Amendment 001 - Vendor Questions for draft Solicitation.pdf

AMENDMENT 001: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

# Reference RFP Text Question Action/Response 1 Past Performance

Questionnaire

(PPQ)

Incorrect due date on the PPQ. The due date for the PPQ submission has been updated to 4:00 PM ET, September 29, 2021.

2 L.10.a.6.i-iii and v-vi

The referenced section does not state if the Table of Contents List of Figures and Tables, Summary of Management Proposal Exceptions and Deviations, and Glossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms is excluded from page count.

Will the Government confirm that these requirements are excluded from page count for both Volumes II (Management) and III (Technical)?

The "NOTE:" section on page 71 re: page limitations is deleted in its entirety and replaced below:

NOTE: The Table of Contents, List of Figures and Tables, Glossary, and Acronyms are excluded from the page count. Any pages in excess of the stated page limit for the non-price volumes will be disregarded, and will not be included in the proposal evaluation. Failure of the offeror to comply with the page limitations, resulting in the excess pages not being evaluated, shall not constitute grounds for a protest.

3 L.10.b.3.i.B Volume III – Technical Approach has the requirement that states the offeror should describe/provide “a thorough understanding of and approach for performing the station's onsite management and staffing requirements.”

Considering this requirement aligns directly with a proposed onsite organizational structure, will the Government consider moving this requirement to Volume II – Management Approach?

No, this requirement will not be moved to Volume II - Management Approach.

4 M.3 Non-Price Factor 3 – Past Performance

The referenced section states, “Past performance questionnaires submitted for subcontractors proposed to expend at least 25 percent of the cost of contract performance shall be evaluated in the same manner.”

To reduce potential risks to successful mission execution, will the Government consider evaluating past performance of the Prime Contractor higher than a Major Subcontractor?

No, the past performance of the Prime Contractor will not valued higher than a Major Subcontractor.

5 M.3.b Price The referenced section states, “… the Government intends to use the Best Value, Tradeoff process to evaluate proposals and may make an award to other than the lowest-priced offeror or the offeror with the highest technical score if the source selection official determines that to do so would result in the best value to the Government.”

Will the Government provide the basis for the “technical score?” Is it based on the evaluation of only Non-Price Factor 2 – Technical Approach or is it based on the combined evaluation of all 3 Non-Price Factors. Further, how will a score for the Non-Price Factors be determined – will it be determined based on findings regarding Significant Strengths, Strengths, Significant Weaknesses, Weaknesses, and deficiencies or by some other means?

The technical score is based on the combined evaluation of the non-price factors. The evaluation of the non-price factors will be determined based on findings regarding Significant Strengths, Strengths, Weaknesses, Significant Weaknesses, and Deficiencies.

6 L.10.a.3.iii Will the Government consider reducing font size for graphics and tables from 11-point TNR to 10-point TNR?

The solicitation was updated prior to release on August 30, 2021 to allow for a change in font size.

7 L.10.a.3.i Will the Government allow 11” x 17” size paper as foldouts for graphics and tables?

The solicitation was updated prior to release on August 30, 2021 to allow for the change in paper size.

8 PWS, section IV, p.

Operational antenna systems include three 13-meter Datron antennas; two five-meter Datron antennas; one RSI-Vertex 21-meter antenna; one five-meter CPI-Malibu antenna; one Blau-Knox 26-meter antenna; one four-meter Datron Ka-band antenna; one three- meter SeaSpace antenna; one 2.4-meter Orbital Systems antenna; and two Search-and- Rescue Satellite (SARSAT) LEO-LUTS terminals. Most antenna systems and associated ground equipment are controlled using Epoch IPS software by Kratos-Integral Systems.

Will the contractor be using Epoch IPS for satellite data collection and distribution and satellite C2 for every satellite system supported on this contract?

If there are other HW/SW systems that the contractor will be using to meet these requirements, will the Government please provide a list of them, along with the satellite system(s) they support on this contract?

Yes, the contractor will be using Epoch IPS for satellite data collection and distribution and satellite C2 for every satellite system supported on this contract.

9 PWS 1.1.2, p. 9 Section titled "GOES-W and DSCOVR Operations" Will the contractor also be using Epoch IPS to provide Prime C2 of the GOES spacecraft in a COOP situation? If not, will the Government please list the HW/SW system(s) that the contractor will be using to meet these requirements?

No, FCDAS only serves as backup for legacy GOES-N series (not GOES-R series). The configuration is unique. Below is a clarification:

The GOES system HW & SW: IN-SNEC, Zodiac TT&C units Antenna control transceiver.

Epoch LEOT TT&C software interface.

Other linux based TT&C subsystems.

The DSCOVR system uses the following hw & sw Custom TT&C software defined transceiver with redhat OS.

Custom antenna control HW with windows OS.

10 PWS, section VII, Para 1, p. 5

The contractor plays an essential role in planning and executing site upgrades. These upgrades will occasionally require support from the Contractor to perform system integration, testing, and training. The Contractor shall prioritize and schedule these tasks without compromising FCDAS’ core mission responsibilities.

This statement appears to be the only potential reference to satellite operations and ground system maintenance training; therefore, can we correctly assume the contractor will be training its own operators and maintainers?

If the contractor will be training its own operators and maintainers for satellite operations and ground systems maintenance support, following contract award, will the Government please provide the contractor with the GFI needed to train its operators and maintainers on the Government systems they will be using?

Training is the contractor responsibility. Manuals and procedures used in FCDAS ground systems will be made available.

11 PWS, section VII, Para 1, p. 5

The contractor plays an essential role in planning and executing site upgrades. These upgrades will occasionally require support from the Contractor to perform system integration, testing, and training. The Contractor shall prioritize and schedule these tasks without compromising FCDAS’ core mission responsibilities.

