30Jan08.doc

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

RFP FA8530-08-R-21758

30 Jan 08

Question: Section L, (f) states "no more than both sides of two pages" for the Present and Past Performance Volume. However, both paragraphs M and O of the "FACTS Sheet" allow one and two pages respectively for additional information to be submitted. Which is the accurate requirement and how do we submit the extra pages?

Answer: Page limitations are as follows:

FACTS Sheets: The FACTS Sheet provided by the Government is three pages long. These three pages are to be completed and returned by the offeror. In addition to these three pages, the FACTS Sheet responses may each be expanded by no more than both sides of an additional two 8.5x11 pages for each relevant contract to describe subcontractor management. Also, paragraph M of the FACTS Sheets allows the offeror to submit one additional page to describe any information regarding unfavorable/marginal assessments for the contract covered by the FACTS Sheet. Paragraph O of the FACTS Sheet is referring to the two pages described in RFP Clause L-900. Therefore, the FACTS Sheet page limitation for each relevant contract is the three pages of the FACTS Sheet the Government provided, two additional pages (both sides) relevancy and, if necessary, one additional page describing unfavorable assessment. In total, the most single pages to be submitted for one relevant contract is 8 (3 pages FACTS Sheet, four pages – two double-sided sheets – for relevancy, and one page if needed for unfavorable assessment).

In addition to the completed FACTS Sheets, offerors are to submit a spreadsheet listing all contracts the offeror is performing or has performed in the last three years. If this listing exceeds two pages, only the most recent ongoing/completed efforts are to be listed. This spreadsheet may not exceed two pages and is to be included in the Present and Past Performance Volume.

Question: Reference RFP page 100, Section L-900(2)(f)(i). The instructions for the Present/Past Performance volume limit each FACTS Sheet to no more than both sides of two 8½ x 11 pages. Are offerors required to print double-sided pages? The instructions on the FACTS Sheet take up three pages. Are offerors allowed to delete the instructions on the FACTS Sheet and insert their responses directly under the headings? If offerors are not allowed to modify the FACTS Sheet, we request that the page limit be clarified as both sides of two 8½ x 11 pages (or 4 pages) in addition to the 3 pages of instructions in the FACTS Sheet.

Answer: Offerors are not required to print double-sided pages. Please see answer provided above for remaining portions of this question.

Question: Will 5 past performances and submittal of our new Small Business Goals for this effort fulfill the requirement?

Answer: FAR 52.219-8 and 9(if offeror is a large business) are applicable to the five contracts submitted via FACTS Sheets in the Present and Past Performance Volume. FAR 52.219-24 is covered in the subcontracting plan offerors must submit as part of Volume I with the completed RFP.

Question: Regarding Clause H-910, how will the average subcontractor rate be established? Will it be a linear average for all subcontractor rates per category, or will it be a weighted average based on those rates and the contractor identified percentages of work share among all subcontractors? Also, do the prime contractor rates play into this average?

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

Question: Nowhere in the RFP/solicitation could we find an anticipated award date for the F2AST contract. Knowing that date will allow us to properly price the labor categories in the appropriate FY. What is the anticipated award date?

Answer: For purposes of rate development, offerors may assume a contract award date of 1 Sep 08. However, all offerors are advised that contract award may be sooner than 1 Sep 08 and, in the event that contract award is sooner than 1 Sep 08, the offeror’s “Year 1” rates will become effective on the date of contract award.

Question: Would the government please clarify the number of volumes, by type of deliverable (paper, CD-R) and destination. The table and the notes seem to be confusing as to who is getting what copies. For example where is the 1 copy of Volume 1, the 6 copies of Volume II and the 3 copies of Volume III to be delivered and to what office/person? Are the copies in the notes in addition to those referenced in the table?

Answer: Clarifying information regarding submission of the pricing volumes will be provided via RFP amendment to be issued in the immediate future. All other volumes and CD-Rs are to be submitted to the PCO, Charlotte Hobson, at the address stated on the face page of the RFP (which address is repeated on page 2 of the RFP).

Question: What is the correct methodology for determining the average F2AST Subcontractor Labor Rate Incorporated at initial contract award for a particular labor category? (Reference Clause H-910; page 29 of 110). Is it a standard average as shown below?

Subc1 Subc2 Subc3 Subc4

Lbr Cat XYZ

$100 $50 $60 $150 = $360/4 = $90 average rate

Or does the Labor Weighted Distribution in the "Prime Contractor Pricing Submission - Attachment 9" affect the calculation? If so please explain. Lastly, the Prime Contractor" rate is not included in the calculation, correct?

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

Question: Email address provided comes back as follows:

Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.

