A00003.pdf

Commandant United States Coast Guard

Headquarters Formal Contracts Division 1430A Kristina Way Chesapeake, VA 23326 Staff Symbol: CG-9121-1 Email: Takira.m.floyd@uscg.mil

December 16, 2022

Amendment A00003 to REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) No. 70Z02322RFFCT0001

A. Name and address of issuing activity: USCG Headquarters (CG-9121) 1430A Kristina Way Chesapeake, VA 23326

B. Solicitation number and date: 70Z02322RFFCT0001 issued November 9, 2022

C. Amendment number: A00003

D. Number of pages: 16

E. Government point of contact: Takira Floyd, Takira.m.floyd@uscg.mil

F. Revision to solicitation closing date: Thursday, January 5, 2023 @1630

G. Number of Attachments: 3

The purposes of this amendment are as follows:

Modify the fill-in of FAR Clause 52.222-42 Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires (May 2014) in Section I

Remove FAR Clause 52.223-99 (DEVIATION) ENSURING ADEQUATE COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS (OCT 2021) (DEVIATION) from Section I

Amend Section L, 1.1.4 Factor 4: Price.

Answer Offerors’ Questions.

Revise closing date. (See above) Amend Attachment I – Pricing Amend Attachment VIII – Task Order 1 Amend Attachment IX – Task Order 2

52.222-42 STATEMENT OF EQUIVALENT RATES FOR FEDERAL HIRES (MAY 2014)

In compliance with the Service Contract Labor Standards statute and the regulations of the Secretary of Labor (29 CFR part 4), this clause identifies the classes of service employees expected to be employed under the contract and states the wages and fringe benefits payable to each if they were employed by the contracting agency subject to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 5341 or 5332.

This Statement is for Information Only:

It is not a Wage Determination

Employee Class Monetary Wage-Fringe Benefits

(End of clause)

STATEMENT OF EQUIVALENT RATES FOR FEDERAL HIRES

Employee Class Monetary Wage--Fringe Benefits

Aviation C4ISR Instructor $22.57 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-9

Aviation Survival Technician (AST) Instructor $18.45 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-7

Boatswain's Mate (BM) Instructor $18.45 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-7

Communications Instructor $18.45 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-7

Culinary Specialist (CS) Instructor $18.45 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-7

Electricians Mate (EM) Instructor $18.45 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-7

Emergency and Disaster Management School Instructor $18.45 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-7

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Instructor $18.45 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-7

Health Services Technician (HS) Instructor $18.45 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-7

High Risk Training (HRT) Instructor $18.45 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-7

Information Systems Technician (IT) Instructor $18.45 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-7

Information Systems Technician (IT) Telephony Instructor

$18.45 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-7

Marine Science Technician (MST) Instructor $18.45 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-7

Maritime Law Enforcement (ME) Instructor $18.45 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-7

Operations Specialist (OS) Instructor $18.45 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-7

Pilot HC-130J Sim Instructor $32.73 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-12

Pilot HC-27J Sim Instructor $32.73 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-12

Pilot MH-60 Sim Instructor $32.73 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-12

Training Technical Writer $18.45 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-7

Training Technical Writer (Petaluma, CA) $18.45 + Fringe Benefits may be equivalent to GS-7

Section F.2 revised below:

F.2 Location The work shall be located throughout the USCG Training Center (TRACEN) System nationwide, and at, but not limited to, the following locations:

Aviation Training Center (ATC) Mobile, AL

Aviation Technical Training Center (ATTC) Elizabeth City, NC

FORCECOM CGHQ Washington, DC

FORCECOM Norfolk, VA

Leadership Development Center (LDC) New London, CT

Maritime Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA) Charleston, SC

Tace-analysis consulting evaluation (FC-Tace) Yorktown, VA / Norfolk, VA

Teps-enterprise performance (FC-Teps) Yorktown, VA / Norfolk, VA

Special Missions Training Center (SMTC) Camp Lejeune, NC

Training Center (TRACEN) Cape May, NJ

Training Center (TRACEN) Petaluma, CA

Training Center (TRACEN) Yorktown, VA

The primary place of performance will be defined in each Task Order awarded under this contract; the place of performance may be at the Contractor's facilities or a Government facility. Furthermore, alternate work sites or trips to USCG facilities in Washington D.C or United States may be required.

Section L, 1.1.4 Factor 4: Price

1.1.4 Factor 4: Price

Submission Requirements: Price proposals shall consist of the Pricing Spreadsheet attached to this solicitation, Attachment I.

