AFISS Questions and Answers Amendment 4.pdf

RFP 15JPSS22R00000040

AFMS AFISS 2 Question and Answer

Amendment 4

No. Page # Section and Paragraph # or Attachment

Question/Comment Recommended Change or Supplemental Information Requested

Response

1 1 SF33 and Section L.5 Would the government please confirm the proposal due date?

The SF33 specified a due date of 8/11/2022, but Section L.5 specified a due date of 8/12/2022.

Revise the due date on the SF33 to 8/12/2022 to conform with Section L.

The RFP proposal due date is 9/12/2022.

2 2 Section B.1 We understand that the intent of the Phase-In period is to ensure successful transition from the current operation to a new contract. Will the government issue task order solicitations during the Phase-In period?

If the government plans to issue task order solicitations during the Phase-In period, contract awardees may not be ready to bid and accept orders should the awardee decide to use the entire year to conduct Phase-In activities. On the other hand, if no orders will be issued, service continuity will be at risk. Recommend that we reduce the Phase- In period to 60 days as that is the standard length of time for a successful contract transition, and then supplement the contract with a 1-year award term to compensate for the service period reduction.

Any transition or phase-in would include the contract and tasks orders. Given the nature of the required services; the majority of tasks orders will likely include the issuance of orders for services that are very similar to services that are currently being performed.

3 5 Section C.2 Would the government please provide a list of active task orders that are expected to expire after the AFISS contract September 30th expiration date?

There are currently 11 active tasks orders for the following requiring offices: ATF (2), DEA (2), FBI (1), DCIS (1), FDA (1), DOS/BDS (1), MLARS (1), OCDETF (1) and

USDA (1)

4 10 C.6.2(e) Would the government please clarify if the 30-day requirement to complete transition activity is 30 days of task order award or IDIQ contract award?

We recommend a clarification that the 30-day requirement is for task order awards.

The transition requirement will be based on the award of all task orders.

5 11 C.6.2(f) Is the Project Manager key personnel position a billable position, as indicated under CLIN X002 in Attachment 1?

Yes, this CLIN is directly billable when placed on a task order.

6 27 F.1 Based on the Term of the Contract specified in Section F.1, it appears that Base Year is anticipated to begin November 1, 2022.

However, Section B.1 indicates that the Phase-In period begins on November 1, 2022, and ends on October 31, 2023. Would the government please clarify?

Recommend that we reduce the Phase-In period to 60 days as that is the standard length of time for a successful contract transition, and then supplement the contract with a 1-year award term to compensate for the service period reduction.

The RFP has been amended.

7 36 H.2.1 How many days on average will the government give contract awardees to respond to task order solicitations?

Previous fair opportunity competitions included 7 -10 days for response.

8 43 H.13 Would the government please specify if there are any differences in the position description, between the key personnel Crypto SME identified and the non-key personnel Crypto SMEs?

All Crypto SME will be key personnel when ordered on task orders.

9 73 L.3.3 Is a resume required for all Crypto SME positions, or just one position?

The contractor shall provide the minimum qualifications for the Crypto SME.

10 73 L.3.3.1 – L.3.3.4 May we allocate unused page limits of each section of the technical proposal to other sections, so long as we don’t exceed the 65 page limit?

We recommend the government allowing unused pages to be re-allocated, especially that 64 of the 65 page limit is allocated to Sections L.3.3.1-L.3.3.4, leaving only one page to address

No, all responses shall be in accordance with the RFP instructions, or the Government may not evaluate the response for award.

Section L.3.3.5 – Physical and Personnel Security

11 82 M.2 Due to the complexity of the AFP technical requirements, would the government confirm that an offeror’s capability and technical approach to meeting SOW requirements are the most important factors to successful contract performance? If so, would the government please consider ranking Technical Approach as the most important Technical Merit subfactor?

As stated in the RFP, the Department will use the entire technical volume to determine the capability of the firms to perform the work. The Government has put consideration into the importance of each factor.

12 17 C.8.1.3 Cyber Crime Support Services

Is there a minimum years of experience requirement for the Cyber Crime SME Labor Category? Does the government expect the Cyber Crime SME to deliver Cyber Crime Support services or be identified as a leader and advisory resource?

Minimum experience will be determined based on the staffing plans provided to ensure that the Government has considered current relevant industry standards.

The RFP does not specify minimum training, experience, or educational for this category of service.

Individuals in this category of service will perform services with expert knowledge. The services performed require tasks and services be executed as an active investigator and also in an advisory capacity.

13 17 C.8.1.3 Cyber Crime Support Services

Is the government open to multiple Cyber Crime Support Labor Categories, to include the senior SME and investigator labor categories to promote cost efficiency?

Recommend the government add an additional Cyber Crime Investigator Labor Category.

No, the Government does not intend to add additional labor categories. The SOW has been amended.

14-

20 C.8.1.5; C.8.1.6; C.8.1.7;

Attachment 1 Pricing Table;

There is currently no data analytics professional labor category to

Is the government open to adding a data analytics

No, the Government does not intend to add additional labor

Attachment 2 Labor Category Descriptions provide the services in C.8.1.5, C.8.1.6 and C.8.1.7.

professional labor category to deliver the tasks in SOW sections C.8.1.5, C.8.1.6, and C.8.1.7?

categories. The SOW has been amended to better define the Governments intent for performance of related services.

