20. FA701424R0026 Question and Answers _Q1-Q50_Amnd 1.pdf

Q# Document Reference

Page # Question Answer

Q1 Attch 1 52.212-1 Attachmentment 1: 2& 22

Attachment 14: 22 Can the Government please confirm offerors have until 3 August 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time to submit questions.

Government confirms that the questions due date is 3 August 2024, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time to submit questions. An Amendment to be the 52.212-1 attachment 14 pages 2 and 22 has been made.

Q3 Attch 1 52.212-1 August 18 is a Sunday. Would the Government please consider an extension of the due date to Tuesday August 20 at 9AM Eastern Daylight Time?

Government is firm on proposal due date

Q4 Attch 1 52.212-1 pg 6

For Volume IIB - Past Performance Attachment states on Page 6 that the page limit for Past Performance Information Sheets is 3 pages.

Q. Please clarify that this 3-page requirement is per Past Performance reference, and not for the entirety of this section.

The 3-Page limit requirement is per past performance reference only and not the entire submission.

Q5 Attch 1 52.212-1 pg 5 Please confirm that the due date for this solicitation is Sunday, August 18, 2024 @9:00am. Confirming that Proposals are due August 18, 2024 @9:00am.

Q6 Attch 2 52.212-2 pg 5 Please confirm that afdw.ja_litiga.support_services@us.af.mil and irinieta.tabuyaqona.1@us.af.mil are the appropriate POCs for requesting a DoDSAFE Drop-Off Request to submit our response. Also, if we use DoDSAFE when should we submit a drop off request?

Confirming that those are the appropriate email addresses. If you are submitting via DODSAFE, please submit drop off request NLT COB 14 August, to allow scheduling reminder for 18 August 2024.

Q7 Attch 1 52.212-1 Section 3.2.1.3, pg 10

Under Section 3.2.1.3 Work Sample Qualifications, #1 and #2 states "If available, examples of electronic indexes/databases/file systems".

Q. Please confirm the government will accept screenshots or other similar evidence as examples of electronic indexes/databases/file systems.

Screenshots would be acceptable.

Q8 Attch 1 52.212-1 Section 3.2.1.3, pg 10

Under section 3.2.1.3 Work Sample Qualifications, #5 states that work samples "Shall be an IT Services Contract," while #6 states that work samples "shall be a services contract."

Q. Please confirm that the type of contract acceptable for Offeror work samples are Services Contracts only.

Confirming that offeror work sample are for services contracts only. Section 3.2.1.3 requires a degree of "IT services/functions" that are inherently organic to the overall scope of work that is to be performed

Q9 Attch 1 52.212-1 Section 3.2.1.1, pg 9

Please clarify the required contents of Work Samples as described in Section 3.2.1. The second paragrap of 3.2.1.1 lists several large contract documents that shall be part of a work sample.

Q. Please confirm that the requested contract documents, invoices, etc. are not part of the 5-page limit for Work Statements.

An update has been made, the work sample page limitation has been updated. The contractor shall submit no more than 10 work samples (No more than 5 works samples for Hardcopy Document Management, Electronically Stored Information and Other Professional Services and No more than 5 work samples for Trial & Specialty Service) with no page limitations per work sample.

Q10 Attch 1 52.212-1 Section 2.5.2 pg 9 Q. Please confirm that the entirety of the technical response will be incorporated into the Work Samples.

Confirming that the entirety of the technical response will be incorporated into the Work Samples.

No more than 5 works samples for Hardcopy Document Management, Electronically Stored Information and Other Professional Services and No more than 5 work samples for Trial & Specialty Service

Q11 Attch 1 52.212-1 Section 2.5.2, pg 7

Section 2.5.2 Financial/Other Resource Statements states that "[a]t a minimum, the offeror shall address their accounting controls, operational controls, quality assurance measures, and safety program." The current page limit for this section is two (2) pages.

Q. Please consider increasing this page limitation to at least seven (7) pages so Offerors can adequately respond to this requirement.

