NRESS-II RFP Questions.pdf

NASA NRESS-II RFP QUESTIONS RECEIVED

Q1: Reference L.7(d) Determination of Compensation Reasonableness. The offeror shall require all service subcontractors provide, as part of their proposal, the information identified in (a) through (c) of this provision for cost reimbursement or non-competitive fixed-price type subcontracts having a total potential value expected to exceed the threshold for requiring certified cost or pricing data as set forth in FAR 15.403-4.

Please confirm that all service subcontractors meeting this requirement can submit their Total

Compensation Plan directly to the Government electronically via LFT since this information is proprietary to each company.

A1: Yes, all service subcontractors may submit required proposal information directly to the government via LFT. They should clearly indicted the name of the prime contractor associated with the proposal.

Q2: Reference. L.11(a)(4). Reference states that ‘Each volume of the proposal shall specify the relevant evaluation criteria being addressed, if appropriate. The proposal shall include a matrix showing where in the proposal the technical requirements of the SOW and the evaluation criteria of this RFP are satisfied

(i.e. SOW element versus Offeror's proposal page numbers). It is intended that this be a simple matrix that should in no way inhibit an innovative approach or burden to the Offeror.”

The proposal Volumes do not lend themselves to mapping to the SOW. Section M evaluation criteria also does not map to the SOW.

Recommend that NASA reword this requirement to the following: The proposal shall include a matrix showing where in the proposal the evaluation criteria of Section M are satisfied.

A2: The technical requirements of the SOW only need to be addressed in the matrix to the degree that they are required within the evaluation criteria, which is based on the RTO SOWs for this solicitation.

Q3: Reference L.11(b)(2). The RFP states that Volumes I, II, III, and IV shall be submitted in separate ringed (or similarly bound) binders.

Please confirm the requirement was a carry-over from the DRFP and is no longer applicable and will be deleted.

A3: L.11(b)(2), second paragraph has been revised as follows:

Volumes I, II, III, and IV shall be submitted in separate electronic files. Diagrams, tables, artwork, and photographs may be reduced and, if necessary, run landscape. Text in diagrams, schedules, charts, tables, artwork, and photographs shall be no smaller than 10 point type Times New Roman font.

Diagrams, tables, artwork, and photographs shall not be used to circumvent the text size limitations of the proposal.

Q4: Reference L.12(a) SF 33. The RFP states that all SF 33s require original signatures. In the light of the current pandemic and stay-at-home orders, this will be difficult to comply with.

Can offerors use digital or electronic signatures in lieu of original signatures in consideration of the remote / teleworking mandates in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic?

A4: Yes, for signature documents, Offerors may scan original signatures or use digital or electronic signatures. L.16. GSFC 52.215-205 PROPOSAL DELIVERY (MAR 2020), first paragraph is revised as follows:

The Offeror shall submit its proposal via NASA’s secure Large File Transfer (LFT). Electronic submissions shall not contain hidden formulas, tables, be locked, be protected or contain links to data not included in the electronic copy. All electronic submissions must be searchable and should not contain scanned documents, except those documents that must be provided in their native format (e.g., signature pages, prior award fee letters for past performance, DCAA/DCMA approval letters, as applicable). It is the Offeror’s responsibility to ensure documents are free from virus and malware, as documents determined by NASA to contain a virus or malware will not be opened or evaluated. Significant

Subcontractors for the Cost Volume and/or Past Performance Volume may submit their required proposal information separately using the instructions in this provision.

Q5: Reference. L.13 (b), Mission Suitability Volume Format, Page 68. Reference states that “The Work

Breakdown Structure (WBS) contained in Attachment A, Statement of Work, of this solicitation shall be used to structure the Mission Suitability information within each of the subfactors, consistent with the instructions for each subfactor (e.g., if the subfactor instruction requires that only a subset of WBS elements be addressed, offerors should not address the entire set of WBS elements in its response.”

The Mission Suitability instructions do not lend themselves to referencing a specific SOW. For instance, Subfactor C.3 Management Structure cannot be referenced to a SOW.

Will NASA remove this requirement?

A5: Offerors shall reference specific SOW areas where applicable.

Q6: Reference L.14(a) Cost Volume Instructions. Offerors, including proposed significant subcontractors, shall provide one separately packaged copy of their Cost Volume proposal marked

"Enter correct RFP number/NASA Proposal Evaluation Material," which the Government may use for audit support purposes.

Are offeror and significant subcontractor to provide a separate electronic package to support government audit purposes such as DCMA / DCAA?

A6: No, a separate electronic copy is not required. Provision L.14 will be amended to remove this requirement.

Q7: Reference L.15(a). The Government states in relation to submission of past performance that: “The

Offeror shall provide the following information on all past/current contract references that meet the above criteria for the Prime Offeror and each significant subcontractor:” It seems clear from this and other instructions in L.15 that past performance from non-significant subcontractors is not to be submitted.

Will the Government confirm that past performance citations are ONLY to be submitted for significant subcontractors that meet the appropriate criteria in RFP L.15.(a)?

A7: Yes, The Offeror shall provide the following information on all past/current contract references that meet the above criteria for the Prime Offeror and each significant subcontractor.

Q8: Reference Enclosure 2. The GPM hours appears to be the same for each labor category for each year with the exception of Solicitation Specialist, Sr. for year 2

Are the hours for Solicitation Specialist, Sr. for Year 2 correct or should they be the same as Years 1 and

3-5?

A8: Enclosure 2 has been revised to show that the hours for Solicitation Specialist, Sr. for Year 2 should be the same as Years 1 and 3-5.

Q9: Enclosure 3 provided historical data for Travel and ODCs. The only reference to ODCs (non-recurring) in the RFP is in the GPM Cost Exhibit 3, which requires offerors to list all ODCs and provide a total cost. Non-recurring ODCs, such as travel in support of panels, vary greatly.

In order to ensure a fair evaluation across all bidders, will the Government provide a “plug” number for non-recurring ODCs?

A9: The Government will not provide any plug numbers for non-recurring ODCs. The contractor historical data for travel and ODCs is provided for informational purposes. It is up to the contractor to propose travel and ODCs as they see fit in their cost proposal.

Q10: Reference GPM Exhibits 2-11. GPM Exhibits include 2 Exhibit 2B’s. 1 has just OFFSITE hours and

2nd has ONSITE and OFFSITE hours.

Given the RFP states that all Management and Administrative labor categories should be proposed using

Offsite rates, should the 2nd Exhibit 2B that contains both ONSITE and OFFSITE rates be removed?

A10: The second Exhibit-2B for Management has been removed as the offeror should only be proposing offsite per the template directions.

Q11: Reference GPM Exhibits 1A and 5. GPM Exhibits 1A and 5 contain a section for Manufacturing

Site.

Since there are no GPM hours for Manufacturing site, should these sections be removed or just left blank?

A11: Please indicate “not applicable” in any fields to do not apply.

Q12: Reference. Cost Volume Exhibits 1A-1B All_IDIQ_Std_by_CY_Mar_2016.pdf and Exhibits 2-

11_All_IDIQ_by_CY_Jul_2016.pdf

Will NASA consider providing these exhibits in Excel?

A12: NASA does not provide Microsoft Excel files in solicitations. See cost proposal instructions for converting proposal files from PDF to Excel format, when required.