Questions and Answers updated 25 Apr 08.doc

OSD DDR&E SETA A&AS IDIQ CONTRACT

(SOLICITATION FA7014-08-R-0023)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

As of 25 Apr 2008

1. Who is the incumbent for these services?

ANSWER: SRA International.

2. Is there any conflict of interest language associated with this procurement that you could share with us?

ANSWER: See Solicitation Attachments 5 and 10.

3. Do you have an anticipated timeframe for award?

ANSWER: On or about 18 Jun 08.

4. When is the incumbent expected to expire?

ANSWER: The current performance period will expire 7 Jul 08.

5. Would AFDW consider extending the solicitation period in order to ensure the government receives the best proposals possible? After reviewing the entire scope of the solicitation, 26 calendar days seems like a very difficult time table to adhere to and submit a quality proposal that covers the entire scope of the subject IDIQ.

ANSWER: The proposal due date is being changed from 1 May 2008 to 8 May 2008.

6. Explain Attachment 7: Is it desired that we answer all questions for all personnel?

ANSWER: Amendment 0002, deleted the requirement for submission of Attachment 7 in response to this solicitation (FA7014-08-R-0023). This form has been revised accordingly to be for Task Order evaluation purposes only.

7. Please identify the term “key personnel.” And are resumes required on personnel not identified as “key personnel”?

Answer: Amendment 0002 incorporated a Key Personnel Clause that is for Task Order purposes only. Per Amendment 0002, Resumes/Attachment 7 shall not be included in response to solicitation FA7014-08-R-0023. Amendment 0002 clarifies that “Key Personnel” will be cited on individual task orders. In accordance with the Task Ordering Procedures, Table 1, Section II, Resumes are required on all personnel.

8. Of estimated onsite personnel (per Attachment 9) for each year, how many are “key?”

ANSWER: Attachment 9 is a sample for evaluation purposes only. None of the personnel are “Key Personnel.” Attachment 9, IDIQ Total Evaluated Price, is used for the price evaluation as detailed in FAR 52.212-2, Paragraph 1.2.2 and its subparagraphs.

9. Do Table of Contents and Appendices count toward page count?

ANSWER: No.

10. Does Attachment 7 need to be submitted? If so, where? Do resumes count toward the page count?

ANSWER: Amendment 0002 is issued to remove the requirement of submitting Attachment 7, Key Personnel Resumes and any other form of resume in response to solicitation FA7014-08-R-0023.

11. The Firm Fixed Price (FFP) CLINs (0001, 1001, 2001, 3001 and 4001) have a maximum quantity defined. Are these efforts going to have a Level of Effort (LOE) assigned to them, or will they be awarded in standard FFP fashion with a bottom line dollar figure and an associated deliverable(s)?

ANSWER: No, this is not a Level of Effort (LOE) contract. The Firm Fixed Price (FFP) CLINs (0001, 1001, 2001, 3001, and 4001) have an estimated maximum quantity defined for the purpose of the IDIQ contract award. Task Orders requirements (to be determined) will subsequently be competed, negotiated (if necessary), and awarded based on a Firm-Fixed Price, Full Time Equivalent (to be specified in the Task Order requirement) basis. Payment for FFP CLINS is based on monthly hours expended not the price of the task order.

12. The Labor Hour (LH) CLINs (0002, 1002, 2002, 3002 and 4002) have a maximum quantity defined. These efforts will have a Level of Effort (LOE) assigned to them, and will be billed out it in accordance with “Attachment 8”?

ANSWER: The Labor Hour (LH) CLINS (0002, 1002, 2002, 3002 and 4002) have an estimated maximum quantity defined for purpose of the IDIQ contract award. Task Order requirements (to be determined) will subsequently be competed, negotiated (if necessary), and awarded based on a Labor Hour (details will be specified in the Task Order requirement) basis. LH CLINS shall be billed as proposed (in the Task Order proposal at LH rates equal or less than those listed in Attachment 8) based on hours expended.

13. In the Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 (page 20 and 62 on the printed solicitation) the contract type is listed as “Federal Supply Order from GSA Schedule”. Is this in error, or is the resulting proposal supposed to be based on our published GSA Schedule rates?

ANSWER: Amendment 0001 issued on 16 Apr 2008 corrected it to read Firm-Fixed Price.

