Questions_Mission_Support_Services_0001.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 28 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Mission Support Services
- Solicitation number
- 140D0426R0115
About this file
This is a Questions and Answers document addressing inquiries submitted by potential offerors regarding the Mission Support Services IDIQ solicitation (140D0426R0115). The document clarifies critical requirements across multiple solicitation components and addresses inconsistencies between the Performance Work Statement (PWS), pricing sheets, and proposal submission instructions.
Key clarifications include: the Seed Task Order requires personnel with Moderate Public Trust clearances (not Secret/Top Secret at award), though an active Secret Facility Clearance is required at IDIQ award for future task orders. All personnel performing under the contract must be designated as Key Personnel subject to Government approval and substitution restrictions, encompassing the 13 representative resumes required at proposal submission plus remaining staff identified post-award within three business days of contract award. The Seed Task Order represents a hybrid contract type with a 30-day Firm Fixed Price ramp/transition period, 11 months of FFP Program Support (October 2026–September 2027), and Time and Materials for estimated 72,640 labor hours across approximately 38 FTEs across 14 labor categories. Offerors must submit fully burdened annual rates for labor categories across all five IDIQ years in the IDIQ Ceiling Rates worksheet and separate pricing for the Seed Task Order; annual escalation is permitted but not prescribed. Volume II (Past Performance) is limited to one page total for 2–3 completed projects, with at least two projects performed by the prime offeror; completed task orders or base periods qualify as completed projects. The Government will furnish Government Furnished Equipment (laptops) to all personnel requiring DOI system access, facility clearance sponsorship is not provided, and contractor personnel cannot work on federal holidays. The incumbent contractor is St. Moritz Enterprises, L.L.C. (Contract 140D0424D0081, $4,500,000, Period 4/25/2024–4/24/2029), and is eligible to propose. Amendment 0001 corrected task numbering in the PWS, added Entry-Level qualifications for all labor categories, and clarified that offerors should propose annual salaries in the pricing sheet rather than hourly rates.
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Sheet1
| Question | Government Response |
| Amendment issued to address any changes to the solicitation as a result of this Q&A. Changes are provided in red font. |
NOTE: Our system will erroreously post an SF30 to SAM.gov - this can be disregarded.
| Attachment 1 IDIQ PWS, Page 11, PWS 2.1.16 Security clearances. Does the offeror need to hold a Secret or a Top Secret Facility Clearance associated with processing personnel security clearance? Usually this is the case. | Thank you for this question. Yes, the offeror needs to hold a Secret Facility Clearance. Amendment 0001 addresses this requirement in the Instructions to Offerors and Evaluation Criteria. |
| PWS, p11, 2.1.16; p.32, 8.2.1. The PWS states that resources may be required to possess Secret or Top Secret clearances, while the current requirement for GFE/network access is Moderate Public Trust. Please confirm the anticipated personnel security/suitability requirement for the Seed Task Order and whether any proposed personnel must possess an active Secret or Top Secret clearance at proposal submission or award. | See answer above. The anticipated personnel security/suitabiity requirements for the Seed Task Order are Moderate Public Trust. |
| PWS 2.1.16, p11; 8.2.1, p32. Please clarify the security clearance and suitability requirements applicable to the labor categories anticipated under the Seed Task Order. Specifically, please identify any labor categories expected to require a clearance above Moderate Public Trust, including Secret or Top Secret, so that Offerors can appropriately account for recruiting, onboarding, and pricing requirements. | See answer above. The anticipated personnel security/suitabiity requirements for the Seed Task Order are Moderate Public Trust. |
| PWS 8.2.2, pp 32-34; Appendix 3. Please clarify the minimum security/suitability adjudication that must be completed before an individual may begin billable performance and receive GFE/network access, including whether a favorable NAC permits commencement of work while a NACI or Moderate Public Trust investigation remains pending. | See above. An individual cannot begin billable work until they have cleared security. Individuals with pending investigations cannot begin work. |
| Per PWS Section 2.1.16 Security Clearances, please confirm whether an active Facility Clearance is required for contract performance. If not required at IDIQ award, does the Government anticipate any future task orders that will require an FCL and, if so, at what level? | An active Facility Clearance is required. |
| Facility Clearance (FCL) Sponsorship (PWS 2.1.16) PWS Section 2.1.16 states that the Contractor may be required to provide resources with Secret or Top Secret security clearances. If a future task order requires these elevated clearances, will the Government sponsor the successful Contractor for the requisite Facility Clearance (FCL) at the task order level, or is an active Secret/Top Secret FCL required at the time of IDIQ award? | An active SECRET FCL is required at the time of IDIQ award. |
| Solicitation. NA. Is there an incumbent contractor supporting DOI IBC AQD? Please provide the incumbent contractor's name, contract number, and total contract value. | St. Moritz Enterprises, L.L.C, 140D0424D0081, $4,500,000. |
| Solicitation. NA. Is the incumbent eligible to bid as a prime offerors? | The solicitation does not prohibit the incumbent from proposing. |
| Can the DOI please clarify whether there is an incumbent on this project? If yes, please share the name, total contract value, and period of performance. | See above. Period of Performance 4/25/2024 - 4/24/2029. |
| Could you please confirm whether this is a new requirement? If it is not, would you share the incumbent contractor's name, award ID, and contract amount? | See above. |
| Please identify the current/incumbent contract, if applicable, including the contract number and current period of performance. | See above. |
| Solicitation/PWS, General. Please identify the incumbent contractor currently performing the services described in this solicitation and provide the incumbent contract number. If the requirement consolidates work performed under multiple contracts or task orders, please identify each incumbent contractor and corresponding contract or task order number. | See above. |
