#  ![](media/image1.png)*Sandia National Laboratories*

Staff Augmentation Pre-Bidders Conference

Questions and Answers

**Updates** **to this FAQ:**

Answer to Question 35 updated on 08.24.2007

Answer to Question 75 updated on 08.24.2007

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **QUESTIONS**                     | **SNL RESPONSE**                  |
+===================================+===================================+
| 1\. Please let us know if having  | A security clearance is not       |
| security clearance is mandatory   | required to submit a proposal,    |
| to participate in this RFP        | but it will be required to win an |
| process?                          | award.                            |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 2\. Does Sandia pay the cost of   | Yes.                              |
| all clearances?                   |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 3\. What forms are needed to      | To process an initial clearance   |
| process the security clearance    | for a contractor the following    |
| for potential contractors?        | forms are required:               |
|                                   |                                   |
|                                   | -   DOE F 472.1C - Clearance      |
|                                   |     Re                            |
|                                   | quest/Recertification/Suitability |
|                                   |     Form                          |
|                                   |                                   |
|                                   | -   SF 7643-CEC -                 |
|                                   |     Contractor/Consultant         |
|                                   |     Badge/Clearance Request Form  |
|                                   |                                   |
|                                   | -   HSPD-12 - HSPD12 Badge        |
|                                   |     Request Form                  |
|                                   |                                   |
|                                   | SF-2730-CIV, Contractor           |
|                                   | Pre-Processing Investigation      |
|                                   | Verification Form                 |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 4\. What is the process to        | The process is referred to as     |
| convert a Top Secret or Secret    | reciprocity. Individuals with     |
| Clearance to a Q or L DOE         | active clearances from other      |
| clearance without the contracting | agencies may qualify for          |
| personnel losing their current    | reciprocity, which will shorten   |
| clearance?                        | the processing time of receiving  |
|                                   | a DOE clearance. Please contact   |
|                                   | the Sandia Clearance Office for   |
|                                   | additional information. SNL/NM    |
|                                   | (505) 845-8270 or SNL/CA (925)    |
|                                   | 294-2061.                         |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 5\. What is the process for a     | Provide Sandia with the company   |
| company to obtain the appropriate | CAGE code and security will       |
| DOE facility clearance if they    | request reciprocity of the DOD    |
| are a Top Secret cleared          | facility clearance from DOE.      |
| facility?                         |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 6\. Reference Clause 26, "Interim | You are correct. The AAAP is      |
| Q Clearance." We have been told   | being discontinued. Therefore,    |
| the AAAP program is being         | the RFQ will be amended to delete |
| discontinued by DOE.  This action | the clause and the AAAP form.     |
| would eliminate the need for AAAP |                                   |
| consent forms altogether.         |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 7\. Does a new entity, comprising | The company that has been formed  |
| of companies which currently (and | is considered a \"new\"           |
| separately) possess FOCI          | contracting entity and DOE would  |
| clearances, need to apply for     | need a FOCI package showing who   |
| FOCI clearance prior to proposal  | owns and controls the new entity  |
| submittal?                        | itself. DOE would have to review  |
|                                   | and approve as an initial filing. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 8\. In order to bid on the        | If the prime contractor has a     |
| proposal, do all Partners (Sub    | facility clearance we can award   |
| contractors/ Joint Ventures) have | them a contract. If they don't or |
| to have a Facility Clearance?     | can't obtain a facility           |
|  Can the Sub Contractor do the    | clearance, we cannot award them a |
| clearing if the prime does not    | contract. Subcontractors that     |
| have clearance? Would an Interim  | don't have a facility clearance   |
| clearance be acceptable?          | cannot provide candidates for     |
|                                   | staffing requisitions that        |
|                                   | require a security clearance      |
|                                   | until that subcontractor receives |
|                                   | a facility clearance.             |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 9\. Our company currently holds a | Since the contracts for all three |
| DOD secret facility clearance and | labor segments require Q          |
| has had a successful DOE FOCI     | clearances, a new FOCI package    |
| determination in the past 5 years | will be required to upgrade your  |
| (it was closed 2 years ago when   | company's facility clearance for  |
| our contract ended), would there  | this award.                       |
| be a problem with award of this   |                                   |
| effort to us?                     |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 10\. Our sole owner currently has | A. Personnel security clearances  |
| a DOD secret clearance, but was   | take an average of 9-13 months to |
| born outside of the country.      | process. The processing time is   |
|                                   | subject to increase on a case by  |
| a\. How long could it take to get | case basis due to the amount of   |
| him a DOE Q clearance on          | time it takes to conduct          |
| average?                          | extensive background checks on    |
|                                   | individuals. Individuals with     |
| b\. Does our owner need to        | active clearances from other      |
| receive the Q clearance prior to  | agencies may qualify for          |
| us bringing on Q cleared staff?   | reciprocity, which will shorten   |
|                                   | the processing time of receiving  |
| c\. Does our owner need to        | a DOE clearance.                  |
| receive the Q clearance prior to  |                                   |
| us being awarded the contract?    | B. The company will need to have  |
|                                   | a facility clearance (go through  |
| d. What happens if we win the     | the FOCI process) before staff    |
| award, but then it takes a long   | can be cleared.                   |
| time to get either the facility   |                                   |
| or the personnel clearance?  Does | C. No, but the company must be    |
| the incumbent keep the contract   | granted a facility clearance      |
| during this period or can we      | before the award of the contract  |
| start work?                       | and work requiring DOE clearances |
|                                   | can begin.                        |
|                                   |                                   |
|                                   | D. Any work that can be performed |
