Description
1. Question: Is the work outlined in the RFI currently being performed through an existing contract. If so, which company is performing the work and what is the contract number. Government Response: This is a new requirement - there is no incumbent. 2. Question: Is there currently an Indirect Cost Series Document System (ICS) in place at the NBC in AQD? And if so, please provide further information on the ICS System. Government Response: An indirect cost series document system does not currently exist. This office is paper based. 3. Question: Could you please advise me if the work required under the subject RFI can be performed at the contractor's site? Government Response: The majority of the work performed by the ICS Directorate involves 'sensitive' financial information which must be maintained and secured in Government space. The Government is interested in a self contained, electronic solution that will transform the current paper based work environment into an electronic, paperless work environment which will streamline and improve the ICS Directorate performance. 1. Question: What is the time line for this procurement?Government Response: Should this RFI result in procurement, it is anticipated to be release in Fiscal year 2012. 2. Question: Would the contractor provide the scanning equipment at the government location? Government Response: Yes - the contractor will provide the scanning equipment at the government location - Sacramento, California. 3. Question: Is the location of the scanning equipment going to be in Sacramento, Denver or Herndon Virginia? OR can the scanning be done at a place and the users can electronically pull up the information at their Sacramento or Denver locations.Government Response: The scanning will take place in the Sacramento office - the location of the Indirect Cost Series Directorate 4. Question: Please provide information specific to the Indirect Cost Services Directorate at NBC.Government Response: The mission of the National Business Center's Office Indirect Cost Series (ICS) Directorate is to negotiate indirect cost rates in accordance with federal government regulations, 2 CFR 255 and 230, formerly Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars A-87 and A-122, respectively. Annually, ICS negotiates with almost 1,000 non-federal entities including nonprofit organizations, tribal, insular, state, and local governments that receive the majority of their federal funding from the Department of the Interior or one of eight other federal agencies that ICS provides services to under interagency agreements. The ICS inventory includes 462 tribal organizations, 447 nonprofit organizations, 138 state and local governments, and 26 insular governments. A federally approved indirect cost rate is required for these entities to be reimbursed for allowable indirect costs, such as general administration, incurred while conducting programs mandated or authorized by the Federal government. In FY 2010, ICS issued 1,174 negotiation agreements containing one to twenty program rates: 631 for the Department and 543 for contracted customers. The ICS also approved 15 cost allocation plans and conducted five indirect cost proposal workshops for tribal governments. The ICS team, consisting of auditors and program analysts, reviews indirect cost proposals to ensure compliance with applicable regulations, makes required adjustments, and issues government-wide indirect cost rate agreements to non-federal entities. The ICS team also serves as technical experts, conducts training sessions on how to prepare indirect cost proposals, and provides information and assistance to Federal program managers and contracting officers.The ICS staff keeps abreast of the latest issues concerning the negotiation of indirect cost rates by participating in training and information sharing with other Federal agencies performing indirect cost negotiations.Program Performance EstimatesIn 2011, ICS will increase the number of negotiations performed under interagency contract to 750 and plans to increase by another 100 negotiations in 2012. ICS plans to continue making improvements to its indirect cost proposal processes to maintain performance levels and increase service offerings to the Department and other Federal entities.