Attachment 6 - QA - FINAL.pdf

Reference Question Answer

1 SOW 7.2

Is the contractor responsible for procuring larger end items such as explosives, Scorpion

ECM, weapons for contractor use in demonstration, communications equipment, etc?

No, the partner nation will provide all larger end items such as explosives, Scorpion ECM, communications equipment, demonstration weapons, medical equipment, etc for use during training.

2 General

Does the contractor dictate the overarching schedule of tasks or is that based on UPDF pre-deployment training schedule? For example, will Task B and C occur consecutively or will contractor personnel be required to return home between tasks? This information is required to determine the number of contractor personnel who will be in country at a given time.

The schedule will be coordinated with the UPDF during the

TPPE. However, the contractors should plan for Tasks B and C to occur sequentially but with some time in between.

3 SOW 4.3/4.5

Is the 100 day mentorship consecutive or will it be broken into multiple blocks of mentorship? Information required to determine number of travel days.

Contractors may use all available mentorship hours for both tasks as coordinated with the UPDF and as proposed in their technical proposal. The contractor may adjust this schedule after contract award with COR approval.

4 General There is no CLIN for the PM position, is that position to be billed part of overhead?

The project manager, while considered key personnel, shall not be directly billable.

19AQMM24R0062 - Uganda Peace Operations Training & Assistance Q&A's

5 General

How many hours are in a work day? How many work days are in a week? Will the trainees have any holidays during training cycles?

A training week consists of five (5) training days and eight

(8) training hours per day, Monday through Friday.

There are approximately 18 national holidays in Uganda. A list of holidays is available on-line.

6 General Are all days in-country billable or are there off days?

See the answer to Question 5.

7 General Is there any ITAR requirement for this contract?

For any item that requires ITAR compliance, per the SOW, Section 2.5.3. Licenses. The Contractor shall obtain all licenses required to procure, ship, and deliver equipment and supplies specified in the SOW to the place of performance.

8 General Does the QAQC plan count toward page limit? Yes, per the solicitation.

9 General At what skill level should we expect the UPDF trainers to be at at the start of the contract.

The overarching objective is to re-validate the trainers on

United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) tactics techniques and procedures (TTP) utilized in Somalia.

10 SOW, Table 4/SOW 4.4.11

For Task D the table says mentorship while paragraph 4.4.11 calls it training. Also, the paragraph indicates an initial training period with what appears to be follow-on mentorship. This is contradicts with Tasks B and C which have separate tasks for training and mentorship. Please clarify.

The Contractor shall mentor, advise, and assist the UPDF trainers as the UPDF trainers conduct the training.

11 General In what language will courses be given?

All training materials, including POIs, shall be in English. All training delivered in Uganda shall be conducted in English.

See SOW pg. 22 #9.

12 General Does the government have an anticipated start date for the project?

GPOI was originally planning for 'September 2024 start.

However, the training dates will have to be coordinated during the TPPE.

13 SOW 11

Is the contractor required to possess a FCL? If so, will it be required at the start of the contract or time of proposal submission?

Per the SOW, the Project Manager is required to possess an active security clearance at the SECRET-level or above.

No other personnel performing the work on this contract are required to possess a security clearance.

14 SOW Appendix 4 Para. 6 Is there a requirement for a UAS trainer?

No.

However, the Senior Specialty Trainer (Geospatial Expert) shall be knowledgeable on the use of unmanned aerial survey instruments.

15 SOW 4.4.14

Why is this training combined in the same task as mentorship vs. Tasks B and C which have training and mentorship as separate tasks?

The contractor is still mentoring, advising, and assisting the UPDF instructors as they conduct training. It is only that 1-2 weeks of initial technical training for ECM operators will be included prior to the start of more collective route clearance training.

16 SOW 4.6.3

Should the price for MLHUD staff travel, lodging and per diem be included for price evaluation in the bid chart?

Yes.

17 SOW 4.4.8/4.6.5

Is this planning to be conducted on-site or is remote work authorized? If on-site, will there be a break between the planning and implemtation of the training (to calculate travel days)? How many personnel are required for this planning?

Planning hours may be conducted CONUS or OCONUS.

Planning hours should be charged against the task for which they are planning. Planning hours are in addition to the task hours.

18 SOW

How many students will be participating in the UPDF-led technical training for Task C?

Approximately twenty (20).

19 SOW

How many students will be participating in the UPDF-led pre-deployment training for

Task D?

Approximately fifty (50).

20 SOW

Can the government please provide

Performance Objectives for Tasks B and C?

The Contractor shall use the UNMAS Conventional

Munitions Disposal (CMD) and Improvised Explosive

Device Disposal (IEDD) Curriculum (June 2019) for all training and adhere to the International Mine Action

Standards EOD, per the CEN Workshop Agreement 15464-

5 (https://www.mineactionstandards.org/standards/09-30-

01-2022/).

21 SOW

Does the government anticipate that training for different tasks will be delivered simultaneously?

Tasks B and C should not occur simultaneously. However, it is highly probable that all the other tasks may occur simulaneously with one another.

The winning contracotor will coordinate the training dates during the TPPE.

22 SOW

Can the government provide a draft training schedule?

See Attachment 7 - APPENDIX 5: PROPOSED SCHEDULE and Staffing Footprint_A002. This Excel spreadsheet is a proposed schedule template which also includes an example tab within the workbook.

23 Bid Chart

I believe the bid chart contained in the subject solicitation is for a different contract as it references task in several other countries as well as several tasks not included in the SOW for this project.