14-

20 C.8.1.5; C.8.1.6; C.8.1.7;

Attachment 1 Pricing Table;

Attachment 2 Labor Category Descriptions

There is currently no data analytics professional labor category to provide the services in C.8.1.5, C.8.1.6 and C.8.1.7.

If the government is not open to adding a data analytics professional labor category, what labor category does the government expect vendors to plan to provide the services for tasks in SOW sections C.8.1.5, C.8.1.6 and C.8.1.7?

Any tasks or services that are incidental to performance of other services have been moved to the appropriate section within this document.

The SOW has been amended to clarify DOJ’s requirements.

16 N/A Attachment 1, Pricing Table; Attachment 2, Labor Category Descriptions

The pricing volume currently provides for one rate per Labor Category. For cost and delivery efficiency, tiered labor categories maintaining the labor category descriptions but requiring tiered years of experience would enable vendors to staff and bring the right resources and a price delivering the best value to the government.

Recommend the government update the pricing table to allow for three tiers of each labor category, (such as Financial Investigator I, Financial Investigator II, Financial Investigator III) and specify for each level the minimum requirement for education and years of experience.

No additional labor categories will be added to the pricing table. However, the RFP has been amended to allow for the submission of alternate items.

17 77 L.3.4(d) Past Performance Questionnaire

Does the government expect offerors to provide CPARs or will the government review CPARs within the CPARS system? Are offerors able to provide past performance questionnaires voluntarily in addition to CPAR review?

Yes, past performance contacts may submit past performance information directly to the CO as stated in Section L under Volume IV, Past performance at (d).

Attachment

Section B.1 Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs.

F.1 Term of the Contract

Attachment 1 -

Pricing Table

Various other sections.

B.1 (b) states “The contract will include a one (1) year base period and four (4) option periods as described in the table below.”

However, the referenced table lists six (6) years, starting with a one (1) year Phase-In Period from 11/01/22 through 10/31/23.

Meanwhile, F.1 states a period of performance as 1 base year and 4 option periods of 12 months (i.e. five years or 60 months)

And finally, Attachment 1 shows six (6) one year periods of performance and no “transition” or “Phase-In”.

Assuming F.1 is correct, recommend the government reconcile all PoP references in all relevant sections of the solicitation.

The RFP has been amended.

C.7 Performance Objectives and Outcomes C.8 General Requirements

Sic C.7 Phase In Sic C.8 Phase Out

The section numbers “C.7” and “C.8” repeat.

Were the "Phase-in” and “Phase- Out” sections (p23 of 85) included by mistake, or should their respective numbers be C.10 Phase-In and C.11 Phase-Out?

Recommend delete or renumber as appropriate.

The RFP has been amended.

20 12 of 85

L.3.3.3 Staffing Plan, paragraph 2

C.6.3.1(4)

Repeated requirement to address training.

Suggest eliminating reference to training in Management plan and address full training plan in Staffing section.

The RFP has been amended.

21 27 of 85

Attachment

F.2 F.2 states “This contract requires performance at the Contractor's site(s) and at various Government and non- Government sites throughout the United States, and in limited cases, outside of the

United States”.

Attachment 1 states “These prices apply to any location at which work is being performed under this contract.”

Typically work at a Contractor Site would be a separate rate, and OCONUS work would be subject to Premium Pays or other uplifts.

Can the Government confirm that “any location” only refers to a Government Site, or an approved remote work location if so approved?

The contractor may be required to perform services at the Governments facility or provide a remote location for its employees to perform services if authorized by a task order. An order may require a combination of performance locations including different cities.

22 28 of 85

Attachment

F.4 F.4 lists 11 Federal Holidays, which would equate to 88 hours of Federal Holiday Time.

Attachment 1 states “The Full Time Equivalent (FTE) basis with all federal holidays removed is 2000 hours per year.”

Should the FTE basis be 1992 hours per year?

(2080 hours a year minus 88 hours of Federal Holiday Time).

The RFP’s Full Time Equivalent (FTE) basis with all federal holidays removed is 1992 hours per year. The RFP has been updated.

23 31 and 32 of

G.1.4 G.1.3

Sections are inverted. The RFP has been amended.

24 83 M.2.1 (c) The evaluation criteria under M.2.1(c) has 6 components listed.

Component #5 says the Government will assess: "systems, processes, and controls to meet management and reporting requirements including the capability to track and report hours worked by case number".

Component #6 says "proposed systems, processes, and controls to meet management and reporting requirements. " We advise removing one to prevent duplicative proposal content.

We advise removing one to prevent duplicative proposal content.

The RFP has been amended.

25 69 L.3 (d) The requirement for fonts states, "Graphic presentations, including tables, while not subject to the same font size and spacing requirements, shall have spacing and text that is easily readable."

Will the Government accept 8point font for tables and graphics?

We request allowing 8-point font for figures and tables.

No. The RFP has been amended.

26 74 L.3.3.5 Section L.3.3.5 Physical and Personnel Security is listed as a requirement of Volume III - Technical Proposal. Please provide an allocated page count for this section.

The RFP has been amended.

27 70 L.3(f) In the table of submission requirements, it states Volume II, Price Proposal should be 1 electronic copy in MS Excel format.

