Questions and Answers_FA558725Q0037.pdf

Questions and Answers

Test Administrator and Academic Advisor Services

FA558725Q0037

1. Is there an incumbent for this position? If so, can the Government share the contract number and the awarded price?

Contract Number: FA558721C0001

Base year + 4 option period: $175,502.08

Incumbent Contractor: Skies the Limit Academy LLC

2. If there is an incumbent, is there an incumbent contractor employee whom the awardee should consider for “right of first refusal” (i.e. Non-displacement of Qualified Workers

Under Service Contracts)?

You may contact the incumbent contractor directly for any information they are willing to share regarding their personnel or operations, as the Government does not release contractor employee information for non-personal services contracts.

3. Quality Control Plan. Does the Government want a management structure physically located in Europe?

The performance of the contract must take place at RAF Mildenhall, UK; however, the

Government does not require the contractor’s management structure to be physically located in

Europe.

4. Backfill/Absences. What is the policy for backfill coverage during illness, vacation times, or other reasons in which the key personnel may be absent?

Since this is a non-personal services contract, the Government does not manage or approve contractor leave. If the contractor’s personnel will be unavailable due to illness, vacation, or other reasons, the contractor is responsible for notifying the Education and Training Section

Chief or authorized designee in advance and ensuring that contract performance is not disrupted.

Backfill coverage or schedule adjustments should be coordinated directly by the contractor.

5. The Pricing Schedule and CLINs show 832 “units” per year. The PWS (4.4) Hours of

Operation indicate services are required 32 hours/week (4 hours on Monday and Friday; 8 hours Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday). 32 hours a week, after accounting for 11 holidays

(66 hours) and two weeks of vacation (80 hours), would be an annual total of 1,518. Can the

Government confirm the number of hours required for this position and what the term

“unit” on the pricing spreadsheet indicates? Additionally, what is the current and/or proposed staffing?

The Government estimates 1,664 hours of service are required annually for this position. Each

“unit” on the pricing spreadsheet represents 2 hours of service, which aligns with the 832 units shown per year. As stated in PWS paragraph 4.4.1, the Government will determine the required hours each week and notify the contractor of the intended schedule no later than five (5) working days prior to the designated work session. While the PWS provides a notional schedule of 32 hours per week, actual hours may vary based on mission needs.

This is a non-personal services contract; therefore, the Government does not propose or direct contractor staffing and is not responsible for managing employee vacation or holiday leave. The contractor is solely responsible for ensuring sufficient staffing to meet performance requirements without disruption.

6. Is there any preparation time required outside the 832 units that are required? If so, what is the estimated number of hours for that?

No, there is no additional preparation time required outside the 832 units. All activities, including onboarding and the gate pass process, are included within the estimated hours (units) identified in the requirement.

7. PWS: 1.3.1.8. states, “The Contractor shall successfully complete training and online examination for proctored tests as identified by the Test Control Officer (TCO) and in the

Mildenhall Test Center, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) folder within two weeks of assuming position.”

Question: Does the government provide this training at no cost to the contractor?

The training referenced in PWS section 1.3.1.8 includes:

• Computer-based training conducted online

• On-the-job training provided by Education Center staff

• All associated training materials and examinations

All training components required for the contractor to successfully complete the proctored test training and examination as specified by the Test Control Officer (TCO) and outlined in the

Mildenhall Test Center Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are provided at no cost to the contractor.

8. PWS states unescorted base passes may take up to 90 days. Will interim escorted access be permitted so the contractor can begin work on Day 1? Likewise, please clarify how the roster is to be submitted within 5 days if base access is restricted for approx. 90 days per the process to obtain unescorted base passes.

Interim escorted access will be permitted to allow the contractor to begin work on Day 1 if an unescorted base pass is unavailable. An escort may be provided by the Education and Training

Section, subject to availability.

Regarding roster submission within 5 days: The contractor is required to submit the roster of personnel within 5 days of contract award as specified in the PWS. This submission is for administrative processing and security clearance purposes and does not require the personnel to have physical base access at the time of submission. The roster should include all required personnel information and documentation necessary to begin the base access approval process.

The contractor can begin work immediately using escorted access while the unescorted base pass process (which may take up to 90 days) runs concurrently. This ensures continuity of operations from Day 1 while security processing is completed.

