FAA Response to Public Inquiries. Amendment #3.pdf

Question

Offeror

Question SIR No.

SIR

Volume

No.

Section

No.

Page No. Government Response

1 1

The Final SIR includes the requirement for “audited Financial Statements for the last three company fiscal years” with the explanation that “Financial

Statements may include those that are audited by an external certified, independent auditor”. However, the term 'audited' was not used in the Draft

SIR. The response due date of April 8, 2020 provides less than two months to complete an audit of the past three years of financial statements. The accounting firms we have contacted have indicated that it would not be possible to complete an audit of this magnitude in this time frame (prior to

April 8), particularly considering the time of year (tax season). Additionally, the cost of completing a financial audit places a small business at a significant disadvantage during the proposal process. If the FAA requires financial statements that are fully audited by the April 8 due date, from this company's perspective that requirement may cause some teams to drop out and significantly reduce competition. Will the FAA clarify the requirement for the financial statements. Do the words “may include” indicate that the FAA will accept internally or other type of "audited" financial statements? Given the short time frame to complete a full external audit, will the FAA accept “Reviewed” (reviewed by an external accounting firm) financial statements submitted with the proposal and the requirement for

“audited” financial statements, if needed, to be postponed to a reasonable timeframe after contract award? We recommend the following wording: "

...Section K Representation and Certifications, CAS Disclosure statements (if applicable) and Financial Statements for the last three company fiscal years.

Financial Statements must include those that are audited or reviewed by an external certified, independent accountant."

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume IV L.6.4.1 73 Please refer to Amendment #3 SIR Section

L.6.4.1 for updated financial statement requirements.

2 2

The sample problems are written to Task Orders, which in the streamlined

PSS ordering process are aggregated umbrella contracts established for each AJM Directorate under which specific work orders are issued.

Recommend the sample problems be written at the Work Order level instead of Task Order to allow responses to better align with the level of detail and specificity requested in draft SIR Section L. Alternatively, if the sample problems remain at the Task Order level, recommend the Government consider reducing the number of sample problems to one to avoid the amount of repetition that will occur to address high-level work items.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Vol I Attach

L001;

L002, L003:

Sample

Problems

N/A A response to the sample task orders remains a requirement as each task order forecast the programs, core capabilities and functional areas required by each Directorate, as such the Offerors response will inform the assessment of Offerors' technical qualifications. Please see response to question 4 concerning repetitive information.

3 2

Recommend the Program Manager LCAT be updated to include the language from the ETASS Program Manager LCAT. Currently, the PSS PM

LCAT description does not encompass any specific aviation or engineering experience, and only calls for generic program management experience.

Additionally, recommend changing the degree requirement from MBA to

“Masters degree in engineering/engineering management, systems management or business management field”; which mirrors the project management family.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Vol II Attach

J005

5 of 8 FAA includes Master of Science as an allowable degree in the labor category requirements for the

Program Manager.

4 2

Technical Qualifications is limited to 35 pages. The volume requires Offerors to demonstrate their experience in 25 Core Capabilities and 20 Functional

Task Areas and provide a technical approach to three Sample Task Orders.

Covering that much information in 35 pages restricts the level of detail and specificity that may be provided to draw distinctions among bidders. Would the Government consider assigning a separate page count for the sample problems, say 10 pages per sample problem, or moving the sample problems to a separate volume with its own page count?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

FSIR Vol I FSIR L.5 69 The 35 page limit is adequate as the final SIR increased the page count and encouraged

Offerors to consolidate or reference applicable proposal sections when responding to areas common to all three sample task, see Section

L.6.1, Section III - Sample Task Order Response.

5 2

Worksheet L001G1 thru L001G3 – Sample Task Order Pricing instructions include: “Pricing shall support Offeror’s proposed approach to each Task

Order and at a minimum shall include:

(a) Proposed Team Structure, Skill Mix-Labor Categories and Labor Rates

(Offeror’s proposed labor rates must be traceable to the ceiling labor rates in

Offeror’s Attachment L001E1 and L001E2, GS and CS Ceiling Rates, with discounts clearly indicated).

(b) Estimated Level of effort

(c) Rate build up information; to include annual escalation rates (Offeror’s proposed rate build up and escalation must be consistent with the Offeror’s worksheet L0001C and L001D, Rate

Build-Up).”

There is nowhere to indicate team structure, discount, rate build up, and escalation rate on the worksheet

693KA9-20-

R-00001

FSIR Vol

IV

L.6.4.2 75 Amendment #3 removes the requirement to price the sample Task Orders.

6 2

L-0001D escalation rate formulas appear to be incorrect. They only calculate the escalation not the escalated rate. Using L001D the cell I5 as an example, the formula is currently “=H5*$I$4” which calculates the escalation but should be “=H5*(1+$I$4)” to calculate the escalated rate.

693KA9-

20-R-

00001

Attach

J001

L-

0001D

L-

0001D

Offerors are instructed to input (1+escalation rate) in cells I4,J4,K4, L4, M4 and N4 for worksheets L001C and L001D, Offeror

Question SIR No.

SIR

Volume

No.

Section

No.

Page No. Government Response

7 3

The three Sample Task Orders include the Labor Category “Strategic

Planner” but no level is specified. Can you please specify whether offerors should plan and price a Strategic Planner I, Strategic Planner II, or some combination?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Sample

Task

Orders

L002, L003, L004

& J001

(Labor

Rate

Table)

H. Skill Mix

/ Tabs L-

001G1, L-

001 G2, L-

001G3

9, 7, 8 Amendment #3 removes the requirement to price the sample task orders.

