Notice: Questions may have been edited for clarity and relevance

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1 Notice: Questions may have been edited for clarity and relevance 1. Question: Do you anticipate the winning firm spending much time on-site? Or can most of the work be done remotely with minimal on-site meetings? Answer: Work will involve time on-site coordinating with Airport Authority and consultant staff, including on-site meetings, providing training and troubleshooting any issues to ensure the Website is functioning properly. 2. Question: Is the pre-proposal conference mandatory for respondents? Answer: The pre-proposal meeting is not mandatory. 3. Question: Is remote attendance to the conference possible for out-of-state firms? Perhaps via teleconference or webinar? Answer: No teleconferencing or webinar broadcasting is provided for the pre-proposal meeting. 4. Question: Is there currently an incumbent firm providing the MWAA with Website Design and/or Development services? If so, will the incumbent be bidding on this project, and can you release their name? Answer: The current firm providing these services for the Project is APCO Worldwide, we are unaware of their plans to propose on this solicitation. 5. Question: Is there an estimated budget range for this project? Or do you have any information regarding previous budgets for similar projects? Answer: The value of this Contract is currently estimated to be up $100,000 to $200,000 for the base period (implementation), with up to $50,000 annually for optional post-implementation hosting and support. 6. Question: What is the creative objective? Answer: RFP states goals and objectives for the new Website. 7. Question: This solicitation was out last year and after submittals were sent in, it was pulled. Is there going to be a contract award on this solicitation? Answer: The Airports Authority is currently planning to award based on the schedule outlined in the RFP. Note that the current solicitation is unrelated to the solicitation which was issued in 2013, as the 2013 solicitation did not relate to the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. 8. Question: In our experience, it is very unusual to see a Performance Bond requirement for a commercial or government website services project. Will MWAA remove this requirement? Answer: Performance Bond requirement is being removed from this procurement. Page 1

2 9. Question: We are a certified small business under the Virginia Small, Women and Minority Business Enterprise Program. Does MWAA recognize this certification as meeting the SBE requirement for this procurement? Answer: Firms that are certified under the Virginia SWAM program would be eligible for SBE certification as long as they do not exceed $22.41 million average gross receipts for the last three years. 10. Question: Section VII-3, 15, A. The amount of coverage required for Commercial General Liability seems excessive for this website project. Will MWAA consider reducing the $5,000, per occurrence to $1,000,000.00? Answer: Commercial General Liability coverage is revised to be not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence. For Section VII-3-15 Liability Insurance, the entire section is replaced with Attachment to Amendment #1 Insurance Requirements for 8-14-C Question: From a public perspective, how is the dullesmetro.com website different from this website from wmata? Answer: The Airports Authority is the project sponsor and is responsible for implementing both Phases of the Silver line; the website is intended to provide information to the public for all phases of design, construction and through operations including progress information on both phases. WMATA (known to the public as Metro) will be the ultimate owner and operator of the Silver line. The website from WMATA cited is intended to concentrate on passenger information for intended users of the Silver line in regards to service, operations, and access to stations and destinations served once revenue service commences. 12. Question: The focus of this project is on presenting material in a clear and concise manner. Other than google analytics, what other information is available to us to better understand what information is most important to local residents, commuters, and government leaders? Answer: Offerors should consult information contained in the Statement of Work. 13. Question: Does your communication team have experience with a particular Content Management System? Answer: The members of the communication team have different levels of experience with common CMS technologies (ex: WordPress). The CMS used for the new Project website should be easy for all members to use after basic training. 14. Question: Does your communication team have a preference for a particular Content Management System? Answer: No, there is no specific preference for a CMS; however, an industry standard technology would likely be best to meet the needs of the Project. CMS requirements are outlined in the RFP. Page 2

3 15. Question: Please describe the skill-set of your IT team. Answer: The Airports Authority and Project IT team are fully qualified technical professionals. 16. Question: Is there a preference from your IT team on the platform that this website is based on? i.e.;.net or php or coldfusion? Answer: No preference. 17. Question: What languages does MMAA see the website launching with? What languages could be added in the future? Answer: The website will be launched in English. There are no current plans to create entire alternate versions of the site in other languages. 18. Question: Are there any potential integration points between the website and other systems (alerts, maps, rss from other websites) either now or in the future that we should be aware of? Answer: Currently, there is only limited interaction between the website and messages sent out via Constant Contact. There are no plans for new interactions at this point, but the new website should be flexible to incorporate new technologies. 19. Question: How many content editors will be working on the website? Answer: The Airports Authority communications staff will provide the majority of content, including a lead and a few support staff. 20. Question: How many people will need to be trained? Of those being trained how many are administrators vs. content editors? Answer: The RFP indicates requirements for training; assume several dozen people will require training and/or access to training/reference materials. 21. Question: Please describe your current online communications efforts. Answer: Information contained in the RFP. 22. Question: To what extent does your current communications plan include social media? Answer: RFP indicates social media integration requirements and Airports Authority may elect to have the Contractor perform additional social media services under the optional Supplemental Consulting Services. Page 3

