80MSFC23R0004-MLSS II-DRFP Industry Questions.docx

MLSS II – DRFP Industry Questions

80MSFC23R0004

Provision

MSFC 52.216-91, SUPPLIES AND/OR SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED AND TYPE OF CONTRACT (JUN 2017), paragraph (g) states in part: “Contractor use and operation for government vehicles and equipment shall be limited to operation and use not to fulfill contracted obligations as measured by the performance requirements summary (PRS) metrics and PRS Attachment J-3 (i.e., fuel truck, provide maintenance, maintenance support, maintenance operational checks, fault verification, fault identification, transport to/from maintenance facilities).”

Q: Should the word “not” be deleted from this sentence?

The wording of MSFC 52.216-91, Supplies and/or Services to Be Provided and Type of Contract, Paragraph (g), will be updated to “Contractor use of Government vehicles shall be limited to specific functions (i.e., fuel truck, provide maintenance, maintenance support, maintenance operational checks, fault verification, fault identification, transport to/from maintenance facilities). Government vehicles shall not be used to fulfill contract obligations as measured by the performance requirements summary (PRS) metrics and PRS Attachment J-3.”

MSFC 52.223-97, MANDATORY AND REQUIRED TRAINING (NOV 2019) contains the training web address https://nasa.sharepoint.com/sites/msfcohr/SitePages/Mandatory-Training.aspx. We are unable to access this site.

Q: Will the Government please provide a list of all mandatory training, or instructions for how to access this web site to review the training requirements?

The link provided in MSFC 52.223-97, Mandatory and Required Training, is an internal NASA link. The Government will provide access to this information to the successful offeror during the phase-in period. However, the table included on page 55 of this document provides a listing of training currently applicable to the MLSS II contractor as delineated in this clause. This list is subject to change during contract performance.

The index states for Tab F: “This tab is designed to provide the Health & Welfare (H&W) hourly cost for each labor category in accordance with the SCLS and CBA requirements for an hourly minimum.”

Q1: Please confirm that the Exempt positions included on the Tab F should remain blank since this Tab pertains to SCLS and CBA only.

Q2: Please confirm that offerors should complete this tab to show an approximation of what we estimate the benefits might be since HIPPA does not permit us to know exactly which choices an employee selects for their actual health coverage.

Q1 – No, the Exempt positions included on Tab F should not remain blank. The Government requests that the H&W hourly cost be completed for all labor categories, to include all exempt labor categories.

Q2 – The offeror should complete this tab using an estimate of the benefits.

The PWS states: “Actively cooperate with the Government in completing any systems/compliance reviews that may be required prior to award including expedient implementation of any necessary corrective action.”

Q: Should “prior to award” be changed to “prior to contract start?”

Attachment J-1, Performance Work Statement, 2.12(b)(6) will be updated to state “Actively cooperate with the Government in completing any systems/compliance reviews that may be required, including expedient implementation of any necessary corrective actions.”

The PWS states: “The Contractor shall perform, coordinate, and manage the collection and removal of recyclable items such as scrap metal, toner cartridges, and federal electronic assets (i.e., condition code 7: property which is unusable in its current condition but can be economically repaired, or less).”

This sentence seems incomplete.

Q: Please explain what is intended by the term “or less.”

For clarification purposes, the final solicitation will remove the PWS example reference of “(i.e., condition code 7: property which is unusable in its current condition but can be economically repaired, or less).”

PWS 6.4

PWS 6.6(c) PWS 7.4(f) J-1-24 J-1-25 J-1-30

These clauses, as well as others in the PWS contain references to employee clearances and indicate that classified material will be handled. However, there is no DD 254 attached to the draft solicitation.

Q1: Are offerors required to have a facility security clearance (FCL) at the time of proposal submission?

Q2: If so, please provide a DD 254 and/or describe the level of FCL and personnel security clearances required for each labor category on this contract.

Q1 – No, a facility security clearance (FCL) is not required for the MLSS II contract.

Q2 – See above response.

M-6

Section L Factor III Past Performance Volume Instructions, paragraph (b) states: “The offeror's past performance references shall be limited to no more than five described contracts and/or subcontracts, including those of any proposed subcontractors.”

