QA_Updated 17 Feb 23.pdf

COBRA DANE SLS

RFP: FA8723-23-R-0001

Clarifications updated: 17 February 2023

1. The Instructions to Offerors appear to require us to embed Small Business cost related data in the page-limited technical proposal volume. Can the Small Business participation and cost data, and Table 1- Small Business be presented in the Price Volume and Small Business Subcontracting Plan, only, or are they required to be in all three parts of our proposal response?

Instruction to Offerors and Evaluation document has been updated in Sam.gov. Subfactor 5 a) through d) are instructions for completing the table only. Offerors must complete Table 1 as part of the Technical Volume and submit associated cost data within the Pricing Volume as part of their proposal.

2. In the Instructions to Offerors and Evaluation documents, Technical Proposal Volume:

Subfactor 3 states “Provide approach to deliver a Supportability Analysis Report (SAR) (CLIN 0004, CDRL A003) within the base year and update throughout the period of performance as specified in the PWS, para 4.1.2.1.”

Given the page limitation of the Tech Volume, while a highly detailed response is not practical, the government DOES expect that an offeror should be able to articulate that they understand the general and specific requirements of Cobra Dane Radar program.

a. There are many studies and analyses listed as deliverables in PWS, para 4.1.2.1, but Subfactor 3 only asks for an approach to a SAR. Do we need to provide our approach to all studies and analysis in PWS, para 4.1.2.1, or only the SAR?

Only the approach to the SAR is mandatory. The offeror has the option to include approach for other deliverables listed in PWS para 4.1.2.1. (Also see response to question 3.)

b. Additionally, the same requirements for a Supportability Analysis Report (SAR) with annual updates is more fully defined in PWS 4.2.3 – Sustaining Engineering and Integrated Logistics Support. PWS para 4.2.3 is referenced in Subfactor 1. Could you please clarify if we need to provide our approach to the SAR in both PWS sections and corresponding Subfactors 1 & 3?

The offeror can choose to address the requirements in both paragraphs OR choose one and refer to the other.

c. Please also note that the SAR required under PWS 4.2.3 falls under CLIN 005, whereas the SAR required under PWS 4.1.2.1 falls under CLIN 004.

To simplify the proposal and contract execution, the CLIN 0005 scope for a major SAR update during the base year was consolidated with Services CLIN 0001. CLIN 0005 was eliminated. The PWS and CDRL A003 were updated accordingly. As noted in the PWS, Data CLINs x004 are Not Priced Separately so should not include proposed costs.

3. Could you please clarify whether we should address all PWS requirements in the page-limited

Technical Proposal Volume, or only those PWS sections cited in the Subfactors.

The Technical Approach should address all PWS requirements with emphasis on evaluation sub-factors.

4. May the following be excluded from the Technical Proposal Volume page count: Cover Page, Table of Contents, Table of Figures, Acronym List, Cross Reference Matrix? (These are often exceptions to the page counts.)

Will the government specify which components of PART I – TECHNICAL PROPOSAL will be excluded from the page limit? Recommend excluding the cover page, executive summary, table of contents, and acronym list from page limits.

Concur with not including the listed content in the page count limit.

5. In the Evaluation document, a reference is made below Table 1-Small Business Evaluation to Volumes AAA and BBB. What are Volumes AAA and BBB?

References to Volume AAA and BBB was an administrative error. Instruction to Offerors and Evaluation document has been updated in Sam.gov to reflect correction.

6. Please clarify if the assigned NAICS (541330) is posted under EXCEPTION 1 for Space and Military Weapon Systems with an associated size standard of $47M?

Solicitation is not being posted with any exceptions for NAICS 541330. Per SBA.gov website, effective 19 December 2022 the associated size standard for NAICS 541330 is $25.5 Million.

7. In reference to the Instruction to Offerors “The response shall consist of three (3) separate parts; Part I – Technical Proposal, Part II – Past Performance, Part III – Price Proposal, and Part IV – Transition/Continuity of Operations Plan” -- Will the Government confirm that they are requesting Offerors to submit Four parts (and/or volumes) as part of their proposal response?

Or is Part IV – Transition/Continuity of Operations Plan to be included as part of another volume?

Yes, the Transition/Continuity of Operations Plan shall be an additional section and is not part of any other volume.

8. In reference to Instruction to Offerors part IV -- Will the Government provide the page count limitations, if applicable, associated with this section of the RFP?

Please refer to updated Instruction to Offerors for more details and a page count limitation for this section.

9. In reference to Instruction to Offerors part IV -- Will the Government consider designating this submittal as a Draft plan with the requirement to deliver a final plan 45 days post award?

Given the nature of some of the plan elements, such as mission essential personnel, a firmer understanding of those items would surely be established once on contract.

This Plan is an essential part of demonstrating understanding of requirements and ability to provide an accurate proposal. Therefore, the plan is required with proposal submission.

10. In reference to the Instruction to Offerors 4. Part IV - Transition/ Continuity of Operations Plan -- Are all personnel and services on this contract considered “essential”? If not, will the government provide a working definition of “essential personnel and resources” and/or “essential contractor service personnel”?

‘Essential’ is used in PWS to describe Special Studies but was not intended to designate essential personnel or services. We do not plan to designate key or essential personnel and if designation of essential services/personnel are required during events like a pandemic, it will be temporary/limited and for specific actions for about 1 week periods.

11. Will the Government provide the target percentage small business subcontracting goal for this effort?

Please refer to FAR Part 19 to comply with subcontracting requirements.

12. In reference to Instruction to Offerors D. 1. “Part I – Technical Proposal: Limited to no more than 10 pages as defined in paragraph E. below” -- Because there is no paragraph E, will the Government confirm that there are no further instructions around page count limitations or other instruction items for Part I – Technical Proposal that Offerors should be aware of?

