Q A III as of 13 July 2011 RFP FA9451-11-R-0224.pdf

Questions and Answers III As of 13 July 2011

RFP FA9451-11-R-0224

Business Operations Support Services (BOSS)

Question: Could you please clarify the exact date on which the Vol III - past performance and questionnaires are due? I am not certain on whether to use calendar or work days (reference L-10/11 4.2).

Answer: The past performance questionnaires are due 10 calendar days prior to the date set for receipt of proposals. At this time, that date would be 26 July 2011.

Question: Are the electronic copies of the proposal volumes to be delivered on CD? Do you have file format preferences? (reference L-5 1.2 )

Answer: Offerors shall furnish proposal volumes in hard copy and on CD/DVD as PC compatible, Microsoft Excel ( Version 2007 or earlier)

Question: Subfactor 1 and L-9 3.2.3.2 What is the intended reference for “Section L, paragraph 3.1.1.2.3”, which does not exist? (reference M-3)

*Answer: The correct reference should be “Section L, page 9, paragraph 3.2.4.1; 3.2.3.1; 3.2.3.2;

3.2.3.3; 3.2.4.1.” This change will be posted in a forth coming amendment.

Question: Pg. 10 of 29 contains the statement, "CONTRACT LINE ITEM NUMBERS (CLINs) 0001-0011 should be performed in accordance with Government performance work statement entitled "Business Operations Support Services (BOSS)" hereby incorporated as Attachment #1, reference Section J of the contract. The contractor shall also furnish data as required by the Contract Data Requirements List, DD Form 1423, which are hereby incorporated as Exhibit A (reference Section J). All costs associated with this contract line item are incorporated into contract line item 0001, 0006, 0008, and 0010." However, under Clin 0002, Data Collection is to be priced as CPFF for all contract periods. Which is correct?

Answer: The price of CLIN 0002 is included in CLIN 0001, 0006, 0008, and 0010. This CLIN is not separately priced.

Question: Pg. 14 of 29 Items F001 and F002: Option 1 period of performance for CLINs 0006 and 0007 is shown as 1 February 2013 through 31 January 2013. Shouldn’t these be 31 January 2014?

*Answer: That is correct. Option one (1) period of performance should be 1 Feb 2013 to 31 Jan 2014 for clauses F001 and F002. This change will be posted in a forth coming amendment.

Question: PWS Section 4.2, page 27, Program Management, requires the inclusion of a Program Management Plan (PMP) with the proposal. In what volume is it to be included, in what order, and what is the required page limit?

Answer: The PMP should be submitted separate from all the Volumes and will not be evaluated.

However, the page limitation for the PMP is 20 pages max, single-spaced.

Question: Per Volume IV, 5.1, the various Attachment J matrixes provide “current manning”. However, nowhere in the RFP do I see a definition of an FTE in quantified terms. How many productive hours constitute an FTE?

Answer: FTE stands for Full Time Equivalent, which is 2,080 hours per year or 40 hours per week.

Question: Are the badges referred to in PWS, paragraph 4.6 at contractor cost or are these GFP?

Answer: The badges will be furnished by the Government.

Question: In accordance with the Wage Determination 05-2361 we will be proposing 80 hours of vacation per FTE since we do not have seniority dates for incumbent employees. We will be able to prepare and submit a request for equitable adjustment based on actual seniority dates once the incumbent employees are hired, correct?

Answer: There will be no equitable adjustment for FTE, because this effort is Cost Reimbursable for all incurred costs.

Question: Section L, Paragraph 1.2.8: Will we be allowed to use an overnight carrier (ie FedEx, UPS, etc) to deliver the proposal by the due date? If so, is the delivery address the same?

Answer: Yes, we will accept overnight delivery via FedEx, UPS, and USPS as long as it’s delivered by 4 Aug 2011 at 12pm (MDT). The address is the same:

Det 8 AFRL/RDKT (Attn: Ms. LINDA BUIX or RAMON MARTINEZ) 2251 Maxwell St. SE Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5773

Question: Section B051 states this is a CPFF, Term type contract. However, it is implied that the task orders might be term or completion (B058 and Section L, page L-1 FAR 52.216-27 tailored description).

