R--STSSC IDIQ Southeast Region

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0003) modifies the solicitation 140G0125R0010, effective 12/18/2025.

Key changes include:

• Revising Section L-1, Table Volume II, Factor 5 page limit from 7 pages to 15 pages.

• Providing the final Question and Answers, referencing Attachment 10 Q&A Amd 003.

• Section L-1, Table Volume II, Factor 5 (page limit change)

• Attachment 10 Q&A Amd 003 (provided)

• The page limit for a specific section of the proposal submission has been increased.

• Final Q&A has been provided, which may impact proposal content.

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged. The period of performance is 04/01/2026 to 03/31/2031.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the solicitation, clarifying various aspects of the proposal submission and requirements.

• Compensation Plan Page Limit: The page limit for the FAR 52.222-46 Compensation Plan has been increased from 3 pages to 15 pages (12-point font) to allow for sufficient detail regarding realistic salary data and fringe benefits.
• Volume 1 Submission: Clarification was sought on whether Volume 1 should be a single electronic file or an electronic folder with individual files per section. The government indicated this was answered in Amendment 002.
• Incumbent Headcount & LCATs: The government does not guarantee the provided incumbent headcount (84 employees) reflects the most-used labor categories. Attachment 1 lists possible LCATs and locations, but the Level of Effort (LOE) may not be the same as the current contract.
• Past Performance: Offerors should only submit Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) as stated in Section L, Factor 4. Additional past performance references outside of PPQs are not requested.
• Offeror Summary/Team Composition: The request to allow up to 3 pages for an offeror summary and team composition after the Cover Page was denied; bidders must follow instructions in L-1 as written.
• 8(a) Status for Mentor-Protégé Joint Ventures: For competitive 8(a) set-asides, no additional files are necessary to confirm 8(a) status beyond the statement of acknowledgement. Information regarding joint ventures is included in FAR 52.219-18.

This Q&A clarifies submission requirements, particularly regarding page limits for specific sections and the scope of past performance documentation. It also confirms that additional documentation for 8(a) status for joint ventures is not required, directing bidders to FAR 52.219-18 for relevant information.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides a list of prevailing wage determinations for various locations across the United States and Puerto Rico. It includes the WD (Wage Determination) number, the corresponding WD Website URL, the "Rev (as of 01.07.2026)" number, and the dated revision.

• Location: Specific city and state (or territory).
• County: The county associated with the location.
• WD: The Wage Determination number.
• WD Website: A direct link to the wage determination on SAM.gov.
• Rev (as of 01.07.2026): The revision number of the wage determination.
• Dated: The date the wage determination was revised.

This attachment is crucial for bidders to understand the minimum wage requirements for various labor categories in different geographic areas. Bidders must consult these wage determinations to accurately calculate labor costs and ensure compliance with federal regulations when preparing their proposals for opportunities that require adherence to prevailing wage rates.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to questions submitted by potential offerors regarding the solicitation (Sol_140G0125R0010). It clarifies various aspects of the solicitation, including submission instructions, evaluation criteria, labor categories, and administrative details.

• Proposal Submission Format: Each item within Volume I must be submitted as a separate file, not consolidated into a single document per volume.
• Key Personnel: Offerors may propose additional Key Personnel beyond the IDIQ Program Manager, with each submission limited to one page.
• Labor Categories: Shaded labor categories in Attachment B08 indicate no anticipated work. Several labor categories have been corrected or removed in Revision 1 of Attachment B08.
• Release of Claims & Non-Disclosure Agreement: Attachments 4 (Release of Claims DI Form 137) and 7 (Non-Disclosure Agreement) are for the future successful offeror/contractor and are not to be included in proposals.
• Proposal Submission Deadline: For email submissions, proposals must be received by 5:00 PM CT on January 26, 2026. The solicitation will be amended to reflect this, notwithstanding FAR 52.212-1(f)(2)(i)(A).
• Professional Employee Compensation Plan: The page limit for Factor 5 has been revised to 7 pages. Backup documentation is not required, but a narrative plan with sufficient detail is acceptable.
• Past Performance: While offerors determine contract similarity, the Government evaluates relevance based on scope, magnitude, and complexity. Non-contract references may be considered but may be deemed less relevant at the Government's discretion.
• "Most-Used" Labor Categories: For price evaluation, the Government will apply offerors' proposed rates to the cumulative estimated hours across all five contract years for these categories. Averaged rates will not be used.

