GEODSS_Industry_Q A_Round_2.pdf

FA2517-13-R-8001 GEODSS Industry Day

Questions and Answers Round 2

Question

Draft

PWS/RFP

Para #

QUESTION ANSWER

1 RFP Section I

FAR 52.222-

Will this contract include the FAR 52.222-17 clause (Nondisplacement of

Qualified Workers)?

Yes, this clause will be included in the final RFP

2 RFP Section I

FAR 52.228-

Defense Base Act (DBA) insurance (FAR 52.228-3) is cited – is this applicable to Diego Garcia?

This clause will be removed.

3 RFP Section I

FAR 52.228-

What special insurance is required (FAR 52.228-5 Insurance—Work on a

Government Installation)?

FAR 28.306 identifies insurance requirements for fixed-price contracts. If work is to be performed on a government installation, the requirements of FAR 28.307-2 must be met.

4 RFP Section I

FAR 52.229-

Any special tax considerations for Diego Garcia (52.229-6

Taxes—Foreign Fixed-Price Contracts)?

None that are anticipated. This is a standard clause that is required in all fixed-price contracts with performance outside the United States.

5 RFP Section I

FAR 52.229-

NM Gross Receipts Tax (FAR 52.229-10 State of New Mexico Gross

Receipts and Compensating Tax) – Can you provide guidance if this has ever been waived since operations are conducted for space operations?

There is precedence for at least a portion of this tax being waved. Offerors are encouraged to contact the requisite state agency to determine how taxes are applied if performance is on an Air Force contract.

6 RFP Section I

DFARS

252.225-7048

Will we need to execute any TAA with the Department of State for

GEODSS contract execution?

Sharing technical information with foreign nationals is not part of the GEODSS contract requirement, so a Technical

Assistance Agreement is not required.

7 RFP Section

L DFARS

252.215-7009

The proposal adequacy checklist includes many cost-type factors. Will these all be applicable since it is a FFP contract? Do we need to provide cost/pricing buildup for prime offeror? Any sealed package from subcontractors?

This clause will be removed.

8 RFP Section

L D.1.a. Past

Performance

Contract

Citations

Why are prime contracts not considered for past performance? In order to give offerors maximum flexibility to submit what they felt were their strongest past performance citations, the Government determined requiring a citation for past experience as a prime was not prudent. However, Past

Performance Relevancy criteria will be revised to incorporate Program Management experience in subcontracting, management of CBAs, and contract transitions.

Round 2

Question

Draft

PWS/RFP

Para #

QUESTION ANSWER

9 RFP Section

L D.1.a. Past

Performance

Contract

Citations

Why does the prime not have to submit a citation for being a prime on a previous contract?

In order to give offerors maximum flexibility to submit what they felt were their strongest past performance citations, the Government determined requiring a citation for past experience as a prime was not prudent. However, Past

Performance Relevancy criteria will be revised to incorporate Program Management experience in subcontracting, management of CBAs, and contract transitions.

10 RFP Section

M C.

Will the Government consider adding more evaluation factors, such as subcontracting, CBAs, and transition experience?

Past Performance Relevancy criteria will be revised to incorporate Program Management experience in subcontracting, management of CBAs, and contract transitions.

11 RFP Section

M C.1.b.

It appears that the relevancy criteria for past performance is mapped to several PWS sections and can be used for guidance. However, the titles are slightly different, and we assume Supply is applicable to Chapter 6

(Logistics Management). Please clarify the mapping or definitions to ensure we properly evaluate for the strongest citations.

Relevancy criteria is mapped to PWS Chapters. The mapping and intent will be clarified in the RFP.

12 RFP Section

M C.1.b.(2)

Please clarify what is meant by "major or critical aspects of the requirement."

A "major or critical" aspect of the requirement is one of the functional areas listed under "Relevant (R)" in Section

M.C.1.b.(2) of the RFP. This will be clarified in the RFP.

