Attachment 5-697DCK-20-R-00055 Questions and Answers.pdf

SIR 697DCK-20-R-00055 Questions and Answers

1. As written, the labor category requirements, especially for the Key Personnel, appear very specific and excessive without a clear, direct link to SIR Attachment 1 PWS performance/success. The depth and specificity of the requirements for Key Personnel as well as the Deputy Program Manager (PM) exceed those typically required by the Agency in a competitive environment because they limit the ability for most candidates to meet the plethora of requirements.

For example, the aggregation of PM requirements severely constricts any realistic, eligible candidate pool given that the PM and Deputy PM must possess a Master’s degree (with no allowable substitutions for a Bachelor’s degree plus additional years of experience) and must have experience as a manager for “complex UAS projects” involving 8 distinct, separate items

(i.e. (1) Strategy development; (2) UAS operational use cases; (3) Development of Air Traffic

Control UAS use cases; (4) Operational concept development; (5) Requirements analysis; (6)

Unmanned aircraft performance and limitations; (7) Remote pilot station functions and allocation of functions between aircraft and remote pilot stations; and (8) UAS management concepts and functions).

In the same manner as the PM, the Principal Systems Engineer must possess a Master’s degree with a minimum of 10 years’ experience in air traffic management systems developing AMS products, as well as 5 years’ experience using air traffic architecture operational views to validate new air traffic concepts or changes to existing concepts with Subject Matter Experts;

at least 3 years of experience with Unmanned Aircraft Systems, including UAS operational use cases, unmanned aircraft performance and limitations, remote pilot station functions and allocation of functions between aircraft and remote pilot station, and familiarity with

Unmanned Traffic Management concepts and functions; and must have developed at least three air traffic management system architectures utilizing IBM’s System ArchitectTM”.

Additionally, it is “desirable” the individual have 10 years’ experience as an Air Traffic

Controller as well as certification as an Enterprise Architect.

The combination of these multiple, detailed personnel requirements unduly restricts Industry participation because of their specificity, and therefore reduces competition for the FAA. For the PM and Deputy PM personnel requirements, will the FAA reconsider the particular technical characteristics (i.e. replace the eight separate technical attributes) to align more reasonably with requirements contained in Task 1 (Task Order Management) and Task 2

(Program and Project Management) of the PWS? For the Principal Systems Engineer requirements, will the FAA consider more generalized requirements based on the duties described in the PWS (e.g. experience reviewing technical products for accuracy and consistency; planning, developing and leading major systems engineering projects;

developing, configuring and overseeing the upgrade, enhancements and fixes of air traffic systems)? In addition, will the FAA consider allowable education/experience substitutions?

These changes will enable wider participation among Industry and an increased number of proposals while still allowing the FAA to evaluate specific candidates as part of Section M, Factor II.

Answer: See Amendment 2 for Revised Attachment 2-Labor Category Descriptions and

Qualifications.

2. Attachment 2 (Labor Category Descriptions) states, “Relevant experience is experience directly reflecting the work, task or project within the last 8 years.” Based on this sentence, it appears experience outside of the last 8 years cannot be deemed relevant, which would restrict candidates from qualifying for labor categories that require more than 8 years of experience.

Can the FAA clarify the intent of this statement?

3. Sections B.5, H.9, and H.10 of the SIR contemplate a transition/phase-in period. What current services and contracts are intended to transition to this vehicle? Can the FAA identify the predecessor contractor(s)?

Answer: See Amendment 2 for revised Sections B.5, H.9 and H.10. This is a new requirement and not a follow-on to a single predecessor contract.

4. The proposed Key Personnel must be employed by the prime contractor or must provide a signed and dated Letter of Intent indicating that they will be available for employment by the prime contractor within three (3) weeks of contract award. Would the Government consider revising this to state "...must be employed by the Prime contractor or significant subcontractor..."?

Answer: No, the key personnel must be employed by the Prime Contractor. See Amendment

2 for Revised Attachment 2-Labor Category Descriptions and Qualifications.