Section M Factor III Past Performance Volume Evaluation, paragraph (a) states: “In accordance with FAR 15.305(a)(2) and NFS 1815.305(a)(2), the offeror's past performance, including relevant federal, state, and local government and private contracts, and the past performance of any proposed subcontractors and individual joint venture partners, if applicable, will be evaluated.”

Factor III - Past Performance Volume Instructions, Section II, paragraph (3) states: “When a referenced contract was awarded to or performed by a legal entity different from the offeror (or any proposed subcontractor), offerors shall thoroughly explain, in a manner that supports use of the referenced contract for the proposed effort (e.g., shared workforce, management, facilities, or other resources), the relationship between the other legal entity and the offeror (or any proposed subcontractor).”

The procurement rules and numerous GAO decisions have made clear that procuring agencies may evaluate and credit an offeror with the past performance and corporate experience of affiliate companies where the offeror’s proposal demonstrates that the resources of the affiliate (e.g., workforce, management, facilities, or other resources) will be meaningfully contributed to contract performance. See GM–Bulltrack, B-414591.6 (Comp. Gen. Oct. 30, 2018) (holding that an agency may properly attribute the experience or past performance of an affiliated company), and Decision File B-418486; B-418486.2; B-418486.3 (Inquiries, Inc., May 27, 2020), the GAO states, “An agency properly may attribute the experience or past performance of a parent or affiliated company to an offeror where the firm’s proposal demonstrates that the resources of the parent or affiliate will affect the performance of the offeror…The relevant consideration is whether the resources of the parent or affiliated company--its workforce, management, facilities or other resources--will be provided or relied upon for contract performance such that the parent or affiliate will have meaningful involvement in contract performance.”

Q: Would the Government please confirm that the prime offeror may use the relevant prime contract past performance and experience of an affiliate company in Volume III: Past Performance, and this experience will be attributed to the prime offeror if the prime offeror demonstrates how the resources of the affiliate will be meaningfully involved in contract performance?

Confirmed. The prime offeror may use the relevant prime contract past performance and experience of an affiliate company in Volume III: Past Performance, and this experience will be attributed to the prime offeror if the prime offeror demonstrates how the resources of the affiliate will be meaningfully involved in contract performance.

L-29 -L-32

Volume III: Past Performance is limited to 30 pages and includes Section I (contract performance section) and Section II (Past Performance Contracts Summary Table, PWS WYE Percentage Assignment Table, and four (4) additional sections [(2) through (6)] included in the 30 page maximum.

Q1: Will the Government please allow 5 additional pages in Volume III for an Executive Summary section to adequately describe the offeror’s team/partners/major subcontractors, their experience, and the meaningful involvement of parent or affiliate companies whose past performance referenced contracts are cited in Volume III: Past Performance?

Q2: Will the Government please expand the overall Volume III page count to 50 pages (including the 5-page Executive Summary) so offerors can best represent relevant contract past performance across the breadth of the applicable PWS areas?

Q1 – A description of team partners and subcontractors is not considered necessary within the Past Performance Volume as this information should be provided in the Mission Suitability volume under MA-3(B). The experience of a subcontractor for which a past performance reference is provided should be described for that specific reference relative to the requirements of the PWS section(s) assigned to that subcontractor. Meaningful involvement of a parent of affiliate companies relative to a specific referenced contract for which a referenced contract is provided should also be described in the Volume III section relating to that referenced contract.

Q2 –The overall page count of Volume III will be increased from 30 to 35 pages.

MSFC 52.204-91 Security and Badging Requirements (NOV 2016) states “Performance of this contract will require access to facilities, information technology systems, and other resources at the Marshall Space Flight Center and/or the Michoud Assembly Facility”.

Q1: Could the Government please clarify whether this contract requires access to MAF as a part of the core requirements?

Q2: If so, where are the MAF-specific performance standards identified?

Q1 - There are currently no requirements for work at the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF). However, such requirements may be added in the future.

Q2 - See above response.

Section 3-1b states “(b) Perform property disposal operations during work hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Central Time, Monday through Friday.”

Q: Since the core work hours on this contract are between 7:00 am to 4:30 pm, is it correct that disposal operations cannot be performed after 3:30 pm?

