GLOBALCAP Industry Day Q and A.pdf

GLOBALCAP INDUSTRY DAY Q&A

Question Number PRE EVENT QUESTIONS DOS ANSWERS

Given the draft PWS, we believe that GLOBALCAP is similar or a follow-on to the DoS AFRICAP requirement. The Federal

Procurement Data System reported spend on AFRICAP has been $557M over the least four years or roughly $139M/year.

The Sources sought indicated funding varies considerably year to year roughly $353M/year (which is three times AFRICAP)

AF/RPS Twelve Task Orders/year $233M/year

PM/GPI Five Task Orders/year $120M/year

a. Would the Government please indicate which contract(s), contract numbers and incumbents which are being combined into the DOS GLOBALCAP requirement to make the $5B projected ceiling?

b. How is the ceiling of $5B computed or $500M/year get computed given the historical $353M/year spend?

a. The AFRICAP III and GPOI IDIQ contracting programs are being consolidated into the new GLOBALCAP IDIQ program.

b. $500M is anticipated to be the maximum annual amount meet future global requirements. It is not an average.

2 Would the Government provide a list of countries where the work has historically been performed?

Under AFRICAP III, work was performed on the content of Africa for all counties EXCEPT: Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia, Sao Tome, Seychelles, Sudan, and

Zimbabwe.

Under GPOI, work was performed in: Albania, Armenia, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Fiji, Ghana, Malawi, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.

3 Would the Government consider One-on-one meetings?

The Government will not hold one-on-one meetings prior to receipt of offers.

4 Would the Government release a Draft RFP, to include Sections B, C, G, H, I, L & M?

The Government does not intend to release a draft RFP in entirety prior to the official RFP release for this effort. The Government may provide portions of the RFP, prior to relase of the full RFP, in response to industry questions.

Based on the historical success of SB participation on AFRICAP (21% of the historical Federal Obligations) and the GLOBAL

Sources Sought response, does the Government intend to award both Full and Open and Small business awards? If SB awards, which socio-economic category(ies)?

The Government intends to have a partial small business set-aside based on a dollar value threshold. Socioeconomic categories are still under consideration.

6 What is the projected number of awards?

The Government anticipates awarding 3-5 large business and 3-5 small business IDIQ awards. The socioeconomic category and set-aside thresholds are under consideration.

7 Where does GLOBALCAP sit in the DOS approval chain for final approval and release?

This Department does not intend to release this information to the public.

8 Would the Government announce a notional acquisition timeline (Draft RFP, Pre-solicitation, One-on-One Meetings, RFP)?

As noted at Industry Day on December 17, 2021, the notional timeline is that the Department anticipates issuing the solicitation in the spring of 2022. The proposals will be due in the summer

2022 with the IDIQ contracts to be awarded in the fall of 2022. The timeline is subject to change.

On December 14, 2021, the Department of State issued notice 19AQMM22R0071, Global Advisory Sources Sought to provide AF/RFP and PM/GPI Professional Support Services, including advisory and reporting services, outside of the

Continental United States. The Government intends to award Multiple Award IDIQ contracts with an estimated maximum of

$150M/year

a. Would the Government please provide an overview of the differences between the two contracts (Global Advisory and

GLOBALCAP)?

b. Do offerors have an inherent Conflict of Interest of being on the Global Advisory Contract and the GLOBALCAP Contract?

c. Are offerors allowed to bid on both as Prime or Sub or in combinations on both Global Advisory and GLOBALCAP?

d. Government please indicate which contract(s), contract numbers and incumbents have been award the historical work for

Global Advisory Services?

a. The purpose of the Global Advisory IDIQ contracting program is to procure advisory services. The purpose of the GLOBALCAP

IDIQ contracting program is to procure they types of products and services presented in the sources sought notice. Procurement of advisory services is separated from capacity building items as an organizational conflict of interest (OCI) mitigation measure.

b. Please refer to Attachment QA1 - OCI Clauses and Provisions.

c. Please refer to Attachment QA1 - OCI Clauses and Provisions.

d. Please refer to Attachment QA2 - List of Historic IDIQs.

Will the Government consider allowing offerors to present past performance for contracts completed within the past five years?