|                                   | with a gray badge/uncleared       |
|                                   | status can begin while pending    |
|                                   | the grant of a facility           |
|                                   | clearance.                        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 11\. If our subcontractor has a Q | No, prime contractor employees    |
| facility clearance and currently  | [must]{.underline} be             |
| has Q staff, can they hold the Q  | cleared/badged under the company  |
| cleared staff under this          | that employs them,                |
| assignment while we wait for our  | [not]{.underline} under the       |
| Q facility clearance?             | subcontractor company. The        |
|                                   | facility clearance for the        |
|                                   | subcontractor will not be         |
|                                   | recognized by DOE until the prime |
|                                   | contractor is granted a facility  |
|                                   | clearance.                        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 12\. Since this topic is not      | No. A facility clearance is not   |
| listed under the \"mandatory      | required to submit a proposal,    |
| requirements\" RFP section, are   | but it is required to win an      |
| we to assume this can all be      | award.                            |
| taken care of after award?        |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 13\. What candidate prescreening  | The Contractor Pre-Processing     |
| steps, if any, are deemed         |                                   |
| mandatory by Sandia? (Clause 1,   | Investigation Verification form   |
| 3.2.1, pg 26)                     | must be completed when the        |
|                                   | contractor submits an individual  |
|                                   | for their initial personnel       |
|                                   | security clearance. Personnel     |
|                                   | security clearances are required  |
|                                   | when duties of a position         |
|                                   | requires access to classified     |
|                                   | information or matter, or Special |
|                                   | Nuclear Material. HR Staffing     |
|                                   | checks a Federal database called  |
|                                   | EPLS to determine the individual  |
|                                   | has not been barred from Federal  |
|                                   | employment. They also check the   |
|                                   | HR PeopleSoft record for a No     |
|                                   | Re-contract flag as referenced    |
|                                   | above.                            |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 14\. May Contractors use H1 (non  | Yes. Non-U.S. Citizens must be    |
| US citizen) employees as Contract | approved by a Sandia Vice         |
| Associates to Sandia?             | President or higher prior to      |
|                                   | beginning work at any Sandia      |
|                                   | site. Contact the Sandia Foreign  |
|                                   | Interactions Office for           |
|                                   | additional information. SNL/NM    |
|                                   | 505-844-8263 or SNL/CA            |
|                                   | 925-294-3740.                     |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 15\. Does a new entity,           | The company that has been formed  |
| comprising of companies which     | is considered a \"new\"           |
| currently (and separately)        | contracting entity and DOE would  |
| possess FOCI clearances, need to  | need a FOCI package showing who   |
| apply for FOCI clearance prior to | owns and controls the new entity  |
| proposal submittal?               | itself. DOE would have to review  |
|                                   | and approve as an initial filing. |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 16\. Instruction 16 -- Q or L     | No, non-DOE agency clearances may |
| Cleared -- Would comparable DOI   | not be used as an interim         |
| and DOD clearances be acceptable  | clearance. Individuals must be    |
| for the DOE "Q" and "L" clearance | granted a DOE clearance.          |
| requirement? Would they be        | Individuals with active           |
| acceptable as interim clearances  | clearances from other agencies    |
| until comparable DOD clearances   | may qualify for reciprocity,      |
| are obtained?                     | which will shorten the processing |
|                                   | time of receiving a DOE           |
|                                   | clearance.                        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 17\. Admin Quote, Criterion Two   | Contact information only.         |
| (page 12) -- Is the Offeror to    |                                   |
| provide data on subjects to be    |                                   |
| discussed, or simply contact      |                                   |
| information?                      |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 18\. Does the cover letter fall   | Proposal Cover letters shall be   |
| into Section 1 of the Quote (no   | included with the Representations |
| page limitations) or is it        | & Certifications & Other          |
| outside of Section 1?             | Disclosures Submittal. The RFQ    |
|                                   | will be amended to address this   |
|                                   | change.                           |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 19\. Instruction 26 -- New Mexico | NMGRT Limited Agency Agreement    |
| Gross Receipts Tax \-\-- where is | applicability shall be included   |
| this information to be placed in  | with the Representations &        |
| the Quotation?                    | Certifications & Other            |
|                                   | Disclosures Submittal. The RFQ    |
|                                   | will be amended to address this   |
|                                   | change.                           |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 20\. In reference to Instruction  | Sandia will rely on self          |
| 19, item #1 on page 7, what will  | certification by the Offerors.    |
| be the primary basis for SNL to   |                                   |
| determine if an Offeror meets the |                                   |
| NAICS small business size         |                                   |
| standard?  Is it the Offeror's    |                                   |
| Current Annual Revenue?  If a     |                                   |
| Joint Venture is formed, is the   |                                   |
| size standard independently       |                                   |
| determined per team member or     |                                   |
| collectively as one?              |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 21\. Are there other              | There are no other                |
| representations and               | representations and               |
| certifications beyond those       | certifications or other           |
| specifically delineated in the    | disclosures required other than   |
| RFQ?                              | those specifically delineated in  |
|                                   | Instruction 20 of the RFQ as      |
| -   If the answer is no, do we    | amended. Online Representations & |
|     submit an entire RFQ document | Certifications Application is not |
|     with the rep/cert pages       | an acceptable response. Offerors  |
|     filled in, or do we just      | may just submit the specific      |
