Questions and Answers dated 29 May 2020.pdf

Amendment 2 Attachment

Questions and Answers

29 Jul 2020

1. Q: Is the contractor required to procure and pay for student lodging through each phase of training?

A: No. If the contractor does not provide lodging they cannot bill for lodging cost. If contractor cannot acquire lodging for training iteration within the surrounding area and the government cannot find suitable lodging, the contractor cannot meet the terms of agreement due to safety risk of training.

2. Q: Para 2.12.1 outlines that Contractor’s training schedule shall not exceed the “indicated days of availability.” Is there an outlined amount of days per phase or total number of days that are outlined to support this training?

A: Each amount of training days will be established Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) call. Also, sometimes the training days may be indicated by a course of training outlined by the vendor.

- Example, a paramedic refresher can range from 8 days to 10 days. However, the NREMTP guideline outlines an 80 hour block of instruction.

- Example regarding when the GOV REQUEST specified days: if the GOV is requesting training from Jun 1 – Jun 10 the contractor is expected to honor that.

3. Q: Para 2.13.1.1.4 states the training schedule must integrate with the current TRADET ULT schedule. Is it possible to receive this schedule? If the contractor provides SIPR means of communication can it be sent to them?

A: It is not possible to receive the schedule. 2.13.1.1.4 is related to JTAC training. Currently, the unit does not have current/qualified JTACs. Once the program is established over the performance period, training will be requested as needed using the Blanket Purchase Agreement instructions. No classified material is included in this requirement.

4. Q: Who is responsible (contractor/GOV) for providing boats for maritime training?

A: Both. Dependent on the training event and requested items. It will be outlined in the individual Blanket Purchase call.

5. Q: Is the contractor responsible for providing Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR)?

A: When requested in the individual BPA call, yes.

6. Q: Can this requirement be facilitated as an SBA 8 (A) Set-Aside?

A: It has been determined that this will be a 100% small business set-aside.

7. Q: Can this requirement be facilitated as a HUBZone Small Business Set Aside?

A: It has been determined that this will be a 100% small business set-aside.

8. Q: Can this requirement be facilitated on the GSA PSS (00CORP PSS) 874-1 SIN Schedule as a Small Business 8(a) Set-Aside? If so, will the government add this contract vehicle to allow small businesses an adequate opportunity to compete and support this requirement?

A: It has been determined that this BPA requirement is solicited for open market as a 100% Small Business Set-Aside; however, this does not preclude a vendor from proposing prices from a GSA contract.

9. Q: Can you guide the level of effort expected (Total Labor Hours, Labor Hours by Key Team Members, etc.) to complete the Performance Work Statement (PWS)?

A: This requirement is for a Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA). Level of effort is left to the vendor to complete the performance-based requirements in the Performance Work Statement as applicable to future BPA calls. Details of training requirements will be provided at the time of the Blanket Purchase Agreement call.

10. Q: Approximately how many FTEs are anticipated to be required on this contract? Do these FTEs require security clearance?

A: A pre-determined amount of FTEs has not been established for this Blanket Purchase Agreement. A security clearance is not required. Successful vendors who receive a Blanket Purchase Agreement award will determine their manning requirement in a response to the individual Blanket Purchase Agreement calls.

11. Q: Should all proposal volumes be submitted directly to Ms. Hanks’ email (heather.hanks.2@us.af.mil) or uploaded to a specific platform?

A: All capability statements and price lists should be emailed to heather.hanks.2@us.af.mil.

12. Q: Does the DOD | Air Force anticipate that required personnel (Key & Non-Key) supporting FA252120QB020 work remotely or on client site at DOD | Air Force offices in Patrick AFB FL?

A: The Air Force does not expect Key or Non-Key personnel to work on site at Patrick AFB, FL.

13. Q: In trying to calculate annual work hours for this project (FA252120QB020), does DOD | Air Force use 2,080 (i.e., 40 hours/week * 52 weeks) for employees/contractors according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Federal Standard? If no, please advise on how many hours per year are established for a full time under this contract. Does the DOD | Air Force calculate annual work hours based on 2,080, 1920, 1860, or “other”?

