Question and Answers for 19AQMM23R0112.xlsx
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- Vetting and Linguistics
- Solicitation number
- 19AQMM23R0112
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This document provides answers to questions regarding solicitation number 19AQMM23R0112 for vetting and linguistics services. The Department of State is seeking proposals for identity intelligence analysis, identity vetting, linguistics, security liaison, and vetting technical support across locations in Baghdad and Erbil, Iraq as well as Rosslyn, Virginia. Offerors must propose fully burdened hourly rates by labor category in the pricing attachment with a 3% escalation rate for option years. Proposals are due on an extended date of January 16, 2023. The requirement is set aside for 8(a) small businesses. Incumbent information, licenses, and past performance from subcontractors will be considered in the evaluation.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| 19AQMM23R0112 A00002 Dec 18.pdf | ||
| Position Description- Attachment 3 revised.docx | DOCX document | |
| 19AQMM23R0112 A00001 Dec 15.pdf | ||
| Position Breakout Attachment 2 Revised.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Pricing Schedule Attachment 1 Revised.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Pricing Schedule Attachment 1.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| CAS TO SOW Attachment 9.docx | DOCX document | |
| Position Breakout Attachment 2.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Baghadad TO SOW Attachment 5.docx | DOCX document | |
| 19AQMM23R0112 Nov 6 2023.pdf | ||
| Pakistan TO SOW Attachment 8.docx | DOCX document | |
| PDs Attachment 3.docx | DOCX document | |
| Rosslyn TO SOW Attachment 4.docx | DOCX document | |
| Erbil NCC TO SOW Attachment 7.docx | DOCX document | |
| Erbil TO SOW Attachment 6.docx | DOCX document |
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Answers
| RFP Section | Page | Sentence from RFP | Questio+E1+D1:E5+D1:E+D1:E8 | Answers |
| SF1449 ITEM 10 | Page 1 | SET-ASIDE 8(A) 1% | Just wish to bring to the Government's attention that 1% may have been reflected in error. | See A001. This requirement is a 100% set a side. |
| SF1449 ITEM 8 | Page 1 | OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL TIME 01/05/2024 05:00ET | Would the Government confirm that the submission time is 5:00 AM ET? | See A001. No it is 5:00 pm Eastern time |
| Position Breakout Attachment 2 & Pricing Schedule Attachment 1 | N/A | N/A | There are differences in titles and quantities between the two files, will the Government combine this into a single list of positions to be priced (as the Pricing Schedule) and delete the Position Breakout file? If not, will the Government reconcile the Position Names and Quantities and Locations to match the two files. |
On Position Breakout Attachment 2, we also noted noted that the IDIQ tab totals 106 positions; however, the Rosslyn, Baghdad, Erbil, Erbil NCC, Pakistan, and CAS tabs total 86 positions. Does the Government intend to issue a second task order to account for the remaining 20 position, to total the 106 FTE total?
| Please see attached Word Document Attachment 2 Position and Pricing Discrepancies for specific discrepancies noted between the Position Breakdown and Pricing Schedule. | See A001. The position breakout and the pricing schedule have been updated | |||||
| F-004 - Period & Place of Performance | Page 19 | This requirement is for a base period of one year, with four (4) one-year option periods available thereafter | Will the Government provide a date of contract start? | The contract will start after the 90 day transition period. | ||
| L-004 Proposal Submission | Page 55 | The entire proposal (Volumes I thru II) shall be submitted to Ms. Shayani Mukherjee at mukherjees1@state.gov no later than 5:00 P.M. (Eastern time in effect when proposals are due) on the following date: 03 January 2024. | Page 1 of the SF 1449 states the proposal due date as January 05, 2024 at 5:00 AM ET, while Section L-004 states the proposal is due January 03, 2025 at 5:00 PM ET. Would the Government please clarify the correct due date? | See A001, The due date is revised to 1/16/23 at 5:00 pm | ||
| L-012 - 2.1 Key Personnel | Page 58 | The government considers the following labor categories to be Key Personnel under the contract:Program Manager - Offeror needs to provide 2 resumes, does not count towards page limit. | Would the Government clarify that they need two resumes for the same Program Manager position, or two different resumes for the Program Manager labor category. | The government requests two individual candidate resumes for the proposed program manager position. No resumes needed for Deputy Program Managers at the time of propsal submission. | ||
| B-008 | 10 | (g) | The Government will reimburse the Contractor for Contractor employee's travel time to or from other authorized work locations; except that for labor categories which are exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA), a reimbursement will be allowed only for travel during the employee's regular working hours. The Contractor will not be reimbursed for time spent in stand down or temporary layovers for the convenience of the Contractor by FLSA exempt contractor employees except as authorized by the Federal Travel Regulations. | Could the Government please specify which labor categories are exempt from the FLSA? | FLSA applies to US citizen posted to overseas locations and thosE posted to domesic locations. | |
| H-016 | 31 | (1) | The Contractor shall assign to this contract the following key personnel: | |||
