Questions_and_Responses_to_Draft_RFP_-_68-106.pdf

Questions and Responses to Draft RFP

These are responses to questions the Government has received in response to the draft evaluation language. These are not all the received questions. As responses become available to be published, the Government will add them to www.FBO.gov until all questions are responded to. Questions 1 – 67 have already been posted on the previous Question and Response documents.

Question 68: Section L 1.2.2 instructions request the subfactors in the Technical Volume to be provided in separate binders. Can the government please clarify how items a-e in Section L 3.2.2 are to be handled?

Answer 68: Each subfactor will have a separate binder and will contain all required information in Section L 3.2.2 as it pertains to the subfactor. The Executive summary should be in each binder.

Question 69: Can the government please clarify how they want the electronic files for each subfactor to be provided? (e.g., one file or individual files for each subfactor)

Answer 69: Individual files are required for each subfactor.

Question 70: Can the government please identify the relevant importance of Small Business Participation (Factor 4)?

Answer 70: The Small Business factor is less important than all other factors, however an unacceptable rating under Small Business Participation can have an adverse effect on a proposal’s evaluation.

Question 71: Can the government please clarify what costs are appropriate for mobilization and provide the mobilization CLIN (0005) in Section L 2.5.1 for completeness?

Answer 71: Mobilization includes costs associated with the development and implementation of a strategy that will lead to full performance. What costs are in mobilization are a business decision made by the offeror.

Question 72: Can the government please clarify what CLIN X003 Additional Flight Hours (Section L

2.5.1.3 and Price_Model) be used for?

Answer 72: In addition to supporting the required flying missions listed in 1.2.a–c. above, the Contractor shall support, if able, non-local MFI checkride preparation and checkride sorties, required MFI new hire sorties over and above those covered in PWS paragraph 1.2.1.8.2, and CT sorties over and above those listed in AETCI 11-219, Initial Flight Screening. Refer to PWS paragraph 1.2.12 IFT Support Functions.

Question 73: Please clarify how invoicing of International Military Students will be handled if the student Drops on Request (DOR) or do not sufficiently complete the requirements to graduate.

Answer 73: Invoicing for International Military Students will be handled in the same way as U.S. Air Force students. Contractors will receive payment for completing work IAW the PWS and the curriculum for IFT students. If the student drops or does not sufficiently complete the requirements to graduate, payment will still be made.

Question 74: It is not clear from Section M how Technical Risks will be assessed for Subfactors 1-3, and 5 (exclusive of Integrated Operations). Please clarify.

Answer 74: Risk for subfactors 1-3 will be evaluated as part of the assessment of acceptable or unacceptable. Section M 3.2.2 and 3.2.3 will be revised to make this clear.

Question 75: Please confirm that the offeror's mobilization must, at a minimum, accommodate the best estimated quantity student load identified for the First Performance Year in Appendix A-1.

Answer 75: Yes.

Question 76: Section L 3.3.5 is a repeat of the last sentence of Section L 3.3.4. Please clarify.

Answer 76: The final sentence of Section L 3.3.4 will be deleted and will remain in Section L 3.3.5.

Question 77: Please clarify if the government will request evidence of ability to meet proposed mobilization strategies/plans (e.g., signed letters of agreement from suppliers/vendors/agencies summarizing buy/use/lease agreements for aircraft, infrastructure, airport, etc.) and if these documents can be included outside the page count.

Answer 77: These documents will not count towards the maximum numbers of pages the page count.

Question 78: Does the government plan to evaluate the offerors' location(s) for climate data to ensure sufficient flying days are available? If so, can you please identify the products to be produced and the evaluation criteria?

Answer 78: Yes, the climate data at each proposed location will be evaluated along with the proposer’s concept of operations. Each proposer will submit US Government historical weather data (e.g., National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center data), averaged over a 5 year period (2010 – 2015) as part of their proposal. The weather package must include weather phenomena that may affect the proposer’s ability to conduct flying training; e.g., cloud ceiling and visibility (% or # of days better than 1500 feet (AGL) /3 statute miles ), wind (% less than student/airplane (whichever is lowest) wind limits or average wind for proposed flying periods), thunderstorm and hurricane occurrence (% of time or # days/year flying would be affected), snow accumulation (% or number of days of appreciable snow accumulation), freezing temperatures (% or number of days temp below freezing), etc. to support their solution for providing sufficient flying days at their proposed location.