The property disposal operation hours are correct. Due to safety precautions, property disposal operations are performed from the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Central Time, Monday through Friday.

MSFC 52.223-90 ASBESTOS MATERIAL (APR 2021) states “Personnel performing work in buildings at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) or Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) may come in contact with materials containing asbestos.” It further states “Prior to performing tasks which may disturb building material containing asbestos or suspected asbestos at MSFC or MAF…”

Q1: Could the Government please clarify whether this contract requires work at MAF as a part of the core requirements?

See Question #12.

The last paragraph under MSFC 52.223-96 Medical Services (May 2021) mentions a “NASA Quiet Friday” work schedule”.

Q: Does this NASA Quiet Schedule apply to the contractor?

The “NASA Quiet Friday” work schedule referenced in MSFC 52.223-96, Medical Services, is specifically related to the MSFC Medical Center’s hours of availability. The MLSS II contractor is expected to perform to the terms identified in the resulting contract.

MSFC 52.223-97 Mandatory and Required Training (NOV 2019) states “All contractor personnel performing work onsite at MSFC or Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) shall complete, in a timely manner, all applicable mandatory and required training courses listed below, as well as any other current or future training requirements specified in the Statement of Work, Performance Work Statement, Specifications, Applicable Documents (including NASA, MSFC and Organizational level directives), Data Requirements Descriptions, other contract clauses and/or the System for Administration, Training, and Educational Resources for NASA (SATERN).”

Q1: Will the Government please clarify whether this contract requires mandatory and required training for MAF as a part of the core requirements?

Q1- The solicitation presently does not anticipate the need for mandatory training for MAF as a core requirement. The table on Page 55 of this document delineates training applicable to contractor employees supporting MSFC.

Q2 - See response above.

Section 52.216-19 ORDER LIMITATIONS (OCT 1995) states “(d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the contractor shall honor any order exceeding the maximum order limitations in paragraph (b), unless that order (or orders) is returned to the ordering office within days after issuance, with written notice stating the contractor’s intent not to ship the item (or items) called for and the reasons. Upon receiving this notice, the Government may acquire the supplies or services from another source.”

Q: Will the Government please add the number of days that are missing in this requirement?

The final solicitation will update 52.216-19, Order Limitations, paragraph (d) fill-in information to reflect “3 business days.”

Q1: Since the escalation rates are provided by Calendar Year and the period of performance (POP) does not begin in January, is it the intention of the Government that during the Base Period escalation will happen on January 1st, 2025 (the last 8 months of the base period)?

Q2: Please confirm that escalation will continue in this manner for all periods, i.e., escalation will occur in January, not at the start of the POP for that period.

For pricing purposes, escalation is assumed to be applied at the start of each contract year rather than calendar year; however, this does not restrict the offeror to a certain date for salary increases. For example, offerors can use two separate escalation rates for each contract period based on the overlap of the calendar year start date of January 1.

The requirement to hire persons who are blind or have severe disabilities may preclude, in whole or in part, offering the right of first refusal of employment under the successor contract to certain employees of the predecessor MLSS contract.

Q: Has NASA requested an exception or waiver to Executive Order 14055, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts, to accommodate the requirement to utilize at least 5% of the total labor dollars obligated against the MLSS II contract for services provided by AbilityOne nonprofit agencies?

In accordance with FAR 7.305(c), FAR 52.207-3, Right of First Refusal of Employment, is not applicable as the solicitation will not result in a conversion from in-house performance to contractor performance. Therefore, an exception or waiver is not considered to be warranted.

The Draft RFP cover letter states: “The current planned release date for the Final Request for Proposal (RFP) is on or about July 7, 2023, with proposals being due approximately 30 calendar days later.” The table in MSFC 52.215-91 indicates the due date for proposals is August 01, 2023, which is less than 30 calendar days after July 7, 2023.

Q: Please clarify the proposal due date, and whether there will be approximately 30 calendar days between the release date for the Final RFP and the due date for proposals.

The Government intends to allow no less than 30 calendar days from release of the final solicitation to proposal due date. The final solicitation will update proposal due dates accordingly.

