy tasks and systems in the PWS.

Question 10. Can the Government please clarify the differences between PWS 1.6.8.2 and PWS

1.6.8.3 and PWS 1.6.8.4? The three positions have similar if decreasing sets of tasks but the job titles for each is confusing. For example, 1.6.8.2 refers to a “P/S Data Coordinator” but the Technical Exhibit C that follows the 1.6.8.2 refers to a “Peer/Subordinate Assessments Data Coordinator”. Then 1.6.8.3 also refers to a “P/S Data Coordinator” while the following Technical Exhibit calls it a “Peer/Subordinate Assessments Enlisted Coordinator”. And lastly,

1.6.8.4 refers to an “Assessments Coordinator” but doesn’t have any technical exhibits like the previous 2 Coordinators.

Government Response: See response in question 9. Corrected line items for clarity in the PWS.

11. Does the Service Contract Act apply to this solicitation? Several SCA-related clauses are included, but 52.222-41 is not part of the package.

Government Response: Per FAR 22.1101 Applicability.

The Service Contract Act of 1965, now codified at 41 U.S.C. chapter 67, Service Contract Labor Standards, was enacted to ensure that Government contractors compensate their blue-collar service workers and some white-collar service workers fairly, but it does not cover bona fide executive, administrative, or professional employees. We consider the employees in this requirement to be professional employees.

12. Can the Government please provide the applicable SCA Occupations for the Coordinator positions?

Government Response: The Coordinator and all other positions are exempt from SCA since they are considered professionals.

13. FAR clause 52.222-46 requiring a Professional Compensation Plan is included in the solicitation. Where would the Government like this compensation plan to be included in the proposal?

Government Response: The Professional Compensation Plan may be included in the Technical Response to ensure a clear understanding of work to be performed and should indicate the capability of the proposed compensation structure to obtain and keep suitably qualified personnel to meet mission objectives.

14. The evaluation of Professional Compensation under FAR 52.222-46 implies that Offerors compensation will be evaluated against the current compensation of incumbent employees.

Can the Government please provide the current compensation levels of incumbent employees?

Government Response: This information will not be released by the Contracting Officer without a Freedom of Information Act (FAR Subpart 24.2) request.