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Question
Please confirm whether University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is pre-qualified under the RFQ-IIA Areas of Expertise:
- Assessment of Efficacy of Emission Control Measures
- Air Quality Policy and Regulatory Analysis
Answer
Yes, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is prequalified for both areas.
Question
I have question on the following. When I read the instruction RFQ-3 limits to 3 pages. But the associated form states "Two page maximum for each area of expertise listed." Which one is right? 3 pages or 2 pages for each area for RFQ-3?
Answer
The RFQ-3 page limit is 3 pages. This will be updated in the form. Thank you for identifying the conflict.
Question
Will the proprietary costing information provided (salaries and indirect rates) be held confidential by TERC or will it be subject to the open records laws?
Answer
Because the project is funded through government resources, all information provided is subject to open records laws.
Question
On page 12 of 13 (see sentence below) I see G&A and then on page 13 #VI it says F&A - should #VI says G&A?
In addition identify and provide all applicable fringe benefit rates, equipment usage fees, allocated direct cost and negotiated indirect (G&A) rates that would be charged on each research project awarded.
Answer
Please forgive the typographical error. The statement on page 12 should read "In addition identify and provide all applicable fringe benefit rates, equipment usage fees, allocated direct cost and negotiated indirect (F&A) rates that would be charged on each research project awarded."
Question
Our firm has an approved indirect cost rate agreement with a Federal agency, however we do not have a state-negotiated agreement. Are firms that do not have a state-negotiated and approved indirect cost agreement ineligible to bid on this RFQ?
How does a firm obtain a state-negotiated and approved indirect cost agreement if we do not currently have one?
The Eligibility Section (on page 2) of the Request for Qualifications states that for-profit firms are eligible to compete under this RFQ, however the Costing Information Section (on Page 5) and Costing Form (RFQ-5) do not allow for the inclusion of administrative or indirect costs, and fee/profit. Would a cost proposal that includes these items be disqualified?
Answer
A firm with a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement is eligible to bid on this RFQ. You do not need a state-negotiated rate.
The Costing Form (RFQ-5) does allow for the inclusion of administrative or indirect costs, in section VI (Negotiated Indirect (F&A) Rate.
Although for-profit firms are eligible to bid, the RFQ does not allow fees or profit.
Question
ICF has the following questions:
Statement in RFQ: The State of Texas funding allows for state-negotiated and approved indirect costs only and a copy of the approved and negotiated rate must be enclosed at the time of proposal submission.
Question: Can ICF International use its DCAA (federally approved) indirect rates.
Statement in RFQ: Identify and provide all applicable fringe benefit rates, equipment usage fees and negotiated indirect (F&A) rates that would be charged on each research project awarded. F&A is capped at 15% and only those organizations that have a negotiated rate on file are eligible for reimbursement of F&A. Please provide a copy of the letter approving the organization's indirect cost rate. Please provide a copy of the letter approving the organization's indirect cost rate.
Question: Could you please advise what is included in F&A (is this similar to G&A) and which cost(s) are capped at 15%.
Answer
ICF International can use its DCAA indirect rate agreement as justification to request indirect costs. All requests for indirect costs are capped at 15%. As stated in UGMS, indirect costs are those: (a) incurred for a common or joint purpose benefiting more than one cost objective, and (b) not readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefited, without effort disproportionate to the results achieved. The term ``indirect costs,'' as used herein, applies to costs of this type originating in the grantee department, as well as those incurred by other departments in supplying goods, services, and facilities.
Question
Please confirm whether ENVIRON is pre-qualified under the RFQ-IIA Areas of Expertise:
- Assessment of Efficacy of Emission Control Measures
- Air Quality Policy and Regulatory Analysis
Answer
Yes, ENVIRON is pre-qualified for both areas in RFQ-IIA.
Question
Will HARC/TERC supply potential respondants with WORD versions of the various tables and forms to be filled out as part of the responses?
Answer
Yes. The pdf files have been converted to word files and can be downloaded.
Question
Is it acceptable for a firm to submit a stand-alone response in addition to being identified as a proposed team member on another response?
Answer
Yes.
Question
Please confirm whether ENVIRON is pre-qualified under the RFQ-IIA Areas of Expertise:
- Assessment of Efficacy of Emission Control Measures
- Air Quality Policy and Regulatory Analysis
Answer
Below is the old and new list of RFQ areas of expertise. If the research team has applied for all 10 of the items in the old RFG, they should be qualified for all areas of the new RFQ. However, in ENVIRON's case they need to take care that other members of the team (UT or Rice) are qualified, but ENVIRON is not. ENVIRON should contact other members of their team, to see if they want to continue working as a team, create a new team, or submit an application as an independent group.
OLD RFQ Areas (RFQ I)
- Emission inventories - Point, area and mobile. Same as New RFQ #3.
- Atmospheric chemistry - related to air quality issues, specifically ozone, PM and/or regional haze. Same as New RFQ #6.
- Meteorology - including measurements and modeling using fine resolution models. Same as New RFQ #7.
- Air monitoring research/ambient measurement: Areas of interest include adequacy of existing monitoring network, new monitoring technologies and methods, and special monitoring activities needed for research purposes. Same as New RFQ #8.
- Air quality modeling: Application of various air quality models to Houston region and possibly other Texas urban areas; Incorporating model improvements in current modeling activities; Examination of Transport effects. Same as New RFQ #5 and #9.
- Assessment and efficacy of emissions controls measures: Examples include modeling sensitivity for 1-hour and 8-hour ozone concentrations to various emission reduction strategies, sensitivity of fine PM concentrations to current or proposed requirements, and regional haze to emission reductions. Same as New RFQ #1.
- Air quality policies and regulations analysis. Two examples are given below.
- Emissions trading and markets: Areas of interest include feasibility of alternate trading regimes, and assessment of air quality implications for various market designs
- Assessment of the air quality impacts of innovative strategies and measures: Examples include energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean technologies, transportation policies, and economic incentive programs Same as New RFQ #2.
- Mobile sources: Areas of interest include mobile source modeling, mobile source emission strategies and control technologies, and non-road modeling and assessment using MOBIL6 and-or transportation demand model. Same as New RFQ #4.
- Health effects: Areas of interest include modeling or studies of human exposure that result in health effects. This program is not intended to focus on the diseases resulting from exposure to air contaminants or physiological responses themselves. Same as New RFQ #10.
NEW RFQ Areas (RFQ IIA and RFQ IIB)
- Assessment of Efficacy of Emission Control Measures
- Air Quality Policy and Regulatory Analysis
- Emission Processes and Inventories for Point and Area Sources
- Modeling and Assessment of Mobile Source Emissions
- Urban, Regional, and Transportation Planning Related to Air Quality Issues
- Atmospheric Chemistry of Ozone, PM, Regional Haze, and Air Toxics
- Meteorology
- Air Monitoring Research/Ambient Measurement
- Air Quality Modeling Research
- Human Exposure Research
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| Page Updated/Reviewed: 02/19/2007 1:51 PM |
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© 2005 - 2009 Texas Environmental Research Consortium
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