Round 4 - Q A.pdf

ROUND 4: QUESTIONS AND

ANSWERS

QUESTION 1:

In the event of a crisis, will the USG ensure provisions are taken to demobilize employee and dependents from the area?

ANSWER 1:

Yes.

QUESTION 2:

Will RSAF provide security personnel at contractor’s compound and assist in evacuation in the event armed conflict occurs?

ANSWER 2:

The Saudi Ministry of Defense provides security and restricted access to in-Kingdom contractor compound facilities. There are no provisions in the LOA for the Saudi Government to provide assistance for contactor evacuation in the event of armed conflict.

QUESTION 3:

Will there be a minimum amount of months ordered for each individual CLIN (10-27) expressed to contractor to establish baseline staffing for the start of the period of performance?

ANSWER 3:

No, there will not be a minimum order quantity established for each CLIN (10-27). The minimum order for the contract is set at $2,000 as depicted in 52.216-19, Order Limitations.

QUESTION 4:

What is the anticipated award date?

ANSWER 4:

The period of performance start date is located in Section F of the solicitation.

QUESTION 5:

Would the Government be amendable to providing the bidders with a copy of the LOA associated this effort? The intent is to obtain any information regarding treaties or tax exemptions between the

Unites States and Saudi Arabia that relate to this effort such that bidders can ensure to price accordingly.

ANSWER 5:

The government will not provide a copy of the LOA to bidders. Below is the applicable LOA paragraph regarding tax exemptions:

Case SR-D-SAI, LOA Standard Terms and Conditions, Paragraph 4.4.11. “Any articles, equipment, materials, supplies, goods, or other commodities purchased with USG assistance funds appropriated and allocated pursuant to foreign operations, export financing, and related programs appropriations acts in support of this LOA, whether provided directly by the USG or through procurement contracts or otherwise in support of this LOA, shall be exempt from all value added taxes and customs duties imposed by the recipient country or the full amount of the tax or customs duty must be reimbursed by the Purchaser. This exemption is in addition to any other tax exemption provided by the Purchaser through separate agreements or other means.”

QUESTION 6:

Does the Government expect the courseware materials developed under this effort to conform to eLearning standards such as SCORM, AICC, etc.?

ANSWER 6:

No, all training courseware materials will be paper based.

QUESTION 7:

Section 7.1 through 7.3 of Appendix B which defines three of the degrees of courseware changes states that the contractors may be required to include animations and graphics as part of the courseware changes. Would the Government provide additional details as to the type, complexity, etc. of graphics/animations that may be required?

ANSWER 7:

All graphics/animations that may be required will be comparable to the graphics/animations found in the applicable technical orders/data used as source documents for the courseware.

QUESTION 8:

In reviewing Section L instructions for the Technical Proposal there are PWS paragraphs which are not addressed such as 3.9. Was it the Government’s intent for offers to not address all paragraphs in the PWS? If the Government would like us to address all paragraphs where should the additional paragraphs be included in our proposal?

ANSWER 8:

The awardee will be held to the entire PWS. Paragraphs referenced in Section L for evaluation purposes were intentional and exclusive to each evaluation factor. Proposal instructions are located in Section L.

QUESTION 9:

Will RSAF be able to task students to other duties during the 18 month training period?

ANSWER 9:

The primary focus of the students will be their 5-level upgrade. As in the USAF, it is not uncommon for 3-level technicians to be assigned additional duties while in training. AFSAT or contractors will not have direct authority to prevent the RSAF from assigning additional tasking’s/duties however 18 month estimated upgrade period will not change.

QUESTION 10:

Will RSAF provide practice CDC tests or will the contractor have to prepare them? If so, will practice tests have to be submitted to the AFSAT TPM/COR IAW para 3.23.2.

ANSWER 10:

No, the RSAF will not provide any practice tests. The contractor will develop practice tests from applicable CDCs. All CDCS will undergo a disclosure review and release when/if initially requested by the RSAF. Contractor will develop tests from CDC material that has been approved for release and no additional approval is required.

QUESTION 11:

PWS paragraph 3.5 is shown to be addressed in both Subfactor 1 & 2. In Subfactor 1 there is no language in the description of the factors being evaluated that correspond to this PWS paragraph.

Can 3.5 be answered solely in Subfactor 2?

ANSWER 11:

Section L and M will remain as is, with PWS paragraph 3.5 used as a reference in both.

QUESTION 12:

Base access and operational repair of the aircraft have no corresponding PWS paragraphs. Was this intentional?

