H92239-13-R-0004_Solicitation_Questions_and_Responses_-_Final.pdf

Contractor Questions for JSOMTC Medical Instruction, Fort Bragg, NC

Solicitation No. H92239-13-R-0004

29 April 2013 through 15 MAY 2013

Solicitation

Reference Comments/ Questions

None

07 May 13

1. Question. Has a pre-proposal conference been scheduled? Government Response:

No.

None

07 May 13

If there is an existing contract is in place: Government Response: Additional information can be found on FEDBIZOPS under the previous contract solicitation/award notice (H92239-10-R-0001 and H92239-10-C-0006).

2. Question. Who is the incumbent company? Government Response: Decypher

Technologies, LTD.

3. Question. Is the incumbent eligible to submit a bid as prime for this solicitation?

Government Response: The Government cannot confirm a vendor's eligibility prior to its submission of a proposal.

4. Question. What is the contract number under which the work is currently being performed? Government Response: H92239-10-C-0006

5. Question. What was the previous contract award value to include base and option years? Government Response: The Government will only release the pricing information which was posted on FEDBIZOPS at the previous contract award notice.

Total contract value in the award notice was $6,577,156.80.

6. Question. What was the total contract period of performance (base and all options)?

Government Response: Base and two (2) optional years. POP is 01 JUL 10 – 30

JUN 13.

7. Question. When was the contract awarded (month & year)? Government Response:

JUN 2010

8. Question. Is the customer satisfied with the performance of the contract personnel currently performing on the contract? Government Response: The Government does not release vendor performance data as it is not relevant to this requirement.

9. Question. What is the longevity or employment start dates of the contract personnel currently performing on the contract? Information is needed to determine amount of vacation pay owed to the current employees that elect to remain with the new contractor. Government Response: The contract's POP is 01 JUL 10 – 30 JUN 13.

10. Question. Are the requirements in this current SOW the same as the requirements on the existing contract? Are there any new/additional requirements? Government

Response: Per the SOW and Section L, there is potential for growth. It is the offeror's responsibility to respond in accordance to the current solicitation which may include some revisions.

SOW

07 May 13

11. Question. Is there a requirement to write to all paragraphs of the PWS or the ones relevant to the evaluation criteria and offeror’s solution or will the Government specify which PWS tasks must be addressed? Government Response: Review

Sections L & M thoroughly in the SOW and prepare a proposal in accordance with the instructions in Section L.

Page 20 12. Question. Paragraph C1.1.1. Who is expected to be in the Phase In/Phase Out?

Government Response: Per SOW, Sections C.1.1.1 and C.1.1.2, the Government and the contractor's CM shall address the requirements at an initial meeting. The contractor shall determine which employees are required to observe operations without hindering normal operations.

Page 10 13. Question. Item No 1001AE. 1 st Option year optional. How is surge pricing calculated in total price? Do we use max amount of 41 instructors? The CLIN only supports 1 instructor. Government Response: The projected growth of 26 SOF-P FTEs will be calculated in the total price . The surge is projected to occur in the base period per

29 April 2013 through 15 MAY 2013

Amendment 01. Offerors were requested to provide a per instructor price in order to capture the surge as it occurs. All 26 positions may not be filled in the base period but based on the per instructor price provided the firm fixed monthly price will be calculated. (Number of surge FTEs times the offeror's per instructor price).

Page 64 14. Question. The Key Personnel descriptions are not included in Wage Determination

NO: 2005-2393, as referenced in Exhibit 3. Is there another Wage Determination schedule that we can refer to that more closely resembles the key personnel descriptions? Government Response: It is a contractor responsibility to determine which WD fits the description. The Government identified the most current WD per the DOL Website. See Section L Revisions.

Pages 91 &

15. Question. Paragraph L.5.1 (page 91) L states that the offeror shall submit a total price for each CLIN, except for travel AND overtime CLINS; however, paragraph

M.1 (page 93) states that the offeror shall quote on all items, except for travel only. Is travel and overtime excluded, or just travel? Government Response: Per section

L.5.1, travel and overtime CLINS are not included.

0001AC

16. Question: Can customer provide planned annual course/training schedule for all supported curriculums/courses? Government Response: No, a training schedule is not available during the solicitation phase. Per SOW Section C.1.7, the Government provided the holidays and non-duty days that are planned. Over-time will be approved by the COR when there is a requirement.