The Offeror shall provide its direct and burdened labor rate for each of the labor categories on the spreadsheet for the five (5) year ordering period. (Attachment I - Tab 1 "IDIQ Labor Rates") The Offeror shall only enter information in the cells that are shaded green. The IDIQ labor rates shall not include any material, travel or Other

Direct Costs (ODCs). This includes options under FAR clause 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, which applies to this solicitation. Evaluation of options will not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

These burdened rates will be used for pricing any task orders that may be issued for the duration of any IDIQ contract resulting from this solicitation.

The Offeror shall provide a price proposal for the transition of services line item located in Attachment I, Pricing under Ordering Period 1 tab.

The Offeror shall provide a price proposal for Task Order 1 and Task Order 2. The task order price proposals shall be submitted in the Attachment I, Pricing, under the corresponding tabs labeled "Task Order 1" and "Task Order 2". The task order proposals shall include the labor mix that was submitted in the technical approach for the corresponding Task Order 1 and Task Order 2. The proposal shall include the burdened labor rates that align with the IDIQ labor rates submitted in the Ordering Period 1 tab.

Travel will be a not to exceed (NTE) time and material (T&M) CLIN. The travel CLIN will be $445,000.00 per year, for a total of $2,225,000.00. These amounts are already included in Attachment I.

Period for acceptance of proposals: The Offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 180 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers, unless another period is specified in an addendum to the solicitation. A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer's specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

Answer Offeror’s Questions:

Q33 Is the “Cover/Letter” to be a separate file in addition to the five volumes?

A33 See A9 and A10 in A00001 Q34 Is the “Cover/Letter” to include the items in subparagraphs a-f only, or must it also include the instructions provided under subparagraphs g and h?

A34 See A10 in A00001

Q35 1.1.3 Factor 3: Past Performance - Does this instruction consider total contract value to be “pricing information” as in this prohibition: “This volume shall not contain any pricing information.”

A35 Total contract value of the project submitted shall be included in the Past Performance Volume and/or Past Performance Questionnaire.

Q36 Will a table of contents for each volume be included in the page count for each volume or not?

A36 See A12 in A00001 Q37 Does the term “workstations” under GFE include all necessary computer systems and peripheral devices at every training location?

A37 Yes.

Q38 Does the government require contractors to provide necessary computer systems to employees if onsite staff need to temporarily work offsite (e.g., work from home due to COVID pandemic response) -- or will government assets be authorized for offsite work?

A38 Situational Telework: Government provides laptops, CAC reader. Fully Remote: contractor provides CGOne compliant equipment. All training centers provide authorizations for contractor to have VDI.

Q39 Attachment II of the presolicitation identified many billets that were exempt from SCA WD rates. Many of the same positions are marked with an (*) but without a corresponding footnote on Attachment I of the 9 November 2022 solicitation. Are any of the positions detailed on Attachment I of the solicitation exempt from SCA WD rates? What does the (*) marking on positions on Attachment I of the solicitation mean?

A39 See A00001 and A00003. Attachment I, Pricing has been amended.

Q40 Submission requirements include: “The offerors shall explain how course survey data is used to continually improve its student outcomes. Offerors shall provide course survey data for course curriculums to illustrate student mastery of objectives and positive student outcomes.

The minimum requirements for the data are overall instructor ratings and overall student assessment of their learning and course learning outcomes.” Please confirm that data expected is from Level 1 Reaction surveys from students that were part of past contracts. If otherwise, request the government clarify the type and source of requested data.

A40 See A6 in A00001.

Q41 Solicitation details in 3.10.1 that the “Training Performance Analyst may require secret or higher (dependent on location &/or work)”. In order to accurately recruit and staff employees with the requisite certs, quals and clearances, can the Government provide which billets (and where) require higher than a secret clearance?

A41 No current need for secret clearance for TPAs (locations with TPAs are Yorktown, VA (formally the PTC) and LDC in New London, CT. Higher than secret clearance will be noted in task order specific PWSs.

Q42 On row 10 of Attachment I, two billets are designated as “VRC.” Can the government provide a description of this acronym and its location?

A42 Amendment A00003 corrects VRC to FC-Tace and corrects FC-T to FC-Teps.

Q43 Paragraph 1.1.4 Factor 4: Price states; “Offerors shall specify which geographic region(s) apply to a particular labor category.”

The same paragraph also states: “Price proposals shall consist of a Cover letter and the Pricing Spreadsheet attached to this solicitation, Attachment I. The Offeror shall provide its direct and burdened labor rate for each of the labor categories on the spreadsheet for the five (5) year ordering period. (Attachment I - Tab 1 "IDIQ Labor Rates") The Offeror shall only enter information in the cells that are shaded green.”

