Additional RFP Questions and Answers with Gov Response.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

AIR FORCE INSTALLATION CONTRACTING CENTER

8 Dec 21

F-16 International Aircraft Maintenance and Pilot Differences Training – RFP FA300222R0001

Additional Questions and Answers

1. The Multiple Award IDIQ Strategy creates an unpredictable nature for task order competition, how does the government intend to address this risk?

Answer: The intent of the USG is to scope requirements into composite task orders for a given country which may include but not limited to academics, OJT, pilot training and train-the-trainer deliverables (if applicable). Furthermore, as stated in Section G paragraph 8, “…Task Order PoPs may include option periods”. It is the intent of the government, when possible, to scope task orders to allow for the inclusion of option period(s) to ensure continuity of the training service to a given PNAF and alleviate IDIQ contractor risk. Additionally, if follow-on training is required for a given PNAF at the task order level, the government may leverage the fair opportunity exception found at FAR 16.505 (b)(2)(i)(C) in the interest of economy and efficiency.

Lastly, the government will revise the UPB to include line items for “Pre-Delivery Aircraft

Maintenance--Maintaining Flyable Condition (Contractor Facility)” and Program Management in

Amendment 3 to the RFP. IDIQ contractors may utilize these NTE unit prices to develop Firm Fixed

Price task order proposals. Amendment 3 to the RFP will extend the proposal submission date to 10

January 2022.

2. Maintaining flyable condition and the 30-day maintenance interval concept of operations creates a significant risk to schedule, student training quality and cost control. How does the government intend to address this risk?

PWS paragraph 1.4.9.1.1. states, “The intent is to maintain flyable condition on a continuous basis to avoid aircraft refurbishment, or extensive downtime for maintenance due to lack of any maintenance activities during OJT. The contractor shall not exceed 30 calendar-day intervals to restore flyable condition. The government reserves the right to approve or disapprove changes to this interval, upon contractor request, in the event parts are required or some other circumstance, to be determined”.

Additionally, maintaining flyable condition has been jointly agreed to by the Air Force Security

Assistance Training Squadron and Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.

Furthermore, the government will revise the UPB to include line items for “Pre-Delivery Aircraft

Maintenance--Maintaining Flyable Condition (Contractor Facility)” and Program Management in

Amendment 3 to the RFP.

3. The Exhibit B Unit Price Book does not include specific line items for mobilization.

Will mobilization cost be priced at the Task Order level, or will additional line items be added to Exhibit

B to account for mobilization costs?

Answer: Due the Foreign Military Sales environment mobilization costs must be captured within the existing UPB line items. Section G of the solicitation states, “The UPB line items shall be fully burdened and all-encompassing to include but not limited to Program Management, Maintaining Flyable Condition, materials, equipment, labor, facilities, and required courseware.” The means and methods of capturing mobilization costs within the UPB construct as described in Section G is at the discretion of the offeror.

4. The Exhibit B Unit Price Book includes Line Items X119XX & X120XX for Domestic and

International Travel to be proposed at Task Order Level.

Section G.8 of the solicitation states “All Task Orders issued will be Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) to include all domestic and international travel line items,”

Is all travel (to include PM review meetings per section 1.5.4 of the PWS, employee travel to

CONUS/OCONUS sites to perform training and maintenance) being accounted for at the Task Order level within these two line items and no travel cost should be included in remaining line item Unit Prices?

Answer: All travel will use the UPB travel line items and will be applied at the task order level. Section

G states, “All Task Orders issued will be Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) to include all domestic and international travel line items.” All international and domestic travel in support of a PNAF under an awarded task order shall leverage the UPB travel line items. For a contractor supporting a country under an issued task order, section G paragraph 6 states, “Domestic and international travel will be required to support briefings, attend conferences, Program Management Review (PMR) meetings, and other Program

Management actions/tasks as specified. For planning purposes expect four meetings in CONUS and two

(2) meetings in purchasing country per year.”

5. Attachment 8, Section L Instruction to Offerors, Volume III Past Performance (Para. 2.4), states that

Volume III will have a maximum page limit of 60 Pages.

In addition, Para 3.3 states that there will be a maximum of 6 past performance contacts, and that for each contract the Recency section will not exceed 1 page, and the Relevance section will not exceed 2 pages.