14. In 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Items (Nov 2007), there is a caveat stating “the small business size standard for a concern which submits an offer in its own name, but which proposes to furnish an item which it did not itself manufacture, is 500 employees”. This is a SETA and A&AS solicitation. Please advise if the 500 employee caveat is applicable to the services being requested. If so, then does the small business size standard of the NAICS code of $6.5M apply or does the small business size standard NAICS code of 500 employees apply?

ANSWER: This requirement is for services, the $6.5M dollar threshold applies to supplies.

15. Is Attachment 8 used as proposal rates for the FFP and LH Task Orders, and bill rates for the LH task orders?

ANSWER: Yes. Attachment 8 includes three separate spreadsheet tabs. One for Labor Categories and Qualifications; one for Labor (Secret Clearance Required); and one for Labor Top Secret Clearance Required). Within the Labor tabs we request detailed (on-site and off-site) rates for FFP and LH task order purposes.

16. The rates provided on the Attachment 9 are not the FFP rates from Attachment 8, they are the Labor Hour rates from Attachment 8, correct?

ANSWER: The rates in Attachment 9, Total Evaluated Price, shall mirror the FFP on-site hourly rate listed in Attachment 8. Attachment 9 will not be used for Task Orders; however, Attachment 8 and 9 will be used for price proposal evaluation purposes as detailed in FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items Para 1.2.2 and its subparagraphs. Attachment 9 does not become part of the resultant contract; whereas Attachment 8 will be incorporated into the resulting IDIQ contract.

17. What is the estimated number of onsite FTE, offsite FTE, and if appropriate surge capability LOE requirements for PWS 1.3.2 Defense Support Teams; PWS 1.3.3 Conference Support; PWS 1.3.4 Specialized Support; PWS 1.3.5 Engineering and Technical Services; PWS 1.3.6 Management and Professional Services; PWS 1.3.7 Project Management; PWS 1.3.8 Financial Management; and PWS 1.3.9 Administrative and Human Resources?

ANSWER: These are Task Order requirements that will be provided to the IDIQ contract awardees as applicable when defined.

18. The solicitation gives two different delivery addresses for the proposal – one on form 1449 (cover of solicitation) and one on page 23 of RFP. Which is correct?

ANSWER: Proposal mailing instructions are listed in the Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 C (12).

19. The front page of the Past Performance Questionnaire asks for the completed forms to be returned on April 17th. Is this date accurate? If so, is an extension for that date possible?

ANSWER: Past Performance Questionnaires were due 17 April 2008. However, Amendment 0002 is issued to extend the due date to 8 May 2008.

20. Please clarify that resumes are needed for the positions listed in the PWS (Attachment 1) Section 1.3.1.1 as well as 1.3.1.2. Also, is the Technical Support Team identified in Section 1.3.1.1 considered Key?

ANSWER: Amendment 0002 is issued to remove the requirement for submitting Attachment 7, Key Personnel Resume, and any other form of resume in response to solicitation FA7014-08-R-0023.

21. Page 21, Paragraph (2) of the RFP and Attachment 7 both asks for resumes. Are the resumes to be included in Section II Mission Capabilities? If so, do they count toward the 25 page (double spaced) page count? If not, in what section should we include them?

ANSWER: Amendment 0002 is issued to remove the requirement of submitting Attachment 7, Key Personnel Resume and any other form of resume in response to solicitation FA7014-08-R-0023.

22. Page 21, paragraph (2) of the RFP states, “Offers shall submit qualifications and resumes (No Names) of individuals intended to use for performance of contract.” However, in Attachment 7, Key Personnel Resume, the template requests the “Name”. Please clarify if names are to be used at any location detailing personnel qualifications.

ANSWER: Amendment 0002 is issued to remove the requirement of submitting Attachment 7, Key Personnel Resume and any other form of resume in response to solicitation FA7014-08-R-0023.

23. Please clarify the security requirements for each of the 5 required FTEs in the PWS (Attachment 1).

ANSWER: Amendment 0002 is issued to clarify that specific Security Requirements will be defined in each Task Order requirement.

24. Is a Draft performance work statement due to be released anytime prior to the estimated RFP release date?

ANSWER: No.

25. What is the requirement for the past performance proposal, aside from submission of the past performance reference questionnaire and Attachment 4. Is there a page limit associated with the past performance proposal?

ANSWER: See ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1(c)(5) for past performance proposal requirement details. There is no page limit associated with the past performance proposal.

26. What is the delivery date for POCs identified in the Past Performance submission to return the performance questionnaire to the Contracting Officer or Contracts Specialist? The memo provides a date of 17 April 2008 (the same day as Questions are due)?

