BA_MFF_FA3002-16-R-0023_Q&A_Round_1.pdf

BA MFF FA3002‐16‐R‐0023

Questions and Answers ‐ Round 1

Please clarify that GFE includes: tactical radios for students, instructors and DZ crew, body armor and kit, night vision devices for students and instructors , thermals for DZ crew

GFP does not include tactical radios, body armor and kit, thermals for DZ crew. GFP does include unclassified non‐CCI radios for student use and night vision devices for drop zone crew. GFP details are summarized in PWS Appendix A‐2 and listed in detail in RFP Attachment 12. PWS Appendix A‐2 and RFP Attachment 12 have been updated for clarification.

Is it acceptable for historical weather data to be averaged over a period longer than five years? Yes.

Is the USAF providing a database system for student records or is the contractor required to provide this?

The USAF is providing a database system for Military Officer Liaison use. However, the USAF is not providing a database for the Contractor to maintain records.

What level of packing proficiency do the students need to be at with the parachute system upon graduation? Should the SOCOM standard for packing be followed or is it up to the contractor?

The level of packing proficiency is the SOCOM standard found in USSOCOM 350‐3 paragraph 9‐5.d.

Yes USSOCOM Military Freefall standards found in USSOCOM 350‐3 shall be followed in accordance with PWS 2.1.1 and 2.9.5. PWS paragraph 2.9.5 has been updated for clarification. USSOCOM MANUAL Number 350‐3 has been made available for access via access to Secure Documents.

Will training harnesses (tunnel rigs and hanging harness) for the specified parachute system be provided by the USAF?

No.

What are the specifications for the drying tower? Does a formal drying tower need to be constructed or just the requirement for hanging parachutes to dry?

There are no specifications for a drying tower. A formal drying tower is not required to be constructed. The offeror's facilities shall have all required equipment needed to support parachute drying IAW PWS 1.3., 2.1.1., and 2.9.9. PWS paragraph 2.9.9. has been revised for clarification.

What instructor parachute system will be provided/utilized? Airborne System I230 will be the instructor parachute system provided. PWS Appendix A‐2 has been revised for clarification.

Reference L.6.2.4 – Several small business categories are listed in Volume IV/Factor IV Small Business Participation ‐ L.6.2.4 but “Veteran Owned” is not listed. Can the RFP to provide for separate goal for “Veteran Owned”?

Currently, the Small Business Administration (SBA) does require or track Veteran Owned Subcontracting goals. The Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 (Public Law 106‐50) established an annual government‐wide goal of not less than 3% of the total value of all prime contract and subcontract awards for participation by small business concerns owned and controlled by service‐disabled veterans.

Reference ‐ L.5.7. Statement of Compliance with applicable Service Contract Act Wage Determination(s) and Collective Bargaining Agreement(s)* and L.5.8. Responsibility Determination Supporting Documentation – Confirm the government agrees with the approach where subcontractors separately provide required information direct to the Contracting Officer by the proposal deadline.

Subcontractors are allowed to separately provide required information direct to the Contracting Officer by the proposal deadline.

Ref: Attachment 1, A‐1, Page 3: The dates listed start in October 2014. What is the proposed 2017 – 2021 schedule? When is the first class meant to start?

There is not a defined 2017 – 2021 schedule. PWS Appendix A‐1, Page 3 is a sample schedule of projected AETC Pipeline classes. IAW PWS paragraph 2.4. the contactor shall develop and maintain course schedules and ratios per class compatible with AETC’s training pipeline. RFP Section L paragraph L.3.9.3. describes the requirements for proposed schedule of operations. The first class is expected to start upon completion of mobilization.

For purposes of reporting % goals and $$$ for the Small Business Subcontracting Plan, how should we define the base and option periods?

IAW FAR 19.204(c) ‐ (Subcontracting Plan Requirements) Subcontracting plan shall contain separate statements and goals based on total subcontract dollars for the basic contract and for each option.

Total contract dollars means the final anticipated dollar value, including the dollar value of all options.

Please confirm that for the Small Business Participation Plan, goals are to be stated in terms of the total contract, and not broken out by base and option periods.

Correct, IAW FAR 19.204(c) ‐ (Subcontracting Plan Requirements) the total contract dollars means the final anticipated dollar value, including the dollar value of all options.

Given that the Subcontracting Plan and the Participation Plan require percentages relating to total contract value, which ELIN should be used to address the varying student levels?

Varying student levels does not affect the overall anticipated Subcontracting Plan and the Participation Plan goals.

Is there a minimum requirement for student to instructor ratios during jump operations, during classroom lessons, and practical exercises? (example 5 to 1 during jumping, 16 to 2 during classroom)

No, there is not a minimum requirement for student to instructor ratios.

Is there a minimum requirement for student to pack in progress inspector (pipi) ratios during packing instruction and main parachute packing during jump operations?

Yes. The minimum requirement for student to pack in progress inspector (pipi) ratios is found in USSOCOM M350‐3 paragraph 9‐5.f. (packer 4:1 IP/instructor). USSOCOM Military Freefall standards found in USSOCOM M350‐3 shall be followed in accordance with PWS 2.1.1. and 2.9.5. PWS paragraph 2.9.5. has been updated for clarification.

Why is the Army PT test being used to evaluate physical fitness? The Army is the governing authority for Airborne operations. We require the instructors to meet these standards to ensure physical minimums are met to reduce risks associated with this activity.

Section 2.15.5.1 states that “Students need a minimum of 3 successful door exits using progression to night with O2 and full combat equipment.” Does the government require “3 side‐door exits” during the course? If so are these exits slick or with combat equipment? 3 Door exits are not mentioned again in the PWS. Please provide clarification.

