6. Atch 6_RFI Answers.pdf

FA5706-20-R-0203

Request For Information

1. We could not find any reference within the RFP. Are cultural advisors required to go through

CRC?

No, they are not required to go through Deployment Centers. IAW DFARS 252.225-7995 (f), the Contracting Officer can direct otherwise. The Contracting Officer is waiving this requirement.

2. Following on Question 1, if CRC is required will the government be providing lodging and meals at CRC?

Reference answer to Question 1. Cultural Advisors are not required to go through Deployment Centers.

3. We did not see a specific reference to when contractors were billable to the contract. If CRC is required will this be once they start CRC?

4. While the government addresses some travel and meal issues for official travel, it is not clear that if the government cannot provide transportation or meals for official travel that an ODC CLIN will be established for standard reimbursement of these costs should the contractor have to provide them. Will the government be establishing an ODC CLIN for this contract?

An ODC CLIN will not be established on this contract. The Government has yet to have official travel that required airfare to occur for cultural advisors. If Mil Air is unavailable, they would not attend.

5. The Contractor shall furnish all transportation from CONUS to contract place of performance and to the Contractor's preparation and processing site in CONUS. Upon return to the CONUS, the Contractor or contract employee will furnish transportation from the Contractor's out-processing location. This section states that the contract is responsible for transportation in CONUS and from CONUS to OCONUS place of performance. However, it does not specifically address the OCONUS to CONUS travel upon completion of contract. Is this travel also at the offerer's cost?

The Contractor is responsible for funding travel from the AOR to CONUS at the end of the period of performance. Paragraph 2.3.3. of the PWS has been revised to clarify this point.

6. Does the effort have an incumbent, if so, please provide the incumbent vendor and contract number?

The current contract is FA5706-18-P-0001 with Allworld Language Consultants, LLC.

7. PWS and DD254 do not explain the need for Restricted Data access. Guidance should be documented in Section 13. Please review and update.

The restricted data that contractors will deal with is Personally Identifiable Information (PII) as well as operational plans that require coordination with the host nation partners.

8. DD Form 254 states that Secret eligibility/access is required. Correct DD254 to match PWS requirements. This item should be checked. Please review and correct.

Secret clearances are needed for the requirement.

9. All work on this contract will be conducted at 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Facilities. Per the PWS, the Contractor does not require access at their facility. This item should be checked.

Please review and correct.

Box 11.b. is unchecked and Box 11.a. has been checked.

10. Item 1.b. indicates that Safeguarding is not required, and Contractor does not require access at their facility. This item should not be checked. Please review and correct.

Box 11.b. is unchecked and Box 11.a. has been checked.

11. All classified work on this contract will be done at 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Facilities on Al Dhafra Air Base, UAE (ADAB). This item should be checked. Please review and correct.

Box 11.b. is unchecked and Box 11.a. has been checked.

12. The PWS and DD Form 254 do not document a need for OPSEC Requirements. If this is required, Item 14 must be checked “Yes” and must include information on this requirement. Additional clarifying information should be documented in Item 13. Please review and correct.

The Item 14 has been checked “Yes” and includes details about the need for the OPSEC requirement and also documented in Item 13.

13. Per the PWS, all classified work will be done at 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Facilities on Al Dhafra Air Base, UAE (ADAB). The contractor and their employees will have no need to send classified information through the Defense Courier System. This item should not be checked.

Please review and correct.

Box 11.k. is unchecked and Box 11.a. has been checked.

14. Per Section 13 of DD Form 254, “all documentation for the sponsorship program will be FOUO”.

Per PWS, cultural advisors are required to keep a file of all documentation related to this process, therefore the contractor will be generating FOUO information. Item 11.l. should be checked, and a FOUO/CUI Addendum should be provided to document how the contractor is required to protect this information. Please review and correct.

The Item 14 has been checked “Yes” and includes details about the need for the OPSEC requirement and also documented in Item 13.

15. Due to current Travel restrictions requiring quarantine, will the government consider increasing the number of days to take into account any required quarantine?

No, the Government will not increase the number of days due to potential restriction of movement requirements.

16. Does the government intend to provide a quarantine facility or direct the use of a specific quarantine process for deploying linguists? Will the government consider the quarantine period when determining the start date?

The Cultural Advisors will quarantine within their assigned quarters or room if a 14-day quarantine is required. Meals will be delivered to them by the Government, should they need to quarantine on Al Dhafra Air Base (ADAB).

All cultural advisors must be in the AOR and ready to work NLT 01 November 2020 to start the phase-in process. The contractor will officially take over all cultural advisor duties on 15 November 2020.

