QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 80NSSC27947456Q.pdf

QUESTION AND ANSWERS FOR 80NSSC27947456Q

Q1. Is this the first issue of this solicitation (is this a re-compete of an existing NASA requirement or a new requirement)?

A1. We currently have one active BPA, and look to award more through this solicitation.

Q2. Has the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) held preliminary meetings with specific contractors interested in responding to this solicitation?

A2. No, this is considered a Simplified Acquisition.

Q3. Is this a requirement whereby the solicitation is open solely to pre-awarded vendors on a previous NASA Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), or Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) or related Contract Vehicle?

A3. Per the SAM.GOV posting this is a full and OPEN RFQ. The intent is to award BPAs as a result of the posting.

Q4. Can NASA please clarify whether this requirement for the Leadership Experience Program (LEP) - Industry and Academic Immersion BPA is being procured through specific related contract vehicles, acquisition programs, or vendor-restricted platforms (such as OASIS+, OASIS SB, GWAC, BPA, IDIQ, GSA Schedule acquisition, state-specific vehicle, or another pre-qualified contract mechanism) that would limit participation to holders of that vehicle, thus requiring only Contractors/Suppliers/Service Providers holding a particular contract vehicle for eligibility to submit a proposal.

A4. The RFQ was posted as an OPEN MARKET purchase on SAM.GOV.

Q5. Technical Acceptability Standards, Evaluation Criteria, and Required Proposal Evidence Question: What specific mandatory technical evaluation factors, minimum acceptance thresholds, supporting documentation, and pass/fail criteria will NASA apply when determining whether a proposed industry or academic immersion program is technically acceptable?

A5. The proposals will be evaluated as Lowest Priced Technically acceptable. The quotes MUST demonstrate the ability to perform the technical aspects of the statement of work, before price is considered as a factor.

Q6. Technical Acceptability Standards: Will NASA require evidence of comparable immersion programs, executive mentoring experience, organizational scale, access to specialized facilities, documented technological innovation, existing industry partnerships, or prior federal training performance, and will these qualifications be evaluated at the BPA level, individual call-order level, or both?

A6. They will be evaluated at the BPA level AND the order call level.

Q7. Participant Profiles, Individual Development Objectives, and Immersion Customization Question: How will NASA identify, assess, and communicate the leadership competencies, technical backgrounds, functional responsibilities, professional development objectives, and preferred learning outcomes of participating GS-13/14 Emerging Leaders and GS-15 Senior Leaders?

A7. Each year, NASA will conduct a selection process to identify more than 40 Leadership Experience Program (LEP) participants. Selected participants will receive a list of available training host assignments that includes the host organization, assignment opportunity, location, and duration of each assignment. Once a participant is matched with an assignment, the training host will receive the participant's name, grade level, position title, technical background, and security clearance levels.

Q8. Participant Individual Development Objectives, and Immersion Customization: Will NASA provide standardized individual development plans, competency frameworks, participant profiles, and learning objectives before each order, and to what extent must Bidders customize immersion content, host selection, executive sponsorship, and technical activities to individual participants?

A8. NASA can provide the competency frameworks used within its leadership development programs, as well as information about matched participants, including their name, grade level, position title, technical background, and security clearance levels.

Training hosts are expected to identify and describe their assignment opportunities in advance, including technical activities, sponsorship opportunities, and other developmental experiences. LEP participants will review these opportunities and indicate their preferred and non-preferred immersion assignments. Participant-to-assignment matching will be conducted through NASA's internal selection and placement process.

Q9. Executive Sponsor Qualifications, Availability, Daily Engagement, and Substitution Question: What minimum qualifications, organizational authority, technical experience, and documented availability must the designated executive sponsor possess, and how does NASA define the requirement for daily shadowing, strategic dialogue, and mentorship throughout an immersion?

