Q A_26_Oct_12.pdf

Questions resulting from Solicitation FA8509-12-R-32444, questions received after 19 Oct 2012 thru 26 Oct 2012, 8:15 AM EDT

1. Q: Does clause 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires need to be placed in the request for proposal.

A: This clause is not included in this solicitation because it has been determined that the Service Contract Act is not applicable to this effort.

2. Q: If this is a performance-based contract, why has the USAF specified: job categories, job qualifications and levels, job locations, job duties, and the overall headcount of 39 employees? It seems that in a performance-based services contract most of this type of information would not be conveyed to industry. Why is there so much “specificity” in this requirement/RFP?

A: The Performance-Based Work Statement (PWS) must be descriptive and specific enough to protect the interest of the U.S. Government and to promote competition. The clarity and explicitness of the requirements in the PWS will invariably enhance the quality of the proposals submitted. The fact that the solicitation contains 39 line items does not indicate an overall headcount of 39 employees (see clause 52.216-19, Order Limitations, on page 40 of the solicitation).

3. Q: PWS paragraph 4.5 MANPOWER POSITIONS states that:

Ninety percent (90%) of all positions will be filled with qualified personnel within ten (10) business days of order award. Remaining ten percent (10%) of all positions will be filled within twenty (20) business days of order award or position vacancy. If all positions are not filled or if all personnel are not in place as required, the contractor may be assessed liquidated damages in accordance with clause H-900, Liquidated Damages. Upon request of the Government, the contractor shall provide resumes for positions filled on each task order.

Will you please clarify if this paragraph applies since there is no section H or H-900 clause in the Request for Proposal?

A: The paragraph does apply, but the references to liquidated damages and clause H-900 should be removed, as shown in solicitation amendment FA8509-12-R-32444-0003 dated 26 Oct 2012.