BECSRC_West_Consolidated_QAs_Contracting_110915.pdf

BECSRC West Consolidated Contracting Questions & Answers, FA8903-15-R-0023 27 October 2015

1. Section L, West, Page 2 of 25, Paragraph 1, Third sentence - FFP pricing will be based on pre-negotiated fully-burdened labor rates: How will ODCs be escalated under this procurement method?

ANSWER: ODCs pertain to the STO only, and therefore will not be escalated. Assume a 24-month period of performance for the STO.

2. Section L, West, Page 2 of 25, Paragraph 1, Fourth sentence, Final Pricing Matrix - How will ODCs be escalated under this procurement method?

ANSWER: The Pricing Matrix and any references to it were removed from the Solicitation; ODCs will not be escalated.

3. Section L, West, Table 2.2, page 6 of 25, Volume II Technical Proposal Factor 1 and Factor 2 - both show 1 Original Unbound Copy, 3 Hard Copies, and 1 E-Copy. Can we place Factor 2 into the Technical Binder behind Factor 1 and tab it?

ANSWER: Yes. Additionally, 10 pages were added in Volume II to allow for Project Descriptions for the 5 PPQs being submitted.

4. Section L, West, 4.2 - Factor 2. Past Performance, Atch L-4 & L-5 -May we include more than 5 projects on Attachment L-4 and L-5 to show capability? May we expand the L-5 categories to include the complete Section 6.0 SOW?

ANSWER: No, the limit is 5; the 5 projects should match the PPQs being submitted, one for one. Yes, you can include any of the categories/activities listed in Section 6.0 of the SOW.

5. Section L, West, 4.2 - Factor 2. Past Performance - Does the government desire any information on the five (5) PPQ projects such as a listing, matrix table or project description to assist in the evaluation of relevancy?

ANSWER: Yes, please provide a project description for each PPQ submitted and include them in Volume II, Technical, under the tab for Factor 2, Past Performance.

6. Section L, West, 4.2 - Factor 2. Past Performance, Page 14 of 25 – We had previously submitted PPQs for the original due date of 13 July 2015 and had them directly emailed to Richard Compton at Richard.compton.4@us.af.mil. Can those PPQs be used or do we need to obtain new PPQs to be sent to Rita Leal?

ANSWER: Please submit new PPQs and include a project description for each PPQ submitted in Volume II, Technical, under the tab for Factor 2, Past Performance.

7. Section L, West, 4.2 - Factor 2. Past Performance - Can CPARS be used in Lieu of PPQs?

ANSWER: No; however, CPARS may be checked during the quality assessment while evaluating past performance.

8. Section L, West, Factor 3, Price - In case of a non-populated joint venture (JV), we can present one set of rates for professional staff which represents the blended rates of the JV partners. The rates for fringes, overhead and G&A will also be blended rates of the JV partners. Is this approach acceptable?

ANSWER: No, please submit separate rates for each team partner. If a teaming partner relationship exists, the teaming partner must break out their costs, in accordance with the BECSRC Labor Rate Table. If needed, the teaming partner may submit their cost breakout directly to the CO.

9. Is each team subcontractor required to submit a separate completed Attachment #L-2 FFP Labor Categories and Labor Rates, or is it just required to be completed by the prime contractor?

ANSWER: FFP Labor Categories and Labor Rates should be submitted for each team member. If a teaming partner relationship exists, the teaming partner must break out their costs, in accordance with the BECSRC Labor Rate Table. If needed, the teaming partner may submit their cost breakout directly to the CO.

10. Section L, 4.1.2 – please clarify if we are supposed to include STO pricing in Vol II OR in Vol III?

ANSWER: Include STO Pricing in Vol III IAW revised Table 2.2.

11. Section L, 4.1.2 – Please clarify the following statement presented in paragraph 6 on p. 13 of 25, ”Spreadsheets shall be presented in the same order as the SOW presented information and shall be labeled IAW the paragraphs of the SOW.” Do you really want to see a cost sheet with costs for each Item listed under Part A, Part B and Part C of the STO? This will result in an extremely large cost sheet with (possibly) multiple tabs.