6 contracts * 3 pages/contract = 18 total pages for the six contracts. Even with a Volume Intro

(introducing the six contracts) and a summary, it would be difficult to fill more than an additional 4-6 pages without provision of addition detail that would not fit in the 1-page Recency (brief description of services) and the 2-page Relevancy section for each contract. With no assurance that this information outside the Recency and Relevancy sections would be evaluated.

Given a total of 60 pages allowed for Volume III, are there other documentation that the government expects to be provided to fill the 60 pages of Volume III? CPARS for last three years? PP Contract

PWS’s?

If there is no other documentation that is required in Volume III, will the government consider increasing the page size for each contract’s Relevance section from 2 to 4 pages? And the Recency sections from 1 to 2 pages?

Answer: All recency and relevancy information shall adhere to the submission instructions in the Section

L –Instructions to Offerors. The completed/submitted Attachment 7 Past Performance Questionnaire counts towards the total Volume III page count. There is no further documentation required other than what is specifically requested for recency, relevancy and quality. The page count limit for recency remains unchanged. Amendment 3 to the RFP will increase the page count limit for relevancy only from 2 pages to 4 pages.

6. Section I – Contract Clauses, Page 23 references 52.219-9 Small Business Subcontracting Plan Alt II, NOV 2016 however the latest FAR clause for Small Business Subcontracting Plan is SEP 2021. Can the

Government confirm that the NOV 2016 version of the clause is correct?

Answer: RFP Section I includes 52.219-9 Alt II, which the date of November 2016 is still current.

7. The “Small Business Subcontracting Goals” table on page 5 of Attachment 8, Section L references a

10% SB goal of “Total Contract Dollar” however the other socio-economic goals are stated in terms of

“Total Subcontracting Dollars”. Can the Government clarify what they are asking for as it appears to be a combination of “Participation Plan” and “Subcontracting Plan” requirements in this particular table?

Answer: Small Business Subcontracting goals are provided for the Small Business Subcontracting Plan and not required for the Small Business Participation Commitment. The Small Business Subcontracting

Goal of 10% of total contract dollars is based on an anticipated program ceiling of $255M over the 10-

Year Program Life Cycle. The socio-economic goals are based off the total subcontracting dollars proposed so at a minimum it would be 10% of the $255M which is $25.5M. An offeror would use

$25.5M or their actual proposed Small Business dollars and base the socio-economic goals off the SB dollars proposed.

IAW Section M paragraph 2.3.5 – Small Business Participation Commitment, the standard has been met when, “The proposal demonstrated a valid corporate commitment in providing exclusive small business participation for Student Support Services performed under this contract IAW DFARS 215.304 and PGI

215.304 (c)(i)(A)”. Student Support Services may contribute to the goals described in the Small Business

Subcontracting Plan.

8. Section G.10 of the solicitation states “Service Contract Labor Standards formerly known as the

Service Contract Act shall be applied at the Task Order level for all requirements above $2,500.00.”

Will the government be giving guidance on what labor rates to use at the IDIQ level? Since Wage

Determinations can greatly differ based on location, how can a contractor accurately propose a IDIQ NTE

Line Item value without knowing the location of where the work will be performed?

Answer: The means and methods of capturing labor rates within the UPB construct as described in

Section G is at the discretion of the offeror.

The preponderance of work for USG locations include but are not limited to Phoenix (Luke AFB), Tucson (Morris ANGB), and Epping Field (Little Rock, Arkansas). Pre-delivery training will be at the contractor CONUS facility(s).

9. Would the government clarify if 11x17 page counts as one page or two pages?

Answer: Offerors shall adhere to the instructions provided in Section L which states, “2.4 Page Size, Format and Limit: An electronic page is defined as each face of an 8 ½” X 11” electronic sheet of paper containing information. Covers for volumes, tables of contents, indices, title pages, cross reference indices, and section dividers will not be included in the page count if they are inserted solely to provide ease to the reader in locating volumes/sections of the proposal. They will be counted if they contain any other information, (e.g. diagrams, extraneous data, etc). Pages marked “This page intentionally left blank” will not be counted. Pages in excess of the page count stated in the table below will not be evaluated.

Times New Roman font size shall not be less than 12-font, with 1” margins on all sides. Smaller, legible font size, no smaller than 6-point, may be used for charts and tables. Page limits apply to all electronic files. Proposals should be titled appropriately so as to easily discern each volume. Each Volume shall contain a more detailed table of contents to delineate the subparagraphs within that file.