Please clarify if the entire effort will be Term type?

Answer: The majority of the effort will be Term type contract. CLINs 0004 and 0005 for Phase-In and Phase-out periods will be a Completion Form Contract.

Question: Section H047: Please confirm that the costs of obtaining any passports or visas to support customer travel is a cost reimbursable item on the contract.

Answer: Although passports or visas are not contemplated in this effort, these would be Other Direct Costs and are cost reimbursable. No international travel is anticipated.

Question: Section L, Paragraph 2.0 Contract Documentation: Does the Government require subcontractors to provide Representations and Certifications?

Answer: The Government does not require Representations and Certifications from the subcontractors.

This is the responsibility of the Prime contractor.

Question: Section L, Paragraph 5.3: Does the Government expect this information to be provided in Section 1 of the Cost/Price Volume?

Answer: Section L, Paragraph 5.3, Estimating Methodology shall be provided in Volume IV: Cost Proposal Volume.

Question: To better assess the effort required to perform the task orders, please provide the column headings/titles for the “Matrix Task Order “files that accompanied Task Orders 2-14.

Answer: The column headings will not be provided for the Matrices. Under the performance-based service acquisition guidelines, the premise is for the Government to tap the enormous creative energy and innovative nature of private industry in proposing/providing the most effective and efficient analysis of work to be completed based on the Government’s stated requirement. Therefore, the Government cannot and will not dictate labor categories in any PBSA solicitation. Once a proposal is received by the Government, wage determination(s) will be used for verification of prevailing wage rates per labor category and geographical location.

Question: regarding Section 5.3.1 - Estimating System? As a small business, we currently use Quick Books to develop costs and pricing. To meet the requirements of this solicitation, we would like to submit our current cost and pricing element, along with verbiage regarding the system we intend to mitigrate to (Deltek) for this proposal. Is this acceptable?

Answer: Yes, submitting your current cost and pricing element, along with verbiage for Deltek is acceptable to explain your estimating system.

Question: How can an 8(a) actively support and pursue a small-business sub-contracting plan for the principle purpose of shared business growth if the partner/sub’s ‘price to play’ is to provide five full contract past performance narratives? *Note: As the prime requires at least 51% workshare, the > 25% mark only allows for one partner.

*Answer: To clarify Volume III: Past Performance relevant contracts requirement, the Government requests Past Performance Information on UP TO 5 recent (within the last five years) contracts that you consider most relevant. Also include information on UP TO 5 recent (within the last five years) contracts performed by each of your teaming partners and significant subcontractors that you consider most relevant. We require only past performance information on subcontractors, teaming partners, and/or joint venture partners who are proposed 25 percent or more of the proposed effort based on the total proposed cost or perform aspects of the effort the offeror considers critical to overall successful performance.

Question: Will a breakdown of the current travel history (i.e. number of trips, origin and destination(s), number of travelers, and duration) be provided under for this effort? If not, will the Government establish a not to exceed (NTE) amount for the respective travel CLINS?

Answer: As stated in Paragraph 5.0, Volume IV: Cost Proposal Volume, paragraph 5.1, General Instructions, “A cost proposal for …..Other Direct Costs (Section B, CLINs 003, 007, 009, and 0011) are not required. The Government has stated that the ceiling cost for cost reimbursable CLINs 0003, 0007, 0009, and 0011 is $528,500, to include all applicable indirect costs and tax (fee will not be paid on ODCs;

funding and a ceiling amount will be included on each task order when awarded.” Therefore, the Government has set the ceiling cost for the ODC CLINs 0003, 0007, 0009, and 0011 at $528,500 for the entire performance of the resulting contract and offerors are not required to propose on these CLINs.

This is due to the fact that travel under the proposed contract will be on a ‘as required’ basis and will fluctuate based on the needs of the Government. No additional data will be provided.

Question: Is the Government prepared to require and accept “up to five” past-performance contracts for sub-contractors with less-than 25% of the proposed effort … or perform aspects of the effort…”?

