Draft RFP Questions and Answers.pdf

Question Document, Section Reference - Context Questions / Recommendations Government Comments

• Section M, Sub factor 1 Subject Matter Experts, How will the Government fairly and effectively assess the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required under PWS 10.4 for proposed Subject

Matter Experts without reviewing their resumes and qualifications?

We will update the section L & M to request resumes be provided to demonstrate qualifications.

• PWS Section 10.4 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities/ Qualifications:

Section L or M, neither require nor evaluate resumes. Allowing bidders to submit resumes ensures a transparent, merit-based evaluation process and helps the Government avoid potential protest challenges stemming from unclear or unequal evaluation standards.

The Government requires bidders to “…Describe the Subject Matter Experts currently on staff…. to meet the requirements set forth in the PWS section 10.4.”

• Section L. 2.16.2

The solicitation requires the offeror to fill out a cross-reference matrix for Volume II Yes, the matrix shall be completed for volume I, II, and III as noted in Section L and M.

• Section L. 2.17.1

Tab Indexing is basically table of contents with live links to the sections that are identified. So, say they have subFactor 1 -Subject Matter Experts identified, we should be able to click on this topic and it should send us to it in the document.

This section requires Tab indexing to be used to identify sections.

• Section M, Sub factor 3: Technical Capabilities

A 'corporate capabilities narative' is acceptable to submit as part of the proposal but will not be required.

• Section L 4.3.2.3 Sub factor 3: Technical Capabilities

Section M evaluates how, “The Offeror’s technical approach successfully demonstrates the ability to meet the full range of requirements IAW PWS paragraph 10.1 – 10.2 & 10.11.4.”

• Section L, Sub factor 1: Subject Matter Experts Even though sub-factor 1 and 4 have similarities they are focusing on different qualifications. We will need both sections to be addressed separately.

• Section L, Sub factor 4: Organization and Staffing Management

In Section L, Sub factor 1: Subject Matter Experts, the solicitation requires bidders to, “…Include details on recruitment, training, retention…” and Section L, Sub factor 4: Organization and Staffing Management, requires bidders to, “…Provide your strategy to acquire expertise and methods to maintain/train personnel…”

6 4.3.2.3 Sub factor 3: Technical Capabilities – Page 7 Question: Can vendors submit past performance or corporate experience to “demonstrate how offeror will meet the requirements of the PWS”?

Yes, vendors can submit past performance.

Section L, Title LOWEST PRICE TECHNICALLY ACCEPTABLE – Page 1 - The draft RFP states the evaluation will be Lowest Price Technically Acceptable –

Question: How will the government evaluate relative qualitative aspects of offers - solutions, Subject Matter Expertise and proven past performance if only accepting lowest price? We recommend the government consider best value so to ensure it reduces risk of services degradation and lesser qualified personnel.

Everything will be evaluated as lowest price technically acceptable.

Section M, Sub factor 1 – Page 3 Subject Matter Experts, PWS Section 10.4 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities/ Qualifications – Page 23

Question: The referenced sections M and PWS 10.4 require vendors to Describe the Subject Matter Experts currently on staff to meet the requirements in PWS section 10.4.” Could the Government share how it plans to fairly assess Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required under PWS 10.4 for SMEs proposed if offerors aren't asked to submit their resumes to validate?

We will update the section L & M to request resumes be provided to demonstrate qualifications.

9 Section L. 2.17.1 – Formatting – Page 4 Question: Can the government provide a description of how proposals should incorporate Tab Indexing? See answer in question 3 above.

10 Section L 2.16 Cross Referencing – Page 4 Question: Should proposal cross reference other sections than L and M? If so which sections?

Yes, cross referencing of other sections is allowed as it makes evaluation easier to follow.

11 Section 5.1.6 Accounting System - Page 9 Question: Given CPFF is used will Government approved accounting system be required upon award?

This is a Firm Fixed Price effort. In general, small businesses are exempt from Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) requirements, but they are still subject to compliance with the Federal Acquistition Regulations (FAR).

12 General information Question: Who is the incumbent contractor and what is the contract end date? Filius Corporation. Contract is a 5 year IDIQ, this is final year. PoP end date 27 Jan 2026 (CP)

13 General information Question: Please provide the anticipated date for final RFP release? Mid to late June, with 30 day response.

However, the Government does not instruct offerors to provide resumes of the Subject Matter Experts currently on staff.

We will update the section L & M to request resumes be provided to demonstrate qualifications.

Section M, Sub factor 1 Subject Matter Experts: The Government requires offerors to “Describe the Subject

Matter Experts currently on staff, as well as your approach to staff, if needed, additional personnel to meet the requirements set forth in PWS paragraph 10.4.”