10. Section 1.5 Team/Team Member(s)/Teaming Partner, states, The Government will consider the

Offeror and all subcontractors a “team” when evidence of a signed Teaming Arrangement (TA) or Letter of Intent (LOI) is provided.”

Would the government clarify what volume the teaming arrangements or letter of intent should be included in?

Answer: IAW Section L paragraph 3.2.5, “offerors shall provide Signed Teaming Agreements (TA) or signed Letters of Intent (LOIs) when committing to Small Business Participation. The signed TAs or

LOIs commit the parties to performance under the basic IDIQ contract”. The TA or LOI for the small business subcontractor providing Student Support Services shall be in Volume II Subfactor 5 – Small

Business Participation Commitment. All other TAs or LOIs shall be submitted in Volume I Executed

Contract Documentation (No Page Count for Volume I).

11. Request information on the experience level of the students who will be receiving the differences training.

Are the differences for the training to be tailored for Wingman, Flight Lead, IP level students, or all three?

Answer: There will be maintainers that have never worked on the F-16; maintainers may be qualified on non-F-16 aircraft, however they will not be initial trainees with no maintenance experience. For pilot training, PWS paragraph 1.4.8.1 states, “Pilot objectives are to train pilots transitioning into the country-specific variant. This may be required to transition from the aircraft variant used in formal US Air Force

(USAF) training to the existing country variant, variant being purchased or the variant the country is upgrading to, and/or from an existing country variant to the variant being purchased or the variant the country is upgrading to. Variants include, but are not limited to, the F-16V and F-16 Block 70/72.” Tasks to be taught in pilot differences are to enable the transition to the required variant regardless of student pilot qualification level.

12. What variant of F-16 and what specific OFP are the student pilots currently qualified in?

Answer: The aircraft variant a pilot is qualified in will vary by country and will be stated in individual

TOPRs.

13. Requesting delivery of the new production, upgrade, and existing Country Specific Technical Orders

(CSTOs)?

Answer: PWS paragraph 1.7.1 states, “For Access to existing USAF F-16 specific TOs, the contractor may send requests to the AFLCMC/LZPTA organizational email: aflcmc.ezgtp.afto43@us.af.mil. An

AFTO Form 43 will be required to request access.” PWS paragraph 1.7.1.1 states, “The government has unlimited data rights to F-16 CSTOs and technical data (not to include OFP data) and will provide access to F-16 V and Block 70/72 technical orders when they become available. Section G paragraph 2 states, “If in receipt of written Contracting Officer authorization as specified per Task Order, the United States

Government (USG) may provide new production, upgrade and existing Country Specific Technical

Orders (CSTOs).”

What United States Air Force (USAF) developed F-16 Courseware is available and can we get copies?

Answer: PWS paragraph 1.4.4.1.1 provides a listing of USAF F-16 Courseware that may be provided and states, “The following USAF-developed courseware may be provided to aid the timely development of courseware per task order. This listing does not include F-16V or Block 70/72 aircraft.” Courseware will be provided to contract awardees if requested.

14. Will countries have specific software/hardware built for their needs that we will be responsible for training to? If so, what information will be provided to us to enable courseware development?

Answer: Countries and aircraft variant information will be provided in individual TOPRs. PWS para 1.7 outlines how to obtain technical orders. The contracting officer will sponsor contract awardees, at their request, on the AFTO form 43 if required to obtain technical orders. In addition, Section G paragraph 3.0 states, “If in receipt of written Contracting Officer authorization as specified per Task Order, the United

States Government (USG) may provide new production, upgrade and existing Country Specific Technical

Orders (CSTOs). Additionally the USG may provide United States Air Force (USAF) developed F-16

Courseware to aid the timely development of courseware per task order. As specified per Task Order, if

USG cannot provide final, manuscript, draft CSTOs, or USAF developed F-16 Courseware, then the contractor can use other-than-USG provided data to develop courseware in accordance with DFARS

252.227-7020.”

15. Requesting the Security Classification Guide (SCG) specific to the student’s country disclosure and security tier?

What can we expect to receive to detail security and disclosure guidelines for each FMS customer?

Answer: The F-16 SCG will be provided to contract awardees.

16. Please provide more clarity on the aircraft variants the transition is occurring from and to in addition to the F16V and the Block 70/72?

Answer: For new-buy countries without previous F-16 experience, pilot trainees requiring differences training will normally be transitioning from formal training in USAF variants. USAF formal training is currently conducted in the F-16 Blocks 25, 30, 32 and 42. Regardless of scenario, TOPRs will describe the variants pilots are transitioning from and variants they are transitioning to.

