FINAL NOAA RFP 1305M325R0002 PAR SOLICITATION QA 3RD ROUND.pdf

NOAA Request for Proposal (RFP) 1305M325R0002 Solicitation Questions & Answers

Department of Commerce (DOC) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

SOLICITATION QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Phased Array Radar Test Article For Weather Observation Risk Reduction Activation

FEBRUARY 2025

NOAA Request for Proposal (RFP)1305M325R0002 Solicitation Questions & Answers

Acquisition Questions Technical Questions

Acquisition Questions

1. Do we need separate bid guarantees and performance bonds for separate proposals from the same vendor? It seems unnecessary since only one could be awarded.

a. The Government cannot determine if different bid guarantees are needed as it does not know the nature of the proposal. However, proposals must be separate and distinct, consisting of all volumes, and addressing all requirements of the solicitation in accordance with RFP L.9, a), 1. A. Only one proposal will be required to furnish performance and payment bonds within ten (10) days after award IAW Pg. 8, paragraph B.6. Please remember that unsuccessful proposals will have their bid guarantees returned to the offeror.

2. To accommodate large files, we request that NOAA provide a secure submission site (e.g., Kiteworks) rather than requiring standard email.

a. Yes, please see the updated RFP Section L.9.a.3.B.

3. Please clarify when the Key Personnel (e.g., Program Manager) have to be identified.

● Pg 21 RFP (CAR 1352.237-75) “To be identified at contract award”

● RFP General: Several statements that imply the Key Personnel must be identified at submission, such as the requirement for resumes, letters of commitment, etc.

a. RFP Section H.4 will be updated with the provided Key Personnel names at contract award by the Government, not the offeror. Offerors are required to comply with the key personnel submission instructions as outlined in RFP section L.9, Factor 3, #6 as part of the proposal submission.

4. On page 71 of the RFP, it states that a SF 1408 Preaward Accounting System Adequacy

Checklist (Attachment 6) shall be submitted. The attachment 6 provided looks much more like the checklist of a third party auditor and not something that we will fill out in a self review. We googled “Preaward Accounting System Adequacy Checklist” and found this link

- https://www.dcaa.mil/Checklists-Tools/Pre-award-Accounting-System-Adequacy- Checklist/ . This looks much more in line with what I would expect to see in terms of the offeror providing a self run pre-award checklist.

Is it possible that the checklist from the link above is what we should be submitting rather than attachment 6?

a. 1305M325R0002 - Attachment 6 - SF1408-14f has been removed and replaced with 1305M325R0002 - Attachment 6 - DCAA Preaward Survey of Prospective Contractor Accounting System Checklist. See revised RFP Section L.9 General

Instructions, FACTOR: COST/PRICE, 1, b) and Section J.

5. Page 12, Section F.1, FAR 52.242-15 Stop-Work Order and FAR 52.242-15 Stop-Work Order – Alternate I: Does FAR 52.242-15 - Alternate I only apply to tasks 1, 2 and 3 as these 3 tasks are cost-plus-fee type contracts?

a. Correct.

6. Page 30, Section I.1, FAR 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity: Will NOAA modify or delete this clause? This clause references the revoked Executive Order 11246.

a. This clause has been removed, see revised RFP, Section I.1.

7. Page 30, Section I.1, FAR 52.222-27 Affirmative Action Compliance Requirements for Construction: Will NOAA modify or delete this clause? This clause references the revoked Executive Order 11246.

a. This clause has been removed, see revised RFP, Section I.1.

8. Page 32, Section I.1, FAR 52.247-21 Contractor Liability for Personal Injury and/or Property Damage: Per Solicitation Discussion letter dated December 19, 2023, NOAA agreed to remove this clause.

a. This clause has been removed, see revised RFP, Section I.1.

9. Page 50, Section K.2(c)(1)(xv), FAR 52.222-25 Affirmative Action Compliance: Will

NOAA modify or delete this clause? This certification references “affirmative actions.”

a. This clause has been removed, see revised RFP, Section K.2.

10. Page 60, Section L.1, FAR 52.222-24 Preaward On-Site Equal Opportunity Compliance

Evaluation: Will NOAA modify or delete this clause? This clause references the revoked Executive Order 11246.

a. This clause has been removed, see revised RFP, Section L.1.