| One (1) Program Manager for all Task Orders. One (1) DPM in Erbil and Two (2) DPMs in Baghdad. | Section H states that 1 Program Manager and 2 DPMs are required as key personnel, yet Subfactor 2: Key Personnel in Section L requests that 2 Program Manager resumes be submitted as Key Personnel. Could the Government please clarify if there is a need to submit resumes for two potential Program Managers, or is this an administrative error in the RFP and only one resume is required to be proposed for the key position (i.e., Program Manager)? | No resumes need to be submitted for the 3 DPM positions. The government requests two individual candidate resumes for the proposed program manager position | ||||
| L-12 | 58 | Additionally, Offeror shall include copies of licenses to work in Iraq especially in Baghdad, Erbil and Doha and must hold facility clearance of TS/SCI at the time of proposal submission. | Section L, Factor 1, Subfactor 3: Transition Plans requests copies of a license in Doha. Will the Government accept a Qatar business license through the contractor’s selected Qatari Sponsor, as it is a standard and acceptable practice in Qatar? | See A001. At this time contractors will be TDY to Doha. Should there be an adjustement to the contract needs a Qatar business license through a Qatari Sponsor will be accepted. | ||
| Position Breakdown Attachment 2 | Language Requirements | N/A | On the position breakout tables, positions that are located in Rosslyn, VA, do not have any language requirements listed, but some of these positions appear to travel to in-country locations like Pakistan. Could the Government clarify if any of the Rosslyn based positions require language skills, or do only the linguists and security liaison/cultural advisors require language skills? Note: it appears that there are no linguists currently assigned to the Pakistan task order. | Rosslyn positions only need to know English. Currently there are no linguist or security liaison/cultrual advisor postions posted to domestic locations. | ||
| Position Breakdown Attachment 2 | Locations | N/A | Doha was mentioned as part of the proposal transition plan requirements, yet it is not part of Attachment 2. When does the Government anticipate adding Doha as a task order? Are there projected labor categories/languages that are anticipated to be required for Doha? | See A001. At this time State Dept knows Doha will be a task order on the new contract. However, there are no further details available at this time. | ||
| Position Breakdown Attachment 2 | Locations | N/A | Could the Government share any historical or projected data related to how often Rosslyn-based vetting personnel will be required to travel to regions where task orders are performed under this IDIQ? Moreover, is the Government anticipating that there will be a Pakistan business license requirement in the future? | There will be no need for a business license in Pakistan. Folks from Rosslyn are deployed based on post needs and avaialbility for DSIAS deployment. | ||
| L-012 Volume I: Technical Proposal Instructions, Factor 1: Technical Approach Subfactor 1: Personnel Recruitment/Retention | Page 57, paragraph 5 | "Dept of State assumes that the first right of refusal IAW FAR 52.207-3 will be utilized to recruit and hire for the new task orders at | ||||
| each location. Describe the steps that the offeror will take to maximize the opportunity to hire existing staff at their current positions." | Will the Government clarify if this clause was meant just for Contractor incumbent capture, or does the Government intend for there to be incumbent capture of Government personnel, per FAR 52.207-3? |
| FAR 52.207-3 states "The Contractor shall give Government personnel who have been or will be adversely affected or separated as a result of award of this contract the right of first refusal for employment openings under the contract..." | The offeror that wins the award has to make employment offers to the existing staff. This is being encouraged to allow institutional knowldege to remain with the program. | |||
| L-012 Volume I: Technical Proposal Instructions, Factor 3: Relevant Past Performance | Page 58 | N/A | On the previous iteration of the RFP Q&A, the Government provided guidance stating "Past Performance of Subcontractor is allowed if the Sub will perform a significant portion of the work up to 50% and must demonstrate added value as proposed in the Management Plan. In essence, the Prime will not achieve a higher rating than Neutral on Factor 3 by leveraging the Sub knowledge and expertise without the Sub being a significant partner." |
| Will the Government include this language as an amendment to this RFP? | See A001. Verbiage added. | |||
| Pricing Schedule Attachment 1 | N/A | N/A | Pricing file included with solicitation is based upon direct productive labor hours of 3,120 per year per deployed employee (which appears to be based upon 52 weeks at 60 hours per week). Will the Government either: |
A. Allow Offerors to amend the DPLH to reflect its proposed home leave benefit available to employees; or
| B. Confirm that the standard work hours during home leave will be allowable billable hours, so that 3,120 hours will be invoiced inclusive of home leave | A. Offerors cannot amend the revised pricing schedule at all. | ||||
| Pricing Questions | |||||
| RFP Section | Page | Sentence from RFP | Questions/Comments | Answer | |
| SCHEDULE B CLIN X04 - HAZARD AND HARDSHIP | Page 3 | N/A | Does the Government intend to provide a plug number for this value, as it is not addressed in the pricing file? If not, please provide instructions. | There will be no plug in number. Please leave this blank. Government will fund the danger pay at the task order level . | |
| SCHEDULE B CLIN X03 - OTHER IRAQI COSTS | Page 3 | N/A | Please confirm that in addition to delineated types of costs identified in the CLIN description, all other costs that are not covered by the CLIN X01 (which only covers direct labor, indirect expenses, profit) are covered by this CLIN X03, such as: |
• The required medical and evacuation insurance costs
• Pre-deployment vetting and medical screening.
• Meals since they are not identified as being Government provided.