17. Are there any information available on DDLs? - Delegation of Disclosure Authority Letter (DDL)

Answer: The government cannot provide a copy of a DDL to the contractor. The contract may request an in-person review of a given DDL. In addition, the contractor must have export authorization for each country supported, prior to release of information to a country. Refer to PWS paragraph 4.3. Technology

Transfer. Also see PWS paragraphs 1.4.4.2.3, 1.4.4.3 and 1.4.4.4.

18. The 120 Day mobilization period does not allow enough time for contractor to establish facilities and security requirements outlined in this solicitation without the awardee having to bear the burden of the cost without a guaranteed Task Order.

What type of equipment is expected to be store in the Secure Storage Facility (SSF) beyond documents, aircraft flight planning data bricks/tapes, etc.? Is there a minimum recommended size of the space?

Answer: Due the Foreign Military Sales environment mobilization costs must be captured within the existing UPB line items. The 120 calendar day mobilization period will be extended by 60 calendar days arriving at a new total of 180 calendar days for mobilization. Amendment 3 will revise the mobilization period from 120 calendar days to 180 calendar days. However, task order performance may begin during the mobilization period at contractor discretion.

Section M paragraph 2.3.1 description states, “The offeror shall show proof of CONUS Facility(s) meeting Secure Storage Facility (SSF) requirements and Facility Clearance Level (FCL), F-16 support equipment listing required for F-16 aircraft maintenance or capability to acquire necessary equipment, and pilot differences training device(s). Section M paragraph 2.3.1. also states, “The standard has been met when…the offeror provided substantiating documentation that a SSF CONUS training facility(s), which meets the FCL has been obtained.”

Controlled Critical Assets (CCA) require SSF capability as specified in PWS paragraph 1.5.5.1, “CCA items include, AESA radar, Modular Mission Computer (MMC) and EW Suite “Viper Shield” components.” An estimated 800 cubic feet of space would be recommended. This is approximately 10’ x

10’ x 8’

19. Is awardee allowed to utilize portable trailers for maintenance and pilot training?

Answer: This answer assumes you mean for academics/classroom/lab type training. The means and methods of facility establishment is up to the offeror. This does not negate the requirements of PWS paragraphs 1.5.5, 1.5.5.1 and 1.5.5.2.

20. What material will be provided (courseware, training devices, other) to accelerate familiarization for instructors prior to 120-day mobilization period?

Can we have access to LM data (such as videos of mission planning software, avionics software) that are used to develop courseware?

Answer: The mobilization period begins after contract award. The means and methods of pre-award activity are up to any potential offeror. The government will not provide data in the form of technical orders or courseware until after contract award. PWS paragraph 1.4.6.2 states, “Contractor shall define hands-on equipment required for training, to include OJT. This may involve virtual trainers, maintenance trainers, part-task trainers, or other equipment required to train as outlined in para 1.4.7.” Additionally, PWS paragraph 1.4.6.2.1 states, “The contractor shall provide all support equipment, trainers, bench stock, consumables for all Pre-Delivery training requirements performed at the contractor-provided facility(s).” Section M, 2.3.1 Subfactor 1—Executive Summary, states, “The offeror shall describe the ability to obtain a license to utilize the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Operational Flight

Program (OFP) in a contractor-provided simulation device(s), or otherwise provide pilot differences simulation capability to include F-16V and F-16 Block 70/72.” Further, the standard has been met when, “The offeror provided an executed licensing agreement for aircraft simulation OFP in a contractor-provided device(s); if simulation OFP is not to be utilized to produce pilot training device(s), a subcontract or teaming arrangement was provided proving access to training device(s) sufficient to provide pilot differences training to include the F-16V and F-16 Block 70/72.”

The means and methods of obtaining non-government provided information is up the offeror.

21. Is awardee expected to be able to teach all specialties outline in the attachment for both Pilots and

Maintenance personnel? (CLINS 0001-AA to 0088-AA)

Answer: Yes, the contractor is expected to be able to teach all specialties outlined in Exhibit B UPB for both pilots and maintenance personnel. Section M Volume IV specifies, “The total evaluated price (TEP) will be the aggregate of all NTE Extended Burdened Price line items in the UPB excluding Domestic and

International Travel and will be used for the tradeoff analysis.” The Unit Price Book items X001-X092 show classes that the contractor must be able to teach. PWS paragraph 1.4.4.11 shows baseline courses to be taught by the contractor.

