19Feb08.doc

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

RFP FA8530-08-R-21758

19 Feb 08

Question: Reference Attachment 4 instructions:

Instructions:

Delete reference information in each cell (Example: A1)

Complete each cell by inputting the assigned # (from above table) of the

Prime and/or Subcontractor(s) that provide that capability.

Each cell must have at least one input (Example: 1 or 1,3,5,etc.).

This spreadsheet may not be modified in any fashion. (Only populate cells under each category.)

Question, what is the maximum number of entities that can be in any cell? Is it the Prime plus up to four critical subcontractors which would be five total?

Answer: No more than five (prime contractor plus up to four critical subcontractors).

Question: Regarding Disallowance of Onsite Composite Rates: Based on the Government’s Questions and Answers dated 15 Feb 2008 the Government is requiring that contractors not bid composite rates. The RFP Rate Table requirements are for Contractor Facility rates as defined in the Government Questions and Answers dated 28 Jan 2008 and the PWS Appendix A Terms and Definitions for “Onsite”. The RFP Section K-115, 52.230-1, I Cost Accounting Standards Notices and Certifications requires contractors to certify the type of Disclosure Statement, “Concurrent Submission” or “Previously Submitted”.

Is the Government requiring Contractor’s that have DCAA/DCMA approved Disclosure Statements that require Composite Rates for Onsite work to change their Disclosure Statements to comply with the requirement of no composite rates? Or is the Government going to waive the requirement for the Contactor’s compliance with their approved Disclosure Statement? Since this is the first time during the F2AST acquisition process that the Government has notified Contractors that composite rates are disallowed we request the RFP be extended to allow a sufficient time line for contractors to revise their disclosure statements to comply with the F2AST rate restrictions.

Answer: An answer will be provided in the immediate future.

Question: In your February 15th Question and Answers the following two questions related to composite rates were asked (1) “Can a Subcontractor submit a composite rate for all 3 levels of a particular labor category?” and (2) “Can a Subcontractor submit a composite rate for all labor categories. The same rate for every labor category bid?” For both questions the Government answer was: “No. All proposed rates must be commensurate with the requirements of each labor category. Rates will be evaluated for balance. Please see M-900(2)(c)(ii).”

Your answer to the above question may force companies to bid rates that are not compliant with their Government approved Disclosure Statement or in accordance with their Government approved accounting systems. Many subcontractors have Government approved accounting systems and Disclosure Statements that have only one rate that does not differentiate between levels or have only one shop rate for all work performed. Will you consider revising your answer to state that contractors may bid their rates in accordance with their approved accounting systems and provide a narrative explaining how these rates were developed? This will allow your support contractors to provide the most cost effective Development, Modification, and Maintenance Support to the F2AST Program Office.

Answer: An answer will be provided in the immediate future.

Question: In the 15 February 2008 Questions and Answers and Section M-900(2)(c)(ii), the Government stated that contractors cannot submit a composite rate for all 3 levels of a particular labor category. If, however, a contractor has an approved accounting system that establishes an average rate for the multiple levels of a category, does the Government desire for the contractor to submit rates contrary to its approved accounting system and disclosure statement?

Answer: An answer will be provided in the immediate future.

Question: In the 15 February 2008 Questions and Answers, the Government indicated that Offerors were to meet the 13% Small Business Subcontracting requirement on each competitively awarded D/TO. In prior Questions and Answers, the Government indicated that when analyzing whether the 13% requirement was met, that it would examine the contract as a whole. Please clarify if a Large Business is required to meet the 13% requirement on each competitive D/TO or only on the contract as a whole.

Answer: Contractors will report their small business subcontracting percentages semi-annually via CDRL A004. The Government will review these submissions semi-annually and annually to determine contractor compliance with the Small Business Subcontracting requirement of the contract. Compliance will be evaluated and included in annual CPARS, as well as at the time of option determination. While there is no requirement that Contractors comply with the 13% requirement on each individual competitive D/TO, in order to ensure overall compliance, the Government encourages Contractors to comply with the 13% requirement on all competitive D/TOs.