|     submit the specific pages?    | pages and/or specific             |
|                                   | instructions rather than entire   |
| Would an ORCA (Online Reps &      | RFQ with the rep/cert pages       |
| Certs Application) entry suffice  | filled in.                        |
| for representations and           |                                   |
| certifications?                   |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 22\. Instruction 3 -- Is it       | Online Representations &          |
| necessary to provide              | Certifications Application is not |
| Representations & Certifications  | an acceptable response.           |
| if these have already been placed |                                   |
| on file through ORCA?             |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 23\. I20 II (1) - Does Part 1,    | Offerors may just submit the      |
| Representations and               | specific pages and/or specific    |
| Certifications and Other          | instructions rather than entire   |
| Disclosures include the           | RFQ with the rep/cert pages       |
|                                   | filled in.                        |
| entire RFQ?                       |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 24\. Is the Mandatory Information | Yes.                              |
| evaluated as part of the first    |                                   |
| step (Cost Evaluation)?           |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 25\. Reference RFQ Instruction 2, | The RFQ will be amended to        |
| page 2, "All Offerors who intend  | indicate that iSupplier           |
| to submit quotations and who are  | registration is desired, but not  |
| not registered in Sandia\'s       | required for submittal of a       |
| Oracle web portal entitled        | proposal, but it will be required |
| iSupplier are required to         | for successful Offerors who win a |
| register at this portal in order  | contract.                         |
| to receive the Request for        |                                   |
| Quotation (RFQ). Otherwise, the   |                                   |
| Offeror may be ineligible to      |                                   |
| submit a quotation for any/all    |                                   |
| Staff Augmentation contracts"     |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| -   The instructions on the       |                                   |
|     iSupplier Website limit       |                                   |
|     registrations to those        |                                   |
|     companies with existing       |                                   |
|     contracts with Sandia. Plus,  |                                   |
|     it appears that Sandia        |                                   |
|     emailed the solicitation to   |                                   |
|     all interested parties        |                                   |
|     regardless of their status    |                                   |
|     with iSupplier. The email     |                                   |
|     addresses for proposal        |                                   |
|     submission do not appear to   |                                   |
|     be linked in any way to       |                                   |
|     iSupplier.                    |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| -   What role does the iSupplier  |                                   |
|     portal play in the response   |                                   |
|     to this RFQ?                  |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 26\. Does a new entity (LLC or S  | As described in the preceding     |
| Corp.) comprising of member       | Q&A, the RFQ will be amended to   |
| companies which are already       | indicate that iSupplier           |
| separately registered in Sandia's | registration is desired, but not  |
| Oracle web portal iSupplier, need | required for submittal of a       |
| to register in iSupplier prior to | proposal.                         |
| proposal submittal?               |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 27\. Attachment IV (HIPAA) is     | It is not required to be          |
| effective upon Contract Award,    | submitted with the proposal. It   |
| but it is unclear if this is to   | is only required at Contract      |
| be completed at that time, or is  | award by successful offerors. It  |
| it part of the Reps & Certs and   | is only provided with the RFQ for |
| Other Disclosures submission?     | informational purposes.           |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 28\. Attachment V is to be        | Attachment V is only applicable   |
| submitted with each resume.  Does | at contract award for submitting  |
| this include the qualifications   | candidates for Contract           |
| of the Supplier Manager as        | Associates. It is only provided   |
| required by the RFQ, and if so,   | with the RFQ for informational    |
| is it part of the page limit for  | purposes and is not applicable    |
| the Administrative portion of the | for the Supplier Manager.         |
| quotation?                        |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 29\. What section of the proposal | Yes. Instruction 20 of the RFQ    |
| do instructions 25, 26 and 28 go  | already states that Instruction   |
| into; Representations and         | 25 is required to be submitted    |
| Certifications?                   | with Reps and Certs and Other     |
|                                   | Disclosures. The RFQ will be      |
|                                   | amended to state that 26 and 28   |
|                                   | are also to be included with this |
|                                   | submittal.                        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 30\. Instruction 19 -- Can SNL    | No.                               |
| provide space at Sandia and       |                                   |
| Livermore for the contractor      |                                   |
| management offices that the       |                                   |
| contractor would rent from the    |                                   |
| Labs?                             |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 31\. Does the Prime have to       | The Prime is required to have     |
| establish offices in New Mexico   | such offices. Sandia does not     |
| and California, or is it          | have privity of contract with     |
| sufficient enough for the         | Subcontractors.                   |
| subcontractors to have them?      |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 32\. Please define what is meant  | We want the latest available.     |
| by "current" in the request for a |                                   |
| Balance Sheet per Instruction     |                                   |
| #18. Would a year-end statement   |                                   |
| for CY 2006 suffice?              |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 33\. Per Item III. "Quotation --  | Yes.                              |
| Page Limitations" on page 20 of   |                                   |
| the RFP, Charts are not subject   |                                   |
| to font restrictions. Do tables   |                                   |
| and figures fall in the category  |                                   |
| of charts; i.e., no font          |                                   |
| restrictions apply to tables and  |                                   |
| figures?                          |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 34\. In the RFQ Instruction 26,   | Sandia will not clarify specific  |
| titled "NMGRT Limited Agency      | questions regarding how NMGRT     |
| Agreements," discusses the        | applies to this upcoming          |
| potential impact of the           | solicitation. Please check with   |
