Questions and Answers to Solicitation 6973GH-21-R-00190.docx

Questions and Answers to Solicitation 6973GH-21-R-00190

1. Key personnel LCATs and estimated levels of effort are inconsistent across Appx A, PWS Task 2, and SIR, Section B- Schedule. Will the Government clarify the anticipated levels of effort and define the LCATs designated as key? (Please see the table below) (Found in Appx. A, PWS Task 2, and SIR, Section B-Schedule)

A: Amendment 3 to the SIR will include an updated PWS and Appendix A to reflect the correct positions and hours associated with them. Please see attachments.

2. Will the Government delineate the on-site and offsite hours for the PM? Is the assumption correct that the PM key personnel is funded for full-time support? (Found in SIR, Section B-Schedule, Pages 5,6 & 8) A: The SIR reflects offsite hours and is scalable per volume of task orders.

3. The Past Performance Surveys state that they are due “no later than 2:00 pm CT on November 15th, 2021”. Will the Government please provide a revised due date for the Past Performance Surveys?

(Found in Past Performance Survey, page 1)

A: Please see Amendment 2 to the solicitation. The date was revised from November 15th, 2021 to January 5th, 2022 and a updated copy of the Past Performance Survey with the new due date was uploaded as an attachment.

4. Will the Government confirm that the Past Performance Survey is the only element evaluated for Factor 1 (i.e., the offeror will not submit anything directly for Phase 1, Factor 1) and the Government will receive surveys directly from our clients? (Found in M.2 Evaluation Process Factor 1: Phase I page 55) A: Please refer to the SIR (M.2, Evaluation Process)

5. The RFP states the following: “The technical proposal shall include two (2) tables (one for each phase) that highlights where the Offeror’s proposal it addresses Attachment 1: SOW Musts and types of supporting information and where it is located in the proposal.” (Found in Section L.3(f) page 57) A: Please refer to the SIR (L.3, Instructions for Preparation and Submission of Proposals, (f) Section II-Technical Proposal

6. The Government states the following: “(3) Factor 3 Phase three: Management… The Offeror’s narrative for Factor 2 shall not exceed five (5) pages.” Does the five page limitation apply to Factor 3 rather than Factor 2? (Found Section L.3.f.3, Factor 3, Phase 3, page 58) A: Factor 2 listed is a typo and should say Factor 3 when explaining the amount pages not to exceed for L.3.f.3, Factor 3. This correction will also be addressed in Amendment 3

7. On page 58 of the SIR discusses Past Performance Surveys, seemingly in reference to Factor 3. Can the Government confirm that this is an error and the language on the Past Performance Surveys belongs under Factor 1? (Found in Section L.3.f.3, Factor 3, Phase 3, page 58) A: Please refer to Amend 3 of the solicitation addressing the error.

8. Due to the number of resumes and information required for them, will the Government consider allowing resumes to be included as an appendix that is evaluated along with subfactor 2.1? (Found in Section M.2; Sub-Factor 2.1, Onsite staffing, page 67) A: Please refer to the instructions in the SIR.

9. As part of the solicitation package we have been issued for review and completion a Client Authorization Letter. This Client Authorization Letter is also referenced as Attachment 4 in Section J – List of Documents, Exhibits and Other Attachments. Can the Government advise what the Client Authorization Letter is for and the expected response from bidders such as ProSidian in this regard?

A: The client Authorization Letter is not required, but may be submitted.

10. Is this the first issue of this solicitation (is this a re-compete of an existing DOT FAA-CAMI requirement or a new requirement?

A: Re-compete of an existing requirement. The current contract is DTFAAC-16-D-00058 currently held by Venesco, LLC.

11. Can you advise on if there were/are incumbent provider(s) for these services? If Yes- Who is/are the incumbent(s), and can you provide a previous contract number?

A: See answer to question 10

12. If there is an incumbent, is there a reason the known incumbent may be precluded from bidding on this new or existing requirement?

A: No.

13. Does this requirement stipulate that the proposed bidder must hold an active Form DD254 (Top Secret) Facility Clearance “Before BEING AWARDED” this contract?

A: No

14. If an active Form DD254 (Top Secret) Facility Clearance is required, will arrangements be made to assist and provide adequate time to process the required paperwork, or are bidders without DD254 (Top Secret) Facility Clearance not advised to participate?

A: N/A, see answer to question 13.

15. For areas where strict requirements exist for an active Secret/Top-Secret Facility Clearance, would The Government accept a Contractor Teaming Agreements (CTA) under The GSA Construct that fulfills the Facility Clearance requirement?

