Questions_5-17-17.xlsx

XLSX spreadsheet 17 KB Posted May 17, 2017

Attached to: Specialized Support Services Federal contract opportunity
Solicitation number: DJJF17-RFP-1038
Issued by: Department of Justice Offices Boards and Divisions Justice Management Division

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File	Type	Posted
RFP-17-1038_Specialized_Support_Services_051717.docx	DOCX document	May 17, 2017
Confidentiality_Agreement.docx	DOCX document	May 17, 2017
Amendment_1.docx	DOCX document	Apr 25, 2017
Nondisclosure_Agreement.docx	DOCX document	Apr 25, 2017
SF-33.pdf	PDF	Apr 25, 2017
RFP_1038_-_Att_1_Pricing_Table.xls	XLS spreadsheet	Apr 25, 2017
RFP-17-1038_Specialized_Support_Services.pdf	PDF	Apr 25, 2017

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Sheet1

Question #	Section	Questions	Response
1	C.1.1	What is the expected annual volume of cases?	The volume of cases varies and is impossible to predict. Based on the first four months of 2017, NSD is on track to have approxiamtely 250 CFIUS cases and 45 Team Telecom cases this year.
2	C.10	It will be preferable for all of the contractor personnel to work and be provided desk space within an NSD SCIF. However, if that is not possible for all of the personnel requested, the contractor personnel could be located at a nearby off-site location, but only if they have secure communications available to them at such location, i.e., at least e-mail capability to the SECRET level. Please clarify how will DOJ evaluate whether a contractor location is ‘nearby’ ?	Nearby is defined as the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
3	C.2	Scope of Contract, the government references matters pertaining to CFIUS, Team Telecom and National Security Risk. To improve the quality of bid rsponses, would the Government articulate the percentage of work distribution across these three areas?	See Response to Question # 1 above.
4	C.2	The RFP sections that appear to call for bidding only three fulltime personnel, to work 1920 hours per year each, include: • SOW Section C.4 Personnel Requirements, paragraph (a) (pg 10 of RFP) that states that DOJ requires three technical/expert support positions,

• RFP Section L.2.1.2 Pricing Proposal (pg 57 of RFP) states that the labor category title and hourly rate should be inserted for each of the three required personnel positions;

• RFP Section L.2.2.1 Staffing Plan (pg 58 of RFP) in the first paragraph states “Include the estimated hours (1920) to be worked by each individual.” • Attachment 1 Pricing Template, which shows three rows each with 1920 hours; Question: The RFP Scope of Contract (RFP C.2, pp. 7-10) requires that Bidders support a number of associated non-technical tasks that still demand experience with CFIUS and Team Telecom. These include producing the 2-page transaction digests (C.2(a)1, p. 8); the monthly digest of non-filed transactions (C.2(a)2, p. 8); CFIUS tracking mechanisms (C.2(a)6, p. 9); Team Telecom EB letter administration (C.2(a)1, p. 9); and Team Telecom tracking mechanisms (C.2(a)5, p. 9. Does the Government anticipate these tasks being performed by the three primary technical SMEs, or would the Government consider adding an additional full or partial FTE, still with CFIUS and Team Telecom experience, who could to focus on such tasks in a cost effective manner, thus enabling the technical subject matter experts to focus on the required vulnerability, consequence, risk, and mitigation tasks?

