METIS_II_Q A_2.docx

METIS II

FA7022-15-R-0007

12 November 2015 Questions and Answers (2)

1. RFP Section B, CLIN 0001. This is an IDIQ contract and work will be performed by individual task orders.

a. How can the offeror complete CLIN 0001 with a total IDIQ price, when the requirements of future task orders is unknown?

Response: Please use the historical hours and suggested labor categories provided in the Performance Work Statements and Attachments 3 & 4.

b. Are we to assume that since task order 0001 ends 31 December 2016, future task orders will each be for a one year duration beginning 1 Jan 2017 through 31 Dec 2020 for pricing purposes?

Response: Yes.

2. RFP 4.2, Section 1 – The offeror will submit cost data for the period of performance: Ordering period (1 March 2016 – 31 December 2020) Show totals for each Fiscal Year. Is “Fiscal Year” Government Fiscal Year (GFY), Calendar Year (CY) or Contractor Fiscal Year (CFY)?

Response: The fiscal year referenced is Government Fiscal Year.

3. RFP 4.4.1, Schedule of Hours by Labor Skill Mix. Submit a schedule showing total proposed hours summarized by labor skill mix. This schedule is to include (but separately identify) subcontractor(s) and inter-divisional transfer(s) hours. In addition, provide labor classification statements for each category of labor proposed (prime, subcontracts, and inter-divisional) describing position qualifications (education, years of experience, etc).

a. Does this schedule apply to task order 0001 only?

Response: No.

b. If not, how is the offeror to project hours on future task orders? Without knowing the requirements of future task orders the offeror cannot determine the labor skill mix by prime, subcontractor, etc.

Response: Please utilize the information provided in the Performance Work Statements Appendix A and Attachment 3 of the RFP.

c. If the offeror uses the labor categories from Attachment 4 for pricing why must we describe position quals (educ, yrs of exp, etc), when the Government has already provided this information in RFP Attachment 3?

Response: As stated in Attachment 3, “The labor categories listed are for informational purposes only and are based on historical data. Contractors shall propose based on their own technical approach”. Please adhere to instructions provided in the RFP.

4. RFP 4.4.2, Cost Summary by Cost Elements. …. offeror must use the format shown below. The format shown below is a table on pg 72.

a. Can the Government provide the form on pg 72 of the RFP in excel format?

Response: Please create the form in an Excel spreadsheet format.

b. What are the Performance Periods for the Cost Summary completion?

Response: Government Fiscal year.

i. Is the cost summary form to be completed for task order 0001 for the period 1 March to 31 December 2016 and then each subsequent 12 month period through 31 December 2020?

Response: Yes.

c. If the answer to i. above is yes, what time frame do the Period (1) and Period (2) represent?

Response: The periods represent years i.e. Period 1 is FY2016, Period 2, FY2017.

d. The Cost Summary sheet shows Materials, Subcontractor Costs and Travel costs as part of the ODC CLIN. The Schedule B says CLIN 0001 is for the necessary labor, material, and technical services and CLIN 0003 is for travel, training and other direct costs. Is the Cost Summary correct with the location of Material costs?

Response: Yes.

e. (1) Provide breakdown according to contractor fiscal year. Does this mean the Cost Summary is to be provided for each contractor fiscal year period during the entire IDIQ ordering period?

Response: No, Government fiscal year.

f. (2) NOTE: Provide similar spreadsheet for each subcontractor. If proposed subcontractors will not provide their unburdened costs to the Prime, does the Government expect to receive their fully disclosed price proposal in a sealed package?

Response: Yes.

g. Will the summary of all the Cost Summary forms represent the offeror’s Total Evaluated Price (TEP)?

Response: Yes.

5. RFP 4.4.3, Cost Summary by Cost Elements. Submit a list of the proposed probable subcontractors and inter-divisional transfers showing (d) price and hours provided by each (e) price and hours included in prime’s proposal to the Government.

a. Is this section applicable to Task Order 0001 only?

Response: No.

b. If not, without knowing the requirements for future task orders, how can (d) and (e) be derived?

Response: Please see question 1.

6. RFP Attachment 4, Labor Category Rates.

a. Are the category titles of FY2017, FY2018, etc., representative of the Government Fiscal Year (1 Oct to 20 Sep) or are they calendar year?

Response: Government Fiscal Year.

b. Are the labor rates for each FY to be raw base labor rates (unburdened) or fully burdened through fee?

Response: Please provide the base labor (unburdened) rates in Attachment 4.

c. If they are to be fully burdened, what is the value of that if they will have to change each year based on DCAA approved billing rates, if the offeror does not have Forward Pricing Rates.