Request has been considered, the Government shall increase page limitation to 7 to allow adequate response

Q12 Attch 1 52.212-1 Section 2.5.2, pg 7 Q. Please define what is meant by and what information needs be covered in the "Safety Program" The offeror Safety Protocols with regard to how it would handle any safety related incidence that would

FA701424R0026: Judge Advocate Litigation Support Services Questions

Question and Answers Responses #1

Q13 Attch 1 52.212-1 Section 3.3.1.1, pg 8

Section 3.1.1 states that "[o]offerors shall provide a Small Business Participation Plan (SBPP) utilizing table T-4 and in conformance with Section 3.2.1.1 of this RFP with their proposal." However, section

3.2.1.1 relates to Work Samples, and we do not see table T-4 in the solicitation materials.

Q. Please provide Table T-4 to the Offerors.

The table is provided in document 52.212.2, page 4 as Table 1 ( T-1) Verbiage has been updated t state " 3.1.1 Offerors shall provide a Small Business Participation Plan (SBPP) utilizing table T-1 in Addendum to 52.212-2 Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.( Attachment 2) and in conformance with Section 3.2.1.1 of this RFP with their proposal."

Q14 Attch 1 52.212-1 Section 3.3.1.1 , pg 15-16

Section 3.3.1.1 under Section 3.1.1 Past Performance states that the "Offeror shall provide past performance information on each work samples provided in support of their Technical Experience."

However, Section 3.3.1.2 Small Business Compliance in Past Performance Efforts starts off discussing "five (5) contracts submitted in Volume IIV, Past Performance..."

Q. Please confirm the Offeror should submit past performance information for each work sample provided.

Confirming: Offeror should submit past performance information for each work sample provided.

The offeror shall submit no more than 10 work samples (No more than 5 works samples for Hardcopy Document Management, Electronically Stored Information and Other Professional Services and No more than 5 work samples for Trial & Specialty Service). Update to the verbiage has been made.

Q15 Attch 1 52.212-1 Past Performance, Section 3.3.1., pg 17

Section 3.3.1.5 CPAR Category Ratings outlines the requirements for submittal of CPARs to substantiate the self-score. In some instances, CPARs are not issued for government contracts.

Q. Please provide instructions on what to do in these instances.

In this instance the Offeror shall give themselves that appropriate scoring for not having a corresponding CPARs rating. The Offeror can provide past performance information that the Government can read , but past performance information outside of CPAR shall not be scored.

Q16 Attch 3 PWS PWS Section 1.1.6.2, pg

Section 1.1.6.1(c) states that "90% of coding performed…as outlined in Sections 1.1.5.1 - 1.1.5.3."

However, the referenced sections relate to photocopying.

Q. Please provide correct referenceable sections for coding.

updated to 1.1.6

Q17 Attch 3 PWS PWS Section 1.1.6.2, pg

Section 1.1.6.2 states that "this requirement is like the requirement outlined in Section 1.1.5.1."

Q. Please confirm this cross-reference. We believe the correct cross-reference is 1.1.6.1, and not 1.1.5.1.

updated to 1.1.6

Q18 Attch 3 PWS PWS Section 1.1.6.3, pg

Section 1.1.6.3 states that "[t]his requirement is like the requirement outlined in Section 1.1.5.1..."

Q. Please confirm this cross-reference. We believe the correct cross-reference is 1.1.6.1, and not 1.1.5.1.

updated to 1.1.6.1

Q19 Attch 3 PWS PWS Section 1.1.6.4, pg

Section 1.1.6.4 states "[t]his requirement is like the requirements outlined in Section 1.3.7.1…" Q. Please confirm this cross-reference. We believe the correct cross-reference is 1.1.6.3, and not 1.3.7.1.

updated to 1.1.6.3

Q20 Attch 3 PWS PWS Section 1.1.6.4, pg

Section 1.1.6.4 states "[t]his requirement is like the requirements outlined in Section 1.1.5.1…" Q. Please confirm this cross-reference. We believe the correct cross-reference is 1.1.6.4, and not 1.1.5.1.

