Q&A-80LARC704330Q.pdf

RFQ 80LARC704330Q

Responses to Questions

Updated 10/07/2019

1. Ref: RFQ instructions, page 5, 52.212-5 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO

IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS - COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Question: “52.219-9 Small Business Subcontracting Plan” is incorporated by reference but a Small Business Subcontracting Plan is not requested in the RFQ language. Please confirm that a Small Business Subcontracting Plan is not requested.

Response: The Small Business Plan is not a part of the evaluation criteria so it does not need to be submitted with the RFQ. If an Other Than Small Business is awarded and depending if there are subcontracting opportunities, (this is only a 12 week effort) then we will request a subcontracting plan to be provided after award.

2. Ref: RFQ instructions, page 1, Evaluation, Proposal Format. “The technical and past performance parts shall not exceed 25 pages.”

Question: In order for offerors to provide sufficient context on relevant past experience, would NASA allow a maximum of 25 pages for the technical part and 5 pages for the past performance part?

Response: Based on the evaluation criteria requested to be submitted the Government is confident that 25 pages is sufficient for evaluation of both technical and past performance.

New Questions as of 10/07/2019

3. Question: Can the 12-week period of performance be adjusted given the holidays?

Response: Yes. The contractor can propose including needed vacation time (up to 10 days), independent of the 12 weeks.

4. Question: Will conceptual prototypes (mentioned in 5.4.4) be required? Our understanding of this phase of the work is that it is predominantly research with providing recommendations not yet concepts for solutions.

Response: Prototypes referred to here are “napkin sketches” of ideas or concepts used to communicate visually, NOT engineering hardware prototypes.

5. Question: Would it be considered satisfactory to NASA if most of the research was conducted in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area? Or should the contractor plan on more travel beyond the two required trips (i.e., to LaRC)?

Response: The contractor shall submit a travel plan as described in paragraph 4.5 to accomplish all tasks.

6. Question: What mechanisms does NASA have a place to connect the contractor with internal and external stakeholders during the 12-week period of performance?

Response: The NASA embedded team is available to connect with NASA Subject Mater Experts (SMEs) and the Tier 2 and 3 teams per paragraph 3. Paragraph 4.2 describes what the contractor should bring in terms of external stakeholders.

7. Question: How much will the NASA embedded team be able to commit time to collaboration with the contractor?

Response: As much as possible – approximately 3-5 days/week.

8. Ref: SOW Para 3.

Question: NASA Teaming states "A team will derive from multiple NASA centers (e.g.,NASA HQ, NASA Ames, NASA Armstrong, NASA Langley, and NASA Glenn). It also states NASA will provide "an Embedded Team of approximately 1-2 people that will work directly with the Contractor team on a sustained basis" We are selecting the best innovation center to offer as the site to perform this work. Please provide the location of these NASA staff and any travel restrictions that this staff may have in the execution of this work.

Response: NASA Tier 1, embedded staff, will travel as possible, based on contractor's proposal travel plan. If NASA travel is not possible to join a specific trip, then virtual collaboration will be sufficient.

9. Ref: SOW Para 3.

NASA Ames, NASA Armstrong, NASA Langley, and NASA Glenn). It also states NASA will provide "an Embedded Team of approximately 1-2 people that will work directly with the Contractor team on a sustained basis" We are selecting the best innovation center to offer as the site to perform this work. Will NASA staff be allowed to travel internationally in the execution of this work. Will there be any restrictions in the amount of travel allowed?

Response: NASA Tier 1, embedded staff, will join contractor during travel as possible, based on proposal. If NASA travel is not possible to join a specific trip, then virtual collaboration will be sufficient. International travel is acceptable to propose. Proposed travel amount is not restricted.

10. Ref: SOW Para 3.

NASA Ames, NASA Armstrong, NASA Langley, and NASA Glenn). It also states NASA will provide "approximately 3-5 additional people that will interface with the contractor team on a weekly or bi-weekly basis" and "approximately 8-12 senior leaders that will have interactive updates from the Contractor and Embedded NASA Team on a monthly basis" For the most successful sessions, we recommend co-locating with the innovation team. Will the interaction of the tier 2 and tier 3 team members be remote or embedded with the team?

Response: The tier 1, embedded team, will be co-located with the contractor team as much as possible throughout the contract. Tier 2 and 3 team interactions shall be supported via remote virtual interaction to facilitate summary (problem analysis and MPT) information exchange. The final contract presentation location shall be proposed and can include contractor or NASA locations. It will be attended by the NASA embedded team, (plus Tier 2 or 3 team-members as possible). It shall be supported by virtual means for remote attendance.

11. Ref: SOW Para 3.

NASA Ames, NASA Armstrong, NASA Langley, and NASA Glenn). It also states NASA will provide "approximately 3-5 additional people that will interface with the contractor team on a weekly or bi-weekly basis" and "approximately 8-12 senior leaders that will have interactive updates from the Contractor and Embedded NASA Team on a monthly basis" Are there any travel restrictions for the tier 2 and tier 3 team members for embedded participation?"

