Attachment 7 - Questions and Answers FA830726RB033.pdf

ATTACHMENT 7

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Offerors who determine that the technical requirements of this RFP require clarifications in order to permit submittal of a responsive proposal shall submit all questions in writing to the maximum extent possible within 21 calendar days prior to the proposal submission date (Block 9). Submit the questions via email to the Contract Specialist, Mr.

Kriston Minor at kriston.minor@us.af.mil and the Contracting Officer, Ms. JoAnn Davis at joann.davis.1@us.af.mil.

The Government will issue the RFP Questions and answers on https://sam.gov and amend the RFP as necessary to clarify RFP requirements.

Page and Paragraph Offeror’s Questions Governments Response

PWS Page 3; 1.2 and 1.6 Is the Government willing to share the number of sites involved in this solicitation?

How often is this travel expected to be at these sites?

No set number of sites yet. There will be multiple sites in near future.

PWS Page 6; 1.5.1.16 Is SIPRNet access in the COMSEC office? If not, where?

SIPR will be provided inside the US Embassy.

PWS Page 12; 1.6.8 Please clarify whether NIPRNet access and Government email accounts will be available to COMSEC Account Manager personnel upon contract start?

USSOUTHCOM will assist in CAM’s getting NIPR/SIPR access.

PWS Page 9; 1.5.3.6 Will the Government please provide the link to the USSOUTHCOM FD training?

This will be provided by the RSO at the Embassy

PWS Page 13; 1.6.9.b Is the Government willing to provide the location of the COMSEC office in relation to the U.S. Embassy?

CATAM Air Force base Bogota, which is about 30-45 minutes from the U.S. Embassy

PWS Page 13; 1.6.9.b Has the COMSEC vault/office undergone a formal security inspection and received accreditation from the designated approving authority?

USSOUTHCOM is going to certify the facility, and it will be certified prior to COMSEC Managers being on site.

PWS Page 13; 1.6.9.b Is the facility currently authorized for the storage and accountability of COMSEC material and Controlled Cryptographic Items

(CCI)?

USSOUTHCOM is going to certify the facility, and it will be certified prior to COMSEC Managers being on site.

PWS Page 12; 1.6.5.5 Did the Government perform a site survey? USSOUTHCOM has done a site survey of the location.

PWS Page 18; 3.1 The RFP does not appear to identify a Phase- In Transition period in the PWS, however it is mentioned in sections L&M. Will the Government provide a Phase-In Transition period prior to the commencement of full performance?

Yes, a 30 day Phase in period will be allowed.

This will allow time to get housing, cars, meeting with all concerned parties in country, review the sites if needed.

PWS Page 15; 1.9 States “Mobilization/Demobilization will not be considered as work fulfilling the contract requirements for commencement of work” Does this mean that is unbillable time? Are we only referring to the travel time to get into country?

This is considered unbillable time – can only bill once the COMSEC Account Manager arrives in country.

PWS Page 11; 1.5.3.25 Page 13; 1.6.9.b

Will the COMSEC office have internet service? Is that considered the standard office equipment for the office space provided by the USG? If so, who is responsible for providing that service?

The internet service is provided by the host nation.

PWS Page 11; 1.6 & 1.6.1

The solicitation appears to contain conflicting guidance regarding recognized holidays. 1.6 states, "Normal duty days will be Monday through Friday, excluding American Embassy selected holidays," while

1.6.1 states, "COMSEC Account Manager shall follow American Embassy and Partner Nation selected holidays."

Please clarify which holiday schedule shall govern contractor personnel and please

Not conflicting – Whatever holidays the MILGrp-Colombia recognizes then that is the schedule the COMSEC Account Managers will recognize. Email is out to the MILGrp to determine what holidays are recognized.

mailto:kriston.minor@us.af.mil mailto:joann.davis.1@us.af.mil https://sam.gov/ provide that schedule.

PWS Page 11; 1.6 COMSEC Account Manager are designated Mission Essential/Critical (not through the U.S. Embassy). Can the government elaborate more on the meaning of “not through the U.S. Embassy”?

Since they are not part of the Embassy, they do not get the same evacuation process. They are mission essential due to the fact they have to maintain the COMSEC in country and follow the EDP.

PWS Page 12;1.6.7 Can the Government please provide what the import tax rate is?

This is only for personnel items being bought and shipped into country and would be an expense the custodian would incur.

PWS Page 19; 5.0 It is our understanding that there is a newer version of the NSA/CSS Policy Manual 3-16 other than the one listed in the PWS.

3-16 Policy is dated 2020, and currently still valid, and will be provided upon award of contract by USSOUTHCOM.

PWS Page 20; 5.0 Can the government confirm if NAG-14C & NAG-18A remain in compliance per Security Doctrine 1?

