Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF MAY 19, 2005 FBO #1270
MODIFICATION

D -- Soliciation NBCR05021 - Amendment 0005 - Financial Systems Support Serivces.

Notice Date

5/17/2005
 

Notice Type

Modification
 

Contracting Office

Dept of the Interior - National Business Center Acquisition Branch PO Box 272040 Denver CO 80227
 

ZIP Code

80227
 

Solicitation Number

NBCR05021
 

Response Due

5/13/2005
 

Archive Date

5/17/2006
 

Small Business Set-Aside

8a Competitive
 

Description

1. Submitted Question: Has the following section been removed? Supplementary Written Information. In general, Supplementary Written Information shall include resumes, a summary of agreements with consultants and subcontractors, invoice and time card examples, and a summary of other corporate policies and procedures including recruitment, training, leave, benefits, retirement, insurance, employee assistance program, education allowance, mass transit subsidy, alternate work schedules, and travel policies. Offerors are advised that price information should be separate from the technical and management proposal. Response: Yes. 2. Submitted Question: Is the following "reps and certs" section part of the 30 pages? Should it be completed and turned in with the proposal? Response: "Reps and certs are separate from the Technical Proposal," and should be submitted with the proposal (unless submitted via ORCA). 3. Submitted Question: Since resumes are now "sample" resumes, are you looking for "sample" resumes to meet the first task? or sample resumes that could be used on future tasks? Response: We have not requested samples for tasks. 4. Submitted Question: Does section D. SPECIFIC TASKS represent the first task order's work? Is this what you would like priced? Response: Not necessarily, this is an overall summary of tasks. 5. Submitted Question: Do you want on-site and off-site pricing, or should we assume all work will be performed at the NBC with the NBC's equipment? Response: On-site pricing using NBC's equipment. 6. Submitted Question: Is the resume to be double spaced also? Response: Yes. 7. Submitted Question: Resume: Are you looking for just the PM's resume? Considering this is a non-personal services IDIQ contract, it makes sense not to ask for many resumes at this point. Response: "Sample" resumes may be submitted for all categories at the offeror's discretion. 8. Submitted Question: How many IDIQ awards are anticipated? Response: 1 9. Submitted Question: Is the resume that is required just an example resume, or must it be a resume that we will actually have the person who up on-site? How long will the first task be for? Response: Yes. First task is from date of award through September 30, 2005. 10. Submitted Question: Do we submit proposals electronically or in hard copy? Response: Hard copy. 11. Submitted Question: Is the resume to be double spaced like the rest of the proposal? Response: See question 6. 12. Submitted Question: Do you want on-site management? Response: We are not dictating how the contractor manages its staff, but is solely responsible for its staff on site. 13. Submitted Question: Shouldn't section 4. evaluation factors be revised to better match the current SOW? Response: No. 14. Submitted Question: Is this an SCA contract? SCA is mentioned. Response: SCA was not applicable since these are professional positions. This was removed with Amendment 0004. 15. Submitted Question: Oral presentations are mentioned. When will these occur? Should our oral presentation materials be submitted with out technical proposal Response: The section about oral presentations has been deleted. 16. Submitted Question: Does the 30 page limit include a table of contents page Response: Yes. A table of contents is not necessary. 17. Submitted Question where can I find the following documents: NIST SP 800-26 NIST SP 800-53 NIST SP 800-34 Response: www.nist.gov 18. Submitted Question Also - Please consider removing the requirement for "sample" resumes. Companies, including ours, will be spending the next 2 weeks developing the perfect resumes that will be "samples" and will not represent the staff we would be able to place at NBC. It will all boil down to who can write the best resume(s) and tweak them so they sound great. Everyone has access to monster.com and can find many resumes. Also it appears you now only want 1 sample resume? Response: You may provide either actual or sample resumes for potential contractor personnel. Resume was a typo and should have been plural. Correction will be on Amendment 0005. 19. Submitted Question: The rates you are requesting - are these to be for full time employees? Response: These are fully burdened hourly rates. 