8 3

B.7.1(e) states: “Personnel in telework status are considered as performing at Government sites.” We respectfully request that the FAA enable an

Offeror to consider telework personnel as performing at Contractor Sites, provided that the following three (3) items are all true: (1) the Offeror’s approved indirect rates classify telework employees as Contractor Site employees, (2) the Offeror provides office space for teleworkers in

Contractor Site offices, and (3) the Offeror provides telework employees with personal computers, computer software, printers, phones, and reimbursement for office supplies.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Solicitation B.7.1(e) 3 Amendment #3 eliminated the referenced sentence as the work location of support personnel will be addressed after award, during the work order process.

9 3

In the draft SIR, L.6.4.3 Price Proposal Narrative, paragraph (b) included the sentence “Offerors may not change the mix of company bid labor categories from contract year to contract year.” This sentence has been omitted from the final SIR. Please confirm whether or not Offerors may change the mix of labor categories and hours to be priced in Attachment L001 Price Proposal

Bid Model.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Solicitation and

Attachment

L001 Price

Proposal

Bid Model

L.6.4.3(b) 75 Offerors may not change the mix of labor categories and hours in Attachment L001 Price

Bid Model.

10 3

Does the Times New Roman font type requirement extend to the 8pt font allowed for charts, graphs, tables and pictures?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Solicitation L.5 70 Offerors may choose other font type besides

Times New Roman for charts, graphs, tables and pictures.

11 4

We would like to add a labor category for business process reengineering. It is not clear if additional labor categories can be added now, or have to wait until after contract award. Referring to the following text: "At any time and throughout the life of the contract, at the request of the Government, the

Contractor may propose additional labor categories, rates and descriptions necessary to support requirements of this contract or a specific Task Order."

Can we include additional labor categories in our proposal?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Sol_693KA

9-20-R-

00001.Am endment

1.pdf

B.7.1 (b) 2 No. Offerors are not to include additional labor categories within the proposal.

12 4

The SIR states "Personnel in telework status are considered as performing at Government sites". In our DCAA-approved accounting practices, we do not account for teleworkers as being equivalent to workers at a Government site, as we still furnish them with all computer equipment, system administration support, office supplies, and services required to support their work. Are you only referring to government site employees that are teleworking? Can we bid teleworkers as contractor site employees if our accounting practices utilize a common intermediate indirect cost pool that collects expenses for both contract site and teleworking personnel? If not, do you expect us to change our accounting practices for this contract? We are concerned that this requirement is dictating the offeror's accounting practices.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Sol_693KA

9-20-R-

00001.Am endment

1.pdf

B.7.1 (e) 3 See FAA's response to question 8.

13 4

Can you please provide clarification of the use of the term 'concept of operations' in the context of the sample tasks? "Offeror must present a sound technical approach that includes process improvements and a viable concept of operations." Is the operational concept for the approach for managing the task order? Or the concept of operations of the AJM organization in meeting the mission? Can we get further clarification on what is being requested by this sentence?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Sol_693KA

9-20-R-

00001.Am endment

1.pdf

L.6.1 71 L.6.1 Section III, Task Order Response contains the response requirement for the referenced phrase. Although Section L of the SIR identifies

Offerors' response requirements the content of the proposal is left to the discretion of the Offeror.

14 4

The list of programs under an organization within a sample task order are not necessarily complete. For example, in the Enterprise Services Sample TO, AJM-3100 only has the Air Ground Voice Services program listed, and is missing other programs, such as SWIM. Does this mean that the scope of the sample TO is only for the specific programs listed, and not all programs under AJM? And what about the contract as a whole? Are all programs in

AJM in scope, even if not listed under one of the sample task orders?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Attachment

L003_ES_

Sample

Task

Order.pdf

C 2 The task orders within the SIR are samples and

Offerors should limit its response to the programs identified within these samples.

15 4

Do page limits in the table for each volume include a title page and/or table of contents?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Sol_693KA

9-20-R-

00001.Am endment

1.pdf

L.5 (e) 69 Cover/title pages, table of contents and acronym list are not included in the page limitations

16 4

Do all resumes submitted as part of Section III of Volume II have to be currently employed by an organization on our team? "Offerors are encouraged to propose personnel with critical skills and experience for the task orders. Resumes for the personnel will be excluded from the page count. "

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Sol_693KA

9-20-R-

00001.Am endment

1.pdf

L.6.2 71 Section L.6.2 – Volume II; Section III – Skill Mix, Key and Critical Personnel, as amended, instructs

Offerors to “….demonstrate that the proposed personnel reflect an optimum skill mix and have the education, background, domain knowledge, capability and availability to accomplish the requirements of the sample Task Order.” The method by which the Offerors demonstrate availability is left to their discretion.

Offeror

Question SIR No.

SIR

Volume

No.

Section

No.

Page No. Government Response

17 4

If a past performance contract has a CPARS, it sounds like a customer survey is not necessary. Can you confirm? Could we still submit the survey even if we have a CPARS, and would that add any weight in the evaluation?

Referring to: "Offerors may directly forward Contractor Performance

Assessment Reporting System (CPARS)- Performance Assessments rather than Past Performance Customer Surveys."

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Sol_693KA

9-20-R-

00001.Am endment

1.pdf

L.6.3 72 No. Offerors should not provide both CPARS and

Past Performance surveys for the same reference. Please refer to SIR Section L.6.3, which states Offerors may submit CPARS or Past

Performance Surveys to satisfy the requirements of this section.

