BAA_Questions_and_Answers.docx

BAA-0002-19 - Amendment I September 14, 2019 Question and Answers

Question 1: For the cost proposal adequacy checklist, would you require the checklist to be completed and returned with the proposal?

Answer: Yes, please.

Question 2: Is there a specific format for the key personnel resumes?

Answer: No specific format is required. The BAA specifies who they need to provide resumes for and what is needed – qualifications and experience.

Question 3: Would the government consider removing the requirement to deliver hard copy and CD-ROM submission, instead relying on the electronic submission only? (Page 6 Section 5) Answer: Yes. Electronic submissions are acceptable. No CD-Rom’s or hard copies need to be submitted. The BAA will be amended to cite this change.

Question 4: The PWS states that Key personnel resumes are not included in the 15-page limit for the Technical volume. With Key Personnel and Past Performance part of the same section, can the government confirm that the Past Performance information is included in the 15-page limit? Additionally, is there a specific page limit for the Key Personnel Resumes?

Answer: Past Performance and Key Personnel Resumes are separate actions. The Past Performance is a part of the 15 page limit. The Key Personnel Resumes are not. There is no page limit for Key Personnel Resumes.

Question 5: The scope of the BAA is emergent technology and innovative business practices for key DLA process areas. Past performance references aligned to the Areas of Interest, defined in section 4, addressing Scientific and Technical experience are consistent with industry best practices. Can the government confirm that it is not the intent to also include manufacturing experience as part of the evaluation?

Answer: The focus of this BAA is R&D. If the manufacturing experience is relevant to the areas of interest, it may be included and will be considered.

Question 6: Can the government confirm that past performance contacts are the client stakeholders?

Answer: Contacts should be able to provide sufficient detail on the nature of the work performed and performance of the Offeror.

Question 7: Will the office address of Building 26, 2nd Floor North, Station 9523, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5092 be accessible on nights and/or weekends for proposal drop off?

Answer: Only electronic copies need to be submitted.

Question 8: The instructions say, “Partners will receive up to $25,000 per calendar year for authorized travel and related costs…” Question: Should our cost/price proposal include a build-up of travel and related costs to attend and participate in WSSP meetings and other Government sponsored meetings? Answer: Up to $25,000 per year will be allotted for WSS Program travel and related costs – this does not apply to individual project travel / costs.

Question 9: The instructions say, “Type font shall be 12 point Times New Roman with 1” margins around the page” Question: Will the Government consider tables and graphics with a smaller font size as long as the text is legible?

Answer: Yes.

Question 10: Page 7 calls for a SOW written in plain English, but section 7, Volume 1, Section 3 does not call for a SOW, but instead a technical proposal which would normally be a response to the SOW. Should we include a SOW in our proposal? If so can you provide a template?

Answer: The SOW (scope, tasks, and performance requirements) is part of the Overall Scientific and Technical Merit evaluation criteria. It should be included in the Technical Proposal. There is no defined format.

”Technical Proposal shall describe the proposed STP and address the Evaluation Factors for STPs as contained in this BAA”.

Question 11: Solicitation reads, “Partners will receive up to $25,000 per calendar year for authorized travel and related costs to attend and actively participate in WSSP meetings and other Government sponsored meetings as coordinated by the WSSP PM.”

Please confirm this $25,000 NTE travel and related costs estimate applies at the IDIQ level rather than per TO/STP.

Answer: Up to $25,000 per year will be allotted for WSS Program travel and related costs – this does not apply to individual project travel / costs.

Question 12: The solicitation requires offerors to submit certification of current cost or pricing data in accordance with FAR 15.406-2. If Offerors cost proposals meet any of the exceptions to certified cost or pricing data requirement, (FAR 15.403-1) such as being at or below the simplified acquisition threshold and/or adequate price competition exists, are Offerors still required to submit a certification of current cost or pricing data or will data other than certified cost or pricing data as defined in FAR 2.101 to support a determination of a fair and reasonable price or cost realism be a sufficient response?

Answer: If the cost proposal meets any of the exceptions and applicable criteria listed in FAR 15.403-1, submission of data other than certified cost and pricing data would be deemed acceptable in accordance with the FAR.

However, under R&D, adequate price competition typically would not apply as price is not a significant evaluation factor – it is the least significant per the BAA. Also in accordance with FAR 35.016:

(d) Proposals received as a result of the BAA shall be evaluated in accordance with evaluation criteria specified therein through a peer or scientific review process. Written evaluation reports on individual proposals will be necessary but proposals need not be evaluated against each other since they are not submitted in accordance with a common work statement.

(e) The primary basis for selecting proposals for acceptance shall be technical, importance to agency programs, and fund availability. Cost realism and reasonableness shall also be considered to the extent appropriate.

Question 13: Please confirm that the cover letter if any, cover page (mandatory), and executive summary (mandatory) count against the page count.

Answer: Yes. Resumes are the only pages that are not considered in the page count for the Technical Proposal.

Question 14: Instructions on page six call for submission on CD rom is DVD acceptable?

Answer: No submission other than by email is required. The BAA will be amended to cite this change.

Question 15: Instructions on page six call for submission of CD ROM. Instructions on page 10 (Under Technical proposal) call for electronic submission. Is CD ROM required?

Answer: No submission other than by email is required. The BAA will be amended to cite this change.