Amendment 001 corrected these errors; however an additional error was corrected in Amendment 002. Use

Attachment 2- Uganda BID Chart A002.

24 Task length

Is the Task Length number of calendar days or working days? For example 15 days for task starting May 1 ends on May 15 (15 calendar days) or May 21 (3 weeks of training 5 days per week)?

See the answer to Question 5. Work days.

Training days per week -trainees/soldiers

What days of the week are Uganda soldiers available to train? (example, many Islamic countries do not work on Fridays and

Saturdays).

See the answer to Question 5.

Training Hours per day -trainees/soldiers

How many hours per day should the training last? Are there any required breaks during the day?

See the answer to Question 5.

27 Training hour restrictions Are sessions only held part of the day to avoid training in the hottest parts of the day?

No, not normally, but the contractor will coordinate with the UPDF to ensure training is safe and seamless, including making safety adjustments while still still achieving all performance objectives.

28 Working day - contractor

How many hours per day are the contractors expected to work? How many hours are trainees being trained? If trainers are training 8 hours per day, to set up and close out training days, they will be working 10 hours on site. If trainees are trained for 6 hour days, trainers will be working on site for

8 hours per day

See the answer to Question 5.

29 Work week - contractors How many days per week are the contractors expected to work?

See the answer to Question 5.

30 Holidays What are Uganda holidays/ training holidays expected to fall within the contract period?

See the answer to Question 5.

31 Office space Will there be office space available for the trainers?

Yes, likely, but contractors shall also be prepared to peform all training objectives in modular and expeditionary way. Further, but any property or resources provided by the UPDF will be on an ad hoc basis as coordinated by the contractor.

32 2.3 Training / Lesson Plans/ POI

Will contractor have access to existing training materials prior to execution of the contract? Or is the contractor expected to create all new training materials from APAN and UN Peacekeeping Hub?

Yes.

33 4.1 Required Tasks

Can any of the Tasks be performed concurrently or should it be assumed they will all be sequential?

See the answer to Question 21.

34 4.1 Required Tasks

Will there be any breaks between Tasks? This will impact travel costs as Trainers will return home if there are breaks.

See the answer to Question 21.

Train the trainer events vs.

Mentorship

Is there a break between Task B, F, G, E Train the Trainer and Task C/D Mentorship? Or will contractor trainers remain in Uganda after training the trainers and immediately begin mentorship?

See the answer to Question 21.

36 4.2 Task A - TPPE

Can this task be performed over multiple trips? Contractor is thinking of possibly 3 trips to allow for processing of information gained in prior trips and development of additional information needed.

Yes.

4.2.5 & 4.2.7 "Team Leader to be present.."

Is the Team Leader's time included in the 240 hour allocated for this task?

Yes.

4.2.2 Table 4, Item 2, "Coordinate

and conduct bilateral equipment inventories.

On what equipment will the bilateral equipment inventory be done?

The contractor will only coordinate and conduct bilateral equipment inventories on any equipment that will be provided and signed over to the UPDF.

39 Secure storage facility

Is there secure storage areas/ containers for sensitive items or will contractor have to provide their own secure storage facility?

GPOI has been training in Uganda for many years. The contractor should expect secure storage to be available at

Singo.

40 Classroom Equipment Standards

Do current UPDF lecture halls accommodate

US/UN military training A/V resource requirements: overhead projectors, computers, printers, air conditioning?

Yes.

41 Training Sites and field training Are the classrooms collocated with the field training sites?

Yes, field training locations are nearby.

42 Student Supplies

Does the UPDF provide learning resources for students, e.g. writing instruments, notetaking pads, etc. or are contractors expected to provide these items?

Yes, but the contractor should plan to make limited training resources available as required by the SOW.

43 Student CLII Rations

Will students have access to a dining facility for lunch, if not, who is responsible for providing?

Will contractors have access to dining facility for lunch?

The UPDF provides for their own personnel. The contractor is responsible for providing only what is required by the SOW. This does not include feeding trainees.

44 Student Coffee/Tea/Water Does the UPDF provide coffee/tea/water training support on a daily basis?

See the answer to Question 43.

45 Planning hours Can planning hours be performed CONUS? See the answer to Question 17.

RFP, B-007, pages 7-8

Task Mobilization, Training Support

Equipment, ODCs

It specifically says for DBA and travel a fee cannot be charged. It does not say that for

Mobilization, Equipment, and ODCs. Is it allowable to charge a G&A/fee/other handling charges for Mobilization, Equipment, and

ODCs if the inclusion of such costs is handled in accordance with the Offeror's normal accounting practices?

The Mobilization, Equipment and ODC CLINS are firm-fixed-price, and therefore their structure and composition is the decision of the offeror.

RFP, B-007, page 7

General

What CLIN would emergency medical services and evacuation insurance for our employees this be listed under?

Pricing structure is the decision of the offeror.

RFP, B-007.5, page 8

ODCs - "lodging, meals, incidentals"

Please confirm that we should use the DOS per diem rates for Other Uganda for Singo

(Tasks A through G minus E) and Jinja per diem rates for Task E..

Yes, however, The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) states that travel costs for contracts can be based on per diem, actual expenses, or a combination of both.

However, the allowable daily costs are usually limited to the maximum per diem rates set in the Government travel regulations, unless there are special or unusual circumstances.

SOW, 6.1.1 Authorized Direct Costs, "Contractor should include two (2) full days of labor and M&IE before and after…"

Should airfare and transport associated with mobilization, demobilization, and rotating in/out (if there is a break between tasks) be charged to XLIN X007 Airfare & Transit Costs?