Example:

Small Business Subcontracting % Average to Date

D/TO 1

13%

13%

D/TO 2

10%

11.5%

D/TO 3

6%

9.67%

D/TO 4

16%

11.25%

Option Determination Point status:

11.25%

Contractor has not met the 13% requirement over the obligated competitive dollars to date and is therefore NOT in compliance with the small business subcontracting requirement. Option may be exercised, but

Contractor’s performance is determined to be marginal and all labor costs for D/TOs for first year of the option period will be decremented by 5%

IAW Clause H-914.

Because Offerors have no way of knowing how many competitive D/TOs they may be awarded during the basic contract period of performance and subsequent options, they are strongly urged to ensure compliance with the 13% requirement on all D/TOs.

Question: Reference RFP Section H, H-914(a)(1) and (2) – For sole source RFOPs, will the Government have bilateral discussions with the prime contractor prior to issuing the proposal response time?

Answer: No. The Government will review each requirement to determine the appropriate proposal response time prior to issuing the RFOP. In addition, the Government will provide “heads up notification” of the requirement to the contractor, in advance of releasing the RFOP whenever possible, which will provide the contractor with additional lead-time to prepare their proposal. In the event a sole source RFOP is issued and the contractor believes the response time is inadequate, the contractor should notify the Government immediately and the Government will review the response time. Short proposal response time has been a very important “selling point” of the current FAST contract and is one of the key reasons potential customers use the contracts. Proposal response time will be a very important aspect of F2AST and is the reason this performance area has been included as a Services Summary item.

Question: Reference RFP Attachment 8, FACTS Sheet - May offerors remove the "Example" column in Section O of the FACTS Sheet template so that we can expand the answering space in the "Fill-in for the Effort Identified in Para B. Above" column?

Answer: No.

Question: Reference RFP Section H, H-901(f), as amended:

· Please explain the “adjustment” that the Government will make and under what circumstances an adjustment will be made.

· Will the Government make adjustments only if an SCA rate is higher than an Attachment 9 or 10 Year 1 or Year 6 rate?

· For performance in years 2-5 and 7-10, will an adjustment take the proposed rates for years 2-5 and 7-10 into account at all and, if so, how?

· If a proposed labor rate for an RFOP is higher than a SCA rate, which rate will take precedence?

· Will the only allowed rate for an SCA labor category be the higher of the contract Year 1/Year 6 rate and the SCA rate?

Answer: If the Year 1 (for years 1 through 5)/Year 6 (for years 6 through 10) rate on contract is higher than the applicable Wage Determination rate, the Year 1/Year 6 rate on contract will be used. Rates will be adjusted by the Government only if the applicable wage determination rate is higher than the Year 1/Year 6 rate. By “adjustment,” the Government means that the wage determination rate will be utilized for and incorporated into that specific D/TO, rather than the Year 1/Year 6 rate on contract. For SCA-covered labor categories, which will be identified by the Contractors in each proposal, the contractual rates for years 2 through 5 and 7 through 10 will not be taken into account. The only allowable rate for an SCA labor category will be the Year 1/Year 6 labor rate on contract, unless the applicable wage determination lists a higher wage rate. In the event that the wage determination rate is higher than the Year 1/Year 6 rate, the wage determination rate will be used.

Question: Reference RFP Section L-900(2)(a)(i). Please clarify that the Cost/Price Volume is not subject to the 11-point Arial font and double-spaced page requirements.

Answer: Any narrative information included in the Cost/Price volume (for example, narrative description of the composition of proposed add-on factors) must comply with the 11-point Arial font and double-spaced page requirements. Spreadsheets are to be submitted in the font and font size in which they were provided by the Government.

Question: There have been six RFP amendments and at least one more anticipated per the 15 February Questions and Answers. Does the F2AST program office plan on issuing a conformed RFP to consolidate the RFP and amendments into one document?

Answer: No.