POSTED_Q As.docx

Questions and Answers – H92240-16-T-0070

1) References: Performance Work Statement (PWS), Page 2 of 3, dated Apr 2016, Section 15, Period of Performance;

Question: The first three courses have scheduled dates in 2016 running concurrent, will vendors receive a notification period for scheduling an option course in 2017 if exercised by the Government, for example a 30 day notification for scheduling a 2017 option course? Vendors will receive a 30 day notification if a class option is exercised in FY 2017; see FAR 52.217-9

2) Reference: Performance Work Statement (PWS), Page 1 of 3, dated Apr 2016, Section 3, Scope; which states; The Contractor shall provide course curriculum and instruction for 48 students for an Electronic Security and Signature Reduction (ESSR) course and Section 4, Requirements, which states; Training must be conducted over three classes with a maximum student to instructor ratio of 16:1 per class during 27 June 2016 – 15 July 2016 timeframe.

Question: As there are three courses scheduled, are vendors to assume 48 students per course (three instructors) or 3 courses of 16 students (one instructor)?

16 students per course

3) References: Performance Work Statement (PWS), Page 1 of 3, dated Apr 2016, Section 4, Requirements

Question-1: Is there a preferred operating system? No preference Question-2: Is there a student guide takeaway or will the handout be utilized in subsequent classes? Not clear on what student guide takeaway is being referenced; there is no requirement for this in the PWS.

Question-3: Is there a hands-on vs classroom instruction requirement, e.g. 2 hour classroom to 1 hour hands-on? No requirement, up to the vendor.

4) Please confirm number of students per class. 16 students

5) Please confirm the length of each class. It is our assumption that each iteration is five (5) days in length. However, the class notionally scheduled for the week of 4 July is only four (4) days in length. That is correct; normally a 5-day class, but one iteration is a 4-day class to accommodate July 4th holiday.

6) What is the technical skill level of the student? Basic to moderate, moderate to advanced or advanced?

Basic

7) What operating systems will need to be addressed on a computing platform? LINUX (which specific distributions), Microsoft (which versions) or Mac OS X (which versions)?

Primarily Microsoft, and Mac OS if possible. Latest versions are preferred.

8) What operating system will need to be addressed on a mobile computing platform? Windows, Apple iOS or Android?

All

9) On traditional computing platforms are there any specific software suites that need to be addressed? If so, please identify.

Beyond operating system, Microsoft and iOS, no.

10) On mobile computing platforms are there any specific applications that need to be addressed? If so, please identify.

All popular social media applications.

11) Please advise NSW position with respect to Contractor travel. Refer A, B and C below.

A. Solicitation Attachment (2) states “*Any and all travel required to provide the class shall be included in the firm fixed price of the class”.

B. Solicitation Attachment (1),Paragraph 7.1 states “CONTRACTOR TRAVEL Government will cover contractor travel.”

C. Solicitation Attachment page 8 states “Any and all travel required to provide the COI shall be included in the firm fixed price of the class”.

Travel is to be included in the price of the class.

12) Please advise if there are any special requirements, including software that are not listed in the Solicitation package. Refer A below.

A. NAVSEA awarded a contract for Electronic Security and Signature Reduction (ESSR) Course of Instruction via Solicitation N00174-16-Q-0012. The contracting office, upon being contacted about this sole source award, communicated “They thought it unusual that a "special software" was used and not explained in the PWS nor could it be located anywhere online.” The contract was awarded without re-advertisement of the solicitation with these requirements.

No special requirements

13) In the interests of fostering Small Businesses contract awards to qualified contractors, is NSW considering amending the RFP as a Small Business Set-Aside? Yes, it has been amended to a SB aside

14) If not being re-advertised as a small business set aside, though not cited in the evaluation criteria, is there any preference for small businesses? n/a

15) Please confirm there are no page length restrictions for each volume, rather the only proposal size limitation is that individual emails shall not exceed 10 MB. (Reference RFQ page 7, 52.212-1 (m) Quote Preparation and Solicitation instructions) Technical portion revised to 10 pages

16) Please confirm that should NSW impose a page restriction for Volume 2: Technical Volume, that a Table of Contents and a Glossary of Acronyms will not be included in the total page count. These items are for the benefit of the NSW evaluator. Revised to 10 pages

17) Please advise the approximate timeframe for notification of award. June 2016

18) Please advise if NSW Intends to award The Base Year Class 1, 2 and 3 (sequential and one week apart) at time of initial notification of contract award. Yes

19) If NSW does not intend on awarding Base Year Classes 2 and 3 at time of contract award with Base Year Class 1, then please advise of approximate notification for Base Class 2 and Base Class 3. Notification 14 days prior to class start date

20) Has this course been provided to NSW in the past? And, if so, who was the incumbent? There is no incumbent

21) Is it correct by the Solicitation Alpha Code 'T' that this is an RFQ for less than $25K? The code is correct. No, this is not an RFQ for under $25K.

22) Assuming a less than $25K fixed price contract, upon award, would NSW consider an alternate means of payment, such as Credit Card vice WAWF? (Reference RFQ page 21 Clause 252.232-7006) No