Added: November 15, 2006 Modified: November 29, 2006Track Changes
The purpose of this amendment is to respond to questions submitted in reference to Solicitation Number # HQLJR0702 ? Meeting Management and Facilitation/Strategic Planning Services for the Corporation for National and Community Service
Extension of time: This solicitation due date has been changed from November 30, 2006 to December 11, 2006, 3:00 pm (EST).
You may prepare and respond to this solicitation# HQLJR0702 through Federal Business Opportunity http://www.fedbizopps.gov/ for any updates/amendments"
This solicitation is NOT on GSA e-Buy and must be responded to as indicated below.
All responses must be emailed in PDF format to ljohnson@cns.gov or sent via courier or express mail (i.e. FedEx, DHL, USPS Overnight etc). If mailed a CD copy must accompany one original and two hardcopies of the proposal/quote." No fax requests will be honored."
Respond directly to:
Corporation for National & Community Service
1201 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20525
Attn: Lionel Johnson.
It is incumbent upon the interested parties to review this site frequently for any updates/amendments that may be issued prior to the due date. It is also incumbent upon the interested parties to call and verify their quotes/proposals have been received by the identified point of contact prior to the deadline. The Corporation is not responsible for non-transmitted email or email that is blocked by our security/firewall system."
Questions and Official Answers from the Contracting Officer/Point of Contact
1. What is the page limit for the technical response? The page limit for technical response is a maximum of 10 pages.
2. Is there a particular GSA schedule anticipated? No particular schedule.
3. Will the resulting BPA contract be T&M or FFP? It is anticipated that this BPA will have ?Calls? issued as ?Not to Exceed? containing both FFP items and Pass through cost items. It is anticipated that labor rates will be fixed per GSA schedule and that ?other? costs will be paid as a pass-through item.
4. For the sample meeting quote the requirements state ?D. No catering is required for this event?. Are the attendees paying for their lunches and refreshments? Yes, the sample quote is for a government employee meeting at the duty station so no catering required. To the extent actual meetings will include costs for break stations, meals and beverages, we anticipate that these will be ?pass through costs? from the hotel or meeting space and thus are not in any case germane to the sample quote.
5. How should we present materials on the past performance, the Sample Bid, and the cost information? Or is the Sample Bid the only thing we need to submit? Past Performance information shall include a listing of a minimum of three but no more than five past clients and events/activities provided for those clients. Include a point of contact, email and phone number for these sources. Actual descriptions of past performance can include up to five (5) pages of narrative description of similar work performed in the past as well as copies of past work product.
6. What should the Sample Bid consist of? Should it include anything other than cost and pricing information? Anything like past performance and technical approach?The sample bid should include:
A. Cost and pricing information.
B. Description of approach supporting the ?sample? event (1-2 pages of narrative)
7. Other than the cost and pricing information in the Sample Bid, should we submit any other pricing information?
A. Include the percentage ?Administrative fee? that will be attached to ?pass through? costs if any.
B. You should also include how you would propose to charge for processing honoraria and travel reimbursement for individuals attending ?Peer Review? meetings.
8. Can we email the signed quote? If hard copies are necessary, how many copies? Quotes may be sent via email in PDF format with a scanned signature or sent via mail to the address indicated in the announcement.
9. Has another company handled the job in prior years?is there an incumbent? Can you please provide: No contractor currently provides these services. This agreement is intended to provide similar services, for the Corporation?s direct benefit, as opposed to on our grantee?s behalf.
Historical Information:Two venders currently do provide some of these services for the ?Grantee? portion of the corporation. AFYA, Inc, has a three year agreement to provide meeting management services to our grantee?s. (Mark when does this end?) ESI, Inc which currently coordinates Peer Reviews of grant applications for the Corporation. This contract is set to end in December 2007.
10. Did the incumbent opt out of continuing to work with your agency? There is no incumbent, see above #9.
11. Will the incumbent company be placing a bid again for the current contract? There is no incumbent, see above #9.
12. Does the contractor need to be located in Washington, DC? No, although it is anticipated that the majority of the work let under this agreement will be for support of meetings and activities at our Headquarters in Washington, DC
13. The fictitious conference will contain upwards of 300 people. Is the meeting modeled after a Corporation ?peer review process? with all of the associated activities required by the contractor, including the listed adjunct services and the specialized support required for the peer reviewers? No. The fictitious meeting is NOT a peer review meeting, but staff training. Bids for the fictitious conference should focus on Capacities A-G and J from the Statement of Capacities section and the requirements specifically outlined for fictitious conference.
