ATEPS_FO_Draft_RFP_Industry_Questions_and_Government_Responses.pdf

DRAFT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DTRT5715R20014

AIR TRAFFIC ENGINEERING AND PROGRAM SUPPORT (ATEPS)

INDUSTRY SUBMITTED QUESTIONS AND GOVERNMENT RESPONSES

Question 1

Section H: Please identify the regulation source (FAR, DOT, etc.) for the clauses listed in Section H.

Response: Section H (Special Contract Requirements) includes Volpe Center clauses that cover a range of special contract requirements that supplement clauses in the Federal Acquisition Regulation and the Transportation Acquisition Regulation.

Question 2:

Section L: For past performance references to be considered relevant the solicitation requires a contract to have a contract value of at least $150,000. A contract with a value of only $150,000 does not reflect the anticipated value of the ATEPS contract and therefore would it make it difficult for the Government to determine if a contractor can adequately perform a contract the size of ATEPS.

As such, would the Government consider increasing the contract value for past performance references to at least $10M to be more in line with the anticipated value of ATEPS?

Response: We are contemplating raising the threshold from the current value of $150,000.

Question 3:

Section K: Section K is missing from the draft solicitation. Please provide.

Response: Section K will be provided with the Final RFP.

Question 4:

What is the anticipated contract type for the task order?

Response: The initial Task Order will be Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee, Term (level-of-effort).

Question 5:

Section J: Please confirm that Attachment J-8 “Technical Reference Library” is the same thing as the file saved as “TMIS_NextGen_SOWs” on FBO.

Response: Attachment J-8 “Technical Reference Library” includes the content included in the file “TMIS_NextGen_SOWs” on FBO and additional relevant NextGen Task Order SOWs. The Government may provide additional relevant documents with the Final RFP.

Question 6:

Section L: For Subcontracts, the RFP says “it is expected that subcontracts will either be Time-and-Material (T&M) or cost type subcontracts”.

Please confirm if this means no Firm-Fixed Price type subcontracts will be allowed under

ATEPS.

Response: Fixed-Price type Subcontracts will be allowable provided that the scope of work can be reasonably defined.

Question 7:

Section H: Section H.2 says “The Offeror shall provide a statement in its proposal which describes in a concise manner all past, present or planned organizational, financial, contractual or other interest(s) with an organization regulated by DOT, or with an organization whose interests may be substantially affected by Departmental activities, and which is related to the work under this solicitation.”

Please confirm that offerors do not have to list every contract they have had with DOT but rather only disclose those contracts that may cause an OCI under the ATEPS contract.

Response: Only those contracts that have a potential organizational conflict of interest (OCI) must be provided. Additionally, offerors must provide a detailed mitigation plan for each identified potential OCI.

Question 8:

Section L: The RFP requires offerors to submit a conflict of interest disclosure statement as described in Section H.2; however, Section H.2 doesn’t specify what exactly an offeror needs to provide.

Please clarify what is required.

Response: Offerors must provide a disclosure statement identifying whether an actual or potential conflict of interest exists. If one exists, offeror must provide a detailed mitigation plan.

Question 9:

Section L: The solicitation requires offerors to submit a list of “major subcontractors” for its past performance references. Please confirm that “major subcontractors” are those that were awarded 20% or more of the total contract value.

Response: Major subcontractors are those subcontractors who will be proposed for 20% or more of the overall level-of-effort.

Question 10:

May a small business bid as a prime on the ATEPS SBSA, and be a member (i.e., subcontractor) on a prime bidder’s team for the ATEPS F&O?

Response: Yes, provided that the subcontractor does not have an OCI, is unable to mitigate an actual or potential OCI or there is an exclusion language from an existing contract.

Question 11:

Are the following terms synonymous:

• Page 5: Contractor Program Manager—located within 30 miles of 600 independence

• Page 69: Contract Program Manager–required resume

• Page 71: Task Order Program Manager—this person needs to appear as having been involved in the work cited in the past performance

Response: The Contract Program Manager (PM) referenced on Page 5 and page 69 is the same position. See response to Question #27. The Contract PM and Task Order PM on Page 71 are different positions. Offerors may propose the same person as the Contract PM and the Task Order PM.