Will the Government please provide further explanation on the use of the word "occasionally" regarding upgrades that includes, at minimum, an estimated # per year? The response could have staffing and pricing impacts.

This frequency is highly variable. Major technology refresh activities commence every three years. Delivery and integration times vary by scope and sources. Anticipate major sustainment activities to occur 3-4 times per year for 10-30 days each.

12 Sec L and M, L.10, Section (3) Proposal Formatting, p. 3

(ii) Minimum of 12-point sized Times New Roman font, except tables, figures and graphs may use 11-point size font;

Will the Government please allow 10pt Times New Roman font for figures and graphs? Figures, especially organizational diagrams, are difficult to evaluate in large font: reducing the font slightly will better allow the evaluator to perceive "the bigger picture" with regard to an organizational structure.

The solicitation was updated prior to release on August 30, 2021 to allow for a change in font size for figures and graphs.

13 Sec L and M, L.10, Section (6) Management and Technical, p. 3

(vi) Glossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms. Each proposal volume shall contain a glossary of all abbreviations and acronyms used, with an explanation for each. The Glossary shall be included in the page count.

We respectfully request the Government remove the requirement of a Glossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms list in 11 pt. TNR from the page count. We further recommend it be placed at the end of the document so it can easily be removed if not needed. Including this list in the page count prevent offerors from providing acronyms for long program/process names and could potentially provide an unfair advantage to the incumbent by preventing offerors from providing acronyms for long program/process names.

If the Government prefers the Glossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms to be page counted, we respectfully request that the Technical and Management responses page limits be increased by 5 pages.

See response to #2.

14 Sec L and M, L.10, Section (2) Volume II(C), p. 5

(C) Includes a staffing plan and labor mix that demonstrates the necessary skills and training of the offeror’s proposed staff to successfully synchronize and manage the required services. This includes the composition and resumes of the proposed key personnel team. (See Section H.13, CAR Clause 1352.237-75 for a list of the required key personnel).

Will the Government please provide a list of expected key personnel ASAP to allow contractors to identify viable, properly credentialed candidates and mitigate the advantage held by the incumbent contractor?

Final solicitation includes a list of expected key personnel.

15 Sec L and M, L.10, Section (2) Volume II(C), p. 5

(C) Includes a staffing plan and labor mix that demonstrates the necessary skills and training of the offeror’s proposed staff to successfully synchronize and manage the required services. This includes the composition and resumes of the proposed key personnel team. (See Section H.13, CAR Clause 1352.237-75 for a list of the required key personnel).

To prevent the incumbent contractor from having an unfair competitive advantage, will the Government please limit the number of key personnel required for the proposal submission, and consider making only the project or operations manager a key position?

No, the Government will not limit the number of key personnel.

16 Sec L and M, Section (3) Volume III – Technical Approach, p. 6

(D) A thorough understanding of and approach for performing the station's Information Technology (IT) requirements in accordance with the PWS.

Will the Government please clarify / provide ODC charge codes for the contractor to use to purchase required, approved equipment and ship it to Alaska?

Any IT purchases will be purchased separately and not against this contract.

17 PWS Section 3, p.

The Contractor will offer assistance to teams configuring/developing IT networks at FCDAS. One such network is the Partner Antenna Access Network (PAAN:

NOAA 5047).

Would the Government provide a list of additional networks at FCDAS for our planning purposes? Additionally, if further technical information about the antennas, connections, firewalls, LANs, etc., can be given, this would be ideal.

There are four primary FISMA networks supported entirely or in part from FCDAS: Admin LAN system administration; POLAR network; GOES network, and PAAN. (Technical details cannot be shared in a public forum.)

18 PWS Section 8.2,

p. 51

Hours of Operation and Scheduling a) Will the Government please clarify whether ACSOs/guards are required to be on post throughout shifts, as well as the patrol requirement? Based on the size of facilities and the perimeter, offerors will need to estimate the guard requirement to cover the main gate, post, and patrolling duties. Can guards be temporarily off-post to do the patrol or will they need to be at post 100%?

b) How far apart are the buildings? Is the whole area walkable?

c) What are uniform requirements? Do shirts/slacks suffice, or is full gear required, to include protective vests?

d) Are weapons lockers and break-rooms available?

a) Yes, guards can be off-post to patrol (except during normal business hours - gate must be manned).

b) The main operations area of approximately 15 acres is located 1 km from the main gate. Another building to be patrolled is approximately 2.5 km from the main gate. The antenna ridge, accessible by road, is approximately 1 km from the main operations area. Property boundary for the 7300 acres extends much farther and must be periodically checked. A patrol vehicle is provided by the Government.

c) Uniform requirements are specified in PWS 8.2. Clothing should be suitable for the task and present a neat, professional appearance.

Duty belt and vest should be worn at all times unless on break.

d) A new guard building was installed in September 2021 to provide a reception area, break room, and washing facilities.

Personal lockers and a safe for firearms storage are available.

19 SAM.gov Vendor requested Interested Vendors List of Prime Contractors No, this list will not be provided.

20 PWS 1.3.3

Maintenance Planning and Reporting, CMMS Requirements Summary

Within the referenced section, the PWS states, “Local server installation, not web-based solution, but also have the ability for local web connectivity for management and users.”

Considering most modern CMMS’s are web/cloud based, will the Government consider a web-based approach if the system is ITAR and FEDRAMP compliant?

Not without standalone functionality not dependent on internet connectivity. The rationale is that CMMS becomes extremely critical in the event of natural or manmade disasters, when normal communications are likely to be disrupted.