BAA-AFRL-RQKS-2016-0003-Amd2.pdf

6 July 2017

ESTEEM Question Responses

1. Reference I.6.b.(2), Voluntary Protection Plan (VPP), page 7. Please confirm it is acceptable to provide our ESTEEM Safety and Health Plan, to include the TCIR/DART data that is part of the technical evaluation, as part of our Basic IDIQ Business Proposal. Also, please confirm that the acceptance of this ESTEEM Safety and Health Plan by installation safety office is required prior to contract performance, but not prior to proposal submission.

Response: Bidders are permitted to submit its ESTEEM Safety and Health Plan, to include TCIR/DART data as part of its Basic IDIQ Business Proposal. Acceptance of the bidder’s ESTEEM Safety and Health Plan is required prior to contract performance, but not prior to proposal submission.

2. Reference Overview, page 1. Please confirm hand-carry delivery is acceptable.

Response: Bidders are allowed to hand-carry proposals to the contracting POC on BAA-AFRL-RQKS- 2016-0003. If potential bidders wish to hand-carry proposals, they shall coordinate ahead of time with the contracting POC due to restricted entry into the contracting building.

3. Reference SOW Supplemental Requirements, paragraph 2, page 1. Please confirm that bidder’s will determine which contractor positions are key positions and what the minimum qualifications are for these positions, and that it is optional to identify specific personnel who will fill the key positions.

Response: Potential bidders are encouraged to propose key positions and corresponding minimum qualifications for each position. AFRL will review the merit of each position and determine whether or not it is appropriate to require them. Contractors are not required to identify specific personnel for each position.

4. Reference Pg 13, IV, 2(a)(v), Two (2) CDs. Please confirm that one CD is comprised of the tech/mgmt volume that hold the files: Basic tech/mgmt proposal + Basic SOW + TO#01 tech/mgmt. proposal + TO#01 SOW + TO#02 tech/mgmt proposal + TO#02 SOW AND one CD is comprised of the Basic IDIQ Business Proposal (inc SBSP) + TO#01 Bus/Cost + TO#02 Bus/Cost + Excel file

Response: Potential bidders shall include two (2) identical CDs that contain all electronic versions of required submittals, to include both technical/management proposals and business proposals.

5. Reference Pg 21, VI(1) and Pg 11, II (1), Award/Notice: What is the start date of this IDIQ?

Response: The anticipated award date for the ESTEEM effort is 31 October 2017, see page 11 of BAA-

AFRL-RQKS-2016-0003.

6. Reference Section I, clause 52.219-09, SBSP (Aug 2016). Are we to submit our subcontracting plan using the latest FAR revision dated Jan 2017?

Response: Potential bidders are required to submit subcontracting plans IAW FAR 52.219-9 (Deviation 2016-O0009), dated Aug 2016, until incorporated in FAR or otherwise rescinded. It has 11 elements.

FAR 52.219-9 (Jan 2017) has 15 elements. If a subcontracting plan is provided that includes the additional 4 elements, as long as the rest of the Deviation 2016-O0009 requirements are still adequately stated, that is acceptable; but DoD does not require the additional 4 elements since we operate under the Deviation.

7. If they have to be mailed, which 2 days each week does the USPS deliver to your building?

Response: Potential bidders are not required to mail proposals. They can be hand delivered (see question #2). All incoming USPS mail to Bldg. 45 is delivered at approximately 2:00 PM on Wednesdays and Fridays.

8. Does each proposal (Basic, TO-1, TO-2) need to be in a separate folder or can they all be in one?

Response: Potential bidders are permitted to include all three (3) proposals in one folder.

9. Could you define your use of the term collaborative research? Is the scope within IDAL, across RY, or across multiple customer organizations?

Response: AFRL defines the term “collaborative research” as multiple prime contractors and Government personnel working together to support the ESTEEM effort. The scope is both within and without the IDAL. Collaborations will be required among prime contractors within the IDAL, other prime contractors within the Sensors Directorate, and Government.

10. Can you define your use of the term cognitive/adaptive technology?

Response: AFRL is aware of various definitions for both adaptive and cognitive technology. The ESTEEM effort may require work defined by any, or all, of those definitions.

11. Are you expecting both on-base and off-base labor rates to be available under the contract?

Response: An offeror’s use of on-base and off-base labor rates is based on their technical proposal and business structure.

12. Is the reference for access to the three facilities IDAL, VCL, and RCA Lab intended for possible future tasks, or for current TO1 and TO2?

Response: The IDAL Lab is intended for TO 0001 and TO 0002 while the VCL and the RCA are for potential future work.

13. Under base support from a historical standpoint, will a notional number of desk spaces in IDAL be provided, for example 3-5 people on base?

