Questions and Answers - SIR No. 693KA9-19-R-00003 Acquisition Training Services.pdf

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Federal Aviation Administration

693KA9-19-R-00003

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No. Reference (if any) Question Government Response 1.

How many resumes/letters of commitment does the FAA require for the proposal?

The SIR is amended to require submission of three (3) instructor resumes and letters of commitments (per curriculum set proposed). In addition, a resume and letter of commitment is required for the Program Manager (See C.3.1.3).

Each resume is limited to two (2) pages.

2.

Approximately how many training events are anticipated for COTs training, COTS-customized training, and for FAA-specific training in each category per year?

The FAA does not plan to release the TEP model to the Offerors.

3.

SIR Section C.2.1, General, “The contractor must have commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) acquisition training courseware available for delivery.” Please clarify whether this refers only to COTS courses and does not apply to FAA-specific course materials.

This applies only to COTS courses.

4.

SIR Section M.5.3, p. 103

The Total Evaluated Price (TEP) will be the sum of the result from multiplying the estimated mixture and number of training courses per year based on projected requirements for the base year and two option periods by the Offeror’s proposed pricing. What is the estimated mixture and number of training courses per year anticipated, for each set?

The FAA will use a bid model based on its estimated mixture of courses per year. The FAA does not plan to release the TEP model to the Offerors.

5.

Attachment J002

Attachment J002 - the labor categories for Graphics Designer and Instructor must have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field plus programming experience. Please clarify the need for programming experience.

The SIR amendment has revised these labor category descriptions to delete any programming experience.

6.

Attachment J002

Attachment J002 provides labor category requirements Jr. Administrative Professional.

Attachment L001, Pricing Worksheet, requests Jr.

Administrative Assistant. Please clarify.

These are for the same position; Attachment J002 has the correct position title. The SIR amendment corrects L001.

7.

Attachment J002

Attachment J002 provides labor category requirements for Instructor, whereas Attachment L001, Pricing Worksheet, requests Senior Instructor. Please clarify.

These are for the same position; Attachment J002 has the correct position title. The SIR amendment corrects L001.

8.

Does the FAA anticipate that any courses, particularly the Tier 3 ones and those utilizing distance learning, would benefit from a second instructor? If so, how will this be evaluated?

This decision is left to the Offeror to address in its Technical Approach.

9.

Attachment J003, page 3

Attachment J003, page 3, provides for Software Engineering, in addition to Systems Engineering, Test and Evaluation, and Enterprise Architecture.

Please clarify whether software engineering would be a separate course provided within set 3.

Yes, it is a separate course.

10. Regarding SOW attachment J005

Is the Capitol Hill Workshop listed as one of the courses required? If so, will the contractor be responsible for travel to the Hill per 3.2.2.1.?

Yes, the Capitol Hill Workshop is listed as one of the required courses. Students are responsible for their own travel to Capitol Hill.

11. Regarding SOW Section C.3.1.2

Has the current contract required an annual course update meeting each year?

The FAA has held these meetings under legacy training contracts.

12. Regarding SOW Section C.3.1.3

The Project Management Plan requires that the contractor identify all personnel and functions.

The SIR is amended to require submission of three (3) instructor resumes and letters of

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Will key resumes be required or just the letter of commitment required by L.18 Factor 3?

commitments (per curriculum set proposed). In addition, a resume is required for the Program Manager (See C.3.1.3). Each resume is limited to two (2) pages.

13.

Regarding SOW Section 3.1.5

Will required training records and documentation be maintained within an agency KSN/SharePoint site or stored by contractor until requested by the

FAA?

The SIR requires the contractor maintain this data and provide it to the FAA upon request.

14.

How many key resumes will be required and under which labor categories?

The SIR is amended to require submission of three (3) instructor resumes and letters of commitments (per curriculum set proposed). In addition, a resume is required for the Program Manager (See C.3.1.3). Each resume is limited to two (2) pages.

15.

Does the FAA require a review (teach-back) and assessment of training courses prior to delivery?

The SIR does not require a teach-back. Section C.3.2.2 is modified in the Amendment to require an assessment of COTS courses for potential FAA customization before delivery.

16.

