Amendment_02_Questions_and_Answers.pdf

FA4890-13-R-0003, Financial System Administrator Systems Support

RFP Questions and Answers

QUESTION: Paragraph 2.2.4 states "that the Prime Contractor needs to have a SECRET facility code at the start of the contract" but paragraph 2.2.2.3 states "Prior to performance, all Contractor personnel involved in the Special Programs portion of this requirement (see Task Order 0002, Statement of Budgetary Resources Audit Readiness and Sustainment PWS paragraph 2.8.3 and subparagraphs) shall possess a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance and must adhere to the Joint Air Force-Army-Navy (JAFAN) security manuals". I could not locate paragraph 2.8.3, so I unable to determine if this is unintentional/leftover from a previous solicitation. In addition the DD254 does not make any reference to having a need for access to SCI material.

ANSWER: The highest security clearance required is Secret. Para 2.2.2.3 will be changed to reflect SECRET.

QUESTION: How many FTEs are required for this requirement?

ANSWER: Paragraph 1.2 states, "The contractor shall provide the necessary Full Time Employee (FTEs) and functional support required to fulfill this contract, as described within this PWS. One FTE is required at each Host Base Comptroller Squadron."

Discretion is with each contractor to determine the number of FTEs within their proposal based on how they plan to approach the contract requirements.

QUESTION: What is the contract value?

ANSWER: Contract value is determined by soliciting competition. If the question is referring to the existing contract, this requirement is a new contract for our organization.

The previous contract was satisfied via GSA contract number GS-35F-4454G.

QUESTION: Duty hours are defined in PWS Section 1.5.3 and 1.5.4 and Section 2.3.10 of the PWS. Which section takes precedence (or can the USG please consolidate into one entry for clarity)?

ANSWER: Paragraph 1.5.3 list "normal" operational hours. Paragraph 1.5.4 addresses after "normal" hour support (as needed basis). Paragraph 2.3.10 combines both "normal" work hours per location and after "normal" hour support during the month of September. NOTE: September is the last month of the fiscal year for the Federal government and the financial management community typically works beyond "normal" work hours.

QUESTION: Instructions to Offerors 6-8.2 indicates "has completed within the past year" but 6-8.3 and 7-3.2.2 indicate "during the last three (3) years." Please confirm recency for past performance information is defined as "during the last three (3) years."

ANSWER: Paragraph 6-8.2 will be revised to read, "during the last three (3) years preceding the final solicitation due date."

QUESTION: In Evaluation Criteria 7-1.1.1, with respect to Technical Proposals, it is stated that "Acceptable" is the highest possible rating and that "Proposals that exceed the evaluation criteria will not receive higher ratings." In 7-1.1.2 it is stated "Past Performance will be assessed a final rating of 'Acceptable' or 'Unacceptable' at the factor level." Is it possible for Past Performance submissions that exceed the evaluation criteria to receive higher ratings?

ANSWER: Past Performance will be assessed a final rating of 'Acceptable' or 'Unacceptable' at the factor level only. No other ratings are available.

QUESTION: In Section 2.2.2.3., it states: Prior to performance, all Contractor personnel involved in the Special Programs portion of this requirement (see Task Order 0002, Statement of Budgetary Resources Audit Readiness and Sustainment PWS paragraph

2.8.3 and subparagraphs) shall possess a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance and must adhere to the Joint Air Force-Army- Navy (JAFAN) security manuals.

Versus

In Section 2.2.4. Facility Clearance, it states: Industrial Security guidelines stipulate that facility clearances must be specific and that Contractor employee security clearances cannot be higher than the facility clearance of the company. The Prime Contractor shall possess a SECRET facility clearance at contract start. The Prime Contractor shall ensure that any Teaming Partners or Subcontractors have the appropriate clearances for the work performed prior to beginning performance. Which clearance level is correct?

ANSWER: The highest security clearance required is Secret. Para 2.2.2.3 will be changed to reflect SECRET.

QUESTION: In Section 1.2.2.3, there is reference to an Attachment A. Would the USG provide further information on this since the attachment was absent from the last posted update?

ANSWER: Reference to Attachment A will be removed. That was a carryover from a previous PWS.

QUESTION: In Section 1.6. Deliverables, there is reference to an Appendix A. Did the USG mean to indicate the deliverables at the end of that section, or are there other deliverables to be met during the course of the contract?

ANSWER: Language will be changed to read, "The contractor shall be responsible for delivering all end items specified within chart under paragraph 1.6.3.”

QUESTION: In the RFP, it states that the vendor submitting the proposal must have a Secret Facility Clearance. However, if a company is still going through the facility clearance process, but has an "Interim Facility Clearance," will you allow a company to still submit a proposal for this federal opportunity?

ANSWER: The contractor (prime or any subs) must have a Secret facility clearance in order for their employees to obtain a clearance.

Section 2.2.4 Facility Clearance, “Industrial Security guidelines stipulate that facility clearances must be specific and that Contractor employee security clearances cannot be higher than the facility clearance of the company. The Prime Contractor shall possess a SECRET facility clearance at contract start. The Prime Contractor shall ensure that any Teaming Partners or Subcontractors have the appropriate clearances for the work performed prior to beginning performance."

