21_May_14_Solicitation_Q As.docx

Questions & Answers (as of 8 May 14)

FA4452-14-R-0002

1.) Please let us know whether Appendix 3, pgs 54-55 of the GDSS PWS is an all-inclusive list of what will be in the bidders’ library.

Answer: The Appendix is not all inclusive. The majority of items identified in Appendix 3 are DoD and AF regulations which we did not put into the Bid Library. The Bid Library includes more GDSS specific documentation which is not identified in the Appendix 3 list.

2.) Reference PWS Para 3.5.4 Subtask 2 – Quality Control, page 13. Provide a Quality Control Program explained in a Quality Program Plan (A002) that incorporates the following: PWS Para 3.10.4 CDRL Table, page 26.

There is no reference in Section L or M that explains how vendors should respond to this requirement or how this plan will be evaluated. Additionally, there is no guidance on how this plan affects page count.

Question: Please clarify whether vendors should provide separate Quality Control and Technical Work Plans with proposal submission. If they are required, should they be included in Volume II Technical and are they counted towards the total page count (90 pages)?

Answer: Yes, offerors shall provide a Quality Control Plan with proposal submission as required in sections 3.5.4 and 3.11.4 Table 1 – CDRLs (A002 and A003) of the PWS. It should be included in Volume II Technical, and it will be included in the total 90 page count.

3.) Reference PWS 3.5.4.2, page 13. “The Contractor shall establish and maintain a Quality Control Program in accordance with ISO IEC 26514:2008 and SEI CMMI Level 3-Defined requirements or equivalent processes approved in writing by the COR.”

Question: Is the approval of these processes required to be submitted with the proposal? If so, are quality standards in accordance with ISO 9001:2008 an acceptable substitute?

Answer: Approval by the COR is not required with your proposal. As stated in PWS section 3.10.4, “Draft due with proposal. Final due 10 work days after contract award.” The final requires the approval of the COR.

4.) Reference: PWS Para. 7.2.1, page 47 states, “Included in the proposal, the Contractor shall provide as a management plan, a phase-in strategy and method of assuming responsibility for tasks described in the PWS and the strategy for acquiring qualified, cleared personnel. Qualified personnel include those with recent experience (last 5 years) in Oracle, UNIX, Microsoft, and SQL Server, PHP, JavaScript, Visual Basic, and web-based technologies. Recurring status briefings shall be provided to the COR and other individuals (Other contractors and/or Government personnel) throughout the transition period. Authority: DI-MGMT-80004A.”

There is no reference in Section L or M that explains how vendors should respond to this requirement or how this plan will be evaluated. Additionally, there is no guidance on how this plan affects page count.

Question: Please clarify whether vendors should provide a separate Phase-In Plan with proposal submission or just a provide Phase-In strategy. If a Phase-In Plan is required, should it be included in Volume II and will it be counted towards the total page count (90 pages)?

Answer: Offerors are required to include a phase-in approach as part of the Technical Volume II, which will be included in the total 90 page count. Offerors shall provide a management plan, including a phase-in strategy, method of assuming responsibility for tasks, and a strategy for acquiring qualified personnel as required in PWS para 7.2.1.

5.) Reference: Attachment J-4 GFE List. The government has provided a list of GFE with quantities.

Question: Will facility modifications to house the equipment be chargeable to ODC (CLIN 0006)? If so, will a monthly rental chargeable to ODC (CLIN 0006) be allowed?

Answer: Yes if cost is allowable, reasonable, and allocable in accordance with FAR 31.201.

6.) Reference: RFP Section 6.2.4.3 GFE and/or Base Support Requirements Page 90 Question: Will the Government be providing GFE/GFI for establishing the contractor’s development environment or should the contractor provide the necessary equipment? If the former, can the Government provide a list of GFE/GFI that will be provided?

Answer: The GFE listing is provided in Section J, Attachment 4 to the RFP.

7.) Reference RFP Section 6.2.4.3 and J Attachment 4, Scheduled Government Furnished Property Question: Will the Government be providing licenses for VMware VersionOne and Fortify?

Answer: The Government will approve and purchase all necessary software the contractor needs to perform PWS tasks. All software provided to the contractor will be treated as GFE.

