Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF AUGUST 22, 2002 FBO #0263
MODIFICATION

R -- Technical Engineering Services and Policy Support

Notice Date

8/20/2002
 

Notice Type

Modification
 

Contracting Office

Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Administration, Division of Contracts and Property Management, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, 20852-2738
 

ZIP Code

20852-2738
 

Solicitation Number

RS-ACR-02-300
 

Response Due

8/30/2002
 

Point of Contact

Joyce Fields, Senior Contract Specialist, Phone (301) 415-6564, Fax (301) 415-8157,
 

E-Mail Address

jaf1@nrc.gov
 

Description

THIS IS AMENDMENT THREE TO NRC'S SOLICITATION NO. RS-ACR-02-300 ENTITLED "TECHNICAL ENGINEERING SERVICES AND POLICY SUPPORT". The closing date for receipt of all proposals in response to this solicitation is changed from 3:00 PM, on 8/26/02 to 1:00 PM, NRC local time, on 8/30/02. The following are responses to questions received from from offerors, regarding this solicitation. 1. Senior Fellow Type Services: It is IST's understanding that the contracted position is intended to provide Senior Fellow type technical and advisory services and support to both the ACRS and the ACNW. Is the above statement a correct understanding of the contracted position type-of-services? Response: Yes. The contracted position is intended to provide technical service and support to both the ACRS and the ACNW. 2. Technical Resource Pool: Based on the scope of topics that could potentially be assigned under this contract, the breadth of topics mostly likely will go beyond the experience base of any individual consultant. Therefore, it is concluded that it is the USNRC's intent for this contract is to provide a technical resource pool of highly skilled and experienced senior personnel who can be assigned accordingly to specialized ACRS and ACNW task assignments. Is the above conclusion a correct understanding of the USNRC's intent? Please clarify. Response: Proposals for either a resource pool of available personnel or a single individual are acceptable. It is not the USNRC's intent to preclude proposals involving a single individual. 3. Personnel - Reference Check Qualifications: If this contract is to be a technical resource pool, it is recognized the USNRC will qualify the key contractor consultant(s) as part of the contract review and ratification process. Is it the USNRC's intent regarding other potential project consultants: (a) to qualify (reference check) each individual consultant at the time of contract negotiations, or (b) to qualify (reference check) each individual consultant when they are identified during the performance period as a resource commensurate with a specific task assignment? Please clarify intent and approach. Response: It is the USNRC's intent to qualify individual proposed consultants during the proposal evaluation phase of the procurement. 4. Concurrent or Sequential Level-of Effort: The Solicitation (Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, Section 3. Estimate of Effort) states that the contract authorization will be for 2,087 man-hours (one FTE) for a base 12-month period (FY 2003). The Solicitation (Section 4. Options and Surge Periods) also states that the USNRC could authorize funding for two additional 12-month periods (FTEs) to support "surges and options." Will the two one-year (FTEs) options (if exercised by the USNRC) be concurrent with the base year (all in FY 2003) or will they be option years (FY 2003, FY 2004, FY 2005) sequential to the base year? Please clarify. Response: The two one-year (FTE) options are for FY 2004 (one-year) and for FY 2005 (one-year), and will follow the base year, if exercised. 5. Fixed Fully Loaded Hourly Rate Structure: The Solicitation (Modification 01, Section PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS PRICING) states the following: "The fixed fully loaded hourly rate under this contract shall include ALL CHARGES, direct, indirect, etc, costs." The Solicitation (Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, Section 4. Options and Surge Periods) identifies the travel (a direct cost element) requirement without definition. IST recognizes that there is the potential for travel within the United States and to international nuclear sites (reactor, and/or repository) in, for example but not limited to, Czech Republic, Russia, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Canada, and South Africa. Based on the international travel potential, the direct costs for travel can be extensive. Is it the USNRC's intent that the hourly rate and travel directs be structured as follows: a. the fixed fully loaded hourly rate shall include all labor, indirect, and all direct costs including a contingency covering estimated direct costs (there would be no direct cost funding allocation in the contract for any travel direct costs); ORb. the fixed fully loaded hourly rate shall include all labor, indirect, and direct costs except travel directs (air fare, subsistence, lodging, auto rental) for which a separate travel direct cost authorization (estimated) shall be established for the subject contract? Please advise. Response: Travel directs (air fare, subsistence, lodging, auto rental, and incidental travel expenses) will be paid by the NRC for any NRC authorized travel. The loaded fixed labor rate includes all charges except travel costs. A not to exceed annual cost ceiling will be established in the awarded contract for local and domestic travel. The ceiling may be in creased by the NRC Contracting Officer, during the contract period, if deemed necessary. 