NFS 1852.215-81 paragraph (c) states: “Identify any exclusions to the page limits that are excluded from the page counts specified in paragraph (a) of this provision (e.g., title pages, table of contents) as follows: Attachment L-2, Past Performance Questionnaire, is excluded from the Past Performance volume page limitation. There are no other exclusions from the page limitations established for the page limited volumes.”

Q1: If the Government desires offerors to include the title page/cover page required by NFS 1852.237-73, table of contents, list of tables and figures, acronyms list, glossary, or similar reading aids in the page limited volumes, we respectfully request that these materials be excluded from the page count.

Q2: Will the Government please exclude the detailed compliance matrix required by paragraph (c) of the Factor I - Mission Suitability Volume Instructions from page count?

Q1 - The language in the parenthetical in line two of paragraph (c) is provision template language and provides examples of items that may be excluded from the established page limitations. However, language following the colon indicates that only Past Performance Questionnaires are excluded from the Volume III page limitations and that there are no other exclusions allowed for the page limited volumes (i.e., Volume I – Mission Suitability and Volume III – Past Performance).

Q2 - The compliance matrix is included in the established Volume I page limitation. However, as indicated in the provision, the matrix is simply to establish the offeror’s response numbering nomenclature and the specific location of the response in the volume. The Government anticipates a corresponding table no lengthier than the table provided in the solicitation.

Paragraph (6)(A) states “All pages shall be consecutively numbered, starting with "1" (one) on the first page of each volume.”

Q: Will the Government please confirm that material in page limited volumes that is excluded from the page count may be numbered using a different consecutive numbering scheme (such as i, ii, iii) to more easily distinguish it from the page counted content?

The only submission excluded from the established page limitations is the Attachment L-2 Past Performance Questionnaire, which is to be submitted by the customer directly to the Government. Therefore, the Mission Suitability and Past Performance volumes shall be numbered as instructed by the solicitation.

The use of 12-point font in the page limited volumes will excessively restrict the amount of detail that can be provided in certain type of figures, such as the depiction of the organizational structure.

Q: Will the Government consider allowing offerors to use no smaller than 10-point Times New Roman font for text used in charts, tables, figures, illustrations, or other embedded objects (e.g., pictures or screenshots)?

No. Font for text used in charts, tables, figures, illustrations, or other embedded objects (e.g., pictures or screenshots) shall be no less than 12-point font. See NFS 1852.215-81, Proposal Page Limitations, paragraph (b)(6)(F) which states – “Non-compliant text will not be evaluated; however, any remaining content will be evaluated.”

Electronic Submission Of Proposals - Proposal Marking And Delivery Through NASA'S EFSS Box (Nov 2021) states: “All electronic submissions should 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).”

Q: Please confirm that scanned documents provided in their native format are not subject to the NFS 1852.215-81 requirement for 12 point Times New Roman font.

Confirmed – documents that must be provided in their native format are not subject to the font size requirements of NFS 1851.215-18, Proposal Page Limitations.

Paragraph (4) states: “Additionally, each volume page, with the exception of the contract volume, shall be identified with the offeror's name (company logo may utilize other than Times New Roman 12-point font within existing margin restrictions), solicitation number, and date.” Paragraph (5) states: “Provide a table of contents for each volume, with the exception of the contract volume, for ready reference to sections and other proposal data (e.g., charts, tables, figures, illustrations, screenshots, pictures).”

Q: Please clarify whether offerors should include the offeror’s name and/or logo, solicitation number, date, and a table of contents in the Contract volume.

Offerors should NOT include the offeror’s name and/or logo, solicitation number, date, and a table of contents in the Contract volume (i.e., Volume IV). See Volume IV – Contract Instructions, paragraph (b) which states – “Headers and footers shall not contain any information other than the solicitation number and page number, as provided for in the solicitation.”

Section (F) states “The offeror, and subcontractors submitting a Price volume, shall submit compensation rates that comply with the required minimally acceptable direct labor rates as specified in Volume II - Price Factor Instructions.”

Q: Please clarify the information that is required in response to this statement; is this simply a statement of compliance with the required minimally acceptable direct labor rates, since pricing information/data is not permitted in the Mission Suitability volume?

Section (F) is a statement regarding mandatory utilization of the required rates. Failure to propose at least these mandatory minimums may negatively impact the Mission Suitability score, though the compensation information is required in the Price volume.

