RFP_QA_-_21_Jun_17.pdf

FA3002-17-R-0003, Questions & Answers

12 Jun 17

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

SON/RFQ

REFERENCE

Answered &

Posted

1 Q: Is the entire Past Performance volume due at this time or is the intent to have ALL applicable subcontractors/partners submit the PPI questionnaire

(L.4.3.5. attachment 4) to the Contracting Officer by this date?

A: Yes, the entire Past Performance Volume II is due and the due date has been extended to 6 Jul 17. See

Amendment 01

Section L, paragraph L.2.1.

15 Jun 17

2 Q: Please confirm that either the actual Past

Performance Volume II containing all other information, to be submitted with Volumes I, II, and IV by July 27th at 3:00 PM as an entire package or it is submitted only once in its entirety by the due date of 22

June 2017 as indicated within the chart at L.2.1.

A: The Past Performance Volume II due date is 6 Jul

17, see Amendment 01.

Volumes I, III, IV are due 27 Jul 17.

3 Q: Would all space purchasing for any advertising on transit be done through the selected marketing agency or does AFICA do any direct buys with sole source vendors?

A: All advertising as it relates to the recruitment of personnel interested in joining the Air Force would be done through this contract.

paragraph L.1. and

Section M paragraph M.2.

13 Jun 17

4 Q: Will the government consider extending the date for receiving past performance?

A: The Due Date for the Past Performance Volume has been extended to 6 Jul 17. See Amendment 01

Section L, paragraph L.2.1.

15 Jun 17

5 Q: We noticed that there is not a due date for questions indicated in the solicitation documents. Does the government have a cutoff date for when you will accept questions?

A: Section L paragraph L.1.5. has been revised to read as the following: “Questions and requests for clarification shall be done in writing via email only no later than 18 July 2017.”

See Amendment 01

Section L paragraph

L.1.5.

6 Q: Please clarify the verbiage and reference to DOL in

Section L paragraph L.1.

A: The Department of Labor verbiage will apply if the

Offeror chooses to utilize a Labor category that falls under the Service Contract Act. If the Offeror choose not to utilize such Labor then all option periods will suffice to be the Government's evaluation of prices under the extension of services.

L.1.

7 Q: Is the following an administrative error on Section

L, Attachment 8:

Summary tab, row 5 verbiage across top shows through

Base year 5, but Base period is 4-years, per verbiage in

Exhibit L.

Summary tab, row 5 verbiage across top shows Options as being 2 then 3, whereas verbiage in Exhibit L, shows

4-year base, 3-year option, then 2.5 year option.

Note, tabs within the excel other than “summary” appear to show all correct identifications

Attachment 8

A: The contract period of performance will include a base ordering period of 4-years. Two option ordering periods, if executed, will consist of a 3-year ordering period and a 2.5-year ordering period. The clerical error in Section L Attachment 8 has been corrected.

See Amendment 01.

14 Jun 17

8 Q: We assume that in order to award Subfactor 3, Subfactor 1, or key components of Subfactor 1 would have had to already be awarded. Please confirm that

Subfactor 3 cannot be awarded without Subfactor 1.

A: Subfactors are utilized to evaluate proposals and will not be awarded.

M.3.3. and M.3.4.

9 Q: Is it correct to assume that the sample task “Using

Technology and “Big Data” to Target Specific Market

Segments” (Subfactor 3) would be a separately functioning task order and should only contain “added support costs” that would be over and above any existing proposed “operations support” already identified within Subfactor 1, Strategic Plans? Or should the sample task stand fully on its own in both technical and cost aspects, thus contain costs for any associated high level support as well? Our clarification is to ensure we do not double up any labor associated with normal contract operations and only propose labor needed in addition to related high level support.

A: Each subfactor will be evaluated separately.

M.3.3. and M.3.4.

10 Q: With respect to the Big Data Sample TO, is the

Government expecting a $10M cost proposal from all offerors (e.g. a Design-to-Cost approach) or is it the intent that each offeror develops a cost commensurate

21 Jun 17 with its proposed solution even if that's less than

$10M?

A: It is the Government’s expectation that each offeror will develop an approach and cost commensurate with its solution that will maximize the $10M budget.

11 Q: Are the $75M and $40M strategic plan campaigns representative of a one-time campaign value or an annual campaign value? In other words in Section L

Attachment 6 would the TEP be $40M total or $380M total ($40M * 9.5 years). Section L, Attachment 1 5.0

Cost Estimate describes these as "annual budget" figures, but Section L, Attachment 8 Instructions identify the strategic plan as "separate from the reoccurring task orders" on the contract.