17. FAR 52.228-3 Workers’ Compensation Insurance (Defense Base Act) is not included in the solicitation. Was the requirement for Defense Base Act insurance waived by the Secretary of Labor for this effort (FAR 28.305 (d)? If not, and Defense Base Act Insurance is required, how shall offerors account for the cost and show proof of insurability? Would a rate indication letter from an Insurance Carrier suffice as documentation?

No, the requirement was not waived. Clause 52.228-3 has been added to the solicitation document by reference on Page 3. The cost shall be computed into the Firm Fixed Price proposed for Cultural Advisor services. Proof is needed prior to commencing performance under the contract, you will not need to provide it during the proposal process.

18. Will the government provide the Al Dhafra Air Base Access policy and Badging Policy?

Nothing else will be required in order to access ADAB other than the DoD Common Access Card.

19. RFP Language: The offeror shall submit a technical proposal, limited to a total of 5 pages… Question: Due to the limited page count, can the Government confirm that the cover sheet, table of contents, and abbreviation list are not counted against the page count limitations.

Confirmed, the cover sheet, table of contents, and abbreviation list will not be counted against the 5 page limit.

20. Because specific deployment and predeployment requirements are determined by whether contractor employees are designated as CAAF or non-CAAF, please confirm that all personnel assigned to this program will be designated as CAAF.

All cultural advisors are designated as CAAF.

21. Will the Government provide a draft Letter of Authorization (LOA) that details CAAF status and the specific Government-furnished support.

All cultural advisors are designated as CAAF. The following boxes will be marked on their LOAs:

- Billeting - CAC - Local Access Badge - Dining Facility (DFAC) - Gov’t Furnished Meals (GFM)

- APO/FPO/Postal Services - Military Issued Equipment - MWR Facilities - Military Exchange

- Excess Baggage

22. RFP Language: The vacant position shall not exceed 12 calendar days over the current contract year. Please clarify if the 12 calendar period applies to a position that is vacant due to the resignation or termination of the employee.

Yes, the 12 calendar day period applies to any event where a cultural advisor is unable to perform their duties, to include resignation or termination. Reference PWS Paragraph 2.3.2.

23. RFP Language: The vacant position shall not exceed 12 calendar days over the current contract year. Because the place of performance is OCONUS, 12 days to source, screen, vet, and present a qualified candidate would be unrealistic. Will the Government consider revising this period to 24 days?

No, the Government will not extend the period.

24. If a contractor is a practicing Muslim, and mission requirements allow, they may be provided a reduced or altered work schedule to permit the religious observance of Ramadan. Does the Government intend for contractor employees to work a reduced week during Ramadan? If not, please confirm that Offerors are required to price overtime for any hours worked over 6 hours during Ramadan to be compliant with UAE labor laws.

Per Paragraph 3.3.1 of the PWS, contract employees who are practicing Muslims may be allowed to work a reduced or altered work schedule, if mission requirements allow, during Ramadan.

25. Section 3.3: “Normal hours of operation will be prescribed by the 380th AEW Commander and the 380th ECONS Commander to coincide with local hours of operation, typically 40-50 hours per week.” Section 3.4: “Estimated non-normal duty/emergency duty hours should not exceed 32 hours per month.” For the 32 hours per month of non-normal duty/emergency duty hours, is that in addition to the 40-50 hours per week stated in Section 3.3. of the PWS or is that time included within the 40-50 hour estimate?

Yes, the estimated 32 hours per month of non-normal duty/emergency duty hours are in addition to the 40-50 hours per week referenced in Paragraph 3.3.

26. Estimated non-normal duty/emergency duty hours should not exceed 32 hours per month.

Please clarify if the 32 hours per month limit is for each employee or if the limit applies to the entire workforce in the aggregate.

Non-normal duty/emergency duty hours refer to weekend days of 2 days per week; 8 days total per month. If contractors are called in during those non-normal duty hours, they will not exceed 32 hours per month based on those 8 days per month. The 32 hours per month is per cultural advisor.

27. Electronic copies of the proposal shall be submitted in a format readable by Microsoft (MS)

Office Word 2016, MS Office Excel 2016, MS Office Power Point 2016 or Adobe Reader.

Proposals must be sent via e-mail. If your file is too large to send via email, coordinate with the POCs above to schedule a DOD SAFE drop off. Will the Government confirm if there is a file size limitation for either email or DOD SAFE drop off?

E-mail: 10 MB

DOD SAFE Drop off: Files up to 8.0 GB

28. The RFP makes several references deployment center processing and states that personnel shall process through the deployment center designated in the contract. Would the Government indicate which deployment center is required to be used?

