AFOTEC_FTS_Industry_Day_Questions_and_Answers.docx

AFOTEC - Fighter Test Services 8 April 2015 Industry Day Questions and Answers (Federal Business Opportunities Release)

1. Q: What is the name of this contract?

A: Fighter Test Services (FTS).

2. Q: Is this just an AFOTEC contract?

A: Yes, the FTS Contract is for support of AFOTEC Det 1 and Det 6 support. This is will be an intragency contract no other agencies can issue task orders from the FTS contract.

3. Q: Will FTS contract look at awarding through GSA-OASIS?

A: OASIS was reviewed, and was determined that it will not meet the technical needs for FTS. Due to the highly technical nature of the FTS requirements, we do not want to limit competition and would like to get the most qualified candidates to bid.

4. Q: Is this Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA)?

A: The strategy for FTS will not include LPTA. AFOTEC anticipates a full trade off with mission capability (4 technical subfactors), past performance and cost/price.

5. Q: When do we anticipate RFP to be published?

A: Currently, the milestones anticipated for the release are: Draft RFP is June 2015; Final RFP is August 2015; Proposal Receipt is Nov 2015; Planned Contract Award date is April 2016.

6. Q: What acquisition strategy is the team leaning toward?

A: The Acquisition Plan/Acquisition Strategy Panel (AP/ASP) currently has not been approved. The AFOTEC Contracting and Technical team recommendation for approval to the Source Selection Authority (SSA) is a cost-plus-fixed-fee single (CPFF) indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract. This strategy will allow AFOTEC agility and flexibility to get the right people at the right place at the right time, within cost and budget.

7. Q: Will the spending levels stay the same from F-OTES to FTS?

A: Yes, that is the current plan. The contract ceiling of $85M will remain the same for FTS.

8. Q: Will there be cross-teaming with other companies?

A: Yes, that is a business decision.

9. Q: The other OTA and DoD seem to be using a phased approached for acquisition (i.e. Phase 1 is an OCI screen). Do we anticipate on using a phased acquisition approach?

A: Contracting does not anticipate using a phased approach at this time.

10. Q: What is the current OTES solicitation number and contractors who were selected?

A: Solicitation number: FA7046-11-R-0003; Awardees: Qualis Corporation and Spectrum Comm Inc.

11. Q: Will funding be relatively steady and will it ramp up?

A: Currently, the budgeted funding levels and work are relatively constant. Though, AFOTEC may ramp up during test execution phases planned for FY17.

12. Q: If you worked for a System Program Office (SPO) are there any limitations with regards to OCI?

A: In this case, OCI will have to be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Address these issues with contracting upfront so that we can run it through our legal office.

13. Q: Is travel or other direct costs (ODC) anticipated for this contract?

A: Yes, it is anticipated that AFOTEC FTS solicitation will have associated travel costs with a “not to exceed dollar threshold.” There are no other anticipated ODCs.

14. Q: How does AFOTEC assess performance?

A: Generally, AFOTEC contracts work is reviewed by Contracting Officer, Technical COR, and through technical contract deliverables (i.e., presentations, planning documentation, monthly status reports, and assessments.) All anticipated deliverables will be published in the solicitation.

15. Q: Are we looking at time and materials for this contract?

A: AFOTEC does not anticipate this contract to be time and materials. We anticipate FTS to be cost-plus-fixed-fee, if the AS/ASQ plan is approved.

16. Q: What are the challenges right now with the current contract?

A: At the present time, the technical team feels that we have issues with meeting milestones due to schedule slips with the JSF program.

17. Q: What NAICS code will be used and small business philosophy?

A: NAICS Code #: 541712 (R&D, 1500 people) Aircraft Exception. AFOTEC anticipates that we can award to any business type under full and open competition.

18. Q: Will there be funding available for this contract?

A: We anticipate incremental funding. FTS is supported by the F-35 SPO and AFOTEC POM budget. The contract ceiling is still at $85M.

19. Q: Is there any expected small business set-aside? Or is this full and open competition?

A: AFOTEC is recommending that FTS be full and open competition; this allows for the Government to get the best technical solutions in support of our warfighter. It is highly encouraged that small businesses team as necessary in order to deliver all FTS core competencies. FTS will be solicited as full and open competition and OTES will be a small business set aside. Please monitor FBO.gov for any upcoming information on the OTES acquisition.

20. Q: What are the small business goal percentages?

A: The current Small Business Goals for Department of Defense are between 20-22%, exact percentages will be published in the solicitation.