For purposes of market research, the Government is considering three (3) years only.

11 Does the Government intend to have an SDVOSB or small business track for this requirement? Refer to the Government response to Question 5.

12 Will the Government be providing a draft RFP with sections L and M prior to RFP release? Refer to the Government response to Question 4.

13 Does the Government have a timeline for when a draft RFP is anticipated to be released? Refer to the Government response to Question 8.

Will the Government consider allowing offerors to provide a CPARS report for contracts that have been completed in lieu of a Past Performance Questionnaire?

The Government will consider all available CPARS data. The

Government is considering allowing submission of PPQs to augment CPARS data.

Reference 1: We are aware that current AFRICAP and GPOI IDIQs require the prime to hold a Facility Clearance, with the

Program Manager required to maintain a Secret Clearance. Although, to the best of our knowledge, no Task Orders have ever specified anyone at the TO level require a secret clearance.

Question 1: Would DOS consider NOT requiring an FCL for this IDIQ prime award but instead consider only issuing requirements on a TO basis to enable greater competition for the IDIQ response? We have had experience with the

Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) where they prefer clearances be held at the task order level versus the IDIQ level.

The Government intends to award the number of IDIQs necessary to promote efficient competition for task orders among IDIQ holders, including small and large businesses. The Government does not intend to pursue strategies that would increase the number of awards beyond what is needed to permit efficient competition.

16 Question 1a: Would DoS sponsor a clearance for an IDIQ awardee post-award?

Offerors must have personnel and facilities with existing clearances as may be required by the solicitation. The

Government does not intend to issue awards to entities that do not fully meet security requirements on the date of award.

Reference 2: We are aware there are similarities between the requirements of this potential solicitation, existing language(s) in AFRICAP & GPOI regarding OCI, and the existing Advisory Reporting Services IDIQ awards SAQMMA17D0053, SAQMMA17D0054, SAQMMA17D0055, and SAQMMA17D0056.

Question 2: Will holders of that IDIQ and their subcontractors be prevented from being awarded a position on this IDIQ? Refer to Attachment QA1 - OCI Clauses and Provisions

Can a company prime this contract and also support other primes with pricing on task orders the company may not be able to compete on but able to help another prime as a sub?

A prime will not be outright prohibited from subcontracting with another prime. However, contractors must comply with organization conflict of interest laws, regulations, and T&C. Refer to Attachment QA1 - OCI Clauses and Provisions.

Will DOS accept other NAIC codes so more small business can participate as a small business? NAIC code examples:

333999 42391, 315990, 333249, 339920

The Government intends to designate only NAICS 561210 as applicable to the GLOBALCAP solicitation.

DoS is calling this new contract GLOBALCAP because it “…could expand globally in the future.” How much GLOBALCAP work is anticipated outside of Sub-Saharan Africa? Please elaborate on the locations or regions, and the numbers and types of missions anticipated on the GLOBALCAP contract. Refer to the Government response to Question 2.

How many awards does the Government anticipate making for the GLOBALCAP IDIQ contract vehicle? How many full and open awards? How many small business awards? Refer to the Government response to Question 6.

22 What type of contract (FFP, CR, T&M, etc.) is anticipated for the base IDIQ contract and the individual task orders?

The Government anticipates awarding a hybrid vehicle with Firm-

Fixed Price and Cost Reimbursable line items.

23 Will there be a draft RFP? Refer to the Government response to Question 4.

What is the Government’s acquisition schedule? Specifically, what are the planned dates for…

A. Draft RFP?

B. RFP?

C. Questions due?

D. Proposal due?

E. Contract award?

F. Contract start? Refer to the Government response to Question 8.

25 What are the anticipated evaluation factors, subfactors, and their weight in the evaluation?

The Government anticipates using a best value trade off process to include technical approach, past performance and price. The technical and past performance factors are approximately equal in value. Technical factors, when combined, are significantly more important than price.

26 What are the anticipated small business subcontracting goals for large business offerors? This requirement is still under consideration.

27 What are the anticipated technical proposal requirements including any page limitations?

A complete solicitation is not available at this time. Page limitations are under consideration and will be provided in Section

L - Instructions to Offerors.

