19AQMM19R0193_Global_Advisory_IDIQ_RFP_SECTIONS_B_-_M_A0001_Track_Changes.docx

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.1 OVERVIEW

The Department of State (State) has an ongoing need to provide global advisory services. Weak or non-existent security sectors represent significant obstacles to sustainable development and democracy. The development of professional partner nation security forces rooted in the rule of law and accountable to civilian oversight are critical to reducing threats to the United States. PM anticipates services will include, but not be limited to, advisory, training, and facilitation services globally.

B.2 TYPE OF CONTRACT

a) This is a multiple-award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, as defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 16.504 (Indefinite-Quantity Contracts), awarded to a small business concernawarded unrestricted.

b) This contract is for non-commercial items (i.e., services and supplies). The tasks to be performed or supplies to be delivered will be conveyed at the Task Order level.

c) Specific tasks or work to be performed will be identified at the task order level. (Note: Because the Government anticipates that the majority of performance under the contract will be for services, “task order” is used predominantly throughout this contract. However, the Government reserves the right to issue delivery orders, also. Where a contract term or condition references “task order,” such term or condition shall also apply to “delivery order.”)

d) The Government intends to utilize firm-fixed-price (FFP), as defined in FAR 16.202, task orders to the maximum extent practicable. However, the Government reserves the right to issue task orders utilizing any of the contract types, or a combination thereof, authorized by FAR part 16 (Types of Contracts).

e) If a task order will be performance-based, as described in FAR subpart 37.6 (Performance-based Acquisition), its requirements will be conveyed and administered at the task order level.

f) This is a non-personal services contract, as defined in FAR 37.101. Inherently governmental functions, as described in FAR 7.503 or by the ordering agency, are prohibited under this contract. The Government will neither supervise Contractor employees nor control the method by which the Contractor performs the required tasks. The Contractor shall manage its employees and guard against any actions that are of the nature of personal services or give the perception of personal services. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer immediately if it perceives any actions that constitute personal services. This contract shall not be used to perform any inherently governmental functions.

B.3 MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM QUANTITIES

(a) The Government shall meet the IDIQ contract minimum of $25,000 (inclusive of all direct costs, indirect costs, and profit/fee) through the issuance of task order(s) within the IDIQ contract’s effective (i.e., ordering) period.

(b) The maximum quantity for the IDIQ contract’s effective (i.e., ordering) period, including any extension(s), shall be any quantity or combination of supplies and services not exceeding $150,000,000 (inclusive of all direct costs, indirect costs, and profit/fee).

B.4 NOT-TO-EXCEED (NTE) FULLY-LOADED HOURLY LABOR RATES

a) This section applies to labor-hour arrangements (i.e., task orders or line items in a task order), the time portion of time-and-materials arrangements, and when negotiating the fixed price under fixed-price arrangements.

b) The following are the negotiated NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rates for a 40-hour normal workweek (to be inserted at IDIQ award):

Option

(FAR 52.217-8)

Management Specialist Advisor (CLIN X001)

Technical Specialist Advisor (CLIN X002)

Training Management Specialist (CLIN X003)

Training Specialist (CLIN X004)

Facilitation Specialist (CLIN X005)

Site Coordinator (CLIN X006)

c) The following are the negotiated NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rates for a 48-hour normal workweek (to be inserted at IDIQ award):

Option

(FAR 52.217-8)

Management Specialist Advisor (CLIN X001)

Technical Specialist Advisor (CLIN X002)

Training Management Specialist (CLIN X003)

Training Specialist (CLIN X004)

Facilitation Specialist (CLIN X005)

Site Coordinator (CLIN X006)

d) The labor category description for each labor category identified in Section B.3(b) is located in Attachment A.

e) The negotiated NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rates apply regardless of whether the individual performing the labor category works (either as an employee or consultant) for the prime contractor or a subcontractor.

f) The negotiated NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rates apply only to American Nationals (ANs), who are individuals who have legal status to work in the United States of America (e.g., United States citizens, United States resident aliens, and individuals with permits showing authorization to work in the United States).

g) Labor rates for any local nationals (LNs) and third country nationals (TCNs) will be solicited and negotiated at the task order level.

An LN, also known as Host-Country National, is an individual who has legal status to work in the task order place of performance (e.g., citizen or permanent resident of the country where task order performance occurs).

A TCN is an individual who:

1. Is neither a citizen of the United States nor of the country to which assigned for task order duty;

2. If employed, is eligible for return travel to the TCN’s home country or country from which recruited at U.S. Government expense; and

3. Is on a limited appointment in the task order place of performance for a specific period of time.

h) The negotiated NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rates are in United States dollars.

i) Each negotiated NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rate consists of an unloaded hourly labor rate, any labor-related direct costs (e.g., any direct fringe benefits, any direct bonuses), applicable indirect costs, and profit amount. It does not include any other costs, including ODCs/non-labor-related direct costs. Foreign labor-related taxes are not included in the negotiated NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rates. Such taxes will be solicited and awarded at the task order level.

