H9227720R0019 - RFIs.pdf

Atmospheric Reporting and PAI

Solicitation RFIs & Answers

1. The ‘beta.sam.gov’ website link where the solicitation is posted states the due date is

May 20, 2020 05:00 pm EDT, and on the solicitation it states 05:00pm Local Time. Can you confirm that the solicitation is due by 05:00pm Eastern Time?

Answer: Confirmed; proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

2. Under ‘Instructions to Offers’, it states that any pages that exceed the page limitation will not be considered. What is the page limitation for the technical response?

Answer: Page limitation for technical proposal is 40 pages. Page limitation for price proposal is 5 pages. The Addendum to 52.212-1 has been amended to include this information.

3. The descriptions for CLINs 0001 and 1001 reference ‘Content Delivery’, yet no content delivery is requested in the solicitation. Can you clarify?

Answer: “Content Delivery” has been removed from the two CLINs as it is not a requirement for contract performance.

4. For CLIN 0003 and 1003 (DBA insurance), the description references a Performance

Work Statement (PWS) dated 25 Mar 2020. In this document the PWS is dated 7 May 2020. Can you clarify?

Answer: A new PWS dated 18 May 2020 has been added to the solicitation. All CLINs have been updated to reflect this PWS revision date.

5. In “1.4.3.3 Subtask – Target Audience Research and Consultation”, it states that: “For each program, as designated by CJSOTF-I, the contractor shall provide a media campaign strategy with a detailed execution plan that contains the rationale for executing the program, measurable objectives, target audience information, tactics, and detailed timetables.”

Answer:

a. By CJSOTF-I, do you mean CJSOTF-OIR?

b. Yes, that is the same. Small typo. OIR is the new I.

6. 1.5 Period of Performance states: “The period of performance shall begin 5 days from the date the Contracting Officer issues the Notice to Proceed (NTP) for a period of twelve

(12) months with one (12) month option periods. The period of performance covers from set-up of necessary service items at locations to be determined, through the end of contract period of performance and retrieval of equipment. Within five (5) days of NTP, all essential Food catering services must be fully operational. Contract period of performance will be canceled IAW FAR termination procedures IOT provide the Contractor 30 days’ notice of the US Government’s intent should the need arise. This contract can be terminated at any time, by the either party with 30 days’ notice to terminate.”

a. This statement appears to reflect food catering service requirements. Can you clarify these terms in relation to the stated deliverables on the PWS?

b. That should be deleted. Not sure how that ended up in there – perhaps from a previous PWS from the vendor?

7. 1.6.5 Place of Performance - this section notes that the "Place of Performance is any location Special Operations Command Central assigns CJSOTF-OIR an area of responsibility. The contractor shall be required to travel to CONUS and OCONUS locations and personnel shall be located at CONUS and OCONUS locations.”

a. How often do you anticipate the contractor needing to travel to CONUS and OCONUS locations? And which locations may these be? We understand if it's uncertain at the moment, but want to ensure we budget appropriately so any guidance is helpful.

b. Contractor should expect to travel to locations in the southern/eastern United States and locations in the Middle East (possibly including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Iraq, or Syria.)

8. The Deliverables Crosswalk references “PWS Task 1.4.5, Task 5: Consultation on

Content Development for Campaign Planning”, yet this Task is not included in the PWS. Can you clarify what is expected with this deliverable?

The reference to PWS Task 1.4.5, Task 5: should be deleted. This was a mistake. The only PWS Tasks that should be included in the PWS are:

1.1.1 Task 1 – Provide Project Management

1.1.2 Task 2 – Provide Transition-In and Transition-Out Support

1.1.3 Task 3 – Provide Atmospheric Reporting and Research Analysis

9. As per 5.4.1, the DBA insurance requirement also applies to all Subcontractors performing under this PWS. Is the DBA insurance also cost reimbursable for the subcontractors?

1) Answer: Yes, subcontractors are covered under the DBA CLIN.

10. If this solicitation is in fact Final, can the Government have the DRAFT watermark removed from the SF1449 and re-issued for Offeror completion / submission?

Answer: The final version, without Draft watermark has been posted to beta.SAM.

11. CLIN 0003 and CLIN 1003 reference a PWS dated 25 March 2020. This solicitation was previously released and has now been amended, can the Government please confirm this should state 7 May 2020 to coincide with the newly revised PWS?

Answer: A new PWS dated 18 May 2020 has been added to the solicitation. All CLINs have been updated to reflect this PWS revision date.

12. 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items (Oct 2014) - The Government has not completed the fill-ins in this clause. Will the Government please advise on evaluation ratings criteria?

Answer: Fill-ins have been completed for 52.212-2. Please see revised posting.

13. Offeror notes that FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions have had changes from the original solicitation. Numbers #25 and #26 were added to the list, but not checked, #28 and #29 were checked when not previously, #31 unchecked, #33 checked, #34 unchecked, #35 unchecked, #42 checked, #44 unchecked, #55 checked, #57 unchecked, #58 checked, #60 unchecked, and e(1)xiv unchecked (which is CTIP, which is also still required and supplied as Attachment 2). Can the Government review and confirm these changes?

Answer: All clauses have been reviewed and the appropriate ones have been marked.

14. Offeror notes the removal of DFARS 252.225-7043 Anti-Terrorism Force Protection Policy for Defense Contractors clause from new solicitation, but that requirement(s) for AT FP training still exist and are provided as Attachment 1 - can the Government confirm this clause is still applicable?

Answer: DFARS clause 252.225-7043 has been added to the solicitation.

15. Paragraph 1.1.4 Task 4 – Provide Consultation on Atmospheric Reporting and PAI Analysis Projects remains in para 1.1, but the entire task (1.4.4 TASK 4) has been removed from the body of the PWS. Can the Government confirm that Task 4 is not required?

Answer: Yes, this task is not required.

16. Attachment 3 - Deliverables Crosswalk. The table references “Section 1.4.5 Task 5 Content development” even though this requirement [even in its former designation of former PWS 1.4.4 Task 4] has been removed from the 7 May 2020 PWS. Can the Government please revise deliverables crosswalk to remove this requirement?

Answer: Yes, deliverables crosswalk revised and task 1.4.5 Task 5 deleted. See attached updated deliverables crosswalk.

17. 1.6.7.1 states: "The contractor shall ensure that, at a minimum the Chief Operating Officer and one additional person have personnel shall have up to a Top Secret Security Clearance." Companies of all sizes are structured differently, and some do not a COO appointment. Would the Government accept a senior member of our corporate leadership team with Top Secret Clearance, and an additional individual to ensure that a minimum of 2 staff hold TS clearance?

Answer: Yes, this is acceptable.