8.) Reference RFP Section L, para 6.2.4.1, page 89 Question: The DoD Small Business Program Goals removed the subcontracting goal of the Historically Black Colleges & Universities and Minority Institutions in 2010. Based on the removal for the HBCU/MI goal, is there still a requirement for Offerors to include HBCU/MI as part of their Small Business Plan?

Answer: There is no requirement to submit a goal for HBCU/MI.

9.) Reference RFP Section L, para 1.2.1.1 page 83 Question: Does the 1.5 line spacing requirement identified in the RFP, Section L para 1.2.1.1 apply to text added to Section J, Attachment 6, Past Performance Information Sheet?

Answer: No, the 1.5 line spacing requirement does not apply to the Past Performance Information Sheet that was provided by the Government, as it could be returned to the Government in different formats including handwritten, typed, etc.

10.) Reference RFP Section L, para 1.2 page 83 Question: Are the draft plans required with the proposal that are listed in the PWS included in the 90-page count for the Technical/Technical Risk Volume?

Answer: See Question # 2.

Questions & Answers (as of 15 May 14)

11.) Reference: PWS 3.10.4, CDRL B001, page 27. The CPR is due the 3rd Friday of Contractor’s fiscal month.

Question: Please clarify if this should be the 3rd Friday after the end of the Contractor’s fiscal month.

Answer: See revised PWS para 3.11.4, CDRL B001, which was changed to, “Due the 3rd Friday of each month.” PWS Attachment J-1 CDRLs (B001) was also updated.

12.) Reference: PWS 3.10.4, CDRL B003, page 27. The Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) requests initial input due 30 days after contract award and subsequent input due weekly.

Question: Please clarify the requirements to be submitted weekly for the IMS. Should this be a monthly requirement?

Answer: See revised PWS para 3.11.4, CDRL B003, which was changed to, “Subsequent input due monthly.” PWS Attachment J-1 CDRLs (B003) was also updated.

13.) Reference: PWS Par 5.2.1, page 35 calls out a GDSS V3.0 release with specific contents.

Question: Does the Government have similar expectations for a MEIS release?

Answer: As stated in PWS para 2.2.1.7, the expectation is that MEIS 3.x will be sustained until MEIS 4.x. Once the Baseline 4.x is in place, the contractor will no longer be required to provide support to MEIS.

14.) Reference: Attachment J-5 Draft DD Form 254 Block 13 indicates that that the contractor will be required to store classified documents.

The Government’s response could affect the contractor work location and price.

Question: Please clarify whether contractors will be required to store classified material at contractor facilities in addition to Government facilities.

Answer: The contractors will not be storing any classified material in off-base facilities. See updated PWS Attachment J-5 DD254 (block 13, line 1a/b).

15.) Reference PWS, paragraph 3.2.1, page 16 and PWS Exhibit J-1 Question: Paragraph 3.2.1 of the PWS and Exhibit J-1 indicates CDRL A002 is listed as "Reserved"; paragraph 3.5.4 of the PWS indicates A002 applies to the Quality Program Plan. Are there any additional instructions for CDRL A002 for the Quality Program Plan beyond those listed in the PWS, 3.10.4 Table 1 CDRLS?

Answer: See revised PWS para 3.2.1, CDRL A002, which was updated from “Reserved” to “Quality Program Plan.” PWS Attachment J-1 CDRLs (A002) was also updated from “Reserved” to “Quality Program Plan.”

16.) Reference RFP Section L, para 1.2.2, page 82 and Section M, M002(d), page 100 Question: How does the Government plan to ensure fairness to all Offerors in respect to the evaluation of the phase-in period? Request the Government: 1) consider the phase-in plan to be evaluated for completeness and reasonableness and 2) not consider it as part of the total evaluated price.

Answer: As stated in RFP Section L, para 1.2.2, cost/price proposals shall include the three month phase-in period. See revised RFP Section M, M002(d) which was changed to, “The offeror’s Cost/Price proposal will be evaluated, for award purposes, based upon the total price proposed for base period and all options to include FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services. Phase-in will be evaluated for completeness and reasonableness but will not be considered as part of the evaluation of total price.”

