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expected to implement, install,
configure or train State employees
on Information Security hardware
and software purchased on other
contracts? (4420)
35
43
Section 3.3,
Contract
Activity Report
Can the State provide the required
content or a sample of this report?
Also, what specific department or
person is this report submitted to?
(4526)
The required content is identified in
the last paragraph of this section.
The quarterly Contract Activity Report
must be submitted to the buyer of
record for the contract. The second
paragraph of this section, including
the two bullets, is deleted.
36
43
Section 3.3.,
Contract
Activity Report
Please provide more information
regarding the opportunity to provide
a discount to the State and other
users of this contract. Section 3.3,
"Contract Activity Report" mentions
a contract discount and there is a
discount section listed on the
Signatory Page line item 18) Cash
Discount Terms. __ %___ Days:
Net ___ Days. What is the
evaluation weight or value structure
given to this Cash Discount and
how does this change with regards
to the percentage as it increases
and days given for a discount. Can
a bidder offer additional discounts to
the State and using entities based
on volume? (4433)
The reference to contract discount in
RFP Section 3.3 has been deleted,
per Part 2, #6 of this addendum. Item
18 on the Signatory Page pertains to
RFPs and resulting contracts dealing
with products and/or commodity bids,
does not apply to this RFP, and
should not be completed by the
bidder. Inasmuch as this is a services
contract, discount based on volume is
not permissible.
37
43
Section 3.4,
Method of
Operation
Paragraph four states that
contractor's SSR response shall be
construed as firm fixed price quote.
Please clarify that this would only be
the case for a Project SSR. Also, in
order to respond and commit to a
fixed price SSR, the contractor
would need to be involved in the
estimate for the work. Otherwise,
the State is asking for a
commitment to a fixed price for
work that was estimated by
resources other than the contractor
that will be responsible, and liable,
for the deliverables. (4526)
The State confirms that a contractor's
response to a Project SSR must be a
firm, fixed price quote. In the case of a
Staff Augmentation SSR, the hourly
rate(s) quoted by the contractor in its
SSR response shall be the hourly
rate(s) in effect for the duration of that
specific SSR's work. The State
acknowledges and affirms that the
contractor must estimate the
resources necessary for Project
SSRs, i.e., firm, fixed price SSRs.
38
43
Section 3.4,
Method of
Operation
Paragraph 6 seems to indicate that
after a State SSR is approved by
OIT, the vendor conference details
will be included with the SSR when
it is sent to the T0817 contractors.
The Method of Operation requires that
all SSRs be sent to all contractors
associated with the subtask(s)
supporting the Using Agency's work
request as documented within the
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What criteria will be used to
determine which contractors in the
subtask(s) will receive the approved
SSR? (4526)
SSR. In some instances a Using
Agency's SSR may specifically deal
with a single subtask, in which case
the SSR will be sent to the contractors
awarded that subtask. Other SSRs
may cover multiple subtasks and will
necessitate the SSR being sent to the
contractors awarded for each of the
applicable subtasks.
39
43
Section 3.4,
Method of
Operation
This section states "The contractor
must provide its SSR response in
writing". Is it mandatory for the
selected contractor to bid for each
SSR for the subtasks that it qualifies
to bid once it enters into a contract
with the State? (4510)
A contractor response to each SSR is
required, and the response must
either be in the affirmative (containing
cost, resumes, etc.) or must
document the contractor's reason for
declining the particular SSR. The
State will maintain a record of SSRs
sent to each contractor and the
contractor's response. This data will
be used as part of contract
performance evaluations and will also
be a factor in evaluating bid
responses when this contract is
reprocured in the future.
40
44
Section 3.4.1,
Project
Requests
Must a full SSR response be
prepared for EVERY project
required by the State for each
subtask? This will be onerous since
the subtasks can cross multiple
technology lines (i.e., WebSphere,
Sun, .NET, etc.). (4521)
Please refer to the response for
Question 39 in this addendum.