21. Q: Are there any changes or requirements to Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI)?

A: Currently, there have not been any changes to the current guidelines from SAF/AQ or DoD. AFOTEC does anticipate using the current guidelines in the solicitation.

22. Q: What OCI clauses will be used?

A: AFOTEC will use standard OCI clauses. If there is a conflict with U.S.C. 2399, a determination will have be coordinated through contracting and legal.

23. Q: Will OL-KT have a role with this RFP?

A: Currently, the OL-KT operations will not be a part of the FTS solicitation. Cybersecurity will be included in the solicitation, but is scoped for only the Fighter testing support.

24. Q: Will there be a separate cybersecurity contract?

A: Currently, the FTS contract has a requirement for cybersecurity support for the fighter support only. For other systems there may be separate contracts that will cover other types of cybersecurity support for AFOTEC.

25. Q: What detachments are involved for this contact?

A: The current detachments involved for FTS Solicitation are: Det 1 (Edwards AFB) and Det 6 (Nellis AFB).

26. Q: Will AFOTEC define the FTE hours (1760, 1880, 1820, 2080) etc. in order to properly bid labor costs?

A: AFOTEC will take that into consideration and will review the current requirements.

27. Q: Will AFOTEC define minimum benefits?

A: AFOTEC will not define benefits. That is a business decision that the company should make.

28. Q: Will AFOTEC define labor categories in the RFP?

A: AFOTEC will define key personnel only in the solicitation, and plan to include historical data from the previous contracts on the level of support.

29. Q: How many FTEs are required at Edwards AFB, Nellis AFB and Kirtland AFB, and can we interchange and move them to other locations as needed?

A: AFOTEC will not define exact FTEs, contractors determine how they will fulfill the contract requirements. Shifting contractor personnel from one location to another will be handled at the time and on a case-by-case basis.

30. Q: With regard to level of contracting support, what is the size of the workforce?

A: Currently, we approximate 30 FTEs. AFOTEC plans to ramp up the workforce during periods of test execution.

31. Q: When do we anticipate F-22 testing and what type of support will be required?

A: Currently, AFOTEC anticipates there will be ramp up in testing for the F-22 in FY17. AFOTEC will need engineering and analysis support.

32. Q: Can you explain your role with Modeling and Simulation (M&S)?

A: Some of the systems we use for M&S are the Verification Simulator and Air Combat Simulator to test fighter aircraft in high density threat environments. This system must be Validated, Verified & Accredited (VV&A) by the test team to ensure the data is acceptable for the operational test. The data is used to complement data obtained from real world flights.

33. Q: What do you see as impacts to Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) with DOT&E guidance on M&S VV&A?

A: AFOTEC has not assessed impacts to the JSF program at this time.

34. Q: What variants of F-35 are we testing and do we anticipate supporting other test agencies?

A: AFOTEC is the lead Operational Test Agency (OTA) for F-35 and is responsible for coordinating testing for all variants. There will be coordination with other OTAs (to include Navy Operational Test and Evaluation Forces) but FTS will not directly support these agencies.

35. Q: Can you tell me how the contractor support will breakout between Edwards AFB and Nellis AFB?

A: Currently, the approximate support will be broken out as following: Det 1 (Edwards AFB) is roughly 90% and Det 6 (Nellis AFB) will be 10%.

36. Q: Are all the core competencies listed in the briefing being executed now or are some projected to be needed in the future?

A: All core competencies that will be listed in the solicitation must all be accomplished and will individually be required for all future task orders.

37. Q: How many FTEs are at Nellis AFB?

A: Currently none, but under FTS contract the projected need for FY17 is between 1 and 5 FTEs.

38. Q: Where does AFOTEC expect the contractor program manager be located?

A: The contractor program manager should be located at the primary work location, Edwards AFB in order to maintain reach back capability, oversight and continuity. Though, that is a contractor business decision.

39. Q: What is the anticipated interaction with HQ?

A: It is anticipated that the contractor support staff may need to travel to AFOTEC HQ to support any Detachment priorities, but that will be on an as needed basis.

40. Q: What are you looking for with VV&A support?

A: Primarily, the scope of work being performed is to operationally accredit all M&S systems.

41. Q: Do we have contractors at Marietta VV&A efforts?

A: One at Marietta. Others travel as needed to support this effort.

42. Q: Do we maintain contract support at Fort Worth?

A: Yes, currently there are two (2) FTEs.

43. Q: What types of qualifications and certifications are you looking for with FTS?

A: AFOTEC is seeking requirements for highly technical FTEs, with strong skill sets that can deliver the FTS core competencies.

44. Q: Do we anticipate live virtual construction (LVC) as a larger part of AFOTEC testing?

A: AFOTEC as this current point does not anticipate the need for LVC Support.

