Questions_ _Answers_5_Nov_2014.pdf

Questions (Q) & Answers (A) for Request For Proposal

(RFP) FA8523-14-R-30015

05 November 2014 Q9: Under FAR and Contract Law the term "subcontract" would be any mutually binding agreement between two or more parties for the provision of supplies and services in support of a Prime Contract. For typical contractors, there is a refined distinction under this definition between a subcontract and a general purchase item, whereby a subcontract is a purchase requiring a SOW, or Specification, or containing an item of risk to the program, requiring a higher level of agreement and oversight.

The solicitation makes no distinction with respect to subcontracts or general purchases. It only defines a "major subcontractor" as any subcontract valued in excess of $700K. This drives substantial effort in two respects. For General Purchase / COTS items this would require vendors to submit full up cost and pricing data and in some cases, would require cost and price data for even allocated and stock material items. This will also drive the number of vendors required to submit full up basis of estimate (BOE) data.

A9: This is required in accordance with realism analysis. Please see FAR 15.403-4 and FAR 15.403-1(b) FAR 15.404-1(d).

Q10: The TEP methodology described in Section M does not match the TEP as calculated by the RFP Attachment 3b spreadsheet. Specifically:

• Section M does not state that the CRNF CLINs are included in the TEP. The spreadsheet does add the CRNF Travel CLINs in the calculation.

• Section M does not say the Incentive CLINs (1013 and 1014) are part of the TEP. The spreadsheet does add $7.5M in the TEP calculation for the Incentive CLINs.

A10: CRNF CLINs and CLINs (1013 and 1014) are not included in the TEP calculation and the cost format A TEP will be corrected to incorporate to the correct formals. CRNF worksheets remain for informational and budgetary purposes and so noted on applicable worksheets. An RFP Amendment will be posted to incorporate a revised Attachment 3b_Cost Formats A, B and C_Downselect Source Selection.

Q35: The penalty clause imposed in section H-901 Incentive Plan should be proportional to the number of quantities ordered by the government. Would you agree with this assessment?

A35: The Incentive Plan only pertains to the MC-130 DT (1005) and OT (1006) and will be supported by two (2) aircraft.

Q37: Will the Government allow bidders to incur pre-contract costs to preserve the Government’s schedule?

A37: The Government will not allow bidders to incur pre-contract costs.

Q40: CDRL E016: The attachment provided for notes to CDRL E016, filename E016 TMCR Attachment.pdf, does not include the reference to the CDRL/Exhibit in the title. Will an updated E016 TMCR Attachment be provided?

A40: An RFP Amendment will be posted to incorporate a revised CDRL E016 and CDRL E016 Attachment 1, which will include clarifications on the DD Form 1423 and reference included on E016 Attachment 1.

Q41: CDRL E017: The attachment provided for notes to CDRL E017, filename E017 TMCR Attachment 1 .pdf, references the correct CDRL, but also includes a reference to Contract FD2060- 14-30015. Will this be updated to reflect the AC/MC130J Solicitation number?

A41: FD2060-14-30015 is the appropriate Purchase Request number.

Q42: The attachments to CDRL E016 and E017 state that the Contractor must include the Tailored TMCR in their proposal as a separate exhibit. Please advise where to include these exhibits (what volume).

A42: An RFP Amendment will be posted to incorporate revised DD Form 1423s (E016 and E017) and attachments (CDRL E016 Attachment 1, CDRL E017 Attachment 1).

Q43: Would the Government consider the inclusion of FAR 52.232-16 entitled Progress Payments (April 2012) into solicitation # FA8523-14-R-30015 and/or to the successful offeror’s contract?

A43: An RFP Amendment will be posted to include FAR 52.232-16 Progress Payments.

Q44: How will an offeror’s comprehensive contracting plan or individual small business subcontracting plan be evaluated in the source selection?

A44: The subcontracting plan will not be evaluated in the source selection. It is a DoD requirement to have a subcontracting plan. Per M-900, Factor IV, Small Business Concern Utilization, this will be evaluated as acceptable or unacceptable.

