Questions and Answers Batch 2.pdf

Question # Question Government Response 1 Will a thirty (30) day extension be granted to the due date? A 5 day extension was granted via Amendment 1.

2 Do we bid 500K minutes of contact per year (as Exhibit B seems to indicate)? Or should bidders estimate the maximum minutes their organization can provide of contact per year? If we are to bid 500K minutes, should we bid 500K minutes for each subcategory (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3), or should the sum of each subcategory be 500K minutes?

The offeror is required to propose the Not-to-Exceed price per minute rates (for both Nominal and Critical services) per Contract year for each subcategory the offeror is proposing. In its evaluation, NASA will multiply each To Be Proposed (TBP) Not-to-Exceed price per minute rates by 500K minutes for each of the Nominal and Critical Services descriptions for the proposed applicable Contract Years (Contract Year 11 rates will be excluded from the calculation). Exhibit B was revised to clarify this process in Amendment 1 to the RFP. In addition, a reference purposes only PDF version of Exhibit B containing the spreadsheet formulas entitled "Exhibit B - NSN Services Pricing Model (Ref Only)" has been uploaded into the "Near Space Network (NSN) Service, elibrary."

3 Please provide a specification for the LANS AFS waveform (frequencies, modulation, coding, framing) ?

Currently this a TBD in the LNIS and the offeror shall clearly document its assumption(s.)

4 The RFP Section J.1 table indicates that the DD254 is to be submitted ("**TBS with proposal"). The form provided has N/A in the contractor Sections which makes sense given that we understand the initial TOs will be unclassified. Do bidders still have to return the DD254 form with the initial proposal for unclassified Categories? If yes, are there any fill-ins required (or instructions we may have missed) or do bidders just resubmit the form as provided in the RFP?

A DD254 is not required if the offeror is only proposing on the unclassified subcategory(ies). If a vendor wants to be considered for the classified requirements under the contract, the vendor shall possess a facility clearance up to a TS/SCI, and submit a completed DD254 demonstrating compliance with the with the security classification requirements of the contract. The DD254 may be submitted with the initial proposals.

5 Requesting a thirty (30) day extension on the submittal for solicitation. The gap in between DRFP and RFP required additional resources to reengage with the proposal development.

A 5 day extension was granted via Amendment 1.

6 Could NASA provide the Exhibit B - NSN Services Pricing Models and Attachment B in excel format or advise the formulas to use to calculate total price in Exhibit B? We have tried conversion of the PDF to Excel multiple times including using the Adobe Acrobat DC version and the file comes through without formulas.

NASA GSFC is required to post all documents in a PDF version. However, to assist Offerors, a for reference purposes only PDF version of Exhibit B containing the spreadsheet formulas entitled "Exhibit B - NSN Services Pricing Model (Ref Only)" was uploaded into the "Near Space Network (NSN) Service, elibrary."

7 Given the extensive changes in the final solicitation (RFP, SOW, technical requirements), we ask for a two-week extension.

A 5 day extension was granted via Amendment 1.

8 LCRNS.3.0600 – Position, Navigation, and Timing (Service Reference Signals). QUESTION: Per LCRNS.3.0600 the SISE position and velocity errors imply very precise knowledge of the relay satellites state vector, which we interpret as a requirement that the relay spacecraft position knowledge, projected along the User- Relay line-of-sight vector, be less than 13.43 meters. The rationale provided with LCRNS.3.0600 indicates these signals need to be used by all assets "any time". In contrast, Table 3-10 implies that the User requires this level of precision only during phases of the critical events, as described. We request that NASA clarify the time interval over which LCRNS.3.0600 SISE requirements are to be maintained (and, in-turn, the interval over which knowledge of the precise relay satellite state is required).

Table 3-10 is representative of a user scenario and the requirement 3.0600 is applicable at ALL times.

9 LCRNS SRD. QUESTION: Table 3-3 specifies the number of simultaneous AFS links to a User, with up to 4 simultaneous links at IOC-C. Does NASA require all four of these links be provided by a single relay service provider?

This is a performance based contract and NASA requires that the offeror meet or exceed the functional and performance based requirements of the solicitation documents used its proposed approach.

10 Provide a completed Commercial Architecture Security Questionnaire (CASQ) and provide results from a third-party cybersecurity assessment. QUESTION: Developing systems may not have implemented all security controls or undergone a third-party cybersecurity assessment as these activities may occur in the future. As such, for proposal submission purposes, will the Government: 1) accept responses in the CASQ that describe how and when the requirement will be met, and 2) accept a statement of when the third party assessment will occur?

