Group_A_Q A_Batch_1.pdf

H92222-14-R-0020

SWMS Group A Q&A

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# RFP Document Section Para. # Page # Question/Comment Gov't Response

1 ITO L 1.2.3 35 Table L.1 - Line L3.3 limits the PPI sheets to 2 pages/citation. The draft RFP limited us to 5 pages/citation; and the format of the sheets alone take up 3/4 of a page. Thus, there is not enough space to cover discussions on Factors 1, 2, and 29 performance requirements in the remaining 1.25 pages. Question 1:

Would the Gov't increase the page limit to at least 3 pages/citation? Question 2: Does the text size on the sheets have to be 12 pt?

Q1: No. The Government wants clear concise information.

Q2: See Q&A #7

2 ITO L 2.3 37 Attachment 5, J2 Directorate of Intelligence Sample PWS, is not listed. Question: Does Attachment 5 become Sub-factor 2.4.? If so, do we add Sub-factor 2.4 to Attachment 3, the Group A Pricing Template?

Atch 5 is a Sample PWS and will not be priced, it is Sub-factor 1.2 (See L2.2.2) and evaluated in accordance with M2.2.2.

3 ITO L 3.4 38 Para 3.4 states, "The completed questionnaire shall be submitted directly from the reference to Ms. Steven;" yet, Table L.1 on page 35, line L3.4, lists "Questionnaires -- No page limit." Question: Should that be listed as “Questionnaire Tracking Record -- No page limit?"

Amendment 0001 will revise the table to reflect PPQ Tracking --1 page. There is no page limit for the PPQs when completed and submitted directly to the KO.

4 RFP L & M L.3.6.1

and

M.2.4

38 and

a. Section L.3.6.1 states “relevancy is defined as contracts that are most similar to this effort; contract type, dollar value, types of services provided, complexity, numbers of personnel required on the contract being reviewed when compared to those of the SWMS Group A requirements.” Section M.2.4 Factor 3 states “…evaluation considers the offeror’s demonstrated record of performance in providing the services delineated in the Group A SOW and specific TO requirements.” Offeror requests that the requirement and evaluation of Past Performance remain similar to the Group B procurement.

We further request that “specific TO requirements are removed and section 4 of Attachment 4 PPI is also removed.

Please note, Group B and Group A are separate acquisitions; therefore, differences will be reflected in the RFP. There is no intent to change the language in L3.6.1.

The purpose of section 4 of the PPI is to assist the Government in the determination of relevancy.

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5 RFP General 2. The Government Sample J2 PWS and SORDAC, SMEP and J5 Task Orders do not provide enough detail for determining a basis of estimate (BOE), to include current workload, system complexity, specific systems support and operational requirements, size, locations, and other factors. In order to provide competitive technical and pricing proposals, and provide adequate competition for any incumbents, Offeror requests the Government provide all data needed to develop realistic estimates and associated pricing.

The SORDAC and J5 SOW outline the types of requirements expected to be performed and the FTEs required to accomplish the work. Offerors are requested to propose all resources they need to accomplish the requirements outlined in the SOW. The SMEP PWS is deliverables based. There are multiple management approaches. The PWS includes all technical specifics.

Offerors are requested to propose all resources they need to accomplish the requirements outlined in the PWS in accordance with their proposed technical approach.

6 Attch 3, Group A Pricing Template

The Travel Plug numbers are not included in the CLIN totals. Do we edit the formulas to include the travel dollars and associated burdens?

Offerors are to use the travel plugs provided (SF 2.1 and SF 2.3) and apply their indirect rates as applicable. The proposed total is what the offeror inputs for each travel

CLIN.

7 RFP L 1.2.2 35 The Government-provided PPI Sheet (Attachment 9) is in 11 point Times New Roman. Please confirm that, as in Group B, Offerors may use the same font size as the Government in Government-provided forms.

Yes.

8 RFP J 22 Section J identifies Attachment 4 as a Contractor Provided Quality Control Plan (submitted as part of Sub-factor 1). This attachment was not provided with the solicitation. Will the Government be providing this Attachment?

No. This attachment is provided by the contractor. (Ref.

L2.2.1.5)

9 RFP L L.4.2 39 Section L.4.2. of the RFP states that all task orders are firm fixed price. As there are no firm requirements in the respective SOW's would the Government consider changing the contract type for all task orders to FFP/LOE?

No. The SORDAC and J5 SOW outline the types of requirements expected to be performed and the FTEs required to accomplish the work. Offerors are requested to propose all resources they need to accomplish the requirements outlined in the SOW. The SMEP PWS is deliverables based. There are multiple management approaches. The PWS includes all technical specifics.

