Superfund Contracts Virtual Industry Day - November 2, 2024

Recording of Industry Day

Questions and Answers

On this page:

  1. Will EPA utilize the same RAF Suite (DES, ESO, RES)?
  2. Will EPA use the same CLIN Structure (1, 2 and 3)?
  3. Will EPA add Clause 52.216-4 "Economic Price Adjustment" into the next phase of RFPs?
  4. Will EPA consider the use of T&M IDIQ line items and not utilize both fixed price and T&M within single Task Orders?  This method is very time consuming to small businesses under the ESO Suite and it creates additional auditing reporting conditions and effort. 
  5. Does EPA think that the clauses pertaining to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program will be included in future contracts? Inclusion of such clauses will be very costly to contractors and will likely have a negative impact on Small Businesses.  
  6. What is EPA's overall schedule for the next phases (draft SOW release, additional industry days, solicitation release, etc)?  
  7. Discuss the Use of the ESO Contract to Procure A&E Services Using an LPTA Award.  We request that EPA clarify the procurement of A&E services under the ESO contract. …Please clarify why these types of A&E services were procured using an LPTA type of award process under ESO and not a Brooks Act compliant qualifications-based selection process under the DES contract compliant with the Brooks Act.
  8. In addition, labor categories and negotiated labor rates under the ESO contract do not account for highly specialized professionals required to support remedial planning and oversight activities, including remedial investigations, feasibility studies, and remedial designs. 
  9. We would like to request additional clarity from EPA Headquarters (HQ) on regional and national contacts and how prime contractors should engage with EPA regarding questions/concerns during the DES fair opportunity ordering process defined in the DES contract. 
  10. We request that EPA consider improvements in timely RES task order competition award notifications and debriefs.
  11. [It seems] the intent is to get feedback regarding the last contract to better understand what worked and what didn’t. We were not involved in the last contract but would be interested in the next one. We are a small business under the 562910 NAICS code… Is there a location or reference to the last contract that we could access or download? 
  12. Can a list of attendees be provided?  
  13. Can you reiterate when the RFP will hit the streets for an early 2027 award?
  14. Was the time line Megan provided for the next generation RAF solicitation for the calendar year or federal fiscal year?
  15. Will EPA be holding additional industry days through 2025 to update contractors on their procurement strategy?  
  16. Is it anticipated the three CLINs as structured will remain?  This potentially affects teaming strategies.
  17. Will the slides be provided to the attendees?  
  18. As feedback, Contractors need to understand the structure of RAF in order to develop teams, thus, it is very important for competition for EPA to at least explain the structure of the contracts (CLIN, DES, RES, ESO) .
  19. Will EPA provide all Q&As that have been submitted by the due date of 11/26? 
  20. Can contractors be on multiple teams under a CLIN vs exclusive to a Prime? 
  21. As a contractor that is not currently under contract, but very interested in the upcoming acquisition, are contractors able to select the CLIN they do work in?  Or are they required to provide services in all CLINs?  
  22. (Redacted) is an SBA HUBZone certified Small Business Concern with speciality in geotechnical-geo-envronmental engineering. Are there opportunities for EDA to participate in these contracts?   

1. Will EPA utilize the same RAF Suite (DES, ESO, RES)?

We are currently in the acquisition planning phase and have not determined a strategy, including whether the agency will proceed with DES, ESO or RES.  Responses to the RFI will help determine this.

2. Will EPA use the same CLIN Structure (1, 2 and 3)?

We are currently in the acquisition planning phase and have not determined a strategy, including whether the agency will proceed with the same CLIN structure.  Responses to the RFI will help determine this.

3. Will EPA add Clause 52.216-4 "Economic Price Adjustment" into the next phase of RFPs?

We are currently in the acquisition planning phase and have not determined a strategy, including whether it would be appropriate to use 52.216-4.  Responses to the RFI will help determine this.

4. Will EPA consider the use of T&M IDIQ line items and not utilize both fixed price and T&M within single Task Orders?  This method is very time consuming to small businesses under the ESO Suite and it creates additional auditing reporting conditions and effort. 

The contract type for each task order will be determined based on the nature of the work and its alignment with the characteristics of the contract types defined in FAR Subpart 16.1.  Responses to the RFI also will help determine this.

5. Does EPA think that the clauses pertaining to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program will be included in future contracts? Inclusion of such clauses will be very costly to contractors and will likely have a negative impact on Small Businesses. 

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program is a Department of Defense (DoD) program that requires federal contractors and subcontractors to comply with cybersecurity standards. It is unknown at this time if those standards will be applicable to this requirement.

6. What is EPA's overall schedule for the next phases (draft SOW release, additional industry days, solicitation release, etc)?  