Section L&M will be revised accordingly.

Question 79: The government requests the offerors define the milestones/timeline of how several important flight materials and programs will be developed in Mobilization (Subfactor 1), but the solicitation doesn't request the offeror to describe the content (e.g., key elements or details) of these governing documents. This appears to be a disconnect between Sections L&M and the importance these documents, including safety, in the priority of the program as described in the PWS. Please clarify.

Answer 79: Section L and M will be revised to reflect that draft versions of all plans and publications listed on appendix A-4 of the PWS will need to be submitted with proposals.

Question 80: Section L 3.3.1 (Subfactor 1 Mobilization) states that the offeror must be able to train students six months after FONSI and contract award. Also, Section L 1.1.5 (Minimum Proposal Acceptance Period) states the apparent winner's acceptance period must extend through the completion of the Environmental Assessment (EA). Please clarify the timeline of the EA/FONSI with regards to award to provide a clear understanding of the mobilization timeline available.

Answer 80: An environmental assessment (EA), which could take approximately 8 – 12 months and must be completed with a “finding of no significant impact (FONSI)”, will be completed between notice of the tentative award of the contract and award. The mobilization period will be 6 months.

Question 81: Is it intention of the Government to include the Quality Control Plan (Section L&M 3.4.4) under Staffing? Quality Control traditionally appears under assessment of the Management Plan (Section L&M 3.6.4). Please clarify.

Answer 81: Quality Control is intentionally in the staffing subfactor.

Question 82: Please clarify what standards the government will use in determining the "specific threat level at proposed training location(s)" (Section M 3.5)

Answer 82: Proposals will be evaluated based on SECDEF minimum security standards for a requirement of this magnitude. This standard will be provided with the final RFP. After contract award, a site visit will be conducted to evaluate the threat level of the security based on the training location(s). If it is determined that increased security measures are necessary, a modification will be processed.

Question 83: Can the government please specify over what period of time the requested schedule requested in Section L 3.6.4.1 should cover?

Answer 83: A daily schedule.

Question 84: Can the government please clarify how Measures of Merit are assigned and/or scored?

Answer 84: Specifically identified Measures of Merit have been removed from the evaluation criteria.

Question 85: When does the government expect to release past performance (Factor 3) requirements?

Answer 85: Past performance requirements will be released as a part of the RFP.

Question 86: When does the government expect to release small business subcontracting participation (Factor 4) requirements?

Answer 86: Small business subcontracting participation requirements will be released with the RFP.

Question 87: In addition to the Subfactor response content being in separate binders, is the Subfactor response content also included in the 5 Technical Volume copies?

Answer 87: Yes

Question 88: The original, executed RFP will be in the Original Volume 1 binder. What does “proposal package” mean in this paragraph?

Answer 88: “Proposal package” refers to the entire proposal submitted by the contractor.

Question 89: Is this +/- 1500 reasoning correct with 51,000 being the maximum hours?

Answer 89: Yes, +/- 1500 flight hours are correct.

Question 90: With the Government-provided Graduate Training Integration Management System (GTIMS), will the Government also provide a GTIMS Operator or is that Contractor responsibility?

Answer 90: This contract does not include a requirement for a GTIMS Operator.

Question 91: Are boxed meals allowed and/or expected?

Answer 91: Box lunches are allowed, but not expected. It is up to the contractor to determine how to meet the dining requirement based on their proposed solution.

Question 92: Are these exact requirements, emergency vehicles with appropriate clothing, tools, etc., also required for the alternate airfields or are there different procedures required given the much reduced traffic count at these locations?

Answer 92: RFP stipulated CFR services, provided or arranged to have provided, are required at each primary and auxiliary field where student training is conducted. The PWS will contain revisions that further explain the minimum requirements for areas with reduced traffic.