22. Is the government going to provide Support Equipment, Bench Stock, Tools and Test Equipment as

GFE or is the contractor expected to purchase that equipment?

If it is provided as GFE and awardee has to maintain the above in serviceable condition, who bears this cost?

Answer: No, the government will not provide Support Equipment, Bench Stock, Tools and Test

Equipment as GFE. PWS paragraph 1.4.6.2.1 states, “The contractor shall provide all support equipment, trainers, bench stock, consumables for all Pre-Delivery training requirements performed at the contractor-provided facility(s).” PWS paragraph 1.5.7.1 also states, “Contractor shall furnish all materials and equipment to perform this contract except items identified as government (country) furnished equipment/material. Equipment shall be serviceable and suitable for its intended purpose.” Additionally, Section 3.0 of the PWS outlines Government (country) furnished property/equipment/data and services.

Paragraph 3.4.1. states, “When the USG or the host country provides equipment to be used for training, the contractor shall maintain the equipment during training. On completion of training, the equipment shall be returned in serviceable condition by the contractor.” Paragraph 3.4.1.2 states, “For performance in CONUS at a location other than a contractor facility, USG or country-provided GFP will be treated the same as for country-provided GFP OCONUS. However, the contractor is expected to exercise good stewardship of country-provided GFP during use.”

23. What maintenance system of record will be used to track mx requirements on the FMS aircraft?

Is awardee expected to add FMS aircraft to our ERP and load all inspection/mx activities in it? Or will awardee be allowed to document all Mx actions in AFTO 781As?

Answer: The contractor must document all maintenance actions in the AFTO 781. The forms offer a common platform between differing government agencies and the contractor. This does not preclude the contractor from using internal contractor systems, as long as documentation is mirrored in the 781.

24. What are elements of the program are classified and require special handling (examples: hardware, software, courseware, LRUs, support equipment)?

Answer: It is possible classified courseware could be required, but is not anticipated at this time. See also answer to question 18 regarding CCA.

25. Is there a requirement to have the contractor to have on-site medical professionals as part of our organizational structure for “Student Medical Services”, or is local urgent care sufficient for non-emergency needs?

Answer: Either are acceptable as long as it is normally provided to your own employees. PWS paragraph

4.1 states, “The contractor shall provide to all students receiving training at the contractor’s facility, emergency minor medical services as normally provided to its own employees.”

26. Does the Government want offerors to provide a Subcontractor/Teaming Partner Consent Letters For

The Release Of Past Performance Information To The Prime Contractor?

Answer: Subcontractor consent letters are not required.

27. Based on Solicitation Section G.9 on page 19. Does the first mobilization period of 120 days begin at initial IDIQ contract award to a contractor or does the first 120-day mobilization period begin at award of the first Task Order under the IDIQ contract?

Answer: Yes, the mobilization begins at the issuance of task order 0001. PWS paragraph 1.4.3 states, “Mobilization is defined as the effort to establish the training capability and develop courseware, syllabi and any student materials within 120 calendar days of issuance of the initial task order. This is defined in

Section G of the solicitation under paragraph 9, MINIMUM GUARANTEE which states, “The

MINIMUM guarantee for each recipient of an IDIQ award will be $2,500.00 for the life of the contract.

The minimum guarantee will be obligated as Task Order 0001 with the IDIQ contract award. All awardees shall attend a Post-Award Conference that will be held shortly after the basic contract award. As consideration, awardees shall invoice under Task Order 0001 for the minimum obligation after Post-

Award Conference attendance. Additionally, the Task Order 0001 award effective date for the minimum obligation amount will constitute the initiation of the mobilization period. The PWS requirement is for one mobilization period.

Due the Foreign Military Sales environment mobilization costs must be captured within the existing

UPB line items. The 120 calendar day mobilization period will be extended by 60 calendar days arriving at a new total of 180 calendar days for mobilization. Amendment 3 will revise the mobilization period from 120 calendar days to 180 calendar days. However, task order performance may begin during the mobilization period at contractor discretion. (See Answer to

Question 18)

28. Will the contractor be required to deliver CONUS or OCONUS pilot or maintenance training to any country customers who have never operated F-16 aircraft and to their students who would have minimal or no familiarity with the F-16?