1.1.6.5 updated to 1.1.6.4

Q21 Attch 3 PWS PWS Section 1.1.6.4, pg

Section 1.1.6.4 states "[t]his requirement is like the requirements outlined in Section 1.3.7.1 and 2.4.7.5…" Q. Please confirm this cross-reference. We believe 1.1.7.1 should be 1.1.6.4, but there is no section

2.4.7.5 in the PWS.

1.1.6.6 updated from 1.1.7.1 to 1.1.6.4 and removed 2.4.7.5

Q22 Attch 3 PWS PWS Section 1.1.6.7, pg

Section 1.1.6.7 states that “all requirements described in Sections 1.3.7.1 - 1.3.7.3 above apply."

Q. Please confirm this cross-reference. The sections identified are not in the PWS.

Document referencing has been updated 1.1.6 above

Q23 Attch 3 PWS PWS Section 1.1.8.3, pg

Section 1.1.8.3(d) states "The Contractor shall describe the standard ESI processing steps it will take to process and load the Government's litigation support software and keep the COR informed as to what formats they are capable of processing under this Section."

Q. Please confirm that the intension of this statement is to infer what standard ESI processing steps will be taken to process and load native ESI data into the Government's litigation support software and keep the COR informed as to what formats they are capable of processing under this Section.

Confirming interpretation of section requirment to be correct

Q24 Aattch 7 Labor Cat Entire Document Several of the Labor Categories listed in Attachment 7 have a "key personnel" notation.

Q. Please confirm that the Air Force is not requesting resumes for Key Personnel as part of our proposal submission.

Key personnel resumes would not be not be required, however highly encoraged as substaiatianing documentation for validating self-scoring matrix. Resumes maybe required when issuing a FOPR at the TO level. The offeror should provide documentation to support its assertion of having the availablity to filll those " key personnel positions" be it resumes, staffing pool or staffing plan.

Q25 Attch 1 52.212-1 Pg 6

Table 1: Proposed Organization states that the Work Sample Cover Sheet is 2 pages, and each work sample is limited to 5 pages.

Q. Please confirm that the Work Sample Cover Sheet and Work Sample combined should not exceed 7 pages and that any supporting business documents associated with that work statement also do not count towards the 7 page limit.

An update has been made, the work sample page limitation has been updated. The offeror shall submit no more than 10 work samples (No more than 5 works samples for Hardcopy Document Management, Electronically Stored Information and Other Professional Services and No more than 5 work samples for Trial & Specialty Service) with no page limitations per work sample.

Q26 Attch 1 52.212-1 Pg 9

Q. Please provide clarification on how the Air Force would like supporting documentation like examples of electronic indexes/databases/file systems and Financial resource statements linked to individual work samples.

Q. Please also confirm that supporting documentation does not count against the page limitations of the Work Statements.

The page limitation for supporting documents has been updated to "NO LIMIT". This will allow offeror to provided appropriate documentation to support self -scoring point asserted for the work samples provided.

Q27 General Questions Q. Please confirm that the Air Force will be implementing citizenship, security clearance, and security training requirements and specify what level for individuals working on this contract.

Citizenship, security clearance, and security training requirements will be specified at the task order level. If the Task Order will require additional security clearance the Supplemental PWS and FOPR will state the specific requirement.

Q28 Aattch 7 Labor Cat

The pricing worksheet lists a labor position for an Information Technology Specialist. However, the Labor Category Descriptions and Qualifications (Attachment 7) does not contain a labor category description and qualifications for the Information Technology Specialist.

Q. Please provide both the description and qualification for this LCAT, or remove this position from the Pricing worksheet.

Updates have been made to add Information Technology Specialist labor catgory descriptions and qualifications

Q29 Attch 1 52.212-1

Q. Section 3.1.1 of Attachment 1 states that “the Small Business Subcontracting Plan, which is required by FAR 52.219-9 is to be submitted and approved prior to contract award” however, there is no designated section that allows for submission. Will the government add a NO PAGE LIMIT section in Proposal Organization where the Small Business Subcontracting Plan can be submitted.