A9. While NASA has not established formal requirements for executive sponsors, we have identified several characteristics that are expected to maximize the developmental value of the experience for LEP participants. Ideally, executive sponsors should:

Hold a formal leadership or supervisory position and possess expertise that aligns with the assignment topic. For example, if an organization oƯers an assignment focused on Superintelligence (SI), an executive sponsor with relevant SI experience or portfolio responsibility would be well-positioned to provide meaningful guidance, insight, and exposure.

Be available to actively engage with participants throughout the assignment. As a general guideline, sponsors should dedicate approximately 10% of the assignment duration to participant development activities such as mentoring, job shadowing, strategic discussions, and leadership dialogue. For example, a 70-hour assignment conducted over two weeks would include approximately seven hours of direct engagement with the executive sponsor.

Be able to support open and eƯective knowledge-sharing. U.S. citizenship is not required for executive sponsors, and NASA will provide participants with guidance on engagement protocols applicable to interactions with non-U.S. citizens.

However, depending on the nature of the assignment and any applicable information-sharing restrictions, a U.S. citizen sponsor may, in some cases, facilitate broader discussions and access to certain topics or activities.

Q10. Daily Engagement and Substitution: Must the named vice president, director, dean, or principal investigator personally supervise the participant for all 70 hours of the minimum two-week experience, or may designated senior technical leaders facilitate selected activities under the executive sponsor's oversight? What substitution procedures apply if an executive sponsor becomes unavailable?

A10. Executive Sponsors should have suƯicient availability to engage with participants throughout the assignment. As a general guideline, sponsors should dedicate approximately 10% of the assignment duration to participant development activities, such as mentoring, job shadowing, and strategic discussions. For example, a 70-hour assignment conducted over two weeks would include approximately seven hours of direct engagement with the executive sponsor. If the sponsor becomes unavailable, we expect that the training host will find an alternate sponsor to engage with the NASA LEP participant.

Q11. Minimum Immersion Duration, Authorized Extensions, and Pricing Methodology Question: Must oƯerors provide a single standardized firm-fixed-price cost per participant for the minimum two-week, 70-hour immersion, or may Bidders propose diƯerentiated pricing based on host organization, technical specialization, facility location, executive sponsor seniority, participant concurrency, and program complexity?

A11. All cost factors and possibilities can be included in the pricing document. The intent is to award a 5 year BPA. The pricing should reflect the pricing for every scenario presented in the statement of work, or those that you may propose with pricing to reflect the 5 year BPA period of performance.

Q12. Minimum Immersion Pricing Methodology Question: How will NASA price and authorize immersion extensions beyond two weeks, up to the six-month maximum, and may quotations include separately priced options for additional weeks, specialized laboratory access, advanced technical demonstrations, or secondary-site activities?

A12. OƯerors may include all applicable cost factors and variable pricing structures within their submitted pricing document. As the Government intends to award a five-year Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), quotations must provide pricing that reflects every scenario outlined in the Statement of Work. OƯerors are permitted to include separately priced options for extensions, specialized activities, or alternative scenarios they propose, provided all pricing structures account for the full five-year period of performance. NASA will price and authorize specific immersion durations, including any extensions up to the six-month maximum, through the issuance of individual Call Orders against the established BPA.

Q13. Host Facility Requirements, Geographic Preferences, Security Access, and Export Controls Question: What specific facility, operational access, security, citizenship, export-control, occupational safety, and information technology requirements must participating industry or academic hosts satisfy, and will NASA accept immersion activities conducted in controlled, proprietary, export-restricted, or classified environments when appropriate safeguards are implemented?

A13. Training host organizations are expected to provide facilities for onsite LEP immersion activities and ensure participants have the access and exposure necessary to achieve the assignment's learning objectives.

All NASA LEP participants will be U.S. citizens; however, training host facilitators and executive sponsors are not required to be. NASA will provide participants with guidance on applicable legal, ethical, and engagement considerations. While U.S. citizenship is not a requirement for sponsors, assignments involving controlled, proprietary, export-restricted, or other sensitive information may benefit from a U.S. citizen sponsor who can facilitate broader discussions within applicable information-sharing constraints.

