AMAC QA Response.pdf

This document provides a consolidated summary of the U.S. Government's (USG) responses to all submitted questions.

Rather than providing direct answers to each individual inquiry, the responses have been organized by common themes and topics. A summarized answer and relevant references are provided for each topic. This consolidated format is intended to address all questions received.

The following table outlines how different types of inquiries were addressed:

Type of Inquiry Government's Response and Rationale

General Questions Addressed within the consolidated summary to provide a comprehensive overview for all parties.

Requests for Individual Business Advice

Inquiries seeking individualized business advice or commentary on unique offerors situations were deemed out of scope. Individual responses are not provided to ensure fairness and equal treatment for all potential offerors.

Suggestions & Recommendations

All suggestions were reviewed by the USG team. In instances where a suggestion was deemed beneficial, the resulting change may have been incorporated directly into the final Request for Proposal (RFP) or responded through responses to general questions.

1. Eligibility, Teaming, and Partnerships

Subject Clarification Source Document

Who Can Apply Any entity, including large businesses, small businesses, joint ventures (JVs), universities, and non-profits, can compete. FFRDCs are not excluded but must comply with FAR/agreement restrictions.

General eligibility terms; FAR principles

Competition Structure

The competition is full and open, but there are separate pools for "Unrestricted" (all offerors) and "Small Business" offerors.

Attachment 3 (Section L, 5.3)

Teaming & JVs Teaming is allowed and anticipated. JVs are permitted, including those between a large and a small business if approved by the SBA.

Attachment 3 (Section L, 4.1.4)

Prime and Sub Roles

It is permissible for a company to submit a proposal as a prime contractor and also be listed as a subcontractor on a different prime's submission.

General eligibility terms; FAR principles

Government Preference

The government does not state a preference for whether a small business should apply directly as a prime or be a subcontractor. This is considered a business strategy decision for the company to make.

2. Self-Scoring and Evaluation Criteria

Scoring Basis Points are awarded based on demonstrating prime contractor experience in the defined Areas of Interest (AOIs).

Attachment 4 (Section M, 2.2.2);

Attachment 3 (Section L, 4.1.2)

Minimum Threshold

All offerors, regardless of size or pool, must achieve a minimum self-score of 1,000 points to be considered for an award.

Attachment 4 (Section M, 2.2.2)

Evaluation Standard

The evaluation method and scoring criteria are identical for all offerors in both the Unrestricted and Small Business pools.

Attachment 4 (Section M, 2.2.2)

Recency of Experience

Offerors may cite any relevant U.S. Federal Government prime contract, regardless of when it was performed, to demonstrate experience in the Areas of Interest.

Attachment 3 Section L, 4.1.2

Scoring Spreadsheet

Offerors do not manually enter a score. The provided spreadsheet has a formula in Column D that automatically assigns points. Offerors can only claim points for a given AOI once; citing multiple contracts for the same AOI does not increase the score.

Attachment 3 Section L, 4.1.2 Attachment 2 (Self_Scoring_Spreadsheet)

Bonus Points To get the bonus in each domain, it is broken down as follows:

Air Domain- 1200 points available, 600 points are needed to obtain the 500-point bonus

Space Domain- 800 points available, 500 points are needed to obtain the 500-point bonus

Cyberspace Domain- 1700 points available, 700 points are needed to obtain the 500-point bonus

Cross-Domain- 1900 points available, 800 points are needed to obtain the 500-point bonus

After the offeror received a validated score of 1000 points, evaluation stops.

Section M 2.2.2; Attachment 2 (Self_Scoring_Spreadsheet)

Foreign Company Eligibility

Companies under Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) are ineligible for award unless they have a formal, DCSA-approved FOCI mitigation plan in place. Contracts with foreign governments or international bodies cannot be used for self-scoring evaluation

Attachment 3 - Section L (para 2.2(f)); Proposal Response Guide;

3. Experience for AOI

Prime vs. Sub Only experience as the prime contractor is eligible for scoring points. Subcontractor experience will not be considered.

Attachment 3 (Section L, 4.1.2) Attachment 4 (Section M, 2.2.2)

Eligible Contracts

All contracts with the federal govt, both active and past contracts, where the offeror demonstrates performance as prime contractor.

This may include, but not limited too, FAR based contracts, SBIR/STTR phase I/II/III, and Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs)..

