Solicitation H9227726R0001 J7 OCSIC Questions and Answers 2.28.26.pdf

Questions and Answers

Solicitation: H9227726R0001 J7 OCSIC

1. Question: NAICS Code and Size Standard Please confirm the applicable NAICS code and corresponding small business size standard governing this acquisition.

Answer: 541690 Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services

2. Question: Best-Value Determination Under FAR 13.106-2(b)(4)(ii), how will the Government weigh differences in Past Performance Confidence relative to price where a higher-priced offeror demonstrates a higher confidence rating?

Answer: The Government may award to a higher-priced offeror if the contracting officer determines in a best value tradeoff that the added confidence from a superior past performance record is worth the additional cost.

3. Question: Neutral Past Performance Will offerors receiving a Neutral Confidence rating be considered non-competitive relative to offerors receiving Substantial or Satisfactory Confidence, assuming comparable pricing?

Answer: Assuming comparable pricing, an offeror with a Neutral rating will be considered less competitive because the government will view a proven history of positive past performance as a lower-risk and more valuable option. However, all the quotes received will be considered.

4. Question: Past Performance Relevancy If CPARS records are not available for OCSIC-specific work, will the Government consider similar contingency contracting, SOF logistics, or deployed staff augmentation efforts as relevant past performance?

Answer: Yes, the Government will consider similar contingency contracting, SOF logistics, or deployed staff augmentation as relevant, but the offeror is responsible for clearly demonstrating in their quote how that experience is comparable in scope and complexity to the current requirement.

5. Question: Labor Hour Basis The solicitation reflects 10,800 labor hours per year. Please confirm this represents three (3) FTEs at 72 hours per week and reflects the expected steady-state staffing model.

Answer: Yes, 10,800 labor hours per year represent three (3) FTE’s at 3,600 per year each.

6. Question: Surge Staffing Please clarify the anticipated frequency, duration, and approval process for surge staffing referenced in the CLIN structure.

Answer: No surge staffing is required, and this verbiage will be removed when solicitation is amended to add questions and answers.

7. Question: Personnel Rotation Will the Government permit personnel rotation (e.g., scheduled reliefs) for OCONUS positions, provided all qualification and clearance requirements are met?

Answer: No personnel rotation, one FTE takes leave at a time while other two FTE’s cover down operations. It is up to the contractor to determine relief schedules, any travel for leave periods will be at contractor cost.

8. Question: Key Personnel Designation Are any of the three OCSIC positions designated as Key Personnel, or may staffing changes be managed through standard COR notification procedures?

Answer: No, staffing changes are managed through standard COR notification procedures

9. Question: Clearance at Award Please confirm whether all personnel must possess an active Secret clearance at time of award, or if interim clearances will be acceptable during transition.

Answer: All support personnel must have a valid driver’s license and able to obtain and maintain a “Secret” security clearance as specified under the security requirements.

10. Question: Network Access Provisioning What is the Government’s anticipated timeline for provisioning NIPRNET and SIPRNET access for contractor personnel at Ali Al Salem Air Base?

Answer: Roughly 1-2 weeks to gain systems access pending government availability.

11. Question: Courier Authorization Based on historical operations, how frequently have contractor personnel been authorized to act as classified couriers under similar OCSIC efforts?

Answer: All contractors on this task order will require access to NIPRNET/SIPRNET computer systems at government facilities. Some contractor personnel may be authorized to courier classified information up to the “Secret” level in performance of official duties. Requests for courier approval will be submitted by a Government customer and include justification, as well as documentation of courier training, to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) PRIOR to performing the courier duty.

12. Question: Travel Expectations Beyond Kuwait, can the Government provide an estimated annual travel frequency to other CENTCOM locations (e.g., Iraq, Jordan, Syria)?

Answer: 10% annual travel frequency to other CENTCOM locations.

13. Question: Rental Vehicles Please confirm whether the two rental vehicles identified for Kuwait are shared across all three FTEs and whether replacement or surge vehicle requirements are anticipated.

Answer: The two rental vehicles identified for Kuwait are shared across all three FTEs

14. Question: Visa Requirements Are work/business visas required for all anticipated travel locations, or only for select countries where CAC/LOA is insufficient for entry?

Answer: The Contractor shall provide work/business VISAs for contractors for all locations where DOD CAC card and LOA will not suffice for country admittance.

15. Question: ODC Ceiling Adjustments If mission requirements exceed the stated NTE ODC ceilings, will the Government consider equitable adjustments via contract modification?