ANSWER: The AF revised the Section numbering. The AF expects to see cost/pricing data that reflects only the requirements listed in the STO. Contractors are expected to provide cost/pricing details only to the deliverables identified in the STO. CDRLs have been revised to reflect specific deliverables required under this STO SOW.

12. Section L, 4.1.2 – The AF should consider allowing the contractors the flexibility to present costs similar to formats used under the ECOS09 or WERC09 IDIQs.

ANSWER: The BECSRC is an IDIQ but not at the pricing level of either the ECOS09 IDIQ or the WERC09 IDIQ. Contractors must create and submit cost/pricing information based on the STO.

13. Section L, 4.1.2 – for the STO costing, are we required to provide backup to our cost estimate (subcontractor bids, etc.)?

ANSWER: Yes. Other than Certified Cost or Pricing Data (IAW FAR 2.101 definition) is required in order to perform Price Realism Analysis required on the FFP Labor Rates and the STO. However, only data Offerors determine is essential to document or support their cost/price position shall be submitted.

14. Section L, 4.1.2 – Please clarify AF wants Assumptions and Exceptions presented in the cost sheets vs the Technical/Managerial Approach for the STO. Typically, assumptions are presented as part of the Technical/Management Approach.

ANSWER: Section 5.2 (revised from 4.1.2) states that an offeror can take exceptions to the pricing requirements found in this solicitation.

15. Section L, 4.1.2 and Attachment L-2 – Please clarify profit is to be included with burdened labor rates. Typically, profit would be negotiated on the task order level for both Labor and ODCs.

ANSWER: Yes, profit is to be included in the fully burdened labor rates. Profit on elements other than labor will be determined at the task order level.

16. When the prior RFP came out in June, we sent out at least one Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) which was completed by our client (Edwards AFB) and returned to you. Are we required to resend this PPQ?

ANSWER: All PPQs should be resubmitted and include project descriptions for all PPQs in your proposal.

17. When the prior RFP come out in June we emailed Attachment L-3 to you. Are we required to resend/resubmit Attachment L-3?

ANSWER: Resubmit Attachment L-3.

18. Please confirm that Attachments L-4 and L-5 are to contain only five projects and PPQs are required for those projects.

ANSWER: Attachments L-4 and L-5 contain 5 projects for which PPQs are required. A project description is also required for each PPQ submitted.

19. Please confirm that on Attachment L-5 there is to only be one “X” (primary SOW Task Area) per project and that offerors are to have a project for each SOW area on Attachment L-5.

ANSWER: Correct; only 1 ‘X’ (primary SOW Task Area) per project. It is not required that a contractor has a primary task area for each SOW Task Area. A contractor may have multiple projects with the same primary task area or multiple projects with additional SOW task areas.

20. Please clarify how the Air Force will consider the price for the STO in the evaluation of the Total Evaluated Price (TEP). Will the total price (e.g., labor, ODCs, travel) be considered or just the proposed direct labor costs? Page 9 of Section M seems to indicate that only the labor rates will be used to determine the TEP?

ANSWER: We will take the total of all labor rates plus the total price of the STO combined to come up with the total TEP. Then we will compare the TEPs to determine reasonableness.

21. Please confirm that the price evaluation consists of a comparison of the Government’s calculation of each offeror’s TEP (i.e., STO price plus the calculated FFP labor rate pricing model) among the various offerors as opposed to determining if the STO price is reasonable based each offeror’s proposed approach.

ANSWER: Correct, TEP will be developed based on the STO price and the labor rate pricing model; STO price reasonableness will be determined by comparing TEPs.

22. Please confirm the Sample Task Order pricing detail is to be included in Volume II.

ANSWER: No, Sample Task Order pricing should be included in Volume III, Price.