13 RFP Section

M C.2.e.

Downward

Pricing

Will downward pricing be required in each FFP CLIN, or will it be sufficient to show it in only one CLIN, assuming the total value of all the

FFP CLINs decreases from year to year?

The intent of downward pricing is that the FFP portion of the contract be reduced in price from year to year. How the offeror achieves this will be up to them. As long as the total value of the FFP CLINs declines from year to year, the offeror has the option of achieving the cost savings in only one FFP CLIN or a combination of all three. The RFP will be revised to better explain this intent.

Round 2

Question

Draft

PWS/RFP

Para #

QUESTION ANSWER

14 RFP Section

M C.2.e.

Downward

Pricing

Technical Subfactor 5 requires downward pricing from year to year in the

FFP CLINs. Since the Base Year is 11 months and Option Year 1 is 12 months, please provide clarification on how this will be evaluated.

The evaluation will be based on the unit prices. Option year 1 unit prices must be lower than the base year unit prices in the FFP CLIN for at least one site. It is understood that the total amount (unit price X 12) may be higher in option year 1 than in the base year (unit price X

11). As long as option year 1 unit prices are lower, a higher total amount will not result in a fail of the subfactor.

The RFP will be revised to reflect this.

15 RFP Section

M C.2.e.

Downward

Pricing

What are your expectations in regards to downward pricing relative to contract scope that downward pricing runs counter to inherent annual

CBA wage escalations and defined job descriptions?

Downward pricing is a technical subfactor that must be passed in order to be considered for award. The expectation is to achieve this through contractor-generated efficiencies, not requirement cuts. No minimum percentage or dollar value decrease is required, as long as each successive year is cheaper than the previous year

(see question 14 for how downward pricing will be evaluated between the base year and option year 1).

Offerors are reminded not to escalate proposed out year labor rates. Should an equitable adjustment based on a

CBA increase be necessary, this will be subject to separate negotiation.

16 RFP Section

M C.2.e.

Downward

Pricing

Will downward pricing be achieved by a decreasing requirement? Downward pricing is a technical subfactor that must be passed in order to be considered for award. The expectation is to achieve this through contractor-generated efficiencies, not requirement cuts. No minimum percentage or dollar value decrease is required, as long as each successive year is cheaper than the previous year

(see question 14 for how downward pricing will be evaluated between the base year and option year 1).

Offerors are reminded not to escalate proposed out year labor rates. Should an equitable adjustment based on a

CBA increase be necessary, this will be subject to separate negotiation.

Round 2

Question

Draft

PWS/RFP

Para #

QUESTION ANSWER

17 RFP Section

M C.2.e.

Downward

Pricing

FFP is the contracting vehicle, please explain why does the Government care if there is a declining price curve? The successful contractor will provide the best price independent of out year cost reductions. It would benefit the Government if the cost reductions were provided on day one not on a sliding scale over several years

Downward pricing is a technical subfactor that must be passed in order to be considered for award. The expectation is to achieve this through contractor-generated efficiencies, not requirement cuts. No minimum percentage or dollar value decrease is required, as long as each successive year is cheaper than the previous year

(see question 14 for how downward pricing will be evaluated between the base year and option year 1).

Offerors are reminded not to escalate proposed out year labor rates. Should an equitable adjustment based on a

CBA increase be necessary, this will be subject to separate negotiation.

18 PWS 1.1.1 Para 1.1.1 (GEODSS PWS Requirements) states the Contractor furnished materials and equipment shall include vehicles, vehicle fuel, tools, custodial supplies, etc. Does the Government intend to include a more specific list of the type of vehicles, vehicle fuel, tool, etc. that will be needed at the specific sites?

Equipment lists, parts inventories and GFP lists will be provided in the Bidder's Library, however it will be up the offeror to determine what vehicles, fuel and tools, will be necessary to best meet the requirement.

