Inactive 8(a) Set-Aside (FAR 19.8)

Employment Center Services in support of North Carolina National Guard and Reserve component Soldiers, Airmen and their eligible family members via the Beyond Yellow Ribbon Program. The NCNG Employmen... Employment Center Services in support of North Carolina National Guard and Reserve component Soldiers, Airmen and their eligible family members via the Beyond Yellow Ribbon Program. The NCNG Employment Center supports Joint Forces Headquarters through the delivery of various Employment Services for eligible members. Contract employees under the subject contract coordinate and communicate to support eligible unemployed or underemployed personnel. *Incumbent contractor: RIGHTDIRECTION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, LLC *Please consult with www.irs.gov for the most up-to-date information for tax laws regarding fringe benefits. *All firms shall respond to 52.212-3 via www.sam.gov registration; this will not count toward any volume page count. *The Gov't recognizes EO 14026 was revoked on 14 March 2025; however, we do not have the ability to manipulate published wage decisions. Offerors are to comply with current DOL law, recognizing all revocations not yet reflected in the WD. *Submit packages to POC listed via email. Last day to submit questions/RFIs: 9 June 25. 1. Q: Can we include certifications, degrees, and specialized credentials (such as doctoral-level qualifications) of proposed key staff within the capabilities narrative, or should those be limited to resumes only? A: Please reference 52.212-1 Addendum 2.1 (b) 2. Q: Will advanced education or nationally recognized workforce training programs (such as apprenticeships) be considered a value-add in the technical evaluation? A: Contractor is free to propose whatever labor mix they can believe is optimal for execution of the PWS; reference 52.212-2 and 52.212-2 Addendum for how the Gov't intends to evaluate. 3. Q: May we propose hybrid staffing models that include apprentices under supervision if all PWS requirements are met? A: Contractor is free to propose whatever labor mix they can believe is optimal for execution of the PWS; reference 52.212-2 and 52.212-2 Addendum for how the Gov't intends to evaluate. 4: Q: Will proposed staff be allowed to complete mandatory federal training (e.g., AT Level 1, iWATCH, OPSEC) after award during onboarding, or must training be completed pre-award? All timelines are discussed within PWS Para 1.4.5 through 1.4.5.12 5: Q: Are there any additional NCNG-specific training requirements beyond those listed in the PWS? A: All known training has been identified 6. Q: Does the Government have a proprietary Salesforce system or platform in place, or is the contractor expected to provide and configure it? A: Gov't has this system in place 7. Q: Can you provide more detail regarding what metrics and reporting outputs are expected from the Database Administrator in Year 1? A: See updated PWS dated 4 June 25 8. Q: Multiple Wage Determinations are included. Could you please clarify which WD applies to each of the eight performance locations? A: Offerors are encouraged to look up each county for the performance locations to identify the applicable WD. 9. Q: With EO 14026 revoked but not reflected in the current wage determinations, should pricing reflect the revised legal minimums or the posted rates? A: Recommend contacting US Wage and Hour Division for any SCA questions at 866-487-9243 10. Q: Will there be a transition or phase-in period from the incumbent (RightDirection Technology Solutions, LLC) to the new contractor? A: No 11. Q: Is the incumbent staff eligible for transition/hire? Are there any incumbent protections or CBAs applicable? A: Recommend coordinating with the incumbent contractor. 12. Q: Is there a preferred format for submitting resumes and the capabilities narrative? A: Reference Synopsitation 52.212-1 (Addendum) for the Technical Submission 13. Q: Will the Government accept a combined PDF submission, or do you prefer separate attachments for each required element? A: Either is acceptable; identify each volume so the evaluation team can perform page counts. 14. See updated PWS for clarification surrounding the Phase In period. 15. See updated synopsitation for addition of 52.222-46. 16. Q: Could the agency kindly confirm the total budget allocated for this contract? A: No 17. Q: Will this be a single-award or a multiple-award contract? A: Single Award 18. Q: Is this a new requirement, or is it a recompete of an existing contract? A: See above; already answered. 19. Q: Could you please share any known performance challenges or areas for improvement with the existing vendors? A: Nothing to report 20. Q: Has the agency determined a specific start date for the contract? A. Reference dates id'd in solicitation CLINS Bid Schedule 21. Q: Are candidates with active security clearances required for this engagement? A: Background investigation is required see PWS 1.4.5.6; see PWS 4.2 stating no security clearance is req'd. 22. Q: Is the proposing firm required to have an active facility clearance to be eligible for this contract? A: See PWS 4.2 23. Q: Will the agency allow offerors to engage teaming partners or subcontractors to fill any capability or resource gaps? A: Yes; both are referred to in the synopsitation. Keep in mind all FAR Part 19 requirements. 24. Q: As referenced in Technical Section point (vii), “Signed Letters or Statements of Commitment from all teaming partners or subcontractors” are required. Does this imply a mandatory subcontracting goal? If not, what should be included in that part of the response? A: No; if you're providing the full scope of serives without use of teaming partners or subcontractors this is N/A 25. Q: Is there a maximum limit on the number of resumes that may be submitted for evaluation? A: Regarding Technical Submission, please refer to 52.212-1 Addendum. Note any exclusions already stated. 26. Q: Does the 10-page limit for the technical section include the resumes, or are resumes excluded from this count? A: The question is already addressed; please read again. 27. Q: May we submit all proposal components — Past Performance, Pricing, and Technical sections, as a single consolidated PDF, or must each section be submitted as a separate file? A: Reference question 13 above; already answered. 