Question
The school offices have been closed since Dec. 21st. If January 2nd becomes an official holiday for President Ford's national day of mourning, can we submit it on January 3rd, 2007?
Answer
Yes
Question
I am submitting qualifications for three topics.
Do I submit three completed full packets or do I submit one series of bios, facilities and costing and three overviews and three detailed sections?
If it is the latter, is there a preferred order to the assembled document?
Answer
The forms packet specifies a maximum of three pages of specific information on each research area of expertise (RFQ-3). One overview of your company, the bios and costing information is sufficient.
Question
The due date for RFQ IIB is December 31, 2006, which is a Sunday, and Monday is a holiday. Will you accept applications that go beyond December 31?
Answer
Yes, we will extend the deadline from December 31, 2006 to Tuesday, January 2, 2007.
Question
Some of the cost amounts we list in the budget (Form RFQ-5) will be affected by when the contract starts. What month do you anticipate would be the start of the "funding or awarding year" (language from the RFQ) for this contract?
In other words, how much time do you think it will take to review all the applications, select contractors from among the applicants, and then get contracts in place with the ones selected? Thank you!
Answer
Please use your organizations normal inflation rate when preparing your costing information as the contracts will be written to cover expenses in 2007.
Question
The introduction to RFQ-IIB lists eight areas of expertise. Area #7 is "Air Quality Modeling Research". Under Specific Information, Areas of Expertise, "Air Quality Modeling Research" is listed with Expertise Required but no Questions to be Studied. Then an item #1 appears, "Assessment of Efficacy of Emission Control Measures", with both Expertise Required and Questions to be Studied.
Is "Assessment of Efficacy of Emission Control Measures" intended to be one of the areas of expertise? If so, are there nine areas of expertise being solicited? What is their proper numbering? Would you provide examples of Questions to be Studied for "Air Quality Modeling Research"?
Answer
See the response below.
Question
What are the "Questions to be Studied" under "Air Quality Research"?
Answer
Under "Air Quality Modeling Research" the "Questions to be studied" were left out of the document. These questions are listed below and will be placed back in the document.
Questions to be Studied
- How should models on multiple scales of pollution be combined to improve the evaluation of control strategies?
- What new computational approaches can be used to bring down the cost of regulatory modeling?
- What new analysis tools should be designed or deployed to improve model performance evaluation and interpretation, as well as source culpability assessment?
Question
After the Expertise Required the RFQ text continues with "Assessment of Efficacy of Emission Control Measures" which is probably a remnant of AQR-RFQ-IIA.
Answer
You are correct. There was a section that was inadvertently pasted in. This has been removed. Thank you.
Question
We (TTI) have received your RFQ number AQR-RFQ-IIB. The Texas Transportation Institute submitted qualifications for the first round RFQ. Is it necessary to resubmit again if we were qualified previously?
Answer
TTI was approved back in September 2003 for 1) emission inventories, 2) meteorology, 3) assessment and efficacy of emissions controls measures, 4) air quality policies and regulations analysis, and 5) emission strategies and control technologies, and non-road modeling and assessment using MOBIL6 and/or transportation demand model.
TTI does not need to resubmit a proposal for these areas.
Question
In the past HARC has listed a cap for F&A rates, but sometimes permitted higher rates. As a state agency, we have to charge our normal rate which is in excess of 15%. HARC has permitted that rate on some contracts. We would appreciate it if you would check to see if this will be permitted under work orders issued under the resulting contacts. Thanks very much.
Answer
The 15% cap is mandated by the funding source, the State of Texas. We are not at liberty to adjust the cap.
Question
Under Eligibility, "for-profit firms" are included as eligible to compete under this RFQ. Will inclusion of profit, either as a separate line item or included in hourly labor rates, be permitted for award under this RFQ?
Answer
Although "for-profit firms" are eligible, we cannot fund a line item for profit under the guidelines of this RFQ.
Question
Under Limitations, the RFQ indicates that "State of Texas funding allows for state-negotiated and approved indirect costs only". Does the state of Texas accept the indirect rate agreements of Federal agencies, for example, U.S. EPA? If not, what is the process for obtaining state-negotiated and approved indirect costs?
