Questions_and_Answers_Set__8_(6-13-18).pdf

Q&A #8 June 14, 2018

(Questions 1-107 have been posted in previous files.)

Note: The question numbering for Q&A Set #3 ends with #79 while Q&A Set #4 starts with

#84. However, there are no missing questions (or answers) in what is currently released, despite the numbering difference. Multiple Intellectual Property questions were embedded into one question (#52), and the numbering was not adjusted properly in the consolidation process.

108. Model Contract, Clause I.2, Pages I-23 and I-24 OFIs -- The “Limited Rights Notice”, “Restricted

Rights Notice”, and “Restricted Rights Notice Short Form” all have “OFI” for Contract Number (and subcontract number, if appropriate). Should this information be labeled as “TBD” instead of

“OFI”? If “OFI”, would the Government Contract Number be “80JSC018LEOCOM”?

A: Subcontracting number should be “OFI” as those are agreements between the Offeror and their subcontractors, while the Contract Number should be “TBD.” The Government Contract Number will not be 80JSC018LEOCOM. A Government Contract number will be designated for each specific contract award.

109. Regarding Question and Answer #53: When should offerors propose any quad chart modifications they wish to make, based on their study parameters?

A: Offerors should propose any quad chart modifications in their proposal.

110. Section 4.2, Proposal Structure lists placement of the Proposal Abstract (Section 1) before the

Table of Contents. Please confirm this is the order and placement desired, or if Section 1 should follow the Table of Contents.

A: The proposal should be structured as described in Section 4 of the NRA.

111. Are travel costs for meetings allowed in the pricing proposal?

A: This is a Fixed Price solicitation (see Section 2.6 of the NRA). Specific cost elements will not be reimbursed as all cost elements are presumed to be included in the proposed Price. Therefore, travel costs, if any, will need to be captured in the justification for the price in Attachment C of the proposal.

112. At what point is the Study Deliverable Quad Chart due?

A: The quad chart is a contract deliverable at each payment milestone (Section 6.7.2 of the NRA).

113. In the NRA, Section 4.2.10.A, the proposed contract is to contain a statement of work with a

“Work Breakdown Structure.” Could you please outline what is expected for the Work Breakdown

Structure?

A: A work breakdown structure is a hierarchical representation of the work necessary to conduct the study and produce the contract deliverables. The proposed Work Breakdown Structure should reflect the offeror’s approach to fulfilling the milestones and contract deliverables.

114. The NRA states “The intent is for the study products to address all of the objectives listed below in

Sections 3.1 and 3.2. However, NASA may select proposals for partial studies. A proposal that does not address all of the study topics below is considered a partial study. Offerors may propose partial studies by identifying in the proposal which objectives below will be studied.” May we have a compliance matrix outside the page count to use as a reference so that we can describe the study we will perform?

A: The main body of the proposal should clearly indicate the objectives that will be studied. If you need to give a detailed reference, you may place this information in the contract (and reference it in the main body of the proposal).

115. In Section 6.7.1 and 6.7.3, are in-person briefings required for the interim or final milestone briefing? If yes, will in-person briefings be conducted in Houston, TX or another location?

A: Milestone Briefings may be conducted via teleconference.

116. In the NASA FAR Supplement 1852.235–72, it states that “A solicited proposal that results in a

NASA award becomes part of the record of that transaction and may be available to the public on specific request.” Will the Offeror’s inclusion of a ‘Restriction Notice on Use and Disclosure of

Proposal Information’ negatively impact proposal evaluation? [Section 2.7 in the NRA]

A: Proprietary markings will not negatively impact proposal evaluation. Reference Question #52 for how NASA intends to treat proposals.

117. Will other contractors or FFRDC be involved in the review of Offerors’ proposals? [Section 2.7 in the NRA]

A: There is currently no plan for non-government personnel to be involved in proposal review.

However, NASA reserves the right to obtain input on aspects of the proposals from non-

Government consultants/experts who are strictly bound by the appropriate non-disclosure requirements, as specified in the NRA, Section 5.

118. In the NASA FAR Supplement 1852.235–72, it states that “Subcontract plans for contract awards below $5,000,000, will be negotiated after selection.” Please confirm that the Offeror will not be required to submit any form of a subcontract plan with proposal submission.

A: Any proposal from a large business concern that results in a contract award below $5M will require a small business subcontracting plan to be negotiated after selection. NASA requests that those offerors, which require a subcontracting plan, submit a subcontracting plan as early as possible to expedite negotiations.

119. What documentation or format is required from the Offeror to prove eligibility to respond to this

NRA? [Section 2.8 and referenced in Section 4.2.4 in the NRA]

A: Offerors must provide their official company or organization names and DUNS numbers. NASA will utilize the Offeror’s DUNS number to verify eligibility requirements within the System for

Award Management (www.sam.gov).

120. If the Offeror has no actual or perceived OCI with respect to this NRA, does an OCI Plan still need to be submitted as mentioned in Attachment D or would a simple statement acknowledging no

OCI suffice?

A: An Organizational Conflict (OCI) of Interest Plan is not required if the Offeror cannot identify a conflict of interest. Rather, a statement that OCI was reviewed and none found is sufficient.

121. What documentation does the Offeror need to provide, if any, with proposal submission on Export

Control requirements? [Section 2.11 in the NRA]

A: The model contract, which must be submitted with the proposal, must include the appropriate

Export Control clauses to demonstrate that the offeror intends to comply.

122. What is the criteria for evaluating the Model Contract, to include the proposed Statement of Work and Work Breakdown Schedule? [Section 4.1.4 in NRA]

A: The contract, including the statement of work and work breakdown structure, will be evaluated as part of the overall proposal in accordance with the guidance provided in Section 5 of the NRA.

123. Guidebook Section 3.11 (p10): Is a Data Management Plan required with this NRA? The NRA does not refer to this but the NASA Guidebook for Proposers Responding to a NASA Funding

Announcement lists it as a requirement. If a Data Management Plan (DMP) is required, how will

DMPs be evaluated?

A: See answer to question # 105

124. The NRA does not refer to the need for a Scientific/Technical/Management Plan however the

NASA Guidebook for Proposers Responding to a NASA Funding Announcement lists it as a requirement. Could NASA please clarify that a Scientific/Technical/Management Plan is required?

A: Offerors are not required to submit a specific section for a Scientific/Technical/Management Plan as part of their proposal. Rather, this content will be addressed in the offeror’s proposal in accordance with the structure supplied in the NRA. For example, the guidebook refers to the

“technical approach and methodology to be employed in conducting the proposed research” – this content would be supplied as part of your proposal in Section 4 (Approach to Conducting

Study).

125. Will agencies other than NASA review proposals?

A: No. However, the Department of Commerce is participating in the process.