MARS V QA Industry Day and RFI final.pdf

Request for Information/Industry Day Q&A for Management Administration Resources Services V (MARS V)

1. Will the Air Force provide a proposed Level of Effort, Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) including hours and labor categories?

If FTE’s are provided, it will only be estimates and will be included in the solicitation.

2. Are these SCA labor categories or is SCA exempt?

Yes, it will be SCA.

3. What is the criteria for award, will it be LPTA or best value? If best value what makes one company providing front desk secretaries and finance management better than another if at the end of the day, it matters on price? To us this reads as an LPTA contract.

Best Value-See Industry Day slides for more information, but this is anticipated only as we are still in the market research phase. Basis for Award will be posted in the solicitation.

4. Does the government want the incumbent back or not? If not what are the areas of gaps and concern from their current performance and what new innovation does the government want on the new contract?

If the incumbent has the qualifications under the proper NAICS, at time of request for proposal (RFP), they may elect to bid. There are some lessons learned in the Industry Day slides.

5. Will this go SDVOSB or SB set aside? Tell us the acquisition strategy for this acquisition?

At this time, we are looking at a Small Business set-aside, but we are still in the market research phase and based on our findings the government reserves the right to change this prior to the solicitation.

6. Who is the incumbent contractor? Are they eligible to bid for the follow-on contract?

MHSystems Inc. Any contractor may elect to bid provided they are listed under the proper NAICS code at time of RFP.

7. How long has this procurement been in place?

The current contract was awarded in March of 2020.

8. Is this a single award or a multiple award?

Single award.

9. What is the original and existing contract numbers?

MARS IV FA930020D0001

MARS III FA930015D0001

MARS II FA930012C0001

FYI, each MARS contract was different, and referring to them may provide obsolete information.

10. Does AFRL leverage Wright-Patterson for administrative functions?

No.

11. Do you anticipate all positions being on-site?

Yes, all positions should have availability to provide on-site support when required to meet the requirements of PWS.

12. What type of training will the government provide to contractors since the positions are becoming more specialized? Is the contractor expected to provide training?

Government will provide Air Force and AFRL safety and security training required to work on site as well as government information. CLIN specific training will be provided as needed by CLIN POCs.

13. Do you anticipate the scope changing during the period of performance?

At this time the government does not foresee a change in scope during the period of performance. The government reserves the right to make changes as required by mission needs.

14. What is the current contract value?

$3,792,158.40.

15. If a Joint Venture is used, will both need a Secret clearance? What about Prime/Sub?

Joint Ventures require all companies to have a secret clearance. A sub to a prime, may leverage the prime’s Facility Security Clearance (FCL).

16. Will the sign in sheet be publicized?

No.

17. When is the planned release date for the solicitation?

Anticipated 12 September 23.

18. Given that the nature of the number of Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) in the Draft Performance Work Statement is not defined, and the fact that the AFRL is contemplating a Firm Fixed Price award, suggestion is given to change the contract type to Time and Material to allow flexibility for both the contractor and the government to properly staff and provide resources to successfully execute the anticipated contract.

The type of contract will be published at the time of solicitation.

19. What positions are considered for teleworking?

Situational telework will be dependent upon requirements of each CLIN. AFRL will not consider 100% telework.

20. Is the government willing to sponsor a Facility Security Clearance (FCL) No, the Government does not intend to sponsor n FCL.

21. Are there any services that the government feels are underserved or could be improved?

Please see lessons learned in posted industry day slides.

22. Will the government require resumes for Key personnel as part of the proposal solicitation?

Yes, we are requiring resumes for KEY personnel.

23. The MARS IV effort required a hard copy response submittal. Will the government allow solely digital response for MARS V?

Yes. Details will be furnished in the solicitation.

24. In order to provide continue support to military spouses and veterans will the government consider some emote or/hybrid positions for this effort?

Situational telework will be dependent upon requirements of each CLIN. AFRL will not consider 100% telework.

25. How many contractor personnel are currently supporting MARS IV?

Approximately 13.

26. Do you anticipate increasing the hours on the MARS V contract?

Not at this time.

27. Reference is made to the Performance Work Statement (PWS) section 4 – Minimum Qualifications. In section 4.1 – 4.15, the PWS discusses the years of work experience required and educational level minimums needed. Does this section require a 1 to 1 FTE staffing level or can an individual meet the minimum requirements in multiple areas of sections 4.1-4.15? Or asking another way, can one person meet the requirements across multiple qualifications in section 4.1-4.15?

If FTE’s are provided, it will only be estimates and will be included in the solicitation. This will be up to the contractor to propose.

28. Does the government anticipate the new RFP will be similar for the proposal instructions and evaluation criteria to MARS IV?

The evaluation criteria for MARS V will be published in the solicitation.

29. Has the incumbent struggled with maintaining a high retention rate?

Due to remote location, recruitment and retention may be a challenge.

30. Are any specific positions the most difficult to keep filled?

No.

31. Is there an anticipated budget for this requirement?

$7,000,000.00 is a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) only.

32. How many personnel (i.e., civilian, military, and contractors) work within Edwards AFRL?

33. Not required to submit a proposal.Can you provide an organizational chart?

It is not available for distribution outside the agency.

34. How many work on Edward AFB and on Wright-Patterson AFB?

Unknown. This information is irrelevant to the effort. Additionally, this effort does not involve Wright-Patterson AFB. Information on government personnel is not available for distribution outside the agency.