4 23. Question: Regarding Sub-section 2.2: Examples. Provide three (3) example designs for the Project Website home page to illustrate possible approaches the firm may recommend. We generally do not bid on projects that ask for designs up for the following reasons: A comp is a rushed attempt to give MWAA something to be excited about, and has more to do with bells and whistles than real strategy or research-based processes. A comp poses a very real threat of giving the client something "weak" that they may become attached to, and which we may feel is a wrong direction after we conduct our Discovery phase and research. At this point we know MWAA at such preliminary level that there is simply no way we can provide a comp that reflects the work we put into every project we create for a client. A successful website design has as much to do with content strategy, information architecture, usability and navigation as it does to do with "design". We feel the best way to judge our effectiveness as a potential partner is to look at the fully evolved works we have created for similar clients. Please let us know if this is acceptable. Answer: The requirement under Sub-Section 2.2 is changed by Amendment #1 to provide 1 example design instead of 3. The intent is not to have a fully developed design submitted but preliminary concepts, annotations and remarks of potential approaches that would benefit the website. 24. Question: Please reconcile the different quantities required of the Price Proposal and the Technical Proposal. The RFP Cover page, block 8 states Original and 6 copies. Evaluation Criteria, page 3 provides different quantities. Answer: Language revised to now reflect Representation Package and Price Proposal requiring an original and one (1) copy, and the Technical Proposal requiring an original and six (6) copies. 25. Question: Section V-1, B. 5. What are the minimum labor qualifications and experience required by MWAA? Answer: Information on the qualifications and experience for staff proposed by Offeror to work on this Project are contained in Attachment 02 Evaluation Criteria. 26. Question: Section V-1, 05. B. 6. What documentation is required to satisfy this requirement should it be necessary? Answer: Documentation will be determined pre-award depending on circumstances. 27. Question: Section VII-2, 11. Will Internet access be available to the contractor for any work required to be performed at the Herndon or other MWAA location? Answer: Yes. Page 4

5 28. Question: SOW, III., A. page 4, Last bullet at top of page. How many layouts are required? Answer: The number of available layout capabilities is expected to be impacted by the contractorrecommended CMS. There is no required number of layouts. 29. Question: SOW, III., B., 1., a., iii., page 6. Wireframe development is done before design. Is this requirement 5 wireframes for the home page along with three designs and 5 wireframes for the content page along with three designs? Answer: The requirement is for five (5) wireframes total. There should be at least two (2) wireframes for an example content page, and one (1) additional wireframe that can be used to show any ideas the Contractor would like to present. 30. Question: Evaluation Criteria, page 3, Envelope 3: Technical Proposal. When presenting information in tables, graphics, and resumes must that information be double spaced? Answer: Tables, graphics, and resumes may be single-spaced. 31. Question: Evaluation Criteria, page 3, Envelope 3: Technical Proposal. Are the cover page, table of contents and resumes counted against the 50 pages? Answer: Yes. 32. Question: Evaluation Criteria, page 4, Sub-section 1.2: Past Performance. Since the purpose of the SF 330 is to obtain information from Architect-Engineer firms, and this website project is neither of those, would MWAA allow for presenting past performance using the criteria contained in the bullets? Especially since the bullet list requires more information than that of the SF 330. Answer: The requirement under Sub-section 1.2 for submitting a full Standard Form (SF) 330 is removed from this RFP in Amendment # Question: Evaluation Criteria, page 6, Sub-section 3.3. Please provide information on obtaining a copy of the referenced Quality Program Plan. Answer: The Airport Authority s Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project Phase 2 Quality Program Plan is included as an Attachment to Amendment # Question: How much and what type of new content is MWAA expecting to add to the website along with current content? Answer: Information related to the content is contained within the RFP. The new website should allow for staff to add content multiple times daily, if necessary. Page 5