However, there is also a narrative requirement for Price. We request adding a Word or PDF + MS Excel copy for submission

The RFP has been amended.

28 Can you advise, what the attrition rate (%) of incumbent personnel on ongoing task orders during the first six months following award/transition period under

AFISS I?

The attrition rate for the last competition was 10% at award however after the initial 6 months of performance;

attrition has remained at a rate of approximately 5%.

29 14 C.6.3.4. (1) (B) Under the requirements, C.6.3.4.

(1) (B), On-siter training program, what is meant by "new presenters"?

The RFP has been amended to clarify this reference.

30 50 I.3.5 Contractor Privacy Requirements (Jan 2022)

Does the government expect all work to be done on government furnished equipment (GFE)? If yes, then would we be able to install software we are accustomed to

Yes. Work will be on equipment and systems (to include software) which is provided by the government.

using? Would the government purchase licenses and install on

GFE?

31 N/A Attachment 1- AFISS Pricing Table

Column T lists Option 5 and a quantity of hours, but there is no rate column to associate with this option. Should this Option 5 be removed since there are rates and hours for the base period and 4 options?

The RFP has been amended.

32 N/A Attachment 1- AFISS Pricing Table

The Full Time Equivalent (FTE) basis with all federal holidays removed is 2000 hours per year. Is this correct as there are 11 federal holidays now (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay- leave/federal-holidays/#url=2022)? Shouldn’t this be 1992 hours?

The RFP has been amended.

33 N/A Attachment 1- AFISS Pricing Table

Option Year 1 does not add all of the lines for the subtotal in Column J. The formula in cell J21 is “=SUM(J10:J16)” instead of

“=SUM(J10:J19)”.

The RFP has been amended.

34 72 Attachment 1- AFISS Pricing Table / L.3.2.2 Price Support Information (Information Other Than Cost of Pricing Data)

The FTE basis of 2000 hours per year will result in overcharging the Government for an FTE. If “All rates are composite; that is, they include all labor costs, fringe benefits, overhead, G&A, profit, etc.”, Fringe Benefits includes hours which reduce the FTE further. If not, the Pricing Table will double count costs.

Direct labor hourly rates are calculated by dividing salary by 2080 and multiplying by productive hours as the delta hours are covered in the Fringe

We recommend the Government use 1872 hours as an FTE.

The RFP has been amended to state the Full Time Equivalent (FTE) basis with all federal holidays removed is 1992 hours per year.

http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-rate. If we divided salary by 1880, we would be overcharging the Govt.

We recommend the Government use 1872 hours as an FTE so as not to double count the Fringe Benefits costs for Holidays and All Forms of Leave which are accounted for within the composite rate. The overcharging adds up as you apply overhead, G&A, profit, etc., on top of the salary plus fringe benefits.

35 N/A Attachment 2 Will the Government please add years of experience and degrees to better baseline the requirements and allow for comparison of rates per labor category across bidders?

We request the Government add years of experience and degrees to better baseline the requirements and allow for comparison of rates per labor category across bidders

Attachment 10 has been provided to provide information regarding the Government’s current contract requirements.

36 71 RFP L.3.1.2 (b) The Small Business Administration Mentor Protégé program Joint Ventures utilizes 13 CFR 125.8(e) which states “Capabilities, past performance and experience.

When evaluating the capabilities, past performance, experience, business systems and certifications of an entity submitting an offer for a contract set aside or reserved for small business as a joint venture established pursuant to this section, a procuring activity must consider work done and qualifications held individually by each partner to the joint venture as well as any work done by the joint venture itself previously. A procuring activity may not require

The Government will allow Joint Ventures that are approved participants in the Small Business Administration Joint Ventures Mentor Protégé program to use Past Performance from either entity. All SBA JV Mentor Protégé participants must provide documentation of SBA’s approval with their proposal. The RFP has been amended.

the protégé firm to individually meet the same evaluation or responsibility criteria as that required of other offerors generally.

The partners to the joint venture in the aggregate must demonstrate the past performance, experience, business systems and certifications necessary to perform the contract.”

According to SBA, the government will need to consider past performance from either party of the SBA Mentor Protégé Joint Venture.

Please confirm this solicitation will comply with 13 CFR 125.8(e) and Joint Venture Prime entities will be allowed to use Past Performance from either entity.

37 71 RFP L.3.1.2 (b) Given the uncertainty related to the SBA Mentor Protégé question, regarding whether or not the solicitation will comply with 13 CFR 125.8(e), would the government consider extending the solicitation to allow ample time to complete a Joint Venture proposal?

No, the RFP has been extended based on the additional days associated with the response to questions as compared to DOJ's original anticipated response date.

38 76 RFP L.3.3.5 Is it the government’s intent to follow SBA guidelines and GAO decision B-419856 which decided the SBA Mentor Protégé Program Joint Ventures only require the mentor and protégé to hold the appropriate Facility Clearance and not the Joint Venture Entity itself.

Please confirm this solicitation will comply with GAO decision B-

All facilities must have a facility clearance if proposed to perform services for the resultant AFISS contract.