Costs required to be paid in Iraq to the Iraqi Government such as:
• Iraq License Recurring Registration Costs
• Employment taxes and Social Security Costs
• Iraq Government required Termination Liability (severance) costs, Work Permits, Payment of employment costs for Iraqi Nationals as required to comply with the Iraq laws requiring employers to have one Iraqi National On Payroll for Every Non-Iraqi employee working in Iraq.
| • Iraq Payroll Compliance and Reporting Costs Etc. | All labor CLINS are fully loaded. All bulleted items listed in the question should distribued across labor CLINS and G&A costs. Please include all costs at the labor CLIN levels. ODCs will include travel, visa, passport and training, and DBA Insurance, and any other unforseen costs during contract performance. | ||||
| SCHEDULE B X02 - TRAVEL | Page3 | N/A | Please confirm that this CLIN covers the travel costs to and from Overseas assignment locations for deployments, home leave trips and returns in addition to Government directed travel. | The travel costs cover transportation and from Overseas assignment locations. One home leave trip paid to by the government from an Overseas assignment. | |
| C.6 TRANSITION | Page 17 | Transition from the previous IDIQ to the new IDIQ will be 90 calendar days (3 months. The start date of the transition shall be stated in the award letter. The IDIQ and TO period of performance shall begin after the 90 calendar days of transition is complete. The COR and CO shall schedule a meeting with the vendor for a summary final meeting of the transition period before the period of performance commences. Weekly meetings shall be held to monitor transition for the 90 days | Can the Government provide clarification on whether Offerors are to price the transition period of 90 days under CLIN 001? If not, will the Government provide guidance on how the 90 day transition should be priced? | Transition costs should be priced at the labor CLINs. How the transition costs are distributed across the labor categories are up to the offeror as this is a business decision. | |
| CLAUSE B-003 | Page 9 | The maximum for this indefinite quantity contract (including options) shall be any quantity or combination of supplies and services | |||
| not equal to or exceeding: $99,000,000. | Please confirm that the Maximum Contract Value of $99,000,000 is not a maximum on Offerors proposed costs and is simply a place holder to be amended upon award. If this is not the case, will the Government please provide the basis for this value. | Since the small business conference in March 2023, the total cost of the requirement was revaluated below $100M based on estimated invoice costs on the current contract. $99M is the five year IDIQ ceiling and will not be amended. | |||
| SCHEDULE B CLIN X03 - OTHER IRAQI COSTS | Page 3 | N/A | Allowable and allocable taxes arising from work in Iraq and other countries are subject to change with no notice at any time. Will the Government consider moving these costs to the ODC CLIN? Keeping these costs in labor presents risk to both the Government and contractor as changes occur. Handling the Iraqi taxes as an ODC gives the Government a greater ability to perform a fair and equitable price evaluation among bidders, while giving the necessary flexibility to handle the taxes in execution, as Iraqi Government policies continue to evolve. | Allowable and allocable taxes cannot be included in ODCs. | |
| Position Breakout Attachment 2 & Pricing Schedule Attachment 1 | N/A | N/A | Will the Government please provide a complete list of the positions that are funded and being performed on the current incumbent contract so that offerers are able to propose their best, realistic, price based upon anticipated work from day one? | The postion breakout attachment 2 has sheets/tabs with each location listed that has the number of current personnel by location. Pricing schedule has been updated. |
| RFP page and section | Question/Recommendation | Responses |
| p. 19, section F-004, paragraph 3.2.1 | The RFP states there are two primary overseas physical locations: U.S. Embassy Baghdad Iraq and U.S. Consulate Erbil Iraq New Embassy Consulate Erbil and Doha CAS (camp for Afghan refugees). However, it identifies three locations – Baghdad, Erbil, and Doha. Will the Government please clarify whether there are two or three locations? | Currently there are two primary overseas locations, and TDY suport to a third. A001 corrects F-004. |
| p. 24, section G-010 | Will the Government please confirm that meetings will only require CONUS-Rosslyn physically assigned employees to be present in-person and that OCONUS employees can attend the meetings virtually? | Meetings will be virtual for OCONUS employee and in person for those at Rosslyn. |
| p. 28, section H-006, personnel clearance | Will the Government please provide the Draft DD-254 so Offerors can review the security requirements? | DD 254 will be issued after contract award once copies of business licenses have been received by the COR and the CO. |
| p. 57, section 1.2, sub-factor 2: Compensation Plan | Will the Government please consider moving this requirement to Volume II due to the cost element discussions requested in items 2 through 5? | The techncial panel needs to review the compensation plan. Offerors are asked to discuss their compensation plan without speaking about how the fully loaded rates were derived. |
| p. 57, section 1.3, sub-factor 3: Transition Plan | Since copies of licenses can encompass full pages, will the Government please allow the requested license copies to be provided in a document Appendix and not counted against the page limit? | Proof of licenses or proof of application submitted to obtain licenses will not be counted against page limit. |
| p. 57, section 1.3, sub-factor 3: Transition Plan | Will the Government consider accepting proof of application for a business license in Baghdad and Erbil with the understanding that the license will be in place at time of award? | Yes proof of application is acceptable with the understanding that the license will be in place 30 calendar days after contract award. |
| p. 58, section 2.1, sub-Factor 2: Key Personnel | Section H-016 on page 30 states there are four Key Personnel. However, this sub-factor only lists one key personnel, the Program Manager. Will the Government please clarify the requirements for the key personnel resumes? | The government requests two individual candidate resumes for the proposed program manager position. No resumes needed for Deputy Program Managers at the time of propsal submission. |
| and p. 30, section H-016 | ||
