10. AFCGI Questions and Answers.pdf

ID # RFP

Document

Section Page # Comment/Question

Government Response

1 04. AFCGI

Section L

Section 11 - Volume VII:

Cost/Price

The sentence just before the Table in Section 11 - Volume VII: Cost/Price (bottom of page 13 / top of page 14) states "The Cost/Price Volume should be organized as outlined below and Offerors should use the Cost & Price Template 4d: " The Table seems to describe a separate document (often called a "Cost/Price Narrative") that is required to be submitted in addition to the completed Cost/Price Excel Spreadsheet (Attachment 04d. Cost-Price Template (Priced).xlsx). Can SDA please confirm that two separate files are required for the Volume VII: Cost/Price Submission, those being, (1) the completed Cost/Price Excel spreadsheet (Attachment 04d. Cost-Price Template (Priced) .xlsx ) and (2) a narrative style document (contractor-defined format) following the outline described in Section 11.2 "Cost/Price" and subsections?

Per Section L Note: "Tabs are intended to provide the textual narrative to explain the proposed approach, including any rationale or justification for the price/cost position. The Tab submission may include snapshots or data from the template but should NOT include wholescale copying of the template data (excluding summary tables)."

To further clarify, there is not a separate Narrative Template. The intent is to provide a space wherein offerors can explain how the costs are built up, etc.

2 04. AFCGI

Section L

Section 11 - Volume VII:

Cost/Price

Section 2 "Submission Instructions" of Section L attachment states "All Volumes along with any appendices and/or attachments shall be submitted only in .pdf format, except in cases where another format is explicitly required …" If the document described in the Table (Section 11 - Volume VII:

Cost/Price (bottom of page 13 / top of page 14) is a required submission document separate from Attachment 04d. Cost-Price Template (Priced), do the descriptions in the third (unnamed) column, specify that this document is to be submitted in MS Word format (not PDF) and that Tabs 2-4 (sections of the narrative document) will include inserted cells copied from Attachment 04d. Cost-Price Template (Priced)?

Yes. The intent is all documents will be submitted in pdf Per Section L Note:

"All Volumes along with any appendices and/or attachments shall be submitted only in .pdf format, except in cases where another format is explicitly required, and must be submitted independently by file as SDA will not accept .zip files. "

3 04. AFCGI

Section L

Section 11.4 - Tab 3: Cost Build Up

Bullet Point # 3 states "The Offeror shall submit cost summaries by both Contract Fiscal Year (CFY) and GFY ." The Summary Tab of Attachment 04d. Cost-Price Template (Priced) has tables each for "TOTAL BASE & OPTIONS SUMMARY BY CONTRACTOR FISCAL YEAR" and "TOTAL BASE & OPTIONS SUMMARY BY GOVERNMENT FISCAL YEAR". Can the Government please confirm that the Section L instructions above should state "...Contractor Fiscal Year..." not "...Contract Fiscal Year..."?

Attachment 4d: Total Cost Summary Tab requires a summary by CFY. Line 54 requires a Summary by GFY

4 01. (CUI)

AFCGI SOW

Section 1.5

(U) PERIOD

OF

PERFORMAN

CE / 1.15.001

Section 1.5 (U) PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE / 1.5.001 of the SOW states "The Contractor shall render all required services within timeframes agreed upon during the period of performance as stated in Section F - Deliveries or Performance ." We could not find a " Section F - Deliveries or Performance" in any of the RFP documents. Can SDA specify the Period of Performance and the Contract Start Date that bidders should use to define delivery and performance schedule dates?

Section F- Deliveries or Performance is located in Attachment 00.SF33FA240124R0001_Solicitation (model contract) and it represents the anticipated CLIN PoP.

5 02. (CUI)

AFCGI

Technical Requirement s Document

Ground Resource Manager tab

In this RFP, the interface with 18SPCS is now a one-way data flow with 18SPCS supplying TLE data for orbit propagation in the GRM (i.e. as one of 3 sources of orbit data; requirement AFCGI-GRM-27).

What are the restrictions and/or expectations re. this interface with 18SPCS? Are we free to define this API and/or propose leveraging the Unified Data Library (UDL) to support this data transfer?

The 18SDS has established means to diseminate information. The contractor can leverage whichever method(s) to achieve the desired outcome.