Several sections of the solicitation, including Section L (Proposal Preparation) and Attachment B08 (Labor Categories), have been or will be amended based on these clarifications. The proposal submission deadline for email submissions has been clarified. The page limit for the Professional Employee Compensation Plan has been increased.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0002) to solicitation 140G0125R0010 modifies the original solicitation with the following updates:

• Attachment 1 Labor Categories: Updated to Revision 1.

• Attachment 3 Wage Determinations: Updated to Revision 2.

• Attachment 9: Added, containing Questions & Answers.

• Section L (Proposal Submission Instructions): Revised to state that proposals submitted via email will be considered timely if received by 5:00 PM CT on January 26, 2026 (notwithstanding FAR 52.212-1(f)(2)(i)(A)).

• Section L-1 (Factor 5 Page Limit): Increased from 3 pages to 7 pages.

• Section M-2 (Factor 6: Price): Revised to include the statement "Total estimated hours will be applied across all five contract years." above the "Most-Used" Labor Categories Table with Estimated Hours.

• Attachment 1 (Labor Categories)

• Attachment 3 (Wage Determinations)

• Attachment 9 (Questions & Answers) - New

• Section L (Proposal Submission Instructions)

• Section L-1 (Factor 5 Page Limit)

• Section M-2 (Factor 6: Price)

• The deadline for email proposal submission is now 5:00 PM CT on January 26, 2026.

• The page limit for Factor 5 has been increased.

• Clarifications regarding pricing and labor hours have been provided in Section M-2.

Forms / Attachments / Pricing Sheets

This document provides a detailed list of Service Contract Act (SCA) and Professional Service (PS) labor categories, their corresponding Service Contract Act (SCA) Occupational Codes and Titles, Federal Grade Equivalents (for SCA only), and general descriptions of duties. It also includes columns for contract year pricing, though specific rates are not provided in this excerpt. This information is crucial for bidders to understand the labor categories and associated wage determinations required for the opportunity.

• Labor Categories: A comprehensive list of job titles (e.g., Accounting Clerk, Biology Technician, Engineer, GIS Specialist, Research Scientist).
• Service Contract Act (SCA) / Professional Service (PS) Designation: Indicates whether the labor category falls under SCA or PS.
• SCA Occupational Code and Title: Specific codes and titles for SCA-covered positions.
• Federal Grade Equivalent (SCA only): Corresponds SCA grades to federal pay scales.
• General Description of Duties: Outlines the responsibilities and tasks associated with each labor category.
• Contract Years 1-5: Columns designated for hourly rates for each contract year, intended to be filled in by bidders.
• Wage Determinations (WD): References specific WD numbers and their effective dates, linked to various geographic locations.

Bidders must use this document to determine the appropriate labor categories, understand the required skill sets and duties, and ensure their proposed pricing aligns with the specified wage determinations for each location. This attachment is essential for developing a compliant and competitive proposal, particularly for labor-hour or time-and-materials contracts.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides clarifications and answers to vendor questions regarding the solicitation.

• Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs): Offerors are permitted to submit PPQs from contracts performed by prospective subcontractors. The "Narrative Explanation" section of the PPQ is for explaining "outstanding" or "unacceptable" statements, not for detailing contract similarity.

• Key Personnel Page Limits: Resumes and signed statements of availability are limited to 1 page each and are excluded from the 4-page limit for Factor 3: Key Personnel. An exception allows the IDIQ Program Manager resume to not count towards any page limit.

• Required Contractor Provided Items: Contractors are required to provide standard office space, office IT, tools, incidental materials, and other internal off-site support costs. USGS provides Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) like laptops and software for on-site personnel.

• Proposal Due Date: The proposal due date is January 20, 2026, 1700 CS. An extension has been granted, making the new due date January 26, 2026.

• Management Plan Page Limit: The 8-page limit for the Management Plan remains unchanged. Resumes are addressed under Key Personnel Factor 3.

• Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) & PIV Cards: GFE and PIV cards will be provided for on-site support. Offerors should exclude the cost of IT equipment from their price proposals for on-site support.

• Wage Determinations: Attachment 3, Wage Determinations, has been updated to reflect the most current applicable versions for pricing.

• Labor Rates: Offerors must use one fully burdened labor rate per labor category, applicable to both prime and subcontractors. Premium billing for subcontractor labor will not be accepted.

• CPARS: CPARs can be used as past performance information, in addition to PPQs. Offerors with no relevant past performance must submit a signed statement.

• PPQ Submission: PPQs should be submitted via email to Kimberly Schneider in Word or PDF format.

• Incumbent Employees: As of January 7, 2026, there are 84 incumbent employees.

• The proposal due date has been extended to January 26, 2026.