| p. 58, section Factor 3: Relevant Past Performance | Per the RFP instructions, offerors should provide all contracts and subcontracts held over the last five years for same/similar work. This list will be quite extensive if offerors must provide every contract that has some similarity to the work. Will the Government please consider limiting this to the top three to five contracts? | See A001. The total has been limited to three to five contracts. |
| PRICE | ||
| p. 9, section B-002 TYPE OF CONTRACT | This effort is anticipated to be awarded as a single award, Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity, Time-and-Materials Labor-Hours contract, with fixed prices. Additionally, beginning on page 58, under Section VOLUME II, PART C - SECTION B, PRICING, the Government anticipates adequate price competition in response to this solicitation, however, per this same Section, the Government is requesting cost information to be provided in the offeror’s response. As this is a Time and Material Labor Hour proposal with adequate price competition, the Government is required to perform a price analysis as opposed to a cost analysis. Will the Government please consider removing the cost elements breakdown as outlined in Sections (1) Direct Labor and (2) Indirect Costs on page 59 of 62? | Per L-013 Volume II Part C Section B pricing: Price Proposal Notes shall be submitted with Attachment 1 Pricing Schedule. The government requests a discussion of the costs. Price analysis shall be conducted. Cost analysis shall be conducted. |
| p. 10, Section B-008, part D | Regarding "Hazardous duty premium pay shall not be burdened with any indirect costs (e.g., overhead, G and A) or fee/profit.” Will the Government please reconsider allowing the offerors to propose these costs and OCONUS premiums to include the applicable indirect rates specifically allowable in accordance with the Contractor's usual accounting practices consistent with FAR Subpart 31.2? | Harzadous pay CLIN shall be left blank. Government will fund it at time of award. |
| p. 10, Section B-008, part D | Is it the Government's intent that OCONUS premiums are to be captured as an ODC? | The government does not understand the intent of this question. ODC will not have any preminum pay. All pay related costs will be captured under the labor CLINS. |
| GENERAL | ||
| p. 55, section L-009 | Will the Government please extend the questions period until 11/22/2023 to allow offerors sufficient time to fully read and understand the RFP requirements and formulate concise questions? | No, there will be no new due date. |
| p. 56, section L-011, section Caution | Will the Government please confirm required font size is no smaller than 12 point font for body text, and no smaller than 10 point font for tables and graphics? | See A001. Font will be Time Roman Numeral Font 12. Times Roman Numeral Font 10 tables and graphics. |
| general - due date | Due to the four major Federal Holidays that fall within this RFP's timeline (Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day), will the Government please consider extending the due date? | See A001. Extension granted. |
| p. 33, FAR clauses | Will the Government please include FAR 52.212-4 alt 1, as we note that ODCs are contemplated in this solicitation? | See A001 Attachment 001. ODCS are not being priced by the contractor. ODCs will be funded by the government as needed. |
| general | Will the Government please clarify whether this contract will fall under SOFA? | No this is a contract supports the Dept of State and Embassy and Consulates. |
| Solicitation Reference (i.e., Attachment Number, Section, and Page Number) | Technical Question(s) | Price Question(s) | Responses |
| RFP, p. 58, L-012, Factor 3: Relevant Past Performance | Limiting acceptable past performance qualifications overseas to work in Iraq seems unnecessarily restrictive—especially in view of the Government’s statement that “the Contractor must demonstrate its capability to provide full support within 30 days’ notice to any location worldwide.” In this context, would the Government also consider past performance qualifications for similar overseas work performed in other countries? | See A001 US Government would accept overseas past work performance for similar work performed in Middle-East high threat countries | |
| RFP, p. 62, M-003 | M-003 states that “all evaluation factors other than price, when combined, are significantly more important than price.” Please provide evaluation weightings for all factors and sub-factors in the technical proposal to clarify if those factors/sub-factors are of equal importance or listed in descending order of importance. | The subfactors and factors other than price will not be weighted. The technical factors are all of equal importance. | |
| RFP, p. 56, L-012 | |||
| RFP, p. 57, L-012, 1.3 | The Transition Plan requires that business licenses to work in Iraq be submitted for the prime and subcontractor(s) with the proposal response. However, this would seem to limit competition to 8(a) companies already doing business there, since the apostille process alone can take up to 11 weeks. Will the Government allow business licenses to be submitted within 45 days of Task Order award? | Subcontractors (if performing overseas) and prime need to have licenses to perform on this contract. At the time of proposal submission application for licenses are acceptable but within 30 days after contract award proof of license must be provided by the prime and the sub. | |
| RFP, p. 56, L-011 | Please confirm that the proposal cover page is not in page count. | Proposal cover page is not in page count. | |
| RFP, p. 62, M-001-M-003 | Section M seems to be out of order with M-001-M-003 appearing after M-004-M-12. Can the Government reorder the section? | The sections are re-ordered. | |
| RFP, p. 30, H-016 | Section L lists only the Program Manager as Key Personnel on this contract while Section H lists Key Personnel as One (1) Program Manager for all Task Orders. One (1) DPM in Erbil and Two (2) DPMs in Baghdad. Please confirm the government only considers the PM as Key Personnel and that the requirement for DPM resumes will be deferred until the issuance of Task Order RFPs. | The government requests two individual candidate resumes for the proposed program manager position; not the DPM positions. | |
| RFP, p. 95, L-012 | For Past Performance references, Offerors are required to provide the “Customer's name, address, and telephone numbers of customer's lead contract and technical personnel (COR);”. By “lead contract…personnel” is the Government referring to the Contracting Officer? | Yes the Contracting Officer. | |
| RFP, p. 57, L-012 | Please confirm that the copies of the documents required for the Transition Plan are not included in page count. | Discussion of the transition plan needs to be included in the proposal per SubFactor 3 transition plan. The Gantt Chart is not included, copies of licenses or applications, and TSC/SCI documentation are not included in the page count. | |