Given both sections appear to duplicate the requirements to detail recruitment, retention, and training of staff. In the interest of avoiding duplication, would the Government consider only requiring bidders to address recruitment, retention and training under either Sub factor 1 or

Sub factor 4?

2 Should bidders also be required to complete the matrix for Volume I?

Can the Government clarify the requirement for Tab Indexing in electronic format documents.

To ensure a fair and thorough evaluation under Section M, Subfactor 3

(“Technical Capabilities”), we recommend that the Government allow offerors to submit a corporate capabilities narrative in addition to their technical approach. Since the subfactor focuses on technical capabilities, evaluating both the proposed technical approach and the offeror’s demonstrated ability to execute similar PWS requirements will provide a more accurate and substantiated assessment of each bidder’s qualifications.

Question: How will the Government effectively verify and evaluate the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities/ Qualifications as required in PWS section 10.4, of the Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) currently on staff if their resumes and credentials are not presented in the proposal?

Suggestion: We respectfully suggest the Government will be better able to verify and evaluate Knowledge, Skills and Abilities/

Qualifications if instructions are provided in Section L requiring offerors to present resumes of the SMEs.

Section M, Sub factor 3: Technical Capabilities: The Government evaluates how, “The Offeror’s technical approach successfully demonstrates the ability to meet the full range of requirements IAW PWS paragraph 10.1 – 10.2 &

10.11.4.”

Suggestion: Given the evaluation is concerning “Technical

Capabilities,” we respectfully suggest that in addition to offerors providing an approach, that the Government could more fully evaluate and verify capabilities by requiring offerors to provide a specific corporate experience narrative demonstrating the company's experience and how it aligns with the respective PWS sections.

Providing corporate experience is acceptable but not required.

Section M, Sub factor 3: Technical Capabilities and PWS section 10.4 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities/ Qualifications. The Government evaluates how, “The Offeror’s technical approach successfully demonstrates the ability to meet the full range of requirements IAW PWS paragraph 10.1 – 10.2 & 10.11.4.”

To give the Government a more complete picture of each offeror’s capabilities, we recommend including an evaluation of corporate experience in addition to the SME qualifications required under Subfactor 1. Specifically, offerors should be required to document their corporate experience with the systems and technologies listed in PWS sections 10.4.2, 10.4.3, 10.4.4, and 10.4.8—similar to the documentation standard set in PWS 10.4.1.1.requiring that the “Contractor shall provide documentation of experience…”

Providing corporate experience is acceptable but not required.

Section M, Sub factor 3: Technical Capabilities: The Government evaluates how, “The Offeror’s technical approach successfully demonstrates the ability to meet the full range of requirements IAW PWS paragraph 10.1 – 10.2 & 10.11.4.”

This section only evaluates requirements IAW PWS paragraph 10.1 –

10.2 & 10.11.4. Does the Government also intend that offerors should provide their approach for other technical section of the PWS such as

10.8. Repair and Maintenance Analysis,

10.9. Maintenance Data Collection,

10.10. System Maintenance,

10.11 Spares Supply,

10.14. Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages,

10.15. Technical Refresh Plan,

11. Developing new capabilities,

12. Testing requirements,

13. Training,

14. Cybersecurity Management,

15. Demilitarization (DEMIL) and Disposal, and

16. Trouble Ticket tracking.

As it is now, only PWS 10.1-10.2 and 10.11.4 will be required. We will review Sub factor 3 in Section M and determine if any other sections of the PWS need to be specifically called out.

PWS 16. Trouble Ticket Tracking The Contractor shall acknowledge receipt and investigate TYQ-

23A/TSC-250 documentation Trouble Reports (TR) as directed by the Program Office. These TRs may reference COTS documentation or Government generated technical reference manuals.

Please clarify what is meant by “TYQ-23A/TSC-250 documentation Trouble Reports (TR).” Do field units submit Trouble Tickets relating to documentation-related issues?

PWS will be updated to "Trouble Reports (TR) against documentation". Yes, it is specifically related to documentation issues.

Sub factor 4: Organization and Staffing Management The Government requires offerors in:

Sub factor 1 to: “Describe the Subject Matter Experts currently on staff, as well as your approach to staff, if needed, additional personnel to meet the requirements set forth in PWS paragraph 10.4. Include details on recruitment, training, retention, and specific qualifications and certifications. Provide examples of how you have successfully met similar requirements in past contracts.”

Given Sub factor 4 require offerors to provide significantly additional details related to SMEs on staff compared to the solicitation FA8217-

20-R-5000 dated June 2, 2020, we respectfully request the government provide an additional 5 pages for the technical volume.

We will increase the page limit by 5.

Section M, Sub factor 1 Subject Matter Experts: The Government requires offerors to “Describe the Subject

Matter Experts currently on staff, as well as your approach to staff, if needed, additional personnel to meet the requirements set forth in PWS paragraph 10.4.”