How, precisely, can the Offerors specify which geographic region(s) apply to a particular labor category without modifying the Attachment I spreadsheet? Would a table summarizing which geographic region(s) apply to a particular labor category in the cover letter satiate this requirement?

A43 See A00003. That sentence has been removed.

Q44 This section provides a list of current courses the USCG has in place along with its course number, length, number of yearly convenings, and required instructors per convening. As an example, the TAO course requirements are listed as: 16 weeks / 3 convenings / 14 instructors per convening, which amounts to 8,960 instructor hours per convening or a total of 26,880 instructor hours for the 3 convenings. However, the following table of CTR Instructor Supported Courses lists 14,480 hours per convening with a total for 3 convenings coming to 43,440 for the same course. Would the government please clarify which numbers should be used for Task Order 2 basis of estimate?

A44 Amendment A00003 corrects the mistake in Attachment IX, Task Order 2, Section 2.3.

Q45 This section states “The Contractor shall provide Instructional Systems Design/Development

(ISD) Services (including CBRN and Tactical ISD service)” Would the government please clarify which curricula at TRACEN Petaluma require CBRN and Tactical ISD service or confirm this is a typo?

A45 See A00003; Attachment VIII, Task Order 1 has been amended. That is a typo-no curriculum at TCP requires CBRN or Tactical ISDs

Q46 Attachment II cites Camp Lejeune as being in Beaufort County, NC. All of Camp Lejeune is in Onslow County, NC. SMTC is aboard Camp Lejeune in Onslow County and 87 miles from Beaufort County. The SCA Rates between Onslow County and Beaufort County are different.

Will the Government accept SCA Rates for Onslow County, NC as they pertain to the Labor Categories at SMTC?

A46 See A00001. Attachment II, Wage Determination Table has been amended.

Q47 The RFP states “The Offerors participants shall not exceed 3 people, which shall include the proposal key personnel, Program Manager.” Can you confirm who the three personnel are that should be present for the oral presentation? Will it be the three key personnel (PM and two site leads), or just the PM and whomever he selects to be present?

A47 The PM and whomever the offeror selects to be present.

Q48 In the solicitation, there are (2) locations listed for FORCECOM to include FORCECOM CGHQ

Washington, D.C. – and - FORCECOM Norfolk, VA.

Question: Where will the FC-T Site-Lead and associated positions be physically located?

A48 See A00003. FC-Teps will be located at Yorktown, VA / Norfolk, VA.

Q49 On Attachment 1, for tabs “Ordering Period 1 through 5” the total line on row 66 for hours and total $ are not totaling line 3, which is listed as the Program Manager. Please clarify/confirm if this was intentional or if this needs to be adjusted to include line 3 for hours and total $.

A49 See A00003; Attachment I, Pricing has been amended.

Q50 PWS paragraph 3.10 Instructor Services, specifies requirement for a Pilot HC-27J Sim Instructor and a Pilot HC-130J Sim Instructor. Please clarify whether these two labor categories are intentionally left off the required pricing matrix.

A50 See A00003; Attachment I, Pricing has been amended.

Q51 RFP page 45 of 89, includes “proposal instructions to offerors” and proceeds to requests that the offeror “shall describe the evaluation methods that will be used to validate for conformance to the Section 508 standards.” In addition, this section requests “the offeror shall describe plans for features that do not fully conform to the Section 508 Standards.”

Where does the government prefer for offeror to include this content and under which evaluation criteria does the government anticipate evaluating this content?

A51 This is a clause and shall be provided in Volume 5, Administration Information and Representations and Certifications. The Government will follow the guidance of the clause to ensure contractor’s compliance.

Q52 RFP H3, the government requests that the offeror “shall identify all cyber / IT-related hardware, software, and / or services that are included as part of its solution to the government’s requirement…” Would the government please confirm that this information is required at time of submission? If required, where does the government prefer this information to be included?

A52 This is a clause and if necessary shall be provided in Volume 5, Administration Information and Representations and Certifications. The Government will follow the guidance of the clause to ensure contractor’s compliance.

Q53 “The KO/CS will notify the Offerors of the date and time they are scheduled to give the oral interview. Oral questions are expected to occur between 1-30 days after submittal of Offeror's proposal.”

When will the govt notify Offerors of their date and time for scheduling purposes?

A53 Oral questions will be scheduled 1-30 days from receipt of proposals. Questions will be provided during the session, so that no offeror has an advantage over the other.

