MODIFICATION
U -- HHS UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIPS
- Notice Date
- 9/23/2003
- Notice Type
- Modification
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center, Division of Acquisition Management, Parklawn Building Room 5-101 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20857
- ZIP Code
- 20857
- Solicitation Number
- 04L000003
- Response Due
- 9/26/2003
- Archive Date
- 10/11/2003
- Point of Contact
- Janet Glasz, Contract Specialist, Phone 301-443-2329, Fax 301-443-8488,
- E-Mail Address
-
jglasz@psc.gov
- Description
- Due date for receipt of quotes has been extended to Friday, September 26, 2003 at 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. QUESTIONS and ANSWERS PERTAINING TO REQUEST FOR QUOTATION 03L000003 Title: HHS Uiversity Academic Partnerships 1.Question: Are you looking for one entity that could offer all types of courses, on site classroom , e-learning, telecourses? Or could a proposal be submitted for just one type of course, for instance ,e-learning? Answer: A proposal could be submitted for one type of access, but we are hoping the contractor can provide various means of access to their coursework, in order to maximize the benefit to HHS employees nationwide. 2.Question: What does a firm?fixed price inclusive of all charges for all sites mean? Does a firm-fixed unit price inclusive of all charges include software costs, admission fee and course material costs? Answer: Additional fees for books and materials is expected, but firm fixed price applies to the per credit rate for courses. The rate should be constant for all HHS employees, regardless of duty station or place of residence. 3.Question: What is the ?unit cost?? Semester Credit Hour? Quarter Credit Hour? Per Course? Answer: Unit cost is a semester credit hour. 4.Question: How many on-site , e-learning, or telecourses can be offered? Can a universities complete catalog be Answer: There is no limit on the amount of courses offered. Universities can offer their complete catalog in the proposal. 5.Question: How much detail would you like provided on the individual courses proposed? Answer: As long as the contractor already provides catalogs, program guides or other print media that describes its courses, there is no need to provide detail at the individual course level. 6.Question: Do you want information on every course in a program? For instance there may be 40 courses in a baccalaureate degree program. Do want information and pricing on each course or information on the degree program? Answer: No, there is no need to cover every course in a program, as long as the contractor already provides catalogs, program guides or other print media that describes its courses in sufficient detail. Pricing should be presented in a per credit basis. General information should cover types of programs, certificate or degrees. There is no need to provide information on every course. 7.Question: What is the suggested format and maximum length for proposal responses? Answer: The technical proposal should be no longer than 20 pages and should address the contractor?s ability to meet the requirements. The business proposal shall provide the cost information for courses on a per credit hour basis and any separate costs that may be course specific materials or resources. 8.Question: What are your evaluation expectations at both the course and partnership levels? Answer: There are no specific course level evaluation expectations, other than compliance to any terms a potential contractor intends to submit in the proposal. The partnership evaluation expectations are based on the actual accessibility and utilization of the contractor?s services. 9.Questions: Most State Universities do not supply books and materials with courses. These are purchased by the student from a designated vendor. Would this system of supplying books, workbooks, and other materials required for the course be acceptable? Answer: Yes. 10.Questions: Can fees (such as for information technology) be excluded in the course cost? Answer: If ?information technology? is defined as a course specific material or resource, then it can be a separate cost, passed to the student. 11.Questions: Some courses have pre-requisites. Can these courses be included. Who will establish that the student meets the pre-requisite. Answer: Yes. Completion of the pre-requisite is the responsibility of the contractor. 12.Questions: Can travel for on-site programs be billed as incurred? Answer: All costs (except books and other course specific materials) should be included in the per credit rate for the course. 13.Questions: In what format should we communicate course information such as length of time & class size minimums/maximums? Answer: Existing electronic or print material can be sent to HHS upon award of the contract. 14.Questions: You refer to both a ?technical proposal? and a ?business proposal? in the announcement. Are these one in the same? Answer: No. Reference answer to question number 7. The technical proposal shall not include price information. 15.Questions: Please define and provide examples of ?telecourses?. Would these include video- conference delivered courses? Answer: Telecourses would cover alternative types of distance learning. Video conferencing would be included in telecourses. 16.Questions: Please define and provide examples of the content you seek in the ?technical approach? section of the proposal. Answer: The technical proposal shall be written in sufficient detail to clearly and conscisely demonstrate the contractor?s ability to provide the services required and explain how the project will be organized, staffed and managed. 17.Questions: In your statement ?one tuition rate for all HHS employees?, are you referring to charging one rate to all people regardless of location, etc. or are you seeking the same tuition rate for all courses? Answer: One rate to all HHS employees, regardless of location. 18.Questions: Are you seeking both credit and non-credit courses? Answer: Ideally, credit courses are preferred, but non-credit courses can be presented. 19.Questions: Are you seeking both graduate and undergraduate courses? Answer: Yes 20.Questions: Please define what you mean by ?accredited academic courses?? Answer: Courses that are accredited by an organization that is recognized by the US Department of Education. 21.Questions: What is your definition of a ?certificate program?? Answer: A series of courses focused in one area of study. 22.Questions: Relative to on-site delivered courses, do you expect the university partner to identify the physical facilities used for these deliveries and make the logistical arrangements with these facilities for delivery of these programs? Answer: Yes 23.Questions: Can we add new program offerings as they are developed? Answer: Yes 24.Questions: Will we have an opportunity to modify prices in future option periods? Answer: Yes 25.Questions: What expectations does HHS have for the recuperation of facilities and administrative costs? Answer: There are no expectations of administrative costs and recuperation of facilities to be passed on to HHS. All costs for coursework (except for books and other course-specific materials) should be included in the per credit cost. 26.Questions: Can the course offerings be expanded and or modified during a project period or in subsequent project periods? Answer Yes 26.Questions: If a student does not complete a course does the accredited institution return all, part or none of the course fee? Answer Once enrolled in a course, the student abides by the rules of the institution; and must adhere to its refund policies.
- Place of Performance
- Address: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- Record
- SN00439881-W 20030925/030923213051 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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