NASA Responses to Industry Questions on RFP No. 80ARC021R0001.pdf

NASA Responses to Industry Questions on RFP No. 80ARC021R0001

Question 1 L.14 Proposal Preparation, (a) Volume I – General, (5) Section I – Include a completed response to Section I Section I requires a complete response to FAR 52.219-4. However, FAR 52.219-4 is currently only incorporated by reference within Section I. Will the Government please clarify how it intends for offerors to respond to FAR 52.219-4?

NASA Response 1:

Offerors shall indicate whether they elect to waive the evaluation preference in paragraph b.

Sections I.1, FAR 52.219-4 has been amended to include completion instructions.

Question 2 L.8 1852.215-81 Proposal Page Limitations (b) and (c) Section L.8(c)(1) states that cross-reference matrix is excluded from the page count. However, there is no other reference to a cross-reference matrix in the RFP. Will the Government please clarify if a cross-reference matrix is required and if so, please provide proposal-specific instructions regarding the matrix including clarity regarding which proposal volumes the requirement may apply to?

NASA RESPONSE 2:

A cross-reference matrix is not required and has been removed from L.8(c)(1).

Question 3 L.13 Proposal Generation – General Instructions (b) Proposal Submission Instructions (2) and (3) The link provided for a test file and proposal submission appears to be broken. Will the Government provide an updated link? is. Will the Government clarify if this is due to the EFSS Box not being “open” or “active” and if not, provide a new link to allow offerors the opportunity to submit a test file prior to proposal submittal?

NASA RESPONSE 3:

The provided link (https://nasagov.app.box.com/f/09f39eadd60b4494a3afe1b8f6dcbbb1) is correct and is active and open. Offerors must copy the full hyperlink and paste into the web browser. If you are still unable to access the test site after copy and pasting the full hyperlink, please contact the POCs identified in the RFP.

Question 4 L.14 Proposal Preparation; Section H.9 ARC 52.227-94; J.1 List of Documents, Exhibits, and Attachments J.1 List of Documents, Exhibits, and Attachments states that contractor’s proposal and Reps/Certs are incorporated by reference at the time of award as stated in Section H.9. We also noted that the provided DD254 (Section J, Attachment 5) is marked “not the Final DD Form 254”; the J.1(a) table of attachments (RFP page 84) does not list Attachment 5 – DD254 as a Section J item “*to be incorporated at time of award or by subsequent modification.”; and the DD254 Section J attachment is not listed as required proposal content in Section L.14. Will the Government confirm that Section J, Attachment 5 – DD254 is not required with an Offeror’s proposal submission?

NASA RESPONSE 4:

The solicitation DD254 conveys security requirements for performance of the ATOM-5 contract.

The DD254 identifies information such as the level of facility security clearance (FCL) required and the required level of safeguarding for classified information/material required at the Contractor’s facility. A final DD254 will be incorporated at award or by subsequent modification. Offerors are not required to submit a DD254 with proposal submission. However, Section L.14(a)(1)(v) has been amended to reflect the requirement for Offerors to provide the information to necessary to complete blocks 6a/b and 7a/b, as applicable.

Question 5 L.15(A)(5) Management Approach Subfactor, Reserved Section L.15(A) Management Approach Subfactor, (5) is listed as “Reserved” and does not contain information or requirements for an Offeror’s proposal to address. Does the Government intend to provide an amendment with specific requirements for the “Reserved” section? If not, please clarify if offerors should place this Reserved section in proposals as a placeholder or remove completely from our proposal structure.

NASA RESPONSE 5:

The Government will not amend this section to remove the “reserved” designation for section L.15(a)(A)(5). To maintain consistency with the RFP structure, Offerors shall include the “reserved” section in their proposals as a placeholder.

Question 6 Attachment J.1.a.3+-+CDRL+ATOM-5, CDRL 13 – OCI Avoidance/Mitigation Plan The last sentence of Item 3.5 Maintenance in CDRL 13, Organizational Conflict of Interest Avoidance/Mitigation Plan appears to be incomplete and/or cutoff, “The Organization Conflicts of Interest”. Will the Government please review and provide clarification?

