Amendment_No._A0002.pdf

RFP No. DTRT5715R20005 Amendment No. A0002

1. This amendment is issued to provide responses to the questions received in response to the Request for Proposal (RFP) and to change the relevant contract value for past performance.

2. The relevant Past Performance contract value in Section L.5.B. Parts of the Technical Proposal, Part B-Past Performance and Section M.2.B. Factors for Evaluation, Past Performance shall be revised as follows:

Section L.5.B. Parts of the Technical Proposal, Part B-Past Performance contract value;

Delete: $100,000 Insert: $75,000

Section M.2.B. Factors for Evaluation, Past Performance contract value;

Delete: $150,000 Insert: $75,000

3. The following are the questions and answers for the RFP:

Question No. 1

The 30 April 2015 Federal Business Opportunity (FBO) announcement states a Set Aside is not applicable to this opportunity. Is this correct?

Answer No. 1

RFP No. DTRT5715R20005 is a total small business set-aside.

Question No. 2

Section K.2 (a) (1) identifies 541330 as the appropriate NAICS code and (2) states the small business size standard is $15 million. Given the numerous management and technical requirements in this solicitation, the level of reliability required in installing these ATC systems, and working at OCONUS locations and maintaining security clearances, would VOLPE please consider applying the NAICS 541330 Exception - Military and Aerospace Equipment to this opportunity, which would raise the Small Business size standard to $38.5M? This action would allow greater competition and allow companies with more capacity and experience to participate while retaining a small business set aside status for this solicitation.

Answer No. 2

NAICS code 541330 size standard of $15,000,000 shall remain unchanged.

Question No. 3

Section K.2 (a) (3): Is the intent of this section to allow for firms with less than 500 employees to qualify as a small business for this opportunity without regard to their 3-year annual revenues?

Answer No. 3

Section K.2 FAR 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (DEC 2014)

(a)(3) The small business size standard for a concern which submits an offer in its own name, other than on a construction or service contract, but which proposes to furnish a product which it did not itself manufacture, is 500 employees.

RFP No. DTRT5715R20005 is intended for services.

Question No. 4

FBO announcement says Proposals are due 15 June, RFP says 22 June. Please clarify.

Answer No. 4

Proposals are due June 22, 2015, 12:00 p.m. EDT.

Question No. 5

H.20 states some work may require TOP SECRET, please clarify if TOP SECRET is required for this contract.

Answer No. 5

Top Secret clearances will not be required for ATCALS work, however, Secret clearances could be required.

Question No. 6

Section I.5 (b) would indicate that the “Senior Staff/Program Manager” is a single individual. Page 89, Section L, Part C Management Approach/Staffing states a total of 6 resumes can be submitted inclusive of the Program Manager. The 8 May Webinar presentation made it clear that only five resumes are to be submitted inclusive of the PM. Please clarify. We would suggest a total of 6 resumes inclusive of the PM, which would allow for a Senior Engineer PE resume to be presented in addition to the PM, who requires a business management skill set.

Answer No. 6

Section L.5.B. Resume Format is amended as follows:

Delete:

No more than six resumes (inclusive of the Program Manager) shall be submitted. Resumes may not exceed three pages per resume.

Insert:

No more than five resumes (inclusive of the Program Manager) shall be submitted. Resumes may not exceed three pages per resume.

A total of five (5) resumes shall be submitted.

Question No. 7

Section L.4.D, Indirect Rates, specifies that only Government – Site Overhead be priced for proposal purposes, given the USG expects that the preponderance of work will take place at various worldwide Government facilities. Our company uses a Government-Site Overhead rate for our employees who are permanently assigned to a Government facility and receive support from that facility. Our employees for this contract will be working on a TDY basis and will be on Government-Site for a limited duration and will receive limited support from that facility; however, they are supported by our corporate infrastructure and therefore are supported by our Contractor-Site Overhead rate. Given that individual TORPS are competed, will we be allowed to price out proposals that reflect our prevailing processes, which have been reviewed and approved by DCAA?

Answer No. 7

Please submit proposals in accordance with the RFP.

Question No. 8

Section L.5.B, Part B-Past Performance states we should submit our past performance information “as a separate part of their proposal” and goes on to require that “and it shall be clearly marked and identifiable.” Normally we would use a Tab with “Part B–Past Performance”. Are you looking for something in addition to identify this section?

Answer No. 8

Please provide Past Performance information in accordance with the RFP.