Offerors are requested to propose all resources they need to accomplish the requirements outlined in the PWS in accordance with their proposed technical approach.

10 Attch 7 3 5 The Government has provided a distribution ratio for each publication. To ensure accuracy of our ODC estimates, will the Government provide a more detailed distribution list?

The distribution list changes regularly, the publication ratios provided are the government’s best estimate of the required quantities.

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11 Attch 7 General 3 2 The Instructions state, "Performance is off-site."

Question1: What is the work location, city, and state?

Question 2: Does off-site mean contractor facility or government-provided facility off the base?

There is no work location, city or state requirement. Off-site means a contractor facility. Exceptions may include "liaisons" which could be seated at the Geographic Combatant Command Headquarters. The Government anticipates proposals will include a unique business plan which supports the development and distribution of stated deliverables.

12 Attch 7 5 1 9 The paragraph states, "the Government anticipates all off-site support for this requirement." Question: Does this mean the site is Government Furnished Property/Space with secure communications to the Government work location?

No.

13 Attch 7 DD254 4 1 Is this a Follow-On Contract? SMEP is similar to a current Task Order under GBPS;

however, the SMEP represents a new requirement under SWMS Group A.

14 Attch 7 2 2.1.5 4 Paragraph states, "Be available to react with COR or COTR approximately 30 times per week. Question: Does react mean face-to-face?

In this case "React" means to contact and make themselves available to the Government for questions and/or discussion. This does not have to be face-to-face.

15 Attachment 3 - Pricing Template

Section B Totals for subfactor 2.1 and 2.3

N/A N/A The pricing template requests that travel be priced as cost reimbursable, but requires offerors to propose them as part of CLIN 0005, which is defined in the IDIQ RFP to be for the purpose of delivering data and shall not be priced separately. If travel is to be included as part of CLIN 0005, does this imply that any future effort associated with CLIN 0005 would also be cost reimbursable? If this is not the case, would the government consider adding a CLIN 0006 for cost reimbursable items?

Amendment 0001 will revise the CLIN numbering in the pricing template and add a CLIN to Section B for CR Travel.

16 RFP L4.2 1 N/A The RFP states "The offeror shall provide basis of estimates (BOEs) for all FFP task orders in sufficient detail to ensure that the offeror has a complete understanding of the task order to include subcontractor costs". However, for the SORDAC and J5 Task Orders, the USG has provided a list of personnel, their minimum skill requirements, and the required FTE's per year. Could the Government please clarify what it wishes to see for BOEs in these cases where there is a directed type, amount, and duration of effort?

Any ODCs the offeror is proposing.

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17 Attch 7 (SMEP) Will the gov't be providing a list of personnel (labor categories, minimum qualification and # FTEs) or does the gov't expect the contractor to provide all labor grades and total personnel (FTEs)?

The Government expects the contractor to provide all resources needed to perform the work that aligns with the proposed approach.

18 Attch 7 (SMEP) Deliverables The gov't stipulates that for ADF magazine, that there are 60,000 copies annually, however in parenthesis there is a 15K x 60K. What is the total number of copies to distribute quarterly? AFD Magazine, in the deliverables section what is the quarterly amount to be delivered (ie:

Copies annually to AOR NTE 60,000 (15K x 60k.), what is the 15K x 60k?

Amendment 0001 will revise the deliverables. The deliverables are a NTE 60,000 annually or 15,000 per quarter.

19 Attch 7 (SMEP) Deliverables What regions (if any) does the gov't require delivery to be in hazardous locations? Will the gov't provide security at these locations?

The magazines are delivered worldwide to 171 countries.

No Government security is provided. This is achieved through direct mail shipping or other commercial carrier.

20 Attch 7 (SMEP) Deliverables Will the contractor be responsible for hosting and updating the various websites associated with the HTML-coded deliverable or just provided an HTML-coded deliverable and the gov't assumes responsibility for where it will be hosted?

The requirement is for digital delivery. In the case of per Concordiam, UNIPATH, and Africa Defense Forum digital delivery is made via a .com posted PDF or a web-based static delivery. Asia Pacific Defense Forum currently is made through a html coded disk to the Government.

21 Attch 7 (SMEP) Deliverables Is each delivery done in parallel for the quarterly magazines or are they staggered?

Magazines are delivered quarterly. Offerors should include scheduling in their proposal.

22 Attch 6 (SORDAC) 2 4 Is the Gov't requested TO Lead's (as specified in Section

2) minimum qualifications listed under subtask 4.2 Acquisition Management Support? Is the Task Order Lead in addition to the 152 specified personnel?