| If an incumbent contractor currently performs these services, please provide the incumbent contract number, current contract value, period of performance, number of incumbent personnel, and labor categories currently supporting the requirement. | See above. Number of incumbent personnel and labor categories are not relevant to offerors ability to submit a proposal. Offerors should focus on the requirements in the current Solicitation and Performance Work Statement. |
| Will the incumbent contractor be eligible to compete for this solicitation, and does the Government anticipate that incumbent personnel will be available for recruitment or transition to the awarded contractor? | See above. The Government does not have information regarding incumbent personnel and their availability for recruitment or transition to the awarded contractor. |
| Combined Solicitation p3. 3.4 Ordering Procedures. Will the Government provide a list of current and prior contracts performing similar mission support services, including contract numbers, contractors, period of performance, and total obligated value, to ensure accurate understanding of incumbent workload? | See above. |
| Factor 1 - Past Performance, relevancy of labor categories. Will past performance providing professional and technical staffing under Federal service contract be considered relevant if the labor categories differ from the acquisition, financial assistance, and program analysis categories in the PWS? Or must the cited contracts be for those specific support functions. | Relevancy will be directly related to the specific functions identified in the Solicitation and IDIQ Performance Work Statement. |
| Factor 1 - Past Performance, prime versus subcontractor. Will the Government consider past performance where the offeror performed as a subcontractor rather than as the price contractor? If so, is such experience evaluated or weighted differently than prime experience? | Yes, the Government will consider past performance where the offeror performed as the subcontractor. Past performance where the offeror previously performed as the prime will be rated more favorably. |
| Document "Combined Synopsis Solicitation" page 21, Volume II, Factor 1 - Past Performance states that at least two of the submitted past performance references must be for projects completed by the offeror, and that subcontractor past performance may be used provided the involvement is meaningful. Does "completed by the offeror" require that the offeror served as the prime contractor, or is past performance by a subcontractor also acceptable for those two or three references? | See above. |
| Solicitation Page 21, Volume II - Factor 1. The header and the page limit table states "one page" but the text says "1 page summary of each of the projects". Is it one page for each of the projects or one page total inclusive of all projects? | One page total inclusive of all projects. |
| Combined Synopsis/Solicitation. PDF p19, Proposal Content and Page Limitation table; PDF p21, Volume II. The table limits Volume II to one page, while the narrative directs offerors to provide a one-page summary of each of the two to three projects. Please confirm whether Volume II is limited to one page or one page per project. | See above. |
| Solicitation pp 19 and 21; Soliciation 4, Vol. II Past Performance. The proposal preparation table identifies a one-page limit for Volume II - Factor 1, while the Past Performance instructions state that offerors shall provide a "1 page summary of each of the projects" (2-3 projects). Please confirm whether the page limitation is one page total for Factor 1 or one page for each past performance project submitted. | See above. |
| Please clarify the page limitation for Volume II, Past Performance. The solicitation appears to reference both a one-page submission and a one-page summary for each project. Please confirm the maximum allowable page count for this volume. | See above. |
| RFQ section 4, Volume II, Past Performance states that offerors shall identify two (2) to three (3) projects and provide a one-page summary of each project. However, the proposal preparation table identifies a one page limit for Volume II. Please confirm whether the Government intends one (1) page total for Volume II or one (1) page per past performance project submitted. | See above. |
| Past Performance Page Limit. Reference: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, Proposal Submission Table and Volume II - Factor 1 - Past Performance. The proposal submission table identifies a one-page limit for Volume II - Factor 1 - Past Performance. However, the detailed instructions state that offerors shall provide a one page summary of each of the two to three projects submitted. | See above. |
| Solicitation, pp 19 y 21; Section 4; Volume II - Past Performance. The proposal format table states that Volume II - Past Performance has a one-page limit; however, the detailed instructions state that the Offeror shall provide a one-page summary of each of the two (2) to three (3) projects. Please clarify whether Volume II is limited to one page total for all projects, or whether Offerors may submit one page per project, for a total of two (2) to three (3) pages, exclusive of PPQs/CPARS. | See above. |
| Solicitation Page 26, Factor 1 - Key Personnel. Please confirm that personnel will be evaluated against the specific labor category requirements of the PWS in the table on pages 12-13 rather than the entire scope of the IDIQ PWS. | Personnel will primarily be evaluated against the specific labor category requirements of the PWS in table on pages 12-13; however, the entire scope of the IDIQ PWS will be considered in the evaluations. |
| PWS, page 19, 4.4, Program Manager. The table of labor categories on pages 12-13 does not include a Program Manager. Is the Program Manager expected to work under the task orders or just manage the overall IDIQ as the contractor's point-of-contact? If expected to work under task orders, will the Government add a Program Manager LCAT to the table and the pricing sheet? | The Program Manager is expected to work under the task orders. The Government will not add a labor category for the Program Manager. Offerors shall provide a Firm Fixed Price for Program Support in the space alloted in "Program Support - FFP". This should be priced from the period of October 21, 2026 - September 20, 2027 and will be paid in 11 equal monthly payments. |
| Pricing Sheet Seed Task Order, Since a SOW was not provided specific to the Seed task order, what is the expected to be fixed priced under the row "program support"? | See above. |
| PWS, p. 19, 4.4 - Program Manager, Attachment 2, the PWS requires a Program Manager and alternate, but Attachment 2 does not contain a separate Program Manager labor category and Program Manager resumes are not among the required resumes. Please clarify whether a Program Manager and alternate must be identified at proposal submission, whether resumes are required, and how Program Manager effort should be priced. | See above. |