Yes, of the 25 minimum jumps 3 successful door exits must be accomplished via the "side‐door" with a progression to night with O2 and full combat equipment IAW PWS paragraph 2.15.5.1.

Attachment 9, Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) ‐Does the PPQ need to be sent to the 338th by RFP due date, or is there a cut‐off time for them to have sent those to you by?

Attachment 9, Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) page 1 has been revised to state: "we request your written response no later than the proposal due date."

The PWS in section 2.1.1. states that “The Contractor shall maintain CARB certification throughout the duration of the contract”. Should this read instead, “The Aircraft Operator shall maintain CARB certification throughout the duration?”

PWS section 2.1.1. has been revised to state "The Aircraft Operator"

Reference – Attachment 10 and Appendix A‐7: Several requirements (blast and back‐up generator are two examples) appear to be extreme for existing structures needed to meet the 4‐month mobilization requirement. Could the Government update requirements in Attachment 10 and Appendix A‐7 to stratify factors into need categories? Such as those used with AFI‐10‐601 OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY REQUIREMENTS DEVELOPMENT static.e‐ publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a3_5/.../afi10‐601/afi10‐601.pdf

• Key Performance Parameter (KPP)—a must have requirement. AETC does not buy this solution without this requirement

• Key System Attribute (KSA) — a crucial requirement. AETC considers this very important but not must have

• Threshold— a factor that is required and needed, but trades or mitigation methods may be acceptable

• Objective Value— a desired value that is an operationally significant increment above the threshold

All items listed in RFP Attachment 10 and Appendix A‐7 of the PWS are Key Performance Parameter (KPP)—a must have requirement. The security requirements that have been identified are all requirements based on the Facility Security Level (FSL) II construct. We determined the FSL based on elements found within the Risk Management Process. The requirements have been derived from the Interagency Security Committee (ISC) standards for off base facilities as well as the Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) which dictate facility requirements for DoD. Here are some of the source documents referenced: ‐ UFC 4‐010‐01 DoD Minimum Anti‐Terrorism Standards for Buildings, ‐ UFC 4‐022‐01 Security Engineering: Entry Control Facilities/Access Control Points, ‐ UFC 4‐010‐02 DoD Minimum Anti‐Terrorism Standoff Distances for Buildings, ‐ The Risk Management Process for Federal Facilities:

An Interagency Security Committee Standard (August 2013) Working off of the assumption that this agency is going to be located in an “off‐installation facility” (whether contractor owned, leased, etc.)

these are the standards when these facilities are occupied by DoD personnel. Questions regarding standards such as blast mitigation, levels of protection, stand‐off, etc. can be found in UFC 4‐010‐01 DoD Minimum Anti‐Terrorism Standards for Buildings.

PWS 2.26 states "Pilots must carry a current FAA Commercial Pilot's license/FAA airdrop qualification." Request the Government clarify what is meant by "FAA airdrop qualification" as this is not a qualification that the FAA provides.

PWS paragraph 2.26.1. has been revised to read: The Contractor shall certify that the Pilots have met the requirements in the USPA Pilot Training, Certification and Qualifications contained in the Skydiving Aircraft Operations Manual…

Volume IV ‐ Are Small Business Prime vendors required to submit a response to this requirement to be compliant with the proposal instructions or is this requirement only for Large Business Primes?

Small Business offerors may include their own efforts when addressing the names, products and/or services and estimated total dollars planned to be provided by small business concerns.

There are a number of hidden rows in Attachment 4: BA MFF Pricing Model. Is it the Government’s intent that offerors shall complete all rows in the Pricing Model (hidden and unhidden rows) or only those, which are displayed in the template as provided (only unhidden rows)?

Attachment 4: BA MFF Pricing Model has been updated and non‐applicable cells have been locked.

The offeror shall enter data in unlocked yellow cells.

There is a discrepancy between Appendix A‐1a, which lists 13 courses per year, and the Pricing Model, which lists 12 courses per year. Can the Government confirm whether 12 or 13 classes are required?

PWS Appendix A‐1a is only a sample of a MFF CMS schedule that illustrates the AETC pipeline and related to the Pricing Model. The Pricing Model Instructions page states the "Quantity of 12 classes is an estimated number of classes that the Government will most likely order during each pricing period. However, this is just an estimate. The number of classes that the Government actually orders during each pricing period may vary. While estimated quantities of classes that the Government will order in each pricing period is 12 and while ELIN 0X02 (Class Size of 9‐13, the Best Estimated Student Quantity) is used to determine the Total Evaluated Price for proposal evaluation and contract award purposes, during actual performance of the contract the Government may order any of the specified class sizes (ELIN 0X01 – 0X06) and pay the specified unit price for that class size .

Moreover, during actual performance of the contract, the Government may order any number of classes of any size so long as the maximum number of students to be trained in a pricing period is not exceeded.

Can the Government provide an immediate FBO notification that suspense will be extended to TBD date to handle Q&A with information on when to expect answers and a firm proposal expense extension to 15 working days after response to industry questions and modify RPF instruction to offerors for electronic delivery of proposal?

Due to extensive questions the RFP due date will be extended to 17 May 17. Proposals must be submitted in accordance with Section L.1.8. Proposals must be submitted in both electronic and paper format as specified in L.2.2. Organization/Distribution/Number of Copies/Page Limits. In case of conflict between paper and electronic proposal copies, the paper version will take precedence.

Telegraphic or facsimile offers will not be accepted. The sealed envelope or package used to submit your proposal must show the time and date specified for receipt, the Solicitation Number, the name of the Offeror, and the Offeror’s POC name, address and phone number.