Project Management Office Support Services

Questions and Responses 1. The quantity of hours listed for each labor category under the base year and all option years on pages 3 -8 of the solicitation is 2000. Since the base year is only 3 months long should offers use a pro-rated 500 hours per labor category when developing the pricing for the base year? Response: The Base year will be from July 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014. Therefore use 1286 hours for the Base Year. 2. Should the offeror add in an estimated travel amount per year for pricing purposes or will the government provide an estimated amount? Response: The estimated amount for travel is $300.00/year. 3. Who are the executive sponsors responsible for this PMO solicitation? Response: Simon Szykman, Chief Information Officer (CIO) 4. Is there an incumbent for this effort and is the incumbent able to participate in the solicitation? Response: Yes, there is an incumbent, and the incumbent is free to participate in the solicitation. 5. As this is procurement for a BPA, please advise which, if any positions are considered key, as Key Personnel are typically identified at the task order level. Response: The Project Manager and Business Resource Analyst for the first BPA call are key positions. Each subsequent call will identify key positions. 6. Given the importance of completely avoiding any perceived or actual conflicts of interest, are current IT vendors who perform work at Commerce Headquarters conflicted out of bidding on the solicitation? Response: All vendors must abide by the terms and conditions of their respective contract. However there is no overall prohibition concerning current IT vendors bidding on the solicitation. 7. If the winning bidder performs acquisition related support services for OCIO, would they be conflicted out of subsequent solicitations at the Department of Commerce? Response: CAR 1352.209-71 - Limitation of Future Contracting - Alt II applies. Which states, "(a) (2) The contractor shall participate in the technical evaluation of other contractors' proposals or products. To ensure objectivity, the contractor is precluded from award of any supply or service contract or subcontract for the system or its major components. This restriction shall be effective for the life of the contract. 8. Would the government grant bidders a two week extension? Response: The closing date has been amended to read as June 6, 2013 by 1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. 9. In the pricing template, 2000 hours are listed for each position for base year and option years. Given the base year is shorter than an option year, can we assume these amounts are for evaluation purposes only. Is this correct? Response: The Base year will be from July 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014. Therefore use 1286 hours for the Base Year. 10. If the hours are for evaluation purposes, is there an estimate of the expected number of task orders and level of effort under this BPA? Response: Not sure at this time. 11. The RFQ states that Offerors email their submissions and then also states the Offer should provide submissions via hard copy and CD. Will the Government confirm that submitting submission via email only is sufficient? Response: Please submit Email copies, four (4) hard copies and a CD ROM. 12. Will the Government confirm that the Subcontracting Plan is outside of page count? Response: The Subcontracting Plan is outside of the page count, the Subcontracting Plan page limit is 10 pages. 13. Will the Government clarify if we are restricted to the 5 labor categories listed in the RFQ? Response: Yes, please use the 5 labor categories listed in the RFQ. 14. There were 5 primary objectives listed on page 14 of the SOW, but it appears that one of them (2) IT approach and technology trends, may be missing from the "Section d. Requirements." Response: There is not a requirement for the objectives of the PMO to be identical to the requirements of this RFQ. 15. Attachment 1, Page 12, Page Limitation: The RFQ reads: "Excluding the cover page, r'sum's and past performance forms and questionnaires, the Technical Proposal (including all non-price factors) is limited to ten (10) pages, single spaced and double sided with at least 11 point font and 1" margins." Q: Would the DOC clarify if the ten (10) pages represent 10 printed pages (5 sheets) or 10 sheets (20 printed pages)? Response: 10 double-sided pages. 16. Attachment 2, Page 23, XIII. SECURITY REQUIREMENTS. The RFQ reads: "As specified by individual BPA calls, security clearances may be required. Clearances are issued by the Defense Security Service commensurate with the level of access required, prior to BPA call performance." Does DOC anticipate any clearance requirement at the SECRET or TS level? If so, will DOC sponsor the contractor for a Facility Clearance? Response: No we do not anticipate any clearance requirement at the SECRET or TS levels. 17. SF1449, Schedule of Supplies and Services identifies CLIN 6 (Travel) in each contract period, but does not identify a basis of cost. Q: Will the DOC provide an estimated $ value for Travel for each period? Response: The estimated amount for travel is $300.00/year. 18. SF1449, Schedule of Supplies and Services identifies labor CLINs 1 through 5 in each contract period. Q: Will all five (5) labor categories be funded at contract start? Response: No, all five (5) labor categories will not be funded at contract start. Please see the RFQ correction/clarification - The Project Manager and Business Resource Analyst will be funded at contract start. 19. On an annual basis, approximately how many BPA calls does DOC expect to award? Response: At this point we can only confirm the one BPA call that is included in the RFQ in Attachment 2. 20. What is the average size expected for each BPA call (in budget dollars)? Response: We do not know at this time. 21. The RFQ states a ceiling of $100M over 5 years. This averages $20M annually. Does DOC expect to issue and award BPA calls near this number annually? Response: Please see Amendment 1 for the correction, the ceiling should be $20M total over 5 years. 22. Can DOC provide an expected annual budget associated with this RFQ? Response: Please see Amendment 1 for the correction, the ceiling should be $20M total over 5 years. 23. The RFQ states that the BPA will commence within 2 weeks of the award date. How soon after the award will the first BPA call be issued? Response: The first BPA will be awarded within 2 weeks of the award date. 24. Is there a call associated with the award of the BPA? Response: Yes, the call is Attachment 2 of the RFQ. 25. Should submissions include rates-only associated with the listed labor categories (e.g. Item Numbers x001, x002, x003, x004, x005)? Response: Yes, rates are required only for the listed labor categories. 