| PWS 4.4, p19. PWS Section 4.4 requires the Contractor to provide a Program Manager, as required. Please clarify whether the Program Manager duties are expected to be included as an indirect/overhead function, performed by another proposed labor category, or separately priced at the Task Order level. | See above. |
| PWS 5.1, pp20-21; Appendix 3, Attachment 2/PWS Security. PWS Section 5.1 provides that no billable hours are permitted until personnel complete Government security requirements. Please clarify whether the optional FFP Ramp/Transition amount in Attachment 2 is intended to compensate the Contractor for non-billable mobilization, recruiting, onboarding, security-processing support, and transition activities occurring during the initial 30-day period. | The Ramp Period is intended to compensate the Contractor for non-billable work during the initial 30 days. The examples provided such as mobilization, recruiting, onboarding, security-processing support, and transition activites are all examples of what this could entail. It will be specific to each contractor and not designated by the Government. Offerors may elect to price this at $0.00, but it is no optional - it must be "priced". Not, the monthly FFP Program Support does not begin until after the ramp period. |
| Seed Task Order Staffing During 30 Day Ramp Period. Reference Attachment 2 - Seed Task Order Pricing: IDIQ PWS Security Requirements. The pricing sheet provides a 30 day ramp/transition period to process resources through security, while the PWS states that no billable hours are allowed until contractor personnel have completed applicable security requirements. Question: Please clarify what specific activities and costs the Government expects offerors to include in the separately priced 30-day Ramp/Transition Period, particularly where individual personnel may not perform billable work prior to completion of required security processing. | See above. |
| Pricing Sheet Seed Task Order, Since a SOW was not provided specific to the Seed task order, what is the expected work to be completed as part of the transition? | See above. |
| Attachment 2, Seed Task Order Pricing tab, rows 8 and 31. The sheet states that the first 30 days are ramp time and may be priced separately on a firm fixed price basis. Please confirm whether a separate ramp price is required or optional, where it should be entered, and whether it is included in the Total Evaluated Price. | See above. This should be priced in the Seed Task Order Worksheet in the space allotted. As shown in this worksheet, it is included in the Total Evaluated Price. |
| The seed allows a 30-day, firm fixed price ramp period. Given security-processing timelines, will the Government accept phased onboarding across the ramp, and are there minimum staffing milestones the awardee must meet before full performance begins? | "Full performance" begins once individuals are cleared through security, receive their PIV, GFE and have an onboarding date. Billable hours begin on the onboarding date. The awardee will not be able to bill for performance beyond Ramp or Program Support (beyond the first 30 days) if no individuals have fully onboarded. |
| Solicitation p22; Attachment 2 - Seed Task Order. Attachment 2 identifies the Seed Task Order as T&M but separately identifies FFP amounts for Ramp/Transition and Program Support. Please clarify the intended contract type and pricing structure for each component, whether the FFP components are required, and the activities/cost elements the Government expects to be included in each FFP amount. | The seed task order is a hybrid Firm Fixed Price and Time & Materials task order. The Ramp Period is Firm Fixed Price for the first 30 days. The Program Support includes is Firm Fixed Price for the remaining 11 months of the period of performance. What is included in each is specific to each offeror and their business model; however, examples of what a company might include are Program Manager, Recruiting, etc. |
| Solicitation, p.22, Attachment 2 - Seed Task Order Pricing. The solicitation states that the Government anticipates a T&M Seed Task Order, while Attachment 2 also contains Firm Fixed Price entires for Ramp/Transition Period and Program Support. Please clarify the intended contract type or combination of contract types for the Seed Task Order and identify what activites and costs should be included under each FFP line item. | See above. |
| Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, PDF p22, Volume III; Attachment 2, Seed Task Order Pricing tab, rows 7-9. The solicitation describes the seed task order as time-and-materials, while Attachment 2 labels the ramp and program support as firm fixed price. Please confirm the intended seed task order contract type or pricing structure. | See above. |
| Attachment 2, Seed Task Order Pricing tab, rows 11-27 and note at row 31. Please confirm whether the 72,640 estimated labor hours include the 30 day ramp period or represent performance after the ramp period. | The 72,640 estimate labor hours represents performance after the ramp period. |
| Pricing Sheet IDIQ. For the Government to make an accurate comparison of rates/salaries paid to employees, for the column labeled "min rate to ktr emp", should offerors propose an annual salary or should all offerors propose the annual salary divided by 2,080 hours? Specifying the use of salary or requiring the use of the same hours by which to divide the salary will ensure that the Government is reviewing salary information the same way across offerors. | Thank you for this question. Offerors should propose an annual salary and this has been clarified in Amendment 0001. |
| Solicitation pages 23 and 26, Volume IV/Price; Section M, Evaluation Factors. The page limit table identifies Price as Volume IV - Factor 3; the detailed price instructions identify it as Volume IV - Factor 4; and the evaluation section identifies it as Volume III - Factor 4, while listing Price as Factor 3. Please confirm that Price is Volume IV - Factor 3 and clarifying the numbering offerors should use in file names and proposal headings. | Thank you for this question. Volume and Factor numbers have been corrected in Amendment 0001. Requested file names are as follows: |
Introductory_Offeror Name Past Performance_Offeror Name Key Personnel_Offeror Name Price_Offeror Name
| Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, PDF pp. 23 and 26. Please confirm that Price is Factor 3 and Volume IV. The Volume IV heading identifies Factor 4, and the evaluation section identifies Volume III as Factor 4 Price annd Volume II Technical as Key Personnel. | See above |
| Solicitation page 22, Volume III - Factor 2; Attachment 2, Seed Task Order Pricing. The solicitation requests 13 resumes across selected labor categories, while the Seed Task Order pricing sheet estimates approximately 38 FTEs across 14 labor categories and states that the requirements will be performed entirely by key personnel. Please confirm that offerors are required to submit only the 13 resumes listed in Volume III and not resumes for every anticipated Seed Task Order position or labor category. | Confirmed, offerors are only required to submit the 13 resumes listed in Volume III. Following contract award, the awardee must submit the remaining 25 resumes within 3 business days. |