Section A) requires: “The approach to perform the following Attachment J-1, Performance Work Statement (PWS), work element requirements: 2.1.4 “Customer Service Office/Work Reception Desk”; 7.7 “Purchasing” (PWS Sections 7.7 through 7.7.11); 8.1 “Vehicles” (8.1.10.1 and 8.1.10.2 “Trouble Calls” (TCs); 8.1.16 “Preventative Maintenance” (PM) (Motor Pool); 9.1 “Flight Hardware Support Operations” (PWS Sections 9.1 through 9.1.3); and 9.2 “Equipment Maintenance Management” (PWS 9.2(a) through 9.2.2.2(d)).”

Q: Will the Government please confirm that the only subsections under PWS 8.1 Vehicles that offerors are to address in their approach are PWS 8.1, 8.1.10.1 and 8.1.10.2?

Confirmed.

This provision identifies Mr. Rhoney Triplett as the Contracting Officer.

Q: Please confirm Mr. Max Ledesma is the Contracting Officer Mr. Rhoney Triplett is the point of contact for purposes of clause 52.233-2, Service of Protest. However, Mr. Max Ledesma is the contracting officer point of contact for all other aspects of the acquisition (e.g., communications regarding proposal submission, submittals of past performance questionnaires, questions submitted in response to the solicitation).

The Section L instructions for Factor 1, (2) Subfactor 2: Technical Approach (TA), (i) TA-1: Technical Approach, paragraph (A) require offerors to provide: “The approach to perform the following Attachment J-1, Performance Work Statement (PWS), work element requirements: 2.1.4 “Customer Service Office/Work Reception Desk”; 7.7 “Purchasing” (PWS Sections 7.7 through 7.7.11); 8.1 “Vehicles” (8.1.10.1 and 8.1.10.2 “Trouble Calls” (TCs); 8.1.16 “Preventative Maintenance” (PM) (Motor Pool); 9.1 “Flight Hardware Support Operations” (PWS Sections 9.1 through 9.1.3); and 9.2 “Equipment Maintenance Management” (PWS 9.2(a) through 9.2.2.2(d)).”

Per the paragraph that precedes this instruction, offerors are required to “describe the proposed technical approach to perform an integrated, logistics contract which demonstrates the offeror's understanding of the contract technical requirements as well as the techniques, procedures, and assumptions that will be used to satisfy the requirements in a timely and cost-effective manner.”

We respectfully suggest that it is unlikely offerors can individually address each of the listed PWS areas in a manner that is specific, detailed, and complete while also addressing all other topics required for both subfactors within the 65 pages currently allotted to the Mission Suitability Volume.

Q: Will the Government consider increasing the page count for the Mission Suitability Volume by an additional 20 pages to allow offerors to more thoroughly address these extensive requirements?

The Government has considered this request; however, the Mission Suitability page count will remain unchanged at 65 pages.

Paragraph (c) clarifies the requirements for past performance referenced contracts provided by offerors which are joint ventures (JVs), including newly established JVs that cannot provide past performance referenced contracts in the name of the JV.

Q: Will the Government please clarify if there are any similar requirements for newly established JVs that are subcontractors?

It is not anticipated that a joint venture would serve as a subcontractor on the MLSS II effort, though there is no specific prohibition on such an arrangement. In such case, the joint venture would be held to subcontractor thresholds as specified in the solicitation in conjunction with requirements for joint venture relevancy.

In Tab F H&W, there is a note that states: “* Per the SCLS instructions Hrly H&W is computed based on all hours worked not productive factor”. However, the SCLS wage determination states “HEALTH & WELFARE EO 13706: $4.41 per hour, up to 40 hours per week, or $176.40 per week or $764.40 per month*”.

Q: Please confirm that the H&W for SCLS will be applied against 40 hours per week.

H&W for SCLS is applied to the hours worked by the employee, up to the limits established in the SCLS Wage Determination.

Volume IV - Contract Instructions, paragraph (c)(1)(viii) requires offerors to disclose: “Results of any internal procurement integrity investigation pertaining to the participation of ex-NASA personnel in proposal preparation activities which could have provided the offeror with an unfair competitive advantage.”