NASA RESPONSE 6:

CDRL 13, Paragraph 3.5 should end after, “…within three calendar days of issuance.” The remaining language “The Organization Conflicts of Interest” has been removed.

Question 7 RFP Section L.15(b)Past Performance (4) bullet #4 (RFP pg. 138) Please clarify the date desired for “Date of Contract.” Does this refer to the Contract Award Date, Date Contract was Fully Executed, or Contract Start Date?

NASA RESPONSE 7:

The Past Performance Questionnaire has been amended to reflect the requirement to include the Contract/Performance Start Date.

Question 8 L.15(b)Past Performance (4) bullet #10 (RFP pg. 139).

The Government requests offerors to provide “the annual number of OSHA recordable cases…”

This data is reported annually through OSHA Forms 300 and 300A, will the Government please clarify how many years of data to include in the Past Performance Volume?

NASA RESPONSE 8:

Offerors shall provide data on the annual number of OSHA reportable cases for no more than five (5) years prior to the proposal due date under this solicitation.

Question 9 L.15(b)Past Performance (4) bullet #11 (RFP pg. 139).

The Government requests offerors to provide “the annual number of EPA reportable incidents.”

Will the Government please clarify how many years of environmental record data to include in the Past Performance Volume?

NASA RESPONSE 9:

Offerors shall provide data on the annual number of EPA reportable incidents for no more than five (5) years of data prior to the proposal due date under this solicitation.

Question 10 L.15(b)Past Performance (7).

The Government requests offerors to “include in their proposal the written consent of their proposed major subcontractors to allow the Government to discuss the subcontractors’ past performance evaluation with the Offeror.” Will the Government please confirm that similar to the requirements associated with Key Personnel commitment letters and resumes in Volume II, that major subcontractor written consent letters are not part of the 20 pages allocated to the Past Performance Volume and that offerors include these letters as an appendix to Volume III?

NASA RESPONSE 10:

L.8(c)(2) has been amended to state, “Written consent letters of proposed Major Subcontractors, to allow the Government to discuss the subcontractors’ past performance evaluation with the Prime Offeror, are not counted as part of the 20-page limitation under Past Performance and shall be included as Volume III appendices. Consent letters shall be limited to no more than one page per Major Subcontractor.”

Question 11 Volume II, Section L.15(C) Small Business Utilization; Volume III Cost/Price Template Workbook, Section J.1(b) Attachment 1 – Exhibit 1, Summary of Proposed Price Section L.15(C), Small Business Utilization, defines Total Contract Value as “base and all options combined”. Does the Total Contract Value reference within Small Business Utilization include the six-month extension identified in Volume III Cost/Price Exhibit 1 (FAR 52.217-8)?

NASA RESPONSE 11:

No, the Total Contract Value within the Small Business Utilization does not include the six-month extension identified in Volume III Cost/Price Exhibit (FAR 52.217-8).

Question 12 Volume IV Cost/Price Template Workbook, Section J.1(b) Attachment 1 – Exhibit 2

Summary of Price – ATOM 5 Core Contract Management and Administration (FFP) (Required of Prime Offeror only) Exhibit 2 worksheet cells A8 to M26 are protected and users are unable to provide the required information per the instructions in Section L, “enter proposed Firm Fixed Price by Contract Year to manage and administer the contract. Include all costs related to management and administration of the contract.” (RFP Page 145) Does the Government intend for offerors to submit only the total FFP cost per year? If not, would the Government please unprotect the Exhibit 2 worksheet?

NASA RESPONSE 12:

Yes, Offerors are only to submit the total proposed firm fixed price for each year.

Question 13 Volume IV Cost/Price Template Workbook, Section J.1(b) Attachment 1 – Exhibit 9, Direct Labor Cost Summary – ATOM-5 Core Technical: General Services, General Testing (Required of Prime Offeror only) Section L instructions require Prime Offeror and Major Subcontractors to complete Exhibit 9 (RFP page 150); however, the heading for Exhibit 9 in the Cost/Price Template Workbook states that this exhibit is “required of Prime Offerors Only.” Would the Government please clarify if Major Subcontractors are to complete the Exhibit 9 worksheet?

