Questions Government Responses.pdf

RFP H98210-21-R-0010, Academic Skills Training

Vendor Questions & Government Responses

1. Due to the complexity of this solicitation, would the Government consider extending the offer due date?

Government Response: The proposal due date cannot be changed at this time.

2. Is the acquisition unrestricted to include all sizes of businesses or is it restricted to businesses with a small business size standard of $12,000,000?

Government Response: This acquisition is unrestricted (see block 10 of solicitation). All business sizes are eligible for proposal submission.

3. Please clarify how the AST solution provider/vendor will be responsible for integrating AST support throughout Service members’ military lifecycle?

Government Response: Military lifecycle refers to the ‘career path’ of service member. The intent is that a service member can use the AST resource no matter where they are in their career and get support if needed.

4. Will the Government provide the chosen vendor with an AFQT test?

Government Response: The Government can provide links to sample tests and the construction outline of the tests, but the tests are controlled instruments.

5. Request clarification from the Government on what the opt-out selection is removing from the student experience.

Government Response: It only means that automatic tutorial prompts and navigational guidance would not appear during the online training. There should be an option to turn the help feature back on.

6. Will the Government provide these tests (ASVAB, TABE or other college placement tests) to the vendor?

Government Response: The Government can provide links to sample tests and the construction outline of the tests, but the tests are controlled instruments.

7. What data is used to identify a student and match him/her to the appropriate administrator?

Government Response: Just Email, and branch of service, and military base. Please note that admin portal accounts will not be required for every military base.

8. Will the Government please specify how many unique addresses/recipients will receive printed materials and the number and quantity of printed materials?

Government Response: There are slightly over 400 unique military education service offices and 250 military base libraries. The number of printed material depends on the type and format (i.e.

poster, brochure, post cards) will determine the appropriate number to be sent to each location.

For example, a poster may only require 10 pieces, where brochures or post card may require 100 or 200 pieces. We anticipate no more than 2 marketing shipments per year. The primary emphasis of marketing should be digital due to cost and environmental concerns.

9. Please define “access location.” (Reference PWS Section 4.2.5.3).

Government Response: Access location refers primarily to military base. The purpose of this is to determine if the access issue is universal or particular to a base location.

10. Some components the Government requires will necessitate customization. Will the Government consider a longer period for full operational capability and/or a phased implementation and rollout (reference PWS Section 4.3.4.2)?

Government Response: A phased implementation would be acceptable for proposed customization for up to six months. However, the course shall be able to be completed by service members by the end of the 60 days after the initial phase in period described in 4.3.4.2. That is, the proposed new features may take longer, but the basic course needs to be available. This plan for greater customization should be included as a supplement to the phase-in plan milestone chart.

11. We do not use subcontractors to deliver our services, and they would not be required in the delivery of AST. Would a subcontracting goal remain a requirement for us? If so, would the Government reduce the small business requirement?

Government Response: In accordance with FAR 19.702 other than small business prime contractors must agree to provide maximum subcontracting opportunities to small businesses.

The small business subcontracting goal at PWS Section 6.3 is determined appropriate for this contract requirement.

12. Please provide DHRA Enterprise security requirement details (See PWS Section 8.1.2.3).

Government Response: This statement refers to physical security requirements for DHRA Headquarters entry. Should that occasion arise, the Government will send specific instructions in response to a Contractor visit request.

13. Does the Government expect Offerors to develop or to already have an existing NIST 800-171

SSP?

Government Response: The Government expects Offerors to develop or have in place an approved System Security Plan (SSP) and completed DoD assessment (within last 3 years) in accordance with clauses 252.204-7019 & 7020. The SSP and DoD Assessment are not required if the system being proposed to the Government is solely Commercial off-the-Shelf (COTS), see FAR 2.101 for a definition of COTS.

14. Due to the sensitive nature of the information contained in the SSP, our corporate policy does not allow us to share an electronic copy of the SSP externally. If we are awarded the contract, would the Government allow us to present the plan via live screen share instead of submitting an SSP with our proposal?

Government Response: The Government is amenable to cybersecurity appropriate viewing of the SSP. With Interim DFARS Rule 2019-D041 in place as of 30 Nov 2020, the Government verifies compliance with SP 800-171 via the DoD Assessment as described in solicitation provision 252.

204-7019 and contract clause 252.204-7020.

15. Will the Government please clarify the directions and requirements in this section (reference PWS Section 8.12)?

Government Response: The blue text was left in by mistake. The statement should read “The Contractor shall ensure information assurance workforce personnel have appropriate IAT Level I qualifications in accordance with DoD 8570.01-m prior to contract award.”

16. These URLs are not accessible. Would the Government please provide corrected URLs (reference PWS Section 14.0)?

Government Response: The space between the ‘d’ and ‘o’ in ‘dodi’ must be removed in the link.

Or Google ‘DoDI 1322.25 Voluntary Education instruction’.

17. These URLs are not accessible. Would the Government please provide corrected URLs (reference PWS Section 16.0)?

Government Response: The DoD Cyber Exchange public website appears to be working. Try entering the site at ‘public.cyber.mil’ on Google Chrome without the https prefix.

18. Are these contract POP dates flexible?

Government Response: The Government anticipates the contract period of performance (PoP) dates as shown in the solicitation. If there are any changes to the PoP dates, a solicitation amendment will be released.

19. Historically, how many tutoring sessions are used on an annual basis?

Government Response: This data is not available, because the Government has never had this service in connection with courseware. The Government estimates 3 sessions per student/course for the base year.

20. Is there a limit on the number of students in a given class (virtual or in-person)?

Government Response: Maximum for in-person classes is 30 students. Virtual class maximum is 60 students per class.

21. Are there time zone requirements for the virtual classes?

Government Response: No. Firstly, there is currently no expectation to conduct virtual classes for overseas students. Therefore, a reasonable window would be starting no earlier than 8AM EST/EDT with the latest class starting no later than 11AM EST/EDT.

22. When would DANTES plan for the first live, remote and live, in-person classes to occur?

Government Response: The Government does not expect to issue live training task orders any earlier than October 2021. Each task order may be issued for multiple sequential or concurrent class events.

23. The technical support section mentions a daily 12-hour timeframe. Is this referring to business days or 7 days/week?

Government Response: This is referring to business days. Since the Academic Skills Training Class is taken on line world-wide, we would like Service members to reasonably be able to receive technical support within their time zone.