H92240-15-R-0002_Q A's.docx

H92240-15-R-0002 Questions & Answers For Informational Purposes Only

1.) The solicitation has a 20 page limit for the Technical Proposal. Clause 5652.237-9000 of the Solicitation, Key Personnel Requirements, states that Resumes of all Key personnel (Instructors) must be submitted. Please confirm resumes are required and outside of the 20 page limit for the Technical Proposal.

Answer: Resumes are not required but, the page limit for the technical proposal has been increased. It is the offerors decision as to how they prepare their technical submission and address key personnel within that page limit.

2.) The Attachment 3- ELIN’s Price Spreadsheet lists 17 items to be priced. It then has totals for the base year and for each of the four option years. In the CLINs, the Solicitation requests one price for each year (base year and each of the 4 option years).

a. Is this price to be per student or per year based on the numbers on the ELIN spreadsheet?

Answer: Offerors are not required to enter pricing information in section B of the RFP and the units of issue have been clarified on revised Attachment 3 – ELIN Pricing Spreadsheet.

3.) If the price is per year, how is this billed? Monthly? What if there are fewer students than projected? Is that yearly fee still billed and paid by the government?

Answer: Vendors shall bill on a task order basis. Number of students will be identified prior to the issuance of a task order.

4.) If the intent is to price per student, using the Solicitation pricing pages, which allows for only one price, how is the Staticline Course pricing to be differentiated from the Freefall pricing?

Answer: Offerors are not required to enter pricing information in section B of the RFP and the units of issue have been clarified on revised Attachment 3 – ELIN Pricing Spreadsheet.

5.) In the PWS, lodging is listed under government furnished. Please confirm it is expected the contractor provides lodging and that this should be included in the price per course/student.

Answer: See revised Attachment 1 – Performance Work Statement. Section 5.5 Billeting for Instructors has been deleted.

6.) Due to the limited Static line class size with a maximum of 70 students (vice Ft Benning class sizes of 300+), a two station Swing Land Trainer (SLT) has previously proven sufficient for student throughput without impacting any schedules. Please confirm a two station SWT is acceptable vice the four station required in attachment 9, paragraph 5.

Answer: Yes. See revised Attachment 9 – Swing Land Trainer.

7.) Due to the limited Static line class size with a maximum of 70 students (vice Ft Benning class sizes of 300+), a two station Lateral Drift Apparatus (LDA) has previously proven sufficient for student throughput without impacting any schedules. Please confirm a two station LDA is acceptable vice the four station required in attachment 9, paragraph 1.

Answer: Yes. See revised Attachment 9 – Swing Land Trainer.

8.) Section J of the solicitation references attachment 6 QASP matrix. However, the actual attachment 6 provided was a Past Performance Form. Will the government be providing the QASP upon award?

Answer: See revised Section J of the solicitation; H92240-15-R-0002.

9.) Please confirm the Quality Assurance Plan is not required as part of the technical proposal but will be evaluated after the award.

Answer: Please see revised section L, Instructions to Offerors of Solicitation and section M Evaluation Factors for Award of the solicitation; H92240-15-R-0002.

10.) When will the course schedule for the upcoming year be given to the Contractor?

Answer: See Attachment 10 – NPC FY16 Course Schedule

11.) How far in advance will the Contractor be notified of any changes to the course schedule?

Answer: Changes to the course schedule are not anticipated.

12.) 252.237-7024 NOTICE OF CONTINUATION OF ESSENTIAL CONTRACTOR SERVICES states, "The offeror shall provide with its offer a written plan describing how it will continue to perform the essential contractor services during periods of crisis." This includes requiring the contractor to be able to provide essential training personnel and resources during an extended event such as a pandemic that occurs in repeated waves. In addition the contractor would need to have personnel who are capable relocating to alternate facilities on short notice.

Because of this and other more common personnel substitution situations i.e. injuries, family emergencies and last minute schedule changes, we plan to have a large pool of properly trained and certified personnel who are ready to perform their services at the level of quality we require from them.

This pool of available, qualified personnel would not all be working the course on a regular basis. For that reason the same pool would be better supported by independent contractors rather than by employees as is standard practice in our industry.

Can Instructors and Riggers work as Independent contractors?

Answer: DFAR Clause 252.237-7024 has been deleted from the solicitation; H92240-15-R-0002.

13.) Ref: Draft Solicitation, Section B. Supplies or Services and Prices

What are the payment terms and do they include prepayment or would we bill for services after each course?

Answer: Vendors shall invoice for services, identified in the task order, upon completion.

14.) Ref: Attachment 8, U.S. Wage Determination

If contractor is located in another county should we refer to our county Wage Determination standards or follow the San Diego County standards?

Answer: Wage Determinations are location specific and will be incorporated upon contract award.