Q54 Will government provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for those positions requiring it or will the contractor be responsible for procuring and providing it?

A54 It is not defined at the IDIQ level. The locations provide/decide. Refer to Attachment IX, Task Order 2, section 5.0 for example of government furnished PPE.

Q55 Section F.2 lists both CGHQ and Norfolk, VA as sites for FC-t. The pricing sheet does not indicate which location requires support. Would the government please clarify which location should be used for pricing.

A55 See A3 in A00001. See A00003.

Q56 Would the Government please provide an inventory of Training Aids/Devices to help vendors in understanding the scope of this requirement?

A56 Inventory is site specific and may be maintained at the task order level if necessary.

Q57 Would the government consider adding a substitution for the bachelor’s degree educational requirement (e.g., 5 years documented experience in a related field may be substituted for the educational requirement)?

A57 The Government respectfully declines.

Q58 Section H.3 requests contractor proposed cyber/IT-related solutions. Would the government please clarify in which volume contractor proposed solutions should be included?

A58 Refer to A52 above.

Q59 What is the purpose of the Employee Class Monetary Wage-Fringe Benefits being included in the solicitation?

A59 IAW FAR 22.1006(b), The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires, in solicitations and contracts if the contract amount is expected to be over $2,500 and the Service Contract Labor Standards statute is applicable.

Q60 According to the Safer Federal Workforce, for Federal Contractors, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14042 on ‘Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees.’ We believe this clause is no longer applicable. Would the government consider the removal of 52.223-99?

A60 This clause has been removed. See A00003 Q61 Graphs are allowed to be presented as 10 point font. Will the government please allow for the font size of text within tables to also be 10 point font?

A61 Yes, 10 point is acceptable in tables.

Q62 Will the government allow for a page count increase for Vol 2: Management Approach to be increased to 15 pages instead of 10 pages?

A62 The Government respectfully declines.

Q63 Will the government allow for an acronym page for each volume & for that acronym page be excluded from page count?

A63 Yes.

Q64 Pg 81. states that a cover letter shall be included for each volume. Page 84 states that "each volume should include a title page". Would the government clarify if the cover letter and title page are the same thing? If they are different, please provide the requirements for each. If they are different, are both cover letter & title page excluded from page count?

A64 Respectfully, RFP does not state that a cover letter shall be included for each volume. Also, please see A00001, Section L has been amended.

Q65 Section 1.1.1.1 states that "Offerors shall provide course survey data for course curriculums to illustrate student mastery of objectives and positive student outcomes." Is the offeror expected to submit actual Level 1 survey data to meet this requirement related to the courses taught in Task Orders 1 and 2? Is it correct to interpret this as a requirement that offerors submit a summary survey results for a course that they previously developed and delivered, so the Government can evaluate whether outcomes for the example were favorable? If so, the only company that will be able to provide that data is the incumbent, essentially eliminating competition. Or does the Government want offerors to demonstrate, with an example tailored to the sample task, that we understand what an effective survey would look like?

A65 See A6 in A00001.

Q66 If the survey data the offeror has conducted are proprietary information and exclusive to the government office for which we have/had a contract, how do you expect us to retrieve and share that information?

A66 The Government offers no response to this question.

Q67 With all the delays in getting the solicitation released, having a 3 years vs. a 5 year requirement it appears to put the incumbent at a distinct advantage and could appear to limit competition. Would the Government consider revising the definition of recent to be 5 years instead of 3?

A67 See A1 in A00001.

Q68 1-30 days is a wide range for notification, How will the government ensure that all companies are given the same # of days notification for the orals for fairness?

A68 See A53 above.

Q69 Would the Government please clarify how much advanced notice vendors will before their scheduled oral presentation?

A69 See A53 above.

Q70 Will all 3 orals participants be required to be in the same room for orals?

A70 Location of the oral questions is specified in section m 1.1.1.2. There is no requirement for participants to be in the same room.

Q71 Will the government observe the time the contractor participants are formulating answers to the questions (i.e., Will the government require cameras and audio to stay on?)?

A71 No, the Government will not require observation of participants during the formulation of answers to oral questions.

Q72 How will the government ensure a communication check for compatibility with contractor systems for the orals presentation? Will government allow for a communications check prior to orals? Will contractors be given a call in number in event of communication issues?

A72 Oral questions will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. A link to the meeting and a call-in number will be provided.