Please reference 52.212-1 Section 2.3, See vol 1 Small Business Participation Plan and 52.212-2 Section 3.2. Additionally, page limit has been updated to "NO LIMIT"

Q30 Solicitation 1449 Pg 3

Appendix I-Price Spreadsheet does not contain quantities for all line items. As such, the calculation of a Total Evaluated Price is not feasible.

Q: Does the Government intend to provide quantities of unit items and labor hours to be reflected on TAB 1 of the Price Spreadsheet (Attachment 12)?

Q. If there are no or incomplete quantities and hours, what extended price would the Government expect to see on Schedule B (or should Offeror indicate “See Schedule” for the Schedule B document in its price proposal)?

The subsequent contract is a single award IDIQ. The pricing sheet/schedule provided shall be used as a pricing catalog/schedule from which the government will pricing from when issuing task order against the IDIQ. With regards to the TEP, as stated in 52.212-2, pg. 6 , section 3.2.3.1.1 The task order pricing issued under this RFP shall be used to determined TEP. With regards to quantity, as this is an IDIQ, the Government cannot anticipate the exact quantity needed through out the Ordering period. The Quantity will be determined at TO order level. For example, in looking at attachment 16, in the pricing breakdown tab, the Government has identified the hours required to accomplish the work called for in the Supplemental PWS. The overall period of Performance is 3 months.

Q31 Attch 4 Apndx A work Sample Cover

Page 2 of the Work Sample Cover Sheet states there is a one (1) page limit for Part III: Project Description. But the instructions on page 3 state there is a 700 character limit for the Project Description.

Q: Please confirm that the Work Sample Cover Sheet limit is one (1) page without character limit.

Confirming on page limit with our character limit. Work sample coversheet has been updated

Q32 Attch 13 Ordering guide Entire Document

Based on the description in the Attachment 1 (Instructions to Offeror), page 1, and on FA101424R0026_Soliciation_SF 1449, page 3, we would expect that a Task Order (TO) issued can be Firm Fixed Price (FFP), Labor Hour (LH), or both.

Q. Can the Government clarify that all TO’s not involving Subject Matter Experts Labor Support shall be priced and issued on a FFP basis; that any TO’s solely involving Subject Matter Experts Labor will be priced and issued on a LH basis, and any TO involving both will be priced and issued on a mixed basis?

Confirming: TO can be issued with FFP, LH or both depending on the work called for in the supplemental PWS. Confirming: not all TO will require subject Matter Experts, as such TO will be issued on a FFP basis. Confirming : TO’s solely involving Subject Matter Experts Labor will be priced and issued on a LH basis. Confirming: TO involving both will be priced and issued on a mixed basis. The TO pricing schedule will identify clearly identify if it is a FFP or LH CLIN

Q33 Attch 1 52.212-1 Section 3.4.1,, pg 18

Offerors shall provide proposed prices in Section B of the RFP and proposed labor categories and labor rates in the Cost/Price Proposal Attachment G.” We do not see an Attachment G in the solicitation documents.

Q. Can the Government confirm that the reference to Attachment G should instead be to the Price Spreadsheet (Attachment 12 – Appendix I) in the solicitation documents?

Government confirms that is verbiage should state Attachment 12 – Appendix I. Updates have been made

Q34 Attch 1 52.212-1 Section 3.4.1, pg 18

Referenced solicitation text reads: “The Government will provide Not to Exceed (NTE) amounts for the travel, and other direct costs CLINs in Section B of this solicitation.”

Q. We do not see such NTE amounts in any of the solicitation documents. Can the Government provide/clarify?

The NTE amounts will be issued at Task Order Level, depending on work called for in the supplemental PWS. If travel is required the Government will establish an NTE amount based on the JTR pricing. All travel cost must be submitted for review and approval by COR and CO.

Q35 Attch 1 52.212-1 Section 3.4.1, pg 18

Referenced solicitation text reads: “For Labor Hour (LH) CLINs, offerors shall provide the proposed, fixed fully burdened/ handling rate that will be applied to costs, expressed as a percentage, in the description field at each applicable CLIN. These proposed rates will be fixed rates for the duration of the contract.” Two questions:

Q. (1) Is the fully burdened/handling rate that will be applied to costs distinct from any fringe, overheard or G&A cost burdened typically applied to direct labor costs?