Travel days should be included as a billable day. M&IE associated with mobilization travel should be captured in the

Airfare and Transit costs.

RFP Section L-018, 4 h, CLIN X007

Airfare and Transit Costs

What items are included in Airfare and Transit

Costs? Does transit include travel to and from airports?

CLIN X007 shall include the costs associated with transporting directly billable staff from their home of record to the place of performance.

SOW, 6.2 Authorized Direct Costs, "Contractor should include two (2) full days of labor and M&IE before and after…"

Should M&IE with mobilization and demobilization be charged to XLIN X007

Airfare & Transit Costs?

See the answer to Question 49.

Fully Loaded Rate on "Labor Rates" and "Rate Build Up" tabs

Please confirm Fully Loaded Rate on "Labor

Rates" tab must be manually populated with the Fully Loaded Labor Rate on the "Rate

Build Up" tab.

The Fully Loaded Rate on "Labor Rates" tab must be manually populated with the Fully Loaded Labor Rate on the "Rate Build

Up" tab .

RFP, L-019.3 Responsibility

Determination, page 39

"The Offeror shall submit one copy of audited financial statement … for the past fiscal year…"

As an audit for 2023 has not yet been completed will the customer accept copies of audited statements from previous years and unaudited statements from 2023?

a. Yes

b. The contractor will be evaluated on the submitted compiled financials and other financial documents.

RFP Section L-018, 4 i iii, page 41, -other direct costs

Please confirm that rates for other direct costs could be loaded - i.e., M&IE and lodging could be higher than the DOS published rates.

Other Direct Costs are a firm-fixed-price structure. It is the offeror's decision as to how this pricing is developed.

RFP Section L-018, 4f; page 40

"Quantity Days the offeror shall input the proposed number of training days…"

Should planning hours/days be included in this section? If not, where should planning hours/days be captured?

Costs for these hours should be included in the build-ups/loadings within the fully loaded hourly rates.

SOW, 7.3.1 Planning hours, page 22

"Planning hours are intended for the personnel…prepare for each task."

Are planning hours included in the task days or are they in addition to the task hours?

See the answer to Question 17.

SOW 4.3.9 , 4.4.8, 4.6.5, Planning Days

(Tasks B, C, E)

The SOW says that the contractor "will conduct a minimum of 40, 40 and 20 hours

(respectively) of planning prior to the start of the task ." Does that mean the contractor can spend and be compensated for more than 40, 40, and 20 hours?

Yes. The contractor may choose to propose and price more than the minimum planning hours stated in the

SOW.

Appendix 5, 5.3 Proposed

Labor/Staffing Matrix

What is meant by pre-travel planning hours vs on the ground planning hours? I would assume on the ground planning hours would be those done in-country. Does pre-travel mean hours spent CONUS? Is this CONUS before the start of TPPE which is what makes it Pre-Travel?

See Revised SOW and Revised Appendix 5 (with example).

See also the answer to Question 17.

Section L-018, 4 i i, CLIN X008 mobilization costs

Please confirm that mobilization airfare is not included in mobilization, but instead in airfare.

Correct.

60 B-006 is missing Is this a typo or was there information in B-

006 ?

Section B-006 does not exist.

61 Advanced understanding….

Is the number order a typo? B-017 is in the middle of B-007.

Correct. The solicitation number order for Section B is out of order. However all content is correct for B-007, B-

007.1-B-007.5 and B-017. Amendment 002 corrects the number order.

SOW Appendix 4. 5 Senior Technical

Trainer (COR Approved Personnel)

Engagement/ CIMIC Staff.

foreign military experience, including service after September

11, 2001.

CIMIC area is relatively "new and small" field in the military. Would the government consider Minimum of seven (7) years US or

Foreign military experience?

Yes.

SOW Change:

Appendix 4, Section 5, Minimum Qualifications. Has been changed to: "Minimum of seven (7) years U.S. or foreign military experience, including service after September 11, 2001."

SOW, Appendix 4. 2 Contract Project

Manager, "Minimum of ten (10) years of demonstrated experience conducting foreign security force

(military or police) capacity building at the tactical and/or operational level and below.…"

As the PM is a dedicated PM who is not billable on this contract and mainly responsible for Program management , would the government consider amending this requirement to "Minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated experience conducting foreign security force (military or police) capacity building. And Minimum of ten years demonstrated experience as Project Manager of US Federal Programs / Projects"

Yes.

SOW Changes:

Appendix 4, Section 2, Minimum Qualifications. Has been changed to:

"Minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated experience conducting foreign security force (military or police) capacity building at the tactical and/or operational level and below."

"Minimum of ten (10) years of increasing responsibility as a program or project manager or a team leader in the field of security force capacity building or in a directly related area."

SOW Appendix 4 Senior Specialty

Trainer. CMD/IEDD Tasks

"Minimum certification as

International Mine Action Service

(IMAS) EOD Level 3 or other internationally recognized equivalent. [EOD certification and competency standards are spelled out in IMAS 9.30.]"

The IMAS certification is a civilian certification and in many cases civilian/ humanitarian workers are taught these skills by military master trainers in US IED / Ordinance schools.

It is not a certification retiring US military EOD experts hold (While they may have taught civilians to receive the certification) Would the customer consider including "Master EOD

Technician/ Specialist" in the US military in lieu of IMAS certification?

Yes.