Any other costs that are part of the Contractor’s established compensation plan and consistent with FAR part 31 shall be allocated separately as an ODC (other direct cost) (under fixed-price and cost-reimbursement arrangements) or as a direct material (under time-and-materials arrangements) at the task order level. Examples of such costs, if applicable, that shall be allocated separately as an ODC or Material, are post hardship differential pay, danger pay, and DBA insurance.

j) Any costs included in the negotiated NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rates shall not be charged elsewhere under this contract.

k) At the task order level, the Government will specify and/or allow the Contractor to propose the labor categories required for a given task order’s performance. Contract-specified categories shall be used when applicable.

l) At the task order level, the Contractor will be given an opportunity to propose fully-loaded hourly labor rates that match or are lower than the respective negotiated NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rates. The Contractor will be paid only at fully-loaded hourly labor rates that are equal to or are less than the respective negotiated NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rates.

m) The fully-loaded hourly labor rates awarded as part of an individual task order will apply only to that task order.

n) The fully-loaded hourly labor rates awarded as part of an individual task order will also apply to each equitable adjustment resulting from any change to the task order requirement.

o) The following describes the normal workweek for Contractor and subcontractor employees:

1. A normal workweek falls within a consecutive seven-day period.

2. The negotiated NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rates apply to a normal workweek of 40 or 48 hours, respectively.

3. A normal workweek of 40 hours is based on performance of eight hours per day multiplied by five days per week.

4. A normal workweek of 48 hours is based on performance of eight hours per day multiplied by six days per week.

5. A normal workweek of 40 hours applies to performance in the continental United States (CONUS) and outside the continental United States (OCONUS). “CONUS” means the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia.

6. A normal workweek of 48 hours applies to performance outside the continental United States (OCONUS).

7. If the normal workweek for an individual task order differs from a 40-hour normal workweek, both parties will negotiate labor rates based on the normal workweek for the individual task order. Such negotiated rates will apply only to that task order, unless additionally negotiated into the contract.

p) The negotiated NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rates apply only to the labor categories specified in Section B.3(b). Any additional labor categories will be specified, and their associated labor rates will be solicited and negotiated, at the task order level. Additional labor categories and associated labor rates awarded for an individual task order will apply only to that task order, unless additionally negotiated into the contract.

q) For labor-hour arrangements and the time portion of time-and-materials arrangements, the Government will pay the awarded fixed fully-loaded hourly labor rate minus to be inserted at IDIQ award % attributable to profit for those hours the Contractor incurs when replacing or correcting services or materials [reference FAR 52.246-6 (Inspection – Time-and-Material and Labor-Hour)].

r) For labor-hour arrangements and the time portion of time-and-materials arrangements, if a particular labor category, who normally works in the continental United States under a 40-hour normal workweek, is temporarily on task order assignment outside the continental United States where the normal workweek is 48 hours, the Government will pay a maximum of 48 actual incurred hours per week for the Program Manager’s OCONUS performance as long as the Contractor compensates the employee for all actual incurred hours. Payment of the OCONUS performance shall be made at the NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rate or a discount of the NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rate negotiated in this section for a 48-hour normal workweek; the specific rate shall be negotiated at the task order level. This paragraph’s methodology shall also apply to any future labor category for which labor rates are negotiated for multiple workweeks.

B.5 TRAVEL COSTS

a) Travel under this contract is defined as Contractor air and ground transportation, lodging, meals and incidental expenses, and passport/visa costs.

b) Except as otherwise provided herein, the Contractor shall be paid its allowable travel costs in accordance with FAR 31.205-46 (Travel Costs).

c) Travel costs are authorized for travel beyond a 50-miles’ radius of the Contractor employee’s local place of performance (official duty station) whenever work is required to be accomplished at a remote work site.

d) Local travel shall be processed as follows:

1. If the Government requires a Contractor employee to work an entire normal workday at a site other than the employee’s local place of performance (official duty station) and the radius between the two locations is within 50 miles, travel costs are generally allowable, but only for any difference in costs between the employee’s normal daily commuting expense and commuting expense resulting from the most economical means of transportation available to the employee after considering: any physical or medical needs of the employee; and mission requirements.

Payment for time associated with such travel is unallowable.