Question No. 9

Section L.5.B Part C Management Approach/Staffing, is limited to 5 pages. The previous solicitation separated the Management Approach and the Staffing into two Parts – C and D. Part D Management Approach was itself 5 page limited. We recommend that either the page limit for the new consolidated Part C be increased or preferably that Part D Management Approach with a 5 page limit be added and Part C Staffing with a narrative limit be specified.

Answer No. 9

Please provide Management Approach/Staffing information in accordance with the RFP.

Question No. 10

Schedule 2 and 3 references Schedule 5 for Direct Labor. Should it be Schedule 4?

Answer No. 10

No.

Question No. 11

Paragraph C.3.A.1, fourth paragraph, bullets three and four: Would it be expected of the Contractor to provide analysis utilizing data from site observations at various above-ground-level heights for:

a) New Radar locations

b) Existing Radar locations

c) Will the observation equipment types be specified by the Government or be at the Contractor discretion?

d) For new locations, who will be responsible for locations and choosing locations for analysis?

e) Who will be responsible for requesting and gaining permission to access locations on/off

Government property in the CONUS/OCONUS?

Answer No. 11

a) New Radar locations -Yes

b) Existing Radar locations-Yes

c) Will the observation equipment types be specified by the Government or be at the Contractor discretion?-Yes, the Government will specify the observation equipment types; Radar, Radio or AIS repeater systems.

d) For new locations, who will be responsible for locations and choosing locations for analysis?

The Government will provide the locations.

e) Who will be responsible for requesting and gaining permission to access locations on/off Government property in the CONUS/OCONUS?

The Government will obtain permission to acquire access to locations on/off Government property in the CONUS/OCONUS.

Question No. 12

Paragraph C.3.B.1, second paragraph, second bullet: Will the Contractor be responsible for negotiating and providing for initial lease payments for line leases necessary to establish network connectivity between deployed locations?

Answer No. 12

The Government will obtain line leases for connections between deployed locations.

Question No. 13

Paragraph C.3.B.1, second paragraph, third bullet: Will the Contractor be expected to develop MDA system tests or are these already established?

Answer No. 13

The Government will supply success criteria requirements for system tests to the Contractors.

Question No. 14

Paragraph C.3.C, second paragraph, first bullet: Please define “mobile platform”?

Answer No. 14

Mobile platform as it applies to radar, voice radio systems, AIS base station, and repeater systems equipment could mean vessels, or transportable towers/stations that may transport to other locations.

Question No. 15

Paragraph C.3.C, second paragraph, fifth bullet: What level of training would be required? Field level provided at time of installation not to exceed a day or so; or formal classroom training with an on-equipment troubleshooting and operations training component following equipment installation?

Answer No. 15

This requirement depends on the deployment and needs of the end-users. It could be one case, or both.

Question No. 16

Paragraph G.15: As the majority of work summarized will take place at military installations CONUS and OCONUS, will the Per Deim rates be subject to the DoD Flat rate for installations lasting in excess of 30 days or will FTR Per Deim rates apply?

Answer No. 16

In accordance with the RFP Federal Travel Regulations apply.

Question No. 17

Paragraph L.3.D.6: Where should the Proposal Title Page (Schedule 1) be included in Volume II? As it is not subject to page count limitations, should it be placed immediately prior to the Table of Contents?

Answer No. 17

The Title Page is not Schedule 1. Please refer to the instructions in Section L.3.D.6 of the RFP.

Question No. 18

Paragraph L.4.A, sixth paragraph: Is the Cost and Business Proposal Checklist Page (Exhibit B) to be included in both Volume I and Volume II? If required in Volume II, where should it be included?

Answer No. 18

Please refer to RFP, Section L.4 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COST AND BUSINESS PROPOSAL

(VOLUME I).

Question No. 19

Paragraph L.5.B: On page 86 in Part B- Past Performance, the requirements state “the list must include those applicable contracts reflecting the involvement of the proposed Program Manager or Work Area Experts.” If multiple task orders on a single IDIQ effort include these personnel, may we list the IDIQ (with performance report) on the list, or does each task order need to be listed individually on the list, while the summary of 5 most relevant contracts discusses the IDIQ as a whole?

Answer No. 19

In accordance with the RFP, Section L.5.B, Prime Contracts are required.