Subject:

Questions relative to RFP FA8530-08-R-21758

Sent:

1/28/2008 1:27 PM

The following recipient(s) could not be reached:

wralc.pkf@robins.af.mil on 1/28/2008 1:27 PM

The e-mail account does not exist at the organization this message was sent to. Check the e-mail address, or contact the recipient directly to find out the correct address.

<FGAMLBH01.Enterprise.afmc.ds.af.mil #5.1.1>

Answer: As posted in Questions and Answers dated 29 Jan 08, the correct e-mail address is wralc.pkf.fast.follo@robins.af.mil. This will be corrected in an RFP amendment to be issued in the immediate future.

Question: In Attachment 8, "Present/Past Performance FACTS Sheet", request clarification on the Paragraph O. table column heading labeled "Fill-in for the Proposed Effort". In previous RFPs from WR-ALC that use the FACTS Sheet format, this column heading reads "Fill-in for the Proposed Effort (GOVT IPT completes)". Please advise if the Government intends to provide the "proposed effort" information, or is the information provided in the "Example" column intended to fully address the "proposed effort".

Answer: The “Fill-in for the Proposed Effort” column will be removed from the FACTS Sheet via an RFP amendment to be released in the immediate future.

Question: In Attachment 8, "Present/Past Performance FACTS Sheet", request clarification on paragraph O. where it lists "Category" for the column heading. Can additional categories or sub-categories be added to address relevancy of subcontractor involvement?

Answer: No additional categories or subcategories will be allowed.

Question: Do critical subcontractors submit any cost/pricing data directly to the Government or is all cost/pricing data required to be submitted by the prime contractor?

Answer: All pricing information is to be submitted by the prime contractor in Volume IV, Cost/Price Volume.

Question: Is any narrative information required or desired in Volume IV (Cost/Price Volume) in addition to the prime contractor and subcontractor pricing files provided as RFP attachments 9 and 10?

Answer: As stated in RFP Clause M-900, the Government anticipates that the proposed FP/LH, T&M, and CR rates will be the same for all labor categories through the cost line. In the extraordinary event that the proposed CR rates differ from the FP/LH and T&M rates at the cost line, the offeror must provide in his proposal a complete breakdown of the specific cost elements included in the CR rates with appropriate rationale and explanations. Offerors may provide any other cost/pricing-related narrative information they desire to include in this volume. In addition, the add-on factor spreadsheets contained in both RFP Attachments 9 and 10 will be revised via RFP Amendment to include additional information regarding the add-on factors. This additional information is as follows:

Material, Crisis Pay, and Overtime Factors: These factors shall apply against material, crisis pay, and/or overtime. These factors should incorporate all normal charges (including, but not limited to, G&A and Cost of Money, etc.) allowed for these specific costs. A narrative description of the composition of these factors is to be submitted in Volume IV, Cost/Pricing Volume, for each of these add-on factors. Fee/profit will be proposed at the D/TO level for FP, CR, and LH orders; therefore, FP, CR, and LH factors should not include any fee/profit.

Subcontract Add-on Factor: This factor shall apply against subcontracted costs. This factor should incorporate all normal charges (including, but not limited to, G&A and Cost of Money, etc.) allowed for these specific charges. A narrative description of the composition of these factors is to be submitted in Volume IV, Cost/Pricing Volume, for each of these add-on factors. Fee/profit will be proposed at the D/TO level for FP, CR, and LH orders; therefore, FP, CR, and LH factors should not include any fee/profit.

OCONUS Labor Adjustment Factors: These factors shall apply against OCONUS labor. These factors should incorporate any unique charges allowable for these specific costs. A narrative description of the composition of these factors is to be submitted in Volume IV, Cost/Pricing Volume, for each of these add-on factors. Fee/profit will be proposed at the D/TO level for FP, CR, and LH orders; therefore, FP, CR, and LH factors should not include any fee/profit.

Question: Referencing Attachment 10 – Subcontractor Pricing Submittal – Subktr Add-On Factors - Will instructions be provided for sheet 1? For example, definitions of Crisis Pay, Subcontractor Add-On, OCONUS Adjustment Factors (specify countries vs. regions), and Overtime methodology.

Answer: Please see answer provided above.

Question: Reference RFP Attachments 9 and 10 (Prime/Subcontractor Add-On Factors). For work in Germany, will both the “Germany – Payroll taxes” and “Western Europe” adjustment factors be applied to the labor rates? If yes, how will each be applied individually to the labor rate – (LR + Germany factor + Western Europe factor) or (LR x Germany factor x Western Europe factor)?

Answer: RFP Attachments 9 and 10 will be revised via RFP amendment to provide separate OCONUS Adjustment Factors for Germany and for Western Europe, excluding Germany, and to delete the Germany – Payroll Taxes adjustment factor. Accordingly, for work performed in Germany, the Germany OCONUS adjustment factor will be applied.