45. Q: Was the last solicitation for fighter services the same?

A: FTS solicitation is similar, but there will be additional core competencies and support that will be required. Please review Draft RFP when it is posted on FBO.gov.

46. Q: Are there issues with JSF coming up that need to be addressed in the future?

A: None known at this time.

47. Q: Do we foresee any future support of 4th generation aircraft testing?

A: Yes, there is a requirement for 4th generation testing and will continue to need support through the FTS Contract.

48. Q: What are the personnel forecast?

A: It is currently forecasted under FTS to need approximately 35 contractors at Edwards AFB and 1 contractor at Nellis AFB.

49. Q: How do we define skill sets or tasks to perform?

A: AFOTEC does not define the skill sets, we provide the requirement and historical data and the contractor must define in their proposals what skill sets to propose/hire.

50. Q: Is there a quality standards entry requirement for this contract (i.e. ISSO, CMMI, and AS190)?

A: There are currently no barriers to entry.

51. Q: Will there be task orders?

A: Yes, it is anticipated that FTS will be awarded as indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) task orders due to the required technical support. However, the AP/ASP has not been approve by the SSA.

52. Q: What type of work can we expect from each task order?

A: VV&A for VSim, Test Planning, Test Execution. The primary effort is for Detachment 1 supporting F-35.

53. Q: How many task orders are anticipated in the RFP?

A: AFOTEC currently anticipates awarding four (4) task orders. The topics for the anticipated task orders are as follows: Test Planning, VV&A, Test Execution and Detachment 6 support.

54. Q: How many billets require TS/SCI?

A: AFOTEC currently anticipates that some contractor FTE requirements will require a TS/SCI clearance.

55. Q: Is there foreign national work?

A: Yes, AFOTEC has foreign national partners in support of the JSF program. Contractors may not use foreign national on the FTS contract.

56. Q: Who are the key members with the FTS source selection?

A: Lt Col Troy Hoeger (DET1, Contracting Officer Representative), SSEB Chair; Mr. Richard Radvanyi (DET 1/JOTT), Technical Evaluator; Capt Christopher Mayo (DET6), Technical Evaluator; Mr. William Redmond, SES (AFOTEC/ED), SSA; Mrs. Kay Davis (AFOTEC A7-K), CAA; Ms. Linda Buix (AFOTEC A7-K), PCO

57. Q: What is Mr. Redmond’s role for the ASP?

A: Mr. Redmond is the Source Selection Authority and will approve/disapprove the Acquisition Plan/Acquisition Strategy Panel.

58. Q: Do we have technical leads out at the detachment?

A: Yes. Lt Col Troy Hoeger (DET1, COR), Mr. Richard Radvanyi (DET1/JOTT), Capt Christopher Mayo (DET 6).

59. Q: Is there any kind of matrix support for AFOTEC?

A: There is not any current matrixed support. The Detachments are self-contained and receive support when required from HQ AFOTEC Directorates (i.e. A3 Operations, A2/9 Intelligence, Analysis and Assessment, CVI, SE, A47, A7K, etc.).

Acronym List ACQ – Acquisition ACS – Air Combat Simulator AFB – Air Force Base AFOTEC – Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center AP – Acquisition Plan ASP – Acquisition Strategy Panel CAA – Contracting Approval Authority CMMI – Capability Maturity Model Integration COR – Contracting Officer Representative CPFF – Cost-plus-fixed-fee DOD – Department of Defense DOT&E – Director, Operational Test and Evaluation ETS – Engineering and Technical Services F-OTES – Fighter-Operational Test and Evaluation Services FTE – Full Time Equivalent FTS – Fighter Test Services GSA – Government Services Administration HQ - Headquarters IDIQ – Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity ISO – International Standards Organization JOTT – JSF Operational Test Team JSF – Joint Strike Fighter LPTA – Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable LVC – Live Virtual Modeling M&S – Modeling and Simulation NAICS – North American Industry Classification System OASIS – One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services OCI – Organizational Conflict of Interest ODC – Other Direct Costs OL-KT – Operating Location Kelly Field OTA – Operational Test Agency OTES – Operational Test and Evaluation Services POC – Point of Contact POM – Program Objective Memorandum R&D – Research and Development RFP – Request for Proposal SCI – Sensitive Compartmental Information SES – Senior Executive Service SPO – System Program Office SSA – Source Selection Authority SSEB – Source Selection Executive Board TO – Tasking Order TS – Top Secret VSim – Verification Simulator VV&A – Verification, Validation and Accreditation

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