ANSWER: Past Performance Questionnaires were due 17 April 2008. However, Amendment 0002 is issued to extend the due date to 8 May 2008.

27. FAR 52.216-29, Time and Materials/Labor-Hour Proposal Requirements - Non-Commercial Item Acquisition With Adequate Price Competition and FAR 52.216-30, Time and Materials/Labor-Hour Proposal Requirements - Non-Commercial Item Acquisition Without Adequate Price Competition are not incorporated into this solicitation. Are one of these provisions required? And do the LH rates that will be incorporated into the contract need to be derived in accordance with one of those FAR provisions?

ANSWER: This requirement will result in a commercial Indefinite Quantity/Indefinite Delivery contract with the majority of the work anticipated being Firm-Fixed Price. FAR 52.216-29 and FAR 52.216-30 are not considered essential to this requirement.

28. Are all contract requirements going to be awarded by individual Task Order? If not, does the Government expect awardees to have personnel for all awarded portions of the solicitation in place on 23 June 2008.

ANSWER: Yes, see Task Order Procedures.

29. Was the solicitation meant to limit the offerors’ proposal of specific personnel to the first contract requirement (1.3.1 – Technical Support Team) or are offerors expected propose/align specific individuals to multiple contract requirements (i.e., 1.3.2 – Defense Support Teams, 1.3.3 – Conference Support, etc)?

ANSWER: Personnel are to be proposed for individual task order requirements.

30. Table 1 on page 23 of the Instructions to Offerors dictates the format for past performance references and appears to set a one page limit for this input. Are performance references limited to one page each? If so, is this input also limited to 12-point double-spaced type as stated on page 21 of the Instructions?

ANSWER: Yes, you are limited to one page. This form is hereby exempt from the “double-spaced” requirement; however, all other requirements apply.

31. It appears that RFP FA7014-08-R-0023 released on 8 April requests proposals only for the basic contract Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) and not the Task Orders (TOs). Does the Government intend to provide specific TOs against which offerors may bid in future RFPs? If yes, when does DDRE envision RFPs being let for future TOs? If no, please clarify the required content, full-time equivalent staff (FTE), and due date(s) for any currently requested TO proposal submissions.

ANSWER: Yes. When the Notice of Contract Award is officially released, IDIQ contract awardees, as applicable, will be issued RFQs for Task Orders (as requirements arise) in accordance with the Task Order Procedures detailed in this solicitation.

32. Are classified proposals – or unclassified proposals with classified appendices – acceptable? If yes, what level of classification is allowed?

ANSWER: “All submitted information shall be unclassified” as stated in ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1 (c )(11).

33. Can the customers of offerors submit classified Past Performance Questionnaires? If yes, what level of classification is allowed?

ANSWER: Customers of offerors can submit questionnaires. “All submitted information shall be unclassified” as stated in ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1 (c )(11).

34. Section (h) on page 18 of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items discusses the possibility of multiple contract awards; however, Section B. on page 20 of Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 explicitly states that the Government intends to award at least two (2) contracts. Which Section takes precedence? Does the Government desire to make more than two (2) awards? Does the Government reserve the right to make a single award?

ANSWER: Both are accurate. The Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, Paragraph B clarifies that the Government intends to award IDIQ contracts to at least two (2) offerors. In accordance with FAR 52.216-28 the Government intends to award multiple contracts for the same or similar advisory and assistance services to two or more sources under this solicitation unless the Government determines, after evaluation of offers, that only one offeror is capable of providing the services at the level of quality required.

35. Section (a)1.1.1 on page 25 of FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation – Commercial Items indicates that an offeror’s proposal Volume II: Mission Capability will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis; however, a rating scale with three options is also described. Please clarify the basis of evaluation.

ANSWER: Offerors will be rated on a pass/fail basis. As detailed in 52.212-2, Paragraph (a) 1.1.1, the basis for technical evaluation is to ensure technical acceptability of offerors. The rating scale assists in this process and allows for clarification or discussions [see FAR 52.212-1(g)]. IAW 52.212-2(a)(1.2.1), an Offeror could, with minor clarification/revision, potentially meet specified minimum technical requirements.

36. Section (a)1.2.1.2.6 on page 27 of FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation – Commercial Items indicates that offerors’ proposed Small Business Subcontracting Plans will be evaluated; however, no requirement is given for including small businesses, nor is there a small business standard mentioned (TBR). Is there a requirement to include a percentage of small business activity in response to this RFP? If yes, is a specific percentage desired or required? What percentage?