6 35. Question: Is the proposal award based on lowest price or can vendors expect a BAFO? The RFP mentions that MWAA has the right reserved for a BAFO but the pre-solicitation presentation states Technically Acceptable Lowest Price. Answer: Once the technical evaluation is complete, those price proposals of offerors on the final list of offerors within the technically acceptable competitive range will be considered and the contract award will be based on low price. 36. Question: Can the proposal deadline be extended to Friday, 6/6/2014? Answer: No. 37. Question: Regarding the Signup/Collection the RFP states that the updated Website must display a secure web form where visitors can enter their information and be added to the Project mailing list. How is the mailing list currently stored? Are you utilizing a CRM tool, or do you have plans to implement a CRM? If so, which CRM do you / will you use? Answer: Currently, the mailing list is managed using Constant Contact. The new website should continue to integrate with that program. 38. Question: Regarding Comment Forms, the RFP states the updated Website must allow visitors to offer feedback/comments via an easy-to-use and secure web form. Can you clarify which content types will allow for comments? Answer: A basic, general contact form allowing visitors to submit their question or comment and contact information should be included on the new website. 39. Question: Regarding Maps, the RFP states that Airports Authority staff may decide to use maps on certain Website pages to display information visually. The updated Website should have the ability to display embedded Google maps. Can you clarify what type of maps data you seek to display? Do you seek to overlay route location data on Google Maps to replace the static map displayed here: Answer: It is not determined exactly how Google Maps might be used, but the new website be flexible to incorporate new technologies. should 40. Question: Does the existing content reside on static HTML pages or in a database, content management system (CMS) or somewhere else? Answer: As stated in the RFP, all content will be provided by the Airports Authority who will provide static HTML pages for content on the current website. 41. Question: Does MWAA have a preference in how the current content is migrated to the new site? Automated or manual? Answer: Currently there is no preferred migration method, but the migrated content should render/display effectively post cut-over. Page 6

7 42. Question: Would MWAA consider a translation plugin integrated within the CMS rather than Google Translate? Usually, the plugins integrated with the CMS blend better with the design than a Google Translate bar. Answer: A translation plugin would certainly be considered, but the Contractor must clearly provide information to show that it is comparable to Google Translate. 43. Question: Would this site be performing a push, a pull, or both from Social Media outlets? Answer: A social media strategy for this Project has not yet been defined. The primary reason for social media integration is to more widely and effectively distribute information updates. 44. Question: Does MWAA have a server preference for hosting the site (e.g., Windows, Linux)? If so, what is the preference? Answer: No, the Airports Authority does not have a server preference. 45. Question: As part of the website development, the Contractor will be providing wireframes, but will the Authority be providing all existing graphics or does the Authority want us to purchase additional graphics or create new ones? Answer: The Aiports Authority will provide necessary existing logos, colors, and brand guidelines. The Contractor shall provide graphic design services including any additional graphics it determines are required to create a new look and feel for the website. 46. Question: If the Contractor will be purchasing or creating additional graphics, will that cost be absorbed by the Authority or should the cost be included as part of our proposal? Answer: Any additional costs associated with the Contractor s required graphic design capabilities should be included in the proposal. 47. Question: It was mentioned in the Pre-proposal Conference that there would be a need for offerors to pre-sign a contract, enabling MWAA to simply provide a counter-signature upon award. Will MWAA please confirm our understanding and if this is the case, please provide guidance as to the location of the contract within the solicitation documents (if it has already been provided). Answer: The Solicitation Offer and Award page is the Contract cover page (Page I-1). 48. Question: Please confirm that 3rd party hosting is acceptable for your needs. Answer: Yes. A well-established 3 rd party host, that will effectively support the new website s hosting needs, is acceptable. Do note that the any 3 rd party hosting firms must also meet the SBE requirements for this RFP. Page 7

8 49. Question: Please confirm only the SELECTED firm need to supply the SBE Affidavit and accompanying information (such as tax returns) Answer: Yes. Documents will be requested prior to award. 50. Please verify this project is only open to US based companies that are SBEs and that all subcontractors must also be US only SBEs. If this is not the case, please clarify. Answer: According to the DOT regulations in 49 CFR Part 26, all participating firms must be owned by citizens of the United States (or fully admitted permanent residents). In addition, all firms participating in the contract must complete the Exhibit M Small Business Eligibility Form and must submit the three previous years of U.S. tax returns including all schedules. See Section IX for additional Small Business Enterprise participation requirements and eligibility. Page 8