The Offeror shall demonstrate its current and/or document its planned cybersecurity compliance in accordance with methods noted in L.25., 2. Information Technology (IT) Security (ITSec)/Communications Security (COMSEC). Section L of the solicitation will be updated accordingly.

11 Provide a completed Commercial Architecture Security Questionnaire (CASQ). QUESTION: The as-provided CASQ form does not expand to allow the Offeror to include all the details to address each requirement.

Can the Offeror reformat the form to accommodate the level of detail required to answer all requirements?

Offerors must follow the CASQ format and are limited to 30 pages per Provision L.19 GSFC 52.215-201 (ALT I) PROPOSAL PREPARATION—GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS (ELECTRONIC PROPOSAL DELIVERY) (MAR 2020.)

12 DD 254 requirement. QUESTION: Can the Government please confirm that a DD 254 is not required for Category 2.2. submission?

A DD254 is not required if the offeror is only proposing on the unclassified subcategory(ies). If a vendor wants to be considered for the classified requirements under the contract, the vendor shall possess a facility clearance up to a TS/SCI, and submit a completed DD254 demonstrating compliance with the with the security classification requirements of the contract. The DD254 may be submitted with the initial proposals.

13 Commercial business models do not meet a number of exquisite technical requirements in the RFP such as MTTR of space link in <1 minute. Will a bidder be judged “Acceptable” for meeting a large set of a category’s requirements but not compliant on a subset of extremely stringent requirements? Said another way, will a bidder be judged on their ability to support a number of missions but not all missions?

Offerors must meet or exceed the functional and performance requirements for each of the proposed subcategory and each proposal will be evaluated in accordance with Section M of the solicitation.

14 As a commercial service provider, our service is normally measured by proficiency of successful passes.

Reliability is part of proficiency. Availability is not normally a commercial requirement as customers are buying services on a multi-user, nondedicated, network. Availability differs based on several factors such as how far in advance customers schedule and different priority levels for customers, such as NASA Emergency passes. We recommend NASA adopt the industry standard of Proficiency alone, rather than Proficiency and Availability, which are not in line with the commercial approach of ground station service providers.

The solicitation reflects NASA's requirements and objectives. Availablity is an important aspect of the solicitation requirements. Your recommendation is noted, but the requirements remain unchanged.

15 We have not been able to locate some technical documents for review. Can NASA add the following documents to the e-library?

a. NASA IT-HBK-2841-002

b. IONet, 290-004

c. IONet Checklist

NASA IT-HBK-2841-002 will be corrected to read NASA-IT-HBK-2841. The referenced IONet docs will be removed from the SOW and the contractor will required to meet the minimum requirements of clause, I.88 1852.204-76 SECURITY

REQUIREMENTS FOR UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES (JAN 2011.)

16 Do we understand correctly that Table 3 PNT services only apply to Space Relay services? Table 3 states (in part): "Service Execution – PNT Services (Category 2, Space Relay services only)"

17 We have reviewed RFP, to include L.24 and the supporting price templates. It is silent on if we should price the 500,000 minutes annual for both Nominal and Critical service. So annually, 500,000 for Nominal and 500,000 for Critical. Is this true?

The offeror is required to propose the Not-to-Exceed price per minute rates (for both Nominal and Critical services) per Contract year for each subcategory the offeror is proposing. In its evaluation, NASA will multiply each To Be Proposed (TBP) Not-to-Exceed price per minute rates by 500K minutes for each of the Nominal and Critical Services descriptions for the proposed applicable Contract Years (Contract Year 11 rates will be excluded from the calculation). Exhibit B was revised to clarify this process in Amendment 1 to the RFP. In addition, a reference purposes only PDF version of Exhibit B containing the spreadsheet formulas entitled "Exhibit B - NSN Services Pricing Model (Ref Only)" has been uploaded into the "Near Space Network (NSN) Service, elibrary."

18 The Contractor shall provide the Government online access to data and documentation relevant to the NSNS contract. To ensure compatibility, what online access tools does the Government currently use and will the interface be compatible with FISMA High?

Government is requesting access to Contractor's tools that will be used for data and documentation relevant to the NSN Services contract.

19 The requirements in the SRD for Operational Service Availability as specified in Table 3-1 and the requirements for simultaneous services – Min % Coverage of an Earth Day, as specified in Table 3-3, do not seem to be consistent. Table 3-1 does not provide unique availability requirements for S-band and Ka-band links. What is the correct availability requirement for S-band and Ka-band links for Nominal and Critical Services?

These are separate requirements. The operational service availability requirements apply to ALL services.

20 This was an added Section L criteria in the RFP (vs. the DRFP) that requires specific analysis to show compliance. At the time of proposal, these analyses are assumed to be top level/preliminary and will be refined through the first three phases (Concept, Requirements and Design) of the Validation TO process.