| relationship between the          | the State of New Mexico Taxation  |
| Contractor and any of their       | and Revenue Department and/or a   |
| contractors on the applicability  | tax attorney/accountant regarding |
| of the New Mexico Gross Receipts  | this question.                    |
| Tax (NMGRT) on but does not       |                                   |
| discuss the impact of the         |                                   |
| relationship between the          |                                   |
| Contractor and Sandia. Is there   |                                   |
| anything about that relationship  |                                   |
| between the Contractor and Sandia |                                   |
| that exempts the Contractor from  |                                   |
| the NMGRT or will the Contractor  |                                   |
| be required to pay the NMGRT?     |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 35\. SI# 20 III, Quotation Page   | The RFQ has been revised via      |
| Limitations indicates 30 pages    | Revision 3 to exclude the table   |
| for Part 4, Administrative        | of contents from the 30 page      |
| Information. Can certain items,   | limitation.                       |
| such as table of contents, be     |                                   |
| excluded from the page count?     |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 36\. Quotation Part 2, Response   | Yes in accordance with            |
| to Mandatory Requirements: Are    | Solicitation Instruction 20,      |
| the signed copies of Attachment   | paragraph III, (2).               |
| VI, Subcontractor/Teaming Partner |                                   |
| Consent Form(s), excluded from    |                                   |
| the maximum page count for this   |                                   |
| Part?                             |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 37\. Instruction 20, Quotation    | PDF format is acceptable for Part |
| Instructions, Format, and Due     | 1 and 4. However, Part 3 must be  |
| Date: Is PDF an acceptable format | in Excel Spreadsheet format.      |
| for electronic (email) submittal  |                                   |
| of Parts 1, 3 and 4?              |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 38\. Would Sandia please confirm  | In accordance with Solicitation   |
| that for each labor segment being | Instruction 20, paragraph II (3)  |
| bid the contractor shall submit   |                                   |
| to the appropriate email address  |                                   |
| one copy of its quotation         |                                   |
| (including price as an embedded   |                                   |
| copy of Attachment II) plus one   |                                   |
| copy of Attachment II in Excel    |                                   |
| format?                           |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 39\. Is it acceptable to Sandia   | Yes.                              |
| for a contractor to submit its    |                                   |
| financial information (RFQ        |                                   |
| Instruction 18) as a separate PDF |                                   |
| file and reference the file in    |                                   |
| the contractor's quote?           |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 40\. Does Sandia want to see four | We don't care as long as the      |
| separate electronic file          | documents comply with page        |
| submissions, one for each of the  | limitations.                      |
| four Criterion?                   |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 41\. Clause 1, 8.1.2 -- Does the  | Yes.                              |
| continuous service provision      |                                   |
| apply to employees exempt from    |                                   |
| SCA and FLSA?                     |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 42\. Based on the job titles and  | Yes in accordance with Clause 1   |
| wages identified in Attachment 1, | -- Statement of Work, paragraph   |
| many of these positions could be  | 1.2.1                             |
| considered exempt.  Will          |                                   |
| contractors be required to        |                                   |
| provide exempt personnel?         |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 43\. Are job descriptions or      | The Staffing Requisitions will    |
| summaries of job duties available | provide the required information. |
| to aid in determining the exempt  |                                   |
| / non-exempt job classification   |                                   |
| under the Fair Labor Standards    |                                   |
| Act?                              |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 44\. Regarding Solicitation       | The relevant experience may       |
| Instruction 19 -- Mandatory       | include predecessor company       |
| Requirements, Item 2. Does the    | experience as long as it is       |
| minimum five years of documented  | verifiable                        |
| relevant experience in providing  |                                   |
| staffing personnel and recruiting |                                   |
| have to be with our current       |                                   |
| organizational entity? Or can it  |                                   |
| include relevant experience with  |                                   |
| predecessor companies?            |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 45\. Under Mandatory Information, | The narrative explanation is all  |
| Paragraph 2, Page 8, does the     | that is required as long as it is |
| phrase "provide documentation"    | verifiable. Additional            |
| (with regard to 5 years           | information may be requested      |
| experience) mean to explain in a  | through discussions.              |
| narrative what experience is      |                                   |
| relevant, or is the Offeror to    |                                   |
| provide some type of original     |                                   |
| source document such as a         |                                   |
| contract award cover sheet or     |                                   |
| other "documentation?"            |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 46\. In looking at the Excel      | You only counted the total number |
| Attachment-Staff Aug Historical   | of Contract Associates for the IT |
| Labor Data there are 224 lines of | category. Pages 96 through 105    |
| information.  Are we correct that | shows the total number of         |
| this correlates to 224 active     | Contract Associates for the       |
| contractors?                      | Professional labor segment and    |
|                                   | pages 140 -- 152 lists the total  |
|                                   | number of Contract Associates for |
|                                   | the Support labor segment. All of |
|                                   | these correlate to active         |
|                                   | Contract Associates as of the     |
|                                   | date that report was compiled.    |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 47\. What does the X axis         | Each dot on the graph charts      |
| represent in all of the graphs?   | represents a single Contract      |
|                                   | Associate and the x number axis   |
|                                   | represents the total population   |
|                                   | for that labor category.          |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 48\. We are attempting to get     | Sandia does not track this type   |
| updated medical insurance quotes  | of information and it is subject  |