11. Page 60, Section L.3, FAR 52.222-23 Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity for Construction: Will NOAA modify or delete this clause? This clause references the revoked Executive Order 11246.

a. This clause has been removed. See revised RFP, Section L.

12. Is the Glossary Of Abbreviations And Acronyms mentioned in the Vol II instructions only for terms in Vol II or should it include Vol I and II?

a. The Glossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms should include terms that are in both Volume I and Volume II.

13. It is requested to increase the page limit of Vol I to 175 pages.

a. Please see revised RFP, Section L.9.

14. RFP Section L Page 70 Paragraph L.9.c.1.a States: "For the On-Site Hourly Labor Rates, Offerors shall provide all possible labor categories necessary at a fully burdened rate, inclusive of all logistical costs (travel, etc.)." Question: FAR 16.601 states, "Hourly rate means the rate(s) prescribed in the contract for payment for labor that meets the labor category qualifications of a labor category specified in the contract that are-

(1) Performed by the contractor;

(2) Performed by the subcontractors; or

(3) Transferred between divisions, subsidiaries, or affiliates of the contractor under a common control.

Materials means-

(1) Direct materials, including supplies transferred between divisions, subsidiaries, or affiliates of the contractor under a common control;

(2) Subcontracts for supplies and incidental services for which there is not a labor category specified in the contract;

(3) Other direct costs (e.g., incidental services for which there is not a labor category specified in the contract, travel, computer usage charges, etc.); and

(4) Applicable indirect costs."

b) Description. A time-and-materials contract provides for acquiring supplies or services on the basis of-

(1) Direct labor hours at specified fixed hourly rates that include wages, overhead, general and administrative expenses, and profit; and

(2) Actual cost for materials (except as provided for in 31.205-26(e) and (f)).

Would the government consider removing the requirement to include direct travel costs within the T&M labor rates, as this requirement is in violation of FAR 16.601? Furthermore, inclusion of travel in the hourly labor rate would result in the application of fee on travel which is also prohibited in this section.

a. The requirement at RFP Section L para. L.9.c.1.a for On-Site Hourly Labor Rates remains unchanged. While FAR 16.601(a) provides travel as an example of other direct costs, there is nothing that prohibits the government from including all logistical costs within a fully burdened labor rate. It is not our expectation to pay separate travel costs, our expectation is to pay for the on-site worked performed at the Norman, OK location. Therefore, we are seeking fully burdened rates inclusive of all costs for the on-site rate.

15. RFP Page 67 Paragraph L.9.b Factor 3.2 States: Offerors shall provide a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) outlining their approach to meeting the requirements in the Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) in PWS section 12 Question: Please clarify whether you are asking for a draft Government QASP or are you asking how the contractor intends to approach the surveillance requirements of the PRS?

a. Offerors shall provide a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) outlining their approach to meeting the requirements in the Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) in PWS section 12.

16. PWS Page 13 Paragraph 5.5.1 States: An established price list for additional spares or replacement items valid throughout the option years. Question: L.9.c VOLUME II – BUSINESS/COST AND PRICE PROPOSAL Attachment 4 does not include a format or tab in which to provide this listing. To ensure consistency for evaluation of reasonableness is there a format in which the government would like this listing to be provided?

a. The government does not have a preferred format. Evaluation of this requirement will be IAW Section M.

17. PWS Page 13 Paragraph 5.5.1 States: An established price list for additional spares or replacement items valid throughout the option years. Question: Given that the spares would be procured under a T&M CLIN, contractors should be reimbursed for actual costs of material IAW FAR 16.601. Please consider removing the requirement that spares pricing shall be valid through the option years.

a. IAW FAR 16.601(b)(2), actual cost for materials is expected. Actual costs shall be handled IAW FAR 16.601(c)(3) and shall not violate FAR 31.205-26. While actual costs are permissible, the requirement for an established price list remains.

18. PWS Page 13 Paragraph 5.3.4 "States: 5.3.4. The Contractor shall provide a 12 month (one year) parts, labor, and initial support and maintenance warranty in the first year after delivery and acceptance by the Government to ensure that the delivered system is free from defects in manufacturing and production. The vendor shall be responsible for any hardware replacement and spares needed to keep the system operating within the specifications outlined in the PWS (i.e., from 5.1.15.3.5) during the warranty period (including maintaining the necessary spares as described in PWS 5.1.23).