| RFP, p. 27, H-005 | Section H-005 Security Requirements state a facility clearance at the Top Secret level is required for contract performance, however Section 1.3 Factor 11: Technical Approach states that the offeror must hold a facility clearance of TS/SCI at the time of proposal submission. Please clarify Top Secret the level of facility clearance required for this effort. | The DD254 issued at the contract and task order level will be TS/SCI at time of proposal submission the offer needs to show proof of TS/SCI clearance because the IDIQ issued will at TS/SCI level. | |
| RFP, p. 57, L-012, 1.3 | |||
| RFP, p. 58, L-012, Factor 3, Relevant Past Performance | In accordance with FAR 15.305 (a)(2)(iii), will the Government take into account past performance information regarding predecessor companies, key personnel who have relevant experience, or subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement when such information is relevant to the instant acquisition? | Yes, past performance information regarding predecessor companies, key personnel who have relevant experience, or subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement will be taken into account. | |
| RFP, p. 58, L-012, Factor 3, Relevant Past Performance | In light of GAO rulings, please confirm that the Government will permit the use of sister company experience and past performance if a meaningful relationship is documented in a commitment letter. | See A001 Factor 3 Past Performance for more information. | |
| RFP, p. 59, L-013 | L-013 requires that “the Offeror shall provide a separate sheet entitled “Price Proposal Notes” and include any narrative discussion or supporting documentation as indicated below.” Since this is an electronic submission, does the Government expect this document to constitute a separate file from Volume II: Cost/Price Proposal or simply a separate page in the Cost/Price Proposal? If the Government anticipates a separate file, can the Government clarify any additional relevant requirements? For example, presumably this file would require a cover page to accommodate the disclaimer in FAR 52.215-1, etc. | Yes the Price Proposal Notes will be a separate file. See A001 for further details. L-011 has been updated. | |
| Attachments 1 and 2 | The personnel tallies in Attachment 1 (104 total) and Attachment 2 (106 total) do not match. Can the Government please indicate which number is correct? Can the Government also amend the incorrect document to add or delete the two errant positions as necessary? | The documents are amended. See A001. | |
| RFP, page 3, Schedule B, CLIN STRUCTURE | As there is no CLIN available to account for “in country or domestic PMO costs”, is it the Government’s intention that all such related costs are accounted for via an overhead application to the bidders fully loaded labor rates? Alternatively, could the Government issue a separate line item(s) for such expenses, or instruct the offeror to include them under CLIN 3? | The Program Manager CLIN is included in the pricing schedule under domestic personnel in Attachment One | |
| RFP page 26, g.2.6. The Contractor shall abide by local labor laws and standards for local national (LN) contractor personnel. | Can the Government confirm that there is no bilateral agreements or technical waivers available for this program that may circumvent local requirements for full domestic and indemnified labor contracts being issued to local staff, and that bidders should not attempt to price any such individuals under a consultancy style of contract? | The Government does not understand the question. Local employee staff and third country nationals labor CLINS need to be priced. |
| RFP, page 3, Schedule B, All years, CLIN 1, “fully burdened labor rates and additional hour rates will be determined at the | Can the Government confirm that the fully burdened rates being provided are not just for this proposed pricing exercise, but that they will also be adhered to as a rate schedule at the task order level, where applicable? | Attachment 001 will be part of Section J001 Attachments in the IDIQ. Pricing for abor categories will flow down to the task order. | |
| Task order level for the base year.” | |||
| Pricing Schedule excel book, Columns D and Column F. | The government has formulated in Column F a 3% escalation in some LCATS, and in others it has been left blank. Also, Column D has a zero setting. Can the government confirm instructions regarding the required escalation methodology? | All option years will have a 3% escalation rate. This escalation rate shall not be changed by any offerors. | |
| RFP, p. 14, C.3.5.4 LOGISTICS: Visa, Air Travel, and Travel Orders | Please confirm that the requirement that contractor employees “bring a copy of their Contract/Task Orders/authorization with them” should read that employees bring their contract or Task Order or authorization letter with them. This will enable employees deploying to Iraq or other locations to carry authorization letters and avoid travelling with documents like contracts that contain sensitive financial information. | To be discussed at the time of transition after contract award. | |
| RFP, p. 20, F-006 Deliverables, d. Task Order Status Report | What information is expected to be captured on this monthly report? | The monthly report should include, but is not limited to, a break out of filled and vacant task order positions, recuritment status on vacant positions and any other performance and/or personnel issues |
| RFP, p. 20, F-006 Deliverables, f. Timesheets | Can time sheets be approved by assigned direct hire at post electronically? | Yes timesheets are to be approved by the RSO at post. |
| RFP, p. 20, F-006 Deliverables, h. Contractors, HCN, TCN, and LN registered in SPOT | Will registering for HCNs, TCNs, and LNs be the same as contract staff in SPOT? | SPOT approval, at this time, is only for US Citizens posted or TDYing overseas. |
| RFP, p. 21, 01INV Department of State Invoice Instructions | Will invoices be submitted to DOSPayments@state.gov or submitted using the IPP platform? | IPP invoices |
| RFP, p. 21, 01INV Department of State Invoice Instructions | Are time sheets a requirement as backup documentation for invoicing purposes? If so, will they still be required to be submitted as a monthly deliverable? | Yes all timesheets have to be provided as a monthly deliverable. |
| H-004 | Contractor Training | SECCUS Required Training – can more information be provided for this course? | See amendment A001 |
| Pg. 24 | ||
| Travel Arrangements & Clearances | Who is responsible for submitting eCCs? | Contractor employees are supposed to submit ecc. |