Section 6.1.2. Travel Outside Place of Performance

"The Contractor may be required to travel outside of Uganda to perform work in support of contract objectives. Such requirements shall be considered Travel Outside Place of Performance. This type of travel is defined as Contractor air and ground transportation (including fuel/miles reimbursement), lodging, and meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) incurred away from the Contract’s place of performance. Lodging under this contract is defined as Contractor expenses for overnight sleeping facilities while on travel outside place of performance."

Will locations outside of the Place of

Performance require armored vehicle transportation, as described in Section L-016, Item 8?

Will contractor be able reimbursed for any direct costs incurred (travel, M&IE, labor charges)?

1. No

2. Yes.

SOW; Section 3.2. Section 3.2.As noted in the fourth category, though not required by this SOW, the

Contractor may also propose additional personnel as part of their technical proposal. All personnel positions will be billed against labor categories defined in the contract’s proposal instructions.

Section 3.2.4. Other Non-Required

Personnel. Positions like those in the following list may be proposed as part of the Contractor’s technical proposal as direct labor costs. This list serves as an example only and shall not limit what types of other non-required personnel may be proposed to perform work on the contract. Positions not specifically proposed in technical proposal shall not be billed directly to the contract.

Instead, they must be invoiced as part of Contractor’s fully burdened overhead rates.

Deputy Project Manager

In-Country Logistics Manager

Travel and Deployment Specialist

Specialty Trainer

Where shall Offerors include the price for any positions which are specifically proposed in the technical proposal but not listed in

Attachment 2? (since rows cannot be inserted into this tab of the spreadsheet)

As Other Non-Required Personnel.

Task A Days (SOW 4.2, p. 2 and 6.2

p. 20)

We are allotted 15 days for Task A. Please confirm this may be done over multiple trips

If so, will the customer pay for multiple trips for the PM? SOW section 6.2 (page 20) suggests that the Team Leader's 2nd or 3rd trip would not be covered.

1. Yes.

2. Yes.

General Miscellaneous - Team Lead as STT

If the Team Lead has the requisite qualifications, can he/she also serve as an STT for some tasks - either scheduled and/or in an emergency situation?

If yes, where should the hours be mapped - to

TL or to STT?

The Team Leader shall not be used for any other personnel positions on this contract, including as a substitute for an STT; only a qualified SST can replace that position. However, the Team Lead may choose to assist his or her SSTs to conduct their training, particularly as the team Leader is responsbile for achieving all performance objectives for tasks conducted at the place of performance in Uganda.

RFP, Pricing Table, pages 2-5

Does a table similar to that on pages 2-5 of

RFP need to be provided or is this replaced by the Pricing Proposal excel workbook?

If a table similar to that on pages 2-5 is required is the Total Cost for each CLIN for all the Tasks? Should quantity remain as 1?

Offerors should follow Section L-018 Price Proposal

Instructions/Format using the Attachment 2 - Uganda Bid

Chart A002.

70 Pricing Template - Summary Tab

The Summary tab has CLINS for Sr Specialty

Trainers and Specialty Trainers (CLIN X002 and

X004, respectively). I do not see these listed in the Personnel Requirement section of the

SOW. Are we to assume neither of these categories are associated with this contract?

See SOW Section 3.2.2 and 3.2.3. Personnel requirements are also spelled out in Appendix 5 of the SOW.

71 SOW 2.2 Required Tasks

Is it expected there will be breaks between tasks? If yes, how long can we anticipate that break to be?

See the answer to Question 21.

SOW Appendix 5, 5.1 Proposed

Schedule & Subtask Matrix

If Week 1 is considered the first week of TTPE and TPPE is done in separate trips with two weeks between the trips, is Week 2 the week for the 2nd TPPE trip or is Week 4 the start of the second week of TPPE? This would be the difference between calendar weeks and contract/training weeks.

In this case Week 2 will be the 2nd trip. It should be contract training weeks.

RFP, L-017, Factor 4

- "The offeror shall submit a complete proposed schedule.."

- 4.1 "… sequence of all main tasks

- 4.2 "Detailed information on the sequencing and critical path of subtasks within each task..."

- "The offeror shall further propose a drat work plan that clearly outlines the schedule..."

What is meant by scheduling and sequencing?

If tasks are sequential, what input/leeway does the offeror have in sequencing the tasks? Could they, for example, schedule Task

F before Task E?

Does sequencing refer to the implied tasks based on Performance Objective tables within each task in the SOW?

The government wants to evaluate the offeror's proposed technical approach to completing all tasks on the the contract in the 12 month period. While offerors should propose a sequence with their techincal proposal, they will be able to adjust this scheudle and sequence in coordination with the UPDF and with COR approval after contract award and particularly after the TPPE iterations.

"Sequencing" includes laying out each main task throughout the year as well as key subtasks (like capstrone practical exercises) within each task. The contractor shall ensure all changes to this sequencing are coordinated with the UPDF.

Sections L is missing some areas or have been misnumbered

L-11 missing, L-1 is in the middle of L-17, L-13 and L-14 is in the middle of L 18

Correct. The solicitation number order for Section L is out of order. L-011 does not exist. Amendment 002 corrects the number order.

SOW 4.3.3 "Ensure ammunition/explosives are delivered to the training area."

Please confirm that Partner Nation will be providing both the ammunition/explosives and the vehicles & drivers to transport these items to the training area.

If Partner Nation is responsible for the above, how is it expected that the contractor will ensure delivery if Partner Nation is responsible for the transportation?