Question 12:

Section L: On Page 56 the RFP states for the past performance citations: “The total page limit for the list of five most relevant contracts, covering prime contractor and subcontractors is 10 pages.” Page 71 of the RFP states: “The Offeror shall submit its past performance information for both the Offeror and each of its major proposed subcontractors that individually represent over 20 percent of the estimated LOE for Task Order 1 in the Cost and Business Proposal.

Clarification requested: Please clarify whether such subcontractors each require a separate citation, or whether the subcontractors’ performance may be addressed as an element of the prime’s past performance citation if the subcontractor participated in the cited in prime contract.

Response: If a major subcontractor wishes to use a prime’s past performance evaluation of one of the five most relevant contracts in which they participated, then their past performance evaluation must clearly state that they participated in the cited contract.

Question 13:

The background of the draft RFP describes the intent of this solicitation to provide continuity with services provided under TMIS. If the period of performance for TMIS extends beyond the period of performance for ATEPS, how will Volpe handle the overlapping period understanding that Volpe intends simultaneous award of ATEPS and the first task order?

Response: Not all tasking will transition with the award of the first task order. It is expected that some of tasking under the initial ATEPS task order will not commence until all tasking under the existing TMIS Task Orders has concluded.

Question 14:

Paragraph L.4.I specifies the following:

“Contractors may not act as both a Prime contractor and a Subcontractor under this solicitation.

Proposals involving such teaming arrangements will be excluded from consideration.”

Question: Can a Large bidder, for example Sub on ATEPS or ATEPS SBSA yet Prime under TMSEDS or vice versa Prime ATEPS Large and sub ATEPS SBSA or future TMSEDS?

Response: Yes, provided that prime offerors and proposed subcontractor do not have an OCI, are unable to mitigate an actual or potential OCI, or there is exclusion language in an existing contract.

Question 15:

SUBFACTOR B – CONTRACT STAFFING

“The Offeror will be evaluated on the qualifications of the proposed Contract Program Manager and Contract Manager.”

Question: The qualifications for the Contract Program Manager are not specified as is the Contract Manager in the Summary Table of Labor Categories Qualifications. Can this be the same individual?, or is it expected to be a different position with the Contract Program Manager being a main POC for the entire Contract, not necessarily Task Order specific.

Response: It is expected that the Contract PM and the Contract Manager will be two different people with appropriate skill levels. The Contract Program Manager shall have responsibility for managing the Master Contract while the Contract Manager will have responsibility for contract administration for the Master Contract and Task Orders.

Offerors are free to propose the same individual as the Contract PM and Task Order PM.

Question 16:

SECTION J, ATTACHMENT J-12 - TASK ORDER 0001 COST AND BUSINESS

PROPOSAL SCHEDULES Schedule 7

Question: All the Labor Categories included in the Attachment J-3 – Labor Category Qualifications are included in Schedule 7 with the exception of the Contract Manager. Is this a missing LCAT or does it not have to be proposed on individual Task orders?

Response: It is anticipated the Contract Manager position will be Key Staff and Offerors must propose resumes and hours. Offerors will be free to propose hours for a Contract Manager and other administrative support that is consistent with their internal estimating procedures and established accounting system practice.

Question 17:

Reference: Page 5, Proximity Requirement

Question: For staff working at contractor site vs. FAA HQ site, are there any restrictions as to the proximity of contractor facilities to FAA HQ site?

Response: There is not a proximity requirement for contractor facilities.

Question 18:

Reference: Page 59, RFP Section L

Fixed-Price type Subcontracts will be allowable provided that the scope of work can be reasonably defined.

Question: Will the SOW for FP type subcontracts require customer’s approval?

Response: Yes, the scope of work on a Fixed-Price subcontract will require concurrence by the Contracting Officer.

Question 19:

Reference: Page 59, RFP Section L

RFP states: Larger dollar value subcontracts should be cost type unless the subcontractor’s accounting system has not been reviewed by a Government audit agency.

Please define “larger dollar value”.

Response: Any subcontract consent request over $500k is considered large dollar value.

Question 20:

Reference: Page 61, Section L

RFP states: The Offeror must provide convincing documentation if it proposes personnel who are not its employees

Questions: Please confirm that does not include the prime offeror’s proposed subcontractors, meaning offerors do not need to include documentation for subcontractor personnel.

Response: Offerors and their proposed Subcontractors must provide convincing documentation if it proposes personnel who are not its employees, possibly including letters of intent. The Government will identify documentation in final RFP. Offerors may also be required to certify submitted resumes.