| RFP, p. 19, F-004, 3.2.2 | This section requires that domestic positions be located in the Washington, DC/Rosslyn, VA area. Is the Program Manager to be located at contractor facilities or will he/she be collocated at the customer worksite? | PM does not have to be at work site. |
| RFP, p. 25, H-004, e.1 | This section states, “…could exceed a 10 work day and/or have a work week of 7 days….” Can the government confirm that it intend to write “10-hour work day” in this section? | See A001 - Should read 10 hour work day and/or have a work week of 7 days |
| RFP, p. 25, H-004, e.1 | Can the Government identify which positions, historically, have been identified by Post, with COR approval, for exceeding a 10-hour work day or have a work week of 7-days? | At this time the hours worked are depended on mission needs and determined by the RSO office with COR approval. |
| RFP, p. 25, H-004, e.2 | Does the Government anticipate work hours that exceed eight hours per day for LN employees? If so, this section does not comply with local labor laws for overtime in both Baghdad and Erbil. This places contractors in a position where contract language and local labor laws do not reconcile and this could lead to heavy fines and/or revocation of licenses. Offerors would need further instruction for how to navigate this. | At this time the hours worked are depended on mission needs and determined by the RSO office with COR approval. |
| PDs_Attachment_3.docx, p.2 | The provided position descriptions document lists a domestic Deputy Program Manager (DPM) as part of the domestic-based position requirements. However, there is no mention of a domestic DPM anywhere else in the solicitation documents. Is there a requirement for a domestic DPM? | There is no requirement for a domestic DPM. DPM is only for Iraq. |
| RFP, p. 18, C-01, C.6 Transition | The final sentence in paragraph C.6 Transition states, “Weekly meetings shall be held to monitor transition for the 90 days.” | They will be held via teleconference unless otherwise decided by COR or CO. |
| Will these status meetings be held face-to-face or via teleconference? |
| RFP, p. 26, H-04 Operational Guidance For Third Party Employees, e3. Identification Badges | At H-04, e3. Identification Badges, the RFP indicates that the “Transportation” box in the SPOT LoA will not be checked. | Transportation in and around the mission compound would be provided by USG dependin on location needs. |
| If required, will the Government provide transportation in and around worksite areas within the compound? | ||
| RFP, p. 27, H-04 Operational Guidance for Third Party Employees, H-04, e3. Identification Badges, Page 26 and H-04, g.1.1, Effects | At H-04, e3. Identification Badges, the RFP indicates that the “Excess Baggage” box in the SPOT LoA will not be checked. | H-04 e3 is in reference to the SPOT LoA submission where as H-04 g1.1 references air travel and checked luggage. |
| H-04, g.1.1, Effects. States that, “. . . household effects will NOT be authorized, but allowance will be made for extra baggage (2 bags).” | ||
| There appears to be a conflict. Will two extra bags be authorized? |
| RFP, p. 57, L-11 - Proposal Instructions | Will the Government exclude Sample Forms and GANTT charts from the Technical Volume page count? | Discussion of the transition plan needs to be included in the proposal per SubFactor 3 transition plan. The Gantt Chart is not included, copies of licenses or applications, and TSC/SCI documentation are not included in the page count. |
| RFP, p. 58, L-013, Volume II: Cost/Price Proposal Instructions | Will the Government require compensation parity, specifically, base labor rates and fringe benefits, with contract positions and similar positions occupied by locally engaged embassy staff? If so, will the Government please provide a staffing matrix with grade and compensation equivalents? | Locally engaged embassy staff pay rate are determined by local labor laws, there is no staffing matrix with grade and compenstation at the program office. |
| Solicitation Reference (i.e., Attachment Number, Section, and Page Number) | Technical Question(s) | Answer |
| Section L, Instructions, Section 1.3 Factor 1, Subfactor 3, Transition Plan Pg. 57 | Reference "Offers Shall include copies of licenses to work in Iraq... |
This opportunity is being procured as an 8(a) opportunity-which is a developmental program. You are asking otherwise highly competitive offers to expend an extensive outlay of cash (please see the ATTACHMENT I to this Q&A spreadsheet) for an a potential opportunity and are limiting the Department of State's offer pool to those who may have the license but not the technical capability. Additionally, this requirement, provides an unfair advantage to the incumbent contractor given the appearance of favoritism. Furthermore, business licenses must have "a description of CURRENT business, a locate bank account and local business address" to apply which does not allow for The Dept of State to obtain new, technically sound vendors.
Currently other DOS and DOD contracts for Linguists, Background Investigations and similar requirements do not require a business license, only requiring the proper Work Visa.
"Would you consider allowing for Work Visas for staff in lieu of a Business License OR allowing a team member to have the required business license for which the Prime offer can a) "be added on to a subcontractor/Team's current license" or b') utilize the subcontracts business license for a designated timeframe afterward so there is not such a substantial investment for a potential award?"
| See A001 Proof of application for business license is acceptable. Awardee must submit business license within 30 days after contract award. |
| Section L.1.3 Factor 1: Technical Approach Sub-Factor 3: Transition Plan page 57. |
Reference: "Additionally, Offeror shall include copies of licenses to work in Iraq especially in Baghdad, Erbil and Doha..." as well as "If subcontractors are proposed, then offeror has to include copies of licenses to work in Iraq..." and "The Offeror will need a separate business license in Kurdistan Erbil and a separate one for Baghdad."
Would the Government consider revising this requirement to request only the prime contractors provide proof that an application for a GOI license and / or Erbil license has been submitted and is pending approval within their transition plan? Justification is as follows:
1. The current requirement for 8a prime contractors and its subcontractors to possess business licenses in Iraq and Erbil at the time of proposal submission severely limits the number of qualified bidders rendering this contract without ample competition. When this occurs, the Government does not have the appropriate amount of required competitive competition to justify awarding against the best value source selection.