18 4

The Logistics Analyst labor category levels and years of experience seem incorrect. For example, Level III has less hours experience than Level 1.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Attachment

J005

Labor

Category

Table

4 Amendment #3 corrected this error.

19 4

Can an offeror's past performance citation be the EFAST MOA (inclusive of all TO's awarded under that MOA). This would allow for a small business to combine the work performed under eFAST so that is it inclusive of their work across the many mission areas it supports.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Sol_693KA

9-20-R-

00001.Am endment

1.pdf

L.6.3 72 No. In Accordance With SIR Section L.6.3, Offerors must provide the specific information for each Task as required for the Past Performance

Survey. Offerors should refer to SIR Section

L.6.3 Past Performance regarding this requirement and ensure they fully respond to the

Past Performance Requirements.

20 4

Should the resumes provided as part of Section III of Volume II be in the same format as the one provided for the Key Personnel via J004?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Sol_693KA

9-20-R-

00001.Am endment

1.pdf

L.6.2 71 Offerors may submit resumes in the format of their choosing. Limit individual resumes to three pages and maximum of 25 resumes for all key and critical personnel.

21 4

Volume II, Section III instructions states "Offeror must provide a staffing plan that describes the staffing and resources to be used in the performance of the sample Task Orders (identified in Section L, L002-L004)." To what extent do we have to show staffing coverage across the labor categories and hours included in the sample task orders?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Sol_693KA

9-20-R-

00001.Am endment

1.pdf

L.6.2 71 Amendment #3 removed the requirement for a staffing plan for the sample task orders.

22 4

Is there any limit to the number of resumes that can be submitted in support of Volume II, Section III?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Sol_693KA

9-20-R-

00001.Am endment

1.pdf

L.6.2 71 See FAA's response to question 20.

23 5

Section C.2.7 Core Capabilities identifies the core capabilities the offeror must have. However, the sample Task Order Attachment L002 ATS includes a core capability titled “Information Management Services” on page 10 of the

Sample Task Order that is not listed in C.2.7. Please provide a description of this core capability

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume I C.2.7

Section III

SIR pages

10, and

L002 page

Amendment #3 addresses this by removing

Information Management Services from the sample Task Order.

24 5

Section C.2.7 Core Capabilities identifies the core capabilities the offeror must have. However, the sample Task Order Attachment L002 ATS includes a core capability titled “Communications, Navigation and Surveillance” on page 9 of the Sample Task Order that is not listed in C.2.7. This may be referring to the item on page 11 of the SIR titled simply, “Communications.”

Please confirm this is correct.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume I C.2.7

Section III

SIR page

11, and

L002 page

C.2.7 items 6,15 and 22 identify

Communications, Navigation and Surveillance as core capabilities.

25 6

Is it the Government’s intent to not have PM hours for Sample Task Order

L003? PM hours were allocated for Sample Task Order, L002 and L004. If

PM hours are required for Sample Task L002, what is the estimated level of effort (hours) for Base Period 1, 2, and 3?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume I L002, Section H;

L003, Section H;

L004, Section H

Page 8;

Page 7;

See response to question 7.

26 6

Recommend the FAA limited resume submission to only defined Key

Personnel. Without this restriction, offers will be encouraged to inundate the

FAA with hundreds of resumes that would have to be evaluated. Reviewing hundreds of resumes from multiple offers would burden the FAA evaluators.

Will the FAA update section M to provide the resume evaluation criteria and scoring methodology as it applies to Table 2 Adjectival Ratings and

Definitions.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume II Section

L.6.2

Section

M.1.5, Section III

See FAA's response to question 20 and 62.

Evaluation of proposed sample Task Order critical staff and key personnel will be in accordance with (In Accordance With) M.1.5 and

M.4.

27 6

The SIR requires response to show experience in all 25 Core areas. We believe that this will impede small business participation and reduce competition.

a) Will the FAA consider allowing small business to respond to 15 Core areas?

b) Are all core areas weighted equally?

c) Is ‘prime’ experience required for all ‘Core’ areas?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume I Section I Pages 10-

The number of Core Capability areas responded to will impact the assessment of breadth, but failure to include some of the Core Capability areas will not preclude being considered. See SIR

Section M.1(i). Yes -All Core areas are weighted equally. No-Prime exerience is not required for all "Core" areas.

28 6

Section M.1.4 (Section I) states that the “FAA will assess the degree to which the Offeror demonstrates a breadth and depth of core capabilities identified in Section C.2.7; and the effectiveness and efficiency of applying these capabilities to the PSS program.”

a) What qualifications or criteria will be used for the evaluation of demonstrating “breadth and depth”?

b) How will the FAA assess ‘effectiveness and efficiency”?

c) Will this apply for all the AJM groups?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume I Section I Page 85

Offerors response will be evaluated In

Accordance With Section M.1.4 and M.4

Offeror

Question SIR No.

SIR

Volume

No.

Section

No.

Page No. Government Response

29 6

The SIR states that some of the Core Capabilities areas are “capabilities that the Contractor must provide to successfully perform the FAA’s requirements”.

• Which Core areas ‘must’ the contractor provide?

693KA9-20-

R-00001 Volume I Section I Page 10

Task Orders and work orders issued post award will identify core capabilities the awardee must provide.

30 6

Section M.1.4 (Section II) states that the FAA will “assess the Offerors familiarity with the supported programs”.