Q73 The government is not allowing offerors to record the oral interview. Since this is an evaluation piece of the overall package, the offeror needs a copy of the recording so that we can reference back to comments said, questions ask, and the overall conversation. If we do not get to keep a copy, we will not be able to review our work and how that compares to the final evaluation rating. How will the government disburse the recordings?

A73 Respectfully, the Government will not disburse recordings.

Q74 Will Oral Questions be tailored to the offerors' specific proposal responses, or will the Oral

Questions be offeror-independent?

A74 The questions are pre-determined by the Government and will be the same for each offeror.

Q75 To score "Very Relevant" the "present/past performance effort involved essentially the same scope & magnitude of effort and complexities this solicitation requires." This may highly favor the incumbent and prevent competition from SDVOSBs. Would the Government please clarify how the definition of relevancy.

A75 Past performance will be evaluated IAW the solicitation and FAR 15.305. Refer to RFP Section L, 1.1.3 for a definition of relevancy.

Q76 Would the Government please clarify what information they want to see in Volume Past Performance (e.g., name of contract, contract number, contract value, etc.)?

A76 Refer to Section L, 1.1.3.

Q77 This paragraph conflicts with the PWS in that it requires key personnel replacements to have

"equal or superior qualifications than the key person being replaced". Can the government clarify whether key personnel replacements should meet the resumes requirements in the PWS or should the equal or exceed the person being replaced?

A77 See A00003 Attachment VII, Task Order 1 and Attachment XI, Task Order 2 Q78 This paragraph requires the identification of Site Lead alternates for TRACEN Petaluma &

SMTC in our proposal. This is not specified in the PWS. Is this unique to TRACEN Petaluma & SMTC, or required for all sites, or none?

A78 As stated in the task orders’ PWSs, “The name of the Site Team Lead, and the name(s) of any alternate(s) who shall act for the Contractor in the absence of the Site Team Lead, shall be provided to the Government as part of the Contractor's proposal.” If required, the task order PWS will state the requirement.

Q79 The available times for site leads at TRACEN Petaluma differs from the PWS (0730-1630 PST) versus 0800-1700 local time. Please clarify.

A79 The task order states, peak work hours for network usage are typically defined as 0800 to 1600 PST weekdays.

Q80 What is the government's definition of "Direct Rate" and the purpose of requiring this information in addition to the "Fully Burdened Rate"?

A80 The Government offers no response to this question.

Q81 Would the please government consider bidders providing “a written certification that SCA

Wage Determination rates and H&W allowance are included in the Fully Burdened rates” instead of providing the “Direct Rate”?

A81 The Government respectfully declines.

Q82 Will the government provide the legend and definition of the "*" symbol that appears in

Column A of Attachment 1 pricing tabs.

A82 See A00001 and A00003. Attachment I, Pricing has been amended.

Q83 Will the government provide the legend and definition of the "#" symbol that appears in

Column A of Attachment 1 pricing tabs.

A83 See A00001. Attachment I, Pricing has been amended.

Q84 Since the SOW Section G.2.5.2 allows for "The Site Team Lead duties may be collateral to the work of other labor categories, provided the contractor employees meet the requirements for both positions," may the hours in column B be adjusted by the bidder?

A84 Do not adjust the hours, please only fill in green cells.

Q85 May the hours in column B be adjusted for additional holidays not included in the price volume?

A85 The hours may only be adjusted in the task order tabs.

Q86 Will the government confirm every position in the price volume that requires SCA Wage

Determination rates?

A86 See A00001 and A00003. Attachment I, Pricing has been amended.

Q87 Will the government confirm every position in the price volume that is Exempt from the SCA

Wage Determination rates?

A87 Duplicate question, see Q86 and A86 above.

Q88 Will the government clarify the location of FC-T.

A88 See A3 in A00001.

Q89 Will the government clarify the definition and location of VRC?

A89 See A42 Q90 Will the government confirm that ALL Instructional System Designer (ISD) positions, including

CBRN ISD, regardless of location, are exempt from the SCA Wage Determination requirements?

A90 See A00001 and A00003; Attachment I, Pricing has been amended.

Q91 How will the government handle periodic DOL changes in the SCA Wage Determination rates after proposals are submitted? Will the government automatically allow rate escalation in order to comply with the DOL's SCA Wage Determination rate requirements?

A91 The Government will modify the contract annually to update the wage determination table (Attachment II). Refer to FAR Clause 52.222-43 Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards-Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts).

Q92 Would the Government please confirm that contractors may change the hours on the pricing sheet?

A92 See A2 in A00001.

Q93 Attachment II lists Mobile, AL as Baldwin County. USCG ATC Mobile appears to be in Mobile County. Will the government confirm the correct county? And confirm the Wage Determination Number that should be used?