6 04. AFCGI

Section L

Section 6.1 Schedule Management

The text states: The Offeror’s proposed schedule must be able to support serial AFCGI on-boarding and concurrent support for three (3) follow-on “F2-like” programs (each with up to two (2) SV Vendors) with the following notional AFCGI onboarding timeline: Program “B” ATP+6 months; Program “C” ATP+ 12 months; and Program “D” ATP+ 18 months; with each SV Vendor program launching within approximately 2-years from the respective SV Vendor’s Authority to Proceed). Please clarify the apparent inconsistencies between the time relationships to ATP.

There are no inconsistencies. The Offeror’s proposed schedule must be able to support serial AFCGI on-boarding and concurrent support for three (3) follow-on “F2-like” programs (each with up to two (2) SV Vendors) with the following notional AFCGI onboarding timeline:

Program “B” ATP+6 months; Program “C” ATP+ 12 months; and Program “D” ATP+ 18 months.

7 04. AFCGI

Section L

Section 6.1 Schedule Management

The text states: The Offeror’s proposed schedule must be able to support serial AFCGI on-boarding and concurrent support for three (3) follow-on “F2-like” programs (each with up to two (2) SV Vendors) with the following notional AFCGI onboarding timeline: Program “B” ATP+6 months; Program “C” ATP+ 12 months; and Program “D” ATP+ 18 months; with each SV Vendor program launching within approximately 2-years from the respective SV Vendor’s Authority to Proceed). Please clarify if all of the on-boarding for the four programs should be bid as part of CLIN 0001 or as part of the option year CLINs.

The Offeror should bid all four programs as part of CLIN 0001.

8 00.Model Contract

Section B CLIN Table

The definition of CLIN 0009 states in part: "Program hardware, other direct charges not included in development CLIN and subscriptions/licenses." If those items can be included in CLIN 0001 and CLIN 0005, what is the intent of CLIN 0009, or should all such items be proposed in CLIN 0009? If program hardware and ODCs are included in CLIN 0001 and CLIN 0005, based on the wording of the statement should subscriptions/licenses always be placed in CLIN 0009?

CLIN 0009 is intended to catch items NOT included in CLIN 0001 or CLIN 0005.

9 01. AFCGI

SOW

SOW

Paragraph 3.6.005

SOW requirement 3.6.005 states that:

"The Contractor shall plan and execute fit-out of the DOC " and specifies that the fit-out includes "purchase, assembly, and installation of workstation, office, conference room, and watch floor furniture, server racks, large screen mission displays, mission workstations, safes, shredders, mission crypto, all associated hardware, software, and office supplies... . "

Kindly confirm that building the SCIF physical infrastructure, including the walls, internal wiring, painting, carpeting, etc., is not within the AFCGI scope of effort.

The SCIF physical infrastructure, including the walls, internal wiring, painting, carpeting, etc., is not within the AFCGI scope of effort.

10 01. AFCGI

SOW

SOW

Paragraphs 3-and 1.3

Line 503 in Paragraph 3.1 makes it clear that the space-to-ground cryptographic equipment is in the SVV areas, and not within the AFGCI:

"The space-to-ground cryptographic equipment is in the SVV areas and not in the AFCGI..... "

Space-to-ground communications include encrypted Mission Data downloads, and encrypted two-way satellite TT&C that are processed and/or generated by ground based SVV subsystems. This means that space-to-ground communications at the GEP must ultimately must connect to the SVV subsystems at the MOC where the space-to-ground cryptographic equipment is located.

Lines 148-149 in paragraph 1.3 state that:

"The Contractor is responsible for connecting the GEPs to the AFCGI Cloud and/or the DOC via Government-provided circuits .

There seems little point to requiring encrypted space-to-ground traffic to physically flow through the DOC in Huntsville, when none of space-to-ground cryptographic equipment is located there. Kindly confirm that the space-to-ground network connections between the GEP and the cryptographic equipment within the SVV areas in the MOC, do not need to physically flow through the DOC in Huntsville prior to being decrypted, but rather that the encrypted space-to-ground traffic can be direct connections flowing between the MOC and the GEPs.

There is no requirement for any connections between the MOC and the GEPs to go through the DOC in Huntsville.

11 Section L Section L Section 5.2.4

Section 5.2.4 states that:

"The Government intends to acquire a Government-Procured, Contractor-Operated (GPCO) Cloud environment with a cross-domain solution …" Kindly confirm that the Government will acquire the Cloud environment and resources directly from the selected Cloud Provider(s), and that the cost of these resources do not need to be bid as part of

AFCGI.

Yes, the Government will procure the Cloud environment and resources identified by the Offeror in their solution via existing Government Cloud Brokerage Services/Contract vehicles. The cost of the Cloud environment and resources are not to be bid as part of

AFCGI.