26. If so, could you confirm that submissions should NOT include a named team? Response: Please provide named team members and resumes for the (1) Project Manager and (2) Business/Resource Analyst only. 27. Will the labor categories in the BPA compose the labor categories for upcoming calls? Response: Each call will include those labor categories required to complete the task. There is not a requirement to use all labor categories. 28. Are resumes listed in the RFQ response expected to be the personnel to support BPA calls? Response: Yes, resumes for the Project Manager and the Business Resource Analyst are expected to be the personnel for the first call. 29. Are any of these positions key? Response: Yes, the Project Manager and Business Resource Analyst for the first BPA call are key positions. Each subsequent call will identify key positions. 30. If so, are we supposed to provide resumes for each of the five positions? Response: No, we do not need resumes for the: Senior Subject Matter Expert, Junior Analyst or Technical Lead for the proposal. 31. Is there a page limit for the resumes? Response: There is a 5 page limitation for employee's resumes. 32. For the resume requirements, the RFQ states that all staff is required to have a Bachelor's degree. Will DOC consider work experience and expertise in the labor category in lieu of a Bachelor's degree? Response: Per the RFQ staff is required to have a Bachelors degree. 33. Page 12 of the RFQ states the following about page limitation: "Excluding the cover page, r'sum's and past performance forms and questionnaires, the Technical Proposal (including all non-price factors) is limited to ten (10) pages, single spaced and double sided with at least 11point font and 1" margins." Does double-sided actually mean the response may be 20 pages? Response: 10 double-sided pages 34. The RFQ Schedule states a Base Year of July 1, 2013 through September 30, 2013 and identifies a quantity of 2000 hrs for the Project Manager, Analyst, Senior Subject Matter Consultant, Junior Analyst, and Technical Lead labor categories. Please clarify if 2000 hrs is the correct quantity for each labor category given that the base year is only three months. Response: The Base year will be from July 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014. Therefore use 1286 hours for the Base Year. 35. The RFQ Schedule provides one column to enter "Unit Price". Please clarify if offerors can bid two unit prices - on-site and off-site labor rates. Response: No, please provide on-site labor rates. 36. Is there an incumbent for the scope of work detailed in the RFQ? If so, who is it? Response: Yes, the incumbent is Al-Razaq Computing Services. 37. Given the broad scope of services requested in the RFQ, and the potential scale of the vehicle, does the Government anticipates making multiple awards? Response: No the Government does not anticipate making multiple awards. 38. Can the Government provide an estimated annual number of calls and spend under this vehicle? Response: At this point we can only confirm the one BPA call that is included in the RFQ in Attachment 2. 39. Will the usage of the BPA be limited to DOC OCIO or could it be used by other Bureaus within the Department? Response: Yes the BPA can be used by other bureaus within the Department. 40. Will DOC please confirm the period-of-performance for the base year? Response: The Base year will be from July 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014. Therefore use 1286 hours for the Base Year. 41. General. While this vehicle is a new requirement, are there any incumbent contractors performing work for the OCIO? Response: Yes, the incumbent is Al-Razaq Computing Services. 42. Attachment 2 Reports Plans and Meetings. - Are we correct that the listed deliverables apply only upon award of a subsequent BPA call order? Response: The "Reports, Plans and Meetings" deliverables describe the existing deliverables supporting the SOW advertised in solicitation. 43. The SF 1449 indicates an unrestricted solicitation; however page 27 of 55 VI. Contract Clauses includes clause 52.219-27 (Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside). Is this opportunity a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside? Response: Delete the Clause 52.219-27, the RFQ is unrestricted. 44. Is this particular BID open for all the vendors? Can we response to this RFP? Response: Only vendor holding a MOBIS Schedule 874 can submit a quote. 45. If there is an incumbent, what is the level of effort of hours that was provided previously? Response: 2000 hours. 46. Is there a preference for small business? Response: No. 47. Does the government intend to issue multiple awards under the BPA? Response: One award. 48. Page 10 of the RFQ outlines the instructions for submitting the response. The instructions state that responses can be submitted via email, but also state that a CD-ROM should be submitted. Can the government please confirm that email submission is sufficient? Response: The responses shall consist of email submission to contact@example.gov, four (4) hard copies and a CD ROM. 49. Are you considering awards to small businesses? Response: The RFQ is unrestricted. 50. Is the Government referring to the Offeror's Past Performance write up when they mention form? Or is there another form in addition to the Questionnaire that was not provided as an attachment in the solicitation? Response: Yes, use the form provided in the RFQ. See Attachment 4. 51. Will the Government provide a MS Word Version of this form to Offerors? Response: No. 52. The RFQ does not include a sample BPA call. Can DOC provide one prior to the RFQ response deadline? Response: Use Attachment 2 as the sample. 53. If they are hard copies, do you want these want these copies hand-delivered? Response: It is the responsibility of the quoter to deliver the submission by June 6, 2013 by 1:00 p.m. eastern standard time (EST). 54. If hand-delivered, to whom shall they be delivered, where, and by when? Response: Department of Commerce, Herbert C. Hoover Building, Attn: Kirk D. Boykin, Room 6521, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230-0001. 55. Standard Form 1149 Block 10 states that "This Acquisition is Unrestricted" and RFQ Attachment 3 Section VI.a. states "52.219-27 - Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside". Please clarify which competition type is correct. Response: Delete clause 52.219-27. This RFQ is unrestricted. 56. For Technical Quote Section 3, is there a standardized past performance form you want Contractors to fill out to demonstrate relevant past performance? This is separate from the Past Performance Questionnaire provided in Attachment 4. Response: Use Attachment 4 for the past performance form. 57. Attachment 2. Past Performance 3B. Can the government suggest a means to confirm to the reference and the vendor that the government has received the questionnaire response? Response: No, it is the responsibility of each quoter.