Attachment 7_Vendor Questions I v2.pdf

26 July 2024

Offeror Questions FA4690-24-R-0005 Answers to questions submitted as of 25 July are below. Duplicate questions have been consolidated. If additional questions are received prior to the deadline on 2 August, the answers will be sent out as soon as practicable.

Q1. We note the RFP has the NAICS 561110 - which is utilized for Office Support Services, such as administrative support contracts. The 'financial specialist' scope is best suited for 541219 - Other Accounting Services A1. Travel Pay Processing involves processing travel vouchers which is administrative in nature to include recordkeeping. No experience in accounting or payroll processing is necessary. Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP) is not necessary. Travel Pay Processing does not involve accounting services, tax return preparation, or payroll services. This effort will review, compute, audit, and certify travel vouchers for payment. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service will execute payment and payroll services. The occupation series of Government civilians performing similar work covers positions the duties of which are to perform or supervise clerical or technician work in support of accounting, auditing, budgeting, or financial management functions when no other established series in the Accounting and Budget Group, 0500, is appropriate. The work requires a knowledge of the procedures and techniques involved in carrying out the work of an organization and involves application of procedures and practices within the framework of established guidelines. For this requirement, there are procedures and practices in place to process travel vouchers. Therefore, NAICS 561110 “Other Administrative Services” is more appropriate than 541219 “Other Accounting Services.”

Q2. The PPQs are due by 2nd August and the proposal response is due by 7th August, would you kindly match the PPQ due date to proposal response date - that would really benefit the requested clients and vendors.

A2. The PPQ due date will be changed to 7 Aug. A revised PPQ letter is attached.

Q3. Would the agency kindly provide the 'equivalent federal pay' for the Financial Specialist position?

A3. Due to automated processes to create the SF 1449 solicitation, FAR Clause 52.222-42 was checked in 52.212-5 as incorporated by reference. FAR Clause 52.222-42 has fill-ins and will be included as full text in the award as follows:

52.222-42 STATEMENT OF EQUIVALENT RATES FOR FEDERAL HIRES (MAY 2014)

In compliance with the Service Contract Labor Standards statute and the regulations of the Secretary of Labor (29 CFR part 4), this clause identifies the classes of service employees expected to be employed under the contract and states the wages and fringe benefits payable to each if they were employed by the contracting agency subject to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 5341 or 5332.

THIS STATEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY: IT IS NOT A WAGE DETERMINATION

Employee Class Monetary Wage-Fringe Benefits 01013 Accounting Clerk III GS-5 $16.23/hour - 36.45% (End of clause)

(The Notes below will not be included in the clause) NOTE1: The mere listing of particular labor categories or grades as part of FAR 52.222-42 in a solicitation does not require offerors to only propose employees in the listed categories or grades. Offerors are allowed to make their own determination as to the combination of employee classifications that could best perform the services required in the Performance Work Statement.

NOTE2: Government civilians performing very similar tasks to those in the PWS are hired under the Occupation series below:

0503 - Financial Clerical and Technician Series Occupation Federal Occupation Description

This series covers positions the duties of which are to perform or supervise clerical or technician work in support of accounting, auditing, budgeting, or financial management functions when no other established series in the Accounting and Budget Group, 0500, is appropriate. The work requires a knowledge of the procedures and techniques involved in carrying out the work of an organization and involves application of procedures and practices within the framework of established guidelines.

Q4. Would the agency kindly advise which of the WD SOC pertain to the Financial Specialist position?

A4. See A3.

Q5. Would the agency kindly advise of the incumbent vendor/contract information?

A5. Vendor and contract information is:

LEO TECH LLC

7501 MEMORIAL PKWY SW STE 113

HUNTSVILLE, AL 35802-2201

IDIQ Contract: FA4690-19-D-A004 Recent Task Orders:

FA4690-24-F-0053, 26 Jun 24 – 25 Sep 24, $474,273.03 FA4690-24-F-0034, 26 Apr 24 – 25 Jun 24, $316,182.02 FA4690-24-F-0024, 26 Mar 24 – 25 Apr 24, $158,091.01 FA4690-23-F-0020, 27 Mar 23 – 25 Mar 24, $1,804,971.00

Q6. What is the current FTE size on the contract?