The Government's requirement remains three technical/expert positions. The Government will also be involved with providing some support with the administrative aspects of case management. Non-technical tasks are included in the SOW to indicate the various types of support that may be needed. Some of the work (e.g., some of the digests) will require contractor expertise.
5	C.2	Are there other critical infrastructure topics/areas - besides telecom- that are a priority?	Future priorities are unknown at this time.
6	C.4	DOJ requires three (3) technical/expert support positions that meet the scope of work requirements and address high technology areas that include, at a minimum, those listed above. The contractor shall provide the requisite personnel with the ability to provide, at a minimum, expertise on technologies listed above. The contractor shall provide personnel who can advise on cyber security and software engineering. Q: Multiple statements reference a minimum list of technologies areas requested for the 3 technical/expert support positions and other sections of the solicitation. Please clarify and list the minimum requred list of technologies required for the technical experts. Q: Given the breadth and diversity of technology disciplines required for reviews of future CFIUS or Team Telecom transactions, will the DOJ evaluate proposed partial surge support of additional SME's on an as-needed basis to supplement the three primary team members?	In response to the first question here, the list referred to is the list of nine areas specified in page 6 of the SOW. Note that the list makes clear that it is not exhaustive. Indeed, we cannot predict all relevant areas because the technologies are driven by whatever transactions wind up in front of CFIUS, which could really involve almost anything. In response to the second question here, the Government's requirement is for three (3) technical experts.
7	C.4	Due to the broad scope of technical expertise required (e.g., robotics, semi-conductors, biotechnology, solvents and chemicals, cyber, etc.) and the broad scope of duties expected to be performed (e.g., risk assessments, mitigation agreements, and monitoring), will the Government clarify the depth of expertise required of the 3 FTE team? For instance, would the Government consider a team who had a working knowledge in a broad range of technology areas, sufficient to identify risk?	The Government will consider a team with knowledge that is more wide than deep. Teams will be considered on a case-by-case basis consistent with the requirments in the RFP.
8	C.4	The RFP appears to require Bidders to propose three full-time personnel to fill the three support positions envisioned for this contract. Nevertheless, given the broad range of nine technology areas where expertise that may be required, as described in SOW C.1.1 Purpose, paragraph (b) (RFP ppg 5-6) and SOW C.4 Personnel Requirements, paragraph (a) (ppg 10-11 of RFP), it would appear that it may be beneficial to the Government to allow Bidders to propose some SME support from a pool of more than three individuals, in order to better ensure that SMEs with specific technical expertise can support the program. Please clarify, does the Government require that three, and only three, fulltime individuals be proposed to support this program, or can Bidders propose a mix of some fulltime personnel with a pool of support from part-time experts, to be engaged depending on the areas of expertise needed by the Government, as long as a total of 5,750 hours of support is proposed?	The Government's requirement is for three (3) technical experts.
9	C.5	The solicitation alludes to a Task Order construct in several places (C.5.d.4, C.5.d.9, C.6.a.2, L2.1.2). Does this procurement represent the only envisioned Task Order, or is it possible more may follow?	All references to task orders will be removed. This is a time and materials type contract.
10	C.5	SOW Section C.5 Contract Management (ppg 14-15 of RFP) states that the Contractor’s Program Manager shall conduct duties that will not be separately billable under the contract. Should the Bidder propose one of the fulltime SMEs as the Contractor Program Manager, and have then not bill to the contract for any time spent on Contract Management tasks? If so, can the Bidder propose hours from another part-time SME to make up the remainder of the 1920hours that the PM SME would otherwise work and bill to the contract?	The Government 's revised this Section. Please see revised C.5.
11	C.5(d)(7)	Section C.5 (d). (7) Tracking and reporting on Government furnished materials. The Contractor is responsible for adequate care and safekeeping of all Government furnished materials, including inventorying, safeguarding, tracking and reporting, etc. Will the Government be providing GFE to the contractor?	Individuals will be provided a desktop computer. Individuals may be provided a cellular telephone and/or a laptop if the Government determines it is necessary.
12	C.6	Are there any degrees or other certification requirements for the key personnel?	No.