5. The following are the labor category descriptions and minimum requirements...as necessary for the performance of this contract.

A Master’s degree in an Engineering domain [...]

Must have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in systems engineering of air traffic management systems developing Acquisition Management System (AMS)–related products [...]

Must have at least 5 years of experience using air traffic architecture operational views to validate new air traffic concepts or changes to existing concepts with Subject Matter

Experts.

Must have at least 3 years of experience with Unmanned Aircraft Systems [...]

Must have developed at least three air traffic management system architectures utilizing

IBM’s System Architect TM.

Additionally, 10 years of experience as an air traffic controller and a certification as an

Enterprise Architect are desirable, but not mandatory.

The required combination of experience severely limits the viable candidates who meet the minimum requirements specified and may unfairly restrict competition. Can the

Government revise the requirements for the Principal SE to allow for a larger universe of candidates? In particular, would the Government consider changing the minimum requirement of "developed at least three air traffic management system architectures utilizing IBM System Architect" to be a desire vs. a must?

6. I am hoping to find out if the subject effort is a new requirement or a follow-on to an existing contract? If the latter, can I please find out the incumbent contractor's name and contract number?

Answer: This is a new requirement and not a follow-on to a single predecessor contract.

7. Attachment 2 - 1.b. Principal Systems Engineer, pg 1-2, In comparison to Attachment 4 -

Pricing Spreadsheet. Please clarify what labor category the Principal Systems Engineer should map to in the Pricing Spreadsheet.

Answer: See Amendment 2 for Revised Attachment 4-Pricing Spreadsheet.

8. Attachment 4, many of the labor categories have estimated hours of 1200, 2400, or 4200. This is not well aligned with hiring full-time staff for this project. Would the Government consider aligning hours to be in line with full-time staff, or alternately please clarify the intentions of the part-time hours estimates?

Answer: This is an IDIQ contract and the labor categories are the Government’s best estimates for evaluation purposes. The labor categories will be ordered on individual Task Orders as required.

9. Attachment 4 – Pricing Labor Tab, The labor tab requires pricing for 47,400 hours annually.

Can you please provide the current number of FTEs supporting this effort?

Answer: This question is not applicable to this requirement. This is a new requirement and not a follow-on to a single predecessor contract.

10. SIR Section H.9 (TRANSITION/PHASE-IN) states that “A smooth and orderly transition between contractor and any predecessor or successor contractor(s) is necessary to assure minimum disruption to vital Government business. The incumbent contractor shall provide phase-in, phase-out services for any work that may be transitioned to a successor contractor for up to 60 days prior to contract expiration date. The incumbent contractor Program

Manager shall coordinate this effort.” Will the FAA provide the vendor name and contract numbers for any incumbent contracts?

Answer: See Amendment 2 for revised Section H.9. This is a new requirement and not a follow-on to a single predecessor contract.

11. SIR Section L. 10.2 FACTOR II – MANAGEMENT APPROACH states that the “...Key

Personnel must be employed by the prime contractor or must provide a signed and dated

Letter of Intent indicating that they will be available for employment by the prime contractor within three (3) weeks of contract award.” Attachment 2 - Labor Category Descriptions states the Program Manager “Must be employed by the prime contractor.” However, Attachment 2 does not have the same language (requiring employment by the Prime) for the Principal

Systems Engineer. We recognize the need to have the Program Manager employed by the

Prime. However, depending on various team structures and strategies, there may be benefits to the FAA in having the Principal Systems Engineer employed by a subcontractor. Would the FAA consider using the Attachment 2 language, where only the Program Manager must be employed by the Prime, and updating SIR Section L. 10.2 to reflect that only the Program

Manager must be employed by the Prime?

Answer: No, the key personnel must be employed by the Prime Contractor. See Amendment

2 for Revised Attachment 2-Labor Category Descriptions and Qualifications.