419856.

https://www.gao.gov/assets/b- 419856.pdf

39 76 RFP L.3.4 PWS Section L.3.4 (a) states “(6-pages: 2 per referenced contract)” with “no more than three (3) past performance contracts for the prime offeror” but then goes on to say in sentence 2 “The offeror can include no more than one past performance contracts for major subcontractors or teaming partners.” Does this mean 3 total past performance citations, with one from a major subcontractor?

Will the government clarify total number of past performances citations from the prime offeror AND number of past performance citations from a major subcontractor or teaming partner?

The past performance response shall include 3 past performance references. The RFP is amended to clarify.

40 2 B.1, General, para, (b) and Attachment 1, AFISS Pricing Table

The table depicting the Contract Term shows a year-long Phase-In Period, Base Period and four (4) Option Periods. This does not match with the Attachment 1, AFISS Pricing Table which shows a Base Period and five (5) Option Periods.

Please resolve the differences between the RFP Contract Term and the Attachment 1, AFISS Pricing Table.

The RFP has been amended.

41 2 B.1, General, para, (b) and Section F.1, Term of the Contract

The table depicting the Contract Term shows a year-long Phase-In Period, Base Period and four (4) Option Periods does not match Section F.1, Term of the Contract which states the period of performance is anticipated to begin on November 1, 2022 and end on October 31, 2023, to be followed

Please resolve the differences between the RFP Contract Term and Section F.1, Term of the Contract.

by four (4) Option Periods.

42 23 C.7, Phase-In This section states that “The Contractor shall be responsible for the phase-in of Contractor personnel and the assumption of ongoing tasks utilizing the Transition Plan provided by the Contractor in its proposal.

Please clarify whether the Transition Plan is a separate volume or part of the Technical Proposal.

Please define any requirements for the Transition Plan, including if this is for the AFISS 2 IDIQ transition, and/or for the task orders?. Also, is there a page limit for the Transition Plan?

The RFP addresses requirements related to transition at C.10 and C.11.

Offerors shall detail their transition as part of the technical approach. The approach shall address performance based on the RFP which requires contract and task order performance.

43 27 F.1, Term of Contract This section, which states the period of performance is anticipated to begin on November 1, 2022 and end on October 31, 2023, to be followed by four (4) Option Periods, conflicts with the Attachment 1, AFISS Pricing Table which shows a Base Period and five (5) Option Periods.

Please resolve the differences between F.1, Term of Contract, and the Attachment 1, AFISS Pricing Table as to the correct number of Option Periods.

The RFP has been amended.

44 70 L.3, Format and Instructions for Proposals

Are the cover page and tables of contents included in the page limit for Volume III, Entire Technical Proposal, and Volume IV, Past Performance.

Please clarify whether or not the cover page and table of contents are included in the page limitation for Volumes III and IV.

The RFP has been amended to address cover pages and table of contents.

45 68 L RFP Section L on page 68 is titled

“REPRESENTATIONS,

CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER

STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS”.

Will the Government please confirm that this should be “Instructions to Offerors”?

The RFP has been amended.

46 81 M RFP Section M on page 81 is titled

“REPRESENTATIONS,

CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER

STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS”.

Will the Government please confirm that this should be “Evaluation Criteria”?

47 70 L.3 (f) Page Limit table Will the Government please confirm that each volume may contain a volume cover page, and that the volume cover page is not in the page count for each volume.

Please see question 44 above

50 14 & 23 C.7 and C. 7 In RFP section C, there are two C.7 Sections. One: “C. 7 Scope” that is on page 14, and one that is on page 23. Please confirm that offerors are to address the first C.

7 Scope section instance on page 14 required in the Technical Approach section of the proposal responses, and that the second “C.7 Phase-In” instance on RFP page 23 should be re-labeled C.10.

The RFP has been amended to clarify Section C.

51 14 & 23 C.8 and C.8 In RFP section C, there are two C.8 Sections. One: “C.8 General Requirements” that starts on page 14, and one that is on page 23.

Please confirm that offerors are to address the first C.8 section instance that starts on page 14 required in the Technical Approach section of the proposal responses, and that the second “C.8 Phase- Out” instance on RFP page 23 should be re-labeled C.11.

The RFP has been amended.

52 74 L.3.3.2 RFP Section L.3.3.2 Technical Approach Instructions on RFP Page 74. Will the Government please clarify the intent of this instruction, “The approach shall address performance the various performance locations with required categories of services contained in RFP Attachments.”?

53 74 L.3.3.2 Section L does not require a Transition Plan. Will the Government please confirm that a Transition Plan is not required in the proposal. If a Transition Plan is required, will the Government please provide what is required to be in the Transition Plan. In addition if a Transition Plan is required, will the Government please provide additional pages to address this new requirement.

Please see question 42.

54 75 L.3.3.4 RFP Section L.3.3.4 on RFP page 75 states, “Offerors shall not provide the same information from the staffing plan to address C.6.3.1.4 but instead on operations and process including scheduling during actual performance.” Please note that Section C.6.3.1.4 does not exist in the RFP. Will the Government please confirm that this should refer to section C.6.2 Staffing?

The RFP reference is to C.6.3.1.4.