Question: Should the prime contractor and subcontractor pricing files be submitted as separate Excel files or should they be integrated into a single file with separate worksheets for each contractor and contract type?

Answer: They should be submitted as separate Excel files.

Question: Clause IA-631, DFARS 252.242-7002: Earned Value Management System is an order specific clause as indicated by (**). DFARS 252.242-7001: Notice of Earned Value Management System is included in Section L as Clause L-275. Please confirm that no EVMS response is required in the proposal resulting from this RFP.

Answer: Clause IA-631 will be incorporated in applicable D/TOs. For purposes of this solicitation, offerors must provide the information required by Clause L-275 (DFARS 252.242-7001) in Volume I with the completed RFP.

Question: FAR 52.222-46: Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees Clause is included as Clause L-94. This clause requires that offerors submit a total compensation plan for evaluation. In what volume, does the compensation plan go?

Answer: Offerors are to provide a brief (no more than two pages) description of their compensation plan for professional employees IAW FAR 52.222-46. This is to be included in Volume I with the completed RFP.

Question: Reference RFP page 95, Section L-94. Section L lists FAR Clause 52.222-46, Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees. However, there are no instructions in Section L regarding the submission of a Total Compensation Plan with offeror proposals. Please clarify if offerors are required to submit a Total Compensation Plan with their proposals in accordance with the FAR clause listed in RFP Section L or if this will be a requirement on individual task order proposals. If the plan must be submitted with offeror’s proposals for the F2AST contract, please specify in which proposal volume.

Answer: Please see answer to question above.

Question: Are the Material Handling and Subcontractor add-on factors limited to the offeror’s normal indirect costs as described in its Disclosure Statement? Can these factors also include appropriate direct costs such as procurement support labor and/or profit/fee?

Answer: Please see information provided above. Revised add-on factor spreadsheets in RFP Attachments 9 and 10 will be provided via an RFP amendment in the immediate future.

Question: Why is there no Material Handling add-on factor for T&M?

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

Question: Do the Overtime factors apply to FLSA exempt or non-exempt personnel?

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

Question: Please provide guidance on what is included in the Crisis Pay add-on factor. Is this a single NTE factor to be applied to labor rates for personnel working in any OCONUS location designated by the Department of Defense as Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay (HF/IDP) areas for US military personnel and for which entitlement to HF/IDP has been authorized in accordance with DOD 7000.14-R Financial Management Regulations Volume 7A? Doesn’t this vary by location? Should this factor be tied to the allowances authorized for military personnel under DOD 7000.14-R, Volume 7A or the Department of State Standardized Regulations for civilian employees or is it solely at the offeror’s discretion?

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

Question: The OCONUS adjustment factor is a premium to be applied to all labor rates for personnel working in the listed countries. Correct?

Answer: It is to be applied to all personnel working in the listed regions.

Question: The total evaluated price (TEP) includes only the Material Handling and Subcontractor add-on factors. The other add-on factors (Overtime, Crisis Pay and OCONUS) are not included in the TEP. Does the prime contractor have to respond to every add-on factor? Do critical subcontractors have to respond to every add-on factor?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Section L-900, Item 2, e, iii states "Proposals shall demonstrate how the Offeror and no more than (12) critical subcontractors (up to four for each category in the Minimum Capabilities Matrix) fulfills the requirements contained in the Minimum Capabilities Matrix (RFP Attachment 4) and defined by the Minimum Capabilities Matrix Specification (RFP Attachment 5)." A number of critical subcontractors meet the requirements across Development, Modifications, and Maintenance. This results in more than four critical subcontractors for each category if we show each critical subcontractor's full capability (even though total critical subcontractors does not exceed 12). Should the Prime show less than full capability for critical subcontractors or would the Government rather see full capability of the critical subcontractors and change the up to four for each category limitation required by Section L-900, Item 2, e, iii, as long as total critical subcontractors does not exceed 12?

Answer: The Prime may only use up to four critical subcontractors for each category of the matrix.

Question: Are the quantities identified in the AC-130 peculiar Ground Hounding Equipment list meant to be available at each Prime and subcontractor location? If not, is a breakout of where items are located required? For example; 75 sets of shoring. Do we indicate that Prime has 6 each, Sub 1 has 10, Sub 2 has 6, etc until the quantity of 75 is reached?

Answer: No breakout of the quantity is required. As directed by the instructions on the list, offerors are to identify the prime and/or critical subcontractor(s) who possess the items.

Question: The directions provided in the AC-130 peculiar Ground Hounding Equipment list and the Capabilities Matrix are in conflict. The first suggests that each cell has one input while the second statement directs that a complete list for the Prime and each Sub is to be provided. The statements are copied for your convenience below:

"Each cell must have at least one input (Example: 1 or 1,3,5,etc.)". Attachment 5 F2AST Capabilities Matrix_Spec&Equip - C130 Peculiar GHE Tab

" Identify Prime an/or Subcontractor(s) that meet(s) this requirement and provide completed C-130 Peculiar GHE spreadsheet (RFP Attach 6) for each" Attachment 5 F2AST Capabilities

Matrix_Spec&Equip - Capabilities Matrix tab.