12. SIR Section L. 10.3 FACTOR III - CORPORATE EXPERIENCE states, “...greater weight will be given to the experience of the Prime contractor Offeror than to that of any proposed subcontractor.” Given the highly technical and specialized nature of the PWS tasks, using subcontractor experience may provide greater benefit to the FAA. As “At least one (1) of the recent relevant experiences must be submitted for the Prime contractor/Offeror,” would the

FAA consider modifying the sentence to state “...equal weight will be given to the experience of the Prime contractor Offeror and any proposed subcontractor.”

Answer: No, the requirement will not be changed.

13. To provide FAA with the highest quality personnel to support the PWS technical requirements, while still defining the minimum requirements for all personnel, would the

FAA consider including allowable substitutions for years of experience and required degree in Attachment 2? For example, “A master's degree in an appropriate discipline will be considered equivalent to two (2) years of relevant experience. A doctoral or Doctor of

Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) in an appropriate discipline will be considered equivalent to four

(4) years of relevant experience” and “Eight (8) years of relevant experience over and above the minimum experience requirements for the position will be considered equivalent to a bachelor's degree.”

Answer: See Amendment 2 for Revised Attachment 2-Labor Category Descriptions and

Qualifications.

14. In Attachment 2, the Principal Systems Engineer position states that 10 years of experience is required, which appears to equate to the Engineer 5 labor category. Given the criticality and expertise needed in this key position, we respectfully request that the FAA consider requiring

20 years of experience for this position. This will help ensure that the FAA will get the depth of knowledge and experience in both air traffic management systems and system engineering that the position requires to ensure that FAA requirements are successfully met.

Qualifications. Qualifications listed indicate “minimum” requirements.

15. In Attachment 2, Given the need for highly specialized engineering to meet the needs of the

AJV-S PWS, we respectfully request that the FAA add an “Engineer 7 - Required Degree +

20 relevant years” labor category?

Answer: See Amendment 2 for Revised Attachment 2-Labor Category Descriptions and

Qualifications. Qualifications listed indicate “minimum” requirements.

16. Regarding Attachment 4, can the government verify or provide rationale behind using 1800 for annual full time labor hour estimate? For estimation purposes, we use 1920 direct labor hours per year (2008 hours in a standard work year accounting for Federal Holidays, minus an employee average of 88 paid-time-off hours)

Answer: This is an IDIQ contract and the labor categories are the Government’s best estimates for evaluation purposes. The labor categories will be ordered on individual Task

Orders as required.

17. Section I, Clause 3.1.7-1: Would the government confirm that to the extent the Contractor receives advance procurement information before such information has been made generally available to other persons or firms, the Contractor will not be excluded from future competitions if the Contractor has implemented the necessary firewalls and internal protections as to ensure such information is not used to the Contractor’s competitive advantage in said competition?

Answer: The Contracting Officer would evaluate the potential of an Organizational Conflict of Interest in accordance with AMS clause 3.1.7-1.

18. Section L. 10.3 FACTOR III - CORPORATE EXPERIENCE, to show additional examples of corporate experience in supporting the PWS, would the FAA allow for additional experience references in Corporate Experience? The current language limits this section to including information only on the same three references used for Past Performance: “...for three (3) recent...and relevant experiences that describes the Offeror’s...experience…These experiences must include the same contracts as identified in the Past Performance section.”

Would the FAA consider modifying the previous language to include that this is the minimum required for Corporate Experience, where additional examples can be provided if the offers feels relevant and recent? We recommend modifying to state, “for at least three (3) recent...and relevant experiences that describes the Offeror’s...experience...”

Answer: No, the requirement will not be changed.

19. SIR Section L.10.2 FACTOR II – MANAGEMENT APPROACH states, “The proposed Key

Personnel must be employed by the prime contractor …” However, Attachment 2 does not include this requirement for the Principal Systems Engineer. Requiring the Principal

Systems Engineer to be employed by the Prime could favor the incumbent by giving extra weight to an existing incumbent advantage. Moreover, the FAA could benefit from team structures that have the Principal Systems Engineer employed by a subcontractor. For these reasons, we respectfully request that the FAA require only the Program Manager to be employed by the Prime, and update SIR Section L.10.2 to state, “The proposed Program

Manager must be employed by the prime contractor...”