55 81 M.1.1 (5) RFP Section M.1.1 (5) on RFP page 81 states, “The offeror has submitted evidence of a TOP SECRET facility clearance. Offeror shall have this TOP SECRET facility clearance no later than the time of proposal submission;

otherwise, it will not be eligible for award.” Will the Government please confirm that this “Evidence” should be provided in the

Contractor may submit a current DD Form 254 indicating they meet the requirement. Only one is necessary and it can be an attachment not included in the page count.

Technical Proposal Volume and will not count against the Technical Proposal Volume Page count?

56 75 L.3.3.3 RFP Section L.3.3.3 on RFP page 75 stated, “Provide a resume for the Contract Manager and describe in detail plans for implementing this position (See Section H.15).” RFP Section H.15 does not appear to relate to Key Personnel, the Contract Manager position, or resumes. In addition, none of the Section H section appear to “describe in detail plans for implementing this position”. Will the Government please clarify?

The RFP has been amended.

57 84 M.3 (a) This section states that “Each recent past performance reference provided by the Offerors will receive one of the relevancy ratings outlined in Section 3.2 below.” We were unable to identify Section 3.2 in the RFP below this evaluation statement.

Will the Government please provide the past performance relevancy ratings mentioned in M.3 (a)?

The RFP has been amended to remove the reference to 3.2.

58 84 M.3 (a) This section states, “The final aspect of the Past Performance evaluation is the overall quality of the Offeror’s past performance.

The quality of any recent and relevant past performance will be evaluated under the following aspects: 1) Quality (Service) 2) Timeliness (Schedule Performance) 3) Cost Control 4) Management (Business Relations) and 5) Other Areas (Problem Resolution such as Management of Key Personnel).”

Will the Government please confirm that the CPAR or PPQ (for each reference) will be evaluated to determine the quality aspect of the past performance evaluation, and not the written Past Performance reference provided in response to L.3.4 (a) (1) – (9)?

Past performance will be evaluated as stated in in Sections L and Section M.

59 84 M.3 (a) This section states, “In the case of an Offeror who does not provide information on recent or relevant past performance, or where past performance information is not available, the Offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on this factor. The Offeror shall receive the rating of “neutral,” meaning the rating is neither favorable nor unfavorable. In a best value tradeoff, the Department may determine that a “Substantial Confidence” or “Satisfactory Confidence” past performance rating is worth more than a “Neutral Confidence” past performance rating, as long as the determination is consistent with stated criteria.”

Will the Government please provide the Confidence Ratings and definitions for each rating? For example, the M.3(a) statement mentions Confidence Ratings that include:

“Substantial Confidence”, “Satisfactory Confidence”, and “Neutral Confidence”.

Are these the only Confidence ratings possible? What evaluation criteria will be used to define/differentiate each confidence rating?

The RFP has been amended to include the past performance ratings definitions.

60 1 Attachment 8 – Optional Past Performance Form 2)

Attachment 8 states, “Offerors can also provide an attachment of a CPAR record in final status for consideration of any past performance information. Final status refers to the individual report specific to draft status or final status. Interim reports for a contract or order with multiple ordering periods is acceptable.”.

Please note that Section L does not mention attaching CPARs to any volumes.

Will the Government please confirm that offerors should include CPARs as an attachment to Volume IV Past Performance, and that CPARs are not included in the Past Performance Page Count?

This reference has been removed from the Attachment 8 of the RFP.

61 81 M.1.1 (2) The RFP states, “(2) The offeror's proposed unit prices are determined to be reasonable in accordance with Section M.3” Please note that M.3 is Past Performance.

Will the Government please confirm that M.1.1 (2) should state that the proposed unit prices are determined to be reasonable in accordance with Section M.4?

62 77 L.3.4 (d) The RFP states, “The technical representative should complete Section 2 of the form and email the entire form within the date and time designated on the questionnaire to the Contracting Officer.”

The Attachment 8: Optional Past Performance Form does not identify a “Section 2” of the form. Please confirm that the technical representative should complete Pages 2 through 5 of the form.

Attachment 8 has been amended.

63 77 L.3.4 (d), 2nd paragraph The RFP states, “Offerors shall provide the past performance questionnaire to their references and complete and return directly to CO before the solicitation close date and time.”

Please confirm that the referenced CO for returning the past performance questionnaire before the solicitation close date and time is the AFISS2 CO.

Yes, the AFISS CO must receive all past performance information prior to the solicitation close date if it is not available in CPARS.

64 5 Attachment 8: Past Performance Questionnaire

The signature block on the bottom of page 5 of the questionnaire states, “The name, job title, contract role (e.g., Contracting Officer’s Representative), email address and telephone number of the individual completing this assessment and the date it was completed and sent to the Contracting Officer.”

Please verify whether the Contracting Officer mentioned is the Past Performance Contracting Officer or the AFISS2 Contracting Officer.

No, this does not refer to the AFISS Contracting Officer.

Any past performance information should be completed by the past performance contact for the past performance reference that is being provided by the offeror.

65 20 - 21 C.8.1.6 Section C – Description /Specifications / Work Statement;

Subsection C.2 – AFP Background and Objective (p. 5), states “Section 524(c) of Title 28 of the United States Code makes the Department of Justice (DOJ) Assets Forfeiture Fund available for purposes of contracting for services related to the seizure and forfeiture of property.”

Subsection C.3 – Purpose (6), states “The purpose of this Statement of Work is to obtain

Does this requirement reflect a change in the interpretation of the statutory language as it pertains to the funding of services and if so, are there other areas where this interpretation may be applicable in the data analysis arena?