2. If the Government requires a Contractor employee to work part of a normal workday at a site other than the Contractor employee’s local place of performance (official duty station) and the radius between the two locations is within 50 miles, all travel costs are generally allowable, but only for those costs resulting from the most economical means of transportation available to the employee after considering: any physical or medical needs of the employee; and mission requirements.

For this section, “part of a normal workday” is one in which the employee arrives at the start of his normal workday to his local place of performance (official duty station) and departs at the end of his normal workday from his local place of performance (official duty station). An example is an employee having to attend a meeting at a Department of State site in the middle of the workday.

Payment for time associated with such travel is generally allowable as long as such time is counted as part of the employee’s normal workday.

3. If the Government requires a Contractor employee to work part of a normal workday at a site other than the employee’s local place of performance (official duty station) and the radius between the two locations is within 50 miles, travel costs are generally allowable, but only for any difference in costs between the employee’s normal daily commuting expense and commuting expense resulting from the most economical means of transportation available to the employee, after considering: any physical or medical needs of the employee; and mission requirements.

For this section, “part of a normal workday” is only one of the following:

a. One in which the employee arrives at the start of his normal workday to his local place of performance (official duty station); or

b. One in which the employee departs at the end of his normal workday from his local place of performance (official duty station).

An example is an employee having to attend an all-morning local meeting and returning afterwards to his local place of performance (official duty station).

Payment for time associated with going from the employee’s local place of performance (official duty station) to a site other than the employee’s local place of performance (official duty station) is generally allowable as long as such time is counted as part of the employee’s normal workday.

Payment for time associated with returning from a site other than the employee’s local place of performance (official duty station) to the employee’s local place of performance (official duty station) is generally allowable as long as such time is counted as part of the employee’s normal workday.

e) No travel costs (or associated labor time during travel) shall be allowable for regular commuting or telecommuting beyond (or within) a 50-miles’ radius of the Contractor’s local place of performance (official duty station).

f) Costs when using a privately owned vehicle (POV) for official travel are allowable provided that such costs do not exceed costs that would have resulted from use of other reasonable transportation methods (e.g., taxi, airplane, train). Reasonable associated costs, such as tolls and parking fees, are also generally allowable.

g) When traveling in a POV for official travel, the Contractor shall be paid mileage costs at a rate that does not exceed the POV mileage rate established by the Internal Revenue Service.

h) Costs for car rentals for official travel are allowable pursuant to the following:

1. Such rentals are consistent with good business practice;

2. Such costs do not exceed costs that would have resulted from use of other reasonable transportation methods (e.g., taxi, airplane, train); and

3. Such costs do not exceed the actual cost of renting a compact automobile (maximum of one automobile for four Contractor personnel), unless extenuating circumstances (e.g., excess baggage) require other arrangements and Contracting Officer approval is obtained.

Reasonable associated costs, such as tolls and parking fees, are also generally allowable.

i) The Government will pay the Contractor, under the applicable labor category CLIN(s), for each Contractor employee’s travel time to or from authorized work locations as long as the following are met:

1. Payment of travel time described herein does not conflict with the Contractor’s established travel policy.

2. Travel time begins no earlier than two (2) hours prior to the scheduled departure time and concludes upon arrival to the initial destination point (e.g., airport) at the place of performance.

3. The Government will not pay for a Contractor employee’s time spent in layovers that are for the convenience of the Contractor employee or Contractor.

4. The Government will not pay more than eight (8) hours per day per Contractor employee for travel time.

5. The Government will not pay for a Contractor employee’s travel time that is outside the employee’s regular working hours.

6. The Government will not pay for a Contractor employee more than the number of hours in the employee’s normal workweek. “Number of hours” includes productive time hours, travel time hours, and paid time off hours (e.g., sick, vacation, holiday).

7. “Productive time hours” consist of hours that, other than travel time hours, directly benefit the contract.

8. Exceptions must be authorized in advance and in writing by the Contracting Officer.

j) The following items concern passports and visas:

1. The Contractor shall be responsible for ensuring that all personnel who will be required to travel outside the United States have a current and valid U.S. passport. The Contractor shall be responsible for ensuring that all local national or third country national personnel who will be required to travel to the United States and foreign countries under this contract have a current and valid passport of their home country.

2. The Contractor shall be responsible for obtaining any visas required for travel to foreign countries under this contract. The Contractor shall also be responsible for obtaining any visas required for travel to foreign countries and the United States for local nationals and third country nationals under this contract.

3. The Contractor’s costs for obtaining and maintaining passports and/or visas will be generally allowable, but the Contractor shall pro-rate equitably such costs if they will benefit cost objectives (e.g., contracts) other than this cost objective.