We believe this requirement to be familiar with all supported programs in

AJM divisions gives larger businesses an unfair advantage over small businesses, thereby reducing small business participation and deemphasizing competition.

a) Which specific programs does the prime contractor need to be familiar?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume I Section II Page 85

Offerors should address the programs identified within the sample task orders, pursuant to L 6.1, Section III. Offerors response will be evaluated In

Accordance With M.1.4 Section II, III, and M.4 and in the context of M.1 b.

Intentionally left blank

Intentionally left blank

33 6

Section M.1.4 (Section II) states that the FAA will assess “the ability to support the functional task areas, identified in Section C.3, with knowledgeable resources”.

a) Are all Functional Task areas weighted equally?

b) How does the FAA define ‘knowledgeable resources’?

c) Is ‘prime’ experience required with all ‘Functional’ areas required?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume I Section II Page 85

The Offerors response to L.6.1, Section III will be evaluated In Accordance With M.1.4 Section II and M.4.

34 6

Section M.1.4 (Section II) states that the FAA will assess the “Offers ability to apply resources in manner consistent with directorate, group, and program goals”.

The definition of “resources” is unclear (ie - management of staffing resources, knowledge of program, group, and directorate goals, or technical qualifications.)

a) What specific ‘resources’ is the FAA referring to?

b) What are the goals of the “directorate, group, and program”?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume I Section II Page 85

The FAA Strategic Plan

(https://www.faa.gov/about/plans_reports/media/F

AA_Strategic_Plan_Final_FY2019-2022.pdf) and the NextGen Implementation Plan

(https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/library/) provide additional insight into FAA goals. The content of the proposal is left to the discretion of the Offeror.

35 6

There is ambiguity in how offerors need to respond to the sample Task orders.

a) Will task order responses be weighted equally?

b) Is there a required outline or format for each Sample Task Order response?

c) Is there a page limit that should be allocated to each Sample Task Order response?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume I Section III Pages 70-

Yes. Task order responses will be weighed equally. The response to the sample task orders will be evaluated In Accordance With M1.4 and

M.4. The format for the subject response is up to discretion of the Offeror. Page limits are indicated at the volume level as reflected in L.5.

36 6

The SIR states “Offeror must demonstrate a thorough and complete understanding of the specific requirements and programs identified in each of the three sample Task Orders.”

Requiring that all three task orders be addressed creates an unfair advantage for larger businesses, thereby reducing competition and small business participation.

a) Will the FAA consider allowing small businesses to respond to only one of the task orders?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume I Section III Page 70

No, offerors must respond to all three task orders.

See response to question 2 and 163 for additional information.

37 6

Resumes

a) Are sample resumes required for all positions or only for key positions?

b) Will the offeror be permitted to add ‘key’ resumes or are we limited to the staffing plan as outlined in the sample TO?

c) Will resumes be ‘rated’? If so – what is the rating criteria?

d) Should resumes be of current employees?

e) What are the sample resumes meant to indicate?

f) How many pages are allotted per resume?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume I Section III pages 71

Amendment #3 clarified the resume requirement and limits the total resumes to 25 for critical and key personnel. See FAA's response to questions

16 and 26.

38 6

Section M.1.4, Section III states that the FAA will evaluate the “degree of soundness of technical approach to sample task order”. The sample task

SOWs provide broad functional areas in which support is to be provided, (e.g., System Engineering, Software Engineering, Program Management, etc.; the descriptions of each covers 3 to 5 pages. Additionally, each Sample

Task Order has 8 or 9 deliverables.)

• What should the “technical approach” for the Sample Task Order

Responses address?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume I

Section

M.1.4, Section III

The content of proposal is left to the discretion of the Offeror. The evaluation of the Offerors response will be In Accordance With Section

M.1.4, Section III and Section M.4.

39 6

Section M.1.4, Section III states that the Sample Task Order Responses will be evaluated on the “degree and substance of viable process improvements.”

The sample task SOWs are functional and do not identify processes.

a) Are there specific processes which are to be improved?

b) Does the offeror need to state which processes will be improved?

c) How will the FAA assess if these are “viable”?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume I

Section

M.1.4, Section III

The content of proposal is left to the discretion of the Offeror. The evaluation of the Offerors response will be In Accordance With Section

M.1.4, Section III and Section M.4.

Offeror

Question SIR No.

SIR

Volume

No.

Section

No.

Page No. Government Response

40 6

Section M.1.5 (Section III) states that the “FAA will assess if the proposed sample Task Order Staff have the education or background, domain knowledge, and capability to accomplish the task and activity without delay or risk.”

Given that there are three sample Task Orders with broad functional areas, diverse deliverables, and numerous labor categories, please clarify, how will this section be evaluated?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume II Section

M.1.5

Section III:

Skill Mix and Key

Personnel

Page 85-

The content of proposal is left to the discretion of the Offeror. The evaluation of the Offerors response will be In Accordance With Section

M.1.5, Section III and Section M.4.

41 6

Section L.6.3 states that the “proposal must provide a narrative detailing the

Offeror’s contract experience relates to the functional areas and core competencies in Section C” and “how this past performance is relevant to performing Task Orders under the PSS contract.

a) Please clarify how “relevance” will be evaluated

• Is “relevance” related to the number of functional areas and core competencies reflected?

• Is “relevance” related to the size and complexity of the work?