Page 10 17. Item No 1001AE. Is for possible growth of SOF-P instructors from 15 estimated

FTEs to 41.

Question: If this growth is authorized and funded, what is the estimated phase-in timeline from plan to execution to allow for identifying, hiring, training and preparing additional

SOF-P instructors? Government Response: See Response #13. The customer has a phased plan for the base year if funded. Prospective contractors shall be required to fill vacant SOF-P instructor (surge) positions within thirty (30) days upon official notification of the new requirement.

Page 21 18. Paragraph C.1.2.3. Lists all components of USSOCOM that participate in JSOMTC courses.

Question (3 parts). Do Foreign or Partner Nation SOF medical personnel attend any of the JSOMTC courses, if so, do any of the contract instructors require foreign language and if so, which languages? Government Response: There are classes that could contain foreign students. However, there is no contractor requirement for foreign languages. All instruction is in English.

SOW Page 25 19. Paragraph C.1.4.2. States that the contractor shall provide names of all employees who will be driving POVs onto the installation and the employees shall register and receive registration decals from the PMO.

Question: The PMO no longer issues vehicle registration decals to individuals. The

CAC card is now the accepted form of identification to gain access on base. Is this still a valid requirement? Government Response: This paragraph shall be deleted since the requirement is no longer valid. However, the contractor is required to comply with all installation entry requirements of the Fort Bragg PMO and is responsible for employees and their vehicles entering Fort Bragg.

C.3.2.2.4

20. Paragraph C.3.2.2.4. The AMIs shall serve as primary teaching staff in eight concurrently run medical curriculum programs.

Question: The solicitation lists three medical curriculums: SOCMSS, SOCM and SFMS.

What are the other five programs? Government Response: SOCM and SFMS are each

29 April 2013 through 15 MAY 2013 conducted 8 times a year, with varying overlaps. At least eight iterations are conducted concurrently. SOCMSSC is conducted 22 times a year and is concurrent with the other courses.

Page 91 21. Paragraph L.5.1 Factor 3. States the offeror shall submit a total price for each contract line item number (CLIN) contained within Schedule B of the SF 33, except for the travel and overtime CLINs. In addition, Section M – Evaluation Factors for Award, Page 93, Section M.1 Best Value Introduction, states an Offeror shall quote on all items in Schedule B, except for travel, to be eligible for award.

Question: Are Offerors to provide a total price for each CLIN contained within Schedule

B of the SF 33, except for the travel and overtime CLINs? Government Response: Yes.

Refer response #15. Per section L.5.1, travel and overtime CLINS are not included.

Page 88 22. L.3 VOLUME 2 – FACTOR 1 – Management/Technical, Sub Section L.3.1:

Subfactor 1: Management Plan, Section (2) Experience and qualifications of proposed

Key Personnel.

Question: Are sampling of proposed resumes included in the 40 page limit number for

Volume 2? Government Response: Review Section L.1.11 in the table, under Number of Pages column, the Management/Technical Plan is limited to the following: 40 +

Executive Summary (5 pages) + Key Personnel Resumes.

Page 94 23. Management / Technical Evaluation Standards; Sub Factor 1: Management Plan;

M.3.1.2 Experience and qualifications of proposed key personnel. Each offer shall provide a sampling of resumes for each key personnel category using the format contained in Technical Exhibit 7. Question: How do you numerically define a sampling? Government Response: There is no number identified. However, the contractor must provide an equal representation per each key personnel category. The requested minimum number of required resumes- 1 x CM, 1 x SIM, 1 x AMI, 5 x

SOF-P.

Page 64 24. Question. The Key Personnel descriptions are not included in Wage Determination

NO: 2005-2393, as referenced in Exhibit 3. Is there another Wage Determination schedule that we can refer to that more closely resembles the key personnel descriptions? Government Response: It is a contractor responsibility to determine which WD fits the description. The Government identified the most current WD per the DOL Website. The Government provided an employee class as information only

– per the FAR Clause 52.222-42 STATEMENT OF EQUIVALENT RATES FOR

FEDERAL HIRES (MAY 1989).

Section L.2.1

9 May 13

25. Question. Can you confirm that if we bid on the requirement with a sub, the Facility

Clearance is required from both? Government Response: Review the SOW

(C.1.3.4) and Sections L.2.1. and M.2.1. See below.