NASA RESPONSE 13:

Yes, Exhibit 9 applies to Prime Offerors and Major Subcontractors (if applicable). The information in L.15(c)(II)(a) – Exhibit 9 has been amended to state “Prime Offerors and Major Subcontractors (if applicable)”.

Additionally, L.15(c)(III), Exhibit 9 has also been amended to read, “(Required of Prime Offeror and Major Subcontractors (if applicable). Major Subcontractor proposal information shall be submitted in its own Cost/Proposal…”

Question 14 Volume IV Cost/Price Template Workbook, Section J.1(b) Attachment 1 – Exhibit 10, Direct Labor Cost Summary – ATOM-5 IDIQ Task (Required of Prime Offeror only) Section L instructions require Prime Offeror and Major Subcontractors to complete Exhibit 10 (RFP page 150); however, the heading for Exhibit 10 in the Cost/Price Template Workbook states that this exhibit is “required of Prime Offerors Only.” Would the Government please clarify if Major Subcontractors are required to complete the Exhibit 10 worksheet?

NASA RESPONSE 14:

Yes, Exhibit 10 applies to Prime Offerors and Major Subcontractors. The information in L.15(c)(II)(a) – Exhibit 10 has been amended to state “Prime Offerors and Major Subcontractors (if applicable)”.

Additionally, L.15(c)(III), Exhibit 10 has also been amended to read, “(Required of Prime Offeror and Major Subcontractors (if applicable). Major Subcontractor proposal information shall be submitted in its own Cost/Proposal…”

Question 15 Volume IV Cost/Price Template Workbook, Section J.1(b) Attachment 1 – Exhibit 17, Phase- In (Required of Prime Offeror only) and Section B and Section F Will the Government please confirm whether or not the phase-in period is fixed? Section B.1 CLIN 0001 9 and Section F.2 (RFP Pages 2 and 13) indicate a 90-day phase-in period while Exhibit 17 of the Cost/Price Template Workbook indicates a 60-day phase-in?

NASA RESPONSE 15:

The phase-in period is 90 days. Section J.1(b), Attachment 1 – Exhibit 17, has been amended to reflect a 90-day phase-in.

Question 16 Volume IV Cost/Price Template Workbook, Section J.1(b) Attachment 1 – Exhibit 17, Phase- In (Required of Prime Offeror only) Exhibit 17 worksheet is protected and users are unable to provide phase-in cost detail. Does the Government intend for offerors to submit the total Phase-in Firm Fixed Price in cell I9? If not, would the Government please unprotect the Exhibit 17 worksheet to allow offerors to provide phase-in detail? Furthermore, could the Government confirm that the phase-in performance is 60 days since Section B.1 CLIN 0001 90 Day Phase-in as set forth in Section F.2 (RFP Page 2 and page 13)?

NASA RESPONSE 16:

Offerors should submit their proposed firm fixed price for a 90-day phase-in in cell I-9. The description in Exhibit 17 has been amended to read “Phase-in 90 days (Firm Fixed Price).

Question 17 Section F.2 Period of Performance L.15(b) Cost/Price Will the Government please confirm the contract start date to use for proposal pricing purposes?

Under Exhibit 17 on page 154, the RFP states, “For proposal purposes only, assume the start date of the Phase-In Period to be April 8, 2022.” Assuming a 90-day phase-in, the contract start date would be July 7, 2022. However, the cover letter provided with the RFP states “an anticipated contract award date is 8 April 2022, with a contract effective date 30 days later...”

which would be May 8, 2022.

NASA RESPONSE 17:

Contract award is anticipated on/around April 1, 2022. The anticipated contract effective date/start of the 90-day Phase-In is amended to reflect May 3, 2022. As a result, the full contract performance (i.e. base period) is anticipated to begin on August 1, 2022.

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