No, the Task Lead responsibilities are assumed by one of the personnel identified in the SOW. IAW Attachment 6 ITO Paragraph 1.a. offerors are to identify which position will perform the TL responsibilities.

23 Attch 7 SMEP 3 3 8 The Per Concordiam magazine lists one of the languages as U.S. English, while all of the other documents that require English copies, list only English as the description.

Can we assume that the English copies are US English

vs. British English or any other type of English dialect?

Yes. All references to English are for U.S. English.

24 Attch 7 SMEP 3 3 5 How is the Government evaluating and measuring the 2% translation error rate?

The error rate is calculated from the number of words translated for each product. 'Errors' include mistranslations, or other significant grammatical errors.

25 Attch 3 Group A Pricing Template

Section B Template

Travel Item No

N/A Once awarded, will travel on the task orders be cost-reimbursable?

Yes, for SORDAC (Sub-factor 2.1) and J5 Task Orders (Sub-factor 2.3).

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26 Attch 3 Group A Pricing Template

Section B Template

Travel Item No

N/A Is the government looking for a fixed fee to be applied to travel costs in addition to the indirect rates?

No. Travel will be cost reimbursement only, no fee for Sub-factor 2.1 and 2.3.

27 RFP Section B LL 41674 The Section B Pricing Tables are different from the pricing tables in Attachment 3 to the RFP and do not seem to bear any relation to the task order pricing that is being evaluated. Will the Government clarify how offerors are to complete the Section B pricing tables?

Offerors are not required to complete Section B in the RFP document (H92222-14-R-0020). The Section B template included in Attachment 3 will be the CLINS awarded for each task order.

Note: An amendment will correct the CLIN numbering in Section B to add a CR Travel CLIN (Attachment 3 will be updated accordingly).

28 RFP Section J All 22 Section J lists Exhibit A containing the CDRLs, yet no Exhibit A was issued with the solicitation. Will the Government please issue a consolidated list of CDRLS?

Exhibit A is comprised of CDRL A001 and A002.

29 Attch 9 All All All Will the Government allow offerors to place the contents of this form within offerors own document style, with headers/footers and appropriate shading in boxes, or must offerors complete the PPIs in precisely the same format in which they currently are?

PPIs must be completed in the current format.

30 RFP Section L 1.2.3 35 The IDIQ Technical Capability requirements in Table L.1 identify a page limit "plus Key Personnel resumes". Yet Attachment 5 (J.2 Sample PWS) specifically states that no resume is required. Will the Government clarify which is correct?

Amendment 0001 will revise the Table L.1 to remove the resume reference

31 RFP Section L 2.2.1.5 36 Referenced section states that the QCP is included in page count, yet Section J implies that the QCP is an Attachment (Attachment 4). Since QC Plans for an IDIQ program such as this are quite detailed and lengthy, will the Government allow the QCP to be submitted as an attachment outside page count?

No, the QCP as required by L2.2.1.5 is included in the Sub-factor 1.1 page count. Offerors should describe their plan for quality control as it relates to SWMS. The Government does not desire an in-depth Quality Control Plan but rather a clear and concise plan the offeror proposes to address L2.2.1.5.

32 Attch 9 PPI N/A 4 1 The second sentence in paragraph 4 states, "Ensure."

Will the government clarify whether this is a missing sentence that contains additional requirements or if it will be removed from item 4?

Amendment 0001 will remove "Ensure."

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33 Atch_8_J5_Strategic_and_ Plans_Support

4 Personnel Skills and

Capabilities

Figure 1 6 Current positions have been downgraded from Principal and Senior Strategists and consolidated into a single labor category: Strategists. Yet all required skill requirements have remained. Is it the Government's intention to lower the requirements and type of Strategists, or is it the Government's desire to maintain the senior level folks the J5 has indicated he needs to accomplish his mission?

It is the Government's intention to maintain the qualifications indicated on the SOW

34 Atch_8_J5_Strategic_and_ Plans_Support

4 Personnel Skills and

Capabilities

Figure 1 7 The Industrial Analyst, Business Process Consultant (0 FTE Count) is listed as reachback capability with no indication of the quantity required /desired. In the current Mod, they requested 1/3 man year of support. How much support is required or does the Government desire for this requirement be met through cost plus?

Current support of 1/3 man year is anticipated and should be included in total FFP proposal

35 Atch_8_J5_Strategic_and_ Plans_Support

Place of Performance

2 On page 2, the Government states the Place of Performance will be MacDill AFB. In para 6, page 9, the Government states that "onsite support" is anticipated.