Answer: No, the key personnel must be employed by the Prime Contractor. See Amendment

2 for Revised Attachment 2-Labor Category Descriptions and Qualifications.

20. Given the need for high-end engineering and specialized ATM systems experience to meet the requirements of the AJV-S PWS, we respectfully request that the FAA add an “Engineer

7 - Required Degree + 20 relevant years” labor category to the Attachment 2 – LABOR

CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS – Scientist/Engineer Series.

21. In Attachment 2 – LABOR CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS, the Principal Systems

Engineer Key Personnel position requires only 10 years of experience. Given the criticality of this position and the need for extensive systems engineering and specialized ATM systems experience, we respectfully request that the FAA require at least 20 years of experience for this position. This will help ensure that the FAA will get the required depth of knowledge and experience in both system engineering and ATM systems and ensure that

FAA requirements are successfully met.

22. Attachment 2 – LABOR CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS, states that the Principal Systems

Engineer “Must have developed at least three air traffic management system architectures utilizing IBM’s System Architect ™.” In this requirement, we respectfully request that the

FAA change “utilizing” to “as input to”. In many cases, senior system engineers/architects develop the architectures and then provide them to tool specialists to enter the data into a tool (e.g., IBM System Architect). The task of entering data into IBM’s System Architect does not appear in the PWS requirements. Moreover, the PWS tasks cover a broad range of systems engineering needs and requirements that go far beyond the ability to enter data into

IBM System Architect. Changing this requirement for this position would help ensure that the Principal System Engineer has the broad background and experience necessary to oversee the successful execution of technical contractor support services that meet all of the

FAA’s requirements.

23. Because there are qualified contractors who are unable to invest the resources and submit a proposal against the labor category requirements currently contained in the SIR, will the FAA provide a 30-day extension to the proposal deadline following the release of answers to SIR questions to enable sufficient time for Offerors to react and respond accordingly?

Answer: See Amendment 1. The SIR has been extended to June 16, 2020 at 2:00pm ET.

24. Attachment 4 (Pricing Schedule Spreadsheet) does not reference a Principal Systems Engineer

(Key Personnel). Can the FAA amend Attachment 4 to add the Principal Systems Engineer labor category and estimated hours?

Answer: See Amendment 2 for Revised Attachment 4-Pricing Schedule Spreadsheet.

25. Section F.4(a): Why are Task Orders (TOs) not authorized to exceed a one-year period of performance? Instead of limiting the potential duration of TOs when the IDIQ will extend for up to 60 months, would the FAA consider allowing option years on individual TOs?

Answer: The task order period of performance limitation is due to appropriations constraints.

26. Because Offerors will submit proposals electronically via email, we respectfully request for

Section L.4(b) to be amended to remove the requirement for softcopies of proposal contents to also be provided on CD or DVD.

Answer: See Amendment 2 for revised Section L.4(b). The requirement for CD or DVD softcopies is removed.

27. Please confirm that the FAA’s analysis of the responses to the June 2019 Market Survey

(#33852 titled “AJV UAS Engineering and Technical Support Services Requirement) found several qualified Small Businesses. If so, please consider modifying the Solicitation to be set-aside for competition among Small Businesses. Please let me know the outcome of the above two requests. If there is resistance to setting-aside this requirement (697DCK-20-R-00055) for competition among Small Businesses, please let me know the reason.

Answer: Based on the FAA’s market research and in accordance with the Acquisition

Management System policy and guidance, the FAA determined that a Full and Open

Competition acquisition strategy is in the best interest of the Government for this procurement.

28. We, respectfully, would like to confirm whether the release of this solicitation as unrestricted

(Full & Open) was intentional, and if a set-aside for small business was considered. It is our understanding that several qualified small businesses responded to the June 20, 2019 Market

Survey. Note: While there has been a reorganization in the program office, the size, scope, and complexity from the market survey remains unchanged. The Performance Work

Statement (PWS) from the Market Survey to Final SIR also remains unchanged (except minor updates to reflect new organization name and org code). Please let us know if it is still possible to make this procurement a Small Business Set-aside.