14. Regarding the two (2) meetings associated with the event:
?X Will associated meeting #1 be held at the national meeting? If not, where will it be held and which associated responsibilities will the contractor be required to perform for this meeting? Item #1 will be held at the national meeting in a breakout or small conference room. Contractor will be responsible for providing a note taker/recorder for the meeting. The meeting will be facilitated by Corporation staff.
?X In associated meeting #2?the executive retreat: Will the contractor be required to attend the 2-day executive planning meeting? The executive retreat is ? day in length. It will take place during the three day training, but have its own agenda. The contractor must have a facilitator and recorder at the event. In addition, the identified facilitator will be involved in 2 days of preparation for the meeting.
? How is this meeting related to the national meeting? Will the executive planning meeting also be generating the meeting agenda and anticipated outcomes for the national meeting? It is related in that ten (10) executives will be in town for the three day training will take time away from the three day event to attend the ? day event at HQ. The agenda and outcomes for the National meeting will be generated by Corporation staff. Contract support in formatting agenda and printing, setting-up on-line registration using Corporation?s Reg (What is this?) On-line software, developing signage for the event, are required.
? Will the contractor be responsible for any logistical arrangements for the two associated meetings, or will ?facilitation and recording during the meeting and a report documenting the content of the meeting? be the extent of the contractor?s responsibilities? No additional responsibilities beyond what is described in the Q&A and in the solicitation are required.
15. If the fictitious meeting is of another type, could you please indicate what the meeting objective is and which of the below tasks the contractor will be responsible to provide. The purpose of the fictitious meeting is to bring Corporation staff from around the country for three days of skill development, networking and recognition. This is not a Peer Review meeting for the purpose of reviewing and scoring grant applications.
16. Will the contractor need to:
a. Attend in-person planning meetings with the Corporation staff? If so, how many?
Several meetings equal to two full days, or 16 hours worth of billable time, plus expenses.
b. Identify and recruit meeting attendees and/or speakers and lecturers? NO
c. Invite all meeting attendees? If so, through which means ? print or email? NO, Invites will be handled by Corporation employees
d. Make travel arrangements and purchase tickets for attendees from outside DC? If yes, for how many attendees and from where are they traveling? NO, Corporation attendees will make their own arrangements.
e. If attendees will be reimbursed, will they be reimbursed at cost or according to the 2007 set per diem rates for DC? All Reimbursements for the fictitious meeting will be handled by the Corporation.
f. Manage honoraria for attendees? If yes, for how many attendees? No Honoraria
g. Conduct a site inspection? Yes, all short-listed hotel or meeting space should be advanced prior to booking.
h. Set up an on-site business/administrative support office? Yes
i. Design and generate all meeting materials, including invitations, name badges, brochures, program booklets, posters, agenda, etc. Badges, conference program and room signage will be required for the main, three day meeting.
j. Create a meeting logo? NO
k. Provide transcripts of the meeting? If yes, can you estimate the number of pages? NO transcripts required.
l. Provide post-meeting follow-through and reports including an executive summary and an attendee survey? No follow-up reports. An attendee survey should be developed in partnership with Corporation staff, disseminated to participants and results tabulated.
17. Regarding the A/V requirements, will the contractor be responsible for generating any of the content of these presentations, such as PowerPoint presentations? NO content required by contractor
18. Will the contractor need to assist in moderating or facilitating any portion of the event? Contractor must provide (directly or through a sub-contract) qualified facilitators and note takers for the two special meetings that take place during the event. No other moderating or facilitation is required over the three day event.
19. Can we attach to our proposal PDF documents showing past programs and agendas, registration brochures and websites, event signage, meeting logistic spreadsheets, etc? Yes, you may provide up to five pages in attachments documenting past work product. See paragraph #5.
Again, the solicitation due date has been changed from November 30, 2006 to December 11, 2006, 3:00 pm (EST).
:
Corporation for National and Community Service, Procurement, Office of Procurement Services, 1201 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20525, UNITED STATES
:
1201 New York Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20525
Attn: Lionel Johnson
20525