29. Would the Government please clarify if a U.S. Company is subject to UAE corporate and/or personal tax liabilities based on the revised Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between the U.S. and UAE in May 2019?

The VAT CLINs have been removed from the bid schedule. DFARS 252.229-7001 has been updated.

30. What is the anticipated award date?

A notice of award is expected to be sent out prior to 30 September 20. An official contract cannot be executed until after 01 October 21 and FY21 funds are received.

31. Can the Government confirm that meals and housing will be provided by the Government?

Yes, reference Question 21.

32. Will contractor personnel be housed at the Al Dhafra Air Base?

Yes, reference Question 21.

33. While traveling on official duty to locations within CENTCOM AOR, will the Government cover all travel expenses including: lodging, meals, transportation…etc?

Yes. The Government will cover all travel expenses associated will official duty to other locations within the CENTCOM AOR, if official travel is needed.

34. To increase competition and ensure that the Government receives several bids from industry, will the Government evaluate past performance of programs with different scope, providing deployed personnel in support of DOD customers in CENTCOM AOR, as relevant?

No, the past performance needs to be of similar scope and complexity as the Cultural Advisor requirement that is being solicited.

35. Does the Government require contractor personnel to process through Ft. Bliss, TX for prior to deployment?

36. Will the Government cover the costs of deployment and demobilization of contractor personnel (Mil Air)?

The Contractor is to cover the costs of deployment and de-mobilization of contractor personnel. Mil Air will not be provided. Reference PWS paragraphs 2.3.3 and 2.3.4.

37. Could the Government confirm that all transportation to and from CONUS to contract place of performance and to the Contractor’s preparation and processing site in CONUS is considered an ODC and directly billable to the contract?

Reference answer to Question 35. A separate CLIN for travel will not be included. All costs should be captured within the Firm Fixed Price proposed.

38. Does the Government require Contractors to enter and track Contractor employees in SPOT (Synchronized Predeployment & Operational Tracker)?

Yes, please reference DFARS Clause 252.225-7995.

39. The Bid Schedule doesn’t allot for any ODCs. Does the Government intend to allot ODCs for travel or other billable expenses? Or should Contractors figure all costs such as pre-deployment/redeployment travel, processing, visas, etc., into its FFP costs for the 9 Cultural Advisor positions?

Reference answer to Question 36. All costs shall be factored into the FFP proposed for the 9 Cultural Advisor positions.

40. Please confirm that Offerors should submit Offeror Information in the Price Proposal.

Offeror information should be submitted on Page 2 of the Solicitation document.

41. “Company names and logos should only be on the first page of the proposal.” Please confirm that this only applies to information in headers, and offerors may use their company name in the written response.

Confirmed, offeror’s may use their name in their written response.

42. “The offeror shall submit a technical proposal, limited to a total of 5 pages…”

Please confirm that the technical proposal’s five (5) page limit applies only to Factor 1: Phase In/Out Plan, and does not include cover pages, table of contents, or Offeror Information.

Confirmed, the 5 page limit does not include a cover page or table of contents. Offeror information shall be submitted on Page 2 of the Solicitation document.

43. What was the historical distribution of work volume (in percentage) for each of the following services:

Translation Services Interpretation Services

Transcription Services Administrative Assistance?

The following are work volume percentages for the following services:

- Translation Services: 30%

- Interpretation Services: 40%

- Transcription Services: 20%

- Administrative Assistance: 10%.

44. The Technical Proposal Factor 1: appears to be limited to the Phase In/Out Plan. Is the Technical Proposal to address the all requirements in the PWS or be limited to Phase In/Out Plan (PWS 1.6)?

“The phase-in plan must also demonstrate an understanding of the requirement and the ability to ensure a seamless transition of uninterrupted cultural advisor services and compliance with the PWS.” – Addendum For 52.212-1

45. States ”Company names and logos should only be on the first page of the proposal.” May names appear in Proposal Sections C (Past Perf), D (Reps and Certs) and E (DD254)?

Names may appear throughout the proposal, but pictures/logos are not needed throughout the proposal.

46. Are the contracts submitted for Past Performance Information required to performed as a Prime contractor?

If you performed as the sub-contractor, please also provide the information of the prime contract.

47. Is it acceptable to submit Proposal Section B (Technical Proposal) with a Title Page (including

Offeror Information) and submit Proposal Sections A (Price Proposal) C (Past Perf), D (Reps and Cets) and E (DD254) as separate documents/files?

Offeror information should be submitted on Page 2 of the solicitation document.

48. Is there a minimum font size for the written proposal text and any tables/artwork, specially the Technical Proposal?

Font should be no smaller than Size 10.