IT requirements are addressed in NASA's Super Intelligence Guidelines and the commercial vendor expectations outlined in the Statement of Work (SOW).

NASA may approve immersion activities conducted in controlled, proprietary, export-restricted, or classified environments, provided appropriate safeguards, access controls, and compliance measures are in place.

Q14. Host Facility Requirements, Geographic Preferences, Security Access, and Export Controls Question: How will NASA evaluate the stated preference for facilities near its ten primary centers, and are geographically distributed hosting locations, multiple partner facilities, and limited secondary-site visits acceptable within a single immersion?

A14. While facilities located near NASA's ten primary centers may have a higher likelihood of participant placement, locations outside these areas are not excluded and remain eligible for placements. Additionally, geographically distributed hosting locations, multiple partner facilities, and limited secondary-site visits are acceptable within a single immersion.

Q15. Memoranda of Understanding, Intellectual Property, Ethics, Liability, and Legal Responsibilities Question: Will NASA provide a standardized, legally approved Memorandum of Understanding template addressing participant status, proprietary information, intellectual property, data rights, confidentiality, organizational conflicts of interest, ethics, safety, conduct, and liability, or must each BPA contractor independently develop and negotiate these provisions?

A15. While NASA will establish the standard baseline language, companies may oƯer legal feedback and propose adjustments.

Q16. Memoranda of Understanding, Intellectual Property, Ethics, Liability, and Legal Responsibilities Question: How will NASA allocate responsibility for participant injury, facility damage, security violations, export-control compliance, and other potential liabilities, and what procedures and timeframes will govern NASA OƯice of General Counsel review and approval before each placement?

A16. While NASA is coordinating with the OƯice of General Counsel (OGC) on final requirements, LEP participants will generally remain federal employees throughout their immersion assignments and will be subject to NASA's standards of conduct, travel policies, and training requirements.

Training host organizations will identify assignment opportunities in advance, including technical activities, executive sponsorship, and other developmental experiences.

Participants will rank their preferred assignments, and NASA will conduct the matching process internally.

Preliminary matches will be reviewed by NASA OGC prior to final placement. Following approval, NASA, the participant, and the training host organization will execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining roles, responsibilities, ethics requirements, intellectual property considerations, and other expectations for the immersion experience.

Q17. Program Deliverables, Performance Measurement, Quality Assurance, and Acceptance Question: Beyond the required technical approach, baseline agenda, executive sponsor biography, cost breakdown, scheduling information, logistics plan, onboarding, and oƯboarding, what additional deliverables, progress reports, attendance records, participant assessments, executive sponsor evaluations, lessons-learned summaries, or completion certifications will NASA require?

A17. NASA does not require any additional deliverables, reports, assessments, or certifications beyond those explicitly listed in the solicitation.

Q18. Program Deliverables, Performance Measurement, Quality Assurance, and Acceptance Question: What survey questions, performance thresholds, minimum satisfaction scores, corrective-action requirements, and acceptance procedures will NASA use to determine successful completion and authorize payment for each immersion?

A18. As outlined in the Statement of Work, this program is conducted as employee training in accordance with Chapter 41 of Title 5, U.S.C. Under this authority, payment is authorized and issued prior to the commencement of each immersion experience.

Because this is a training procurement, payment is not contingent upon post-immersion performance thresholds, minimum satisfaction scores, corrective-action requirements, or formal post-performance acceptance procedures. Any surveys or evaluations regarding the immersion experience will be conducted internally by the participating NASA Leadership Experience Program (LEP) participant for NASA's own programmatic use.