ANSWER 12:

The intent of this contract is to conduct/instruct upgrade training. The RSAF has additional contract and active military responsible for operational repair of aircraft. Base access is addressed in Section L and M, technical subfactor 1.

QUESTION 13:

Does “Scheduling” in Subfactor 1 refer to PWS paragraph 3.2 and 3.6?

ANSWER 13:

Paragraphs referenced are pertaining to performance and contractor providing assistance during combat. Contractors will be responsible for scheduling all student/group training tasks and events, academic class space and any associated support necessary to conduct training. Scheduling is also addressed under Appendix B – Definitions, para. 2.

QUESTION 14:

Re: 252.228-7001 Ground And Flight Risk (Pg 57). Does the Ground and Flight Risk Clause of the contract apply to RSAF aircraft and equipment as it would to USAF aircraft and equipment?

ANSWER 14:

Yes. 252.228-7001, Ground and Flight Risk, does apply to the RSAF aircraft and equipment as it would to the USAF aircraft and equipment.

QUESTION 15:

CLIN 0002 through CLIN 0006 requires a FFP for multiple levels of courseware development and potential changes. The guidance states: The Contractor shall develop and deliver courseware in accordance with the Performance Work Statement. The unit price shall include any and all fully burdened cost associated with the development process per hour. Bidders are asked to provide a unit price (Hours) to be multiplied by the Max Quantity listed in each CLIN. For example for CLIN 0002 the Max Quantity is 100.

Question: Does the 100 hours equate to 100 hours of completed courseware using a development-to-teach ratio of 50 development hours for one instruction hours (5000 hours of labor). Or does the 100 hours equate to 100 hours level of effort total (i.e. the 100 hours would culminate in 2 hours of instruction)?

ANSWER 15:

One-hundred (100) hours would culminate to 2 hours of instruction. In accordance with the definition provided in the performance work statement for new courseware development, 50 development hours a ratio to one instruction hour. Payment would be based on each hour of development required to develop one hour of instructional courseware.

QUESTION 16:

Amendment 0001 modified the Section M relevancy criteria for past performance. Will the Section L Attachment 2 past and present performance questionnaire be modified to reflect those same changes?

ANSWER 16:

No, the past performance questionnaire will not be modified based on Amendment 0001 change to Section M relevancy definition.

QUESTION 17:

Is it the Government or the contractor that identifies the required courseware changes? How much and what qualifies as major/minor change?

ANSWER 17:

The Government will make and approve all changes to existing USAF courseware/training materials and provide these materials to the contractor.

QUESTION 18:

How is modified courseware delivered under CLINs 0002 - 0006? How is courseware and other training materials obtained by instructors under CLINs 0010 - 0027?

ANSWER 18:

CLINs 0002-0006 provide provisions for courseware development that may be required due to unique differences in RSAF aircraft and/or equipment. For CLINs 0010-0027 the primary source documents for training will be the applicable CFETPs and FTD courses, as available. These materials will be provided to the contractor after contract award. CFETPs are available for download at http://www.e-publishing.af.mil. FTD course charts can be requested from contracting.

QUESTION 19:

Appendix B Definitions, paragraph 5. States "Contractor Travel:

Question a): In order to assure appropriate line items are identified for inclusion in Travel CLIN 0008, please provide the Government's definition of "Foreign Services Premiums" and "Domestic Service Premiums."

Question b): Are we correct to assume "Point of origin trip(s) home" indicates employee travel to/from the KSA in support of PWS Section I paragraph 3.4. The Contractor will authorize each instructor/supporting personnel one leave trip to their home of residence after every 180 days of their assignment within the KSA. This leave period is not to exceed 14 calendar days, plus required travel time, is cost reimbursable under Travel CLIN 0008?

http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/

ANSWER 19:

Answer to a): Foreign Service Premiums and Domestic Service Premiums do not apply to this requirement. The list of travel costs under the definition for Contractor Travel in Appendix B of the PWS may all not apply.

Answer to b): Yes. Travel in accordance with PWS section I paragraph 3.4. is cost reimbursable under Travel CLIN 0008.

QUESTION 20:

In the Q&A Round 2 document the Government states in Question & Answer No. 15 that a compliance matrix will be excluded from the page count; however, Section L.2.4.3 of the Solicitation Amendment 1 does not state the compliance matrix as excluded from the page count. Based on this, would the Government please confirm that the contractor provided Cross-Reference Matrix will be excluded from the page count? This Matrix is deemed to assist the evaluators in assuring compliance with Section L, M and PWS requirements.

ANSWER 20:

Contractor provided Cross-Reference Matrix will be excluded from the page count.