SOLICITATION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS NSE TECHNICAL SUPPORT-RFP 693JF725R000020..pdf

Question # Document Reference Section Reference Discussion/Question Answer

Labor Categories and Mapping Guidance: The RFP provides no specific labor category definitions or mappings to standard Department of Labor (DOL) or contract-specific labor categories. Given the technical and functional complexity of the requirements described in Section C (PWS), will the Government please clarify whether there are preferred or pre-approved labor categories (e.g., SCA, 1102, 2210, 801 series, etc.) the Offeror should align to, or whether Offerors are expected to define and justify their own labor categories based on the requirements?

Offerors are expected to define and justify their own labor categories based on the requirements.

CLIN Structure and PWS Alignment:

The solicitation identifies only four labor CLINs (CLINs 0001–0004), but does not provide clear guidance on how these CLINs correspond to the functional areas and workload described in the PWS (e.g., RMS SME support, cybersecurity compliance, instructional design, training, data analytics). Will the Government please provide clarification or a crosswalk that maps specific PWS tasks to the associated CLINs, or confirm that Offerors may propose their own labor mapping structure within the cost/price volume?

The CLINS are broken out by Supported Program. The Offeror is expected to provide the full range of services on CLINs 1, 5, and 6 directly to the respective programs. CLIN 2 is for the upkeep of the Reserve Fleet Management Site (RFMS).

3 Section 4.3

Training Volume and Travel Requirements:

Section 4.3 of the PWS outlines contractor responsibilities related to training support but does not specify the expected volume or frequency of training events, nor does it indicate whether multiple training sessions may be required to occur concurrently. To adequately plan staffing and travel logistics, will the Government please clarify the anticipated number of training sessions the contractor will be expected to conduct annually?

Additionally, will the Government indicate whether on-site contractor travel to conduct training is required or preferred, or if virtual delivery is acceptable for some or all sessions?

Training sessions are in demand of the fleet, and requested by the ships, Ship Managers, and MARAD personnel. The contractor should expect to hold 1 training event at a time, either in person, virtual, or in a hybrid environment. On-site is the preferred delivery method as it has proven more effective.

Standardization of Labor Hours for Cost Proposals:

To ensure a fair and level playing field for all Offerors, will the Government provide an estimated annual level of effort (e.g., number of labor hours per labor category or CLIN) that Offerors should use as a basis for their cost proposals? Without standardized labor hour guidance, there is a risk of significant variance in pricing approaches that may hinder the Government’s ability to conduct an equitable evaluation of cost realism and competitiveness.

Estimated Level of effort should be estimated off the number of ships in each program. The Current breakdown of as of 11AUG2025 is as follows:

RRF: 49

MDA: 2

Public Nautical School Ship Program:5 NSMV Construction: 1 Ship at a time, with a transition to the Public Nautical School Ship Program.

Transition-In and Ramp-Up Period Will the Government allow for a transition or ramp-up period at contract start? If so, what is the expected duration, and will the Government provide any transition assistance (e.g., incumbent knowledge transfer, system access, etc.)?

The Government will allow for a transition period of 1 month. During that time, System access will be provided.

Incumbent Contractor and Historical Staffing Is there an incumbent contractor currently performing this work or a related effort? If so, will the Government provide any historical data on staffing levels, labor mix, or lessons learned to help inform accurate proposals?

There is an incumbent contractor currently performing this work. Historically, the contractor has had 2 to 3 employees who provided support. This does not mean that 2 to 3 employees are the appropriate staffing to provide all support required.

Help Desk Support Level and Hours of Operation:

The PWS references Help Desk support but does not specify the expected level of support (e.g., Tier I, II, or III) or the required hours of operation. To properly scope staffing and availability, will the Government please clarify whether Help Desk services are expected to be provided during standard business hours (e.g., Monday–Friday, 0900–1700), on a 24/7 basis, or another schedule? Additionally, please confirm the anticipated support tier(s) required.

The Help Desk support is the RMS Help Desk. The company awarded this contract will recieve tickets from the help desk. No 24 hour support is expected. The tickets for back-end software support, training, and changes to NSE come from the ships and are assigned through the help desk.

The help desk issues tickets during East Coast's normal working hours. The solicitor should be expected to work on Tickets as they come in or at a priority assigned by the COR. No schedule is expected or required as long as the tickets are completed in a timely manner.

Request for Proposal Submission Extension:

Given the number of critical clarifications needed—particularly regarding labor categories, level of effort, CLIN-to-PWS alignment, training volume, and Help Desk support expectations—would the Government consider granting an extension to the proposal submission deadline? An extension would ensure that Offerors are able to incorporate accurate assumptions and provide fully responsive and competitive proposals based on the Government’s forthcoming answers to these questions.

The Government is not granting an extension to the proposal submission deadline at this time.

SOLICITATION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS NAUTICAL SYSTEM ENTERPRISE(NSE) TECHNICAL SUPPORT

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