No. The sections mentioned indicate case in chief or general investigative tools that may be utilized by the government in these types of investigations. This contract only requires a working knowledge of the industry applications that are incidental to the performance of investigations. The investigative support provided under this contract may interpret/decide information and data sets that should be professional investigative, legal, analytical, and technical support services to support AFP operations and management.”

The Department of Justice has always interpreted the language of these two subsections to require the AFP funding for services on the professional services component of its contract vehicles to focus on the asset forfeiture component of criminal investigations and not to directly support the underlying substantive criminal investigation.

Subsection C.8.1.6 Investigative Data Analysis Capability Development Services (pp.20-21) requires the contractor to provide consultation on the development of REST based microservices built on Java scripting, front end components of web applications, middleware components of web applications using government required frameworks and the development of mobile device applications. The data analysis development consultant services required by this subsection expands the scope of asset forfeiture funding to include services more directly involved with the underlying substantive aspect of criminal investigations than the asset forfeiture aspects.

considered in utilizing these systems, tools, or techniques as part of a particular investigation. The SOW has been amended.

66 P. 11 and p.

43 of the solicitation

C.6.2 (f) Key Personnel and H.13 Key

The government indicates the crypto-currency SME is to serve as key personnel. This suggests a

Can the government confirm that pricing template (Attachment 1) reflects 25,000 hours per

The hours are reflective of hours that may be ordered to perform these services. The contractor shall propose key documents Personnel, respectively single individual would comply with the key personnel requirements.

contract year to estimate the cost of services and does not require ~13 key resumes (25,000 hrs / 1,900 hrs) to meet the key personnel resume requirements?

personnel as required on each task order. Please refer to question 8 for updates regarding key personnel.

67 70 L.3.1.1(1) Block 16: the block requesting facility number.

Please clarify what you are requesting, as typically this is the UEI number.

Please include the UEI number for the prime offeror.

68 72 L.3.2 Volume II Price Proposal

The government indicates the submission of Attachment 1 will support the requirement for pricing. Under Section L.3.2.2 Price Support Information, the government requests offerors to provide supporting pricing data of its own design to support the government’s determination of reasonableness. Will the government accept an Attachment 1B, Supporting Information, to reflect the information requested?

This question is not clear.

Offerors can use the format of Attachment 1 with updates in accordance with L.3.2.2 to inform any other than cost and pricing data. The Government is not requesting complex spreadsheets or formulas and submissions should be presented to easily identify the requested information.

69 73 L.3.2.2 Price Support The government requests standard divisors are to be used for computing all hourly rates from annual salary amounts.

Can the government confirm its desire to use 1,900 as the basis for a single position’s standard divisor(s)?

Please see question 22.

70 76 L.3.4(a) Does this mean we can submit 3 PP for the prime PLUS one per major sub, or a total of 3?

Please see question 39.

71 77 L.5 Is there a file size restriction on email submission?

Yes, the size limitation is a total of 50 MB per email.

72 Attachment

9, AFISS

Hourly Rates

1099 ICs typically include higher labor costs to account for self-employment taxes.

Can the government confirm the low to high range of rates is reflective of direct labor and does not include 1099 independent contractors?

No, the Government performed a market survey of existing contractors to determine the average rates of its direct labor rates.

73 77 L.3.4 Volume IV – Past Performance

The government defines magnitude as “the measure of the similarity of the volume, dollar value, and/or duration of the work actually performed under the Offeror’s submitted contracts to the SOW”.

Can the government confirm the dollar value is based on the contract dollar award will reflect the awarded value, including multiple award IDIQ award values versus the sum of task orders?

The Government will consider dollar value based on multiple award IDIQ award value, sum of tasks orders ordered, and contract dollar award based on the information provided in accordance with Section L.

74 77 L.3.4 Volume IV – Past Performance

Are past performance references for the prime contractor to be submitted at the contract level or can they be submitted at the task order level?

Will the government confirm that the use of individual task order awards (aligned to government fiscal years), from separate agencies with separate CPARS under the same multiple award MAC IDIQ, will be counted as one past performance?

Past performance contract references can be at the contract level or task order level. Offerors shall not submit different periods of performance for any contract or task order as separate past performance references, or they will be evaluated as one reference.

75 84 M.3 Past Performance Factor Evaluations

The government states “offerors shall provide information on no more than three past performance contracts…”. If an offer provides 3 past performances where one does not meet the same magnitude of other citations, will this one citation dilute the score of other higher quality references?

The Government will evaluate all three past performance references as stated in the RFP to determine a confidence assessment for each offeror.

76 85 M.4 Pricing Evaluation Pricing Evaluation incorporates FAR 52.219-4 Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone

Small business concerns. The 10% price differential, per the section, will be added to the offer except for other HUBZone concerns that have not waived the evaluation preference or otherwise successful offers from SB

This has been removed from the RFP.

concerns. Given that this is a total small business set aside for any successful offeror, is there any other instance where the 10% might be applied?

77 85 M.4 (e) Pricing Evaluation Total Compensation Plan. Will the government accept subcontractor TCPs to separately and accurately reflect the different corporate structures and designs between a prime and sub legal entity?