What level of analysis is NASA requesting to show compliance for the proposal? Additional time maybe need to complete the analysis required to show compliance since this is a new RFP requirement.

Exhibit D includes description of information to be provided by Offeror.

21 Can NASA confirm that this is the remedy for failure to perform and that there is no other remedy? Are there reperformance or excess reprocurement costs? Please clarify the remedies available to NASA in the event a contractor fails to perform on a TO (aside from 52.249-8).

If the contractor fails to perform a task order, the contract contains FAR Clause 52.249-8 DEFAULT (FIXED-PRICE SUPPLY AND SERVICE). The FAR further provides that the contracting officer shall terminate contracts, whether for default or convenience, if warranted. The contracting officer can effect a no-cost settlement when it is in the Government’s interest and the requirements of FAR Part 49 are met.

22 The IT Security Management Plan required for NSNS is due 30 days after contract award.

Question: does the Government require a Draft Security Management Plan to be submitted with the Phase 1 proposal?

No, a draft IT Security Management Plan is not required to be submitted with the proposal.

23 Observation: Attachment E, Section E.2 states: The Contractor shall comply with either of the higher-level quality standard(s) listed below. Then lists ISO9001 or AS9100 and states that: The Contractor shall include applicable requirements of the higher-level quality standard(s) listed in paragraph (a) of this clause and the requirement to flow down such standards, as applicable, to lower-tier subcontracts . . .

Question: will the Government confirm that the Quality Assurance and (Draft) Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan are not required until responding to the resultant Task Orders?

If RFP Clause E.2 is the correct reference (not Attachment E, Section E.2 as stated in the question), the higher-level quality standard(s) are required to be flowed down to lower-tier subcontractors, as applicable. If you are referencing the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan listed as Enclosure AA to the RFP, this is a Government generated document that is provided for informational purposes only, not one that is being required from the offeror with proposal submission.

24 Background: the Section L.22 c.8 states that "a Small Business Subcontracting Plan is not required at the master contract level" Observation: a Small Business Subcontracting Plan is required for Task Orders with a value greater than $50 million.

Question: does the Government require a Small Business Subcontracting Plan for Category 1, Subcategory

1.2 with the Phase 1 (IDIQ) submission if the validation price is more than $750K.

A Small Business Subcontracting Plan is not required at the master contract level, however, it is required at the Task Order level, including any Representative Task Orders that will be awarded at contract award time. A Small Small Business Subcontracting Plan is required for all Task Orders/Representative Task Orders with a value that exceeds $750K. The requirement for submission of a Small Business Subcontracting Plan is not applicable to awards made to small businesses, or if the contract/individual Task Orders, together with all of its subcontracts, will be performed entirely outside the United States and its outlying areas. Provision L.22(c)(8), sets forth the small business subcontracting goals that have been established for Task Orders with a value of greater than $50M. For Task Orders with a value of between $750K to $50M, contractors will be required to submit a small business subcontracting plan with their own recommended goals based on their own independent assessment. The goals included in the submitted Subcontracting Plan for the Task Orders may be higher, lower, or the same as the goals stated in Provision L.22(c)(8), depending upon the contractor’s independent assessment.

25 The Exhibit A.2 Past Performance Questionnaire Section 4 is a picture and can not be edited.

Could the government provide an editable version?

Use of Adobe Acrobat Pro will allow for editing of Section 4. An alternative may be to convert the PDF to Word prior to sending to your customers, as the questionnaires do not need to be submitted in PDF format.

26 "The Exhibit A.2 Past Performance Questionnaire Section 1 states, “Relevant Past Performance in Communications and Navigation services provided in the following regions.”

Does this imply that you have to have past performance in both Communications and Navigations in a region to get credit or that you have communications and/or navigation in a region to get credit? Should these be separated to ensure evaluation against each capability?"

The offeror shall populate the questionnaire in accordance with its specific past performance.

27 RFP Section F.4 states an ordering period of 5 years from contract effective date with Section B.5 giving option to extend to ten years. Can you clarify the expectations for the 11-year period requested to be included in Exhibit B, given one year is not included in the terms of the RFP?

Contact Year 11 rates are being requested in both Exhibit B and Attachment B to account for the possibility that up to an additional 6 months of services beyond the contract period of performance may be involked under authority of Contract Clause I.33 52.217-8 OPTION TO EXTEND SERVICES (NOV 1999).

28 Is the 500,000 “Total Minutes” listed in Exhibit B a set assumption, or just an example that Contractors are expected to modify?

The 500,000 minutes will be used by the Government for its evaluation purposes. The Offerors should not modify this number.