| The IDIQ Pricing Sheet requires offerors to price all labor categories, while the Key Personnel instructions identify 13 specific resumes as the representative sample for evaluation. Please confirm that offerors are required to submit only the 13 resumes specifically listed under Volume III, Factor 2, and that resumes are not required for every labor category included in the IDIQ Pricing Sheet. | See above. |
| The PWS states the requirements shall be performed entirely by Key Personnel. Please confirm whether this requirement applies only to the 13 Seed Task Order personnel identified for evaluation or whether all future task-order personnel are expected to be designated as Key Personnel. | The Key Personnel designation is not limited to the 13 resumes being evaluated as a representative sample. All personnel, to include personnel under future task orders, will be Key Personnel. |
| Solicitation Volume III, p. 22; Attachment 2 - Seed Task Order. Please confirm the Government's anticipated staffing expectations for the Seed Task Order. Specifically, do the approximately 72,640 estimated labor hours represent DOI's anticipated staffing level at award, and are the 13 representative resumes submitted with Volume III expected to correspond to personnel committed and available to perform the Seed Task Order? Please also clarify when the remaining Seed Task Order personnel must be identified and committed. | Confirming the 72,640 estimated labor hours represent DOI's anticipated staffing level at award. |
Confirming the 13 representative resumes submitted with Volume III are expected to correspond to personnel committed and available to perform the Seed Task Order.
See above.
| Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, PDF pp22-23, Volume III, Attachment 2, Seed Task Order Pricing tab. Please confirm that offerors should not submit resumes for seed order labor categories other than the 13 positions expressly listed in the Volume III instructions, including Entry-Level Acquisition, Acquisition SME, Junior Program Analyst, Entry Business Analyst, Junior Power BI Specialist, and Project Lead. | Confirmed, see above. |
| Solicitation, p22, Volume III - Key Personnel; Attachment 2 - Seed Task Order. The solicitation requires thirteen (13) resumes as a representative sample, while the Seed Task Order Pricing Sheet contains approximately 72,640 estimated labor hours, or approximately 37.8 FTEs based on 1,920 hours per FTE. Please confirm whether all Seed Task Order personnel must be identified and available at award, or whether only the personnel represented by the required resumes must be identified at proposal submission, with remaining personnel staffed during the Ramp/Transition Period. | See above. |
| Key Personnel Required at IDIQ Proposal State Versus Seed Task Order. Reference: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, Volume III - Factor 2 - Key Personnel, Page 22. The solicitation requires 13 resumes as a representative sample and states that offerors are not required to submit, and the Government will not evaluate, proposed seed task order personnel other than the identified labor categories and quantities. Question: Please confirm whether the 13 individuals for whom resumes are required are the only personnel that must be identified and committed at the time of proposal submission, and whether personnel for the remaining Seed Task Order labor categories may be recruited, proposed and approved following IDIQ award. | See above. |
| The solicitation requires offerors to submit pricing for all IDIQ labor categories. Please confirm whether labor categories not represented in the 13 person Seed Task Order are evaluated solely for ceiling rate purposes and are not considered part of the Key Personnel evaluation. | There are two worksheets in Attachment 2. The worksheet titled IDIQ Ceiling Rates will be evaluated solely for ceiling rate purposes. The worksheet titled Seed Task Order Pricing will represent pricing for the seed task order for the estimated 38 FTEs, all of which will be Key Personnel. |
| PWS page 17, Section 4.1, Key Personnel. The PWS states that the requirements shall be performed entirety by key personnel and restricts substitutions. Does the Government intend every individual performing under any task order to be designated key personnel and subject to Government approval for substitutions? If not, please identify which positions will be treated as key personnel. | The Government expects every individual performing under any task order to be designated key personnel and subject to Government approval for substitutions unless specifically stated in the Task Order Request for Proposal. |
| Definition of All Personnel as Key Personnel. Reference IDIQ PWS, Section 4.1, Key Personnel. The PWS states: "The requirements shall be performed entirely by key personnel." Question. Please clarify whether the Government intends for every contractor employee performing under the IDIQ and resulting task orders to be designated as Key Personnel, or whether Key Personnel designation is intended to apply only to specific positions identified by the Government at the IDIQ or individual task order level. | See above. |
| Attachment 1 PWS p16-18., 4.0 Contractor Personnel Requirements. Will the Government clarify whether all personnel proposed for the seed task order must be key personnel, or only those listed in Volume III? | See above. |
| PWS, p 17, 4.1, Key Personnel, Section 4.1 states that "the requirements shall be performed entirely by key personnel." Please clarify whether every prime contractor and subcontractor employee performing under the IDIQ or a Task Order will be considered Key Personnel and subject to the substitution requirements, or whether Key Personnel will be specifically designated by the Government. | See above. |
| Solicitation page 22, Volume III - Factor 2; Attachment 2, Seed Task Order Pricing. The Seed Task Order includes 3,520 estimated hours for the Senior Financial Analyst category - approximately 1.83 FTEs using the Government's 1,920 hour assumption-while Volume III requests one Senior Financial Analyst resume. Please confirm that one resume satisfies the proposal requirement and that any additional Senior Financial Analyst staffing may be identified after award. | The estimated hours for the Senior Financial Analyst category has been revised to be consistent with the 1,920 hours assumption provided in the Solicitation. |
Per Volume III - Factor 2 - Key Personnel Instructions to Offerors, confirming 1 Senior Financial Analyst resume is required at the time of proposal submission. The awardee will be required to submit the second Senior Financial Analyst resume within 3 days of contract and task order award.