23. Is the Sample Task Order pricing part of the 30-page Subfactor 2 Volume II page limit?

ANSWER: No, Sample Task Order pricing will be included in Volume III, Price and therefore not part of the 30-page page limit.

24. For the Sample Task Order pricing detail, is it acceptable to use smaller than 10-point font (as long as it is legible) and/or landscape pages?

ANSWER: Since the Sample Task Order pricing detail is not included in the 30-page page limit, please follow the instructions in paragraph 2.2.1.1 of Section 2.0, General Instructions.

25. There is a slight discrepancy in the address to which the offer is to be addressed. Block 8 of the SF33 says “3515 S. General McMullen, Room 3026” and Section L, 2.4 says “3515 General McMullen, Bldg 1”. Please clarify which is correct.

ANSWER: The address is 3515 S. General McMullen, Bldg 1, Room 3026 (mail distribution room).

26. Section L 2.3, Electronic Offers, requests that we "indicate on each CD the volume number and title". It also states that "each volume shall be in a different directory on a CD broken out by factor".

Please clarify if we are to submit 3 CDs - 1 for each volume or 1 CD containing all three volumes in separate directories.

ANSWER: 1 CD per volume. On the Technical CD, Volume II, break out each of the factors/subfactors in separate directories/folders.

27. Could you provide an unsecured version of the RFP? We cannot complete the SF33 or Section K as provided in the secured document. Also, we cannot remove sections L and M in order to submit sections A thru J as required in Section L 3.7. If not, we will have to scan the RFP which would create a very large electronic file that is of lower print quality.

ANSWER: The SF33 is system-generated and is not available in an unsecured format.

28. Will each team member have separate labor rates in the resultant contract or will there be just one blended labor rate per category for the team?

ANSWER: Each team member will provide separate labor rates. If a teaming partner relationship exists, the teaming partner must break out their costs, in accordance with the BECSRC Labor Rate Table. If needed, the teaming partner may submit their cost breakout directly to the CO.

29. FAR Clause 52.222-46 is incorporated by reference in Section L. The clause states "As part of their proposals, offerors will submit a total compensation plan setting forth salaries and fringe benefits proposed for the professional employees who will work under the contract." Are we to submit an employee compensation plan and if so, where in the proposal should it be provided?

ANSWER: Yes, please provide the Compensation Plan in the Pricing Volume. Language has been added regarding the Compensation Plan in Sections L and M.

05 November 2015

30. Based on the updated Section L, and the 10 page requirement for Past Performance, including 5 Project Descriptions, may we assume that we have a 2-page/project description page limit and that the submittal of L-4 and L-5 in the proposal is not part of the page count?

ANSWER: Yes, you have a 2-page project description page limit and L-4 and L-5 are NOT part of the page count.

31. Section L, 4.2, Factor 2 Past Performance, requires a consent letter executed by each teaming partner – is this letter part of the submittal of the proposal to the government? If so, is it also not included in part of the page count? Also, is this letter addressed to the government or to the Prime Teaming Partner?

ANSWER: Yes, it is part of the submittal of the proposal to the government and also NOT included in the page count. The letter(s) should be addressed to the government.

09 November 2015

32. In reference to the Questions & Answers No. 8 and 9, dated 27 October 2015 (updated 29 October 2015), Section L, Factor 3, Price where the government will accept supporting cost information from the prime and teaming partners submitted directly to the CO, would it be acceptable to include the supporting cost information as 1 hard copy submittal as part of the original submittal of the proposal but in separate sealed envelopes for Prime and Teaming Members, respectively? Are additional hard copies required of the supporting cost information? Also, would a CD electronic copy be required with each hard copy?

ANSWER: Yes, it is acceptable to submit 1 hard copy of the original submittal of the proposal in separate sealed envelopes for Prime and Teaming Members, respectively to the CO. No, additional hard copies are not required of the supporting cost information. Yes, CD electronic copies are required with each hard copy.