9. Is there any incumbent/recompete or this is a brand-new project? If yes, could you please provide us with their award number or even if the customer bought similar services in the past.

Contract Number: FA558721C0001

10. Who are authorized to bid on this opportunity? Is this applicable for vendors whose companies are registered in UK only? Or this is also applicable to vendors outside UK?

This opportunity is open to both UK-based and international vendors, including those based in the United States. It is not limited to companies registered in the UK.

11. How many people are currently working under this contract?

Currently one person is performing duties under this contract. However, this is a non-personal services contract; therefore, the Government does not prescribe a specific staffing plan. It is the contractor’s responsibility to determine and propose the appropriate staffing necessary to meet the performance requirements outlined in PWS.

12. Is this is a follow-on requirement or a new contract? If it is a follow-on contract, could you please provide the incumbent contract number and the awarded price?

Contract Number: FA558721C0001

13. Is there an incumbent, if so who it?

14. Will SOFA privileges be extended

No.

15. How many people are required to perform under this contract? Would it be one (1) Test

Administrator and one (1) Academic Advisor?

This is a non-personal services contract; therefore, the Government does not prescribe a specific staffing plan. It is the contractor’s responsibility to determine and propose the appropriate staffing necessary to meet the performance requirements outlined in the PWS.

16. Please confirm if this requirement is a full-time or part-time position?

The requirement is based on the number of hours specified in the solicitation. It is neither classified as full-time nor part-time. As stated in PWS paragraph 4.4.1, the Government will determine the required schedule each week and notify the contractor no later than five (5) working days prior to the designated work session.

17. Does the contracted employee need to travel to attend training/seminar overseas? If so, who will cover the cost(s)? How many days the training will be (e.g. how many days in a year)?

Performance is required to take place within the UK. The PWS does not include any requirement for overseas travel (outside the UK) for training or seminars. Offerors should ensure that all proposed pricing includes any travel costs necessary to meet the requirements outlined in the

PWS.

18. Will the government provide SOFA or logistical support for this role?

No.

19. The PWS mentions local nationals but in PWS 5.6.1 it only addresses SSN which UK citizens do not have – please clarify whether local nationals can be employed.

Local nationals may be employed by the contractor. While PWS section 5.6.1 references Social

Security Numbers (SSN), which UK citizens do not possess, alternative documentation is acceptable:

For Tax Purposes: Local nationals may apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification

Number (ITIN) in lieu of an SSN for tax reporting requirements.

For Base Access: Local nationals should follow the requirements set forth in PWS section

4.6.2, which provides the appropriate procedures and documentation requirements for non-US citizens seeking base access.

The contractor should ensure all local national employees meet the security and documentation requirements specified in PWS section 4.6.2 and coordinate with the appropriate base security office for processing their access requests.

20. We are concerned in the PWs seems to be a contradiction: As we are currently going through this process! Please clarify how we can submit a roster in 5 days when by your own omission one cannot even access the base for approx. 90 days! Also Para 3.3.3 does not exist:

Interim escorted access will be permitted to allow the contractor to begin work on Day 1 if an unescorted base pass is unavailable. An escort may be provided by the Education and Training

Section, subject to availability.

Regarding roster submission within 5 days: The contractor is required to submit the roster of personnel within 5 days of contract award as specified in the PWS. This submission is for administrative processing and security clearance purposes and does not require the personnel to have physical base access at the time of submission. The roster should include all required personnel information and documentation necessary to begin the base access approval process.

The contractor can begin work immediately using escorted access while the unescorted base pass process (which may take up to 90 days) runs concurrently. This ensures continuity of operations from Day 1 while security processing is completed.

We will remove citation of paragraph 3.3.3 from the PWS.

21. Paragraph 3.3.3 is not included in the PWS. Cited in 4.6.1. Base Pass Requirements.

4.6.1. Base Pass Requirements

The Contractor shall submit a roster of all employees requiring access to the installation within 5 days of issuance of an agreement/award. The roster shall include the full name, current address, and date of birth of all contract personnel that will require access.

Additionally, Contractor employees shall submit their United States Social Security Number

(SSN) and passport number, or two other documents (i.e. driver’s license and national insurance number) with corresponding issue and expiration dates. Please note that unescorted base passes take an estimated 90 calendar days to process (see para 3.3.3.).

We will remove citation of paragraph 3.3.3 from the PWS.