| Key Personnel Designation (Volume III, Factor 2 & PWS 4.1) Volume III, Factor 2 requires resumes for 13 FTEs across various labor categories, including junior and mid-level roles. PWS Section 4.1 states that the contract requirements "shall be performed entirely by key personnel." Given the natural attrition and career progression typically associated with junior level positions, designating all 13 FTEs as Key Personnel introduces significant administrative burden and operational risk for both the Contractor and the Government. Would the Government consider amending the solicitation to designate only critical leadership roles (such as the Program Manager or senior leads) as Key Personnel, rather than all 13 proposed FTEs? | The Government acknowledges the natural attrition and career progression but does not agree this creates operational risk for the Government. All personnel will be designated as Key Personnel. |
| Combined Synopsis/Solicitation. PDF p22, Volume III; IDIQ PWS, Section 4.1. The solicitation states that contract requirements shall be performed entirely by key personnel but requires and evaluates resumes for only 13 representative sample positions. Please clarify whether all personnel performing future task orders will be designated key personnel or whether the key personnel designation applies only to the 13 evaluated positions. | See above. |
| IDIQ PWS 4.1, p17; Solicitation Volume III, p22. PWS 4.1 states that the requirements shall be performed entirely by Key Personnel, while the solicitation requires resumes for only a representative subset of personnel. Please clarify whether Key Personnel status applies to all personnel performing under each Task Order or only to personnel specifically designated as Key Personnel by the Government. | See above. |
| PWS pages 12-13, Section 2.2; Attachment 2, IDIQ Ceiling Rates. The IDIQ Ceiling Rates sheet includes Program Analyst - Entry Level (1), (2) and (3), but the PWS labor category qualifications table provides requirements only for Junior, Mid-Level, and Senior Program Analysts. Please provide the minimum education, experience, and duty requirements for Entry-Level Program Analysts, or confirm that these rows should not be priced. | Attachment 1 - IDIQ PWS has been revised via Amendment 0001 to provide the minimum education, experience and dutry requirements for the Entry Level Program Analysts. |
| Can the Government please confirm that the labor category list in Attachment 2 - IDIQ Pricing Sheet is complete and final for pricing? There are discrepancies between the price sheet labor categories and the labor categories described in PWS Section 2.2. For Example: For the FA/Grants Management Specialist, the PWS Section 2.2 table mentions only 2 tiers: Mid-Level and Senior. However, the pricing sheet has Entry (1), (2), (3), and Junior (1), (2), (3); this does not match the PWS. | Attachment 1 - IDIQ PWS has been revised via Amendment 0001 to provide all labor categories included in Attachment 2 - Pricing Sheet. |
| PWS 2.2 Labor Categories, pp 12-16 and task descriptions in 2.1. The labor category table in PWS Section 2.2 contains several task references that appear inconsistent with the task numbering in Section 2.1. For example, Power BI Dashboard Specialist references Section 2.1.10.2, while Dashboard Developer appears in Section 2.1.12.2; FA/Grants Management Specialist references Section 2.1.8, while Financial Assistance and Grants Management appears in Section 2.1.10; and Business Analyst/Project Lead reference Section 2.110 rather than Section 2.1.12. Please confirm the correct PWS task references applicable to each labor category and revise the table if appropriate. | Task numbering in Section 2.1 has been corrected via Amendment 0001. The duties in the labor categories table now aligns. |
| Education Equivalencies. Reference: IDIQ PWS, Labor Category Qualifications Table, Pages 12-15. Certain labor categories specify a Bachelor's degree as a minimum education requirement, while others identify a degree as preferred. Question: For labor categories where a Bachelor's degree is identified as a minimum requirement, will the Government accept additional relevant years of professional experience in lieu of the degree? If so, please provide the Government's acceptable education-to-experience substitution methodology. | Where a degree is required, the Government will not accept additional years of professional experience in lieu of the degree. |
| PWS 2.2.2-2.2.2.1, pp11-12; Attachment 2. PWS Section 2.2.2 permits annual incremental progression for Entry Level and Junior personnel. Please clarify whether the appropriate incremental level at initial placement is determined by the individual's total relevant professional experience or wehther all personnel must begin at Entry Level (1) or Junior Level (1) regardless of prior relevant experience. | Initial placement must begin at Entry Level (1) or Junior Level (1) regardless of prior relevant experience. |
| PWS pages 3-4, Missing Bullets. 2.1.3 and 2.1.4 are missing from the PWS but are referenced in the table on pages 12-13. | Task numbering in Section 2.1 has been corrected via Amendment 0001. |
| PWS, pp12 - 16, Attachment 2. Certain labor categories duty references do not appear to correspond to the current PWS numbering. Attachment 2 also includes labor categories for which minimum qualifications do not appear to be stated in the PWS. Please provide or confirm the minimum education, minimum years of relevant experience, and applicable PWS duty/task mappings for all labor categories included in Attachment 2. | See above. |
| The labor category duties do not match the PWS sections - some of the PWS sections referenced are missing. For Example, Financial Analyst categories site sections "2.1.4, 2.1.5, 2.1.6, 2.1.7", but 2.1.5 is "Program Analyst Support," 2.1.6 is Aviation Funds Management Support," and 2.1.4 is not in the document. Can the government please clarify? | See above. |
| IDIQ PWS, PDF pp 12-15, Section 2.2, labor category tables. Please confirm or correct the duty cross references. Program Analyst refers to Section 2.1.3 and 2.1.10 although Section 2.1.3 is not present; Power BI refers to 2.1.10.2 although Power BI appears at 2.1.12.2; FA/Grants refers to 2.1.8 rather than the grants task at 2.1.10; an Business Analyst refers to 2.1.10 rather than business/project analysis at 2.1.12. | See above. |