Q19. Artificial Intelligence and Super Intelligence Requirements, Data Protection, and Contractual Applicability Question: How does NASA define “Super Intelligence (SI)” for this acquisition, which specific September 2025 SI contract provisions will apply to the BPA and individual orders, and what disclosures, technical documentation, security controls, approval procedures, and continuing compliance obligations will be required when Bidders or their industry and academic hosts use artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, autonomous systems, or other emerging technologies during immersion activities?

A19. For the purposes of this acquisition, "Super Intelligence (SI)" is defined in accordance with the recently issued Executive Order 14434, which establishes that "Super Intelligence" and "SI" mean the technologies and systems encompassed by the statutory definition of "artificial intelligence" found in 15 U.S.C. § 9401(3).

The September 2025 provisions detailed in the Statement of Work remain fully applicable to the Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) and all subsequent Call Orders. Specifically, these include:

1. Use of Super Intelligence (SI) During Contract Performance (SEP 2025): This requires contractors to formally disclose the use of SI technologies at any time during the fulfillment of the contract.

2. Super Intelligence (SI) Acquisitions (SEP 2025): This imposes additional requirements when acquiring or utilizing covered SI systems or services, with "covered systems" and specific exceptions defined by OMB Memorandum M-25-22.

Contractors must meet the disclosure and compliance obligations of these provisions.

Additionally, contractors are expected to make every eƯort to comply with the directives of Executive Order 14434 where applicable during contract performance.

Q20. Artificial Intelligence and Super Intelligence Requirements, Data Protection, and Contractual Applicability: Question: Will the additional requirements associated with OMB Memorandum M-25-22 apply only when NASA acquires covered SI systems or services, or also when participants merely observe or receive instruction concerning those technologies?

A20. The additional acquisition requirements detailed in OMB Memorandum M-25-22 apply only when the Government is actively acquiring covered Super Intelligence (SI) systems or services. If a NASA participant is merely observing or receiving instruction concerning a host organization's proprietary SI technologies as part of the immersion experience, the Government is not acquiring those systems, and the acquisition-specific requirements of OMB M-25-22 do not apply. However, OƯerors are reminded that the separate requirement to disclose the use of SI technologies during contract performance (SOW Section 6, Item 1) remains applicable throughout the life of the agreement, and all activities must remain consistent with Executive Order 14434.

Q21. Would a vendor holding a valid Secret Facility Clearance (Secret FCL) be considered for an INTERIM Top Secret Facility Clearance by the DOD/DSS when bidding on a contract that requires TOP SECRET or INTERIM TOP SECRET clearance through the U.S. Department of Defense/Defense Security Service (DOD/DSS)? Additionally, would NASA approve and accept proposals from such vendors and issue a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to upgrade their clearance to the TOP SECRET Clearance Level to meet the contract requirements?

A21. NASA will accept and evaluate proposals from vendors currently holding a valid Secret Facility Clearance. However, NASA will not issue a Letter of Authorization (LOA) or sponsor facility clearance upgrades for this requirement. OƯerors are responsible for independently meeting and maintaining any facility and security clearance requirements necessary to execute their proposed immersion activities.

Q22. If an active Form DD-254 (Top Secret) Facility Clearance or a similar agency-specific Clearance is needed, we will plan to support and ensure suƯicient time for processing the paperwork, such as the Letter of Authorization (LOA). Are bidders lacking a DD-254 (Top Secret) Facility Clearance encouraged to participate??

A22. Yes. Organizations possessing varying facility clearance levels, including those lacking an active DD-254 (Top Secret) Facility Clearance, are acceptable and encouraged to submit a quotation.

Q23. For areas where strict requirements exist for an active Secret/Top-Secret Facility Clearance (or DOE-Q | NACI, etc.) and specific past performance requirements as the prime vendor, would the Government consider accepting a Contractor Teaming Agreement (CTA) under the GSA framework to meet both the clearance and past performance criteria?

A23. The Government has not established facility clearance requirements for training hosts under this solicitation. Consequently, NASA will not evaluate, support, or accept a Contractor Teaming Agreement (CTA) intended to meet clearance and past performance criteria, as those strict clearance requirements do not apply to this acquisition.