Does the Presolicitation posted as solicitation number 31280 on FBO contain requirements similar to a existing contract or will this be a new requirement?

If possible, please provide the current contract number.

The current contracts for this solicitation (693KA9-19-R-00003) are as follows:

• Set 1 and 2: Management Concepts

(DTFACT-14-D-00009)

• Set 3: JMA Solutions, LLC (DTFAWA- 15-D-00025)

17.

Section B.7.1.Time-Materials, Labor-Hour Pricing, Page 7

Page 7 of Section B.7.1.Time-Materials, Labor- Hour Pricing, states that Attachment J001, Labor Rates Table, specifies the maximum fixed hourly rate that the contractor may charge under T&M TOs under this contract but no rates are shown.

Are there supposed to be maximum rates there or are they missing?

No, Offerors must propose these rates in the Offeror’s pricing proposal (see Attachment L001 Pricing Worksheet).

18.

Attachment J001

Must the contractor propose labor rates for all the labor categories identified in Attachment J001 or just the ones it anticipates using?

Each offer must propose rates for all labor categories in attachment J001.

19.

How many hours of customization does the government anticipate will be needed for the second type of training delivery (2) – leveraging existing contractor COTS training and customizing it to reflect FAA policies, procedures, case studies, etc. ?

The FAA does not plan to release its cost estimate or its underlying data.

20.

Will the contractor be reimbursed for the renting of a training facility in Washington, DC?

Training-facility rental will not be separately reimbursed.

21.

For clarification, the government will be providing the course/curriculum material for the “COTS-NO” courses identified in Attachment J004- List of Instructor Led Courses? If the government is responsible for procuring the materials, will they then provide the contractor with materials to provide to the students? Can the government provide an approximate cost of printing the

The Government will provide the course/curriculum material for the “COTS-NO” courses identified in Attachment J004- List of Instructor Led Courses.

Under CLINS x001 and x002, the Contractor is responsible for printing and providing course materials to the instructor and students.

Acquisition Training Support Page 3 / 7 materials for each of those course that will be figured into pricing? The FAA does not plan to release its cost estimate or its underlying data.

22.

Is there an incumbent contractor for the Set 1 Acquisition Training Curriculum part of this contract? If so, who and what is the total contract value?

The incumbent contract (DTFAWA-14-X-00018) was an Interagency Agreement (IAA) with OPM that expired on March 22, 2018. C2 Technologies, Inc. was the subcontractor under this contract. The total contract ceiling value was $8,642,868.00 for one base year and two one-year option periods.

Management Concepts is supporting the Sets 1 and 2 requirements under contract DTFACT-14- D-00009, which also provides support for other FAA training requirements.

23.

Is the course length for each course titles that are COTS-YES and COTS-YES FAA Customized flexible at all? In other words, can the contractor provide a course that is a shorter duration than the course length specified in Attachment J-004?

The Offeror must propose in accordance with the Government-provided schedule. The Government on a case-by-case basis can address any proposed changes to the course length after contract award.

24.

How does the government advise that the contractor price for the field locations since several locations are given?

The Offeror is responsible for determining how to price field location courses, including any shipping costs. Instructor travel will be separately reimbursed.

25. General Is the incumbent eligible to bid? The CO is not currently aware of any reason the incumbents would be ineligible.

26. C.3.2.2 Live Classroom or Virtual Training Delivery

“The Contractor must provide live-instructor training through a traditional classroom setting and/or through a virtual learning environment

(VLE).”

Which courses are classroom only? Which are online?

Current classroom only: Capitol Hill Workshop, NAS Systems Perspective Current virtual only: FAA Purchase Card - Get It, Use It, Keep It.

Currently, all other classes may be offered in a traditional classroom setting or through a VLE.

27. C.3.2.2.1 Traditional Classroom Setting

“The Contractor must provide all necessary qualified personnel, facilities (Washington, DC courses only), materials and services (such as textbooks, course materials, handouts, instructor tools, etc.), aids (such as flip charts, informational brochures, handouts, briefing packages, charts), equipment (computers, iPads, projectors, screens), internet access (Wi-Fi) and necessary shipping and handling to accomplish the requirements of the SOW.