A: N/A, see answer to question 13.

16. Can this requirement be facilitated as a HUBZone Small Business Set Aside?

A: No, this is being set aside for SEDB/8(a)

17. Can this requirement be facilitated on the GSA PSS (00CORP PSS) 874-1 SIN (541611) Schedules as a Small Business 8(a) Set-Aside? If so, will the DOT FAA-CAMI add this contract vehicle to allow small businesses an adequate opportunity to compete and support this requirement?

A: Market research supports a set aside for SEDB/8(a).

18. Can you guide the level of effort expected (Total Labor Hours, Labor Hours by Key Team Members, etc.) to complete the Performance Work Statement (PWS)?

A: Please refer to Schedule B (located on pages 5-9 of the Solicitation) and the PWS found as attachment 01.

19. Does The Department of Transportation – Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Aerospace Medical Instituite (DOT FAA-CAMI) anticipate that required personnel (Key & Non-Key) supporting 697GH-21-R-00190, Req# AC-22-00019 work remotely or on client site at DOT FAA-CAMI offices in Oklahoma City, OK ?

A: Some positions/tasking can work remotely, while others are inherently on-site due to the nature of the work.

20. What are the Workers’ Comp Codes and National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) Classifications for the positions required under? 697GH-21-R-00190, Req# AC-22-00019? A Workers’ Comp Codes and NCCI Classifications Code is a three – or four-digit numerical code assigned by NCCI. Class codes are posted to differentiate between the various job duties (such as 8810 – Clerical or 8292- Warehousing) or the scope of work performed by employees. The designation for specific workman’s comp code impacts costing for workman’s comp insurance.

A: NCCI codes can be obtained through their website: www.ncci.com.

21. In trying to calculate annual work hours for this project (6973GH-21-R-00190, Req# AC-22-00019), does DOT FAA-CAMI use 2,080 (i.e., 40 hours/week * 52 weeks) for employees/contractors according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Federal Standard? If NO, Please advise on how many hours per year are established for a full time under this contract? Does the DOT FAA-CAMI calculate annual work hours based on 2,080, 1920, 1860, or “other” please state?

A: The level of effort is indicated in Section B and Appendix A

22. Can the Government provide specific guidance on proposal formatting for each required volume (Technical, Past Performance, Price, etc.), including font size, graphic/tables font size, margins, and page limitations?

A: Font size no smaller than 12 point and margins no smaller than 1” and each section. Technical, Past Performance, Price, etc. has different page limits. Please refer to the solicitation for more details.

23. Should/Can Past Performance/Relevant Experience information be included in the Technical Proposal Volume, or should Offerors provide a separate Past Performance/Relevant Experience Volume for the response to 6973GH-21-R-00190, Req# AC-22-00019?

A: Please refer to L.3.f.1, Factor 1 Phase One- (Pass/Fail) Past Performance: Past Performance Surveys.

24. Are bidders required to provide a price estimate for Travel and ODC Costs related to the 6973GH-21-R-00190, Req# AC-22-00019 Contract? If not, does the Government require that bidders provide a separate “best estimate” of Travel and ODC to accompany the proposal? In such an instance, please provide guidance on which specific proposal volume to include Travel and ODC Cost Estimates.

A: Travel and ODC estimates will be addressed by the government on a NTE basis. Please refer to Section B.

25. Is this requirement part of a Multiple Award Schedule/Contract or a Single Award Schedule/Contract?

A: Single Award- See M.1(a)(2)

26. Has the Department of Transportation – Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (DOT FAA-CAMI) held preliminary meetings with specific contractors interested in responding to this solicitation?

A: No

27. Is it estimated that full/total funding exists for this solicitation? If so, is there an intended Maximum/Minimum funding threshold?

A: Minimum order quantity of 5 key personnel

28. Is the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) Wage Determination in force with this RFQ? If so, can you advise:

a. What SCA/Wage numbers are applicable?

b. What City and State SCA Wage Determination takes precedence?

A: Please see Amendment 01 addressing the updated Wage Determination 2015-5315, Revision 15.

29. For areas where strict requirements exist for the number and types of past performance as a PRIME Vendor, would the Government accept a Contractor Teaming Agreements (CTA) under The GSA Construct that fulfills Past Performance requirements?