4. The Government will not reimburse the Contractor for travel expenses when travel is cancelled or modified as a result of the Contractor’s failure to obtain a visa, and where the Government has determined that such failure is due to the action or inaction of the Contractor.

5. The Government will not reimburse the Contractor for the use of private visa procurement services provided by a third party unless prior written approval was obtained by the Contracting Officer. When requesting written approval, the Contractor shall submit a cost-benefit analysis to the Contracting Officer.

k) Costs for travel that has been modified or cancelled are not allowable unless such modification or cancellation was caused by the Government or otherwise beyond the control of the Contractor.

l) Pursuant to FAR 47.402, 47.403, and the Fly America Act, the Contractor shall use a U.S.-flag air carrier service unless an exception exists. If such conditions exist under a fixed-price arrangement (i.e., task order or line item in a task order), the Contractor shall submit with its task order proposal a memorandum explaining why it does not intend to use a U.S.-flag air carrier service. Inclusion of such costs in the awarded fixed-price is contingent upon Government acceptance of such explanation.

If such conditions exist under arrangements when payment is made based on actual costs incurred (e.g., cost-reimbursement arrangements, materials portion of time-and-materials arrangements, and progress payments based on costs under fixed-price arrangements), the Contractor shall submit with its voucher a memorandum explaining why it did not use a U.S.-flag air carrier service. Reimbursement is contingent upon Government acceptance of such explanation.

B.6 POST HARDSHIP DIFFERENTIAL PAY AND DANGER PAY

Post Hardship Differential Pay and Danger Pay, which are forms of incentive compensation, will be generally allowable and allocated separately as an ODC (other direct cost) or direct material at the task order level. However, Government payment of such costs is contingent on the Contractor meeting all of the following requirements:

a) Paying Post Hardship Differential Pay and Danger Pay is part of the Contractor’s established incentive compensation plan or policy, or employer/employee agreement entered into in good faith before the services are rendered, pursuant to FAR 31.205-6(f)(1)(i) (Bonuses and Incentive Compensation).

b) When paying Post Hardship Differential Pay and Danger Pay is part of the Contractor’s established incentive compensation plan or policy, such plan or policy is followed consistently as to imply, in effect, an agreement to make such payment pursuant to FAR 31.205-6(f)(1)(i) (Bonuses and Incentive Compensation).

c) The Contractor's basis for paying Post Hardship Differential Pay and Danger Pay is supported, pursuant to FAR 31.205-6(f)(1)(ii) (Bonuses and Incentive Compensation).

d) Payment of such costs is otherwise consistent with FAR subpart 31.2.

e) Payment will be made only for areas identified as Post Hardship Differential Pay areas and/or Danger Pay areas in Section 920 of the Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR).

f) Payment will be made only for eligible employees. Eligible employees are employees:

1. Whose country of citizenship is not in the task order place of performance; and

2. Whose primary residence is in an area not identified in Section 920 of the DSSR, or an area identified in Section 920 of the DSSR with an applicable DSSR percentage that is less than the respective applicable DSSR percentage for the task order place of performance.

g) Payment for a given workweek for an eligible employee will not exceed the dollar amount resulting from multiplying the applicable DSSR percentage by the employee’s basic compensation for the given workweek.

h) The applicable DSSR percentage will be the DSSR percentage effective at the time of task order proposal(s) (or upon task order award if feasible) under fixed-price arrangements (i.e., task orders or line items in a task order).

i) The applicable DSSR percentage will be the DSSR percentage effective at the time of task order performance for arrangements when payment is made based on actual costs incurred (e.g., cost-reimbursement arrangements, materials portion of time-and-materials arrangements, and progress payments based on costs under fixed-price arrangements).

j) An eligible employee’s basic compensation for a given workweek is the dollar amount attributable to the employee as a result of the employee’s productive hours and paid time off (e.g., sick, vacation, holiday) hours for the given workweek. It is the employee’s base salary/unloaded compensation for the given workweek. However, such compensation must:

1. Benefit the task order; and/or

2. Be an equitable amount that is necessary to support the overall operation of the business, although a direct relationship to any particular cost objective (e.g., task order) cannot be shown.

k) The number of hours included in an eligible employee’s basic compensation for a given workweek cannot exceed the number of hours for the task order’s normal workweek. A normal workweek is defined in Section B.3(o).

l) Basic compensation included in the fixed-price under fixed-price arrangements will consist of each eligible employee’s negotiated base salary/unloaded compensation for the task order period of performance.

m) Basic compensation will consist of actual incurred base salary/unloaded compensation for arrangements when payment is made based on actual costs incurred (e.g., cost-reimbursement arrangements, materials portion of time-and-materials arrangements, and progress payments based on costs under fixed-price arrangements).