12 01. AFCGI

SOW

SOW

3.4.1.001

Requirement 3.4.1.001 states:

" The Contractor shall develop, implement, and manage the AFC ground segment network communications infrastructure including Government (e.g., DISA) provided circuits " Requirement 3.4.3.009 states:

"While SDA will coordinate provision of long-haul communication circuits between the DOC and the local installation point of presence for the GEPs,.... "

Kindly confirm that the Government will provide the required long haul circuits through DISA or other Government mechanisms, and the Contractor needs to bid the effort to define and manage the overall network IAW with the requirements, but does not need to bid the cost of the long haul circuits as part of AFCGI.

The Government will provide the required long haul circuits through DISA or other Government mechanisms.

The Offeror should include costs associated with defining and managing the overall network IAW with the requirements, however, do not include the cost of the long haul circuits as part of AFCGI.

13 SOW 1.6.001 In the SOW 1.6.001 Compliance Table, there is a reference to the document AFCGI SSAA AFCGI System Security Accreditation Appendix 23 May 2024. We did not see this document in the Bidder’s Library;

may we get access to it?

The AFC SSAA provided in the Bidders Library dated 20230317 is the most current. The compliance table date in the SOW has been updated.

14 Pricing Template

For the Prime, when completing the templates for hours are the Teammates / Subcontractor Hours included or excluded? The CLIN tabs only require Subcontractor dollars, not hours. This may be a self answering question, but we want to make sure this is not an oversight in the development of the templates.

Per Section L: 11.4 TAB 3: Cost Build-up Item 5. "The Offeror shall provide teammate/subcontractor pricing data to the fidelity requested in items 1-6 above in this Section."

15 Section L No Section L states that "all files should be included in a single DoD SAFE submission," and that "If the Offeror's submission will exceed to DoD size limit, then they shall make the required number of requests to complete their submission." Will you please confirm that if we request multiple links to accommodate more than one submission because of file size limitations, all files submitted via all links will be considered?

Yes. The Government will allow submission of multiple files if necessary to fulfill the proposal submission.

16 N/A For the single Mil-Ka GEP for the first launch, is the implication that it would need to connect directly to the SVV interim MOC through a network provided by AFCGI – and the control/scheduling/management of that GEP would still need to be by some portion of AFCGI in some manner? (Specifically noting that the rest of the DOC/AFCGI infrastructure is not expected to be through GRR until ATP+24 months per the CDRL C002 Systems Engineering Lifecycle Reviews; and SOW para 2.1.2.007.)

Yes.

17 SOW 3.5, 7th paragraph

Regarding the “make-before-break” aspect of GEP coverage (SOW section 3.5, 7th para), can you tell us what the desired support would be regarding length of continuous contact for a set/plane of satellites and what the data transport the S2G link would be handling, especially considering the comment in the glossary that the sequential contacts could alternate between links. Please provide more details on a use case to be supported.

The length of continuous communication is to be determined.

18 SOW 3.6.005 For the DOC facility accreditations, was the construction completed to ICD-705 requirements, or is there a potential need for additional construction/modifications? Or is the SCIF area expected to be a sub-construction within the Secret area that would be completed to ICD-705 requirements at time of future build?

The entire DOC area will be constructed to meet ICD- 705 requirements to include the areas indicated for use at Secret Open Storage.

19 GFX_GFI List and SOW

We have a concern that PDR is very late for final identification of which sites are acceptable for the GEPs (per the GFX_GFI List) – especially for the one GEP needed before F2 launch. Would SDA consider providing the final site identification/approval earlier to mitigate the schedule risk?

SDA will provide the information as soon as it is known.

20 DD-254 The contract docs mention/detail SAP-level requirements for cloud and DOC-site systems, but the DD- 254 does not have SAP access listed. Is it possible to get an amendment, or would that follow later if/when SAP requirements were added?

SAP requirements will be added at a later date.

21 SDA DOC

Notional Floor Design Document

Slide 3 The third slide of the SDA DOC Notional Floor Design document in the Bidder's Library highlights rows 10 and 13 in a light green and 11 and 12 in a light yellow. What is the significance of that highlighting?

SDA updated document to clarify.

22 N/A Will personnel supporting from contractor facilities be able to access AFCGI cloud platform internals via SIPR/JWICS, or will a local classified lab system be required?

Yes, Contractors will be able to access the classified AFCGI cloud platforms via RDP/Web across standard DOD Networks including SIPRNet and multiple TS options. A local classified lab is not required.