13	C.8	SOW Section C.8 Confidentiality (pg 16 of the RFP) states that “Contractor personnel will be under the same strict confidentiality requirements and will be considered only upon submission of an executed copy of the attached confidentiality statement.” Do Bidders need to submit executed confidentiality statements with their proposals? Is the “confidentiality statement” the same as the Non-Disclosure Agreement provided with the RFP as Attachment 2?	No. See attached confidentiality certification. See Attachment 3.
14	C.9	SOW Section C.9 Conflict of Interest, paragraph (c) (ppg 16-17 of RFP) states that all personnel proposed for positions on the contract must provide a completed OGE Form 450. As the Privacy Act regulations that OGE Form 450 relates to generally require filing this form within 30 days of individuals assuming a position designated for filing unless requested earlier, it would seem that this form should be filed by candidates after contract award. Do Bidders need to ensure that all personnel proposed to support this program submit Form 450 at the same time as the proposals are submitted, or is this a requirement that takes effect after contract award? If filing Form 450 is required at the time of proposal submission, please clarify the process for submission of the forms, as these forms contain confidential information and are usually submitted by the individuals affected directly to the Agency ethics officer, rather than through a company or proposal process. Please also specify the cognizant ethics official or office that would be available to answer any questions that candidates may have in completing and filing their forms. The URL provided in the RFP to link to the Form 450 does not appear to be functional, so please provide corrected link.	The OGE Form 450 shall be submitted after award. Instructions for submitting the form will be provided after the contract has been awarded.
15	H.3	Section H.3 Security Requirements – Classified (pg. 26) and H.3.1 Contractor Personnel (pg. 27) discuss personnel’s access to classified and unclassified information. Contractors which require access to classified information will be required to possess a TS clearance, while contractors that require access to unclassified information will be required to obtain a public trust clearance through DOJ. Of the three required positions for this solicitation, can the government please clarify how many of the those positions will require access to classified information and how many will require access to unclassified information?	All three individuals are required to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearence.
16	H.3	Is there a clearance required for every position?	Yes; TS/SCI
17	H.3.2	Contractor Facility (pg 33 of RFP). What level of classified storage, if any, is required at contractor facility? Will any classified computing at contractor facility be required in support of this effort? If so, will the Sponsor provide a template for the classified computer plan or SSP?	Contractor is required to have TS Facility clearence. All contractor personnel working under the contract must be cleared at the TS/SCI level.
18	L.2	The technical proposal instructions do not appear to specify an explicit page limit. Does the Government have any guidance on this point?	The technical and cost proposal shall not be more than 25 pages total.
19	L.2	RFP Section L.2.2.1 Staffing Plan (ppg 58-59 of RFP). Can resumes be in any format, or is there a required format for resumes?	Standard font type (i.e. Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri) and font size (no smaller than size 12) to be used, along with standard half inch margins.
20	L.2	Is the government able to let us know if there is an incumbent, if so who is the incumbent?	There is no incumbent.
21	L.2	Is the government able to provide the specific location of personnel being proposed in support of this effort?	NSD's Office located in Washington, DC.
22	L.2.2.2	Our small company has secured the services of a set of experienced, high quality, technical professionals with significant experience that is on point for your requirements but outside our company. Can individual experience, with other organizations be used to help meet the past performance reference requirements in Paragraph L.2.2.2 of the RFP?	Yes, individual experience with other organizations can be used to meet past performance requirements.
23	L.2.2.2	Should our small company choose to team with another company, can a subcontractor's past performance recommendations be used in support of paragraph L.2.2.2?	Yes
24	L.2.2.2	Request five (5) past performance citations. Would the government consider reducing the number of Past Performance citations to three(3) in order to be more commiserate level of resulting work, as well as reducing their own burden and use of Government Resources for review?	The Government has reduced the number of past performance references to three (3).
25	L.2.2.2	RFP Section L.2.2.2 Past Performance (pg 59 of RFP). Do all five references need to be from the Prime Bidder, or can Past Performance from a proposed subcontractor expected to play a significant role also be provided? If so, would Sub Past Performance be part of the five references, or should Sub Past Performance be in addition to five Prime past performance references?	A subcontractor's past performance can be submitted with the Prime for evaluation.

File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated Nov 14, 2017.