Q A_19_Oct.pdf

Questions resulting from Solicitation FA8509-12-R-32444, questions received after 15 Oct 2012 thru 19 Oct 2012, 1:30 PM EDT

1. Q: Section L-900D (2) states that the FACTS Sheet answering space can be expanded so that the completed FACTS Sheet covers no more than both sides of three pages. Concerning this instruction: the boilerplate portions of the FACTS Sheet cover three pages with no added information entered into the FACTS Sheet itself. Particularly long instructions are found in paragraphs F.3, I, and L. Can the FACTS Sheets be edited to eliminate non-essential boilerplate and instructions and permit more valuable information to be entered into the appropriate spaces to permit staying within the page limit? Can the submission of the FACTS Sheets cover six single-sided pages as opposed to three double-sided pages?

A: Boilerplate instructions in the FACTS Sheet can be deleted and information pertinent to the instructions should be provided. As stated in Section L paragraph D (2) “the filled-in FACTS Sheet for each relevant contract covers no more than both sides of three (3) 8 ½ x 11 inch pages.”

2. Q: The 15 Oct response to Question 8 discussed the Government’s market research for this solicitation. We are not aware of a Sources Sought notice having been posted and as a SDVOSB with several contracts at WR-ALC, we were not contacted as part of a market research effort concerning the use of subcontractors to meet the fixed wing aircraft requirements. What market research sources and methods were used in making you determination?

A: The Government utilized a mix of Internet small business search engines and review of available contract histories. There is no requirement to post a Sources Sought notice as part of a market research effort.

3. Q: As a follow up to your 15 Oct response to Question 9, will the Government aggregate Past Performances to determine its Confidence Rating?

A: As stated in Section M, paragraph 2 A. “the Government will perform an independent determination of relevancy of the data provided or obtained. A relevancy determination will be made for each of the recent three (3) submitted contracts. The Government is not bound by the offeror’s opinion of relevancy.” Then, as stated in Section M below paragraph 2 (iii)., “as a result of the recency, relevancy and quality assessments of the contracts evaluated, one confidence assessment rating as described in the DoD Source Selection Procedures will be assigned to the Past Performance factor.”

4. Q: Reference Section M-900, 2.A. (page 59). The relevancy definitions refer to magnitude.

Can you clarify or give more detail on what might be essentially the same magnitude? Is the order limitation in 52.216-19 of 516 Man Months (MM) a guideline for the level of magnitude that would be needed to achieve a Very Relevant rating? Small businesses under a $14M size standard are going to have somewhere from none to no more than one or two contracts of that magnitude, especially when combined with the other relevancy criteria.

A: 52.216-19 does not set any type of standard for the past performance evaluation.

Magnitude of effort and complexities is defined under Section M, paragraph 2.A., Note.

5. Q: PWS (Page 20) Para 4.24 CONTRACTOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST Reads:

Contractor shall have all employees (both prime and sub-contractor) sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. Contractor (both prime and sub-contractor) may be disqualified from all future work, including modifications, as a prime or sub-contractor in WR-ALC/GRU.

Can you please clarify this paragraph? In addition to the NDA, are there any other conditions that may be prohibitive? For example, our subcontractor has existing/approved “firewalls” in place between their business units and companies that preclude any sharing of information or data. Are these “firewalls” acceptable to the Government to avoid disqualification by the Government on future efforts for either the prime or subcontractor?

A: All contractor employees will be required to sign the NDA regardless of any firewalls, business unit separation, etc. Signature of the NDA does not constitute disqualification from future work. Contractor disqualification will be determined at the order level when a conflict of interest is known to exist in an individual order.

6. Q: Is it acceptable to use font size <12 for charts and spreadsheets as long as charts are readable?

A: As stated in L-900, A.(1), “print should be no smaller than a font size of 12…” This applies to all documents submitted.

7. Q: As listed in L-900, para A; please confirm that there are indeed no page limits for any of the required volumes.

A: The page limits are stated as N/A in paragraph A because page limitations are established separately for each document that must be submitted.