Can the Government clarify what is desired?

Onsite support is defined in this case as the contracted personnel performing services on MacDill AFB FL.

36 Atch_8_J5_Strategic_and_ Plans_Support

Instructions 1.a 2 Paragraph 1.a states the Task Lead responsibilities can be found in SOW Para 2.24, however that paragraph number is not listed. Can the Government clarify which paragraph is correct? Is it SOW Para 2.18?

Amendment 0001 will correct the reference, should be 2.18.

37 Atch_7_SMEP Instructions 2 2 What is the contractor support footprint (i.e., FTEs) supporting the current SMEP task?

SMEP is similar to a current Task Order under GBPS;

however, the SMEP represents a new requirement under SWMS Group A.

38 Atch_7_SMEP 2 2.1.3 3-4 Is it intentional that there is no 2.1.3? Amendment 0001 will correct the numbering.

39 Atch_7_SMEP 2 2.1.5 4 What does the "30 per week" refer to in this sentence?

Hours? Percent? Other?

Available 30 hours.

40 Atch_7_SMEP 9 N/A 10 Is it intentional that there is no paragraph 9? Amendment 0001 will correct the paragraph numbering.

41 Atch_7_SMEP Deliverables Table under para 3

5 Frequency for the ADF Standard Calendar is shown as Annually. Yet in the Languages, Page Count, and Distribution column, it states "3 versions quarterly". Can the Government clarify the production frequency and quantities?

Amendment 0001 will revise the ADF Standard Calendar to "Once a year, annually in 3 languages/versions:

English, Modern Standard Arabic, and French".

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42 Atch_6_SORDAC_Group_A ITO Period and

Place of Perform ance

2 It appears there is a typo in defining each of the option years. Option year 2 is repeated. It seems the govt's intent is for Option Year 3 to be 1 May 2018 - 30 Apr 2019. Please confirm the dates of Option Year 3.

Amendment 0001 will revise the table on page 2 to correct the typo.

43 Attachment 7 3.

Deliverables

3 5-8 How does the requestor place orders for printing the various items and how will the printer receive printing requirements?

The contract is deliverables based. Offerors should develop a strategy to accomplish development and delivery.

44 Attachment 7 3.

Deliverables

3 5-8 Once the printer receives print-ready files, what are the delivery schedule requirements?

The contract is deliverables based. Offerors should develop a strategy to accomplish development and delivery.

45 Attachment 7 3.

Deliverables

3 5-8 Is there an available point of contact if pre-flight discovers a potential error in content or format?

Yes. The technical point of contact is the technical representative or COR

46 Attachment 7 3.

Deliverables

3 5-8 Does the requestor want to do press checks? If so, what are the associated schedule requirements?

The Government will check final PDFs before print.

Actual 'press checks' or flats are not required as quality will be reflected in the deliverable product. The schedule should be proposed by the offeror to meet quarterly delivery.

47 Attachment 7 3.

Deliverables

3 5-8 For each item with multiple versions, should the copies annually NTE be multiplied by the number of versions or is copies annually all-inclusive? If it is all-inclusive, how does the requestor communicate the allocation to versions?

Copies annually is all inclusive. The Government provides the allocation of versions in the distribution list.

48 Attachment 7 3.

Deliverables

3 5-8 Is the printer required to inventory any items? This is deliverables based. Offerors should determine measures to support delivery.

49 Attachment 7 3.

Deliverables

3 5-8 When does the requestor release planned schedules to the printer?

This is deliverables based. Offerors should determine measures to support delivery.

50 Attachment 7 3.

Deliverables

3 5-8 What documents is the printer required to produce in support of task order performance?

This is deliverables based. Offerors should determine measures to support delivery.

51 Attachment 7 3.

Deliverables

3 5-8 The deliverables table has multiple NTE amounts for the print publications. Should the price include the printing of this amount or the 5 print copies identified in 2.7 Deliverables format?

The 5 copies for the Government in 2.7 are part of the NTE totals per publication.

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52 Attch 10, PPQ Part I Instruction

In the SOW the three performance areas are Program Management, Engineering and Technical Services, and Professional Services (not/not Administrative and Other Services as this form has). The “Admin and Other Services” is from Group B.

Can you tell me if a mod or correction needs to be issued, or should we use as is and ignore the reference to Admin and Other Services?