Question: Is it to interpret that, not only the Prime has to have a SECRET facility clearance prior to contract start date, but any Subcontractor(s) and or Teaming Partner(s) must possess a SECRET facility clearance? Or, is the SECRET facility clearance only required by the Prime, and the Prime must ensure that any Teaming Partner(s) or Subcontractor(s) "Personnel" must have a SECRET clearance?

ANSWER: The contractor (prime or any subs) must have a Secret facility clearance in order for their employees to obtain a clearance.

QUESTION: What is the historical workload (in annual hours) of each location for each of three functional areas?

ANSWER: The previous contract was awarded as a Firm Fixed Price contract. The government does not have a record of number of hours expended by the current contractor. The performance work statement request one Full Time Equivalent (FTE) per location. Operational hours are 0730-1630 Monday through Friday with continuous support, allowing for a one hour lunch break.

QUESTION: The RFP Section 1.2 states that, "One FTE is required at each Host Base Comptroller Squadron." Please confirm that this means one and only one FTE is required at each Host Base Squadron. Please confirm that NO location covered by the PWS requires more than one person. If a location or locations require more than one person, please identify those locations and provide the number of FTEs required.

ANSWER: As stated in the performance work statement, one FTE is required at each Host Base Comptroller Squadron.

QUESTION: Please provide a list of the places of performance for ALL locations covered by the PWS and indicate if those are CONUS or OCONUS.

ANSWER: Places of performance are listed in paragraph 1.0 of the performance work statement. All locations are CONUS.

QUESTION: The RFP Section 1.5.3. states that, "Duty Hours: normal operational hours are 0730-1630, Monday through Friday. The contractor will provide continuous support during these hours." It is not possible to cover these normal operational hours M-F with only one person without exceeding a 40 hour work week. RFP 2.3.10 states that there will be an effort to adhere to a 40 hour work week. Please clarify the intent of 1.5.3.

ANSWER: Normal operational hours allows for a one hour lunch break per day. This will result in a 40 hour work week.

QUESTION: Paragraph 6-7.2.1 Technical Factor 1: Management/Staffing Plan of the RFP states the following:

* Identifies the personnel resources and skill sets available to fulfill the PWS requirements, specifically addressing knowledge and experience that is required to complete the tasks identified in PWS paragraph 1.2 and 1.3 and, the completion of all deliverables identified in PWS paragraph 1.6

* Identify all positions and indicate how the personnel that will be supporting the effort at each host- base Comptroller organization meets the experience and expertise identified in PWS 1.3.

Please clarify if resumes of the personnel mentioned in these two bullets are required?

ANSWER: The Government does not require resumes as part of the Financial System Administrator Support Services proposal.

QUESTION: Ref PWS Para 1.5.1, RFP Page 5 CLIN Delivery Dates, and DD 254 Item 3, the period of performance dates are different. What are the dates associated with each period of performance?

ANSWER: The period of performance should be as follows:

Base Period: 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014 Option Year 1: 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 Option Year 2: 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 Option Year 3: 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017

PWS will be revised via Amendment 02. DD 254 is a draft document and will be corrected when the final is issued.

QUESTION: Ref PWS Para 2.2.2.3, mentions need for some TS/SCI clearances, but references to Task Order 0002 and PWS paragraph 2.8.3 cited in this paragraph do not exist:

"2.2.2.3. Prior to performance, all Contractor personnel involved in the Special Programs portion of this requirement (see Task Order 0002, Statement of Budgetary Resources Audit Readiness and Sustainment PWS paragraph 2.8.3 and subparagraphs) shall possess a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance and must adhere to the Joint Air Force-Army-Navy (JAFAN) security manuals."

ANSWER: Paragraph 2.2.2.3 has been revised. Please see amendment 02.

QUESTION: What are the requirements for TS/SCI?

ANSWER: The highest security clearance required is Secret. Para 2.2.2.3 will be changed to reflect SECRET.

QUESTION: RFP Page 31, Para 6-5.4.5. Number of volume copies not given. How many copies of each volume are required?

ANSWER: Paragraph 6-3.1 states proposals are to be e-mailed.

GOVERNMENT COMMENT: The incumbent is not currently under the 8(a) program.

Our market research indicates multiple small businesses are capable of performing Financial Systems Administrator support services.

We plan to evaluate proposals using the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) process and award the contract as Firm Fixed Price (FFP). This will be done on a competitive basis. LPTA and FFP are used when the Government does not anticipate any value from a proposal exceeding the minimum technical or performance requirements. These services are considered commercial in nature, clearly defined and expected to be low risk.

Our goal is to award a competitive contract that can provide our customer with an acceptable level of service.

ALL QUESTIONS TO THIS RFP MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN 11 MAR

2013 IN ORDER FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE RESPONSES TO ALL

POTENTIAL CONTRACTORS. THE PROPOSAL DUE DATE IS NOT ANTICIPATED

TO CHANGE.