Q45: It is respectfully requested that the RFP be amended to be in consonance with DFARS 219.708(b)(1)(B).

A45: The clauses that do not apply to an awardee will not be included in the contract.

Q46: The Radio Frequency Countermeasures Demonstration Plan Ver. 1.0 is marked "Draft". Is this version to be used as the planning document for the Critical Technology Demonstration?

Please provide the final version.

A46: The Demonstration Plan that was provided to in the Bidder’s Library is the final revision, however was inadvertently posted with a "DRAFT" watermark. Request offerors remove the watermark.

Q47: Reference Section L Page 17-19 What is the government’s preference with respect to delivery of Subcontractor rates and factors in support of the initial submittal and full up price proposal submittals?

1) Arrange for the Subcontractor to deliver it directly to your offices in Warner Robins

2) Arrange for the Subcontractor to deliver it to the potential Prime Contractor’s Local DCMA Offices

3) Arrange for the Subcontractor to deliver it to their Local DCMA Offices A47: The Government prefers for the Subcontractor to deliver Subcontractor rates and factors directly to our offices in Warner Robins as well as for the Subcontractor to deliver Subcontractor rates and factors to the potential Prime Contractor’s Local DCMA Offices.

Q48: In accordance with Block 16 of CDRL E-10, please provide an electronic copy of the following Air Force drawings :

92626025 Rev F 9579776 Rev L 9579777 Rev A CAGE Code 98752 Reference EDATS Control Number 2014-04

A48: The drawings are posted on FBO. They will be posted using the export control and explicit access.

Q49: Please advise whether it is permissible to mail classified submittals via USPA Express Mail or FedEx overnight. If it is permissible please provide delivery directions if different than stated in Section L-900 Proposal Instructions, paragraph B (6) (page 5 of Section L&M). Please note that Tuesday November 11, 2014 is Veterans' Day which is a United States Post Office holiday.

A49: As documented in Section L900: When mailing classified documents or media, do not indicate on the outer envelope/container that it contains classified information, include complete return addresses on inner and outer envelopes, and please mail directly to:

Outer envelope or container (do not include person's name)

AFLCMC/WNKCB Chief 235 Byron Street Suite 19A Robins AFB, GA 31098-1813

Inner envelope or wrapper:

AFLCMC/WNKCB

235 Byron Street Suite 19A (Attn: Virginia Clopton Elliott) Robins AFB, GA 31098-1813

When mailing classified documents, in addition to the required classification marking. As long as these requirements mandated in the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) and DoD 5200.1-R are complied with and the proposal due date is met, it is up to the offeror as to how the proposal is transmitted.

Q50: In order to complete the required schedule, will the USG clarify the response to question 19 released to industry on October 28th. Are June 7th and June 15th the start of end dates for the demonstration?

A50: June 7th and 15th are the start dates.

Q51: In order to complete the required schedule, prior to the Critical Technology Demonstration shown on Attachment 5 for teams Assurance and Endeavor in June 2016, is the USG planning to allow the contractors a dry run in either March or April 2016?

A51: Specifics of the Demo Events are still being developed, but the Government intends to allow each Contractor a one (1) week dry-run, 30 to 45 days prior to the their scheduled Critical Technology Demonstration. Each contractor will be provided the same amount of time for set-up and dry-runs;

however, these dry-runs will not occur at the same time.

Q52: The model contract includes FAR 52.242-4 Certification of Final Indirect Costs. Per FAR 42.703-2(f)(1), FAR 52.242-4 should only be incorporated into solicitations and contracts which provide for establishment of final indirect cost rates. Such a proposal would be submitted to the Divisional Administrative Contracting Officer (DACO) and would include such a certification when appropriate. As the RFCM proposal will not establish final indirect cost rates, we respectfully request the removal of FAR 52.242-4 from the RFCM RFP.

A52: It is the Government’s position that FAR 52.242-4 Certification Certification of Final Indirect Costs is applicable and will remain in the solicitation. FAR 42.703-1 documents the applicability of this clause as it refers to the instant acquisition.