Consolidated_DRFP_Q As-Round_2-ANSv2.0_FBO.pdf

Draft Solicitation Number-HDTRA1-15-R-0007 Industry Questions/Comments and DTRA Responses

Round 2

Question

DRFP

Reference

DRFP

Page

Number DRFP Text Issue/Question Response

L.3.3.2.1 Facilities

M.2.2.1 Management Facilities not numbered

Provide a description of proposed facilities to include meeting space as well as communications and security systems to facilitate all aspects of A&AS support to J9. The facility should provide at least one space which allows auditorium seating for a minimum of 75 persons.

The proposal demonstrates readily available and easily accessible facilities that include staff office space and meeting facilities available to the Government for technical and programmatic meetings, workshops and seminars.

The requirement requires a description of proposed facilities “to facilitate all aspects of A&AS support to the J9 with a specific requirement of “at least one space which allows auditorium seating for a minimum of 75 people.” Does the auditorium represent the minimum facility requirement or is a subset of a larger requirement for “staff office space and meeting facilities” to be determined by the contractor?

The requirement states that the, “proposed facilities to include meeting space as well as communications and security systems facilitate all aspects of A&AS support to J9.” In order for the Offeror to propose a suitable and cost effective facility solution, can the government please elaborate on the specific

The auditorium with seating for a minimum of 75 people is a subset of a larger requirement for meeting facilities. Section L.3.3.2.1 Facilities and Section M.2.2.1 Management have been amended. SOO paragraph

8.0 added to include a more detailed description of the meeting space that includes:

8.0 FACILITIES

The Contractor shall provide facilities to support efforts which occur outside of DTRA facilities.

Activities associated to this requirement include, but are not limited to:

Administrative and requirements that would, “facilitate all aspects of A&AS support to J9”?

Security staff in support of this contract.

Technical and Scientific staff not otherwise provided work space in DTRA and other DoD offices and locations.

The facility shall provide for a minimum of five meeting spaces. All meeting rooms shall have associated video projection and audio dial-in capability.

Meeting rooms and conference space shall be made available to non-J9 activities on a non-interference basis.

At least one space shall allow auditorium seating for a minimum of

75 persons.

At least one space shall allow reconfigurable seating (to include but not limited to:

Classroom, Theater, Conference Table, U-Shape, Hollow

Square, Banquet

Style, Half Moon

Rounds, Chevron or "V" Shape, Herringbone and/or combinations) for a minimum of 50 persons. This meeting room shall have both secure and academic institution compatible video conferencing capability.

At least one space shall allow reconfigurable seating for a minimum of 40 persons that can be subdivided into two equal sized meeting spaces by wall partition.

At least two spaces shall allow conference table seating for a minimum of 20 persons with around the room wall seating for a minimum additional 25 persons.

The facility shall include those associated infrastructure components necessary to manage and technically support the

J9 A&AS activities. This includes, but is not limited to, reception, visitor control, security, audio-visual equipment, office space for resident support staff, restrooms, coat closets, storage, coffee mess/kitchenette, and telephone stations.

The facilities requirement to “facilitate all aspects of A&AS support to J9“ includes those associated infrastructure components necessary to manage and technically support the A&AS activities identified in the SOO. In addition to the meeting space, this includes, but is not limited to, reception, visitor control, security, audio-visual equipment, office space for resident support staff, restrooms, coat closets, storage, coffee mess/kitchenette, and telephone stations.

L.3.3.2.1 Facilities

Facilities. These facilities must be located within 6-miles of DTRA.

To increase the Offeror’s ability to bid low-risk, cost effective solutions would the government consider expanding the facility proximity requirements to 12 miles?

No- The six mile radius is driven by traffic congestion and the time impact for travel to/from

DTRA.

L.3.3.2.2 Incoming Transition Plan

The government anticipates a transition period of no less than 60 days between contract award and beginning of full contract performance.

Can the government please clarify the maximum transition period that would be deemed acceptable? Would the government consider 90 days as an acceptable maximum time period for the transition?

Can the government please elaborate on how the length of the incoming transition will be evaluated as part of Section M? For example, would an offeror that proposes a transition plan less than 60 days be evaluated as strength?

