Vaccine Research Center Clinical Monitoring Initiative   2

Clarification to Solicitation Questions 1/19/17:
1. The Appendix A Precis says there will be 20 Subjects in Part 1 and 130 Subjects in Part 2. However Attachment 5 Sample Task Order in the original RFP states there are only 20 subjects. Can you please clarify the correct number of subjects? Interested offeror's should follow the precis in Appendix A.
2. In our response to the Sample Task Order, should the response be separate and added as an Attachment or Appendix? Or is the intent to include the Task Order response into the overall IDIQ SOW response? The Task Order response shall be a part of the overall Technical Proposal' and shall not exceed the 200 page limit.
3. The 12/30/16 posting says that offerors should propose their ceiling rates for the entire IDIQ contract. We request that you please clarify and confirm the following, related to the information presented on 12/30 regarding ceiling rates.
a. What is meant by "ceiling rates?" We presume that those may be direct labor hourly rates for categories, and not loaded time-and material (T&M) rates (e.g. direct labor plus indirect costs)? The ceiling rates include direct labor plus indirect costs per category, per year for all 7 years. (Contractors will be reimbursed for their actual costs up to the ceiling amount).

b. Ceiling rates typically are not applicable for cost-reimbursement contracts, in our experience (accepting certain instances, for example, the Executive Level II rate limitation). Can the Government provide added information as to how they will be applied in any resultant contract, particularly for such an extended duration of 7 years? For the purposes of this RFP we are requesting ceiling rates which are an aggregate/total of direct and indirect costs.
4. The 12/30 clarification also states that the Ceiling rates shall be used for the sample Task Order. We presume this is for proposal purposes only, and that in any resultant contract, proposed rates for actual Task Orders can be less than the ceilings (or added categories proposed), based on actual task requirements? Yes, ceiling rates are being used for proposal evaluation purposes only. Yes, proposed rates for actual Task Orders can be less than the ceilings.