00 - Government Responses to Industry Questions 2.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 18 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Air Base Air Defense Synopsis - USAFE Federal contract opportunity
- Solicitation number
- ABADS1
View the file
Other files for this federal contract opportunity
Show all 20
On GovTribe
Work with this file on GovTribe
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
Sheet1
| Reference | Comment / Question | Government Response |
| Section L, Paragraph 3.5.1. | Section L, paragraph 3.5.1 clarifies the page limitations for the volumes and indicates that “Statements of Work or Performance Work Statements” will not be counted towards the respective limitation. For the purposes of subfactor three (scenario), would a slide that features graphics and/or tables summarizing the scenario threshold and objective requirements, with no other information added, meet this purpose and be exempt from the 25 page count restriction | Section L 3.5.1 states the following areas are exempt from the page limitations: "Title Pages, Tables of Contents, Statements of Work or Performance Work Statements, Glossary of Abbreviations or Acronyms." The proposed slide would not fit into these categories. Please also note the wording in Section L 5.1 stating the following: "Technical proposals should not merely reiterate the objectives or reformulate the requirements specified in the solicitation." |
The Offeror is welcome to do so, but this would count against the limitation, so the Government recommends Offerors assume the evaluators are already tracking the individual threshold and objective requirements.
Section L 5.2.1.1. In Section L "5.2.1.1 Integration," the RFP states that the Offeror shall submit evidence of at least 2 years of Past Experience (instances where the Offeror performed as a key subcontractor or a prime) on a contract performed within the previous 5 years from the date of issuance of the solicitation, where the Offeror is or was responsible for at least 2 instances of integrating radar, electro-optical, mobile sensing, and/or multimodal sensor systems into a larger architecture. A larger architecture is defined as at least three systems within the scope of the ABAD requirement above networked together in the same command and control architecture. The contract value shall be or have been greater than or equal to $10,000,000. The 2 instances of integration experience do not have to be from one contract, but if each instance submitted is from a separate contract then each contract must meet the $10,000,000 threshold.
| Please clarify what "ABAD requirement above" references. | The ABAD requirement above references the integrations of "radar, electro-optical, mobile sensing, and/or multimodal sensor systems." The offeror must provide 2 example of where they integrated three systems of radar, electro-optical, mobile sensing, and/or multimodal sensor systems. | ||
| IDIQ PWS 2.5.1.1.2.2 | The PWS section 2.5.1.1.2.2 says the PM must have access to SCI. Can the Government clarify whether that means the person does not currently need to be attached to a Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) billet? Also, can the Government confirm if that person would need to have a completed Single Source Background Investigation (SSBI)? | The PM will need to have their TS and be SCI eligible to propose them. For the execution of the Task Order the PM will need to have SCI. This includes having their SSBI complete. | |
| Section L 2.1; L 6.1.4 | In Attachment 1, Section L, there appears to be a duplicate paragraph (section 6.1.4 and the 4th paragraph of section 2.1). "The Offeror shall provide a summary description of standard purchasing system or methods (e.g., how material requirements are determined, how sources are selected, when firm quotes are obtained, and what provision is made to ensure quantity and other discounts). Identify any deviations from the stated standard procedures that were used in preparing this proposal. Indicate whether Government approval of stated system was obtained and, if so, provide evidence of such approval "Recommend deleting the paragraph from section 2.1. | Duplicate language has been removed from Section L 2.1. | |
