Q A_Part_2.docx

D15PS00530 DARPA STO SETA SUPPORT SERVICES CONTRACT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PART 2

2. Has a contractor performed similar work to this for the government in the past?

If available, please provide the incumbent contract number.

Government Response: Yes, a contractor has performed similar work to this for the Government in the past. The incumbent contractor is Booz Allen Hamilton, contract number D11PC20018.

3. Reference section M, page 85, Factor 2 – Past Performance. The first paragraph of this section and the Relevancy subheading say that Past Performance information will be found in Volume IV; however, Section L specifies that the Cost Proposal will be Volume IV and Past Performance will be Volume III. Request the Government confirm that Factor 2 – Past Performance should in fact be Volume III?

Government Response: Factor 2 – Past Performance should be Volume III not Volume IV.

4. Historically, offices within DARPA that possess separate Front Office and Technical SETA contracts have prohibited a Prime on one side from serving as a Prime on the other. The government has, however, allowed a company to perform as a Subcontractor on the other side provided sufficient firewalls are in place to prevent access to information that could provide an unfair advantage to the company within the space. Will the government please verify if a company is allowed to Prime both the Front Office and Technical SETA contracts in support of DARPA STO? If not, will the government allow a company to serve as a Subcontractor on one side if it is a Prime on the other (for example: a company can serve as a Subcontractor on the Front Office SETA contract if they are a Prime on the Technical SETA IDIQ)?

Government Response: A company is allowed to be a Prime on both the Front Office and Technical SETA contracts in support of DARPA STO. A company is NOT allowed to be a research and development performer and hold the SETA contract for that office. A company is allowed to serve as a subcontractor to one if they are the Prime on the other.

5. Reference Page 13, Section C, 4.4.6, Personnel – Financial Support and Page 76, Section L, Volume II: Section A - Experience and Personnel Qualifications. Reference 1 (from SOW) states that a minimum of 2 Program Analysts be identified as key personnel for Financial Support. However, reference 2 does not include the requirement for Financial Support Key personnel.

In order to mirror the requirements in the SOW, should Section L be updated to include the requirement for Financial Support Key personnel?

Government Response: Section L will be updated in Amendment 1 to include the requirement listed in SOW paragraph 4.6 for two program analysts.

6. Reference 1: Page 12, Section C, 3.7, Structure of Support/ Tasks – Subject Matter Experts/Consultants and Reference 2: Page 77, Section L, Volume II: Section A – Experience and Personnel Qualifications. Reference 1 (from SOW) advises that the Government estimates that the Government will require 2.5 FTE of SME/ Consultant Support. However, reference 2 advises that the Government will require 2.2 FTE of SME/Consultant support. Will the Government please confirm which estimate for SME/Consultant support is correct?

Government Response: The estimate of 2.5 FTE of SME/Consultant Support is correct. The correction will be reflected in Amendment 1.

7. Reference Section C, page 14, Statement of Work. Clarification is needed referencing the numbering of “Education and Experience” for the various support tasks listed, as there are two items listed as 5.5:

Numbering of Section C.1, page 14:

5.5 Contracting/Procurement Specialist.

5.4.1 Experience

5.4.2 Education

5.5 Presentation and Graphics Specialist

5.5.1 Experience

5.5.2 Education

Request that the government clarify SOW numbering.

Government Response: SOW numbering will be updated in Amendment 1 to reflect correct numbering.

9. Do the offerors need to include and/or complete Section B with final prices for each of the noted CLINs?

Government Response: Contractors are required to include and/or complete Section B with the final prices for each noted CLIN. Section B will be updated in Amendment 1.

10. Section C, Paragraph 3.6: Does "12 Man Years in the final 3 option years" refer to 12 Man Years per option year or 12 Man Years across 3 option years?

Government Response: It is 12 man years per option year.

11. Section C Paragraph 3.6 and Section C Paragraph 4.6: Are the two Program Analysts required as Key Financial Support in Section C paragraph 4.6 performing the Business Financial Management tasks listed in Section C paragraph 3.6?

Government Response: Yes, the program analysts listed under 4.6 Financial Support are performing the tasks listed in 3.6 Business/Financial Management support.

12. Section C Paragraph 4 and Section L.9 page 76: Section C Paragraph 4 Personnel lists a requirement for 18 Key Personnel (minus SME/Consultants); however, Section L.9 page 76 identifies a requirement for 16 Key Personnel (minus SME/Consultants). Will the government clarify that there should be two Key Personnel (Program Analysts) providing Financial Support included in Section L.9 for a total of 18 Key Personnel (minus SME/Consultants).

Government Response: There should be two Key Personnel (Program Analysts) providing financial support included in section L for a total of 18 key personnel minus SME/Consultants. See Question #7.