41
44
Section 3.4.1,
Project
Requests
Paragraph one states that a project
SSR that is estimated to exceed the
$750,000 limit shall be the subject
of a separate RFP. Will this limit
apply to individual SSRs, or a
combined amount funded to an
individual project that is supported
by multiple SSRs? Also, the RFP
state that an Agency may award an
SSR to multiple contractors. Does
the $750,000 limit apply to the
combined funding of the SSR, or to
the individual contractors that are
awarded? (4527)
The $750,000 limit for Project SSRs
applies to the project. This limit is
neither affected by there being one or
several SSRs for the project, nor the
number of contractors working on the
project.
42
44
Section 3.4.1,
Project
Requests
Paragraph two mentions that the
Using Agency must also identify the
time necessary in business days,
and the acceptance criteria to
approve the deliverable(s)
described in the scope of work. In
For Project SSRs, the contractor will
provide an SSR response based on
the deliverable(s), using its hourly
rates to bring the deliverable to
fruition. The time necessary to
develop a deliverable will typically
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addition to being difficult for the
contractor to commit to time
schedules, and deliverables that
they have had no input in
estimating, this will also introduce
risk to the contractor, the project,
and to the State. Will the State
consider, and ideally require, that
the awarded contractors have an
opportunity to review the scope of
work with applicable Agency and
OIT personnel before committing to
the time and deliverables in a
Project SSR. (4527)
result from discussions between the
State and the contractor(s). Also, it is
anticipated that Using Agencies will
frequently use a vendor conference in
conjunction with Project SSRs.
Refer also to Part 2, #9 of this
addendum.
43
44
Section 3.4.1,
Project
Requests
Paragraphs four and five emphasize
that a project SSR will result in a
firm fixed price for the deliverables.
If this is the case, then it is
imperative that the contractor be
afforded an opportunity to
participate in the scope process of
determining the effort required to
commit to the deliverables. (4527)
Please refer to the response for
Question 42 in this addendum.
44
45
Sections 3.4.1,
Project
Requests (p
45), and 3.4.2,
Staff
Augmentation
Requests
The RFP states that contractors
who receive Skill Supplement
Requests (SSRs) from the State
"shall submit a SSR response
consisting of a binding quote". Is it
the State's intent to require the
contractor to provide a quote for
every SSR it receives from the
State? Or, does the contractor
have the flexibility to decide to which
SSRs they will respond? (4387)
Please refer to the responses to
Question 39 in this addendum.
45
45
Section 3.4.1,
Project
Requests
Will the State accept change orders
in price if mutually agreed upon by
the State and the consultant for
situations such as changes in work
scope, etc.? (4447)
The State does not anticipate any
need for change orders and will
address it if and when the issue arises
during contract performance.
46
45
Section 3.4.2,
Staff
Augmentation
Requests
Are subcontractors for the Staff
Augmentation Requests that are
registered NJ SBE/WBE/MBEs
preferential to the State? Also are
NJ-based Staff Augmentation
subcontractors (not necessarily
SBE/WBE/MBE) preferential to the
State for the purposes of this
contract? (4421)
Please refer to the response to
Question 13 in this addendum.
47
45
Section 3.4.2, One of the difficult tasks for any IT
Please refer to Part 2, #7 of this
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Staff
Augmentation
Requests
contractor is managing its
resources so that they are available
when a customer needs them, yet
are deployed as much as possible.
Nothing in the RFP commits the
time, or an estimate of best efforts,
that the State will make to issue an
approved purchase order, after a
decision has been made to award a
project or staff augmentation SSR
to a contractor. Can you please
provide this? (4528)
addendum.
48
45
Section 3.4.2,
Staff
Augmentation
Requests
Paragraph one states that the
maximum dollar amount permissible
for a staff augmentation SSR is
$750,000 per state fiscal year, per
State division. Does this mean that
if an SSR requiring resources that
will approach the $750,000 fiscal
year limit is awarded in March, that
another SSR must be generated,
approved, and competed prior to
July 1 so that a full $750,000 is
available to fund the initiative during
the next fiscal year? (4528)
The $750,000 limit for a Staff
Augmentation SSR is tied directly to
the State fiscal year in which the
purchase order was prepared. After
the purchase order is received by the
contractor, however, the actual
consulting service hours may occur in
a subsequent State fiscal year. The
$750,000 limit permits staff
augmentation resources to potentially
be used over multiple State fiscal
years.