Answer: To clarify Volume III: Past Performance relevant contracts requirement, the Government requests Past Performance Information on UP TO 5 recent (within the last five years) contracts that you consider most relevant. Also include information on UP TO 5 recent (within the last five years) contracts performed by each of your teaming partners and significant subcontractors that you consider most relevant. We will accept only past performance information on subcontractors, teaming partners, and/or joint venture partners who are proposed 25 percent or more of the proposed effort based on the total proposed cost or perform aspects of the effort the offeror considers critical to overall successful performance.

Question: Does the Government desire Volume III Past Performance 10 work days or 10 calendar days before the date set for proposals (Aug 4th)?

Answer: The past performance questionnaires are due 10 calendar days prior to the date set for receipt of proposals. At this time, that date would be 26 July 2011.

Question: CLINs 0001, 0006, 0008, 0010 states that the contractor shall furnish all labor, supplies, hardware, materials, travel, facilities and other direct costs to accomplish the PWS. CLINs 0003, 0007, 0009, 0011 states the contractor shall provide all travel, training, and cell phones. Is it the Government’s intent to have CLINs 0001, 0006, 0008, 0010 as the labor only (fee bearing) CLINs?

*Answer: Yes, CLINs 0001, 0006, 0008, 0010 are labor only and fee bearing . A forth coming amendment will delete wording “supplies, hardware, materials, travel, facilities, and other direct costs” from these CLINs.

Question: CLINs 0003, 0007, 0009, and 0011 as the non-labor (non-fee bearing) CLINs?

Answer: Yes, 0003, 0007, 0009, and 0011 are non-labor and non-fee bearaing.

Question: Since this effort is to be an IDIQ with a ceiling amount of $49.9 Million, are we to fill-in CLINs 0001-0011 with the summary dollar values of Task Orders 0001-0014 and the plug numbers provided for ODCs?

Answer: No, the summary dollar values are not required for CLINs 0001 through 0011.

Question: Section F (Page 13) CLIN 0001-0005 are listed. Why are CLINs 0006-0011 not listed?

Answer: CLINs 0006 through 0011 are Option CLINs and will be listed when they are exercised.

Question: F001 states that Option I ends on 01/31/13, this should read 1/31/14.

* Answer: That is correct. Option one (1) period of performance should be 1 Feb 2013 to 31 Jan 2014 for clauses F001 and F002. This change will be posted in a forth coming amendment.

Question: F002 does not include the Option Extension period. Should this be included?

*Answer: Option Six Month Extension Period of Performance is 1 February 2015 through 31 August 2015 (anticipated). This change will be in a forth coming amendment.

Question: FAR52.222-43 – Fair Labor Standards act and Service Contract Act—Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts) is not included in Section I. Should this clause be included to allow for yearly adjustments for SCA determinations?

Answer: FAR 52.222-43 does NOT apply (only for Firm-Fixed-Price contract). This paragraph 5.4.3.1.1 Direct Labor will be deleted to strike this sentence and provision in the next amendment to the solicitation. In regard to the escalation of SCA labor rates, per FAR 52.222-41 (c)(3), any adjustment of compensation will be determined by the Wage and Hour Division wage determinations. The RFP does not include escalation for SCA labor rates.

Question: Reference L-11, para. 5.0 “Cost Proposals are to be submitted in separate detachable form so that …” Are we allowed to submit one Cost Proposal with clearly marked tabs numbered as Task Order 0001 thru 0014?

Answer: Marked tabs distinguishing each task order are acceptable format for Cost Proposal submittal.

Question: Should CLIN 0001 be labor only?

Answer: Correct, CLINs 0001, 0004, 0005, 0006, 0008, and 0010 are labor only.

Question: Since ceiling amounts for ODCs will be provided at task order award and are unknown at this time, please confirm that Table 3, Travel Summary and 4, Bill of Materials / Equipment is not required to be submitted with proposal.

Answer: Yes, ODCs will be provided for each task order. Tables 3 and 4 from the Cost Proposal Instructions, RFP Sec. J Attachment 34, are not required.

*Answer corrections will be placed in Amendment 2