| but it is impossible without a    | to the Privacy Act.               |
| \"census\" of potential           |                                   |
| employees.                        |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| Would it be possible to get any   |                                   |
| of the following                  |                                   |
| information\...even if it was     |                                   |
| aggregated somehow?               |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
|     - Age of each                 |                                   |
| contractor\...or perhaps number   |                                   |
| of contractors grouped by 5-year  |                                   |
| age groups                        |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
|     - Married/Single\...or        |                                   |
| perhaps total number of married   |                                   |
| contractors, single contractors?  |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 49\. What is the average age of   | Sandia does not track this type   |
| the preselect contract            | of information and it is subject  |
| associates. This information is   | to the Privacy Act.               |
| pertinent to determine            |                                   |
| approximate premiums for          |                                   |
| disability insurance              |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 50\. Healthcare plan costs can    | Sandia does not track this type   |
| vary widely based upon the        | of information and it is subject  |
| demographics and geographical     | to the Privacy Act.               |
| location of the population being  |                                   |
| insured. Can Sandia provide       |                                   |
| baseline information on the       |                                   |
| current and anticipated contract  |                                   |
| population (numbers, age,         |                                   |
| percentage married/single, etc.)  |                                   |
| of pre-selects in order to        |                                   |
| provide a basis for bidders to    |                                   |
| obtain accurate quotes from       |                                   |
| insurers?                         |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 51\. How many contract associates | We don\'t track this              |
| are part-time?                    | specifically, but we do know that |
|                                   | the predominate majority are      |
|                                   | full-time.                        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 52\. The RFP states that there    | We don\'t track this              |
| are 1016 total subcontractor      | specifically, but we do know that |
| personnel. How many fulltime      | the predominate majority are      |
| equivalent subcontractor          | full-time.                        |
| personnel are there (FTE's)? Will |                                   |
| you please provide this for each  |                                   |
| of the Labor Segments.            |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 53\. Are all the staffing         | Not all Contract Associates are   |
| requirements under this contract  | full-time, but the predominate    |
| intended to be for personnel who  | majority are.                     |
| will work a standard work week (8 |                                   |
| hours per day and 40 hours per    |                                   |
| week) and not part time?          |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 54\. How many Contract Associates | We do not maintain centralized    |
| (by labor segment) are required   | tracking of this metric. It is    |
| to travel, and how often? (Clause | tracked by the individual Sandia  |
| 1, 2.9, g 25)                     | organizations the Contract        |
|                                   | Associates report to.             |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 55 Will there be a contact or     | The Sandia Delegated              |
| resource at Sandia through which  | Representative will notify the    |
| the Contractor can determine      | Contractor if the candidate has   |
| whether a candidate has been      | been flagged for a No Recontract  |
| terminated for cause by Sandia in | recommendation.                   |
| the last seven years? (Clause 1,  |                                   |
| 3.2.1, pg 26)                     |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 56 Historically, by labor         | We do not track this metric.      |
| segment, how many, or what        | However, because of the fairly    |
| percentage of Contract Associates | stiff finder\'s fee, most Sandia  |
| have been hired by Sandia within  | organizations try to avoid it.    |
| the first year.                   |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 57 What percentage of Contract    | The RFQ will be amended to delete |
| Associates (by labor segment)     | the professional development      |
| have made use of the professional | benefit in Clause 1, paragraph    |
| development benefit of Clause 1,  | 8.5.                              |
| section 8.5?                      |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 58\. Attachment 1 -- For the      | The effective date as shown.      |
| direct labor rates and effective  |                                   |
| dates of SNL labor categories     |                                   |
| shown in attachment 1, does the   |                                   |
| direct labor rate reflect today's |                                   |
| rate, or is the rate shown the    |                                   |
| rate in effect as of the          |                                   |
| effective date shown.             |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 59\. Regarding the FAQ.doc, and   | That information was presented on |
| referenced Power Point            | our website as a snapshot in      |
| presentation entitled "SNL/NM     | time. Refer to Attachment I for   |
| Staff Augmentation Actions        | more current information which is |
| Actual, Average & Forecast        | broken out by labor segment.      |
| Fy2006":                          |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| a)  are updated statistics        |                                   |
|     available?                    |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| b)  Are these statistics          |                                   |
|     available by labor segment?   |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 60\. RFP  states there are 1.024  | The 30% figure was an estimate    |
| staff aug personnel               | presented on one of the FAQs on   |
|                                   | our website. Refer to Attachment  |
| Also, we understood that about    | I for more current information    |
| 30% of that number is IT          | which is broken out by labor      |
| personnel?   Is that true?        | segment.                          |
|                                   |                                   |
| Furthermore, what is the          |                                   |
| approximate % of Prof Services?   |                                   |
| (or just point me to this info in |                                   |
| the RFP)                          |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| Obviously, Admin is whatever      |                                   |
| remains.                          |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 61\. How many positions are there | See Attachment I to the RFQ.      |
| on this effort?                   |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 62\. What is the breakdown of     | See Attachment I to the RFQ.      |