23 Section M 6th paragraph

In Section M, Para. 6: Evaluation of Factor 2: Technical Solution: SDA references “Connecting to Mission Partners and external users." Can SDA list the external users?

Not specifically, at this time. In general, partners and external users includes government labs, service components, other government entities, and their supporting organizations.

24 SOW 3.6.005 This SOW item identifies safes. Will we get a DoDAAC number tied to this contract or will we have to procure through other means?

After the contract award the contractor will be provided the information required to proceed with the procurement.

25 SOW 3.6.007 and 3.6.008

Will you provide a definition of support when referring to site survey and accreditations? AFCGI performer will conduct site surveys as needed to support their GEP Integration Plan and support certifications for RMF/cyber (ATC, ATO, CUI handling) and spectrum authorizations/approvals.

26 N/A Would SDA consider providing a CUI classification guide or some other form of specific guidance identifying what is CUI and how to share with proposal partners?

SDA will not issue a CUI specific SCG. Offerors should continue to follow the CUI markings on the provided documents and share them IAW DoDI 5200.48.

27 Could the Government please clarify the start date of the contract post award? Anticipate 02 December 2024 ATP 28 Line 596 – manage AFC ground segment network Communications including DISA provided circuits. Is the Government covering the cost for all DISA circuits required separately from the AFCGI contract?

The Government is covering the cost for all DISA circuits required separately.

29 Line 647 – How does the Government intend to supply threat notifications to the contractor and in what form?

Threat notifications can be received from multiple sources, but generally are supplied to the contractor via Situational Awareness Report (SAR) emails.

30 We believe it is in the government’s best interest to include ODCs, such as in CLIN005, to allow flexibility in the GEP solutions for your trade analysis. Where would the government like to see these ODC costs proposed?

ODCs may be included in CLIN 0005. ODCs beyond CLIN 0001 & CLIN 0005 should be included in CLIN 0009.

31 Can the Government define “Key Walk test” listed in SOW requirement line 794? The Key Walk test is a check to ensure the crypto keys are loaded on the SV correctly.

32 Does SDA already have a Facility Installation Agreement in place with the Redstone Arsenal garrison?

Can you provide the details on what is and is not included in this agreement?

SDA does have a Facility Installation agreement in place. Details of the agreement are not needed to propose.

33 Are there engineering drawings available for the building showing structural, electrical, environmental etc. information? If not, is there going to be an opportunity to tour and capture this information (Ref:

FAR 52.327-01)?

The engineering drawings are not available at this time for the building showing structural, electrical, environmental etc. information.

There will an opportunity to capture this information post award.

34 Are the walls shown in the DOC Notional Floor Design already in place? No.

35 Can the Government provide the current ISP drop locations in the DOC facility? Is there more than one service provider?

The current government ISP drop location is Room #112. There are no commercial ISP connections in place or planned at this time.

36 Is it the Government’s intent to have rooms 1,3,4,5 and 6 to be operated and accessed at different classification levels (e.g. CUI conference room 1, CUI room 6, Secret room 5, TS/SCI room 4 and SAP room 3)?

Inorder to have unescourted access to rooms 1,3,4,5 and 6 a TS/SCI clearence is required. The rooms will be able to support and operate at multiple security levels.

37 The SDA DOC Notional Floor Plan provided in the bidder’s library shows rooms 1,3,4,5, and 6 only accessed at the TS/SCI level.

Correct

38 The AFGCI GEP assumptions states for bidding purposes, AFCGI offeror should propose a minimum GEP laydown at the four locations identified... But the next bullet states SDA welcomes commercial antenna services in the technical approach if schedule and cost benefits are realized. These two statements seem to be in conflict with one another, particularly if the commercial approach is not at government locations. Could the gov’t clarify the requirement for the GEPs?

There is no conflict, the offeror should propose the solution that best satisfies the requirements.

39 3.4.3.015 states “(U) The Contractor shall participate in the planning for Cooperative Vulnerability and Penetration Testing (CVPA), and Adversarial Assessment (AA) testing. All cyber T&E activities will be executed in accordance with the DoD Cybersecurity Test and Evaluation Guidebook." These statements are in conflict. Can you clarify if you mean the AGCGI offers should be involved in the planning or the execution of these?

The AFCGI awardee will be involved in the planning of both the CVPA and AA - NOT the execution.

40 Can the gov’t elaborate on the entity the offeror should coordinate security activities? SDA Security Office

5. AFCGI

Section M Evaluation Factors

9 Evaluation of Factor 5:

Small Business Participation

“The evaluation of Small Business Subcontracting and Commitment to the Small Business Program applies to all Offerors, except that Small Businesses are not required to submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan and will receive an Acceptable rating.”