2. Companies that posses a GOI license can legally operate in Erbil without possessing an Erbil licenses.
| Additionally, we recommend that the requirement for subcontractors to posses the license is removed on the basis that subcontractors can perform requirements outside of Iraq and Erbil. | Subcontractors (if performing overseas) and prime need to have licenses to perform on this contract. At the time of proposal submission application for licenses are acceptable but within 30 days after contract award proof of license must be provided by the prime and the sub. | |
| Section L Factor 3: Relevant Past Performance, page 58 | Reference: Information regarding "Offers" Past Performance |
| Can the Government confirm if they will allow the utilization of past performance references from subcontractors? | See A001. | |
| Section L, Instructions, Volume II, Part D, Business Management Pg. 59 | Reference: Provide 3 years of Financial Statements... |
The request for 3 years of Financial documents would extend back to the period of a Global Pandemic for which many small businesses did not survive or took a massive hit to their bottom lines as Government Contracts paused but expenses did not. Review of financials may not give a realistic snapshot of a company's financial health as our nation recovers from the fiscal effects of COVID-19.
Other Agency's have asked for simply a current statement from the offer's financial instruction to that they will provide the line of credit/funding to support this mission.
"Would the Department of State consider use of affirmation from the offers Financial institutions of their ability to support this mission?"
See Amendment A001. Verbiage added to the amendment. Two Years (2021 -2023)
| 1 | Pricing Attachment #1 and Position Breakout Attachment #2 | Attachment #1, cells ("C-D114" & "E14") and Attachment #2 cells ("C30" and "C46") | Pricing Attachment #1 shows a "Domestic" total 104 Full Time Equivalents (FTEs). Can the Government clarify if the total is for a combined 104 Domestic and Overseas FTE's? | See Amendment A001. Totals are removed. Individual number of personnel specified in the labor categories. Number persons by labor categories and location are broken down at the tab level in Attachement 2 Position Breakout |
| 2 | Pricing Attachment #1 and Position Breakout Attachment #2 | Attachment #1, cells ("C-D114" & "E14") and Attachment #2 cells ("C30" and "C46") | Pricing Attachment #1 shows 104 total FTE's (if both), and Position Breakout Attachment #2 shows 19 Domestic FTEs and 91 Overseas FTE's for a total head count of 106 FTE's. Can the Government please confirm the number of Domestic and Overseas FTE's and make any necessary corrections to the attachments? | Pricing attachment 1 and position breakout are revised. All Domestic positions are in Rosslyn including support for Pakistan. |
| 3 | Pricing Attachment #1 | Attachment #1, Column F and Column I | Formulas are not included in all Option Year 1, Option Year 2 and/or Option Year 3 cells for all labor categories in Pricing Attachment #1, "Column F: Est. Hrly Rate" and "Column H: Est. Hours Total". Can Pricing Attachment #1 be revised to include formulas for all Option Years? | Base year rates will be determined by offerors. Formulas are only provided for Option Year cells because to allow only a 3% increase. |
| 4 | Pricing Attachment #2 | Attachment #1, Column F and Column I | The formulas that do exist for each Labor Category in Column F- Est. Hrly Rate and Column H-Est. Hours of Pricing Attachment #1 contain a 3% escalation factor [i.e. =(F6*3%)+F6)]. Are offerors required to escalate all Option Years? Are offerors required to cap escalation at 3% starting with Option Year 1 through Option Year 4? | Escalation is capped at 3% based on budget constraints. |
| 5 | Solicitation | SF1449 - CLIN Pricing (pg. 3-6 of 62) | Will the Government be completing CLIN pricing in the SF1449 continuation sheets (Unit Price & Unit Cost) on pages 3-6 of 62? | At the IDIQ level the CLINS will remain blank. Fully loaded rates will provided at the task order(s) level. |
| 6 | Solicitation | SF1449 - CLIN Pricing (CLIN's 004, 104, 204, 304 & 404) and Section B-010-Post Hardship Differential Pay and Danger Pay (pgs. 10 & 11 of 52) | Section B states: "Post Hardship Differential Pay and Danger Pay, which are forms of incentive compensation, will be generally allowable. If incurred, they shall be allocated separately." Are offerors to include Post Hardship and Hazzard Differentials to their direct labor prior to burdening with Fringe, Overhead and G&A and Fee/Profit so that it is included in their fully burdened labor rate used in Pricing Schedule Attachment #1? Or, does the Government want these costs broken out at separate costs? Can the government provide clarification on where offerors are expected to capture these differential costs and/or if will the Government issue a revised Pricing Attachment #1 with the costs broken out? | Hardship Pay CLINS will be left blank in the IDIQ. Government will fund those CLINS at the task order level after award. |
| 7 | Solicitation | SF1449 - CLIN Pricing (CLIN's 004, 104, 204, 304 & 404) | Under the CLIN description it states: "Base Year Hardship and Danger Pay - (35% of hourly pay each 70% total, up to eight hours a day five days a week). Can the Government please clarify if this is the expectation or an error? | See A001. Leave Hardship CLINS blank. Do not complete those cells. |
| 8 | Solicitation & Pricing Attachment #1 | Section B-012-Additional Hours (pg. 11of 62) & SF1449 Continuation Sheet CLINs 001,101,201,301 & 401 (pgs. 3-6 of 62) | The "LABOR" CLIN Descriptions in the SF1449 pricing continuation sheet states: "Fully burdened firm fixed price negotiated hourly wage rates (by labor category/ |
job series) to include bonuses, benefits, profit, fee, G & A and other factors that impact base pay. Overtime rates must be fully burdened as well."