Q1: Will the Government please clarify the specific post-employment restrictions that are applicable to the MLSS II procurement?

Q2: Will the Government require offerors to provide in their proposal a letter or other evidence from NASA legal counsel that describes the post-employment restrictions that are applicable to the personnel who are participating in their proposal preparation activities and who left NASA employment within the past two years?

Q1 –The requested information does not relate to post-employment restrictions. The information requested pertains to the results of the offeror’s investigation into whether ex-NASA employees participated in proposal preparation activities and whether such participation, if any, created a conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Q2 – No. Post-employment advice does not address whether ex-NASA employees participated in proposal preparation activities and whether such participation, if any, created a conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

The Contract Year Hours in row 10 and below vary for each year of performance using 2080, 2088, and 2096 as a starting point for various years.

Q1: Is this the Government’s intent or should all years start at 2080 hours?

Q2: If not, please provide the formula for the CY hours of 2096.

Q1 – This is not the Government’s intent. The total working hours per year are calculated using the formula “NETWORKDAYS” in Excel, which vary considering factors such as the actual day of the week that January 1 and December 31 fall on as well as whether the year is a leap year.

Q2 - See above response.

structure. See Factor II – Price Volume Evaluation, paragraph (c) for the basis of the total proposed price. Set staffing levels will therefore not be provided with the solicitation but will be those agreed to during phase-in for the task order associated with performance of the base period.

Future support may be performed at other NASA Centers, including Component Facilities, and Technical Service Support Centers, as required by the Government.

Will future support at these NASA facilities be in support of the various centers and the work there or will the work be exclusively in support of MSFC activities at each site/location/center?

The referenced language is included only to provide notice that additional NASA centers could be added at some point during contract performance. However, if a center is added, the work in the contract would support that added location. Therefore, the work reflected in the PWS at present will only support work at MSFC.

Provide data updates when IT system pushes are performed for current and new system implementation. Validate and verify data fidelity and integrity during system upgrades and with any applicable systems used on the contract associated with work control without loss of data or records.

Is the MLSS II contractor expected to validate and verify data fidelity and integrity for historical data not entered in the subject systems by the MLSS II contractor?

Yes, the contractor is expected to validate and verify data fidelity and integrity for data in the subject systems. The MLSS II contractor will not be responsible for the accuracy of historical data not generated by the MLSS II contractor.

Notify the Government of any emergency work orders within 15 minutes of Contractor notification.

Would the Government include ‘during core service hours’ to this requirement?

The final solicitation will be updated to reflect a 15-minute notification requirement “during core service hours.”

(a) Determine if equipment, spare parts, and consumable items, list program and project requests provided in support of new programs and projects, are more than required. Provide provisioning recommendations to the Government IAW NPD 7500.1, Program and Project Life-Cycle Logistics Support Policy and NPR 4100.1, NASA Supply Support and Materials Management.

Would the Government specify its intention regarding “list program and project requests provided in support of new programs and projects”?

PWS, 5.4(a), will be updated for clarity in the final solicitation to reflect “Provide recommendations on equipment, spare parts and consumable items in support of new programs and projects to the Life Cycle Product Support Manager in accordance with NPD 7500.1, Program and Project Life-Cycle Logistics Support Policy and NPR 4100.1, Supply Support and Materials Management.” The intent of this section is for the contractor to determine adequate and sufficient sparing requirements.

(b) Procure all supplies and materials approved for establishment and replenishment of Store, Standby, and Program Stock.

Should there be a reference citing the programs or projects for which this is done.

No, there should not be a reference to specific programs and projects provided for the requirements of PWS 7.7(b).

Ensure the WCS contains (1) a complete schedule of preventative maintenance for MSFC equipment and reflects actual completion date of scheduled preventative maintenance (a preventative maintenance schedule for new equipment should be established within five days of receipt), Would the Government specify this as ‘five business days’?

The final solicitation will be updated to specify “business days.”

Deliver flight hardware supplies from current inventory within one day of customer request.

Would the Government specify this as ‘one business days’?

The final solicitation will be updated to specify “business days.”