Answer: There will be maintainers that have never worked on the F-16; maintainers may be qualified on non-F-16 aircraft, however they will not be initial trainees with no maintenance experience. All pilots requiring differences training will hold a qualification. An excerpt from PWS paragraph 1.4.8.1 states, “Pilot objectives are to train pilots transitioning into the country-specific variant. This may be required to transition from the aircraft variant used in formal US Air Force (USAF) training to the existing country variant, variant being purchased or the variant the country is upgrading to, and/or from an existing country variant to the variant being purchased or the variant the country is upgrading to. Variants include, but are not limited to, the F-16V and F-16 Block 70/72.”

29. Per Sections L and M, the Unit Price Book requires not to exceed pricing that will be used to calculate the total evaluated price for trade off analysis by aggregating all the NTE Extended Burdened Price line items in the UPB excluding Domestic and International Travel. Will the Government provide the parameters that describe the most complex scenario that can be expected to assist the offerors in determining what must be accommodated in the scope of an NTE price?

Answer: Parameters for any scenario cannot be provided due to the complexity and variables of the FMS environment. See PWS paragraph 1.2.1 which states, “Pre-delivery training (prior to initial aircraft ferry to country) is required for countries that have never flown the F-16. Countries in this category may not be purchasing in-country contract maintenance, and may not have contract maintenance support beyond typical Field Service Representatives (FSR) representation. Academics may be provided

CONUS/OCONUS. On-the-Job Training (OJT) may be provided to new-buy countries CONUS, pre-delivery and/or OCONUS. In the instance of pre-delivery training, the country-furnished training aircraft may be available immediately after production and DD250 transfer. OJT may be provided in country for existing F-16 country sustainment or differences training as a result of aircraft upgrades. Existing F-16 countries purchasing new aircraft may not be considered for pre-delivery training, but could elect to do

so. The Contractor may be required to conduct unclassified and/or country-specific classified training at an OCONUS location according to Task Order requirements. The means and methods an offeror uses to determine UPB pricing is up to the offeror.

30. What is the expected class size for Pilot Differences Training?

Answer: The government will revise the PWS to account for pilot training class sizes. See answer to question 46.

31. Please clarify the term “Days” for unit of measure for CONUS and OCONUS simulators? Should this be “unit price”?

Answer: The government is not purchasing training devices on this contract, but a service. PWS paragraph 1.4.8.1. states, “The contractor shall provide training device(s) to support this requirement, as a training service.” The UPB will be revised to state “simulation” rather than “simulator” to avoid confusion.

32. Please confirm if the Course CLINS 0001AA – 0088 AA noted in the Unit Price Book are for both

Maintenance Training & Pilot Training? If also for Pilot training, Are both Pilot and Maintenance

Instructors limited to no more than two (2). (ref PWS para 1.4.7.3)

Answer: This applies to aircraft maintenance differences training section only. The requirement in PWS paragraph 1.4.7.3 that states, “Contractor Safety Observers/Instructors will be limited to no more than two

(2).” UPB line items X0001 – X0088 apply to maintenance training and X0089 – X0092 apply to pilot training.

33. Would the government consider a 2-week proposal extension?

Answer: Yes, the proposal submission date will be extended to facilitate amendment 3 of the RFP and to provide adequate time to review Q&A responses. The new proposal submission date will be 10 January

2022.

34. In PWS para 1.4.4.1, the government states that, “If in receipt of a written Contracting Officer authorization as specified per task order, the USAF may provide new production, upgrade and existing country specific technical orders.” Can the government clarify if any baseline F-16V/Block 70/72 content will be provided upon award of the IDIQ, or delivery of content will only occur upon receipt of a country specific task order?

Answer: No, F-16V/Block 70/72 content will not be available at IDIQ contract award. However, will be provided when available. Since Country-Specific Technical Orders (CSTOs) are country-specific, these would be available for a given country for which a task order for training was issued. See answer to question 13.

35. In PWS para 1.4.4.1.1 the government states that “The following USAF-developed courseware may be provided to aid in the timely development…”. To assist in the most accurate quote, please clarify under what circumstance the delivery of this courseware is certain or when it “may” not be delivered?

Answer: The courses listed in PWS paragraph 1.4.4.1.1 will be delivered to offerors on request after the initial task order award. The initial task order is defined as Task Order 0001. See answer to question 27.