Section B -012-Additional Hours states: "Additional hours are to be same as the estimated hourly rate in attachment 1 Pricing Schedule. There will be no overtime on this contract.. Any work hour above the normal work week at the domestic or the overseas location(s) will be charged as at the additional hourly rate."
| Can the government confirm there is no "Overtime" and that offerors are to propose the same Hourly Rate from "Column F: Est. Hrly Rate" of Pricing Attachment #1 in "Column H: Est. Hours Total" with no surge/OT premium? | There is no overtime or premium pay on this contract. Any hours above the hours listed in e. Duty Work Schedule in Section H-004 shall be considered. A0001 revised B-012 Additional Hours as well. | ||||
| 9 | Solicitation | Will the Government provide labor category descriptions for each of the Position Descriptions in Pricing - Attachment #1? | The position description attachment has all the descriptions for each labor category. | ||
| 10 | Solicitation | What costs should be included in Direct Labor charges? | How direct laborcosts are built up would be a business decision by the offeror. | ||
| 11 | Solicitation | C.3.1 to C.3.4 (pg. 13 of 62) - Contractor Furnished Materials and Services | Section C.3.0 states that "the contractor shall furnish (provide) material and services required for performance under this contract". Will the contractor get reimbursed for these costs to provide meals, R&R, Transportation, repatriation? If so, how/where do these costs get covered under the Contract/Task Order? Will the Government consider allowing these costs a part of the ODC CLIN? Please provide some clarity. | The costs stated in the question would be chatged to the Other Direct Cost (ODC) CLIN under miscellaneous costs during task order performance. | |
| 12 | Position Breakout Attachment #2 & Solicitation | Solicitation B-012 - Additional Hours (pg. 11 of 62) | "Section J Attachment 2 Position Breakout for Number Personnel by position location, clearance and language requirements" does not show where the clearance needs to come from (DSS/DCSA). Can the government clarify if all positions located in the Position Breakout attachment need to be cleared through same or different systems? | The contract will have a DD 254. Contractor will need to submit Visitor Access Request for all employees domesitically and overseas. All overeas employees will need to submit a LOA through SPOT (Synchornized Predeployment Operational Tracker) as well. | |
| 13 | Baghdad SOW Attachment #5 | Baghdad TO SOW Attachment 5, Paragraph 5.2 - Training (pg. 7) | Paragraph 5.2 in the Baghdad SOW shows that the contractor shall be required to attend specific trainings at the following links: http://collaborate.state.sbu/sites/comp/Internal/HR/OIP/Pages/Main.aspx: | ||
| CT650 Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) Course, CT401 Counter Threat Awareness Training (Online), FT610 Iraq Familiarization, SECCUS required training. Are these trainings required to be completed on the contracting side or the government side? If on the contractor side, can we have an updated link? | The required training would be offered and held at a US Governement location. Links for training will be provided after contract award. | ||||
| 14 | Solicitation | Section 1.3.5 under SCOPE (pg.13 of 62) | Section 1.3.5 of the RFP states that “The contractor shall provide, training management, mentors & advisory personnel. The contractor shall be responsive to meet the personnel needs of the RSO's operations in the US Mission(s).” Can the government please clarify the above requirements as the current provided labor categories are: Identity Intelligence Analyst (Multiple experience levels), Identity Vetting Specialist, Linguist, Security Liaison/Cultural Advisor, Vetting Technical Support Specialist, and Biometric Trainer? Where and under which labor categories will the training manager(s), mentors, and advisory personnel function? | See A001 Verbiage has been removed. | |
| 15 | Solicitation | Section L; para 1.3-Factor 1 (pg. 57 of 62) | Is a business license required for Qatar at the time of proposal submission since the work is presented as being performed in Rosslyn, VA | No a business license is not required for Qatar at the time of proposal award. | |
| 16 | Solicitation | Section L; para 1.3-Factor 1 (pg. 57 of 62) | Can the Government confirm that all Subcontractors require a separate business license for in Kurdistan Erbil and Baghdad and Qatar? | Subcontractors (if performing overeseas) and prime need to have licenses to perform on this contract. At the time of proposal submission application for licenses are acceptable but 30 days after contract award proof of license must be provided by the prime and the sub. At this time contractors will be TDY to Qatar. Should there be an adjustment to the contract needs, a Qatar business licesnse through a Qatari Sponsor will be accepted. | |
| 17 | Solicitation | Section L-012, Volume I: Technical Proposal Instructions, Paragraph 1.3 (pg. 56 of 62). | Section L-012, VOLUME I: TECHNICAL PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS, Paragraph 1.3 refers to licenses for Erbil and has a “Note” at the end. Can the Government please elaborate on the license for Erbil such as who might be the controlling organization or other nature of Erbil’s uniqueness? | The government cannot assist with obtaining licenses. But the government is aware that Erbil is in Kurdistan and requires a separate business license from Baghdad. Check Embassy Baghdad and Consulate Erbil websites for more information. | |
| 18 | Solicitation | Section H-004, Operational Guidance for Third Party Employees, Paragraph c.4 (pg. 25 of 62) | Section H-004, OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE FOR THIRD PARTY EMPLOYEES, Paragraph c.4 refers to Personal Protection Equipment. Please specify when and where this equipment is to be issued. For example, is the PPE to be issued CONUS prior to travel to the theater or is it to be issued OCONUS? | PPE will be issued at oerseas post by the post. | |
| 19 | Solicitation | SF1449 - Box 8. Page 1 of 62 Offer Due Date | Will the Government provide offerors a 2 week extension to allow for answers to questions and annual additional time for responding to Pricing Attachment #1 clarification/instructions? | An extension for proposal submission shall be granted only. See A001. |
_x000D_&1#&"Calibri"&14&K000000 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
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