Question 93: Will the Government detail the waiver requirements as this will play heavily into the pricing for this effort?

Answer 93: Waivers will not be considered in the proposals. PWS paragraph 1.2.1.10 will be revised to reflect minimum requirements that must be met by all offerors. Any post-award waivers will be considered on a case by case basis. (PWS paragraph 1.2.1.10) The response to this question supercedes the previous response to question # 32 and clarifies that there will be no waiver language in the PWS.

Question 94: Request that the government amplify description of allowable Mobilization costs, e.g.

construction and/or renovation facility capital costs, housing furniture and outfitting costs, office furniture and outfitting costs, non-recurring information technology costs (academic/simulator areas, housing area(s), dining area(s)), aircraft fleet purchase and/or initial leasing costs, aircraft initial spare parts kit costs, aircraft tools & equipment initial costs, any transportation vehicle and spare parts costs, initial HR recruiting costs, initial cadre training costs, initial legal costs associated with contract preparations and management employment agreements, initial financing fees and costs, and the like.

Answer 94: Mobilization includes costs associated with the development and implementation of a strategy that will lead to full performance. It is up to the offeror to determine what will be included in mobilization based on their concept.

Question 95: Please detail the Mobilization billing period (time or objective based), invoicing and payment terms?

Answer 95: The Mobilization period will begin at time of award and will last 6 months. Payments will be made on a monthly basis. Standard electronic invoicing via Wide Area Workflow will apply.

Question 96: Please state whether and, if so, the maximum amount, expressed as a percent of total contract value or absolute value associated with Mobilization CLIN.

Answer 96: There is no limitation on the amount a contractor associates with Mobilization. Mobilization is contractor discretion.

Question 97: PWS paragraph 1.2.1.10. Must the emergency response service time for the practice field(s) match those of the primary airfield(s)? Is this being done in the current contract?

Answer 97: PWS paragraph 1.2.1.10 will be revised to reflect minimum requirements that must be met by all offerors.

Question 98: Can the government please provide a list of positions they have determined as "key personnel positions" for the offerors' response to Section L 3.4.1?

Answer 98: Section L will be modified to indicate the personnel positions the Government considers key.

Question 99: Will the government consider assessing strengths of the offeror's staffing approach (Subfactor 2) that provide enhanced flight safety to the students?

Answer 99: No. The staffing approach (Subfactor 2) will be assessed as either acceptable or unacceptable.

Question 100: Will the government consider assessing strengths of the offeror's staffing approach (Subfactor 2) that provides an inclusive, tolerant, harassment-free, and diverse training environment?

Answer 100: See answer to question 99.

Question 101: Provide update on Draft RFP Release

Answer 101: The draft RFP was released on 15 Oct 15.

Question 102: Provide update on PWS release

Answer 102: The final RFP, which includes the PWS, is expected to be release in Mar 2016.

Question 103: Provided expected Final RFP release

Answer 103: See answer to question 102.

Question 104: Does the bidder get additional weight for having instructors with greater than the 100 hr.

minimum.

Answer 104: No, the staffing plan will be evaluated as either acceptable or unacceptable.

Question 105: There was apparently no requirement for reinforcing the IP/student relationship separation that we have in AETC (a concern as DLF is in in the press).

Answer 105: The PWS requires the contractor to comply with AETCI 36-2909, Recruiting, Education, and Training Standards of Conduct.

Question 106: Are the force protection requirements clearly articulated? Another concern from recent events.

Answer 106: The security requirements in Sections L & M of RFP are currently being updated by AETC/A7S with the new SECDEF minimum security standards. The force protection requirements will be clearly articulated in the RFP.

Revision to question # 52:

Question 52: Could the government give guidance in relation to AFMAN 32-1084 as to which housing plan is most applicable? Is perhaps the space allowances for visiting quarters going to be the standard?

Previous Answer 52: AFMAN 32-1084 will be removed from the PWS. PWS, 1.2.14.1, will be revised to explain the housing guidelines.

Revised Answer: PWS, 1.2.14.1, will be revised to explain the housing guidelines.