• Is “relevance” related to the number of individual task orders?

b) Are specific functional areas and core competencies of greater priority to the FAA and given greater weight in evaluating “relevance”? If so, please clarify which are most important to the evaluation.

c) Should the Offeror describe additional experience not reflected in the 5 past performance descriptions, in order to more comprehensively address the functional areas and core competencies?

d) Are functional areas and core competencies given equal weight, or are core competencies more important to the FAA?

e) Are individual functional areas equally important and are individual core competencies equally important, or are some more important to the FAA?

f) Are prime contractor and subcontractor past performance descriptions rated identically?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume III Section I –

Past

Performan ce

Narrative

Page 72 Past Performance will be evaluated In

Accordance With M.1.6.

42 6

We understand that they will be sent to the customers and the customer will submit to the FAA separately

• Should the Past Performance Customer Survey templates (not rated) be included with the proposal submission?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume III Section II –

Past

Performan ce

Customer

Survey

Page 72 No, Past Performance Customer Survey are not included with proposal submission. Past

Performance Customer Surveys are provided directly to the Contracting Officer by the customer.

43 6

Company certifications

These provide an objective discriminator for an organization and can bring certified benefit and the highest levels of process and quality to the FAA.

g) Will the FAA consider adding CMMI SVC Level 3 certification or ISO

9001:2015 certifications as a requirement for priming this opportunity?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

NA NA NA No, the FAA will not adjust the requirement. The content of proposal is left to the discretion of the

Offeror.

44 6

Teaming limitations:

• Will there be any limits for a small business prime to also be on a Large

Business Team?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

NA NA NA No, there are no teaming limitation or restrictions.

45 6

Total Evaluated Price

Section M.2. states, “ The Offeror’s total proposed price for the Sample Tasks are NOT part of the Total Evaluated price.”

However, Section L.6.4.2(c)(7) on page 74 requires offerors to propose

“complete and thorough pricing of the specific requirements identified for each Task Order.”

It is not apparent to us how or why the Government needs sample task order pricing if that pricing is not part of the TEP. Please clarify how the

Government intends to use Sample Task Order pricing.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume IV Section

M.2

Section

L.6.4.2(c)(

7)

Amendment #3 removed the requirement to price the sample Task Order.

46 6

Ceiling Indirect Rates

Section B.7.1(h)(2) contains two tables for separate ceiling indirect rates applicable for Materials and Travel with a footnote that the ceilings are based on the successful offeror’s proposal. Please confirm that offerors may elect to add a separate tab to Attachment L001 to explicitly propose these ceiling indirect rates that will be inserted into B.7.1(h)(2). Please clarify whether the

IDIQ prices should be priced at those ceiling rates.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume IV

– Price

Proposal &

Volume V

Contracts

Proposal

Section

B.7.1(h)(2)

4 No , the Offeror may not add additional tabs to attachment L001. Amendment #3, Attachment

L001-F addresses this issue. As provided in SIR

Section B.7, Travel and Materials Not-to-Exceed amount is the ceiling price including all applicable indirect cost.

47 6

Transition Plan

SOW C.2.2.3 and L.6.2 – Section IV – Transition requires offerors to develop a transition plan. Are offerors supposed to assume that the Sample Task

Orders represent incumbent efforts and therefore develop a transition plan targeting those task orders? If not, then we request the Government provide additional information on current incumbent task orders including task order name, incumbent staffing, incumbent pay rates, and underlying work orders issues for each incumbent task order.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Volume II

Manageme nt

Approach

Section

C.2.2.3 &

L.6.2 –

Section IV

8 & 71 No, the Sample Tasks Orders do not represent incumbent efforts and the Government is not asking Offerors to develop a transition plan targeting the sample task orders. The Offerors must address SIR Sections C.2.2.3 and L.6.2 for their proposal submission. FAA will provide additional information on incumbants Task Orders following contract award.

48 6

Transition Plan

a. Please clarify how contractors will be reimbursed for costs incurred for transition.

b. Please indicate how contractors will provide the price for transition.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

NA NA NA Following contract award, the FAA will issue Task orders for the successful Offerors to fund this preliminary work.

Offeror

Question SIR No.

SIR

Volume

No.

Section

No.

Page No. Government Response

49 6

Instructions

The title of L.6 is “Phase 1 - Instructions for Proposal Submission”. Is there a

‘Phase 2’ evaluation, that follows and if so, please describe, what happens in

‘Phase 2’.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

N/A Section L.6 70 Amendment #3 removed the language “ Phase I” from the referenced SIR Section.

50 6

Materials (T&M, LH and Cost Reimbursable WOs)

Item (1) (d) Applicable indirect costs are defined. How & where will these rates be specified in this proposal? Where will they be stipulated in the resulting contract?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

N/A B.7.1 (h) 4 Please refer to SIR Section B.7 for this information.

51 7

C.2.2.2 and F.5.3 contain differing requirements for a Staffing, Recruitment and Workforce Development Plan. Would the Government eliminate the description in F.5.3 in order to reduce conflict and redundancy?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

II C.2.2.2

and F.5.3

8, 23 There is no material difference between the referenced requirement other than the deliverable indicated in F.5.3 is due 15 days after award and the draft plan identified in C.2.2.2 is due with the proposal as part of L.6.2, section II.

52 7

Is the draft Staffing, Recruitment and Workforce Development Plan (required by C.2.2.2 and F.5.3) separate from or part of Section II of Volume II –

Management Approach? Section C.2.2.2 and F.5.3 contain different requirements from what is specified in L.6.2 and M.1.5.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

II C.2.2.2,

F.5.3, L.6.2, and

M.1.5

8, 23, 71, Yes, the draft staffing plan required in C.2.2.2 is part of the Volume II, Section II. See response to question 51.

