J9_Industry_Day_QA_Final.pdf

Information contained in this document is subject to change. The final information will be in the RFP

J9 A&AS Industry Day (22-23 Oct 2014)

Question &Answer Session

Q1: I understand there will most likely be small business goals. Is there any anticipation of a small business set aside for this procurement?

A1: DTRA does not expect, at this time, that the resultant solicitation will be a total small business set-aside. This is an R&D action, and historically there has not been a reasonable expectation of obtaining from small business the best scientific and technological sources (ref FAR 19.502-2(b) (2)).

Q2: What will be used to calculate small business requirement (i.e., contract amount, funded amount, annual award, etc.)?

A2: We anticipate that our socio-economic commitment evaluation factor will be expressed as a percentage of the total contract amount.

Q3: Can we get slides from Industry Day? Do we need to propose in-plant and USG site notes? Why not a multiple award contract, if your truly want fresh and exceptional staff?

A3: The Government did not provide slides or handouts, as we know this information will evolve during our acquisition planning stage. No, in-plant and USG site notes will not be required. Based on information we have gathered to date, a single award appears to be the best option for DTRA. Since we are still in the market research stage, DTRA is open-minded to suggestions as a final determination has not been made.

Q4: Please clarify limits of OCI for small business subcontractors supporting later, lower organized performance when not involved in funding decision?

A4: The rules for subcontractors are the same regardless of business size. The current A&AS Task Order states, “Subcontractors providing A&AS Support to a specific 2-letter directorate / staff office, e.g. RD- NT, RD-CX, RD-BA, RD-IS, RD-CB, RDP, etc., will be ineligible to compete for work in the same directorate / staff office, but may be allowed to compete for performer work in directorates where it provides no A&AS support, provided that it does not create an OCI.” The OCI standards for the new contract are still being determined and will be provided in the RFP.

Q5: What are the anticipated OCI restrictions for subcontractors on the prime’s A&AS team?

A5: See answer 4.

Q6: How does OCI apply to subcontractors regularly performing on CWMD ID/IQ?

A6: See answer 4.

Q7: You mentioned financial support and access to financial information. Will this be limited to J9 information or Agency-wide? This would affect our ability to mitigate potential OCI.

A7: The contractor will have access to agency-wide financial information; there are no internal controls to block this information.

Information contained in this document is subject to change. The final information will be in the RFP

Q8: Will the Government describe the current and future A&AS priorities by J9 Department and element?

A8: Every department has equal importance; no one department is more important or has a higher priority than the other. The level of performance towards each department will be in constant flux over the course of the contract, as levels of support are mission based. As such, flexibility to adjust to emerging requirements within the workforce is anticipated to be a key factor in the evaluation of offers.

Q9: Will the proposed contract have an imposed post-award dollar ceiling cap which reduces contract growth opportunities? Current A&AS contracts have caps resulting in additional support work awarded to performing contractors.

A9: Yes, the dollar amount will be budgeted based on the level of the requirement. J9 will determine what the need is amongst the different departments and divide the funds. DTRA does not establish these ceilings; the dollar ceilings have statutory mandated caps.

Q10: J9 emphasized the technical; however, the contracting officer mentioned program management as a higher priority for evaluation. Which is more important?

A10: In regards to our evaluation factors, the sub-factor of management is more important than the sub-factor of technical.

Q11: DSS does not allow us to sit in a TS billet if we do not have a contractual requirement. This contract could fulfill that need. Can we be read on the day of award? If the DD254 requires SCI clearance, it will limit competition to companies with current SCI clearances because of the billet problem. Can this be waived?

A11: Top secret clearance must be present at proposal submission.

Q12: Will contractual facility requirements for security be explicitly spelled out in the RFP other than TS (i.e., SCIF, secure conference facilities, Government views, SIPRNET, secure video, JWICS)?

A12: Yes, this information will be provided in the DD254 (Department of Defense Contract Security Classification Specification).

Q13: What percent of the workforce do you anticipate requiring TS clearance?

A13: DTRA cannot anticipate the percentage of employees required to have a TS clearance at this time.

The type of support is in constant flux as it is mission based.

Q14: Will you please identify the current level of effort (FTE) by J9 Department (element) and identify any anticipated changes in the new effort?

A14: The current level of effort (LOE) by J9 Department is:

J9 Leadership, Plans and Programs: 16 FTE Counter WMD Technologies: 45 FTE Innovation and Systems Engineering: 21 FTE Basic and Applied Sciences: 5 FTE

Information contained in this document is subject to change. The final information will be in the RFP

Nuclear Technologies: 45 FTE Chemical and Biological Technologies: 66.5 FTE

This should not be construed as what the requirement will be at the time of solicitation. At this time, we are unable to identify any anticipated changes. Normally though, the aggregate LOE does not change, but the types of labor and allocation between J9 Departments does change.

Q15: Will DTRA include proportions or even numbers of staff needing particular skill set in the RFP?

Will they be definitive or merely guidance like the last time?

A15: DTRA did not provide staffing plans specifying particular skill sets in the last RFP. If this is included in the next RFP, it will be for guidance only. At this time, it has not been determined what will be provided in the RFP.