TEMPORARY HR SPECIALIST (Benefits)

UPDATE. ON 8/8/2018 I HAVE CORRECTED SOME INFORMATION IN THE ATTACHED SOLICITATION. PLEASE REVIEW THE SOLICITATION UPLOADED ON 8/8/2018. ALSO, IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION POSED, THIS IS A NEW REQUIREMENT AND THERE IS NOT AN INCUMBANT. **UPDATE: 8/21/2018 - The following questions have been asked and the following answers are being provided: - The solicitation package speaks of this RFQ falling under FAR 8 (GSA Schedule) yet it is posted to FBO. Can you please clarify if the vendor must be a GSA schedule holder and if so, does the vendor have to have the Benefits Support Specialist or similar on thier GSA Schedule in order to be eligible? Answer - No this solicitation is in accordance with FAR 12 and FAR 13. No GSA Schedule is not required for award. Therefore the the Benefits Support Specialist is not required on the GSA schedule becasue no Schedule is required. - Background Investigation: who will need the BI, how long will it take, would attestation regarding current BI's be acceptable? Answer - BI will be performed by USDA on the personnel whose resume has been found to be the best value to the federal government only unless that person is found to have something in their BI that casues USDA to choose the next best value. It is anticipated that the BI will be completed within 2 weeks and no longer than 4 weeks. An attestation regarding current BI obtained would be acceptable and would not take the place of the government required BI. - Is the work performed under this contract subject to SCA? What is the SCA Occupational Code? Answer - Yes this work is subject to the SCA, see the applicable clauses included in the solicitation. The Occupational Code is not determined by the contracting officer. It is the responsibility of the contractor to pay in accordance with the apporpiate occupational code. It is the contractor who would be subjected to the DOL for any infraction in regards to the SCA. - Period of performance shows a start date of June 2018 through November 2018. Is there an update as to the anticipated start date? Answer - The new anticipated start date is September of 2018 and will continue through 120 working days with an option for an additional 120 working days thereafter. - Since there is a shortage of HR Benefits Specialists with 3 years of federal experience, would the government consider revising the criteria? Answer - At this time, the federal government is not looking to revise any criteria. This should not prevent a vendor from submitting a quotation packet along with the resume(s) of potential personnel. HR will determine if the experience meets the requirements. Please know that this solicitation is being extended 1 week with a new responses due date of August 29, 2018 at 10:00am Central time. This extention is in response to the limited communication that the CO has had during the solicitation period. A vendor that has already responded to the solicitation may update or change their quotation packet up to the new response due date. The lastest emailed quotation packet will be the one used in determining the awardee. Please contact me with any questions or concerns you may have at jeremy.pouliot@aphis.usda.gov.