53 7

C.2.2.2 states, “The plan must describe employee benefit and incentive programs that induce long-term retention and employee continuity.” This is not required in L.6.2 and M.1.5. Is this information required to be discussed in Section II of Volume II – Management Approach?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

II C.2.2.2

and F.5.3, L.6.2, and

M.1.5

8, 23, 71, Yes, the referenced information should be discussed as part of the Offeror's response to

L.6.2, Section II of Volume II.

54 7

Is the draft Transition Plan (required by C.2.2.3 and F.5.4) separate from or part of Section IV of Volume II – Management Approach and is this

Transition Plan required to be delivered with the proposal?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

II C.2.2.3

and F.5.4

8, 23 The draft Transition plan identified in C.2.2.3 should be submitted as part of the response to

L.6.2, Volume II, Section IV - Transition. The deliverable identified in F.5.4 is only applicable to awardees and is due 15 days after award.

55 7

Section C.2.2.3 contains different requirements from what is specified in

L.6.2 and M.1.5. For example, C.2.2.3 states, “The contractor must also include with the schedule an assessment of schedule risks and mitigation activities. At a minimum, the schedule must include…” Within the 8 bullets that follow, some requirements are not knowable at this time and cannot be addressed with a draft transition plan. For example, “status of on-going technical initiatives” cannot be answered until such time as the specific programs and work initiatives transferring to a contractor have been identified. The discrepant information between C.2.2.3, L.6.2 and M.1.5 must be resolved before a proposal can be written.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

II C.2.2.3,

L.6.2 and

M.1.5

8, 71-72, 85-86

Amendment #3 removed the requirement to provide status of on-going technical initiatives for the transition plan. See FAA's response to question 51 and 52. Section L.5 (d) provides information pertinent to the relationship between

Section L and M.

56 7

There is inconsistent language between Sections L and M, specifically

Section L states, “…relative to NAS operations, airspace, procedures, processes and automation systems” yet M.1.4 for Section I does not reference the quoted text. Given that the differing Core Capabilities address the operations, airspace, procedures, processes, and automation systems aspects by their nature, we recommend removing this requirement from

Section L.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

L.6.1 and

M.1.4

Volume I, Section I

70, 85 Section L.5 (d) provides information pertinent to the relationship between Section L and M that may be helpful in organizing your response to the referenced section of the SIR.

57 7

Sections L and M reference a requirement for Offerors to demonstrate a

“thorough and complete understanding of the specific requirements in each of the sample task orders”. What does the Government mean by specific requirements? These sample task orders are very general since they are addressed at the Directorate Level and therefore do not contain specific task requirements to be performed for a program. Accordingly, Offerors cannot provide a technical approach relative to specific requirements. We recommend the Government update this requirement to say, “Offeror must demonstrate a thorough and complete understanding of each Task Order and programs identified within attachment L002, L003, and L004…” We also recommend the government update Section M, accordingly.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

L.6.1 and

M.1.4

Volume I, Section III

70-71, 85 Amendment #3 addresses this item by removing the term specific.

58 7

Section L.6.1 references “a viable concept of operations” however Section M does not include a concept of operations. Please add evaluation criteria around the concept of operations in Section M. Additionally, please clarify what the Government means by concept of operations in both sections.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

L.6.1 and

M.1.4

Volume I, Section III

70-71, 85 See the FAA's response to question 13 and 56.

59 7

Section L.6.2 states, “Policies and procedures for managing fluctuating staffing levels that may occur through newly awarded or expiring TOs”, however, Section M.1.5 states, “employing a resource management plan to support multiple task and work orders.” Please ensure that Sections L and M are in alignment.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

L.6.2 and

M.1.5, Section II

71-72, 85-

See the FAA's response to question 56.

60 7

Regarding the statement in Section L, Volume II, Section III: “Offeror must identify the approach to recruitment and retention of the Task Order staff.”

This requirement is duplicative with the Volume II, Section II requirement that states, “Strategies to identify, recruit and retain qualified personnel.” Please eliminate or clarify what is required in Section III.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

L.6.2 and

M.1.5, Section III

71-72, 85-

Amendment #3 eliminates the duplication by removing the requirement for this information within Volume II, Section III.

Offeror

Question SIR No.

SIR

Volume

No.

Section

No.

Page No. Government Response

61 7

Given that Section G.1.2 states how Contractors are expected to propose personnel resumes at the Work Order level once requirements are more defined, it seems premature to include requirements within Sections L.6.2 and M.1.5 for Offerors “to propose personnel with critical skills and experience for the [sample] task orders.” To avoid this inconsistency within the solicitation, will the FAA remove the requirement in Section L.6.2 (and corresponding M.1.5 evaluation criteria) for Offerors to provide resumes for the Sample Task Order staff? Should FAA want to consider resumes and specific personnel as part of the IDIQ/Master Contract evaluation, it is recommended that additional Key Personnel requirements be added to

H.9/Clause 3.8.2-17 and Sections L and M.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

L.6.2 and

M.1.5, Section III

71-72, 85-

No, the FAA will not remove the requirement. As amended, the requirement to provide resumes for

25 key personnel and critical staff will inform the evaluation subfactor M.1.5 Section III - Skill Mix and Key Personnel.

