B529--Services - Central Institutional Review Board - VACO

Final Clarifications VA Inputs in Bold Type Page limit and graphics (ref. Section E.1.G; Amendment 0002 Q19). Amendment 0002 confirmed that key personnel resumes may be appendices that do not count against the 50 page Volume II limit. Please confirm whether tables, charts, graphics, and screenshots embedded in the technical narrative count against the 50 page limit, and whether text inside such graphics may use a font smaller than 10 point provided it remains legible. Tables, charts, graphics and embedded screenshots count against the 50 page limit. Text inside graphics may use a smaller font, if still legible without additional magnification. Line spacing (ref. Section E.1.G). The instructions allow single or double spacing within the page limit. Please confirm there is no minimum line spacing and no limit on the number of pages that may use single spacing, so offerors can plan the page budget. As stated, single or double spacing is allowed. No limit on the frequency of spacing type use. Incumbent information. The solicitation does not identify the incumbent contractor, the incumbent contract number, or the current labor mix and pricing. To allow fair and realistic proposals, will the Government identify the incumbent and the incumbent contract number, or confirm that none of this information will be released? The current contract # is 36C24E21D0034. Information may be found through the SAM website. No other information will be given through this solicitation process. Incumbent role during transition (ref. SOW Task 4; Amendment 0002 Q12 and Q32). Question 12 states transition activities are not funded separately and coordination will be minimal, and Question 32 states the Government will provide SOPs, rosters, assignments, and trackers. Please confirm whether the incumbent is contractually obligated and funded to support knowledge transfer to the successor during the 30 day transition-in, or whether the successor should assume no incumbent participation beyond the Government-provided materials. The transition is the responsibility of the offeror and should assume no incumbent participation beyond Government provided information/materials. Service Contract Labor Standards coverage (ref. Amendment 0002 Q29; WD 15-4281). Please confirm whether the Program/Project Manager and Protocol Coordinator positions are treated as exempt bona fide professional or administrative positions, or whether they are covered by the Service Contract Labor Standards and the attached wage determination. If covered, please identify the matching wage determination labor categories so offerors can confirm floor rates. If the position meets the legal criteria (not only title) for exemption outlined in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Department of Labor, then the positions may be exempted from the Service Contract Act (SCLS). Locality wage determination for telework (ref. Amendment 0002 Q29). Because telework is the primary work mode, please confirm which locality wage determination governs at award when the selected contractor location differs from the Washington, D.C. requesting office, and whether a nationwide or remote wage determination will be used. As stated in previous question round. Offers will come from varied locations, so it s impossible to determine locality before award. The Washington D.C. address of the VA office is used as a temporary point of reference. Offeror code for the redacted Volume II (ref. Section E.1 NOTE). The offeror code request deadline was May 20, 2026, before the due date was extended to June 11, 2026. Please confirm that offerors may still request and receive an offeror code for the redacted Volume II, and provide the current cutoff. Offeror code request date did not change and remains May 20, 2026. Key personnel at submission (ref. Factor 2, Sub-Factor 1). Please confirm whether all key personnel, the Program/Project Manager and Protocol Coordinators, must be named with signed letters of commitment at proposal submission, or whether described positions with representative resumes are acceptable, with named individuals provided at award. The key personnel resumes provided with the offer will be evaluated in accordance with the solicitation and should match the personnel at award. Pricing basis (ref. Attachment 1). Please confirm that offerors should price all six Protocol Coordinator positions as fully staffed for all five periods using the estimated hours in Attachment 1 version 3, rather than a ramped staffing profile, for the total evaluated price. Price all six as fully staffed for all periods. The prices list has been updated and attached to the current amendment for clarity. Submission method (ref. Amendment 0002 Q26). Please confirm whether the Government will accept a single secure file transfer link in place of multiple 25 MB emails if the total proposal exceeds the email gateway limit, and what method of timely receipt acknowledgment will be used. A single file transfer link may be used at the risk of the offeror. All information shall be received before the closing date/time in the solicitation. Acknowledgement will be given as soon as feasible upon receipt. 11. The solicitation response has been extended to 6/16/2026, 10:00 AM (EST).