Attachment 3 (Section L, 4.1.2)

Ineligible Experience

The USG will evaluate contracts with the federal government, both past and active, which demonstrates the offeror’s performance as a prime contractor in the related AOI.

Attachment 3 (Section L, 4.1.2)

Contract Eligible Value

There is no minimum dollar value required for a contract to be considered relevant.

N/A (Not specified in documents)

Documentation Offerors are to provide a contract, and copies of requirements documents to demonstrate a specific experience being provided in the self-scoring spreadsheet. The burden of proof rests with Offeror to prove the contract and requirements documentation to validate the self-score

Attachment 3 (Section L, 4.1.3)

Validation Process

Validation of self-scored points occurs prior to award as part of the proposal evaluation.

Attachment 4 (Section M, 2.2)

4. Submission Process and Documentation

Deadline The January 9, 2026, deadline was for industry comments only.

The final proposal due date will be posted on SAM.gov.

SAM.gov Notice Details

Proposal Scope Offerors should submit a single proposal to qualify for the base IDIQ IAW the directions provided in the RFP.

General eligibility terms

Reps and Certs Ensure company’s profile on SAM.gov is active and up to date at time of submission. Complete and submit reps and certs as applicable in Section K of the RFP.

Attachment 3 (Section L, 3.3)

Small Business Participation Commitment Document

(SBPCD)

SBPCD is a mandatory submission for every offeror for both Large and Small Business. It is submitted as part of Volume II and is a distinct evaluation factor. It serves a separate evaluative purpose from a formal subcontracting plan. Small business offeror proposing as a prime contractor should list itself in the document

Attachment 3 - Section L (Section 4.1, 4.2)

CUI/Encryption The government changed the proposal delivery method to a certified platform that is referenced in the SAM posting and associated documents.

N/A (Industry Comments)

5. Contractual, Technical, and Scope Questions

This addresses the nature of the work and the terms of the contract vehicle.

Subject Clarification Source Document

Technical Scope

The Statement of Objectives (SOO) covers the full R&D S&T spectrum.

Attachment 1 (SOO, Sections 4 & 7)

AOI Definitions The SOO (Attachment 1) contains the definitions for the Areas of Interest. Missing definitions have been added to the SOO for clarity.

Attachment 1 (SOO, Section 7) vs.

Attachment 2

Commercial Items

Base IDIQ contract does not include FAR Part 12 clauses; it contains provisions that anticipate the acquisition of commercial items as well as procedures for an offeror to request a "Commercial item exception” at the task order level.

Draft RFP (Section, DFARS 252.215-7013;

252.215-7010)

Cybersecurity

& CUI

All companies must be compliant with cybersecurity requirements. Specific CUI handling requirements will be defined at the individual task order level. The AMAC vehicle is strictly for unclassified requirements.

Draft RFP (Section I, DFARS 252.204-7012;

252.204-7020)

IP and Data Rights

The base contract uses standard DFARS clauses. Any specific frameworks for intellectual property or data sharing will be defined at the task order level.

Draft RFP (Section I)

Non- Traditional Defense Contractors

RFP includes Clause specifically designed to facilitate the procurement of items from such contractors, often by treating their products and services as commercial.

Solicitation (Section I)

DFARS 252-215-7013

On- Ramps/Off- Ramps

The government reserves the right to use both on-ramps (to add new contractors) and off-ramps (to remove contractors) during the life of the IDIQ.

Attachment 1 (SOO, Section 8)

Future On Ramp

The ordering period for any new companies "on-ramped" in the future will be truncated to match the remaining ordering period of the original awardees. They will not receive a new, full performance period

Attachment 1 SOO (Section 6)

Contract Type application

Government can issue task orders with the flexibility needed for efforts where Firm-Fixed-Price structure would be inappropriate.

The "Cost-No-Fee" line items are intended for ancillary costs (like travel) and do not preclude the use of fee-bearing cost contracts for the primary effort

General IDIQ/FAR

Task Orders The AMAC vehicle itself has no core funding. All work is funded by individual task orders issued by AFRL directorates. Once awarded a base contract, an offeror is eligible to compete for any task order, regardless of the specific experience the offeror used to qualify.

General IDIQ/FAR principles

Post Award Orders will compete IAW fair opportunity procedures among awardees. Order related to Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) will be managed at the individual task order level post award.

General IDIQ/FAR