ANSWER: Amendment 0002 is issued to include FAR 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan. Subcontract Plans shall be submitted and evaluated in accordance with the clause.

37. Proposal page count for the basic contract IDIQ (from Table 1 on page 22 of FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items) does not contain provision to include resumes for proposed staff; however, page 2 of Attachment 1, Section 1.3.1.1 specifically outlines the required labor categories for five (5) FTE for the Technical Support Team. Are these to be priced as part of the proposal for the basic contract IDIQ? If yes, where should resumes for these five (5) FTE be included in the submission and at what page count limitation? If no, are they to be priced as part of some future TO proposal? Which TO?

ANSWER: Amendment 0002 is issued to remove the requirement of submitting Attachment 7, Key Personnel Resume and any other form of resume in response to solicitation FA7014-08-R-0023.

38. Section 1.3.1.2 on page 2 of Attachment 1 outlines eight (8) more labor categories for “additional support.” Are these to be considered reach-back support for the basic contract IDIQ and priced as such? If yes, where should resumes for these eight (8) FTE be included in the submission and at what page count limitation? If no, are they to be priced as part of some future TO proposal? Which TO?

ANSWER: Pricing for these labor categories shall be submitted in the Ordering Table, Attachment 8. Task orders will define each requirement in accordance with Task Order Procedures as detailed in the solicitation.

39. Attachment 8 defines thirty-two (32) labor categories; however, only thirteen (13) FTE are specifically referenced in Attachment 1 (previous two questions). Other than in proposal Volume I: Price wherein the completed Attachment 8 Ordering Tables will be provided, the remaining nineteen (19) labor categories do not appear to be associated with requested FTE in the basic contract IDIQ. Is this correct? If no, how many FTE should be priced in the basic contract IDIQ and where should their resumes be included in the submission?

ANSWER: All 32 labor categories shall be priced in Attachment 8 and will be incorporated into the resulting IDIQ contract. Attachment 9 is the Total Evaluated Price you need to bid to for purposes of the IDIQ Contract Award. Task Order specific Performance Work Statements will further detail these requirements. Amendment 0002 is issued to remove the requirement of submitting Attachment 7, Key Personnel Resume and any other form of resume in response to solicitation FA7014-08-R-0023.

40. A total of the Estimated, On-Site FTE tabulated in Attachment 9 results in eighty (80) staff for the base year and also for each option year. Is this number to be considered a Level of Effort (LoE) ceiling? If no, are these to be priced and resumes provided in the basic contract IDIQ? In the TOs? To which tasks would they map?

ANSWER: Attachment 9 is for IDIQ contract price evaluation purposes. The rates in Attachment 9 mirror the FFP on-site hourly rate listed in Attachment 8. Attachment 9 will not be used for Task Orders; however, Attachment 8 and 9 will be used for price proposal evaluation purposes as detailed in FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items Para 1.2.2 and its subparagraphs. Attachment 9 does not become part of the resultant contract; whereas Attachment 8 will be incorporated into the resulting IDIQ contract. Attachment 8 includes three separate spreadsheet tabs. One for Labor Categories and Qualifications; one for Labor (Secret Clearance Required); and one for Labor (Top Secret Clearance Required). Within the Labor tabs we request detailed (on-site and off-site) rates for FFP and LH task order purposes. Task Order specific Performance Work Statements will further detail these requirements. Amendment 0002 is issued to remove the requirement of submitting Attachment 7, Key Personnel Resume and any other form of resume in response to solicitation FA7014-08-R-0023.

41. There appear to be inconsistencies between Section 10.a. of DD Form 254 provided in Attachment 2 which indicates that the contractor will require access to communications security (COMSEC) information and Item #4 provided on page 2 of Attachment 1 to DD Form 254 which indicates the opposite. Similarly Section 11.h. indicates that the contractor will not require a COMSEC account while Item #25 indicates the opposite. Which are correct? If access to COMSEC information / COMSEC account is (are) required, which tasks in the basic contract IDIQ require it? Which TOs?

Answer: The DD Form 254 covers all possible scenarios envisioned in the performance of the IDIQ contract award. Amendment 0002 is issued to clarify Security Requirements will be defined in each Task Order requirement.

42. We believe that the information requested in Attachment 4 and limited to "one (1) page per reference" in Table 1 (page 23) refers to the table at the top of Attachment 4 only. We believe that the information in paragraphs A through E at the bottom of Attachment 4 are not included in this one page limitation and that this information should included in our past performance narrative which has no page limit. Is this interpretation correct?