28 What are the anticipated pricing proposal requirements?

A complete solicitation is not available at this time. Page limitations are under consideration and will be provided in Section

L - Instructions to Offerors.

29 During the 10-year period of performance, will there be any on-ramp/off-ramp procedures?

The Government does not anticipate on ramping of additional contractors during the period of performance.

Question for submittal: We are an incumbent on GPOI. Some TOs have elements of advisory services to professional services recipients. Can you please clarify the COI parameters per the solicitation posting on SAM.gov? Due to the potential for organizational conflicts of interest, contractors may not hold an IDIQ for advisory services and an IDIQ for other services in support of AF and PM Bureaus simultaneously. If a contractor already holds an IDIQ under one of these contracting programs and wishes to participate in the other, the contractor must relinquish the existing IDIQ Refer to the Government response to Question 17.

Paragraph 2 of the Draft SoW indicates the requirement for professional services. Will the professional services for

GLOBALCAP mirror the professional services required under AFRICAP III?

The Government anticipates professional services to be similar to those found in the AFRICAP III and GPOI IDIQs. However, the

Government offers no assurance that professional services will be the same prior to release of the solicitation. Refer to Attachment

QA2 - List of Historic IDIQs.

Will the Govt establish minimum task order bid requirements for awardees? i.e., awardees will be required to bid 50% of task orders

The Government does not anticipate a minimum bid requirement as of the date of this Q&A, but reserves the right to establish such a requirement prior to the solicitation close date. The Government seeks contractors who will be capable of performing as many task order requirements as possible.

Request the Government to provide additional details regarding the requirement of “monitoring” as described in paragraph

4.1 of the Draft SoW?

"Monitoring" refers to personnel that are capable of reporting on the following core elements in austere post-conflict environments such as cease-fire/cessation of hostilities, human rights and violations thereof, and protection of civilians.

Does the Government plan to issue a Draft RFP for review and comment by Industry? For example, there may be some local tax issues during implementation that may need to be addressed/clarified during the RFP process. Additionally, issuing a Draft RFP will enable Industry to provide comprehensive feedback that will result in a more informed technical proposal. Refer to the Government response to Question 4.

Does the Government plan to put in place limitations on participation/conflicts of interest for GLOBALCAP such as those used for AFRICAP III? If so, please provide details Refer to the Government response to Question 17.

If there are SB and unrestricted pools, will the government limit over/under relationships such as being the prime on an unrestricted award and a named/JV partner on a SB award?

Refer to the Government response to Question 6 and Attachment

QA1 - OCI Clauses and Provisions.

Will the general medical support requirement outlined in para 4.2.7 of the GLOPBALCAP Draft SoW mirror the medical requirements in AFRICAP III?

The Government anticipates the medical requirements to be similar to those present in AFRICAP III.

Will there be two pools under GLOBALCAP? If so, what is the anticipated number of awardees and how does the

Government plan to divide up the Full and Open and SB requirements under GLOBALCAP, i.e., under $5M is SB? Refer to the Government response to Question 6.

39 Does the Government plan to have a subcontracting (SB, 8A, HUB…etc.) requirement under the Full and Open pool? Refer to the Government response to Question 6

40 Assuming there will be two pools, will the Cost Accounting System requirements the same for large and small businesses?

Per 48 CFR § 9903.201-1(b)(3), cost accounting standards are not applicable to Government contracts and subcontract with small business.

Assuming there will be a SB pool, does the Government intend to place any restrictions type of SB – i.e. SDVOSB or will the pool be open to several categories of SB? Refer to the Government response to Question 6.

Aerial Surveillance: Does the Government have a concept regarding what type, method, technical specs. Etc., comprise the

Aerial Surveillance efforts as noted? Example: "Fixed wing aerial surveillance platform with 4-6 hours of on-station time, able to provide EO/IR imagery with Direct DownLink (DDL) and/or Full Motion Video (FMV) via contractor-provided Remote Video

Terminals (RVTs) out to at least 30 NM at 10,000' AGL."

This level of detail is beyond what the Government intends to define at the IDIQ level. This information would be defined at the task order level.

Does the Government plan to continue the construction bonding requirement as outlined in AFRICAP III for GLOBALCAP or will ILOCs also be sufficient for bidding?