19 PWS 1.1.2 Do you have a timeframe for when more information will be available on the N-CSDS Sidecar? Will it be classified?

IPD is currently updating affected documents as a result of the system upgrades. Most of these documents will be in a finalized draft by the July timeframe to support DT but may be updated to reflect DT findings. A few documents (like the TOs) will not be finalized until after Type 1 training (to incorporate training comments) which is provided ~ 45 days before OT&E (2015). The bulk of the documentation is unclassified, but there is a classified appendix (secret) to the sidecar system spec to capture the Time-to-Live values. The POAM is also classified secret.

Round 2

Question

Draft

PWS/RFP

Para #

QUESTION ANSWER

20 PWS 1.1.2 N-CSDS Sidecar Operational Maturity - is the installation and test checkout procedure provided? Or will it require development from scratch?

There is no formal CDRL delivery for a standalone ICO document for the sidecar. The network diagram, training materials, and other documentations

(like site surveys) should allow someone to properly connect the sidecar to GEODSS and SIPRNET at each

GEODSS site. Once the system is physically installed, the TOs has instructions for powering up the system and getting it ready for ops. It also has instructions for field installation of HW and SW updates with corresponding instructions for verifying system functionality after the installation (e.g., how to generate test inputs and inject into sidecar front-end). Note that each SW installation from the L2 contractor should also come with custom instructions as each SW updates may potentially be unique, so the TOs obviously do not have this unique information.

21 PWS 2.1.2.2 Will the SOI software package (PWS Section 2.1.2.2) be available to the

GEODSS contract at no cost and with no data right restrictions?

Yes.

22 PWS Chapter

What is the frequency of exercises/testing? PWS section 3.1.3 states it will only occur during normal operating hours of 16/7 schedule.

All requirements in the PWS are on a 16/7 basis, unless specifically identified otherwise (i.e. emergency response).

How the contractor chooses to staff to meet the 16/7 requirement is at their discretion. If a requirement arises that is outside the contractor's normal 16/7 operating schedule, that requirement will be subject to separate negotiation and modification.

23 PWS Chapter

It appears the GEODSS contractor is responsible for Org level (tier 1) maintenance, but just need to coordinate for depot level (tier 2) support.

Is that correct?

The GEODSS requirement is for level 1 maintenance, with no level 2 maintenance required. The O&M contractor will have the responsibility to request and support level 2 maintenance

Round 2

Question

Draft

PWS/RFP

Para #

QUESTION ANSWER

24 PWS Section

2, 2.1

How is SOI 100% requirement calculated? How are all Performance standards listed in the table calculated?

The SOI requirement is calculated by a tasking database that shows all stages of the SOI process. Operators input date or check off an item when it is accomplished.

An email is received from NASIC saying if the SOIs tasked were good or need retransmitting. Acc is calculated according to the process described in PWS 2.1.7.1. The remaining standards' calculations are identified in the table.

25 PWS

Appendix B

Do the sites operate under Risk Management Framework today? No.

26 General Please provide a list/schedule of current required Periodic Maintenance

Inspections

These will be provided in the Bidder's Library.

27 General Will the Government identify all equipment/materials transferring in an inventory list? This will support understanding and reduce risk during transition period.

Equipment lists, parts inventories and GFP lists will be provided in the Bidder's Library.

28 General Will incumbent reports/CDRLs be available in a “bidder’s library”? Deliverables will be provided, minus any proprietary information.

29 General Will the Bidder's Library contain IMDS hours and data? The Bidder's Library will not contain IMDS data, but there are on average each month 310 IMDS entries at Det 1, 320 entries at Det 2, and 296 entries at Det 3.

30 General Have you considered the significant risks associated with the management of union employees and collective bargaining agreement negotiations at the other two sites? If so, how will this be evaluated under subfactor 2?

The Government has considered this and it will be addressed through revised past performance relevancy criteria.

General

Is contractor furnished maintenance software used? All software is either furnished or paid for by the

Government.