ANSWER: No. In accordance with Addendum to 52.212-1, Table 1, Attachment 4 shall be limited to one (1) page per reference. However, this form is hereby exempt from the “double-spaced” requirement.

43. Paragraph B of Attachment 4 sta es: "For each of the applicable sub-factors under the technical factor in the Evaluation Criteria for Award..." However, paragraph 1.2 of the evaluation section of the instructions (page 25) list only two factors: Price and Past Performance. It does not identify a "Technical Factor." We interpret technical factor to mean "technical qualifications" (para. 1.2.1.1) and that the subfactors are articulated in paragraphs 1.2.1.1.1 through 1.2.1.1.5 as they apply to the past performance reference being addressed vice the "personnel proposed." Is this interpretation correct?

ANSWER: In accordance with the addendum to FAR 52.212-1, Table 1, Section III, Attachement 4 is offerors’ submissionfor past performance.

44. In prior Q&As for this solicitation, SRA International was identified as the current incumbent. How many incumbent FTE are included in the scope of this solicitation, and how many of the FTE are new requirements and how many are future requirements?

ANSWER: Only two (2) incumbent FTEs are included in the scope of this solicitation.

45. Does the PWS map to the current incumbent’s PWS, or is it an expansion of effort?

ANSWER: The PWS for this requirement was a total rewrite, however; the basic ingredients were retained.

46. Since an incumbent was identified in prior Q&As for this effort, is this solicitation an aggregation of existing incumbent contracts, and if so, are those contracts ending or being re-competed?

ANSWER: See answer to 45, the incumbent contractor’s performance period ends 18 June 2008.

47. Amendment 1 lists the contract type as Firm Fixed Price, how does this effect awards under CLINs 0002, 1002, 2002, 3002 and 4002 which are noted as Labor Hour-type CLINs? Furthermore, how does this effect 0003, 0004, 1003, 1004, 2003, 2004, 3003, 3004, 4003 and 4004 which are noted as Cost-type CLINs?

ANSWER: Resultant Contract will be predominately a Firm-Fixed Price contract. Firm Fixed Price Task Order labor requirements will be issued against CLINs 0001, 1001, 2001, 3001, and 4001. Labor Hour Task Order labor requirements will be issued against CLINS 0002, 1002, 2002, 3002, and 4002. Cost Reimbursable (CR) Other Direct Cost requirements will be issued against CLINS 0003, 1003, 2003, 3003, and 4003. Cost Reimbursable Travel requirements will be issued against CLINS 0004, 1004, 2004, 3004, and 4004. Task Orders can may have any combination of the above CLINS (FFP, LH, CR), unless specified otherwise in the Task Order request.

48. Should the Past Performance scope size include the entire IDIQ (80 FTEs) or Task Order (5 FTEs)?

ANSWER: Past performance submitted in response to the solicitation shall detail the requirements of the IDIQ. The Task Order Procedures detail Past Performance requirements for individual task orders.

49. Proposals shall be submitted on 8 ½ x 11-inch paper, double-spaced in three (3) sections. Except for reproduced sections of the solicitation document, text shall be no smaller than 12 point. Margins on all four sides of each sheet will be at least one inch. According to this statement are all 3 sections going in one book?

ANSWER: Offerors may submit information in accordance with the Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 either in one book w/three section or as three separate books.

50. Do graphics and tables needs to be double spaced and 12 pt font?

ANSWER: Amendment 0002 is issued to exempt graphics and tables from the 12 pt, double space requirement.

51. Are financial management labor categories under represented with only one labor category listed on the Top Secret SCI ordering table? The PWS devotes half a page to financial management services required in both programming and comptroller fields.

ANSWER: The Financial Management Labor Category is listed in both the Top Secret SCI ordering Table and the Secret Clearance Rates Ordering Table located in Attachment 8.

52. REF: Performance Based Work Statement, paragraph 1.3.1 Technical Support Team. Why are reference letters required for each candidate on Technical Support Team? Are they to be included with the proposal on 1 May? Are there any restrictions on the definition of candidate’s supervisor (contractor or government)?

ANSWER: Amendment 0002 is issued to remove the requirement to provide reference letters.

53. REF: Performance Based Work Statement, paragraph 1.3.3, Conference Support, will the contractor be required to host meetings in his facility?

ANSWER: Contractors may be expected to host meetings in their facility. Details for meetings and locations will vary and will be outlined in each task order.