The Total compensation plan shall be submitted for the prime and should identify any relevant subcontractor information.

78 68 L.1 Will you please add fixed price with economic price adjustment to the individual orders contract type list?

All orders will be priced in accordance with contract pricing to address any economic price adjustment.

79 81 M.2(a) Can the government please confirm that the relative importance of the Technical Merit subfactors is, Management Plan, Technical Approach, and Staffing Plan in descending order?

Yes, please see the RFP at M.2.

80 2, 14, & 74 B.1, C.7 & L.3.3.2 In Section B.1 of supplies and services, the government describes a Phase-in Period, and again in C.7 Phase-In, that references "Transition Plan" to current operations. However, in L.3.3.2 the transition period is listed as 30 days from October 1, 2022, through November 1, 2022.

Is the Transition Plan related to the implementation and execution of the Transition Plan, which occurs during this Phase-In period?

The RFP has been amended.

81 22 C.8.1.9 Is AFISS specific contractor training billable?

Yes, the performance of requirements defined in section C for training are ordered are placed on separate order or modified based on the COR’s approval of the training and pricing basis.

Further, contractor employee training is billable if the Government hosts training that is necessary for the contractor to perform services or access government systems. The Government will not pay for the contractor to maintain or train its workforce. Any training that the contractor requires for its employees to train or retain its workforce should be coordinated with the Government to ensure that any required services are performed while its employees attend training.

82 77 L.5 L.5 states “shall submit proposal electronic format by email.” May the offeror submit a hard copy version in person as well?

No offerors should submit in accordance with the RFP instructions.

83 78 RFP L.5 & SF33

Attachment

The due date on the SF33 attachment is 8/11/22 at 2 PM but the RFP section L.5 and Govwin have the submission date as 8/12/22 at 2 PM. What is the correct submission date?

Please see the response to question 1.

84 2 RFP B.1(b) Schedule and Attachment 1 Pricing Table

The RFP Schedule shows a Phase-in Period of 11/01/22 - 10/31/23, with the Base Period starting on 11/01/23. The Pricing table does not include pricing for a

The Base Year is anticipated to start on 11/1/2022.

Phase-in Period, just for the Base Period and 4 Option Periods.

There are no dates on the Pricing Table. Please confirm whether pricing for the Base Year in the pricing table should start on 11/01/ 2022 or 11/01/2023.

85 Attachment 1 Pricing Table

The pricing table has a column containing estimated hours with the title "Option 5". Please confirm whether there is an Option 5 that should be priced, or if this column should be deleted.

The RFP requirements are for a base plus 4 Option Periods.

86 76 RFP L3.4 (a) The RFP states "Offerors shall provide information on no more than three (3) past performance contracts for the prime offeror that are in progress or were completed within the past three years. The offeror can include no more than one past performance contracts for major subcontractors or teaming partners."

Please advise whether the Offer may provide 3 of its Past Performance references as well as 1 for its Subcontractor (s) for a total submission of 4 Past Performance References.

The offer should include 3 total past performance contract references.

87 p. 19 C.8.1.5, and C.8.1.6 There is no CLIN aligned with the services required by these two sections of the RFQ. Only FTEs and travel are included in the pricing table, and it is unclear from the category descriptions in Attachment 2 to the RFQ which, if any, of the required personnel are to fulfill these requirements. Will the government clarify which of the FTEs are responsible for these data analytical services and how these services are to be fulfilled?

See questions 14, 15, 65 The SOW is amended to clarify the Government requirements for any incidental tasks that were previously contained in this section.

88 p. 78 SF 33 and RFP, Sec. L.5 There is a discrepancy in the due date for this opportunity. Per the SF 33, the solicitation is due 11 August 2022 at 2:00pm ET.

However, in Sec. L of the RFP, the proposal is due no later than 12 Aug 2022 at 2:00pm ET.

Will the Government clarify its preferred due date?

See question 1

89 p.13, 22 PWS C.7 Page 13, Sec C.7 of the PWS includes Performance Objectives requirements. However, page 22, also numbered C. 7 in the PWS includes Phase-In Requirements.

Which C.7 is to be addressed in the PWS?

The RFP has been amended.

90 p. 13, 22 PWS C.8 Page 13, Sec C.8 of the PWS General requirements. However, page 22, also numbered C. 8 in the PWS includes Phase-Out Requirements.

Which C.8 is to be addressed in the PWS?

The RFP has been amended.

91 p76 L.3.3.5, paragraph 2 Will the DOJ confirm that SECRET, TOP SECRET and/or TOP SESRECT SCI are the clearances needed for all positions required by this RFQ?

This section refers to facility clearance levels. Specific to contractor employees, the requirements will consist of Top Secret-SCI, Top Secret, Secret, and Public Trust clearances. Currently approximately 50% of the contractors are either Top Secret-SCI or Top Secret.

92 C.8.1.1 Investigative C.8.1.1 There are no contractor costs associated with these

Support/Analysis (Criminal/Civil) Support Services, page 14 C.8.1.4 Seized Property Analysis and Support Services, page 19 52.247-34 F.O.B.

Destination (NOV 1991),

(d) The contractor repatriate assets that are subject to forfeiture.

C.8.1.4

(d) The contractor shall arrange shipping/receiving of seized assets requested for official use

(g) The contractor shall provide on-site support for large seizures throughout the United States.