| 00_-_Solicitation_-_FA564121R0001,Attachment_1_-_Section_L_ABAD, Page 16 of 21, 6.0 Volume III – Cost/Price Volume, 6.1.5 Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Disclosure Statement | Cost Accounting Standard (CAS) Disclosure Statement. Section L.6.1.5, Cost Accounting Standard (CAS) Disclosure Statement, provides no associated instructions to offerors. |
| Can the Government clarify what Offerors are required to provide in response to Section L.6.1.5 (CAS Disclosure Statement)? | The solicitation includes the provision FAR 52.230-1. Please refer to this provision for CAS instructions. | |
| 00_-_Solicitation_-_FA564121R0001,Attachment_1_-_Section_L_ABAD, Page 17 of 21, 6.0 Volume III – Cost/Price Volume, 6.2 Ramstein RADSIL Task Order, Sub-item (6) | With regards to the predetermined cost reimbursable values provided for the Ramstein RADSIL Task Order, Section L.6.2(6) states “(6) The Offeror shall use predetermined values for CLINs 0540, 0541, 0542, 0543, 0544 Travel; 0340, 0341, 0342, 0343, 0344 Material; and 0740, 0741, 0742, 0743, 0744 Relocation for evaluation purposes. apply indirect rates, fee, FCCOM, or any other costs to the predetermined totals listed below. |
| Are the “predetermined totals” in Section L.6.2(6) meant to be inclusive of Offeror indirect burdens or is the Government prohibiting the inclusion of Offeror indirect burdens on Material, Travel and Relocation costs under task orders issued under the resulting IDIQ award? | These Cost-Reimbursement (CR) Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs) do not allow for fee, FCCOM, indirects, etc. The value assigned to the CR CLINs is more of a CLIN ceiling. The Offeror can submit costs for reimbursement up to that amount over the course of the Task Order. Guidance and limitations for travel and relocation costs may be found in the PWS and Attachment 16 - Logistical Support for Europe. | |
| 00_-_Solicitation_-_FA564121R0001,Attachment_2_-_Section_M_ABAD, Page 7 of 11, 3.3 Subfactor 3: Scenario, Last Two (2) bulleted statements. | The last two bullets in the performance criteria are written as: |
• Must cost less than $40M (Threshold), $15M (Efficiency Objective), to procure, and $10M (Threshold), $7M (Efficiency Objective) to operate and maintain the capability per location each year or cost less than $40M (Threshold), $15M (Efficiency Objective) to lease, operate, and maintain each year.
• Must be sustained by no more than 15 personnel (Threshold), 10 personnel (Efficiency Objective) and operated by no more than 16 personnel (Threshold), 12 personnel (Efficiency Objective). This includes 24/7/365 days a year operation.
The proposal ratings in 3.3.3 - 3.3.9 prescribe a required number of efficiency objectives for each adjectival rating.
Can the government confirm the two bullets above represent five efficiency objectives 1) procurement cost 2) Operating cost 3) Lease/operate/maintain 4) Sustainment Personnel 5) Operations Personnel The wording for this section has been redone as follows:
"• Must cost less than $40M to procure as well as less than $10M to operate and maintain per location per year (Threshold), $15M to procure as well as less than $7M to operate and maintain per location per year (Efficiency Objective); alternatively, must cost less than $40M (Threshold), $15M (Efficiency Objective) to lease, operate, and maintain per location each year.
• Must be sustained by no more than 15 personnel (Threshold), 10 personnel (Efficiency Objective). This includes 24/7/365 days a year operation.
• Must be operated by no more than 16 personnel (Threshold), 12 personnel (Efficiency Objective). This includes 24/7/365 days a year operation."
The Government intends for each 'bullet point' to read as a single efficiency objective. In the text above, the first bullet threshold would require the Offeror to meet both the procurement and operate&maintain requirements to pass the threshold or efficiency objective requirement. The second and third bullets split the sustainment and operation requirements into two separate threshold/objective criteria.
00_-_Solicitation_-_FA564121R0001, Section I Contract Clauses: Section I of the draft solicitation (page 49 of 79) includes DFARS Clause 252.237-7023, Continuation of Essential Contractor Services. Section (c)(1) The clause states “The Mission-Essential Contractor Services Plan submitted by the Contractor, is incorporated in this contract.” Section L (Attachment 01 of the solicitation) does not include a requirement for Offerors to submit a Mission-Essential Contractors Services Plan.