n) An eligible employee may receive Post Hardship Differential Pay and Danger Pay during paid time off only when the employee takes paid time off in the task order place of performance or in another Post Hardship Differential Pay and Danger Pay area, respectively.

o) When an eligible employee takes paid time off in another Post Hardship Differential Pay and/or Danger Pay area, payment will be based on the applicable DSSR percentage(s) for the task order place of performance.

p) Payment of Post Hardship Differential Pay for an eligible employee will not commence until the eligible employee has served 42 calendar days in the task order place of performance. Payment will commence on the first productive or non-productive day after day 42, and will not be retroactive to days previously served unless paragraph “q” immediately below applies. The 42 calendar days are not required to be consecutive, and “served” consists of productive time, paid time off, and time otherwise spent in the task order place of performance.

q) Once an eligible employee has served 42 calendar days in the task order place of performance, payment of Post Hardship Differential Pay will be retroactive to day 1 served in the task order place of performance if the task order place of performance is in an area identified in Footnote N in the Post Classification and Payment Tables in Section 920 of the DSSR. Currently, Afghanistan and Iraq are the only such areas.

r) Payment of Post Hardship Differential Pay for an eligible employee will conclude when the eligible employee departs the task order place of performance, unless such departure is to another Post Hardship Differential Pay area during paid time off.

s) For Post Hardship Differential Pay, when an eligible employee has not yet served 42 calendar days and returns to the task order place of performance after an absence from the task order place of performance, the number of days served resumes on the day of return. For example, if an eligible employee served 30 calendar days in the task order place of performance and departed the task order place of performance for 14 days, the day of return (day 44) will be considered day 31 of days served.

t) Payment of Danger Pay for an eligible employee will commence on the day of arrival in the task order place of performance and conclude on the day of departure from the task order place of performance, unless such departure is to another Danger Pay area during paid time off.

B.7 DEFENSE BASE ACT (DBA) INSURANCE

a) DBA insurance costs shall be allocated separately as an ODC or direct material at the task order level.

b) DBA insurance costs are unallowable for performance in the United States.

c) DBA insurance costs are generally allowable for performance outside the United States, but only for covered Contractor and partner employees. The following are covered Contractor and partner employees:

1. United States citizens or residents;

2. Individuals hired in the United States or its possessions, regardless of citizenship; and

3. Local nationals and third country nationals unless the DBA insurance requirement for these employees has been waived by the Department of Labor. Refer to https://www.dol.gov/owcp/dlhwc/dbawaivers/dbawaivers.htm for a list of applicable DBA waivers and conditions.

d) DBA insurance costs shall accord with the terms of the Contractor’s DBA Insurance policy, law, and regulation.

e) The Contractor’s DBA insurance policy shall be with a carrier approved by the United States Department of Labor to provide DBA insurance, or the Contractor shall be a self-insured employer authorized by the United States Department of Labor to provide DBA insurance.

B.8 OVERTIME

a) The Contractor agrees to perform this contract, so far as practicable, without using overtime, particularly as a regular employment practice, except when lower overall costs to the Government will result or when it is necessary to meet urgent program needs [reference FAR 22.103-2 (Overtime – Policy)].

b) Overtime is defined as time worked in excess of the number of hours in a normal workweek.

c) “Number of hours” includes productive time hours, travel time hours, and paid time off hours (e.g., sick, vacation, holiday).

d) “Productive time hours” consist of hours that, other than travel time hours, directly benefit the contract.

e) “Travel time hours” consist of hours spent by the employee traveling to or from authorized work locations. See Section B.4(i) for further information.

f) A normal workweek is defined in Section B.3(n).

g) For fixed-price arrangements (i.e., task orders or line items in a task order), the Government will not pay for overtime.

h) The following applies to cost-reimbursement arrangements and the materials portion of time-and-materials arrangements (task orders or line items in a task order):

1. Government payment for overtime must be authorized in advance of any Contractor employee’s performance of overtime and in writing by the Contracting Officer when the Contractor requests an overtime premium cost that exceeds $0.00. Such request shall be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer and shall address each item under FAR 52.222-2(b) (Payment for Overtime Premiums).

2. Evidence showing the Contracting Officer’s approval shall be sent with each invoice on which overtime containing a premium cost that exceeds $0.00 is being billed.

3. Advance Government authorization for any Contractor employee’s performance of overtime is not required when the overtime premium cost does not exceed $0.00.

4. Unless advance authorization has been granted pursuant to Section B.7(h)(1), any Government payment for Contractor employee overtime will be made at the actual incurred straight-time hourly labor rate that the Contractor pays the Contractor employee and determined allowable by the Contracting Officer, pursuant to FAR 31.201-2 (Determining Allowability).