Answer
We will accept federally approved indirect cost rate agreements.
Question
Under Description of Task Order Contracting, will providers who are offering cost-sharing categorically be preferred over those who are seeking to recover their full costs?
Answer
While cost share does show your enthusiasm for the project, organizations offering cost-share will not be preferred in the selection.
Question
Under 6. Costing Information (RFQ-5), may for-profit contractors submit burdened hourly rates for each labor category, with fringe benefits and other indirect costs and profit included, to protect their proprietary indirect rate structure? Comparing burdened hourly rates between bidders provides TERC/HARC with an adequate basis for determining reasonableness without divulging the precise breakdown of salary and indirect costs that may be proprietary for some bidders.
Answer
Although the indirect cost must be a separate line item, a potential contractor may submit burdened labor rates. Please be advised that all information submitted is included in assessing the reasonableness of the budget and will be utilized in the selection process. However, once a contractor is selected, all budgets will be negotiated at the time of contracting. Because the project is funded through government resources, all information provided is subject to open records laws.
Question
I'd simply like to know the official areas of expertise and staff for TAMU under the existing research team. Since we need to submit in the case of changes, I need to know our current official status. Thanks!
Answer
Based on the acceptance letter sent to TAMU in September 2003, TAMU is qualified for the following areas:
- 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
- Meteorology
TAMU has not provided qualifications for the following areas:
- Urban, Regional, and Transportation Planning Related to Air Quality Issues
- Atmospheric Chemistry of Ozone, PM, Regional Haze, and Air Toxics
- Air Monitoring Research/Ambient Measurement
- Human Exposure Research
In TAMU's original documentation, the following staff were identified:
Brian S. Bochner, John W. Nielsen-Gammon, Dennis Perkinson, Josias Zietsman, Jason A. Crawford, Martin E. Boardman, David Bierling and Lee Olson
Additional personnel can be added by providing resumes for review and approval by HARC staff. Other areas of expertise must be applied for with this RFQ. In general we recommend that you be on the safe side regarding your application choices. We recommend that A&M submit a proposal including the new faculty as well.
Question
The Overview page states "Do not exceed one page per area of expertise listed." Does this page limitation assume that the management chart, the description of the project team's working relationship, and capabilities wrt the area of expertise should all fit onto one page?
Given the diverse scope associated with certain areas of expertise, the management chart itself could be quite large.
Please advise.
Answer
Limit the text to one page, but figures and charts may be attached beyond one page if they are referenced in the text.
Question
My understanding is that for pre-qualified teams, only the areas that are being updated are required (additions to the team, updated costing or facilities, etc.). Is there preferred wording to be used on pages that do not need to be updated?
Answer
Simply write: "Our team is already pre-qualified for this area of expertise."
Question
On the Overview Form, Item II says to include a "management chart". Could you define more clearly what is required here? Is this chart supposed to also go on the 1-page form?
Answer
The management chart should include the potential PI's and who they report to. This should not be repeated on the page describing qualifications.
Question
Item II also asks for bidders to "describe project team's general working relationship". Could you define what type of information is requested here? Working relationship with whom?
Answer
Some organizations have PI's in different departments that normally do not work with each other. Something like that should be identified. Also, if you are applying as a team to cover all areas, then describe how the different organizations have or will interact with each other.
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
Is the requirement of an approved F&A rate, capped at 15%, applicable to for profit companies; or is applicable for educational institutions only?
OMB Circular A-21, which provides guidance for Facility and administrative rate calculations and allocation is specifically addressing the cost principals for educational institutions. Saying for-profit firms are eligible to compete and requiring a negotiated F&A rate agreement seems to contradict each other. Please provide additional clarification.
Again, thank you and I look forward to reading the answer on the web site you have provided.
Answer
The F&A cap at 15% is applicable to any organization with a negotiated indirect costs rate that responds to this RFQ. If your organization does not have a negotiated rate, you can request an audit through your cognizant agency or submit your RFQ response with no F&A costs.
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