13. Section C Paragraph 4.7: Subject Matter Experts/Consultants states "The Government will identify the necessity of designating these personnel as key at the time the requirement is identified." Does the Government desire that resumes be provided for Subject Matter Expert/Consultants, and if so, how many?

Government Response: Yes, the Government requires resumes to be provided for the SME/Consultants. Per SOW Paragraph 3.7, 2.5 man years are required.

14. Section C Paragraph 5.0: Section C paragraph 5 does not provide education, experience or security clearance requirements for Subject Matter Experts/Consultants. Does the government have any requirements for Education, Experience and security clearance for these personnel?

Government Response: Section C paragraph 5 will be updated in Amendment 1 to provide experience and education for SMEs. Section 6 security language will be updated.

15. Section C Paragraph 6.9 and Section C Paragraph 4.6: Security Clearance Requirements for Key Personnel: Subparagraph 6.9, Business Financial Management support, states "All personnel will hold at least a Secret. At least 3 personnel must hold a Top Secret with current SSBI." However, Paragraph 4.6 states that a minimum of 2 key Financial Support resumes are required, not 3. Please clarify if 2 or 3 key personnel resumes are required for paragraph 4.6, and what the clearance level should be for those personnel.

Government Response: Subparagraph 6.6. will be updated in Amendment 1 to state two people, not three.

16. Section C Paragraph 9.1, Facilities Requirements: Is it acceptable for non-Government site personnel to be located in a different facility from the classified or unclassified meeting facilities, as long as both facilities are located within a 15-minute walk of DARPA?

Government Response: Yes, it is acceptable for non – Government site personnel to be located in a different facility from the classified or unclassified meeting facilities, as long as both facilities are located within a 15 – minute walk of DARPA.

17. Section C, Paragraph 13 and 14: Regarding the NTE travel and ODC costs shown in Section C paragraphs 13 and 14, are the NTE amounts shown the unburdened amounts or the final cost amounts to the government?

Government Response: The NTE travel and ODC costs are the final cost amounts to the Government.

18. Section L.9, page 78: The government states that Volume III Past Performance should contain a list of items, one of which is "( e ) Specific Content if applicable". Will the government please clarify the intent of this requirement?

Government Response: Paragraph entitled “Specific Content” on page 78 provides the intent of this requirement.

19. Section L.9, page 78: Section L.9 states that "The Offeror shall submit past performance information for a maximum of 5 contracts with a total page limit of 10 pages." Would it be possible to have an additional 1-3 pages for a summary to introduce this volume? This would be in addition to the 10 pages for Present/Past Performance Information Submissions (PPIS) and other non-PPIS documents (Consent Letters, Client Authorization Letters, List of Questionnaire Recipients, and Organizational Structure Change History) which will be included in a non-paged counted appendix.

Government Response: No additional pages will be allowed. The Attachment 2 Past Performance Information Summary will be updated in Amendment 1 to clarify number of pages allowed.

20. Section L.9, Page 79, 3rd paragraph under "General": Section L.9 “General" states the Offeror’s proposal shall include detailed cost/price amounts including (i.e. labor categories). Should offerors include a table of the labor category descriptions?

Government Response: A table of the labor category descriptions is required. Section L.9 “General" 3rd paragraph will be updated in Amendment 1 to clarify.

21. Section L.9, page 80 of 87: The last paragraph under Cost Reasonableness and Realism states, "See SOW paragraph 4.0 for a list of labor categories and hours required. This listing is in no way limiting the types of labor categories to be proposed." Does the Government desire additional labor categories? If so, will the Government be providing a list and/or description of additional categories, or should those be provided by the offeror?

Government Response: SOW paragraph 4.0 lists the labor categories required at a minimum and is not limiting. The Offeror can propose any additional labor categories for their labor mix to accomplish the tasks in the SOW.

22. Section L.9 page 81 and Attachment 6 – Small Business Subcontracting Plan: The directions for this section state to format the SBSP in accordance with FAR 19.704 and FAR 52.219-9; however the directions also state to “use the format in Attachment 6 in Section J, in addition to the requirements listed in FAR 52.219-9” which is a Small Business Participation Plan. Did the Government mean that offers should use the DoD Small Business program Goals for Subcontracting FY 2015 goal of 36% rather than a participation plan at 36.75%?

Government Response: The Offer shall use the DoD Small Business program goals. The attachment will be updated to reflect DoD goals in Amendment 1.

23. General Pricing: For pricing purposes, what is the anticipated work start date?

Government Response: The anticipated work start date is estimated at 1 April 2016. The Offeror shall propose for a base year of 12-months and four 12-month option periods.