| positions for New Mexico and      |                                   |
| California?                       |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 63, Clause 8 (RFQ Page 29)        | This information is not tracked   |
| Minimum benefits. Can SNL provide | by Sandia because benefits are    |
| detailed claims experience for    | managed by the incumbent          |
| all of the benefits listed for    | Contractors, not Sandia.          |
| current staff augmentation        |                                   |
| contractor employees?             |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 64\. Without demographic or       | This information is not tracked   |
| claims experience information for | by Sandia because benefits are    |
| the existing staff augmentation   | managed by the incumbent          |
| personnel, it is difficult to     | Contractors, not Sandia.          |
| obtain a competitive rate for the |                                   |
| health insurance benefits.  Can   |                                   |
| SNL provide offerors with this    |                                   |
| information so that we may use it |                                   |
| to solicit quotations?            |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 65\. Will Sandia provide a copy   | No.                               |
| of the attendee list for the      |                                   |
| pre-bidders conference to the     |                                   |
| prospective offerors?             |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 66\. For on-call personnel, does  | Sandia provides such equipment.   |
| the respective contractor provide |                                   |
| the pager or radio or is this     |                                   |
| equipment furnished by SNL?       |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 67\. Clause 1, 3.1 -- Please      | Clause 1.3.1 and Attachment V     |
| provide documentation on SNL's    | provide adequate details for      |
| requisition system.               | purposes of preparing a quote.    |
|                                   | Additional information if         |
|                                   | appropriate may be provided to    |
|                                   | successful offerors after         |
|                                   | contract award.                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 68\. Clause 1, 4.4 -- Will SNL    | No.                               |
| provide space at Sandia and       |                                   |
| Livermore for contractor new hire |                                   |
| orientation?                      |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 69\. SF6432-TM (12-04) in section | Section I takes precedence over   |
| TM-16 (h) specifies that Sandia   | Section II. Refer to Clause 4,    |
| \"prompt payment\" discounts.     | paragraph C.                      |
| Are these anticipated for this    |                                   |
| contract and if so, what is the   |                                   |
| anticipated discount?             |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 70\. Regarding Contractor         | Any of these options are          |
| Policies (Clause 1, 2.7.1, pg     | acceptable as long as they are    |
| 23), is it permissible to:        | made available to all Contract    |
|                                   | Associates working for the        |
| a)  provide a written recap of    | Contractor.                       |
|     company policies, or          |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| b)  make access to full written   |                                   |
|     policies available at the     |                                   |
|     local office, and/or          |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| c)  provide access to policies    |                                   |
|     via a secure, online web      |                                   |
|     site?                         |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 71\. In paragraph 2.7.12 of the   | Only if and when allowed by the   |
| Statement of Work, you mention    | contract.                         |
| the ability to pay contract       |                                   |
| associates in Organization 1700 a |                                   |
| shift differential or salary      |                                   |
| allowance for a deviated          |                                   |
| workweek.  Will this also apply   |                                   |
| to other organizations in Sandia  |                                   |
| that have similar deviated        |                                   |
| workweeks?                        |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 72\. Are all these services       | Yes and yes.                      |
| exempt from the New Mexico Gross  |                                   |
| Receipts Tax? Will SNL provide a  |                                   |
| \"Non Taxable Transaction         |                                   |
| Certificate"?                     |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 73\. What is the period of        | Five years after contract period  |
| performance?                      | of performance begins.            |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 74\. Clause 2.7.7 (RFQ Page 24)   | No. Refer to Clause 11 --         |
| states SNL can direct the removal | Independent Contractor            |
| of any or all contract            | Relationship and Contractor       |
| associates. If the associate      | Personnel.                        |
| files an EE/OC claim due to       |                                   |
| dismissal, will SNL provide legal |                                   |
| defense support to offeror?       |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 75\. Clause 3.2.3 (RFQ Page 26)   | No.                               |
| If potential applicant prefers to |                                   |
| work for another staff            |                                   |
| augmentation contractor for       |                                   |
| reason of better or preferred     |                                   |
| benefits package (but at a higher |                                   |
| multiplier rate or higher DL rate |                                   |
| to SNL) will SNL direct applicant |                                   |
| to accept offer from "respective  |                                   |
| " staff augmentation contractor?  |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 76\. Once a contract associate is | Sandia will pay for all approved  |
| assigned to Sandia, does Sandia   | hours worked in accordance with   |
| pay for all time at work? If an   | that Contract Associates approved |
| employee is at work, is there any | work schedule.                    |
| non-productive time at the        |                                   |
| facility which is not billable to |                                   |
| Sandia?                           |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 77\. Since Sandia National        | FAR requirements apply, but only  |
| Laboratories are operated by the  | to the extent stated in the RFQ.  |
| Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed    |                                   |
| Martin business entity, is this   |                                   |
| contract subject to the Federal   |                                   |
| Acquisition Regulations (FAR)?    |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 78\. What is the job description  | Clause 1 -- Statement of Work,    |
| for the Supplier Manager? What    | paragraph 2.8 describes the       |
| about for the other positions?    | contract responsibilities for the |