36. Cells G892 – G895 have hard coded values ($0) while all other cells in column G have a formula

(Qty. * Unit Price) entered. This causes the Not to Exceed Extended Burdened Price for Option Year 3

Aircrew Flight Equipment Line Items 3029-3036 to be inaccurate.

Can the Government provide an updated Exhibit B excel file?

Answer: The government has revised the Exhibit B Unit Price Book file and the changed file will issued with amendment 3 to the RFP.

37. The solicitation states:" Service Contract Labor Standards formerly known as the Service Contract

Act shall be applied at the Task Order level for all requirements above $2,500.00."

Since the Service Contract Labor Standards will be applied at the Task Order level, are there any

Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) currently in place for incumbent work? If so, can the

Government provide those CBAs?

Answer: There is not a CBA on the current contract.

38. What is the assumed qualification level of the FMS student?

Can we assume current and qualified in their current block?

At least RTU complete and trained on current block?

What is the variance for the students who need extra training?

For the Notional F-16 New-Production B70/72 Delivery customer students, will this really be

“differences” training?

Answer: For pilot training, students will be current and qualified in their current F-16 block of aircraft as possessed by the country, or qualified on a USG variant in the instance where a student is a recent graduate of USAF F-16 training. The PWS requirement is for differences training, not qualification training. The same applies to aircraft maintenance regarding differences. The variance for students who need extra training is not defined, but will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Students from new-buy countries may not have experience on the F-16 but other fighter platforms. Aircraft maintenance students will not be new maintainers with no experience. See answer to question 11.

39. Given that the submission date for questions is pending and that offerors will shape proposals based on the USG’s responses to those questions, would the Government consider a delivery date of 15

December to allow offerors to more accurately propose to the USG’s requirements based on

Government’s responses to questions?

Answer: Yes, the proposal submission date will be extended to facilitate amendment 3 of the RFP and to provide adequate time to review Q&A responses. The new proposal submission date will be 10 January

2022.

40. Attachment 9, Evaluation Factors, 2.4.2 –Relevance Paragraph, third sentence says that “The summary shall describe” amount other items “data rights/licenses used to support the referenced contract.” Attachment L, Instructions to Offerors, 3.3.2 – Relevance contains the same list, with “data rights/licenses” used to be described in the Past Performance referenced.

However, in the PWS, there is only one reference to “Data Rights”, stating the government has “unlimited access to Country Specific Technical Orders and technical data”, which is not a contractor responsibility which are detailed paragraph 1.5. In addition, there is no reference to “Licenses” in the PWS.

In the RFP, there is also no reference to “Data Rights”, and Licenses are mention in in the RIGHTS IN

SPECIAL WORKS (JUN 1995)” clause, paragraph c, that only states that the Government has unlimited rights to works produced on contact, and that contractors may not incorporate any copyrighted works without permission.

Question: Will the government explain what specific contractor Past Performance information is required that would meet the governments requirement to show relevance to “data rights/licenses” for performing the F-16 International Training contract?

Answer: The Past Performance Relevance Ratings found in Section M paragraph 2.4.2 requests information documenting the timely development and delivery of courseware with any required licenses

(prime, subcontractor and/or third party) necessary for continued use of the developed courseware.

License Rights includes providing the following to the Government:

When a work is first produced, created, or generated under this contract, and such work is required to be delivered under this contract, the Contractor shall assign copyright in those works to the Government.

The Contractor grants to the Government a royalty-free, world-wide, nonexclusive, irrevocable license to reproduce, prepare derivative works from, distribute, perform, or display, and to have or authorize others to do so, the Contractor's copyrighted works not first produced, created, or generated under this contract that have been incorporated into the works deliverable under this contract.

Third party copyrighted data includes providing the following to the Government:

The Contractor shall not incorporate, without the written approval of the Contracting Officer, any copyrighted works in the works to be delivered under this contract unless the Contractor is the copyright owner or has obtained for the Government the license rights necessary to perfect a license.

41. Please confirm to which CLIN the government would like the "Maintenance-on-aircraft" pricing attached?

Answer: The government will revise the UPB to include a line item for “Pre-Delivery Aircraft

Maintenance--Maintaining Flyable Condition (Contractor Facility)” in amendment 3 to the RFP. Section

G, paragraph 3. PROPOSAL CONTENTS AND PREPARATION COSTS states, “The UPB line items shall be fully burdened and all-encompassing to include but not limited to Program Management, Maintaining Flyable Condition, materials, equipment, labor, facilities, and required courseware.”