Question:

Section M mentions that a Small Business Subcontracting Plan is required for Large Businesses, however there is no mention of a Small Business Subcontracting Plan in Section L – Proposal Instructions. Please confirm that a separate Small Business Subcontracting Plan is required from Large Businesses, in addition to the Small Business Participation Commitment Document. Further, please explain where in the proposal the Small Business Subcontracting Plan should be included.

Per Section L, Item 9: Volume V: Small Business Participation, "The Offeror shall submit a Small Business Utilization Plan (SBUP) and/or Small Business Participation Commitment Document (SBPCD) (see Attachment 4b) detailing their anticipated small business inclusion for this procurement to include selection, integration and evaluation processes."

It should be included in Volume V.

00.SF33

FA240124R0

001_Solicitati on (Model Contract)

Section B & Section F

CLIN 001 overlaps the dates of option years CLIN 2, 3, and 4. The same issues is with CLIN 5 and CLIN 6, 7, and 8. This implies that operations and maintenance for the system is separate and overlapping with the development and deployment of the system.

Question:

Are the dates for the CLINS correct? Should we propagate pricing out for the full time period for the base CLINS?

Yes. The dates for the CLINs are correct. Offerors should price ALL CLINs consistent with the PoP.

Exception: CLIN 0011, Trade Studies is informational and should not be priced.

4. AFCGI

Section L- Proposal Instructions

11.3 Proposal Pricing Detail

Under Section 11.2 Cost/Price, Sections 11.2.1 to 11.2.2 are tied to Tab 1 and Tab 2 respectively; then Section 11.4 is tied to Tab 3, Section 11.5 is tied to Tab 4, Section 11.6 is tied to Tab 5, and Section 11.7 is tied to Tab 6. Section 11.3 does not have a Tab number reference.

Question:

Please confirm what Tab 11.3 Proposal Pricing Detail should be tied to.

11.3 Proposal Pricing Detail should be tied to Tab 2.

8. AFCGI

DD254 (CUI)

Block 1b

According to Block 1b of the DD254, Contractors will require Top Secret storage in support of this effort.

Question:

Since Block 1b is applicable for only collateral level safeguarding requirements per DCSA, does the Government anticipate the Contractor to access Top Secret collateral level material at the Contractor’s site for this effort?

The government provided a draft DD254 that will need to be updated during the award process.

8. AFCGI

DD254 (CUI)

Block 1b

According to Block 1b of the DD254, Contractors will require Top Secret storage in support of this effort.

Question:

Does the Government require Top Secret safeguarding at the time of proposal, or will this be a requirement post-award?

This will be a post-award activity

1. AFCGI

SOW (CUI)

2.8 Trade

Studies and Analysis of Alternatives

2.8.001 (U) The Contractor shall conduct technical trade studies, analysis of alternatives assessments, and other technical analysis efforts at the direction of the government.

Question:

Please confirm this is not to be addressed in the submitted proposal.

CLIN 0011, Trade Studies is informational and should not be priced.

4. AFCGI

Section L Proposal Instructions

2 Submission Instructions

In the paragraph under the heading Proposal Format Instructions, the second to last sentence states:

“Page numbering should re-start at the beginning of each section or volume.”

Question:

To ensure our proposal is compliant with the proposal format instructions, should this reference pertain to tabs instead of sections?

Yes.

4. AFCGI

Section L Proposal Instructions

7 Volume III:

Past Performance ; PPQs

The last sentence in the paragraph pertaining to Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) states: “Note PPQs completed by the Government and the PPQ POC list are not included in the page count.”

Question:

Please confirm that PPQs shall be submitted directly to SDA per instructions in Section L and thus would not be included with Offeror’s Volume III: Past Performance.

Correct. PPQ are not included in the PP volume;

However, the PPQ POC list should be include but is not part of the page count.

4. AFCGI

Section L Proposal Instructions

11 Volume

VII:

Cost/Price;

Cost/Price Organization Table

The second to last paragraph before 11.1 Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) Structure states: “For each volume listed above, Offerors shall submit one (1) electronic (soft) copy with appropriate classification markings. The electronic copy will be considered the official copy.”

Question:

Does this reference pertain to the Cost/Price Organization Table? If so, does each Tab (1-6) identified in the table need to be submitted as a separate electronic (soft) copy?

The reference is for the proposal. Each Volume (not tab) should be submitted separately. Tabs should be included in the volume as one file.