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STAR Sources Sought / Request for Information Support to Training & Adversary Replication (STAR) Consolidated Questions and Answers
Acquisition Strategy
| 1 |
| RFI, Performance Period; PWS 2 |
| The RFI states a one-year base period plus three option periods, four years total. PWS paragraph 2 states a Base Year from contract start through 31 October 2027, Option Year 1 from 1 November 2027 through 31 October 2028, and an optional six month extension for emergencies only. Request the Government confirm the intended period of performance and option structure. Confirmed as the period of performance will depend on when the government decides is the best period of performance to ensure a solicitation is provided with the best interest of all parties. |
| 2 |
| PWS 2.5; PWS 3.1.7 |
| What contract type does the Government anticipate for base services, to include firm fixed price, time and materials, cost reimbursement, or a hybrid? The PWS references firm fixed price not to exceed structures only for travel and for reach back and surge support. Request the Government also confirm whether EW, OW, and Cyber Range scope will be established as separate CLINs or as a single service CLIN. Separate CLINs for the above and contract type will depend on responses received during the RFI period and what makes the most sense. I can confirm T&M is not currently being used. |
| 3 |
| PWS 3.5 |
| Request the Government identify the incumbent contractor and the current contract vehicle. Does the Government anticipate requiring an Associate Contractor Agreement at award, and if so, with which associate contractors? The contract number is FA251822C0003. Please review on SAM.GOV. |
Security, Staffing, and Transition
| 4 |
| PWS 2.6.1; 2.6.4; 2.6.5; 2.3.1 |
| PWS paragraph 2.6.2 requires a Top Secret facility clearance at time of award, and paragraphs 2.6.4 and 2.6.5 require assigned personnel to hold final Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility, prior SAP experience, and successful completion of a Government counterintelligence scope polygraph. PWS paragraph 2.3.1 limits position vacancies to 14 calendar days. Request the Government clarify the phase in timeline for clearance, SAP access, and polygraph adjudication, confirm whether the Government will sponsor counterintelligence scope polygraphs, and confirm whether a grace period applies to positions pending access. The expectation is any vendor would be able to provide services and would have personnel in place to support the contract as defined by the solicitation. The phase in period will be determined at a later date. |
| 5 |
| PWS 3.4.1 |
| Will incumbent personnel clearances, SAP accesses, and unit certifications transfer to a successor contractor, and will the Government facilitate incumbent crossover and shadowing during the phase in period? That will be addressed in a future solicitation. |
| 6 |
| PWS 2.6.4; 2.6.5 |
| Request the Government identify which Special Access Programs and Alternative Compensatory Control Measures are within scope, to the extent releasable. PWS paragraph 2.6.5 states no costs will be reimbursed for personnel who fail to meet security requirements. Request the Government confirm that replacement of personnel denied SAP access will not count against the vacancy standard in paragraph 2.3.1. The expectation is any vendor would be able to provide services and would have personnel in place to support the contract as defined by the solicitation. |
Scope, Property, and Data Rights
| 7 |
| PWS 3.3.3.5; 2.2.1 |
| The draft PWS contains a comment indicating that advisory and assistance services language will be reviewed and potentially placed in a separate CLIN. Certain tasks, including representing 33 RGS interests in cyber range project planning and communicating unit requirements to OTTI, may constitute advisory and assistance services. Request the Government confirm whether A&AS scope will be segregated into a separate CLIN and describe how organizational conflict of interest will be evaluated and mitigated. No A&AS on this effort |
| 8 |
| PWS 2.8.1; 2.8.2 |
| PWS paragraph 2.8.1 states the Government has unlimited rights to data for all deliverables and that all products developed under the PWS are Government property. Request the Government confirm that contractor background intellectual property, commercial software, and commercially available platforms furnished in performance may be delivered with restricted rights, limited rights, or commercial license terms under DFARS 252.227-7013, 252.227-7014, and 252.227-7015, and that unlimited rights are intended to apply to deliverables first produced under the contract. The statement is clear the government has unlimited rights for data. Please review all clauses. |
| 9 |
| PWS 2.10.1; Appendix A; Attachment 1 |
| PWS paragraph 2.10.1 states the Government will not provide any Government Furnished Property. Appendix A identifies extensive Government mission systems the contractor is required to maintain, operate, inventory, and deploy, to include GPS EA suites, FTSAT, Red Yak, Badger, IMATE, GMT, test measurement and diagnostic equipment, generators, and cyber tools. Attachment 1 is currently blank. Request the Government reconcile paragraph 2.10.1 with Appendix A and populate Attachment 1. The contractor will not be furnished with any systems beforehand, they will have the systems necessary to support the role and equipment. |
| 10 |
| PWS 3.3.3.2; 3.3.3.9 |
| PWS paragraph 3.3.3.2 requires the contractor to develop, update, and manage a repository of tools, exploits, and malware emulating adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures. Request the Government identify the authorities, Rules of Engagement, and USCYBERCOM Standing Ground Rules governing this work, confirm whether tool development occurs in a Government furnished and accredited environment, and confirm whether licenses for the tools listed in Appendix A paragraph A.9 are Government furnished. No updates will be provided. Use your business rules to determine if there would be any conflict. |
| 11 |
| PWS 3.2.2; 3.3.3 |
| The Future Work Option tasks in PWS paragraphs 3.2.2 and 3.3.3 represent substantial additional scope. Request the Government confirm whether these will be established as priced options, separately funded CLINs, or task orders under an indefinite delivery vehicle, and whether offerors will be required to price them at time of proposal. Price at the time of proposal |
| 12 |
| PWS 2.5; 3.1.9; 3.2.2.3 |
| PWS paragraph 2.5 states approximately 100 days of travel is required per year. PWS paragraphs 3.1.9 and 3.2.2.3 each state support of up to 100 TDY days per year. Request the Government confirm whether 100 days is an aggregate program ceiling or applies per discipline or per position, in order to estimate the not to exceed travel CLIN. Aggregate |