● The Contractor shall perform all corrective maintenance during the warranty period whereas the Government will perform routine/preventive maintenance following the training and documentation provided by the Contractor. Any questions or support that arise with respect to these items shall be covered by the warranty period at no cost to the Government." Question: While we recognize the Government’s desire for a 1 year, no cost warranty period, contractors need to account for the anticipated costs during this warranty period which are typically imputed within the price of the associated CLINs. Furthermore, FAR Subpart

46.705 places a limitation on invoking warranty on Cost Reimbursable type contracts, and a number of the included FAR warranty clauses are prescribed for use on fixed price type contracts. Instead, we recommend that the Government remove the warranty requirements and account for any repairs after delivery through exercising the optional Operations and Maintenance CLINs or provide a separate FFP CLIN to capture warranty cost.

a. The requirement for warranty IAW PWS para. 5.3.4. remains unchanged. FAR 46.705(a) delegates authorization of warranties in cost reimbursement contracts to the agency level. This authorization is granted for this requirement IAW CAR

1346.705 and NAM 1330-46-704.

Technical Questions

1. On the matter of existing electrical meters and boxes on and around the property, [w]here will contractors access power, natural gas, water, and network?

a. Please reference PWS 5.2.

2. Does the facility need a bathroom?

a. The PWS has no requirement for a bathroom.

3. Does the facility need fire hydrants?

a. The PWS does not specify a fire hydrant requirement. Per PWS 5.2.12, all local fire codes shall be followed.

4. What should the UPS cover?

a. Please reference PWS 5.2.11.

5. There is still some leftover equipment "debris" on site from the prior tenant. Will the equipment be removed prior to award or will the removal of this equipment be required under the contract?

a. IAW PWS 5.2.3., site preparation, to include site clearing, is included as a phase within the construction activities.

6. What is the soil at the site?

a. Please reference 1305M325R0002 - Attachment 2 - PAR Site Soil Sample Report

- Project No. 731-23076.

7. PWS Page 12 Paragraph 5.3.4 States: The Contractor shall include the development and implementation of the capability for moderate impact IT security controls. Question:

Referencing NIST RMF 800-53 security objectives of Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability:

a. Please confirm that the Moderate impact requirement applies to Integrity.

a. Yes, it applies to Integrity.

b. Because the RTA produces weather products in open, unencrypted formats such as NetCDF without access controls, using radar technologies documented in open literature, please confirm Confidentiality impact of Low.

a. Confirm impact is Low for weather products.

c. Because the RTA is a test asset rather than an operational system, please confirm an Availability impact of Low.

a. Confirm Availability impact is Low.

8. PWS Page 12 Paragraph 5.3.4 States: The Contractor shall include the development and implementation of the capability for moderate impact IT security controls. Question: Will the RTA be connected to an existing NOAA accredited network?If yes, will a NOAA network provide Identity Management or will the RTA need to provide it’s own Identity Management Solution? Will a centralized security monitoring solution be accessible for the RTA, or does the RTA need to provide its own?

a. Yes, please reference the revised PWS 5.3.4. There is no requirement for a centralized security monitoring solution for the proposed RTA.

9. PWS Page 12 Paragraph 5.3.4 States: The Contractor shall include the development and implementation of the capability for moderate impact IT security controls. Question: Will the RTA be expected to provide data to a public Internet location or just provide data to internal, locally accessible locations?

a. No data is expected to be provided to any public Internet location.

10. PWS Page 5 Paragraph 5.1.7 States: Mean Squared Sidelobe Level (MSSL) ≤ -50 dB off peak. Question: MSSL is not a standard radar measure that we are aware

of. Please define Mean Squared Sidelobe Level calculation.

a. Mean Squared Sidelobe Level (MSSL) refers to the average power of the sidelobes of an antenna radiation pattern. MSSL is typically calculated by squaring the sidelobe energy, averaging them, and taking the square root. MSSL is used as a metric to quantify the overall sidelobe strength of an antenna design.

A lower MSSL indicates a more desirable antenna design as it implies less unwanted radiation from the sidelobes in relation to the mainlobe.