Q_and_A_Posted_24_May_16.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS POSTED TO FBO ON 24 MAY 16:

NOTE: The following question is shown with both the original response and additional information:

Q8: PWS Paragraph 3.3.2.3 Unscheduled Maintenance. The contractor is required to respond to outages within one hours after notification to initiate repairs. Historically, how often have personnel been called in to repair outages outside of normal workdays?

A8: ORIGINAL RESPONSE: A good estimate for unscheduled outages and the associated, required response would be 1‐2 times per year. On a historical basis, this type of required support is rare.

Although there have been occasions when the contractor needed to respond to an outage that occurred outside normal duty hours/ workdays, it has been infrequent. The main factor contributing to an outage after hours and off workdays is a generator malfunction resulting in failure to supply equipment power after a loss of commercial power. The commercial power in Puerto Rico is very unstable making the generator power critical in avoiding any interruption to HFGCS‐PRS operations.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO A8: In addition to those situations noted above, the contractor will more likely be required to return to the site after duty hours in response to equipment and circuit failures that have a direct impact on HFGCS missions. These situations could occur frequently and it is imperative the contractor be working to restore the system as soon as possible to ensure minimum loss of communication, making the 1 hour response time for events occurring after hours critical. In most cases the contractor will be notified of these types of outages by the Net Control Stations (NCS) at Grand Forks or Andrews AFB, and the one hour clock starts once the contractor is contacted by the NCS.

Q10: PWS Paragraph 3.2.2.5 TMDE. Will the government provide a listing of all equipment that needs to be calibrated?

A10: See the response to Question 11 for a list of equipment.

Q11: PWS Paragraph 3.2.2.5 TMDE. How often is equipment sent out for calibration?

A11: An equipment listing with the schedule for each item's calibration is posted as a separate pdf file in the document package included with these responses, posted to FBO on 24 May 2016.

Q12: Ref. PWS. Para. 2.6 Location and Hours of Work and 3.3.1 SCOPE Command Equipment Operations. Which hours are correct for manning and supporting site operations? Core Hours 0800 to 1500 Daily or Working hours: 0730‐1600 AST/ADT (Atlantic Standard Time/Atlantic Daylight Time)

A12: Both are correct. The paragraph 2.6 reference time for Core Hours, 0800 to 1500 daily, allows the contractor flexibility in scheduling personnel to ensure personnel are available to support O&M requirements at both facilities. The paragraph 3.3.1 reference to working hours – Monday through Friday, 0730‐1600 AST/ADT – identifies the working hours the contractor must ensure qualified technicians supporting the SCOPE Command/HFGCS operations and equipment are present at both the Isabela transmitter site and Salinas receive/control site. Even though a “full workforce” does not have to be present before or after the Core Hours period, an adequate number of personnel meeting the requirements associated with Working Hours must be available to support the mission during the longer Working Hours period.

Q13: Ref. PWS. Para. 3.3.2.6 Antenna Maintenance. Does antenna maintenance include the wooden fences installed around the antenna components?

A13: Antenna maintenance includes fences, signs, coax cable (inside and outside of the buildings) and antenna coax vaults, with the exception of the NSA antenna installation at the Salinas site as noted below in Question and Answer 15.

Q14: Ref. PWS. Para. 3.3.2.6 Antenna Maintenance. What are the maintenance requirements for the NSA antennas and fences at Salinas?

A14: Paragraph 3.3.2.6 does not apply to the NSA antenna since there is no maintenance required for the NSA antenna structures or fences. As stated in Annex 1 – NSA Antenna found on page 46 of the final PWS dated 9 May 2016, the contractor will only provide grounds maintenance for vegetation control IAW PWS paragraph 3.4.1.2 for the area around the NSA antennas.

Q15: Ref. PWS. Para. 3.4.1.2 Vegetation Control. What is the total area of vegetation control at both Isabela and Salinas? Will a map illustrating the areas of vegetation control be provided?

A15: The Government is unable at this time to provide a figure for the total area where vegetation control is required at both Isabela and Salinas. However, the following information is provided for your use: The total land area for the Isabela site is 413 acres, and there are 23 antenna structures at the site.