28. Q: Can we use commercial past performance references, or is past performance with government agencies specifically required? A. Commercial past performance is acceptable; same guidelines for recency and relevancy apply 29. Q: Can you provide more detail regarding what metrics and reporting outputs are expected from the Database Administrator in Year 1? A: Clarifications have been provided; see updates to 5.2.4.10-12 30. Paragraph in PWS discussing Key Personnel has been removed; see PWS dated 4 June 25. 31. Q: Are we required to submit the actual resumes of the proposed candidates with the proposal submission, or would sample resumes be acceptable at this stage? A: Offerors are encouraged to submit their most competitive proposal, considering 52.212-1 and 52.212-2 Addendums 32. Q: For the Employee Counselor pricing, should we provide location-specific rates for each site (Raleigh NC, Wilmington, Winterville, Greensboro, Charlotte, Asheville, Lenoir, and Fayetteville), or will a standard rate be acceptable? A: Offerors are encouraged to ensure submitted pricing is reflective of all applicable labor regulations/compliance and market conditions for each location. 33. As per the Q&A, it is encouraged to submit actual resumes with the proposal. Since the RFQ requires nine Employee Counselors across various locations, we would like to confirm, are we expected to submit nine individual resumes (one for each location), or would one representative resume for the Employee Counselor position would be sufficient? If nine resumes are required, along with the three additional resumes for the Marketing Director, NC Director, and Database Administrator positions, that brings the total to twelve resumes. Since the technical section is limited to 10 pages, how should we accommodate all resumes within this limit? Would it be acceptable to submit the resumes in a separate file or as part of the appendix outside the 10-page technical narrative? A: The Q&A consistently refers back to 52.212-1 and 52.212-2 Addendums. Please note there is no mention of a "resume" anywhere in the synopsitation. Please note 52.212-1 Addendum Para 2.1 (b) (iii) wording is not to be misinterpreted as a request for individual resumes. 34. Q: Clarification requested on what constitutes a "bid schedule" A: Reference Synopsitation CLINS 35. Q: Can the Government please provide the incumbent's current labor mix for offerors to respond to part ii of the proposal instructions accurately? A: Information was provided in the original PWS; please read thoroughly 36. Q: RFQ Section 2. PROPOSAL CONTENT, part b. Technical notes that the "10 page max count excludes cover page/table of contents, items i, vi, and vii". Could offerors place items i, vi, and vii in an annex? A: Yes 37. Q: The PWS refers to "Lead Employment Center Director" and “Work for Warriors ND Director. Are these the same? A: Yes. “Lead Employment Center Director” terminology has been changed to be consistently “Work for Warriors NC Director”. See PWS updated 9 June 24 38. Q: Can the Government please confirm how many Employment Counselors are expected for this contract? A: Given it is a performance based FFP contract, the Gov't is unable to identify firm quantities of FTEs. Offerors are asked to submit the labor mix they find most suitable/representing the best value to the Gov’t. 39. Q: Can the government please confirm the appropriate SCA labor category mappings—or indicate if exempt—for the following positions: Database Administrator, Work for Warriors – NC Director, Marketing Director, Employment Counselors A: Please contact the Wage and Hour Division's toll-free help line for any questions regarding appropriate labor categories or conformance for unlisted occupations under SCA WDs. 1-866-4-USWAGE (1-866-487-9243) 40. Q: If SCA is applicable, please provide the anniversary dates for each incumbent. A: The Gov’t does not have access to SCA employee information. The name of the incumbent contractor has been provided, and may be able to provide that information. 41. Q: Will the government please provide the current contract number under which these services are being provided? A: W9124221P0072 42. Q: Does the instruction "Past Performance: Max 2 pages approx Times New Roman 12... " mean 2 pages maximum TOTAL for all of our submitted past performances, or 2 pages max per each individual past performance? A: 2 page limit for all, not each 43. Q: Should we submit a Professional Employee Compensation Plan? A: IAW FAR 5.222-46, "As part of their proposals, offerors will submit a total compensation plan setting forth salaries and fringe benefits proposed for the professional employees who will work under the contract". To do this, offerors are asked to complete b. Technical i. Exhibit 1. Note this is excluded from the page count. Completion utilizing the spreadsheet is requested for consistency in evaluating. 44. Q: Can tables and figures use a smaller font size? A: Font size was given as an approximate; it is common to see something like Times New Roman size 11 in a table/figure. 45. Q: May offerors add additional information to Exhibit 1 to provide compensation package information? A: See updated Exhibit 1 posted 18 June 25. 46. Q: Please increase the technical page count from 10 to 15 A: The Gov't must limit the page number to increase efficiency during the evaluation phase. 47. Clarity surrounding evaluation provided; the Gov't will not be using the formal source selection procedures described in FAR Part 15. See updated synopsitation dated 12 June 25. 48. Req't for GFP Plan removed from synopsitation. See updated synopsitation dated 16 June 25. 49. Q: There are many references to Marketing products being distributed either electronically or in physical format. Please confirm whether the contractor is responsible for print/production, or are they solely responsible for development of marketing materials (images/text), and distribution………assuming the cost and labor involved in producing hard copy materials are otherwise taken care of by the Gov’t. A: Yes, contractor is responsible for development and distribution while the Gov’t is responsible for hard copy print/production/acceptance. 50. Updated Exhibit 1 (Added information being requested). Additionally, a simplification to wording within 52.212-2 Addendum for Technical and Past Performance has been uploaded (Synopsitation dated 18 June 25) 51. Q: I appreciate the clarification however a new column (Taxed Fringe Benefit Narrative,) was added to Exhibit 1. Can we address the compensation plan as a whole instead of addressing it for each individual employee such as in the Recruitment and Retention section? A: Please see updated language in Exhibit 1; modified slightly to simplify responses.