RFP 80GSFC23R0008 SMBA Phase A QA 2 (20230309).pdf

Request for Proposal 80GSFC23R0008 Sounder for Microwave-Based Applications

Questions and Answers

March 9, 2023

Question Response Is it acceptable for Small Business contractors to report on Past Performance for projects below the $5M threshold?

Refer to GSFC 52.215-331 PAST PERFORMANCE EVALUATION FACTOR (HARDWARE). (NOV 2019), “For a prime contractor’s contract reference(s) to be considered at least minimally “relevant”, it must meet/exceed a total cost/fee incurred of at least $5,000,000… Neutral – In the case of an Offeror without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available, the Offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance [see FAR 15.305(a) (2) (ii) and (iv)].”

For the past performance volume, can contracts or grants that were less than $5M be referenced if the total program cost was >$5M?

Can the prime and subcontractors use commercial space service awards as a prior demonstration?

For the past performance volume, are commercial business-to-business contracts eligible for inclusion, or is it excluded to only government contracts?

Only contracts exceeding $5,000,000 will be considered minimally “relevant”.

Commercial space service awards and other commercial contracts will be measured against the same past performance “recent” and “relevant” criteria as public sector awards.

Remove clauses 52.215-15, 52.215-16, and 52.215-18 since certified cost or pricing data is not required and part 31 is not applicable.

The Government will remove clauses 52.215-15 and 52.215-18. However, 52.215-16 does not exist on the contract.

For the past performance volume, can you confirm that the prime contractor team member’s past experience and subcontractor’s past experience can be submitted?

Please follow the instructions in provision GSFC 52.215-231 PAST PERFORMANCE VOLUME (HARDWARE). (MAR 2020) with special attention to, “where the firm’s proposal demonstrates that the resources of the parent or affiliate or predecessor will affect the performance of the Offeror. The Offeror shall demonstrate that the resources of the parent or affiliate or predecessor company (its workforce, management, facilities or other resources) shall be provided or relied upon for contract performance such that the parent or affiliate or predecessor will have meaningful involvement in contract performance.”

Can you confirm that subcontractors are not required to submit anything separately from the prime contractor unless they want to?

If the Request for Proposal does not explicitly require a subcontractor submittal, it is not required. There are instructions which cover subcontractor information to be furnished.

Can you confirm that a basis of estimate (BoE) is not required for the price volume?

The Price Volume does not require a BoE.

Will all subcontractors be required to attend in person for the Midterm and Final Study Reviews?

Subcontractors are required to attend in person for the Midterm and Final Study Reviews to the extent their expertise is needed for those discussions.

In the Statement of Work, the text has Flight Model 5 launching before Flight Model 4, is this accurate or is this a typo?

This is accurate. The Initial Delivery Launches listed in Table 2 launch every 3 years. The Follow- On Delivery Launches listed in Table 3 allow for launches every 18 months. The overlap would also allow any design differences (if they exist) between the Initial and Follow-On Deliveries to be proven in flight before retiring the Initial Delivery design.