C.1.3.4. SECURITY OF CLASSIFIED ITEMS, SYSTEMS AND INFORMATION. The contractor shall possess or obtain a facility clearance at the classification level of

SECRET. The contractor shall initiate a request for facility clearance within 2-days after award of the contract if the contractor does not currently possess the requisite security facility clearance. The contractor shall be required to submit all applicable company information necessary to adjudicate a facility security clearance utilizing a Government-furnished DD Form 254. Contractor employees shall have a SECRET security clearance.

L.2.1 Facility Clearance. The offeror must have a Secret Facility Clearance as accredited by the Defense Security Service (DSS). The contractor shall indicate whether or not he currently has a clearance and at what level. If the contractor does not possess the required clearance at the time of proposal and all other factors are equal the vendor possessing the required facility clearance will receive a higher performance rating.

M.2.1 Facility Clearance. The offeror provided proof of a cleared SECRET Facility

29 April 2013 through 15 MAY 2013

Clearance as accredited by the Defense Security Service (DSS).

Reference:

Section L.1.1.

Section L.1.9

26. Question. Is the proposal to be submitted electronically or are there hard copy requirements? Government Response: L.1.1 refers to the solicitation. L.1.9 and

L.1.10 refers to the contractor's proposal. There is a requirement for proposals to be

BOTH electronic and hard-copy. Section L.1.11. shall be revised to reflect "and" vice

"or".

Section

L.1.11

27. Question. Please clarify the number of electronic copies and whether there are hard copy print and/or CD requirements for this proposal? Government Response:

Answered on question 26. See Table following section L.1.11.

L.1.11 &

L.5.3

28. Question. Please clarify what the 50 page limit applies to or if it is relevant to this proposal. Section L.1.11 provides different page limits for various volumes of the proposal, but does not identify a 50 page limit for any volume. Section L.5.3 identifies a 50 page limit? Government Response: Advisory Notice L.5.3 shall be revised to reflect the maximum total of each volume per Table L.1.11.

L.2.2 29. Question. Please clarify if electronic only submission is the plan for this proposal?

Government Response: See L.1.11. Electronic and hard copy submission. See response 28.

L.4.1.1 30. Question. Please clarify. Would the Government like 3 only or up to 5 Past

Performance for the Prime? Does the Government want an additional (up to three)

Past Performances for the major subs/teaming partners or is the total number of past performances combined between prime and sub? Government Response: Review

Section L.4.1.1 since the instructions state 3-5 PP submissions. There is no preference on number. Contractors are encouraged to submit PP information/references that are very relevant (scope and size) and recent.

L.4.1.1.2

31. Question. Attachments 1 and 2 have not yet been provided; will the Government provide these attachments? Government Response: The attachments (1 and 2) shall be posted to FEDBIZOPS: Past Performance Questionnaire (Exhibit 8) and

Cover Letter (Exhibit 9).

OT and

Travel CLINS

32. Question. Will there be a dollar amount listed with the actual solicitation that reflects money allocated for Overtime and Travel considerations? Or are contractors required to price each subCLIN? Government Response: No. Amounts will be listed at contract award. OT and Travel should not be included in the total price of an offeror's proposal.

SOW

C.1.3.3.4.2 and

C.1.3.3.4.1

33. Question. SOF-P Instructional hours for the year are listed at 27,240 hours. This equates to 1,816 hours per individual. This differs from the listed AMI hours in paragraph C.1.3.3.4.1 (5,640/3 FTE = 1880 per billet) with a difference of 64 hours.

Should the SOF-P hours be 28,200 to correspond to the same number of individual hours? Government Response: Yes. SOF-P is increased to 39,480 hours to reflect the increase from 15 to 21 FTEs. The SOW paragraphs shall be revised to reflect both categories at 1880 hrs per year.

Page 84, 5652.215-

34. Question. If the contract or contracting document for which the Past

Performance reference is based does not contain any mention of a Federal

Supply Code, is it acceptable to list as N/A for Not Available? Government

Response: No. The USSOCOM Supplemental Clause 5652.215-9008 is read only, so no changes could be made to the clause. However, Item 3. Federal Supply Code should not be left blank since there are corresponding Product Service Codes (PSCs).