Contractor can observe loading of the ammunition/explosives into transport vehicle, but may not be able to ensure that they are ultimately delivered to the training site.

Yes.

The Contractor shall coordinate with host nation to ensure ammunition/explosives are delivered to the training area in the correct quantities and on time to conduct training and are properly stored during non-training periods.

GPOI understands the actual delivery is out of the contractor's control.

76 Need for vehicle in Singo

Is it expected that a vehicle will be needed in

POTC Singo or is it isolated such that a vehicle is not warranted?

The contractor is responsible for its own transportation, not the UPDF.

SOW Appendix 5, Item 2, Proposed

Task & Sub Task Matrix

The last row of the matrix says Trainers on the

Ground "(not incl TL)". If the TL is required to perform a task (as in TPPE) or is going to serve as a trainer, should the TL still be excluded from the count?

If the TL is performing the funtions of a different labor category, then they will not be exlcuded from the count.

SOW 8.10, Applicable Refence

Documents

Please confirm that the reference to "Tasks, as outlined below, shall utilize…" refers to the

Tasks in Appendix 2. If this is not the case please provide what tasks it applies to.

SOW Change.

Section 10 has been revised to: "10. APPLICABLE

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS. Tasks, as outlined in this SOW,"

SOW 7.2.8 "Security, including vehicles for the security detail with associated drivers and fuel, for the

Contractor at the training site, and during Transits from Contractor accommodations to the place of performance, as necessary."

What does "security detail" refer to?

Will transportation be provided from contractors lodging to locations POTC both

Singo and Jinja?

Does this mean contractors will not need a vehicle in either location?

The Partner Nation will provide security escorts for the contractor during transits, as necessar y and as coordinated directly between the contractor and the

UPDF.

The winning contractor will get a security briefing from the

U.S. Embassy RSO on arrival for the TPPE. The contractor will then coordinate with the UPDF the security requirements, if any. Historically, in Uganda, security escorts have been arranged betweeen the contractor and

UPDF as a matter of convenience (i.e., to navigate heavy traffic, avoid time consuming checkpoints, and ensure ease of passage between districts as was an issue during

COVID), but rarely or necessarily as a matter of personal protection.

No, the contractor is responsible for providing transportation for its personnel, not the Partner Nation.

80 Lodging

Is lodging for contractors available at POTC

Singo? If so, what is the payment arrangement?

Lodging for contractors at the POTC is not one of the

Partner Nation Responsibilities. Contractors may choose to arrange episodioc housing nearer to the POTC as reqiuired by the their schedule (i.e., in order to avoid driving at night during a long training day or as required during night training)

SOW 4.4.1 and 4.4.11 both say

"training up to one hundred training days"

For recruiting and pricing purposes should we assume that a full 100 days will be used?

Yes.

SOW 4.6.1 says "training up to twenty training days"

For recruiting and pricing purposes should we assume that a full 20 days will be used?

Yes.

83 SOW 4.4.1 and 4.4.11 Can an estimate of the class size be provided?

For Task C, CMD3/IIM Intermediate Mentorship, the contractor will mentor, advise, and assist UPDF trainers

(from the group of up to 50 UPDF EOD and combat engineering instructors trained in Task B) as they conduct training for UPDF EOD teams, approximately fifty (50) members.

For Task D ECM/RCM Mentorship, the Contractor shall mentor, advise, and assist approximately 5-7 UPDF trainers as they conduct training for up to fifty (50) designated UPDF Route Clearance Platoon (or equivalent) members.

SOW 4.4.14 "sequence the training to include 1-2 weeks of initial technical …"

Are these 1-2 weeks included in the 100 days estimated for this task?

Yes.

SOW 4.7.5 "The Contractor shall provide all medical supply items and training aids to conduct training."

Can we get a list of supplies needed for pricing purposes? Or can we get a list of suppiles that are currently in use so that we can determine what supplies are needed for training?

Can we group items for pricing purposes (e.g., first aid kit, moulage kit, etc.)? If so, should we add an additional sheet to the workbook to document the detail of items with in the groupings?

See the answers to Questions 1 and 97.

SOW 4.6.3 "The contractor shall coordinate arrangements …The contractor is authorized to pay travel, lodging, and per diem expenses for the MLHUD staff."

How do we incorporate this into our pricing?

Do we assume 5 people for the full task duration?

Where do we capture the costs - travel in

Airfare X007, per diem in Other ODC X010?

The number of proposed personnel is the decision of the offeror. Please refer to the CLIN descriptions in Section B to determine the appropriate allocation of costs.

87 Attachment 2 - Uganda Bid Chart

On the summary sheet, the calculation for

Total (column AA) is missing Task G Extended

Amount (column Z).

Please see the amended Bid Chart (amendment 002).

88 4.6 Task E

Geo intelligence trainer doesn’t show any prerequisites, are there qualifications requirements?

Yes.

SOW Change.

Appendix 4. Section 4. Senior Specialty Trainer (COR-

Approved Personnel) has been revised to add:

● Geospatial Mapping Tasks

● Minimum of ten (10) years military or civilian experience which includes quantifiable experience designing digital maps using geospatial data and analysis of spatial and non-spatial information.

● Demonstrated experience as a Geographic

Information Systems (GIS) Specialist.

● (Preferred) Experience as a trainer to a foreign security partner, military or civilian.

● (Preferred) Experience working in Sub-Saharan

Africa.

89 2.5 Equipment & Supplies Is there any equipment required for the

Uganda training rotation?

The contractor shall procure only equipment specifically required in the SOW.