A93 See A00001; Attachment II, Wage Determination Table has been amended.

Q94 Attachment II lists Petaluma, CA as Napa County. USCG Training Center Petaluma appears to be in Sonoma County. Will the government confirm the correct county? And confirm the Wage Determination Number that should be used?

A94 See A00001; Attachment II, Wage Determination Table has been amended.

Q95 Attachment II lists Camp Lejeune, NC as Beaufort County. SMTC appears to be in Onslow

County. Will the government confirm the correct county? And confirm the Wage Determination Number that should be used?

A95 See A00001; Attachment II, Wage Determination Table has been amended.

Q96 Since questions were not requested until only 9 calendar days prior to the proposal submission due date, and so that each bidder has a fair opportunity to respond to anticipated significant modifications and clarifications in proposals, respectfully request a minimum of two-week extension to the proposal submission date.

A96 The Government respectfully declines.

Q97 RFP requires submission of resumes and signed letters of intent for all key personnel. Because incumbent contractors typically require current employees to refuse to provide resumes and/or letters of intent to competitors, this requirement will drive 100% turnover in key personnel positions and provide undue advantage to incumbents. This will drive immediate performance and morale issues. In addition, because the existing key personnel in question will not be bound by incumbent contractor requirements in the next contract if awarded to a different offeror, this circumstance provides an unrealistically negative view of any non-incumbent offerors' ability to attract and retain qualified personnel. We respectfully request the Government remove this requirement.

A97 The Government respectfully declines.

Q98 RFP requires Past Performance Questionnaires be submitted. Frequently, contracting offices refuse to complete PPQs where they have already completed Contractor Performance Assessment Reports (CPARs). We respectfully request the Government accept CPARs in lieu of PPQs.

A98 Refer to solicitation, Section M, 1.1.3.

Q99 RFP states "The same person cannot complete more than one Past Performance

Questionnaire for an offeror. PPQs shall be completed by the actual customer/end user." In many cases, an offeror will complete several discrete contracts for the same customer (for example, several unrelated contracts for the same agency), and the same Point of Contact is the actual customer/end user who would complete the PPQs for all contracts. Requiring separate Points of Contact for all experience under these circumstances will cause an unrealistically negative picture of that offeror's experience. We respectfully request the Government remove this limitation.

A99 The Government respectfully declines.

Q100 Attachment III, Performance Requirement Summary states, “If determined to be unacceptable to the Government, the Government will consider applying payment remediation.” This is open ended and the contractor cannot gauge the risk of this requirement. Can the Government be more specific on the planned payment remediations for each objective?

A100 Payment remediation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Q101 Solicitation G.5 (Electronic Submission of Payment Requests) states: Payment Reductions in Invoices for Vacancies: The contractor understands that in performance of this contract that vacancies risk the successful performance of the Coast Guard's mission. Therefore, vacancies shall be filled as soon as possible. Services not provided due to vacancies for ten (10) Business days or more will be reduced from the contractor's invoice at a minimum of the labor rates(s) times eight (8) (hours) for each day the labor category remains vacant. In addition, costs that are incurred by the government related to lack of contractor performance may also be reduced from the invoice. This is not meant to be liquidated damages or any other remedy for failure to perform in accordance with termination clauses and remedies under of this contract. Failure to comply will result in a rejected invoice. Will the Government define “Failure to comply” which results in a rejected invoice.” Does this mean if a position is vacant for ten days the Government will reduce the contractors invoice and also reject it until the position is filled?

A101 The Government will reject the invoice IF performance is interrupted and hours for the vacant position are still included on the submitted invoice.

Q102 Attachment 2 Wage Determination for New London CT latest available from SAM.GOV is 2015. Is there a more current WD or is this the one the Government is directing?

A102 See A00001; Attachment II, Wage Determination Table has been amended.

Q103 The Contractor shall furnish all facilities, materials, labor, equipment and services necessary to fulfill the requirements of task orders awarded under this contract, except for the Government Furnished Information and Resources specified in each task order. The Government will furnish the following: workstations, materials, facilities, equipment, and CGOne account (the USCG unclassified network) for contractor employees assigned to work at Government sites. The contractor shall identify all cyber/IT-related HW, SW and/or services that are included as part of its solution. The specific requirements for these solutions appear to reside at the Task Order level. Will the HW/SW requirements be priced separately at the Task Order level? If not, can the Government provide the current HW/SW requirements as they are not specified at the IDIQ level documentation?