Yes NAG 14C and NAG 18A remain in compliance.

Page 68 or RFP Is the SF33 in place of SF1449? Yes, due to the expected multi-year award

Cross Matrix Please clarify that Attachment 8 – Cross Matrix – is an example only.

Rather than an example, it links technical requirements, the PWS, CLINs, and evaluation criteria (Sections L&M)

PWS Page 9; 1.5.3.3, PWS 1.5.3.3 states that the Government will review resumes of contractor personnel proposed to be assigned, and that a written agreement from any potential employee not currently employed by the contractor will be part of the technical proposal.

However, this requirement does not appear to be reflected in the Section L Volume II submission instructions or Section M evaluation criteria.

Please confirm whether resumes and letters of commitment are required as part of the Volume II technical proposal submission, whether they count against the 45-page limit, and how they will be considered in the evaluation under Factor 1.

CONTRACTING – we do not need to make it part of the 45-page requirement. But will need to see the resumes.

PWS Page 6; 1.5.1.19 The PWS states; The COMSEC Account Manager must have a background in COMSEC Management principles. Can you explain how the government will evaluate this requirement.

The PWS states all resumes will be reviewed by the government, this is how we will evaluate the requirement.

PWS Page 12; 1.6.8 Please clarify whether the Government will provide Diplomatic Post Office (DPO).

This is being discussed at MILGRP and will provide an update to this once we receive it.

252.204-7021 (d) (1)(i)

pg. 42

The RFP states a requirement for CMMC L2 self-assessment, but DIBCAC & DCSA state self-assessments are only for non-defense CUI. Defense CUI requires L2 C3PAS assessment. Will the RFP be revised to require CMMC L2 C3PAO assessment?

The government acknowledges the clarification.

Because this acquisition involves prioritized Defense CUI (such as Controlled Technical Information), the solicitation will be revised via Amendment FA830726RB0330001 to require a CMMC Level 2 Certification Assessment conducted by an accredited C3PAO, in accordance with 32 CFR § 170.17.

PWS

1.6.8 pg. 12

1.1.7 pg. 14

PWS directs the vendor will be required to “self-sponsor” for visa, work permits, etc.. as well as provide housing, vehicles for in-country staff. This would require the vendor to either try and establish either a local office to support employees or use an in-country services (ICS) provider.

Local Colombian ICS providers have not passed DCSA/FBI CI vetting and therefore are a significant risk to operational security (OPSEC) and personnel security (PERSEC). CONUS ICS service providers

ICASS services will not be provided.

Contractor is responsible for providing housing, transportation, and all requirements in PWS section 1.6.8 pg. 12 and PWS 1.1.7 pg. 14 Vendor can use stateside service providers.

are vetted but incur additional costs.

Discussions with DCSA and FBI Counterintelligence Special Agents as well as DIA Force Protection Detachment (FPD) Program, have raised serious security concerns (both OPSEC and PERSEC), as these positions clearly support national security, and due to the classified nature of COMSEC, should be sponsored by the MILGROUP/Embassy. Full or Partial ICASS would allow for housing, vehicle, sponsorship, etc.. to be provided by the USG and paid for via FMS case line. This would provide mitigation of most OPSEC and PERSEC concerns.

PWS Page 13 Paragraph 1.6.11

Does the USG require the COMSEC Custodians to drive four-wheel drive vehicles?

It is not required, but the vehicles need to be large enough to carry large amounts of COMSEC equipment. Chevy suburban, cargo van, or similar.

Page 67 Paragraph F and Page 71, Paragraph 8.

Does the USG require Attachment 5 Present and Past Performance Questionnaire to be filled out and submitted with Volume III by 19 June 2026?

Yes, the contractor must submit a PPQ 10 calendar days prior to the proposal due date.

Page 68 Paragraph A (Continued from page 67)

Does the USG require a SF1449 instead of the SF33 in Volume I?

The SF33 is required due to the expected multi-year award.

Page 67 Paragraph A The USG provided an SF 33. Does the USG mean the due date is in block 9 instead of block 8 of the RFP?

Yes, please follow the instructions from the SF33 – block 9 has the correct due date and time.

Page 67 Paragraph J Does the USG mean the date located in Block 9 instead of Block 8 of the RFP?

Yes, Block 9 should be reference.

Page 68 Paragraph B Does the USG mean for discount terms to be in block 13 instead of block 12 and block 15a instead of block 17a for the company address and phone number?

Yes, discount terms should reference block 13 and block 15a should reference the company’s address and phone#.

Page 68 Paragraph 1 Does the USG want us to change template Attachments 3 and 6 to Times New Roman, font size 12? Both are currently font size 9.9

Yes, please change your documents to reflect the “Times New Roman” format and a font size of 12.