The maximum acceptable transition period is 60 days--90 days is not acceptable. Section L.3.3.2.2 is amended to state: “The government anticipates a transition period of 60 days between contract award and beginning of full contract performance”. The length of the incoming transition is one of several factors that will be assessed with the overall transition plan.

The transition plan will be qualitatively evaluated under the Management subfactor. Offering less than 60 days would not be evaluated as a strength.

M.2.2.1 Management Facilities not numbered

Facilities. The proposal demonstrates readily available and easily accessible facilities to include staff office space and meeting facilities…”

Can the government please elaborate on how they will evaluate “readily available” and “easily accessible” facilities?

Can the government please elaborate on the specific “staff office space” requirements and how this will be evaluated within this sub-factor?

M.2.2.1 amended. The qualitative factors that will be considered in evaluating “readily available” and “easily accessible” include but are not limited to: availability by end of the transition period, unrestricted availability to J9, compliance with the American Disabilities Act, adequate parking for meeting attendees beyond the A&AS staff members, parking adjacent to the meeting structure, multiple pathways and/or methods to get to the facility.

Staff office space will be evaluated as to reasonableness and adequacy for the A&AS reception, security, audiovisual and other staff proposed to support the planning and conduct of meetings.

SOO para 6.0

SECURITY

REQUIREMENTS

and L.3.3.2.2 Incoming Transition Plan not numbered not numbered

The contractor is required to have a TOP SECRET facility clearance granted by the Defense Security Service

(DSS).

The Offeror should describe plans to certify the proposed facility to store classified information (up to

SECRET)

Based on these two statements is it correct that the government requirement is for the contractor to have a TOP SECRET facility clearance at the corporate level and that the proposed facility (within the proximity requirements) requires the ability to store classified documents up to the SECRET level?

Yes. L.2.7 has been amended to clarify, see answer to Question 6.

L.3.3.2.2 Incoming Transition Plan

The Offeror should describe plans to certify the proposed facility to store classified information (up to SECRET), accept GFE, complete staff DTRA badging etc.

Will the certification of the proposed facility to store classified information, accept GFE and other requirements need to be completed by the end of the transition period?

For certifications, relying on external government agencies, such as DSS for classified storage, would the government allow an incoming transition plan that uses an alternate National Capitol

No, but is desired.

Yes. L.2.7 amended to add: The offeror must possess a TOP SECRET facility clearance at the corporate level at the time of proposal submission.

The proximal facility

Region location to satisfy the classified storage requirement until such time as DSS completes their certification?

should be able to store classified documents up to the SECRET level at the end of the transition period. Should the proximal facility not obtain the required clearance/certifications from the Defense Security Service (DSS) by end of the transition period, storage at an alternate National Capitol Region location is acceptable until DSS clearance/certification is approved.

L3.3.3.3 PWS

and QASP

M.2.2.2 PWS

The Offeror shall submit staffing plans specifying labor categories, FTE estimates, and skill level qualifications in enough detail to demonstrate sufficient understanding of the full range of labor mix (reflecting efficient use of labor categories and skill levels performing tasks in a timely and cost effective manner) required to fulfill the requirements of each J9

The staffing plan requires that each entry should contain the following information: Name, Proposed Position, Labor Category, Education, Years of Experience, Certifications, Honors, etc. Is it correct that each identified position requires a specific named person to be associated with it along with the information listed above to include the “individual’s employment arrangement”?

Section L3.3.3.3 amended to read: At a minimum, each entry should contain the following information:

Name (Key Personnel required, others as known at the time of the RFP submission), Proposed Position, Labor Category, Education, Years of Experience, Certifications, Honors, etc. Clearly indicate the individual’s employment arrangement and QASP numbered functional element. At a minimum, each entry should contain the following information: Name, Proposed Position, Labor Category, Education, Years of Experience, Certifications, Honors, etc.

...experience/qualifications of all personnel, and processes to effectively manage the contract.

Further, the staffing plan is of sufficient detail to demonstrate that all elements of the PWS can be successfully completed

Would the government consider only named staff for key personnel?

If each position is required to be filled by name, we suggest the government provide additional information in the SOO showing anticipated level of effort by task so appropriate labor categories and qualified personnel can be proposed.

such as prime, sub-contract or team membership, contingency hire, etc. Additionally letters of commitment for Key personnel are required in Section L.2.6.