A: The $75M and $40M budgets are for evaluation purposes only. It is not the Government’s intent that these task orders become automatic reoccurring task orders after contract award.

Attachment 1 paragraph 5.0. and

Instructions Tab

12 Q: Are offerors to provide cost proposals for both a

$75M and $40M campaign, or only a $40M campaign?

Section L Attachment 1 indicates that a cost estimate is required for both, but there's only one cost model provided for the strategic plan and Section L

Attachment 8 Instructions reference only providing a model for the $40M campaign.

A: Offerors are to provide cost proposals for both the

$75M and $40M campaigns. The cost model is to be replicated for both amounts. Section L paragraph L.5.8.

and Section L, Attachment 8 have been revised to reflect the requirement for both.

See Solicitation Amendment 02 paragraph L.5.8.

13 Q: Per Note 4 in Attachment 7 there is no exclusion listed for the application of a fixed fee on non-equipment purchases. Can the Government please confirm that Fixed Fee is allowed on top of other ODCs and materials (excluding equipment)?

A: Fixed Fee is excluded only on the items in Note 4 of Attachment 7. All other allowable costs shall be proposed in accordance with each Offeror’s cost accounting system and standard business practices.

Attachment 7

Note 4

14 Q: Column E, Historical Total Hours Per Year, sums up the hours by labor category included in all years of the contract excluding the 'Opt 2 (6) Month' period.

Can the Government please confirm this is a formula error and the hours from that tab should roll up into the

Summary, and if so will a new template be provided?

A: Formula has been corrected, see Solicitation

Amendment 01.

15 Q: Can the Government please confirm that adherence to the Service Contract Act is a contract clause applicable to this solicitation?

A: The Service Contract Act will be applicable if the

Offeror chooses to utilize any Labor category that falls under the Service Contract Act.

16 Q: Can the Government please clarify the "Conformed to:" column of the 'Summary' tab as it relates to the title of "Housing Referral Assistant"? We fail to see the relevance of that SCA category to any of the Contract

Labor Categories.

A: The error has been corrected. See Solicitation

Amendment 02.

17 Q: Please provide the Department of Labor Wage

Determination schedule for the location(s) applicable to this solicitation.

A: It is the Government's expectation that advertising as a part of this effort will be a nation-wide campaign and locations may vary. The Offeror will select the locations that are applicable to the Offeror’s cost proposal.

18 Q: Is Section B required to be completed and submitted as part of the Volume III Cost/Price

Proposal?

A: No.

19 Q: For CLIN 0003, Travel, since it isn't explicitly listed as an exclusion is G&A an allowable cost that can be applied against direct Travel costs proposed?

A: Yes.

20 Q: Can the Government please confirm that the 38,982 annual hours identified in Section L Attachment 8 are completely independent of and unusable to support any labor required within the Strategic Plan and/or the Big

Data Sample TO?

A: The total hours in Section L Attachment 8 are

389,820 and have been provided based on historical data. Each Offeror shall populate the cost models with the labor categories of their choice and in accordance with their technical approach.

21 Q: Can the Government please confirm that the reference to a Pre-award Survey in Section M.5.7 implies the SF-1408 audit process from FAR 16.301-3 will be invoked?

A: Yes, see Section M paragraphs M.5.7. and M.5.8.

paragraphs M.5.7.

and M.5.8.

22 Q: The term "Financial Capability" implies a DCMA

"surveillance" review (not "audit") that can have up to

11 types of data reviewed (e.g. sales backlog, forecast breakout between Government and Commercial programs, etc.). Can the Government please provide more detail as to what the pre-award survey will be focused on; is it a "surveillance" review or an "audit"?

A: If a pre-award survey is performed, it will be utilized to determine each Offeror’s financial capability to meet the requirements of this solicitation.

paragraph M.5.8.

23 Q: Is there a cutoff date for when the Government will no longer accept questions regarding the solicitation?

A: Section L paragraph L.1.5. has been revised to read as the following: “Questions and requests for clarification shall be done in writing via email only no later than 18 July 2017.”

See Amendment 01

24 Q: Does the Government have an expected date when it intends to have questions answered? Will questions be answered with responses posted all at once or as they come in?

A: After the Government has ensured that the questions have been answered completely the questions and answers will be posted to FedBizOpps promptly.

In conjunction with Section L paragraph L.1.5., the questions and answers will be posted as they are received.

25 Q: Given that both the Strategic Plan and the Big Data

Sample TO pricing is dictated by the solicitation (e.g.