5. Government payment for overtime must not conflict with any Contractor uncompensated overtime policy or practice. If the Contractor has such a policy or practice, the Government will not compensate the Contractor for overtime costs in accordance with such policy or practice.

i) The following applies to labor-hour arrangements and the time portion of time-and-materials arrangements (task orders or line items in a task order):

1. Government payment for overtime will be made at the fixed fully-loaded hourly labor rates negotiated in the task order.

2. Advance Government authorization for any Contractor employee’s performance of overtime is not required.

3. Government payment of overtime will be made only if the Contractor compensates the Contractor employee for the employee’s overtime performance. Contractor payment for each overtime hour shall be, at a minimum, at the hourly labor rate that the employee normally receives for normal workweek performance.

B.9 SELECTED COST/PRICE-RELATED LAWS

a) This contract is not subject to the Service Contract Labor Standards statute (41 U.S.C. Chapter 67), because the principal purpose of the contract is not to furnish services in the United States through the use of service employees.

b) The Truthful Cost or Pricing Data statute (41 U.S.C. Chapter 35) did not apply for award of this contract. The Government did not require and rely upon certified cost or pricing data, as described in FAR subpart 15.4, for award of the contract because adequate price competition had been obtained. Instead, where applicable, the Government required and relied upon data other than certified cost or pricing data.

However, the Truthful Cost or Pricing Data statute may apply during contract performance when the Government contemplates an action for which an exception to the Contractor providing certified cost or pricing data does not apply (e.g., when negotiating a price estimated to exceed the certified cost or pricing data threshold for a new task order, modification of a task order, or modification of the contract based on rate/cost/price information not previously negotiated in the contract or task order).

Pursuant to FAR 15.403-4(a)(1), the “threshold specified in the contract” for requiring the Contractor to provide certified cost or pricing data, when applicable, during contract performance is the threshold identified in the FAR edition, or any approved Department of State Deviation, effective at the time of the Government requiring the Contractor to provide certified cost or pricing data .

B.10 ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING

a) At the task order level, when payment is made based on actual hours or costs incurred (e.g., cost-reimbursement arrangements, time-and-materials arrangements, and progress payments based on costs under firm-fixed-price arrangements), the Government will not reimburse costs for cost elements for which there were no estimated costs. Exceptions must be issued in writing by the Contracting Officer.

b) The negotiated prices for each task order shall include all costs associated with local laws. If a change in a local law(s) or new local law(s) occurs after task order award, the Government will consider a request for equitable adjustment.

Any adjustment will be limited to reflect the Contractor’s actual increase or decrease in applicable wages and other costs to the extent that the increase is made to comply with the changed or new local law(s), or the decrease is voluntarily made by the Contractor while complying with the changed or new local law(s), respectively.

For example, the prior year local law required a minimum wage rate of $4.00 per hour. The Contractor chose to pay $4.10 per hour. The changed local law increases the minimum rate to $4.50 per hour. Even if the Contractor voluntarily increases the rate to $4.75 per hour, the allowable price adjustment is $.40 per hour ($4.50 minus $4.10).

c) While compensation costs and compensation-related taxes that are a liability of the Contractor are generally allowable, income taxes on compensation costs are unallowable when such taxes are a liability of the employee and not the Contractor. When a host country’s law(s) requires the Contractor to pay applicable host entities any income taxes that are the liability of the employee, the Contractor’s costs to administer such payment are generally allowable.

d) Where labor rates are negotiated in the contract, such information will be used in each resulting task order, as specified in the contract, according to the contract’s effective period.

For example, if Contract Year 1 is September 1, 2019 through August 31, 2020, and Task Order Year 1 is December 1, 2019 through November 30, 2020, Contract Year 1’s pricing information will be used in the task order from December 1, 2019 through August 31, 2020, and Contract Year 2’s pricing information will be used for the remainder of Task Order Year 1 (from September 1, 2020 through November 30, 2020).

Consistent with the foregoing and for example, the Contractor, for a given task order period, may apply either: 1) the NTE or a discounted NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rate from the first contract period that covers the applicable task order period, and the second NTE or a discounted NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rate from the next contract period that covers the remaining applicable task order period; or 2) the NTE or a discounted NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rate from either contract period, but such rate shall not exceed both respective contract period’s NTE fully-loaded hourly labor rates.

e) If any task order period of performance exceeds the expiration date of the contract, the Government will pay the rates and percentages negotiated in the task order for such period. However, the Government will pay during such period any labor rates or prices that have been adjusted in accordance with any applicable terms contained in this contract.

f) Task orders awarded under this contract will support foreign assistance projects under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (Public Law 87-195). The Contractor shall not pay any taxes, import, or customs fees to the government of the host nation or aid receiving nation(s). As appropriate, the Department of State may assist in customs or other official clearances of contractor-acquired items and associated equipment for duty-free status. If taxes, import, or customs fees cannot be mitigated, the Contractor shall request directions from the Contracting Officer.