In accordance with the FAR, the Government will maintain bonding requirements that will be defined at the task order level.

I understand that a prime may not hold both awards, and may or may not be able to be a prime on one and a sub on the other. However, can subcontractors be part of teams for both IDIQs? Refer to the Government response to Question 17.

POST EVENT QUESTIONS

Will task orders issued from the GLOBALCAP IDIQ support global requirements? Or only countries and efforts within the

African continent? Refer to the Government response to Question 2.

If task orders will cover the globe, what is the anticipated percentage of issued task orders that will be for support within the

African continent?”

The Government anticipates that the majority of task orders being issued in support of capacity building efforts in Sub-Saharan

Africa. However, the Government offers no assurance.

Will a contractor’s experience performing in the technical areas of expertise required under GLOBLCAP be evaluated more favorably if it has been delivered in support of the African continent as opposed to other non-African partner nations of the

US, for instance within countries in Latin American or the Middle East?

The Government will consider all relevant OCONUS past performances without regard to geographic location.

If a company is teamed as a subcontractor to a small business prime can they also submit a prime large business proposal or team with another large company prime as a subcontractor? Refer to the Government response to Question 18.

GLOBALCAP is a multi-award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with complex requirements and execution risks—ten of these risks were defined in the Industry Day presentation. A draft RFP would greatly assist contractors as they plan solutions to support this critical mission, and it would also allow for early questions and clarifications that would likely result in more responsive and higher quality proposals. Would the Government consider releasing a draft

RFP? Refer to the Government response to Question 4.

Small Business Set-Aside: Will there be a set-aside for Small Business, based on Task-order amounts? Will there be set asides for SBA 8(a) Certified companies? Refer to the Government response to Questions 5 and 6.

Subcontracting requirements - Will Small Businesses be able to bring in Large Companies as Subcontractors? Will it be allowable for a company to Subcontract to more than one company, or to sub for one team and prime on another team? Refer to the Government response to Question 18.

Security Clearance – In section “4.3 Pre-Deployment” point number “4.3.6 Facilitating administrative actions for personnel to receive necessary security clearance” Is it mandatory for all Primes to possess Facility Clearance before

Submission of IDIQ Proposal? What if, non-cleared Primes bring in Security Cleared Subs, will that fulfill Security Clearance requirements? Refer to the Government response to Question 15 and 16.

Past performance - Would DOS consider extending the period of relevant experience from three years to five or seven years? Refer to the Government response to Question 10.

With regards to Draft SOW 4.1 examples of activities described training courses, monitoring and advisory services, please clarify the “core elements of monitoring services” described in 4.1.8. Does this mean designing/identifying elements as in observable indicators as measures of performance (MOPs) or measures of effectiveness (MOEs), and/or validation that the partner nation achieved the specific goals and objectives intended in the specific country-level GLOBALCAP program delivery? Refer to the Government response to Question 33.

With regards to Draft SOW 4.1., please clarify core elements of “consultant services” described in 4.1.9. Consultant services seems to have new prominence. What is meant by that term? Is “consulting” a synonym for previously used term “advising”?

"Consulting services" will be removed from the solicitation to avoid any conflict with the forthcoming Global Advisory IDIQ.

With regards to Draft SOW 4.1 does the government intend to seek support for AF or PM bureau-level programmatic

“process” improvements and/or are it seeking advisors to support partner nation “institutional capabilities and capacity building”? Are these consultant services targeted towards improving “training” or ‘monitoring”? Or does the government want access to general consulting services to bring innovative solutions to management and implementation of the GLOBALCAP program? Refer to the Government response to Question 55.

57 Given that this is a 10-year IDIQ, does DOS anticipate that there will be an onramp period for new contractors? Refer to the Government response to Question 29.

Does AF plan to establish SB goals as part of the final RFP or will it be up to the Offeror to propose goals that it will manage to? This answer will help industry as far as its teaming solution.

Refer to the Government response to Question 5. Also, the

Government will require small business subcontracting plans for large business prime awardees. The Government is in the process of establishing goals.

