QUESTIONS & ANSWERS REGARDING LC/FEDLINK RFP 98-1 June 17 - June 20, 1997 1. Section L states the number of copies required for each volume of the response to RFP98-1. I'm assuming that you want paper copies and NOT copies on diskette. Is this a correct assumption? Answer. Yes. 2. Is the mailing address to which all proposals must be submitted the one that appears under L.1.3 (Service of Protest). Answer. The mailing address to which all proposals must be submitted is identified in Box 7 of the SF33. 3. I downloaded the WordPerfect version of RFP98-1 and am now working with it in Word version 6.0. I notice that the point type size of Sections A and B have shrunk to something like 11.5 point type or lower. If my text is 12 point type within the boxes in Sections A and B, will that be acceptable? Answer. Yes. 4. According to L.3.3 to L.3.6, we need to initial our concurrence on the first page of the sections referred to. In Volume 1 of the proposal, do we just include page 1 of these sections or do we include the entire sections mentioned. Answer. To avoid any confusion, please return the entire sections. 5. If no answer is required to specific points within a section (e.g. section C), can we skip without an answer in our proposal or do we still include these points but say something like "No response required"? Answer: If no answer is required, you can skip the response. 6. If we submit our proposal early, will we still be responsible for any amendments to RFP98-1 that may appear after our submission? Answer: Yes. 7. What is a "backorder" as it is used in C.2.2.c.2? Is this applicable to document delivery services? Answer: A backorder is an item that is ordered from a vendor that is not readily available, but will be shipped upon receipt. It does not necessarily apply only to document delivery services. 8. Will FEDLINK be charging an 8% fee for transfer fee customers in FY98? Answer: The fees FEDLINK charges for its services are established based on the cost of operating the program. Upon recommendation of the FLICC Budget Committee, the FEDLINK budget and recommended fees are voted on by the FLICC membership. That process is in progress now for FY98. However, we do not anticipate an increase in the 8% transfer pay fee for FY98. 9. I was told that EFT only applies within the U.S. for FY97. Will this continue to be true for FY98? Answer: Public Law 104-134, Debt Collection Improvement Act, pertaining to Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) does not exempt foreign firms. However, at this time, the Federal government does not issue EFT payments to any bank outside the Federal Reserve System. If the foreign firm has a U.S. bank account, EFT payments can be made. 10. According to L.5.2.a, examples of related corporate experience are required. How many examples are required as a minimum? Answer: Please provide a minimum of three. 11. C.3.2 states that "Interlibrary Loan (where return of materials is expected)" is "not applicable under this solicitation". Must this offer be excluded? Answer: FEDLINK will review all offers. 12. Could you define what is meant by "subcontracting" in L.5.1.e? Answer: If the prime offeror proposes to enter into a formal contract with another company who provides the services you proposed to FEDLINK, then the prime offeror has a subcontracting arrangement, and that arrangement should be identified in your proposal. 13. C.2.1.d explains what usage data is required. To obtain a waiver for this requirement, is the written request separate from the submitted proposal or can we include this request in the submitted proposal under this point? Answer: Any waiver requests for should be submitted as a part of the proposal. 14. Can we assume that C.2.1.d does not refer to usage data for document delivery orders since the required fields describe usage for searching database systems? Answer: Yes. Unless the document delivery service is electronic. 15. Can we offer products/services in our proposal without a discount? Answer: We will consider any offer you make. However, the purpose of the FEDLINK program is to provide a "cost- effective, efficient" means of requiring information for the Federal government. When preparing the cost proposal, we urge all offerors to examine the benefits of only billing to one source for potentially 1200+ customers as well as the customer and vendor support provided by FEDLINK personnel. We highly encourage offerors to propose a reasonable discount. 16. Should CD-ROM subscriptions with updates during the year be proposed as Item Number 1203? Answer: Yes. 17. Should CD-ROM backfile subscriptions be proposed at Item Number 1201? Answer: Yes. 18. If we offer LAN service, should we make a note in the offer? Answer: Yes. 19. Under what item number should micro-fiche be proposed? Answer: 3201.