Very tentative schedule includes RFP release in late 2025, and award in early 2027.  More detailed dates will be provided once the research phase is complete in mid-2025.

7. Discuss the Use of the ESO Contract to Procure A&E Services Using an LPTA Award.  We request that EPA clarify the procurement of A&E services under the ESO contract. Please clarify why these types of A&E services were procured using an LPTA type of award process under ESO and not a Brooks Act compliant qualifications-based selection process under the DES contract compliant with the Brooks Act.

This question is beyond the scope of the RFI.

8. In addition, labor categories and negotiated labor rates under the ESO contract do not account for highly specialized professionals required to support remedial planning and oversight activities, including remedial investigations, feasibility studies, and remedial designs. 

Thank you for the comment.

9. We would like to request additional clarity from EPA Headquarters (HQ) on regional and national contacts and how prime contractors should engage with EPA regarding questions/concerns during the DES fair opportunity ordering process defined in the DES contract. 

  1. Can EPA HQ publish annual updates to the RAF program identifying EPA regional and national contracting contacts/contact information (e.g., Regional Acquisition Managers [RAM], DES Ombudsman)?
  2. Can EPA HQ publish the roles and responsibilities of EPA contracting contacts (i.e., RAMs, Ombudsman) and the specific EPA contracting contacts that DES prime contractors should communicate with regarding questions/concerns during DES Fair Opportunity Ordering process when responses from contracting officers are an issue/in dispute? 

Thank you for the suggestions and comments.

10. We request that EPA consider improvements in timely RES task order competition award notifications and debriefs.

Thank you for the suggestions and comments.

11. [It seems] the intent is to get feedback regarding the last contract to better understand what worked and what didn’t. We were not involved in the last contract but would be interested in the next one. We are a small business under the 562910 NAICS code… Is there a location or reference to the last contract that we could access or download? 

You can review the existing RAF contracts and types of work done under them at https://www.epa.gov/superfund/remedial-acquisition-framework#current.  You can review general information about the Superfund program at https://www.epa.gov/superfund  And you can find support for small businesses at https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-small-and-disadvantaged-business-utilization-osdbu.

From the Industry Day live Q&A:

12. Can a list of attendees be provided?  

We will provide a list of registered attendees who have expressed interest in sharing their names with other registered attendees.  That list will come out separately.  Additionally, a list of current contractors working on current RAF contracts is available here:  https://www.epa.gov/superfund/remedial-acquisition-framework#current.  

13. Can you reiterate when the RFP will hit the streets for an early 2027 award?

The goal (not set in stone) is by the end of Calendar Year 2025.

14. Was the time line Megan provided for the next generation RAF solicitation for the calendar year or federal fiscal year?

Calendar year.

15. Will EPA be holding additional industry days through 2025 to update contractors on their procurement strategy?  

EPA will hold additional industry days throughout the process for various purposes. 

16. Is it anticipated the three CLINs as structured will remain?  This potentially affects teaming strategies.

This is yet to be determined.   EPA will provide this information once this and other related decisions are made.  Responses to the RFI will help determine this.

17. Will the slides be provided to the attendees?  

This is the page where the recording of the event, which includes the slides, will be available.  It's a good resource for this effort overall going forward.  https://www.epa.gov/superfund/remedial-acquisition-framework

18. As feedback, Contractors need to understand the structure of RAF inorder to develope teams, thus, it is very important for competition for EPA to at least explain the structure of the contracts (CLIN, DES, RES, ESO).

Understood.   Thank you for the comment.

19. Will EPA provide all Q&As that have been submitted by the due date of 11/26? 

EPA will provide the Q&A's before the RFI closes.

20. Can contractors be on multiple teams under a CLIN vs exclusive to a Prime? 

This is yet to be determined.   EPA will provide this information once this and other related decisions are made.

21. As a contractor that is not currently under contract, but very interested in the upcoming acquisition, are contractors able to select the CLIN they do work in?  Or are they required to provide services in all CLINs?  

Under the existing set of RAF contracts, contractors were able to bid on one, two, or all three CLINs.   The future arrangement is yet to be determined.  EPA will provide this information once this and other related decisions are made.  Responses to the RFI will help determine this.

22. (redacted) is an SBA HUBZone certified Small Business Concern with speciality in geotechnical-geo-environmental engineering. Are there opportunities for EDA to participate in these contracts?   

You can review the existing RAF contracts and types of work done under them at https://www.epa.gov/superfund/remedial-acquisition-framework#current.  You can review general information about the Superfund program at https://www.epa.gov/superfund  And you can find support for small businesses at https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-small-and-disadvantaged-business-utilization-osdbu. 

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Last updated on January 14, 2025