42. How is the bidder supposed to bid a cost of country variant specific spare parts since they will not be authorized to talk to AFLCMC until after IDIQ award and they are on contract? Only the OEM has access to that information pre contract award.

Answer: The contractor is not responsible for the cost of the country specific spare parts. PWS paragraph

1.4.6.1 states, “The contractor shall be responsible for coordinating with Air Force Life Cycle

Management Center (AFLCMC) for spare parts.” This does not relieve the contractor the requirements states in PWS paragraph 1.4.6.2.1. that states, “The contractor shall provide all support equipment, trainers, bench stock, consumables for all Pre-Delivery training requirements performed at the contractor-provided facility(s).” If AFLCMC cannot provide a spare part and the spare part is commercially available, and required at the task order level, IDIQ contractors may leverage the Non-Priced Item (NPI) process described in Section G.

43. How is the bidder supposed to determine cost to maintain a PNAF AC in flyable condition without the knowledge of break rates and cost to repair knowledge on Block V, 70 and 75 aircraft? Also how is the bidder to bid on equipment required to maintain those aircraft without the assistance of the USG? The only entity that has that knowledge prior to contract award is the USG and the OEM.

Answer: The contractor will not be conducting flight operations during pre-delivery training that would drive break rates typically derived from pilot write-ups. The aircraft must be returned to a flyable condition after maintenance OJT training tasks are completed. The requirement is for flyable condition as stated in the PWS, paragraph 1.4.9. The means and methods any offeror uses to determine the required equipment to maintain F-16 Block 70/72 or V aircraft is up to the offeror.

The government will revise the UPB to include a line item for “Pre-Delivery Aircraft Maintenance--

Maintaining Flyable Condition (Contractor Facility)” in amendment 3 to the RFP.

44. How is the bidder supposed to determine cost to maintain a PNAF AC in flyable condition without the knowledge of break rates and cost to repair knowledge on Block V, 70 and 75 aircraft? Also how is the bidder to bid on equipment required to maintain those aircraft without the assistance of the USG? The only entity that has that knowledge prior to contract award is the USG and the OEM.

Answer: See answer to question 43.

45. How is the bidder supposed to determine cost all support equipment, bench stock, consumables need to support this program without prior knowledge of what is required to support Block V, 70, 75 PNAF aircraft? This information is only known by the USG and the OEM and PNAF.

Answer: The means and methods any offeror uses to determine the required support equipment, bench stock, consumables to support F-16 Block 70/72 or V aircraft is up to the offeror.

46. The PWS states in paragraph 1.4.6, F-16 Maintenance Differences Training and OJT, that the class size is limited to 12 students. There is no reference in paragraph 1.4.8, F-16 Pilot Differences Training, to a limit on the number of student pilots per class. Can the USG provide an estimate for the number of student pilots per class? Given the USG’s answer of “one officer for every ten enlisted”, can the contractor assume there will only be one pilot per class on average?

Answer: The “one officer for every ten enlisted” was referring to the housing of officers/enlisted ONLY.

PWS paragraph 1.4.7.2 addresses F-16 maintenance class size. Academic training class size is limited to

12 students. OJT class size as stated in PWS paragraph 1.4.7.3 is limited to 6 students. Pilots are not the only officers to be trained on this program. Some countries employ maintenance officers on the flight line in a wrench-turning role, or the traditional maintenance officer role. The UPB and PWS paragraph

1.4.1.1. highlight a maintenance officer course as an example.

Regarding the number of student pilots per class, the PWS will be revised to state the academic class size will be limited to 12 students and the simulator class size will be limited to 12 students.

This change will be issued with amendment 3 to the RFP.

47. Would the government consider making Teaming Agreements, LOIs, CONUS Facility documentation, and F-16 Support Equipment Listing excluded from page count?

Answer: IAW Section L paragraph 3.2.5, “offerors shall provide Signed Teaming Agreements (TA) or signed Letters of Intent (LOIs) when committing to Small Business Participation. The signed TAs or

LOIs commit the parties to performance under the basic IDIQ contract”. The TA or LOI for the small business subcontractor providing Student Support Services shall be in Volume II Subfactor 5 – Small

Business Participation Commitment. All other TAs or LOIs shall be submitted in Volume I Executed

Contract Documentation (No Page Count in Volume I).

Section L and M requirements for CONUS Facility Documentation and F-16 Support Equipment Listing remain unchanged.