A: Regarding your question, based on the limited information that you have provided, the FAA is unable to fully answer your question. While we understand that your company has performed under a teaming agreement, we are unable to tell the extent of your company’s involvement under that teaming agreement as well as evidence showing that a fully executed teaming agreement has been agreed to by all parties. In order for the FAA to consider this information, the responsibility would be on your company to fully document this information in a clear and concise manner.

30. In reference of RFP page 66, paragraph subfactor 2.1- Onsite Staffing. “The offeror’s narrative for Sub-Factor 1.1 shall not exceed eight (8) pages in length, inclusive of resumes.” [Interpreted as Subfactor 2.1] It appears the Government is asking for Resumes for Employees to staff the positions identified in PWS Task 2. There are six position identified in PWS Task 2 including one Epidemiologist, Further, the subfactor 2.1 instructions identify “the offer shall provide a narrative description of their proposed approach to realizing the continuous onsite staffing support required on the first day of the period of performance (PWS Task 2) to include a Transition in Plan. The offeror will also describe their approach to meeting the onsite staffing for positions identified in subsequent task awards, to specifically include the requirement that positions be filled within 45 calendar days of task award (PWS Task 3).”

A staffing and transition plan and six resumes including one of which is Doctorate level cannot be realistically accomplished in 8 pages. Would the Government please consider increasing the page count or removing the inclusivity of resumes from the page count for this subfactor?

A: Please refer to the SIR.

31. Given the holiday season and Government POC absences, would the Government consider CPARs or Past Performance Surveys? (Section L.3(f)(1)-Factor 1, page 57)?

A: The Past Performance Survey deadline is being extended to January 24, 2021.

32. Section L, Factor 2- Understanding the Requirement; and Section M. Sub-Factor 2.1, state that “the offeror shall provide resumes for available employees with the requisite knowledge experience, and technical skill qualifications to staff the positions identified in PWS Task 2”. Also, that “The offeror’s narrative for Sub-Factor 1.1 (s/b 2.1) shall not exceed eight (8) pages in length, inclusive of resumes. With the potential of inclusion of up to seven (7) resumes of available employees for Task 2, would the Government consider resumes not be included in the page count for Sub-Factor 201? If so, would the Government provide instruction on the requirements for the resumes (i.e., location in the response, # of pages each, etc)? (Section L.3(f)(2), M.2 Sub-factor 2.1, page 57-58, & 66) A: Executive summaries would be allowed in place of a full blown resume, IF the required information is captured within the executive summary.

33. Section L, Factor 2 – Understanding the Requirements; and Section M, Sub-factor 2.1, state that “the offeror shall provide resumes for available employees with the requisite knowledge, experience, and technical skill qualifications to staff the positions identified in PWS Task 2”. Would the Government please clarify if resumes for all key positions listed under Task 2 are required in proposal? (Section L.3(f)(2), M.2 Sub-factor 2.1, page 57-58, & 66) A: Yes

34. Section I and II titles listed under sub-section (c) do not match those titles listed under (d) Section I- Contract Documentation, and (f) Section II- Technical Proposal. Would the Government please clarify the titles for Section I and Section II? (Section L.3(c), L.3(d), L.3(f), page 56) A: The description found under L.3.(c) is incorrect and should state the following:

Proposal Documents

Please see Amendment 3 for the correction

35. Amendment 02- Past Performance Survey, page 1 has been revised to a new due date of January 5th, 2022. RFP instruction L.3(f)(1) – Factor 1 states that the PPSs must be submitted no later than the SIR closing date (January 10, 2022). Would the Government amend Attachment 3 to reflect the SIR close date and re-issue to industry? Also, given the holiday schedule, and the requirement to issue the PPS to POCS at least 10 days prior to SIR close date, would the Government consider providing to industry the corrected PPS prior to issuing formal responses to questions? (Section L.3(f)(1) –Factor 1, page 1 & 57) A: The Past Performance Survey deadline is being extended to January 24, 2021.

36. Solicitation Section L.3(f)(1)- Factor 1 states a minimum of two (2) but no more than four (4) completed PPSs must be submitted. Section L.3(f)(3) – Factor 3 states “… a minimum of two (2) with a maximum of five (5) Past Performance Surveys”. Would the Government clarify the minimum and maximum PPSs allowed? (Section L.3(f)(1) – Factor 1 & L.3(f)(3) – Factor 3, page 57-58) A: Maximum of 4, please see Amendment 3 for more details.

