Questions and Answers8-29-08.doc

Questions and Answers:

Question: Reference pg 49 of 60, Part (c), Para 1): Confirmation of proposal delivery to DCAA is required. To whom and by what means should this confirmation be sent?

Answer: You may send an e-mail confirmation to the Contracting Officer (CO) or you may just make note in your proposal that you have sent the proposal to your cognizant DCAA office. Any option you choose is at your discretion.

Question: Reference pg 3 of 10 of the SOW, CLIN Descriptions: Is there a paragraph 4. Requirements for Task Order 1 SOW? The Task Order 1 SOW stops at paragraph 3. Seems the CLIN description section should be titled paragraph 4, Requirements to match the SOO outline. Please clarify.

Answer: The SOO and SOW outlines are correct and no revisions are being made at this time.

Question: Reference pg 16 of 60, Sec. H, clause 252.209-9001: Unable to locate clause 252.209-9001 in DFARS. Is this clause still valid?

Answer: This clause is a local DTRA clause, not a DFAR clause. The "9000" series clauses are DTRA clauses. It is still valid.

Question: Page 19 of the RFP states that "The contractor shall (1) ensure selected personnel obtain required physical and mental evaluations, to the extent they are required under specific contractual actions, to ensure affected employees are capable of appropriate performance in support of military operations..."

What specific contractual actions would require a mental evaluation and what criteria does the mental evaluation have to meet to be considered in compliance with the contract?

Answer: Personnel filling this contract must meet the physical requirements outlined in the SOO/SOW, such as, “the physical ability to lift and carry equipment up to 50 pounds; be capable of working and functioning in an outdoor environment under varying weather conditions; be able to climb to the rooftops of buildings; and walk/travel long distances on a wide variety of terrain. The Surveyor must also not have any physical limitations that prevent them from carrying weapons.” As far as the mental evaluation, possession of a valid TOP SECRET or SECRET clearance will validate this requirement. Personnel who do not have a valid TOP SECRET clearance must be able to obtain a TOP SECRET clearance.

Question: Page 20 of the RFP states that "All personnel identified for deployment shall complete a Standard Form 93, Report of Medical History, prior to receiving medical services. The PCO will provide a list of applicable services, and will negotiate individual medical appointments with the contractor."

Does that statement indicate that all medical services will be provided by the government? Does the government have a list of expected medical services that will need to be performed to ensure compliance with the effort? Would meeting the CONUS Replacement Center medical standards meet the government's requirements for this effort?

Answer: Medical services will NOT be covered by the government. In case of deployment to an area designated as a Hostile Fire Zone, deployable personnel will meet all Area of Operations (AOR) medical requirements prior to deployment as designated by the Combatant Commander. DTRA does not have a list of expected medical services that would be required, but contracted personnel will meet the same predeployment health screening and preparation as the active duty military and government civilians who will accompany them. If the CONUS Replacement Center's standards meet or exceed the AOR's requirements, that will suffice.

Question: Page 20 of the RFP states that "The contractor shall ensure affected employees possess the necessary personal clothing and safety equipment necessary to accomplish contract requirements in the AOR. The government shall provide all required military unique equipment (e.g., nuclear, biological, and/or chemical defensive equipment)."

Does Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as helmets and body armor fall under the "required military unique equipment" or is the contractor expected to provide PPE to their employees?

Answer: The contractor will provide all PPE to their employees. Military unique equipment refers to mission specific items required to conduct the survey mission.

Question: Page 52 of the RFP, VOLUME III - PAST PERFORMANCE, a. states

"Past performance describes how well the Offeror has performed work that is the same as or similar to the contract work, while experience reflects whether the offer has performed such work. However, information provided in the Program Experience and Key Personnel section (for example, information on identified contracts) may be incorporated by reference in the Past Performance section."

No where else in the RFP, particularly in section L or M does it talk about the "Program Experience" section.

Does the government wish to have Program Experience included with Key

Personnel, and if so, what page count is set?

Answer: The solicitation has been amended and posted to the Fedbizopps website with the deletion of the reference to “Program Experience”.

Question: Page 47, paragraph 7, of the RFP states information that is required to be provided relative to the offering company, including

"labor surplus area designation".

Please clarify the meaning of the term "labor surplus area designation".

Answer: Per FAR 2.101 Definition:

“Labor surplus area” means a geographical area identified by the Department of Labor in accordance with 20 CFR Part 654, Subpart A, as an area of concentrated unemployment or underemployment or an area of labor surplus.