6. Travel: The Solicitation (Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, Section 6. Government Furnished Equipment, Facilities, and Service) states that the USNRC will provide all resources needed when the contracted consultant is working in the ACRS/ACNW office. It is concluded that the contract consultant must use his own resources for travel planning and scheduling. The USNRC "Travel Office" resource to plan and schedule needed travel for the contracted consultant is or is not within the context of the referenced Section 6? Please clarify. Response: The USNRC "Travel Office" will be the resource used by the contract consultant to plan and schedule all NRC authorized travel. 7. International Agreements of Nuclear Cooperation The Solicitation (Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, Section E. Experience, Skills, and Standards of Performance) states, " Working knowledge of evolutionary and advanced reactor designs currently under consideration in the United States and foreign countries. IST has extensive experience regarding evolutionary and advanced reactor programs in the United States and at international sites and has had direct working relations with international program principals. In consideration of International Agreements of Nuclear Cooperation and IST's direct experience, it is concluded that the international programs can be a resource for the contracted consultant to support ACRS/ACNW assigned tasks. Is the above statement a correct understanding of the interface and use of international resources? Please advise. Response: International programs can be a resource for the contracted consultant subject to any restrictions that exist for NRC access to this information. 8. Laptop Computer Please advise regarding USNRC policy for the use of personal laptop computers (contractor owned) in the ACRS/ACNW office by the contractor's key personnel. Response: Contractor owned laptops can be used subject to proper measures being taken to protect stored information. Use of contractor owned laptops would be subject to the same restrictions as the use of laptops owned by ACRS/ACNW members and staff. 9. The solicitation estimates that 2,087 hours or effort will be required annually. This is approximately one man-year. Moreover, the solicitation implies that the contractor should propose one fixed priced fully loaded hourly rate. Finally, the solicitation states that "individuals performing work must be available on essentially a full-time basis." All of the foregoing suggests that the NRC is looking for one, full-time, dedicated individual. However, the experience, skills, and expected standards of performance suggest that a number of individuals will be required to cover the diverse elements of the statement of work. How can a number of individuals be committed on a full-time basis if each will be used only a fraction of the time? How can one fixed hourly rate be proposed for a number of individuals with varying rates? Response: Proposals for a resource pool of available personnel or a single individual are acceptable. Proposals which utilize a number of individuals with expertise in particular areas, rather than a single individual, must commit to making these individuals available as needed by the ACRS and ACNW. 10. What will be the conflict-of-interest requirements imposed on the contractor and on the employees/consultants individually? Response: Please refer to the Organizational Conflict of Interest provisions 48 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Subpart 2009.570-1 (NRC Organizational Conflict of Interest), and 48 CFR Subpart 2052.209-72 and 73 (NRC Organizational Conflict of Interest). For example, specific emphasis should be placed by the Offeror on the prohibition against review of its own work. Please refer to Amendment Five to NRC's Solicitation No. RS-ACR-02-300 for additional information regarding NRC's Conflicts of Interest provisions. 11. Is there a small business subcontracting requirement for this procurement? Response: No. A subcontracting requirement is applicable for all large businesses, as provided for under the appropriate Federal Acquisition Regulations. 12. How can the various prospective bidders be identified? Response: As referenced in Amendment No. Two to Solicitation No. RS-ACR-02-300, a separate amendment will be issued that provides a listing of the names of companies interested in teaming arrangement in performance of the required services. This will be the only listing available. All information, including amendments, regarding this solicitation is posted at the www.fedbizopps website. Consequently, the NRC does not know who the various prospective bidders are/will be for the requirement as we are not provided such notification from Fedbizopps, of the various parties viewing the website in regards to the NRC's requirement. 13. Is there an incumbent currently serving the ACRS and ACNW? Response: There is not an incumbent serving the ACRS and ACNW performing the work described in this solicitation. 14. Is there a potential for multiple awards as a result of this solicitation? Response: The intent is that one contract will be awarded. 15. Should the option periods referred to in the SOW be considered concurrent (e.g. up to 3 full time equivalent (FTE) in the performance period) or sequential (e.g. 1 FTE each for three years)? Response: The two one-year (FTE) options are for FY 2004 (one-year) and for FY 2005 (one-year), and will follow the base year, if exercised. 