Q&A's to Draft RFP FA9453-09-R-0002 23 Jan 09.doc

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TO Draft RFP FA9453-09-R-0002 23 Jan 2009

1. What are the requirements/proof we need to provide to prove an employee is a US citizen?

Answer: It is incumbent upon the offeror to ensure only U.S. citizens are submitted under this effort. Any offer is certifying citizenship.

2. Please confirm the operational locations for the effort are: Kirtland, Marshal Space Flight Center, Wright Patterson AFB, and Maui 3?

Answer: The locations are as listed in Appendix A-3 through A-11.

3. Who is the current incumbent?

Answer: Universal Technology Corp (UTC).

4. What is the estimated total contract value?

Answer: The guaranteed minimum order amount is $50K. The estimated ceiling amount of all orders issued under all IDIQ contracts resulting from this solicitation is $49.2M.

5. What is your projected acquisition schedule?

Answer: The current contract expires 1 Jun 2009.

6. Who will be the SSA?

Answer: Not relevant to the RFP.

7. How will AFRL apply the concept of “Best Value” to multiple contract awards to include whether it will be applied down to the task order level? Specifically, what are the criteria for determining whether a contractor team is “qualified” on a task or on all tasks?

Answer: Using the criteria outlined in the Information to Offerors (ITO) (Section L) and Section M, an evaluation of all offerors proposals will be done to determine which offerors can perform the entire effort. From that evaluation, the offerors that are determined able to perform the entire effort will be evaluated using the criteria outlined in the ITO (Section L) and Section M to determine which contractors’ are best suited to perform the tasks identified in the Performance Work Statement (PWS), Appendix A-3 through A-11.

8. What is the expected level of effort and span of requirements for training and leadership development as discussed in PWS Para 2.0 (e.g. education, managing training, developing coursework)? Which task are these requirements captured under?

Answer: Paragraph 2.0, Scope of Work is a general (generic) statement for the entire effort. The task requirements identified in Appendix A-3 through A-11 are definitive. Also, CME estimates are provided in ITO paragraph 6.4, Table L-2.

9. What is the expected level of effort for meeting support as discussed under PWS Para 2.0 (e.g. number of meetings, panels, days of conferences, etc)? Which task is this effort part of?

Answer: Paragraph 2.0, Scope of Work is a general (generic) statement for the entire effort. The task requirements identified in Appendix A-3 through A-11 are definitive. Also, CME estimates are provided in ITO paragraph 6.4, Table L-2.

10. Ref: PWS Appendix A-4, Task 2.

What is the level of effort and specifics of facilitator support to the Phillips Technology Institute?

Answer: CME estimates are identified in the ITO paragraph 6.4, Table L-2.

11. Ref: PWS Appendix A-4, Task 2.

Which office is the primary link for business development in AFRL RV and RD?

Answer: One primary office supports both RV/RD.

12. Ref: Part 1, Section B, Para B060 (pg 9 of 28) and PWS Para 4.10.

a) What government facilities are going to be available to the successful offerors during the transition period? b) What access can we assume the successful offeror will have to government task order leads during the transition period?

Answer: a) Facilities will be shared with the incumbent at the applicable location (technical personnel only); b) On an as needed basis as schedule permits.

13. Ref: PWS Paragraph 4.12.

Will the government provide facilities support for all contractor personnel supporting this effort including part-time persons?

Answer: Facilities will be provided for all technical personnel (i.e., full and part time);

however, facilities will not be provided for program management/administration personnel.

14. Ref: Information to Offerors (ITO), Para 2.2.3 (pg 4-31).

Is there an opportunity to provide classified past performance via separate channels?

Answer: Not necessary. Past performance can be described at the unclassified level. ITO para. 2.2.3 remains unchanged.

15. What is the expected schedule for completion of this source selection with respect to RFP release date, proposal due dates, and contract award date?

Answer: The current contract expires 1 Jun 2009.

16. Is the government going to extend the current contract?

Answer: Unknown at this time.

17. Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL): Block 4 states “Monthly Reports shall also show monthly cost, funding received and funding expensed for each position on each individual task order.” We recommend this be changed to delete the phrase “for each position” and replaced with “for each labor category.”

Answer: CDRL Block 4 will remain as stated.

18. Contract Data Requirements List: (CDRL) Blocks 11, 12, 13 states “The contractor shall deliver the first Status Report within 15 calendar days after completion of the first full contractor accounting month.” We recommend this be reworded to state “within 20 calendar days.” Collection and reporting of all progress reports and financial data for such a large contract with so many tasks within 15 days is extremely challenging.

Answer: CDRL blocks 11, 12, 13 will be changed to read, “The contractor shall deliver the first Status Report within 20 calendar days after completion of the first full contractor accounting month.”

19. Performance Work Statement, page 13: Paragraph 4.11.1.1 states “All travel requests must be generated by the contractor, signed by the contractor Program Manager, and coordinated in writing (email) by the Government QAP for the respective task order.” We are concerned that the stringent travel coordination requirements of this paragraph could potentially increase overall costs to the Government. We recommend that the COR or Program Manager be allowed to approve travel if the QAP is not available. Also, does the government anticipate incidental ODC expenses such as postage, materials and supplies to require pre-approval?

Answer: a) PWS page 13: Paragraph 4.11.1.1 will be changed to read, “All travel requests must be generated by the contractor, signed by the contractor Program Manager, and coordinated in writing (email) through the Government QAP or COR if the QAP is not available for the respective task order.” b) Approval is required for travel not incidental ODC expenses.

20. Information to Offerors, page 2: Paragraph 2.1.5 NOTE - Recommend you permit proposals to be hand delivered by the contractor to the CO as an alternative to mailing them.

Answer: The RFP will be changed to allow proposals to be hand delivered to:

DET 8 AFRL/RVKS

ATTN: Annette Griego-Shaw

Directorate of Contracting

2251 Maxwell Street SE, Bldg 424

Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5773

21. Information to Offerors, page 5: Paragraph 2.2.7 states the proposal should be bound in a binder, but paragraph 2.3 indicates the proposal is to be on a CD-R disk. Is the proposal allowed to be done in either medium, or required to be done on both mediums? And how many CD-R disks should be provided?

Answer: All volumes are to be submitted in hardcopy - see ITO, paragraph 2.2, Table 2.2, Proposal Organization for the number of copies required for each volume.

For Volume IV, Price/Cost we require two (2) CD-Rs. The ITO paragraph 2.2, Table 2.2, Proposal Organization and paragraph 2.3, Electronic Offers will be revised to reflect this.

22. Performance Plan, page 10: Paragraph 5.2.2 states “When QAP identify a minor finding … but is not required to notify the COR.” How is the contractor to be notified of minor findings if the COR is not being notified? Since this can potentially affect the contractor’s performance rating, a mechanism should be in place to notify them of any such findings.

Answer: Performance Plan, page 10: Paragraph 5.2.2 will be changed to read, “A departure from established standards having little bearing on the service provided. When QAP identifies a minor finding, the QAP shall document the findings, and will send this minor finding via email to the COR. The COR will informally (email is acceptable) notify the Contractor Program Manager of this minor finding. If the same minor finding is identified two months in a row, it may be an indication that a major finding is occurring or has occurred because the contractor has not taken proper steps to prevent recurrence. In this case, the QAP shall notify the COR in writing.

23. Ref: PWS, Appendix A-11 (Task 9). In this task there is a reference to: “The contractor shall provide engineering support to the AFRL Microelectronics section for electrical design, …” This should be changed to “…support AFRL electronics and photonics for electrical design, …” The support effort is broader than just the microelectronics section.

Answer: The task description encompasses electronics and photonics A&AS support.

PWS, Appendix A-11 (Task 9) will remain as stated.