Answer: As long as it is mission related and government directed, the government will appropriately address the changes on the Cost CLIN and increase as needed.

16. Question: PERSTAT Format Will the Government provide a standard PERSTAT template, or may the Contractor propose a format consistent with prior SOCCENT practices?

Answer: The PERSTAT shall include certificate of completion of training dates for each individual for Logistic Automated Information Systems (AIS), VISA status, access badges status and vacation dates.

17. Question: Workload Metrics For the Monthly Workload Summary, does the Government prefer reporting by contract action, dollar value, operational activity, or another metric?

Answer: Metrics will be provided at time of award. The current summary is based on operational activity.

18. Question: Operational Tempo Changes In the event of rapid operational drawdown or expansion, how will reporting cadence and deliverable expectations be adjusted?

Answer: The government will provide direction in case of drawdown or expansion.

19. Question: Incumbent Information Is there an incumbent contractor currently performing OCSIC support for CSOJTF-C or CSOJTF-L, and if so, will the Government permit reasonable incumbent capture during transition?

Answer: Yes, there is an incumbent contractor currently performing OCSIC support .See Question 20

20. Question: Phase-In Period Will the Government allow a brief phase-in or overlap period post-award to ensure continuity of OCSIC operations?

Answer: No, when the current contract ends the OCSIC staff will redeploy.

21. Question: Solicitation; B. Evaluation; C. Factors; I. Past Performance Will the Government consider and evaluate relevant commercial past performance in lieu of Government past performance for this requirement?

Answer: Yes, the Government will consider similar contingency contracting, SOF logistics, or deployed staff augmentation as relevant, but the offeror is responsible for

22. Question: Solicitation; B. Evaluation; C. Factors; I. Past Performance; B & C Will the Government consider and evaluate past performance performed as a subcontractor in lieu of prime contractor past performance, where CPARS or other prime-level records (e.g., CPARS, FAPIIS, eSRS) are not available to the offeror?

Answer: Yes, the government will evaluate subcontractor past performance, but you must provide verifiable evidence from the prime contractor, such as a completed Past Performance Questionnaire, to validate the experience in the absence of a CPARS record.

23. Question: Current Contract Staffing Level

For situational awareness and proposal realism, please confirm whether the current contract supporting the OCSIC function is staffed with two (2) or three (3) full-time equivalents (FTEs).

Answer: OCSIC function is staffed with three (3) full-time equivalents (FTEs).

24. Question: Host Nation Business Registration

Please confirm whether contractor performance under this requirement, which is anticipated to be executed primarily on U.S. military installations in Kuwait under LOA/SPOT and applicable SOFA provisions, requires the Contractor to obtain a Kuwaiti business license or other host-nation commercial registration, or whether no host-nation business registration is required for on-base performance.

Answer: No host-nation business registration required for on-base performance.

25. Question: Pre Deployment Screening and Training

Can the Government clarify whether Contractor personnel supporting this requirement are required to complete pre-deployment processing and training through a CONUS Replacement Center (CRC) or other DoD-designated pre-deployment site (e.g., Fort Bliss), or whether personnel may deploy directly to Ali Al Salem without CRC processing?

Answer: Newly hired Contractor personnel supporting OCONUS efforts shall travel to Conus Replacement Center (CRC) training located at Fort Bliss, Texas in support of this effort prior to overseas deployment.

26. Question: Period of Performance Clarification

The RFP indicates CLIN periods extending through 29 March 2029 and references a total contract duration not to exceed 36 months via FAR 52.217-9. However, FAR 52.217-8 allows for an additional 6-month extension. Could you please confirm the maximum potential contract duration, including all options and extensions?

Answer: 1 year base contract and two (2) one-year option periods. RFP is changing to

RFQ IAW FAR 13.5.

27. Question: Labor Compensation Limits

The RFP requires pricing for 10,800 labor hours per year for three (3) FTE personnel. To ensure our pricing is compliant, we request clarification on:

Are there maximum labor rate ceilings or fully burdened rate limitations for the proposed positions?

Answer: No maximum ceiling. This is a Firm-Fixed Price and the CLINs were built off 3,600 hours per FTE per year, adding up to 10,080 for three FTE’s per year. RFP is changing to RFQ IAW FAR 13.5.

28. Question: Labor Compensation Limits ensure our pricing is compliant, we request clarification on:

Should our proposed rates include all allowable costs (base salary, fringe benefits, overhead, G&A, fee/profit), or are certain cost elements addressed separately?