Response: Based on historical levels, 5 or 6 seats will be available to support the ESTEEM effort.

14. BAA Full Text Announcement, Page limitations: Both TO SOOs have a requirement (BAA Section

IV.2.c(2)) for “Additional information on prior work in this area, descriptions of available equipment, use of base support (if desired), data and facilities and resumes of personnel who will be participating in this effort should also be included as attachments to the technical proposal.”

Please clarify whether these attachments are within or outside the page limits for the TO volumes; and whether or not these attachments must conform the TO volume formatting requirements for font size, spacing, etc., as stated in BAA Section IV.2.c(1).

Response: The 35 page limitation shall include all attachments requested by AFRL. These attachments shall conform to the TO volume formatting requirements as well.

15. BAA Full Text Announcement, Section 5.b., all SOO Sections 9.1, 9.2, and the DD 254: Please clarify: The language in SOO 9.2 (all SOOs) indicates that the Contractor must have its own SCIF, however, both of the Task Order SOOs contain Section 3. Base Support, which indicates that the contractor will have access to the classified laboratories. Please clarify that the effort may be conducted at AFRL facilities (IDAL, RCA, and VCL) in addition to Contractor facilities. Does the contractor need to have an active SCIF at start of contract or can one be in-process?

Response: It is anticipated that work on the Basic IDIQ, TO1, and TO2 will require up to a TS/SCI/SAP. In this case Contractor facilities must be able to handle SECRET at a minimum, while Government facilities may be used for classified work beyond SECRET. For smaller CPFF “C” type awards, work may be UNCLASSIFIED. All proposals selected for award will include an appropriate DD254 to support required personnel clearances, as well as potential work at contractor facilities.

[SOO 9.1] Work will be required to be conducted within an accredited Special Access Program

Facility (SAPF) and/or a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF). Does the contractor need to have an active SAPF/SCIF at start of the contract or can one be in-process?

Response: Refer to response 15 above.

[SOO 9.2] The contractor shall provide the secure facilities necessary to process the data generated under this task. The contractor shall have the ability to handle and store unclassified, proprietary, and classified information to perform this activity.

Response: Refer to response 15 above.

[DD 254] Requires Top Secret Facility Clearance and Top Secret Level of Safeguarding

(a) Does safeguarding refer to collateral TS materials or to the SCIF?

(b) Block 10f is not checked yet SOO and TOs require access to Special Access Information

(c) SCI addendum to the DD254 is not present in the solicitation documents

Response: In general, refer to response (15) above;

(a) Safeguarding is at whatever level the material to be safeguarded is considered.

(b) The solicitation DD254 is a sample. Final DD254’s will include all relevant and required information.

(c) See (b) above.

16. Please confirm that both Task Orders will funded under the Model Contract CLIN 0001 – Research and Data, and that CLINs 0002, 0003, and 0004 are not separately priced (NSP).

Response: AFRL confirms that both Task Orders will be funded under CLIN 0001 and CLINs 0002 through 0004 are NSP. However, depending on the type of work, it may be funded under CLIN 0005 and CLIN 0006.

17. Instructions state that all costs are to be provided by Contractor Fiscal Year (CFY), while the

Project Funding profile is to be prepared by Government Fiscal Year (GFY). If the Contractor chooses, may it provide its cost proposal by GFY (to preclude the need to convert CFY to GFY costs to prepare funding profile)?

Response: Potential bidders may choose to provide its cost proposal by GFY.

18. If a proposer has not had a Pre-Award Clearance, may the proposer request the pre-award clearance now, or during the Government’s Source Selection activities, so that if selected, that award will not be delayed?

Response: Preaward clearance requests are made by Government contracting personnel. Any contractors selected for award must obtain a preaward clearance from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program’s (OFCCP) prior to award of a contract. Award may be delayed if the contractor is not currently listed in the registry and the contracting officer must request a preaward clearance from the OFCCP.

19. Neither TO SOO contains Software as a deliverable. Is this correct?

Response: AFRL does not anticipate any software deliverables for TO 0001 and TO 0002, however potential bidders may bid software deliverables if they deem appropriate.

20. Does a contractor need to submit a proposal for the Basic IDIQ and Task Orders if the intent is to only perform a niche “C” contract?

Response: Potential bidders need to identify in their cover letter that the proposal is for a “C” contract.

Bidders only interested in competing for a “C” contract are not required to submit a Basic IDIQ and Task Order proposals with the “C” contract proposal.

21. Does text in the header and footer need to be double spaced? According to the BAA guide, there is specific verbiage that needs to be on the cover page and in the header and footer on each page.

Response: Any text included in the header and footer are not required to be doubled spaced.