90 2.5 Equipment & Supplies Is Kampala the JTR location we should be using for Singo?

POTC Singo, the primary place of performance, is approximately a 2.5-hour drive northwest of Kampala at

0.683717, 32.184333 on Google Maps.

So, the per diem rates will depend on where the contractor elects to lodge its personnel. If by Singo, it will probably be "Uganda Other" per diem rates. However, the contractor may propose other per diem rates for its personnel.

Page 36, 37, "L-016-Technical

Proposal Instructions", page 38 ,"L-

017- Technical Proposal Format" and page 44, "M-001 - Evaluation

Factors", from the solicitation.

Page 36 of the solicitation mentions that

“resumes for all proposed personnel”, but page 37 mentions “Resume, Resumes

Crosswalk, and relevant proof of military duty and for all proposed personnel candidates who are key and COR-approved personnel in the Techncial proposal.” Page 38 then mentions that resumes are only required for

KP and COR approved personnel, but not for required personnel and other proposed personnel. Page 44, then mentions that

Resumes for Required Personnel and Other

Proposed Personnel are not required. Can the client confirm that resumes are only required for the Key Personnel and COR approved personnel?

Yes.

Resumes, resume crosswalks, and relevant proof of military duty are required for all proposed personnel candidates who are key and COR-approved personnel in the Techncial proposal. See SOW Section 3 and Appendix 4 for additional information.

Page 7, Section 3.3, "Proposed

Personnel" from Attachmen 1: SOW.

At the end of the 3.3. Proposed Personnel section, it indicates, "The Contractor shall provide the CO and COR a signed written agreement between the candidates and the

Contractor as evidence of his/her commitment to work on the contract".

1. Can the client please confirm if this refers to the LOCs?

2. Can the client confirm if LOCs are required for all personnel, or just Key Personnel and

COR-Approved personnel only?

Section 3.3 is clear. Resumes shall be submitted for all key personnel and COR-approved personnel using the template provided in Appendix 6. The Contractor shall also complete the qualifications crosswalk template for key and COR-approved personnel provided in Appendix 7. The

Contractor shall provide the CO and COR a signed written agreement between the candidates and the Contractor as evidence of his/her commitment to work on the contract.

1. Yes.

2. Required for Key and COR-Approved personnel only.

Technical

Attachment 1 SOW: Section 1.4

(Page 1)

Will contracted training instructors be allowed to reside at the Peace Operations Training

Center (POTC) Singo facility?

Lodging for contractors at the POTC is not one of the

Partner Nation Responsibilities.

Technical

Attachment 1 SOW:

Section 2.3.2 (Page 2)

Aside from the course overviews listed on the peacekeepingresourcehub.un.org website, are there any other courseware deliverables for the UN-published core predeployment training materials, specialized training materials, and reinforcement training packages? If so, when will those products be made available?

The SOW very clear.

The Contractor shall develop all training materials required to achieve the performance objectives and trainee learning outcomes in the SOW.

All training materials developed by the contractor as part of this contract are considered a contract deliverable and shall be provided to the GPOI partner country at the completion of task performance.

Technical

Attachment 1 SOW:

Section 2.3.2 (Page 2)

As the documents on the UN training resources website are dated 2017, which organization within the UN is responsible for the currency and revision of those core, specialized, and reinforcement materials, and is there a more current update?

The UN is constantly updating materials and will post the updates when complete. The contractor shall use the latest versions of materials as posted.

Technical

Attachment 1 SOW:

Section 2.4.3 (Page 3)

Has the UPDF already identified women to serve within the peacekeeper units or is the selection process still on-going?

Yes, the UPDF routinely has females serving in the units and is an on-going process.

Technical

Attachment 1 SOW:

Section 2.5.1 (Page 3)

Is there an expectation that all equipment and supplies provided to the UPDF are compatible or interoperable with UN, NATO, or US equipment, crypto/security standards?

See the answer to Question 1.

Major equipment items for Tasks B, C, D, E, and F were provided during previous training iterations and should still be available for the training in this SOW.

However, the Contractor shall provide all consumable items and training aids to conduct training.

Technical

Attachment 1 SOW:

Section 4.1, table 4

Does the UPDF and/or the USG already have

Scorpion electronic countermeasure and route clearance packages already in-service or available for training in Uganda?

Yes, the UPDF has already been provided this equipment and should be available for training.

Technical

Attachment 1 SOW: Section 4.6.4, table 4.6 (Page 13)

Does the USG have and/or intend to provide licenses for GIS analysis software and associated technology for training purposes, or will the contractor be required to purchase those?

The UPDF has already been provided this equipment and should be available for training.

Pricing

Section 2.5.1, Section 4.2.6 (Page 3, Page 9)

Will this contract include a CLIN for purchases of equipment, supplies, and technology or will equipment be procured through Building

Partner Capacity (BPC) funding?

Please see CLIN X009

SOW; page 14; section 4.6.9 states

"At least one trainer shall be a

Senior Specialty Trainer (Geospatial

Expert)"

Based on SOW section 3.2.2., Senior Specialty

Trainers are COR-Approved Personnel.

However, there are no minimum qualifications provided for this position in

Appendix 4: Contract Personnel

Requirements.

Will the USG please provide the minimum qualifications for the Senior Specialty Trainer

(Geospatial Expert)?

See the answer to Question 88.

SOW; page 18; section 7.3.1 states

"Planning hours are intended for the personnel performing on the contract to adequately prepare for each task."

