Questions_from_Industry_6_Mar__13.docx

Questions from Industry in reference to Draft RFP FA4890-12-R-0019

1. I am not an 8(a) contractor, can I still bid on this?

Government Response: No, this acquisition has been reserved for eligible 8(a) firms only. Only an 8(a) firm will be eligible for award

2. Is there an incumbent contractor in place and if so what’s their name? Is this an existing contract and if so what is the contract number?

Government Response: The services are currently being performed under contract FA4890-09-C-0002. This contract was awarded as a competitive 8(a) small business set aside to Alutiiq Business Services, LLC.

3. Is the incumbent eligible to provide an offer for this request? Who is eligible?

Government Response: This requirement will be solicited as a competitive commercial acquisition reserved for eligible 8(a) firms IAW FAR 19.805-1. A single solicitation will be issued for this effort utilizing the Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection procedures. All proposals shall be evaluated as a whole. Offerors must propose on all CLINs including both ACC and AFGSC as only one source will be selected for award to the single offeror who is deemed competent and responsible in accordance with FAR Part 9 and whose proposal is deemed technically acceptable with the lowest evaluated price.

4. As Facility Clearance required (SECERT), do we need FCL before the contract award or after the contract award?

Government Response: All contract employees must possess the appropriate level of access/clearance as of the start date of their employment on this contract.

5. Let us know that how many total FTE’s (Key Personnel) are required under this requirement? Do we need resumes?

Government Response: This requirement will be awarded as a performance based contract that must be performed in accordance with the Performance Work Statement (PWS). The number of personnel needed will be dependent on the offeror's technical approach to performing the requirements of the PWS. The Government is not involved in the selection of contract employees, therefore, resumes are not required as part of the Government review of each proposal. However, all CSA personnel are required to maintain at least an A+ certification to perform CSA duties on the contract.

6. What would be the Place of performance to perform the services?

Government Response: In accordance with the PWS, Section 2, a MPF office space will be provided by the Government on each Air Force Base under the contract.

7. In reference to PWS 2.1.7, is copier paper considered to be a contractor-supplied material? If yes, can an estimate of usage be provided?

Government Response: Copier paper is a “Contractor” supplied item. Typically, most installations order paper quarterly. Amount varies from site to site.

8. Will the government provide specific workload details for each site? Page 7 of the Draft only gives an aggregate figure for all MPFs (13 Sites).

Government Response: Yes, the Government will provide estimated workload data for each site similar to the aggregate date on the Draft RFP page 7. This data will be included in the Official RFP PWS. Base populace totals and ID card averages to include the number of DEERS terminals at each installation are listed within the PWS Appendix 2 and A2.1. Workload data varies from site to site. Retiree population is not listed in the PWS but is counted as part of the overall workload to determine the number of DEERS terminals at each installation.

9. Will the government provide average length of time per transaction?

Government Response: The “timeframe” required to produce a deliverable is listed along with the requirements in the Service Provided Tables contained in the PWS. Time associated with each transaction varies due to levels of complexity and categories (active duty, dependent, retiree, reservists, etc.).

10. It will be costly and environmentally costly to prepare and ship multiple hard copies of the proposal. Will the government consider an electronic-only response? Or electronic plus disk?

Government Response: No, in accordance with (IAW) RFP Section 6a, Addendum to 52.212-1 – Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items (Feb 2012) the Government requires both paper and electronic copies of all offeror’s proposal. Proposals are to be submitted IAW the instructions of this section.

11. With regards to RFP Section 6, paragraph 9.6. Are financials required for the prime contractor only or for the prime and all sub-contractors?

Government Response: The required financials shall be submitted for the prime contractor only. The prime will be responsible for determining the adequacy of a subcontractor to meet their financial requirements to ensure performance.

12. Attachment 1 Draft PWS dated 14 FEB 2013, pg. 3, Section 2.1: “Contractor shall provide all personnel, material (office supplies; pens pencils staplers etc)…”:

Question: Will office supplies be billed as an ODC or will the government provide a standard cost for these materials? To ensure the Government gains the most accurate and cost effective price, will the Government provide historical office supply costs as done in other sections of the PWS.

Government Response: The cost of office supplies: pens, pencils, staplers, etc. should be included in the Firm-Fixed Price cost proposed for each site. Utilization of supplies will be dependent on the workload of each site. A standard cost will not be provided.

13. Attachment 1 Draft PWS dated 14 FEB 2013, pg. 9, Section 1.5 Military Personnel Systems Management , 1.5.1 System Administration and Performance: RFP states “The contractor shall provide system administration, security and problem solving for MILPDS… The contractor shall perform MILPDS product actions. The Contractor shall perform in the role of Base Administrator for the Personnel Records Display Application (PRDA) in ARMS.”

Question: Please confirm whether the scheduled MILPDS upgrade has been or will be completed for all nine sites referenced in the PWS by the time of contract award.

Government Response: The current years MILPDS upgrade/downtime is currently scheduled for 4 March – 31 Mar 2013, for all 13 sites.

14. Attachment 1 Draft PWS dated 14 FEB 2013, , pg. 10, Section 1.5 Military Personnel Systems Management, 1.5.4 Equipment Management: RFP states “The contractor shall Maintain the computers and peripherals listed with the automated data processing equipment (ADPE) account, report software problems an process hardware or software procedural enhancements …….”

Question: In the event the upgrade is delayed, please identify if the Government will require Contractor support for the upgrade for all nine sites and if this support is considered within scope of the PWS.

Government Response: Please see response from question #13. The Government does not anticipate contractor assistance to complete this upgrade.

15. Attachment 1 Draft PWS dated 14 FEB 2013, pg. 21, Part 3.3.2: Please confirm that time spent in Government-provided training is billable.

Government Response: All “Government Directed/Provided” training is billable.

16. Please clarify Paragraph 1.1., is this procurement best value or LPTA?

Government Response: In accordance with (IAW) FAR 15.101-2, this acquisition will be conducted as a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) which is part of the Best Value Continuum. This source selection will not be a full trade-off acquisition. The LPTA process is appropriate when the best value is expected to result from selection of the technically acceptable proposal with the lowest evaluated price. This source selection will be conducted in accordance with FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation, DoD Source Selection Procedures effective 1 Jul 2011 and Air Force Federal Acquisition Regulation (AFFARS) Mandatory Procedures (MP) 5315.3 for Source Selection as revised 4 May 2011 using the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection process.

17. PWS Page 16, Section 2, subsection 2.1.3. The PWS states that the Government will provide copying services.

Question: Will the Government supply all paper and toner for these services?

Government Response: The Government will supply toner for government furnished copier/equipment. The paper shall be supplied by the contract.

18. Solicitation FA4890-12-R-0019, Section 4.2.3 Subfactor B: Quality Control Plan 1.), Page 104 of 118. The paragraph states, “Plan complies and effectively meets the requirements of PWS paragraph 1.7, to ensure quality, schedule, cost and performance.”

Question: PWS paragraph 1.7 is Client Support Administration. Was it the government’s intent to reference PWS paragraph 1.8 Quality Control Plan?

Government Response: Yes. The intent was to reference the Quality Control Plan section of the PWS. This will be corrected in official RFP PWS.