| PWS 2.2, Attachment 2 - IDIQ Ceiling Rates. Attachment 2 includes labor categories and incremental levels that do not appear to have corresponding minimum qualification requirements in PWS Section 2.2, including Program Analyst-Entry Level and FA/Grants Management Specialist- Entry Level and Junior Levels. Please provide the applicable minimum education, experience and duty requirements for all labor categories listed in Attachment 2. | See above. |
| Seven Day Staffing Requirement Versus Security Processing. Reference: IDIQ PWS, Section 3.3 - Qualified Resources; Sections 4.2 and 8.2 - Personnel/Security Requirements. Section 3.3 requires the Contractor to maintain sufficient capacity and bench strength to resolve staffing shortfalls or additional resource requests within seven calendar days. The PWS also indicates that security processing may take approximately two to four weeks and that personnel may not begin billable performance until applicable security requirements are completed. Question: Please clarify whether the seven calendar day staffing requirement refers to the Contractor's identification and submission of a qualified candidate to the Government, rather than the candidate's completion of Government security processing and commencement of billable performance. | Confirming the seven day staffing requirement refers to the Contractor's identification and submission of a qualified candidate to the Government and not the candidate's completion of Government security processing and commencement of billable performance. |
| Government Meet and Greet and Personnel Approval. Reference IDIQ PWS, Section 4.2 - Management of Contractor Personnel. The PWS requires resumes and a Government "meet and greet" before personnel may proceed to onboarding and security processing. Question: Please confirm whether the meet-and-greet constitutes Government approval of individual contractor personnel, and if so, provide the anticipated Government turnaround time for scheduling and completing meet-and-greets after candidate resumes are submitted. | Meet and greets will be scheduled within 1 - 2 business days of receiving a qualified candidates resume. Following the meet and greet, the Government will provide concurrence to move forward through the security process. Government concurrence does not constitute Government approval, as approval will be contigent upon the candidate clearing security. If the Government provides a non-concurrence and the contractor disagrees, the Contracting Officer and Program Manager will discuss and mutually agree on how to move forward. |
| PWS 3.3, p 17, Appendix 3, pp 44-45. PWS 3.3 requires staffing shortfalls or requests for additional resources to be resolved within seven calendar days, while Appendix 3 indicates that Government security processing may require 2-4 weeks or longer. Please clarify whether the seven day requirement is measured to submission of an acceptable candidate, Government concurrence, or a fully cleared/onboarded resource, and confirm that delays attributable to Government security processing or credentialing will not constitute a Contractor performance deficiency. | See above. Delays attributable to Government security processing or credentialing will not constitute a Contractor performance deficiency. |
| IDIQ PWS, PDF p17, Section 3.3, Appendix 3, PDF p 44. Section 3.3 requires staffing shortfalls or additional resource requests to be resolved within seven calendar days, while Appendix 3 states that security processing is approximately two to four weeks and personnel may not begin before approval. Please confirm whether than seven-day requirement is satisfied by presenting an acceptable candidate within seven days, with start contigent on Government security approval. | See above. |
| PWS, p. 17, 3.3; pp. 20-21, 5.1; pp. 44-45 Appendix 03. Section 3.3 requires staffing shortfalls or additional resource requests to be resolved within seven (7) calendar days, while security processing may take two (2) to four (4) weeks or longer. Please clarify whether the seven day requirement means identification and submission of a qualified candidate, or full security clearance, onboarding, and readiness to perform. | See above. |
| PWS 4.2, pp18-19, Appendix 3. Please confirm whether the Government Meet-and-Greet and concurrence process described in PWS Section 4.2 and Appendix 3 applies to every individual performing under each Task Order, or only to personnel specifically identified by the Government as Key Personnel or otherwise requiring Government review. | This will apply to every individual under each Task Order unless the Task Order Request for Proposal advises otherwise. |
| Annual IDIQ Ceiling Rate Escalation. Reference: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, Volume IV - Price, Attachment 2 - IDIQ Ceiling Rates. The pricing worksheet contains separate labor rate fields for Years 1 through 5, while the solicitation states that the fully burdened rate will represent the maximum rate charged per labor category "for the duration of the 5 year IDIQ ordering period." Question: Please confirm that offerors may propose different/escalated ceiling labor rates for each of Years 1 through 5 and that applicable annual rate, rather than a single fixed five-year ceiling rate, will constitute the maximum rate for task orders issued during that contract year. | This is confirmed. Offerors may propose different/escalated ceiling labor rates for each of Years 1 through 5. While offerors may have a single fixed five year ceiling rate, that is not the intent of the statement "for the duration of the 5 year IDIQ ordering period". |
| Solicitation p.23; Attachment 2; Ceiling Rates. Please clarify whether annual IDIQ ceiling rates should reflect anticipated mark escalation independently from the Entry-Level and Junior incremental progression structure in PWS Section 2.2.2 and confirm whether the Government has any prescribed escalation methodology or percentage that offerors should use. | See above. |
The Government does not have any prescribed escalation methodology or percentages that offerors should use.