Q24. Can you guide the level of eƯort expected (Total Labor Hours, Labor Hours by Key Team Members, etc.) to complete the Performance Work Statement (PWS)?

A24. OƯerors are expected to define their own level of eƯort necessary to meet the requirements of the Statement of Work. However, the anticipated level of eƯort will primarily be driven by the host facility's proposed training structure and will likely include, but is not limited to: pre-immersion logistics and planning, an on-site facilitator for the minimum 70-hour immersion, active executive mentor engagement, post-immersion debrief logistics, and the facilitation of a lessons-learned session.

Q25. What are the Workers' Comp Codes and National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) Classifications for the required positions? 80NSSC27947456QA Workers' Comp Code and an NCCI Classification Code are three- or four-digit numerical codes assigned by NCCI. Class codes diƯerentiate job duties (such as 8810 - Clerical or 8292 - Warehousing) or the scope of work employees perform. Assigning a specific workers’ comp code aƯects the cost of workers' comp insurance.

A25. This will be considered a Simplified Acquisition and those codes do not apply to or govern simplified acquisitions.

Q26. Can NASA provide specific guidance on proposal formatting for each required volume (Technical, Past Performance, Price, etc.), including font size, graphics/tables font size, margins, and page limitations?

A26. There is no specific guidance related to this solicitation.

Q27. Should/Can Past Performance/Relevant Experience information be included in the Technical Proposal Volume, or should OƯerors provide a separate Past Performance/Relevant Experience Volume for the response to 80NSSC27947456Q?

A27. Yes, you can provide it for consideration but it is not considered an evaluation factor.

Q28. Are bidders required to provide a price estimate for Travel and ODC Costs related to the 80NSSC27947456Q Contract? If not, does NASA require bidders to submit a separate "best estimate" of Travel and ODC to accompany the proposal? If so, please advise which proposal volume should include these Travel and ODC Cost Estimates.

A28. The LEP participants will be the only “travelers” and their cost are covered by NASA.

Q29. Could you please confirm whether NASA is requesting per-person pricing for a baseline two-week immersion only, or whether we should also include pricing for longer placements, up to the six-month maximum?

A29. All cost factors and possibilities can be included in the pricing document.

Q30. Would NASA consider this alternative executive coaching and experiential learning model responsive to the objectives of the LEP solicitation, or is placement within an external host organization a mandatory requirement?

A30. The placement with external host is a mandatory requirement.

Q31. Prime contractor with a qualifying host

Reference: SOW Section 2, Contract Qualifications a-d; Section 3; Deliverable c

The SOW states that "the commercial and academic training hosts must meet the following mandatory criteria" and that immersions "shall take place on-site at the Contractor's facilities." Will the Government accept a quotation in which the oƯeror serves as prime contractor and program coordinator, and the immersion is conducted at the facilities of, with the executive sponsor furnished by, a teaming partner or subcontractor that meets criteria a through d? If so, will the host's qualifications be evaluated in place of the oƯeror's, and what evidence of the host's commitment should accompany the quote?

A31. The Immersion MUST be conducted with the prime contractor.

Q32. Quote due time

Reference: SAM.gov notice; RFQ Section 2, Addendum to FAR 52.212-1

The SAM.gov notice lists a response date of October 23, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT, while the RFQ Addendum states 3:00 p.m. CT. Please confirm which time governs.

A32. The original response time was 10/23/2026 3pm CT, but has been revised to be 10/28/2026 3pm, CT.

Q33. Bid schedule and price format

Reference: RFQ Section 1; SOW Deliverable d; SOW Sections 4 and 5

Section 1 refers to a "Statement of Work/Bid Schedule," but only the Statement of Work is attached. Please confirm the required price format. Specifically: (a) is a single firm-fixed cost per person for the two-week (70-hour) baseline immersion suƯicient; (b) should separate prices be stated for the initial period and each of the four option periods; (c) should the price diƯer for one participant versus two concurrent participants; and (d) should a price per additional week of extension be quoted?