TASK B (SOW 4.3.9), TASK C (SOW 4.4.8), and

TASK E (SOW 4.6.5) list planning hours as a requirement within their respective task sections.

However,TASK A, TASK D, TASK F, and TASK G do not have a planning hours listed as a requirement within their respective tasks sections.

Will the USG allow offerors to include planning hours for TASK A, TASK D, TASK F, and TASK G to adequately prepare for each task?

Yes, the contractor may propose as many planning hours as deemed necessary.

103 Paragraph 4, PWS Page 9

Are there any task listed in paragraph 4 that

GPOI prohibits from being conducted concurrently?

See the answer to Question 21.

104 PWS 4.3.9 Page 11

The PWS specifiies 40 hours of planning in advance of performing the task, does this preclude the offeror from including time for preparation, planning and remedial trainind during the conduct of the task?

No, the contractor may propose as much time deemed necessary.

105 PWS 4.4.8 Page 12

The PWS specifiies 40 hours of planning in advance of performing the task, does this preclude the offeror from including time for preparation, planning and remedial trainind during the conduct of the task?

No, see the answer to Question 104.

106 PWS 4.4.20 page 13 and Appendix 4

Please specifiy what constitutes a "Scorpion

ECM Technical Expert" as this is not identified anywhere in the PWS

SOW Change.

Section 4.4.20 has been revised to: "4.4.20. Required

Personnel.

● Conduct training with a minimum of (2) mentors.

● At least one mentor shall be a Senior Specialty Trainer

(ECM Technical Expert)"

107 PWS 4.6.3 page 14

In th interest of equity and for planning purposes please confirm the number of days the MLJUD staff will be required to be on site for training and confirm that the offerer should include one travel day prior to the start of training and one travel day after the conclusion of training.

Yes.

SOW Change:

Section 4.6.3. has been revised to: "4.6.3 The contractor shall coordinate arrangements with the UPDF URDCC staff for up to five (5) personnel from Uganda’s Ministry of

Lands, Housing, and Urban Development (MLHUD), Surveys and Mapping Department to serve as primary instructors and facilitators of the training. The contractor is authorized to pay travel, lodging, and per diem

(including two (2) travel days) expenses for the MLHUD staff. Additional training days and MLHUD staff are authorized with COR approval."

108 PWS 4.6.9 page 15 and Appendix 4

In the interest of fairness, please specify the qualifications and experience of a Geospatial

Expert

See the answer to Question 88.

109 PWS 4.7.5 page 16

In the interest of equity, please provide the specific reference that identifies all of the required medical supplies and training aids to required to conduct training to standard. The

PWS implies that all of these supplies may not be consumables.

It is the contractors responsibility to determine the supplies and training aids it will require to conduct the training.

110 PWS 4.8.4 page 17

Please provide the specific reference for the list of consumable items and training aids to perform Engagement Training to the UN standard.

Per the SOW, the training programs of instructions shall draw upon the UN Engagement Platoon Handbook

(January 2021), the EP RTP, and the UN Infantry Battalions

(UNIBAT) STM.

It is the contractors responsibility to determine the supplies and training aids it will require to conduct the training.

111 PWS 9 and 10 page 21

Please confirm that GPOI will provide the winning offeror access to all training materials used during previous UPDF training iterations to allow the winning offeror the opportunity to conduction assessments of previous training.

Per the SOW, after contract award, the COR shall provide the contractor with additional references and previous examples of quality training materials which they may incorporate into their updated training materials prior to task performance.

It is the contractor responsibility to produce the training materials.

Appendix 4 CMD/IEDD Specialty

Trainer

The PWS specifies the requirement of "ten

(10) YEARS of US or NATO military EOD experience at the grade of E6-E9, WO2-WO5 or O3-O5." Please clarify. Does this mean they had to have had 10 years of experience and achieved these grades or do they have to have 10 years actual EOD experience in these grades?

They had to have had 10 years of experience and achieved these grades.

Also see the answer to Question 115.

113 Appendix 4 Paragraph 5

Do to the relative new speciality of CIMIC and

Engagement Trainers and the difficulty in acquiring expereince in these roles, will GPOI consider, as they have in the past, reducing the experience requirement for the Senior

Techncial Trainer (Engagement, CIMIC Tasks) from 10 to 7 years?

Yes.

See the answer to Question 62.

114 SOW - page 27 (section 2)

As the Contract PM is mainly responsible for program management, would the government consider amending this requirement to "Minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated experience conducting foreign security force (military or police) capacity building? And “minimum of ten years demonstrated experience as Project Manager of US Federal Programs / Projects"?

See the answer to Question 63.

115 SOW - page 28 (section 4)

Would the Government consider trainers with an EOD Level 3 certification and 7 years of experience?

Yes.

SOW Change:

Appendix 4, Section 4, Minimum Qualifications. Has been changed to:

"▪ CMD/IEDD Tasks

▪ Minimum of seven (7) years U.S. or NATO military explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) occupational specialty at E6-E9; WO2-WO5; O3-

O5."

116 SOW - pg 29 (section 5)

Since CIMIC is largely a new field, would the government consider a minimum of seven years experience?

See the answer to Question 62.

117 SOW - Equipment and Supplies

Does the Government require purchase of specific equipment for this contract? Are there any specific name brand or quantity requirements? Or does the Government expect the Contractor to identify and propose equipment required for procurement?

The Government has not specified any specific equipment for this contract.

The Government expects the contractor to propose equipment it requires to conduct the training.