L.3.3.3.3 not

The Offeror shall submit a Performance Work Statement (PWS) and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) that address all the critical services and products to be provided for this requirement. The SOO provided as Attachment to this RFP shall be used as the

Offerors are required to provide a PWS using the provided SOO as the basis of development. The PWS will directly affect our staffing plans and cost proposal. The DRFP SOO provides much detail in the tasks required to be performed, but provides limited information on the expected level of effort

Section L.5.6.1 amended to ‘Estimated A&AS Workforce’ See attached section L.5.6.1 basis of the Offeror’s description. The Offeror shall clearly identify at the beginning of each paragraph whether the services and products to be provided are in support of Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E), Chemical Biological Defense Program (CBDP), or Operations & Maintenance (O&M) efforts.

required by the three listed areas of support. The limited data provided makes it difficult to prepare a valid Basis of Estimate (BOE). For instance, in paragraph 4.2.1 the contractor is asked to “provide technical and logistical support for planning, implementing, and evaluating program activities, which may include, but are not limited to, taskings and inquiries, preparation of budget and fiscal execution information and program reports, and conduct and reporting of meetings, conferences, and working group activities”, but no data is given as to the number of tasking, inquiries, budgets, reports, conferences, etc., that an offeror may use to form an estimate on the number of hours required to perform the task. This example could be repeated for almost all the requirements in the SOO. Will the government consider providing workload data for the SOO requirements to ensure all offerors can construct a valid and competitive PWS, basis of estimate, supporting staffing plan and resulting cost proposal?

L3.3.3.3 PWS

and QASP

The Offeror shall submit a Performance Work Statement (PWS) and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) that address all the critical services and products to be provided for this requirement. The SOO provided as Attachment to this RFP shall be used as the basis of the Offeror’s description.

Will the government provide the current or anticipated contract FTE count by areas of support to assist in preparing the Performance Work Statement and supporting staffing plan?

No, however the expected level of funding and percentage by work force category are provided in Sections L.5.6.1

M.2.3 Past Performance magnitude not numbered

For magnitude, the cost per year for each referenced effort will be compared to the estimated cost per year for this effort (approximately $50M per year (excluding surge options).

Present/past performance

The definition of very relevant magnitude is approximately $50M. For purposes of clarity can the government define or provide limits on what would constitute a range of magnitudes that will be interpreted as “essentially” the same?

No. Past Performance relevancy ratings are determined through an analysis of scope, magnitude and complexity for each submitted reference. The magnitude of this effort provides a comparative basis for size, but it is only effort involved essentially the same scope and magnitude of effort and complexities this solicitation requires.

one variable in determining the overall relevancy rating of any past performance reference.

Atch L-1 N/A 7. Illustrate how your experience on this referenced contract/program relates to the complexity of your proposed effort on this solicitation. Please utilize the complexity areas identified in the SOO as your point of comparison.

"Please utilize the complexity areas identified in the SOO as your point of comparison" is inappropriate in this context and has high potential for resulting in answers redundant to L-1 #6 because SOO 3.1 would be used to organize both answers. Gov't actually defines "complexity" in M.2.3, not the SOO.

Question: "Att L-1 #7 directs offerors to respond using “the complexity areas identified in the SOO as your point of comparison." The SOO does not appear to define "complexity areas"; however, "complexity areas" do appear to be spelled out specifically in DRFP M.2.3 bullet 3. Would the government consider replacing the reference to "areas identified in the SOO"

Att L-1 #7 amended to “Please utilize the complexity areas identified in M.2.3. as your point of comparison.”

to "areas identified in M.2.3"?

SOO 4.1.6 70 …for meeting chemical and biological defense requirements.

This section supporting CB appears out of place since section 4.1 is RDT&E excluding

CB.

Question: Should SOO Section

4.1.6 associated with chemical and biological defense requirements be more appropriately placed in Section 4.3 which addresses the Chemical and Biological Technologies RDT&E?

SOO paragraph 3.1.1 has been amended to read

CBRNE WMD

No, the section is not out of place. The requirement of the SOO is to assess relevant RDT&E from the J9 that could meet Chemical and Biological Defense requirements and vice versa. As an integrator, the A&AS performer is expected to identify and present for consideration any opportunities for exploitation and integration across the various CLINs. SOO paragraph 4.6.1 has been amended to clarify.