Ensure the WCS contains (1) a complete schedule of preventative maintenance for MSFC equipment and reflects actual completion date of scheduled preventative maintenance (a preventative maintenance schedule for new equipment should be established within five days of receipt), Would the Government specify this as ‘five business days’?

The final solicitation will be updated to specify “business days.”

Evaluate furniture being excessed within ten days of receipt to determine the recommendation for refurbishment, repair, reutilization, or disposal.

Would the Government please specify this as ‘ten business days’?

The final solicitation will be updated to specify “business days.”

Fuel Master

Is item (b) missing?

Attachment J-1, PWS, 8.1.7(b) is not missing, the final solicitation will be updated to correct the formatting of the list.

NASA Form (NF) 1018 reports shall be submitted using the NF1018 Electronic Submission System (NESS)* and instructions that will be mailed on or about October 1 of each year.

What does the * in this requirement represent?

The asterisk in Section 15.3.a.2 applies to Section 13, Remarks, which states in order to access the NESS system, the contractor must contact the Industrial Property Officer (IPO).

Material, Property & Warehouse Management Supervisor

Would the Government please add a labor category description to Attachment J-7, Schedule A, for the ‘Material, Property & Warehouse Management Supervisor’ position, which is listed in Attachment L-1, Tab B and in Attachment J-7 Schedule B?

Position in Schedule A, J-7-22 will be updated in the final solicitation from “Equipment Management/Warehouse Supervisor” to “Material, Property and Warehouse Management Supervisor.”

Packing Specialist I, Furniture Designer, Equipment Management Warehouse Supervisor

Should Attachment L-1 Tab B include labor category line items for Packing Specialist I, Furniture Designer, Equipment Management Warehouse Supervisor, which are included in Schedule A labor category descriptions?

The final solicitation will be updated to add the Packing Specialist I to the EPM. Additionally, the Furniture Designer position will be added to both the EPM and Attachment J-7, Rates Schedule and Labor Categories, Schedule B. The Equipment Management / Warehouse Supervisor position title will be updated to a “Material Property and Warehouse Management Supervisor” position.

Furniture Designer and Equipment Management Warehouse Supervisor

Should Furniture Designer and Equipment Management Warehouse Supervisor be included in the Attachment J-7 Schedule B list since they are exempt labor category positions described in Attachment J-7 Schedule A?

The Furniture Designer position will be added to both the EPM and Attachment J-7, Rates Schedule and Labor Categories, Schedule B. The final solicitation will additionally reflect the update of “Equipment Management/Warehouse Supervisor” to “Material, Property and Warehouse Management Supervisor” in Schedule A, J-7-22.

Manager

Which Labor Category description matches up with the ‘Manager’ listed in of Attachment J-7 Schedule C, Row 7?

The final solicitation will reflect Attachment J-7, Schedule C, Row 7 being updated from “Manager” to “Property Services Manager.”

Labor Categories

Would the Government please sort the labor categories throughout Attachments J-7 and L-1 in alphabetical order to make it easier to find, compare, and check for compliance for the contractors, procurement, and evaluators?

The labor category listing is grouped by PWS function rather than alphabetically.

Packing Specialist

Would the Government please break out labor category ‘Packing Specialist’ in Schedule C into level I and level II as listed in the Schedule A descriptions?

The final solicitation will reflect the addition of the Packing Specialist I and Packing Specialist II labor categories to Section J-7, Schedule C.

Labor Categories

Would the Government include seven missing Schedule C labor categories that are included in Schedule A labor category descriptions: Financial Specialist, Safety/Quality Control Specialist, Property Services Manager, Engineering Technician III, Traffic Management Specialist III, Receiver/ Unloader, and Furniture Designer?

The final solicitation will reflect the addition of the Financial Specialist, Safety/Quality Control Specialist, Furniture Designer, and Engineering Technician III to Attachment J-7, Schedule C.

Additionally, the Manager labor category was updated to Property Services Manager. The Receiver/ Unloader and Traffic Management Specialist III position are listed in Schedule C.

Labor Categories

Would the Government remove the three Schedule C labor categories duplicates – Parts Clerks, Heavy Truck Driver, and Service Person?

The duplication in Schedule C will be removed and reflected in the final solicitation.

Transportation Management Specialist III

Would the Government remove the “Transportation Management Specialist III’ listed in Schedule C or add this category to Schedule A and Attachment L-1 tabs?