Response: The tier 1, embedded team, will be co-located with the contractor team as much as possible throughout the contract. Tier 2 and 3 team interactions shall be supported via remote virtual interaction to facilitate summary (problem analysis and MPT) information exchange. The final contract presentation location shall be proposed and can include contractor or NASA

12. Ref: SOW Para 4.5

Question: Travel: States "Required travel to interact with NASA stakeholders for at least 1 East Coast and 1 West Coast meeting shall be included. Potential NASA locations include NASA Langley Research Center, NASA Glenn Research Center, NASA Ames Research Center, NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, and NASA Headquarters." For the most successful sessions, we recommend having the session in the contractor facilities. Is the government's preference for these meetings to be at NASA facilities or contractor facilities?

Response: The tier 1, embedded team, will be co-located with the contractor team as much as possible throughout the contract. Tier 2 and 3 team interactions shall be supported via remote virtual interaction to facilitate summary (problem analysis and MPT) information exchange. The final contract presentation location shall be proposed and can include contractor or NASA

13. Ref: SOW 5.4

Question: In Section 5.4 the SOW reads "By end of Phase One contract period (12 weeks), the Contractor shall provide to NASA a formal report and presentation, covering all tasks 4.1-4.6."

Can you confirm that Report should only cover 4.1 - 4.4?

Response: Report shall cover 4.1-4.5 (Including 4.5 travel)

14. Ref: RFQ Instructions:

Question: Do we need to name all team members or can we name select key personnel? For example, name SMEs and Assessment Lead but not a Business Analyst.

Response: Identifying key personnel is sufficient.

15. Ref: RFQ Instructions:

Question: Can our response include links to videos or white papers that may provide additional context?

Response: Links to reference material such as videos or white papers is permitted; however, if the link is broken or restricted by NASA IT Security the information will not be viewed. Also, the information will not be evaluated as part of the proposal submission.

16. Ref: RFQ Instructions:

Question: Can the font size in graphics and tables be 8pt?

Response: Yes; however, if the evaluation team is unable to read the font it will not be evaluated.

17. Ref: SOW

Question: Can NASA employees travel (< 2 hrs from a NASA site) to a site for a workshop?

Response: Yes.

18. Ref: Ref: RFQ Instructions:

Question: The RFQ states under "(c) If quoting on item(s) on a GSA contract, the quoter shall include all other pertinent GSA contract information, if available, and show all applicable discounts for each line item". Is the government expecting (or requiring) any items to bid off our GSA contract? For clarification, we assume that we would not bid off the GSA schedule.

Response: The offeror may quote off its GSA schedule but is not required to.

19. Ref: SOW Page 3,2.1; Page 5 Section 4.2

Question: “Specifically, for UAM, WTO is known to contain sub-topics including: 2.1 Operations up to vehicle performants limits in adverse weather: turbulent winds, precipitation, icing conditions, zero visibility.” Within the Technical Problem Area of WTO for UAM, we are to assess the body of work describing weather related issues identified to date. Can we assume that use cases driven by harsh weather will also be expected to be evaluated?

Response: Yes

20. Ref: SOW Page 4, 4.3

Question: “The Contractor shall work with NASA to identify and describe four or more specific issues and problems that NASA aeronautics is or may become uniquely qualified to address, including any additional as-yet-unidentified opportunities for NASA to address.” What are the expectations for the four or more specific issues and problems that will be identified is limited to within WTO for UAM Or can it include the other broader issues we identify?

Response: Broader issues are acceptable and may be appropriate.

21. Ref: SOW, page 4, 4.2.1.1.

Question: “The Contractor shall identify people, companies, communities, government agencies, investors, entrepreneurs, and other parties, (participating and potentially interested parties) who have or may have significant interests in, or who may be significantly affected by, developments in the Technical Problem Area and associated markets.” Are there parties that NASA does not want us to engage with?

Response: No

22. Ref: SOW, page 2, 1.2

Question: “Thus, while NASA regularly conducts extensive systems-level analyses of technical problem areas in aeronautics and uses these analyses to shape ARMD’s strategic portfolio decisions and Program investments, in this solicitation we seek to expand beyond NASA’s current system-level analytical approaches to push the envelope in terms of innovation.” Can NASA provide examples of what innovation they are currently using?

Response: Note SOW section 1.1 “Previous NASA studies on UAM in particular may be found here: https://www.nasa.gov/uam. These UAM studies are references, not meant to be constraining for this solicitation, and other aeronautics domains (e.g., peripheral missions and vehicles) considered by the proposer may be included.”

23. Ref: SOW, page 4, 4.1

Question: “The Contractor shall study market and technology research previously conducted in the Technical Problem Area. This is to include existing market analyses identified by NASA or known to the Contractor.” What other, related, existing projects are going on right now that may impact / inform this one?

Response: Note SOW section 1.1 “Previous NASA studies on UAM in particular may be found here: https://www.nasa.gov/uam. These UAM studies are references, not meant to be constraining for this solicitation, and other aeronautics domains (e.g., peripheral missions and vehicles) considered by the proposer may be included.”