A: The intent of this requirement is to award multiple Blanket Purchase Agreements. A Blanket Purchase Agreement is not a contract. Each call against Blanket Purchase Agreements will identify a period of performance and training requirement for each event.

mailto:heather.hanks.2@us.af.mil

14. Q: Can the Government provide specific guidance on proposal formatting for each required volume (Technical, Past Performance, Price, etc.), including font size, graphics/tables font size, margins, and page limitations?

A: As this is for a Blanket Purchase Agreement, a capability statement along with a price list is required.

15. Q: Should/can Past Performance/Relevant Experience information be included in the Technical Proposal volume, or should Offerors provide a separate Past Performance/Relevant Experience volume for response to FA252120QB020?

A: This is for Blanket Purchase Agreement and past performance information is not required.

16. Q: Is this the first issue of this solicitation (is this a re-compete of an existing DOD | Air Force requirement or a new requirement?)

A: This is the first requirement of its kind for Patrick AFB, FL.

17. Q: Can you advise on if there were/are an incumbent provider(s) for these services? If yes – who is/are the incumbent(s) and can you provide a previous contract number?

A: As this is the first requirement of its kind for Patrick AFB, FL, there is no incumbent or previous contract number.

18. Q: If there is an incumbent, is there a reason the known incumbent may be precluded from bidding on this new or existing requirement?

A: As this is the first requirement of its kind for Patrick AFB, FL, there is no incumbent or previous contract number.

19. Q: Is this requirement part of a Multiple Award Schedule/Contract or a Single Award Schedule/Contract?

A: No

20. Q: Has the Department of Defense held preliminary meetings with specific contractors interested in responding to this solicitation?

A: No

21. Q: Is it estimated that full funding exists for this solicitation? If so, is there an intended Maximum/Minimum funding threshold?

A: This is requirement for a Blanket Purchase Agreement as such funding is not available until there is a specific training requirement needed for each BPA call.

22. Q: Does this requirement stipulate that the proposed bidder must hold an active Form DD254 Facility Clearance "Before BEING AWARDED” this contract?

A: No

23. Q: If an active Form DD254 Facility Clearance is required will arrangements be made to assist and provide adequate time to process the required paperwork or are bidders without DD254 Facility Clearance not advised to participate?

A: A Form DD 254 is not required.

24. Q: For areas where strict requirements exist for an active Secret/Top-Secret Facility Clearance would government accept a Contractor Teaming Agreements (CTA) under the GSA construct that fulfills Facility Clearance requirement?

A: There is no requirement for Secret/Top-Secret Facility Clearance.

25. Q: For areas where strict requirements exist for the number and types of past performance as a PRIME Vendor, would the government accept a Contractor Teaming Agreements (CTA) under the GSA construct that fulfills Past Performance requirements?

A: Past performance is not required as part of the capability statement.

26. Q: How do the table/chart of task requirements pair with the 10 training sections from sections 3.1- 3.1.12

A: The table/chart are subcategories that further expand on the 10 training sections. Example:

“Medical” can further be identified as training that aligns with 7.3 “Patient Assessment” with additional line items associated. These may not be an exhaustive for the actual requirements dictated by the training requirements for each individual Blanket Purchase Agreement call.

27. A: Do you want us to only have videographers on the sections that you mention vidoegraphing certain training or for all training sections in the Tasks table (3.4.3) and PWS?

A: Videograph requirements will be identified in the individual Blanket Purchase calls for training services.

28. Q: How many training iteration per course are anticipated per year (this will affect price)? There is mention of time constraints, but no actual number value of those constraints.

A: The intent of the solicitation is to award multiple Blanket Purchase Agreements. Once established, calls against these Blanket Purchase Agreement will vary in number and duration/training type in accordance with mission requirements.

29. Q: Is there an anticipated student/class size(s) for the training evolutions? This will be important when determine facilities, equipment, storage, instructors on call, etc.

A: Class size will be identified per Blanket Purchase Agreement call.

30. Q: A) Will courses of instruction be tailored to specific student needs at the 3, 5 or 7 CRO - PJ training level, or will classes be filled with students that have mixed levels of training/experience? B) What is the students standards (since they have different education and background experience levels) when coming to each iteration (3-skill, 5-skill, 7-sill) course?