| Are Offerors required to submit a Mission-Essential Contractor Services Plan with their proposals, and if so, can the Section L be updated to reflect this requirement, to include the applicable proposal volume it is to be included under? | The language in the associated clause is as follows, "The Government has identified all or a portion of the contractor services performed under this contract as essential contractor services in support of mission essential functions. These services are listed in attachment [To be cited in each individual task order], Mission-Essential Contractor Services, dated [To be cited in each individual task order]." There is no current requirement for this document in Section L or the RADSIL Task Order PWS. This may be included in future task orders as applicable. | |
| 00_-_Solicitation_-_FA564121R0001, | GovWin had an update regarding ABAD and stated that DFARS changes regarding the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification are expected to be implemented on November 30, 2020. |
| Does the Government anticipate inserting the CMMC clause prescribed in DFARS 252.204-7021 into this contract? If so, what is the anticipated timing associated with that insertion given the Government’s rollout schedule for the CMMC requirement and the standup of the CMMC certification body? | The Government is not specifying a CMMC Level at this time, so DFARS 252-204-7021 will not be included. Future task orders may require this. The ABAD Solicitation does however incorporate DFARS 252.203-7020 and DFARS 252.204-7020 per the update on 30 November, 2020. | ||
| Attach 2 - Sect M - 3.3 Subfactor 3 | Is the intent for the system cost criteria to limit a solution to either an 'all buy' or 'all lease', or was the intent to allow for a mixed solution 'buy and/or lease'? (Must cost less than $40M (Threshold), $15M (Efficiency Objective), to procure, and $10M (Threshold), $7M (Efficiency Objective) to operate and maintain the capability per location each year or cost less than $40M (Threshold), $15M (Efficiency Objective) to lease, operate, and maintain each year.) | While the final ABAD solution may allow for a mixed solution, for the purposes of the evaluation the Offeror must choose between the two options for the best value. | |
| Attach 17 - Cross Reference Matrix | Attachment 17 is a Cross Reference Matrix and says “to be provided by the offeror” – but this isn’t required by Section L. Is this to be provided as part of Volume II and not included in page count? If so, please provide instructions on where to include a completed Attachment 17. | The following language has been added as Section L 4.3.2, "4.3.2 Proposal Information. The Offeror shall complete Attachment 17 – Cross Reference Matrix, to correlate the Offeror’s proposal with the solicitation documentation. The Offeror’s proposal information related to technical Subfactor Three (Scenario) shall reference the associated PowerPoint slide as applicable, however Section M 3.3’s restriction on what slides will be considered for evaluation still applies. Section L 4.3 is indicated within 'Table 1 - Proposal Organization,' as belonging to 'Volume 1 - Executive Summary.' | |
| Section L, 2.9.2.3 | Section L, 2.9.2.3 states “Offerors shall also use separate electronic files for each proposal section listed in Table 1 to permit rapid location of all portions of the proposal.” Should the offerors also submit 4 separate combined volume files? For example, for Volume IV – should this be submitted as three separate files, 1) Volume IV combined document; 2) Accounting System; and 3) Non-Government Advisor Documentation? Please clarify. | Section L 3.9.2.3 has been updated as follows, "Offerors shall submit separate files for each consolidated proposal volume (Executive Summary, Technical, Cost/Price, and Contract Documentation). Offerors shall also submit separate electronic files for each individual proposal section listed in Table 1 to permit rapid location of all portions of the proposal." This language is intended to clarify that the example provided in the question is accurate. | |
| Section L, 3.1 | Section L, 3.1 requests submittal of one point of contact for SAFE access. Is it possible to submit two additional POCs? Due to the current worldwide pandemic, backups are more important than ever. | The Government concurs. Section L 3.1 language has been updated to state, "The email request shall include the name of the company as well as no more than five points of contact, phone numbers and email addresses. " | |