20. Submitted Question: Rates will vary for either part-time or short-term projects. Obviously employing someone for 2 weeks will be very expensive on an hourly basis compared to hiring someone for 2 years. We suggest you request company multipliers (example: x1.75) that include everything instead of asking for rates of unknown labor categories. This will allow an eveb comparison of all companies and will also allow youth see how competitive a company can be. Response: We are requesting fixed unit prices. Each set of requirements will be defined by each task order. 21. Submitted Question: Section J: where is Clause "DOI Contractor Personnel Security & Suitability Requirements-NBC Sept 2004? It refers to the background investigation contractor personnel will have to obtain (paid by DOI). Please provide us information so we may review this clause. We attempted to review these by searching on DOI.gov but found no such clause Response: Clause will be added in Amendment 0005. 22. Submitted Question: Section J: Contractor will perform an annual self assessment in accordance with NIST SP800-26 on all MAs, GSSs and outsourced applications in production. What are MAs and GSSs? Response: MA - Major Applications, GSS - General Support Systems 23. Submitted Question: Section F refers to Place of Performance as being NBC's Denver office or one of many NBC offices or client sites. If all work will be performed within NBC or client offices, why is the following required of the contractor? The solicitation never mentions these systems to be accessed from the vendor's facilities Self Assessment NIST SP800-26 on all MAs & GSSs? Vulnerability Analysis Systems scanned monthly with a tool compatible with the software in use by the OCIO. What software tool is the OCIO using for DOI vulnerability analysis? Penetration Testing: Of all high risk systems accessible from the internet Security Controls: Contractors are to comply with NIST SP800-53 or FIPS 200. Solicitations are to include the complete publication or a reference to it. Contingency Plan: Contractors are to submit a plan in accordance with NIST SP800-34 or a reference to it Response: These are part of the IT Security requirements as directed by DOI memo from Hord Tipton, 8/04 24. Submitted Question: Section K: Contractor Responsibilities. SOW #2 (NBCR05021/0002) had a list of reports to be submitted on the 5th workday of each month. The new solicitation has omitted the list of reports under Section K, 10. Why is this? Response: We only need one QA report a month. 25. Submitted Question: What are the new evaluation criteria referred to in Part L, (c), (2)? Response: This remains unchanged from original solicitation. 26. Submitted Question: How many individual contractors are onsite at NBC representing the incumbent? What labor categories are they assigned to? Response: Currently there are 5 full-time and 2 part-time staff. Categories are 2 IT Specialists, 3 Software Engineers, 2 full time, and 1 part time, respectively; 2 Sr. Systems Analysts, 1 full time and 1 part time. 27. Submitted Question: Why did NBC decide to remove the six labor categories represented in SOW 1 and SOW 2? It appears that it is now up to the respondents to propose labor categories in SOW 3. Response: This is up to the contractor to propose labor categories to fulfill the requirements of each Task Order. 28. Submitted Question: Will NBC be posting all questions and responses to FBO/IDEAS-EC? Response: Yes. 29. Submitted Question: Please define what you mean by "text shall be double spaced" on page 12 of Amendment 4? This seems like it would limit the response to 15 pages as opposed to 30 pages. Response: Double-spaced means double-spaced. Either way, the technical proposals are to be no more than 30 pages long. 30. Submitted Question: Amendment 4 does not include information on preparing Supplemental Information as specified in Amendment 2--are we to assume that Supplemental Information is no longer required as part of the Technical and Management Proposal? Response: Supplemental Information part was removed as it was replaced by separate pricing and technical management proposal instructions. 31. Submitted Question: Is it the intention of the NBC to still use the evaluation criteria established in the original solicitation on page 13? Response: Yes. 32. Submitted Question: How will past performance be evaluated? Response: Reference checks as well as other methods as determined by technical and acquisition personnel will be used. 33. Submitted Question: What specific information are you looking for in regards to subcontracting plans and agreements? Response: Because this is an 8(a) set aside, Subcontracts/formal subcontracting plans are not required, however the prime must perform at least 51% of the work. 34. Submitted Question Are past performances limited to a certain period of time (i.e. within 5 years)? Response: No. 35. Submitted Question: Are there any limitations to sub-contracting? (i.e. are offerers restricted to teaming with only other 8(a) s or small businesses) Response: See response to question 33. 