Q. (2) Can the Government describe in which description field the Offeror should include the requested information?

Q. (1) Is the fully burdened/handling rate that will be applied to costs distinct from any fringe, overheard or G&A cost burdened typically applied to direct labor costs? Yes Q. (2) Can the Government describe in which description field the Offeror should include the requested information? The requested information should be stated/provided in Attachment 12, tabs Labor Price List and Fringe Benefits

Q36 Attch 1 52.212-1 Section 3.4.4.1, Page 19

Referenced item requires Offeror to submit an ECP. However, such document is not included in the contents of Section 2.3, Proposal Organization of the same document, nor is the ECP document included in the evaluation criteria contained in Section 3.2.3.1.6 of the Evaluation Commercial Services (Attachment 2).

Q. Would the Government remove this requirement assuming it is not applicable?

In accordance with 52.212-2, section 3.2.3, The Professional Employee Compensation Plan (PECP) will be evaluated for realism. Only proposals determined to be reasonable, complete, and balanced, and with a realistic. PECP involves assessing whether the proposed compensation is reasonable and realistic for attracting and retaining qualified personnel to meet the contract requirements. This is especially critical in contracts involving professional services where the quality and continuity of personnel are vital PECP determined to be realistic. The Government is required by statue 52.222-46 to evaluate PECP. The submission requirement is stated in 52.212-1, section 3.4.4.1

Q37 Attch 1 52.212-1 Section 3.4.6.1, pg 20 Q. Given that this IDIQ will produce Firm Fixed Price (FFP) and/or Labor Hour (LH) Task Orders, will the Government remove section 3.4.6.1 for cost builds with fees that are not applicable to this effort?

This section address supporting data for NTE CLINS which are the ODC and Travel CLINS when applicable, shall be provided at the TO level

Q38 Solicitation 1449 Price and Cost : CLIN

Q. Can the Government confirm that CLIN 0001 will be Quantity of 1 FFP Unit?

Q. Also, can the Government confirm that CLIN 0001 should be a mix of both labor and non-labor components as described?

Q1-A1: The offeror is no required to add anything in the section, this particular section will be issued at the TO level, please refer to attachment 16 for Qty and pricing request. The price submitted for the first order should be derived from pricing submitted in Attachment 12. Attachment 12 shall be used to established the pricing schedule for the IDIQ Q2-A2: Confirming CLIN 0001 should be a mix of both labor and non-labor components . The specific composition of CLIN 0001 will be further specified at the TO level. Please see attachment 16 as an example.

Q39 Solicitation 1449 Price and Cost : CLIN

Q. Can the Government clarify how Offerors shall complete the SF1449 for CLIN 0002?

Q. Will the Government provide the number of LH by labor category that should be considered in this amount?

Q1-A1: The offeror shall no complete pricing information in the 1449. The Pricing and CLIN structure of ALL CLINS establish the structure for which the TO clin structure will be established upon. The offeror shall complete Attachment 12, which shall establish the pricing schedule for the IDIQ. The offeror shall complete attachment 16. The pricing provided in attachment 16 shall be used as the TEP. Q2-A2: Please refer to attachment 12& 16

Q40 Solicitation 1449 Price and Cost : CLIN

0003 & 0004 Q: CLIN 0003 and 0004 both indicate that they include travel costs – Can the Government please clarify the difference in those travel costs that should be accounted for by each CLIN?

CLIN 0003: ODCs encompass a range of expenses that are integral to the successful execution of the contract but are not categorized as direct labor or materials. CLIN 0003 does not include travel, as travel may not be required for every TO issued . CLIN 0004 is for travel costs and expenses incurred as a result of travel requirement called for at the TO level.

Q41 Attch 2 52.212-2 Section 3.2.3 Volume III

Factor 3 Cost/Price Attachment 2, Section 3.2.3.1.1 indicates that the TO pricing issued under RFP will determine TEP.