49
45
Section 3.4.2,
Staff
Augmentation
Requests
There is concern that, with the
provision to respond to SSRs with
rates that are lower than the
contract award rates, the contract
will not be as objective a vehicle as
intended, and will not encourage, or
facilitate, the dispersion of work as
fairly as the State intends. Will the
State consider dropping the clause
that allows respondents to SSRs to
lower their rates on each SSR
(4528)
The State affirms the RFP language
to permit contractors to provide SSR
responses with lower-than-contract
hourly rates.
50
45
Section 3.4.2,
Staff
Augmentation
Requests
What if a contractor does not have
a potential candidate available at
the time of an SSR? (4521)
Refer to the response to Question 39
in this addendum.
51
45
Section 3.4.2,
Staff
Augmentation
Requests
Paragraph 4 states that "contractor
may offer lower rates". Does
lowering a rate for a specific SSR
lower your rate permanently or just
for that specific SSR? (4501)
A contractor's SSR response featuring
lower-than-contract hourly rates is for
that specific SSR only and does not
lower the contractor's contractual
hourly rates on record with the
Division of Purchase and Property.
52
46
Section 3.4.3,
Emergency
Requests
How does the State define
"software product"? This seems to
conflict with portions of Section 5.8.
The contracts resulting from this RFP
provide Using Agencies with the ability
to procure IT consulting services. The
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(4447)
contracts resulting from this RFP shall
not be used to offer for sale or pay for
anything other than IT consulting
services. A "software product" as
used in RFP Section 3.4.3 connotes
computer program code available for
sale as a shrink-wrap product,
commercial off-the-shelf software
product, or salable product from a
manufacturer, distributor or reseller.
53
46
Section 3.4.3,
Emergency
Requests
May we sell/use "practice assets" as
sale of "software" to agencies under
an SSR? (4521)
This is not permissible. Refer also to
the response to Question 52 in this
addendum.
54
46
Section 3.4.3,
Emergency
Requests
What constitutes an emergency
request. Who, in OIT, is authorized
to approve this request? (4528)
A response to this question is not
necessary for the bidder to respond to
the RFP and, therefore, is not being
answered at this time.
55
46
Section 3.4.3,
Engagement
Guidelines
What if the person assigned is
promoted and their title changes?
(4456)
If during the conduct of a consulting
engagement, an assigned resource is
promoted, that resource must
complete the consulting engagement
in the job title and corresponding
hourly rate for which (s)he was
selected by the Using Agency. A
promotion is a matter between the
vendor and its employee and does not
affect the terms of the SSR nor the
title for which the consultant was
hired.
56
46
Section 3.4.4,
Contractor
Performance
Shouldn't the language include
within a reasonable time due
because the project can be delayed
when one person replaces another?
(4457)
The State acknowledges the point
made by this question and the RFP is
being modified. Please refer to Part
2, #10 of this addendum.
57
46
Section 3.4.4,
Contractor
Performance
The RFP obligates a contractor to
immediately provide an equally
skilled, knowledgeable and
experienced resource as a
replacement for an initial resource
who has performed unsatisfactorily
within the first five (5) business days
of the commencement of a
consulting services project. While
replacements are often available,
there could be situations where one
is not ‘immediately’ available. To
address this situation, we
recommend that an addendum to
the RFP be issued that amends the
Please refer to Part 2, #10 of this
addendum.
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last sentence to remove the word
“immediately” and insert the
language at the beginning of the
sentence with the language that
appears in bold below so that the
entire sentence reads as follows:
“Within fifteen (15) days following
contractor’s receipt of
documentation that the prior
resource’s performance has not
been satisfactory, the contractor
shall replace the person with an
appropriately and equally skilled,
knowledgeable and experienced
resource.”