29 Would the Government provide a fillable version of the Enclosure EE – CASQ PDF? The PDF can be converted to either Word or Excel, filled out, and converted back to PDF. Alternatively, the editing tool in Adobe Acrobat Pro can be utilized to fill in the Enclosure EE-CASQ.

30 When converting these files from Adobe PDF to Excel workbooks no formulas come through. Can the Government provide a workbook populated with formulas or describe how the evaluated price should be calculated?

NASA GSFC is required to post all documents in a PDF version. However, to assist Offerors, a reference purposes only PDF version of Exhibit B containing the spreadsheet formulas entitled "Exhibit B - NSN Services Pricing Model (Ref Only)" will be uploaded into the "Near Space Network (NSN) Service, elibrary."

31 Is the 500,000 minutes to be modeled per sub-category or spread across several sub-categories? Can the Government provide more details on how the evaluated price should be calculated?

Contract Year (CY) 1 starts with the effective date of the NSN Services contract award. The Offerors shall provide the operational services price per minute rates starting in the CY in which the proposed validation activities are anticipated to be completed (Contract Year 11 rates shall be provided but will be excluded from the calculation). For example, category 1.1 and 1.3, validation activities are anticipated to be completed within 6 months; therefore, operational services price per minute rate should be provided for CY1. For category 1.2 validation activities are anticipated to be completed within twenty-four (24) months; therefore based on the vendor’s validation approach, operational services price per minute rate may start either in CY2 or CY3. For category 2.2 validation activities are anticipated to be completed within sixty six (66) months; therefore based on the vendor’s validation approach, operational services price per minute rate may start either in CY5, CY6 or even sooner. Again, this will be based on each offeror proposed validation approach. Exhibit B will be amended to clarify this process in a forthcoming amendment to this RFP. In addition, a reference purposes only PDF version of Exhibit B containing the spreadsheet formulas entitled "Exhibit B - NSN Services Pricing Model (Ref Only)" has been uploaded into the "Near Space Network (NSN) Service, elibrary."

32 Our understanding is that the Commercial Architecture Security Questionnaire (CASQ) needs to be submitted with the proposal addressing the Validation Task Order. Does the completed CASQ count towards the 50 page count of Volume II? Or can it be added as an attachment and be excluded from the page count?

Enclosure EE will be limited to a 30 page count limit within Volume II. The RFP was amended accordingly.

(See Amendment 1)

33 Background Information

G.14 ORDERING PROCEDURES, L.22 GSFC 52.215-203 OFFER VOLUME and L.22.B(8)

These three separate sections of the RFP include the following language: “The contract includes FAR clause 52.219-9, “Small Business Subcontracting Plan and its Alternate II”. A Small Business Subcontracting Plan is not required at the Master Contract level. However, the following small business subcontracting goals have been established for Task Orders with a value of greater than $50M.

J.1 GSFC 52.211-101 LIST OF ATTACHMENTS (FEB 2016)

This section of the RFP states: “The following documents are attached hereto and made a part of this contract:” - then provides a list that does not include a Small Business Subcontracting Plan.

L.19(b)(1) PROPOSAL CONTENT AND PAGE LIMITATIONS The table provided in the instructions lists the OCI Plan and Vol II matrix requirements, but does not include a Small Business Subcontracting Plan.

Amendment 0001 dated 10 March 2023 included a file named: “Questions+and+Answers+Batch+1.pdf”.

The Government’s response to question 24 states: “A Small Business Subcontracting Plan is not required at the master contract level, however, it is required at the Task Order level, including any Representative Task Orders that will be awarded at contract award time.”

Clarification request:

Can the Government please confirm that the Small Business Subcontracting Plan is not required with the proposal submission due March 29th, but will be required at contract award time for NSN Task Orders and future Task Orders issued per RFP Section H.10, I.113?

A Small Business Subcontracting Plan is not required at the master contract level, however, it is required at the Task Order level, including any Representative Task Orders that will be awarded at contract award time. A Small Small Business Subcontracting Plan is required for all Task Orders/Representative Task Orders with a value that exceeds $750K. The requirement for submission of a Small Business Subcontracting Plan is not applicable to awards made to small businesses, or if the contract/individual Task Orders, together with all of its subcontracts, will be performed entirely outside the United States and its outlying areas. Provision L.22(c)(8), sets forth the small business subcontracting goals that have been established for Task Orders with a value of greater than $50M. For Task Orders with a value of between $750K to $50M, contractors will be required to submit a small business subcontracting plan with their own recommended goals based on their own independent assessment. The goals included in the submitted Subcontracting Plan for the Task Orders may be higher, lower, or the same as the goals stated in Provision L.22(c)(8), depending upon the contractor’s independent assessment.