|                                   | Supplier Manager. Refer to Clause |
|                                   | 1, paragraph 2.1 for work         |
|                                   | assignment descriptions for       |
|                                   | Contract Associates.              |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 79\. Will there be an issuance of | No, contract awards will be based |
| a RFP for successful offerors in  | on initial offers, so all         |
| the RFQ process?                  | Offerors should offer their most  |
|                                   | favorable proposal at the onset.  |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 80\. SI #9 - Regarding the price  | Sandia has not predetermined the  |
| downselect process, does Sandia   | number of offerors that will be   |
| have a certain number of offerors | included in the down-select       |
|                                   | range. We may or may not conduct  |
| that will be included in the      | oral presentations or discussions |
| downselect range? After your      | therefore; there is no specific   |
| price downselect process, how     | predetermined timeframe for       |
|                                   | either oral presentations or      |
| soon thereafter do you            | discussions.                      |
| contemplate either oral           |                                   |
| presentation or discussions?      |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 81\. SI10 - Do you anticipate any | If it is possible to award        |
| form of oral presentations with   | without discussions we will do    |
| the downselected offerors?        | so.                               |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 82\. In the RFQ, Instruction 5,   | That is correct.                  |
| titled "Right to Split this RFQ   |                                   |
| into Multiple Contracts," it      |                                   |
| states that "Sandia intends to    |                                   |
| award a total of three contracts  |                                   |
| for the following three labor     |                                   |
| segments ..." Please clarify,     |                                   |
| does this mean one and only one   |                                   |
| award will be made in each of the |                                   |
| three labor categories?           |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 83\. If a single company were to  | In that case the labor segment    |
| qualify as the best value to the  | awarded will be based on the      |
| Government in more than one       | labor category for which that     |
| category, how will Sandia         | Offeror was rated the highest     |
| determine which specific contract | through the technical evaluation  |
| that company would be awarded?    | process with price being a        |
|                                   | substantial consideration.        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 84\. In reference to Instruction  | Sandia will not disclose the      |
| 9, specifically on the RFQ        | specific details as to how the    |
| statements: "A down select        | down select process will be       |
| process based on price will be    | conducted.                        |
| used prior to performing          |                                   |
| technical evaluations.  Technical |                                   |
| evaluations will not be performed |                                   |
| for Quotations beyond the down    |                                   |
| select quantities", please        |                                   |
| explain how the Down Select       |                                   |
| process will work and what will   |                                   |
| be the criteria in determining if |                                   |
| a quotation is beyond the down    |                                   |
| select quantities?                |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 85\. How many vendor bids will be | Sandia will award one contract    |
| selected to supply staff          | for each of the three labor       |
| augmentation resources to Sandia  | segments for a total of three     |
| for each of the three categories? | contracts.                        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 86\. REFERENCE: Clause 10         | No. Compliance with the Service   |
|                                   | Contact Act is a Contractor       |
| "...wage determination ...shall   | responsibility.                   |
| apply to all non-exempt           |                                   |
| Contractor personnel supporting   |                                   |
| this contract." Will Sandia       |                                   |
| provide the location and Wage     |                                   |
| Determination labor category      |                                   |
| equivalents for these positions?  |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 87\. The SBA Mentor-Protégé       | The SBA Mentor-Protégé program is |
| Program is fully defined within   | not recognized under Sandia's     |
| 13 C.F.R. 124.520. The purpose of | prime contract with DOE.          |
| any Mentor Protégé Agreement is   |                                   |
| to enhance the development of the |                                   |
| protégé and encourage approved    |                                   |
| mentors to provide various forms  |                                   |
| of assistance to eligible 8(a)    |                                   |
| participants to ensure            |                                   |
| contracting opportunity           |                                   |
| experience and overall financial  |                                   |
| viability. The assistance may     |                                   |
| include technical,                |                                   |
| administrative, managerial,       |                                   |
| financial (in the form of equity  |                                   |
| investments, bonding and/or       |                                   |
| loans), subcontracting, and       |                                   |
| performance with prime            |                                   |
| contractors in the form of joint  |                                   |
| venture arrangements. Please      |                                   |
| confirm that the SNL Staff        |                                   |
| Augmentation solicitation does    |                                   |
| recognize the SBA Mentor-Protégé  |                                   |
| Program allowing a small and 8(a) |                                   |
| firm to leverage its approved SBA |                                   |
| Mentor-Protégé Agreement as we    |                                   |
| implement a proposal strategy for |                                   |
| this procurement.                 |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 88\. The RFQ asks questions about | A number of incumbents have       |
| a new vendor handling "incumbent" | registered on our bidders list,   |
| personnel at Sandia. Are          | so presumably they are interested |
| incumbent vendors bidding on the  | in submitting bids. We don't      |
| RFQ? And, does Sandia know of     | specifically know of any          |
| current vendors who do not plan   | incumbents who will not           |
| to re-bid?                        | participate in bidding on the     |
|                                   | requirement.                      |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 89\. Will rates be adjusted for   | Direct Labor Rates may be         |
| inflation during the life of the  | adjusted annually based on the    |
| contract? If so, what general     | GII/DOL. Refer to Clause 5 --     |