• Clarifications have been provided regarding page limits, submission requirements, and the use of GFE, impacting proposal preparation.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment modifies the solicitation with the following changes:

• Extends the due date for offers to January 26, 2026, no later than 1700 CST.

• Updates Attachment 3, Wage Determination, to Revision 1.

• Provides attached Questions & Answers (Q&A) as referenced in Attachment 8 Q&A Amd 001.

• Inserts new language into Section C, PWS Section XII Government Property, regarding "Motorized Vehicles as GFE/GFP," clarifying contractor liability and insurance requirements for use of government-provided vehicles.

• Revises Section F, "Unscheduled Closures - Labor Hour," to clarify that non-productive hours treated as paid leave are an allowable cost, with a limit on total hours charged per day.

• Due Date

• Attachment 3 (Wage Determination)

• Attachment 8 (Q&A)

• Section C (PWS - Government Property)

• Section F (Clause - Unscheduled Closures - Labor Hour)

• The proposal submission deadline has been extended to January 26, 2026.

• Requirements related to government property and labor hours have been clarified or modified.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides a list of Wage Determinations from the U.S. Department of Labor. Each entry specifies a location (city and state), county, Wage Determination (WD) number, a direct link to the WD on SAM.gov, the revision number, and the dated revision.

• Location: City and State where the wage determination applies.
• County: The specific county within the state.
• WD: The unique identifier for the Wage Determination.
• WD Website: A direct URL to the official Wage Determination on SAM.gov.
• Rev (as of 01.07.2026) Dated: The revision number and the date of the revision for the wage determination.

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the prevailing wage requirements for labor on federal contracts in various geographic locations. Bidders must consult these wage determinations to ensure compliance with labor standards when preparing their proposals and performing contract work, particularly for construction or service contracts subject to the Davis-Bacon Act or Service Contract Act.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Past Performance Information Request (PPIR) from the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It is used to gather feedback from references regarding a contractor's past performance on a previous contract. This information is crucial for the USGS's evaluation of a competitive 8(a) service contract.

• Contractor Information: Fields for the contractor's name, contract number, and evaluation period.
• Reference Information: Fields for the reference's name, agency, phone, and email.
• Performance Areas: The questionnaire requests ratings on the following areas:
  • Quality of Product or Service
  • Schedule
  • Cost Control
  • Business Relations
  • Key Personnel
• Rating Scale: A scale from Outstanding (O) to Unsatisfactory (UN) is provided for each performance area.
• Narrative Explanation: Space is provided for detailed explanations, especially for "outstanding" or "unacceptable" ratings, and for any other pertinent comments.

Bidders should be aware that their references will be contacted using this form. The feedback provided by these references directly impacts the evaluation of their past performance, which is a critical factor in contract awards. Understanding the criteria evaluated (Quality, Schedule, Cost Control, Business Relations, Key Personnel) can help bidders prepare their references and ensure they highlight relevant strengths.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, an Excel spreadsheet titled 'B08_Attachment_1_Labor_Categories.xlsx', details various labor categories, their Service Contract Act (SCA) or Professional Service (PS) classifications, SCA occupational codes and titles, Federal Grade Equivalents (for SCA only), general descriptions of duties, and hourly rates across five contract years. It is intended for contractors to provide their hourly rates for each specified labor category and location where services will be performed.

• Contract Labor Categories: A comprehensive list of job titles (e.g., Accounting Clerk, Biology Technician, Engineer, Scientist).
• Service Contract Act (SCA) or Professional Service (PS): Classification for each labor category.
• SCA Occupational Code and Title: Specific codes and titles for SCA-classified roles.
• Federal Grade Equivalent (SCA only): Corresponding federal grade levels for SCA roles.
• General Description of Duties: A brief outline of the responsibilities for each labor category.
• Hourly Rates: Columns for Contract Year 1 through Contract Year 5, where contractors are expected to input their proposed hourly rates for each labor category and location.
• Locations: Various specified locations across Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas.

This attachment is crucial for bidders as it outlines the required labor categories and the structure for submitting pricing. Bidders must carefully review the labor categories, their descriptions, and the specified locations to accurately determine and input their proposed hourly rates for each contract year. This information will form a significant part of the overall cost proposal and will be used for evaluating the financial aspects of bids.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation seeks proposals for Science and Technical Support Services (STSS) for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Southeast Region. The contract will be an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) with a period of performance from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031, for a total contract ceiling of $49,500,000.00. Task Orders may be awarded on a Firm Fixed Price (FFP), Labor Hour (LH), or Time & Material (T&M) basis, potentially including travel.