Answer: See Question 27

29. Question: Labor Compensation Limits ensure our pricing is compliant, we request clarification on:

Is there a wage determination or labor category classification (e.g., Service Contract Act) that applies to these positions?

Answer: See Question 27

30. Question: DBA Insurance Clarification

For CLINs 0004, 1004, and 2004, the proposed price should represent:

The total annual premium cost for the required coverage?

Answer: Yes, total annual premium cost for 3 FTEs’ DBA insurance.

31. Question: DBA Insurance Clarification

For CLINs 0004, 1004, and 2004, the proposed price should represent:

A fixed price that covers potential adjustments during the contract term?

Answer: See question 30

32. Question:

What are the contractor’s work requirements that support force protection, if any?

Answer: None

33. Question:

Are contractors required to proficient in a side arm in order to deploy to Kuwait or elsewhere in the Levant?

Answer: No

34. Question:

Are contractors expected to perform duties Iraq, Syria, or Lebanon? If so, what are transportation and lodging arrangements and is that provided by the USG?

Answer: No, contractors are not expected to perform duties in Iraq, Syria, or Lebanon.

If this changes the government will provide direction accordingly.

35. Question:

Does the USG provide IT equipment to contractors operating OCONUS? Will they have access to CENTCOM and SOCOM servers along with USG provided cell phones?

Answer: Yes, the USG provides IT equipment to contractors operating OCONUS. Yes, contractors will access SOCOM network. USG does not provide cell phones.

36. Question:

Is the vendor required to pay travel costs for contractor semi-annual leave rotations into and out of Kuwait?

Answer: Yes

37. Question:

Will the USG provide the contractors room and board on base?

Answer: Yes, room and board will be provided.

38. Question:

To ensure contract execution without a 6-12 month delay, will the government please clarify that Offerors must have an active Secret or higher Facility Clearance capable of immediately employing cleared personnel?

Answer: See question 9.

39. Question:

In reference to Past Performance (RFQ Factor C subparagraph i.a), will the government allow narratives of no more than three (3) projects within a 3-page maximum (thereby not limiting each project to 1 page per project as some projects maybe longer and others shorter) as long as the cumulative total is only 3 pages?

Answer: Cumulative total 3 pages limit for past performance.

40. Question:

Will the government please insert clause 52.228-3 and DFARS 252.225-7040 since DBA Insurance and Foreign General Liability Insurance apply to this solicitation?

Answer: Clauses for DBA will be added to the solicitation amendment.

41. Question:

Will the government please confirm beyond a doubt that DBA and Foreign General Liability insurance cannot be billed as ODCs under CLINS 0003-1003 as a cost reimbursable expense?

Answer: No, DBA insurance will not be covered under ODCs.

42. Question:

Will the government remove the evaluation of FAR Clause 52.217-8 from the price evaluation as it is unclear if it is for just one 6-month option and/or if it includes DBA?

Answer: No, 52.217-8 must be included in your quote to reflect accurate pricing.

43. Question:

Does our status as a Turkish registered company would in any way prevent or restrict us from submitting a proposal and being considered for award under this solicitation?

Answer: No, however, contractors will be required to hold a Secret clearance.

44. Question: Solicitation B.c.i.b

Will the Government accept previously completed PPQs if CPARS are not available?

Answer: Yes, the Government will consider similar contingency contracting, SOF logistics, or deployed staff augmentation as relevant, but the offeror is responsible for

45. Question: Solicitation B.c.i.b

Will the Government accept similar experience from an exclusive teaming subcontractor who is actively working throughout the CENTCOM AOR providing visas, travel, vehicles and life support?

Answer: Yes, subcontractors’ past performance can be submitted with the prime contract’s quote.

46. Question: PWS 13

Is the government providing housing at the base for the required contractor personnel as part of camp sustainment services?

47. Question: PWS 13

Will the contractor be able to procure housing on the base for the required contractor personnel from the base life support contractor if not provided by the government?

48. Question: PWS 13

Is the government providing food through the DEFAC at the base for the required contractor personnel as part of camp sustainment services?

49. Question: PWS 13

Will the contractor be able to procure food through the DEFAC on the base for the required contractor personnel from the base life support contractor if not provided by the government?

Solicitation Amendment Notes:

Solicitation has been extended to 06 MAR 2026.

Title on the solicitation has been changed from Request for Proposal (RFP) to Request for Quote (RFQ) we are using FAR Part 13.5 Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP).

All T&M CLINs have now been updated to Cost.

All mention of Statement of Objective (SOO) has been updated to Performance Work Statement (PWS).

DBA Clauses have been added to solicitation.