Question No. 20

Paragraph L.5.B: On page 86 in Part B- Past Performance, the requirements state “The Offeror must make a good faith effort to ensure that the list includes all Prime contract with a value over $100,000 with the Federal Government. . . .” If there are multiple task orders on a single IDIQ effort, and the IDIQ is relevant to the solicitation, does each task over $100,000 require a separate entry?

Answer No. 20

Please see Answer No. 19.

Question No. 21

Paragraph L.5.B: On page 86 in Part B- Past Performance, the requirements state “If performance is evaluated for each task order under a contract, the list may be modified accordingly.” How does the government define ‘modified accordingly’? That is, should the contractor submit only the most recent interim performance report on the contract or the final performance report on the most recently completed task order? May we submit only the most recently completed performance report featuring work performed by the PM or the Work Area Expert?

Answer No. 21

The list may be modified accordingly to include each task order. Please refer to the RFP, Section L.5.B., and M.2.B.

Question No. 22

Paragraph L.5.B: On page 86 in Part B- Past Performance, the requirements do not request the Period of Performance, yet the relevant past performance evaluations must be for efforts of current or completed contracts within 3 years. Does the Government wish to include the Period of Performance in the data required in the list of contracts?

Answer No. 22

In accordance with the RFP, Section L.5.B., please submit the most current or completed contracts within the past three years.

Question No. 23

Paragraph L.5.B: On Page 87 in Part B- Past Performance, if the Offeror submits a non-Federal project as one of the 5 most relevant projects and therefore must submit a Client Authorization Letter (in accordance with para. 3 on p. 87), does the Client Authorization Letter count against the 10 page limitation?

Answer No. 23

The Client Authorization Letter does not count against the page limit.

Question No. 24

Paragraph K.2, (a) and L.4.E, Subcontracting Plan: This section in K identifies the small business size and this portion of L is the only location in the entire RFP that states this is a Total Small Business Set- Aside. Please re-evaluate the Small Business Size Standard for the solicitation. Considering that a preponderance of the installations will be on military installations and all of the installations involve Military and Aerospace Equipment, it seems the more appropriate size standard for this opportunity would be 541330, Engineering Services, exception A for Military and Aerospace Equipment and Weapons Systems with a size standard of $38.5 Million, rather than the strictest 541330, Engineering Services ($15 Million) size standard. This would maintain the Small Business Set-Aside, but more appropriately classify the work and services provided by this contract effort.

Answer No. 24

The preponderance of work for RFP No. DTRT5715R20005 is for services.

Question No. 25

Page 66 states "schedules 2 through 10" however, only schedules through 9 are included. Please clarify.

Answer No. 25

There are only nine (9) schedules.

Question No. 26

Page 86 discusses past performance. In one place there is a statement of "up to five relevant past performance" and in others it repeats five (implying the exact amount). Is less than five but greater than zero acceptable? Can past performance of sub-contractors be included even if the sub-contractor is not expected to have 20+% of the work? And are the past performance evaluations limited to contracts, or can the five include past performance on large Task Orders?

Answer No. 26

Please see answer no. 19 and 20.

Question No. 27

What should be demonstrated in the photos requested as part of past performance?

Answer No. 27

The photos should demonstrate work similar to that in the RFP SOW. They should show neatness and professionalism of work.

Question No. 28

There is conflicting information between the site and the attachments for the due date of the proposal.

Please clarify when the proposal is due.

Answer No. 28

Please see answer no. 4.

Question No. 29

Will there be any onsite office space or equipment provided by the government? Where does the Government expect the support to perform work (such as documentation, design engineering, etc.) when not at installation sites? What percentage of time does the Government estimate employees spend travelling vs. percentage of time performing office work?

Answer No. 29

No onsite office space or equipment will be provided by the Government. Location of performance of work such as documentation and design engineering is at the contractor’s discretion. The percentage of time employees spend traveling vs. the percentage of time performing office work is at the contractor’s discretion.

Question No. 30

Are management reviews required? If so, where will they take place?

Answer No. 30

If management reviews are required it will be directed by technical memorandum at the task order level.

Question No. 31

Will escort (military or private security) be provided from place of lodging to location of work when located in areas of risk?

Answer No. 31

For ATCALS: there are no areas of risk for the ATCALS work.

For MDA: No military or security escorts will be provided from places of lodging to location of work within major cities. Escorts will be provided to remote deployment work sites in country where lodging is commonly co-located at the work location.

