Question and Answer.pdf

No. Question Government Response

If we do not currently hold the required facility clearance, are we disqualified, or will the Government sponsor us after selection?

While not preferred, the Government may sponsor by exception based on the outcome of the evaluations. As these services require access to classified data, any time spent gaining access will limit performance of the services outlined in the PWS. Any awardee without current facility clearance must demonstrate the plan to attain one within 6 months of award.

Is an active Secret clearance fully acceptable, or will candidates with TS/SCI receive an evaluation advantage?

TS/SCI requirement was deleted from the PWS.

Is this a new requirement or a recompete? If it is a recompete, please provide the incumbent contractor, contract number, and total awarded value.

This is a new requirement.

4 Can this requirement be awarded through our GSA MAS Contract? It is posted on SAM and will be awarded as a Purchase Order resulted from the Solicitation.

PWS paragraph 1.4.3.1 and the attached draft DD Form 254 state that the awardee “must possess, or acquire prior to award of a contract, a facility clearance equal to the highest classification stated on the [DD254]” (Secret).

Given the interval between the quote due date and the intended 21 Sep 2026 performance start, will the requiring activity/Government sponsor the awardee's Facility Security Clearance (FCL) application through DCSA following award, consistent with standard industrial security practice for a company that does not yet hold an FCL?

See Question 1 response.

If FCL sponsorship would occur post-award, may the awardee begin performance on unclassified/CUI-only tasks while the FCL is processed, given the draft DD254 designates the safeguarding level at the contractor's own facility as “None” and indicates the contractor will “perform services only” without receiving, storing, or generating classified material at its own site?

The awardee personnel without security clearance will be limited to unclassified/CUI only tasks until proper clearance is obtained. Considering the necessity to have access to classified data, this gap in performance should be minimal.

Would a proposed candidate who currently holds an active, transferable Secret personnel clearance eligibility, but is not yet affiliated with a company holding its own FCL, satisfy PWS paragraph 1.4.3.2 pending resolution of Question 1 above?

While not preferred, the Government may sponsor by exception based on the outcome of the evaluations. Any awardee without current facility clearance must demonstrate the plan to attain one within 6 months of award.

Is this requirement a recompete of an existing effort, or a new requirement?

This would help us plan for continuity of support.

This is a new requirement.

Please confirm that the “10 September 2026, 1:00 PM local time” offer due date reflected in Block 8 of the SF 1449 refers to Japan Standard Time (JST).

Yes, it's Japan Standard Time.

The Total Evaluated Price instructions state the TEP equals the total for CLIN X001 (base + all options) plus the sum of the FAR 52.217-8 formula, and separately list a 0.5x multiplier applied to the Base Year, Option Year 1, and Option Year 2 individually. Please confirm whether the TEP should include one six-month extension value (based on the final option period's rate) or three separate six-month extension tranches (one following each of the three periods).

Due to uncertainty regarding if or when an extension will occur, we will calculate separate six-month extensions after each period of performance using the immediate year's rate.

Part I of the quote instructions requires offerors to complete Blocks 6 and 7 of the attached draft DD Form 254 (Contractor and Cognizant Security Office information) and submit it with the quote. For an offeror without a company-level Facility Security Clearance yet on file, what should be entered in these blocks at the time of quote submission?

If you don't have a company level Facility Clearance, state in your proposal and leave Block 6c and 7 blank.

For a proposed candidate who does not currently hold current SOFA status and would relocate from the United States, what is the process and expected timeline for the company to sponsor SOFA status, and who is the sponsoring authority? Given the interval between award and the intended 21 Sep 2026 performance start, would the Government consider a delayed report date or a phased/remote start while SOFA processing and relocation are completed?

374 CONS will prepare SOFA documents if selected contractor employee need one. We are afraid that we cannot delay start, the latest report date is 28th Sep 26.

For a relocating candidate, are initial relocation costs (airfare, shipment of personal effects, temporary lodging during in-processing) reimbursable under CLIN 0002 (Reimbursable Travel Expenses), or must they be included in the firm-fixed-price monthly rate for CLIN 0001?

CLIN 0002 is only for business trip during the period of performance. Any initial relocation costs shall be included in the CLIN X001.

Is this position designated as an accompanied or unaccompanied tour under SOFA sponsorship?

Standard SOFA rules apply. No restrictions.

The PWS states that the contractor must possess or acquire the required Facility Clearance prior to award. Will the Government Contracting Activity sponsor the apparent successful quoter for the required Facility Clearance?

While not preferred, the Government may sponsor by exception based on the outcome of the evaluations.

Must the Facility Clearance be fully issued before contract award, or may an otherwise eligible contractor be considered for award while the Facility Clearance process is underway?

While not preferred, the Government may sponsor by exception based on the outcome of the evaluations. Awardee without current facility clearance must demonstrate the plan to attain one within 6 months of award.

The PWS states that a Secret clearance is required but that exceptions may be made for highly qualified candidates with the ability to secure a Secret clearance. May a proposed candidate without a current clearance be submitted if the candidate is eligible and willing to complete the clearance process? If so, may that candidate begin unclassified portions of the work while the personnel clearance is being processed?

The awardee personnel without security clearance will be limited to unclassified/CUI only tasks until proper clearance is obtained. Considering the necessity to have access to classified data, this gap in performance should be minimal.

The PWS states that current SOFA status is preferred but that SOFA status may be provided. Please confirm whether the Government will sponsor the selected contractor employee for SOFA status following award.

SOFA status will be considered favorably as among other qualifications. However 374 CONS will prepare SOFA documents if a selected contractor employee need one.

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