SOO 4.1.8 The Contractor shall provide facilities to support efforts which occur outside of DTRA facilities……

This requirement ONLY appears in the RD RDT&E Task and not in the RD O&M or CB RDT&E Tasks. Does this mean all facilities costs will be priced

Facility requirement moved from SOO 4.1.8 to new SOO paragraph 8.0.

Offerors should price facilities cost in against the RD RDT&E CLINs and not against RD O&M and CB RDT&E CLINs?

Question: Should facilities cost be priced against all CLINs proportional to CLIN value?

accordance with their Disclosure Statement and Cost Accounting Standards.

Section L.5.6. Pricing Assumptions.

ADD: 1 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) equals 1,920 hours per year.

Section L.5.6.1 Estimated A&AS Workforce

The CLINS, as grouped, have total anticipated value ranges as shown in the table below (includes the travel amounts listed in Section L.5.6.2):

Range of Value ($M)

CLIN0001,1001, 2001, 3001, 4001-J9 RDT&E 109 - 114

CLIN0002, 1002, 2002, 3002, 4002 J9 O&M 50 - 54

CLIN0003, 1003, 2003, 3003, 4003 J9 CB 75 - 82

CLIN0005, 1005, 2005, 3005, 4005-J9 RDT&E Surge 23 - 26

CLIN0006, 1006, 2006, 3006, 4006-J9 CB Surge 11 - 15

Additionally the estimated Level of Effort ranges for the J9 Directorate / staff offices are reflected in the table below:

% of Effort across all CLINs

J9BA 4-6

J9CB 30-33

J9CX 22-25

J9IS 10-12

J9ST/FO 5-7

J9NT 19-21

The estimated A&AS workforce breakdown reflected in the table below is provided for informational purposes only. The anticipated categories of experience and education are: Entry: AA or BS with 0-5 years’ experience, Mid-level: BS or MS with 5-10 years’ experience or AA with 15 or more years of experience, and Senior: MS or PhD with more than 10 years’ experience or BS with more than 20 years’ experience. However, during the contract period of performance, fluctuations in the level of effort of and the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities may occur in response to emerging needs.

CLIN Range of Level of Effort

Workforce Category—See Descriptions below the table

Physical Sciences

Biological Sciences

Engineering Program Management

Technical

0001 16-20% 1-3% 31-35% 30-34% 12-16%

J9BA 4-6%

J9CX 38-40%

J9IS 16-18%

J9ST/FO 4-6%

J9NT 33-35%

0002—J9 O&M 100% 0 0 0 100% 0

0003--CB 100% 8-10% 18-22% 0-1% 49-52% 17-20%

0005—J9 Surge 100% 40-44% 4-6% 26-30% 20-23% 1-4%

0006—CB

Surge

100% 0-1% 8-10% 0-1% 34-36% 53-57%

Physical Sciences:

Nuclear Physics, Radiation Detection, Nuclear Forensics. Air Blast Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry (Organic, Physical, Analytic, Forensic), Meteorology, Statistics, Accelerator Sciences, Materials Sciences, GeoPhysics, Nuclear Weapons Effects

Biological Sciences:

Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Genetics, Virology, Immunology, Toxicology, Pathology, Physiology, Medical Science, Veterinarian Science, Health Physics

Engineering:

Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Test Engineering, Structural Engineering, Biological Engineering, Process Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Seismic/acoustic Engineer, Program Management:

Program Analysis, Project Management, Systems Analysis, Financial Analysis, Budget Analysis, DOD PPBE preparation, Acquisition Analysis, Project Control Analysis, EVM Analysis, Cost Analysis, Project Planning, Team Leaders, Tasker Coordination/Management, Strategic Planning, Strategic Communications, technical writing

Technical:

Public Health Science, Environmental Science, Biosurveillance, Disaster Preparedness, Computer Modeling and Simulation, Optics, Hydrology, Blast and Explosives, Information Systems, Logistics, JCTDs, Pulsed Power, Computer Sciences, Software development, CWMD Policy, Vaccine/therapeutics Regulatory processes and Requirements, Diagnostic instruments and tests