Will it be AF’s expectation that large business offerors have as a part of its proposed IDIQ team, small business subcontractors that meet the socioeconomic goals as listed in its Small Business Plan? Or can a large business state as part of its plan that it will identify small businesses at the Task Order level? In the 2015 solicitation it stated, “The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s detailed commitment to subcontracting with small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, HUBZone businesses, etc. Consideration will be given to the inclusion of such firms in the Offeror’s proposal…” Can you please confirm if small business subcontractors need to be proposed at the IDIQ level or can be proposed at the TO level?

This answer will help industry as far as its teaming solution. Refer to the Government response to Question 51.

In terms of OCI related to the GLOBALCAP program, can you confirm that prime awardees supporting the Department of

State Global Advisory Support Services Contract (GASS) does not pose an OCI concern if awarded GLOBALCAP? The

GASS program is different that the advisory IDIQ as addressed in the Industry Day. Refer to the Government response to Question 17.

Will the Govt establish minimum task order bid requirements for awardees? i.e., awardees will be required to bid 50% of task orders. Refer to the Government response to Question 32.

Request the Department provide clarification regarding GLOBALCAP mentoring and/or monitoring. The Draft SoW, para 4.1, states monitoring and the 17 Dec briefing slides state mentoring. Refer to the Government response to Question 33.

COMMENT - Relyant Global continues to believe that the DoS would receive a better technical proposal and delivery of more effective and efficient support if Industry was provided the chance to review and provide comments on a GLOBALCAP

Draft RFP. Refer to the Government response to Question 4.

The 17 Dec briefing clearly indicated that the Dept of State acquisition strategy was still being developed. We remain keenly interested and request clarification regarding the Department’s plan to put in place limitations on participation/conflicts of interest for GLOBALCAP such as those used for AFRICAP III? If so, please provide details Refer to the Government response to Question 17.

The 17 Dec briefing made clear that the Department plans to have two pools for GLOBALCAP. However, it remains unclear whether the Department will limit over/under relationships such as being the prime on an unrestricted award and a named/JV partner on a SB award. Kindly request clarification? Refer to the Government response to Question 18.

The 17 Dec briefing was unclear regarding general medical support requirement outlined in para 4.2.7 of the GLOPBALCAP

Draft SoW and whether this requirement will mirror the medical requirements in AFRICAP III? Refer to the Government response to Question 37.

Given there will be two pools for GLOBACAP. How does the Department plan to divide up the Full and Open and SB requirements under GLOBALCAP, i.e., under $5M is SB? Refer to the Government response to Question 58.

Based on 17 Dec briefing, there will be two pools for GLOBALCAP. Therefore, will the Department require the same Cost

Accounting System requirements for large and small businesses? Refer to the Government response to Question 40.

During the 17 Dec briefing, the Department briefed the requirement of ISR. However, in paragraph 2 of the Draft SoW indicates work to be performed “may include” Aerial Surveillance. Request confirmation that aerial surveillance will be a requirement under GLOBALCAP. Additionally, request the Department clarify the required approach regarding what type, method, technical specs. Etc., comprise the Aerial Surveillance efforts as noted? Example: "Fixed wing aerial surveillance platform with 4-6 hours of on-station time, able to provide EO/IR imagery with Direct DownLink (DDL) and/or Full Motion

Video (FMV) via contractor-provided Remote Video Terminals (RVTs) out to at least 30 NM at 10,000' AGL Refer to the Government response to Question 42.

The 17 Dec briefing did not go into great detail regarding construction. Therefore, request confirmation of whether the

Department is planning to continue the construction bonding requirement as outlined in AFRICAP III for GLOBALCAP or will

ILOCs also be sufficient for bidding? Refer to the Government response to Question 43.

71 How will the GlobalCap contract impact the current GPOI/ACOTA contract that was awarded in 2018?

GLOBALCAP will consolidate requirements that currently fall under AFRICAP III and GPOI/ACOTA IDIQs. Task orders awarded under the AFRICAP III or GPOI/ACOTA IDIQs will be completed prior to work being recompeted under the GLOBALCAP IDIQs.

Government contracting has been severely impacted (Task Orders delayed or cancelled, new contract opportunities delayed or cancelled)by COVID since March of 2020. Will the government allow past performance period starting in 2015 to be used instead of the normal 5 year period? The last two years have provided little opportunity to build past performance due to

COVID travel restrictions. Refer to the Government response to Question 10.