The list below provides the general category of service, and then by clicking the website link and individual category header , all of the PSCs under that PSC category

29 April 2013 through 15 MAY 2013 will come up (example: A – Research & Development has over 50+ PSCs). Provided is the list of PSCs categories and the website that can help determine the actual PSC for the contract: http://www.outreachsystems.com/resources/tables/pscs/.

35. Question. Can the current workforce be contacted? Posting of bulletin boards?

Government Response:

All meetings between prospective offerors and current contractor employees shall be on the contractor employee’s personal time at an off-site location.

It is assumed that a good faith offer would be provided to the current employees prior to contract award. The Government can only assume that each firm has established procedures on recruiting personnel and therefore we cannot provide specific instruction on how this will be accomplished. A letter of intent from a current employee in good standing is an acceptable substitute for a resume as a representation of the vendor proposed staffing.

The Government will post "contractor information” for recruitment purposes visible to current employees. Submission shall be sent to the Contracting Office and forwarded to the Contracting Officer's Representative for posting.

36. Question. How many resumes are required for proposal submission?

Government Response: Refer to Government response #23. There is no number identified. However, the contractor must provide an equal representation per each key personnel category. The requested minimum number of required resumes- 1 x CM, 1 x SIM, 1 x AMI, 5 x SOF-P.

37. Question. Does the sampling of resumes for each key personnel provided in the proposal require that these personnel be mandated to be available after the two-week Phase-In Period? Government Response: No. The Government shall only require the CM and SIM for the Phase-In Period.

38. Question. Pertaining to Live Tissue Training requirements. Is the Offeror required to have a Medical Research Packet that is USDA and SOCOM approved? Government Response: No.

Solicitation

pp. 59, 68, and 94

a. Page 59 indicates that AMIs and SOF-P instructors identified as Key Personnel

b. Page 68 of the RFP indicates resumes of Key Persons must bear the Name & Title

c. Page 94 of the RFP indicates that resumes shall not include the name of the individuals being proposed.

39. Question. Request clarification. Instructions appear contradictory. Are resumes to bear names or not? Government Response: Per Section M.3.1.2. Experience and qualifications of proposed Key Personnel, resumes submitted shall not have names.

Paragraph a. is part of SOFARS Clause 5652.237-7001 and Paragraph b. references

Past Performance Information.

Solicitation

pp. 70, 84, 89, and 90

a. Page 70 of the RFP provides REFERENCE INFORMATION SHEET content information to be used for submission of relevant project information for up to ten

(10) projects. Government Response: If not READ ONLY, this section shall be revised to state "5 projects maximum".

http://www.outreachsystems.com/resources/tables/pscs/

29 April 2013 through 15 MAY 2013

b. Page 84 of the RFP indicates offerors will provide Past Performance Data information for up to three (3) contracts. This data is not 100% identical to the information prescribed for the project RFI sheets. Government Response: If not READ ONLY, this section shall be revised to state "5 projects maximum".

c. Page 89 of the RFP, Item L.4.1.1 requires submission of Past and Present Performance

Information Sheets--up to a maximum of five (5) and a minimum of three (3).

d. Page 90 of the RFP, Item L.4.1.1.2 indicates submission requirements for

Questionnaires corresponding to Item L.4.1.1.

40. Question.

a. Request clarification. Are offerors to use either or both the Ref Info Sheet and

Past & Present Performance Info Sheets for whatever number of examples are required per Page 89?

b. Aren’t the requirements for “b “c” and “d” above, contradictory regarding the number of examples to be submitted?

Government Response: See Government Response 30. Please review Section

L.4.1.1 since the instructions state 3-5 PP submissions. There is no preference on number. Contractors are encouraged to submit PP information/references that are very relevant (scope and size) and recent.

Solicitation p.

41. Question. What are the applicable labor categories for each position under Wage

Determination No.: 2005-2393, Rev: 13, Date: 06/13/2012? Government Response:

Refer to Government response #14. The Government provided an employee class as information only – per the FAR Clause 52.222-42 STATEMENT OF EQUIVALENT

RATES FOR FEDERAL HIRES (MAY 1989).