Question 21:

Reference: Page 64, Section L

If no cost-reimbursement type subcontracts are to be awarded, the Offeror shall state so.

Question: is it expected for the Offeror to list all potential subcontractors that may be awarded other than CR type subcontracts or will a statement that the Offeror may issue other than CR type subcontracts satisfy the RFP requirement?

Response: A simple statement is acceptable. Offerors should note that the Government will not evaluate potential subcontractors unless they are assigned some of the Level-of- Effort. Subcontractors will not be authorized to work on Task Order 0001 unless the Prime Contractor has received subcontract consent from the Contracting Officer (refer to Section L of the RFP for the required information). Note it is the responsibility of the Prime Contractor to ensure that they review cost and pricing data and ensure the offerors proposal is complete and submitted in accordance with the RFP.

Question 22:

Reference: Page 59, Section L

L.6.II COST AND BUSINESS PROPOSAL CONTENT, Section 2, subsection b. Subcontracts, para 2 states: Small dollar value “consultant type” subcontracts may be T&M.

Please define “Small dollar value”.

Response: The Government will consent to T&M subcontracts only if they are under $500k in value. Subcontractors will not be authorized to work on Task Order 0001 unless the Prime Contractor has received subcontract consent from the Contracting Officer Question 23:

Reference: Page 60, Section L

T&M subcontractors should not use the Cost and Business Proposal schedules.

Question: will the Government be providing a schedule template for the T&M subcontractors or is the Offeror to propose its own schedule based on the RFP requirements?

Response: The Final RFP will provide additional guidance on format of T&M price proposals.

Question 24:

Reference: Page 60, Section L

T&M subcontractors signed statement that the offered rate is the “most favored customer rate” or explain why the most favored customer rate was not provided.

Question: Should the signed statement be included in the Offeror’s proposal package and Subcontractor’s PI package or only the Offeror’s?

Response: Please provide this information in either the Offeror’s proposal or in the Subcontractor’s proprietary package. Please be advised this statement alone is not sufficient for approval. The Final RFP will provide additional guidance on formation of T&M price proposals.

Question 25:

Reference: Page 67, Section L

The draft solicitation states “Offerors are advised the Subcontracting Plans will be posted on the OSDBU website”. As Small Business Subcontracting Plans are incorporated into the contract and performance submitted within eSRS, this information is not publically available. It is our interpretation that the approved Small Business Subcontracting Plan will be posted on the OSDBU “internal website” and subcontracting performance will be evaluated by the SBA under the new USDOT partnership.

Please confirm that the awardee’s Small Business Subcontracting Plan and performance will only be posted on the USDOT OSDBU internal website and not the publically available website as that information may be deemed proprietary.

Response: Subcontracting plans will not be posted online. However, a Subcontracting Directory will be posted online at the following link:

http://www.transportation.gov/osdbu/procurement-assistance/dot-subcontracting-directory

The final RFP will reflect the correct language.

Question 26:

Does the Volpe Center intend to identify a specific quantity of labor hours in each labor category that offerors will be expected to base their proposal on?

Response: The Final RFP will state the quantity of hours for each labor category.

Question 27:

We respectfully request further clarification regarding the terms “Contractor Program Manager”, “Contract Program Manager”, and “Task Order Manager”:

A. Do the terms “Contractor Program Manager” and “Contract Program Manager” refer to the same position? If not, please differentiate between the two positions in terms of anticipated role.

B. Is the “Task Order Program Manager” position distinct from the “Contractor Program Manager” and “Contract Program Manager” position(s) referred to above?

http://www.transportation.gov/osdbu/procurement-assistance/dot-subcontracting-directory

Response:

A. The reference to “Contractor Program Manager” is incorrect. The correct term is “Contract Program Manager”. The Final RFP will reflect the correct title.

B. The Task Order Manager is different from the Contract Program Manager. Offerors may propose the same individual for both positions.

Question 28:

The FBO announcement for this solicitation (Solicitation Number: DTRT5715R20014) has the following statement:

The small business size standard associated with the designated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541330 Engineering Services is $15 million.

Question: Does this mean that the prime contractor for this solicitation must meet this NAICS code size standard?

Response: The purpose of identifying the NAICS and its' applicable Size Standard is to define the size standard for the associated NAICS. Since this requirement is full and open and is open to firms of any size, an offeror does not need to meet the associated size standard.