| Section L, 2.9.2.2 | Section L 2.9.2.2 states that “For tables, charts, drawings, and graphics the text shall be no less than 8 point Times New Roman or Arial Font, and margins shall be no less than ½ inch on all sides unless stated otherwise within this document.” Please confirm that Power Point slides are subject to this ½ inch margin requirement versus the more cumbersome 1 inch margin that is stated in 2.9.2.1 for the written documents to apply to the oral slides. | The 1/2 margin was intended. Language has been modified in Section L 2.9.2.1 as follows, "Offerors shall use at least 1 inch margins on the top and bottom and ¾-inch side margins for all pages unless stated otherwise within this document. Offerors shall use at least ½ margins on all sides for all slides unless stated otherwise within this document." | |
| Section L, 2.9.2.2 | Please confirm that the scenario Power Point slides are acceptable in the widescreen format. | So long as the slides conform to all other stated requirements, they shall be considered acceptable. The following language has been clarified in Section L 2.9.2.1: "Offerors shall use at least ½ margins on all sides for all slides unless stated otherwise within this document, and wide-screen PowerPoint slides are permitted." | |
| Section L | Assuming 2.4 of the draft Section L will remain unchanged and you will provide a 15 calendar day time period for offerors to submit questions, that would put the 15th day on 24 Dec (Christmas Eve). Should offerors have questions on 24 Dec when most people may be on leave (and possibly on leave through 04 Jan 2021), just wanted to make sure someone will be available to receive questions. As I understand, no more questions will be permitted after that 15 calendar day time period. | The Government intends to allow questions until January 4th. While the Government intends to published questions and answers as able, on January 4th any previously unanswered questions will be worked on. | |
| Section M 3.3 | Does the government intend the scenario end-to-end system to consist only of the C2 architecture/systems and personnel or is end-to-end meant to include sensors, effectors, C2, and personnel? If only the C2 architecture/systems, we suggest rewriting the scenario evaluation criteria. | The Scenario end-to-end system should include all items necessary to counter the threats provided in the Scenario, to include but not necessarily be limited to sensors, effectors, C2, and personnel. | |
| Section M 3.3 | Will the Government please confirm if weapons and their employment will be provided by the applicable branch of service and operated by fully qualified military personnel? |
a. Contractors cannot procure or operate weapons nor be a part of the kill chain, these are military functions that contractors support.
The IDIQ PWS Section 1.3 states the following, "Contractor duties shall not include activities that would qualify the contractor personnel as combatants under the rules of the Law of Armed Conflict." Contractors will not be expected/allowed to be a part of the kill chain.
Section M 3.3 We suggest swapping the evaluation criteria for acceptable and excellent to reflect an increasing level of stringency in criteria. As currently written, to receive a grade of acceptable requires meeting more total requirements than excellent.
a. Section M 3.3.6 Excellent: “…the proposal shall demonstrate a thorough approach and understanding of the requirements and contain at least one strength. A thorough approach and understanding of the requirements shall be defined by a proposal meeting at least 5 objective requirements as described in this section, and receiving a Risk Rating of ‘Moderate Risk’ or ‘Low Risk’ in accordance with Table 4M.” To meet the 5 objective requirement, the proposal shall meet two objective requirements from performance and efficiency each. The fifth objective can be from either performance or efficiency.
b. Section M 3.3.7 Acceptable: “…the proposal shall demonstrate an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements. An adequate approach and understanding of the requirements shall be defined as meeting all of the threshold requirements, and receiving a Risk rating of ‘Moderate Risk’ or ‘Low Risk’ in accordance with Table 4M.”
The current wording of these definitions is as intended. The definition for 'Acceptable' requires an Offeror to meet all thresholds. However, the definition for 'Excellent' requires an Offeror meet 5 objectives as well, which are inherently more stringent.
