The purpose of this amendment is to provide responses to questions received, provide a deadline for questions, and extend the duedate. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TO SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION #09-AACR-LFF 1. Can you supply an estimated volume for all types of reports and identify if there are any peak periods? ANSWER: An estimate volume of reports from the three national credit bureaus are: Fiscal Year: - 09 '10 - 11 - 12 - 13 Collection Credit Report: 550 605 666 733 806 Credit Report from a single bureau: 1268 1395 1535 1689 1858 Credit Report from a dual-merge (2 bureaus): 1055 1161 1277 1405 1546 Credit Report from a tri-merge (3 bureaus) __0__ 2. Please advise the purpose (or program) for requesting credit reports and under what circumstances would a single, double, or three-bureau report be required? For example, will access to the credit reports support a hiring decision, a financial decision, or help locate - deadbeat parents. ANSWER: The resulting credit reports will assist in administering loan repayments for the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration National Health Service Corps and Nursing Education Loan Repayment programs. 3. If access to credit reports will support a financial or hiring/security decision, how will the evaluation criteria consider the use of alternative capabilities that address the estimated 15-30% of individuals (depending upon the population) who have a - no file or - thin file credit report? ANSWER: We have not had any applicants who had a - no file or - thin file credit report, therefore, there has been no need for using alternative evaluation criteria. 4. Is this a new requirement or is there an incumbent? ANSWER: This is a new requirement. The previous contractor was Credit Bureau Services of Texas. 5. What type of contract will be awarded / acquisition strategy for this solicitation? ANSWER: The type of contract that will be awarded will be a Blanket Purchase Agreement. 6. a) To ensure Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) compliance, what is the intended use of the Credit Report? ANSWER: The resulting credit reports will assist in determining if applicants are eligible for loan repayment awards and scholarships for the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment and Scholarships Program, and Nursing Education Loan Repayment (NELR) Program. b) Will this be the same for the Collection Credit Report? ANSWER: No, this report will be used to locate participants who address has changed and the program was not notified. 7. a) Who will be requesting and using the Credit Reports? ANSWER: Federal staff members who will be reviewing program applications to determine applicant eligibility for NHSC loan repayment awards and scholarships and NELR awards. b) Will the same people be using the Collection Credit Report? ANSWER: No, staff members who will use this report are responsible for monitoring service for participants of the NHSC Loan Repayment and Scholarship Programs and the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program. 8. a) What industry(s) do the people using the Credit Report fall under? ANSWER: The industry is the Federal Government; and staffs are Federal Government employees. b) Does this also apply to the Collection Credit Report? ANSWER: Yes. 9. What is the estimated monthly volume for the Credit Report? Is there a seasonality impact where volumes may be higher at certain times of the year? ANSWER: Approximately 250 reports; and the volumes may be higher January through May. 10. What is the estimated monthly volume for the Collection Credit Report? Is there also a seasonality impact where volumes may be higher at certain times of the year? ANSWER: Approximately 60 reports; and there is no seasonal impact. 11. Do you have a formal RFQ that you can share with us? ANSWER: This notice is a combined synopsis / solicitation. 12. a) Please further define the Collection Credit Report? ANSWER: Collection Credit Reports are generated using applicant's name and social security only. b) What specific information are you looking for? ANSWER: Current home address. c) Are you only looking for current and previous addresses and telephone numbers? ANSWER: Yes. 13. a) What input information will you have on-hand? ANSWER: First name, last name, address, and social security number. b) Will you always have the following fields: FirstName, LastName, Address and Social Security number? ANSWER: Yes. 14. You indicated that "Offerors must include a copy of the provision at 52.212-3 with the offer." Is the attached document the correct 52-212-3 doc? If no, where can I download a copy of this provision? ANSWER: The correct citation is FAR 52.212-3. You can find the representations and certifications necessary for this procurement at http://orca.bpn.gov. This site also has a link to FAR 52.212-3. 15. Is the above provision the only required attachment to the response? The following link is what I have for the solicitation, I am not sure if there's a more comprehensive one that answers my questions. If there is, please provide a link or the doc. ANSWER: The requirement of 52.212.2(a) must be provided as well. See combined synopsis / solicitation. 16. Is this an existing database and software interface (web-based portal) or should the design and maintenance be included in the proposal? ANSWER: No. There is no existing database. Please refer back to the description of our need which is our credit bureau report accessibility. 17. Estimated volumes if any, meaning, credit data of how many people shall we maintain in the above mentioned website? ANSWER: No website is required. 18. Is the credit data maintenance a continuous daily process for this above population so that the applicants can access and view their current credit records whenever they feel like, or we shall update the credit records of the applicants only when they request it? ANSWER: No credit data maintenance is required. 19. Any idea on the number of data fields per credit report? ANSWER: No. We are not creating or maintaining a database of any type. 20. For the credit report shall we retrieve data from all the 3 sources as a standard practice, or it is request-based? ANSWER: Requested based on call. 21. Turn around time? ANSWER: Real time 24 hours online accessibility 7 days a week. 22. Is it possible to do any of the work offshore? ANSWER: No. Questions for this solicitation must be submitted in writing via e-mail (
contact@example.gov) no later than December 2, 2008 at 12 NOON EST. Questions received after the deadline will not be accepted. The deadline for submission of proposals has been extended to December 23, 2008 at 10 am EST.