Response: See previous response.

d. Since the task orders are CPFF and not FP or T&M, and the Government is allowing adjustment in the rates each year based on approved billing rates in the applicable year, would the Government consider deletion of Attachment 4? The requirement in RFP 4.2, Section 2, to provide supporting data for proposed indirect rates should fulfill the Attachment 4 requirement, as well as the completion of the Cost Summary schedules. Fully loaded labor rates are typical in an IDIQ when FP and T&M task orders are used.

Response: Verbiage regarding adjustment of approved billing rates deleted. Please see revised RFP.

7. RFP Section M, M002 Evaluation Factors, d. Cost or Price Factor, (6). Is the price for Task Order 0001 included in the offeror’s TEP?

Response: Yes.

8. RFP F-1. PERIOD OF CONTRACT

This contract shall be in effect for the ordering period 1 March 2016 through 31 December 2020.

CLIN 0001, 0002, and 0003: 1 March 2016 through 31 December 2020 Phase-in, CLIN 0004: 1-31 March 2016 Task Order 0001, Period of Performance: 1 March 2016 through 31 December 2016

a. Do CLINs 0001 and 0004 run concurrently?

Response: Yes.

b. Task Order 0001 begins on 1 March 2016. Phase-in is 1-31 March 2016. Should the costs for the phase in period be a separate price under task order 0001?

Response: Yes.

9. Task order 0001 PWS indicates 1 FTE equals 1880 hours. The PoP for task order 0001 is 10 months. Shouldn’t the FTE be lower than 1880?

Response: No.

10. RFP Attachment 3: Labor Categories/Descriptions. It is unclear what the function of the Documentation Specialist (Jr.) will be as there is very limited information regarding the education and experience requirements. Also, this function is not clearly defined in either the Basic or Task Order 0001 PWS. Request additional information/clarification regarding the purpose of this labor category.

Response: Please review the Attachment 3 Note.

11. Will the government make available the current software documentation (e.g. SIP, SPS, SRS, STP, SUM, and SVD) to bidders?

Response: The documentation will be provided to the contract awardee.

12. Solicitation page 29, Section I, FAR Clause 52.223-7, Notice of Radioactive Materials. This does not appear to be applicable to this effort. Recommend remove this clause.

Response: Clause removed.

13. Solicitation pages 34 and 35, Section I, FAR Clause 52.243-2, Changes Cost Reimbursement Alternate I. This is duplicated. Suggest removal of the 2nd occurrence.

Response: Duplicate removed.

14. Solicitation page 36, Section I, FAR Clause 52.243-2. Page 36 contains the Alternate II version of this clause. Since the contract is not for furnishing of supplies, recommend the deletion of the Alternate II clause.

Response: Clause removed.

15. Solicitation page 56, Section I, FAR Clause 52.230-1, Cost Accounting Standards Notices and Certifications Since Cost Accounting Standards do not apply to small business, recommend removal of FAR clauses 52.230-2, 52.230-3, and 52.230-6 on page 19, and FAR clause 52.230-1 on page 56.

Response: Clauses removed.

16. Solicitation page 64, Section L, 2.0 Volume I - Administrative Last sentence of the first paragraph states "Include a master table of contents of the entire proposal." Please confirm the Gov is requesting a master table of contents of the Administrative volume to be contained in the Administrative volume and not a master table of contents of the entire proposal in the administrative volume.

Response: Please comply with the instructions listed in Section L, 2.0 Vol I – Administrative.

17. Solicitation Amendment 0001, page 16, Cost Summary Table. This calls for details regarding travel expenses at the bottom of the table. Since the Government is providing the estimated cost of CLIN 0003, which includes travel, will the Government remove the requirement for travel details to be provided in the Cost Summary Table?

Response: Please use the dollar amount provided but without travel details.

18. Solicitation Amendment 0001, page 16, Cost Summary Table. Is it acceptable to edit the line for Travel to instead read "Training/Travel/Other Direct Costs" in order to match CLIN 0003?

Response: Yes.

19. Solicitation page 74, Section L, 6.0 Subfactor Seven (7): Volume V - Task Orders 0001 This section heading appears to be labeled incorrectly and the 'Subfactor Seven (7)' portion of the heading is not applicable in the Volume content. Please clarify.

Response: Section is labeled correctly.

20. Solicitation page 74, Section L, 6.0 Subfactor Seven (7): Volume V - Task Orders 0001 First sentence states "The offeror shall address their capability to provide personnel with the requisite skills in document conversion in accordance with Task Order 0001 PWS." There is no mention of the 'SW enhancement and maintenance' aspect of the Task Order. Just an oversight? Please clarify.