$75M or $40M and $10M respectively) can the

Government clarify how a Most Probable Cost assessment will impact the TEP of the offerors? In other words, since the TEP for all offerors will be the same in Attachments 6 and 7 are we to assume that the

MPC is simply assessing the realism of the individual components that make of the total price and that the end result for all bidders would still be an adjustment up to the prescribed dollar amount.

A: The MPC analysis will be performed as stated in

Section M, paragraphs M.5.5.2., M.5.5.3., and M.5.5.4.

paragraphs

M.5.5.2., M.5.5.3., and M.5.5.4.

26 Q: Section L paragraph L.5.22.1. $25,000,000

“anticipated costs”: We are assuming that this cost would be assessed to anticipated use of vendors for no more than the 4-year base period, as all other years are

“options” and not guaranteed. Please clarify the time period covered by the $25,000,000.

A: The $25M is for the 9.5 years of the contract, including option periods.

paragraph 5.22.1

27 Q: Section L paragraph L.5.22.1. $25,000,000

“anticipated costs”: In addition, we would assume that if we have any “key” vendor service that we have already anticipated “recompeting services” within that base period, we would annotate that in the proposal and not put them into the automatic assumption of use or

“anticipated costs” as they would potentially be replaced. This is specifically key in many of our technology related areas, as new technology can often cause a shift in vendor alignment. Please clarify that this methodology is in accordance and thus some vendors may be exempt from this paragraph L.5.22.1.

A: “Anticipated costs” can only be based on what the

Offeror knows at the time the proposals are prepared.

All Offerors will need to comply with paragraph

L.5.22.1.

Paragraph 5.22.1

28 Q: Section L paragraph L.5.22.1. $25,000,000

“anticipated costs”: We are also assuming that all costs related to purchase of “National Broadcast

Media” would be exempt from this calculation as those potential vendors are unknown and not selected until the actual time when a “Client” approved campaign is authorized and media competition can occur, or not occur if directed to use specific channels/networks

(NBC, CBS, History, ESPN, etc.). Please clarify that media vendors and cost are exempt from this paragraph

L.5.22.1.

A: No, media vendors and costs are not exempt if the

Offeror anticipates joint venture partners, individual companies which comprise the proposed organization, and/or critical and key subcontractors as it pertains to

“National Broadcast Media”. “Anticipated costs” can only be based on what the Offeror knows at the time the proposals are prepared. All Offerors will need to comply with paragraph L.5.22.1.

Paragraph 5.22.1.

29 Q: Section L paragraph L.5.22.1. “for each company that makes up the Offeror”: We assume this sentence goes with the second sentence “If the Offeror is a combination” and is as such specific to an Offeror who is entering into either a Joint Venture or Partnership agreement, not an Offeror that is submitting a proposal with full responsibility to perform with “key” subcontractors. Please clarify if our assumption is correct, if it is not, please define Offeror in detail.

A: This information applies to the situation where the

Offeror is a combination of firms (including joint venture partners, individual companies which comprise the proposed organization, and/or critical and key subcontractors).

paragraph 5.22.1

16 Jun 17

30 Q: Are the power point slides required with the initial

July 27th submission without notes pages? Or are they required in notes detail with the July 27th submission as well as a copy with notes pages NLT than the 4th of

August with any updates for the oral presentation? Or do we only submit the power point slides on their own by the 4th of August?

A: PowerPoint slides for the oral presentation will be printed using the PowerPoint notes page format and seven (7) copies provided no later than 4 Aug 17.

paragraph L.3.6.

31 Q: Please confirm that all “media” to be presented must arrive with initial submission on July 27th.

A: If the Offeror chooses to present media (i.e. video), these files must also be provided with Technical/Risk

Volume I and on a separate CD/DVD in electronic format only. Volume I is due 27 Jul 17.

paragraphs L.2.1.

and L.3.6.

32 Q: May we re-confirm please the due date of the Past

Performance Requirement?

A: The entire Past Performance Volume II is due 6 Jul

17 (See Amendment 01).

33 Q: Does the verbiage found in L.4.3.3 “IAW the format contained in Attachment 3” mean that we can re-create Attachment 3 and email to our clients so long as it adheres to the stipulations found in L.2.?

A: Each Offeror shall utilize Past Performance

Information Attachment 3 to complete and submit as part of their proposal (See Solicitation Amendment 02).

Each contract or effort submitted must be limited to five (5) pages.

paragraph L.4.3.3.