17.) Reference RFP Section L, para 1.2.1.1 (b) states “Legible tables, charts, graphs and figures shall be used wherever practical to depict organizations, systems and layout, implementation schedules, plans, etc. These displays shall be uncomplicated, legible, and shall not exceed 11 by 17 inches in size. Foldout pages shall fold entirely within the volume, and count as a single page. Foldout pages may only be used for large tables, charts, graphs, diagrams and schematics not for pages of text. For tables, charts, graphs and figures, the text shall be no smaller than 12 point.”

Question:

a. Is the 12 point rule applicable to all graphs? For example, flow diagrams and graphics like that in Figure 3.2 of the PWS or will it be acceptable as long as it is legible?

b. Is the 12 point rule applicable to the pricing requirements (Excel spreadsheets) under para 5.2 Section 2 pricing, or will it be acceptable as long as it is legible?

Answer:

a.) See revised RFP Section L, para 1.2.1.1(b) which removes the sentence: “For tables, charts, graphs and figures, the text shall be no smaller than 12 point.” All tables, charts, graphs and figures shall be legible.

b.) As stated in RFP Section L Table 1.2, there is no page limit for Cost/Price submission; therefore, the “12 point rule” is not applicable.

18.) Reference RFP Section 6.2.4.3, page 90 GFE and/or Base Support Requirements and J Attachment 4, Scheduled Government Furnished Property Question: Will the Government be providing licenses for VMware, Oracle, SQL Server, Fortify, Windows Server, and VersionOne?

Answer: The Government will approve and purchase all necessary software the contractor needs to perform PWS tasks. All software provided to the contractor will be treated as GFE.

19.) Reference RFP Section L, para 1.2.1.1 (a), which states that pages shall be typed with 1.5 line spacing. Except for reproduced sections of the solicitation document, the text shall be no less than 12 pt.

Question: Can reproduced sections of the Solicitation document be returned with the line spacing they were given to us as, or do they have to be returned with the 1.5 line spacing as well? Reference Attachment J, Section 6: Past Performance Information Sheet. This document was given without the 1.5 line spacing, but is to be filled out and returned with the proposal.

Answer: As stated in the response to question #9, the 1.5 line spacing requirement does not apply to the Past Performance Information Sheet. Reproduced documents that were provided in the solicitation by the Government shall be returned with the line spacing/format with which they were provided.

20.) Reference RFP Section 6.2.4.3 GFE and/or Base Support Requirements and J Attachment 4, Scheduled Government Furnished Property, page 90 Question: Will we be required to transition hardware or software from any location other than Scott Air Force Base?

Answer: The Government will transition required hardware and/or software to the contractor’s location.

21.) Reference PWS page 24, para 3.8.2.5 Advanced Technical Support Question: How do you define advanced GDSS software technical support? Are you referring to Tier 3?

Answer: See revised PWS para 3.8.2.5 to say Tier 3.

22.) Reference PWS page 23, para 3.8 Task 7 Question: Please define the differences in the support being provided under the AISS II contract for GDSS vs. the support required under this solicitation.

Answer: The Government cannot compare the two.

23.) Reference PWS page 24, para 3.8.2.5 On-call technical assistance Question: How do you define on call? Is it a 24x7 shift or simply a response to an alert for after-hours support?

Answer: See revised PWS para 3.8.2.5 to include, “The Government shall have the ability to contact the contractor for on-call technical assistance 24/7.”

24.) Reference PWS page 24, para 3.8.3.1 Continuous on call engineering support Question: How do you define continuous engineering support? Do you define it as 24x7 onsite support or an alert after hours?

Answer: See revised PWS para 3.8.3.1 to inlcude, “The Government shall have the ability to contact the contractor for on-call technical assistance 24/7. After normal work-hours support can be through designated on-call person(s). Issue troubleshooting and resolution will continue until directed by the Government.”

25.) Reference PWS page 24, para 3.9.3.9 24/7 Troubleshooting Question: Is 24/7 troubleshooting required onsite?