15.) Do the benefits listed in the Wage Determination need to be provided or can a monetary equivalent be given to satisfy the minimum requirement?

Answer: Please see www.dol.gov/whd/govcontracts

16.) What occupation codes are used for Parachute Packer and Training Instructor?

Answer: Please see www.dol.gov/whd/govcontracts

17.) Ref: Attachment 9, Page 1, Point 4. Is it necessary to have a C-130 Mock Up or will an exact Mock Up of the actual ramp aircraft being used in training suffice?

Answer: See revised Attachment 9 – Swing Land Trainer

18.) Ref: PWS Section 4.7 Training Jackets/ Personnel Qualifications

It states that personnel have to be US citizens in order to be considered for employment with NSW. The personnel will actually be working for the successful vendor and not NSW. Do US citizen requirements still apply?

If so: What is the definition of immediate family? Who verifies family authenticity?

Is there a Grandfather clause for non US Citizens who have previously worked on this or other similar US military contracts that permit them to provide work for this solicitation?

Answer: See revised Attachment 1 – Performance Work Statement and the addition of the SOFARS Clause 5652.204-9004 Foreign Persons.

19.) Who pays for the psychological screening and where is it conducted? If this is the responsibility of the vendor, what are the associated costs?

Answer: The Government pays for the cost of the psych screening conducted by NSWATC personnel located in San Diego, CA.

20.) Who will conduct the “up to 2 random drug screenings every six months”? It states that Vendor is responsible for the expense, but does not clarify if the Navy will be conducting it or not. If the Navy conducts it, what is the cost?

Answer: The vendor shall conduct the “up 2 random drug screenings every six months”.

21.) Ref: PWS Section 4.7.4 Air Crew - Are two pilots required for day operations? Currently only one pilot is required.

Answer: Yes.

22.) Ref: PWS Sub Para. 4.7.7.6.

a. Please confirm that the Quarter Master Center and School, Fort Lee will certify all riggers and related parachute equipment to be utilized for this solicitation.

Answer: Yes, the Quarter Master Center and School, Fort Lee will certify all riggers and NSWATC will provide the parachutes for the initial certification.

b. Will the rigger training be conducted during the mobilization phase? If so, please confirm the location and duration.

Answer: Yes. The location is NSWATC, San Diego CA and the duration is 2 weeks.

23.) Ref: PWS Section 4.7.8 Instructor, states that all instructors need to have successfully completed the classroom instruction and practical S/L & MFF parachutes as a student.

Will a course be run specifically for this requirement during the Mobilization Phase? If so, please confirm the location and duration.

Answer: A response will be provide prior to the proposal due date.

24.) Ref: Attachment 9, Training Apparatuses - Please provide the building specifications for all training apparatuses including steps and lateral drift apparatus (lda), suspended harness (sh), swing landing trainer-quick release system (slt-qrs) & gravel pits?

Answer: The Government does not intend to provide additional sepecifications other than those provided in the revised Attachment 9 – Swing Land Trainer.

25.) Ref: PWS Section 5.5 Facilities/ Billeting for Instructors - Are the costs for Parachute Riggers/Packers (transportation, accommodations) for round parachute packing at the ATC Paraloft facilities at Imperial Beach covered under Billeting for Instructors 5.5?

Answer: Vendors are responsible for employee transportation and lodging costs. Section 5.5 of the PWS has been deleted.

26.) Ref: PWS Section 7.5.2.1 (subsection of Equipment Maintenance) states that the contractor will perform all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance at the ATC Paraloft facilities at Imperial Beach.

a. Will the Navy be providing transportation and accommodation for the staff that perform these services?

Answer: No.

b. Would the Navy consider having the packing of the round parachutes performed in a facility located on site and provided by the contractor. This will greatly reduce costs and allow for improved efficiency?

Answer: No.

27.) Ref: PWS Section 7.5.2.1.6 - What are the costs associated with base passes?

Answer: There are no cost associated with base passes.

28.) Ref: Attachment 3 Pricing Spreadsheet - Can you explain in further detail ELIN AA08 “17,999 (Free Fall Course)”?

Answer: Answer: See section 3.3 of the revised Attachment 1 – Performance Work Statement and revised Attachment 3- ELIN Princing Spreadsheet.

29.) Ref: Draft Solicitation page 32 Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions, Para. 4 Please confirm if both a hard copy and electronic copy are required by the bid closing date?

Answer: Please see revised section L, Instructions to Offerors of Solicitation; H92240-15-R-0002.

30.) Ref: Draft Solicitation, Page 4, Section B - Can the Navy confirm the figure of $31,650,000.00 includes the mobilization phase?

Answer: Yes

31.) How is the firm fixed price of a task and delivery order established?