5652.214-

9001 Alt 1, p.84

42. Question. Section L (b) states “all offers shall be sent electronically to the address shown in Block 8 of the SF 33.” Please clarify that statement. Will that be in addition to physical submission? Does this refer only to the completed SF 33? Government

Response: Yes. Section L.1.11 states Proposal Submission Requirements – Proposal submissions shall be in electronic and hard copy form in accordance with the table after L.1.11. Revised to include both electronic and hard copy submission. RFP, Section L is amended to read "and" vice "or".

43. Question. Does the Government require Representations and Certifications to be completed by subcontractors as well as the prime? Government Response: Yes.

Section

C.1.3.3.4.1,

44. Question. Paragraph C.1.3.3.4.4 was not included within the RFP. Please confirm the requirements chart referenced on page 23 of 97 refers to the chart which follows

C.1.3.3.4.3.? Government Response: Yes. The reference to paragraph C.1.3.3.3.4 shall be revised.

45. Question. Would a cross-reference/compliance matrix be excluded from the page count? Government Response: Yes.

Clause

5652.237-

46. Question. According to Clause 5652.237-9001, all of the Advanced Medical

Instructors and SOF Paramedic (SOF-P) Instructors are classified as Key Personnel.

Government Response. “Key personnel" as related to 5652.237-9001 is used to relay the importance of maintaining the same level of personnel proposed throughout the life of the contract. In this reference all AMIs and SOF-P instructors are key and the requirements noted in this clause must be maintained. In the PWS, the key persons identified are the Contract Manager (CM) and the Senior Instructor Manager (SIM).

Per response #23, the requested minimum number of required resumes- 1 x CM, 1 x

SIM, 1 x AMI, 5 x SOF-P. Please be advised that this is a best value award and an overall representation of your proposed staff will be considered whether it is letters of

29 April 2013 through 15 MAY 2013 intent from current employees or qualified staff currently employed by the firm.

Clause

52.222-17

47. Question. Will contractors be given the names and contact information for the current AMI and SOF-P instructors? If not, please clarify, that Key Personnel includes all of the AMI and SOF-P instructors and the necessity for the Resumes and Letters of

Intent to perform the evaluation of contractor proposals.

Government Response. It is assumed that a good faith offer would be provided to the current employees prior to contract award. The Government can only assume that each firm has established procedures on recruiting personnel and therefore we cannot provide specific instruction on how this will be accomplished. A letter of intent from a current employee in good standing is an acceptable substitute for a resume as a representation of the vendor proposed staffing.

The Government will post "contractor information” for recruitment purposes visible to current employees. Submission shall be sent to the Contracting Office and forwarded to the Contracting Officer's Representative for posting. All meetings shall be on the contractor employee’s personal time at an off-site location.

Pg. 97, Section

M3.1.2

48. Question. Please define “sampling”, is there a required number from each category?

Should they come from the incumbent personnel (see questions 2 and 3 above)?

Government Response: Refer to Government response #23. It is an offeror's responsibility to submit the required documentation.

Pg. 43 and 51 49. Question. “Clauses Incorporated By Reference” lists FAR Clause 52.222-41 Service

Contract Act of 1965. Can the Government confirm that this contract will be covered under the Service Contract Act and the Wage Determination labor categories and WD

Registers for the various locations? Government Response: The FAR Clause FAR

Clause 52.222-41 is included in the RFP. Refer to Government responses 14 & 24.

50. Question. Who is the incumbent? Government Response: Answered Response #2.

Section G Pg.

51. Question. Is there a predetermined insurance amount for each category? An example was used in Section G. Page 39? Government Response: Per referenced SOFARS

Clause, 5652.228.9000 REQUIRED INSURANCE (2003) Section G and FAR Clause

52.228-5 , the kinds and minimum amounts of insurance required are listed. It is a contractor responsibility to adhere to the requirements within the clauses.

52. Question. Do any of the AMI, SOF-PD or any management position require an active security clearance? What level? Government Response: Yes. All teaching positions and contractor employees entering the JSOMTC require an active SECRET clearance at the initiation of performance. Refer to SOW, paragraphs. C.1.1.2.3, C.1.3.4 and the DD 254 (exhibit 6). Per C.1.3.4, “… Contractor employees shall have a SECRET security clearance.”. If an off-site contract manager (CM) does not have an active security clearance, the primary hindrance would be their lack of access to the USASOC computer network (ASOC NET). If the CM/contractor employee is truly eoff-site, and does not require entry into the JSOMTC very often, then a security clearance shall not be required.