Q. Can the Government please confirm what constitutes the TEP to be evaluated for this IDIQ?

Attachment 12 establishes the pricing schedule for which TO pricing will be derived from. Pricing listed in the attachment 12 will be evaluated for fair and reasonableness and well as the realism of PECP. The Government will be using the price proposal in Attachment 16 ( which is the pricing for the first TO) to evaluate TEP

Q42 Attch 12 Pricing

Spreadsheet Tab 1

Appendix 1 Item number 7 indicates that the TEP will be the average of the fully burdened rates for the 17 prepopulated labor categories across all years.

Q. Can the Government please clarify where to find the prepopulated 17 labor categories?

Please provide more information. The Governement could not identify the subject issue.

Q43 Attch 12 Pricing

Spreadsheet Tab 1

Item 5 Reads: “If proposing escalation, Offerors shall identify the time period for the dates.” If Offeror proposes escalation of any unit rates (i.e., 01-0001 to 01-0036 on the Labor & Task Pricelist tab)," Q. Where should Offeror provide such escalation?

The offeror shall provide these rates in tab 2, the offeror may provide additional data in a new column or tab to show escalation rates

Q44 Attch 3 PWS Tab 1

Item 6 Reads: “TAB 1 Columns A through G will be established as pricelist, supported by TAB 2 & 3.”

Q. Please confirm that the Average Rate calculated in column I on TAB 2 (Labor Pricelist) is intended to be the rate that the Offeror is to enter on column D (Rate) on Tab 1 (Labor & Task Pricelist) for each of the hourly labor categories?

Yes, that is correct.

Q45 Attch 12 Pricing

Spreadsheet Tab 1

Referenced tab includes LOE hours for two of the labor categories. These two labor categories would appear to align with the labor categories to be utilized in the Task Order Pricing.

Q. Is it the Government’s intent that all Offerors are to bid the same two labor categories and hours for TO1 based on what was provided in the solicitation?

Yes, that is correct. Attachment 12, shall be used to establish a pricing schedule baseline for the IDIQ. Every time a FOPR for a task order is issued the Government will establish TO pricing from the prices established in Attachment 12.

Q46 Attch 16 TO pricing

Sheet

While the PWS for Task Order #1 does not specify a period of performance, the Price Proposal Roll up tab of the Task Order Pricing Worksheet (Attachment 16) specifies 3 months as the unit quantity.

Q. Can the Government confirm that, for the purposes of Pricing for Task Order 1, Offeror can assume a three-month period of performance beginning on the Award date?

Yes, IDIQ and TO will be awarded together. POP for TO will begin on award date.

Q47 Attch 5 Self rated scoring sheet Sheet 1

For a number of Elements the calculated weighted score (column O) does not equal the specified maximum possible points if Offeror’s response (column E) is a 5. For example, for PWS Task 1.1.1, entering a “5” yields an Offeror Weighted Score of 5,000, while the maximum possible points are shown as 4,000. Additional example is PWS Task 1.1.4; entering a “5” in the Offeror Response column yields an Offeror Weighted Score of 1,000 while the maximum possible points are 2,000. There are several other elements (PWS Task 1.1.5, 1.1.6, 1.1.7, 1.1.8 and 1.1.11, 1.1.16, 1.1.17, 1.1.13, 1.1.14, 1.1.1 and 1.1.18) which result in calculated Offeror’s Weighted Score which is different from the specified maximum possible points.

Q. Can the Government advise if this is correct?

The self-rated scoring matrix has been corrected and updated.

Q48 Attch 9 Cyber

Security Program pg 1

Q. Please confirm that the contractor will be required to provide a secured storage facility and if so at what level.

Confirming that a secured storage facility is not required.

Q49 Attch 9 Cyber

Security Program pg 2

Q. Please verify with the client if a security training is required. If yes, please list security trainings our practitioners will need to complete

Security training is not required. If required, it will be required be case and TO dependent.

Q50 Attch 9 Cyber

Security Program pg 8 Q. Please confirm there will be a Privacy/PII/Data Security Plan Required If required it will be required at the TO level.