Answer: Orders will be priced based on the firm fixed unit prices proposed in revised Attachment 3 – ELIN(s) Pricing Spreadsheet

32.) Are the figures associated with CLINS 0001, 1001, 2001, 3001 & 4001 a not to exceed figure for a 12 month period of training?

Answer: Yes.

33.) Is the amount entered by the vendor a firm fixed price regardless of student numbers?

Answer: The unit price is a firm fixed price. The units of issue have been clarified on revised Attachment 3 – ELIN Pricing Spreadsheet. Section M, Paragraph 3, Volume III – Price Evaluation has been revised.

34.) Is there a minimum number of students on a course?

Answer: See revised section 3.1 and 3.3 Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement

35.) Does a task / delivery order equate to a class?

Answer: The Government reserves the right to award task orders with any combinition of ELIN(s) on revised Attachment 3 – ELIN Pricing Spreadsheet to include one class or multiple classes.

36.) Ref: PWS Sub Para. 7.3 Equipment. - As per 7.3.7.1 (1 Instructor), the current anticipated training schedule requires each instructor to have 2 x parachute systems. Does the Navy require the contractor to provide both parachute systems?

Answer: Yes.

37.) Other questions and suggestions: Wind Tunnel Training - As we have all come to realize, training freefall skills in a wind tunnel greatly reduces the training time and jumps necessary to build essential freefall skills while at the same time greatly increasing safety. Calculating from the numbers presented each candidate could expect on average to do 14 minutes of simulated freefall in the wind tunnel. Based on similar training we have conducted, 14 minutes is adequate but certainly not ideal. It would be ideal to use 14 minutes during the AFF phase of the training and an additional 14 minutes during the equipment phase. This would minimize the amount of repeat jumps required and could make the difference in whether a soldier passes the course or not. For these reasons we strongly recommend doubling the amount of tunnel time used.

Answer: No change.

38.) Reference Page 18 of 32 “Draft_Solicitation” - 52.219-28 POST-AWARD SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM REPRESENTATION (SIC) (JULY 2013) Reference (d)

a. Is this Solicitation H92240-15-R-0002, a services contract or product contract?

Answer: Solicitation H92240-15-R-0002 is for services.

b. Is this Solicitation H92240-15-R-0002 a small business set aside?

Answer: Yes, 100% Small Business Set Aside.

39.) Please note that “The general information” section for Solicitation H92240-15-R-0002 on FBO.gov still calls out the NAICS code 611699 and “set aside” is Total Small Business.

Furthermore, on page 19 of 32, it allows the Responder to specify a NAICS code under which they will operate.

Answer: H92240-15-R-0002 is a 100% Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS code 611699.

40.) Will the Government (NSWATC) come to the vendor location to perform contractor psych test?

Answer: No, psych test will be performed at the NSWATC, San Diego CA.

41.) Will the Government (NSWATC) provide the necessary equipment for the initial Instructor training?

Answer: Yes, NSWATC will provide military parachute systems for the initial instructor training.

42.) If not, will we be able to use like equipment? Example: CPS MJ with Over the Shoulder Ripcord

Answer: See the response to question 41.

43.) Are prior mobilization apparatuses, that were funded by the NSWATC, property of the USG, and if so, can they be relocated to the site of the new awardee? Items such as Swing Landing Trainer, Lateral Drift Apparatus, Mock Ups etc.

Answer: No.

44.) Re: 4.7.7.4

a. We appreciate that on this Solicitation, NSWATC requires that a Master Rigger provide packin- process inspections (PIPI) on main parachutes. However, will any of the senior riggers that are currently qualified to work the current NSWATC basic course, be grandfathered in and remain qualified to provide PIPI inspections on future courses?

Answer: No.

b. Will the QAI have the ability to sign off on a senior rigger, as a waiver, to this requirement?

Answer: No.

45.) Reference 5.0 Government Furnished: (5.5. Billeting for Instructors) requirements: Please confirm that the Government is providing billeting for all the mentioned personnel at the training location and at NSWATC location, as stated in 5.5 which reads, “Billeting for instructors – lodging will be provided for all instructors, riggers, EMT and actively employed vendor personnel during the course of training.”

Answer: See revised Attachment 1 – Performance Work Statement. Section 5.5 Billeting for Instructors has been deleted.

46.) Is the contractor responsible to provide all billeting for all students throughout the duration of the static line and freefall course / training?

Answer: No.

47.) Will NSWATC allow a vendor to submit more than one (multiple) responses for Solicitation H92240-15-R-0002?

Answer: No.

48.) In reference to the above solicitation number can you confirm that the only paperwork required by the closing date is a completed copy of the draught solicitation, attachment #3 (pricing spreadsheet) & attachment #7 (past performance information form). I just want to clarify that there is no need to forward a complete proposal i.e. Technical, certification & financial document.

Answer: Please see revised section L, Instructions to Offerors of Solicitation; H92240-15-R-0002.