16. Will the cost of travel required of the contractor from the Washington DC area to other venues be borne by the NRC? Response: Travel directs (air fare, subsistence, lodging, auto rental, and incidental travel expenses) will be paid by the NRC for any NRC authorized travel. The loaded fixed labor rate includes all charges except travel costs. A not to exceed annual cost ceiling will be established in the awarded contract for local and domestic travel. The ceiling may be in creased by the NRC Contracting Officer, during the contract period, if deemed necessary. 17. What is the minimum bases documentation (e.g. bases for overhead multipliers, bases for labor rates, profit margin stipulation) does NRC require in the Cost Proposal? Response: There is no minimum bases documentation. All offerors are required to provide cost information that substantiates allocable and allowable bases for the proposed overhead, labor and profit. 18. Is there a preferred format for addressing the FAR provisions and clauses within the management portion of the Technical and Management Proposal? Response: No. 19. Would involvement of a potential contractor in work for any of the NRC offices constitute a situation of conflict of interest for the present solicitation? Response: Please refer to the Organizational Conflict of Interest provisions 48 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Subpart 2009.570-1 (NRC Organizational Conflict of Interest), and 48 CFR Subpart 2052.209-72 and 73 (NRC Organizational Conflict of Interest). For example, specific emphasis should be placed by the Offeror on the prohibition against review of its own work. Please refer to Amendment Five to NRC's Solicitation No. RS-ACR-02-300 for additional information regarding NRC's Conflicts of Interest provisions. 20. Does NRC require either: (a) One contractor individual with all the required expertise to be attached to ACRS/ACNW offices as technical support on a full-time basis, or (b) Several contractor staff each having expertise in specific areas fulfill the Government requirements? Response: Proposals for either a resource pool of available personnel or a single individual are acceptable. It is not the USNRC's intent to preclude proposals involving a single individual. 21. Can potential contractors include external (to the contractor organization) consultants for some of the technical areas listed in the solicitation? Response: Offerors are not prohibited from proposing the use of subcontractors. 22. For cost/pricing purposes - How many trips and to what US or international locations should be considered? Response: Travel directs (air fare, subsistence, lodging, auto rental, and incidental travel expenses) will be paid by the NRC for any NRC authorized travel. The loaded fixed labor rate includes all charges except travel costs. A not to exceed annual cost ceiling will be established in the awarded contract for local and domestic travel. The ceiling may be in creased by the NRC Contracting Officer, during the contract period, if deemed necessary. 23. If a company is awarded this contract, will this contract with the ACRS/ACNW disallow, in any way, that same company from doing work for NRC's Offices of Research, NMSS, or Nuclear Reactor Regulation? In other words, is there an imposed intra-NRC conflict-of-interest provision that would compromise the company's ability to obtain work from the non-ACRS non ACNW part of NRC? Response: Please refer to the Organizational Conflict of Interest provisions 48 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Subpart 2009.570-1 (NRC Organizational Conflict of Interest), and 48 CFR Subpart 2052.209-72 and 73 (NRC Organizational Conflict of Interest). For example, specific emphasis should be placed by the Offeror on the prohibition against review of its own work. Please refer to Amendment Five to NRC's Solicitation No. RS-ACR-02-300 for additional information regarding NRC's Conflicts of Interest provisions. 24. The announcement states that "The contractor will provide services on a fixed priced fully loaded hourly basis." Is the following statement regarding this provision correct?: Say, for example, that an Offeror proposes six individuals who together meet the SOW qualifications. The Offeror will provide in the proposal the fixed hourly rates for each of the proposed individuals (and any escalation in those hourly rates over the total period of performance). The Offeror will not provide an estimated total cost for the base year (2087 person-hours over a 12-month period) for that mix of individuals. Response: The total annual level of effort for this contract is 2087. Each Offeror is required to propose a total cost for each year (base year and option years) based on either a resource pool of available personnel or a single individual. 25. Please provide instructions regarding the hand delivery of proposals to the USNRC White Flint facility on 26 August 2002. Response: All hand-carried proposals including those made by private delivery services (e.g., Federal Express and Airborne Express) must be delivered to the NRC loading dock security station located at 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852 and received in the depository located in Room T-7-I-2. All offerors shall allow extra time for internal mail distribution. NRC is a secure facility with perimeter access-control and NRC personnel are not available to receive hand-carried offers except during normal working hours, 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. *****END OF AMENDMENT THREE
 

Place of Performance

Address: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20814

Country: United States
 

Record

SN00146197-W 20020822/020821010628 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

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

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