| indexes will be used to gauge     | Allowable Charges                 |
| those adjustments?                |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 90\. On page 22, item 2.5, the    | 2.5 states that Sandia may hire   |
| RFQ talks about the ability of    | Contract Associates at anytime.   |
| Sandia to hire a Contractor's     | The one year of service refers to |
| employee. It states that this can | the point of time that Sandia     |
| take place after one year of      | does not have to compensate the   |
| service. Please confirm that the  | Contractor for hiring their       |
| one year of service applies to    | Contract Associate. Refer also to |
| each Contractor employee and not  | Clause 5 -- Allowable Charges,    |
| to the service period of the      | paragraph H (2).                  |
| Contractor company.               |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 91\. On page 27, item 3.3.4, the  | No the Contractor proposes the    |
| RFQ states that Sandia will make  | initial direct labor rate for     |
| the determination of the rate     | their Contract Associate          |
| that will be paid for any         | candidates for consideration by   |
| particular position. Does Sandia  | Sandia.                           |
| make that determination without   |                                   |
| input from the Contractor         |                                   |
| concerning the direct labor rate  |                                   |
| of the candidate?                 |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 92\. Which of the medical         | None are considered direct costs. |
| services in Section 2.7.11 are    |                                   |
| considered direct costs and which |                                   |
| medical services are considered   |                                   |
| indirect costs?                   |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 93\. Reference Instruction 17,    | Instruction 17 of the RFQ will be |
| "Furnish Name(s) of               | amended to indicate that Offerors |
| Subcontractors or Team Members of | are not required to submit        |
| an LLC or JVC" Sandia requires    | pricing information for           |
| that an offeror submit data       | subcontractors or other team      |
| justifying the Offeror's          | members beyond the overall        |
| rationale for selecting a         | pricing multiplier for the team.  |
| subcontractor, naming price as    |                                   |
| one of the components of the      |                                   |
| required documentation.  Are you  |                                   |
| seeking information on the        |                                   |
| subcontractor that is normally    |                                   |
| considered proprietary, i.e., the |                                   |
| components of subcontractor       |                                   |
| pricing?  What exactly is sought  |                                   |
| with regard to subcontractor team |                                   |
| member "price?"                   |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 94\. Will subcontractors be       | Yes.                              |
| required to provide the same      |                                   |
| level of minimum benefits         |                                   |
| identified in Section I, Clause   |                                   |
| 1, paragraph 8.0 - Minimum        |                                   |
| Benefits as the prime contractor? |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 95.  Will teams be able to add    | Justifiable changes may be made   |
| additional team members/companies | to teaming partners after         |
| after award?                      | contract award subject to Sandia  |
|                                   | Contracting Representative        |
|                                   | approval.                         |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 96\. Instruction 18 -- In a       | For the primary contractor only.  |
| teaming arrangement with a prime  |                                   |
| and subcontractors, is a balance  |                                   |
| sheet required for just the       |                                   |
| primary contractor or for all     |                                   |
| subcontractors as well?           |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 97\. Will pre-select Contract     | Depending on the timing of        |
| Associates' pay rates remain the  | contract award, the Direct Labor  |
| same under the new agreement?     | Rates paid to existing Contract   |
|                                   | Associates may be eligible for a  |
|                                   | DOL/DRI cost of living            |
|                                   | adjustment. (Refer to Clause      |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 98\. Is the 1,000 plus number of  | The number of Contract Associates |
| existing Contracts Associates a   | is subject to change. Attachment  |
| reasonable total number to be     | I illustrates the latest          |
| transitioned as either            | compilation; however, Sandia      |
| pre-selects or replaced as        | doesn't guarantee any specific    |
| non-pre-selects, and if not what  | number or mix of Contract         |
| is the anticipated size of the    | Associates.                       |
| Contract Associate pool for first |                                   |
| year of the new contract? Can you |                                   |
| provide an estimate of the        |                                   |
| distribution of this total across |                                   |
| the Professional Services,        |                                   |
| Support Services, and IT          |                                   |
| contacts?                         |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 99\. On page 25, item 2.9, Sandia | Sandia will provide full          |
| describes the possible            | reimbursement for all allowable   |
| requirement for Contractor        | and reasonable travel expenses as |
| personnel to travel on behalf of  | specified by the Federal Travel   |
| Sandia. Should we assume that     | Regulations. Refer to Clause 5 -- |
| Sandia will provide full          | Allowable Charges, paragraph G    |
| reimbursement for all allowable   | for the applicable travel         |
| and reasonable expenses? And,     | provisions for the contracts.     |
| will Sandia provide Contractor a  |                                   |
| document outlining their travel   |                                   |
| policies?                         |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 100\. RFP Section I, Clause 1,    | We want all offerors to bid on    |
| 8.0. The RFP requires Contractors | the same requirements. Allowing   |
| to provide a very defined set of  | the offerors to determine their   |
| benefits. Why doesn't SNL allow   | own packages makes the technical  |
| vendors to determine their own    | evaluation process too subjective |
| packages?                         | and difficult because then you    |
|                                   | are comparing apples to oranges   |
|                                   | rather than apples to apples.     |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| 101\. REFERENCE: Clause 5, E.     | You are correct. The Allowable    |
| Formula for DLR Adjustments - The | Charges clause has been revised   |
| formula for calculating future    | to correct the formula.           |
| years DLR is incorrect. The total |                                   |
| amount should not be divided by   |                                   |
| 2. Only \[GII + DOL\] should be   |                                   |
| divided by 2.                     |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+