The final solicitation will reflect the Transportation Management Specialist position being updated to the job title “Traffic Management Specialist III” as identified in Schedule A.

The offeror and all major subcontractors shall provide a pricing narrative BOE that explains in detail all pricing and estimating techniques. The information provided will be used to assess the reasonableness of the offeror's price estimate.

The Price portion requires a Basis of Estimate (BOE) summary, yet nowhere is a full BOE mentioned. Are bidders required to submit a detailed BOE to support staffing?

No. See Question #37.

(f) Font style shall be Times New Roman and the font size shall be twelve (12)-point for all text, including text used in charts, tables, figures, illustrations, or other embedded objects (e.g., pictures or screenshots). Offerors should exercise caution when inserting charts, tables, figures, illustrations, or other embedded objects to ensure that all text complies with the stated guidelines. Non-compliant text will not be evaluated; however, any remaining content will be evaluated. All text shall use normal kerning (i.e., spacing between individual characters). All lines shall be single spaced. All blank lines shall have a 12-point font size.

In the event of non-compliant text or graphic will just the non-compliant text or the non-compliant graphic be suppressed on that page or will the entire page, containing both compliant and non-compliant material, be removed for evaluation?

In accordance with provision NFS 1852.215-81, Proposal Page Limitations, Non-compliant text will not be evaluated; however, any remaining content will be evaluated. Therefore, any non-compliant text within a graphic will be “blacked out” and not evaluated while all compliant material remaining on that page will be evaluated.

Offerors which are joint ventures (JVs) should provide at least two of the five past performance referenced contracts required above in the name of the JV. If the JV is newly established and cannot provide past performance referenced contracts in the name of the JV, then past performance referenced contracts from individual partners of the JV should be submitted for consideration, not to exceed a combined total of five referenced contracts. Two past performance referenced contracts should be provided for the JV managing partner.

Will the Government consider removing the two reference requirement for the managing partner and rewriting the requirement to state “The partners to the joint venture, in the aggregate, must demonstrate the past performance, experience, business systems, and certifications necessary to perform the contract.”

The suggested language is already reflected in both 13 CFR §124.513(f) and 13 CFR §125.8(e). See response to Question #1 above.

Please note that the two references requested for the protégé managing partner are a recommendation and not a requirement.

Size - for offerors, a referenced contract will be determined relevant if it has an average annual value of $2,500,000 or greater, and for proposed subcontractors, an average annual value of $1,000,000 or greater.

For Mentor/Protégé JV teams where the protégé is typically very small compared to the mentor, would the Government define the protégés period of performance as a minimum of 6 months rather than “annual” and the relevant value that must be met as $500,000 for this period?

The size relevancy for offerors will be updated in the final solicitation to an average annual value of $1,500,000 or greater, and proposed subcontractors will be updated to an average annual value of $500,000 or greater. The period of performance minimum requirement will remain unchanged at one year.

In an appendix to the OCI Plan identify the strategy (e.g., mitigation, limitation on future contracting, etc.) for resolving each OCI that is either identified in the solicitation or created by the requirements of the solicitation/contract and explain the effect of such strategy on performance of the contract. If using a firewall, explain how these actions will operate to successfully address the conflict without adversely affecting performance of the contract. (Note: Specific plans to limit future competition are reflected in the clause at NFS 1852.209-71, Limitation of Future Contracting.)

Where in the RFP does it identify potential OCIs in the solicitation?

The Contracting Officer has not identified any potential OCIs in the solicitation and NFS 1852.209-71, Limitation of Future Contracting will be deleted from the applicable documents listing in Section 15.2 and the note reference to the clause in Item 14, Section 15.3. However, offerors still need to identify any potential OCIs for their company created by the requirements of the solicitation/contract.

VOLUME IV – CONTRACT INSTRUCTIONS states, “(b) Headers and footers shall not contain any information other than the solicitation number and page number, as provided for in the solicitation.”

Question: “Can the non-solicitation pages of Volume IV contain the offeror’s name in the header, as in the other volumes?”

See Question #27.

General - The Draft RFP does not state that title/cover pages, tables of contents, list of tables and/or list…