36. Submitted Question: On page 4 of amendment 4, the specific task states that the contractor will respond to NBC staff inquiries, as required, for the following custom software applications and interfaces--would this be in the form of Help Desk support for end users? Response: Either help-desk calls, meetings or face-to-face. 37. Submitted Question: SOW, Page 2. The Interface Development section refers to a completed project. The three interfaces to which the section refers were developed and delivered to USGS several years ago. Interface maintenance is provided by USGS. Was this requirement included in error Response: This was only a sample. 38. Submitted Question: SOW, Page 3. The Web Application Development section includes the same description included under Interface Development on page 2. Is this an error Response: Yes. The Web Application Development section was been removed. 39. Submitted Question: SOW, Page 3. The Oracle Federal Financial System Support, Technical Writing, and Custom Software Maintenance and Support sections do not include a projected level of effort (i.e. number of clients, users, applications, etc.). Is it the NBC's expectation that cost proposals will contain base hourly rates only for proposed labor categories? Response: Yes, but fully burdened. 40. Submitted Question: There appears to be a discrepancy between the SOW and the responses to Questions No. 18 and 33. The SOW states that the 30 page limit on the Technical and Management Proposal includes resumes, implying that resumes are a requirement of the proposal. The response to Question No. 18 seems to indicate that resumes are required and may be limited to two pages each. The response to Question No. 33 states that sample resumes are acceptable; however, it gives no indication if they are required and if they count against the page limit. Normally, resumes are exempt from the page limit to permit a fair comparison among proposals that include different resource levels. Please clarify (1) if we are required to propose specific staff and include their resumes for this solicitation (2) if sample resumes are an acceptable substitute for proposing specific staff at this time (3) if actual or samples resumes are subject to a 2 page limit and (4) if either actual or sample resumes count against the 30 page limit. Response: (1) Specific staff resumes are preferred, (2) Yes, (3) Yes, and (4) All resumes, either real or samples, count against the 30 page limit. 41. Submitted Question: SOW, Page 12. Do examples of relevant past performance count against the 30 page limit Response: Yes. 42. Submitted Question: SOW, Page2 and 5 & Question Responses There appears to be discrepancies among the SOW and the responses to Questions No. 2, 5, 43, and 58 regarding which financial systems are to be supported. Question No. 2 specifies Oracle and Momentum Question No. 5 specifies Oracle, Momentum, and FFS Questions No. 43 and 58 specify Oracle The SOW (Page 5) requires that the contractor provide staff with expertise in Oracle Federal Financials, Momentum, and the Federal Financial System. It appears that the NBC's requirement would include support for Momentum, Oracle Federal Financials, and FFS. Please confirm if this is the case. Response: We need support for Oracle, FFS, and Momentum. 43. Submitted Question: M. PRICE SCHEDULE INSTRUCTIONS: a. Offers shall provide a list of all skill categories that the offeror determines are needed in performance of the Statement of Work. .....There is no limit on number of skill categories. However, Offerors should not include categories that are not specific to the requirement." You don't want a resume for every category we price do you? To give NBC flexibility in the future, we plan on offering multiple levels (senior, intermediate, junior) of multiple labor categories. Response: Sample resumes for all potential categories are acceptable. What we do not want are irrelevant categories (i.e. secretary, accountant and, etc.) 44. Submitted Question: As new tasks are requested in the future, under this IDIQ contract, will we have the opportunity to add new labor categories at that time? Or are we locked into the list of labor categories we give you now? Response: We are limited to the scope of the contract and SBA's limitations. 45. Submitted Question: "I Technical and Management Proposal Orig + 4 Copies shall be no more then 30 pages including Resume". What resume (singular) are you looking for? Our Project Manager's resume? Response: See question 18. Actual or "sample" resumes apply to for all current or future positions. 