Competition acquisition strategy is in the best interest of the Government for this procurement.

29. Section F.2, Page 12 of 96, the primary location of the FAA organizations and programs supported by the Contactor will be FAA Headquarters Facilities in Washington, DC. Is there a requirement for the contractor facility to be within a certain distance of the FAA

Headquarters?

Answer: No, there is no requirement for a contractor facility to be located within a certain distance of the FAA Headquarters in Washington DC.

30. Attachment 1 – PWS 4.2, Page 7 of 12, the contractor may be required to possess and maintain a SECRET facility clearance from the Defense Security Service. The Contractor’s employees, performing work in support of this contract may also require SECRET security clearance from the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office. The need to possess a

SECRET Facility clearance will be dependent on the requirements of the individual task order. Does the offeror need to possess a Secret Level Facility Clearance at the time of proposal submission?

Answer: No, the offeror does NOT need to possess a Secret Level Facility Clearance at the time of proposal submission.

31. This screening information request (SIR) or contract, as applicable, incorporates by reference the provisions or clauses listed below with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make the full text available, or offerors and contractors may obtain the full text via Internet at https://fast.faa.gov/contractclauses.cfm. Will the CO please make a copy of the fill SIR available, so it may be completed and submitted with our proposal?

Answer: No, the full-text of all clauses can be found at https://fast.faa.gov/contractclauses.cfm.

32. Will the government provide a revised Attachment 3 that provides more space to fill in the required details (Quality service, timeliness of performance, customer satisfaction…etc.)?

Could this form be a fillable PDF or word document?

Answer: No, there is sufficient space in Attachment 3 for the information required. The

Government will investigate further the past performance information provided in the document.

33. L. 6 Proposal Volume Limitations, Technical Proposal – Factor IV: Past Performance – 3

Page limit. Please confirm that Past Performance references are limited to 3 pages each?

With the 12pt font requirement there is insufficient space to provide the detailed information the government is asking for. Please confirm that there is no customer validation requirement for past performance references?

Answer: The Past Performance references are limited to one (1) page each (three (3) pages total). The Government will validate and/or investigate further the past performance information provided in the document.

https://fast.faa.gov/contractclauses.cfm https://fast.faa.gov/contractclauses.cfm

34. SIR Section L.4(b) states that an electronic and softcopy of the proposal is required. More specifically, “Softcopies of proposal contents are to be provided on CD or DVD.” Due to

COVID-19 and limiting interaction/contact, would the FAA consider waiving the softcopy delivery and using only electronic submissions?

35. Attachment 1, Part 4 states that a Secret Facility Clearance may be required. Given the likelihood that this requirement will be active during the period-of-performance - particularly given the importance of security, emergency/contingency operations, and Counter UAS -would the FAA consider adding this as a requirement for Prime offerors?

Answer: No, the FAA will not add this as a requirement.

36. Will the FAA be using contractor(s) for the purposes of evaluating submitted proposals? If so, will the FAA identify who those contractor(s) are and whether they are excluded from bidding on this procurement?

Answer: No, only Federal Employees will be utilized in the evaluation of proposals.

37. SIR Section H.13 states that “The Government plans to use support contractors for services to assist in technical reviews of the efforts and products of the Contractor under this

Contract.” Is/Are the planned support contractor(s) known at this time? If so, will those companies be listed and excluded from submitting a proposal for this procurement?

Answer: No, only Federal Employees will be utilized in the evaluation of proposals.

38. SIR Section H.9 (TRANSITION/PHASE-IN) states that “A smooth and orderly transition between contractor and any predecessor or successor contractor(s) is necessary to assure minimum disruption to vital Government business. The incumbent contractor shall provide phase-in, phase-out services for any work that may be transitioned to a successor contractor for up to 60 days prior to contract expiration date. The incumbent contractor Program

Manager shall coordinate this effort.” Will the FAA provide the vendor name and contract numbers for any incumbent contracts?

