Responses_to_Questions.docx

1. General – The FBI states in their Federal Business Opportunities announcement that, “this solicitation is being issued using simplified acquisition procedures under the authority of [Federal Acquisition Regulation} FAR 13.5,” a review of the solicitation was unable to locate evaluation factors. Since the FBI has identified that this requirement as a commercial item service, will the FBI please clarify how they intend to evaluate the offeror’s Past Performance and incorporate into the solicitation package?

The evaluation factors are technical, price, and past performance. A description of the evaluation factors will be posted as an amendment NLT Thursday, August 7, 2014 at 12:00 pm Eastern time.

2. Section 4.0 Performance Objectives – This section identifies that the offeror is to provide instructional presentations and TTX exercises for specific regions. Would the FBI please provide the location of these regions?

The regions will be within the Area of Responsibility of one of the FBI’s 56 field offices.

3. Section 4.0 Performance Objectives, Bullet #3 identifies that the offeror is to “Design, market, administer…..” Would the FBI please clarify what they meant by “market?”

The FBI is referring to marketing (advertising) the upcoming presentation and TTX and solicit participation for local participants within the pipeline industry.

4. Section 4.0 Performance Objectives, Bullet #3 identifies that the offeor is to facilitate a six hour continuous training block, which includes a minimum or[f] six instructional presentations and TTX. Would the FBI please clarify the period of performance for these presentations and exercises? Are there to be six instructional presentations and TTX exercises in the base year or held during the full contract period (five years?

There will be six exercises per year.

4. Section 4.0 Performance Objectives, Bullet #4 identifies that the offeror is to “provide the necessary staff.” Would the FBI please clarify their meaning of this statement? Provide staff for what?

Provide staff to design, market/solicit, administer, and facilitate the presentations and TTXs.

5. Section 4.0 Performance Objectives, Bullet #5 identifies that the offeror is to “identify stakeholder.” Would the FBI please clarify their meaning of this statement? Identify stakeholders in what?

Identify the stakeholders within the pipeline industry who will benefit from the presentations and TTXs.

6. Section 4.0 Performance Objectives, Bullet #8 identifies that the offeror is to “publish the situation manual.” Would the FBI please clarify what they mean by “publish?”

Publish meaning to create and print or provide via electronic means.

7. Section 4.0 Performance Objectives, Bullet #10 identifies that the offeror is to “arrange for refreshments.” Is it the FBI’s intent that this cost be included in the “cost per sight” for each presentation? Or, would the FBI amend the solicitation to include a Contract Line Item Number for Other Direct Costs?

The costs shall be included per sight.

8. Section 5.0 Deliverables, Paragraph 1, last sentence states, “The Contractor shall host a planning meeting sixty (60) days prior to each exercise with the FBI and appropriate staff to discuss exercise development progress. By hosting this planning meeting 60 days prior to each exercise, the planning meeting will be held before the instructional presentations and TTX exercises. Therefore, the contractor would not be able to meet your requirement set forth in 5.0 Deliverables “discussing exercise development progress.” Would the FBI please review this requirement and entertain changing the “60 days prior” to “30 days prior?”

The FBI will keep the requirement at 60 days prior.

9. Section 5.0 Deliverables, Paragraph 2, states, “This material shall also be used at each TTX and training location. These shall be provided in both hard and soft copy formats.” What format should the offeror submit this information in and on what type of device (CD or USB)?

This information shall be provided to the FBI in print and electronic format. The information will be in a printed manual for participants. Any additional distribution will have to be approved by the FBI.

10. Section 6.0 Place of Performance, last sentence states, “Contractor travel costs will be included in the cost per site.” Without the locations of the training sights, the contractor has issues with this requirement until the locations are identified. Would the FBI please provide the locations of the “regions?” Also, how would the offeror’s re-coop POV reimbursement when the offeror’s employee is to travel to FBI facility for the meeting? Please clarify?

Locations will be within the Area of responsibility of one of the FBI's 56 field offices. Include all possible Contractor travel cost for meetings in quote.

11. Section 7.0 Period of Performance identifies this contract action will be a base year, with four, twelve month option periods. If this requirement is to be awarded as such, would the FBI please provide a guaranteed minimum and maximum dollar amount on this requirement?

There is no guaranteed minimum or maximum.