Response: PWS Task Orders 0001 in paragraph section 1.3.2 addresses Software Tools and Applications. Paragraph 1.3.4.1 specifically addresses SW Enhancements and Maintenance, and 1.3.4.2 addresses Computer Environment.

21. Solicitation page 18, Section I, FAR clauses 52.219-9 (Dev) and 52.219-9 Alt II Since Small Business Subcontract Plans do not apply to small business, recommend removal of these clauses.

Response: Clause deleted.

22. Solicitation pages 19-21, Section I, FAR clauses 52.227-14 and 52.227-17, and DFARS clauses 252.227-7013 and 252.227-7014. Certain provisions of these clauses are in direct conflict with each other. We recommend that FAR clauses 52.227-14 and 52.227-17 be deleted to resolve the conflicts. Alternatively, we request the Government provide clarification of the Order of Precedence applicable to these clauses.

Response: Clauses are relevant to the contract.

23. Solicitation page 21, Section I, FAR clause 252.242-7004. Per FAR clause 242.7204, the requirement for a Material Management and Accounting System does not apply to small business. Therefore, we request that FAR clause 252.242-7004 be deleted.

Response: Clause deleted.

24. Base PWS, Section 2.0 Services Summary – Objective (2nd to last). PWS para reads 1-3 - 1.4.6. Should it be 1.3 -1.4.6?

Response: See revised PWS.

25. Base PWS - Appendix A 1st Labor Category. Para reads 1.3.1.1.3, 1.3.1.1.4, 1.3.1.1, 1.3.1.2. Should it be 1.3.1.3, 1.3.1.1, 1.3.1.2?

Response: See revised PWS.

26. Task 1 PWS - Section 2.0 Services Summary – Objective (2nd to last). PWS para reads 1-3 - 1.4.6. Should it be 1.3 -1.4.6?

Response: See revised PWS.

27. Task 1 PWS - Section 2.0 Services Summary – Objective (4 & 5).The objectives do not exist in the Task 1 PWS. Should they be removed?

Response: See revised PWS.

28. Task 1 PWS - Appendix A, 1st Labor Category Para reads 1.3.1.1.3, 1.3.1.1.4, 1.3.1.1, 1.3.1.2. Should it be 1.3.1.1, 1.3.1.2?

Response: See revised PWS.

29. Solicitation page 61, Section 1.2.1 Page Limitations. 4th sentence states, "Each page shall be counted toward the above page limits except for cover pages, tables of contents, tabs, resumes, glossaries, list of key terms, appendices to Technical volume, consent letters, and client authorization letters, and company financial statements." Please confirm that the Cross Reference Matrix pages are not excluded from the page count.

Response: Confirmed, cross-referenced pages are not excluded from the page count.

30. Section L. Please confirm that two cost proposals are required. One for the ordering period, 1 March 2016 – 31 December 2020, (as per 4.2, Section 1) and one for Task Order 0001 (as per 6.0).

Response: Yes.

31. Section M. Please clarify the definition/calculation of Total Evaluated Price (TEP). TEP is referred to in the below three sections with what seems to be different meanings:

M002-d-(1) states “The offeror’s Cost/Price proposal will be evaluated at prices proposed for the initial deliver/task order”. M002-d-(5) states “. . . the total evaluated price for each ordering period will consist of the labor category’s extended price . . .”, and ends with defining TEP as the fixed amount of $9.9M “. . . of the best value to the Government when compared to the Total Evaluated Price (TEP) of $9.9M.”

M002-d-(6) states “The Government will evaluate the affordability of each offeror’s Cost/ Price proposal by comparing the TEP to the $9.9M contract ceiling and the Government’s independent cost estimate for Task Order 0001.”

Please clarify which pricing items are to be evaluated under M002-d . . .

Attachment 4, Labor Category Rates?

Response: Yes.

Attachment 4, Labor Category Rates multiplied by the number of hours for each and the totals summed for the entire ordering period?

Response: Yes.

Cost/Price for Task Order 0001?

Response: Yes.

Cost/Price for the entire effort/ordering period, excluding Phase In?

Response: Yes.

32. Section L, Amendment 0001 Page 16. Cost Summary Table. The table format shows the subcontractor costs below the fee calculation line (i.e., excluded from fee calculation). Please clarify whether prime contractor fee is permitted on subcontractor labor when determining the price of CLIN 0001.

Response: No, prime contractor is not permitted to apply fee on subcontractor labor; however, G&A may be applied.

33. Section L, Amendment 0001 Page 16. Cost Summary Table. The table format shows two Performance Periods, Period (1) and Period (2). Please clarify the definition of these Periods.

Response: Periods refer to fiscal years i.e. Period 1 is FY2016, Period 2 FY2017 etc.