21Feb08.doc

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

RFP FA8530-08-R-21758

21 Feb 08

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 Contractors 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: The Government expects offerors to propose labor rates that are commensurate with the specific educational and experience requirements of each labor category as set forth by the Government, which includes each level of any multi-level labor category. In the event that an Offeror believes they are unable to propose in this manner due to the requirements of their Disclosure Statement, that Offeror may propose the same rate for each level of a labor category, but is required to provide to the Government the portion(s) of their Disclosure Statement that requires them to propose in this manner. This requirement will be incorporated into the RFP via an RFP amendment to be issued in the immediate future. Offerors are reminded that all proposed rates will be evaluated for reasonableness and balance in accordance with RFP Clause M-900(2)(c)(i) and (ii), and that the Government may choose to award without discussions. A proposal which includes the same labor rate for every labor category may cause the Government to question the reasonableness and balance of an Offeror’s proposed pricing, and may cause of rejection of an Offeror’s proposal.

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: Please see answer provided above.

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: Please see answer provided above.

Question: Reference Government Q&A of 15 Feb 2008. The 2 questions and answers below were issued by the government on 15 February 2008.

Question: Can a Subcontractor submit a composite rate for all 3 levels of particular labor category?

Answer: 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).

Question: Can a Subcontractor submit a composite rate for all labor categories? The same rate for every labor category bid.

Answer: 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).

The answers, especially to the first question above appears to ignore that many major DOD contractors, in accordance with their government approved disclosure statement, government approved pricing and proposal techniques, as well as the constant government audit and review of proposals, do in fact consider all 3 level of a labor category per the F2AST RFP, as a singular labor type for pricing / quotation / billing purposes. Such labor prices are not un-balanced.

It should be noted that such quotations were prepared by various companies. These prices were audited, approved, and accepted by the government on at least one of the current FAST prime contracts.

The “composite price” (term for this correspondence) is a government approved practice and thus a requirement. Otherwise the individual business could be considered to be non-compliant to its approved practices.

Recommend that the question be re-reviewed taking into account that prices submitted by bidding Primes and Subcontractors, must be in accordance with the particular companies adherence to government approved techniques, which appear to be at variance to the considerations taken into account in the government provided answer or answers.

Answer: Please see answer provided above.

Question: If the local airport provides fuel services (fuel storage, fuel, defuel, etc.) to a critical subcontractor, is this considered possession of the respective capabilities?

Answer: No.

Question: Amendment 006 L-900 Volume IV (Page 22) now includes a requirement for multiple narrative descriptions for Add-On factors for each of the prime’s critical subcontractors. Should these subcontractor narratives be placed with (behind, in front, ?) each individual subcontractor’s Rate Sheets (Attachment 10), or should they all be grouped together along with the Prime’s narrative write-up in the front section of Volume IV?

Answer: The subcontractor narratives should be placed behind each individual subcontractor’s rate sheets.

Question: Given the current open issues regarding composite rates, is the Government considering granting an extension to the 27 February due date?

Answer: The Government is considering granting a short extension due to several issues. Offerors will be notified as soon as possible of any extension of the proposal due date.

Question: There are five different CDRLs specified on page 8 of the solicitation (0001AA, 0001AB, 0001AC, 0001AD and 0001AE). These items are described in the DD Form 1423s contained as Attachment 2 to the solicitation. Some of these are due as early as 60 or 90 days following IDIQ contract award. PWS paragraph 4.3.3.1 (“D/TO Data Requirements”) states that “The contractor shall provide data as required on DD forms 1423 as specified by individual D/TOs”. Can we assume from this that none of these CDRLs will be required until we received a D/TO? If so, contractors would need to receive a D/TO prior to the first required due date of 60 days following IDIQ award which applies to CDRLs A001 and A002. Also, CLIN 0001 indicates that the CDRLs are “NSP”. This assumes that the order would include a funded line item with the CDRL as a NSP line item. Please clarify how this will work.

Answer: These CDRLS are applicable to the basic contract. Each individual D/TO will contain its own specific CDRLs, as applicable. The CDRL submissions included in the RFP are due as stated in each CDRL (i.e., CDRL A001, the offeror’s Subcontractor Management Plan which applies to the entire contract at the basic contract level, is due 60 days after award of the basic contract and is to be updated annually throughout the contract). The CDRL submissions at the basic contract level are not tied to the issuance of D/TOs. The CDRLs at the basic contract level are NSP. CDRLs at the D/TO level may or not may not be separately priced, depending on the specific circumstances of the individual D/TO.

Question: We are in receipt of the following Q&A previously addressed with regard to volume formatting:

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: 8 pt. type is customary in tables, figures, graphics and other proposal visual displays. Is 8 pt. type acceptable for data displays in the F2AST Technical and Past Performance Volumes?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Can single spaced tables be used in Volume II to respond to Minimum Capabilities Matrix instructions for items such as Brakes and Tire/Wheel equipment and tools list?

Answer: Yes.

In order to ensure a responsive proposal, we request clarification in the form of overall guidance for figures, graphics, and table formatting for offeror-generated data and graphics presentations across all four volumes:

(1) May tables, captions, and text in figures and graphics be single-spaced, including in cross-reference tables, in all volumes?

(2) May we use 8-pt type in Volumes I and IV as well as in II and III, in addition to or in place of 11-point type in figures, tables, and graphics?

Answer: Tables, captions, and text in figures and graphics may be single-spaced, including in cross-reference tables, in all volumes. Offerors may use 8-pt type in all volumes in figures, tables, and graphics. All required spreadsheets (RFP Attachments including Minimum Capabilities Matrix, C-130 GHE list, pricing spreadsheets, etc.) and tables in the FACTS Sheet must be completed and submitted in the font size and type they were provided by the Government.