A33. The intent is to award a 5 year BPA. The pricing should reflect the pricing for every scenario presented in the statement of work, or those that you may propose with pricing to reflect the 5 year BPA period of performance.

Q34. Content required with the quote

Reference: SOW Section 2, Deliverables a-f; RFQ Section 5

Deliverables a through f are required "for each Immersion Call/Order." Because Section 5 evaluates whether a quote demonstrates that all requirements can be met, please identify which deliverables, if any, must be submitted with the quote, for example a sample Technical Approach Document or an executive sponsor biography, and which are provided only at the call order stage.

A34. To facilitate quote submission by the deadline, OƯerors are not required to submit an executive sponsor biography (Deliverable b) with their initial quote; this specific deliverable may be delayed and provided at the individual Call Order stage. However, OƯerors must still provide suƯicient documentation in their quote (such as a proposed Technical Approach) to demonstrate the ability to meet all technical aspects and requirements of the Statement of Work for evaluation purposes.

Q35. Brand name or equal statement

Reference: RFQ Section 1

Section 1 states that this is a brand name or equal requirement, but no brand name or salient characteristics are identified. Please confirm whether this statement applies to this

RFQ.

A35. There are other BRANDED immersion programs. NASA is not opposed to participating in a BRANDED immersion program with an established qualified company, or with companies that can equal and equivalent experience.

Q36. Competition basis

Reference: SAM.gov notice; RFQ title

A36. The set-aside field on SAM.gov is blank and the RFQ is titled an open-market RFQ.

Please confirm that the BPAs will be established on an unrestricted basis. The Blank Field indicates that there is no set aside, and this is full and open.

Q37. Super Intelligence requirements

Reference: SOW page 6, items 1 and 2

Please provide the full text or oƯicial citation for "Use of Super Intelligence (SI) During Contract Performance (SEP 2025)" and "Super Intelligence (SI) Acquisitions (SEP 2025)," and confirm whether the disclosure required by item 1 must be included in the quote.

The substantive requirements for these provisions are outlined on page 6 of the Statement of Work (SOW) and are governed by the policy directives established in OMB Memorandum M-25-22 and Executive Order 14434. The complete clause text, reflecting the language in the SOW, will be incorporated into the resulting Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) and applicable Call Orders.

A37. Regarding the disclosure requirement (Item 1), OƯerors are not required to include a disclosure in their initial quotation unless their proposed technical approach explicitly relies on the use of SI technologies to fulfill the requirements. Otherwise, the obligation to disclose the use of SI technologies applies continuously at any time during the performance of the contract.

Q38. Memorandum of Understanding

Reference: SOW Section 6.d

Will NASA furnish a baseline MOU template for the required legal review? Please also confirm that the review by NASA OGC and the Contractor's counsel takes place after BPA establishment and before the first placement, and is not a condition of technical acceptability at the quote stage.

A38. Yes, and the review by NASA OGC and the Contractor's counsel takes place after BPA establishment and before the first placement. The MOU is not a condition of technical acceptability at the quote stage.

Q39. Personal identity verification

Reference: FAR 52.204-9, RFQ Section 4; SOW Section 3

Immersions take place at the Contractor's facilities. Please confirm whether FAR 52.204-9 applies only if contractor personnel require routine access to a NASA facility or system.

Being awarded an LEP BPA does not alter a training host's existing security, access, or compliance requirements. Training hosts should maintain all current physical and IT access practices.

A39. If a NASA participant requires additional access that supports the assignment's learning objectives, they will work through the appropriate approval channels. Access requests should be limited to those necessary for immersion experience.

If required access cannot be obtained in a timely manner, NASA, the participant, and the training host should first explore adjustments to the assignment before considering reassignment or termination of the match.