The Contractor must provide for transportation of students for classes that require training sessions outside of the classroom. The Contractor must set a departure time and place for students to meet, as well as ensure that transportation returns students to the departure location.

Transportation must include heat and air

Personnel, facilities (Washington, DC courses only), materials and services, aids, equipment, internet access and necessary shipping and handling to accomplish the requirements of the SOW C.3.2.2.1 will not be separately reimbursed.

Student Transportation for class-required tours and site visits will be cost-reimbursable with no fee.

Acquisition Training Support Page 4 / 7 ventilation. Transportation arranged must be able to accommodate all students enrolled in a class.

Transportation costs are separately reimbursed from the training course pricing.”

For classroom setting courses, should we price an all-inclusive rate for facilities, materials, and transportation?

28. G.8.2 Per Diem “The Contractor will be reimbursed for the expense of meals and lodging incurred in the performance of this contract at the per diem rate as set by the General Services Administration (GSA) for locations in the Continental United States (CONUS) and by the Department of State for those locations outside CONUS (OCONUS), including Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. Per Diem is allowable only when the Contractor’s employee is in an authorized travel status.”

What is the government per day per diem amount?

This amount varies by location; refer to the GSA and Department of State per diem rates.

29. H.6.2 Personnel Security Requirements

“(a) All Contractor personnel are subject to background investigation conducted by the Government and must comply with the personnel security requirements of FAA Order 1600.1, Personnel Security Program, and FAA Order 1600.72, Industrial Security Program.

(b) All Contractor and subcontractor personnel accessing FAA-owned or -provided information systems or computing infrastructure must complete annual Security Awareness Training in accordance with FAA Order 1370.106.”

What is the clearance level for personnel working on this contract?

There are no clearance level requirements; refer to the FAA Orders 1600.1, 1600.2, and 1370.106 for more-detailed requirements.

30. Can we modify the formulas in the pricing schedule?

No. If an Offeror does not have a rate (such as fringe), it can offer 0.0% and the calculations will work.

31. L.18 Letters of Commitment

Are LOCs excluded from page count Resumes and LOCs are excluded from the Technical Volume page count limit. Refer to the SIR amendment.

32. L.21, L.21.3, Table L-1 Volume IV – Part 3 Title

Will the Government provide the correct title for Volume IV – Part 3: Is it Information Regarding Financial Capability or Responsibility Determination

This is corrected in the SIR amendment.

33. Pg. 42 H. 15 (f) This contract incorporates an OCI Mitigation Plan that is deemed acceptable to the Contracting Officer (see Proposal Volume V - Organizational Conflict of Interest).

Will the Government confirm that if an Offeror has no OCI it will not be required to submit a Volume V – Organizational Conflict of Interest Plan?

The amended SIR has deleted the quoted language.

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34. Section L.21.3 (page 98) Certified Financial Statement for the Offeror for the last 3 completed company fiscal years, certified by a CPA in good standing, as of the most recent fiscal year.

Will the Government accept as sufficient for this requirement the Reviewed Financial Statements for the Offeror for the last 3 completed company fiscal years as reviewed by a CPA in good standing, as of the most recent fiscal year? Like Certified Financial Statements, Reviewed Financial Statements generate a report by a qualified CPA on whether the financial information reviewed is accurate.

Reviewed Financial Statements are preferred by many businesses because they are less costly but still provide an independent review of their finances.

Yes. The requirement has been amended to allow for Reviewed Financial Statements. Please refer to the amended SIR Section L.21.3.

35. Section I.1. Clauses and Provision Incorporated by Reference (page 46)

Clause 3.5-16 Rights in Data – Special Works

Will the Government confirm that all rights, including ownership, to material first produced and data not first produced in the performance of an awarded contract will be governed by Clause 3.5-16, Rights in Data – Special Works?

The Government confirms that AMS Clause 3.5- 16 Rights in Data – Special Works applies to performance under this contract.