24. Ref: PWS, Appendix A-11 (Task 9). In item (2) of the task the performance location is split between Kirtland AFB, NM and Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

What portion of the sub-tasks are to be accomplished at Wright-Patterson AFB? What effort is specifically needed at Wright-Patterson AFB or can the performance location be changed to Kirtland for the entire task?

Answer: The task and location estimates will remain as stated in PWS, Appendix A-11 (Task 9).

In response to the questions and comments received from Draft RFP FA9453-09-R-0002 the following clarifications and administration revisions will be made to the solicitation:

1. The location and requirements are as listed in PWS, Appendix A-3 through A-11 and will remain unchanged.

2. Ref: Information to Offerors, paragraph 2.2.1.

The word “tables” will be removed from the following sentence “Each page shall be counted except the following: Cover pages, tables of contents, tables, tabs, glossaries, acronym lists, and list of figures.”

3. Ref: Section B, Item 0004 (CLIN 0004).

The period of performance will be changed from 1 May 2009 – 31 May 2009 to 2 May 2009 – 31 May 2009.

4. Ref: Section G, PRS-G001 (page 16).

The last sentence will be changed to read, “Any inquiry…should be directed to the AFRL/RDF Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).”

5. Ref: PWS, paragraph 4.1.1.

The paragraph will now read, “The contractor shall follow Air Force policy for reporting viruses found.” All other verbiage will be deleted.

6. Ref: PWS, paragraph 4.2.1.

The sentence “After normal duty hours, the Program Manager or alternate shall be available on site within two (2) hours after notification.” is repeated twice.

One sentence will be removed.

7. Ref: PWS, paragraph 4.2.4, sentence “The contractor shall work with the respective task order Program Manager and the COR to ensure….”

“task order Program Manager.” will be changed to “QAP”

8. Ref: PWS, paragraph 4.6, sentence “The Contractor Program Manager shall coordinate with the Division Chief (or designated alternate) within the specific Division being supported, prior to excusing contractor personnel except for recognized Government holidays.”

The sentence will be changed to read, “The Contractor Program

Manager shall coordinate with the COR (or designated alternate) prior to excusing contractor personnel except for recognized Government holidays.”

9. Ref: PWS, paragraph 4.6, sentence “Specific hours, or specific days, for support of each requirement within a task order can be determined by mutual agreement between the Contractor Program Manager and the Contracting Officer’s Representative.”

The sentence will be changed to read, “Specific hours, or specific days, for support of each requirement within a task order can be determined by mutual agreement between the Contractor Program Manager and the COR (or designated alternate).”

10. Ref: PWS, paragraph 4.6.1, sentence “Prior written approval must be obtained and the Program Manager will develop a letter for approval to be signed by the Contractor Program Manager, the Government Customer, and the COR.”

The sentence will be changed to read, “Prior written approval must be obtained and the Contractor Program Manager will develop a letter for approval to be signed by the Contractor Program Manager, QAP, and the COR.”

11. Ref: PWS, paragraph 4.11 sentence “Monthly Reports shall provide an updated listing that includes: employee position number, Government Task Order Officer…”

“Government Task Order Officer” will be changed to “QAP”

12. Ref: Performance Plan, Section 3.0, Service Delivery Summary (SDS).

Performance Plan, Section 3.0, SDS (page 5) where the words contract/task order is used it will be replaced with the words ID/IQ Contract.

13. Ref: Performance Plan, Attachment #1 (page 13 of 17): The Surveillance Report sample has all Rating Areas listed as #1, instead of being listed sequentially.

Where the words “Rating Area # 1” are used they will be replaced with the words “SDS

Item Number 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (if applicable).”

14. Ref: DD Form 254, block 13, sentence “The prime contractor must include a provision in each on-base subcontract requiring subcontractors to contact 377 SFS/S5I and execute a VGSA prior to beginning on-base operations.”

The sentence will be changed to read, “The prime contractor must include a provision in each on-base subcontract that a copy of the prime contract VGSA must be provided to the subcontractor with a signed statement of acknowledgement from the subcontractor which must be sent to the 377 ABW/IPC prior to beginning on-base operations.”