To what the Government believes is at the heart of this question, to be rated 'Excellent' would still require that the 'Excellent' proposal meet all thresholds just as the 'Acceptable' rating would, only with the added requirement that it must also exceed 5 or more of those thresholds to the point where it meets the objectives. If the 'Excellent' proposal failed to meet the any one of the thresholds, despite reaching 5 'objective' requirements, it may be rated as unacceptable. This is evidenced by the definition of 'Unacceptable,' which states, "A proposal may be considered Unacceptable by either a failure to meet one or more threshold requirements..."
| Section M 3.3 | Will the Government consider changing the pricing and personnel evaluation criteria to a graduated scale aligned with the adjectival technical ratings? Alternatively, the Government could remove pricing and personnel evaluation criteria and allow offerors to propose as if a Task Order to enable the Government to see all options and solutions available. | The Government intends to keep the current pricing and personnel evaluation criteria. This provides a competitive ceiling for which offerors can propose to. |
| Section L 7.2 & 11.2; Attachment 13 | Section L, 2.11, Use of Non-Government Advisors, certification indicates that the Offeror will enter into, or have already entered into, a non-disclosure agreement with non-government advisior(s) and will submit a copy of any such agreements to the Contracting Officer not later than the date established in this solictation for receipt of proposals. Section 7.2, Non-Government Advisor Documentation, indicates that, "Documentation required by Section L, 2.11 Use of Non-Government Advisors, to include any non-disclosure documents shall be included in Volume IV of the proposal." |
For the non-disclosure document(s) referenced in Sections L, 2.11 and 7.2, for the Non-Government Advisors, is the Government referring to the execution of the Associate Contractor Agreement included in Attachment 13 for submission with the Offeror's Volume IV proposal? Section L 7.2 specifically refers to the content in Section L 2.11. This is in regards to both the NDAs as well as the statement of understanding or written objection to disclosure per the text in section L 2.11. Associate Contractor Agreements shall be established within 60 days of award, which means that those organizations will assist only the winning contractor in the formation of said agreements post-award.
The NDAs referenced are in regards to those organizations assisting the Government. Those team members shall have access to each Offeror's proposal information. As such, an NDA is required between the Offeror and each non-governmental advisor participating in the source selection to ensure the Offeror's information is protected. The contact information to establish said NDAs, which are part of an Offeror's proposal, will be provided upon request by the Contracting Officer.
Attachment 16, Logistical Support for Europe; and Attachment 5, RADSIL Task Order, Task Order CLIN Structure - Att. 16, Section 4, Dependent Education Allowance The Government will reimburse the contractor for Minor Dependent Tuition, as limited by FAR 31.205-46 and the Department of State Standardize Regulations sections 120 and 270.
| Cost Reimbursable expenses such as Dependent Education expenses are tyipcally charged as an ODC. This benefits the Government because they will only incur the actual costs without having to pay a fee. Will the Dependent Education Allowance expenses be reimbursed under the Material CLINs (0340, 0341, 0342, 0343, and 0344) of the RADSIL Task Order? | The Government intends for Attachment 16 Section 4 costs to be covered under the Cost-Reimburseable Relocation CLIN. This CLIN has been renamed 'Relocation/Education' to clarify this intent. | |
| Attachment 16, Logistical Support for Europe; and Attachment 5, RADSIL Task Order, Task Order CLIN Structure - Att. 16, Section 2, Overseas Allowances | Overseas Allowances. In addition to the privileges listed above, the Contract allows for several allowances consequent to residing and working overseas to be reimbursed by the Government. These allowances, like the privileges, are only authorized for Contractor employees who have attained SOFA status. These allowances only consider expenses establishing Contractor employees at the contract place of performance, maintaining the employee while there, and repatriating the employee when finished. With the exception of travel and shipment of household items (to include POV) to/from CONUS location, only costs incurred at the contract place of performance will be considered. |
Cost Reimbursable expenses such as cost of living allowances and living quarters expenses are tyipcally charged as an ODC. This benefits the Government because they will only incur the actual costs without having to pay a fee. Will the cost of living allowances and living quarters expenses be reimbursed under Material CLINs (0340, 0341,0342, 0343, and 0344) of the RADSIL Task Order? The Government does not intend to differentiate such specific costs in additional CLINs at this time. Aside from what is accounted for in the Cost-Reimbursable Relocation/Education and Travel CLINs, it is up to the Offeror to provide for the needs of their employee in the proposed labor rates.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .