Additional_Questions_and_Answers_2_Jun_16.xlsx

RFP additional questions

RFP, Section L, Para D 1.2.1, deleted "Continuations of Essential Contractor Services Plan"

Added to Para 5.9.3: Atch 1, Basic PWS, Atch 2 & Network 2 PWS"within 60 calendar days after contract award" deleted "at contract start".

Also added to Atch 3, ODC Mexico PWS, Para 5.9.5.

Added Proposal Due date 9 June 2016, 01:00 PM to SF33 Cover Page 5 Questions and Answers Questions with Answers not released with Amendment 0002. When do you anticipate releasing the Questions and Answers from the last round provided on April 29, 2016? Question and Answers were provided to industry on 20 May 2016. Please check FBO. N

10 CMMI certification requirement Attachment 17 – Site Visit Questions Form posted 19 May provides a response to Question 55 regarding CMMI certifications. The rationale for a clarification of the requirement suggests that “2) The Development "CMMI-DEV" model is suitable for a project that develops products or services, e.g. a software development project, which the PWS demonstrates is not the core mission of N2ITSM.” and leans heavily on suggesting that CMMI-SVC is the only certification that meets the requirements of the solicitation and its accompanying PWS’s. This is not a comprehensive approach to meeting the requirements of all Sub-Factors.

1. CMMI-SVC is well suited for Sub-Factors 1 and 2, however, CMMI-DEV is best suited for Sub-Factors 4 and 5. CMMI – SVC and CMMI-DEV share 16 common core processes but are easily distinguished by 5 key processes specific to CMMI-DEV alone (reference CMMI Consultant dated 22 Oct 2014) These are Product Integration (PI), Requirements Development (RD), Technical Solution (TS), Validation (VAL), and Verification (VER). The BASIC PWS calls out “integrate or integration” 48 times, “Development” 10 times, “solution” (as it pertains to development) 1 time, “validation” 18 times and overall “testing” 10 times.

2. Specific to CMMI-DEV within Sub-Factor 4 is requirement a) “Provide IT Project Management from concept to completion of a project (including charter, project management plan, status reporting, service design, release and deployment, validation and testing and project closure).”

3. Specific to CMMI-DEV within Sub-Factor 5: Continuous Service Improvement (PWS Task and Service Descriptions) Continuous improvement cannot be achieved without developing requirements, integrating current and new products or validating and verifying that improvements have been achieved. Additionally, according to Software Engineering Institute: CMMI for Development, Version 1.3 (2010) the Organizational Performance Management process area enables the organization to manage organizational performance by iteratively analyzing aggregated project data, identifying gaps in performance against the business objectives, and selecting and deploying improvements to close the gaps. In this process area, the term “improvement” includes all incremental and innovative process and technology improvements, including those improvements made to project work environments. “Improvement” refers to all ideas that would change the organization’s processes, technologies, and performance to better meet the organization’s business objectives and associated quality and process performance objectives.

4. CMMI-DEV is pertinent to ongoing N2ITSM efforts:

a. Microsoft System Center Suite (SCSM, SCCM and SCOM) requires XML modification for Orchestrator and Management Packs – primarily for SCSM.

b. In use is PowerShell for scripting – primarily queries for day-to-day management tasks. Also required is command line scripting for all switches, routers, firewall installs.

c. Monitoring tools require customization for configuration files and filtering – using a variety of platforms.

d. SharePoint Designer is used for custom workflows, hot spots, special web parts and various other specialty items.

5. As defined within FA2517-15-R-7001, Page 55 of 88 "Development" means all efforts towards solution of broadly-defined problems. This may encompass research, evaluating technical feasibility, proof of design and test, or engineering of programs not yet approved for acquisition or operation. This is clearly CMMI-DEV.

6. According to Software Engineering Institute: CMMI for Development, Version 1.3 (2010), the purpose of Product Integration (PI) is to assemble the product from the product components, ensure that the product, as integrated, behaves properly (i.e., possesses the required functionality and quality attributes), and deliver the product. This process area addresses the integration of product components into more complex product components or into complete products. The scope of this process area is to achieve complete product integration through progressive assembly of product components, in one stage or in incremental stages, according to a defined integration strategy and procedures. Throughout the process areas, where the terms “product” and “product component” are used, their intended meanings also encompass services, service systems, and their components.

We respectfully request that both CMMI-SVC and CMMI-DEV are appropriate certifications for the N2ITSM solicitation.

Yes, either CMMI-SVC or CMMI-DEV are acceptable. Y See section L D 1.2.2 Tab 5 Sub-factor 1

See section L C 8 and 9

18 Attachment 16, L.D.1.1.3, M.C.2.1.3 Instructions in Sections L and M do not specifically include the 6 month extension, but the pricing spreadsheet (Attachment 16) does include the 6 month extension in the formula. Could the Government please clarify if the 6 month extension is included in the Total Evaluated Price? Contractor need not to provide pricing as it is automatically calculated as half of the last year. The 6 month extension is part of the Total Evaluated Price. See Section M C.2.1.3.a and C.2.1.3.b N

19 Service Contract Labor Does Service Contract Labor Standards apply to this contract? It is mentioned in the RFP but the FAR clause in not contained in the document.

No, the service contract labor standard does not apply to the contract. N

20 Attachment 20 Size/Font In the N2ITSM_Industry_Site_Visit_Consolidated_Questions_20_May_16.xlsx document the response to question 133 requires all type be no smaller than Arial 10 Point font, and the response to question 96 limits the size of the completed Staffing Matrix Attachment 20 to 5 pages. The Staffing Matrix contains 13 columns of information and the format requires individual staffing entries per PWS, task and subtask. To be compliant and provide complete and legible information, the matrix will have to be submitted on 11x17 sheets and, since each 11x17 page counts as 2 pages, the fully completed Staffing Matrix will exceed the 5 page limit. We request the Government increase the page limit for the Staffing Matrix to 10 pages. See response to questions # 3 N

&"Times New Roman,Regular"&12ATTACHMENT 17 - SITE VISIT QUESTIONS FORM

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