QA posted 28 Sept 09 Finalx.pdf

Questions with Answers, Amend 2 to RFP H92222-09-R-0034, posted 28 Sept 2009.

1 Question: TO #4 paragraph 2.4.3 “Translators shall be certified by the American

Translators Association and have a written performance level scope of 12 on the ATA scoring protocol (or equivalent translation assessment).”

Requiring ATA certification of translators potentially increases the overall Task Order cost without necessarily improving quality. Outstanding translators are often found in the target countries themselves and are not participants in the ATA certification program.

Recommendation: Would the Government consider revising paragraph 2.4.3 to require contractors to submit a Translation Quality Plan and specific performance metrics in the Task Order Level Service Delivery Summary to ensure the appropriate translation quality and assessment is achieved versus having specific ATA certifications. Would this satisfy the requirement of “..or equivalent translation assessment” ?

Answer: SOW Reads: “Translators shall be certified by the American Translators Association and have a written performance level scope of 12 on the ALTA scoring protocol (or equivalent translation assessment).” ATA and ALTA refer to two different requirements. American Translation Association (ATA) certification is not a requirement if potential translation support was found in the target countries; however, since there is no single international governing body for translation standards, the government requires potential translators to pass an equivalent translation assessment such as ALTA. The intent, since there is no single, industry standard, is to apply a known objective measure to assess skill levels. A Translation Quality Plan does not objectively measure capabilities against a known standard of performance. Alternate certifications may be proposed but the evidence must demonstrate that the alternate certification meets or exceeds standards of ATA and ALTA.

2 Question: TO #4 paragraph 2.5 and sub paragraphs. Please confirm the ESTIMATED

QUANTITIES specified in paragraphs 2.5.2.1, 2.5.2.2, 2.5.2.3, 2.5.2.4, 2.5.2.5, and 2.5.2.6 are for each version (language) specified in the corresponding paragraph, delivered on a quarterly basis.

Specifically: ANSWER: Amend 2 incorporates revised TO 4 SOO with the below clarifications.

• Paragraph 2.5.2.1: 20,000 copies of the Spanish version and 20,000 copies of the English version for a total of 40,000 copies of the Agora magazine each quarter totaling 160,000 copies annually.

• ANSWER: Quarterly: Spanish – 17,500; English – 2,500; Annual: total 80,000.

• Paragraph 2.5.2.2: 10,000 copies of the British English version, 10,000 copies of the German version, and 10,000 copies of the Russian version for a total of 30,000 copies of the Pro Concordiam magazine each quarter totaling 120,000 copies annually.

• ANSWER: Quarterly: U.S. English Dialect – 4,000; German - 1,000; Russian – 3,000; Annual: total 32,000. Requirement has changed from British English Dialect to U.S. English.

• Paragraph 2.5.2.3: 11,000 copies of the English/Thai version and 11,000 copies of the English/Indo version, and 11,000 copies of the English only version for a total of 33,000 copies of the APDF magazine each quarter totaling 132,000 copies annually.

• ANSWER: Quarterly: English/Thai – 1,500; English/Bahasa Indonesian - 3,100;

English – 7,400; Annual: total 48,000.

• Paragraph 2.5.2.4: 10,000 copies of the British English version and 10,000 copies of the Modern Standard Arabic version, and 10,000 copies of the French only version for a total of 30,000 copies of the ADF magazine each quarter totaling 120,000 copies annually.

• ANSWER: Quarterly: Modern Standard Arabic – 2,500; English – 4,000; French – 3,500; Annual: total 40,000.

• Paragraph 2.5.2.5: 20,000 copies of the Spanish/English version and 20,000 copies of the Brazilian Portuguese/English version for a total of 20,000 copies of the Dialogo magazine each quarter totaling 160,000 copies annually.

• ANSWER: Quarterly: Spanish/English – 15,500; Brazilian Portuguese/English – 4,500, Annual: total 80,000.

• Paragraph 2.5.2.6: 10,000 copies of the Urdu version and 10,000 copies of the Modern Standard Arabic version, and 10,000 copies of the English only version for a total of 30,000 copies of the Unipath magazine each quarter totaling 120,000 copies annually.

• ANSWER: Quarterly: Modern Standard Arabic – 6,000; English – 1,500; Urdu – 2,500; Annual: total 40,000.

3. Question: TO #4 paragraph 2.6.2. “The Government may provide a sample distribution list for cost estimates”.

Recommendation: Recommend the Government provide the specific distribution destination for each of the six (6) magazines for shipping cost estimates or specify the contractor should state shipping is from the contractors building FOB.

Answer: Provided via Amend 2. Although, distribution lists are updated as of 22 Sep 09. Lists vary on a quarterly basis. Print run amounts indicated on paragraph 2.5.2 are estimations based on future growth.

4. Question: The final RFP does not contain a requirement to submit an OCI mitigation plan for review and approval as part of the Proposal Program Management Plan. However, consistent with the requirement in H.15.1(g) to disclose potential organizational conflicts of interest and provide a “description of the actions the contractor has taken or proposes to take to avoid or mitigate the conflict,” would SOCOM be prepared to accept, review and approve an OCI mitigation plan prior to contract award if submitted with a Proposal by a prime contractor that is already aware of the existence of actual or potential organizational conflicts of interest associated with its participation on GBPS?

Answer: No.

5. Question: Section H.22.2 of the final RFP provides “Contractors are required to submit a proposal for every requirement solicited without conflict unless granted a waiver in advance by the Contracting Officer (KO) or Ordering Officer (OO).”

Given this language, does SOCOM intend to accept, review and approve a prime contractor’s OCI mitigation concurrent with the award of any task orders where the work activity presents a perceived or actual conflict of interest with existing or planned program pursuits of the divisions, sectors or affiliates of the prime contractor? If not, or if upon review of the mitigation plan SOCOM determines that the conflict cannot be adequately mitigated, will a prime contractor be permitted to no-bid these individual task orders that create the conflict?

Answer: It’s not the Government’s intent to request and receive OCI mitigation for each task order competition. It is the intent to have prime awardees that can comply with H.22.2 without conflict for the GBPS task orders. Primes should be able to propose on all task orders issued under GBPS. However it would be incumbent on the prime contractors of GBPS to notify the Government of any potential conflict as outlined in H.15 when proposing on a task order.

6. Question: Task Orders 1 – SOO Para 2.2.2 a. Para 2.2.2 a. indicates that ISP DCS

Training and Technical Assistance will be provided “at USSOCOM & Survey Team garrison locations, . . .” Can the government provide the number of personnel to be trained and frequency that the contractor will be expected to conduct this training for and what are the locations of the garrisons, commands and training sites? Is this training currently being performed by the incumbent?

Answer: This is designed to allow the contractor to train its own personnel and government personnel (Around 10 to 20 annually). It is not designed to have a separate group of contractors dedicated full time to this effort. Currently, the Intelligence Production Support Team does that from within their current manpower. When a new individual come in (Newly assignment, new Contractor, etc) a experienced contractor can train these personnel on the current systems and software. There will be no travel projected for this effort; all training will be done at

HQUSSOCOM.