37. L.3(f)(3) – Factor 3 states “The Contracting Officer will review each offeror’s PPS submission to ensure that the offeror has provided evidence (a copy of the sent email showing the date, time, and email address for the party who was sent the email) to show that the PPS, described in Provision L.3, Instructions for the Preparation and Submission of Proposals, was provided to the primary reference by no later than 10 days prior to the SIR closing date along with instructions to provide the completed PPS to the Contracting Officer by no later than the SIR closing date for a minimum of two (2) with a maximum of five (5) Past Performance Surveys as a general contractor. Failure of the offeror to timely provide this information will result in the offeror being eliminated from further consideration.

M.2- Factor 1 states “Evidence to show that the PPS was provided to the primary reference by no later than 10 days prior to the SIR closing date along with instructions to provide the completed PPS to the Contracting Officer by no later than the SIR closing date. This evidence shall be provided for all PPS for the offeror.”

Would the Government clarify if the offeror is to provide the evidence (copy of email) in the proposal response, or instruct the PPS POC to provide the evidence when submitting the PPS to the Government? (Section L.3(f)(3)-Factor 3, M-2- Factor 1, page 58, paragraph 3 and page 66) A: The offeror is to provide evidence (copy of email) when submitting their proposal response to the Government.

38. States “The technical proposal shall include two (2) tables (one for each phase) that highlights where in the offeror’s proposal it addresses Attachment 1: SOW Musts and types of supporting information and where it is located in the proposal”. Section II- Technical Proposal has three (3) Phases. Would the Government verify that the requirement should state three (3) tables (one for each phase)? (L.3(f) Section II – Technical Proposal, page 57) A: Only two tables are listed because FACTOR 1 Phase One- (Pass/Fail) Past Performance: Past Performance Surveys is a separate factor. The two tables should address Factor 2 Phase Two- Understanding the Requirements and Factor 3 Phase three- Management

39. RFP Sections L & M require the offeror to provide resumes of available employees… to staff the positions identified in PWS Task 2.

A. Positions listed under PWS Task 2 include: Epidemiologist, Computer Information and Research Scientist, Biological Science, Laboratory Technician (x2), Data Analyst, Machinist B. Positions listed in Schedule B and Appendix A include: PM, Biological Laboratory Technician, Network and Computer System Administrator, Medical Scientist- Epidemiologist, Computer and Info Research Scientist, Machinist (Level 2) Would the Government deconflict the key positions that are listed differently between the PWS, Schedule B and Appendix A? (Section B, Appendix A, Task 2, Page 5-9 and attachments 1 & 5) A: Please see the updated PWS and Appendix A found in Amendment 3

40. The solicitation states that the Government anticipates the contract type to be “Time and Material” (3.2.4.-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1996)). It also states that the contract type will be Firm-Fixed Price (Section M). Can the Government please clarify? (Section L.14 – 3.2.4-1 and M-1(2), pages 60 & 64) A: The task orders are anticipated to be fixed price.

41. Please confirm that in Section 6.6 AWL is an allowable direct cost under the contract if it is procured at the direction of the Government and not the contractor. (Section 6.6, page 9) A: Section 6.6 of the PWS addresses the responsibility of costs associated with AWL.

42. As new task orders are issued and additional resources are added to the contract, will the Government adjust the hours for the Administrative Program Manager? (Section B, pages 5-9) A: The government expects vendors to propose resources needed to complete the task.

43. The original RFP indicated that this proposal was not set aside for 8(a) qualified small businesses. The amendment does indicate that this is a set-aside for 8(a) qualified small businesses. Just to confirm, is this a set-aside for 8(a) qualified small businesses?

A: Yes, this is set aside for SEDB/8(a).

44. No mention is made of font or font size in the instructions. Is there a required font and/or font size?

A: See answer to question 22

45. Can you tell me how much of this project will be done by remote and how much is onsite please?

A: Dependent on the requirements of the task order.

46. Our PM has 26 years of general PM experience, 16 years at the MMAC, and 7 years directly with CAMI. Would the Government consider adding Years of Experience in lieu of a B.S. Degree?

A: The requirements are listed in the solicitation.

47. The SIR states the following in section L.3.(f): “The technical proposal shall include two (2) tables (one for each Phase) that highlights where in the Offeror’s proposal it addresses Attachment 1: SOW Musts and types of supporting information and where it is located in the proposal.”

The way that the SIR directs us to organize our response is not conducive to creating a table like this, as the SOW musts are not required to be addressed. Can the Government please clarify what needs to be included in these tables, or if the request to include these tables was made in error?

A: See answer to question 38