| RFQ Section 4, Volume III, Key Personnel states that letters of commitment, if provided, are excluded from the page limit. Can you please confirm whether letters of commitment are optional or whether the Government expects letters of commitment for contigent hires? | Letters of commitment are optional. |
| Please provide the approximate number of active reimbursable agreements, G-Invoicing agreements, 7600B agreements, fleet aircraft agreements, and customer accounts currently being supported under this requirement. | This information is not available to share. |
| For the Financial Assistance and Grants Management support area, please provide estimated annual volumes for grant applications, award actions, amendments, modifications, compliance reviews, and award closeout activities. | This information is not available to share. |
| Combined Solicitation p.4. Section 3.2. TO Period of Performance. Will the Government provide anticipated annual TO volumes, average TO size, and typical period of performance to support staffing and pricing models? | This information is not available to share. It would also not help with supporting staffing and pricing models as work is performed by both GS and contractor support. The Government will identify the support staff needed. |
| Attachment 1 PWS p.10. 2.1.10, Financial Assistance & Grants. Can the Government provide a breakdown of the types of grants and cooperative agreements historically supported (e.g. formula grants, discretionary grants, cooperative agreements, interagency agreements). | This information is not available to share. |
| Attachment 1 PWS p 1-3, 1.2 - 2.1 General Requirements. Can the Government provide historical proportions of acquisition vs financial assistance vs aviation funds management vs business analyst support to help bidders align staffing? | This information is not available to share. |
| Combined Solicitation p3. 3.4 Ordering Procedures. For each predecessor contract, can the Government identify which portions of the work were performed (acquisition support, grants, aviation, program analysis, etc.). | This information is not available to share. |
| Combined Solicitation p.1. Section 1 - Introduction. Based on historical ordering volumes, which DOI bureaus (e.g. USGS, FWS, NPS, BLM, BOR, OS, OSMRE) historically account for the majority of acquisition and financial assistance workload performed by AQD. | This information is not available to share. |
| Attachment 1, PWS P.5-7, Aviation Funds Management/Invoicing. Can the Government provide historical monthly aviation workload volumes (AURs, SES, UDO reports, flight requests) to support staffing estimates? | This information is not available to share. |
| Combined Synopsis/Solicitation. PDF p21, Volume II. The solicitation requires at least two projects completed by the offeror. Does a completed task order, base period, or discrete completed project phase under an ongoing IDIQ, BPA or contract qualify as a completed project? | A completed task order or base period qualify as a completed project. A discrete completed project phase under an ongoing IDIQ, BPA qualify provided the performance period was/has been sufficient enough to allow the client/Government representative to provide the requested feedback. |
| Solicitation Volume II, pp 21-22. Volume II permits use of subcontractor past performance when the subcontractor will have meaningful involvement, while also requiring that at least two project by "completed by the offeror". Please clarify whether the two required completed projects must have been performed by the prime offeror itself, or whether qualifying projects performed by a proposed subcontractor with meaningful involvement may satisfy this requirement. | At least two (2) of the previous contracts/projects must be for projects completed/ satisfied by the prime offeror itself. Offerors may utilize a subcontractor for a third project. |
| Solicitation, pp 21-22; Volume II - Past Performance. The solicitation states that at least two (2) previous contracts/projects must be projects completed by the offeror, while also allowing the use of subcontractor or affiliate past performance when there will be meaningful involvement. Please clarify whether the requirement for at least two completed projects must be satisfied by the prime offeror itself, or whether completed projects performed by a proposed subcontractor or affiliate with meaningful invovlement may satisfy this requirement. | See above. |
| Document "Combined Synopsis Solicitation" page 22, Volume II - Factor 1 - Past performance, paragraph 3, states that "Any subcontractor used to demonstrate past performance should include a letter of commitment or teaming arrangement between the prime and contractor." Will the letter of commitment or the teaming arrangement contract attachment count towards the page limit? | The letter of commitment or the teaming arrangement attachment will not count towards the page limit. |
| PWS Table 2 and PWS Section 7.5 list different due dates for GFE Inventory Reports (30 days vs 5 days). Which is the correct one? | Paragraph 7.5 has been updated so the information in 7.1 and 7.5 are consistent. 30 calendar days after performance start date; at the end of the fifth month for each PoP; and 30 calendar days before the end of each PoP. |
| PWS, p25 Table 2; p.29, 7.5; p. 39, 8.12.2. The PWS provides different deadlines for GFE inventory reporting; 30 calendar days, five calendar days, and five business days. Please confirm the controlling GFE inventory reporting deadlines. | See above. |
| Combined Solicitation p.1. Section 1 - Introduction. Will this IDIQ support only DOI customers, or will AQD permit ordering by non-DOI agencies under interagency agreements. | Only AQD will place orders under the IDIQ to support DOI customers. Although task orders will be issued to support DOI, contractor support under DOI task orders may support non-DOI agencies under interagency agreements as there are DOI offices such as AQD that provide assisted acquisition support services. |