The Contractor shall be solely responsible for all taxes, duties, storage, and other charges that are assessed because of the Contractor’s fault, negligence, or failure to follow the instructions provide by the Contracting Officer or authorized representative.

g) Direct costs are costs that are specifically identified with a particular final cost objective (e.g., contract). Direct costs under this contract shall be charged directly under this contract (at the task order level). Examples are costs associated with contract-specified labor categories, travel, danger pay, post hardship differential pay, DBA insurance, and contract deliverables.

h) All costs specifically identified with other final cost objectives (e.g., contracts) of the Contractor are direct costs of those cost objectives, and shall not be charged under this contract directly or indirectly.

i) After direct costs have been determined and charged directly under this contract or other work, indirect costs are those remaining to be allocated to intermediate or two or more final cost objectives (e.g., contracts). This contract shall not have any cost allocated to it as an indirect cost if other costs incurred for the same purpose, in like circumstances, have been included as a direct cost of this contract or any other final cost objective.

j) This contract shall not have any cost allocated to it as a direct cost if other costs incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances have been included in any indirect cost pool that would be allocated to this contract or any other final cost objective.

k) Any direct costs associated with task order preparation are unallowable.

l) Any direct costs incurred prior to or after the task order effective period are unallowable.

(End of Section B)

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 Background The Department of State (State) has an ongoing need to provide global advisory services. State anticipates services will include, but not be limited to, the following activities:

In the following sections, the term “country team” shall be defined as the interagency U.S. Government personnel operating within the relevant U.S. Embassy or Mission, and who come under Chief of Mission authority.

C.2 Core Activities for Advisory Services The contractor shall provide advisory services to help guide and assist international partners. The below illustrative list of core activities includes examples of the advisory services that may be required under the IDIQ; however, the following activities are not an exhaustive list of all the services that might be required. Additional advisory services may be determined at the Task Order level. All supplies and services that may properly support the core activities listed below are within the scope of this contract.

Illustrative List of Core Activities for Advisory Services

Security Sector Reform

Maritime security

Professional development programs

Strategic planning

Budgeting and financial planning

Military/security forces human resources systems (recruitment, retention, retirement)

Force structure development and management

Acquisition/procurement management and reform

Institutional development; change management

Development of operational combat training centers

Cybersecurity services

Computer Security Incident Response

Information Systems Vulnerability and Risk Assessments

Network Administration and Systems Engineering

Military staff

Military justice

Military intelligence

Organizational assessment design and structuring

Evaluations and assessments

Logistics support and equipment maintenance

Doctrine and policy development

Peacekeeping and humanitarian affairs/aid

Counterterrorism

Law Enforcement

Inspector General institutions

Professional military education systems/training institutions

Counter-insurgency

Information operations

Intelligence analysis/collection

Cease-fire monitoring/verification processes

Human rights

Interagency coordination

Protection of civilians

Conference facilitation, e.g., maritime security conference

Project monitoring and surveillance

Curriculum development

Training development and execution

Legislative affairs and coordination

Joint staff planning

Public affairs and information management

Specialized military capabilities, such as engineering, medical, CIED, or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)

The contractor shall be prepared to deploy advisors within the country team, Host Government institutions, organizations, and military units. The advisors shall be subject matter experts in one or more of the above core elements, as determined at the Task Order level. Additional elements for advisory services may be determined at the Task Order level. The advisors shall be required to advise Host Government officials and personnel, with close coordination with the U.S. Embassy, on one or more of the core activities listed above or additional activities identified at the Task Order level. It should be anticipated that advisory Task Orders will be of extended duration, although exact deployment durations will be determined at the Task Order level. Although the exact requirements will be determined at the Task Order level, generally advisors may be required to:

· Assist the Host Nation institutions/organizations/units to achieve sustainable institutional reform and capacity building related to the critical activities above.

· Assist the Host Nation institutions/organizations/units to develop professional, effective, and accountable systems and doctrine related to the critical activities above.

· Assist the Host Nation to apply the skills acquired during previous training events in real-world and operational settings.

· Assist the Host Nation personnel in adapting their tactics, techniques, and procedures to reflect changes in the operational environment.