58
46
Section 3.4.4,
Contractor
Performance
What if a contractor doesn't have
someone "immediately" available to
replace someone nonperforming?
(4521)
Please refer to Part 2, #10 of this
addendum.
59
47
Section 3.4.5,
Contractor Staff
Substitutions
The language is unclear. What if by
circumstances not under the control
of the contractor needs to assign a
new resource? (4458)
RFP Section 3.4.5 pertains even in
the situation where circumstances
beyond the contractor's control
prompt a contractor resource to be
removed from a consulting
engagement.
60
47
Section 3.4.6,
Cooperative
Purchasing
Methodology
Do the individual SSR contract
amount limits apply to work
purchased and executed with non-
State organizations? (4447)
Yes, the $750,000 limit is applicable
to all Using Agencies, both State and
non-State.
61
48
Section 4.1,
General
It is understood that a bidder must
bid all job titles within a subtask to
be considered for contract award. Is
it also necessary for a vendor to
respond to all subtasks within a task
to be considered for an award? For
example, if a vendor desires to
respond to Task 2– – Network
Infrastructure, must they respond to
both Subtask 2A– – Local Area
Network Support and Subtask 2B–
Local Area Network Administration
to be considered for an award?
(4509)
A bidder must respond to all job titles
within a subtask and the bidder may
bid for as many or as few subtasks as
it sees fit. The bidder need not
respond to all subtasks within a task,
e.g., a bidder may bid for 3 of 6
subtasks within a particular task such
as Production Services.
62
48
Section 4.3,
Number of Bid
Proposal
Copies
It indicates 2 full electronic read-
only PDF copies and 1 "writable"
PDF. For the read-only copies,
should vendors scan the responses
(resumes and past performance
references) that are made using MS
A "writable" electronic version of the
bidder's proposal permits the State to
electronically redact bid proposals of
all personally identifying information.
The "writable" electronic version may
include files in their native MS Excel
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Excel forms, thereby attaching PDF
images of these forms? With
respect to the "writable" version,
how would a vendor make a
"writable" PDF of your Excel forms?
What about vendors that do not own
the full version of Adobe that allows
for writable forms? Would MS
Word and MS Excel formats be
acceptable for the one "writable"
version of the proposal? (4341)
and/or MS Word formats.
Inasmuch as PDF is an open
standard, free PDF-maker software is
available on the web.
63
48
Section 4.3,
Number of Bid
Proposal
Copies
It states, "In addition, the bidder
must submit two (2) full, complete,
and exact ELECTRONIC copies of
the original proposal in PDF file
format to be viewable and "read
only" by State evaluators using
Adobe Acrobat Reader software on
compact disc (CD). The bidder
should also submit (1) full,
complete, and exact ELECTRONIC
copy of the original proposal in an
editable and "writable" PDF file
format on CD for redaction." When
using Adobe Acrobat Reader, all
PDF files are ready-only. Those
same files, however, become
accessible and editable-to an
extent-when using Adobe Acrobat
Professional software. Is the
requirement just to provide three (3)
PDF files? Or does the State want
two (2) of the CD formats password
protected? Did these formats need
to be differentiated on the CD
labels? (4395)
When creating PDF-formatted files
with Adobe's Acrobat Professional, it
is possible to create files with a pass-
word and without a password. The
former approach (with a password)
permits the creator to restrict subse-
quent modifications and access to the
files by another user. The latter
approach (without a password)
permits other users with Adobe
Acrobat Professional software to have
full access and modification rights to
the files.
The 2 read-only CDs are for the
members of the State's Evaluation
Committee. The "writable" CD is for
the Division of Purchase and Property
to perform electronic redaction of
personally identifying information and
other protected information under
New Jersey's Open Public Records
Act (OPRA).