How will the USG ensure those companies currently on the Advisory Services IDIQ will not use their knowledge of future requirements if they are allowed to bid for the GlobalCap IDIQ? Shouldn’t they have a cooling off period? Refer to the Government response to Question 17.

74 If the USG uses a Sample Task Order as part of the RFP will we be required to price equipment for the TO?

The Government will require offers to include a pricing submission with the sample task order proposal, but pricing for the sample task order proposal will not be evaluated. The Government will review the sample task order proposal pricing submission to validate whether the offeror is capable of following task order proposal instructions only.

How many awards can we anticipate for small business and will they be by set-aside category (i.e. SDVOSB, WOSB, SB, 8A, etc.)? Refer to the Government response to Questions 5 and 6.

76 Will GlobalCap task orders be worldwide or confined to Africa? Refer to the Government response to Question 46.

77 Does GlobalCap replace AFRICAP and ACOTA/GPOI IDIQs?

The GLOBALCAP IDIQ will consolidate requirements under

AFRICAP III and GPOI IDIQs.

In the past large business has used Joint Ventures with small business to get around the size requirements for small business set-aside IDIQs (both in DoS and DoD). Will the contracts office police this, or will the post award protest period be required to address these issues? Refer to the Government response to Question 18.

79 What are the expected reporting requirements and/or deliverables to the Government at the IDIQ level?

Section L of the solicitation will provide instructions to offerors on proposal requirements.

Will a draft RFP be released for industry to review, provide feedback, and ask questions? We strongly recommend the government consider this step given that GLOBALCAP is a new vehicle and the chance to provide concrete feedback will ensure smooth implementation for both Industry and the Government. Refer to the Government response to Question 4.

81 Will the government define and explain the differences it sees between training, mentoring, and consulting services?

"Training" means classroom and field instructor-led training sessions usually 1-4 weeks in length.

"Mentoring" means classroom, field, and operational shadowing/support to a small group/unit usually of 4-8 weeks in length.

As noted in answer to Question 55, the Government intends to remove "consulting services" from the solicitation to avoid any conflict with the forthcoming Global Advisory IDIQ.

Will the government clarify if the activities listed from 4.1.1-4.1.9 will be split into training, mentoring, and consulting categories or if each activity might be crafted to span two or more categories?

The Government will define the scope and level of effort for each element at the task order level.

Will the government specify any requirements for project-level monitoring and evaluation to be incorporated into project design?

The Government will include project-level monitoring and evaluation (M&E) requirements that will be clarified in the

GLOBALCAP solicitation.

84 Will the government expect vendors to develop appropriate indicators for project-level monitoring?

The Government encourages Contractors to showcase capabilities in their solicitation to satisfy project monitoring and evaluation

(M&E) requirements.

85 Does the government anticipate vendors will design and integrate data collection and monitoring tools within project design?

The Government expects vendors to be capable of maintaining and enhancing tools that are already in place in support of requirements.

Will the government prioritize regional and country-level expertise as it relates to project design and modification? Based on previous experience, we recommend the government expect vendors to utilize cross-cultural expertise to tailor programming to the specific countries and regions in which they work.

The Government will not be overly restrictive in requirements.

Contractors are encourage to include any and all elements that may strenthen the technical approach.

87 What will determine if task orders will be released in the large business versus the small business pools? Refer to the Government response to Question 67.

88 Does the government plan to provide IDIQ LCATs or will price be calculated per each task order requirements?

The Government anticipates that labor categories will be provided in the solicitation.

89 What is meant by draft RFP and what is meant by sample Task Order?

"Draft RFP" refers to the complete solicitation package being released in draft form to allow industry the opportunity to review, ask questions and prepare responses. As previously noted. The

Government does not anticipate that a complete RFP will be released prior to the official solicitation. However, elements of the solicitation may be made available.

Task Orders are competed among IDIQ awardees for specific criteria (i.e., scope, cost, and schedule). A "sample task order" is a devised task order requirement that will be provided for offerors to respond to in order to ensure that the offeror understands task order proposal submission requirements.