Broad Agency Announcement Solicitation Amendment 0003

AMENDMENT 0003 - Summary of Changes

The following changes are incorporated into solicitation PHMSA-26HM-BAA via Amendment 0003:

1. PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT

The purpose of this Amendment 0003 is to incorporate additional responses to inquiries concerning the solicitation as a continuation of questions 1 through 13 under Amendment 0002.

2. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (Q&A)

Question 14: Taxpayer Identification Number
Inquiry: Taxpayer Identification Number on the cover page (Section VII.C). Security best practice discourages sending a Taxpayer Identification Number by email, and an offeror's TIN is already validated in its SAM.gov registration under its Unique Entity ID. If the cover page gives the UEI and states that the TIN is on file in SAM.gov, is the white paper complete under Section VII.C? If PHMSA requires the number itself, may the offeror provide it on request by a means the Contracting Officer designates, rather than in the emailed white paper?

PHMSA Response: If the Offeror’s TIN is already listed in their SAM.gov profile, then it may be excluded from their White Paper submission. Question 15: Experts and Team composition
Inquiry: Experts and team composition. Are experts, or personnel with a particular credential or background, required to be involved for a white paper to be competitive? Will a white paper that names no subcontractors or consultants be treated as incomplete under the Experience, Qualifications and Facilities factor for that reason alone?

PHMSA Response: If an offeror possesses the necessary expertise, qualifications, and personnel within its own organization and does not require subcontractors or consultants to perform the proposed research, the absence of named subcontractors or consultants will not, by itself, render the white paper incomplete. All white papers will be evaluated under the established solicitation criteria, including the Experience, Qualifications, and Facilities factor. Question 16: Travel
Inquiry: Briefing travel (Section IV.D). Must the Phase I cost estimate include travel for the kickoff, midpoint and final technical briefings, or may an offeror propose those briefings without travel?

PHMSA Response: The offeror is not required to travel for the kickoff, midpoint, and final technical briefing. Question 17: Components of White Paper
Inquiry: Material beyond the listed components. Section VII.C lists five components (cover page, summary page, technical concept, expected outcomes and impacts, cost estimate). If those components stay within their individual limits and the file stays within nine pages, may a white paper also include a short administrative section, such as a request for feedback if not selected and standard offeror terms?