RESPONSES_TO_BIDDER_QUESTIONS_-_20130806.pdf

RESPONSES TO BIDDER QUESTIONS:

Solicitation # FA8601-13-R-0065:

1. Given the nature of the requirements, it appears that this work cannot be performed within the Simplified Acquisition Procedures ceiling of $150,000. Please confirm that this Solicitation is not being procured used Simplified Acquisition Procedures and that the price ceiling of $150,000 does not apply to the entire contract price?

Answer: Per FAR 13.5000(a) This subpart authorizes, as a test program, use of simplified procedures for the acquisition of supplies and services in amounts greater than the simplified acquisition threshold but not exceeding $6.5 million ($12 million for acquisitions as described in

13.500(e)), including options, if the contracting officer reasonably expects, based on the nature of the supplies or services sought, and on market research, that offers will include only commercial items.

2. Given the short time of proposal submission (Aug 9th) and that the Government is just receiving vendor questions (Aug 5th) and will require time to respond, what will be the Government's new proposal submission date for this Solicitation?

Answer: At this time, we are not going to extend the proposal due day, however, if the situation changes, the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation will be modified to reflect the change.

3. 1.2.1.1 Is there a requirement for strategic messaging within the production of written products? Or is there only a technical writing requirement? 1.2.1.1 Requests support for writing briefings, speeches, articles and scripts but personnel described does not necessarily have this skills set.

Answer: Strategic messaging guidance and content will be provided by the Government.

4. 1.2.1.1 Is the contractor expected to provide a content management system to maintain an electronic archive of all speeches and briefings to ensure the Government has access to the archive or will the contractor work within an existing system? If a system exists, what is the system?

Answer: The contractor will use Government in-house systems and tools for managing digital content, to include MS Office, Adobe Acrobat, MS SharePoint, Livelink (OpenText Content Server), and network shared drives. The Government will provide contractor access to these systems and tools for all on-site personnel.

5. 1.2.1.3.1 What is the page requirement for the Technology Milestones Publication?

(affects layout and printing costs)

Answer: There is no specific page requirement for the Technology Milestones publication. The 2012 report is currently available for download on the AFRL Public Web Site at:

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/AFRL/

6. 1.2.1.3.1 What format is the annual publication maintained in on the Internet and in electronic form? Is the contractor assumed to cover costs for hosting sites (i.e. ZMAGs) or will the government be responsible?

Answer: The Technology Milestones publication will be hosted on Government servers. The 2012 report is currently available for download on the AFRL Public Web Site at:

7. 1.2.1.3.3 What is the required volume of printing for the Technology Milestones publications? (affects printing costs) Answer: Printing costs for the Technology Milestones publication will be paid under other existing contract vehicles, and will not be part of this contract. However, the Government may ask the contractor to print a limited number (less than ten) of hard copy drafts for review.

8. 1.2.1.4.1 Is the AFRLink electronic magazine only an app or also available via web? Is the existing IOS and Android-compatible product available to the public or created and maintained behind a firewall? How many pages is the AFRLink?

Answer: The AFRLink is a digital/electronic “ e-magazine” developed and published using the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite (DPS) Enterprise suite of tools. The initial roll-out is planned only for iOS.

1.2.2.1 Will the contractor be expected to print any posters, banners or displays? If so, what is the estimated requirement?

Answer: Printing of posters, banners, displays will be limited to short-turn requirements (i.e., less than 2 weeks). Most high volume printing will be accomplished using other existing contract vehicles.

9. 1.2.2.4 What is the estimated total number of videos during the contract period the Government would like? Can the Government provide a breakdown of videos by time (e.g. how many 30 second videos, how many 60 second videos, how many 90 second videos, etc.)

Answer: The Government anticipates approximately 1 video per month, approximately 2-3 minutes in length.

10. 1.2.4.1 Can the offeror provide an estimated number of workshops, symposiums and conference the contractor is expected to support?

Answer: AFRL’s participation in FY13/FY14 corporate conference events is still unknown, and will be determined by available funding. However, we anticipate contractor support for the AFRL Fellows Awards Ceremony in September 2013.

11. 1.2.4.2 Are the meeting facilities for unclassified business meetings expected to be on-site? Is there any expectation of off-site room rental costs?

Answer: All business meetings will be run at Government facilities. We do not anticipate any off-site room rental costs.

12. 1.3 Is there any expectation of the development of marketing plans to support outreach? If so, how detailed would they be (extensive or general suggestions) Answer: The Government does not anticipate the development of formal marketing plans under this contract.

13. Can the proposal contain attachments of brochures and videos to provide examples of our work?

Answer: The contractor may provide examples of their brochures, videos, etc. as part of their Past Performance.

14. Please confirm the page limit required for the response.

Answer: There is a 25-page limit for Technical Capability Volume.

15. Please confirm that resumes are not included in the page limit for the technical volume.

Answer: We didn’t request resumes in our solicitation, but if necessary, please submit resumes to demonstrate your capabilities in meeting our requirement. Resumes will not be included in the 25 page limit of the Technical Proposal.

16. If the work is performed onsite, will the Government provide computers, printers, video equipment and network access?

Answer: Please see Paragraphs 3.1 and 3.2 of Performance Work Statement document in Combined Synopsis/Solicitation for Government Furnished Property.

17. The solicitation states that the Contractor shall develop and maintain a Quality Control Plan (QCP). Is the contractor required to submit the QCP with the proposal? If so, can it be a separate document from the technical proposal?

