Pre_Solicitation Conference_AFSTS_18 Feb 2020.pdf

Air force Strategic Transformation Support Pre-Solicitation Conference 18 February 2020

Below details the names of companies in attendance and the questions and answers discussed at the conference.

Companies in Attendance

202 Group Artlin Consulting, LLC Academy Solutions Group, LLC

Accenture Aperio Global, LLC Booz Allen Hamilton Axiologic Solutions IBM Delivery to Design Inc.

Boston Consulting Group RedHorse DMI

CALIBRE KPMG LMI

Grant Thornton Wittenberg Weiner

Consulting Mosaic Group

Deloitte Robbins Gioia Synergy Business Innovation & Solutions Inc.

Guidehouse ANSER Technical Assent Ernst & Young The Birchmere Group, LLC Toffler & Associates Sawdey Solution Services, Inc.

FWG Solutions TSC Enterprise

ICF McKinsey & Company Vanguard SA Keystone Advisors

Purpose: The purpose of the conference was to allow industry one last opportunity to ask questions concerning the Draft RFP and to make on the spot updates to the Draft RFP before releasing the final RFP. The conference allowed for discussion amongst industry and directly with the Contracting team concerning the Draft RFP.

Attendees were made aware that this was still a Draft RFP and the Final RFP may be different due to the clearance approval process.

Duration of the conference: 0930 AM EST – 1100 AM EST

Questions/Answers

1. Q: Could the Government provide more detail about the acceptable/unacceptable rating?

A: The acceptable/unacceptable rating is described in the tables provided in the Draft RFP. Awards will be made to each and all technically acceptable Offerors. Carefully read the descriptions for Acceptable and Unacceptable. The bar is set high for subfactors 1 & 5.

2. Q: What is the Government looking for to be rated exceptional?

A: There is no exceptional rating. The rating is Acceptable or Unacceptable.

3. Q: Non-Traditional contractors are encouraged to apply to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Can businesses that have contracts resulting from Phase I/II SBIRs or only have small contracts from “pitch days” be considered Non-Traditional Small Businesses on this contract?

A: CHANGE: The Draft RFP was updated to state: “Nontraditional Small Business (NTSB)Contractor” means a small business entity that is primarily engaged in similar lines of activity as listed and described in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) manual, having met the small business standards for that industry, established by the Small Business Administration, that is not currently performing and *has not performed any contract or subcontract for the Federal Government. Any entity organized for profit (even if its ownership is in the hands of a nonprofit entity) with a place of business located in the United States or its outlying areas and that makes a significant contribution to the U.S. economy through payment of taxes and/or use of American products, material and/or labor, etc. A NTSB Contractor includes but is not limited to an individual, partnership, corporation, joint venture, association, or cooperative. *If the NTSB has received a contract(s) through “Pitch Day” or Small Business Innovation Program, they can be considered a NTSB. NTSB’s will only retain NTSB status for up to two (2) years.

4. Q: Certain non-profit or private companies, for example Kaiser Permanente, have the revenue that would otherwise put them on the Fortune 500 list if they were publicly traded. Would the Government consider allowing Offerors to submit corporate experience from these non-profit or private companies if the Offeror could show proof that the company’s revenue for 2019 would have placed them on the Fortune 500 list?

Response: The Government opened the floor for feedback from Industry

Industry Input: The Fortune listing is publicly accessible. This leaves no room for argument concerning a company’s status. Also, the Fortune list does have public and private companies on it. The difference is whether or not the company submits their financial records to the SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission].

Industry Consensus: The Fortune 500 list is public, fair, and will result in no discrepancies. Industry disagreed with allowing companies outside the Fortune 500 list.

Final Answer: The Government will use the Fortune 500 list.

5. Q: Can we please have a list that shows which Fortune 500 list will be used.

A: A link to the Fortune 500 list was provided in the Draft RFP.

6. Q: Are Small Businesses held to the same Fortune 300 standards as Large Businesses?

A: Yes

Q: How will Small Businesses (SB) be able to compete with Large Businesses on this contract? It is obvious that a SB would not have the resources to do this so why should SBs be held to the same standards?

A: Market research indicated that SBs did not have the capabilities nor requisite experience to perform the breadth of tasks, manage the capacity and speed for this contract. However; we [the Government] worked with small businesses for several months and after one-on-one sessions, phone calls, and meetings, we were able to determine that with the at least one SB could possibly prime but would be better suited as subcontractors. The Government cannot and will not require less from SBs because the requirement is not going to change. The Government wants SB participation, but exceptions to the evaluation criteria cannot be made.

Q: Will Task Orders be set aside for Small Business?

A: Not at this time. The Task Order’s will be competed to all awardees in the requested tier.

Comment from SB: The Government has done everything to help SBs participate in this requirement. If SBs do not meet the requested experience or cannot perform at the capacity of a large, this contract may not be for your company. Requirements do exist outside this contract. For this contract, however, the Government is looking for high level service. The Government has done everything to fight for SBs.

7. Q: The FAR and DFARS have conflicting percentages when it comes to small business subcontracting requirements. Which number should we be using?

A: Not 100% sure that the FAR gives specific numbers, but always go with the FAR. We will go back and clarify this. Clarification: The FAR nor DFARS provides minimum percentages for subcontracting requirements. Follow the instructions in the RFP.

8. Q: Will the government consider sponsoring Non-Traditional businesses clearances?

A: Updated Answer: The Government will sponsor clearances on a case by case basis.

That decision is up to the Task Order owner.

9. Q: Can you confirm that contractors can sub in both tiers?

A: Contractors cannot prime or sub in both tiers. The Draft RFP language was updated based on a collaborative discussion with industry and the Government.

CHANGE: Offerors cannot propose as Prime and/or Sub in the both tiers. Offerors cannot perform as Prime and/or Sub in both tiers. Once an Offeror declares in one tier, it cannot change tiers. If a prime submits in multiple tiers that prime will be disqualified from the competition. If a Sub submits or is found with multiple primes in more than one tier, that sub will be disqualified. Subcontractors cannot perform as subcontractors to multiple prime contractors within the same tier. This does not apply to Non-Traditional Small Businesses (NTSB). The Fortune 500 list can be found at https://fortune.com/fortune500/.

https://fortune.com/fortune500/

10. Q: Orals: For the key personnel, could we extend to include experts in technology or program manager in particular field, and not limit to executives?

A: Each Offeror has a maximum of 10 individuals that can attend orals. Executives need to brief. This requirement will require briefing senior AF executives, so the invested level from the vendor should match. As long as the required executives are present, Offerors can bring whatever mix of personnel they choose to compliment to oral presentation.

11. Q: With respects to teaming arrangements, will the prime have to complete 50% of the work? We recommend changing that so that primes can give 100% of the work to a small business.

A: After much industry discussion, it remained at 50%. Further, the Contracting Officer confirmed that the DFARS prohibits 100% pass-throughs.

12. Q: Will the Government consider requiring commitment letters at step 3, as opposed to step 1?

A: No, this is to ensure Tier declaration can be identified early.

13. Q: Industry requested to change to recency from three (3) to five (5) years?

A: Industry discussed amongst themselves and the consensus was no change due to the ever-changing transformational environment. The Government agreed and determined no change.