Consolidated_Q A_RFP_as_of_13_Feb_15.pdf

FA7000-15-R-0002

Consolidated Q&A RFP

13 February 2015

The following are questions, comments and responses in response to RFP FA7000-15-R-0002.

1. Our interpretation is that CAStLE is requesting, "critical training and education materials in order to promote better understanding of how to prevent and mitigate corrosion." The proposed course in Appendix B from Sabreliner and the University of Florida, The Impact of Materials on Society, is an exciting survey course, however it misses the mark of the proposal in that it simply serves as a net to catch and stimulate student interest in the various materials fields.

What is needed is a foundational technical course to introduce the concepts of materials science and lead to an understanding of corrosion and degradation of materials, its prevention and mitigation. The follow-on courses would then include deeper understanding of topics such as the detection, measurement, and prediction of these phenomena along with one on inhibition and mitigation of corrosion.

Is this interpretation correct? If not, please clarify.

RESPONSE: The Work Statement (WS) provides sufficient latitude for offerors to make recommendations for courses and course content satisfying WS tasks, subject to GTL approval.

2. “The offeror shall make a clear statement in Section A of the proposal documentation volume that the proposal is valid for 180 days…” However, 2.2 does not identify a “proposal documentation volume.” Please clarify that the correct volume is Volume V: Contracts Documentation.

RESPONSE: Reference paragraph 7.1.1 of the ITO and Instructions for Proposal Preparation.

3. The RFP states, “…requests for clarification and information concerning the solicitation must be submitted in writing no later than fifteen (15) days prior to request for proposal (RFP) closing.

Questions and answers will be compiled and posted electronically to the Federal Business Opportunities website.” We respectfully request that the Government extend the due date for proposals by 14 days after the final questions and answers are posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website to ensure adequate time for offerors incorporate changes into their proposals.

RESPONSE: The closing date will remain the same.

4. “Each volume shall be in a different directory on a CD/DVD.” Please clarify if the Government is looking for all volumes to be provided on one CD/DVD, with each volume in a separate directory, or if each volume should be on its own CD/DVD.

RESPONSE: All volumes are to be provided on one CD/DVD, with each volume in a separate directory.

5. It is preferred that offerors do not submit any documents in PDF format that are copied as images. Does this apply to sections that require offeror signatures?

13 February 2015

RESPONSE: Preference is for offerors not to submit any documents in PDF format that are copied as images. Sections requiring offeror signature may be copied.

6. The RFP states, “The offeror must complete sections A-L of the Past Performance Questionnaire prior to sending to the recipient.” There are multiple instances of “sections” A-L.

Please clarify that offerors are to complete SECTION 1: CONTRACT IDENTIFICATION (to be completed by Offeror), items A-L only prior to transmittal.

RESPONSE: Offerors are to complete SECTION 1: CONTRACT IDENTIFICATION (to be completed by Offeror), items A-L only prior to transmittal.

7. The RFP states, “The Government may consider past performance in the aggregate in addition to on an individual contract basis.” Since paragraph M0002.c.(1).(iii).(a) provides the relevancy for each single past performance, can the government define at what point they will take into consideration the aggregate past performance, and does an aggregate of past performances weight more favorably than a single past performance when determining the Performance Confidence Rating?

RESPONSE: The statement, “The Government may consider past performance in the aggregate in addition to on an individual contract basis.” will be removed from paragraph M0002.c.(1).

8. The RFP states, “A Microsoft Project Gantt chart that provides real time insight into schedule progress for all ongoing task orders, not limited to the four likely awardable task orders.” Please clarify what is meant by “real time insight.”

RESPONSE: “Real time insight” into schedule progress means the Gantt chart accurately depicts what is actually occurring at that moment in time.

9. The RFP states, “A detailed explanation of how you will meet the 10-day response time.”

Please clarify that the 10-day response time frame begins when all questions regarding the RFP have been answered.

RESPONSE: Refer to paragraph 2.3 of the Basic Work Statement (Attachment 1 to the RFP).