A6. 37 FTE

Q7. Will the Government provide any initial training if this is a new requirement?

A7. The requirement is recurring and is not new.

Q8. Solicitation page 37 Volume III – Written Technical Proposal, Subfactor 2 (1) states: “Provide resume clearly demonstrating the firm’s capability to provide one Project Manager with a minimum of three years’ experience managing a staff of 18+ personnel in a production-based environment. The 3 years’ experience shall be within the past 5 years.” The evaluation factor on page 40 for Volume II Technical Factor also identifies this requirement. The PWS paragraph 3.1.1 (page 7 of 12) identifies a Program Manager task description with a minimum of one (1) year Program Management experience. There is no reference to KSAs for a Project Manager in the PWS. Please clarify whether this effort requires a Program Manager or Project Manager and also validate if the KSAs identified in 3.1.1 are correct.

A8. The instructions and evaluation criteria will be updated to be consistent with the PWS and reflect 1 year vice 3 years and to reflect “Program Manager” vice “Project Manager”.

Q9. What is the anticipated budget for the effort?

A9. The Government’s anticipated budget for this requirement will not be released.

Q10. Are commercial past performance references acceptable?

A10. Commercial past performance references are acceptable provided the past performance is relevant to the requirement.

Q11. Is it mandatory to provide past performance references with Federal experience?

A11. Past performance from Federal experience is not mandatory. However, the past performance must be relevant to the requirement.

Q12. What do you value most in a commercial collaboration with vendors?

A12. The Government refers offerors to the “ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-2 EVALUATION - PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (NOV 2021)” in the SF1449 solicitation for guidance on how offers will be evaluated.

Q13. How many vendors do you anticipate awarding for this effort?

A13. The Government intends to award single contract to a single vendor.

Q14. Under Instructions, Conditions & Notices to Offerors or Quoters, 1. Proposal Preparation Instructions, 1.5 (page 35) - the instructions state, "Pages shall be single spaced with 1.5 spacing." is single space acceptable, or does the government want 1.5 spacing?

A14. The requirement for 1.5 spacing is correct. Single space is not acceptable.

Q15. This appears to be the same requirement that was procured under FA4690-24-R-0001. Was that awarded and this is a new requirement? or was FA4690-24-R-001 not awarded and the work is not being done today?

A15. FA4690-24-R-0001 was cancelled and no award was made due to uncertain requirements in FY26 and FY27. See A5 above for the contract numbers that have been performing the work.

Q16. Response Date. Can the government change the proposal due date to 17 Aug 2024 to allow offerors the full 30-day response period in accordance with FAR Part 5? The current proposal due date only allows 21 calendar days, not the required 30 days.

A16. FAR Part 5.203(c) excepts commercial services for the 30-day response requirement. The Government deemed 21 calendar days sufficient for this commercial acquisition.

Q17. CLIN 0002, Travel Pay Processing Technicians. The wording for the CLIN appears ambiguous. Can you please revise and/or provide an example of how the government calculates “Jobs” as the unit of issue?

A17. 1 job is effectively 1 FTE month. 37 jobs is 1 month of 37 FTE. 12 months of 37 jobs per month is 444 jobs per year.

Q18. Office Space. Will the government provide any onsite office space for the contractor Project Manager? (Pages 40 and 41, Volume II, Technical Factor).

Q19. Office space will be provided for contractor personnel that is co-located in the same general as Government civilians working travel pay vouchers.

Q19. Current Employees. Can you provide a list of current contract employees?

A19. The current contract employees are not under Government control. Therefore, the Government cannot provide a list of current contract employees.

Q20. CLIN 0003, Travel Pay Processing Overtime. Can you please provide offerors with an estimated quantity of anticipated overtime hours? Can the government provide historical data of overtime used on past contracts for this service?

A20. Approximately 190 hours of overtime was utilized in the last 12 months. Past years have been lighter. The Government estimates approximately 150-250 hours per year may be required. Workload will drive the need for overtime hours.

Q21. Collective Bargaining Agreement. Is there a CBA for these services?

A21. There is no CBA in place.

Q22. Phase-In Period. What is the phase-in period? Is the transition period the standard 30 calendar days from the notice to proceed?

A22. If needed, the Government does not anticipate a lengthy transition period for a successor contractor.