Question No. 32

Section H.11 - last paragraph states that a TO Proposal must include 50% labor hours of the contractor current team. The remaining 25% may include new subcontractors. Can you clarify this discrepancy?

Answer No. 32

Section H.11, last paragraph is amended as follows:

Delete:

During a Task Order solicitation, the Contractor shall obtain approval of all new subcontractors prior to submission of its task order proposal. In such cases, task order proposals must include at least 50 percent (labor hours) of the contractor’s current team (the Prime and previously authorized subcontracts). The remaining 25 percent may include new subcontracts which have not been previously consented to. Task order proposals failing to comply with this minimum will be rejected. At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the prime offeror.

Insert:

During a Task Order solicitation, the Contractor shall obtain approval of all new subcontractors prior to submission of its task order proposal. In such cases, task order proposals must include at least 75 percent (labor hours) of the contractor’s current team (the Prime and previously authorized subcontracts). The remaining 25 percent may include new subcontracts which have not been previously consented to. Task order proposals failing to comply with this minimum will be rejected. At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the prime offeror.

Question No. 33

“At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the prime offeror.” Will this be applicable at the Task Order level or the contract level? Is this a reference to the LIMITATIONS OF SUBCONTRACTING clause? In other words, does FAR clause 52.219-14 Limitation on Subcontracting apply to the master contract proposal or at the task order level? And will it be calculated the same way – by cost?

Answer No. 33

“At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the prime offeror.”- This is in reference to FAR 52.219-14 and is applicable at the contract level.

Question No. 34

L.2.D - States that offerors are required to prepare the Cost and Business proposal using the level of effort at L.4.A. It also says that the LOE OF 53,500 represents 1 yr. of the 5 year requirement.

The hours at L.4.A total 21,400. It also states the 53,500 hours represents the total estimated requirement.

The Webinar stated that 10,700 hours represents the total, estimated, annual requirement.

Please clarify what the expected labor hours are for this contract.

Answer No. 34

Section L.2.D., first paragraph is amended as follows:

Delete:

The Government expects that the majority of task orders will be performance based, and Offerors will be estimating required resources for task order performance consistent with the selected technical approach. However, for purposes of evaluating cost realism and to enable the CO to consider price at the time of basic contract award, Offerors are required to prepare the Cost and Business Proposal using the level-of-effort provided in Section L.4.A. The level-of-effort of 53,500 hours represents about 1 year of the 5-year requirement. It is further subdivided on Schedule 6 into Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee and Firm–Fixed-Price. This percentage apportionment is also based on the Government's best estimate.

Insert:

The Government expects that the majority of task orders will be performance based, and Offerors will be estimating required resources for task order performance consistent with the selected technical approach. However, for purposes of evaluating cost realism and to enable the CO to consider price at the time of basic contract award, Offerors are required to prepare the Cost and Business Proposal using the level-of-effort provided in Section L.4.A. The level-of-effort of 10,700 hours represents about 1 year of the 5-year requirement. It is further subdivided on Schedule 6 into Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee and Firm–Fixed-Price. This percentage apportionment is also based on the Government's best estimate.

10,700 hours represents the level-of-effort for about 1 year of the 5 year requirement.

Question No. 35

L.4.D – Indirect rates – states Indirect cost rate ceilings may be required under this contract for the Prime or one or more subcontractors. Offerors should review the situations described in FAR 42.707(b)(1) to determine whether or not indirect cost rate ceilings should be utilized and, when appropriate, propose indirect cost rate ceilings.

Is it expected that offerors should decide whether or not to include ceilings on the indirect rates without any discussion with the government? What if an offeror determines that ceilings are not required and the government disagrees?

Answer No. 35

Section L.4.D., Indirect Rates, last paragraph is amended as follows:

Delete:

Indirect cost rate ceilings may be required under this contract for the Prime or one or more subcontractors. Offerors should review the situations described in FAR 42.707(b)(1) to determine whether or not indirect cost rate ceilings should be utilized and, when appropriate, propose indirect cost rate ceilings.

Insert:

Indirect cost rate ceilings are determined in accordance with FAR 42.707(b)(1) and may be required at the task order level for the Prime or one or more subcontractors.

Question No. 36

Schedule 5 – Can you confirm that the hours included in L.4.A are to be used when completing this schedule?

Answer No. 36

Yes, the hours in L.4.A. are to be used for Schedule 5.

Question No. 37

The proposed Program Manager/Senior staff requests 1 resumes The Proposed Technical staff says 4 Resumes are required, but, 5 are listed.