Services include:

• Administrative support

• Program Management Services

• Research/Science activities (including field research, data analysis, and model development)

• Data and Information Management

• Geospatial Applications, Modeling, and Associated Technologies

• Technical Project Management

• Science Facility/Equipment Support

• Contract Type: Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)

• Period of Performance: April 1, 2026 - March 31, 2031 (5 years)

• Contract Ceiling: $49,500,000.00

• Guaranteed Minimum: $2,500.00

• Proposals are due by January 20, 2026, 1700 CS.

• Evaluation will be based on six factors in descending order of importance: Management Plan, Transition Plan, Key Personnel, Past Performance, Professional Employee Compensation Plan (pass/fail), and Price.

• The solicitation is a 100% set-aside for the 8(a) Business Development (BD) Program.

• Questions regarding the solicitation should be submitted to Kimberly Schneider at krschneider@usgs.gov.

• This acquisition is 100% set-aside for the 8(a) Business Development (BD) Program. Prime offerors must meet SBA 8(a) BD eligibility requirements.

• Offerors are advised to review the entire solicitation and attachments.

• Questions will be answered via amendment to the solicitation posted on Sam.gov.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a coverage map illustrating the regional service areas for "Science and Technical Support Services" within the Northeast and Southeast of the United States. It visually delineates different service regions and indicates the locations of associated OAG (Office of Government) offices.

• Regions: The map divides the US into distinct service regions: Northwest - Pacific Islands, Southwest, Rocky Mountain, Midcontinent, Northeast, and Southeast.
• OAG Office Locations: Specific OAG offices are marked on the map, including Denver, National, Grants, and Reston, with their respective service areas or functions noted.
• Color Coding: Different colors are used to represent the various service regions, aiding in visual identification.
• Key/Legend: A legend provides a key for understanding the color coding and the specific OAG offices and their roles (e.g., National Programs (Acquisition), National Programs (Financial Assistance)).

This map is crucial for bidders to understand the geographic scope of the "Science and Technical Support Services" opportunity. It helps identify which specific regions or OAG offices are relevant to the potential contract, which may be important for understanding operational requirements, logistical considerations, and potential points of contact or oversight within the government.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides a list of prevailing wage determinations for various locations across the United States. It includes the WD (Wage Determination) number, the corresponding WD Website URL, the revision number, and the dated revision.

• Location: Specific city and state.
• County: The county associated with the location.
• WD: The unique identifier for the wage determination.
• WD Website: A direct link to the wage determination on SAM.gov.
• Rev (as of 11.25.2025): The revision number of the wage determination as of November 25, 2025.
• Dated: The date the wage determination was issued or revised.

This attachment is crucial for bidders to understand the minimum wage rates and benefits that must be paid to laborers and mechanics employed on federal or federally funded construction projects in the specified locations. Bidders must consult these wage determinations to accurately calculate labor costs and ensure compliance with federal regulations when preparing their proposals.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, FAR 52.112-3, "Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services," is a standard provision that offerors must complete when responding to solicitations for commercial products and commercial services. It requires offerors to provide representations and certifications regarding their business status, capabilities, and compliance with various federal regulations.

• Annual Representations and Certifications: Offerors can either complete these electronically in the System for Award Management (SAM) or fill out specific paragraphs (c through v) of this provision if not completed in SAM.
• Business Status: Includes representations regarding small business status, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned (SDVOSB), small disadvantaged business (SDB), women-owned small business (WOSB), economically disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB), and HUBZone small business concerns. Joint venture representations are also included.
• Certifications: Covers various certifications related to Buy American provisions, Free Trade Agreements, Israeli Trade Act, Trade Agreements, payments to influence federal transactions, responsibility matters (debarment, suspension), knowledge of child labor, and restricted business operations in Sudan.
• Ownership and Control: Requires information about the offeror's immediate and highest-level owners.
• Inverted Domestic Corporations: Representation regarding status as an inverted domestic corporation.
• Iran Sanctions: Representation and certification regarding activities related to Iran.
• Place of Manufacture: Statistical data on the expected place of manufacture for end products.
• Service Contract Labor Standards: Certifications regarding exemptions from Service Contract Labor Standards.
• Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): Information for reporting and debt collection purposes.

This provision is critical for determining an offeror's eligibility for certain contract types (e.g., small business set-asides) and for ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations. Offerors must carefully review and accurately complete the relevant sections to ensure their offer is compliant and to claim any applicable preferences or set-aside statuses. Failure to complete these representations and certifications correctly can lead to disqualification.