A103 All hardware and software requirements will be stated at the task order level.

Q104 Authority to Operate. The Contractor shall not input, store, process, output, and/or transmit sensitive information within a Contractor IT system without an Authority to Operate (ATO) signed by the Headquarters or Component CIO, or designee, in consultation with the Headquarters or Component Privacy Officer. Unless otherwise specified in the ATO letter, the ATO is valid for three (3) years. The Contractor shall adhere to current Government policies, procedures, and guidance for the Security Authorization (SA) process as defined below. There are significant costs and time involved to provide an ATO. Can the Government provide information on any existing ATO in place on this effort? Is the ATO solution expected to be in place at contract start? Does the Coast Guard use the DoD ATO process or a separate process?

A104 There is currently no ATO in place and none is anticipated. This is a standard clause.

Q105 Section L 1.1.1.1 and 1.1.1.2 states “For personnel who are not employed by the offeror at the time of proposal submission, the offeror shall attach a letter signed by the individual indicating their intent and ability to fulfill the proposed role if award is made based on the proposal.”

Can the Government confirm the letter of intent from proposed key personnel is excluded from the page count?

A105 See A19 in A00001.

Q106 Can the Government provide to offerors the pre-determined orals questions for Factor 1 and

Factor 2?

A106 The questions will not be provided until the actual oral presentation.

Q107 Can the Government confirm that Key Personnel resumes are only required for the Program

Manager and Site Lead for Task Order 1 and Task Order 2 (3 resumes total)?

A107 See A15 in A00001.

Q108 Can the Government confirm that 1 Site Lead resume is required for each respective task order (2 Site Lead resumes total for Factor 1) and 1 PM resume is required for Factor 2?

A108 Correct.

Q109 If Key Personnel resumes are required for more than three positions (PM, Task Order 1 and 2

Site Leads), can the Government clarify which additional sites require a resume in the proposal?

A109 No other resumes are required to be submitted for this request for proposal.

Q110 Will the Government provide the applicable documents listed in Task Order 1 PWS 1.4 or provide links to the online source?

A110 All of the applicable documents are available via public search engines.

Q111 Will the Government provide the applicable documents listed in Task Order 2 PWS 1.4 or provide links to the online source?

A111 All of the applicable documents are available via public search engines.

Q112 The RFP allows for the Program Manager to fill the role of Site Lead and allows for Site Lead(s) to fill another role at a given site.

Because Offerors are proposing ceiling IDIQ rates for each position, can the Government confirm that a rate is required for the PM and all Site Lead positions, and that a zero dollar rate or “NSP” annotation for any of these positions will not be accepted?

A112 The Government encourages offerors to propose competitively.

Q113 “The IDIQ labor rates shall not include any material, travel or Other Direct Costs (ODCs).”

Can the Government confirm that material and ODCs may be priced on future task orders?

A113 The Government does not anticipate any materials or ODCs on future task orders.

Q114 “Offerors shall specify which geographic region(s) apply to a particular labor category.”

The IDIQ price template appears to have locations already annotated next to each labor category (SMTC, MLEA, ATTC, etc.). Can the Government clarify this requirement to specify geographic region for labor categories, if this information is already specified by the Government?

A114 This sentence has been removed. See Amendment A00003.

Q115 Task Order 1 Section 2.2.2 requires four EMT instructors, but pricing template for Petaluma

(TCP) lists only three EMT instructors.

Can the Government clarify the required number of EMT instructors, and adjust the hours in the IDIQ price template if necessary?

A115 See A00003; Attachment I, Pricing and Attachment VIII, Task Order 1 has been amended.

Q116 Can the Government confirm the NAICS code and size standard applicable to this procurement?

A116 See A7 in A00001

Q117 To what degree, if any, is telework currently authorized for the contractor workforce in Petaluma and Camp Lejeune?

A117 Camp Lejeune – telework schedule IAW with CG policy, on site when needed, which would be arranged with COR and Site Lead.

Petaluma – telework schedule IAW with CG policy, on site when needed, which would be arranged with COR and Site Lead, excluding those fully remote positions.

Q118 Can the Government clarify the significance of the asterisk (*) and pound sign (#) next to certain labor categories in the IDIQ pricing template?

A118 See A00001 and A00003; Attachment I, Pricing has been amended.

Q119 Can the Government confirm that in the price template, location “TCP” refers to Training

Center (TRACEN) Petaluma, CA?

A119 That is correct.

Q120 Can the Government confirm that in the price template, location “TCY” refers to Training

Center (TRACEN) Yorktown, VA?