64
48
Section 4.3,
Number of Bid
Proposal
Copies
The State requires that bidders
submit two different types of CD
copies of its proposal: 1) in a PDF
file format to be viewable and "read
only" by State evaluators and 2) in
an editable and "writable" PDF file
format on CD for redaction. Would
the State please describe further
the difference between these two
PDF formats? (4496)
Please refer to the responses to
Questions 62 and 63 in this
addendum.
65
48
Section 4.3,
Number of Bid
Proposal
Copies
The RFP states the vendor shall
also submit (1) full, complete, and
exact ELECTRONIC copy of the
original proposal in an editable and
"writable" PDF file format on CD for
Please refer to the responses to
Questions 62 and 63 in this
addendum.
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redaction. Our PDF software license
is for Read-only, and our CDs are
generally not editable once
"burned." Will vendors be required
to purchase special "writable" PDF
software to comply with this
requirement? Does the State have
a version standard and CD standard
it recommends for vendors to
comply with this requirement?
(4365)
66
48
Section 4.3,
Number of Bid
Proposal
Copies
The RFP states the electronic
format shall be "full, complete, and
exact ELECTRONIC copies of the
proposal in PDF file format..." Does
this mean the vendor should scan
the State's MS Excel resume, client
reference, and pricing forms, and
convert to PDF forms? Should the
entire proposal, including these
documents, be scanned and saved
as 1 large PDF or should they be
separate files? (4365)
Please refer to the responses to
Questions 62 and 63 in this
addendum.
67
49
Section 4.4, Bid
Proposal
Content
Should the pricing proposal be
included in one complete volume
with all other material or should it be
in a separate envelope? (4382)
Volume II of the bid response must be
bound separately from Volume I such
that the Division of Purchase and
Property may distribute Volume I to
the State's Evaluation Committee to
facilitate the technical evaluation.
When the Evaluation Committee has
concluded its technical evaluation,
then Volume II containing cost
information will be provided to it.
Volumes I and II may be delivered
and/or shipped to the State in the
same package, envelope or box.
68
49
Section 4.4, Bid
Proposal
Content
Should Volume 1 and Volume 2 of
the proposal be submitted in
separate, sealed envelopes / boxes
and be identified as to which volume
is contained in the envelope / box or
should they be submitted in the
same envelope / box? If they are to
be submitted in the same envelope /
box, should the Volumes be bound
separately or bound in one
document with Volume 1 and
Volume 2 clearly separated with
section dividers? (4429)
Please refer to the response to
Question 67 in this addendum.
69
49
Section 4.4, Bid Can you clarify the referenced
This section of the RFP is corrected in
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Proposal
Content
section numbers for volume I and
volume II? For example:
Volume I
Section 2 - Technical Proposal
(RFP Section 4.4.2). When you go
to Section 4.4.2, it references Proof
of Registrations
Section 3 - Organizational Support
and Experience (RFP Section
4.4.3). When you go to Section
4.4.3, it references Forms that must
be submitted before contract award.
Volume II
Section 4 - Price Schedule (RFP
Section 4.4.4). When you go to
Section 4.4.4, it references the
Technical Proposal (Volume 1,
Section 2). (4441)
Part 2, #11 of this addendum.
70
49
Section 4.4, Bid
Proposal
Content
Does Section 1 mean to reference
4.4.1, 4.4.2, and 4.4.3? Does
Section 2 mean to reference 4.4.4?
Does Section 3 mean to reference
4.4.5? Likewise, I think Volume II,
Section 4 meant to reference 4.4.6.
Please confirm. (4404)
This section of the RFP is corrected in
Part 2, #11 of this addendum.