62 7

The SIR states that within the Management Approach, “Offerors are encouraged to propose personnel with critical skills and experience for the task orders.” Can the FAA clarify the resume requirements for this volume? It is unclear how many resumes should be submitted given the number of personnel across the three Sample Task Orders and the fact that the Sample

Task Orders are for evaluation purposes only. Is the FAA seeking insight in

Offerors’ ability to staff a task order rather than reviewing resumes of existing employees at the time of IDIQ proposal submission?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

II L.6.2 71 Amendment #3 clarifies this requirement and limits resumes of the critical and key personnel to

25.

63 7

Section L.6.2, Section III contains the following requirement: “Offeror must demonstrate that the proposed sample Task Order staff reflect an optimum skill mix and the personnel have the education, background, domain knowledge and capability to accomplish the task and activity without delay or risk.” Given that the Sample Task Orders are written at the Directorate level and broadly list the programs in each Directorate but do not contain any specific program requirements or tasking, it is not possible for Offerors to adjust or provide a skill mix that is different from the FAA Estimated Skill Mix.

We request that the FAA remove this requirement.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

L.6.2 and

M.1.5, Section III

71-72, 85-

N/A - Amendment #3 removes the requirement to price the sample Task Orders.

64 7

Section L states, “Offeror shall propose complete and thorough pricing of the specific requirements identified for each Task Order.” Given that the Sample

Task Orders are written at the Directorate level and broadly list the programs in each Directorate but do not contain any specific program requirements or tasking, it is not possible for Offerors to substitute, adjust or provide a skill mix that is different from the FAA Estimated Skill Mix. We request that the

FAA remove this requirement.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

L.6.4.2 c)7) 74 Amendment #3 removes the requirement to price the sample Task Orders.

65 7

Can the FAA confirm that Offerors are required to submit full copies of each

Teaming Agreement it has with its potential subcontractors? Would the FAA consider changing this requirement to have Offerors disclose all teaming arrangements in accordance with AMS 3.2.2.7-8 instead?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

L.7.1 76 Yes, Offerors are required to submit full copies of each teaming agreement In Accordance With the referenced AMS clause.

66 7

Given the FAA’s transition to electronic commerce and the potential administrative burden on all parties, will the FAA remove the L.9 requirement for hard copies of the proposal and replace it with an e-mail or KSN submission?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

L.9 78 This SIR Section remains unchanged at this time.

The FAA is considering the best method for proposal delivery at this time and additional information will be provided as soon as available.

67 7

Each of the three Sample Tasks contains a table of deliverables located in

Section E of the respective Sample Task Order attachments. As the

Government has indicated that specific work will be performed at the Work

Order level rather than the Task Order level, we recommend removing these

Sections.

Sample

Tasks, Section E

The content of proposal is left to the discretion of the Offeror.

68 7

SOW paragraph C.3.8 (Program Management Support) says “Contractor will support task activities involving all aspects of program management within the Directorates. Tasks include both assistance with the management and contract administration of PSS Task Orders awarded to the Contractor and the establishment, management and maintenance of assigned goals.” The

Program Management Support paragraphs included in Section D of the

Sample Task Orders (L002/3/4) are solely focused on management of FAA programs within the Directorates, and not on management and administration of the PSS Task Orders themselves. We recommend moving the contract administration requirement from C.3.8 to C.2.2.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

C.3.8 14 The Program Management Support identified in

C.3.8 is one of 20 functional task areas. Section D of the sample task orders further detail this functional task area.

69 7

The title of SOW paragraph C.3.18 is “Performance and Data Management

Analysis”, which is different than the title “Performance Data

Management/Performance Analysis” in the intro paragraph of C.3. Please clarify.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

C.3.18 16 Amendment #3 corrects the introductory paragraph of C.3 to “Performance and Data

Management Analysis”.

70 7

Please reference the sentence, “Task orders and amounts and can…”

Should the second “and” be deleted or is there other text missing?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

IV Solicitation

B.5

Paragraph

1 Amendment #3 corrects the typographical error.

71 7

Please confirm that the single set of Offeror labor rates in J001 apply to both the Washington, DC metropolitan area and within the FAA Technical Center area.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

IV B.7.1(d) 3 Yes. The single set of Offeror labor rates in J001 and the referenced SIR Section apply to DC and

NJ. Refer to the revised information in SIR

Section B.7.1 (d) and SIR Section L.6.4.2 ( C ) items 3 & 4 in Amendment #3.

Offeror

Question SIR No.

SIR

Volume

No.

Section

No.

Page No. Government Response

72 7

Section B.7.1(d) appears to conflict with the pricing model established in

Attachment L001. Can the FAA revise Section B in order to remove the references to non-DC rates, including those based in Atlantic City, given that

Attachment J001 will only include Contractor and Government site rates in the Washington, DC area?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

IV B.7.1(d) 3 The single set of Offeror labor rates in J001 and the referenced SIR Section apply to DC and NJ.

Refer to the revised information in SIR Section

B.7.1 (d) and SIR Section L.6.4.2 ( C ) items 3 & 4 in Amendment #3.

73 7

We request the Government delete the sentence “Personnel in telework status are considered as performing at Government sites.” The Contractor provides all ordinary business equipment and software to its personnel (e.g.

personal computers, business software, copiers, and fax) regardless of whether the employee works at a Contractor site location or if they telework.

Further, telework employees work periodically at the Contractor site location requiring working facilities and supplies be provided. Therefore, the

Contractor incurs expenses that are recovered in the Contractor site rates.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

IV B.7.1(e)1) 3 See FAA's response to question 8.