· Support U.S. mission abroad with implementing its priorities by ensuring close coordination with the Embassy on all activities

While some advisory support activities may take place in a traditional office setting, others may require advisors to operate primarily in the field alongside the Host Nation stakeholders. The contractor shall be prepared to support its advisory teams with the full range of equipment (including computers, reliable and secure communications, personal protective equipment), transportation, and life-support services (shelter, rations and potable water, medical supplies, and medical evacuation services) required to carry out advisory activities in austere and dangerous conflict and post-conflict environments as required in the Task Order.

The level of Host Nation support will be determined at the Task Order level but the contractor should be prepared to provide all supplies and services required to successfully perform under this contract, except force protection. Force protection is defined here as the preventative measures taken by a Host Nation to ensure the safety and security of the advisor in country.

C.3 Core Activities for Training Services Drawing on capability gaps identified by advisors and as contractually directed, the contractor shall be prepared to provide training services to Host Nation institutions, organizations, and military units. Training duration, number of training participants, and further training details will be determined at the Task Order level but may include deployment of trainers or training teams to meet key objectives in the core elements identified in C.2.

Generally, trainers may be required to:

· Assess the needs of Host Nation institutions/organizations/units through consultations with advisors, the U.S. embassy and other interagency stakeholders, and the institutions themselves.

· Develop curriculum to meet the training requirements

· Develop training material and provide aids to meet the training requirements

· Provide trainers or a team of trainers to deliver the training

· Evaluate and report on the training

· Recommend follow-on activities to ensure Host Nation institutions/organizations/units develop professional, effective, and accountable systems and doctrine related to the critical elements above.

The core activities for training listed above are not an exhaustive list of all the training services that may be required under this IDIQ. Additional training services may be determined at the Task Order level. All supplies and services that may properly support the work described in Section C.3 are within the scope of this contract.

While some training support activities may take place in a traditional office setting, others will require that the contracted trainers operate primarily in the field alongside the Host Nation forces. The contractor shall be prepared to support its contracted training teams with the full range of equipment (see section C.5), transportation, and life-support services (shelter, rations and potable water, medical supplies, and medical evacuation services) required to carry out advisory activities as required in the Task Order.

C.4 Core Activities for Facilitation Services The contractor shall be prepared to provide reach-back facilitation services to Host Government institutions, organizations, and military units. Services may include deployment of facilitators or facilitation teams to meet key objectives in the core elements identified in C.2, as defined at the Task Order level. Additional elements for facilitation services may be determined at the Task Order level as this is not an exhaustive list. Duration of the facilitation services will be determined at the Task Order level. Although the exact requirements will vary at the Task Order level, facilitators may be required to:

· Provide reach-back capability to be able to provide Subject Matter Experts who can facilitate dialogue through meetings or workshops with the Host Nation institutions/organizations/units, the U.S. government, and relevant stakeholders to assess needs, develop strategic, operational or tactical requirements, or monitor and evaluate progress to achieve sustainable institutional reform in the core elements identified in C.2.

· Design effective dialogue processes to facilitate a change management process

· Evaluate and report on the meetings and workshops

· Recommend follow-on activities to ensure Host Nation institutions/organizations/units develop professional, effective, and accountable systems and doctrine related to the critical elements above.

While some facilitation support activities may take place in a traditional office setting, others may require the facilitators to operate primarily in the field alongside the Host Nation forces. The contractor shall be prepared to support its facilitators or facilitation teams with the full range of equipment (including computers, personal protective equipment, and reliable and secure communications), transportation, and life-support services (shelter, rations and potable water, medical supplies, and medical evacuation services) required to carry out facilitation activities in austere and dangerous conflict and post-conflict environments as required in the Task Order.

C.5 Equipment The contractor shall be prepared to support its deployed advisors, contracted training teams, and reach-back Subject Matter Experts with the full range of equipment required to support the mission, as defined by the Task Order. Equipment may include, but is not limited to: computers, phones, personal protective equipment, first aid kits, training materials, white boards, projectors, and leased commercial vehicles.

C.6 Site Monitoring The contractor may be required to provide personnel capable of providing monitoring and observation services for all U.S. Government contractors and grantees within a specified place of performance. The requirement and place of performance will be specified at the Task Order level.

The site coordinator (SC) may serve as an in-country observer to assist the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) providing monitor and reporting services. The SC monitors contractor performance of technical requirements (e.g., construction or equipment delivery), provides findings and recommendations to the COR and assists in the implementation of COR-approved changes. The SC is not authorized to direct the contractor to begin work, adjust funding levels, alter periods of performance, authorize deviations from Government requirements, provide technical direction, direct the contractor to take any action, or otherwise modify the Task Order.

C.7 Logistics Support Services The contractor shall be tasked to perform a broad range of logistics and support services. The requirements identified in Section C.4 are not an exhaustive list of all logistic support services required under this IDIQ.