2nd-QAs-BAA-23-S-5012-03Mar23(FINAL).pdf

BAA: FA8650-23-S-5012 Questions and Answers 2 March 2022

Materials for Integrated Nano-electronic and Optoelectronic Structures (MINOS) Broad Agency Announcement Number: FA8650-23-S-5012 Prospective Offerors’ Questions and Government Answers as of 2 March 2022

1. Question: The BAA requires that all volumes, “submitted in Microsoft Word format. Signed pages may be submitted in Adobe.” Different versions of Word can alter page count, thus running the risk of a document being non-compliant at the receiving end when it was compliant in the offerors system. Can proposals be sent in Adobe to keep documents compliant within page count?

Answer: The government uses Microsoft® Word for Microsoft 365 for Enterprise. All proposals must adhere to the requirements outlined within Broad Agency Announcement Number: FA8650-23- S-5012 therefore only signed pages can be submitted in Adobe per Part IV. Proposal and Submission Information, 2. Content and Form of Proposal Submission, c. Technical/Management Proposal, i. Page Limitations, a) through h).

2. Question: Please verify that resumes provided as attachments do not count in page count.

Answer: The proposal page limit does not include resumes as indicated in Part IV. Proposal and Submission Information, 2. Content and Form of Proposal Submission, c. Technical/Management Proposal, i. Page Limitations, g).

3. Question: The BAA reads, “Award Notices: Offerors will be notified whether their proposal is recommended for award on or about 15 March 2023.” This award notice is 2 days before the response due date. When will award notices be sent?

Answer: Offerors will be notified whether their proposal is recommended for award on or about 17 April 2023 which will be reflected in Amendment #2 to the subject BAA.

4. Question: Is this a true requirement for this proposal? The SF-424 is typically used for grants and for grants requested by institutions. If these are required for key personnel, would they be included in the Business Volume or attached separately?

Answer: Yes, the "Expanded SF 424" is required now for all proposals (contract proposals and assistance proposals). This recent change has been instituted to comply with the requirements of recently updated AFRLI 61-113. The R&R Personal Data form portion of the Assistance Instrument Application (SF424 Expanded R&R Personal Data form) provides all the information now required for the government to conduct an S&T Risk Assessment of proposed Senior/Key Person Profiles. The Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile form will not count toward page limits, see Section IV.

Proposal and Submission Information, 2. Content and Form of Proposal Submission, i. (g), "The proposal page limit does not include resumes, tables, and/or charts."

5. Question: BAA reads, “You must submit a copy of your approved DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, with your proposal.” Is DD Form 2345 required to be submitted at time of proposal? Is this to be submitted as part of the Business Volume or attached separately?

Answer: The certified DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, will be submitted with the Business Volume Proposal and the proposal page limit does not include the DD Form 2345.

6. Question: Please confirm that the MINOS is BAA number is FA8650-23-S-5012. The Basic SOO and Model Contract are numbered FA8650-23-D-5400, the CDRL FA8650-23-D-54xx, and the DD254 FA8650-22-S-5012.

Answer: The MINOS BAA number is FA8650-23-S-5012; the “S” denotes Broad Agency Announcement per DFARS 204.1603 (a) (3) (2). Per AFRL’s Broad Agency Announcement Guide for Industry, the Model Contract reflects the anticipated contract format which is why the Procurement Instrument Identifier reflects FA8650-23-D-5400 to be IAW FAR 4.1603, (a) (3). After awarded the “S” will change to a “D” for the IDIQ Basic Contract and an “F” for any subsequent Task Orders. AFRL’s Broad Agency Announcement Guide for Industry can be found at https://www.afrl.af.mil/Portals/90/Documents/HQ/BAA%20Ind%20Guide%202020.pdf?ver=7Aivk WvoUoptKgypgCuIvw%3D%3D

7. Question: Please confirm that we can attach tables and/or charts as appendices (per the BAA, page 13).

Answer: All tables and/or charts attached as appendices must adhere to the requirements outlined within Broad Agency Announcement Number: FA8650-23-S-5012; confirming as listed on page 13.

8. Question: Can we attach figures as appendices?

Answer: Figures will be considered illustrations as will flowcharts, drawings, diagrams; all of which do not have to follow font and line spacing and should be attached as appendices. Smaller font may be used for figures, tables, and charts. The page limitation includes all figures, tables, and charts. All pages shall be formatted for printing on 8- 1/2 by 11-inch paper. Margins must be 1-inch on all sides.

Copies of all submitted documents to include figures, tables, and charts must be clearly labeled with the AFRL BAA number, proposer organization, and proposal title/proposal short title

9. Question: Is there a preferred format (e.g., NSF) for resumes?

Answer: No, there is no preferred a format, however resumes should contain labor discipline, qualifications, specialized experience, education and any certifications.

10. Question: Will the Contracting Office issue corrected attachments?

Answer: Yes, all amendments are posted to SAM.gov under Contract Opportunities. The link is:

https://sam.gov. Currently, there is only Amendment 01.

https://www.afrl.af.mil/Portals/90/Documents/HQ/BAA%20Ind%20Guide%202020.pdf?ver=7AivkWvoUoptKgypgCuIvw%3D%3D https://www.afrl.af.mil/Portals/90/Documents/HQ/BAA%20Ind%20Guide%202020.pdf?ver=7AivkWvoUoptKgypgCuIvw%3D%3D https://sam.gov/

11. Question: The BAA lists Attachment 4 SOW Supplemental Requirements, but the actual Attachment 4 is Supplemental Instructions for Assistance Instrument Proposals.

Answer: That is correct, Attachment 4 provide for Supplemental Instructions for Assistance Instrument Proposals.

12. Question: Numbering in the page headers/footers of Attachments 6, 7, and 11 does not match the file names.

Answer: Amendment 02 to the subject BAA will correct the numbering within the header and footers for Attachment 6 – AFRL ANSI / NISO Based Guide for Formatting Technical Reports, Attachment 7 – Report Documentation Page (SF 298), and Attachment 11 - Base Support Equipment List & Available Base Facilities.

13. Question: Part IV Proposal and Submission Information, Section 2, Paragraph c. – Technical/Management Proposal, please confirm resumes don’t count against page limits in both the Basic (30 pages) and TO (10 pages) Technical/Management Proposals?

Answer: The proposal page limit does not include resumes as indicated in Part IV. Proposal and Submission Information, 2. Content and Form of Proposal Submission, c. Technical/Management Proposal, i. Page Limitations, g).

14. Question: Part IV Proposal and Submission Information, Section 2, Paragraph c. – Technical/Management Proposal, is this for all test/chart content or just some specific content? What if a chart/table is in the middle of a page. How is that factored into not being included in the page count?

Answer: A chart and/or table should be provided as a separate attachment so that it does not count against the page limitation and adhere to the requirements as indicated in Paragraph : Part IV Proposal and Submission Information, Section 2, Paragraph c. – Technical/Management Proposal e).