74 7

B.7.1(f) states that Contract-level program management support costs are chargeable to the Work Orders issued under this contract. Consistent with the ETASS execution, we request that this paragraph to be modified to clarify that the Contractor’s Program Management Organization will be funded through a separate Task Order awarded to each contract holder. This practice allows the Government to have a dedicated Program Manager and business office support staff that are accessible and available to manage and oversee the contract. Paragraph C.2.6 TASK ORDER MANAGEMENT requires the appointment of a program manager and project control function necessary to manage the work, ensure that the cost, schedule and quality requirements for each TO are continually tracked and communicated with the

FAA. The Government must provide a Task Order in order for the contractor to meet the requirements of C.2.6. Lacking a separate Task Order to fully cover Task Order Management costs, the Contractor is unable to provide the dedicated Program Management resources to manage the overall business of the contract because the costs cannot be effectively divided and charged to an unknown number of Work Orders.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

IV B.7.1(f) 3 thru 4 Please refer to revised SIR Section B.7.1(f) in

Amendment #3.

75 7

Since all TOs benefit in some way from one or more PM activities (reporting, management oversight, QA, etc.), when new TOs are added and new WO’s issued, will the FAA re-balance PM support across TOs to be sure that all

TO/WOs receive equitable PM direct charges where applicable? Will the

PM be required to estimate hours to be expended per TO? If those estimated hours change based on actual FAA need, will FAA rebalance PM hours across all TO/WOs to reflect these changes?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

IV B.7.1(f) 3 thru 4 Please refer to revised SIR Section B.7.1(f) in

Amendment #3.

76 7

Given that managing the details of the distribution of PMO charges across all

TOs/WOs could require multiple adjustments to TO/WOs on a regular basis, would FAA consider establishing a separate TO/WO that would support

PMO activities common to all TOs as well as any individual direct support activities by the PM? This would reduce administrative burdens and reduce costs considerably since PMO costs would not necessarily increase with each new TO/WO or change thereto.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

IV B.7.1(f) 3 thru 4 Please refer to revised SIR Section B.7.1(f) in

Amendment #3.

77 7

Regarding the sentence “The plan must provide a detailed listing and distribution of resources available for utilization on this contract to accommodate Work Orders that may be issued.” We request the

Government delete this requirement since this is an IDIQ contract and the exact work requirements have not been specified by the Government.

Accordingly, a detailed list of resources, by name, to be utilized on this contract cannot be provided and would be of no value to the Government for evaluation purposes.

693KA9-20-

R-00001

II F.5.3 23 The referenced plan is due 15 days after contract award when work requirements are more detailed and awardee should have a detailed listing and distribution of resources available to perform on the work orders.

78 7

Will TOs be awarded at the Directorate Level and will all awardees receive a

TO for each Directorate? If not at the Directorate level, please clarify. Will any specific work be performed at the TO level or will all work be performed through issuance of a WO? Will WOs be issued at the Program level in order to task specific work?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

G.1.1 and

G.1.2

26-27 Each awardee will receive a minimum of one

Task Order pursuant to B.6 Guaranteed Minimum

Quantity of Work. Subsequently work order will be issued pursuant to B.7.1 (f) and G.1 Ordering

Procedures

79 7

Is it correct that funding will only be applied at the Work Order level? If so, should #9 under G.1.1(d) be changed to “Ceiling Information” instead of

“Funding Information”; and should G.1.2 be changed from “Program Office intends to issue Work Orders against the funded Task Orders” to “Program

Office intends to issue Work Orders against the awarded Task Orders”?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

G.1.1(d);

G.1.2

26-27 No, funding is applied at the Task Order level.

80 7

Given the FAA’s transition to electronic commerce and the potential administrative burden on all parties, will the FAA consider revising Section

G.9(d) to remove the requirement to submit invoices in hard copy?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

G.9(d) 32 Yes, the FAA revised SIR Section G.9(d) to remove the requirement for hard copies and reflect the option to submit hard copies.

81 7

Section G.10 states, “It is the intent of the FAA to equitably issue task assignments between the prime contract holders.” Can the Government provide additional details on the process it will use to determine which prime contract holders will be issued task assignments? Will the majority of task orders be competed among contract holders?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

G.10 33-34 Please refer to the guidance provided in the referenced SIR Section.

Offeror

Question SIR No.

SIR

Volume

No.

Section

No.

Page No. Government Response

82 7

Is a task assignment the same as a task order or work order? 693KA9-20-

R-00001

G.10 33 N/A - Amendment #3 removes the term task assignment in order to clarify Section G.10.

83 7

What procedures will be used in the event that the FAA decides to compete a task assignment? For example, will a competitive task order request be developed including instructions for submission and evaluation criteria?

Would the unsuccessful contractor(s) be entitled to a debriefing following award?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

G.10 33 The FAA will proceed In Accordance With SIR

Section G.10 and the AMS process.

84 7

What is the Corporate University Dean? 693KA9-20-

R-00001

H.6 35 FAA removed the reference to the Corporate

University Dean in Amendment #3.

85 7

The dollar value in this clause is the same as the dollar value in B.5. Should the dollar value in the Section I clause be higher since this represents the ceiling value of the contract after an increase to the contract ceiling value?

693KA9-20-

R-00001

Section I –

Clause

3.10.1-27

CHANGES

49 No, the dollar value is the same.

86 7