Answer: Per Paragraph 1.5.1.1 of Performance Work Statement document in Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, the QCP has to be accepted by the Contracting Officer before the start of the first operational performance period. You could submit the QCP with the proposal, it will be consider a separate document from the technical proposal and it will not be used as an evaluation factor to evaluate your proposal.

18. Is there an incumbent? If yes, please provide the incumbents name, contract number, and period of performance.

Answer: The incumbent was Infoscitex Corporation, contract # FA8601-08-F-0084 with POP 1 August 2008 to 31 July 2013.

1. Is there an SR1449 for this solicitation? There is not one in the documents listed on FedBizOpps.

Answer: The SF1449 is the same as the Solicitation Document which was posted as one of the documents in the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation on the FBO posting.

2. In the personnel qualifications for the Technical Editor/Writer on page 1 of the Performance

Work Statement, it states "Applies knowledge of AIS documentation content and format standards to prepare, edit and publish technical materials.” What are AIS document content and format standards?

Answer: DoD-STD-7935A - DoD Automated Information Systems (AIS) Documentation Standards, is the formal standard for AIS.

3. On the Performance Work Statement, page 9, Section 1.5.6.1, it states the normal working hours are between 0600-1700. Does this mean contracted staff are expected to work an 11 hour work day Monday - Friday, beginning at 6:00 am?

Answer: The Government facility will be open from 0600-1700 each day, but core contractor work hours will run from approximately 0800-1700. However, under a time and materials contract, contractor personnel may “flex” their hours to accommodate specific project/workload requirements.

4. In Section 1.2.4.3 of the Performance Work Statement, it references an annual AFRL Fellows

Award Ceremony scheduled for September, 2013. What is the date of this event and has any work been done to promote it to date?

Answer: The AFRL Fellows Award Ceremony is scheduled for 26 September 2013. The event will be held at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Club and Banquet Center.

5. Approximately how many events will the contractor be required to support?

Answer: AFRL’s participation in FY13/FY14 corporate conference events is still unknown, and will be determined by available funding. However, we anticipate contractor support for the AFRL Fellows Awards Ceremony in September 2013.

6. Please confirm that the duration of this contract is six months with an option for one additional month.

Answer: The contract is for basic period of six month with one one-month option period.

7. In the Performance Work Statement Section 1.2.2.4 (pages 4-5) and again in Section 1.3.1 (page

6), there are references to the creation of a number of videos:

a. "periodic 'I am AFRL' videos that highlight an AFRL employee

b. "prepare a periodic 'Wow' video that highlights one AFRL technology, facility or capability."

c. "The contractor shall also prepare videos of various AFRL events on a required basis."

d. "The contractor shall be able to demonstrate a multitude of techniques and expertise in video production to include but not limited to 3D and white board animation".

We need to know approximately how many videos, an estimated length for each, approximately how many animation projects and at what length each, in order to provide an accurate estimate.

Answer: The Government anticipates approximately 1 video per month, approximately 2-3 minutes in length. “I am AFRL” videos and other samples may be downloaded from the AFRL public web site, You Tube, and Facebook.

8. As there is not a labor category that covers video production, should we assume that cost should be included in Items #0006, 0014 and 1012 (Marketing Support Materials)?

Answer: Video production could be included in Items 0006, 0012, and 0014. The labor costs for video production could also be charged using the Graphics Illustrator or Graphics Illustrator/Web Developer labor category.

9. Is there a certain budget that all bidders should use for items that appear to be fixed costs, such as travel, subcontracted services and direct materials? It is nearly impossible to estimate this as there are so many unknowns, such as frequency and place of travel, number of next-day projects requiring print, number of videos, number of brochures, etc.

Answer: The Government anticipates little/no travel during the 6 month period of performance of this contract for on-site personnel. Therefore, Contractors may disregard travel costs for their proposals.

10. Please clarify what is meant by Section 1.2.5 TECHNICAL DISPLAY SUPPORT. Will the client need the contractor to physically build detailed, scaled models? Or would these be graphic or animated depictions of models?

Answer: The work will primarily be for graphic or animated depictions of the models. However, if a rapid turnaround on a project is required, the Government may direct the contractor to build a prototype/scale model of the display.

a. In either case, approximately how many models would be needed?

Answer: 1-2 Models.

11. Will the contractor be required to furnish computers with Adobe Suite and Office Suite? If these are available on government-supplied equipment, what versions are available?

Answer: The Government will provide on-site computers/workstations with MS Office and Adobe Suite as Government Furnished Equipment.

12. In the Performance Work Statement under Section 1.5.2.1, it states that "the contractor shall provide an on-site contractor representative (i.e., Team Lead) who shall be responsible for managing all contractor personnel and workload." Yet there is not a labor category listed for a Team Lead or Contractor Representative on the Solicitation Document. How do you want us to account for the hours that will be incurred by this person?

Answer: The contractor shall identify one of the on-site full-time technical personnel to be “dual hatted” as the on-site team lead.

13. 1.2.5 Can the offeror provide clarification as an estimated number of technical displays to be supported and provide estimated locations for shipping?

Answer: Technical Displays 1-2. Shipping should not be included in this proposal.

14. 1.2.2.2 What is the estimated volume of printing related to informational brochures, flyers, business cards, event programs and other marketing items as requested? How many of each type and quantity of each print.

Answer: Various quantities are needed with sometime a short-turnaround requirement. All printing is completed in-house.