Answer: I believe the reference in the question should be PWS para 3.8.3.9 instead of para 3.9.3.9. See revised PWS para 3.8.3.9 to include, “The contractor shall provide Tier/Level 3 support which shall be performed wherever is necessary to ensure GDSS sustains a full operational capability.”

26.) Reference PWS page 25, para 3.8.3.10 Advanced Database Administration Question: How do you define advanced GDSS software technical support? Are you referring to Tier 3?

Answer: See revised PWS para 3.8.3.10 to include Tier 3.

27.) Reference PWS page 25, para 3.8.4 MEIS Support Question: Can you provide any information about the scope or nature of MEIS support required?

Answer: Please see revised PWS para 3.8.4 to include, “MEIS support shall include Government-directed software changes as required for security, interface changes, business rule changes, etc. and Tier/Level 3 support as required for troubleshooting and resolution.” In addition, the workload estimate for MEIS support is included in Section J, Attachment 11.

28.) Reference RFP Section L, 5.1.1 Cost/Price Reasonableness and Realism Question: Please clarify if a subcontractor price analysis is being required? The instructions are unclear in Volume 5.1.1 regarding Cost/Price Reasonableness and Realism if the contractor specifically asked to provide our own analysis.

Answer: No, a subcontractor price analysis is not required by the prime.

29.) Reference Section J-4 provides a list of hardware that the Government will provide.

Question:

a. Will all servers and components be loaded with the appropriate software?

Answer: Yes.

b. Will the Government deliver any software used in the development of GDSS and its components?

Answer: The contractor will supply their own software development tools for general coding.

c. Will the Government deliver the source code and compiled code?

Answer: Yes, the Government will deliver available source code and compiled code as required.

d. What formats will the source and compiled code consist of?

Answer: Source Code File Types:

Bas, bat, c, cls, cs, css, ctl, dsr, frm, inc, js, php, phpcgi, sql, tcl, VB, SML, CSL aspx, asax, asmx and HTML

Compiled code: We are not sure what this contractor is asking for. All compiled code should be obvious “normal” compiled code such as .dll, etc.

30.) Reference PWS Delivery Schedule table, PWS para 3.2.1, and Section L of RFP – regarding requirement to deliver a draft CMP, QPP, and TMWP with response package

Page 26 of the PWS references CDRL number A002 (Quality Program Plan) and A003 (Technical and Management Work Plan) to be delivered in draft form with the proposal. The CMP is not mentioned in the Delivery Schedule. PWS para 3.5.5 talks to a requirement for a Configuration Management Plan to be provided with the offeror’s proposal; however, there is also no mention of a QPP or CMP in PWS para 3.2.1 - Subtask 1 –Documents. The RFP does not indicate draft documents are to be provided with the proposal package.

Question: Please clarify whether the draft versions of the QPP, CMP, and TMWP document are required to be provided with the proposal package.

Answer: As stated in the response to Question #2, offerors shall provide a draft Quality Program Plan and a draft Technical and Management Work Plan with proposal submission as required in section 3.11.4 Table 1 – CDRLs (A002 and A003) of the PWS.

See revised PWS para 3.5.3, to include that the offeror shall provide a draft software configuration management plan with their proposal. Also see revised PWS paras 3.2.1 and 3.11.4 to change CDRL A004 from “Reserved” to “Configuration Management Plan.” PWS Attachment J-1 CDRLs (A004) was also updated from “Reserved” to “Configuration Management Plan.”

These draft plans shall be included in Volume II Technical, and will be included in the total 90 page count.

31.) Reference RFP Section L, para 1.4 Proposal Submission Requirements Question: Will the subcontractors need to submit sealed packages?

Answer: As stated in RFP Section L, para 5.2, Section 2, “If needed, the subcontractor may submit their unsanitized cost breakout and supporting information directly to the CO.” The subcontractor may submit pricing information to the CO or may submit through the prime contractor.

32.) Reference RFP Section L, 1.2.2 page 82 and Section M, M002(d), Page 100 Question: The Government did not identify the historic level of effort, or the scope of scheduled major and minor software releases, to accomplish the CPFF requirements in the PWS. This lack of detail provides a clear and unsurmountable advantage to the incumbent contractor, unless all Offerors are required to bid the Workload Estimate Hours by Task as depicted in Section J - Attachment 11.