46. Submitted Question: "Clin Skill Category Unit Rate" Cost tables do not currently include Estimated Quantity. Was this an error? Response: No. 47. Submitted Question: We assume you would like Units to be in hours. Is this correct Response: Yes, unit hours are acceptable. 48. Submitted Question: SPECIFIC TASKS The contractor shall provide staff to fulfill the following tasks/duties: Question - Does section D, Specific Tasks represent the contents of the first anticipated task order Response: No, this was a general list for this SOW. 49. Submitted Question Please consider the following question regarding the use of subcontractors. It is understood that the winning offeror must provide 51% of the work done. Page 27, Section 13, paragraph 5, parts (b) states that the offeror subcontractor agree and acknowledge "that it will, for and on behalf of the SBA, fulfill and perform all of the requirements of the contract." and (c) states "The offeror/subcontractor agrees that it will not subcontract the performance of any of the requirements of this subcontract to any lower tier subcontractor without the prior written approval of the SBA and the cognizant Contracting Officer of the DOI-National Business Center." For (b) does this mean that the companies identified in the proposal must be able to perform all of the services described in the solicitation For (c) does this mean that if the companies identified in the proposal are unable to perform a requested service, for an unforeseen reason, that we may, with prior approval, provide the service through an additional, new subcontractor? Response: See paragraph (a) under SECTION 8(A) AWARD. This applies to SBA as the prime contractor. The "subcontractor" referred to in this FAR clause is actually the vendor. 50. Submitted Question: Please remove the requirement for resumes or allow free access to incumbent staff. Response: Resumes are still required and we cannot authorize access to incumbent staff. 51. Submitted Question: Will NBC be providing ergonomically correct furniture to our on-site staff Response: Yes, but equipment is provided "as is". 52. Submitted Question: We did not notice a requirement for English speaking. Must our on-site staff speak English Response: Yes. 53. Submitted Question: Are there any current or potential requirements for security clearances Response: Yes. This is required by DOI. See amendment 0005. 54. Submitted Question: Can employees telecommute Response: This is up to the employer. 55. Submitted Question: You ask for a description of our "management" but it appears you will be managing the projects? What type of management are you looking for Response: The government will manage the projects but the contractors will manage the contract work. 56. Submitted Question: Will staff placed on-site and work side-by-side with Government employees? Response: Performance is anticipated to be on site (See F. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE) and workspace will be in areas designated to the contractor. 57. Submitted Question Since we do not have access to the incumbents and you are requesting pricing for the incumbent positions, there is no way to accurately price them. Can you compare corporate overheads/multipliers of the bidders instead of requesting generic labor category hourly pricing Response: We are leaving the positions to the contractor's discretion and not the incumbent positions because different companies have different titles for positions, and can accomplish work in different ways. 58. Submitted Question: What is the dress code policy of NBC? Is there a casual Friday Response: There is no dress code - business attire is recommended and should be specified by the contractor. On Fridays, business casual attire is allowed. 59. Submitted Question: What is the dating policy? Can contractors date NBC employees? Please define dating so there is no confusion later. We have seen this become an issue as staff work together into the late hours on financial implementation projects. Response: Any fraternizing between contractor employee and government employees carries liabilities under stringent ethics statutes. Prudent contractors should establish their own policies consistent with government statutes. We recommend that you seek advice from your own legal counsel.
 

Web Link

Please click here to view more details.
(http://ideasec.nbc.gov/j2ee/announcementdetail.jsp?serverId=NB140101&objId=159254)
 

Place of Performance

Address: Denver, CO

Zip Code: 80235

Country: us
 

Record

SN00809717-W 20050519/050517212545 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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