| Attachment 2, Pricing Sheet. Seed Task Order Pricing. The estimated hours are based on 1920 hours per FTE, which does not account for 11 federal holidays and 80 hours of annual leave. Should offerors adjust pricing to reflect actual productive hours, or will the Government revise the estimate? | The Government will not revise the estimate. Offerors should price Productive Direct Labor Hours (outside of those functions identified as FFP) in accordance with IDIQ PWS paragraph 5.1. |
| Attachment 1 PWS p.20, 5.1, Productive Direct Labor Hours. Will the Government confirm whether security clearance processing time (3-10 hours) is excluded from billable hours for all Tos, including future TOs beyond the seed? | Confirming the awardee is prohibited from billing hours related to security clearance processing time for any task orders issued under the resulting IDIQ. |
| Attachment 1, PWS p.21, 5.2 Government Holidays, Will the Government confirm whether contractor personnel are required to work on federal holidays for aviation support or other mission-critical functions? | Contractor personnel are not required to work on federal holidays for aviation support or other mission-critical functions. |
| Attachment 1, PWS p. 12-15. Labor Categories. Will the Government confirm whether labor category education requirements may be substituted with equivalent experience. | Education requirements cannot be substituted with equivalent experience. |
| PWS, pp 28-29, 7.4.1 and 7.4.3; Solicitation p. 28, Section 6. The PWS references Attachment 3 as a sample Contractor Accomplishments worksheet and Attachment 4 for Aviation related reporting; however, Section 6 identifies Attachment 3 as the PPQ and does not identify an Attachment 4. Please provide the referenced reporting attachments or confirm that they are not applicable to proposal preparation. | Attachment number references have been corrected and Attachments provided. |
| PWS, p.22, 5.5; pp. 38 - 39, 8.12. Section 5.5 states that all Contractor personnel must use GFE while working, while Section 8.12 states that the Government "may" furnish equipment. Please confirm whether a Government furnished laptop will be provided to every prime contractor and subcontractor resource requiring DOI system access and whether contractor owned equipment may be used temporarily if GFE has not yet been issued. | A Government furnished laptop will be provided to every prime contractor and subcontractor resources requiring DOI system access. Contractor owned equipment can NOT be used temporarily if GFE has not yet been issued. |
| PWS 5.5 and 8.12. PWS Section 5.5 states that all Contractor personnel must use Government Furnished Equipment while working, whereas Section 8.12 states that GFE may be provided as determined necessary by the Government. Please confirm that the Government will furnish required GFE to all personnel authorized to perform work under the Seed Task Order and subsequent Task Ordrs. | See above. |
| Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, Section 3.11 - FAR 52.240-90, 52.240-91, and 52.240-93; Attachment 1 - IDIQ PWS, Sections 5.5 amd 8.2 - 8.7. The solicitation includes cybersecurity, information security, safeguarding, Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), network access, and NIST/FISMA-related requirements; however the solicitation does not expressly identify a Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirement. Please confirm whether the Government requires the IDIQ contractor or its subcontractors to maintain any CMMC certification level at the time of proposal submission, IDIQ award, or performance of the anticipated Seed Task Order. Additionally, does the Government anticipate future Task Orders may establish a CMMC requirement? If so, please identify the applicable CMMC level and the point in time at which certifications must be achieved. | The contractor is not requirement to maintain any CMMC certification level and the Government does not anticipate future Task Orders may establish a CMMC requirement. |
| Solicitation 3, FAR 52.219-14, pp. 10-12. For the purposes of FAR 52.219-14 and this HUBZone set-aside IDIQ, please confirm that the limitation on subcontracting will be measured at the IDIQ contract level over the applicable performance period identified in the clause, rather than individually for each Task Order, except where otherwise required by the clause or expressly stated in a Task Order. | Confirming that the limitation on subcontracting will be measured at the IDIQ contract level over the applicable performance period identified in the clause. |
| PWS 5.5, p. 22, Appendix 3. Please confirm the authorized place(s) of performance for Seed Task Order personnel. | The Contractor's facility, or an alternate Contractor designated location within the fifty (50) United States and official territories. Though travel may be required in accordance with IDIQ PWS Paragraph 5.6. |
| Combined Synopsis/Solicitation. PDF p. 21 Volume II. If an official CPARS assessment covers a completed performance period under an ongoing contract, may the offeror submit that CPARS as the performance assessment for a completed project? | Where CPARS evaluation assessments are available for the listed projects/contracts, offerors may submit that CPARS as the performance assessment in lieu of the PPQ. |
| Are the 73,640 hours and 14 labor categories in Attachment 2 (Seed Task Order tab) Government estimates that may fluctuate, or a guaranteed minimum? Will the seed task order be awarded concurrently with the IDIQ, and what are its anticiapted period of performance and estimated value? | The estimated value of the seed task order will not be shared. |
The hours are estimated and may fluctuate, they are not a guaranteed minimum.
The seed task order will be awarded concurrently with the IDIQ.
The anticipated period of performance for the seed task order is September 21, 2026 - September 20, 2027.
What background investigation/suitability level (for example, Public Trust) and IT access (PIV/HSPD-12, agency-system credentials) are required for contractor personnel, and may work begin on non-sensitive tasks before adjudication is complete? Contractor staff must be able to obtain a moderate public trust clearance. Please also reference Attachment 1, paragraph 8.2.1.
Work cannot begin before adjudication is complete.
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