20 Jun 17

34 Q: If these documents are sent to the five (5) references with the clear instructions to send these items via email directly to the Contracting Officer’s identified, what would we put in this section as we assume we are not to receive a copy of the completed questionnaire from our reference, correct? Please clarify what information is anticipated in the PPQ section (Cover letters to the references requesting they fill out and send questionnaire?) or if it should be deleted.

A: Completed PPQs shall be sent by the reference directly to the Government POC identified in the PPQ form (See Section L paragraph L.4.3.5.). In addition, the completed questionnaire is not to be sent to the contractor (See Section L Attachment 4 paragraph 2).

paragraph L.4.3.5.

and Section L

Attachment 4 paragraph 2.

35 Q: Please clarify what information is anticipated in the

PPQ section (Cover letters to the references requesting they fill out and send questionnaire?) or if it should be deleted.

A: The PPQ is a questionnaire that provides information regarding the Offeror’s past Performance.

Specific information that is requested can be found in

Section L Attachment 4.

Section L paragraph L.4.3.5 and Attachment 4 paragraph 1; and

Section M paragraph M.4.1.

21 Jun 17

36 Q: Please clarify that this is a total of two (2) copies/per volume, thus a total of eight (8) CD’s to be submitted, two (2) of which will come with the Volume

II submission on July 6, 2017.

A: That is correct. See Section L, Table L.2.1.

Section L, Table

L.2.1.

37 Q: Does the USAF prefer to have those copies boxed separately, or included with the original copy submission?

A: Please follow the instructions provided in Section L paragraphs L.2.2. and L.2.3.

paragraphs L.2.2.

and L.2.3.

38 Q: Knowing one original copy will be provided for each volume and subsection, please confirm that our assessment below agrees with your calculation of Total

Binders to be provided:

Volume I - Technical Risk (7):

1. Subfactor 1 – Strategic Plan (7)

2. Subfactor 2 - Management Plan (7)

3. Subfactor 3 -- Sample Task (7)

4. Subfactor 4 – Business Practices/processes (7)

Volume II - Past Performance (5)

Volume III – Cost/Price (3)

Volume IV – Small Business Participation (2)

Total Binders = 45

A: The number of hard copies for each volume can be found in Solicitation Amendment 01 Section L Table

L.2.1. and paragraph L.2.3.

Solicitation

Amendment 01

Section L, Table

L.2.1. and paragraph L.2.3.

39 Q:. Can companies from Outside the USA apply for this?

A: Yes, as long as the company adequately addresses their technical solution for meeting or exceeding the

Government’s minimum performance or capability requirements for each technical subfactor and the mitigation of risk associated with their proposed technical solution.

Additionally, the proposal shall include details on specific locations, departments, and disciplines for both the Offeror and the proposed subcontractors/ teaming partners; the personnel positions to be staffed within

Section L, paragraph L.3.3., L.3.5.

paragraph L.3.8.2.

those departments/disciplines (identify number of personnel and titles for each); and the estimated time dedicated to the Air Force contract for each position.

40 Q: Does a company need to come over there (USA) for meetings?

A: Yes, travel in the US is probable for regular meetings with USAF, producing content on US Air

Force facilities, overseeing weekly events, meeting with subcontractors, evaluating potential partnership properties, etc.

41 Q: Can we perform the tasks (related to RFP) outside the USA? (like from India or Canada)

A: Yes, as long as the company adequately addresses their technical solution for meeting or exceeding the

Government’s minimum performance or capability requirements for each technical subfactor and the mitigation of risk associated with their proposed technical solution.

Additionally, the proposal shall include details on specific locations, departments, and disciplines for both the Offeror and the proposed subcontractors/ teaming partners; the personnel positions to be staffed within those departments/disciplines (identify number of personnel and titles for each); and the estimated time dedicated to the Air Force contract for each position.

Section L, paragraph L.3.3., L.3.5.

paragraph L.3.8.2.

42 Q: Can we submit the proposals via email?

A: No. Submit signed and dated offers to the office identified in paragraph L.2.2. at or before the exact date and time specified in this solicitation.

Section L, paragraphs L.1.4.

and L.2.2.

43 Q: Understanding that a contractor on its own cannot request a Cognizant Federal Agency Official (CFAO) to review its Disclosure Statement for adequacy and assuming said contractor does not already have a CAS-covered contract that requires a Disclosure Statement, can the Government please confirm that a contractor in this position should submit its Disclosure Statement with its proposal and that the paragraph L.5.21.

Government will trigger the adequacy review with the

CFAO prior to awarding the contract?

A: Yes, all Offeror’s shall submit their Disclosure

Statements with their proposal and the Government will initiate the adequacy review. See Section L paragraph

L.5.21.