10. The RFP states, “Your staffing approach is “Acceptable” when you meet the following three requirements:” Please clarify that there are only two requirements that need to be met.

RESPONSE: There are only two requirements which need to be met. This paragraph will be revised accordingly.

11. The Work Statement (WS) states, “The Contractor shall help develop an appropriate force management strategy in preparation for force management that occurs during sustainment

13 February 2015 described under Paragraph 2.2.2.5.” Please clarify that the correct Paragraph references are

2.2.5.3 and 2.2.4.4.

RESPONSE: Paragraph 2.2.5 should have referenced paragraph 2.2.4. Paragraph 2.2.4 should have referenced paragraph 2.2.5. These paragraphs will be revised accordingly.

12. There is nothing in the Work Statement (section J, attachment 1) or in TO 0002 that establishes the requirement for TMDS programmer support. The labor category for a software developer is listed in the labor rate tables (section J, attachment 3) and in the labor category descriptions in section L, attachment 7. But, there is nothing in the SOW that says one is needed.

To clarify.

Will there be or is there to be a requirement for TDMS Software Developer support for TO 0002.

The labor category is listed in the labor rate tables but there is no mention in the Work Statement or the TO 0002 that was included with the RFP.

RESPONSE: Required labor categories are not specifically called out in the base contract work statement or task order work statements. It is up to the offeror to propose labor categories for each Task Order which they feel are required to satisfy the task order requirements.

13. Section M002 Evaluation Factors, (b.) Technical Factor, Measures of Merit:

Page 6 (i) Subfactor 2 Measures of Merit: Your staffing approach is "Acceptable" when you meet the following three requirements:

(The list contains 3 lines-- 1) and 2) however, the next item is (ii) Subfactor 3 shall be evaluated....)

Please clarify if the Measures of Merit for Subfactor 2, (a) Staffing has two or three requirements.

RESPONSE: Subfactor 2 has two requirements. This paragraph will be revised accordingly.

14. Section M, Subfactor 1, Schedule Management states “A Microsoft Project Gantt chart that provides real time insight into schedule progress for all ongoing task orders, not limited to the four likely awardable task orders.” It is our understanding that all ongoing task orders are being executed under a separate contract. Other than the four Task Orders described in the solicitation, for what other “ongoing task orders” is the Offeror to develop a schedule?

RESPONSE: Section M, Subfactor 1 will be revised accordingly.

15. When discussing Section L, paragraph 6.3.2 (Probable Subcontractors) during the 9 February Pre-Proposal Conference, Mr. McLean stated that the Government was requesting a list of proposed subcontractors as a response to this Section L direction.

o Is the information in subparagraphs (a) through (f) still required?

13 February 2015

RESPONSE: Yes, if applicable.

16. Section L, paragraph 7.3.2 (GFP and/or Base Support Requirements) states “The Government plans to only provide Government Furnished Property (GFP) as indicated in Attachment 5 on a rent free basis.” Then it states “The contractor is responsible for all costs related to making the property available for use, such as payment of all transportation, installation or rehabilitation costs.”

o What are the specific contractor cost responsibilities for property being furnished by the Government?

RESPONSE: The contractor is responsible for all costs related to making the property available for use.

o Is the Government expecting the contractor to propose GFP transportation, installation or rehabilitation costs for the GFP in Attachment 5?

RESPONSE: GFP transportation is required in task orders. The task orders do not require installation or rehabilitation of the C/KC-135s.

a. If so, please define the specific requirements so the contractor can propose a reasonable cost estimate.

RESPONSE: See Attachment 6.b. Task Order 0002 and Attachment 6.d. Task Order 0004.

b. Also, please indicate where to provide these costs in the contractor proposal. The Pricing Schedules do not provide fields to enter these costs.

RESPONSE: Pricing schedules contain Transportation tabs.

17. Does the percentage of work apply to the CAStLE IDIQ or the CAStLE Task Orders?

RESPONSE: Percentage of work applies to the CAStLE Task Orders.