A120 Yes, also see A42 in A00003.

Q121 Can the Government clarify to which location “FC-T” refers?

A121 See A3 A00001.

Q122 Can the Government clarify to which location “VRC” refers?

A122 See A42 in A00003.

Q123 Can the Government confirm that the travel plug numbers are inclusive of G&A, and that offerors should not adjust these numbers?

A123 G&A is not authorized for travel.

Q124 Can the Government clarify if only those positions listed in 52.222-42 STATEMENT OF

EQUIVALENT RATES FOR FEDERAL HIRES are subject to the Service Contract Act?

A124 Yes. It identifies the classes of service employees expected to be employed under the contract and states the wages and fringe benefits payable to each if they were employed by the Government subject to the provisions of 5 USC 5341 or 5332.

Q125 Can the Government confirm that the Table of Contents and List of Figures is excluded from the page count in each volume?

A125 See A12 in A00001.

Q126 Attachment I – Pricing includes labor categories and associated hours at 9 FORCECOM training locations, including Task Order 1 Petaluma (TCP) and Task Order 2 SMTC for Ordering Periods 1 through 5.

Can the Government confirm that the labor categories and associated hours for Petaluma (TCP) and SMTC listed in Ordering Period 1 through Period 5 are the required labor mix for the Task Order at each location?

A126 See A2 on A00001. For Task Order 1 and 2, the Contractors are to provide the hours/rates.

Q127 Task Order 1 PWS 2.1 Task Two states that CBRN ISD services are included, however the

Attachment I – Pricing file does not include CBRN or Tactical ISD at the Petaluma (TCP) location.

Can the Government confirm that CBRN and Tactical ISD is not required at the Petaluma, CA location, and if so, can the Government revise Task Order 1 PWS to remove this requirement?

A127 See A45 above.

Q128 Will incumbent personnel be considered qualified throughout the transition period or do incumbent employees that transition to the awardee need to recertify within 90 days of hire for weapons qualifications and Core Unique Instructor requirements?

A128 Unless the core unique qualifications lapse during the transition period, incumbent personnel would be considered qualified for the new contract.

Q129 Proposal Format states “Written proposals must be formatted using Times New Roman 12 pt, singled spaced with 1-inch margins on all four sides, and formatted for standard 8.5" x 11" paper.”

Will the Government allow Offerors to use Times New Roman 10 pt font in graphics and tables?

A129 IAW the RFP, “Graphs shall be presented in no smaller than a 10pt font.”

Q130 Can the Government confirm that Offerors may not adjust the labor categories or associated hours for IDIQ Periods 1 through 5, as these cells are not shaded green?

A130 Correct, see A2 A00001.

Q131 Can the Government confirm that the total hours and prices calculated on Row 66 of each of the Ordering Period tabs should include the hours and price for the Program Manager (row 3)?

A131 See A49 above.

Q132 Does the time required to obtain a CAC factor into the 10 day vacancy invoice remediation?

A132 In many cases performance can still be sustained without a CAC card. The Government will determine this on a case by case basis. In many cases performance can still be sustained without a CAC card. The Government will determine this on a case by case basis.

Q133 Can the Government confirm that, consistent with the guidance provided for IDIQ labor rates, the pricing for Task Orders 1 and 2 shall not include any material or ODCs?

A133 That is correct.

Q134 The IDIQ price template does not account for any overtime. Can the Government confirm that overtime is not anticipated on this contract, and that specified staffing levels in Attachment I are sufficient to complete all required tasks at each site without requiring overtime?

A134 The Government does not anticipate overtime.

Q135 is there a page limit for the resumes?

A135 No, there is no page limit for resumes.

Q136 Is there a required format for past performance A136 IAW the RFP, “Written proposals must be formatted using Times New Roman 12 pt, singled spaced with 1-inch margins on all four sides, and formatted for standard 8.5" x 11" paper. All pages shall include a ½" header containing: the RFP number; the offeror's name; and Volume Title. All pages shall be numbered in the lower right hand corner in a manner that identifies the volume and page number.”

Q137 is the contract amount required for all past performances?

A137 Refer to section L.

Q138 is the contract number/task order required for past performance?

A138 Refer to section L.

Q139 As this is a small business set aside, and it may be difficult for small businesses to provide similar size, scope, and complexity in past performance of this magnitude, can the government state, whether it is looking for similar size, scope, and complexity, related to task orders, or over arching contract?

A139 Refer to section L.

Q140 Will the government consider an extension of the submission deadline to account for the time needed to review the question responses once they are published?

A140 See A00003.