Amendment 0001 will revise Attachment 10 to show Professional Services vice Admin & Other

53 H92222-14-R-0020 L L2.2.1.1

L.2.3.1

36 &

Given the page restraint and number of subtasks for each of the Sample Tasks, is the Offeror to provide an approach to executing all tasks and subtasks, or to demonstrate that our Team has the personnel with experience and capabilities to execute the requirements?

L2.2.1.1 is a requirement of Sub-factor 1.1 Program Management. This is part of the offerors technical proposal with managing the IDIQ contract.

L2.3.1 is a requirement of Sub-factor 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3.

Under these Sub-factors, offerors must address Personnel and TO Management and Transition Plan specifically for each TO (SORDAC, SMEP, and J5 Strategic and Plans Support).

54 H92222-14-R-0020 L L4.2 Contrac t Type

(FFP):

38 There is minimal direction in terms of FFP and how the government is expecting it to be proposed (i.e. FFP with deliverables vs. FP LOE). Can the Government clarity which pricing method is desired for each Sample Task?

Note: Only the J2 Directorate of Intelligence is a Sample SOW, the other 3 Task Orders will be awarded as a result of this competition.

The contract type for the 3 TO's to be awarded is FFP.

Offerors are to propose all resources it needs to perform the tasks delineated in the SOW (SORDAC and J5) and

PWS (SMEP).

55 H92222-14-R-0020 and Attachment 10

J and L Attachm ent 10 and L.3.4

Attachment 10 requires information for 3 POCs. Is it acceptable for the Offeror to send the PPQ to just one of the POCs listed? Does it matter which POC we send the PPQ to?

Yes.

No.

56 Attch 8 J5 Strategic & Plans Support

2.0 Specific

Requirements

2.18 5 Is the Task Lead one of the direct charge FTEs on this Task Order to be included with the other positions listed in Figure 1 under Section 4.1?

The Task Lead will perform task lead duties in addition to the position duties associated with one of the FTEs identified in the SOW.

57 Atch_7_SMEP_ J 8 10 of

This travel requires travel to Iraq and Afghanistan in performance of this task order. Can the Government address the security measures that it will take to provide safety for contractor personnel while performing work or traveling into and out of hazardous areas?

Travel to hazardous locations will be with US forces if required.

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58 Atch_7_SMEP 2 2.5 4 Is the UNIPATH key leader engagement team support the only entity that the contractor will provide support to? This excludes the other three publications and their staffs.

Support to the UNIPATH KLE team is a specific CENTCOM requirement. The offerors should propose a support/management strategy as appropriate to meet deliverables.

59 Atch_7_SMEP 2 2.9.2 5 Is the analytics support confined only to the Asia Pacific Defense Forum (APDF)? None of the other publications are identified.

Analytics support to the Asia Pacific Defense Forum is a specific PACOM requirement. The offerors should propose a support/management strategy as appropriate to meet deliverables.

60 Atch_7_SMEP 2 2.10 5 Is the distribution list management (i.e., maintain and verify on a regular basis) confined to only UNIPATH?

None of the other publications are identified.

UNIPATH is the only product requiring distribution list maintenance and verification.

61 Atch_7_SMEP 5 5 9 Are there Regional Task Lead positions at AFRICOM (Germany), EUCOM (Germany), and PACOM (Hawaii)?

That is the current Contractors management approach.

62 Atch_7_SMEP

5 5 9

If OCONUS positions required, are the positions TESA-approved and sponsored by the Government? If not, is it the Government's expectation that contractor employees will live on the economy?

This is a deliverables based contract; as such no positions are required or directed. If the Contractor's proposed management approach includes OCONUS positions, the Government would not know at this time if those positions would be TESA approved. TESA eligibility will be determined by the location of the proposed locations.

63 Atch_7_SMEP

8 8 10

Is it accurate that EUCOM will NOT require travel since they are not identified in the Estimated Travel Requirements Table?

No. The estimated travel requirements in paragraph 8 reflect the Government's best estimate of written travel taskings. It does not reflect contractor travel in direct support of development the deliverables.

64 Atch_7_SMEP 10 10 10 Will the Government provide any Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) or other materials in support of this Task Order?

No.

65 Atch_7_SMEP 10 10 10 Will GFE (i.e., design software, computers) be provided to the awarded contractor or should all offerors price GFE?

No GFE provided.

66 Attch 1, IDIQ SOW 6.3 7 The paragraph states that the contractor is to report ALL contract hours to the web address: http://www.ecmra.mil.

Section I, clause FAR 52.204-15, instructs the contractor to report ALL hours using web address: www.SAM.gov.

Please tell us if there is a conflict in the clauses or whether we are to report to two locations?

Amendment 0001 will remove 52.204-15.