The Salinas site land area is 249 acres, and there are 5 antenna structures at the site. Vegetation control at both sites requires a combination of mowing, trimming and pesticides to include such areas as antenna anchors, bases, fences, guy wires, access roads, manholes, hydrants, buildings etc. The 3 attachments are maps of the Isabela and Salinas areas provided for your use. A separate pdf file containing maps of the Isabela and Salinas areas is included in the document package posted with these responses, uploaded to FBO on 24 May 2016.

Q16: Ref. PWS. Para. 3.4.1.2 Vegetation Control. Is the contractor responsible for vegetation control along the Salinas site access road?

A16: Yes.

Q17: Will the Government provide internet access at each site? If so what download and upload speeds will be provided at each site?

A17: The contractor must provide internet access for both sites, and will therefore be determining the download and upload speeds that will be available at each site.

Q18: Will the Government provide phones and phone lines for each site? If so what will be provided?

A18: The government does provide provides phones and 6 phone lines for support of the HFGCS mission from both sites. The contractor may find it necessary to provide and fund additional phone lines as needed for administrative use and to meet the requirements of the PWS, such as providing internet access and a security monitoring service as noted in earlier responses.

Q19: Will the Government provide a phone switch with voicemail for use by the contractor?

A19: The government does provide a digital phone switch with integrated voicemail and intercom between all connected lines.

Q20: If a position becomes vacant, after contract initiation, what period of time does the contractor have to fill the position? Is there a reduction in contract price if the position is not filled in the designated time frame?

A20: The Government anticipates the contractor would fill the position as soon as possible. Note that the contract will be awarded at a price determined fair and reasonable for the satisfactory completion of services under a performance‐based contract, as opposed to a purchase of the labor of a specific number of personnel. The contractor’s proposed manpower structure will be reviewed during source selection and it plays a very important role in that determination. However, inability to fill a position would not in itself be the only reason for any contract price reduction after contract award. Note that any remedy sought for such unsatisfactory contract performance would be the result of the low level of performance achieved, and negotiation of such a price reduction is only one possible contractual remedy the Government might seek. The Government will consider contractual remedies in the event contract performance is unsatisfactory for an extended period of time, and the ultimate goal of any remedy is to arrive at a solution which results in the satisfactory performance of all requirements under the terms and conditions of the contract moving forward, not just to seek consideration or redress for previously unsatisfactory performance.

Q21: Ref. PWS. Para. 3.4.1.2 Vegetation Control. What equipment is provided by the Government for Vegetation control?

A21: No equipment is provided by the Government for vegetation control.

Q22: Ref. PWS. Para. 3.2.6 Access to Air Force Network Will all contractor site personnel be issued CAC cards for access specifically for access on to Camp Santiago (Salinas)?

A22: No, CAC cards are not issued specifically for access to the Salinas site on the grounds of Camp Santiago. The contractor must meet the requirements of paragraph 3.2.6 in order to allow CACs to be issued to those personnel who the contractor determines require unclassified network (NIPRNet) access to the Air Force Portal and network access to operate and maintain the SCOPE Command system equipment at Isabela and Salinas.

Q23: Ref. Instructions to Offerors (ITO) Para 8.7, page 59 of the solicitation: The solicitation refers to a requirement for a Subcontractor/Teaming Letter as "Attachment 2". However, the correct letter/ attachment was not found on either FBO or GovWin. While there is a file labeled as Attachment 2 in both locations, it is a collective bargaining agreement. Please provide the required template for the Subcontractor/Teaming Letter.

A23: The text noted in the referenced paragraph refers to Attachment 2 of the ITO, “Sample Subcontractor/Teaming Partner Consent Letter”, found on page 64 of the solicitation, RFP FA4890‐16‐R‐ 0009, posted to FBO on 12 May 2016.

(Data package “Solicitation 1”, file name “1_HFGCS_RFP_12May16.pdf”)

Q24: Would the government please provide clarification for the office symbol ACC CSS/SCXU?

Specifically, would the government please provide the "plain text" name of this office and a brief description of ACC CSS/SCXU duties and responsibilities?

A24: SCXU or Unit Sustainment (aka Plans and Projects) Element provides unit training and deployment management, information assurance, and project management support to the ACC CSS. Note: ACC CSS is the Communications Support Squadron for Headquarters, Air Combat Command.