71
49
Section 4.4.1,
Forms That
Must Be
Submitted With
Bid Proposal
We have reviewed the link below:
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/purc
hase/bid/summary/08x38246.shtml#
documents
. Under Standard Forms
within the link, we were able to
locate several forms but cannot find
others. Forms we were able to
locate include: Ownership
Disclosure Form (4.4.1.2); Disclo-
sure of Investigations/Actions
involving Bidder (4.4.1.3), MacBride
Principles Certification (4.4.3.1) and
Affirmative Action (4.4.3.2). We
were also able to locate the
Services Source Disclosure Form
(4.4.3) which appears as a separate
document. We were not able to
locate the following documents:
4.4.1.1 Signatory Page; 4.4.1.4
Notice of intent to subcontract form;
4.4.1.5 Subcontractor Utilization
Form; 4.4.2.2 Small Business Set
Aside Contracts and Subcontract-
ing. Please advise how we can get
access to forms relevant to
Sections 4.4.1.1, 4.4.1.4, 4.4.1.5,
and 4.4.2.2. (4499)
The Signatory Page, Notice of Intent
to Subcontract form, and the
Subcontractor Utilization Form are
available on the web at
http://www.nj.gov/treasury/purchase/bi
d/summary/08x38246.shtml
, but the
bidder must scroll down in the
"Downloadable RFP Documents"
window to see the links to these
forms. RFP Section 4.4.2.2 does not
refer to any other or additional forms.
See also Part 2, #12 of this
addendum for a modification to RFP
Section 4.4.2.2, "Small Business Set-
Aside Contracts and Subcontracting".
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49
Section 4.4.1.3,
Disclosure of
Investigations/A
ctions Involving
Bidder
Over the years many of our public
sector customers have asked us to
provide a profile of relevant litigation
and investigations (here, that would
be current matters, as we don't
have it as a practice to formally
keep track of past matters), and in
response to that request we have
provided a reference to material
litigation and/or investigations as
described in our company's annual
report, and this has been well
received. Will this be acceptable to
the State as a complete response to
Section 4.4.1.3? (4504)
Material litigation and/or investigations
contained in a company's annual
report will fulfill the State's
requirement as described in RFP
Section 4.4.1.3. The bidder must
submit the Disclosure of
Investigations and Actions Involving
Bidder form, referring the State to the
specific section of its annual report
that provides the required information.
73
49
and
50
Section 4.4.1.4,
Notice of Intent
to Subcontract
Form, and
Section 4.4.2.2,
Small Business
Set-Aside
Contracts and
Subcontracting
It is stated that every firm submitting
a proposal must submit a Notice of
Intent to Subcontract, regardless of
whether subcontractors will be used
or not. If, at the present time, there
is no need to engage a
subcontractor, but the need arises
for some reason in the future, how
is that handled in the contract? For
example, if we submit the form
stating that we have no intent to use
any subcontractor, does that forbid
us from using a subcontractor for
the life of the contract, should some
unforeseen need arise? (4445)
During the course of the contract, the
contractor may add, drop or change
subcontractors, all of which require
the contractor to request permission
in writing to do so from the Division of
Purchase and Property. Further
information is provided in section 3.11
of the Standard Terms and
Conditions.
74
49
and
50
Section 4.4.1.4,
Notice of Intent
to Subcontract
Form (p 49)
and Section
4.4.1.5,
Subcontractor
Utilization Form
(p 50) –
Are vendors permitted to submit
proposals as a Prime Contractor on
its own proposal and as a Sub-
Contractor on another vendor's
proposal? (4422)
Yes, a prime bidder may also be a
subcontractor on another bidder's
proposal, subject to the non-collusion
parameters described in RFP Section
5.23.
75
50
Section 4.4.2,
Proof of
Registration
Please clarify if this Proof of
Registration requirement is just for
Small Business. (4404)
RFP Section 4.4.2, "Business
Registration Certificate from the
Division of Revenue", applies to all
bidders regardless of SBE status.
76
50
Section 4.4.2.2,
Small Business
Set-Aside
Contracts and
Subcontracting
Since T-0817 Consulting Services:
Information Technology is only a
Partial set-aside and Section 4.4.2.2
states "The State intends to award a
maximum of ten (10) contracts per
subtask of which five (5) will be set
aside for small businesses Category
Yes, since up to 5 of the 10 contract
awards per subtask are for New
Jersey SBEs, there will be 5 non-SBE
contract awards per subtask.
Documents you may be interested
Documents you may be interested