The Resume Format section states No more than six resumes (inclusive of the Program Manager) shall be submitted.

The slides from the Webinar list 5 resumes to be submitted. Can you clarify?

Answer No. 37

Please see answer no. 6.

Question No. 38

PAST PERFORMANCE – Third paragraph instructions - Are we to provide a list of ALL our contracts completed within the past 3 years and then from that list select the 5 most relevant contracts (or task orders?) to provide more detailed information?

Answer No. 38

Please see answer no. 19.

Question No. 39

The CPFF schedule should have 80% of direct labor from Sch 5 and 20% goes to FFP Schedule. Schedule 5 says 80% to CPFF and 20% to FFP. Please clarify which is correct.

Answer No. 39

Schedule 2 and 3 are amended as follows:

Schedule 2:

Delete;

SCHEDULE 2

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED COSTS AND FIXED FEE

Offeror or Subcontractor Name:

COST ELEMENT RATE % AMOUNT

Direct Labor (from Schedule 5) (20%) $ Fringe Benefits (if separate from overhead) % $ Overhead % $

Subcontract Burden (if separate) % $

Other Direct Costs (ODC):

RFP-Travel $80,000.00 RFP-Miscellaneous $320,000.00

Offeror-Estimated ODC

ODC Burden (if separate) % $

SUBTOTAL

G & A % $ Cost of Money (COM) $ Total Costs and COM $

Fixed Fee (from Schedule 5) $

TOTAL PROPOSED COST AND FIXED FEE $

Insert;

SCHEDULE 2

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED COSTS AND FIXED FEE

Offeror or Subcontractor Name:

Direct Labor (from Schedule 5) (80%) $ Fringe Benefits (if separate from overhead) % $ Overhead % $

Subcontract Burden (if separate) % $

Other Direct Costs (ODC):

RFP-Travel $80,000.00 RFP-Miscellaneous $320,000.00

Offeror-Estimated ODC

ODC Burden (if separate) % $

SUBTOTAL

G & A % $ Cost of Money (COM) $ Total Costs and COM $

Fixed Fee (from Schedule 5) $

TOTAL PROPOSED COST AND FIXED FEE $

Schedule 3:

Delete;

SCHEDULE 3

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED COSTS AND PROFIT

Offeror Name:

Direct Labor (from Schedule 5) (80%) $ Fringe Benefits (if separate from Overhead)

Overhead % $

Subcontracts:

1. $

2. $

3. $

4. $

Subcontract Burden (if separate) % $

Other Direct Costs (ODC):

RFP-Travel $20,000.00 RFP-Equipment $80,000.00 Offeror-Estimated ODC $ ODC Burden (if separate) % $

SUBTOTAL $

G&A % $ Cost of Money (COM) $ Total Costs and COM $

Profit (from Schedule 5) $

TOTAL PROPOSED COST AND PROFIT $

Insert;

SCHEDULE 3

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED COSTS AND PROFIT

Offeror Name:

Direct Labor (from Schedule 5) (20%) $ Fringe Benefits (if separate from Overhead)

Overhead % $

Subcontracts:

1. $

2. $

3. $

4. $

Subcontract Burden (if separate) % $

Other Direct Costs (ODC):

RFP-Travel $20,000.00 RFP-Equipment $80,000.00 Offeror-Estimated ODC $ ODC Burden (if separate) % $

SUBTOTAL $

G&A % $ Cost of Money (COM) $ Total Costs and COM $

Profit (from Schedule 5) $

TOTAL PROPOSED COST AND PROFIT $

Question No. 40

Paragraph L.4.D. Subcontracts states that “T&M or Labor Hour subcontractors should use only Schedule 1” but the Exhibit B shows many items applicable to “Prime and Sub”. Please clarify.

Answer No. 40

T&M or Labor Hour subcontractors should only use Schedule 1.

Question No. 41

Paragraph L.4.A. Does the criterion “evaluation of subcontractor proposals” refer to the Government’s review of a Prime’s subcontractor proposals or the Prime’s review of its subcontractor proposals?

Answer No. 41

It is the Offeror’s responsibility to review their subcontractors’ proposals and ensure their subcontractors follow the instructions and provide all required information.

Question No. 42

Paragraph L.4.A criteria and those in M.3 are inconsistent. Please clarify.

Answer No. 42

There is not enough information in the submitted question to provide an answer.