A: Course requirement and cohort diversity will be addressed as necessary at the time of the individual Blanket Purchase Agreement call.

31. Q: The PWS indicates SERE in its title, but doesn't have any sections or language speaking to that requirement. Will there be specific SERE requirements that we will need to be aware of?

A: Specific training requirements will be identified in each individual Blanket Purchase Agreement call.

32. Q: A) The PWS references JTAC requirements in section 2.13.1.1, and the requirements JTAC Instructors must possess, but doesn't indicate any JTAC requirements in the 3.4.3 Table of Required Tasks. Where are the JTAC requirements for instructors needed? Which training segments?

A: See table 3.4.3 Line items 5.3.11.15 and 5.3.11.16

B) What are the specific instructor requirements?"

A: See 2.13.1.1.1 Instructors must hold previous rating as a JTAC-I/JTAC-E.

33. Q: "For pricing purposes:

A) What is the class number for each of the training segments? (Medical, Maritime, Aircraft, etc)

A: Class size requirements will be identified per individual Blanket Purchase Agreement call.

B) What is the number of days of training for each individual training segment? (# days for aircraft, # days for maritime)"

A: Days of training requirements will be identified per individual Blanket Purchase Agreement call.

34. Q: Solicitation Section 10 states, "Your price list must have an effective date and an ending date" is this only through the RFQ validity date of July 30?

A: Price lists should remain valid for the initial year of the Blanket Purchase Agreement. After award, annual updates to the individual Blanket Purchase Agreement will be requested. Individual BPA calls require pricing for the event requirement described in the call.

35. Q: Solicitation Evaluation statement reads, "submissions will be evaluated based on technical and price,” Are these to be in the same document (pricing list) or would you prefer to have two documents submitted (technical capability and a price list)?

A: There is no delineated method of response; however, both elements shall be included for evaluation.

36. Q: GFE-How will Contractor determine what GFE is provided and what is Contractor supplied? Is there going to be a list of GFE for each course provided so we can price accordingly?

A: There is not an overall GFE list for the Blanket Purchase Agreements. Any equipment items to be provided for use by government personnel will be identified at the time of the individual Blanket Purchase Agreement call.

37. In order to determine proper storage for each training area, what is all government property?

A: There is not an overall GFP list for the Blanket Purchase Agreements. Any property items to be provided for by the government will be identified at the time of the individual Blanket Purchase Agreement call.

38. Storage requirements will end once the property is successfully returned to the point of origin, is the Government or Contractor responsible for returning the equipment?

A: Contractor will be responsible for returning equipment.

39. Q: A) the environments may be requested for any given training evolution, are we to price each training environment separately for every training course in 3.4.3? B) For example, under the 3.4.3 chart, Pararescue operations lists all 7 environments (Nuclear, chemical, biological, desert, jungle, arctic, mountain, water), do you want us to price each training category under the 3.4.3 chart table with all 7 environmental options or only where it is called out in the table with specific reference (ie. Pararescue operations specifically calls out environmental locations.)

A: All specific training requirements will be provided per individual Blanket Purchase Agreement call. At such time response is provided and vendor will address specific training requirement pricing.

40. Q: Are the dashes indicating no instruction in that area (for example, 1.1 Character Development does not need to be addressed in the 3-skill level courses pre IQT or 7-skill level courses)?

A: Dashes indicate that the Government member has already learned that skill or is learned later on in the career not included in the Blanket Purchase Agreement overall requirement.

41. A) Are you wanting our technical capability (training and syllabus) to be arranged based on the table in 3.4.3 and fit in the section headers from 3.1.2 accordingly? B) For the pricing list, is it the USG's intent to have bidders align price list with the 3.4.3 chart (with the 3.1.2 training areas incorporated within each subsection of 3.4.3 or sparingly as they belong)?

A: All interested vendors shall respond with a capabilities statement and a vendor price list.

Arrangement for this response is up to vendor discretion.

42. The 3.1.2 categories don't all align with the categories or training tasks listed under 3.4.3 table, how then should we incorporate sections from 3.1.2 that don't align? (ie. environmental aspects fit in all categories, small unit tactics belongs..?).

A: Further categories are broken out and each subcategory will be requested when the Blanket Purchase Agreement call is made.