Please provide the estimated scope and level of effort required to support both the major and minor software releases.

Answer: Major and minor software releases levels of effort are included in Section J, Attachment 11, Workload Estimate, CLIN X004 (Task 4).

33.) Reference PWS 3.10.4, page 27. CPR and IMS requirements.

Question: Should the Integrated Program Management Report (IPMR) be required under this contract? We believe that all new Contracts are required to follow ANSI/EIA-748 which has the IPMR Requirement.

Answer: As stated in RFP para 6.2.4.2, the offeror shall submit evidence that the offeror’s EVMS plan is compliant with the guidelines in the ANSI/EIA-748. The IPMR is not required under this contract.

34.) Reference Amendment 0001, addition of Optional Task 9 CLINS and RFP Section L, para 6.1.4, page 89. Section B does not include the new Optional Task 9 CLINs that were added under Amendment 0001.

Question: Since Section B needs to be included in 6.0 Volume V – Contract Documentation, please advise if a conformed copy of the RFP or of Section B will be provided so the page numbering will remain consistent.

Answer: Yes, the latest conformed copy of the RFP is posted with this amendment (0002).

35.) Reference RFP Section L, para 6.1.4 Section K. This section states, “These [Section K] shall be submitted as a separate attachment to the Contract Documentation Volume.”

Question: Please clarify if Section K should be provided as one of the following:

1. A separate tab under Volume V – Contract Documentation Volume; or

2. Under a separate cover letter not under Volume V – Contract Documentation Volume.

Answer: Section K shall be provided as a separate tab under Volume V – Contract Documentation Volume.

36.) Reference PWS para 7.1, “This paragraph addresses CDRL A001. This transition plan applies only if the contract awardee is not the same as the incumbent contract.”

Question: Will the Government consider excluding the page count for CDRL A001 as part of the 90 page Volume 2 limit, as the incumbent will not be required to submit this document?

Answer: See revised RFP Section L para 1.2 to include, “The Management Plan – CDRL A001 will not be included in the 90 page count for Volume II Technical/Technical Risk.”

Questions & Answers (as of 21 May 14) 37.) Reference Question # 7 and 29(b), regarding the Government specification that it will provide all software necessary to complete the tasks under the PWS. We take this statement to mean the development tools (e.g. Visual Studio, IntelliJ, or other IDE), debugging and design utilities (e.g. XMLSpy, Resharper), and third party libraries necessary to compile, build, test (e.g. HP Quality Center) and maintain the software.

Question:

a. Would the Government please clarify the provision of software (i.e., specific tools) required to perform under the PWS?

b. In addition to the list of this GFE, if the contractor will be required to purchase licenses to perform development [Q&A 29(b), “the contractor will supply their own software development tools for general coding], will the Government please specify what contractor-provided “software development tools for general coding” are currently in use?

Answer: The Government will approve and purchase all necessary software needs to perform PWS tasks. All software provided to the contractor will be treated as GFE.

38.) Reference Q&A 29(a), the Government specifies, “all servers and components will be loaded with the appropriate software,” and the PWS (3.5.9.2 AND 3.8.3.12) highlights that the contractor is responsible for structuring the development environment.

Question: Could you please specify how the configurations will be determined, or will the licenses for all existing software be transferred to the incoming contractor?

Answer: All existing licenses will be provided as GFE and will be transferred to the incoming contractor during transition.

39.) Reference FAR Clause 52.222-41 in Section I of the RFP.

Question: Is there Wage Determination on this RFP? If so, please provide the Wage Determination Schedule for the O’Fallon area.

Answer: A Wage Determination is not required for this requirement. The services are considered exempt from the application of the Service Contract Act pursuant to FAR 22.1001. However, the FAR clause at 52.222-41 Service Contract Act of 1965 will still be included in the solicitation to allow potential offerors the flexibility to propose labor categories that may be applicable under the Service Contract Act of 1965.

40.) A 1-week proposal response deadline extension based on the adjustments required based on the May 15th issued amendment (0002) and Q&A’s.

Answer: An extension of 7 days was given when Amendment 0001 to the RFP was posted.