CALL_0011_ORCA_Q A_3.pdf

BAA 10-RD-01 CALL 0011 Optical Research and Critical Applications (ORCA)

NOTE 1: Unless amended by the Government, all of the information provided in the SuperNova BAA-

10-RD-01 and/or Optical Research and Critical Applications (ORCA) CALL 0011 shall take precedence over any information provided under the Question and Answer Section of CALL 0011 that expands, contradicts, retracts, or in any way changes the information provided in BAA-10-RD-01 and/or CALL

0011.

NOTE 2: Offerors are advised to utilize the Amended Representations and Certifications in place of the version that accompanied the BAA-10-RD-01, CALL 0011 Announcement as Attachment 4. The

Amended version was posted to the BAA-10-RD-01 fbo.gov website on 31 March 2015 and can be accessed using this link:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=179faa9a578b0ded8f63a69e2

8551f43&_cview=1

1. Question: [Reference CALL 0011 Announcement, Section 13] recommends that offerors structure the proposal by including a separate and distinct section for each item below:

1. Section I – Basic IDIQ (Overarching) SOO / Effort

2. Section II – Task Order 0001 SOO / Effort

3. Section III – Task Order 0002 SOO / Effort

4. Section IV – Task Order 0003 SOO / Effort

Using the above guidance in developing the technical and cost proposal, is the Basic IDIQ section addressed as a separate Task Order similar to Task Orders 001 through 0003 or is the Basic IDIQ section a roll-up of Task Orders 0001 through 0003?

Answer: Offerors are advised that Section I – “Basic IDIQ (Overarching)” is to be a standalone section that addresses the proposed approach for the entire research effort to include Task Orders 0001 – 0003 as well as the potential for any future task orders. General or overarching information that is not specific to any one task order shall be included under Section I.

2. Question: Should all upgrades proposed for a tool be:

(a) collected in a single Task Order?

(b) separated based on which Task Order benefits most from the upgrade?

(c) repeated in all the Task Orders that benefit from the upgrade?

Answer: Technical discussion of any proposed tool modification shall be repeated in any and all task orders as applicable. However, offerors may not propose the same costs for a particular tool modification across multiple task order efforts in order to receive duplicate reimbursement. Offerors shall propose the anticipated costs for any particular tool modification under the task order which bears the predominant amount of costs.

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=179faa9a578b0ded8f63a69e28551f43&_cview=1%20 https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=179faa9a578b0ded8f63a69e28551f43&_cview=1%20

3. Question: [Reference CALL 0011 Announcement, Section 14] is the total page count of 35 for each section individually or the total page count for all sections combined?

Answer: Offerors are advised that the Total Page Count under Section 14, “Technical Proposal Page Limitation,” has been revised from 35 total pages to 70 total pages. The 70 total page count limitation includes all sections combined.

4. Question: Are there specific goals for small business participation?

Answer: Specific small business participation goals have not been identified for this CALL announcement. However, small businesses are encouraged to submit offers in response to this announcement. Large business concerns are also encouraged to provide small business concerns the maximum practicable opportunity for participation.

5. Question: Please confirm if the anticipated award date of 1 November 2015 is also the start date for costing purposes.

Answer: At this time, the current start date for any award(s) under the CALL 0011 Announcement is anticipated to be 1 November 2015.

6. Question: Please confirm that the New Mexico Gross Receipts Tax (NMGRT) does not apply to this proposed effort since it is anticipated that the research work will be predominantly performed in Maui, HI.

Answer: It is contemplated that the predominant amount of the research work and also initial delivery of any technical end product is expected to occur on-site at Maui, HI. Therefore, New Mexico Gross Receipts Tax (NMGRT) is not considered applicable to this effort. However, potential offerors are encouraged to consider their particular approach and to independently determine the applicability of

NMGRT.

7. Question: Can you confirm that the [proposal] due date is still 1 May 2015?

Answer: Yes, The due date for proposals submitted in response to this CALL is no later than 12:00 p.m.

Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) on 1 May 2015.

8. Question: In Section 18, the Government states that it anticipates an “All or None” award basis.

Could you clarify? Is the Government’s position that only one awardee would be eligible for the three task areas?

Answer: The Government contemplates that any resultant contract(s) will be structured as an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) type contract IAW FAR 16.504 and anticipates awarding one IDIQ contract that includes the overarching Statement of Objectives (SOO) for the basic IDIQ contract and all three task orders for each respective SOO identified in the Call. However, the Government reserves the right to make several IDIQ contract awards or no awards pursuant to this Call.

The “All” or “None” basis indicates that any resultant award includes the basic IDIQ contract and SOO and the three (3) individual task orders with each respective SOO. However, the Government reserves the right to award any resultant basic IDIQ contract with one, two, or three Task Orders and their respective SOOs.

For further clarification, see Sections 13(a) and 19 of the CALL announcement.

9. Question: Given the very technical and complex nature of this BAA, is there a reason why this wasn't socialized with industry further in advance so that industry was better prepared to formulate a response?

Answer: The Air Force Research Laboratory, Phillips Research Site, held a Briefing for Industry on 20 August 2014, in Albuquerque, NM. It provided information on future acquisitions, including the Optical Research and Critical Applications (ORCA) SuperNova Call. After the overall briefing, the Government provided a break out session with industry to specifically discuss the ORCA acquisition and included individual discussions and question & answer period.

10. Question: Given the lack of industry coordination, the short response timeline, and the single award "all or nothing" approach, would this effort be better classified as a sole source award?

Answer: Industry coordination occurred during the Briefing for Industry on 20 August 2014 and was encouraged prior to issuance of the Call. The response timeline is in accordance with FAR 5.201 Synopses of Proposed Contract Actions. This ORCA Call is not a sole source acquisition and is issued following BAA Call procedures. The “All” or “None” basis indicates that any resultant basic IDIQ contract and SOO award includes the three (3) individual task orders with each respective SOO. However, the Government reserves the right to award any resultant basic IDIQ contract with one, two, or three Task Orders and their respective SOOs. The Government further reserves the right to make several IDIQ contract awards or no awards pursuant to this Call.

11. Question: How can contractors approach the Technical POC with company proprietary ideas without having them published as Q&A on the web site?

Answer: The guiding principle for communications between the Government and Industry during the BAA process is that all potential offerors must be treated fairly. Potential offerors desire for feedback must be balanced with ensuring all offerors are kept on an even playing field. Even the appearance of favoritism must be avoided. To ensure adherence to these principles during this process, the Government requires all communications occur through the Contracting Officer via email. Offerors may submit any questions or proprietary ideas to the Contracting Officer who will then forward them to the Technical POC. The Technical POC will respond appropriately to the Contracting Officer via email. If the ideas are proprietary the Government will protect the information and not publish it. Any information on the Government’s requirements that is provided to an offeror should be considered for publication to allow for access by all offerors unless such release would reveal another potential offeror’s confidential business or technical strategy.

Offerors shall properly identify and mark any and all information or data provided that is considered proprietary. At a minimum, offerors shall mark the top and bottom of each page which contains proprietary information along with each paragraph specifically.