12. Section 9.0 Security identifies that all contractor team members shall be certified in the Department of Homeland Security’s Protected Critical Infrastructure Information Program one month after contract award. With this being a mandatory requirement, will the FBI reimburse the contractor for the certification or will the cost be the responsibility of the contractor?

This requirement is being removed. Please disregard.

13. What is the minimum number of table top exercise (TTX) sessions required each year; what will be the maximum number TTXs per year? Can you provide a notional schedule of TTXs so we can understand:

The minimum and maximum is six. The notional schedule will be 1 every other month.

14. Will there be occasions where TTXs in a given year will either overlap or be scheduled within a 30 day period of another TTX? – No, this should not be the case with a schedule of one every other month. There may be some overlap with preparing for the next presentation and TTX and closing out (AAR) the previous one.

15. What is the minimum and maximum number of attendees planned to be at each TTX?

The number of attendees is not known. It will vary with each location.

16. Where will the pre-exercise planning sessions take place and how long should we plan for each of these sessions? Where will the after-action meetings take place? Will either of these type meetings be held at FBI offices in the regions defined in the answer to question 4?

Planning and AAR meetings can be conducted in Contractor space or FBI space. This can be determined on a case by case basis. Once a rhythm has been established these meetings may be held via telephone conference.

17. What type of media and frequency does the FBI want for this marketing?

The FBI does not have a requirement on the type of media or frequency. This shall be done be done as needed to market and solicit participants.

18. How will planning session and after-action meeting contractor travel, if any, be priced in proposals?

Travel shall be included as an estimate in quotes. The FBI understands that without exact locations, travel is not definitively known.

19. How will you want bidders to address the onsite logistics costs of conducting the TTXs?

Include all costs in price quotes.

20. Does the FBI plan to provide personnel to lead overall management or provide other manpower or equipment support to the TTXs?

The FBI will provide a program manager with expertise. The FBI will not be providing any equipment.

21. “The instructional presentations and TTX shall become the property of the FBI and must be deleted from the Contractor’s systems and returned to the FBI. Any distribution of the instructional presentations and TTX must seek the approval of the FBI prior.”

Much of the pipeline safety content for the instructional presentation will be items we currently use/own. We would like to retain ownership of standard content already created by us for use in our standard programs. Content developed and customized specifically for or by the FBI would remain or become property of the FBI.

You may retain ownership of standard content already in use. FBI specific content will be the property of the FBI.

22. Who are the targeted trainees?

Individuals within the pipeline industry.

23. What are the computer and IT support requirements for each trainee?

There are no computer requirements for each trainee.

24. Is there a Cyber and SCADA system training requirement?

No.

25. What is the process to approve training material and TTX?

The training material will be reviewed by the FBI before each TTX and presentation.

26. Is the training material review in a centralized process or is it reviewed by region?

It will be a centralized process.

27. Are the training seminars individually tailored based upon results from Corporate Security Reviews (CSR)?

No.

28. What is the anticipated period of time to approve the TTX and training?

Within 30 days.

29. Is a scenario required per weapon of mass destruction (Nuclear, Biological, or Chemical, Radiological, Explosives [CBRNE])?

No.

30. An item indicates the contractor host an initial planning meeting with the FBI and appropriate staff within thirty (30) days of contract award to begin the exercise development.

a. How long do you anticipate or are allocating to the development period?

The development period should be no more than 60 days. The desired schedule is to have six exercises for the year. One every other month.

b. Where is the location of the initial planning meeting with the FBI conducted?

It will be at an FBI facility.

c. After the development period when do you anticipate actual training to begin?

Within 30 days.

31. The contractor shall host a planning meeting sixty (60) days prior to each exercise with the FBI and appropriate staff to discuss exercise development progress. Is each exercise unique?

Yes.

32. What is the format of the electronic copy of the booklets and after action reports for the table top exercise?

There is no specified format.

32. Is there an incumbent on this contract or is it a new requirement?

This is a new requirement.

33. The RFQ asks for a price quotation only. Is there any additional technical information that is requested by the government in support of the price quote?

Yes a technical portion is required that meets the performance objectives stated in the solicitation.

34. How is the government going to determine that the lowest price offer meets the Statement of Objectives?

The government will evaluate quotes on who best meets the requirements stated in the SOO. An award will be made to the lowest priced offeror that successfully meets these requirements.

35. When is the government anticipating award?

An award will be made NLT September 30, 2014.