Answer: See Amendment 2 for revised Section H.9. This is a new requirement and not a follow-on to a single predecessor contract.

39. SIR Section L. 10.2 FACTOR II – MANAGEMENT APPROACH states that the “...Key

Personnel must be employed by the prime contractor or must provide a signed and dated

Letter of Intent indicating that they will be available for employment by the prime contractor within three (3) weeks of contract award.” Attachment 2 - Labor Category Descriptions states the Program Manager “Must be employed by the prime contractor.” However, Attachment 2 does not have the same language (requiring employment by the Prime) for the Principal

Systems Engineer. We recognize the need to have the Program Manager employed by the

Prime. However, depending on various team structures and strategies, there may be benefits to the FAA in having the Principal Systems Engineer employed by a subcontractor. Would the FAA consider using the Attachment 2 language, where only the Program Manager must be employed by the Prime, and updating SIR Section L. 10.2 to reflect that only the Program

Manager must be employed by the Prime?

40. Our understanding is that several qualified small businesses responded to the FAA’s June

2019 Market Survey (#33852, titled “AJV UAS Engineering and Technical Support Services

Requirement”). This SIR (697DCK-20-R-00055, also titled “AJV UAS Engineering and

Technical Support Services Requirement”) was released an Unrestricted Full and Open competition, but includes essentially the same PWS as the June 2019 Market Survey that named small business Cavan Solutions as the incumbent. We respectfully request that the

FAA set aside this SIR for competition among small businesses, based on the Market Survey responses from qualified small businesses.

41. SIR Section L.10.3 FACTOR III – CORPORATE EXPERIENCE states, “...greater weight will be given to the experience of the Prime contractor Offeror than to that of any proposed subcontractor.” Giving greater weight to the Prime’s experience could favor the incumbent by giving extra weight to an existing incumbent advantage. Given the complexity and specialized nature of AJV-S’s work and the PWS, the FAA could benefit from various team structures that include strong subcontractor experience. For these reasons, we respectfully request that the FAA update the last sentence of L.10.3 to state “...equal weight will be given to the experience of the Prime contractor Offeror and to that of any proposed subcontractor.”

42. SIR Section L.10.3 FACTOR III – CORPORATE EXPERIENCE states, “These experiences must include the same contracts as identified in the Past Performance section”, and L.10.4

FACTOR IV – PAST PERFORMANCE states, “These contracts must include the same contracts as identified in the Corporate Experience section.” Instead of limiting Corporate

Experience to just 3 contracts, we respectfully request that the FAA enable the flexibility to describe more than 3 Corporate Experience contracts by doing the following:

a. updating the first sentence in L.10.3 FACTOR III – CORPORATE EXPERIENCE to state “The Offeror must provide information for at least three (3) recent (performed within the last five (5) years) and relevant experiences…”

b. updating the sentence in L.10.4 FACTOR IV – PAST PERFORMANCE to state, “These contracts must be a subset of the contracts identified in the Corporate

Experience section.”

43. Is there a specific change in scope from the original contract that necessitated a change in small business set-aside status to a full and open competition?

Answer: Based on the FAA’s market research and in accordance with the Acquisition

44. The requirements for key personnel seem to heavily favor the incumbent. Is there any chance these requirements can be relaxed to facilitate increased competition; particularly the requirement for experience with IBM's System Architect developing 3 AT system architectures?

45. Based on the circumstances surrounding extended shipping times and delays due to COVID-

19, would the government consider removing the soft copy submission requirement (Section

L.4) and requiring only an electronic copy submission of the proposal before the proposal due date? Conversely, if the government cannot waive the soft copy requirement, in the event that shipping delays due to the virus result in late receipt of the soft copy submission would the government consider receipt of the electronic copy of the proposal before the proposal due date (as listed in Section L.4) as a successful proposal submission?