Answer: In order to comply with the instructions on the Minimum Capabilities Matrix to identify the prime and/or subcontractors that meet the requirement for the GHE, offerors are to submit a consolidated, completed C-130 Peculiar GHE spreadsheet (RFP Attachment 6) that identifies the prime and/or subcontractor who possess the required items. Each cell in the GHE spreadsheet could have anywhere from one to 13 inputs, depending on how many team members (prime and/or subcontractors) possess the required equipment.

Question: Reference the excerpted FAST Labor Categories in attached Excel file, these stipulate the requirements for the Mechanical Technican to have a valid FAA Airframe License and the Aircraft Mechanic to have a valid FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) License. We have the following concerns as pertains to these requirements:

1. Very few, if any, Contractor Depot Facilities performing MRO work on military aircraft have a complete cadre of personnel holding either the 'A' or 'A&P' license; previously, there has been no bona fide requirement for this in order to process military aircraft.

2. In conjunction with our concerns in #1 above, we must point out that it is actually a violation of Federal Law for a person with an 'A' or 'A&P' license to sign off work on a non 'N' (FAA) registered aircraft utilizing their 'A' or 'A&P' license.

3. Recognizing that the Government is desirous of the technical proficiency that is a prerequisite for these technicians to obtain such license, we would like to mention that equivalent measures of technical proficiency have long been established and are in place at most Contractor Depot Facilities. Such proficencies are normally documented in the individual technicians' training files and the maintenance of these files, in turn, are a part of the comprehensive requirements that must be met in the contractor's Ground & Flight Risk (GFR) Plan as approved by the Government Flight Representative. The DCMA 8210 Series Instructions are the governing directives for the contractor's ground and flight operations and qualifications of personnel related thereto. Additionally, even CFR 14 part 43.3 has provisions for non licensed personnel to perform aircraft maintenance with proper supervision. Is it is the desire of the Government to require every Mechanical Technician and Aircraft Mechanic maintain an FAA license? Would it not be more appropriate to reference the DCMA 8210 Series Instructions for qualifications and allow the that language be utilized as the qualifying source in place of the requirement for all of the aforementioned categorized personnel to maintain an FAA license?

Answer: It is not the intent of the Government to require that every Mechanical Technician and every Aircraft Mechanic have an FAA license. In addition, the Government is aware that it is a violation of Federal law for a person with an ‘A’ or ‘A&P’ license sign off on an FAA aircraft. Specific requirements will be addressed at the D/TO level. The labor category requirements will not be changed.

Question: Within the text of both subfactors the determining factor is the Offeror’s ability to organize and manage subcontractors. Nowhere within either of the Subfactors is there an element that would lend itself to describing the Offeror’s ability to organize and manage subcontractors. Paragraph M-900 2b appears to state the past performance will be evaluated to determine the Offeror’s ability to organize and manage subcontractors based upon the FACTS Sheets. Is there a subfactor for Subcontractor Organization and Management?

Answer: An RFP amendment will be issued in the immediate future to clarify the subfactors.

Question: One of the questions posted on 29 Jan talked about the impact of limiting the addition of future non-critical subs whose rates may be above "the average F2AST subcontractor labor rate that was incorporated at initial contract award for that particular labor category for that particular prime contractor." The response was "Comment noted."

In the PWS, the prime contractor must also be able to support the full range of weapon systems and subsytems at all ALCs. There are highly sophisticated technologies involved in some weapon systems that are only available in very expensive labor areas such as Los Angeles and Boston. Restricting future subcontractors to those with rates at or below companies performing MRO on conventional aircraft will SEVERELY constrain the AF's ability to get competition on Task Orders dealing with space systems, UAVs, B-2s, C4ISR, etc. This will constrain the usefulness of the F2AST contract to systems with more conventional technologies, and force higher technology weapon systems to use other contract vehicles.

Competition among multiple bidders at the Task Order level is what drives prices down, not restricting the labor rates on individual subcontractors.

Request that you respond to this concern with more than "Comment noted".

Answer: The Government is not obligated to disclose to offerors the reasoning and rationale behind acquisition strategy decisions. The Government has reviewed all comments submitted regarding this issue. For labor categories that are covered by the Service Contract Act, in the event that the applicable Wage Determination rates are higher than the rates on contract, the Wage Determination rates will be used. In the event that a labor category is required at the D/TO level for work that cannot be performed by a labor category already on contract, the Government has the ability to add new labor categories and negotiate appropriate rates.