(j) The contractor shall monitor and maintain useful condition of seized and forfeited assets.

(k) The contractor shall assist in destruction of forfeited assets.

(m) The contractor will be required to package and ship seized and forfeited assets to vendor for demilitarization in accordance with Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.

Will the government clarify if any of the repatriation, shipping, storage, and destruction costs are Contractor's risk and responsibility?

activities. All cost and materials are provided by the government.

93 Attachment

1.3 Background

Investigation Requirements /1.4 Background Investigation Process

Contractors do not have access to initiate these investigations.

Will the Govt. process the required T1, T2 & T4 investigations?

Yes, the Government will perform any required personal investigations. The investigation will be initiated by the AFMS SPM.

94 P. 75 l.3.3.5 Physical and Personnel Security

Does DOJ require the prime offeror and all subcontractors to have a TS FCL at the time of submission?

Yes, for all proposed Prime and subcontractors.

95 p. 76 L.3.4 Volume IV Past Performance

Per L.3.4 "The offeror can include no more than one past

Please see question 39.

performance contract for major subcontractors or teaming partners." Does the Government mean that one reference can be from each subcontractor, or one reference TOTAL can be from one of the subcontractors?

96 p. 76 L.3.4 Volume IV Past Performance

Per L.3.4 "Offerors shall provide information on no more than three

(3) past performance contracts for the prime offeror that are in progress or were completed within the past three years. The offeror can include no more than one past performance contract for major subcontractors or teaming partners." Please clarify if the Government is looking for three references total.

Please see question 39.

97 Page 75, L.3.3.3 Staffing Plan

The RFP states: “Each signed letter of commitment must include evidence that the proposed individual and the offeror have agreed on compensation and that the compensation falls within the offeror’s proposed rate structure.” It is not customary for companies to share with their employees our billing rate structure and our proposal rates. Nor, is it customary for contractors to provide letters of commitment with employees’ salary information, other compensation, etc. As a results, we request that you delete the following language that each signed letter of commitment must include evidence that: “the compensation falls within the

This has been removed from the RFP however.

offeror’s proposed rate structure.” If you decline to delete, please explain the basis for this requirement.

98 Page 74-75, L.3.3.3 Staffing Plan

It is very clear from the language in Page 72, L.3.2.1 Pricing Tables that includes “The information also aims to limit the displacement of the current AFISS contract labor force” that only the incumbent contract awardees can create a staffing plan that will be highly evaluated. As a result, this creates an RFP that is clearly wired and open to protest. We believe the government should eliminate the following language from the staffing plan requirement:

“Provide a staffing plan to show the labor category, name if available and respective tasks that will be performed by each individual (clearly indicate proposed personnel internal and external to the offeror’s/team’s organization(s) and include the relevant experience, training and expertise of each proposed staff member based on RFP requirements). The contractor’s staffing plan shall be used to determine the minimum acceptable qualifications for performance of contract services.

The plan shall clearly identify the minimum qualifications for each contract labor category. The plan shall include a staffing chart that shall clearly indicate the proposed management structure showing lines of reporting for all individuals

The RFP has been amended at L.3.3.3 proposed to provide services in support of this RFP.”

99 Page 84, M.2.1 Technical Merit Subfactors

Based on the question above, we request the government delete the following language evaluating the Staffing Plan: “The Government will evaluate the contractor’s staffing plan to assess its likelihood for successful performance including the relevant experience, training and expertise of each proposed staff member based on RFP requirements. The Government will assess each offeror’s proposed staff retention program, including the approach to retaining qualified, cleared, incumbent employees and continuity of services during a change in contracts.”

The RFP has been amended.

100 General Question As a result of question 3 above (99 all questions), should the Key Personnel section for the 2 Key Personnel required just be evaluated as part of the Technical Response in the Management plan?

All offerors should adhere to the instructions in Section L and M.

101 L.3.3.3 & Attachment 9 Section L.3.3.3 states, “Provide a staffing plan to show the labor category, name if available and respective tasks that will be performed by each individual (clearly indicate proposed personnel internal and external to the offeror’s/team’s organization(s) and include the relevant experience, training and expertise of each proposed staff member based on RFP requirements).” The

The referenced sections provide very different information and do not appear to be related. Offerors do not have to provide names and the Government is most concerned with each offeror’s plan as indicated in the amended RFP. Attachment 9 provides information to all offerors.

information requested in the staffing plan related to listing all of the individuals significantly favors any incumbent contractors. This is further supported by Attachment 9:

“The information also aims to limit the displacement of the current AFISS contract labor force.” Based on the collective information/requirements from the government in the RFP, there is an inappropriate preference for the incumbent contractors, as only the incumbents have access to their incumbent staff to reference in their proposal.

We respectfully request that you strike both of these sections from the RFP.

If the Government declines to strike these sections, will the government update the evaluation criteria and provide equal weight to non-incumbent Offerors that state they will re-badge the incumbent workforce?

102 Page 74-75, L.3.3.3 Staffing Plan

Our Recruiting Staff have spoken with current incumbent staff employed on AFISS, and we have determined that their salaries plus a small business competitive wrap rate are significantly higher than the rates stated in Attachment 9 to the RFP.