118 SOW - 4.3.3

Can the Government please confirm that the host nation forces will provide any required explosives for training and that these do not need to be procured by the Contractor?

Yes. The contractor is not required to provide any explosives.

119 SOW - 4.6.6, 4.7.5

Can the Government please confirm that the

Contractor only needs to provide supplies and equipment for Tasks E (per 4.6.6), Task F (per

4.7.5)?

See the answer to Question 182.

120 SOW 4.1

Can the Government please provide their working definitions of TT - Training of the

Trainers, M - Mentorship, and T - capacity building training in regards to this SOW?

Please provide any distinguishing levels of engagement for Contractor personnel, Contractor responsibility under each type of engagement vs host nation expectations/engagement, etc.

The contractor engagement responsibilities are described in each of the required tasks.

121 SOW 11

The solicitation does not require firms to have active Facility Clearance and does not indicate that this is a cleared contract. Can the

Government please clarify the requirement for the Project Manager to possess active secret clearance in this case?

There have been instances where the Government had to discuss sensitive issues (i.e. security, threat) with a contractor Project Manager.

122 SOW 4.4.17

Can the Government clarify the method/process for adding additional labor hours under this fixed price contract should they be deemed necessary by the UPDF?

The contractor will contact the COR and the COR will provide guidance. But likely through a unilateral modification/change order.

123 SOW

Will the Government please include an allotment of planning hours for Tasks D, F, and G?

See the answers to Questions 17, 55, 56, 57.

124 SOW

Will the Government please confirm or clarify that the only “equipment” that is required for procurement under this SOW is for Task F -

Tactical Medical Training of Trainers and that all other procurement is for training aids and consumables as stated according to Task?

See the answers to Questions 1 and 182.

125 N/A

Will the Government please extend the due date of the solicitation to allow offers to incorporate the answers to the large number of questions that were received and the additional questions that need to be clarified based on those answers?

Yes, the proposal due date will be extended to September

17, 2024. See amendment 002.

There are multiple references to equipment and training materials in that must be procured in the RFP and the SOW, but no detail is provided. For example, SOW; Page

3; Section 2.5 states: "The

Contractor shall ensure timely procurement and delivery of all equipment and training materials so those items can be fully utilized during training or POTC staff development as specified by the

SOW." And, at 7.2.4., the SOW notes that "Training vehicles and other major training equipment end items as agreed to during pre-training coordination visits with the Contractor."

Absent a standard list against which to price, the Government is likely to receive widely different cost proposals. Therefore, in the interest of creating standardized comparison, will the government please provide an annex listing all required material and equipment that offeror is expected to procure or will the government please provide a plug number the offeror is to use when pricing?

See the answers to Questions 1 and 182.

SOW, Appendix 4 Personnel

Requirements

Contract Project Manager allows military or police experience as related to foreign security force capacity building. The experience requirement in Item 3, In-country

Team Lead, requires a minimum of 15 years of military experience, and a subsequent bullet notes the candidate must have "foreign security force (police or military) capacity building experience" Will the Governmnet please allow the In-Country Team Lead to have 15 years of relevant police and/or military experience?

The SOW requirement for the TL shall remain unchanged.

This is a military capacity building contract for a deploying maneuver force of nearly 6,000 military peacekeepers.

UPDF peacekeepers are highly experienced and professional military forces, many of whom have distinguished military service and experience in Somalia.

Many of their senior leaders are U.S. Army War College or other senior U.S. military school graduates, and as a military force, have a reputation as some of the most effective troop contributers and peacekeepers on the entire continent.

SOW, Appendix 4 Personnel

Requirements

Contract Project Manager allows military or police experience as related to foreign security force capacity building. If the

Contract Project Manager candidate does not have military experience, because it is not currently required, will the government therefore waive the DD214 requirement specificed in M-001 Evaluation Factor 2, Item

3. Relevant Proof of Military Duty.

Yes, however, the contractor must provide adequate detailed documentation/certifications that the individual has the police experience or a combination of military and police experience.

129 SOW 2.6.3

The Government notes that the contractor is expected to manage "those CONUS personnel conducting contract management." Does the government require those CONUS personnel to be located within a 25 to 50 mile radius of the GPOI office?

No.

130 SOW, 7.2.6 and 7.2.7

Per the SOW, partner nation responsibilities include the provision of warehouse space for contract equipment and the proper warehousing of the provided equipment. Will the Government please clarify whether the contractor is to: 1) have the partner nation sign for acceptance and legal responsibility of all equipment provided, 2) manage the warehouse(s), and 3) ensure quality control

(including conducting scheduled and ad hoc inventory and procedures checks (SOW 2.5.2 notwithstanding))?

Yes. Any equipment provided to the UPDF shall be signed for using a DS127.

Normally, the partner nation provides secure space for the contractor to use and have control of.

Per the the SOW, Section 2.5.2. Supplies that the contractor provides for training do not require a signed inventory.

131 RFP, G-009 - Payment Schedule

The RFP clause reads: "Government payment will be made once at the annual negotiated price after Contractor completion of the Task and subsequent

Government inspection and acceptance of the required services and supplies." Will the

Government please explain how and to what specifically clause G-009, as written, will be applied?

Payment will be made once at the annual negotiated price. G-009 will be applied to all items that have an annual negotiated price.

Technical: RFP F-001, page 9, states, "After receiving the Notice of

Contract Award in writing from the

CO, the Contractor shall provide all deliverables required in this contract in accordance with delivery due dates."

What is the expected timing and likeliness of making an award?

The Government expects to award the contract before…