Within the Instruction to Offerors, please refer to paragraph ‘E’ found on page 3 E: General Information.

13. In reference to the PWS section 4.2.8 -- Will the Government confirm whether the use of the word “resume” in parenthesis following the detailed direction to provide Subject Matter Expertise is indicating that Offerors must provide a resume for this role? Designation of key personnel is not called out in Instructions to Offerors.

Neither the PWS or Sections L&M mention requiring a resume—thus, none is required. We have not designated key personnel in the past and do not expect to so in the future.

14. Should the recipients of the PPQs be the same as the recipients of the proposals (jeffrey.frederick@spaceforce.mil and grant.allen.5@spaceforce.mil) identified in the Instructions to Offerors? Or the POCs listed in the sam.gov opportunity notice (rohit.mathew and grant.allen.5)? If so, what is their COMM phone information as requested in PPQ section C? And if not, who should receive these?

Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) shall be sent to the POCs email addresses (rohit.mathew@spaceforce.mil and grant.allen.5@spaceforce.mil). The PPQ has been updated to reflect this.

15. Will more instructions be provided for required pricing information? Will a template (Excel document) be provided for a Cost workbook attachment?

No. Pricing shall be received by the contractor’s own format.

16. Will the Government provide historical workload data for CDSLS Technical Report- Study/Services and other workload data metrics?

As services are provided under one CLIN, we do not have historical data at this level.

17. PWS CD SLS RPF 9 JAN 2023 - Section 4.1.10 Software Support Capability. Does the Government have a physical size requirement/estimate for the Contractor lab and geographic location?

Please refer to latest versions of Instruction to Offerors, Evaluation, Performance Work Statement, CDRLS and Past Performance Questionnaire posted on 30 January 2023. The lab is capabilities based with no physical size requirements. Section 4.1.10 provides ‘the order of preference’ for access to data/results, which is more important than geographical location.

18. PWS CD SLS RPF 9 JAN 2023 - Section 4.1.10 Software Support Capability. Will the Contractor lab be required to host meetings/briefings at the TS/SCI level? If so, how many attendees?

Please refer to latest versions of Instruction to Offerors, Evaluation, Performance Work Statement, CDRLS and Past Performance Questionnaire posted on 30 January 2023. There is not a requirement or intent to hold classified meetings at the lab.

19. PWS CD SLS RPF 9 JAN 2023 - Section 4.1.10 Software Support Capability. Does the Government have an estimate of the computing power required for the Contractor lab?

Please refer to latest versions of Instruction to Offerors, Evaluation, Performance Work Statement, CDRLS and Past Performance Questionnaire posted on 30 January 2023. Computing power will be dependent on the tools used by the contractor to meet capabilities.

20. PWS CD SLS RPF 9 JAN 2023 - Section 4.1.10 Software Support Capability. Does the Government have an estimate of the data storage requirement that it can provide to bidders?

Please refer to latest versions of Instruction to Offerors, Evaluation, Performance Work Statement, CDRLS and Past Performance Questionnaire posted on 30 January 2023 Less than 1 TB for data.

21. PWS CD SLS RPF 9 JAN 2023 - Section 4.1.10 Software Support Capability. Does the Government have a list of software programs to be housed within the Contractor lab?

Please refer to latest versions of Instruction to Offerors, Evaluation, Performance Work Statement, CDRLS and Past Performance Questionnaire posted on 30 January 2023. The current lab configuration is proprietary and source selection sensitive.

22. PWS CD SLS RPF 9 JAN 2023 - Section 4.1.10 Software Support Capability. Will the Government facilitate the transfer of existing historical data/materials to the awardee? Is there an estimate of the size of this?

Please refer to latest versions of Instruction to Offerors, Evaluation, Performance Work Statement, CDRLS and Past Performance Questionnaire posted on 30 January 2023. The Government will have historical data and will transfer. No material (except media) or GFP will be transferred for the lab. Media will be a combination of approximately up to 20 DVDs and/or a portable hard drive.

23. SLS Solicitation DD254 - Section 1.a. Level of Facility Security Clearance (FCL) Required. Can the Government please clarify the clearance level of the data and products that the Contractor is required to store? On the DD 254 in Section 1 the facility clearance is marked Top Secret, but the material level is marked Secret. Also, a note in Block 13 referencing Block 11d states:

“Contractor is required to provide adequate and approved storage for classified hardware or material to the level of Secret, which because of size cannot be safeguarded in an approved storage container. "These statements conflict with PWS paragraph 4.1.10 Software Support Capability which states, “The Contractor shall also obtain and maintain clearances and certifications to process and store CD data and products at the TS/SCI level…”

The CD mission software and data are currently classified Secret. The primary purpose of the lab is to process and store Secret data. CD has messages, discussions and products that are classified TS/SCI. The contractor will be required to have TS/SCI cleared capability to communicate and work at the TS/SCI level, which is reflected in the DD254.

24. Can companies from Outside USA apply for this RFP? (like, from India or Canada)

No.

25. Are contractors required to come over there for meetings?

Please see PWS section 4.1.3. All contractor personnel are expected to be available to work and attend meetings in person within the PMO on Peterson SFB daily except for PTO and personnel approved to remote telework. Based on space availability, CD teams (including support contractors) will rotate between in office and local teleworking.

26. Can we perform the tasks (related to RFP) outside USA? (like, from India or Canada)

Please see PWS section 4.1.3. The PMO will not approve alternate locations for remote teleworking outside of the United States.

27. Can we submit the proposals via email?

Yes, proposals will be accepted via email and are due 13 March 2023 12:00PM Mountain Time.