36. Attachment J004 List of Instructor-Led Courses

Leadership & Interpersonal Skills – Basic Leadership & Interpersonal Skills for Mid-Level Program Managers Cost and Financial Management for Mid- Level Senior Program Managers

There are multiple courses listed which appear to be FAC P/PM courses, but they do not adhere to the current FAI naming conventions or course lengths. Does FAA intend to deliver FAC P/PM courses which align with current FAI guidance or are these courses intentionally different in name and length? Can we propose courses that adhere to current FAI guidance?

The Offeror must propose in accordance with the Government-provided schedule. Regardless of course titles, the current courses do align with the FAI guidance.

37. Attachment J004 List of Instructor-Led Courses

Senior Level Program Management Capstone

Senior Level Program Management Capstone - This course description and length aligns with the Capstone course model developed and delivered by the Federal Acquisition Institute. Is this capstone course COTS material owned by FAA modeled on the FAI Capstone content?

The Senior Level Program Management Capstone course is COTS FAA customized and satisfies the requirements for FAC-P/PM Level III certification.

38. B.4 MAXIMUM CONTRACT

LIMITATION and B.5

GUARANTEED MINIMUM

QUANTITY OFWORK

B.4 MAXIMUM CONTRACT LIMITATION states:

The maximum cumulative dollar ceiling value of all contracts awarded under this SIR is $9,000,000. As a result, the contracts awarded under this SIR are subject to a joint, pooled ceiling equal to $9,000,000.

The minimum obligation per contract award is $10,000.00, not $10,000,000.00.

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B.5 GUARANTEED MINIMUM QUANTITY

OFWORK states:

This IDIQ contract has a $10,000.00-dollar minimum obligation to the Government per contract award.

Please clarify if all contracts awarded under the IDIQ cannot exceed $9,000,000.00 how the minimum obligation per contract award is $10,000,000.00.

39. SIR: 693KA9-19-R-00003

* Student (Transportation is Cost Reimbursable (No Fee)) is found on:

Page 3 CLIN 1001 Page 4 CLIN 2001 Page 6 CLIN 3001

Does this mean that the service provider is responsible for providing student transportation to classes?

Yes. Currently, there is only one course that may require students to visit an offsite location.

Student Transportation for class-required tours and site visits will be cost-reimbursable with no fee.

40. Is the “Art of Negotiation” class found in the ACM Training SOW Attachment specific to real property or contract negotiation in general?

“Art of Negotiation” is specific to real property.

41. C3.2.2.1 Traditional Classroom Setting (p15 &16)

Contractor must provide transportation for students for classes that require training outside of classroom.

Does the government anticipate the requirement for off-site sessions to be similar to that of 2018? Can the government provide an estimated number of sessions requiring training outside of the classroom?

The frequency of courses may change depending on the demand for the course.

42. Page 89, Section L.11 L.19 (d). Page 95

Page 89 states that “Note: Offerors submitting bids on multiple curriculum sets must submit separate Volume I Technical and Volume III Pricing submittals for each curriculum set. Offerors may submit a single Volume II Past Performance and Volume IV Other Proposal Documentation.”

Page 95 states that “If the FAA receives more than three Past Performance Questionnaires, it will only consider the first three received.”

Please confirm that a vendor choosing to propose on multiple Curriculum Sets is not limited to 3 total past performance questionnaires, but rather may submit up to 3 past performance questionnaires for each Set they are proposing on.

Please submit no more than three (3) past performance questionnaires in total. The SIR Section L.11 has been amended to state, “the Offeror must submit a single Volume II Past Performance….”

43. The solicitation is asking for letters of commitment (LOC) for the personnel. While it is understandable to require resumes and LOCs for the PM, who would be a full-time employee, the instructors are consultants, most of whom do not

LOCs do not need to reflect exclusive employment commitments by consultants.

Consultants may provide LOCs to multiple Offerors contingent upon award.

Acquisition Training Support Page 7 / 7 wish to sign LOCs for part-time work without a guarantee of work in return. Also, the acquisition field is ever-changing. The skills that are required today, may not be the same skills required in the future. So as not to limit the government’s access to high-quality consultants, we recommend the government remove the requirement for instructor LOCs and require sample resumes and/or a staffing matrix instead.

In addition, the SIR is amended to require submission of three (3) instructor resumes and letters of commitments (per curriculum set proposed). A resume is also required for the Program Manager (See C.3.1.3).